USA > New York > Franklin County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 3 > Part 39
USA > New York > Jefferson County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 3 > Part 39
USA > New York > Lewis County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 3 > Part 39
USA > New York > Oswego County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 3 > Part 39
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 3 > Part 39
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John C. Neumann received a liberal education in the Prague high and commercial schools. When he was 24 years of age he came to the United States. He located at first in New York City where he was connected with the manufacture of ladies' garments. Well equipped with the tech- nical points of this industry and with the general rules of business admin- istration, he opened a business of his own in 1919 in New York City, under the title of Olga, Inc. The business grew sufficiently to interest others and to open up a larger avenue of expansion. In 1924 it was moved to Watertown, where it began to prosper at once under the name of the Olga Knitting Mills, Inc., although the product remained the same, featuring ladies' wear, sport dresses, etc. The plant, located at Factory Square,
THE OLGA KNITTING MILLS, WATERTOWN, N. Y
EEEE
JOHN CHARLES NEUMANN
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occupies some 25,000 square feet of floor space, and employs about 125 workers. The products are sent all over the United States, and are dis- tinguished by quality, attractive appearance, and service ability. Mr. Neumann is president and general manager. Mr. Neumann was also pres- ident of the Safety Tool Corporation, of Watertown. Mr. Neumann has a brother who resides at Pittsburgh, Pa. He is a civil engineer and holds the degree of Ph. D.
Politically, Mr. Neumann is a Republican. He is a member of the Black River Valley Club, the Jefferson County Golf Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club, Cold Creek Riding Club, and the Y. M. C. A. He is part owner of a silver fox farm where he is producing the finest breeding stock of foxes. He attends the Church of Christ, Scientist.
Mr. Neumann was married in 1917 to Miss Olga H. Spinnler, of Switz- erland, the daughter of Dr. Ervin and Emma (deWagner) Spinnler, na- tives of Switzerland.
The Olga Knitting Mills, Inc., was incorporated in New York City in 1919 and moved to Watertown in May, 1924. They are widely known manufacturers of sportswear and children's wearing apparel. John C. Neumann is president and general manager.
The company employs between 120 and 125 people most of whom are young women, and all residents of Watertown. Apparel manufactured in this plant is popular priced merchandise and is shipped to large centers such as New York City, Philadelphia and Boston, and from those centers is distributed throughout the country. The weekly production operating five and one-half days per week on ladies dresses is about 1,800 dozen and on children's apparel, brother and sister suits, is 2,000 dozen.
Upon its removal to Watertown, the company took over one of Nill & Jess buildings, which had to be practically rebuilt to suit their type of manufacturing. The building is a brick fireproof structure, equipped with sprinkler system, and is 125 x 65 feet. There are four floors and a base- ment, which is used to generate electricity and also a heating plant is lo- cated in the building. On the first floor are offices and the cutting depart- ment with all modern devices and machinery. The second floor is utilized entirely for assembling and on this floor there are about 120 machines located, the majority of which are special labor saving design, and in many instances would perform an operation of three ordinary machines. The third floor is for pressing, examining and packing. All products are pressed on large steam pressing machines on which as many as three gar- ments may be pressed at one time. The fourth floor is a modern stock room. The building is equipped with an elevator, and a frigidaire system on each floor is available for cooling drinking water.
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William J. Linnell, who for more than half a century has been identi- fied with the public schools of Jefferson County, is recognized as one of the able and highly successful educators of northern New York, and now holds the office of district superintendent. He was born at Clayton, Jef- ferson County, Oct. 18, 1862, the son of George D. and Elizabeth (Gray) Linnell.
George D. Linnell was born at Brownville, Jefferson County, and spent his entire life as a farmer and teacher. His wife was born at Clyde, Wayne County. Both are deceased and are buried at Clayton Center, N. Y. Mr. Linnell served as assessor and was a Republican in politics. He be- longed to the Masonic Lodge. To Mr. and Mrs. Linnell were born four children: William J., the subject of this sketch; John Marshall, lives at Clayton; George Merton, deceased; and Elizabeth, married Earl A. Mayer, lives at Watertown.
William J. Linnell received his early education in district school No. 14, in the town of Clayton. He also attended a select school at Clayton Cen- ter, and was a student at Ives Seminary. After several years as a rural school teacher he was graduated from the Potsdam Normal School in 1888, having completed a three-year course of study in two and one-half years. He had spent two years as a teacher in Boone County, Ill., and after his graduation from normal school he taught at Three Mile Bay, where he also served as principal for four years. His next position was as principal of Chaumont High School, where he remained until 1895. During the following ten years he was principal of the Brownville schools. In 1906 Mr. Linnell was elected county school commissioner of the Third District of Jefferson County, and at the expiration of his term in 1912 he was chosen district superintendent. The towns of Adams, Rodman, Rut- land, and Watertown are under the supervision of Mr. Linnell. While serving as school commissioner he substituted for a time as principal of Cape Vincent High School. He has the distinction of having taught in every high school on the Cape Vincent branch of the New York Central Railroad between Cape Vincent and Watertown.
During the administration of Mr. Linnell the Brownville-Glen Park school received its charter as a union school. When he began his work in the Brownville institution it was practically a rural school.
Forty-two years ago Mr. Linnell, in company with School Commis- sioner D. D. T. Marshall, was active in organizing the Jefferson County Teachers Association, which at the present time is one of the largest organizations in the state. During the summer of 1929 Mr. Linnell trav- eled extensively in Europe, visiting England, Ireland, and Scotland, and spent much time in the study of the organization and development of the English elementary school. He was especially interested in the develop- ment of Eaton, Oxford, and Winchester universities.
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Mr. Linnell is intensely interested in the professional growth of teach- ers in service, and for a number of years has been helpful in organizing collegiate extension work for rural and village teachers in Jefferson County. He is a familiar figure at teachers conferences in the North Country, and is an exceedingly popular school man in Jefferson County, being at all times identified with every effort put forth to raise the stand- ards of the teaching profession, in which he has recently completed 51 years of service.
It is interesting to note that during the first year of Mr. Linnell's career as a teacher in 1880 he received a monthly salary of $12.00. The following year he received $20 per month, and during his third year as a teacher was advanced to $28. At the latter salary he was obliged to board himself in the community.
Mr. Linnell was married (first) in 1888 to Miss Harriet M. Wells, who died in 1912. She was the daughter of Remus and Mary Ann (Pomeroy) Wells, natives of Jefferson County. Both are deceased and are buried at Three Mile Bay, New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Linnell were born two sons: H. Wells, born Oct. 3, 1889, is a World War veteran, married Claire Pierce; Don Clifford, who died July 1, 1926. He served in France during the World War as a first lieutenant in the 603d Engi- neers. He married Catherine E. Renwick, of Holyoke, Mass.
Mr. Linnell was married (second) in 1914 to Miss Clara Wells, the daughter of Gilbert Wells, of Three Mile Bay.
Mr. Linnell is a Republican, a member of All Souls Universalist Church, and belongs to the Rotary Club and Masonic Lodge. He is also identified with the New York State Teachers Association.
Harold B. Johnson, who was recently reelected as president of the New York State Society of Newspaper Editors, is the president and editor of the Watertown Daily Times, with which paper he has been connected for a period of 28 years. He was born in the town of Rossie, St. Law- rence County, N. Y., in 1880, and spent his early life on a farm there. He was educated in Gouverneur High School, from which he was grad- uated in 1899.
Mr. Johnson became a member of the staff of the Watertown Daily Times in June, 1904. He was in turn reporter, state editor, city editor and editor. As early as 1911 he became a stockholder in the Brockway Company, publishers of The Times, and was elected vice president soon after. Almost from the time of his first connection with The Times he wrote editorials assisting Willard D. Mckinstry, who was editor at the
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time. Upon Mr. Mckinstry's death in 1919, Mr. Johnson became editor of the paper and president of the company, and has remained in that position ever since. He has been active in civic enterprises, being for eight years a member of the board of education and three years its presi- dent. He also served two terms as supervisor of the Second Ward of Watertown and for 11 years as a member of the board of trustees of the Flower Memorial Library, of Watertown.
In 1925 the St. Lawrence University at Canton honored Mr. Johnson by conferring upon him the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Three years ago the matter of the organization of a society of New York state newspaper editors was discussed at the annual meeting of the American Society of Newspaper Editors in Washington by Mr. Johnson and a group of friends. As a result the New York State Society of Newspaper Editors was organized in May, 1929, and Mr. Johnson was elected the first president. He was reelected in May, 1930, and in 1931.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the Black River Valley Club and Jefferson County Golf Club. He is president of the Brockway Company, publishers of the Watertown Daily Times, president of the Hungerford-Holbrook Company, commercial printers, a director of the Watertown National Bank, a trustee of the Watertown Savings Bank, and a director of the Watertown Savings, Loan & Building Association.
Mr. Johnson married Miss Jessie R. Parsons, March 4, 1903, and they have a son, John B.
Edwin E. Martin, who died Sept. 1, 1930, was one of the able business men of Watertown, where he was connected with the Bagley & Sewall Company as Chief Engineer. He was born in Watertown, June 6, 1876, the son of William I. and Susan (McCauley) Martin.
The Martin family migrated from England to Newfoundland, where William I. Martin was born. He located in Watertown in early life and for a number of years conducted a harness shop in this city. His wife was a native of Watertown.
Edwin E. Martin attended Arsenal Street School. He spent his entire business career with the Bagley & Sewall Company. He began as a blue print boy in the drafting department at a salary of $2 per week, fifty cents of which he paid each week to an old professor who taught him algebra and geometry. He also took correspondence work in mechanical drawing and engineering, and for a period of fifteen years was chief draftsman in the company's employ. At the death of Stuart D. Lansing, president of the Bagley & Sewall Company, Charles W. Valentine was
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elected president, and Mr. Martin was promoted to the position of chief engineer, in which capacity he served until his death. He is buried in Glenwood Cemetery.
On July 19, 1899, Mr. Martin married Miss Elizabeth Stetson, the daughter of the late Frank and Bessie Stetson. They had a son, Francis E., a sketch of whom appears in this history.
Mr. Martin was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and be- longed to the Knights of Columbus, Elks Lodge, and Black River Valley Club.
Francis E. Martin was born in this city, June 25, 1900, the son of Edwin E. and Elizabeth L. (Stetson) Martin.
Edwin E. Martin's biography appears in this history.
Mr. Martin was married in 1929 to Miss Winifred H. Fuller, the daugh- ter of Samuel S. and Stella (Hanlon) Fuller, natives of Plattsburg, N. Y., now residents of Watertown. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have a son, Francis E. Martin, Jr., and a daughter, Ann Fuller Martin.
Wendell Dow George, M. D .- As one of the leading young physicians and surgeons of Watertown, Doctor George is widely and favorably known throughout Jefferson County. He was born at Chaumont, N. Y., Aug. 7, 1901, the son of Henry L. and Mary E. (Van Doren) George.
Henry L. George, retired, is a native of Brownville, N. Y. As a young man he became interested in the hardware business and for over half a century was associated in business with his brother, John George, as a member of the firm of George Brothers. They are now retired. Mr. George is a Republican and a member of the Presbyterian Church. He and his wife live at Chaumont. Their children are: Frances, married Gilbert L. Ainge, lives at Los Angeles, Calif .; Emerich A., a World War veteran, lives at Chaumont; Wendell Dow, the subject of this sketch; and H. Louis, M. D., a physician, lives at Boston, Mass.
Wendell Dow George grew up at Chaumont, where he received his early education. After his graduation from Watertown High School in 1918 he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Hamilton College in 1922. He subsequently took up the study of medicine at Harvard Univer- sity, from which he was graduated in 1926. During 1926-27-28 Doctor George served as an interne in the New Haven Hospital, Boston Lying-In Hospital, and Brookline (Mass.) Free Hospital for Women. He came to Watertown in 1928, where he has since engaged in practice with Doctor
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George B. Van Doren. They have offices in the Woolworth Building. Doctor George is a member of the staffs of Mercy and Good Samaritan hospitals, and is identified with the Jefferson County, New York State, and American Medical Associations.
In 1929 Doctor George was united in marriage with Miss Frances L. Small, the daughter of Charles and Jane Small, natives of Nova Scotia and now residents of Brookline, Mass. He is connected with the S. S. Pierce Company. Dr. and Mrs. George have two sons, Wendell Dow, Jr., and David Emerich.
Doctor George is a Republican, holds membership in the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to Phi Upsilon and Phi Beta Kappa honorary frater- nities. He also belongs to the alumni associations of Hamilton College and Harvard University.
Loren E. Harter was born at Copenhagen, Lewis County, N. Y., on Nov. 23, 1871, his parents being Phillip A. Harter and Cornelia (Camp- bell) Harter. His ancestors were early settlers of the town of Denmark, Lewis County, and of the town of Champion, Jefferson County.
Phillip A. Harter (father) was born in the town of Denmark in 1831, his parents, Phillip P. Harter and Catherine (Gardinier) Harter, having come from Herkimer County to Denmark in 1829. The Harters were of German origin and the Gardiniers were of Holland ancestry. Phillip A. Harter followed farming throughout his life. He took an active part in local politics, being a lifelong Democrat. He was a member of the German Lutheran Reformed Church. He died in 1905 at Copenhagen, and is buried there.
Cornelia (Campbell) Harter was born in the town of Champion in 1833, her parents being Lewis Campbell and Fanny (Kelner) Campbell. The Campbells originally came from Scotland while the Kelners were natives of Germany. Lewis Campbell was a "Forty-Niner" and died and was buried in California in 1851. Fanny (Campbell) Kelner was a life- long resident of Champion and is buried at West Carthage. Cornelia (Campbell) Harter was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church all her life. She died at Copenhagen in 1922 and is buried there.
The children of Phillip A. Harter and Cornelia (Campbell) Harter were: Lewis C., who died in 1908; Kate, who died in 1927; Fanny M., who lives at Copenhagen; and Loren E., the subject of this article.
As a boy, Loren E. Harter attended the public schools of Copenhagen, and graduated from the Copenhagen High School in 1891. He entered Cornell University in the fall of 1891 and graduated in 1895 with the
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degree of Bachelor of Letters. In January, 1896, he came to Watertown, where he read law for two years in the office of Watson M. Rogers and Joseph Atwell. He was admitted to the bar in November, 1897, and on Jan. 1, 1898, he began the practice of law in Watertown with offices in the Jefferson County National Bank Building. In the latter part of 1899 he formed a partnership with Archie C. Ryder under the firm name of Harter & Ryder. In 1902, Charles A. Phelps became a member of this firm, the firm name being changed to Harter, Ryder & Phelps. In 1905 Mr. Harter withdrew from the partnership and went to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he was engaged in the practice of law for over 20 years. In 1926 he returned to Watertown and has since been engaged in the practice of law there with George H. Cobb, Delos M. Cosgrove and Russell Wright under the firm name of Cobb, Cosgrove, Harter & Wright, his firm being one of the leading law firms of Northern New York.
In 1906 Mr. Harter married Miss Agnes E. Lennox, a daughter of George and Nancy Lennox, formerly residents of the Province of Ontario, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Harter have no children.
Mr. Harter is president of the Jefferson County Bar Association and a member of the New York State Bar Association. He is also a member of the Delta Chi fraternity, of the Rotary Club of Watertown, of Orient Lodge, No. 238, F. & A. M., of Copenhagen, and of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church of Watertown. In politics he is a Republican.
Jerome M. Darling, who lives retired at LaFargeville, is a director of the First National Bank of LaFargeville, and was for several years a leading merchant. He was born at New Bremen, Lewis County, Nov. 27, 1868, the son of William and Julia (Mider) Darling.
Both William Darling and his wife were natives of New Bremen. He was a blacksmith and for many years owned and operated a shop at Lowville, N. Y., where he died in 1907. His wife died in 1876. Their children were: Jerome M., the subject of this sketch; Estella, married C. E. Bateman, lives at New Bremen; Gertrude, married Dr. F. E. Jones, physician, lives at Beaver Falls, N. Y .; and Wallace J., lives at Inlet, N. Y.
Jerome M. Darling was educated in the New Bremen public schools and as a youth learned telegraphy at Glenfield, N. Y. In 1888 he became an operator on the old Utica and Black River Railroad at LaFargeville, and spent 12 years in that company's employ. He then went as agent for the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad at Beacon Falls, Conn., later being transferred to Naugatuck, and Union City, Conn. He later served for ten years in the same capacity at Madison, Conn., and in
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1921 retired from railroad work. In that year he purchased the general mercantile establishment of S. A. Devendorf, at LaFargeville, which he successfully conducted for eight years. T. M. Reester is now proprietor. Mr. Darling has lived retired since 1929.
In 1921 Mr. Darling married Mrs. Ethel B. Walrath Snell, the daughter of Walter and Minnie (Henry) Walrath, natives of St. Lawrence, N. Y., both now deceased. By a former marriage, Mr. Darling has three sons: 1. Leland E., lives at Madison, Conn. He married Miss Catherine Whedon, and they have two children, Dorothy Ann, and Lawrence. 2. Leslie J., lives at Binghamton, N. Y. He married Miss Donna Porter, of Worcester, Mass., and they have three sons, Edward, Donald, and Douglas. 3. V. Kenneth, lives at Boston, Mass. He married Miss Opal Boyd, of Boston, Mass. Mrs. Darling is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, White Shrine, and Rebeccas.
Mr. Darling is affiliated with LaFargeville Lodge, F. and A. M., No. 171, and belongs to the Veterans Association of the New York Central Railroad. Politically he is a Republican.
Edward J. Boshart .- As a practicing attorney, the career of Edward J. Boshart has been identified with the city of Lowville for more than 40 years, and he is also vice president of the Lewis County Trust Company. He was born in this city, Aug. 25, 1864, the son of Charles D. and Mar- garet (Quackenbush) Boshart.
Charles D. Boshart was born in the old Boshart homestead near Low- ville, Nov. 2, 1829, the youngest of a family of 12 children. He died March 16, 1906. Mr. Boshart spent his boyhood on the farm, attended the district schools, and was a graduate of Lowville Academy. He be- came widely known as an extensive grower of hops in this section and was also a prosperous farmer. For 18 years he represented his town on the Lewis County Board of Supervisors, and was also one of the first men to be a member of the board of equalization. For more than 35 years he was a director of the First National Bank of Lowville, and served as president of the institution from July, 1873, until January, 1903. At the time of his death he was vice president. He was a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church, trustee of Lowville Academy, and president of the Lowville Rural Cemetery Association. He was also vice president of the Lowville & Beaver River Railroad. In politics, Mr. Boshart was a life- long Republican. He married Miss Margaret Quackenbush, on Feb. 11, 1858. She was born at Fonda, Montgomery County, N. Y., Jan. 30, 1829. To them were born five children: 1. Julia C. E., born Feb. 22, 1859, died
EDWARD J. BOSHART
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Dec. 7, 1859. 2. Charles Fred, a sketch of whom appears below. 3. Nellie M. E., married Gilbert A. Blackmon, lives at Lowville. 4. Edward J., the subject of this sketch. 5. Grace Eliza, married L. Charles Davenport, lives at Lowville.
Charles Fred Boshart was born at Lowville, Sept. 17, 1860, and died on Oct. 16, 1928. He spent his early life on the Boshart homestead and was educated at Lowville Academy and at Cornell University, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1884. He had numerous extensive farming interests with his father until 1909. Mr. Boshart succeeded his father as vice president and director of the First National Bank, and was elected a member of the New York State General Assembly in 1905. He was chairman of the Committee on Agri- culture in 1907, and also served on the committees on taxation and re- trenchment, ways and means, and joint finance committee of the Senate and Assembly. In 1917 Governor Whitman appointed him as director of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Geneva, Ontario County, and he was later re-appointed to that office by Governor Alfred E. Smith. During the World War he served as county chairman on all Liberty Loan committees and also as war savings chairman. In these offices he made valuable contributions to the welfare of his country. Mr. Boshart was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Grange, and Patrons of Husbandry. He was married Oct. 20, 1887, to Clara Amelia Smiley, who was born at Lowville, Jan. 6, 1868, the daughter of Amos and Amelia (Rea) Smiley. For many years Mr. Smiley was editor and publisher of the Lowville Journal and Republican. To Charles F. and Clara Amelia (Smiley) Boshart were born three chil- dren: 1. Margaret, married George H. Babbitt, lives at Albany. 2. Charles Ralph, a graduate of Cornell University, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He married Miss Winsome Hamilton. 3. William Smiley, born June 7, 1896, died in infancy.
Edward J. Boshart was graduated from Lowville Academy in 1884 and during the following year read law in the office of T. Miller Reed. He entered the Columbia College of Law in 1886, from which he received the degree of LL. B. two years later. He established his present practice at Lowville in 1888. Mr. Boshart held the office of district attorney of Lewis County from Jan. 1, 1897, until Jan. 1, 1903. He is a director of the Beaver River Railroad Company, and vice president and attorney for the Lewis County Trust Company.
On Oct. 10, 1888, Mr. Boshart married Miss Helen Suits, of Davenport, Iowa. They have three daughters: 1. Katharine, a graduate of Lowville Academy and Bradford Academy. She married Warren Whittier, of Boston, Mass., and lives at Pottstown, Pa. They have a son, Weston. 2.
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Winifred S., a graduate of Lowville Academy and Vassar College. She married Dr. Earl L. Miller, dentist, and lives at Elmira. They have three children, David G., Mary, and Charles. 3. Eleanor Antoinette, a graduate of Lowville Academy and Syracuse University. She married T. L. Collum, and lives at Syracuse. They have two sons, Edward and T. L., Jr.
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