The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 21

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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104

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

he taught school 3 months to earn money enough to pay his expenses at the Academy. During the time he was at the Mexico Academy he kept up with his classes all the while he was teaching, and was prepared to enter Union College with the rest of his classmates. In 1848 he was examined at Union in the Freshman, Sophomore and Junior classes, passing them all readily, and entering as a Senior. After one year's study he graduated with honor in 1849, at the age of 31.

Thus far he had earned by his own efforts the money needed for his support during these educating years. After graduation he was again constrained to begin to labor for his own support. He came to Watertown in 1849 and accepted a professorship in the Black River Literary and Religious Insti- tute. He remained there nearly a year, and then entered the office of Joshua Moore, Jr., as a student at law. During the first year of his law study he taught a private school in the Hayes block in a room in the rear of Mr. Moore's office, pursuing his law studies at night and early in the morning. This continued for two years, when he was ad- mitted to the bar.

In the fall of 1852 the trustees of the La- fargeville Academy persuaded Mr. Beach to take charge of their school. When he began there the previous term had closed with less than a dozen scholars, and at the end of his first term he had over 100 pupils.

In the fall of 1852 he began to practice law, and in 1853 he formed a law partner- ship with Levi H. Brown. This partnership continued 15 years, until 1869. This firm conducted as large, if not the largest and most successful law business in the county.

In the spring of 1852 Mr. Beach married Miss Abbie A. Woodruff, the fourth daughter of Norris M. Woodruff. This estimable lady died in September, 1856.

In the fall of 1860 Mr. Beach was a dele- gate to the National Democratic Convention at Charleston, S. C., and to the adjourned convention held later at Baltimore, Md. He was chairman of the Democratic county committee from 1860 to 1870, and perfected a plan of party organization which resulted in a Democratic gain in Jefferson county of over 1,700 in a single year. This plan was so successful as to have attracted the atten- tion of Mr. Tilden, chairman State commit- tee, who sent for Mr. Beach, and together they perfected and applied the plan to the whole State with gratifying results. In the fall of 1868 Mr. Beach was elected lieuten- ant-governor on the ticket with Governor John T. Hoffman. though in the nominating convention Mr. Beach had been opposed by Tammany. He received a larger vote than Governor Hoffman. After serving two years, he was unanimously re-nominated and elected to the office of lieutenant- governor, running ahead of the ticket as before.

At the end of his term of service, Gover- nor Beach returned to Watertown and re- sumed the practice of his profession. In 1877 he was nominated and elected Secre- tary of State, which office he held from 1878 to 1880, when he was again re-nominated, but defeated at the polls by less than 1,400 votes, owing to a division in the Democratic party. In 1868 and 1872, and again in 1876 he was a delegate to the Democratic Na- tional Convention.

Mr. Beach married in the spring of 1862, Miss Olivia Pickering, danghter of Capt. Augustus Pickering, of Sackets Harbor. She died in 1892, leaving one daughter.

About 1880 Mr. Beach retired from the active practice of his profession, devoting such time as was necessary to the manage- ment of his own private business, and to the oversight of the Henry Keep Home, founded by Mrs. Keep-Schley, in memory of her de- ceased husband. He has managed the in- come secured to the Keep Home in a most satisfactory manner, the Home being free from debt, with quite a snug sum saved from the incomes and safely invested. He is treasurer and vice-president of that noble institution; a director and member of the executive committee of the Watertown Spring Wagon Co .; a director in the Water- town Savings Bank, and executor of several estates.

He was chairman of the State executive committee from 1868 to 1872, taking charge of the campaign work, with headquarters in New York. In 1873 he was acting chairman of the State Democratic committee, by rea- son of Mr. Tilden's absence in Europe. In 1874 he was elected and served as chairman of that committee during the campaign which resulted in the election of Gov. Til- den by over 50,000 majority. In 1872 he presided over the Court of Impeachment, sitting for the trial of Judge Barnard. None of Gov. Beach's decisions in that celebrated trial were ever overruled. At the close of that trial the members of the Senate unanimously passed the following resolutions:

Resolved, That it is the sentiment of the Senate that the ability, dignity and impar- tiality which have distinguished Lieut .- Gov. Allen C. Beach in the discharge of his re- sponsible duties as presiding officer of the Senate, not only during its legislative ses- sion, but also in the protracted trials which have taken place before it, and in the trial by the Court of Impeachment, justly entitle him to the confidence and approbation of the people.

Resolved, That he is entitled to the grate- fnl remembrance of the members of this body, for the courtesy and kindness which have uniformly characterized his official acts, and his social intercourse with them all.

Resolved, That these resolutions, after being appropriately engrossed and signed by the president pro tem. and clerk, be pre- sented to him as an expression of our high

BIOGRAPHIES.

105

appreciation of his ability and honesty, as a presiding officer, and as a tribute to his social worth.

These resolutions were laboriously and elegantly engrossed and framed at a cost of $1,500, and the Governor treasures them

among the precious heirlooms of his home.

The Governor has held many local offices in Watertown, among the rest superinten- dent of schools, in 1852-53, and member of the board of education for several years, ending in 1869. J. A. H.

JAMES R. SWEENEY.

THE historian finds nothing so agreeable as to speak of men of humble origin and unprotected in their youth who have man- aged by natural capacity to overcome their untoward environment, and have risen to positions of more or less prominence, and dying, have left names sweet to be remem- bered. A mile and a half south of the vil- lage of Geneva in Ontario county, N. Y.,

there once stood upon the shore of the lake a couple of primitive glass manufactories, which have now wholly disappeared, though the place around them once had a popula- tion of 500 souls. It was to this locality that the parents of James R. Sweeney re- moved from Baltimore, Md., when the in- fant James was barely two months old. His father died before he was six years of

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

age, leaving the widow with a large family of little children to care for, with nothing to aid her save her own two loving motherly hands and her natural wit. She was a noble woman, with a strong physical organiza- tion, and by unaided exertion was able to keep her young family together, vibrating between her residence and Geneva, then only an unpretentious hamlet. Here young Sweeney remained until 16 years of age, obtaining such education as the opportuni- ties of those early days afforded to poor men's sons. His elder brother had, how- ever, reached his majority and had become of considerable assistance in supporting the family. In 1832 this elder brother removed the widow and her younger brood from the neighborhood of Geneva to Phila- delphia, Pa., and soon after to Jackson, N. J., where they remained several years.

This elder brother having lost his health, they were reduced to the very depths of poverty, and so the family returned to Phila- delphia. But in that city their hardships found only slight amelioration. At 19 years of age James was turned out into the world alone and friendless. Removing to Wins- low, N. J., he obtained employment as a teacher. and remained nearly two years. Here he saved a small sum of money and removed to Baltimore, his native city, where he remained about a year engaged in teach- ing and at the same time attending a higher grade of school as opportunity would per- mit. In the spring of 1837 he returned to Philadelphia, where he was employed as assistant in a school at a low salary, but in the bargain he was to be given opportuni- ties for study and improvement. His next operation was a grocery store among the common people and in a poor neighborhood. But his venture was a success financially, though his capital was necessarily small. Previous, however, to starting into this gro- cery business he had opened a private school, which was well patronized.

The health of his elder brother having been established, he, in company with James and another practical glass-blower, was in- duced, after being promised financial aid by a gentleman who was to contribute as part- ner a definite amount of capital for conduct- ing the business, to enter into the manufac- ture of window glass at Redwood, in Jeffer- son county. To this place the whole family, mother, sons and daughters (in all a dozen souls), removed in 1840, James having pre- ceded the others two or three months so as to make needed arrangements for house- keeping. Here, among strangers, with capi- tal entirely inadequate to conduct an ex- tended business, Mr .. Sweeney began to manufacture glass. The party who had promised capital utterly failed to carry out his agreement, and the business was ahan- doned after nearly two years' hopeless strug- gle with adversity. Then the whole family were once more left without a dollar, their means of subsistence taken away, and their

condition deplorable in the extreme. It re- sulted in a separation of the family, and they were never again united. The business fail- ure was followed by many annoyances, some law suits, and much condemnation. Mr. Sweeney left Redwood with his scanty ward- robe tied in a handkerchief, bis good mother having just then accepted a situation as housekeeper, and her two young girls ac- companied her to her new home. Not hav- ing money enough to pay his fare in the stage ($1.25), young Sweeney walked to Watertown, reaching there foot-sore and weary. In that whole town he new but three persons, and to neither of these would he apply for aid. Rising early in the morn- ing he sallied out looking for something to do. Meeting the kind-hearted P. S. Stew- art, of Carthage (with whom he had had business relations). he was offered $10 in cash as a loan, and a three months' guar- anty for his board. Thus equipped he felt like a new man, and resolved to attend the Black River Literary and Religious Institute to improve his education, boarding with Mr. A. Whitford, one of the professors in that school, through whom he afterwards ob- tained a situation in the clerk's office under Mr. C. B. Hoard, then county clerk. Mr. Sweeney found in Mr. Hoard an unchang- ing friend, one who did all in his power to advance the interests of his young pro- tégé, and though Sweeney was a Whig. he was kept at work in the clerk's office in spite of the repeated efforts made to oust him. His industry and ability made him too valuable a man to be spared. During his three years' continuance in the clerk's office, Sweeney paid off his Redwood debts, and walked out of that office a free man on the expiration of Mr. Hoard's term of ser- vice.

During his visits at Mr. Whitford's on Mechanic street, Mr. Sweeney formed the acquaintance of Miss Mary Stimson, of Ant- werp, who had come to Watertown to live with an aunt, Mrs. Job Sawyer. This timely acquaintance ripened into love and marriage three years afterwards, a union that has been exceptionally happy. for this young lady possessed qualities which have made her beloved by all who have had the pleas- ure of her acquaintance. She was her hus- band's companion and wise assistant while they resided at Watertown, Clayton, and twice at Washington, in New York, and in the city of Philadelphia.

After leaving the county clerk's office Mr. Sweeney was bookkeeper in a machine- shop, where his neatness and industry were well appreciated. He also held a clerkship with Merrick & Fowler, at Clayton, and re- ceived the unqualified approval of his em- ployers.

He was in Washington from 1849 to 1857, as clerk in the pension bureau. In 1858 he became a partner with Mr. Hoard in the agricultural works, near the engine factory in North Watertown for a number of years,

B.B. Jaggarl.

107

BIOGRAPHIES.

and brought that business to a successful conclusion at the time Mr. Hoard removed from Watertown. Following the winding up of the agricultural works, he was in Philadelphia froni 1873 to 1876, as treasurer of the Woodruff Sleeping-car Company, in- stituting many reforms in the management of that concern, which became prosperous. From Philadelphia he removed to New York city, accepting a position in the New York custom house, where he held a responsible place, being promoted for his ability from one grade to another. Here he remained a number of years, but finally received a per- manent injury to his eyes from being obliged to write by gas-light, while his division in the building was being repaired. His rap- idly-failing eye-sight induced him to return permanently to Watertown in 1882, and after several years of patient suffering from poor eye-sight and the usual deterioration of the system, he died in the Woodruff House, where he had boarded for many years, on May 17, 1889, in the 75th year of his age.

Mr. Sweeney always proved equal to any position or emergency in which he was

placed. He was not a collegiate, but came. from a poor family, with only the very slightest advantages in his youth Yet he was a ready writer, a frequent contributor to newspapers, a man of logical mind and unusually clear perceptions. His fidelity to his friends was a prominent trait, and any one who ever did him a favor found him eager to make more than a fair return for it. In all the positions he held-some of them confidential and important-and often in positions where money had to be han- dled, there never was a complaint of any dereliction of duty or any betrayal of trust. His address was finished, his manner gentle, his speech and bearing invited confidence. He was a man with great reserve force, and he proved equal to any task he was called upon to perform.

Such characters are hard to duplicate, While only his intimate friends knew his full capacity, he impressed the observer as an earnest, energetic, honorable man, who shrank from no responsibility and swerved neither to the right nor left -but went straight on in the path of his duty.

J. A. H.

HON. BYRON B. TAGGART.

THE subject of this brief biographical sketch was born in the town of LeRay, Jef- ferson county, N. Y., on the 28th of April, 1831. The Taggart family, from whom he descended, ranks among the old settlers of this section of the State .. His father, Henry Taggart, was born in LeRay, and his mother, Julia Deighton, in Pamelia. They lived and died in their native county, and the old homestead is still owned by their descend- ants. His great-grandfather, Joseph Tag- gart, resided in Newport, R. I., where he carried on a shipping trade, frequently crossing to Europe in sailing vessels in the line of his business. He emigrated to the United States from the Isle of Man.

Mr. Taggart's immediate family consisted of six brothers and two sisters, viz .: Demp- ster, who died in childhood, Joseph B., Wil- liam W., Watson Henry, Demptster D. (named after his deceased brother), and the sisters, Mary and Orea Of the brothers, Watson H. died in Terra Haute. Ind., in 1853. and Dempster D. in Watertown, in October, 1889. The sister Mary died in 1871. With the single exception of the eldest child the whole family grew up to manhood and womanhood, and married. Theirs was a family possessing unusual force of charac- ter, and if their individual history could be fully written out, it would furnish a valua- ble picture of the trials, successes and per- severance of a large family of children horn in humble life, and who largely had to make their own way in the world.

The products of a farm in this region fifty years ago were barely sufficient to provide for the necessities of a large family of chil-

dren, and to do even this called for a self- sacrificing toil on the part of parents and elder children, at once noble and beautiful That the members of this family came of good and thrifty stock is abundantly proved by the useful and successful career of each. In the battle of life they have all won hon- orable positions in the circle in which their lot was cast.

Byron B. worked on the home farm until he was eighteen years of age-working sum- mers and latterly teaching school during the winter term. The experience gained while "boarding round," and in the man- agement of country schools, gave him an excellent insight into character, which greatly aided him in later years. He at- tended the State Normal School at Albany, for one year, and afterward' went West, where he spent three years. In the spring of 1856 he returned to his native county, and on the 28th day of May of that year, he married Miss Frances L. Brown of Water- town, daughter of Jabez and Lefa Brown. This choice of a wife proved a very happy one, and two daughters and two sons blessed the union. Mrs. Taggart has been a loving wife and devoted mother, and still lives to grace and bless a home her presence and help have done so much to brighten and secure.

The patriotic fervor of the period of the great Rebellion in 1861 found full recogni- tion in the heart of Mr. Taggart. In 1862, after the conflict had deepened into a gigan- tic civil war, he raised a company of volun- teers for 10th N. Y. Artillery, and was com- missioned a captain in November. 1862. He had command of Fort Ricketts, comprising

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

a part of the important defenses of Wash- ington, where he remained up to November 23. 1863, when family responsibilities and ill-health led him to resign his commis- sion. He was a capable and efficient offi- cer, and merited and received the full con- fidence of his men and of his superior offi- cers. The service he rendered in the army made a heavy drain upon his health, and ever since he has at times been a great sufferer from disabilities contracted while in the line of duty, On the 14th of May, 1878. Gov. Robinson appointed him a trus- tee for the " completion, management and control of the Soldiers' Home" at Bath, N. Y., and he was re-appointed to this trust by Gov. Cornell on the 4th of May, 1881. In 1879 he was elected mayor of Watertown, and re elected in the following year. His administration of the affairs of the city were marked by a careful discharge of the delicate and somewhat onerous duties per- taining to the trying position. He brought a business man's experience to the service of the city, and left the position with an ex- cellent record.

He was one of the orignators and is presi- dent of the Taggart Bros. Company, of Watertown, and the Taggert Paper Com- pany, of Felts Mills. He is vice-president and one of the promoters of the Watertown Thermometer Works, a company providing employment to between 40 and 50 workers. He was also one of the organizers of the Watertown National Bank, and is a director in this institution. He is a stockholder in the Watertown Spring Wagon Company

and in the Watertown Carriage and Gear Company. He is president of the Central Park Association which occupies one of the finest sites on the St. Lawrence river, and is president of the Alexandria Steamboat Company. He is also interested in the Hotel Eastman, at Hot Springs, Ark., built to accommodate 850 guests.

This record of industrial interests which his enterprise and means have helped to develop, amply prove that he is a citizen who fully meets the best requirements for furnishing employment to the people, and adding to that circulation which creates wealth in his own home section of the State. As a business man Mr. Taggart is well and widely known, and is respected for his sterling integrity, thrift, enterprise and pub- lic spirit. His career has been a successful one,-both in the days of war and in the times of peace,- and he is yet in the prime of life.

As a type of a farmer's son, winning his own way to a position of influence and use- fulness among the business men of his day, and acquiring a competency through his own efforts, besides commanding the confi- dence of both political parties .- as his offi- cial trusts continued through two adminis- trations abundantly prove, - he is one of our self-made men, worthy as few are, and whose achievements are a valuable part of the history of our country. His life is proof of how grandly the American Volun- teer - transformed into an American busi- ness man-adapts himself to every duty, and so stands forth as one of the best products of our cosmopolitan civilization.

REMINISCENCES OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.

MAJ .- GEN. JOSEPH HOOKER.

FOLLOWING our personal histories of the various organizations which went into the great Union Army from Jefferson county during the Civil War, it may be proper also to introduce some personal experiences con- nected with at least one of the leading bat- tles, as well as some minor details, which may in the future shed some light upon the events of that trying time when the South- ern States attempted to secede, and fought until completely exhausted in order to give permanent shape to one of the greatest political heresies the world has ever wit- nessed.

Major General Joseph Hooker, who com- manded the Union forces in what is known as Chancellorsville campaign, was almost a resident of Watertown, for he came there often to visit his sisters, Mrs. Brainerd and Mrs. Wood, and the Watertown people were always glad to see him, for he was in all respects a most genial gentleman, welcome in any circle, I have thought that a sketch of that part of his operations in the Chan- cellorsville battle, which came under my own personal observation, and in a small part of which I had the honor to share, would be interesting 20 years from now,

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THE WAR FOR THE UNION.

when half a century shall have elapsed since that battle was fonght, and when all who were there present will probably have passed away. Excepting the defeat of the Union forces at the first Bull Run, perhaps no more disappointing affair occurred dur- ing the whole rebellion than the repulse of the army of the Potomac at Chancellors- ville. General Hooker, by command of President Lincoln, had succeeded Burnside, and was fortunate in having made a favor- able impression upon that courageous army which had lain in winter quarters around Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg. Under Hooker's supervision the almost impassable Virginia roads near our cantonments had been vastly improved, better discipline and greater confidence prevailed among the men, and, what went to the very hearts of the rank and file, freshly baked bread and several vegetables were a part of the daily ration. When the time came for Hooker to cross the Rappahannock he was in command of a superb body of confident troops, with every warlike convenience at his call. It is true that there were not lacking among his subordinates some who were prompted by a selfish ambition to freely criticise their new commander, as they would have criticised any officer who might have been placed over them, and as Hooker in his turn had criti- cised others - for those were the days which " made ambition virtue," when captains of a year before had been made colonels and brigadiers, and were commanding brigades and even divisions. I remember that a staff officer of General Patrick told me be- fore a gun had been fired at Chancellors- ville that Hooker would be defeated. Per- haps the wish was father to the prophecy, and I pondered at the time whether that officer did not reflect the views of his chief, who was originally from Jefferson county, and had been a major in the old army when Hooker was only a captain.

It is not my purpose to describe in detail the Chancellorsville fight. Those who wish to fully understand it will find all the moves ably described in the Comte de Paris' "Civil War in America," as well as in the admirable articles published during 1890 and '91 in the Century Magazine. Two general impressions, however, were left upon my mind by what I saw and understood at the time. One was that our serious misfor- tunes began when Hooker himself was stunned by an exploding shell almost at the beginning of the conflict ; and, what was al- most as fatal. the widely extended line of the Union forces - nearly 7 miles in length - gave Lee an opportunity to break through at any weak point, and this all the more readily as Hooker appeared unable, after his mishap, to give intelligent oversight to the carrying out of his general plan. The indi- vidual corps commanders did not act in concert - indeed, so dense were the woods and so intricate the roads that it was difficult to manœuver large bodies of troops. True,

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 21

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