The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 151

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098

USA > New York > Jefferson County > The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894 > Part 151

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

MRS. RELIEF BODMAN was one of the most honored and well remembered acquaintances of the author of this History during his resi- dence for six years in Theresa, previous to 1857. She was an unusually intelligent and devoted mother, the large family which she had reared honoring her not only as the source of their life, but as the honored guide of their youthful as well as mature years. Her family was an united one, and they justified by their lives the example she had set for them to follow. She was born in the Massachusetts Colony, six years after the Declaration of Independence, her life pre- ceding by several years the adoption of the National or State Constitution. Her father's family (the Burts) was of that primitive stock whose descendants have made the Black River country a land of churches and of school-houses-repeating here the methods which made New England a grand nursery of patriotism, domestic felicity, and real capacity. She was first a thrifty house- keeper, then a school-teacher, and then, in her 28th year she married Sylvester Bodman, coming to the Black River country in 1821, settling at Theresa upon the farm where some of the family so long resided. By her mother's side she was related to the Pom- eroys, and her cousin, the Kansas Senator of that name, came from his distant home to deliver an address at Theresa on the occasion of her one hundredth birthday. Our brief

714 d

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

space will not permit us to make more than a slight reference to Mrs. Bodman. We can sum up all by saying, as we have said of hut few in this History, that she was one of those brave women who in solitude, amid strange dangers, and heavy toil, reared families and made homes-counting it gain to minister to her children and to her friends, and doing in her church relation the work which falls to educated and capable women. She was cer- tainly a most unique and interesting person- ality, one whom to have known leaves a memory never wholly effaced. She lived to be 104 years, and died universally lamented. Indeed "A mother in Israel."

RODNEY SIMONS, who served in the War of 1812. was born in Hartford, Conn., in 1794. He was twice married, first, to a Miss Smith, by whom he had two children, Wil- liam and Mary Aun. In 1828 he married Polly P., daughter of Rev. William Bogart, who was born in Canada in 1808. At the time of their marriage they lived in the town of Alexandria, and their first home was estab- lished at Brown's Corners. Five sons and two daughters were born to them, namely : Rodney I., Sarah J., Nelson E., John H., Henry C., Demane E and Hattie C. They moved several times, first locating in Alexandria Bay, then in Proctor Bay. Soon after this the family removed to this town and located near Red Lake, in the then wilderness country. Nelson E. now owns the old homestead on the island in Red Lake, and occupies with his family the log house built by his father. In those early days the settlers depended a great deal upon their hunting, and fur-hearing animals and wild game were successfully trapped and hunted. Nelson E. Simons married Ann, daughter of Thomas and Mary Pittston, by whom he has had six daughters and one son, namely : Mary C., Cora A., Helen E., Sarah J., Tacie M., Clara E. and Mark E. The latter died at the age of seven years. Mary C. married Sylvester Bodman. Helen E. married Arthur A. Nash, and resides near the home of her father, at Red Lake.

GODFREY WALRADT was born in Allegany county in 1816, whence he removed to Cherry Valley, Otsego county, where he married Maria Walradt, by whom he had two sons and one daughter, namely : Dorman, Wil- liam and Helen M. (Mrs. Loren F. Shurtliff), of Theresa. William married Emma Park- hurst, and Dorman married Nancy Shurtliff, both of this town. Dorman has two sous, George D. and James H. George D. married Ida L., daughter of Frank M. Peck, of Theresa.

WILLIAM K. BUTTERFIELD, a native of the town of Rutland, married Mary Thomas, hy whom he had two children, Mary E. and Julius F. The latter at the age of 15, en- listed in Company D, 35th N. Y. Volunteers. After the war he removed to Ottawa, La- Salle county, Illinois, where he learned the tinsmiths' trade, and worked in the same shop for 15 years. He married Amelia M.,

daughter of Lewis Barrett, of Theresa, and they again located in the West and remained nine years. Three sons is the result of this union, namely : Lewis W., Charles H and Allen C. Mr. Butterfield now resides in this town on road 58.

JOHN SEYMOUR was born in Plattsburgh, Clinton county, in 1845. He was educated in the common schools, and learned the trade of stone mason and plasterer, at which he worked until the breaking out of the Rebel- lion. August 2, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany A, 10th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and was discharged June 23, 1865, at Petersburg, Va. He married Eliza, daughter of George P. Fox, of this town, in 1865, and they have three children, namely : Albert, Adelaide and Maggie.

ALTHOUGH Theresa is one of the youngest towns of the county, it has a distinct history, aud has been the home of many very bright men. It is not a wealthy town, and that may be the reason why its people are so democratic in manner-considering them- selves always as fit to stand before kings without abasement. They have always been an industrious people, in the early days being forced to labor for bread. But as time has rolled on, the town has become more advanced and refined. and where were once unsightly log-houses are now more con- venient and pretentious dwellings. The land of the town is peculiarly fruitful, but there is much of rock and cliff. It is a romantic town, with many beautiful lakes.

The following sketch was crowded out of its place in the town of Watertown, and is given here instead :

THE CALHOUN FAMILY, well remembered by our older readers (one of the earlier ones having been a publisher of newspapers in Watertown, and the first one to start a print- ing office in Chicago), were for a long time a numerous and much respected family in Watertown. Most of them have removed. Chauncey, the progenitor in Watertown, was born in Connecticut in 1776, and died in Watertown in July, 1856. He was a builder, and all his life was a husy, persevering man -looked up to by his fellow-citizens and craftsmen. His wife was Sarah Edwards- Paddock, and they reared eight children : Ebenezer, Alvin, Mary, John, Nancy Char- lotte, Chauncey, Jr., Charles and Sarah Elizabeth. Ebenezer Calhoun, Jr., son of the Ebenezer named above, was born in Watertown, August 22, 1835, and has always been known as an industrious, hard-working man. He was a soldier in the 94th Regi- ment, and served with credit to himself and to the cause. In 1861 he had married Susan Catharine Lane, but they had no children. She died in 1873. In 1874 he married Mary Jane Ball, and they have reared two chil- dren.

715

THERESA.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

CAPT. ELIAS GETMAN, son of Jacob and Lena (Suits) Getman, was born August 1, 1824, in Fulton County, N. Y. His parents having removed with their family to Jefferson county, the subject of this shetch received his education in the common schools. He learned the carpenter's trade with the late Amaziah Ellis, of Plessis. He was very suc- cessful as a contractor and builder. He mar- ried, September 26, 1846, Sophia Evans, daughter of Columbus Evans, of Alexandria. Four children were born to them : Edgar, Edward, Edwin and Edson (four E's). Ed- win died in infancy. The other three now constitute the firm of Getman Bros., proprie- tors of the Getman House at Theresa, and the American House at Canton. In August, 1862, Mr. Getman enlisted in Co. F, 10th New York Heavy Artillery, and in September following was commissioned second lieuten- ant. He was present in many battles, notably those of Petersburg, Cold Harbor and Ber- muda Hundred, until the surrender of Lee. He was popular with those under his com- mand, as well as with his superiors, and for executive ability, untiring fidelity to every duty, he was soon promoted and commissioned as captain of Co. A, of the same regiment. After the close of the war he was retained for special service for some months at Peters- burg, returning to his Redwood home in the fall of 1865. In the spring of 1866 he pur- chased the old brick hotel at Theresa, and with the assistance of his excellent wife, at once transformed its interior into one of the most popular hostelries in Northern New York. As a citizen, landlord, neighbor, friend and soldier, Elias Getman was exceed- ingly and deservedly popular. He died much respected, after having completed plans for a new hotel to replace the old one. He was buried with Masonic honors, on which oc- casion was assembled the largest Masonic body ever congregated in the town.

REV. WILSON F. BALL, the present pastor of the Methodist Church in Theresa, is the youngest son of Sinecy Ball, one of the first settlers of Theresa, contemporaneous with Ebenezer Lull, the Bodmans, the Shurtliffs, Abraham Morrow and Nathan M. Flower. He was a man of exemplary character, uni- versally respected as a citizen, a patriot and a Christian. He died in 1877. Wilson F. was born June 30, 1834, the youngest of 11 children, of whom eight reached maturity. He began trying to educate himself for the ministry as soon as he could be spared from the lahors of the farm, in his 19th year. From that time he kept himself in school by the earnings of his own industry, teaching winters and working on the farm through haying and harvesting. He also took a hand at carpenter work, which was a calling pur- sued by him until the opening of the War of the Rebellion. In 1661, in company with another young man, he raised a company for

cavalry service. On the day preceding the one designated for the organization of the company, notice was received from the adjutant general that they could not be re- ceived as a company, but as individuals. Twenty-three of the men went to Potsdam and enlisted as privates. Subsequently the subject of our sketch was made sergeant. In front of Yorktown he was made sergeant- major. After the battle of Fair Oaks he was sent to Washington sick, but rejoined his regiment at Harrison's Landing, from which place he was sent home on recruiting service. Later he returned to his regiment at Suffolk, where he was made orderly sergeant. At Kingston, N. C., he was breveted 1st lieutenant for gallantry in battle, by Colonel, afterward General L. C. Hunt, but before the commission reached him he was mustered out of service under an order for consolidation, and returned home to engage in teaching. He was principal of the Academy in Canton, N. Y., two years; at Union Free School at Car- thage, N. Y., two years; and of the Acad- emy and Union Free School, at Massena, N. Y., three years. In 1868 he entered the Methodist ministry. He married, October 2, 1862, Miss Kate Mosher, and they have three sons, one of whom is general agent for the Prudential Life Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio; another is a merchant at Massena, N. Y., and one residing at home. Mr. Ball is a pleasant gentleman to meet-a most devoted Christian minister, successful in his ministry and a desirable citizen always. His family sprang from good old Revolution- ary stock. Mr. H. M. Ball, long a merchant of Watertown, is of the same generic blood, and on page 286 of this History is shown the muster-roll of a company of artillery, in which an ancestor (Nehemiah Ball), was named as one of the officers on duty.

MR. E. D. SHELEY has been for several years the leading manufacturer at Theresa, his specialties being wood-work for the use of plumbers in constructing closets. He has found from experience that the situation at Theresa, handicapped as he was by the ex- pense of hauling his lumber up from the depot to his mill, and the heavy railroad freights, made it an undesirable point for manufacturing. He has begun to remove his machinery to Lowville, Lewis county, where he is upon one of the main stems of the R., W. & O. R. R. system, and some 40 miles nearer a market, besides being nearer the lumber forests. His intention is to per- manently remove his whole plant. This, in addition to losing the chair industry, has proven quite a serious blow to Theresa as a manufacturing centre. Mr. Sheley is an ex- ceptionally honorable and progressive citizen, and his loss is to be deplored. His family are at present in Theresa, and a portion of his business is yet (1895) conducted there.

716

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

JAMES CASEY, now a successful merchant at Theresa, is a living evidence of what push, and industry, and courage can accomplish. He was born in 1839, near Ft. Covington, N. Y., came to Theresa in 1852, completing there his common sohool education. His first effort to secure work was successful, having been hired for general farm labor by the late Edward Cooper, on trial at $9.00 for one month. The trial month ended, he was hired for six months, and became the trusted and permanent employe. He had almost com- plete oversight of the farm at the time of Mr. Cooper's death, when he took the farm on a three-year lease. At the end of the first year he had cleared $1,500. He then purchased the Miller farm, and ran the two places simultaneously. At the expiration of his lease he had saved enough to pay the entire cost of the Miller farm. He subsequently purchased the two adjoining farms, and his homestead place now comprises over 200 acres. For the past 15 years he has been an extensive purchaser of hay for shipment. In 1890 he went into general merchandise at Theresa, and, having taken into business his two sons, the firm name is James Casey & Sons. He is a pushing, progressive, enter- prising man.

SINECY BALL, the eldest son of Nehemiah and Esther Sally Ball, was born In Eliza- bethtown, September 24, 1778. He came in- to Jefferson county among the very earliest settlers, his father having moved to Utica as early as 1796. He was an honored citizen of Theresa for many years, contemporaneous with the Bodmans, Chapmans, Lulls, Cheese- mans, and the other early ones. He reared a family and died early in the fifties. His youngest son is the talented pastor of the M. E. Church in Theresa. A daughter also sur- vives, Mrs. Emeline Clough, of Cape Vincent.

FRANKLIN PARKER, son of Alexander, no- ticed in the biographies of Watertown, re- ceived a common school education, with a short term in the Academy at Watertown, became himself a teacher for five years, and went into general merchandising in Theresa in 1842, was successful from the start. Elected to the Legislature in 1855, he has held all the town offices within the gift of the people. He has been a persevering, capable and progressive citizen, always a pronounced Democrat, and enjoys, in his 78th year, the unchallenged respect of all who know him.

ICHABOD THOMPSON .- Although Ichabod Thompson was not one of the earliest set- tlers of Theresa, he was for so many years a resident there and so long a prominent busi- ness man that we think him worthy of mention. He was born in 1800, one of three brothers who came early into what is Dow Alexandria, from Newville, Herkimer county, and chopped and cleared lands, pushing back the wilderness in the work of rearing homes. In 1835 he removed to Theresa, and engaged in general merchandise with his relative, Mr. Alexander Salisbury. The partnership continued until 1850, when

Mr. Thompson removed to Redwood, becom- ing a partner in the glass business there, the firm being composed of DeZeng, Burlin- game, Salisbury and Thompson. After re- maining in the glass business about two years, Mr. Thompson removed to Copenhagen, Lewis county, purchasing an extensive busi- ness, comprising a grist-mill, cheese-box factory and other branches of manufacturing. For 14 laborious years he was engaged at Copenhagen, when he removed to Adams and purchased the real estate known as the Mendell property. He died at Adams in his 65th year, respected by all, one of the best known men in Jefferson county. He was a sound and pushing business man, securing, by his candor and honorable methods the respect and confidence of every community where his lot was cast. In politics he was a Whig, and then an Abolitionist. His almost daily prayer was that he might be spared long enough to see slavery abolished, and his earnest prayer was granted. He gave his most promising son to the Union army, and took so great an interest in the cause, that he went to the very front on a visit to his son, and remained with the 35th Regiment neorly two weeks, where the writer met him when our out-posts were close up to the rebel videttes. His son, John D., served through to the end, two years in the 35th and over two years in the 20th Cavalry. He is now a resident of Watertown.

DR. OLIVER BREWSTER came to Theresa from St. Lawrence county, about 1843. He was a lineal descendant of the May-Flower Brewsters, so celebrated in the early annals of New England. He was a devoted geolo- gist, a good botanist, a rough diamond with individualities so marked as to reach the borders of eccentricity. He had two chil- dren, both girls, one of whom died while young ; the other married Dr. Babcock, and they removed to Springfield, Illinois, in 1864, near which city the Doctor acquired much celebrity and a large practice, and there he died about 1876, much respected for his many noble qualities. His wife still sur- vives him, residing at Springfield, Illinois. The Doctor's only son succeeded to his father's practice, and is a skillful and well- known physician.

DR. E. R. BABCOCK, who was one of the writer's closest associates while residing at Theresa, graduated from a Vermont Medical College, after having been a student in the office of Dr. Brewster, at Theresa. He mar- ried Miss Martha, the surviving daughter of Dr. Brewster, and Dr. Babcock left a re- munerative practice at Theresa to accept a position as assistant surgeon in the Union army. He had charge of the medical de- partment of the depot camp at Springfield, Illinois, under Brigadier General James Oakes, which position he held until the close of the war. He was a most meritorious and popular officer, fully meeting all the demands upon his skill and patience, and became so popular at Springfield that he made it his

717

THERESA.

home, finally settling at Rochester, six miles from the State capitol, where he purchased land, and had a most successful and remuner- ative practice. His influence as a citizen was of the best, and when he died the people mourned as for one of kindred blood. He left a very capable son, also graduated from a medical college, to succeed him in his busi- ness and large practice. His widow yet survives him, a lady of most gracious and pleasing manner and refinement. She re- sides in the city of Springfield, Ill.

NICHOLAS D. YOST, for many years the most prosperous and prominent farmer in Theresa, came into that town from Johns- town, N. Y., with his wife and infant daughter in 1837. He was the son of Wm. and Dorcas (Doxtater) Yost, and one of 11 children. Nicholas D. was born in Johns- town, November 20, 1808. There he passed his youth, and acquired such education as the common schools afforded. When he came into what was then Alexandria, he purchased 250 acres of land, and went reso- lutely to work to make a home. In this he succeeded to the fullest extent. His farm became one of the best in the town, and he is well remembered as a pushing, honorable and wealthy man. He died September 5, 1870, and is buried in the new cemetery at Theresa, his last resting-place marked by a noble monument. Mr. Yost left a large family, two of his children yet remaining in Theresa, the Hon. George E. Yost and Mrs. Melville Cornwall. The aged widow of Mr. Yost still survives, an honored member of society at Theresa, and one of the few brave women who in solitude, amid strange dangers and heavy toil, reared families and made homes.

IRVING C. COOPER was born May 13, 1843, and, excepting 10 years of his life, from 1854 to 1866, has lived on the large farm where he was born. About 1875 he became engaged in the manufacture of English cheese, erecting since then three cheese factories, which, to- gether with the farm, he has since conducted. He has also for several years been engaged in purchasing cheese for the English and home market. In the season of 1894 he shipped 37,000 cheese to Montreal, and about 10,000 to Philadelphia and New York. He is the largest dealer in Northern New York.

WILLIAM E. HOYT was a member of the firm of Atwell & Hoyt, for a long time mer- chants at Theresa. He is well remembered as a retiring, very modest gentleman, well educated and exemplary in every relation of life. He was brought up in Fayetteville, and in 1894 would be nearly, if not quite, 66 years of age. He was educated at Homer Academy, New York. For several years after the dissolution of the firm of which he was a member, and after his removal from Theresa, about 1861, he served several years in the quarter-master's department of the Union army. His present residence is Beat- rice, Nebraska. Mrs. Hoyt, who is a sister to President Cleveland, received for her

brother and presided at the executive man- sion in Albany while he was Governor of the State, and presided often at the recep- tions in the White House at Washington during the first year of the first term of President Cleveland, and before his mar- riage. They are a most worthy and deserv- ing couple, affectionately remembered at Theresa.

ALMANSON T. SMITH was born September 12, 1858, in the town of Gouverneur, N. Y. His father, Zadock Smith, who was one of the first to respond to President Lincoln's call for volunteers, was killed at Culpepper, Va., in 1862. His mother, Clarissa Smith, was a daughter of Josiah Walker, a pioneer, who came into the northern wilderness from Berk- shire county, Mass., and settled upon a farm near Richville. The subject of this sketch received his education at the Richville Union Free School ; commenced clerking in a country store when 14 years of age, and has ever since been connected with the mecantile business. He was a member of the class of 1880-81 of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy ; was prescription clerk in a Bos- ton drug store for some time, and for the last 10 years has conducted a drug store in Theresa. In 1886 he married Miss Jennie Peck, daughter of F. M. Peck, a prominent merchant of Theresa.

ANSON CHEESMAN was born in 1781, and settled in Theresa in the fall of 1817. His wife lived to be 93 years of age. His chil- dren were: William C., Clifford, Jeremiah, Alanson C., Lorenzo, B. Palmer, Tammy and Lorena. About the same time Anson Chees- man came, three of his brothers also made Theresa their permanent home. Their names were Jeremiah, Abner and Clifford. Jere- miah's children were: Alonzo, Pamelia, Eliza- beth, Francis and Matty. The family of Ab- ner C. were : Hiram, Pharna, Elvira, Emily and Rufus. Three Methodist ministers have sprung from these Cheesman families-Rev. Anson C., son of Clifford, who is now chap- lain in Clinton Prison, appointed hy Gov. Flower ; Rev. Elliot E., another son of Clif- ford Cheesman, has located in St. Lawrence county, and Rev. E. S. Cheesman, who is the son of Jeremiah, located at Cape Vincent. All three have been earnest and acceptable preachers, and are useful men. Tammy the daughter of Anson Cheesman, is now widow of the late Alanson Cook, long known as a lime-dealer. She and B. Palmer are the only survivors of Anson's progeny.

SAMUEL AND ANNA (WISWELL) STROUGH came into Jefferson from Herkimer county about 1820. They first settled in the town of Theresa. but afterwards removed to their permanent home in the southeasterly edge of Theresa, near Rappole's Corners, a location now bearing the name of Strough's Crossing. Here and at their former residence they reared a family of 10 children, every one of whom has filled a good position in society. Samuel Wiswell Strough, the eldest son began to teach at 15 years of age, and helped his

2,7

JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 1894-95. [SEE KEY ANNEXED.]

719

SUPERVISORS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.

from Long Island College Hospital, of Brook- lyn. He commenced practicing medicine in that year, and has an extended and lucra- tive practice, in the village of Antwerp. In the fall of 1876 he married Miss Mary F. Tamhlin, daughter of Jackson Tamblin, of Black River. They have two children, Lillian C., six, and Isabella, four years of age. In 1890 he was elected supervisor of Antwerp upon the Republican ticket, and has been re-elected each year until the pres- ent time (1894), he being now in his fifth term of service. The doctor has always taken an active interest in politics, and has been all his business life a consistent, work- ing Republican, Dr. Wood is a wholesome man to know, and is happy in enjoying the entire confidence of his neighbors and towns- people. This is manifested by his election for five successive terms to the responsible position of supervisor, a member of a hoard which is now called on to legislate upon many subjects that but a few years since demanded the attention of the Solons at Albany. Dr. Wood is a trustee of Ives Seminary, an institution of learning that has made Antwerp quite an educational centre; but, aside from that relation, he is interested in all the educational interests of his town. He is progressive in everything-in medi- cine, in educational matters, and in every- thing affecting Antwerp.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 151

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823- Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company Number of Pages: 1098

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098