USA > New York > Franklin County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 3 > Part 57
USA > New York > Jefferson County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 3 > Part 57
USA > New York > Lewis County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 3 > Part 57
USA > New York > Oswego County > The north country; a history, embracing Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Oswego, Lewis and Franklin counties, New York, Volume 3 > Part 57
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 57
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After his graduation from the public schools of Oswego, Norman L. Bates attended Union College, from which he received a degree in 1888. He immediately entered the office of his uncle, the late Maxwell B. Rich- ardson, and assisted him in the management of his vast real estate hold- ings. These properties eventually were willed to Mr. Bates, and had been in possession of this family for four generations. To these were added also the real estate interests of another uncle, the late Lawrence J. Rich- ardson. Mr. Bates became a leader in the business life of the city and
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devoted much time and attention to the management of his affairs. He traveled extensively, however, and shortly before his death had visited South America. He was a director of the Second National Bank of Os- wego. Upon the death of Lawrence J. Richardson, records disclose the fact that under the provisions of his will Mr. Bates received the sum of $196,711.55, besides personal property valued at $16,061.53, making a total of $212,773.07.
Mr. Bates married Miss Florence Morley, of Sodus, N. Y. Their chil- dren are: Norman and Maxwell; Elizabeth and Sarah.
Mr. Bates was a prominent member of Christ Episcopal Church and one of its vestrymen. He took a deep interest in the affairs of Richardson Theatre, built by his uncle and named in his honor. He was secretary of the Oswego Historical Society, director of the Oswego City Library, and director of the Oswego City Hospital. He was a member of the Fort- nightly and Country Clubs, on whose boards of governors he served, and for many years he also held membership in the Oswego Yacht Club.
The family residence is located at 135 East 3rd Street, Oswego.
Howard P. Ellithorpe, who is manager of the Best Ice Cream Company, 162 East 10th Street, is numbered among Oswego's most progressive business men. He was born at Nicholville, St. Lawrence County, March 13, 1886, the son of Paschal B. and Ella F. (Falkner) Ellithorpe.
Paschal B. Ellithorpe was born at Nicholville, and lived in that section throughout his life. He engaged in the mercantile business and was also interested in farming. He died in 1913 and his wife died in November, 1930. Both are buried at Nicholville. Mr. Ellithorpe was a Republican and held the offices of village assessor and school director. He was a life long member of the Methodist Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Ellithorpe were born six children, as follows: 1. Thurman D., lives at Syracuse. 2. George L., lives at Nicholville. 3. Paschal B., Jr., lives at Ogdensburg. 1. Henry F., lives at Remsen, Oneida County. 5. Celestia J. Babcock, lives at Nicholville. 6. Howard P., the subject of this sketch.
The early life of Howard P. Ellithorpe was spent at Nicholville and he is a graduate of Stockholm High School. He attended Cornell Univer- sity in 1907-08 and studied dairying. He then entered the employ of the Willett Co-operative Creamery at Willett, N. Y., and after one year went with the Colebrook Creamery at Smithville, N. Y. Mr. Ellithorpe then spent three years with the Boomhower Grocery at Plattsburgh, N. Y., one year with P. K. Brown & Son, at Remsen, and in 1914 came to Oswego to open a branch factory for the Best Ice Cream Company. He has been
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manager of the local factory since its inception. They are wholesale and retail dealers in ice cream and milk, and also are ice manufacturers. The plant handles approximately 50,000 gallons of ice cream annually and . 3,000 quarts of milk daily. About 20 people are employed in the plant and rapid delivery service is maintained.
In 1917 Mr. Ellithorpe was united in marriage with Miss Winifred L. Crees, of Toronto, Canada, and a native of England. She was 12 years old when she went to Canada with her parents, John and Laura Crees, and before her marriage Mrs. Ellithorpe was employed as a stenographer in a Montreal bank. Mr. and Mrs. Ellithorpe have a son, Robert H., born Jan. 9, 1919.
Mr. Ellithorpe is a Republican in politics, a member of the Congrega- tional Church, and is Past Master of Oswego Lodge F. & A. M. No. 127, and member of Lake Ontario Commandery No. 32, and Media Shrine, Watertown. He is also president of the Oswego County Shrine Club. Mr. Ellithorpe is a charter member and former president of the Kiwanis Club, and belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and Fortnightly Club.
C. Sidney Shepard .- Prominent in financial and business circles, a noted citizen of New Haven, C. Sidney Shepard, capitalist, is a native of New York. He was born in Buffalo, July 29, 1856, the son of Sidney and Elizabeth DeAngelis (Wells) Shepard.
Sidney Shepard was born in the Village of Cobleskill, Schoharie County, N. Y., Sept. 28, 1814, and died at New Haven, Dec. 26, 1893. His wife died in 1922. Mr. Shepard was descended from an honorable line of an- cestry, dating back to Ralph Shepard, Puritan, who emigrated to America from England in 1635. On his mother's side he was descended from William Hamilton, a Scot, who came from Glasgow to the United States in 1668. His maternal grandfather, Hosea Hamilton, was a surgeon in the Revolutionary War, and a personal friend of George Washington. His own father, Jesse Shepard, a physician, practiced his profession for many years in and around Cobleskill, N. Y. Sidney, the father of our subject, began his career at the age of 14 years as a clerk in a hardware store at Dansville, N. Y., and the liking which he acquired for this business decided his vocation, and after a similar experience in Rochester he went to Bath, N. Y., in 1831 and for three years he was associated in business with his brother. In 1835, while not yet 21 years of age, he made his first venture by purchasing a hardware store in that village. He was successful from the beginning and five years brought him a small capital, and in 1840 he removed to Buffalo and bought an interest in a hardware store there, the
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oldest business house in that city, changing the firm name to Crane & Shepard. The next year he became sole owner under his own name and soon after the firm of Sidney Shepard & Company was formed and the manufacture of sheet metal ware was added and inside of a few years an immense business was established. A large wholesale trade was built up in all parts of the country, and Mr. Shepard opened branch houses in various parts of the country. In 1849 he became proprietor of the Shepard Iron Works in Buffalo, and thereafter constantly added to his undertak- ings. The firm eventually became the largest importers of tinplate, man- ufacturers of stamped metal ware, and dealers in hardware and tinners' supplies in the union. Mr. Shepard early realized the advantage of the electrical telegraph to merchants and others, and he personally promoted several pioneer lines in the West, and became one of the largest stock- holders in the Western Union Telegraph Company, upon the consolidation of the early lines being one of its directors until a few weeks before his death when he resigned. Mr. Shepard was also for many years a heavy stockholder in various other enterprises and with it all he remained a public spirited citizen.
Mr. Shepard was for 25 years a member of the First Presbyterian Church, at Buffalo, to which as to many other charitable institutions, notably the General Hospital, the Orphan Asylum, and the Home for the Friendless of that city, he was a generous and permanent benefactor. In 1865 he relinquished the active management of his business, and for sev- eral years thereafter he traveled with his family in foreign countries. Upon his actual retirement, Mr. Shepard and his family settled in the spacious and handsome home of his wife at New Haven, where he spent the remainder of his life. In 1885 Mr. Shepard transferred to his son, Charles Sidney Shepard, the subject, and now the only survivor of the family of three children, his interest in the firm of Sidney Shepard & Company, of Buffalo, and C. Sidney Shepard & Company, of Chicago.
On June 12, 1851, Mr. Shepard had married Miss Elizabeth De Angelis Wells, of Buffalo. They had three children: 1. Elizabeth Wells, deceased. 2. C. Sidney, the subject of this sketch. 3. Ralph Hamilton, deceased.
Ralph Hamilton Shepard was born at Frankfort-on-Main, Germany, Oct. 15, 1867, and died Aug. 17, 1894. He traveled extensively in foreign countries, spending a great deal of his time in study. His early education was received in Oswego, and Buffalo, and he was graduated from Harvard University in 1892, being one of the brightest men in his class. He ac- quired a reputation in modern literature and history as a graceful and forceful writer.
C. Sidney Shepard was graduated from Yale University with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1878, and received the degree of LL. B. from Hamil-
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ton College the following year. Upon the death of his father in 1893 he succeeded him in many of his positions of trust, and has since devoted his time to the care of his estate at New Haven. He resigned as director of numerous corporations in 1910, at the present time only being active as director of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad Company, director of the Seaboard Airline Railway Company, director of the Fort Dodge, Des Moines & South- ern Railroad Company, and chairman of the board of the Republic Metal Ware Company, of Buffalo, Chicago, and New York.
Mr. Shepard is a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ameri- can Museum of Natural History, American Philological Society, American Social Science Association, New York State Historical Association, North- eastern Historical and Geneaological Society, and Buffalo Fine Arts Academy. He is also identified with numerous other patriotic, educational and philanthropic societies.
Mr. Shepard is a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Saturn Club of Buffalo, Fortnightly Club of Oswego, University Lawyers Club, of Yale University, Delta Kappa Epsilon, and Phi Beta Kappa honorary fraternities.
R. J. Reynolds, M. D .- A veteran of the World War, Dr. Reynolds is recognized as one of the capable young physicians and surgeons of St. Lawrence County and is engaged in practice at Potsdam, where he was born April 30, 1891. He is the son of Dr. Wilbur H. and Elizabeth A. (Wood) Reynolds.
Dr. Wilbur H. Reynolds, who died in 1924, was a prominent physician of Potsdam for more than 35 years. He was born at Pierpont, N. Y., and was a graduate of St. Lawrence Academy, Potsdam State Normal School, and the Medical School of New York University. He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1886. He spent two years in practice at Ava, N. Y., and was located at Potsdam from 1888 until his death in 1924. His widow, a native of Morrisburg, Ont., lives at Potsdam. Dr. Reynolds was a Republican and served as health officer. He held membership in the Presbyterian Church. To Doctor and Mrs. Reynolds were born three chil- dren: 1. R. J., the subject of this sketch. 2. Lorena, married B. M. Byrns, lives at Brooklyn, N. Y. 3. Blythe M., lives at Metuchen, N. J.
After his graduation from Potsdam High School, R. J. Reynolds attended Columbia University, from which he received the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine. He received the latter in 1915, spent two years as an interne in Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, and in 1917 enlisted for service in the World War. He was commissioned as a
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captain during the World War and was sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison. He sailed for France in May, 1918, and participated in a number of major engagements with the 27th Division, being discharged at Camp Upton, L. I., in March, 1919. Dr. Reynolds has since engaged in general practice at Potsdam. He is a member of the staff of Potsdam Hospital, and is identified with the St. Lawrence County, New York State and the Ameri- can Legion, and 40 and 8 Society. can Medical Association.
In 1917 Dr. Reynolds was united in marriage with Miss Helen Safford, of Glen Falls, N. Y., the daughter of Judge E. R. and Cornelia (Sisson) Safford. They live at Potsdam. To Doctor and Mrs. Reynolds have been born four children: 1. Helen Elizabeth, born in 1918. 2. Robert J., Jr., born in 1921. 3. E. R. Safford, born in 1922. 4. Jane McCoy, born in 1926.
Dr. Reynolds is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Rotary Club, Columbia University Club, Chamber of Commerce, Nu Sigma Nu fraternity, Ameri-
John Vogelgsang .- Numbered among Oswego County's most prominent men is John Vogelgsang, retired, who is the owner of Glenwood Farms, near Fulton. He was born on the old homestead, Oct. 21, 1853, the son of Frederick and Margaretha (Fitch) Vogelgsang.
Frederick Vogelgsang was a native of Heidenheim, Germany, as was his wife. After serving his time in the German army and his apprenticeship as a tailor, Mr. Vogelgsang married and three years later emigrated for America. Just three days after their arrival in New York City, their son, John, was born. Within a few months the family moved to Schroeppel, where Mr. Vogelgsang began tailoring. The family soon located on a farm two miles east of Fulton on the Swamp Road. It was then a vast forest, and trees were cut down to make room for the dwelling. Crops were planted in the open spaces made by cutting and girdling the trees. The agricultural tools were sharpened sticks. Mr. Vogelgsang paid for the homestead by making a coat each week without the aid of a sewing ma- chine. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted and served with the 147th New York Volunteer Infantry, leaving his wife and six children on the homestead. Mr. Vogelgsang was severely wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. A letter from the war district was rare and precious. An interesting story is told concerning one occasion when the oldest son, John, lost a letter from his father, en route home from the post office. It was a blustery, winter day, and the wind had buried the letter in the snow drifts. Paralyzed with fear young John acquainted his mother with the loss and the entire family searched with a lantern in vain. The following
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morning neighbors joined in the search and the letter was recovered. It was thought that it contained money but "the fifty dollar bill" proved to be a 50 cent "shin plaster," much to the dismay of Mrs. Vogelgsang. Mr. Vogelgsang met with an accidental death in 1890 at the age of 69 years. He is buried at Fulton and his wife, also deceased, is buried at La Grand, Calif. To Mr. and Mrs. Vogelgsang the following children were born: 1. John, the subject of this sketch. 2. Charles, born in 1855, deceased. 3. Fred, born in 1857, deceased. 4. Katie, born in 1859, Mattewan Hospital. 5. Augusta, born in 1861, lives at Santa Cruz, Calif. 6. Margaretha, born in 1862, lives at Colgate, N. D. 7. Mary, born in 1865, lives at La Grand, Calif. 8. George, born in 1867, lives at Chico, Calif.
John Vogelgsang attended the public schools of Oswego County and was a student at Falley Seminary. Throughout his life he has been inter- ested in farming and has always lived in the old homestead, which is now operated by his son, Fred.
In 1878 Mr. Vogelgsang married Miss Elizabeth Limbeck, of Schroeppel, N. Y., the daughter of George Limbeck, a native of Germany, who died in 1886 and his wife died in 1862. To Mr. and Mrs. Vogelgsang were born five children: 1. Frederick George, farmer, lives at home. 2. Mrs. Retta Morrison, who is principal of Minetto High School. 3. Ralph, deceased. 4. Mrs. Bessie MacRae, lives at Oswego. 5. Mrs. Fred Kellogg, lives at Long Beach, Calif.
Mr. Vogelgsang has always been a Republican. He and his family have been prominent members of the State Street Methodist Church.
Julius Frank .- A business leader and public spirited citizen, Julius Frank has been an important figure in the affairs of Ogdensburg, where he is senior member of the firm of Nathan Frank's Sons. He was born in Ogdensburg, July 18, 1867, the son of Nathan Frank.
Nathan Frank, founder of the business which bears his name, was a representative citizen of Ogdensburg, where he died in 1919 at the age of 89 years. His wife died at the age of 72 years. Both are buried in Ogdensburg.
Julius Frank attended the public schools of Ogdensburg and is a grad- uate of Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie. He has been associ- ated with the interests of Nathan Frank's Sons since 1890, and when his father retired in 1894 the enterprise was successfully continued by the sons, Julius and Leo Frank. The other children of Nathan Frank are: 1. James, attorney, lives in New York City. 2. Laurence, who is associated with the Standard Varnish Works, New York City. 3. Mrs. A. M. Stahl,
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lives at Gorham, N. H. 4. Mrs. L. Guttman, lives in New York City. Both James and Laurence Frank are graduates of Yale University.
On Nov. 27, 1897, Julius Frank married Miss Marion F. Sanger, of New York City, the daughter of Hon. Adolph L. Sanger. Leo Frank married her sister, Sara Sanger, of New York. Mr. Sanger was the first citizen to be elected by the people of New York City as the president of the Board of Aldermen, and died on the date of his re-election as president of the Board of Education of New York City.
To Julius and Marion F. (Sanger) Frank have been born two children: 1. Richard L., M. D. He is a graduate of Yale University and Yale Medi- cal School, now an interne at Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, Md. 2. Eleanor, married Edgar L. Schwartz, who is associated with the business of Nathan Frank's Sons. Leo and Sara (Sanger) Frank have a son, Harold J., who is also associated with the business in Ogdensburg.
Julius Frank served as mayor of Ogdensburg during 1915-16-17-18, and has been president of the New York Development League. He was appointed during 1930 by Governor Roosevelt on a committee for the investigation of the administration of justice in the courts of the State, and was appointed by the board of supervisors as chairman of the County Emergency Relief Bureau.
Mr. Frank is president of the Jewish Synagogue in Ogdensburg. He is president of the Board of Trustees of the Pythias Home of the State of New York, located at Ogdensburg, and for nine years was president of the St. Lawrence County Tuberculosis Society. He also has been president of the Chamber of Commerce for six years, and belongs to the Century Club, Rotary Club, and Ogdensburg Country Club. His lodge affiliations are: Masons (Blue Lodge and Chapter) ; Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows; B. P. O. Elks; Knights of Pythias ; Maccabees; Foresters; and Owls.
Mr. Frank has a farm located near Lisbon. Like his father, he is greatly interested in farming. The late Nathan Frank owned some of the finest farm lands in this section of the State.
Hon. Rhoda Fox Graves .- As a member of the New York General Assembly from St. Lawrence County, Rhoda Fox Graves is recognized as one of the prominent women in public affairs in the North Country. She was born at Fowler, St. Lawrence County, the daughter of Lafayette and Rhoda Ann Fox.
Lafayette Fox, deceased, was a native of St. Lawrence County, born at Rossie. He was interested in general farming but at the time of his retirement was superintendent of a talc mill at Glendon, N. C. He is
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buried at Gouverneur, where his widow resides. Mr. Fox was a Republi- can, a member of the Universalist Church, and belonged to the Masonic Lodge.
Rhoda Fox received her education in the public schools of Fowler and Gouverneur and is a graduate of Wesleyan Seminary. Before her mar- riage she was a teacher in the public schools of Gouverneur. Her husband is Pearle A. Graves, the son of Daniel and Helen (Hyde) Graves, natives of St. Lawrence County, both now deceased. Mr. Graves is well known in St. Lawrence County as a member of the firm of Seaker & Graves, auto- mobile dealers, of Gouverneur.
To Pearle A. and Rhoda (Fox) Graves were born two sons: 1. Paul D., a graduate of Manilus Military School, and Colgate University, now a student in the Harvard Law School. 2. Mark D., a graduate of Gouverneur High School, Storm Hill Preparatory School, now a student at Colgate Uni- versity. He is manager of the varsity football team for 1931.
Mrs. Graves is a member of an early American family. She is a de- scendant of Sir Roger Conant, who was governor of Massachusetts, hav- ing settled at Salem, Mass., in 1626. She is Past Regent of Gouverneur Morris Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. While regent she was appointed chairman of the Resolutions Committee at the Albany conference which was held in October, 1923. She has also served as corresponding secretary of the Northern Federation of Women's Clubs, and holds membership in the Gouverneur Shakespeare Club; Julia Ward Howe Tent, Daughters of Veterans; and Marble City Chapter Order of Eastern Star.
Mrs. Graves has been a member of the Child Welfare Board of St. Lawrence County since its inception and was instrumental in securing the first appropriation for the board. She is a member of the Women's National Republican Club of New York City, and is vice president of the Republican County Committee of St. Lawrence County. Since women have been enfranchised she has worked untiringly for the Republican party. Prior to the passage of the Livermore bill which created a place for two committeemen in each section district, she organized St. Lawrence County, which consists of 32 towns, the city of Ogdensburg, and 113 election districts. By appointing a woman chairman for each town and a woman representative in every election district, St. Lawrence County has one of the largest and strongest organizations to be found in New York State. Mrs. Graves' real triumph was scored in the primary contest. After she announced her candidacy a prominent lawyer and a graduate of Cornell University entered the primaries against her with the slogan "There is no sentiment for a woman." To be sure St. Lawrence County was one of the last counties in the state to accept woman suffrage, but in the pri-
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maries of September, 1924, it demonstrated its ability to be up to the minute in political matters. Mrs. Graves carried the city of Ogdensburg and every town in the first assembly district except her opponent's. At the election she received 9,817 votes to 4,353 cast for her Democratic opponent. She has served continuously since that time. Mrs. Graves is chairman of the committee on public institutions and is a member of the agricultural, religious, and social committees.
Nathan Frank's Sons, one of the leading business institutions of Ogdensburg, recently celebrated its 73rd anniversary. It was back in 1858 that Nathan Frank opened a dry goods store in Ogdensburg. Three years later he sold it to two of his brothers and went to Oswego and later to Chicago. He subsequently returned to Ogdensburg, however, where he met with remarkable success in business.
Mr. Frank retired in 1892 and was succeeded by his sons, Julius and Leo Frank. They continued in the original store until 1899, when they purchased the dry goods business of S. W. Wilson and at once occupied the Wilson store and completely overhauled the stock. Ever increasing business eventually caused the firm to seek larger quarters than the Wil- son Store afforded, and a new home for the firm was decided upon. To convert three stores into a model department store was no small task, but the firm took hold of the work with characteristic energy and the pro- gram included an expenditure of $100,000. In deciding upon the new store, the Frank brothers showed their confidence in the future prosperity and growth of their city, and believed that it would be a good and safe investment. During the past few years additional space on one side has been leased and the total selling space of Nathan Frank's Sons now covers an acre. Outside storage space has also been acquired when necessity has demanded it. They occupy their own building of five floors.
High grade merchandise is carried by the Frank store, which has established an excellent trade. The main floor is devoted to dress goods, silks, woolens, domestics, linens, gloves, handkerchiefs, leather goods, trimmings, stationery, toilet goods, hosiery, jewelry, umbrellas and books. The men's shop is a distinct store and carries clothing and furnishings for men and boys, with luggage in the basement. The second floor has a beau- tiful ladies ready to wear department, millinery shop, corset and lingerie shop, infants' wear and children's wear. The third floor is a complete floor of gifts and art goods, and also houses the china and glassware departments, as well as phonographs, radios, and toys. Office and bank- ing department are on this floor. The fourth floor carries the largest
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selection of floor coverings and rugs to be found anywhere in Northern New York. Draperies, shades, curtains and wallpaper are to be found there also.
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