JEFFERSON COUNTY NEW YORK

Genealogical and Family History of the County of Jefferson,New York: Vol 1

New York - Chicago - the Lewis Publishing company - 1905
Transcribed by: Kathaleen Smith
email me at kathaleensmith@gmail.com for lookups

GRENNELL families

from pages 311 - 314 and from pages 1028-1030 (there are 2 photos)

SAMUEL B. GRENNELL, or as he is more familiarly known, "Capt. Samuel," proprietor of Grennell Island Park, and the pioneer in the purchase of any island in the St. Lawrence river, which section is now world-famed for its beauty and grandeur, was born in Adams, Jefferson county, New York, November 10, 1818, a son of Ezra and Phoebe (Barker) Grennell.
     Ezra Grennell (father) was a native of Connecticut, whence he removed to Adams, Jefferson county, New York, where he remained ten years engaged in farming. He resided for a similar period of time in Hounsfield, not far from the old Blanchard stand, now the Half-Way House on the road from Watertown to Sackets Harbor. He then moved to Antwerp and purchased the Roselle Randall farm, which he operated for a few years. The house stood where the railroad station is now located, in the village of Antwerp. He finally located in Lafargeville, where his death occurred at the age of eighty-two. His wife, Phoebe (Barker) Grennell, a native of Saratoga county, New York, bore him four children, two of whom are living at the present time (1904): Samuel B., the eldest, mentioned at length hereinafter; and Herman, a retired hotelkeeper, who resides at Evans Mills. Mrs. Grennell died in the fifty-seventy year of her age. Mr. and Mrs. Grennell were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were loved and respected by a wide circle of friends.
     Samuel B. Grennell resided in his native town until he was four years of age, his education being acquired in the various towns in which his parents resided during his boyhood years. He removed from Lafargeville, where his father died, to Omar, and here he conducted a hotel successfully for six years. While here he saw an advertisement in the paper of the islands for sale in the St. Lawrence river, they being owned by the daughter of Henry Yates; she died, leaving no heirs, and, the property being thrown into the courts, the judge appointed a referee to dispose of it. He purchased Jeffers Island for a nominal sum, and at that time he was offered any of the small islands in the river from Alexandria Bay to Clayton for fifty cents, they not being considered of any value. The government name for the island was "Stewart's" Island. It was given the name of "Jeffers" by a man who called himself by that name. The islands were then a dense forest, and plenty of deer and fish abounded in the woods and river. Two men rowing among the islands in those early days discovered near them on the shore a smoke arising from some habitation. Out of curiosity they made a landing, and made the acquaintance of a man who called himself Jeffers, but whether that was his real or assumed name, they had of course no way of ascertaining. He had built a log shanty about twelve feet square, and had cunningly placed it against a large rock, which formed the back of his fire-place. Here he lived for many years, fishing, hunting and raising vegetables on a little spot of land which he cleared. As the islands became more settled, this man went to Gananoque, Canada where he died. A little later a French family by the name of Pecor squatted on the island, and were still there when Mr. Grennell purchased it about the year 1868.
     Mr. Grennell was also the pioneer in the line of hotel keeping in the Thousand Islands, having erected, in 1870, the first public place for the entertainment of guests on the island he purchased, this being the first hotel on any of the islands in the St. Lawrence, located on the spot where stood the famous Pullman House that was destroyed by fire in September, 1904. This he conducted for thirty years, and during this time it became one of the most celebrated hotels in the section. It was the headquarters of fishermen, sportsmen, etc., the good cheer that prevailed there making it a most popular resort. A band of musicians furnished dance music, and everything that could conduce to the comfort and pleasure of the guests was provided. In 1894 Mr. Grennell laid out Grennell Park, which is one of the most prominent on the river. The old hotel was torn down, and the fine new one, "Pullman's," recently burned, took its place. The old hotel was calcualted to accomodate about twenty people, but the number was frequently increased to forty or forty-five. The new one had accomodations for one hundred guests. Mr. Grennell also built a fine dock, at a cost of thirteen hundred dollars, about one-half mile from the Thousand Island Park, four miles below Clayton, six miles above Alexandria Bay, and at this dock boats land nearly every hour in the day, thus affording ready access to trains from all parts of the country. During the same year he also laid out Stewart's Island into 177 lots, containing in all a trifle ofer one hundred acres, on which are erected fifty cottages. Captain Grennell has devoted considerable time and attention to the development of this island and in contributing to the comfort of the cottagers. A beautiful chapel has been built, to which he generously donated over four hundred dollars, he being deacon and one of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church. To Accommodate the wants of the many cottagers Mr. Grennell, in 1892, opened his present store on the island, which he has since conducted. He had the postoffice established, which is also located in this store, and during the two terms of Cleveland's administration served as postmaster, being a Democrat in politics, and in the affairs of this party has taken an active interest. When a young man a popular military company was organized in this section, known as the "Flood Wood," and in this he held the office of lieutenant.
     Mr. Grennell was united in marriage to Lucy A. Jennison, who was born August 21, 1820, in Redwood, Jefferson county, New York, daughter of Luther Jennison, a patent leather finisher. He resided for some years in Redwood, New York, when he was in the lumber business, later going to Watertown, where he followed his trade of patent leather finisher. Here he died at sixty-six years of age. Mrs. Grennell was one of seven children, all now deceased. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs Grennell, one of whom is living at the present time (1904). Isabella, who became the wife of Gerald Gates, of Antwerp, New York, is now deceased, and one child was born to them, Bertha, now the wife of Foley McComber, and mother of three children. Myron W., who resides with his father on the island, is the only one living. He married Susan Lachey, and their four children are married and reside in Michigan, namely, Charles Samuel; Fred M.; Nellie who married Adelbert Reed and has one child, Spray; Lulu who married Earl Prentice.
     After more than sixty years of happy married life, Mrs. Grennell died, July 24, 1901, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. She was a most estimable woman, performed the duties of wife and mother in a faithful and conscientious manner, and was the greatest assistance to her husband throughout his active and useful career. At the time of her death, as a mark of respect to her memory, the flags on all the vessels plying on the St. Lawrence river were lowered to half mast, the only instance of the kind known in the history of this section.
     Mr. Grennell is a genial, cultured, and refined gentleman, a pleasant conversationalist, and he never wearies of pointing out the beauties of his surroundings. He has always been enterprising and progressive, not satisfied to settle down and merely enjoy what he has acquired, but like the typical American is anxious to keep near the top and improve on what his ancestors have bestowed upon him. The portraits of this venerable couple are found in the pages of this work will, it is thought, be a source of gratification to their many friends.

WILLIAM HORATIO GRENNELL, an influential and public-spirited citizen of Pierrepont Manor, Jefferson county, New York, in which village he was born on January 26,1846, is a lineal descendant of Nathan Grennell, a native of England, who was made freeman at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1628. The line of ancestry is as follows: (II) Daniel Grennell, son of Nathan, born in 1636, married Mary Wodell, who was born in 1640. (III) Daniel Grennell, born in 1665, died in 1740; he married Lydia Peabody, born in 1667 and died in 1748, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Alden) Peabody, the latter named having been the daugher of John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden. (IV) George Grennell, born in 1686, married Mary Bull, who was born in 1708. (V) Daniel Grennell, born in 1729, died in 1801, was a soldier in the American Revolution from Saybrook, Connecticut; he married Ann Chapman, whose death occurred in 1814. (VI) Ezra Grennell, born July 29, 1766, married, January 1, 1789, Olive Parker, who was born April 10, 1768, and died November 8, 1837. (VII) Benjamin Persons Grennell born January 5, 1790, died July 8, 1864; he married, February 9, 1813, Kezia Freeman Grennell, born August 3, 1786, died October 14, 1872. (VIII) Ezra Orosco Grennell was born July 2, 1815, on Manor Farm, which is located in the vicinity of Pierrepont Manor, New York. He was a farmer by occupation and resided on the homestead during his entire lifetime, this property having been settled upon him by his great-grandfather, Ezra Grennell. He was a man of excellent habits and a good education, was a member and deacon of the Congregational church at Mannsville, New York, for many years prior to his death, and his political affiliations were with the Republican party. In October, 1839, he married, Abby Monroe Wardwell, who was born in Bristol, Rhode Island, November 23, 1814, a daughter of Samuel Wardwell, Jr., and his wife Hannah (Monroe) Wardwell. Mrs. Grennell was descended from an old family who originated from William Wardwell, who came over from England with the early Pilgrims in 1620; the family resided in Bristol, Rhode Island, for many years, whence her father removed to Mannsville, New York. Mr. Grennel died on the old homestead on January 18, 1898, having survived his wife almost two years, her death occurring on February 20, 1896.
     William H. Grennell was a student at Union Academy, Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, and Cazenovia Seminary. He then engaged in various business positions until his marriage, after which he resided on the Manor Farm for several years, and in 1873 engaged in the seed business, which he has followed since residing in Pierrepont Manor. For thirteen years he served as captain of Company A. Thirty-fifth Regiment New York State National Guard, is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Masonic order, being affiliated with Rising Sun Lodge, Adams Chapter, Watertown Commandery and Media Temple, Mystic Shrine.
     At Pierrepont Manor, New York, March 19, 1867, Mr. Grennell was united in marriage to Adelaide E. Allen, who was born August 9, 1847, a daughter of Jerome and Olive (Castor) Allen, and her education was acquired at the Parish school and a school for young ladies at Troy, New York, conducted by Madame Willards. Their children were: Helen Allen, born at Manor Farm, Pierrepont Manor, New York, in 1868, and died in 1870; Anna Wardwell, born in 1873 at Manor Farm, Pierrepont Manor, New York, educated at St. Agnes' School in Albany, New York, and the Irving School in Watertown, New York. In 1897 she became the wife of Matthew J. Huggins, of Mannsville. They are the parents of two children: Marjorie Mary, born in 1900, died in 1902; and William Grennell, born May 9, 1901.

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