The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 97

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 97

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ANSEL CLARKE, JR., was born in Rutland, January 14, 1822, and when six weeks old came with his father to Antwerp. Septem- ber 5, 1842, he married Hannah Otis, of Ant- werp, and they have five children, two of whom, Linda A. and Jerome, 2d., are living. The latter married Cora I., daughter of Amos Fuller, of Onondaga county, and they have two children, Lindon Logan and Edith May.

EZRA S. BEAMAN was born February 23, 1845. He received an academic education, and is a graduate of the Poughkeepsie Com- mercial College. He married, first, Decem- ber 30, 1867, Maggie Farley, of Wilna, who died January 1, 1875. February 23, 1886, he married Elizabeth A., widow of Oliver Mack.

LEVI CHASE was born in Portland, Maine, February 22, 1808, and when 14 years of age came to this county. In 1838 he married Harriet Shurtliff, of LeRay, and they have three sons and two daughters. Clinton A., the subject of this sketch, is an adopted son, and was born March 26, 1863. He received a common-school education, and is now engaged in farming. November 15, 1888, he married May M., only daughter of John G. Miller, of Theresa, and now resides in Ant- werp.

ELBERT C. WILLARD was born in Ant- werp, October 11, 1833. He received a good education, and is now engaged in farming and breeding horses. March 11, 1865, he married Anna, daughter of George Cornwell, and they have two sons and two daughters: Charles H., Muriel A., John C. and Eleanor E. September 25, 1872, Henry E. Willard married Eleanor, fourth daughter of George Cornwell.

RUFUS S. MAXON was born in Houndsfield about 1829, where he married Azelia War- ren, who bore him five children, three of

whom survive, namely : Frank E., Minnie L. and Bennie M. Frank E. Maxon was born in Houndsfield, January 20, 1863,. He received a common-schol education, with two years at Potsdam Normal School. In March, 1887, he married Anna M., daughter of John Graham, of Sackets Harbor, and was the station agent for the R., W. & O. Railroad at Antwerp.

JACOB S. COLE was born in this county, where he attended the common schools until he attained the age of 15 years. He married, in 1875, Ellen F., daughter of Peter A. Nellis, of Otsego county, and they have a son, Fred S. In 1862 Mr. Cole enlisted in the Union army and served to the close of the war. His great-grandfather, Henry Lyon (or Lines), was a Revolutionary soldier. Andrew McFee, father of Mrs. Jacob W. Cole, was captured by the Indians and taken to Canada, and was adopted by a chief of the tribe and remained two years.

ROBERT DICKSON, 2D, is a farmer by occu- pation. November 6, 1867, he married Adelia E., daughter of James C. Lynde, and they have three children, James R., Anna E. and Milton L. John Dickson, 2d, is also a farmer, and is located on road 32, in the town. March 4, 1879, he married Lucy A., third daughter of George Ormiston, of Ox- Bow village, and they have two children, John C. and Helen E.

GEORGE W. CORNWELL was born in Brownville, September 11, 1805. In 1830 he married Polly, third daughter of James Shurtleff, of Theresa, and was one of the pioneers of that town. They had five sons and five daughters, namely : Melvin E., Philinda, George, John F., Mary, James S., Isaac, Anna, Eleanor and Sarah. Isaac died in 1865, while serving in the navy during the late war. Mary married James Casey, of Theresa, and died in 1886. John F. Cornwell was born in Theresa, February 22, 1837. He was educated in the common schools and an academy, and is now engaged in farming and horse breeding. In 1863 he married Lois A., only daughter of Clark Willard, and they have a daughter, Mary E., who married Frank O. Eddy, of Theresa.

WILLIAM A. HOUGHTON, son of William, was born on the homestead November 12, 1863. He received a common school and academic education, and graduated from Eastman's Commercial College, at Pough- keepsie. He taught school several terms, and is now a bookkeeper and clerk. In 1888 he married Alice. eldest daughter of Samuel E. Wicks, of this town, and they have one son, Charles W., not now at Antwerp.

JOHN MARSH came to Antwerp when six years of age, and has lived in the town con- tinuously until 1894. He was born in New Fane, Vt., in 1830, and is the son of Hiram and Lucinda (Seaver) Marsh. Their family are: Mary (Mrs. J. R. Welch, of Antwerp), Abigail (Mrs. W. C. Waite, deceased), John, a jeweler and optician, of Antwerp, and the subject of this sketch; Hiram F., of Gouver-

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neur; Lucinda D., deceased, (wife of J. S. Dwyer, Commander of Oliver McAllaster Post); Cassius, a boot and shoe merchant, of Antwerp; James M., of Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county ; Anna (Mrs. T. C. Gray, of Antwerp); Ettie J., who resides in Ant- werp. Mr. Marsh is a highly-respected citizen, and acted at one time as president of the village of Antwerp. He is a member of the Congregational Church.

ARCHIBALD LORD HILTON may be con- sidered one of the representative business men of Antwerp. In 1874 he became identi- fied with the Jefferson Iron Company, as its assistant manager. He is president of the Antwerp Chair Company, which was in- corporated in May, 1894. Their fine new building is near completion, and promises to be the chief manufactory of the village. While diligent in the pursuit of his own private business, Mr. Hilton is ever mindful of the general interests of the public and the growth and prosperity of the town. He is the son of Archibald Hilton, who was born in 1819, and married Miss Josephine Lord, daughter of a retired merchant of New York city. Archibald Hilton was admitted to the bar in 1841, and early won distinction in his profession, becoming a prominent lawyer in New York city. He was the brother of ex- Judge Henry Hilton, also of that city, and died April 1, 1854, leaving two children, Archibald L., the subject of this sketch, and Emily J., now Mrs. Alvin W. Green, of South Manchester, Conn. Archibald L. was born in New York city, February 5, 1850, where he passed his minority. He was mar- ried in 1880 to Mary Abbie, daughter of the late Dr. Ira H. Abell, of Antwerp. They have one daughter, Isabel Abell. For the past 20 years he has been a warden in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, of Antwerp, and superintendent of the Sunday school, and has the respect and confidence of the entire com- munity-a progressive, enterprising man.

CHARLES W. HALL, a prosperous furni- ture dealer of Antwerp, was born in Somer- ville, St. Lawrence county, in 1844, and is the son of Hiram and Letina (Goodnough) Hall. Hiram was a mechanic, and came from Vermont to Antwerp at an early date. He died in 1880, but his wife still survives him, and resides with her son, Gaylord W. Hall, of Antwerp. Charles W. came to Ant- werp in 1870, and married Hattie Wallace, daughter of Charles R. Wallace, of Belle- ville, N. Y. They have one daughter, Lena Belle.

DAVID BEAMAN, one of the early settlers of the town of Antwerp, was born in West- minster, Mass., in 1796. He was the son of Joseph and Annis Beaman. The latter was left a widow with 11 children. David, being next to the eldest, was put out to learn the hatter's trade. In 1818, when but 22 years of age, he came to Antwerp with a small stock of fine felt and gentlemen's silk hats, and three $10 bills. Finding no de- mand for such expensive head dressing, he

turned his attention to the principal industry at that time-the clearing of land. He hired out to Mr. Copeland, who conducted an hotel on the site of the present Proctor House, for $10 per month, and thus paid for the farm, which he purchased of David Parish. After taking possession of the farm, on which was a log house, he sent for his mother and younger children. David Bea- man married Miss Lucy Porter, and they had three children. His second wife was Miss Sally Mosher, and their children are, Alonzo Beaman, of Kansas, and Alice and Annis (twins), who reside with their mother in Antwerp. David Beaman died in 1883, aged 86 years. He was a successful farmer, and followed that occupation until his death, with the exception of a few years in Water- town.

GAYLORD W. HALL was born in 1851, and married Miss Martha Hunt, of Rodman, and have two children. He is the clerk of the town of Antwerp, which office he has held for four consecutive terms; also one of the directors of the Antwerp Chair Company. He, in partnership with his brother, Charles W. Hall, conduct a first-class furniture store, carrying the best goods in that line.

RICHARD S. HODGE was born in England, of English parentage. He came to America in 1862 and engaged in the Quincy, Franklin and Pewabic mines, in the Superior copper region, where he remained eight years. About 23 years since he came to Antwerp, and was manager of the Jefferson Iron Mines, near Antwerp, which have been dis- continued. The stock company at one time employed 150 men, and the mines have been worked to the depth of 150 feet, and extend for acres under ground. They are located in a swamp, and are at the present time flooded with water. The last pumping was done in March, 1893.

From having charge of so many men, Mr. Hodge received the title of " Captain." He was married to Emily Freegans, of England. They have four sons living, having lost two daughters and one son. They have a house in Antwerp, where they reside. Mr. Hodge is a gentleman of intelligence and integrity, retaining the obliging courteous manner so noticeable in many of the old country people, which some American-born citizens would do well to imitate.

ALONZO CHAPIN, one of the very oldest in- habitants of Antwerp, and 67 years a resi- dent of the village, was born in that town in 1823 ; the son of Japhet and Betsey (Sprague) Chapin, who came into the town in 1816, settling on the farm now owned by A. and Eli Moshier. They reared nine children. Alonzo, one of them, had the benefits of a common school education, completing his scholarship at the Gouverneur Academy. After leaving school he taught for several years, and then began a clerkship with Alanson Drake, in Antwerp, and with John N. Green. This continued for three years, when he purchased the stock of goods of

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James H. Bowen, and began business for himself in 1848. From that time to 1894 he has continued in trade, a period of 47 years. In 1850 he married Miss Maria Wiser, daughter of Stephen Wiser, of Deerfield, Oneida county. They have rearcd two daughters, Miss Adelle, having married Charles G. Banister, of Watertown; Miss Cora remaining unmarried. Mr. Chapin has held the office of supervisor and town clerk. He was postmaster for 12 years, his first ap- pointment being made under the administra- tion of President Taylor. He has always been a very reliable and thorough business man, and has maintained through a long life a most enviable reputation for fair dealing. He is one of the products of the early settlers of Jefferson county, and his ancestors have no occasion to be ashamed of their repre- sentative.

Josis MILLER was born in Wittenberg, Germany, in 1828, and is the son of John and Ursula Miller, and one of 10 children. He learned the shoemakers' trade in Ger- many, and came to Antwerp in 1853, where he built a frame house, and opened a boot and shoe store and manufactory, which busi- ness he conducted for 22 years. He was also connected with G. N. Crosby, in tanning, for 12 years. He is the president of the Cemetery Association, and is the present postmaster, having been appointed under the Harrison administration ; he was one of the trustees of the Antwerp Liberal Institute, and held all the minor offices within the gift of the corporation. He married Dorothea Winkler, of Switzerland, and they have reared six children: Louise (wife of Dr. G. H. Lathan, a dentist of Antwerp). Charles W, Miller, assistant-postmaster at Antwerp, who married Sarah Thayer, of St. Lawrence county ; Theodore Miller, of Omaha, Neh .; Adelaide, recently teacher in a school at Yonkers; Albert G., bookkeeper for A. L. Hilton, of Antwerp, and Emma Irene, who resides with her parents. He is a member of the Congregational Church, and an honored and respected citizen, which fact is shown by the different positions of trust he has from time to time filled.

JOHN HOWE CONKLIN was born in Remsen, N. Y., in 1812, and was the son of Luther and Hannah (Howe) Conklin, by his second wife. Their other children were Luther S., Miriam, Ruth, Hannah, Calvin, Stephen, Lucretia and Elizabeth, all deceased. John was married, in 1841, to Sarah Northrup, of Antwerp, who died in 1858, aged 35 years. Their son, Luther G., died in 1865, aged 22 years. In 1865 John married Maria White, daughter of James White, of Antwerp. Their children are Emma W., the only sur- viving member of the family, who resides on the homestead in Antwerp; James W. and John H. Conklin, Jr. John H. Conklin, the subject of this sketch, was a prominent citizen of Antwerp, and was supervisor of the town for 10 years (from 1855 to 1864), and at one time warden of Auburn State

Prison. He died February 11, 1875, aged 63 years, respected and honored by his neigh- bors and a vast number of friends.

J. S. WOODWARD was born in the town of Antwerp, in the year 1839, the son of Allen and Susan Woodward. He enlisted under the first call in the spring of 1861, in Com- pany C, 35th N. Y. Volunteers. Mustered with the regiment, and mustered out with it. Married April 26, 1866, to Tinnie L., young- est daughter of Silas and Eliza Bacon, of Watertown. They have reared two chil- dren, a daughter and a son. He is now living, and has been for the past 40 years, on what is known as the Fuller road, in the town of Antwerp. His occupation is that of a farmer

AMONG the earliest settlers of Antwerp was Elliott Lynde, born at Brookfield, Mass., October 28, 1772. His father was Lieutenant Benjamin Lynde, of the Revolutionary army. Elliott Lynde came to Antwerp in the year 1811. He carried the mail from Denmark to Ogdensburg during the War of 1812; was afterwards justice of the peace for six years, and during his service he married more people than any other justice or minister in that length of time, for the reason that he always made it a practice to give the mar- riage fee back to the bride. The old Lynde mansion in Melrose, Mass., is one of the most remarkable of the few scattered relics of American antiquities of over 200 years ago. This remnant of the earliest settlement of New England, was built more than a hundred years before Washington was born. An appeal was made to the Massachusetts Historical Society to save this place by pur- chasing it as a venerable relic. Elliott Lynde's family consisted of 12 children, 11 being boys and one girl. She became Mrs. Martha Lynde Payne, a life-long resident of Antwerp.

AARON B. LYNDE, the only survivor of that large family, was born February 26, 1817, he being the 10th son. His occupation has been farming and dealing in real estate. He has sold more land in Antwerp for $100 per acre, than has ever been sold in that place at that price. His present residence is on Main street, and is one of the most com- modious in town. It is opposite the house where he was born. His wife, Ann Clark Lynde, was also born in the same house four years later (a singular coincidence); he has no descendants, but adopted a son two years of age.

WILLIAM T. BENTLEY was born in Ant- werp in 1842, and died September 10, 1894, at which time he was a prominent merchant. He married Alice E. Parker, of Theresa, Jefferson county. Their children are Harold, Hazel, Mabel and Brayton, who succeeded his father in business. In early life, William was interested in farming. After the disas- trous fire, in which his store was burned, he was one of four merchants to build the Syndicate Block, an ornament to the busi- ness portion of Antwerp. A progressive

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business man is never so well appreciated as when taken from a community where he has done much to advance its interests and pro- mote its prosperity. Mr. Bentley has done much for Antwerp, and his memory is respected in the town in which he lived.

GEORGE P. COOLIDGE was born in the town of Antwerp, and is the son of Charles and Abi (Kirkbride) Coolidge, and one of six children. He was left motherless when three weeks old, and was adopted by his uncle, Alvin Coolidge, who resided with him until his latter days, and died January 3, 1893, at the advanced age of 84. The Coolidge family were early settlers, having followed marked trees, making clearings and establish- ing homes between Antwerp and Philadel- phia, which is now called the Coolidge Settlement." Alfred, an elder brother of Charles, came first, and the next year, 1816, the father, Daniel, and the other sons, Charles, Nathan, Daniel and Alvin. There were also five sisters; Betsey, Eunice, Sally, Sylvia and Harriet. The father of Daniel the elder was present at the throwing of tea into Boston Harbor, the account of which is famous in history. The modern historian can but in a small measure depict the hero- ism of our forefathers, the determination re- quired, and privations incidental to seeking a new country and establishing homes in an unbroken forest. The present generation are, perhaps thoughtlessly, receiving the inherit- ance of an advanced civilization, the founda- tion of which was thus established, and in turn are pressing forward to the fulfilment of their own ambitions. George Coolidge is now the possessor of the homestead of his grandfather, the Coolidge block, and several residences in the village of Antwerp. He married Miss Angeline, daughter of Elijah Kellogg, of Antwerp, whose grandfather, Elijah Kellogg, was born in Germany, and fought in the American Revolution. George has been interested in the management of his farm and in stock raising, and a resi- dent of the village of Antwerp for several years, filling several minor offices in the cor- poration. He is a successful business man, respected by his neighbors and friends. His children are Brayton J., Lizzie (deceased), Jay H., Jerome and Libbie.

DR. EMERSON SEYMOUR was born in Ant- werp in 1839. He graduated from Bellevue Medical College, and practiced for more than 20 years in Antwerp. He married Miss Jennie Christian, of Natural Bridge, who survives him, and is a resident of Carthage. He died in 1882, aged 43 years. His grand- father, Asher Seymour, was a pensioner of the War of 1812, having gone from Antwerp.

T. T. BALLARD was born and lived in the town of Clayton, near Depauville, until 19 years of age, when he enlisted in Company H, 2d Regiment N. Y. Heavy Artillery, October, 1861, and served in that command until the regiment was mustered out of service. This regiment was stationed in the fortifications of Washington, on the Virginia

side of the Potomac, until Grant was made lieutenant-general, when they joined the Army of the Potomac during the progress of the battle of the Wilderness, and was assigned to the first brigade, first division of the second army corps, participating in all the battles, 19 in number, that that heroic command engaged in, until the culmination of Appomattox. Since the close of the war he has been a resident of the village of Ant- werp.

GEORGE B. HOARD was one of the first settlers of the town of Antwerp, and brother of Hon. Charles Brooks Hoard, formerly member of Congress from Jefferson and Lewis counties, who died at Ceredo, W. Va. A son of George B. Hoard was Charles A., who married Catharine McIntyre, and they had born to to them two children, Lena and Fred C. The latter first saw the light in 1866, in Antwerp. He has always resided in his native town, and is now clerk in the store of Alonzo Chapin. His father, Charles A. Hoard, died in 1880, aged 33 years.

THE PATRIOT WAR.

Several Antwerp citizens were involved in the disturbances of 1837-38, known as the Patriot War, although that episode hardly justifies a name of such dignity. Meetings were held frequently in Copeland's hall, and afterwards in the old building on the west side of Main street south of the bridge. The excitement ran high, and many enlisted and went to the "front"-ier. Among them were Gen. T. R. Pratt, Nelson Truax, who was tried and let go, and Benjamin Fulton, cousin of Elijah Fulton. The latter, with one or two others, escaped from the famous " Windmill" and crossed the St. Lawrence on a raft. A. H. Munro, of this village, then lived in Canada, and took part in the "Battle of the Windmill" on the side of the British forces. None from Antwerp were hung for their foolishness.

The Gen. T. R. Pratt named above, was an unique character. He first came into public notice as a hotel keeper at Antwerp, but his acquaintance was finally so extensive as to make him known to nearly the whole county. He served one term as sheriff, finally remov- ing to Watertown, when so elected. The lands where the Keep Home is located were once his. General Pratt received his com- mission from Gov. R. E. Fenton. He died in the seventies, but his widow survived until the nineties. They both died in Wa- tertown.

Antwerp, it is but just to say, was not alone in furnishing foolish men who par- ticipated in the unprecedented movement known in our day as the "Patriot War" of 1837. Some of the best men in nearly every town in the county, and all along the frontier settlements from Niagara to Ogdens- burg, were in active sympathy with the movement, and some of them participated, much to their regret and suffering.

ANTWERP.

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COLONEL HIRAM B. KEENE.

WE present to our readers with pleasure the face of one of the most widely known and highly esteemed of the early pioneers of Antwerp, who stands as an example of what perseverance, industry and integrity may ac- complish, Hiram B. Keene was born at Pompey, Onondaga county, N. Y., June 17, 1810. His parents, Job and Mary Keene, reared 13 children in the habits of frugality and industry, and all of them, except two, became heads of families. Of the five broth- ers, but two survive, Miles A., who resides in Hermon, St. Lawrence county, at the age of 71, and Hiram, the subject of our sketch. He was early taught the value of money. His advantages for acquiring an education were of a limited character. At the age of 12 (February, 1822), he came to Jefferson

county with his parents and settled in the town of Antwerp. He assisted them on the farm until he reached his majority. With a large family to provide for amidst the hard- ships incidental to farming in pioneer life, Hiram's parents could afford him very few advantages and very little pocket money. He married (January 17, 1831) Miss Betsey Doud, of Rupert, Vt. At the time of his marriage he had but two dollars and owed for his wedding suit. One of the dollars he gave to the minister, who married them, and the other dollar he divided equally with his wife. Thus he commenced his wedded life with almost nothing, but he possessed a great amount of energy and perseverance, which enabled him to provide a comfortable home and finally to accumulate a handsome com-

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petence. Hefirst purchased on credit 25 acres of land at $6.00 per acre. This indebtedness he cleared up in two years. Once, while plowing, the point of the plow struck a hard substance, which proved to be iron ore, and the iron ore mine thus discovered is yet known as the " Keene ore bed." It is near the line between Antwerp and St. Lawrence county. Other mines were developed soon after. One, about a mile from Keene's station, is called the Carney or Caledonia mine. Neither of them are now in active operation. At one time the ore was delivered on the cars for $5.00 per ton, but now would not bring $1.00. This is accounted for by mines in the South, which are operated more advantage- ously. Colonel Keene sold his interest in the Keene mine for $920 to James Sterling. It is now owned by New York parties.

From time to time he added to his small farm until to-day he is the owner of 1,400 acres of land, comprising six different farms, on which are 200 head of cattle, 165 of them cows giving milk. Of late years he has been interested in these farms and in con- ducting dairies and making cheese. While proud in the consciousness of owing no man a dollar and enjoying his well-earned prop- erty, many enterprises of a worthy local character have received substantial aid. He gave $500 toward the beautiful soldiers' monument at Antwerp, at a time when the projectors were about discouraged in their efforts to obtain the necessary funds for its erection. Each one of the churches in Ant- werp in turn have been benefited by his liberal hand, and he has always been a liberal supporter of the schools. The handsome marble Masonic temple of Gouverneur re- ceived $100 from him, and many other in- stances of his generosity of a private nature might be cited. While a resident of Ant- werp he enjoyed the confidence of his towns-

men, holding every office from postmaster to supervisor He was justice of the peace eight years, town assessor 24 years and su- pervisor three terms. Colonel Keene was a captain of the 84th Regiment State Militia, and was afterwards promoted to be its colo- nel, which position he held several years, until the regiment was disbanded. For three years he was a director of the old Watertown & Potsdam Railroad, and gave the right of way across 1,400 acres. He acted as their agent for five years, and was station agent at Keen's station for 11 years. By signing paper for other people connected with the railroad he lost nearly $10,000, which he paid. For 12 years he was president of the Board of Trade of Gouverneur, and many years presi- dent of the Antwerp Union Agricultural So- ciety. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, being transferred from Antwerp Lodge when he made Gouverneur his home in 1885. Although a member of no church, he believes in the final restoration of all mankind to the loving favor of God. Politi- cally he was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when he joined that organization.

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 97

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