Cuyahoga-Wood County OhArchives Biographies.....SQUIRES, James S. January 31, 1819 -
************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm
************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
J. Robison normadeplume@wmconnect.com February 28, 2009, 3:42 am
Author: Anonymous
From 'History of Cortland County' (NY) by Anonymous 1885
JAMES S. SQUIRES, of Cortland, is descended from one of three brothers who
emigrated from England in the earlier history of our country, and located at
Saybrook, Connecticut. His grandfather, Samuel Stent SQUIRES, was born in
Saybrook in the early part of the eighteenth century and participated in the
French and Indian War, particularly in the conflicts of Braddock's defeat and
at Fort Du Quesne. He received his discharge at Perth Amboy, N. J., at the
close of that war. He also served the full period of seven years in the
Revolutionary War, entering into the spirit of those times and fighting as all
others did, and sacrificing as many had to, for our liberty and independence.
He married Margaret COOK, the mother of the father of our subject, John S.
SQUIRES. The latter was born in New Haven, Conn., in 1771, and removed to
Farmington, Conn., in 1793, when twenty-two years old, and there married Huldah
HADSELL. Her father, James HADSELL, was also a Revolutionary soldier, and his
wife was a teacher who supported her family and seven children during those
long years of anxiety and privation by teaching a common school. In 1800 John
S. SQUIRES moved to Choconut, Broome Co., where he remained one summer,
removing thence to near Marathon, where he located just below the present
village. His trip westward from his native town was made with an ox team and
one horse. He crossed the Hudson on the ice and made his way to the State
turnpike leading west at a time when there was no other road except a line of
marked trees. He accomplished this trip in about three weeks.
In 1800 there was one saw-mill and one grist-mill only in the vicinity
where Mr. SQUIRES first located in Broome county. These were patronized after
the SQUIRES family removed to Marathon, the settlers generally going to and
from the mills in frail and rudely constructed canoes or "dugouts" up and down
the Tioughnioga. There was a mill at Cayuga lake, twenty miles distant, but
this was not so easily reached, the journey being overland.
The first house erected by Mr. SQUIRES in Marathon and Virgil had no door
save a blanket, and the only windows were openings covered with paper. The
floor was made of planks or "puncheons" split from logs.
In 1807 John S. SQUIRES moved to Virgil and took up four hundred acres of
land, where he resided until his death June 24th, 1835.
He was a man of splendid physical proportions, weighing about two hundred
and fifty pounds, active and energetic, and was thus able to accomplish much
towards subduing the wilderness and bringing it under cultivation. He was
lieutenant of a company of aged men which was organized in 1813 for frontier
defense against Canada. Simeon WEST was captain and Wm. POWERS ensign. Mr.
SQUIRES reared a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters. The
daughters were all married and became mothers of families, and lived to be over
sixty years old. The three oldest sons all died before they were twenty-one
years old. John A., his fourth son, was a prominent resident of Iowa, where he
died some years ago. Dann C. SQUIRES, member of assembly in 1864, and again in
1874, and who was for thirty years justice of the peace and forty-four years
district clerk, was the next son. He died in the old homestead in what is now
Lapeer, December 17th, 1874.
James S. SQUIRES the subject of this sketch, was the youngest member of
the family, and was born in Virgil, Jan. 31st, 1819. His early life was spent
on the farm, toiling early and late, going to school only on such days as he
could not work out on account of inclement weather. His school privileges were
therefore limited to a few days or weeks in winter of each year. His zeal for
learning was great, and notwithstanding the difficulties in the way, he
diligently pursued his studies at home, often stretching himself before the
open fire-place in the evening and poring over his books by the light of the
fire. When he reached the age of sixteen years his father died, leaving a
large family of children, and James S. saw before him a life in which he must
stand or fall by his own efforts. Accordingly in the following year he made
preparations to start out into the world for himself. His mother was a devoted
Christian woman from her girlhood, and changed her faith from Presbyterian to
Baptist principles soon after her husband's death. She now, as her youngest
son was about to leave her side, admonished and counseled him as to his future
habits. She obtained from him promises that he would never use tobacco in any
form; would abstain from intoxicating drinks; would never gamble in any way;
would strictly observe the Sabbath day; and would in all things be guided by
her Christian teaching and advice. These promises he has always tried
faithfully to keep and they have, in his estimation, been the foundation stones
upon which he has built up a successful career as a business man and gained the
esteem and friendship of all his acquaintances. Following naturally upon the
habits formed from those promises, came honesty, uprightness and a
conscientious regard for the rights of his fellowmen. As a merchant he never
permitted his clerks to misrepresent goods for the purpose of effecting a sale,
and in all things endeavored to have them conform to his correct business
methods; in short, he followed the only course through life upon which can be
established a successful and justifiable record. When eighteen years old he
attended school one full term, under the late Nathan BOUTON, in Virgil, and
made such rapid advancement that his teacher gave him a certificate to teach.
In this occupation he afterwards learned more than he had been able to under
his previous limited advantages.
But Mr. SQUIRES was a born merchant, and this characteristic showed itself
when he had reached only the age of ten years; he then purchased a quantity of
top-onion seed of his brother as six cents a quart, which he sold among his
neighbors during evenings at ten cents. In this way he made fifty cents, which
he invested in a lamb, which he let for a term of years to double, and from the
increase of this investment he found himself the possessor at the time of his
first marriage, when he was twenty-four years old, of thirty-two sheep. Of
these he sold twenty-five for $50, a profit of a dollar for each original penny
invested. The other seven sheep were sold to a tailor and served to pay for
cutting and making his wedding suit, himself furnishing the goods.
In the year 1843 Mr. SQUIRES began mercantile business for himself in
Virgil; but through endorsements for the accommodation of others, this venture
failed, leaving him twenty-two hundred dollars in debt. Contrary to the advice
of his friends and others he devoted his best energies to the payment of his
heavy burden, which he accomplished within a few years. The wisdom of this
course was shown when the people of the town made him postmaster soon after the
failure, and the next year superintendent of schools, which office he held
while he remained in the town.
He subsequently (1853) removed to Cortland village, where he engaged in
mercantile business of a general character and succeeded in building up an
annual trade of about $100,000 a year. His store was known as the largest in
the county at that time and the most successful, employing much of the time ten
clerks, several of whom remained with him fifteen years and are now numbered
among the foremost business men of Cortland and other places.
In 1869 Mr. SQUIRES became president of the Bank of Cortland, which
responsible position he filled with ability for fifteen years until 1884, when
he resigned to devote all of his time to his personal business. He was
prominently instrumental in securing the location of the State Normal School at
Cortland, and has also done much to encourage the establishment of
manufacturing interests in the place, contributing liberally of his own means
to this purpose. He was made treasurer of the Ithaca and Cortland railroad and
of the Utica, Chenango and Cortland railroad, which offices he has held until
the present time. He gave liberally, also, to the fund for the erection of the
Baptist Church in Cortland, of which he has for many years been a faithful and
consistent member. He was elected trustee of the society in 1858 and has held
the office ever since. He was appointed treasurer in 1860 and still holds that
position. He has been one of the pulpit committee since 1861 and was elected
deacon in 1875, still holding the office. In 1876 he was elected president of
the board of trustees and now holds that office.
Mr. SQUIRES built his handsome residence in Cortland on the corner of
Tompkins and Prospect streets in 1871. It is one of the most attractive
private dwellings in the village and has been greatly improved by the addition
of conservatories, piazza, etc. In 1876 he purchased the site of the Old Eagle
store, built early in the century by General Roswell Randall, and erected
thereon the handsome and valuable SQUIRES building at a cost of about $40.000,
containing seven stores, eight offices and ten flats.
Mr. SQUIRES has been married three times, the first event occurring on
December 24th, 1843, when he was united with Miss Lucia CHAMBERLAIN, formerly
of Otsego county. She was born Feb. 5th, 1821, and died March 16th, 1862. She
was a devoted Christian wife and mother, and died strong in her faith in
Jesus. The oldest child of this union was Lucia Verdine SQUIRES, who was born
Aug. 5th, 1847. She was married to Jerome R. HATHWAY in 1868, and died May
28th, 1877. The second child was Francesca Eudell SQUIRES, born Dec. 6th,
1849; she is now the wife of Geo. W. EDGCOMB, of Cortland. Two sons were born
of this marriage also; the oldest in James Duane SQUIRES, now a member of the
law firm of Thornall, SQUIRES & Constant, 120 Broadway, New York City. He was
born in Cortlandville, Feb. 8th, 1855, attended school at the Cortlandville
Academy and later at the Normal School, where he graduated at the age of
sixteen. After teaching one season he took an extra course at the Rochester
Collegiate Institute where he graduated and took the first prize for
commencement oration.......
The other son is Earl Frank SQUIRES, born in Cortlandville Aug. 2d,
1857...... In 1877 he became a member of the firm of Stoker & Co., grocers and
provision dealers, which was very successful. In 1882 the firm of Squires &
Co., was oraganized for the same business in Cortland, of which he is now the
junior member. He was married to Miss Ophelia EVANS, daughter of W. R. EVANS,
of Dallas, Texas, July 30th, 1879.
Mr. SQUIRES second marriage occurred on the 8th of Aug. 1865, to Miss
Libbie Adelia PURINTON, of West Virginia, and granddaughter of Elder PURINTON
of Truxton. She was born in Truxton May 13th, 1839, and died November 30th,
1871, and was a lady of excellent qualities. Vernon P. SQUIRES, the eldest son
born of this union, was born Nov. 4th, 1866, and is now in the Cortland Normal
School preparing for college. Emma Maud SQUIRES was born May 25th, 1869, and
is now in the Normal School, preparing for Vassar College. Louis Almon
SQUIRES, born Nov. 24th, 1871, is now in the Normal School, pursuing his
regular course of studies.
Mr. SQUIRES was agian married on the 14th of May, 1873, to Mary Elizabeth
LESTER, of Binghamton, who had been a teacher many years and principal of the
primary department of the Cortland Normal School. Their children by this
marriage are Mary Louisa, born July 19th, 1875, died Aug. 17th, 1876; and Fred
Dann Lester, born Feb. 2d, 1877, now in the Normal School.....
File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/cuyahoga/bios/squires390bs.txt
This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ohfiles/
File size: 12.4 Kb