USA > New York > Franklin County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 9
USA > New York > Jefferson County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 9
USA > New York > Lewis County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 9
USA > New York > Oswego County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 2 > Part 9
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 9
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Peter Young .- In the realm of that essential public utility, municipal gas supply, Peter Young, of Watertown, N. Y., is an authority by virtue of his lifelong activity as a gas engineer. He has done notable work in modernizing the plant and equipment of the Watertown Gas Company, now a part of the Northern New York Utilities Corporation, Inc., of which he is manager, and has brought the system into a high state of efficiency.
Mr. Young is a native of Scotland and received his early training in the private schools of that country and the public schools of Pittsburgh, Pa., and the Curry Institute of Pittsburgh. His father, John Young, came to the United States from Scotland in 1876, and was a gas engineer and chemist in Pittsburgh, Pa. He died in 1922. His wife, also a native of Scotland, died in 1923.
Peter Young began his business career in connection with gas engi- neering and has remained faithful to his profession. His work has led him to various parts of the country, south, east, north and west, all of which have benefitted by his training and ability, and at one time placed him in charge of the Astoria plant of the New York Consolidated Gas Company, the largest of its kind in the world. In 1914 he accepted the offer of the Watertown Gas Company, and for seventeen years has been its manager. The original plant of the company was erected in 1852, as far as local records indicate, on a site back of where the Woodruff Hotel now stands. In 1904 a new plant was ready for occupancy at the foot of Newell Street, and has since been in use. The plant has a capacity of one and a half million cubic feet of gas per day; and fifty-three and eight- tenths miles of gas mains supply 7100 or more families. In 1924 a new vertical retort house was erected with the West Vertical Retort installed,
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being the latest type of retort for carbonizing coal. This expansion and improvement has been largely engineered by Mr. Young, who saw the need, and presented it so clearly to his directors as to gain their support, and executed the details of improvement. As a result of his ability and ex- perience, he is a recognized authority on gas engineering.
Peter Young married, Nov. 3, 1885, Miss Mary Wilkins, of Pittsburgh, Pa., the daughter of Edmund and Elizabeth (Grenet) Wilkins. Their chil- dren are: 1. Edmund W., who married Nettie Davis, and their children are: Mary Gena, and Helen Elizabeth. 2. Mary W. 3. Elizabeth W., who married Stanley Sherwood Smith, and their children are: Peter Walker, and Stanley Sherwood, Jr. 4. Josephine W. is the wife of George H. Bal- four, Watertown. All are college graduates and are prepared for con- structive work in the world.
In politics a Republican, Mr. Young is a member of Johnstown Lodge, F. and A. M., Johnstown, Pa .; the Chamber of Commerce, Watertown, and the Jefferson County Golf Club. His religious affiliation is with the Pres- byterian Church. He is identified with all forward-looking civic and social movements.
Winfield A. Fox .- Among the leading business men of Watertown, whose initiative, energy and industry have done much in developing and building up the city, is Winfield A. Fox, who is vice president of Marcy- Buck Company, Inc. He was born in this city, Oct. 4, 1880, the son of Frank C. and Rose (Walrath) Fox.
Frank C. Fox, who died in 1888, was a native of New York, born at Cape Vincent. For several years he was the owner of a clothing store in Watertown and later lived in Idaho, where he operated an extensive ranch. He met with an accidental death and is buried in Watertown. His wife, also born in New York, died in 1907. Mr. Fox was a Democrat and held membership in Trinity Episcopal Church. There were two children in the Fox family: Harriet O., lives at Watertown; and Winfield A., the subject of this sketch.
Frank C. Fox was the son of Hon. Alfred and Olive C. (Bent) Fox. He was born at Pompey Hills, Onondaga County, New York, Jan. 30, 1807. He attended the district schools of Cortland County and for several years engaged in teaching school. He became interested in farming about 1832 and became one of the largest land owners in this section of the state. He served as township supervisor for ten years, as justice of the peace for 15 years, and in 1851 was elected as a member of the General Assembly. He also was a delegate in 1852 to the National Democratic Con-
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vention in Baltimore, Md. He married (first) Miss Lucy Harris of Cort- land County. She died at the age of 26 years, leaving four children: James H., Mary J., George, and Byron. His second wife was Olive C. Bent, of Watertown, and their children were: Charles, Hattie, Nellie, Frank C., and Alfred, Jr. Mr. Fox died March 13, 1880, and his wife died March 27, 1880. They were members of the Universalist Church.
Winfield A. Fox attended the public schools of Watertown and is a graduate of Albany Business College. He began as a messenger in the employ of the old National Union Bank, and resigned in 1910 as teller to accept the office of treasurer of the Northern New York Coal Company. When that company was merged with the Marcy-Buck Company in 1917 Mr. Fox was elected to the office of vice president. He was one of the organizers of the Empire Petroleum Products Company in April, 1925, and has since held the office of president.
In 1913 Mr. Fox married Miss Katharine L. Sherman, the daughter of George C. and Alice T. Sherman, of Watertown. The former is deceased and the latter lives in this city. Katharine L. (Sherman) Fox died in 1914 and is buried in Watertown. In 1918 Mr. Fox was married the second time to Mrs. Grace Stebbins Sherman, the daughter of Jean R. Stebbins, who is deceased. He was president of the Agricultural Insurance Com- pany, of Watertown.
Politically, Mr. Fox has always been a Democrat. He is an active mem- ber of Trinity Episcopal Church, and belongs to Watertown Lodge, F. & A. M. No. 49, Past Master in 1920; Watertown Chapter, R. A. M. No. 59; Watertown Commandery K. T. No. 11; Central City Consistory, 32nd de- gree; Media Temple; Black River Valley Club; Jefferson County Golf Club; and Watertown Chamber of Commerce.
George B. Van Doren, M. D .- One of the foremost physicians and sur- geons of northern New York, Doctor Van Doren, a World War veteran, is recognized as a thoroughly capable man in his profession. He was born on a farm between Chaumont and Three Mile Bay, Lyme Township, Jefferson County, Sept. 13, 1873, the son of Abraham and Mary (Nellis) Van Doren.
Abraham Van Doren was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., in 1827, and his wife was a native of the same county, born in 1831. He died Jan. 2, 1909, and she died in 1911. Both are buried at Chaumont. He spent his early life on his father's farm and was eight years old when his family located in Jefferson County. He became the owner of a fine farm, which was located between Chaumont and Three Mile Bay. At that time the
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Indians were still inhabitants of this region. Mr. Van Doren was a Repub- lican and held membership in the Presbyterian Church. There were four children born to Abraham and Mary (Nellis) Van Doren: Walter, lives at Chaumont; Mary E., married Henry George, lives at Chaumont; Rev. J. Canfield, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, lives at Merrick, Long Island, N. Y .; and George B., the subject of this sketch. By a former mar- riage Abraham Van Doren had another son, James Isaac, who lives at. Chaumont.
Abraham Van Doren was the son of Joseph and Hester (Becker) Van Doren, the former a native of Milestone, N. J., and the latter of New York. Both are buried at Chaumont. Joseph Van Doren was the son of William Van Doren, who came to the United States from Holland and settled in New Jersey, at Milestone, where he is buried. His wife owned the house in which George Washington stayed during the American Revo- lution when he spent time in that section. During that period she was approached by British officers who demanded to know if Washington had been there and where he had gone. When she refused to inform them she was punished by being hung by the heels, but was finally released.
Mary (Nellis) Van Doren was the daughter of Elijah and Mary Nellis, who were natives of Montgomery County, N. Y. The mother died at the daughter's birth and Mr. Nellis later remarried and removed to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, where he engaged in business.
George B. Van Doren attended the public schools of Three Mile Bay and in 1892 was graduated from Adams Collegiate Institute. He received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Brown University in 1896, and four years later was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. He then served as interne in the Hudson Street Hos- pital and Roosevelt Hospital and in February, 1901, he came to Watertown to engage in private practice. Doctor Van Doren served in the World War with the rank of captain in the U. S. Medical Corps, and was stationed at Camp Greenleaf, Georgia. During his 30 years of practice in Watertown. Doctor Van Doren has studied extensively in New York and Chicago. He was appointed city health officer in 1927 and still serves in that ca- pacity.
In 1926 Doctor Van Doren was united in marriage with Miss Ruth M. Lehigh, the daughter of Malcolm E. Lehigh, who lives at Gouverneur, N. Y. He was born at Brockville, Canada. Doctor and Mrs. Van Doren have two daughters, Mary Ruth and Georgene.
Doctor Van Doren has been president of the Jefferson County Medical Society, and also holds membership in the New York State Medical So- ciety, and American Medical Association. He is chief of the division of
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obstetrics at Mercy Hospital, and a member of the staff of Good Samari- tan Hospital.
Politically, Doctor Van Doren is a Republican. He belongs to Beta Theta Pi fraternity, Black River Valley Club, and Jefferson County Golf Club. He and his family are members of the First Presbyterian Church.
Doctor Van Doren is a bowling enthusiast and has won numerous trophies throughout the state in this particular sport.
John M. Cruikshank .- A leading figure in newspaper work for many years was John M. Cruikshank, who died Dec. 13, 1912. He was a native of Carthage, N. Y., born in 1865, the son of Hugh and Jane Cruikshank, of Wilna, N. Y. His parents were natives of Ireland and prominent pioneer settlers of northern New York.
John M. Cruikshank was educated in the public schools of Wilna, N. Y., and attended Carthage High School. He was graduated from Cornell University in 1890. At that time he took up newspaper work with the Watertown Standard as a reporter, and later went to New York City, where he served on several newspapers in that capacity. For a time he was connected with the Brooklyn Citizen and the Eagle, with which he had a long and successful career. He soon became a political reporter and as such was thrown into contact with nearly every public man of prominence in the State. He attended numerous state and national con- ventions, and was sent to Albany, N. Y., by the Eagle as legislative corre- spondent during several sessions. He was also at one time president of the Legislative Correspondents Association at Albany. In 1906 Mr. Cruik- shank purchased the Carthage Republican, which he successfully pub- lished for two years. He then became associated with Richard C. Ells- worth, of Canton, N. Y., and they continued the publication until 1910, at which time Mr. Cruikshank purchased the Brooklyn Times, also continu- ing his partnership with Mr. Ellsworth in the new enterprise. He was editor with Mr. Ellsworth as business manager, and John M. Harmon, of Watertown, became city editor. The circulation of the newspaper doubled during Mr. Cruikshank's association with it. He was an aggressive newspaperman, with a keen sense of news value, and his judgment was invariably good.
The years spent by Mr. Cruikshank in Jefferson County as editor of the Carthage Republican were during the two Hughes administrations and Mr. Cruikshank was a staunch upholder of the policies of those admin- istrations. He was one of the principal movers in the organization of the Jefferson County Direct Primary League and served as its president.
JOHN M. CRUIKSHANK
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He also was a delegate to the long drawn out congressional convention at Oswego and Pulaski, when the three cornered fight between Charles L. Knapp, Merrick Stowell, of Oswego, and I. L. Hunt, of Adams, was waged.
In 1900 Mr. Cruikshank married Miss Nora Washburn, the daughter of John R. Washburn, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this history.
Mrs. Cruikshank is a resident of Watertown.
John R. Washburn, deceased, was a representative citizen of Jefferson County and for many years served as superintendent of the poor. He was born at Rodman, N. Y., in 1837, and received his education in the public schools at that place.
At an early age Mr. Washburn became interested in general farming and soon became one of the leading farmers of that section, as well as a prominent man of affairs. He early identified himself with the Republi- can party in the county and was a zealous and effective worker in its interests. He was an intense and uncompromising partisan, yet honest in the things of politics as in the personal life he led.
Mr. Washburn was elected supervisor of Rodman and reelected to that office, which he successfully filled until 1882. In the following year he was chosen superintendent of the poor, which position he held continu- ously until his death, June 1, 1903. His work as superintendent of the poor was so well known as scarcely to require outlining and it was the subject of favorable comment and even enthusiastic compliment by nearly every board of supervisors during his 20 years in office. His attitude toward imposters convinced them that the county farm was no place for them to remain, but to the helpless poor he was a faithful and conscien- tious guardian.
Mr. Washburn was one of the older members of the state convention of superintendents of the poor, and his papers on the proper methods of car- ing for the poor were widely commented upon, and brought him more than a local reputation among people interested in such work. He had served as president of the New York State Association and was one of its delegates to the national convention at Atlanta, Ga., in 1903.
Mr. Washburn was prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Rodman Lodge, F. & A. M .; Watertown Chapter No. 59; Watertown Com- mandery No. 11, K. T .; and Media Temple.
Mr. Washburn married Miss Lucia Lewis, and their children were: Nora, the widow of John M. Cruikshank, of Watertown; and Lewis R., who lives in Watertown.
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Edward Leffingwell Mitchell is a leading figure in financial circles in Watertown, where he is treasurer of the Watertown Savings Bank. He was born at Copenhagen, N. Y., Sept. 28, 1874, the son of James S. and Mary (Leffingwell) Mitchell.
James S. Mitchell, deceased, was a representative citizen of New York. He was born at Copenhagen, where he later conducted a general mercantile business. About 1870 he disposed of his interests to Thompson & Com- pany, and at that time became deputy clerk of the Assembly at Albany, N. Y. Later, he served as journal clerk, and at one time was private sec- retary to the late Charles H. Chickering, who was a member of Congress from this district. Mr. Mitchell was associated with Mr. Chickering until the latter's death. He was a Republican, and belonged to the Masonic Lodge. He died Dec. 23, 1929, and his wife died Dec. 25, 1899. Both are buried at Copenhagen, N. Y. Edward Leffingwell, the subject of this sketch, was the only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell.
Edward Leffingwell Mitchell obtained his education in the public schools of Copenhagen and Albany, and for a time was associated with his father's work in the office of Mr. Chickering. Upon the death of Mr. Chickering he was connected with the offices of the National Bank Divi- sion of the U. S. Treasury Department. He returned, however, to Copen- hagen in 1899, and the following year came to Watertown as bookkeeper with the Watertown Savings Bank. Subsequently, he became assistant treasurer and in January, 1931, assumed the duties of treasurer of the institution.
In 1904 Mr. Mitchell married Miss Lucy Hardy, the daughter of John Calvin and Julia (Scott) Hardy, who were natives of Rutland, N. Y., both now deceased. They are buried at Copenhagen. Mrs. Mitchell is president of the Watertown Board of Education, and is prominent in the civic life of the community. She is also a member of the Outlook Club.
Mr. Mitchell is a Republican in politics and belongs to the First Pres- byterian Church.
John Nelson Carlisle .- One of the outstanding citizens of Watertown, was John Nelson Carlisle, who was president of the Northern New York Utilities, Inc. He was born Aug. 24, 1866, at Preble, Cortland County, N. Y., a son of William S. and Catherine Rose (Burdick) Carlisle.
The Carlisle family moved to Watertown, where John Nelson Carlisle was educated, graduating from the high school in 1884, and immediately began the study of law in the office of the late Judge Henry Purcell. After his admittance to the bar in 1889 he formed a partnership with Judge Purcell. In 1902 he was admitted to practice in the U. S. courts.
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He was city attorney of Watertown, 1891-92; a member of the board of education 1901-04; and then public service commissioner for the second district, 1910-12.
Mr. Carlisle formed other partnerships, first with Francis M. Hugo, former Secretary of State; Senator Elon R. Brown, and finally with his brother, Floyd L. Carlisle. When Floyd Carlisle retired to engage in finance, the firm of Carlisle & Carlisle was discontinued.
As a young man Mr. Carlisle was active in politics. In 1888 while Robert Lansing, later war-time secretary of State under President Wilson, was Democratic County Chairman, Mr. Carlisle organized young members of the party into an independent committee to aid the county organization in its work. He was elected to the county committee and became its chairman. In 1896 he was made Democratic State Committeeman for the 35th Congressional district, and for six years was secretary of the State body.
Appointed State highway commissioner in 1913 and serving until 1915, he took office with the understanding that he would be permitted to form an advisory board of engineers to formulate a definite policy for the department. Under his guidance the whole department was reorgan- ized. After leaving this office he was adviser to the State Commissioner of Highways in 1915.
While Mr. Carlisle was highway commissioner he completed a system of roads through the north country, promoted the scenic boulevard about Storm King, and uncovered the famous "gravel contract" under which the state expended thousands of dollars for "special gravel" claimed neces- sary for certain road work.
With Daniel G. Griffin he was instrumental in effecting the nomina- tion of Roswell P. Flower, for governor, taking a prominent part in the campaign that elected Mr. Flower.
In 1915 the law firm of Ainsworth, Carlisle & Sullivan was formed in Albany and during the next five years he practiced there and in Water- town. In 1919 he was employed by the Albany common council to investi- gate city affairs.
When Floyd L. Carlisle, his brother, and his associates in the Black River Valley power group took over the Northern New York Utilities, Inc., in 1920, John N. Carlisle was chosen to head the great hydro-electric corporation, of which he became president and served in that capacity until his death. He also became president of the Power Corporation of New York and a director of the Mohawk-Hudson Power Corporation, a director of the Northern New York Trust Company, director of the St. Regis Paper Company, and the Northeastern Power Corporation. He was a commissioner of the Black River Regulating District Board. From 1909
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to 1915 he was a trustee of Cornell University; 1895-1910 he was a mem- ber of the New York National Guard, and retired as major.
Mr. Carlisle was a member of the Jefferson County, New York State, and American Bar associations.
Fraternally, Mr. Carlisle belonged to Watertown Lodge, No. 49, F. & A. M .; Watertown Chapter, No. 59, R. A. M .; and Watertown Com- mandry, No. 11, K. T. He was also a member of the Black River Valley Club, the Jefferson County Golf Club, the Fort Orange Club of Albany, the Teugega Country Club of Rome, and the Thousand Island Country Club. He was a trustee of the Jefferson County Historical Society.
Mr. Carlisle married Carrie C. Brown of Pulaski, N. Y. Their only child Catherine, who married Frederick H. Taylor, died in 1923.
Mr. Carlisle died July 21, 1931. He is buried in Brookside Cemetery, Watertown.
David Minott Anderson .- Dean of the paper industry of the North Country, honored for his success and his sterling integrity in his many business and general industrial ventures, a pioneer in paper manufactur- ing enterprises, and an experienced and prudent counsellor in the director- ship of numerous substantial business houses and public utilities through- out the State, David Minott Anderson is before all else a factor for the promotion of every progressive plan for the welfare of Watertown, the county, and the State itself. Highly capable and prosperous, and with broad views upon present day affairs, his business and fraternal affilia- tions are those of popular as well as gifted leadership.
David Minott Anderson, a descendant of the early pioneers of West- chester County, New York, is a son of David Anderson, grandson of Joseph H. Anderson, great-grandson of Jeremiah Anderson and great- great-grandson of William Anderson. His father, David Anderson, was a farmer, who died in 1869. He married Caroline Minott (Mitchell) Ander- son, of White Plains, who died in 1886.
David Minott Anderson, son of David and Caroline M. (Mitchell) An- derson, was born Oct. 9, 1855, at Harrison, Westchester County, where he attended the public and high schools, and later graduated from Brooklyn Polytechnical Institute. He began his business career at 25 Cliff Street, New York City, where he was employed as a clerk and traveling salesman for a concern that handled tinware.
In 1884 Mr. Anderson came to Watertown where he formed a partner- ship with J. M. Tilden in the operation of a fleet of tinware carts, which were common in those days. At the end of five years he disposed of his share in the business to become identified with the Ontario Paper Com-
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pany, and thus became versed in the practical side of paper manufacturing. In 1889, he was associated with the firm of Taggart Brothers, as their general manager, later being elected president of the company. In 1900 he was one of the organizers and founders of the St. Regis Paper Com- pany, and in 1914 he retired from active participation in manufacturing, confining himself to his official interest in his large holdings with the following named concerns: director of the St. Regis Paper Company, the Raquette River Power Company, and the Brownville Paper Company; di- rector of the St. Regis Falls Wood Corporation, Northern New York Trust Company, Northern New York Utilities, Inc., Jefferson County Sav- ings Bank, Agricultural Insurance Company, Marcy-Buck Company, Power Corporation of New York, Norwood and St. Lawrence Railroad, Hungerford-Holbrook Company, Ontario Stock Farm, Central Stamping Company of New York, and a large number of other concerns in which he is a heavy stockholder.
In his political views he is a Republican. Mr. Anderson was a presi- dential elector in the campaign for President Mckinley. He is a trustee of the Jefferson County Historical Society; and the House of the Good Samaritan; a member of the Watertown Chamber of Commerce; and his clubs are: Black River Valley; Jefferson County Golf; Thousand Island Country ; Crescent Yacht; and he is a member of various other organiza- tions. He is a vestryman in Trinity Episcopal Church.
On Dec. 6, 1882, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Ida M. Lydecker, of Englewood, N. J., the daughter of John R. and Elizabeth (Ward) Lydecker; and they have a daughter, Elizabeth L. She married J. C. Wise, and they have two children: Henry Alexander Wise, and Elizabeth Anderson Wise.
Maurice D. Barnette, M. D., physician and surgeon, is engaged in the practice of his profession in Watertown, with offices in the Woolworth Building. He was born at Potsdam, N. Y., the son of Patrick and Cath- erine (Manning) Barnette.
Following his graduation from Potsdam State Normal School in 1907, Dr. Barnette took up the study of medicine at the University of Michigan, from which he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1912. He was then identified with the staff of General Hospital, Rochester, N. Y., until 1915, at which time he established his present practice in Water- town. Doctor Barnette resigned in 1917 from the 13th Battalion, U. S. Naval Militia, and enlisted in the U. S. Medical Corps with the rank of first lieutenant. He was connected with the surgical service of the Walter
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