Table of Contents
The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890.
Palmer Hodge
Palmer Hodge was born in Schenectady, N. Y., in 1776, and at an early day located in Denmark, Lewis County. He married Sarah Wilson, by whom he had four sons and six daughters, of whom Martin L. Hodge was born in 1841, and in 1875 came to Adams and engaged in harness-making and carriage trimming, which business he still follows. He married Josephine, daughter of William and Amelia (Allen) Spink, and they have had two children, viz.: Robbie M., born in 1878, and Laura L., who died February 8, 1878, aged five years.
Sylvester G. Nott
Sylvester G. Nott, son of Reuben, was born in Somerville, St. Lawrence County, in 1836, was reared upon a farm, and was educated in Fairfield Academy. He located in Watertown, and with his brother kept the American Hotel for several years. He married Emma P., daughter of James M. and Levina (Bates) Cleveland, October 11, 1864, by whom he had two sons and three daughters, viz.: Carlyle C., born in 1866, now a resident of Columbus, Ohio; Carrie Adel, Olive Levina, Bennet C., and Hattie Cornelia. Mr. Nott removed his family to Colorado in 1869, where he conducted a cattle ranch for seven years, when he returned to Adams and is now engaged as a commercial traveler.
Rufus D. Gardner
Rufus D. Gardner, son of Peleg W. and Julia (Wait) Gardner, was born in Rodman in 1848, and was reared upon a farm. He married Ophelia J., daughter of Henry and Caroline (Dodge) Lewis, in 1871, by whom he has a son, Lewis L., born in 1875. Mr. Gardner came to Adams in 1877, and in 1882 built the Gardner block. He is a dealer in musical instruments and sewing machines.
Waterman Horth
Waterman Horth, son of Francis and Lucy (Dixon) Horth, was born in Washington County, N. Y., in 1795. The elder Horth did service in the Revolutionary war. Waterman learned the saddlery and trunk-making business. He married Lucy Foster, by whom he had nine children, of whom La Fayette resides in Watertown, and George W. and Charles in Adams. George W. Horth was born in Henderson in 1828, and early in life learned the shoemakers’ trade. He married Lucy A.,daughter of Archibald and Fanny (Horth) Brown, in 1849, and they have a son, Eddie C., born in 1852. Eddie C. married Amelia Jennings, and they have a daughter, Nellie G., born in 1877, and a son, Leon A., born in 1879. August 11, 1862, George W. Horth enlisted in Co. B, 10th N. Y. H. A., participated in the battle before Petersburg, was wounded in the left hand by a mini-ball, and served to the close of the war. He came to Adams in 1877, and engaged in the boot and shoe business.
G. W. Hannahs
G. W. Hannahs, son of William and Elizabeth (Avery) Hannahs, was born in Watertown in 1852. In early manhood he engaged as a book-keeper in Woster Sherman’s bank, worked in Dunkirk for a short time, in 1872 was in the Merchants Bank in Watertown, where he remained several years, and subsequently became cashier of Adams National Bank and is now cashier of the Farmers National Bank. He married Helen, daughter of John Watt, in 1876, and they have two sons, Harry W., born in 1877, and Raymond C., born in April, 1884.
John Ivory
John Ivory came from Vermont and located in Henderson at an early day. He reared a large family of children, of whom Theophilus, born in 1807, was reared upon a farm. Theophilus married Julia, daughter of Henry Knapp, by whom he had six sons and one daughter, viz.: Emeline (Mrs. Christopher Wilder), of Henderson; Stratton, who also resides in Henderson; Frank, of Michigan; John W., of Adams; Theodore, of Henderson; De Witt C., of Adams; and Harrison, of Smithville. John W. Ivory was born June 7, 1842, and was reared upon a farm. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 24th Regt. N. Y. Inf., and in the fall of 1863 re-enlisted in Co. H, 18th N. Y. Cav. He was promoted to corporal and then to sergeant, and served at the close of the war. After the war he continued farming, until 1880, when he engaged in mercantile business, in which he still continues in Adams. Mr. Ivory is also engaged in breeding fine road and trotting horses. He married Amy, daughter of Benjamin S. and Mabel (Palmer) Gibbs, in 1873, and they have a son, Critt C., born February 14, 1874.
Simon Wakefield
Simon Wakefield, a native of Vermont, married Mittie Howard, and about 1810 located in Jefferson County. He served in the War of 1812 and participated in the battle of Sackets Harbor. He had born to him three sons and five daughters, of whom Emory, Ann (Mrs. Lyman Mills), and Alpheus reside in this town. Alpheus, born September 9, 1828, was reared upon a farm and learned the wagon-makers’ trade. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted in Co. M, 20th N. Y. Cav., and served to the close of the war. He married, first, Ann Eliza, daughter of Benjamin Bliss, in 1855, by whom he had a son, Bliss C., born in 1856. For his second wife he married Clara Eliza, daughter of George and Adaline (Rogers) Whiting, in 1877. Mr. Wakefield is a millwright.
John J. Gilbert
John J. Gilbert, son of Moses and Sarah (Perry) Gilbert, was born in Watertown in 1859, and was reared upon a farm. He was educated in the schools of his native town. In 1882 he married Rose Ann, daughter of Henry and Hannah Lyons, by whom he has two children, Willie R. and Lena May. Mr. Gilbert is a farmer in this town.
Charles C. Case
Charles C. Case was born in Ellisburgh in 1831, and at the age of 16 years became a member of the Methodist Church. He became a conductor on the Rome, Watertown and Ogensburg railroad and removed to Watertown. In 1860 he became general freight agent, and in 1865 assistant superintendent of the road. He married Esther A., daughter of Winslow and Marina S. (Strickland) Green, in 1859, by whom he had two sons, William C. and H. Alton. William C. married Mary Eldred and lives in Adams. Charles C. Case died in 1878. His widow resides in Adams village.
John H. Dryden
John H. Dryden was born in Liverpool England, whence he immigrated to America when a boy, and located in Watertown and engaged in farming. He married Lydia M. Clark, by whom he had five sons and two daughters. His son, George H., born in 1846, at the age of 15 years enlisted in Co. K, 94th N. Y. Vols., in November, 1861, and participated in the battles of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsvlle, Gettysburg, and others, and served to the close of the war. He married Salina, daughter of Henry White, in 1867, and they have had children as follows: Ella L., Burt J., Jennie M. (deceased), Pearly G., and Lewis G. Mr. Dryden is a barber and resides in Adams Center village.
Source: Child, Hamilton. Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890, part one, p. 241-242. Syracuse, N.Y.: The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders. 1890.