First of all I want to thank Beth Thurston, Sylvanus Willes's great-great-great-great granddaughter for the photos and information. In this post I am going to write about Sylvanus's son Wilder and his descendants who are buried in Bayside.
Wilder married Orrenda/Orinda Kimball. They both were school teachers. He also was an engineer trained to work in the sandstone mines in the area. Sometime after they married they moved to an island in the middle of Lake Superior and taught school. Their first two daughters Orrenda (born Apr 21 1836) and Louise (born Jan 17 1838) were born while they were living in the island. They moved back to the United States around 1839. They had two more children after they moved back: Oliver (born Nov 10, 1839) and Harriet (b. 1845). They settled on the farm which used to belong to Wilder's brother Bela. Wilder died on Sept 12 1882 and Orrenda died Oct 23 1893.
The children were all trained as school teachers. Orrenda and Harriet joined a program called Teach Corps started by Vermont Gov. Slade, through it they were sent out west to teach. They ended up in Indiana. After teaching three or four years Orrenda met and married James R. Carson. James was a widower with three children. Orrenda and James had eight children of their own. Orrenda died Apr 2 1915 and is buried in Scherer Cemetery in Arcadia Indiana.
Harriet also known as Hattie married Simeon T. Yancey, a Kentucky born and bred man who was a doctor for the Union during the Civil War. They did not have any children. Harriet died Jun 22 1927.
Oliver ended up in Iowa. He dropped the 'e' in the last name. He died Nov 1915 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton Iowa.
Louise married Silas Skidmore Clark. They lived in a farm next door to the Willes Farm. They had seven children: Frederick Willes, Horace, Clara L, Mary J., Charles M., Robert Y., and Earl B.
Louise Willes Clark
Silas Skidmore Clark
Silas died on Oct 21, 1903. Here is his Obit from the local newspaper :
"Death of Silas S., son of Abner and Cynthia Clark, was born in Madrid (?) years ago and died at his home on Norwood road weds morning of this week. More than passing notices is worthy of one who has lived so long in our midst, and borne such an active part with his fellow men in the great struggle of life.
Early in life, he married Louise Willes, who has ever shared life's experiences with him and who will mourn his loss.
Thirty years ago, they moved to the farm where the railroad crosses the Norwood road, and by hard toll and faithful industry they changed the rough woodlands to a home of comfort and delight.
To Mr. And Mrs. Clark seven children, five sons and two daughters were born, who still live to bless their memory. Of those, Fred and Robert are practicing law at White Plains, NY, and Charles is a civil engineer, engaged with the NY Aqueduct Commission at Katonah, NY; Horace conducts a furniture and undertaking business in our town; Earl, a graduate of Cornell Agriculture School, manages the home farm, the daughters are successful teachers in the public schools. Through the untiring efforts of Mr. And Mrs. Clark they were privileged to see their children all graduate from Potsdam Normal. They all will be present at the funeral of their father, which takes place at the home this afternoon at 2 pm. Rev. S. Call officiating assisted by Rev J.W. Miller and Rev B. De F. Snyder of Norwood.
Mr. Clark leaves one brother, Chauncey, living at west Potsdam; three sisters, Mrs. N.L. Stone of Potsdam, Mrs. Ruby Brooks of Rietville, NY and Mrs. George Warner of Schodac, NY.
Early in life Mr. Clark identified himself in the Methodist Episcopal church to whose best interests he has ever been faithful and loyal, the church meanwhile confiding the steward and trusteeship to his judgment and care.
We shall miss him in the church, where he has borne so grand a part. We shall miss him in the busy walks of life, but most of all, we shall miss him in the home as a companion, as father and counselor. We will not forget him for the legacy he has left us is freighted with jewels of love."
Louise died Apr 20 1932. Here is Louise' Obit:
SERVICE FRIDAY, FOR ONE OF VILLAGE'S OLDEST RESIDENTS
"Louise (Willes) Clark, widow of the late Silas S. Clark of this town, died at her home at 103 Main street, Wednesday evening, April 20.
Mrs. Clark was born January 17, 1838, the daughter of Wilder Willes and Orrenda (Kimball) Willes. She was the second of four children, the youngest of whom was Mrs. Harriet Willes Yancey who made her home with Mrs. Clark during her last years.
Mrs. Clark's childhood was passed in her ancestral home on the farm then know as the Willes Farm.
In March 1857 she married Silas S. Clark of the town of Madrid, N. Y., and immediately located on her home farm now known as the Clark farm at Clark's Crossing on the Norwood road. Here they reared seven children, all of whom are living except the eldest, Frederick W. Clark, who died five years ago. Those surviving are Olara (may be Clara) L. Clark, Mrs. Mary Clark Amos, Horace N. Clark and Earl B. Clark of Potsdam; and Charles M. Clark and Robert Y. Clark of White Plains, N. Y. Mr. Silas S. Clark,, husband of the deceased, died in 1903.
Mrs. Clark early acquired a love for the church and its teachings. In early childhood she untied with the First Methodist Episcopal church of Potsdam and was its oldest member at the time of her demise. Throught the 80 years of her membership she was always sacrifically devoted to her church.
She was educated in the schools of her town and at one time taught in them. She completed her education in the old St. Lawrence Academy.
Mrs. Clark was an exemplary homemaker, a friendly neighbor, a loving mother, a competent adviser and an able friend. Throughout her long life she was in possession of an unusally keen mind. She was a reader of the best literature and maintained a careful interest in all civic affairs and current events.
For 63 consecutive years descendants of Mrs. Clark were being educated in the Potsdam State Normal School. From the time that her oldest son Fred entered the grades of that institution at the age of 11, there have been children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren in attendance. Besides her immediate family, Mrs. Clark is survived by 13 grandchildren."
Frederick Willes Clark was born in 1859. He was married twice first to Ada Sniffin and Minnie Benson. He had two sons and one daughter. In his early years he was a teacher. In 1886 he earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati. In 1887 he was admitted to the New York State Bar. He practiced in White Plains, Tuckahoe and Mount Vernon. He passed away Mar 19 1927 in Mount Vernon.
Clara was born Apr 11 1862. She was a teacher, she last taught at the Potsdam Normal School. She never married. She died Jan 6 1934.
Mary was born in 1865. She married William N. Amos who was a farmer. Mary died Aug 31 1947 and William died Feb 7 1949.
Horace was born Feb 21 1869/70 (his obit says 1869 while his gravestone says 1870). He married Fanny Town. He was a teacher before he took over the Manley furniture and undertaking business. They had three children Sarah, Virginia and Margaret. Horace died Oct 11 1933 and Fanny died 1971. Margaret married J. Handley Foote who became Horace's business partner. Horace died Jan 27 1961 and Margaret died in 1996. Margaret and J. Handley had two daughters Suzanne and Nancy. Nancy was born in 1926. She married Joseph Meszaros. She died in 2011.
Charles M. Clark was born Feb 27 1873. He married Grace Saul and had four children. He was Chief Engineer of the New York City Board of Water Supplies. During his time the Delaware Aqueduct was carried through. Clarkson University conferred on him an honorary degree of Engineering. He died Apr 6 1945.
Robert was a lawyer.
Earl B. was born Feb 20 1876. He married Gertrude Hale. They had one daughter. Earl was a farmer. He died Dec 4 1942 and Gertrude died in 1956.
