The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 171

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 171

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CHAS, W. FRASIER, LIEUT. ASAHEL B. WESTCOTT.

GEN. THIOS. W. OSBORN, Chief of Artillery.

EDGAR B. STEELE. LIEUT, BESTER S. SAFFORD.

SOME UNION SOLDIERS.

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WILNA

half, was just enough for effective artillery work. At precisely one o'clock Lee's signal gun was fired, the shot directed upon Ceme- tery Hill. In less than a minute after, the 150 guns opened, more than half of which were turned upon Cemetery Hill.

After this firing had been in progress about an bour, General Hunt came upon the hill, and while consulting with Generals Howard and Schurz and Major Osborn of the progress of the battle, the artillery fire and Lee's probable intentions, the Major suggested that the firing of Meade's should entirely cease and permit Lee to develop bis plans. The three generals approved the plan and Hunt at once acted upon the sugges- tion.

The firing along the entire line bad no sooner ceased than Lee advanced Pickett's division, supported by two other divisions, to the grand charge upon Hancock's line. The result of that charge is well known. As soon as Pickett's colunin was in half-range, every one of Meade's guns opened with . grape and canister, with deadly and sicken- ing effect. Pickett's column melted away like the mists of morning before the rising sun.

At the close of the war, Major Osborn was assigned, by the Secretary of War, to other important duty, the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands for the State of Florida. In that capacity be served two years, and then resigned his commission in the army and became a citizen of Florida, with his residence at Tallahassee. Soon after his resignation he received from Chief Justice Chase the appointment of Register in Bankruptcy for Florida.

During the enforcement of the Recon- struction Laws, he took an active part in the politics of the State; was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, and drafted the Constitution of the State. By the Legis- lature elected under the new Constitution, he was elected in May, 1868, to the United States Senate, as a Republican, for the term ending 1873. He entered the Senate at the age of 35.

In 1876 he served as United States com- missioner at the Centennial Exposition, at Philadelphia. Otherwise than that he has held no public office since he retired from the Senate. In later years he has been en- gaged in business in Florida and New York, and in literary pursuits.

CHARLES W. FRASIER

WAS born in 1845 in the province of Ontario, Canada. He came to the United States when seven years of age. He enlisted in Cham- pion in 1864, in Co. H. 186th N. Y. Vol. In- fantry, and served with his regiment until 1865, when they were mustered out. He was wounded at Petersburg in the terrible charge upon Fort Mahone. He was a brave and faithful soldier, always ready and willing to do his duty, and, since the war, has been untiring in his efforts to advance the interests

of the G. A. R. Mr. Frasier comes of fighting stock, and is proud of the fact that some of his ancestors took part in every war in which this country has been engaged. Post Steele, of Carthage, N. Y., has no more active and zealous member than Mr. Frasier, and he is as patriotic and loyal to-day as he was in 1864. He is a well-known and re- spected resident of West Carthage. He is best known, perhaps, in connection with the Carthage newspapers, having been engaged with both the Republican and Tribune.

EDGAR B. STEELE,

For whom the G. A. R. Post at Carthage is named, was born at Evans Mills, November 14, 1842. His parents were Elisha and Eunice (Barret) Steele, who were old resi- dents of LeRay. Edgar B. had the benefit of the common schools. At a very early age he enlisted in Co. I, of the 35th Regt., and served with that organization until wounded at Fredericksburgh, which necessitated the amputation of his left foot. He was dis- charged for the disability thus incurred, and returned to his home at Carthage, where he learned the trade of shoemaking. He was a courageous soldier, who proved his valor by his wounds. In 1864 he married Miss Jennie Carr, and they raised two children, Frederick C. and Miss Mabel D. Mr. Steele died March 6, 1878.

'ASAHEL B. WESTCOTT

WAS born at Pillar Point, N. Y., May 6, 1839. His father, Asahel Westcott, was drowned off Oswego, N. Y., May 3, 1839, and his mother, Cynthia Westcott, is still alive, and lives at Dexter, N. Y. Asahel B. worked on the farm of his grandfather until he was 16 years of age, and then went to Falley Seminary at Fulton, N. Y., where he graduated two years later.

When the Civil War broke out he was teaching school at Pillar Point. He responded to the first call for volunteers, and enlisted April 22, 1861, at Sackets Harbor. He was mustered into the service of the United States June 11, 1861. at Elmira, N. Y., in Co. K, 35th N. Y. Vols., as private, and par- ticipated in all the battles the 35th was en- gaged in-among them being the second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antie- tam and Fredericksburg. He was commis- sioned second lieutenant February 17, 1863, and mustered out of service with the regi- ment June 5, 1863, at Elmira. He married Martha E. Westcott, of Sackets Harbor, December 31, 1864. In February, 1872, he moved to Carthage, and engaged in carpen- tering and building. He was trustee of the village for two years, and justice of the peace two years. He was a charter member of E. B. Steele Post, G. A. R., and was com- mander for one term, and also a prominent Knight of Labor. March 3, 1890, he was ap- pointed postmaster at Carthage, and held that office until his death, which occurred

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April 20, 1893. His children are : George H., Mabel and Edwin. His widow survives him.

BESTER S. SAFFORD,

WHOSE face is shown upon the composite soldier's plate for Wilna, was born in Harris- burg, Lewis county, June 1, 1834. He was the son of Bester B. and Amy (Stockwell) Safford, of Lewis county, and came of a patriotic ancestry, his father and grandfather having served in the War of 1812, and his great grandfather and his three brothers in the Revolutionary War. Bester S. was reared a farmer. He was deputy sheriff in Lewis county for three years, and in 1865 married Anna S. Peebles, daughter of Charles E. and Lydia Peebles, and they had five children born too them. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. G, 3d N. Y. Cav. Soon after the arrival of his regiment in North Carolina, Safford was pro- moted to corporal, and later to lieutenant, and he greatly distinguished himself on the scout and in battle, and received the commenda- tion of his commanding officers for his good conduct.

When his term of enlistment had expired, in the autumn of 1864, he came home to Lewis county, re-enlisted in January, 1865, in Co. H, 26th N. Y. Cav., and was soon pro- moted to first lieutenant of that company, and served as such faithfully and to the entire satisfaction of his commanding officers, and was mustered out with the command in July, 1865.

While serving in the army he was attacked with congestion of the lungs, which was the cause of his death in August, 1894, in his 60th year. After coming to Carthage he was tax collector for two terms, and overseer of the poor for two years in the town of Wilna. He was a member of Orient Lodge, F. & A. M., of Copenhagen,

Lieutenant Safford was a kind and gener- ous man, but of strong and positive character. He was loyal to his family and friends, and was a brave and gallant Union soldier.

CARTHAGE VILLAGE BOARD.

GEORGE SPICER, president of the village of Carthage for 1894, is of English descent, and was born in Perch River, Jefferson county, August 27, 1861. He is the son of Henry and Delia (Allen) Spicer. Henry Spicer was supervisor of the town for several terms and Member of Assembly in 1876, be- sides holding minor offices. George Spicer came to Carthage in 1882 and was in the em- ploy of Ryther & Pringle for three years. In 1888 be bought the property once owned by the late Hiram McCollom, and built a pulp-mill, and later a veneering-mill, which are now (1894) running. The piano trim mings are shipped to New York, where a market is found. In 1891 he also erected a fine residence on State street. He was mar- ried in 1888 to Miss Minnie, daughter of Dr.

Isaac Normander, of West Carthage, and they have one daughter. Mr. Spicer is prominent in the order of Odd Fellows and is also a member of the Royal Arcanum and Foresters. He is an enterprising, respected citizen and has the confidence of the village which he officially represents.

GEORGE W. PARMENTER,

WHOSE portrait appears also in the composite soldier's plate in the town of Champion, has been a resident of Carthage over 20 years. In 1862 he married Miss Hattie A. Dunham, a most estimable lady. Mr. Parmenter is the son of Snell Parmenter, a native of Vermont, who settled in St. Lawrence county in 1808. George is one of five children and an archi- tect and builder. At the present time he has a contract for the fine new Baptist church in Gouverneur, his native place, which promises to be a beautiful structure. Mr. Parmenter is an enterprising, patriotic citizen. At the breaking out of the late Civil War he enlisted in the Fifth New York Artillery, serving three years. He has been twice elected trustee of the village of Car- thage and is now serving his second term.

CHARLES A. HORR

WAS born in Carthage, October 19, 1850. He received the benefits of the Carthage schools until 17 years of age, when he took a business course at Syracuse, N. Y. In the fall of. 1869 he went to St. Joseph, Mo., where he remained two years. Re- turning to Carthage in 1871 he married Miss Jennie VanPelt, when he again went west and was engaged in the grocery business until September, 1876. He again returned to Carthage and conducted a grocery busi- ness until 1893. He has been twice elected town clerk, has served two terms as trustee of the village, and was foreman of the Steam Fire Engine Company for two years. He has also been treasurer of Carthage Masonic Lodge, No. 158, for two years, and has be- longed to the official board of the M. E. Church, at Carthage, since 1877. He is at present travelling salesman for the house of Griffin & Hoxie, Utica, N. Y.

LEONARD G. PECK.

ALLEN PECK, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., July 20, 1795. His father moved to Den- mark, Lewis county, when Allen was but a lad. The family was large, and in those days every one physically able was expected to be at work. Here Allen was bound ap- prentice to Judge Root, to serve at the shoe- maker's and tanner and currier's trade until he should be 21. After serving out his ap- prenticeship, he came to Carthage. At that time there was no road between Denmark and Carthage-nothing but a bridle path. He built a tannery in company with Walter Nimocks.

He was twice married, first to Ann Gil-

Ande

GEO. W. PARMENTER.

LEONARD G. PECK.

GEORGE E. SPICER, President.

CHARLES A, HORR. WALLACE W. SWEET.

OFFICIAL BOARD OF THE VILLAGE OF CARTAGE, N. Y.

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WILNA.

bert, of Fort Ann, N. Y., by whom he had two children, William A. and Harriet. The last named died when two years of age. His second wife was Cynthia Dean. There were two children by this marriage-a daughter, also named Harriet, who died at the age of 29, and a son, Leonard G.

Allen Peck was one of the pioneers of Car- thage. He was a veteran of the War of 1812. His judgment was clear and sound, his heart was sympathetic and tender-his life was stainless. He entered into his rest, April 14, 1853, in his 58th year.

Leonard G., the only surviving member of the family of Allen Peck, was born Septem- ber 3, 1832. He obtained his education at the Carthage Academy, and at the age of 17 entered apprenticeship to Clark Dodge, for three years, where he acquired the trade of wagon-making. Soon after his father's death, he entered into the employ of his brother, William A. Peck, as a clerk, in which position he continued until about a year from the time of the death of that most estimable and beloved citizen, in November, 1863.

In January, 1867, he embarked in the car- riage business in Carthage, on the corner of State and Mechanic streets, which he con- ducted somewhat extensively for about 10 years, since which time he has discontinued regular business.

He married Helen Frances Bellinger, of Carthage, July 7, 1858. There were born to them three daughters, who are all living to cheer his now lonely fireside. His beloved wife died January 29, 1893.

Mr. Peck has been a member of the Board os Education continuously for 27 years, and has ever, through a love for youth and liter- ary acquirements, been deeply interested in, and closely identified with, all pertaining to

educational matters, in connection with the Carthage Union Free School. It may be truly said that the present position of the school, in the front rank among public schools of the county, is due in a great measure to the devotion and untiring zeal of this worthy citizen. [He is a man of de- cided literary tastes, as is shown in what he has written for this History. See the general history of Carthage. Mr. Peck has been a life-long resident of Carthage. J. A. H.

WILLIAM WALLACE SWEET,

A TRUSTEE of the village of Carthage, was born June 9, 1856, in the town of Wilna, the son of Edwin and Pamelia (Kelsey) Sweet. She was the daughter of Enos Kelsey, of Le- Ray.

William Wallace, the subject of our sketch, was one of four children. He re- ceived his primary education in the common schools, completing it at the Oswego State Normal School. He came to Carthage in 1882, and was employed as salesman in the stores of Walter Horr and of C. E. Francis, remaining some 10 years.

He married Miss Nettie A. Francis, a daughter of Gilbert Francis, of Felts Mills, and they have six children : Ethel C., Ger- trude M., Ernest E., Erma P., these last two are twins ; Lora and Leah, who also are twins. Mr. Sweet is one of the assessors of the town of Wilna, and one of the trustees of the village of Carthage, secretary of the Car- thage Loan and Building Association, and assistant chief of the Fire Department. His present position is salesman for Mr. C. E. Van Slyke. Mr. Sweet is an honorable and respected citizen, enjoying the confidence of his fellow-citizens, as is amply evidenced by the honorable positions to which he has been called.

WORTH.

THIS town is known in the old records as town No. 2. of Bolyston's tract, and was erected from Lorraine, by an act of the Sen- ate and Assembly, April 12, 1848. It is pro- vided that the town shall be about six miles from east to west, and about seven miles from north to south, the boundaries to be co- extensive with those of town No. 2. Its name was bestowed in honor of Gen. J. W. Worth, of the United States army, who be- came personally known in this county during the Patriot disturbances of 1838-40, and whose services in the Mexican war, about the time the town was separately organized, had made him one of the most prominent actors on the American side. His name was selected in preference to Roseville and Well- ington, which had also been proposed.

The general surface of the country is un- dulating and very elevated, the altitude of this town being probably greater than of any

other portion of the county. In the eastern part of the town is the divide between the Black river and Sandy creek in Jefferson county, and the Salmon river in Lewis county. The south branch of Sandy creek flows through the town in a general westerly direction to its confluence with the north branch, in the town of Ellisburg. It has numerous tributaries, the principal ones be- ing Chloe and Abijah creeks, named after Miss Chloe Wilcox and Abijah Gillett respec- tively. These streams afford water power at certain seasons of the year, and drain the town thoroughly. In general the town is less broken by "gulfs" than Rodman and Lorraine, but from its great elevation it is subject to early frosts and deep snows. The soil, being underlaid by a shale rock, is less liable to drouth than the lower portions of the county. and is admirably adapted to grazing. The surface was originally covered

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

with a fine growth of timber, chiefly beech, maple, hemlock and pine, and considerable forests are yet found in the southern and eastern parts of the town. These forests have hitherto been the source of considerable revenue, furnishing the material for numer- ous mills and tanneries. Gathering these products and dairying are the principal indus- tries of the people of Worth.

In order to make the portion of the pro- prietors of the Black River Tract equal, the eastern portion of the town of Worth was divided among them. Reckoning from north to south, these tracts were Harrison and Hoffman, 1,283 ; Henderson, 649; Low, 1,576 ; William Constable, 947 acres ; the re- mainder to Harrison and Hoffman, 22,004 acres. A portion of these lands are in what is known as the "mile strip," an unlotted tract a mile wide, extending along the eastern side of the town. In the northwestern part of the town Daniel McCormick and Charles Smith made purchases, which afterwards be- came the center of the first settlement. Abel French, an active and prominent agent of McCormick and Smith, secured the services of Joseph Crary to make the first surveys in November, 1801, and in May, 1802. The town was only partly surveyed, and subse- quently was plotted in such a way that several duplicate numbers occur, which has occasioned some trouble. French was also instrumental in the formation of the first settlement. Passing through Herkimer county, from his home at Denmark, he suc- ceeded in inducing a company of citizens, re- siding at Litchfield, to purchase, in common, a large tractin this town. Timothy Greenly, Joseph Wilcox and Elihu Gillett were ap- pointed a committee to visit the tract and report upon the advisiblity of making a purchase upon the proposed basis. Their report being favorable, a contract was con- cluded July 22, by which they agreed to pay French, as the representative of McCormick and Smith, $7,622 for the northwest quarter of the town. Afterwards a deed was execu- ted to them, in trust, for themselves and their associates, and a mortgage given. The tract was divided into lots (it comprised the nine great lots in the north west corner), and drawn by ballot by the company, who paid over certain moneys to the committee, and re- ceived bonds for the delivery of the deeds when the purchase money should have enabled them to produce a clear title. Be- sides the committee mentioned, the company consisted of Asaph Case, Leonard Bullock, W. Flower, Eli Gillet, Lodwick Edwards, John Griswold, Ezekiel Chever, Phineas Rose, Joel Caulkins, Abram Ford, Nathan Matson, Asa Sweet, John Phinear, Phineas Stevens, Elijah and David Richmond, John and William Sagas, John Houghtailing, and perhaps a few others, all from Herkimer county, and mostly natives of Connecticut.

Among the first to settle in the town were Asaph Case and Leonard Bullock. They came in the fall of 1802, and settled on lot seven

and eight, some of their families residing there at the present time. The latter had three children-Electa, Alanson and Char- lotte-on coming to Worth, and had nine more born to him. Of the twelve, eleven grew to mature years. Leonard Bullock was born in 1817, and resided upon the farm taken by his father many years continu- ously. Contemporary with the Case and Bullock families, was that of Elisha Gillet, one of the company's committee. Of the Gillet family, several are yet citizens of Jefferson county. Mr. Bullock's first house was built entirely of logs. There was no floor, door or window in any part of it. The roof was made of hollow basswood logs, split and so laid that every alternate one formed a trough to carry away the water. A blanket hung up served as a door, and the earth, smoothed down and covered with leaves served for a floor. A large open chim- ney supplied a place where they might cook their scauty meals. The following year Joseph Wilcox came, by way of Redfield, making the journey in the month of March, with an ox-team hitched to a sled. There were no roads nor bridges, and their only guides were by blazed trees Reaching the Sandy creek, then swollen by a recent freshet, they were at a loss how to cross it. But the strong native sense of the pioneer is equal to any emergency. A tree was felled across the stream, so as to form a foot bridge, over which the load was carried piece by piece ; the oxen were then urged into the stream and swam across, carrying the sled with them ; and then a bed-cord was fastened in turn around the necks of of their three hogs, and these, too, were safely piloted across, although it was at first feared that they had met a fate similar to that which had befallen the swine of the Gadarenes, when the com- mon enemy of man had taken refuge in them. Upon reaching the spot selected for his home, Mr. Wilcox erected a log house, which had a puncheon floor, bark roof, and for a window a sheet of paper, oiled, so as to admit the light. It had a chamber floor, too, but, being made of elm bark, the utmost caution was required in the movements of the occu- pant. The winter winds, too, would some- times ruthlessly take away a portion of the roof, admitting the snow to the depth of several inches, so it was not uncommon to be obliged to shovel away the snow before those in bed could descend to the room below.

Sterling Wilcox, then a lad of 15, came with his father, and for many years lived near the spot where they first broke the quietude of the forest. He served in the War of 1812, and was an active, useful citizen. Nearly all the others of the Litchfield company came in 1803, working their way to their destina- tion with great difficulty. After this was reached, their lahors and trials were by no means ended. Living remote from the set- tlements below, they had no roads except wood-paths, and no vehicle but a drag formed from the crotch of a tree and drawn

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WORTH.

by oxen. However, the settlements grew apace and had attained respectable propor- tions, when the war broke out and filled the country with alarm. Many deserted their homes and went back to their native places. Several cold seasons followed, causing others, who had braved the terrors of war, to follow, until the settlements were almost depop- ulated. Then the mortgages were fore- closed, bringing hardships upon those who remained; for all had, by the terms of the contract, made themselves liable for the fail- ure of one, and much of the land reverted to the proprietors.

From this time until 1828 the history of the town is uneventful, and in 1830 it was yet comparatively new and unsettled, as will be seen from a list of the names of those then residing in Worth: Joseph Wilcox and his son, Sterling ; Daniel Wilcox; Asaph, Abel, and John Case; E. West, John Russell, Chester Bushnell, Andrew W. Craig, John Wilson, Paul Pryor, Peter Wakefield, Joseph H. and Venus C. Rising, Joseph Totten, James Potter, Zadoc Hale, Henry, Erastus, and Richard Lyon; Leonard and Alanson Bullock, Joel Overton, Boomer K., Charles and Lyman Jenks; William, Simeon, and James Houghtailing ; Eli, Elihu, David, and George Gillet ; Leonard Parker, Daniel and Joseph Caulkins, and Nathan Matoon. Among those who came to Worth this year was Albert S. Gillet. He at once identified himself with the town, and he, as well as his brother, Lorenzo P., made a good record in Worth's history. The organization of the town in 1848 gave it another impetus, which resulted in the formation of settlements in the central and southwestern portions.

The manufacturing interests of Worth are limited chiefly to saw-mills. The first at- tempt to build one was made by Leonard Bullock in 1808, on the Sandy creek, on lot 7. The work had progressed as far as the raising of the frame, when a foreclosure on the land of one of the company obliged him to post- pone it. The building was never completed. In 1810 Joshua Miles built a saw-mill and grist-mill under one roof, on the Sandy creek east of the Corner. Miles selected his mill- stones from the rocks in the woods, and very ingeniously constructed a mill with the few simple tools at bis command. He operated the mills five or six years, then sold to Timothy Greenly, who, in turn, sold them to Abner Rising. They remained the property of the Rising family while in use. The grist mill was for a long time the only one in town. and until it was built the settlers had to carry their grain to Adams or Whitesville, which usually took two days.

A saw-mill was next built, about 1816, by Joseph Wilcox and Green Kellogg, near the Corners, on the site of the present grist-mill. To erect the latter, a company was formed in 1856, composed of A. S. Gillet, L. P. Gillet, Abel Case, Sterling Wilcox, Leonard Parker, Horace R. Chafin, and Boomer K. Jenks, who bought the millsite of John Henderson,

and offered it, together with a cash bounty, to Pealer and Fox, who erected the mill in 1860. It is a two-story frame, has two run of stone, and was capable of doing fair work.

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 171

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