The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 158

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

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and friend, and a useful and much-esteemed citizen, and left with his family a more valuable legacy than money, "the example and influence of a pure life." His industry was phenomenal, his probity unchallenged, his success amply merited.

MAJOR JOSEPH CURTIS, eldest son of Winslow Pattridge, was born in Richfield, N. Y., April 10, 1817, dying at Watertown in May, 1857, in his 41st year. In early life he received the hest advantages of the fine schools of Watertown, graduating finally at Union College in 1837. He then studied law with Judge Isaac H. Bronson, and was after- wards appointed an examiner in chancery, an office abolished with the old Court of Chancery. The law was never a congenial pursuit to Mr. Pattridge, and in 1847 he was appointed a Paymaster in the Army of Mex- ico with the rank of Major, following the fortunes of Gen. Taylor's division until the close of the war, when he was still retained in the service, becoming one of the pay- masters of the regular army. Major Pat- tridge was a man of more than average ability. While not a great man, he was one who came readily to the front wherever his lot was cast. He was eminently independ- ent, thinking out the different problems that confront every observing man, but he did it in his own way, rejecting the ideas of others until fully confirmed by his own judgment. He was a man of quick and active sym- pathies, was popular in the old army, and was spared the beholding of what came after him-the dreadful Civil War, where brothers from the same cradle and fire-side fought against each other in fratricidal strife. Major Pattridge sleeps in Brookside.

JOSEPH ATWELL, long a resident of Water- town, and for some dozen years a merchant in Theresa, was born in Pharsalia, Chenango county, N. Y., November 12, 1822. His father was Rev. James Atwell, one of the early Methodist circuit-riders. Joseph's early life was spent upon a farm, where he attend- ed a district school. He later attended the Manlius Academy, then a celebrated seat of learning, under the direction of Prof. Bailey. On leaving the Academy he entered the store of Azariah H. Smith, of Manlius vil- lage, where he received an excellent busi- ness education. About 1850 Mr. Atwell associated himself with William E. Hoyt, and the firm of Atwell & Hoyt, at Theresa, hecame well known through Northern New York during the 12 years of its existence. In the great financial distress before the Civil War, it went down in the general crash. Mr. Atwell in 1860 represented the town of Theresa on the Board of Supervisors, and in- troduced the resolution for building the present court-house. He was appointed chairman of the building committee. He took up the business of insurance later on, and in that relation he was hest known in Watertown. He was deputy collector of customs at Cape Vincent, and rounded out the life of an honorable, and very intelli-

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gent business man and citizen. He died at Watertown in December, 1892, universally regretted. His estimable wife still survives, an inmate of the family of her son, the pastor of the M. E. Church at Chaumont. The writer knew Mr. Atwell during his whole business life at Theresa, and found him an obliging, kind hearted and most esti- mable friend and neighbor. He was a mem- ber of the M. E. Church nearly all of his adult years. The children born to this estimable couple have proven worthy of their parent- age, and have come right to the front in all the communities where their lot has been cast. Mr. Joseph Atwell, President of the Board of Supervisors, and an able lawyer, is the eldest son.

CALVIN D. GRAHAM was among the older inhabitants of Watertown, and has always heen an active and very industrious farmer, coming to the city seven years ago, and now resides at 44 State street. For his first wife he married Miss Mary Munson, of Potsdam, by whom he had two children, James E., who died at the age of 19 years, and Ella, who married Moses Petrie. Their mother (lied while they were farming in Lorraine. For his second wife he married Miss Mary Petrie, and they have reared one son, Frank P., now residing upon the old Pratt farm, at Stone Mills, in Orleans, owned by his father, who, in 1856, bought out the other heirs, and managed the farm until 1887. when he came to Watertown, as stated above. Mr. Graham has accumulated a very fair competency, being one of the men who have made farming "pay." His indus- try has been phenomenal, his patience ex- emplary, and now in his 73d year, he is reaping the reward for all his struggles.

JOHN C. MCCARTIN, once a judge of Jefferson county, was born in the town of Alexandria in 1840, the son of an Irish farmer, who had emigrated from Ireland early in the thirties. John C. had the bene- fits of the common schools of his native town, and when he had reached man's es- tate he came to Watertown and began to read law with the late E. B. Wynn, an astute lawyer and ahle advocate. He was admitted to the bar in 1860, and accepted a position in the law office of Brown & Beach, as managing clerk, where he continued until commissioned first lieutenant in the 14th N. Y. Heavy Artillery. On his discharge from the army he resumed the practice of his profession, and was popular and successful. He formed a partnership with Judge Wil- liams, and was thus engaged when he died. Lieutenant McCartin was a member of Joe Spratt Post, G. A. R., and was elected judge of Jefferson county, running upon the Democratic ticket in a strongly Repub- lican county, being the only Democratic judge elected in Jefferson county for 40 years. He was never as well after his re- turn from the army, complaining much of pain in his kidneys; this trouble increased until his condition became precarious, and

he finally succumbed to its violence, dying January 2, 1893. Judge McCartin was un- usually popular as a student, lawyer, sol- dier and judge. He was a Democrat in the full meaning of that term-always easily approached, a friendly, generous man-like so many of those who have Irish blood in their veins. His loss was long mourned, for the common people believed they had lost a friend.

MORGAN GALVIN, for many years a well- known citizen of Watertown, is a Wilna man, having been born in 1821 at Carthage, the son of Edward and Mary (Welch) Galvin, who came into Wilna about 1817. Morgan is an older brother of James Galvin, a wealthy and enterprising farmer of Wilna. Morgan came first to Watertown as the dis- tributing agent and collector for Knowlton & Rice. He would load up a large double- wagon with writing and wrapping paper, Ruger's Arithmetic, Kirkham's Grammar, the English Reader, and several other publica- tions of "K. & R." and distribute them to the firm's customers in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, returning, with great sacks of paper rags, on top of which Morgan always had a good seat for himself. The trips were from one to two weeks in extent. This rag and paper business is now largely in the hands of Mr. J. M. Tilden, whose peculiar carts are seen all over the country. Mr. Galvin followed this laborious business for seven years, when he went upon the road for a tobacco firm, with whom he re- mained six years, when he went into the store of the late Pearson Mundy, where he remained 15 years. To show the different conditions of life in 1848 and now, Mr. Galvin says that when he reached town on his re- turn trips he boarded with Mr. Knowlton, where the horses and wagons were kept in Mr. K's barn. Once he was taken sick on the road, hut managed to get to Watertown, and gave up sick, threatened with fever. The good Mr. Knowlton and his estimable wife gave up their warm room to Mr. Galvin, and themselves took an upper chamber, there being no fire above the first floor. Such an act of condescension towards a "hired man" would now be counted as something extraordinary. The worthy couple took that way to show forth their religion. Mr. Galvin is yet living in Watertown, now entered on his 74th year.

NATHAN TALCOTT, for many years a well- known and influential farmer, residing over the line in Adams, but really more intimately related to Watertown than to Adams, came to the Black River country from Connecticut, locating upon what proved a valuable farm upon the old State road from Watertown to Adams. For many years he kept a hotel about three miles from Adams Centre, a place well known as the regular stopping place of the Syracuse stages, and there was also located the Appling postoffice, named, we believe, for a gallant officer who fell in the War of 1812. His wife was Betsey

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Richards, and they rcared three children : Nathan R., Elizabeth (who married James Brintnall), and Eunice, now Mrs. Hull, re- siding in Cayuga county. Mr. Talcott was an excellent farmer, though never of strong physique. Perhaps his best contribution to the generation with which he was contempor- aneous was in his effort to raise the grade of fruits that were adapted to this northern climate. He was the first intelligent pomolo- gist that the writer remembers in Jeffer- son county, though probably our good friend, D. S. Marvin, of Watertown, 50 years later, may be more of a scientist in that direction than was Mr. Talcott. But, all the same, Mr. Talcott's apples and grapes were among the finest ever produced here, and he was looked upon as the ablest fruit grower in this section. His wife died in July, 1867, and after that he gave up the active life of farming, and became an inmate of his daughter (Mrs. Brintnall's) family, where he died November 28, 1877, in his 79th year.

JAMES BRINTNALL, JR., the son of James Brintnall, Sr., and Lydia, his wife, was born in the town of Watertown, February 5, 1825. Until his marriage he lived upon his father's farm, attending school winters and laboring upon the farm summers. He completed his scholastic education at the Watertown Insti- tute, the building now being the High School of Watertown. May 14, 1846, he married Elizabeth Talcott, daughter of Nathan Talcott, of Adams, very near the Watertown line, a man remembered as one of the advanced fruit-culturists of this northern section. Young Brintnall resided on a farm near his father until the spring of 1856, when he removed to Syracuse, where he resided three years engaged in the salt business. This proving unremunerative he returned to Watertown, and settled upon a farm on the Sackets Harbor road, 2} miles from Watertown, and there he resided until his death, November 23, 1888. They reared six children, two sons and four daughters. Mrs. Brintnall died August 10, 1882, in her 57th year. Mr. Brintnall, like most of the children of the early settlers, was a man of superior intelligence, a great reader, and a man who kept fully up to the advanced thought of the day. He was an enthusiastic Democrat always, for he believed in that party as the poor man's natural ally. He was a pleasant man to meet.

GEORGE H. WILDER, one of the propri- etors of the Crowner House, and formerly a journeyman printer, died in Watertown, March 6, 1895, aged about 60 years. He was an unusually modest and quiet mannered man, and had hosts of friends, for his posi- tion in the popular hotel he partly owned threw him into very pleasant relations with citizens from all parts of the county. He came to Watertown from Rodman, which was his native town, in 1855, and worked as a compositor upon the Reformer. After- wards he held good positions in different

newspaper offices, notably upon the Buffalo Commercial. He finally returned to Water- town in 1868 and entered into partnership with his brother in conducting the Crowner House, where they have been successful. Mr. Wilder married Miss Mary Gilbert, of Lansing, Michigan, and thither his remains were taken for interment. The older print- ers bear his memory in most kindly remem- brance.

NELSON TRUAX, for years a citizen of Watertown, residing at 13 LeRay street, was born in Lowville, Lewis county, in 1818. His father was John Truax, a blacksmith, long a resident of Watertown. When Nel- son was eight years old his father removed to Antwerp, and began farming. Nelson attracted the attention of William McAllas- tar, of Antwerp, and entered his employ, remaining there until 1833. In that year he came to Watertown, and learned to be a harness-maker in the large shop of Jason Fairbanks. He remained in Watertown until 1844, when he commenced business for himself. In 1838 Mr. Truax enlisted in the alleged "Patriot" army, and was in the Windmill fight near Prescott, where he was captured after being wounded. He was tried and sentenced to death, but in the spring of 1839 he was liberated with 38 others, on account of his youth and inexperience. Charles Crossmon, of Alexandria Bay, was one of his fellow-prisoners. In October, 1861, he enlisted into the 94th regiment, and was discharged for disability after about a year's service. He re-established himself as a harness-maker in Watertown after his dis- charge from the army, and continued until 1888, when his failing health obliged him to relinquish business. Mr. Truax has been an industrious, persevering man all his life. In his old age he enjoys the respect of his neighbors.

JONATHAN E. MILES was born among the spruce woods of New Hampshire, in June, 1782. His parents had a numerous family, and like most of the people of the Eastern States, they were under the necessity of practicing the most rigid economy. At the age of 18 he obtained the consent of his parents to seek out in the world for himself such a fortune as might result from unaided efforts. About this time nearly the whole of the eleven original towns, comprising the Black River tract, south of that river, was opened and offered for sale, and emigrants were flocking in and making purchases. The accounts given of the beauty of the country were such as to interest a mind like young Miles'. Leaving Whitestown with his knap- sack on his back, containing apple seeds and a fair supply of provisions, together with a somewhat scanty wardrobe, and with a gun on his shoulder, he put his face towards the "setting sun" again and proceeded to Fort Stanwix (Rome). Soon leaving Rome, he en- tered a dense and tangled forest, and follow- ing a rough road which led to Turin, on the Black river, where there were a few settlers,

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he passed through Martinsburg, which was entirely uninhabited, to Lowville, which was called the "eleventh town," where there were a good many families. On the 8th, 9th and 10th townships not a human face or habitation was to be seen. He saw but one family in the fifth township (Denmark), two families, Hubbard and Harris, on the fourth, (Champion); two, Keyes and Miller, on the third (Rutland) near the pond. From here the road was so indistinct and difficult to fol- low to the residence of Johnson and Andrew Howk (in the present Colonel Hungerford neighborhood), that he lost his way, and did not find their clearings, which, so far as he had any purpose, was to have been the end of his journeyings for the present. Mr. Miles purchased the farm that he lived on so long in 1801. That was 94 years ago. We have seen how much of a wilderness this en- tire country was in the beginning. That wilderness has all disappeared, with the in- habitants, whose energies were taxed to the utmost in changing it into beautiful farms which now greet the eye. After rearing a large family of children, Mr. Miles died in 1860, aged 76 years, having been a good citi- zen and a useful man.

In writing of the unique and individual personalities of some of Watertown's earliest inhabitants, who possessed characteristics that would naturally elicit a boy's atten- tion or admiration, there was one whom the writer recalls with peculiar regret, for he was a man who seems to have passed out of the recollection of his fellow-townsmen almost completely. We refer to Pliny E. Miles, son of Jonathan E., the distinguished Iceland traveller, whose newspaper writings about that remote country at one time at- tracted much attention and approval, par- ticularly from the savants and men of letters. He was born in the town of Watertown, not far from Burrville, a farmer's son. He was educated in the public schools of that neigh- borhood, and came to man's estate like so many of the other farmer's sons of the early days of 1805 to 1845. He was very tall, and that perhaps added to his apparent forward- ness, for he was a man of words and ideas, and such are not usually popular in rural neighborhoods, being open to the charge of desiring to make themselves conspicuous, when nothing may be further from their thoughts. In company with his brother the school-teacher, Mr. Fabius Miles, Pliny opened a book store in the Fairbanks block on Court street, but the book store did not prosper, for it had to contend with Knowlton & Rice, who were well-to-do, had unlimited credit besides being themselves publishers. What turned Pliny into a "globe trotter" we never learned, but the writer heard of him after he gave up his bookstore and had left Watertown, as a distinguished traveller and frequent writer for the newspapers; but of his subsequent life we know nothing. He died on a passage from San Francisco to Honolulu, whither he was going to seek

health after his long Northern journeys. The impression he left upon our own mind is that of a man of pronounced ability, who went away from Watertown because he was unappreciated, and demonstrated, upon a broader theatre, and amid a different environ- ment, a capacity which would have perhaps had earlier development and a hardier growth if appreciated in the neighborhood where be was born and came to man's estate. It is sad to think that he was buried at sea, with a few words spoken over him, sewed up in a sail-cloth, and shot over the side from a plank-the usual way of burial.

THE SHELDONS .- One of the most interest- ing families of the town of Watertown has been the Sheldons. The father and mother came into the town as early as 1804, having been born in Connecticut in 1783. They be- gan life upon Dry Hill, a spot of consider- able note in those early days, and still dis- tinguished for its excellent farming land. The eldest son, Tilly R. Sheldon, is now in his 83d year, with his mind clear and remin- iscent. He says the first grist-mill he ever carried a grist to was upon the Wadley creek, about half a mile east of Rice's Corners, in the southeast part of the town. That is the creek which runs through Brookside Ceme- tery, and is formed solely from springs. In 1810 Joseph Sheldon had a distillery on Dry Hill. The next distillery was built on Washington street, three-fourths of a mile below the centre of the town, in 1813. The first distillery in the county was erected at Burrville, by Thomas Converse. The sur- plus whiskey found a market in Canada, and at one time it was an important trade, bring- ing cash to the farmers at a time when money was a scarce article. But there were always risks from the Canada revenue officers. Hon. Joseph Sheldon, a lawyer and judge, of New Haven, Conn., is a son of Joseph Sheldon. Mark Sheldon, of San Francisco, is another son, while nearly all the citizens of Water- town remember John Sheldon. They have been a hard-working family, always promin- ent. Originally Whigs, the sons nearly all went into the Republican organization, and have been a working force in it. Hon. Joseph Sheldon is one of the ablest writers in the country upon the silver question. He is often quoted, and his dicta emphasized by truthful and unanswerable arguments.

CHARLES RICHARDSON was born March 1, 1817, about five miles south of the city of Watertown. He was reared upon a farm, re- ceived a good common school education, and in his younger days taught school. He has resided in Jefferson county all his life, except three years spent in Onondaga county aud one year in Illinois. He has been an active participant in town affairs. and is at present town clerk. He reared a family of two sons and one daughter. Jos. Richardson, father of Charles, was born in Sterling, Mass., in 1784, subsequently removed to Herkimer county, and in 1803 settled in Watertown, where he spent the remainder of his life. He served as

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lieutenant in the War of 1812. His children were two sons and eight daughters. Tilley Richardson, father of Joseph, was born in Sterling, Mass., in 1759, and died in this county in 1852. He reared a family of two sons and six daughters. He was a Revo- lutionary soldier, and served his town as supervisor in 1808-09. The father of Tilley Richardson was a native of Massachusetts, and was a prominent man in that State, holding a civil office there many years.

REUBEN GOODALE was born in the town of Temple, N. H., April 9, 1783 ; he attended Appleton's School, in his native place, and Oneida Academy, Clinton, N. Y., and com- menced the study of medicine in 1807, with Dr. White, of Cherry Valley, N. Y. He practiced over 50 years in Watertown. In 1819 he was treasurer of the society, secre- tary and censor in 1820, and was elected dele- gate to the State Society to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dr. Spafford. One of his sons, Charles, was a physician. In connection with his practice he carred on a farm situated on the State road. and was in partnership with Dr. Henry H. Sherwood in the drug business. He published the Con- stellation from December 13, 1830, about nine months. This paper, before coming into his possession, was known as the Anti-Masonic Sun. In physique Dr. Goodale was tall and spare, active and energetic, pronounced in his opinions, and always ready to defend them. He was public spirited, and a friend of education, the standard of which he aimed to advance. He died in Watertown, January 26, 1871, 73 years of age. He was perhaps the ablest general practitioner of his day.

E. H. THOMPSON, for many years one of the merchants of Watertown, has been so successful, and withal so popular a citizen and so wholesome a man to know that we have taken considerable trouble to hunt up his antecedents. He is the son of Dr. Wm. Thompson, and was born in Martinsburg, N. Y., in 1835. Curiously enough, we have found him not only a lover of art, but an artist of respectable acquirements, one of his pictures now hanging in his store telling of his ability much better than any words of ours can do. In 1854 he went to New Haven, Conn., where he studied portrait painting with Wales Hotchkiss for three years. But Mr. Thompson was forced to give up his chosen profession on account of defective eyesight. He came to Watertown in 1859, first entering into trade under the firm name of E. H. Thompson & Co., the " Co." being Mr. Tyler. This business relation continued until 1866, when Mr. Thompson purchased his partner's interest, and took upon himself the whole burden of business. Few men have been more successful. In 1892 he became the head of the firm of E. H. Thompson & Co., in business on the south side of Public Square, in the Washington Hall block. His partners are Jno. W. Van Camp and D. J. McDonald. They are by far the largest dealers in retail groceries in Northern New

York. Their stock is always choice and ex- tensive. Mr. Thompson's personal popu- larity has doubtless done much to bring about these results, but he is so very modest and reticent about himself that diligent ques- tioning has not elicited much of his early history. He may briefly he described as a " portrait painter diverted from his earliest aspirations to become engrossed in business."

WINCHELL DE VINNE RULISON was born in Carthage, March 25, 1844. He received his early education in that village, and his young manhood was spent as an assistant for his father, who was a surveyor. DeVinne be- came quite an expert at the business. July 13, 1865, he was married to Ella, daughter of William L. and Emeline (Henry) Easton, of Lowville. Mr. Easton was one of the most prominent citizens of Lewis county. At the age of 19 he started, in 1825, the Black River Gazette, a neutral paper. The last 12 years of his life he was in partnership with his son- in-law, Hon. D. W. C. West, in the dry-goods trade. He was one of the incorporators of the Bank of Lowville, and for many years a director and its president. Their union was blessed hy 13 children, seven of whom are living. Mr. Easton died March 8, 1865, aged 59. De Vinne Rulison, subject of this sketch, was for many years the search clerk in the county clerk's office in Watertown, and was favorably known for his gentlemanly manner. He entered the office in 1868, and served therein until his death, May 26, 1891, after a short illness. He was also clerk of the Board of Supervisors for several years. "De Vinne," as he was familiarly called, was a Republican in politics, and made many friends. His wife still resides in Watertown, a lady of refinement and culture. They have buried three children.

ANSON J. COMINS, who resides on High street, was the son of Alexander H. Comins, long a resident of Watertown, coming to this city in the thirties, and learned his trade as a mason from his father-in-law, Benjamin Jeffries, who was one of the men who helped to erect Beebee's factory. Alexander H. Comins married Amanda Jeff- ries, and they reared five children. Alexan- der H. died in 1842. Anson J. Comins, the subject of this sketch, received a common school education at the old Factory Street School, taught by Mr. Ingalls. He was ap- prenticed to learn the mason's trade, which he followed for 44 years, being concerned in erect- ing the Watertown and Rome depot, the resi- dence of Mr. Cook, on Washington street, and many private residences throughout the city. In 1861 he married Miss Augusta Curtis, daughter of Bradley Curtis, of Martinsburg, Lewis county. They have reared three children, Anna R., Grovene and Jay. These three children are yet at home, and their home is a typically happy one. Mr. Comins has long been known as one of Watertown's honorable contractors and build- ers; the natural outgrowth of those early times when mechanics of all descriptions

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 158

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