The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 165

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 165

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ERWIN ANDREW HAMMOND

WAS born in Carthage in 1825. He was the son of John D, and Hellanah (Settle) Ham- mond. His father, John D., was a contem- porary of Brodhead, and his assistant. Brodhead and Hammond ran the first line of survey through the Northern wilderness in 1798, and located the base line, from which all subsequent surveys have been pred-

ERWIN ANDREW HAMMOND.

icated. They afterward, near 1816, com- pleted and verified their work.

John D. Hammond died in 1836, aged 56 years, leaving his widow with 12 children. Erwin A. was then 11 years old. He was an ambitious boy, anxious to help his widowed mother. He was the first one to carry the

mail from Carthage over the direct route to Watertown, via Great Bend and Felts Mills. This journey he performed three times each week, covering both ways the same day, and once a week he carried the mail from Car- thage to Evans Mills, via Great Bend, Felts Mills and LeRaysville. He began to learn the hatter's trade in Carthage with Isaac Cutler, completing his apprenticeship in Utica. Returning to Carthage, he com- menced business for himself in 1846, and re- mained four years. He then moved to Utica and established himself in the hat, cap and fur trade, which business he conducted on Genesse street until 1882. Since then Mr. Hammond has retired from active business. He is one of the oldest Odd Fellows in Northern New York, being a charter member of Tohopeka Lodge of Carthage, instituted in 1848. He is also one of the oldest Masons and Knights Templar in this part of the country, and is a member of the Masonic Veteran's Association of Central New York.

He married Miss Elizabeth E. Hill, of Martinsburg, in 1848, and they have reared five children: Julia H., wife of Richard W. Sherman, of Utica; Eugene M., now de- ceased ; Alice Maria, who died at the age of 16 years ; Cornelia E. and Mary Louise, who resides at home. Mrs. Hammond died in 1893, much lamented ; to her own family her loss was irreparable. Since the death of his sister, Mrs. Marcus Bickford, Sep- tember 13, 1894, Mr. E. A. Hammond is the oldest surviving member of the family, and the only one, excepting Teranus P., the youngest of the family, who resides in Carthage.

Mrs. Hellanah Hammond, widow of John D., died March 22, 1864, aged 73. She was highly respected, a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and a model mother. The large family of children all reached maturity and are well known in Carthage and vicin- ity. Those not already mentioned are Cathar- ine A., the eldest of the family ; Theodore S., Junius D., Charles B., William Morris,

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Caroline M. (Mrs. Henry Empey), John W., Miriam M. (Mrs. Alva Wilson), Helen (Mrs. F. G. Connell). These nine are all deceased.

Mr. E. A. Hammond well remembers when in his earliest boyhood, there were still re- maining some portions of the five bridges, beginning at Tannery Island, that spanned the river by individual structures from one island to another. Some of the stringers of these bridges were remaining as late as 1838. He described the prevalence in Carthage of the "morus multicaulis" or silk-worm fever, which attacked so many communities in those early days. The plan was to plant the morus multicaulis tree, the leaves of which would be food for the silk-worm, pur- chase the worms, and at once enter upon the manufacture of silk. A family named Leonard came to Carthage from Lowville, and made preparations for manufacturing silk upon an extensive scale. The proposed industry was a taking business, because it

would give employment to women and chil- dren at home. The Leonards entered heart- ily into this project, but met with many dis- couragements. The appliances then in use for winding the delicate cocoons, were crude and unsatisfactory, and that made much waste. This, with many other draw-backs, resulted in the abandonment of the business. The Leonards finally lost all they had in- vested, and gradually they removed from the town, not one of their descendants now residing there.

The old "cocoonery" was a long building which stood next to the garden of Martin Rugg, on Mechanic street, and is now moved back a few feet and used for a barn.

Had we space, Mr. Hammond's many other pleasant reminiscences might be re- lated, but, as with many others, we are obliged to limit the space, for it would be simply impossible to insert as many personal sketches in each town as we would desire.

THE WENDLER MACHINE COMPANY.

IN November, 1892, Julius Spiro, Alex- ander Wendler and Wm. H. Munro pur- chased of the Empire Steam Pump Company their plant, situated on West End avenue, in Carthage. Through the enterprise of these gentlemen the machine shop was enlarged, a large iron foundry added, and various other improvements made. The object of this en- terprise was the manufacture of machinery for pulp and paper mills. Their business was prosperous from the start, in spite of the hard times all over the country.

During the years 1892-93 the large sulphite pulp mill at Pyrites, N. Y., known as the High Falls Sulphite Pulp and Mining Company, was designed and built under the supervision of this concern. Through Mr. Wendler's in- fluence this Sulphite Company was formed, with a capital of $200,000. It is the only sulphite mill in the United States which uses pyrites ore in the place of sulphur in the manufacture of the liquor for digesting the wood.

In 1893 Mr. Wendler purchased the in- terests of Messrs. Munro and Spiro and the business was continued under the name of Wendler & Co. Under this management the business continued to prosper, and soon as- sumed such proportions that it was decided to enlarge the works a second time, and Wendler & Co. concluded to form a stock com- pany. The new company filed their articles of incorporation under the name of "Wendler Machine Company," and September, 1894, received their charter. At a meeting of the stockholders, Messrs. A. Wendler, C. H. Rem- ington, J. G. Jones, A. Drewson and Curt Nicolai were elected directors. Since the organization of this company, the capacity of the machine shop has been doubled, and a commodious brass and bronze foundry added. These buildings were completed about Janu-

ary 1, 1895, and equipped throughout with the most modern improvements in the way of machinery, electric light, steam heating, etc., so that to-day the company has one of the most complete plants for the manufacture of their special line of machinery in Northern New York. In fact this company is the only concern in the United States manufacturing as a specialty sulphite mill machinery. It controls mauy valuable patents for machinery used in sulphite paper mills, and has built up a reputation in this line all over the country.

A. Wendler, the president and manager of the concern, was born in Zschopan, Germany, in 1863. His father. Carl Wendler, is in- terested in pulp and paper mills at that place, and gave him the best education. After graduating at the Royal College at Chemnitz he studied in Hanover and Berlin, and re- ceived his degree as chemical engineer. At the age of 25, after learning his trade in one of the largest paper mills in Germany, he started on a trip through different countries in Europe and at last came to America, where he worked in some of the best paper mills and machine shops. After three years of hard work he returned to Europe on a visit, and on his return went into partnership with Mr. Spiro, and opened an office as engineers for pulp and paper mills, introducing bis patents, together with the latest machinery invented for the pulp industry. One year later the firm of Munro, Spiro & Wendler was organized in order to manufacture their own machinery, which firm was succeeded by Wendler & Company, and finally the Wendler Machine Company was organized, and continue the business, although this en- terprising concern has met with some em- barassment, its future is now assured. Its loss to Carthage would be deplored.

الدجاج

THE WENDLER MACHINE COMPANY'S WORKS IN WINTER, CARTHAGE, N. Y.

793

WILNA.

CARLOS L. FREDERICK,

THE oldest merchant in Carthage, N. Y., was born in Perry, Ohio, July 19, 1829. His opportunities for education were very limited, but he had born in him that sincere regard for learning, which makes its possessor pay the price for its acquisition, thankfully de- voting every spare moment of his time to that coveted end. Under favorable environ- ment he developed into the hardy, resolute youth. The father having died when he was but one and a half years old, the family re- moved to Chittenango, Madison county. In 1844 he entered adrug store at Auburn, N. Y., as clerk, and thence forward his life has been devoted to the honorable business he chose at that early age. Remaining at Auburn three years, he removed to Syracuse in 1847, just as he was emerging toward legal manhood, casting there his first vote in favor of making that important village a city, as well as his political vote for Lewis Cass for president. In February, 1850, he married Miss Sophia Paddock, of Mentz, Cayuga county, N. Y.

In May, 1850, he opened a store in Car- thage, receiving his goods via Oswego and Sackets Harbor. His coming was the means of introducing many improvements among the merchants of that town, who had been content to use the old-fashioned oil lamps for lighting their stores; but Mr. Frederick brought out the article known commercially as "camphene," which gave a brilliant, clear light, and the oil lamps in public soon fell into "innocuous desuetude." This is but one illustration of his way of introducing many improvements.

His seven years of service as a pharmaceu- tist gave great confidence to the public in his business, and his reputation in that re- spect is not confined to this section. Being always progressive, and slightly aggressive, Mr. Frederick has been independent in every thing. He has always been active in every improvement of Carthage, the home of his youth and his later years. He has probably, first and last, had more young men who have became successful pharmacists under his tutelage than any other merchant in Jefferson county. They are scattered at several places over the State, and are known as well grounded in their business.

The persistency of Mr. Frederick was well demonstrated in his contest with the Guard - ian Insurance Company, whose merited in- glorious end was brought about by the search-light of investigation which Mr. Frederick's case brought to hear upon that organization after it had attempted to declare as "lapsed" a policy of $2,000, which was derelict, but only technically, as the com- pany had purposely dropped the usual notice for renewal. The outrage thus attempted, and the publicity given to the case through Mr. Frederick's efforts, before the Legisla- ture for four long years of persistent effort, at last forced the enactment of the now well-

known law which requires 30 days' notice to he given of the day of falling due of any pre- mium, no matter whether such notice is waived or not by the terms of the policy, or by its fine-type conditions, so seldom read.

Mr. Frederick's habit of keeping well up with the march of public progress, and in- deed a little ahead of the procession, is shown in the marked improvement of his store- front-building it anew with plate-glass windows, leaving it one of the finest drug and prescription stores in the northern part of the State. Here he manufactures the medicines with which his name has been long identified, among which is the noted Lungwort Syrup, in use in nearly every household in the country.

CARLOS L. FREDERICK.

Nor has he devoted all his powers to the accumulation of property, though in that he has been more than moderately successful. He was in his early youth a leader in all the movements relating to the advancement of the common-school interests of Carthage. In company with able contemporaries, he is one of those who can point to the fine High School building, finished in 1887, now a prominent object in Carthage, as an out- growth of his efforts in obtaining its present site, for he was a trustee under the old law, when, through his efforts and his co-trustees, the change was made to the Union Free School system. In that effort his labors are appreciated, and will be remembered long after he has joined the great majority.

794

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Mr. Frederick has been in business many years -- so long that his daily business rou- tine is now his life. He is noted in being one of the best business advertisers in the country, and believes strongly in printer's ink. His style of advertising is very unique and original. He means to wear out, not rust out, although greatly afflicted by pres- ent poor health and inability to get about with celerity. He has ever taken an active interest in polities, and until 1856 was a life- long Democrat, when he broke away from the unpatriotic traditions of that once power- ful party, and voted for Fremont. since which time he has acted with the Republi- cans. He has held several town offices, and has peremptorily declined to have his name presented for positions of larger responsibil- ity. He may be classed as an earnest parti- zan who, while not desiring office, would follow no party, "right or wrong," and the influence of such men is always powerful.

Take him all in all, Mr. Frederick is an unique and interesting character- a man of positive ideas, of a growth that has made the town a synonym for energy, for real pluck and for independence.

He owns and enjoys three beautiful islands in the St. Lawrence river, and owns Oakside Park, on Wellsley Island, as well as quite an interest in Round Island Park. He has a fine cottage on Frederick Island, where he and his family have spent their vacation for many years. He was the pioneeer and the first cottager in all that section now dotted with summer residences, where is now Thousand Island Park and its surround- ings. He was aggressive, and a leader in this as in other matters of public interest. We extract the following from the Carthage Republican, of September 5, 1894:

Golden anniversaries are rare, in any department of life, but especially so in a business field, with its shifting, changing fortunes. Our successful and skillful druggist, Mr. C. L. Frederick, has attained the proud distinction of having served 50 consecu- tive years in this important and intricate art. While he has seen many business houses rise and fall since 1844, he has gone steadily, surely onward, until he has won a competence, and best of all, a character for unswerving integrity, golden, like the mortar which he uses, secundem artem. Still hale and hearty. with brain keen and alert. the Republican ex- tends hearty greetings, and hopes that for many years to come it may be our pleasure to give pre- cedence among the list of veteran business men, to the name of C. L Frederick.

PATRICK SOMERVILLE STEWART,

A NATIVE of Edinburgh, Scotland, was born in 1790. When 14 years of age he shipped before the mast as a common sailor, and came to America. In 1815 he was so fortun- ate as to secure employment in the distin- guished LeRay family, for that meant ad-

PATRICK SOMERVILLE STEWART.

vancement from one position to another, as was the custom of that nobleman in dealing with all his employes. Young Stewart's natural sagacity, good judgment and ster- ling qualities were such that he gained the entire confidence of his employer, and in 1835 he had full power as Mr. LeRay's attorney and the care of his large estate. Mr. Stewart has had eight children. In February, 1876, his beloved wife died, aged 86. He was a Methodist in his religious affiliations, and a generous contributor to that organization.

In politics he was first a Whig, then a Republican. He was a peculiar character; possessed of an indomitable will, indepen- dent, positive, energetic in the maintenance of his principles, he was yet a man of much tenderness, and would sacrifice himself to serve a friend. He died in November, 1874, aged 84 years, leaving a reputation in no wise tainted by anything unjust.

John Stewart became a resident of Car- thage about the same time as his brother Patrick, and for many years lived an exem- plary Christian life. His widow and sister Ellen live at an advanced age, with Mrs. Stewart's daughter Sarah, (Mrs. B. Vroman, of Champion). These two ladies, possessing peculiarly happy dispositions, are of the kind that never grow old, looking forward to the reward of the faithful.

Patrick Somerville Stewart was in many ways remarkable. The writer met him as clerk when he was supervisor from Wilna. The town never had a more faithful offieer, nor one who took a greater delight in doing a duty to the best of his ability,

795

WILNA.

HON. ALLEN E. KILBY

THE subject of this sketch, was born in Hen- derson, Jefferson county, New York, August 13, 1842. His father, George Kilby, was a native of Connecticut, and his mother of New York State. Both were noted for their strength of character and kindly qualities of sympathy and good will. The subject of this sketch early manifested a desire for books, and soon formed the resolution to make his way through college. This was not easy where so much money was required, and the family wealth was small. The pro- ceeds of the home farm were needed to meet the demands of the family, and so young Kilby made up his mind to pay his own way by teaching school. He went from the dis- trict school at Henderson to Union Academy, Belleville, N. Y., from which he graduated

with high honors in 1866. He taught school winters to earn money to pay his expenses, and for a portion of the time, "boarded himself"-a phrase well known to many a poor student working his own way through school at this famous academy. From Union Academy he entered St. Lawrence Uni- versity, Canton, New York, and graduated therefrom in 1869, with a well won record for scholarship of the highest excellence. There, as at Union Academy, he had to rely on his own personal exertions for earning money to pay his college expenses; and his vacations were given always to hard work. The writer has known him to reach home from college on Saturday evening and go to work on the farm Monday morning-work- ing through the summer without a single

796

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

day's vacation, in order that the modest sum needed for the following college term might be provided. Entering the St. Lawrence University Law School in 1869, he graduated in the following year. While in college he was appointed tutor in history, mathematics and Latin, and remained a year after gradu- ating as instrnetor in mathematics. He was then chosen to the chair of pure mathematics in the University, but resigned the position to engage in the practice of the law. He was married to Miss Alice A. Johnson, daughter of Lynda and Fales Johnson, of Hen- derson, in 1871, and settled in Carthage the same year for the practice of his profession. Two children blessed this happy union, Ralph Lawrence, born July 5, 1880, and Bertha Alice, born August 4, 1883. From the first, Mr. Kilby made his mark as a close student, an excellent legal adviser, and a man of high character. Such qualities won for him the early confidence of the people, and age and experience brought him an in- creasing volume of legal business in his early professional career. In 1884 he was elected Member of Assembly from the first district of Jefferson connty by the largest majority ever given in that district, and re-elected in November, 1885. He took a high position in the Legislature as a painstaking member, and one of the keenest students of all meas- ures presented in the Assembly. Nothing escaped his laborious and faithful examina- tion of bills laid before that body, and while he modestly refrained from taking part in debates to any great extent, he was recog- nized as a leading and safe anthority on all matters coming before the Legislature. He served on the committees on judiciary, banks, public education, and on two-thirds and three-fifths bills, with great credit and acceptance. During his two years' serviee in the Assembly he refused all passes from railroads and' always paid his full fare wherever he went. \ His view was that no public legislator should accept favors from railway corporations, whose interests might be antagonistic to the rights and best inter- ests of the people. In 1891 his name was prominently mentioned as candidate for county judge, and the strong endorsement he received was gratifying proof of the esteem in which he was held in his native county.

Mr. Kilby, at this writing, is in his fifty-first year. and presents an all-round character for legal attainments and business ability seldom surpassed by one of his age in country life, and who has had to make his own way unaided by wealth and without the assistance of powerful friendly influence. He is a trustee of St Lawrence University and vice-president of the First National Bank of Carthage, N. Y. Upright and downright in character, possessing a rare equipment of general and legal learning, un- tiring in the discharge of every duty to his clients and to every-day life, Allen E. Kilby presents an object lesson of a self-made .

man-"four square to all the winds that blow "-and worthy of the fullest respect and confidence of his fellow -citizens. Mature in judgment, inflexible in his opinions, stain- less in his personal honor, and brave and true in his friendship-a loving and tender father, a faithful and affectionate husband- the subject of this brief sketeh adds dignity to his profession and honor to the citizenship of his native country. A. D. S.

JAMES PERRY HODGKINS.

JAMES PERRY HODGKINS, who died in his 78th year, on the 18th of November, 18-, was the oldest resident of Carthage, having resided there continuously since 1819, with the exception of a short absence. He was born in Kingsbury, Washington county, N. Y. He left there at the age of 16, coming to Carthage with his uncle, John Hodgkins, who built a foundry in what is now West Carthage, near the site of Coburn's mill. Under his uncle's instruction he became a worker in iron, in almost every department of which he exhibited great skill and enter- prise, until it became a common remark that he could make anything that could be pro- dnced from iron. His whole active life was spent in business connected with the iron in- dustry and with public works-he having been a contractor on the Black River Canal and the Utica & Black River Railroad, the latter of which he was one of the earliest promoters The piers of the railroad bridge which span the river at Carthage, were built by bim in the year 1852; and although the superstructure was not completed until 18 years later. the work was found to have been so well done and they were found in such a good state of preservation that nothing was required to render it a safe foundation. Mr. Hodgkins was a cousin of Alvin H. Perry, who won the renowned victory on Lake Erie over the British fleet, and in his youth enjoyed the privileges of an intercourse with that hero, which no doubt had the effect of turning his attention to political and puhlie affairs, in which he felt an uncommon inter- est. A firm believer in the principles of the Democratic party, not only in the days of its prosperity and glory, but in the dark days of its adversity, he adhered to its fortunes with undeviating affection and confidence. He never could consent to accept any office outside of the town in which he resided. As a neighbor and friend he was universally es- teemed ; genial and sociable, he was a great favorite with all classes. Possessing an ex- ceedingly retentive memory, his mind was stored with so much of the early history of this part of the State, that he was always re- lied upon for information of that character. He married Miss Julia A. Johnson, who sur- vives him, residing with her daughter, Mrs. G. B. Farrington, in Brooklyn, N. Y.

Mr. Hodgkins is well remembered by the author of this History, for he was kind to us when a poor boy learning a trade.

797

WILNA.

CAPT. H. J. WELCH

Is a native of Chenango county, N. Y., and was born in the village of Norwich, July 17, 1834. His parents were born in Stonington, Conn., and at an early day migrated to Nor- wich, where they carved out of the wilder- ness a home on the banks of the Canasawacta Creek, from which source have sprung a numerous progeny, the greater part of whom are settled in the towns of Oxford, Greene, Bainbridge and Afton. The Captain was educated in the academies of Homer and Oxford. He read law with Col. John Wait, of Norwich, and was admitted to the bar in Binghamton in 1861. In the fall of 1862 he removed to Carthage, and for a short time practiced law with Charles T. Hammond ; subsequently he opened an office by himself and for several years occupied rooms with

the Hon. Marcus Bickford. In August, 1864, permit was given by the State to raise a regiment for the War of the Rebellion. Under this permit a regiment was raised, known as the 186th N. Y. Volunteer Infan- try, in which the subject of this sketch was captain of a company.

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 165

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