The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 160

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 160

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).

COLONEL CHARLES E. MINK.

MRS. SARAH C. MINK.

760

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

less fortunate of their comrades and their families, she was among the first to offer her services, and was elected President of the First Relief Corps, in Syracuse, New York, serving three consecutive years. Upon re- tiring from that office she was elected Presi- dent of the State Corps, which office she held three years. She was elected National Presi- dent of the Woman's Relief Corps at their convention held in Indianapolis, September, 1893, and gave a year of untiring devotion to the interests of the work which has become second to none in the world in membership and money expended for relief of dependent veterans and their families. In eleven years the organization expended in charity $1,013, - 560.25, and has a membership of 140,000. Mrs Mink is a woman of broad spirit and great force of character, which is proven by the office seeking the woman, and in every case she has been elected to office as the

unanimous choice. She was the first National President of the Woman's Relief Corps to represent that great Association in the National Council of Women. Upon her re- tirement as National President, she was made a life patron of the Council by her co-workers. In the address of the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, John G. B. Adams, of Massachusetts, is the following extract :

"I most cordially endorse all the work of the Woman's Relief Corps, and take this op- portunity to thank their President, Mrs. Sarah C. Mink, for her cordial co-operation in all matters connected with my administra- tion; and am sure I express the feelings of every comrade when I say that the Grand Army of the Republic, whose auxiliary they are, thank them from their heart of hearts for the assistance they have so grandly rendered us."

THE TUBBS FAMILY.

IN saying, as the author of this History has done when writing of older Watertown, that the name of "Streeter" was the only one to be seen upon a sign-board in the city that was in existence in the same line of business in 1833, he was mistaken. That name, however, and that of "Tubbs" may truthfully be said to be the only ones in Watertown that have been continuously in the same line of trade for the past 68 years.

ALANSON TUBBS was the founder of this house. He came to Watertown in 1827, after conducting a small business in Cham- pion, justly concluding, with inany others, that Watertown was the coming town. He was born in Chatham, N. Y., February 15, 1801. He was married in September, 1826, to Miss Cornelia Canfield, of Champion, daughter of Jared Canfield, one of the best known farmers in the eastern part of the county. Mr. Tubbs had great faith in honest industry. It must be remembered that the wants of the town in the line of hats or any other merchandise was very different from what it is to-day. A man who sold $6,000 worth of goods in a year then, was a leading merchant. Mr. Tubbs first began manufac- turing hats in the old red hat-factory which stood upon the river-bank at the foot of Arch street, below Whittlesey point-but the building has long since disappeared. He made his own hats, for the days of the wholesale hat merchant had not yet come. Year hy year he grew into the business and in public confidence, until his goods were re- garded by critical judges as the best on the market. He accumulated a competency by honest and fair dealing, and was in active business at the time of his death, in Febru- ary, 1874. His wife survived until August, 1876. Mr. Tubbs filled out in all respects the full requirements of a good citizen. He was a superior mechanic, having learned his

trade in his youth. He loved a good hat, and took an honest pride in his calling. He was one of the last of the old merchants of Watertown, for he was contemporaneous with Safford, Ely, Farwell, Peck and others, and left a memory of which his family may be proud.

He had three sons born to him : Jared Can- field, Sanford Alanson, and Charles Hobart. Sanford died in 1854, about 22 years of age. He was teller in the Black River Bank for several years. Jared is well remembered as for many years in the Watertown Bank and Loan Co. with Hon. Geo. C. Sherman- afterwards for nearly 25 years he was in the treasurer's office of the R. W. & O. R. R. He retired from active business several years since.

CHARLES HOBART, the youngest son, chose the calling of his father, and had been a member of the firm eight years when his father died. He has continued the business uninterruptedly, enlarging and improving it, and is now in his own building at No. 18 Public Square. He was appointed commis- sioner of public works, to fill an unexpired term, and was reappointed for four years in May, 1894. He is a useful, respected, capable citizen, a little conservative, it may be, but fully "up to date," and has aided in educating the people up to the idea that the Public Square of Watertown is one of the finest in America, and not equaled in many places in Europe. The Square only needs one notch to he filled up to render it almost above criticism, especially now that the larger part has the substantial, smooth as- phalt pavement.

In 1869 he married Miss Emma Smith, daughter of Charles D. and Sabra Smith. Mrs. Tubbs died in August, 1894.

Mr. Tubbs fully sustains the excellent reputation of his father, for he is a good

WATERTOWN.

761

CHARLES HOBART TUBBS.

citizen in the highest sense of the word; the friend of temperance, of religious growth and of the highest education practicable .in the public schools. During his long resi- dence in Watertown he has always favored progress, and has been ever ready to lend a hand in effecting needed improvements. In 1885 he was one of the men who introduced the Electric Light Company, and in 1893 he helped to start the Canning Works. Other branches of industry have been aided by his helping hand.

The article upon the TUBBS family has called up many reminiscences relating mainly to those who were in trade and formed the actual business men of Watertown 50 years ago. Take the drug business-there is only one man now alive who was in that branch of trade in 1845; Mr. Talcott Hale Camp, the honored President of the Jefferson County

Bank, whose long life has witnessed the rise and fall of so many firms and individuals, but through all changes he has been the same courteous, amiable gentleman. In dry goods who can name a man in that branch of mer- chandise who has been here 50 years ? Mr. Cadwell was then scarcely out of his frocks, while the Bushnells had not yet passed the years of easy lessons, Kirkham's grammar and Ruger's arithmetic. Bush, Bull, Roth & Co. were then wholly unknown. All this goes to show that it only takes two generations to almost entirely change the population. How many men are now living who were in Wa- tertown in 1833, when the writer began to learn his trade in the office of the Democratic Standard? Less than 50, as near as we can count them. This surely shows the import- ance of history as a means of perpetuating the memory of those who have passed away.

762

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

LIEUT. FREMONT P. PECK.

THE sad tragedy which ended the life of this prominent young army officer, "in the line of his duty," at the proving ground at Sandy Hook, on February 19, 1895, was a shock to all who knew his history and splen- did promise for the future.

The following account of his death is taken from the New York Herald : "First Lieutenant Fremont P. Peck, of the Ord- nance Corps, was killed by the bursting of the breach of a Hotchkiss gun on the prov- ing grounds here this morning. Lieutenant Peck was in charge of the gun, and was standing beside it when it was fired. Frag- ments of the broken breech struck him on the face and neck, inflicting terrible injuries, from which he died a few minutes later."

Lieutenant Fremont Pearsons Peck was

born at Stone Mills, Jefferson county, Febru- ary 23, 1866. He came from good New Eng- land stock. Of his early ancestry, four great-grandfathers fought in the Revolution- ary War.

An uncle (William E. Pearsons) on his mother's side, was an aide on the staff of Gen. Taylor during the Mexican War. It Is thus clear that the subject of this sketch was born with the blood and fire of military enthusiasm in his veins. From the district school at home he went to Canton Univer- sity, where he spent two years, and at the age of 17 entered as a cadet at West Point. He graduated with much distinction in 1887. His first commission was as 2d lieutenant in the First Artillery, and he was stationed on the Pacific Coast. In February, 1891, he

763

WATERTOWN.

was successful in passing examinations transferring him to the Ordnance Depart- ment, being made 1st lieutenant. He went to Springfield in April, 1891, and remained until the late summer of 1892, when he was ordered to Sandy Hook.

During his life at West Point, and while in the army, he was always looked upon as one of the most faithful students and one of the brightest young officers in the service. He took into the associations of army en- vironments the rugged health and buoyant spirits of the farm, and his simple, dignified deportment endeared him to all with whom he came in contact.

Lieutenant Peck ranked high in the con- fidence of his superiors and brother officers in army circles especially. He was a keen searcher after truth, and his mind grasped the technicalities of gunnery and ordnance problems to a degree very seldom attained by young officers. He was an expert author- ity-even in one so young-in regard to the intricate details of strength of metals, veloc- ity and force of projectiles, their elevation and trajectory, and the difficult questions of windage and range, were well understood and mastered by him. In character and attainments he stood in the very front rank of our younger ordnance officers.

Up to the time of his pathetic death, it is not too much to say that his promise of future usefulness and distinction in his chosen profession was unrivalled. Ambi- tious, chivalrous, enthusiastic and schol- arly, death cut short a noble career just as manhood's morning was breaking into full view. The mysteries of our humanity almost confound us in the sudden close of such a promising young life, with so much to hope for, and such great power of achievement.

The loss of such an officer affected his companions in arms deeply, and his native county mourned the untimely fate of one of her most promising sons. The proofs of the appreciation of his superiors in the army are conclusive evidence of the standing he had won as a capable officer, and several of these touching memorials to his worth are here- with given. No words can add to these beautiful tributes to his efficiency as an officer, and to his worth as a man :

GOVERNOR'S ISLAND, NEW YORK, March 27, 1895. MR. ABNER W. PECK, Watertown, New York.

DEAR SIR : I would gladly, if possible, offer some words of consolation for the loss of your son, Lieu- tenant F. P. Peck. From my first acquaintance with him in San Francisco, some years ago, I have re- garded him as an officer of unusual merit, and a most estimable young gentleman. Words are weak in the presence of such a terrible bereavement, but I hope it will be some consolation for you to know that your son was regarded by all who knew him as one of the purest of souls and a man whom it was a pleasure and privilege to know. Cut off suddenly, while in the execution of his duty, the world has lost a young life of rare promise, and the army has been deprived of one of its most brilliant ornaments. The deepest affliction falls upon his family, and in this affliction I heg leave to tender my profoundest sympathy.

Very sincerely yours, NELSON A. MILES,

Major-General U. S. A.

WASHINGTON, March 2, 1895.

MY DEAR SIR : I enclose a few copies of my order announcing the sad death of your son. Will you ac- cept my very heartfelt sympathy for you and your daughter in your terrible affliction.

Sincerely yours,

MR. A. W. PECK, Watertown, N. Y. D. W. FLAGLER.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE, UNITED STATES ARMY,

WASHINGTON, February 21, 1895.

With deep sorrow the Chief of Ordnance announces to the Department the death of Lieutenant Fremont P. Peck, at the Sandy Hook Proving Ground, on the 19th inst. He was killed while in the active dis- charge of his duty, by the hursting of a gun. He was in charge of the firing detachment and was himself firing the gun that exploded.

Lieutenant Peck was appointed a cadet at the Mili- tary Academy, from New York, in 1883, and was graduated in June, 1887, and served in the 1st Artil- lery till March, 1891, when he was transferred to the Ordnance Department. He served at the Springfield Armory, Massachusetts, from April, 1891, to July, 1892, since which time he has been continuously on duty at the Proving Ground.

Lieutenant Peck was an officer of fine abilities, great professional zeal, a hard worker and a close student. While on duty at the Proving Ground, in addition to his regular duties, he has performed val- uable investigation work for the Department, and is the author of some valuable reports. His course while in the Ordnance Department had indicated for him a brilliant future. His death is a serious loss to the Department. His fine mind and many engaging qualities endeared him to all the officers of the De- partment with whom he came in contact, and his sad and sudden death casts a gloom on all who knew him.

As a token of respect to his memory, the National flag will be displayed at half-staff at each Ordnance establishment on the day after the receipt of this order. and the officers of the Department will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.

D W. FLAGLER, Brigadier-General, Chief of Ordnance.

The above tributes prove that the young soldier-so suddenly and awfully taken away-gave promise of rare attainments in the life-work he had chosen. It was an hon- orable career he had marked out for himself, and he made his ideal of life high and noble. He was gentle and just-loyal and true- sweet in his love of kindred, and the very soul of honor. A glance at the last letter to his sister proves that his dear ones were ever in his thoughts: "Have you been com- pletely frozen up this winter? Many times, this season, when my feet and hands and ears were numb, my thoughts have turned to the old-time winters when we lived on the farm. I have been out in all the cold we have had, nearly from breakfast until 5 P. M., and sometimes have felt pretty stiff from it." A few hours after this reference to the "old- time winters on the farm" was written, death had sealed the volume of his young life forever, but it must have opened upon a broader theater and amid more beautiful surroundings than those of earth.

The following letter from a class-mate of Lieutenant Peck is a noble picture of the sweet soul so recently gone to its rest. It will fittingly close this sketch of one of the most promising sons of Jefferson county, who died at the post of duty in his early youth :

764

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF DAKOTA, SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, March 26, 1895.

* * * Iam a thousand times obliged to you for the sad satisfaction you gave me, through your letter with enclosed clippings about our beloved Peck. I somehow missed the Item in the daily papers and was reading my Army and Navy Journal in the accus- tomed way, when my eyes fell upon the announce- ment. You can imagine my feelings and how eagerly and vainly I prayed and hoped for a refutation; alas, it was too true I did not know where to turn to pour out the flood of sorrow that was surging through me, but my thoughts went to you of course. I presumed the funeral was over and I had been denied the melancholy satisfaction of the tribute of a flower to the manly form of him I loved best of all men-poor, dear old Peck! Why could not some of the many "little" men he taken, instead of the large, generous, noble fellow? I knew him well, and never saw him, under any circumstances, that he wasn't a man; true, frank, courteous and lovable. I knew he died as he had lived, like a man; and with all he had to live for. I can see calm contempt on his face over the fatal hlow, and for the gun that gave it. If I had known that you were with him, I should have telegraphed you; but I thought he had been deliv- ered to his relatives. I knew you loved him, and he loved you, too. I have heard him say as much so many times. I wish I could see you and have a long talk; we may have it some day, and I know how per- fect will be our sympathy. Thanking you again, and hoping to hear when you have time to send a line, believe me, Always most truly yours, S. D. STURGIS.

Many messages of condolence were re- ceived by his father and sister, lamenting the death of their noble son and brother, among these being a touching one from Hon. Charles R. Skinner, Superintendent of Pub- lic Instruction of the State of New York, and who, as a Member of Congress, appointed Lieutenant Peck to West Point. A. D. S.

EBENEZER GEORGE FERRISS,

CIVIL ENGINEER, is descended from Puritan New England stock. His ancestor, Zebulon Ferriss, was from England, being the first man to plow a furrow in the town of New Milford, Conn. Zebulon Ferriss's sons hav- ing professed the Quaker faith, were obliged to quit New England, and moved to Quaker Hill, in Dutchess county, N. Y., where their descendants are prominent citizens now. Benjamin Ferriss, great-grandfather of E. G., was an engineer and surveyor, and laid out the townships in a large portion of Ver- mont, west of the Green Mountains, and took out the charters for many of those towns from the King of England, the grants being to Benjamin Ferriss and associates. Ethan Allen and many of his associates pro- cured their titles for land through him. One of Benjamin's brothers, John Ferriss, moved to Pennsylvania, and from him have des- cended many prominent engineers-G. W. Ferriss, of the "Ferriss wheel" being one.

E. G. Ferriss was born August, 1828, in Camden, Oneida county, where his father was postmaster for many years. In 1842 his father moved to Mexico, in Oswego county. Here George attended the Mexico Academy for four years Governor Allen C. Beach, of Watertown, and a number of afterwards prominent men, were schoolmates of his. In 1846 his father moved to New York city.

In March, 1847, he began his professional work as rodman, on the survey of the Hud- son River Railroad. In 1848 he was pro- moted to assistant engineer, and had charge of the work from 31st street to Manhattan- ville, until the road was completed with one track, when he was promoted to resident en- gineer, in charge of work for second track on "New York Island." In June, 1850, he came on the Rome & Watertown Railroad, first at Rome and afterwards at Watertown, as assistant to Henry Van Vleck, with a division extending from Adams Centre to Cape Vincent. In September, 1851, he rode into Watertown on the pilot of a locomotive, the first to enter the village, the first man to reach Watertown by rail. In the fall of 1851, he, with George W. Wood, of Camden, took a contract to build the dock and fill the bay at Cape Vincent. In the spring of 1852 he sold his interest in the contract. In the summer of 1852, he located a plank road from Paterson, N. J., to Jersey City. In the fall of 1852 he went to Savannah, Ga., on the Savannah water-works, where was built the first of the iron tanks for water-works put up in America. In 1853 he came to Water- town and took charge of the Potsdam road, from Watertown Junction to Antwerp.

In December, 1854, on the completion of his work on the Potsdam road, he went on the Erie Canal enlargement at Rochester, where he was an assistant to Ely Parker, the Indian chief who was afterwards General Grant's private secretary.

It would require more space than we can spare to detail all of Mr. Ferriss's professional engagements, which cover many of the States as well as Canada. He has been an exceptionally very industrious engineer, both upon railroads and other public works, as well as upon water and electric plants, and has evinced in all his efforts a faithful knowl- edge of his business. He is a safe and con- servative engineer, abundantly able to fully understand the varied requirements of his laborious profession.

He is an expert in all departments of public works. Watertown has been his home many years. His wife is one of the daughters of Mr. Failing, long and favorably remembered as the hotel keeper on the Pamelia side of the river, and whose family, though large, had not one "black sheep" in it-the children all holding honorable positions in society.

In July, 1864, he enlisted in the 18th N. Y. Volunteers at Sackets Harbor, and went with that regiment to Virginia. He was pro- moted to second lieutenant in August, to first lieutenant in February, 1865, and cap- tain in May of the same year. He is a much respected citizen, and good for years of ser- vice in his profession. He was the engineer in constructing the armory on Arsenal street, as well as upon the final construction of the road from Watertown to the Brookside ceme- tery. His work is visible upon many other improvements in Jefferson county, and they all mark his ability as an engineer.

765

WATERTOWN.

ALANSON P. SIGOURNEY.

MR. SIGOURNEY was born in Watertown, December 27, 1809, the eldest of a family of six children of Anthony Sigourney, Jr., and Betsey (Gloyd) Sigourney. the former a native of Bennington, Vermont, and of French extraction ; the latter of Hatfield, Connecticut, of English descent. Two only of the family survive, the subject of this sketch and his brother William Harrison, now 80 years old. They are among the very oldest and most respected of the early settlers of Watertown.

Mr. Sigourney has been married twice- first to Miss Wiley J. Finney, November 6, 1848, who died from cholera at Sackets Har- bor on her return from Toledo, July 13, 1854; second, with Miss Julia C., daughter of the late Dr. Eli Eastman of Adams,

September 27, 1855. Five children were born to them : Alanson P., Jr., Harrison, Julia C., Lucy and Mary. Mary died April 3, 1861, and Lucy, January 28, 1870. Alan- son, Jr., resides with his father on the original Sigourney farm; Harrison in Rod- man, both married, and Julia C .. the wife of Dr. F. M. Shepard, in Denver, Colorado.

Nearly all now upon the active stage of life have heard of or know Mr. Alanson P. Sigourney. He has been distinguisbed in many ways-as a teacher for many years, as Secretary of the Agricultural Society for over 20 years, and a farmer from his youth. His mind is as clear to-day as it was at 40.

For Mr. Sigourney's business life the reader is referred to page 295 of this volume, in the general record of "The Sigourney Family."

766

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

WILNA.

[Much of the historical part of the town of Wilna has been prepared by MR. LEONARD G. PECK, of Carthage, a writer of coneeded ability, and a historian with just views of men and things. But the author of this His- tory, a part of whose boyhood was spent in Carthage, has contributed much to this nar- rative, and has been further aided by others, who are so modest as not to be willing to have their names mentioned.]

OF the 22 towns, comprising the county of Jefferson, there are 12 which are older than the town of Wilna. Of these Watertown and Champion stand first-organized March 14, 1800 ; Adams, Brownville and Rutland come next, organized in 1802, while the remainder, seven in number, have a precedence in point of time, varying from three to ten years.

At the time the county began to settle, its territory was embraced in two towns of Oneida county ; all north of Black river be- longed to Leyden, now a part of Lewis county. By an act passed April 4, 1806, all that part of Leyden in Jefferson county was annexed to LeRay. By an act passed April 2, 1813, a part of Lewis county was annexed to Jefferson, and the town of Wilna was erected from territory belonging to LeRay and a part of Leyden. The territory thus appropriated comprised 37,768 acres.

The boundaries of the town are as follows : The northwest by LeRay and Philadelphia, on the northeast by Antwerp and a part of Lewis county, the latter also forming its eastern, southeastern and southern bounda- ries, and on the southeast by Champion, from which it is separated by Black river.

Indian river runs through the western and northern part of the town, furnishing several good mill sites. Black ereek and its tribu- taries extend through the town in a gener- ally northwesterly direction, and the south branch has one or two good mill sites. The relative limits of Jefferson and Lewis coun- ties have been changed three times. The establishment of the present boundaries, in 1813, gave to Jefferson county considerable accessions from Lewis county in the town of Wilna. The soil is a sandy loam, and is mod- erately fertile. The surface is chiefly under- laid by the primary rock and by calciferous sandstone.

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 160

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