USA > New York > Franklin County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 8
USA > New York > Jefferson County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 8
USA > New York > Lewis County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 8
USA > New York > Oswego County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 8
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 8
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In his profession, the law, and on the bench as a judge, he proved a deliberate, careful, quiet, keen, sound and unruffled character, who never
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became disturbed and through his rare judgment early made for himself an enviable reputation. Judge Purcell died in Watertown, Jan. 20, 1931.
Henry Purcell was born upon a farm in the town of Wilna, Jefferson County, Oct. 13, 1848, the son of Michael and Susan (Keon) Purcell. His parents were natives of Ireland, who had emigrated to this country early in their lives.
Spending his boyhood days upon the farm, working during his leisure hours, he attended the district schools until he was 15 and then finished his schooling at Watertown High School and the Antwerp Academy. He taught school during the winter months and earned sufficient funds with which to complete his own education, being graduated from Watertown High School in 1871. In the spring of 1872 he entered the law office of the late Judge John C. McCartin, but in the fall of that year he decided to be a candidate for school commissioner for the second district of the county. He had no difficulty in being elected, overcoming the usual 1,000 Republican majority, and held the position for three years, keeping up the study of law in the meantime. Admitted to the bar in January, 1876, he was for the next three years assistant in the office of McCartin & Williams. That firm was composed of the late Judge John C. McCartin and the late Su- preme Court Justice Pardon C. Williams. At the end of the three years he formed his first law partnership. By it he became the junior member of Sherman & Purcell. This firm continued until the death of Mr. Sherman and then in 1894 he organized the firm of Purcell and Carlisle, of which the late John N. Carlisle was the junior associate. This partnership lasted until May 1, 1897, when it was dissolved and Mullin, Purcell & Walker was formed with the late Senator Joseph Mullin in the senior post and the late George H. Walker, who died but recently, the junior member. It had become successor to the old firm of Mullin, Griffin & Walker, attor- neys for the New York Central in the northern tier of counties consisting of Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego. The death of Daniel G. Griffin compelled the reorganization of the firm and Henry Purcell replaced him. The new association of attorneys continued legal representatives of the New York Central, but the firm was not destined to keep its personnel long, for Sena- tor Mullin died Sept. 1, 1897. That brought out a new alliance with Judge Purcell the head, George H. Walker the second member, and Thomas Burns in the junior capacity, it becoming known as Purcell, Walker & Burns. Mr. Walker remained with the firm only until 1905 and the name became Purcell, Burns & Purcell. Mr. Burns withdrew in 1906 also, and Judge Purcell continued with his eldest son, Francis K. Purcell, who had been admitted to the bar in 1904. At about the time Thomas Burns withdrew from the Purcell firm, the late Henry Purcell, Jr., who had been admitted to the bar in 1905, became associated with his father and brother and.
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was one of its members until his death in 1918. Judge Purcell followed his profession 55 years and for more than half a century of that time was a member of a law firm.
Francis E. Cullen, one of the present members of the firm, came from Oswego, April 1, 1910, and was taken as a partner under the name Pur- cell, Cullen & Purcell, which continued until Feb. 1, 1920, when Senator Perley A. Pitcher joined and the firm took the name Purcell, Cullen & Pitcher, which also included John C. Purcell, youngest son of Judge Pur- cell, who had been admitted in 1908. Senator Pitcher dropped out in 1928 and Purcell & Cullen was the next name taken. This existed but a few months and on March 1, 1929, there was a complete reorganization under the name of Purcell, Cullen & Reynolds, which still exists.
Perhaps there was no more staunch Democrat in the county than Judge Purcell. The late Mayor William Hart selected him for his city attorney in 1887, a position at the present time known as corporation counsel. Gov- ernor Roswell P. Flower determined upon him as his choice for county judge in January, 1892. His record on the bench was outstanding. In 1904 he was picked as delegate to the Democratic national convention at St. Louis, but illness prevented him from attending. In the bar associa- tions of Jefferson County and of the State he was greatly respected, having served as president of the former and as vice president and upon important committees of the latter.
During the campaign which had elected the late Justice Watson M. Rogers to the Supreme Court bench, Judge Purcell had been one of his most active supporters, and when the latter died Judge Purcell was ap- pointed Feb. 21, 1911, by Governor John A. Dix to fill the vacancy. He occupied the position through that year, but was not elected in the fall campaign, and again returned to private practice, but on Feb. 28, 1914, when there was another vacancy on the Supreme Court bench of the dis- trict, he was appointed by former Gov. Martin H. Glynn.
Many years ago Judge Purcell became a director of the old National Bank & Loan Company, and during the last years of his life he was presi- dent of the Jefferson County Savings Bank. The Northern New York Trust Company was organized in 1910, merging the old National Bank & Loan Company and the National Union Bank, and Judge Purcell became one of its charter directors and served on its board until 1922. He was for a number of years a director of the Harmon Machine Company and in many other local concerns.
When Judge Purcell concluded 50 years of practice as a lawyer, a great complimentary dinner was arranged for him by his friends at the Black River Valley Club. This was held on March 1, 1926, and was attended
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by 150 friends. Delos M. Cosgrove, then president of the Jefferson County Bar Association, presided as toastmaster.
In a political way the last years of Judge Purcell's life saw him as an ardent admirer of Woodrow Wilson, and when the million dollar mem- orial to President Wilson was being raised in 1921, he was selected to have charge of the campaign in the 32nd congressional district, compris- ing the counties of Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, and Madison. In this same district he was in 1928 made one of the Democratic presidential electors during the Alfred E. Smith campaign.
Judge Purcell was a member of the Black River Valley Club, Knights of Columbus, Transportation Club of New York, and of many social or- ganizations. Religiously he was a devout member of Holy Family Catho- lic Church.
On Jan. 10, 1878, Judge Purcell married Miss Cecelia R. Neary, who died in Watertown, June 13, 1925. Their children were: Francis K., Henry Purcell, Jr. (deceased) and John C., Watertown; Mrs. John Kilfeather, of New Haven, Conn .; Mrs. Richard M. Buck.
Clarence M. Kendall is advertising manager of the Watertown Times. He was born in this city, May 22, 1887, the son of Martin W. and Clara M. (Ingalls) Kendall.
In 1919 Mr. Kendall married Miss Florence Marguerite Sloan, the daughter of Stephen J. and Helen M. (McDonald) Sloan, who are residents of Cornwall, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Kendall have two children, Mary Con- stance, and Frederic Stephen.
Politically, Mr. Kendall is a Republican. He and his family hold mem- bership in Holy Family Catholic Church, and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus, Watertown Council, No. 256; Kiwanis Club; Black River Val- ley Club; and Chamber of Commerce.
Fr. Peter Andrew Lesperance is prominent in Watertown, where he is pastor of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He was born at Putnam, Conn., Sept. 9, 1888, the son of Timothy and Louise (Gagne) Lesperance.
Both Timothy Lesperance and his wife were born in Canada. He died March 28, 1923, and is buried at Woonsocket, R. I. Throughout his life he was interested in the manufacture of textiles. He was a Democrat, a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, and belonged to the Indepen- dent Order of Forresters and St. John the Baptist Society. His widow
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lives at Woonsocket. To Mr. and Mrs. Lesperance the following children were born: Eugene, lives in Chicago, Ill .; Joseph, lives at Artic Center, R. I .; Sister Eugene, deceased; Rose, married Joseph DuBois, lives at Woonsocket; Peter Andrew, the subject of this sketch; and Edmund, lives at Woonsocket.
Peter Andrew Lesperance obtained his early education at St. Ann's School, at Woonsocket, R. I., and he became a resident of Watertown in 1901. He completed a course at the Scholasticate School in 1910 and then studied at the Grand Seminary in Montreal, Canada. He was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 23, 1911, in St. James Cathedral, Montreal, by Archbishop Bruchesi. He then was appointed chaplain of state institutions at Howard, R. I., his charge including the state prison, county jails, and all types of institutions under the state charter. Father Lesperance came to Watertown in April, 1919, as assistant pastor of Sacred Heart Church, but in the fall of that year was sent to Cape Vincent, N. Y., to take the place of Father Byrnes, pastor of St. Vincent's Church. In 1920 Father Les- perance was transferred to Clayton, N. Y., as administrator of St. Mary's Church, and the following year returned to Watertown. In 1922 he went to Washington, D. C., where he took a special course of study at the Apolistic Mission House. He became assistant at Sacred Heart Church in Watertown in 1923 and was appointed pastor in 1928.
Father Lesperance is identified with the Knights of Columbus, Water- town Council, and he also belongs to the Chamber of Commerce.
Hon. George H. Cobb .- Brilliant achievement marks the career of George H. Cobb, who is a member of the law firm of Cobb, Cosgrove, Harter & Wright, with offices in the Jefferson County National Bank Building, Watertown. He was born at Hounsfield, Jefferson County, Oct. 10, 1863, the son of Elijah and Emily (Crandall) Cobb.
Elijah Cobb is a veteran of the Civil War. He was born at Alexandria Bay, N. Y., July 22, 1833, and now lives retired at Hounsfield. His wife, born at Brookfield, Madison County, N. Y., in 1835, died May 5, 1924, and is buried in Sulphur Springs Cemetery, Hounsfield. He followed gen- eral farming throughout his entire life, and was also prominent in the civic life of the community in which he has spent so many years. He was one of the founders of the Star Grange. Mr. Cobb served throughout the Civil War as a member of Company B, 186th New York Volunteer In- fantry, and was slightly wounded at the battle of Antietam. He is a Republican, and belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, Joseph Spratt Post, Watertown. His wife was a member of the Baptist Church. To
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Elijah and Emily (Crandall) Cobb were born four children: Herbert C., lives at Redfield, S. D .; George H., the subject of this sketch; Eugene F., lives at Great Falls, Mont .; and Edward E., lives in the town of Hounsfield, N. Y.
Elijah Cobb is the son of Joseph and Margaret Cobb, natives of New England and New York, respectively. Joseph Cobb was of English descent and his wife was born in Herkimer County of Holland-Dutch descent. Both are buried at Mansville, N. Y. Emily (Crandall) Cobb was the daughter of Clark and Maria Crandall, both of whom were natives of Madison County, N. Y. They are buried in Sulphur Springs Cemetery, in Hounsfield.
George H. Cobb attended the district schools of Jefferson County and after his graduation from Sacket Harbor High School he entered Potsdam State Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1886. He then taught school and was principal of the high school at Hammond, N. Y., for a time. He read law in the offices of Lansing & Rogers and was admitted to the bar in November, 1891. Mr. Cobb served as deputy county clerk for two years, and held the office of city judge in Watertown for a term of four years. He subsequently was elected district attorney and served for six years, after which he was State senator for a period of eight years. He served as president of the senate, and at the time of the resignation of Gov. Charles E. Hughes as governor, when Lieut. Gov. Horace White became governor, Mr. Cobb was made lieutenant governor of the State of New York. In the meantime he had established a law practice in Watertown. For a time he was associated in practice with De- los M. Cosgrove as a member of the firm of Cobb & Cosgrove, but later the firm became known as Cobb, Cosgrove, Harter & Wright.
Mr. Cobb has been president of the Jefferson County Bar Association, and is identified with the New York State Bar Association, and American Bar Association. He is a Republican in politics and has been a member of the Republican County Committee and chairman of the Republican City Committee.
In March, 1893, Mr. Cobb was united in marriage with Miss Louise Wenzel, the daughter of Frederick and Connie (Ehrlicher) Wenzel, natives of Germany, both now deceased. For a number of years Mr. Wenzel was well known in Watertown as a restaurant owner. Mr. and Mrs. Cobb have a son, George Donald, who lives in Hollywood, Calif., where he is interested in business as a scenario writer for a film company. He is a graduate of Amherst College, and during the World War was a member of the Student Army Training Corps.
Mr. Cobb is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Watertown, and belongs to Watertown Lodge No. 49, F. & A. M .; Watertown Chapter
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No. 59, R. A. M .; Watertown Commandery No. 11, K. T .; Central City Consistory, 32nd degree; Media Temple, Past Potentate for three terms; and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Past Grand. He also belongs to Black River Valley Club. Mr. Cobb is a director of the Watertown National Bank.
Brayton Allen Field .- An able and well educated lawyer, Brayton A. Field has generously contributed his experience, his energy, his time, and his funds to public service and has come to be regarded as a leading citi- zen and educational factor in Watertown. He was born at Hounsfield, Jefferson County, March 18, 1853, the son of Sanford E. and Phoebe (Allen) Field, both natives of Jefferson County. His father, a farmer, died in 1898, and his mother died in 1907.
Brayton Allen Field received his preparatory education in the district school of Hounsfield and the high school of Watertown, and was gradu- ated from Dartmouth College in 1878 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He studied law in the offices of O'Brien & Emerson, of Watertown, and was admitted to the bar in 1886. That same year he opened offices for the independent practice of his profession, in which he has since continued. In 1902 he took as a partner M. M. Swan, and the firm name became Field & Swan, which partnership continued to the present time. During the summer of 1904 Mr. Field was called upon to act for the city judge for several years. It is a firm highly regarded because of the fine reputation for character and intelligence borne by the partners, and its share in sig- nificant litigation has been large. Since 1919 Mr. Field has been attorney for the Federal Land Bank for Jefferson and Lewis counties.
In politics Mr. Field is a Republican. He is a member of the Lincoln League, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was formerly a member of the 39th Separate Company, New York National Guard. His religious affiliation is with All Soul's Univer- salist Church, which he has served for 18 years as a member of the board of trustees, and superintendent of the Sunday School, which his activity has done much to promote. For ten years he was a member of the New York State Executive Board of the Universalist denomination and for two years he was president of its state convention. For a number of years he was chairman of the Jefferson Finance Committee of the County Inter-Denominational Council of Religious Education. For a number of years he was president of the Jefferson County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and of the Bureau of Charities for the city of Watertown. In the nineties Mr. Field was a member of the city Board of Health for seven years, and took part in drafting regulations for the
BRAYTON ALLEN FIELD
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control of sources of milk supply, and the plumbing regulations for the city.
In 1881, Mr. Field married Miss Antoinette E. Thompson, of Water- town, the daughter of William C. and Antoinette Nancy (Chittenden) Thompson. Their children were: 1. Nellie L. 2. Allen Safford. 3. William T., who married Emily Rogers, and they have a daughter, Mildred, now a student in St. Lawrence University. 4. Brayton W., who married Dor- othy Thompson, of Missouri. They have three children, Dorothy Frances, Brayton A. and Gerald. 5. Arthur Chittenden, born Jan. 1, 1891, died March 3, 1901. 6. Irene Antoinette, who married Verne A. Fogg. They have a son and daughter, Verne A., Jr., and Elizabeth Ann.
As evidence of the high regard of the community, Mr. Field was one of the three selected in 1909 to draft an amendment to incorporate a Theological School in connection with St. Lawrence University, and has since been a trustee.
John W. Whalen .- As treasurer of the Hungerford Holbrook Company, Mr. Whalen is numbered among the progressive business men of Water- town, where he has spent practically his entire life. He was born at Os- wego, N. Y., Oct. 15, 1873, the son of John C. and Mary A. (Madden) Whalen.
John C. Whalen was a representative citizen of Watertown for many years. He was born in this city, as was also his wife. As a young man he was employed on the Midland Railroad and served in the capacity of con- ductor. In 1874 Mr. Whalen returned to Watertown with his family after having maintained his residence at Oswego, N. Y., for several months. He was then identified with the Davis Sewing Machine Com- pany until 1890, when the company removed to Dayton, Ohio. From that time until his death Mr. Whalen was connected with the Excelsior Car- riage Company, of Watertown. He died in 1896 and his wife died in 1919. Both are buried in Watertown. Mr. Whalen was a Democrat in politics and held membership in St. Patrick's Catholic Church. There were seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Whalen, as follows: John W., the subject of this sketch; Lawrence A., lives at Massena, N. Y .; M. Louise, deceased; Matthew, lives at Massena, N. Y .; William, deceased; Anna, lives at Utica, N. Y .; and Walter, deceased.
Following his graduation from Watertown High School in 1893, John W. Whalen entered the shops of the New York Air Brake Company, where he worked at the trade of coremaker. After a short time, however, he left that company and was identified with the Agricultural Insurance
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Company's printing offices. In 1894 he entered the employ of the O. E. Hungerford Printing Company, which was located on the present site of the Watertown Times office. The two companies were merged in 1898 as the Hungerford-Holbrook Company, and at that time Mr. Whalen became bookkeeper for the new organization. He was elected treasurer and direc- tor of the company in 1924.
In 1910 Mr. Whalen was united in marriage with Miss Edith H. Marks, the daughter of John and Sarah Jane Marks, natives of Athens, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Marks is retired. His wife died in July, 1930, and is buried at Athens, Ont. Mr. and Mrs. Whalen have a daughter, Jane E., who at- tends Watertown High School.
Mr. Whalen has always taken a keen interest in local politics and is a Democrat. During 1904-5 he was alderman of the old 4th Ward, now the 7th and 8th Wards, and during 1906-7-8-9 he was superviser of the Ward. He is a member of the Democratic County Committee. He and his family hold membership in Holy Family Catholic Church, and he is secretary of B. P. O. Elks No. 496. He also belongs to the Rotary Club.
A. Lawrence Lewis, who is secretary and general manager of the Hungerford-Holbrook Company, printers, is recognized as one of the able business executives of Watertown. He was born at Spragueville, N. Y., Nov. 27, 1884, the son of Martin H. and Deliah (LaBow) Lewis.
Martin H. Lewis, who lives retired at Fulton, N. Y., was born at Ham- mond. He has been widely known as a mining contractor and for a num- ber of years was a diamond drill expert. He sank mining shafts and later was a representative of the Ingersoll Rock Drill Company, of Chi- cago. Mr. Lewis is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Church. His wife, born at Ogdensburg, N. Y., died in 1901 and is buried at Gouver- neur, N. Y. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis: Zelma, married Timothy Bevins, lives at Chaumont, N. Y .; A. Lawrence, the subject of this sketch; Bessie, married Warren Merritt, lives at Ham- mond, N. Y .; LeRoy; lives at Fulton, N. Y .; Maude, lives at Dexter, N. Y .; Guy, lives at Grand Rapids, Mich .; Eva, married William Black, lives at Grindstone, N. Y .; Leo, lives at Ogdensburg, N. Y .; and Margaret, lives at Dexter, N. Y.
A. Lawrence Lewis attended the public schools of Gouverneur, N. Y., and served an apprenticeship in the printing plant of the Northern Trib- une with M. R. Sackett. Later, he spent four years on the Gouverneur Free Press and in 1906 came to Watertown as a compositor with the Hungerford-Holbrook Company. He was promoted to foreman of the com-
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posing room, later became superintendent, and in 1928 was elected secre- tary and general manager of the company.
In 1907 Mr. Lewis married Miss Harriet Bell Welch, the daughter of James P. and Nann (Brown) Welch, natives of New York and Scotland, respectively. The former is deceased and the latter lives at Gouverneur, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have no children.
Mr. Lewis is an active member of Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, and has the following lodge and club affiliations: Watertown Lodge No. 49, F. & A. M .; Central City Consistory, 32nd degree; Media Temple; Lincoln League; Kiwanis Club; Y. M. C. A .; Watertown Golf Club; and Chamber of Commerce. Politically, he is a Republican.
Arthur E. Sherwood is one of the progressive business men and sub- stantial citizens of Watertown, where he is secretary and treasurer of the Watertown Savings, Loan & Building Association. He was born at Copen- hagen, Lewis County, N. Y., April 21, 1873, the son of Eugene P. and Alzadia (Doney) Sherwood.
Eugene P. Sherwood was born at Copenhagen, N. Y., and his wife was a native of Napanee, Ontario, Canada. She was the daughter of Solomon Doney, a native of New York who settled in Canada during his early life. Later, however, he returned to New York and died at Copenhagen. Eugene P. Sherwood was reared and educated in Copenhagen and was for several years a customs officer in New York City. Later, he lived at Albany. He died at Beaver Falls, N. Y., in 1885. His wife is also deceased. Mr. Sher- wood was a Republican and a member of the Methodist Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood were born two children: Arthur E., the subject of this sketch; and Mary S., married Fayette L. Archer, lives at Lacona, N. Y. Eugene P. Sherwood was the son of Jonathan and Lydia A. (Phillips) Sherwood. The latter was born at Rutland, Jefferson County, the daugh- ter of Edward and Mary Phillips, who were natives of Connecticut and early settlers of Rutland, where they became prosperous farmers. During the War of 1812 Edward Phillips served with New York Militia, and was given a grant of land at Traverse City, Mich., under the Act of Congress, March 3, 1855, but he did not accept the grant, which was dated Sept. 1, 1860.
Arthur E. Sherwood obtained his education in the public schools of Copenhagen, N. Y., and began his business career as a clerk in a store at Beaver Falls, N. Y. He subsequently became advertising manager of the Middletown, N. Y. "Daily Signal," and later went to Elmira, N. Y., in the same capacity for the Sheehan-Dean Company. Mr. Sherwood was
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also associated with the Watertown Daily Times for a time. He was in charge for 13 years of the automobile shows for the Automobile Dealers, Inc., which were held in the State Armory in Watertown. Mr. Sherwood accepted his present position as secretary and treasurer of the Watertown Savings, Loan & Building Association in October, 1917. Two years later he also became a director of the company. He is secretary and treasurer of the Northern New York League of Savings & Loan Associations.
In 1898 Mr. Sherwood was united in marriage with Miss Pearl M. Sage, the daughter of Phillip H. and Ida M. (Butlin) Sage, of Copenhagen, N. Y. The former is deceased and the latter lives at Copenhagen. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood have no children.
Mr. Sherwood is a Republican, and holds membership in the Asbury Methodist Church. He belongs to the Wasoc Club.
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