USA > New York > Franklin County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 30
USA > New York > Jefferson County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 30
USA > New York > Lewis County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 30
USA > New York > Oswego County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 30
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 30
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In 1913 Dr. Babcock was united in marriage with Miss Lena Losee, the daughter of Franklin and Alta (Stewart) Losee, of Jefferson County. Both are deceased. Doctor and Mrs. Babcock's children are: Marion and Dor- othy, both students.
Dr. Babcock has always been a Republican and is serving his seventh year as a member of the local board of education. He is a trustee of the Baptist Church and is affiliated with Rising Sun Lodge, F. and A. M .; Adams Chapter R. A. M. No. 205; Watertown Commandery, K. T. No. 11; Media Temple; and Order of the Eastern Star.
Fred E. O'Brien is well and favorably known in Watertown, where he has held the office of city engineer since May, 1930. He was born at Syracuse, N. Y., Feb. 11, 1889, the son of John C. and Catherine (Ennis) O'Brien.
John C. O'Brien was born at Little Falls, N. Y., in 1848. He was a carriage maker by trade and at one time was superintendent of the Union Carriage and Gear Company, of Watertown. He was a resident of this city from 1880 until his death in 1922, and in later years was identified with the Bagley & Sewall Company. Mr. O'Brien was a Republi- can, a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and belonged to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, Catholic Benevolent Association and Order of Foresters. His widow was born at Utica, N. Y., and resides in Water- town. Their children were: John H., attorney, lives at Watertown; Catherine, lives at Watertown; William, deceased; and Fred E., the subject of this sketch.
Following his graduation from Watertown High School in 1908 Fred E. O'Brien was employed by the city engineer and the New York Central Rail- way as civil engineer. For a time he was employed as a reporter on the Watertown Standard. For five years Mr. O'Brien was a junior engineer with the New York State Highway Department. During the World War he was identified with the U. S. Housing Corporation as field engineer, and in 1920 became assistant city engineer of Watertown. Ten years later he assumed his present duties as city engineer. He is a member of the New York State Society of Professional Engineers, and the New York State Society of Village and City Engineers.
Mr. O'Brien was married in 1910 to Miss Maud Shea, the daughter of Daniel E. and Helen M. (Connor) Shea, the former a native of Ontario,
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N. Y., and the latter of Wolcott, N. Y. They are residents of Watertown. Mrs. O'Brien traces her ancestry to the early Colonial period, members of her family having served under General Washington. Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien have two sons, John D. and Frederick L.
The O'Brien family holds membership in Holy Family Catholic Church, and Mr. O'Brien is identified with the Republican party.
William O. Walton is one of the representative business men of Adams, where he also holds the office of mayor. He was born at Palmyra, N. Y., Dec. 17, 1884, the son of George W. and Minnie M. (Young) Walton.
George W. Walton was a native of Palmyra and his wife was born at Sandy Creek, Oswego County. He spent many years in the retail lumber business at Henderson and was thus engaged at the time of his death in 1912. He is buried at Sandy Creek. Throughout his life Mr. Walton manifested a keen interest in mechanics and spent much of his leisure time in mechanical work, which proved to be his recreation. He was a Democrat and an active member of the Baptist Church. His widow resides at Henderson. To Mr. and Mrs. Walton were born six children: 1. Frank, lives at Watertown. 2. William O., the subject of this sketch. 3. B. H., deceased. 4. Fred, lives at Los Angeles, Calif. 5. Nellie, married Clifford Easton, lives at Depauville. 6. George W., lives at Syracuse.
William O. Walton attended the Henderson public schools and as a young man was identified for two years with his father's business. He then spent almost five years on the Great Lakes and was about to receive a pilot's license when he retired from that work. In 1906 he became a clerk in his brother's store at Depauville, and four years later in partner- ship with E. G. Eckert, he purchased the business of Frank J. Walton, and Mr. Walton continued with this enterprise until 1917, when he disposed of his interests to William Huckzermier. In that year he purchased 270 acres of land near Henderson in Jefferson County, but the following year disposed of it to Bernard H. Treadwell. Since 1919 he has been a resident of Adams, and until 1923 was associated with W. S. Rice, Inc. In 1923 he established his present business as a building contractor.
In 1907 Mr. Walton married Miss Edith Payne. Their son, Ralph B., born in 1908, died in 1927, and is buried at Sandy Creek.
Politically Mr. Walton is a Republican. He served as village trustee for four years, as town assessor for three years, and in March, 1931, was elected mayor of Adams. He holds membership in the Citizens Club and belongs to Rising Sun Lodge, F. and A. M. No. 234.
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Floyd J. Rich .- Prominent in the North Country as editor and pub- lisher of the Carthage Republican-Tribune, Mr. Rich has had a long and enteresting career in the newspaper field. He was born in the town of Denmark, Lewis County, N. Y., March 30, 1879, the son of Frank H. and Lucinda (Chamberlain) Rich.
Frank H. Rich was a native of Lewis County, born on the Rich farm, located between Carthage and Copenhagen, and his wife was born on the Chamberlain homestead on the East Road. He spent the latter part of his life in the insurance business, and was located at Carthage, Lowville, Watertown, and Ogdensburg. He died in 1903 and his wife died in 1892. Both are buried at Copenhagen, N. Y. Their children were: Floyd J., the subject of this sketch; and Ruth, married Frank Scott, lives at Water- town. Mr. Rich was a Republican and a communicant of the Presbyterian Church.
The boyhood of Floyd J. Rich was passed in Carthage and Watertown, where he received his education. He spent some time in learning the printer's trade on the Watertown Standard, and on Sept. 1, 1909, resigned as manager of the circulation and advertising departments. He then went to Hudson, N. Y., as business manager of the Hudson Morning Re- publican, which was owned by the Bryan Printing Company, and was identified with that publication until May 1, 1911, when he came to Car- thage and purchased the interests of the late John M. Cruikshank and Richard C. Ellsworth, owners of the Carthage Republican. Mr. Rich became editor and publisher, his newspaper and job printing plant being located at 412 State Street. In June, 1920, he purchased the Eggleston Building at 401-3 State Street, and removed to that location, the entire ground floor being remodeled and equipped with new machinery of the latest type. In 1923 Mr. Rich became owner of the Carthage Tribune, which he purchased from W. B. Kesler, who had founded that newspaper in 1887. The two publications were merged and thereafter known as the Carthage Republican-Tribune. In May, 1925, Mr. Rich also took over the subscription list of the Antwerp Gazette, when that paper suspended publication and it became a part of the newly organized publication. A special department of Antwerp news was introduced at that time.
On Oct. 4, 1905, Mr. Rich married Miss Bessie D. Allen, the daughter of Edward and Mary (Simmons) Allen, of Watertown. Both are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Rich are the parents of two children: Elizabeth Mary, a graduate of Carthage High School and Elmira College, lives at home; and Robert C., attends Carthage High School.
Politically, Mr. Rich is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, president of the Board of Trustees of the Presbyterian Church, secretary of the Rotary Club, and a director of the Carthage Chamber of
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Commerce. He is also a past president of the Northern New York Typo- thetae, a member of the New York Press Association and a director of the National Exchange Bank & Trust Company, of Carthage.
Hon. Edward North Smith .- Jurist, educator, publicist, prominent up- state citizen, Hon. Edward North Smith, of Watertown, N. Y., is the senior trial Supreme Court Justice of the Fifth Judicial District. He was born at Little Falls, Herkimer County, N. Y., Nov. 30, 1868, son of the late Hannibal and Amelia M. Smith. His father was a distinguished educator, attorney and leading citizen of Watertown, N. Y., for many years, dying Dec. 17, 1899.
In February, 1870, his parents removed from Little Falls to Water- town and permanently established themselves there. He attended the public schools, including the Watertown High School, from which he was graduated in 1886. He was graduated from Hamilton College in the class of 1890, achieving high scholastic attainment which brought election to the honorary Greek letter fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa, and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, he received his Master of Arts degree, and in 1927 his college honored him with the LL. D. degree.
College graduation was succeeded by decision to engage in the legal profession and he entered the law office of his father, where he spent his clerkship. Entering the law college of the University of Buffalo, he com- pleted his law course in 1892 with the degree, Bachelor of Laws, and was admitted to the bar that year, beginning practice in the office of his father under the firm name, Smith & Smith. The partnership continued until the death of his father in 1899, after which Edward N. Smith formed a part- nership with Judge George W. Reeves under the firm name of Smith & Reeves. This firm was dissolved in 1904 and Attorney Smith practiced alone until 1905, when he formed a new connection with Attorney Charles Austin Phelps under the firm name, Smith & Phelps.
The firm of Smith & Phelps continued until Dec. 31, 1922, when Gov- ernor Nathan L. Miller appointed Mr. Smith a Justice of the Supreme Court for the Fifth Judicial District to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Justice Claude B. Alverson. Assuming his judicial duties Jan. 1, 1923, he served under the appointment during that year, and in the fall of that year he was elected by the vote of both parties for a full term of fourteen years. This non-partisan confidence in his ability has been amply justified by Justice Smith's conduct in the office, he being held in highest regard throughout his county of Jefferson and northern New York by both the members of his profession and the laity.
HON. EDWARD NORTH SMITH
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From the time he decided upon the law as his profession Justice Smith applied himself assiduously to a study of legal fundamentals and delved deeply into the problems of a broad variety of cases, grounding himself in the decisions of the trial justices and appellate tribunals.
Early in his career his ability was appreciated in his community and he was made city attorney of Watertown and held this office for the years 1895-6. For eight years prior to his elevation to the bench he served as a member of the Board of Education of his city, and for four of those terms successively was president of that body. Keenly sympathetic with those things tending to improve the youth of his country, he gave his best as an educator. In fact as a justice also his efforts have been directed to the encouragement of young attorneys along lines of accuracy, stimu- lating in them habits of thoroughness, scholarliness and integrity. This same interest to uplift has been displayed in the citizenry of his country, particularly in his courts of naturalization, where his one aim has been to admit only those worthy and well qualified.
In 1912 he aided in the preparation of the constitutional amendment known as the Bird Amendment, authorizing the use of forest lands for the regulation of the flow of the rivers of the state, and was largely respon- sible for its adoption. Then, in his capacity as chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Chamber of Commerce of the City of Watertown, N. Y., he assisted in drafting the bill providing the necessary legal machinery for the regulation of all the rivers within the state.
One of the legacies of his father was a heavy interest in the Water- town Daily Standard, and from 1899 until his elevation to the Supreme Court bench he directed its policies both politically and for the betterment of his community and North Country parish. When he went on the bench he relinquished all connection with the Standard Publishing Company, of which he had been president and in the publication of which he had con- tributed many leading editorials. The paper was absorbed by the Water- town Times in the early fall of 1929.
Politically, Justice Smith has always been a loyal Republican. For the years 1893-4 he served as secretary of the Jefferson County Republi- can Committee, and in 1895-6 as its chairman. He was elected a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention of 1915 and gave outstanding service to it.
In a civic way he has been identified with most of the leading move- ments up to the time of his justiceship, and during the World War held the trying post of Fuel Administrator for his county. He is a trustee of the House of the Good Samaritan Hospital and the Jefferson County His- torical Society, and prior to his election as Supreme Court Justice was a
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director of the Jefferson County National Bank, and has held other bank- ing and industrial connections.
His social affiliations include membership in the Black River Valley Club and Chamber of Commerce of Watertown and the Fort Schuyler Club of Utica. His college fraternity is Psi Upsilon. He is a member of Watertown Lodge No. 49, F. & A. M .; Watertown Chapter No. 59, R. A. M .; Watertown Commandery No. 11, K. T .; Media Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; Watertown Lodge No 291, I. O. O. F .; Watertown Lodge No. 496, B. P. O. Elks, and Watertown Lodge No. 1150, L. O. O. M. He is a member of the Jefferson County Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the American Society of International Law. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Watertown.
Justice Smith was first married in 1894 to Alice L. Powers, daughter of the late Isaac P. and Lorinda (Lamon) Powers; she died in 1906. He next married, in 1923, Marion E. Ward, daughter of the late Walter and Annie (Bennett) Ward. He has one son, C. Powers Smith, a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, a veteran of the World War, having overseas service as captain of artillery, and a writer and poet of high rating in modern English letters.
Rev. Alfred H. Valiquette, O. S. A .- As pastor of St. James Catholic Church, at Carthage, Father Valiquette has a wide acquaintance in the community and is recognized as one of its most influential citizens. He was born at Ottawa, Ont., June 9, 1864, the son of Joachin and Adeline (Rossignol) Valiquette.
Joachin Valiquette was a native of Ottawa, Ont., as was his wife. They were of French descent. He was interested in the bakery business and was the owner of a large bakery, patisserie, and candy manufacturing plant. He died in 1867, and his wife died in 1912. Both are buried at Ottawa. Their children were: 1. Joachin, deceased. 2. Adeline, deceased. 3. Margaret, deceased. 4. Cleophas, lives at Ottawa. 5. Rev. Alfred H., the subject of this sketch. 6. Thomas, deceased. 7. Josephine, deceased.
Alfred H. Valiquette attended the Christian Bros. parochial school in Ottawa and was graduated from the University of Ottawa. He studied for the priesthood at Villa Nova (Pa.) College, and was ordained on March 15, 1900, by Archbishop John Ryan of Philadelphia. He served as assistant at Immaculate Conception Church, Hoosick Falls, N. Y .; assist- ant at St. Mary's Church, Waterford, N. Y .; assistant at St. Mary's Church, Lawrence, Mass .; and was one of the founders of a school for Del Christo
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Church in Havana, Cuba. Later Father Valiquette became pastor of St. Mary's Church in Waterford. He was also identified with St. Augustine's School for Boys at San Diego, Calif., and since August, 1926, has been pastor of St. James Church in Carthage. His work here has been of a most progressive nature. A new school was recently built to accommo- date increasing enrollment.
Father Valiquette is chaplain of Carthage Council, Knights of Co- lumbus.
St. James Catholic Church, Carthage .- The history of the church and the Catholic congregation of St. James dates back to the earliest settle- ment of white men in the valley of the Black River. In 1792, during the terrors of the Revolution in France, a tract of land was purchased, 630,000 acres, including Long Falls, the present village of Carthage. The deed of this transfer is dated Aug. 31, 1792, and the purchase was made in the name of M. Pierre Chaussanis. The plan was to establish a colony for expatriated Frenchmen, to sell the land to desirable home builders similar to the colonies at Gallipolis, on the Ohio River, and at Standing Stone on the Susquehanna River, in Pennsylvania. In June, 1793, a company was formed in Paris to carry on and control the business of this colony under the title of "LaCompagnie de New York." The president of this land company was Jacques LeRay de Chaumont, brother-in-law of Pierre Chaussanis, in whose name the land had been bought. The French settlers who came to escape the unrest of revolution and to establish new homes here were, so far as can be ascertained, Catholics. Other settlers were attracted by the opportunities which the French company offered. Some came from Vermont. A number of families from Ireland formed what is still known as the "Irish Settlement."
The enterprise and activities of the LeRay's father and son, during the times of pioneer settlement in the Black River valley are a record of high honor and credit to their name. Roads were opened, grinding mills and saw mills were built. Domestic animals, grain and seed for planting were imported from France, and in 1818 it was estimated that a thousand settlers had come to make homes on the new land developed under the administration of James LeRay. It was James LeRay also who gave the land where St. James Church now stands. This was during the summer of 1818. A list of subscribers for the building of the church was opened July 7, 1818, and 54 names were entered with the amount promised by each, including contributions of "money, material and work." The total amount subscribed was $823.50. The building described was to be of frame, 30 x 40 feet, within one-half mile from the bridge in the village of
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Carthage, the exact location to be determined by James LeRay. He also pledged himself to give 20,000 feet of lumber for the building, glass for the windows, and "all material, stone or timbers may be taken from my land."
The record of the treasurer's account indicates that the building was erected during the summer of 1821, although the payment of bills extend from Dec. 31, 1818, until Aug. 31, 1824. The church was blessed by Bishop Connolly during the same summer, the exact date not being known. In 1821 the congregation of St. James was incorporated in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The corporate title was "The Catholic Society of Carthage." The material, support and management were put in the hands of seven trustees with the priest in charge. This arrange- ment continued until 1862. The land, four acres, on which the church was built, was conveyed to the Catholic Society of Carthage by Vincent LeRay, son of James LeRay, on July 30, 1821, in consideration of the payment of one dollar.
After the first church was blessed in 1821 the congregation was under the care of Rev. John Franan, of Utica, who visited the people of Carthage four times a year. Rev. Patrick Kelly and Rev. Richard Bulger also visited Carthage during the years 1821-27. From 1827 until 1833 Carthage was under the pastoral care of Rev. James Salmon, rector of the missions con- nected with Ogdensburg and Watertown. The first register of baptisms and marriages at Carthage was opened April 20, 1833, by a French priest, Father Simon, who attended Carthage from the mission at Rosiere. Be- tween the years 1828 and 1840 the following names are found of priests who attended Carthage occasionally: Rev. M. Fitzsimmons, Rev. Thomas Daily, Rev. James Cahill, Rev. Walter J. Quarter, Rev. Philip Gillick, and Rev. Michael Gilbride. Later, Carthage was attended by Rev. F. X. Guth, Rev. John O'Dowd, Rev. Matthew Gibson, and Rev. Michael Power.
In 1851 Father Power purchased a house to serve as a priest's resi- dence and made Carthage the center of missions attended by him. In 1852 Father Maurice Roche succeeded Father Power, and he remained in charge until 1855, when Rev. Michael Edward Clarke, a native of Carthage, took charge of St. James.
In December, 1873, the care of St. James and missions attended from Carthage was given to the Friars. Rev. John Fedigan was the first Au- gustinian assigned to Carthage. In 1877 he was succeeded by Rev. Francis J. McShane. Later came Rev. Edward Dailey and Rev. Patrick Lynch. In 1886 Father Lynch was succeeded by Rev. Patrick J. O'Connell. During the pastorate of Father O'Connell, 1882-85, a parish school was built and the number of pupils enrolled was 225.
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Rev. Patrick Carr succeeded Father O'Connell in 1890 and was rector four years. In 1894 Rev. William Morrison was appointed to the charge of Carthage. After one year Rev. McShane returned for a second time and during the latter term as pastor a new Sister's convent was built and provision was made for an academy. Father McShane was succeeded in June, 1898, by Rev. Francis McCranor, who remained in charge until June, 1902, when Rev. H. T. Regan was appointed rector. In 1910 Rev. D. A. Herron was assigned to St. James. He was succeeded in 1918 by Rev. George L. Dermody. In June, 1926, the present rector, Rev. Alfred H. Valiquette was appointed. He carries on the work begun 57 years ago, when the Augustinians first took charge of Carthage and its missions to build up the life of religion and Christian education.
Fred L. Smith .- The legal fraternity of Jefferson County has no more capable and progressive member than Fred L. Smith, who is identified with the firm of Norris, Smith & Carnell, of Carthage. He was born at Diana, Lewis County, Aug. 3, 1887, the son of Daniel and Mary S. (Clark) Smith.
Daniel Smith, a native of Renfrew, Ontario, was born in 1842. In 1872 he came to the United States and settled at Diana, where he followed his trade for many years as a stone mason. He also served as postmaster of Diana. Mr. Smith died Dec. 18, 1898, and his wife died Feb. 9, 1930. They are buried at Oswegatchie Corners, near Diana. Mr. Smith was a Republican. Mrs. Smith was an active member of the Methodist Church. They were the parents of three sons: 1. Charles, born April 29, 1879, lives at Harrisville, N. Y. 2. Fred L., the subject of this sketch. 3. Leon L., born July 10, 1894, lives at Syracuse. He is a World War veteran, having served in France as a member of Company B, First Engineers. He was decorated with the Croix de Guerre, in recognition of his services at Cantigny, France.
Daniel Smith was the son of Elihu and Ruby (Andrews) Smith. Elihu Smith was born in the United States and his wife was a native of Canada. Following the death of her husband in 1876, Mrs. Smith removed to the United States and thereafter resided with her son, Daniel. She died April 4, 1899, and is buried at Oswegatchie Corners. Mary S. (Clark) Smith was the daughter of Alanson and Dorcas (Blanchard) Clark, natives of Lewis and Jefferson counties respectively. He was a farmer and was also well known as a cooper.
Fred L. Smith attended the grammar schools of Diana and is a grad- uate of Harrisville High School, class of 1906. He taught school at Diana
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and Napanoch and subsequently took up the study of law at Syracuse Uni- versity, where he received the degree of LL. B. in 1911. He began his professional career at Harrisville in that year and in 1920 removed to Car- thage, where he was associated with the firm of Kilby & Norris. The fol- lowing year the firm was reorganized as Kilby, Norris & Smith, and in 1927 became Norris, Smith & Carnell. Mr. Smith was elected district attorney of Lewis County in November, 1917, and reelected to that office in 1920. He is a prominent member of the Jefferson County Bar Associa- tion, New York State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
Politically Mr. Smith is a Republican. He holds membership in the Methodist Church, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Gamma Eta Gamma and Delta Sigma Rho fraternities, and Carlowden Country Club. He is affiliated with Harrisville Lodge, F. and A. M. No. 928, and Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 821, Past Grand.
Leon E. Carnell, of Carthage, is representative of the successful young professional men of Jefferson County, and is a veteran of the World War. He was born at Frankfort, Herkimer County, N. Y., Oct. 7, 1893, the son of John and Fannie (Horton) Carnell.
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