Selected Families and Individuals

Notes


Horace Beals KELLY

Obituary (from Watertown Daily Times of 7 April 1936):  CLAYTON---Horace B. Kelly, 7, well-known resident of this village, died at 7 this morning at his home at 526 Merrick St. after an illness of three months.  He returned March 1 after
undergoing treatment at Buffalo for a throat condition and his condition had failed steadily.

    Mr. Kelly was born at Rockland, Me., March 16, 1859, a son of James and Mary Horton Kelly.  He was the oldest of nine children.  When he was six months of age, the family moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where his father was engaged in
granite quarrying work.  When he was 21 years of age he came with his family to Grindstone island where his father was superintendent of the Chicago Granite quarries for many years.

    He married Miss Elizabeth Ann Potter, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Potter of Grindstone Island.  They lived on the island for 15 years and then moved to this village where he established a monumental business and operated it until
four months ago when his failing health caused him to retire.  After he came here to reside he became superintendent of the Wisconsin Granite quarries on Wellesley Island and also operated the granite quarries on Picton Island, marble from
which was used in the state capitol at Albany.

    He was active in Republican politics and served as trustee of the village of Clayton for several years.  He also held the office of postmaster of Grindstone Island for a period of time.

    Mr. Kelly was a charter member of the Moses Webster Lodge, F. and A. M., at Vinal Haven, Me., in 1881 and recently received a medal from the grand lodge of the state of Maine for 50 years of service.  He was formerly a member of the R. A.
M. and Knights Templar of Watertown.  He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Clayton and had served several years on the church board.

    Mrs. Kelly died on Feb. 27, 1932, in this village.

    He is survived by three sons, James Albert of Carthage, Dr. George M. of Syracuse, and Potter W. Kelly of Clayton; two daughters, Misses Helen and Rose Kelly of Clayton; one sister, Mrs. Emma Packard of Syracuse; three grandchildren and
one great-grandchild.

    The funeral will be held from the residence Thursday at 1 p.m., Rev. Royal B. Fishbeck, pastor of the Clayton Methodist Episcopal Church, officiating.  Burial will be on Grindstone Island and Clayton lodge No. 296, F. and A. M., will
conduct committal services.  Members will attend in a body.


Elizabeth Ann POTTER

Obituary:  Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Kelly, 63, wife of Horace B. Kelly died at her home, 526 Merrick St., Saturday morning.

    She was born on Grindstone Island, Oct. 11, 1868, daughter of Orlando and Mary Eleanor Miller Potter, and was educated in Union School, LaFargeville.

    She married Horace B. Kelly in March, 1887 and they had since made their home in Clayton.  She was a member of Calumet Chapter, No. 274, O.E.S. and of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

    She is survived by her husband, Horace B. Kelly; two daughters, Rose and Helen of Clayton; three sons, James A. of Carthage; Dr. George M. Kelly and Potter Kelly of Syracuse; three grandchildren, Marion, Genevieve, and Rose Kelly, and one
sister, Mrs. Charles Kendall of Clayton.

    Funeral services were held Monday at 2 p.m. at the home, Rev. W. O. Thomas, Methodist Episcopal minister of Clayton, officiating.

    The bearers were three sons, James A., Dr. George M., and Potter W. Kelly; one nephew, William H. Kendall, Alex Wilson and Captain Charles Kendall.  The floral offerings were many and beautiful.

    The body was placed in the Clayton vault until spring when burial will be made in Grindstone Island Cemetery.


Mary Helen KELLY

Obituary (from Thousand Island Sun of Sunday, 25 May 1978):  CLAYTON---Miss Helen Kelly, 79, of 526 Merrick St., retired Clayton Central School librarian, died May 22 at St. Petersburg, Fla.

    The funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Clayton United Methodist Church with the Rev. Richard E. Barton, pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in Grindstone Island Cemetery.

    Calling hours will be 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Cummings Funeral Home, Clayton.  Donations may be made in her name to the American Cancer Society.

    She is survived by a sister, Mrs. Henry (Rose) Mecomber, Florida; two nephews, James T. Mecomber, Alexandria Bay, and H. C. Mecomber, Clearwater, Fla., and four nieces, Mrs. Sarah Meeks, Berwyn, Pa., Mrs. Charles Close, Watertown, Mrs.
Ernest (Minnie) Williams, Watertown, and Rosemary Bacon, Pantha, Fla.

    Born in Clayton Aug. 29, 1898, a daughter of Horace and Elizabeth Potter Kelly, she had served 33 years as librarian at Clayton High School before retiring in June 1962.

    She was graduated from Clayton High School and studied at Geneseo Teachers College and Syracuse University.  She had served four years on the staff of the Syracuse Public Library before returning to Clayton.


Charles Henry KENDALL Capt.

Obituary (from newspaper of Thursday, 17 Dec. 1942):  CLAYTON---Capt. Charles H. Kendall, 77, captain of steamboats on the St. Lawrence River for 36 years, died at his home on 544 Merrick St. Wednesday evening about 6:30 after an illness of
about eight days.  He suffered a heart attack about eight days ago and later developed pneumonia.

    Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 1 from the home, Rev. Hale F. Thornberry, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Watertown, officiating.  Burial will be made on Grindstone Island.

    Surviving are two sons, William H. Kendall, Potter F. Kendall, both of this village; three daughters, Miss Adelaide M. Kendall, Miss Eleanor E. Kendall, both of this village, and Mrs. Sterling (Ruth) George, Norwood; three brothers, Capt.
Aldridge Kendall, Clayton; Grant Kendall, Bird Kendall, both of Poughquag; three sisters, Mrs. Ida McAvoy, Cape Vincent, Mrs. Etta Hutchinson, Clayton, Miss Belle Kendall, Pouhgquag, and six grandchildren: Miss Jane Kendall, Miss Harriet
Kendall, Charles Kendall, a fireman first class in the Navy, all of Clayton, and Kenneth George, Miss Sarah George, and Miss Virginia George, all of Norwood.

    Captain Kendall was born Feb. 1, 1865, in Clayton, a son of Aldridge S. and Zuba Gotham Kendall.  He had lived all his life in this village.  He married Miss Sarah Jane Potter Aug. 5, 1895.  She died May 27, 1935.

    For 36 years Captain Kendall was employed by the Folger Brothers of Clayton and Kingston as captain of steamboats.  He sailed all the boats of the Thousand Island Steamship lines at different times during the time he was employed by that
firm.

    At the age of 27 he took command of the steamer, "Jessie Bain."  He was captain of the following steamboats: "Islander," "St. Lawrence," Newsboy," "New Island Wanderer," and the "Thousand Islander."  He brought the "Thousand Islander,'
built in Toledo, O., from Toledo to the Thousand Islands after it was completed and was captain of that steamship while it was at the river from 1912 to 1916.

    During his entire sailing career, he carried several million passengers in boats under his command and never had a single accident.  He was known widely for his skill and his experience as a river boatman.

    From 1917 to 1918, he was employed at the shipyard at Clayton and piloted sub-chasers to the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City.  When the tour boats came into existence about 1918, he went into the tour boat business.  He was captain of
a private yacht, the "Wana," belonging to the late George Sherman of Watertown for one season in 1918.  Mr. Sherman died during that season and the yacht was sold to a Mr. Clark of New York City.  Captain Kendall piloted the yacht down the Gulf
of St. Lawrence to look over some pulpwood holdings which Mr. Clark had there.

    Captain Kendall was in the tour boat business from that time until last summer.  He operated crafts of all the different tour boat lines in Clayton.  For one season, he sailed the steam yacht, "Laurion," belonging to M. Crouse Klock,
Syracuse, and piloted the boat down the St. Lawrence River and up the Saguenay.

    Before his steamboat career, Captain Kendall owned several sailboats of his own and carried building materials and coal on the river.  He had sailed since he was a small boy and owned small cargo sailing vessels.

-----------------------

Article in Watertown Daily Times issue of 11 Sept. 1915:  CLAYTON---The twelve-year-old daughter of James K. Hackett, the famous actor, whose summer home is located about a mile above Clayton on the St. Lawrence, had a narrow escape from
drowning about 5:30 yesterday afternoon, when she fell from the dock into the water.  The little girl was boarding the yacht, Indienne, which Mr. Hackett has chartered for the season, and in some manner slipped and fell into the water.  The
water is quite low.  She was stunned when she struck the water.

    Captain Charles Kendall, who was until recently captain on the steamer Thousand Islander, but who has been engaged for the rest of the season by Mr. Hackett, saw her struggling about in the water and plunged in fully clothed, rescuing the
little girl.  The accident occurred in about eight feet of water.  Capt. Kendall succeeded in getting her to shallow water, where he could carry her ashore.

    As she was taken from the water she was almost exhausted and was helpless, although she was not unconscious.  She did not seem any the worse for her experience today.

    The little girl is Mr. Hackett's daughter by his first wife, who was Mary Mannering.


Frank POTTER

Obituary:  Frank Potter, 86, native of Grindstone Island and long a dairy farmer in Glen Park, died at 10:45 p.m. Friday at the home of a daugter, Mrs. Lois Gunsch, Poughkeepsie, after an illness of seven weeks.

    The funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m., at the Johnson Funeral Home, Dexter, with Rev. Philip Tonkin, retired Methodist minister, officiating.  The body will be placed in the Dexter vault to await later burial in Clayton Cemetery.  Friends
may call at the funeral home today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

    Surviving are a son, Carl A. Potter, Dexter; four daughters, Mrs. Harold (Amy) Miller, Wappingers Falls; Mrs. Arthur (Eleanor) Suggs, Pinellas Park, Fla.; Mrs. Wallace (Grace) Herdon, Fort Myers, Fla.; Mrs. Gunsch; two sisters, Mrs. May
Garnsey, and Mrs. Harry (Lottie) Kendall, both of Clayton; and ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

    Mr. Potter was born on Grindstone Island, Nov. 1, 1874, son of Albert E. and Amy Stotler Potter.  His grandfather was one of the pioneer physicians of Jefferson County.  He received his education in rural schools in northern New York.  On
Oct. 4, 1910, he married Miss Anabel Sheley, daughter of Nelson and Mary Townsend Sheley of Theresa, at the home of her parents.  She died Aug. 14, 1953 at their Glen Park farm house.

    As a young man, Mr. Potter worked as a blacksmith, wheelwright, and carriage maker for 25 years at Chippewa Bay, Theresa and Clayton.  He operated a dairy farm in Glen Park for 30 years prior to his retirement in 1956.  After his
retirement he lived on Losee Road, Wappingers Falls.

    Mr. Potter was a member of the First Baptist Church, Watertown, and formerly a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Clayton.


Mabel J. "May" POTTER

Obituary (from newspaper of 19 Sept. 1967):  CLAYTON---Mrs. Mabel J. Potter Garnsey, 91, widow of William E. Garnsey, died at her home, 622 John St., Monday afternoon following an illness of two years.

   The funeral will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Clayton Baptist Church, with Rev. Selden Ward, pastor, and Rev. Fred Williams of Williamsport, Pa., former pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in St. Lawrence Union Cemetery.

    Friends may call at the Cummings Funeral Home here from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

    The family has requested that memorials be as contributions to the fund drive of the Edward John Noble Hospital, Alexandria Bay.

   Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Harold (Nathalie) Russell,  Alexandria Bay; and Mrs. Potter (Etta) Kendall, Clayton; two sons, W. Albert, Clayton; and George E., Chattanooga, Tenn.; six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

    Mrs. Garnsey was born April 29, 1876, on Grindstone Island, a daughter of Albert C. and Amy Statler Potter.  She was married on Grindstone Island, Nov. 22, 1898, to William E. Garnsey, a native of Clayton.  She had lived here since her
marriage.  Mr. Garnsey, a retired carpenter, died May 18, 1949, aged 75.

    Mrs. Garnsey was a member of the Clayton Baptist Church.


Eva M.

1  CMNT 1910 Census Says Her Father Was Born In Ireland


Harrison E. KENDALL

Obituary (from newspaper of 27 March 1973):  CLAYTON---The funeral for Harry E. Kendall, 86, of 633 Theresa St., who died Monday in the House of the Good Samaritan, Watertown, will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Cummings Funeral Home, Rev.
Robert Mowatt of the Baptist Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Clayton Cemetery.

    Friends may call at the funeral home today from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.

    Surviving are a daughter, Miss M. Kathleen Kendall, Clayton; three sons, Ralph E., 272 Pratt St., Watertown, Harold A. and Walter G., both of Clayton; eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

    Born July 18, 1886, in Syracuse, son of Eli and Elizabeth Harewood Kendall, he attended Grindstone Island and Clayton schools and was employed for a time as a carpenter with George Kenyon, a Clayton contractor.  He later operated a farm
and also was a caretaker and boatman for Thousand Islands residents.

    He married Charlotte Potter July 4, 1907 in the Watertown Baptist parsonage, Rev. J. Foster Wilcox officiating.  Mrs. Kendall died July 8, 1965, in the House of the Good Samaritan at the age of 78.

    Mr. Kendall was a former member of Clayton and Depauville Odd Fellows, was a member of the Redwood Odd Fellows Lodge and was a past district Odd Fellow deputy.


Charlotte H. POTTER

Obituary (from newspaper of 8 July 1965):  CLAYTON---Mrs. Charlotte Potter Kendall, 78, wife of Harry E. Kendall, 633 Theresa St., died at 2:23 a.m. today in the House of the Good Samaritan, Watertown.

    The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m., at the Cummings Funeral Home with Rev. Sheldon Ward, pastor of the Clayton Baptist Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Clayton Cemetery.

    Friends may call from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m.

    Mrs. Kendall is survived, besides her husband, by a daughter, Miss Kathleen Kendall, Clayton; three sons, Ralph E., Watertown, Walter C., Clayton, and Harold A., Rochester; and a sister, Mrs. Maybelle Garnsey, Clayton.

    Mrs. Kendall was born March21, 1887, on Grindstone Island, the daughter of Albert and Hattie Potter.  On July 4, 1907, she was married to Harry Kendall in the parsonage of the First Baptist Church, Watertown.  From 1931 to 1952, she was
employed by the Clayton Manufacturing Company.

    Her husband is a justice of the peace.

    She was a member of the O.E.S., the Rebekahs, and the Baptist Church.


Mary Kathleen KENDALL

1  CMNT Living E. J. Noble Hospital 1999.


Julia Ann PHILLIPS

1  CMNT of Massena, NY


Daniel WHITNEY

1  CMNT Of Brownville, Jefferson Co., NY