The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 78

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 78

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).

Miss Barney writes that her father (Dr. Lowrey Barney) "became acquainted with General Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall), in 1852 in the city of New York, at the home of a mutual friend. At that time the General was ill with dyspepsia, and had been ill for a long time and could get uo relief. He liked

365

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

my father's ideas on the subject of medicine and the treatment of diseases, and finally he told my father that he was coming home with him to be treated, and although he answered that the accommodations here in the country would not be what he was accustomed to, still he insisted that he could put up with anything if he could only procure health. So he came, and was a guest in our home for six weeks, and went away from here a well and happy man, as I have letters of his to testify. The treatment was mostly diet, and, after resting half an hour, a long walk around to our harbor and return. My father corres- ponded with him up to the time of the war, and in one letter he said 'in case of war he should go with his mother State, Virginia.'

"At the time he was here he was a professor in the Naval Academy at Annapolis. He was educated at West Point; was a devout Chris- tian and a true gentleman. I have some of his letters, and one written from Boston, in 1853, when on his wedding tour, is particu- larly interesting."

These two incidents are worthy of mention, as showing that brave men are ever forgiving, and that many a man was mixed up in that fratricidal strife who abhorred its savagery, and sought to ameliorate it so far as lay in his power.

AND what shall the historical student say of the future, as it appears to him? It has been well said that it may be useful to learn from one war how to conduct another, but is it not wiser to say that it is better to learn from the dreadful experience of one great conflict how to avoid another? I am anxious to im- press this upon the readers of my History be- cause the experiences of the past seem to show that wars have a tendency to come in pairs, and thoughtful men seem to see, as a result of our wide spread of territory, with the sometimes divergent necessities of each sec- tion, the incipiency of a second civil war. It may be that had treason been more thoroughly punished at the close of the Rebellion, the fear of such punishment would deter all men for many years from such another demon- stration, which was criminal in its inception, illogical in its reasoning. fatal in its develop- ment and ending, and most pernicious in its example to posterity. No citizen has a right to say that the results of the civil war are worth all they cost unless he is capable of properly appreciating how very heavy was the cost, and unless he is doing his utmost to perpetuate the beneficent results. To strive to forget that great war for the sake of senti- ment in politics, is to cast away our dearest experiences, and to invite, in some troubled future, the destruction we so closely escaped in 1860-65. There can and ought to be re- membrances without hatred, but there can never be oblivion without peril. For if we ignore the past, and have so far forgotten what it taught, we may, when too late, be called upon to confront experiences even worse, springing from a kindred cause. It may not be irrational to name that cause-it

was the effort of a few men, trained in public life, aristocrats by nature and hy long con- tinuance in public office, to govern the whole country by their supposed preponderance of intellect and capacity to govern. Such an effort is essentially un-democratic-and it is upon the pure democratic idea of every man's equality before the law and in the disregard of hereditary rulers that all our success as a nation has been founded. All efforts to de- stroy those ideas are, in reality, blows at our national life. It is in a plain system, void of pomp, that our people will find their greatest happiness and our nation its best development. It is not too much to say that Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour, was himself the first and the purest Democrat, for He taught man's entire equality and the union of human- ity for humanity's sake-as Lincoln expressed it later, a union of the people for the people's sake.

It may be that nations, like individuals, are not altogether capable of fully comprehending or appreciating the crises of their history, and fail to understand fully the pitfalls they may have escaped, or the grand opportunities they may have imperfectly improved. Certain it is that the United States survived a strain upon its national existence during the civil war, that, it appears to the writer, could never again be endured. Not that patriotism is dead or the personal honor of the people weakened, but the present indifference to the peril that was threatened and the astonishing ingratitude of the geueration now upon the stage towards those who filled up the gap rent in our advancing columns by the assaults of rebels, would stand out so boldly and would become so definite a menace to those who might feel prompted by patriotic motives to take up a musket and fight-we say that such remembrances would inevitably deaden valor and chill patriotism to such an extent that most men would stay at home and let the waves of destruction sweep wherever they might be impelled. We have in a previous article alluded to the manner in which the Confederate veterans are petted all through the South. Their valor is appreciated and duly honored. This appreciation springs spon- taneously from the hearts of those Southern people, for they were in "dead earnest " in all they undertook, and those who survived the struggle are welcome at any fireside, are looked upon as were those who fought at Thermopyla, as veritable Gods. and worthy of worship. It may be that a similar senti- ment may manifest itself in the North after all its heroes have passed away. But it is a sad reflection that those who fought for the right have but scant acknowledgement among their fellows-while the surviving soldiers of the most unreasonable and unholy cause the world has ever seen are regarded in the light we have named. The North makes money its God. The Southerner will fight for a sentiment quicker and longer than he will for money or any form of gain. lle upholds his ideas by every means at his command, while the Northerner asks " Will it pay."

366

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

THE WISE FAMILY.

JOSEPH WISE.

JOSEPH WISE, the subject of this sketch, was the son of Edward Wise of Baden-Baden, Germany, born in 1832. He came to America in 1844, where he learned to be a machinist and tool manufacturer, serving an apprentice- ship which terminated only when he was 21 years of age. In 1856 he removed to Brad- ford, Conn., where he was in the employ of the Bradford Lock Works, becoming foreman of their machine department, remaining there until 1868. In the winter of that year he came to Watertown to superintend the lock factory that occupied the site now used by Andrew Wilson as a cider mill. This loek works was started by one J. D. Wasson, who had been book-keeper in the Bradford works, and was well acquainted with Mr. Wisc's ability as a manager. Mr. William Palmer was associated with Mr. Wasson, under the firm name of Wasson & Palmer. In 1870 this firm parted with its interests to Wooster Sherman, who conducted the same until des- troyed by fire in 1872. Mr. Wise then became an employé of the Watertown Steam Engine Company, upon the site now owned by the

works of his son James, on Mill street. He was afterwards employed by the Davis Sew- ing Machine Company, and remained with them about a year, when he began to manu- facture upon his own account, the Davis Sew- ing Machine Company being one of his prin- cipal customers. In 1874 he removed to the basement of the present Hitchcock Lamp Company's building, then the property of Van Nameee & Smith. He continued manufactur- ing the sewing machine line of hard ware until 1877, when his son James B. was taken into partnership. They at once began to make sewing-machine wood work upon a much larger scale than previously, and, in 1881, they moved to the larger building, known as the Lasher mill, located on Huntington street, to accommodate their increased business. Mr. Joseph Wise died in 1886, aged 53 years, after living to see the business he had started in a very small way, grown into proportions per- haps second to none in the country.

În 1853, Mr. Joseph Wise married Elizabeth, daughter of James Black, of New York city. They reared seven children: Edward, now

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

367

JAMES B. WISE.

an engineer upon a Western road; Mary F., who married Francis E. Joslin, the trusted foreman of the large manufactory owned by his brother-in-law, whose sketch is given below; Lois, wife of Frank S. Pelton, of Chicago, superintendent of Poole Bros'. print- ing establishment; James B., who is the suc- cessor of the firm of Joseph Wise & Son; Anna A., wife of Dempster Rockwood, of Cham- pion, a progressive farmer; Josephine E., who married Edward B. Allen, of Portland, Maine, but at present holding an important position with the Singer Manufacturing Com- pany at Elizabeth, N. J .; and William H. Wise, who is in the employ of his brother at the factory on Mill street.

JAMES B. WISE was born in Bradford, Conn., December 27, 1858, and came to Watertown with his parents in 1868. As a boy he was very active in whatever he under- took. He was part of the time a newspaper carrier, but never neglected his school, either for play or business. He proceeded in his studies until he gained admittance to the High School in Watertown, but his desire to enter upon a business carcer led him to be- lieve he had acquired sufficient education to battle with the world. After attending a

commercial college he severed his connection with the schools and entered upon the great school of actual business life. He was the owner and manager of the newspaper and fruit sales upon the trains running out of Watertown, and, later, of that business upon the R., W. & O. trains running from Oswego westward. This he continued until 1877, when he returned to Watertown and identi- fied himself with the business conducted by his father, becoming an equal partner. Upon his father's death he purchased the other half of the business from the heirs, and continued the same in his own name. He has been un- usually successful, and is a much respected citizen, fully recognized as such by the peo- ple of Watertown.

In 1888 he was elected alderman for the Second Ward of Watertown. Running for mayor in 1890, he was defeated by Hon. Wilbur F. Porter. Running again in 1891, he was defeated by only 59 votes. In 1892 he was again nominated, but declined with thanks. He is fully identified with all the important business interests of Watertown, and is a fearless, independent man. He is president of the Singer Fire Alarm Company; president of the Watertown Brass Manufac-

368

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

turing Company; of the Watertown Savings and Loan and Building Association; secretary and treasurer of the Ryther Manufacturing Company, and a director in the Union Car- riage and Gear Company.

In 1891 he purchased the factory building he now occupies on Mill street. His principal manufactures are light hardware and special-

ties of that description. His goods are in de- mand all over the country. Mr. Wise was the Republican nominee for mayor of Water- town, and elected (1894).

In 1891 Mr. Wise married Hattie C., daughter of George Willard, of Watertown. They have reared two children, Charles Ralph and Earl W.

DAVID M. BENNETT

Is an interesting personality to the old-time residents of Watertown. He was born in Cambridge, Washington county, N. Y., in

DAVID M. BENNETT.

March, 1812. He was educated in various schools and academies, finishing up his scholastic education in Hamilton College.

Subsequently, he was teacher and principal in two prominent academies. After preparatory study and the usual legal examination, he was admitted to the bar, and began to prac- tice law in Martinsburgh, Lewis county, and continued there from 1840 to 1851. He was elected district attorney for Lewis county, and served one term.

In 1852 he began the practice of law in Watertown, and was quite successful, hand- ling many important cases. But he was always opposed to litigation, and favored amicable settlements rather than contests in courts for the settlement of disputes. He was district attorney in Jefferson county from 1869 to 1871, and surrogate from 1875 to 1878. At the close of his duties as surrogate, Mr. Bennett abandoned business on account of failing health. For a while he was at Saratoga for the benefit of his health, and while he was benefited by the treatment at Prof. Strong's sanitarium, he was not per- manently cured. He returned to this city in 1880, and has since then been a resident of Watertown. His general health is poor, but he is often out upon the streets, feeble but hopeful.

Mr. Bennett is one of those who once had plenty of this world's goods, but, through poor health, he has seen his property dis- appear with a patience that is heroic. He was a gentleman from the start, ever con- siderate of others, and possessing a personal- ity into which politeness had become in- grained. He bears his 82 years fairly well, and is as much respected as though a million- aire.

HON. AZARIAH H. SAWYER.

JUDGE SAWYER, so long a resident of Jeffer- son county, and so favorably knowu upon the bench and at the bar, was born in Potsdam, N. Y. He was the son of Rev. George Saw- yer, a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, whose long itinerary em- braced charges like Malone, Sackets Harbor, Ogdensburg, Pulaski, Lowville, ' Rome and Weedsport. He was also presiding elder for several terms. Full of years and of honors, he died at Syracuse in 1880. He was a Royal Arch Mason, and was chaplain of Fulton Lodge and Chapter for many years, while residing there. His wife was Miss Mary

Richardson, daughter of Major Samuel Richardson, of the war of 1812.

The Rev. George Sawyer traced his lineage back to a family which came from England in 1640, and at a later day to men who served in the Revolutionary army. His grandfather, Manassah Sawyer, was captain of a company of scouts, whose principal duty was to har- rass and annoy the British troops, and ap- prise his superior officer of the enemy's movements, a position we now see filled by the cavalry videttes, who are designated as "the eyes of the army." Captain Manassah Sawyer and his faithful wife (a Miss Howe),

369

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

HON. AZARIAH H. SAWYER.

are buried at Potsdam, N. Y., where they lived much respected, dying early in the forties-he aged 84 years.

The father of Rev. George Sawyer, also named Manassah, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and during most of a long life, resided at Potsdam, but died while residing with his son at Fulton, N. Y. While his father was stationed at Lowville, and when only 14 years of age, Judge A. H. Sawyer was impressed with the idea that he ought to he a printer. He built, after a plan of his own, a small press upon which he was able to print a 6x9 inch circular. This was a favorite release from his studies, which he had pur- sued with so much earnestness as to impair

his health, and eventually prevented his graduation from college. Upon completion of his scholastic education, Mr. Sawyer studied law with Hon. Amos G. Hull, of Ful- ton, N. Y. He came to Watertown in April, 1857, to attend his examination, as a law student. Mr. James F. Starbuck was chair- man of the committee appointed by the court to conduct the examination. and his atten- tion was especially attracted to young Saw- yer by the character of the examination passed by him, and a partnership was the re- sult, which continued for 23 years, or until Mr. Starbuck's death, in 1880. This firm was one of the oldest and most prominent in this part of the State, and earned a reputation

370

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

which extended far beyond the limits of the county and its vicinity. Indeed, their prac- tice was almost as large from outside the county as within.

Important as have been his achievements in the line of his profession, Judge Sawyer was yet able to confer upon the community in which he has so long resided, distinguished service in connection with the Civil War.

Before commencing his residence in Water- town, he had taken an important part in the politics of Oswego county, where DeWitt C. Littlejohn was then the leading manager of the Republican organization. Judge Sawyer's connection with the Republican party dates from its first organization as an active op- ponent of slavery and its further encroach- ment upon free territory. When he came to Watertown he had resolved not to take any very active part in politics, for he realized how much such action would encroach upon his valuable time. But the firing upon the Star of the West, which had been sent by President Lincoln to provision a starving gar- rison of United States soldiers in Charleston harbor, settled with the Judge, as with so many others, all doubts as to his imperative duty. He at once offered his services in any capacity where he could do the most good. He was elected a delegate to the first Union State Convention in 1861, and during the campaign which followed was chairman of the county committee, in which position he served throughout the war. During the second year of the war, the Union League of Jefferson county was formed, embracing 500 very reliable and intelligent men. Of this organization he was made president, and so continued until the organization was disband- ed, at the close of the war. The gavel he used so long as presiding officer is a priceless possession, treasured in memory of those days when Northern men did so much to save the country from dismemberment.

In 1867 Judge Sawyer was unanimously nominated, without any previous canvassing, as the Republican candidate for county judge, and at the expiration of his term was

again nominated under the same conditions. He held the office of judge for 10 consecutive years.

Since the death or Mr. Starbuck, Judge Sawyer has practiced alone. His law busi- ness began to be so pressing, and its demands so imperative that he relinquished his judicial position at the end of his second term. He is general counsel for the Agricultural Insur- ance Company, of Watertown, and is also vice-president of that well-known company. His office is in the company's building on Washington street.

During the past 10 years the Judge's busi- ness has drifted almost entirely into corpora- tion law, particularly in the line of insurance. In this department of practice he is an acknowledged authority. As a lawyer, his judgment has great judicial weight with the profession. His practice is extensive and im- portant.

Judge Sawyer is a man of many sterling traits of character. He has not been unmind- ful of his duties and responsibilities as a citizen. We have already spoken of his efforts in behalf of the Union cause; and he has always been identified with educational advancement. For nine years he was a mem- ber of the school board of Watertown-being president of the board for two years. He- was at one time president of the Watertown National Union Bank, and has served as a director for a long time in that institution. He has also been a director in several other business enterprises, such as the Davis Sew- ing Machine Company and the Eames Vacuum Brake Company, his mind being especially practical, with a decided leaning towards mechanics. He is Past Master of Watertown Masonic Lodge No. 49, and Past Commander of Watertown Commandery, Knights Temp- lar. He has been warden of Trinity Episco- pal Church for many years, and is a member of the standing committee of the Diocese of Central New York. He has long been a use- ful and honored citizen, who has shown his desire for friends by being friendly to all.

WOOSTER SHERMAN,

THE founder, organizer and treasurer of the Watertown Savings Bank, was born at New- port, N. Y., April 28, 1809. His father, Phineas Sherman, was born in 1773, at Brim- field, Mass. On reaching his majority he re- moved to Providence, R. I., where he was engaged for several years in mercantile pur- suits. In 1797 he married Amy Thornton, a descendant of the Thornton and Waterman families, of Johnston, R. I. They removed to Herkimer county, N. Y., about the year 1808. In 1810 this family came to Water- town, and the elder Sherman succeeded Gor- don Caswell in paper making, upon the plant now occupied by Knowlton Bros., in Water- town. He died there in 1813, at the age of 40 years, leaving a widow with six children,

viz: Russel, George C., William, Angela, Wooster and Morgan Lewis, all of whom have passed away except the subject of our sketch, who has been the only survivor for the past 31 years. Young Sherman, after receiving a common school education, in his 15th year served as a merchant's clerk in the stores of Eli Farwell, of Watertown, and William S. Ely, of Brownville.

In 1825, in his 16th year, he entered the law office of Bucklin & Sherman as a student, and the next year, while pursuing his studies, he was appointed deputy county clerk, which position he held for five consecutive years, a portion of the time acting as clerk of the Supreme and County Courts. In 1828 he acted as clerk of the Circuit Court on the trial

TWO

((STATE OF)) LEDCE OFD

SECURED B

IN THE BANK DEPARTMENT,

monster Sheum Two Dollars / Wir Burri

Command at her Banking Heuss

WATERTOWN,

JEFFERSON CO.

TWO

PUBLIC STOCK'S

Myherman

SECURED

THEPLEDGE OF PUBLICSTOCKS

AVooster Sherman

Three Dollars Tothe Bunny

IN THE BANK DEPARTMENT.

WATERTOWN.

Sherman

CELIC STOCKS

ICHREL DOLLARS

THREE DOLLARS

IN THE BANK DEFERIMENT.

Wooster Sheunan's Bank

Jufthemin FIVE

FIVE

THE ABOVE ARE SPECIMEN COPIES OF "WOOSTER SHERMAN BANK " CIRCULATING NOTES ISSUED IN 1841.

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

371

Wooster Sherman

of Henry Evans for the murder of Rogers, who was convicted and hung August 22, of that year. The death warrant, signed by Mr. Sherman as deputy clerk, is on file in our Historical Society, of which he is an honor- ary member.

After resigning his position as deputy county clerk, he resumed his studies in the law office of Hubbard & Dutton, and in May, 1839, was admitted to practice law. On May 28, 1832, Mr. Sherman married Wealthy S. Dickinson, daughter of Frederick Dickinson, of Northampton, Mass., where she was born August 28, 1812. They had nine children, William W., Frederick D., Emma M. (now the widow of the late Ambrose J. Clark, re- siding with her son Wallace S., in Schenec- tady); Cornelia F., who married the late Col.

Robert M. C. Graham, of New York; Henry J. and J. W. (twins); Grace (the wife of Francis E. Hunn, of New Haven, Conn.); Wealthy and John Jay-the only survivors being Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Hunn, William W., (the present deputy collector of customs at Cape Vincent); and Frederick D. (State bank examiner, residing in Brooklyn). Their mother died at Watertown in February, 1882. Mr. Sherman's other descendants are five grandsons, eight granddaughters, two great- grandsons and five great-granddaughters-a very respectable retinue, upon which the old gentleman may justly pride himself.

In the spring of 1833, having lost three brothers and his only sister by consumption, he made a voyage to the Straits of Belle Isle, on the coast of Labrador. From Marblehead,

372

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Mass., he took passage in an 80-ton fishing schooner. He spent nearly four months in these northern regions, returning to his home the latter part of September, completely re- stored in health, gaining 41 pounds in weight.

In the fall of 1839, when in the practice of his profession as an attorney, he was appoint- ed cashier of the old Bank of Watertown, of which the late Loveland Paddock was presi- dent. Hon. Willard Ives, Henry D. Sewall, William H. Angel, Stephen Boon, Benjamin Corey, Samuel Buckley and others, were directors, all of whom have passed away ex- cept ex-Congressman Ives and Wooster Sher- man, who, after two years' successful manage- ment of the institution, resigned his position, and in the fall of 1841 established the first private or individual bank with circulating notes, under the general laws of the State, an example that was afterwards followed by Luther Wright, of Oswego, John D. Judson, of Ogdensburg, Henry Keep, of Watertown, N. Merriam, of Courtland, and others. " Wooster Sherman's Bank " started with $10,000 capital, which was afterwards in- creased to $50,000, and its circulation to $60,- 000. After a successful career of a quarter of a century, in which Mr. Sherman accumu- lated a fair fortune, the passage of the National Banking Law by Congress, taxing State bank circulation, necessitated the call- ing in of his circulating notes, which were regularly redeemed.

Mr. Sherman, in 1854, built the handsome residence now occupied by George W. Knowlton, on Clinton street, where he resided for 25 years. He also built the hanking house now occupied by the Watertown National Bank, and made other valuable im- provements. He has been for many years a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. Always ' a Democrat, he held in his younger days many important positions in the gift of his party, and at one time was its nominee for Presidential elector.

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 78

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