The Silvanius Willes Family Part 1

    Sorry about the long time between posts, with the holidays coming and going I had to get back on track and also I have been working on a lot of things at the St. Lawrence County Historical Association. I thought for the beginning of the new year I would write about some of the families who have four or more generations buried in Bayside.
  A few families have four or more generations buried in Bayside. One of those families is that of Silvanus Willes. The patriarch of the family was Silvanius/Sylvanus Willes. He was born Mar 26, 1756 in Windham CT.
   Silvanius/Sylvanus was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He was in guard duty at Bunker Hill, retreat at Long Island. Silvanius/Sylvanus also served at Ticonderoga and during the invasion of Connecticut. On March 29, 1781 he married Eunice Davidson dau of Oliver & Eunice Spaulding Davidson. She was born Jun 13, 1757 in Mansfield, CT. They had eight children: Jabez, Betsey, Ziba, Wilder, Bela, Oliver, Luther, and Eunice. Three of them Jabez, Wilder, and Bela are buried in Bayside. Ziba and Luther are both buried in Erie Street Cemetery in Cleveland OH.
          Silvanius/Sylvanus died Aug 18, 1841 and Eunice died in Jun 29 1849. Sometime after Bayside opened their remains with the remains of their children and grandchildren who died in Potsdam before Bayside existed were moved to Bayside.

   

     Jabez was born Dec 6, 1790. He married Betsy Tupper, who was born Dec 6 1795. They had six children: George, Hiram, Jabez, Harriet, Mary and Eliza. Jabez Jr. died Jul 5, 1820. Hiram died Oct 31, 1822. George died Jan 31 1835.

     Jabez Sr. died on Mar 24, 1842

     Harriet married Wellington Stratton. She died Jun 4 1843.

Mary  was born Feb 20 1838 and died Dec 28 1855

    Betsy Tupper Willes died Jan 27 1885

      Eliza was born Jul 9 1827. She marred Charles Ward Leete who was born Jul 6, 1823 in Verona, NY to Rev. Charles W. Leete (who later became minister of Potsdam Methodist Church). Eliza was an active participant in the Temperance movement. There is a stained glass window in the office of the Potsdam United Methodist Church in honor of her work. They had two children Harriet (born Jan 31 1852 and married Sanford E. Clapp) and Charles Henry. Eliza Died Nov 16 1894 and Charles W. died Jun 8 1913

Eliza Willes Leete's Gravestone

Charles W. Leete's Gravestone

         Charles Henry Leete was born March 17, 1857 to Charles W. and Eliza Willes. Charles H. Leete was one of the earliest students of the Potsdam Normal School. He went to Syracuse University for a year before transferring to Yale from which he graduated in 1879. After Yale, he reentered Potsdam Normal School to study the theory & practice of teaching and from January to June of 1881 he taught there.

         Charles H. married Isadore Kelton on Jul 26, 1883. They had two sons, one of whom died at birth. From 1881 to 1887 he was associated with Dr. Julius Sach’s Collegiate Institute for Boys in New York City.

            In 1887 Charles H. Leete traveled to Europe where he attended lectures at different universities, and specialized in Pedagogy, Geography and Economics. He received a Doctor of Philosophy and Masters of Art from the University of Leipzig in 1890. He returned to New York City in 1890 and then that same year he succeeded his father as proprietor of the Potsdam Foundry & Machine Shop. The following year he became headmaster of Dr. Sach’s School for Girls, of which he later became principal and proprietor. In 1907 the school was renamed after him.

            In 1900 Charles became a Trustee of the Potsdam Normal School. Sometime later he was elected President of the Trustees after the death of General Edward A. Merritt.

            Leete helped write textbooks including: “Longman’s New School Atlas,” “Longman’s Textbook of Geography,” “Longman’s Questions in Geography and Exercises in Geography.” He was a life fellow of the National Geographic Society and for several years an examiner in Geography for the College Entrance Examination.

            Charles H. Leete retired to Potsdam. During his retirement he wrote several pamphlets including the following: “The St. Lawrence Ten Towns,” “Some Landmarks of Potsdam,” “The Early History of Potsdam” and “The Bridges of Potsdam.” He started a book titled “Potsdupinni” which his son Edward had published after Charles’s death.

          Isadore died in 1927 and Charles H. Leete died January 8, 1936 and is buried in the family plot at Bayside.  

Gravestone of Charles Henry and Isadore Leete

Last Two Veterans of the Civil War

       I thought because it being almost Veterans Day and the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War I would do a post about the last two surviving Civil War Veterans in Potsdam who are buried in Bayside. They are Melzar Corbin and Hosea Drake.

Melzar Corbin

   Melzar Madison Corbin was born May 10, 1842 in Cobins Corners in the town of Clayton to Simeon & Masbry Corbin. He came to St. Lawrence County and worked on the W.H. Wright Farm in Bucks Bridge. At the same time Melzar attended the St. Lawrence Academy.

     When the Civil War broke out he left the load of hay he was on and enlisted. Of the thirteen workers of the Wright farm who enlisted he was the only one who survived. Melzar enlisted in Co G. of the 106th NY. He was in 21 battles and was wounded three times.When Melzar was wounded in 1864 he clerked in the War Department in Washington D.C. He served throughout the war.

       After the war he married Helen Harriet Wright. Melzar and Helen had a son Aaron who became a Methodist minister. Melzar operated a marble and granite monument company. He died Apr 23 1934.

Photo of Melzar Corbin (Courtesy of St. Lawrence County Historical Association)

Melzar Corbin's Headstone

Hosea Drake

    Hosea Drake was born May 19, 1846 in Stockholm to Prosper and Alvira Ober Drake. He and his two brothers enlisted in the army. Hosea was the only one who survived. His brother Henry died in Andersonville Prison and his other brother Hiram died in Philadelphia in his way home after being wounded (gangrene set in). Hosea enlisted Nov 18, 1861 at age 15 in Co D. of the 92nd NY Inf. Hosea participated in many battles. He was wounded at the Battle of Fair Oaks May 31, 1862. Hosea was one of the lucky survivors of the Petersburg mine explosion. Toward the end of 1864 he was transferred to the 96th NY. In January of 1865 he was promoted to Corporal. Hosea Drake was given an honorable discharge at City Point VA on Feb 6, 1866.

     Hosea was a farmer. He married twice, first to Sarah Harriman and secondly to Phebe Goulding. Hosea was one of the last of the old time fiddlers. When he died Jun 23, 1935 he had outlived six of his nine children.

Hosea and Phebe's Grave

Norton Brand

    One of the fascinating males who is buried in Bayside I have learned about during my research is Norton Brand.
     He was born in Fairbault Minn on May 5 1869. Mr. Brand received a law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1896. He practiced law in Minnesota and Washington for six years.
       In May of 1902 Norton Brand moved to the Philippines where he was chief inspector for the forestry department for two years. He also was editor of the Official Gazette which is a law publication of the Philippine Government for two years. In Manila he married Harriet V. Fritts Badger.
       After the Philippines the Brands moved to Canada. In Canada Norton taught school in Northern Alberta for four years. Later on he was a law editor in St. Paul, Minn and Chicago.
        Norton Brand served as American consul in the following places: Salina Cruz, Mexico, Ferni, British Columbia and Calgary, Alberta. Mr. Brand retired in 1934. When he retired he moved to Potsdam.
        Norton Brand authored numerous books including: "Brand's Justice Code for the State of Washington", "The Mexico Southland", and "The Pastor's Legal Adviser" (which he coauthored with Verner M. Ingram who is also buried in Bayside.)
         Norton Brand died April 10, 1947. He was survived by Harriet, a son Robert a professor of languages at the Old Citadel in Charleston, S.C., a stepdaughter Eunice Badger who worked at the Potsdam Teacher's College, two grandchildren, and two brothers.

Brand Family Headstone in Sec E Lot 112

The Death of David Bockus

     One of the most fascinating stories I found was the story of David Bockus. Here is the transcription of the article I found from the Wednesday, June 12, 1907 issue of the Potsdam Courier & Freeman.

DEATH FOLLOWS QUARREL

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MAN SHOOTS TWO OTHERS AND THEN COMMITS SUICIDE

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Victims of Murderous Assault Will Probably Recover

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             An old fashioned frontier town shoot up occurred at the Frontier House in Depot Street Friday afternoon, and when it was over the barroom looked like a shambles, two men were dangerously shot in the head, and the man who had committed the murderous assault had taken his own life.

             The affray arose over a piece of harness which was left at the Frontier House Friday morning, and later it could not be found. Hugh Murphy, proprietor, suspected that it had been taken by David Backus, a man well known around town, who has been for several years engaged in caring for horses, and spoke to Backus about it. The latter angrily denied knowing anything about it and left the hotel. A little later he went to Maxfield & Needham's and borrowed a revolver and about five o'clock in the afternoon returned to the Frontier House. The harness matter again came up, and Backus admitted taking it and offered to show Murphy where he had hidden it. Murphy refused to go, and there was more discussion, in which a teamster named James McFalls took part.

           Backus soon worked himself into a passion and pulling out his revolver fired at Murphy, shooting him through the mouth. McFalls started to run, but Backus brought him down too with a shot through the cheek. Backus then put a bullet through the back of his own head and dropped to the floor. The noise of the shots attracted a crowd but before the seriousness of the affair was realized Backus had recovered sufficiently to stagger from the hotel. He climbed a board fence in the rear and went to his home on Munson Lane, where he went into the woodshed and cut his throat with a razor. He was found a little later by one of his children and Dr. S.P. Brown was summoned but he was past saving and died in a short time.

           The shot which struck Murphy passed through his mouth and lodged in the back of his neck. Dr. G.C. Madill of Ogdensburg came out Saturday morning and dresses the wound and Murphy is now doing as well as could be expected. The injuries sustained by McFalls were not serious.

            Backus was a man about 40 years old. He came here from Canada several years ago and has had been employment most of the time as hostler. He had a bad temper when intoxicated and has been in various kinds of trouble at different times on account of his quarrelsome disposition. he is survived by his wife {Maria Martin}, three daughters {Agnes, Lillian, and Marion} and a son. The family are well thought of in the neighborhood.

Bockus Family Headstone in Sec H Lot 160

Their three daughters are also buried in Bayside with their husbands. Agnes married William F. Arquett, Lillian married Charles H. Bicknell, and Marion married John Pelton.

Barry Johnson born a Slave and died a Freeman

         One of the most fascinating stories I have found is for someone who is buried in Bayside but does not have a gravestone. I found him in the Internment Records at the Potsdam Public Museum and also I found his obituary. He died Dec 10, 1902. Here is a transcription of his obituary:

DEATH OF AN EX-SLAVE

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Barry Johnson, of Potsdam, Passes Away at an Old Age

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HE ESCAPED IN WAR TIME
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He Came to Ogdensburg Where a Union Officer Found Him Employment and He was a Servant in a Heuvelton Family For Years

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        Potsdam, Dec 17.-- On Friday afternoon, at his cottage on Manyard Street, occurred the funeral services of Barry Johnson, the negro who for twelve years had been employed in the coal business by Bicknell & Bigsby and George W. Bixby.

         Mr. Johnson was 77 years old, and has had an exciting history. He was for thirty-six years a slave, and was fond of telling his experiences.

          He was one of a family of ten children, who were born and reared on a plantation near Annapolis, Md. Before he was 12 years old he was put to work in the fields with the men. Not until he was 36 did he become free. He was often the victim of cruel masters, and to his death bore ridges and scars, the result of cruel beatings with a rawhide.

         When the Civil war broke out he was told that the Yankees were coming to kill all the niggers, and was in mortal terror of the Northerners. With the first outbreak of hostilities he saw a chance for escape from his old master, and took it, but had gone but five miles from home when he ran into a troop of Federal cavalry scouting. He was captured after a long chase. When asked why he ran, he replied that he supposed the Yanks had come to kill him. He was assured that they had come to make the blacks free, and sent back to tell the others.

        He planned the escape of eight of the negros on the plantation, including himself, but the plan was only partially successful. Four out of the eight were run down by bloodhounds. Johnson was one of those who escaped.

       While passing through the woods, near Annapolis, he was captured by the pickets of McClellan's brigade and taken to headquarters. The officers took a fancy to him, and for nine months he stayed with the army doing mess duty for one of the Northern New York regiments. He then left the army and made his way into Pennsylvania, going around Baltimore at night and keeping to the swamps.

        He secured employment on the railroad and worked his way to New York. There he met an officer who had befriended him while he was with the army. The officer happened to be an Ogdensburg man, and promised Johnson to get him a job if he would go there. Out of the money he had earned he had saved enough to take him to Watertown. From there to Norwood he was allowed to ride free after telling his story to the conductor. At Norwood he took the O. & L.C. to Ogdensburg, paying his fare the same way.

       When he arrived in Ogdensburg the officer secured him employment. He remained there for some time, then secured a job with Pickens, of Heuvelton., the then wealthy man of that section and father of the Abbott sisters, one of whom has become famous in grand opera. Pickens liked the man, and for fourteen years he was his trusted servant.

        At Pickens' death he was allowed to go, and secured employment on the R.W.&O. until 1889, when he came to Potsdam with William Luke. In 1879 he married a white woman, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Deaffer, of Heuvelton, whose parents disowned her. No children were born to them. By hard work and careful saving, Johnson was enabled to buy and pay for a small home on Maynard street, where they lived comfortably.

       About a year ago he retired from active work on account of ill health and blindness. The interment was made in the Bixby lot at Bayside cemetery.

Bixby Family Lot (Sec I lot 111) where Barry Johnson is buried

1913 Deaths

   I thought I would do a post about people who died a hundred years ago. There were 40 people who died in 1913 who are buried in Bayside.

1. George R.C. Smith died Jan 6 1913  at the age of 67. He was the son of Abial M.and Sarah Harmon.

George R.C. Smith's grave in Sec D Lot 18

2. William Olmstead was born on Oct 12, 1825 to Lester and Freelove Benson Olmstead. He married Susan Waterman on Jan 2, 1849. William died Jan 8 1913  at the age of 87.

William Olmsted's grave in Sec D Lot 112

3. Harvey M. Story was born Jun 20, 1831 in Fairfax, VT and died Jan 19 1913  at the age of 82. He married Maria Sherman. Harvey served in the Provost Marshall's Office in Malone during the Civil War. He was in the dry goods business. Harvey was in the village board & fire department. Mr. Story was one of the founders of the Baptist Church.

Harvey M. Story's grave in Sec I Lot 51

4. Wilfred MacDonald was born in Ottawa and died Jan 25 1913 at the age of 8 mos.

5. George Wing Sisson Sr. was born Dec 19 1828 in Glens Falls to James and Gulielma Wing Sisson. He married Sarah A. Thompson. The Sissons moved to Potsdam in 1867 to engage in the lumber business. Mr. Sisson was a Whig and then a Republican. He died Feb 3, 1913.
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George Wing Sisson Sr's Grave in Sec I Lot 197

6. Anna Roberts who died Feb 9, 1913  at the age of 77.

Gravestone for Ann and her husband William

7. Frederick Baldwin who was born in Vermont to Henry and Constance Cobb and died Mar 2, 1913 at the age of 62. He was married to Sarah Russell.

Frederick Baldwin's Gravestone in Sec I Lot 34

8. Elizabeth Cudworth who was born in Lisbon and Died Mar 18, 1913. She was the wife of Wesley, at the 53.

9. Gilbert French who was born in Ogdensburg to Gilbert L. and Louise Crichton French and died Apr 1, 1913 at the age of 47.

Gilbert French's grave in Sec I Lot 168

10. James Brown was born in Toronto and died Apr 4, 1913 at the age of 67.

11. Carlton Bailey who died Apr 11, 1913 at the age of 62. He married Clara Stimets.

Carlton Bailey's gravestone in Sec F Lot 5

12. Robert Parisan son of William, died Apr 15, 1913 at the age of 11 mos.

13. Robert Kerr was born in Scotland, died Apr 27, 1913 at the age of 91. He served in Co B. 7th NYHA during the Civil War.  Mr. Kerr came over to America in 1821. He was caretaker of Holcroft House owned by the Clarkson family.

Robert Kerr's gravestone in Sec C Lot 8

14. James Aldous who was born in Gouverneur and died May 10 1913 at the age of 80. James served in the Civil War from Sept 11, 1862-Feb 14, 1863, as a 1st Lt in Co K. of the 5th NYHA.

Gravestone for James and his wife Miranda in Sec C Lot 144

15. William Baldwin was the son of Frank and Maude Moore. He died May 18, 1913 at the age of 23.

William Baldwin's Gravestone in Sec D Lot 129

16. Albert Page was the son of Justus and Miranda Healy. He married Celia Robinson. He was a Methodist Minister. Rev. Page died on May 14, 1913 in Parishville at the age of 46 yrs, 1 mos and 11 days.

Alfred Page's Gravestone in Sec C Lot 93

17. Margaret Lunderman was the daughter of Samuel and died May 23, 1913 at the age of 1 mos and 11 days.

18. Abigail Dickson was born in Richville to Alfred and Jenesha Phelps. She was married twice. Her first husband was Webster Lynde. After Webster died she married Rev. James A. Dickson who was Rector of Trinity Church in Gouverneur. She and Webster were the parents of Mrs. John Weston. Abby died Jun 1, 1913 at the age of 78.

Abigail Dickson's Gravestone in Sec C Lot 61

19. Adelaide Norris was born in South Colton. Ms. Norris graduated from the Normal School in 1883. After teaching at other schools she became a member of the staff of the Normal School in 1896. Sometime later she became Principal of the Intermediate Department. She died Jun 3, 1913 at the age of 53.

Adelaide Norris's gravestone in Sec C Lot 47

20. William Billings died Jun 1, 1913 at the age of 69.

William Billings's Gravestone 

21. Charles W. Leete was the son of Rev. Charles W. Leete and Adeline Loomis. Mr. Leete was born Jul 6, 1823 in Verona. He married Eliza Willis. He died Jun 8, 1913 at the age of 89. I will be writing more about him in a post titled Clark, Willis and Leete Family.

Charles W. Leete's Gravestone in Sec C Lot 14

22. George Dayton who died Jun 22 1913 at the age of 97. He was married to Catherine Parkill. I will be writing more about him in a post about the Dayton family.

Gravestone for George and his wife Catherine in Sec G Lot 63

23. Susan Putnam who died Jun 26, 1913 at the age of 56. She was daughter of James and Jane Freeman Putnam.

Gravestone for Susan Putnam in Sec D Lot 56

24. Susan Kerr was born in Colorado. She died Jun 28 1913 at the age of 50.

25. Ruth Lumbard who died Aug 3, 1913 at the age of 14 days. She was the daughter of E.A. Lumbard.

26. Francis Swan was born in Morley on May 16, 1838 to Robert and Ann Newby. She died Aug 8, 1913

Gravestone for Francis and her husband George in Sec I Lot 191

27. Evelyn Sparrow died Aug 17, 1913 at the age of 84.

28. Robert Wood was born in Scotland. Mr. Wood came to America in 1853 settling in Waddington. In 1877 he moved to Potsdam where he operated a grist mill until 1904. He died Aug 15, 1913 at the age of 85. He married Isabella Blythe.

Robert Wood's gravestone in Sec C Lot 51

29. Clara Roberts Wife of Isaac was born in Parishville. She died Sept 7, 1913 at the age of 49.

30. Charles Snell was born in Vermont to Alanson and Mary Flint Snell. He died Sept 20 1913 at the age of 76. He married Evelyn Burns. During the Civil War he served in Co F. of the 13th NY Cav. He was a lumberman. Mr. Snell was Congressman Bertrand Snell's Uncle.

Charles Snell's Gravestone in Sec C Lot 121

31. Clarence Wil(l)son died Oct 10, 1913 at the age of 60.

32. Bettie Sawyer wife of W.G. Died Oct 6, 1913 at the age of 38.

Bettie Sawyer's Grave in Sec C Lot 36

33. Cora Burnham died Oct 20, 1913 at 49 days. She was the daughter of John and Eva Homer Burnham.

Cora Burnham's grave in Sec C Lot 137

34. Georgina Thompson was born in Warren Co and died Oct 25, 1913 at the age of 51.

Gravestone for Georgina and her husband Clarence in Sec D Lot 68

35. Janette Ritchie died Oct 26, 1913 at the age of 74.She was the wife of Augustus.

36. Belle Kenney was born in Canada. She died Nov 6, 1913  at the age of 67.

37. Harriet Wilcox was born in Stockholm. She died Dec 1 1913 at the age of 78.

38. Cordelia Barnes was the wife of Charles P. She was born in Antwerp. Cordelia died Dec 8, 1913 of at the age of 74.

Gravestone for Cordelia Barnes in Sec D Lot 19

39. Grace Usher was born on Oct 22, 1831 in Vergenness VT to Walter and Sophronia Spencer Laflin. Grace married Bloomfield Usher. She died Dec 17, 1913 at the age of 83.

Gravestone for Grace and her daughter Grace in Sec I lot 46

40. Electa Brownell wife of Schuyler died Dec 29, 1913 at the age of 80.

Gravestone of Electa Brownell

A Fascinating Woman: Anna Stockton Pettit

    One of my favorite parts about doing the Bayside Cemetery Grave listing is researching the people buried here. One of the most fascinating persons I have found is a woman by the name of Anna Stockton Pettit. Anna was born April 15, 1865 (history lovers should recognize this date as the day Abraham Lincoln died after being shot the night before). What I found most fascinating about her was her level of education because most women of her day were not as well educated as she was. She died Jul 14, 1899. Mrs. Pettit was originally buried at Garfield Cemetery in Potsdam, but she was moved to Bayside by Julia Crane and laid to rest in the Crane Family Lot (Sec C Lot 59). Here is Anna's Obituary from the July 26, 1899 issue of the Canton Commerical Advertiser:

Anna Stockton Pettit

Anna Stockton Pettit, wife of H{erbert}.D. Pettit, died in Potsdam July 13, 1899, aged 36 years. Mrs. Pettit received her early education in Canton and took her degree of A.B. at St. Lawrence University in 1882. In addition to her literary work, she was a student of drawing and painting, and after a short period of school teaching, she went to New-York City to continue her art study. Here she met Mr. Pettit and became his wife in 1888. Having similar tastes in both literary and artistic fields, they continued their studies together. Mrs. Pettit entered Barnard College and took first the degree of M.S. and later Ph.D. from the University of Columbia. The original investigations which she made to secure the doctor's degree have attracted considerable attention and only a few weeks before her death a most flattering letter came to her from Germany acknowledging assistance received from her work, and noting further investigations which the writer was making along the same line.

The illness which attacked her was lingering and so subtle as to defy the skill of the best physicians. Skilled specialists of New-York city and the treatment and care of the best sanitariums all proved equally unavailing even to still the pain which racked her body. Last November Christian Science treatment was begun, and a Christian Scientist was employed to be her constant attendant. The relief was almost instantaneous, and since that time she has been entirely free from pain and nervousness; serene, peaceful and happy. Insanity and all its horrors had been predicted as the natural end of her malady, but she passed away as peacefully as one lies down to sleep, having retained a clear mind to the end. During the first year of her blindness she learned two new alphabets, the point type and the Morse alphabet. By the point type she was enabled to keep up her reading and after deafness overtook her, it was through the Morse alphabet that her friends conversed with her. No one was better posted on the history and geography of the Spanish-American war, or more interested in all its passing events than she. By the means of raised maps and articles copied in point type from papers and encyclopedias, as well as through current topics read to her, she kept throughly informed. Bright and witty of speech, her room was the congregating room for all her friends, and not one who were there did more to make good cheer and happiness than she. Her life was a practical lesson whose influence can not but reach out to many a weary mortal, speaking in unmistakable tones of the truth that true happiness comes not from riches or fame, not from the gratification of the senses, but from spiritual life- Courier & Freeman

Anna Pettit's Gravestone