History of Sackets Harbor, (Jefferson County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

Henry Boynton Clitz, soldier, was born in Sacket Harbor, N.Y., July 4, 1824; son of Capt. John Clitz, U.S.N., and brother of Rear-Admiral John Mellen Brady Clitz. He was graduated at the U.S. military academy in 1845 and received his first promotion for gallantry at Cerro Gordo, Mexico. He was assistant instructor in infantry tactics at West Point, 1848-55. When the civil war broke out he was on frontier duty as captain of the 3rd U.S. infantry. He was ordered east and took part in the defence of Fort Pickens, Fla., in 1861; was promoted major in May, was wounded at Yorktown and again twice at Gaines' Mill, Va., and was finally taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison. At the end of thirty days he was paroled and placed in command of the United States military academy at West Point. For his action at Gaines' Mill he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel, Jan. 27, 1862; was made lieutenant-colonel of the 6th infantry, Nov. 4, 1863, and after leaving West Point in 1864, was on garrison duty until the close of the war, being brevetted colonel and brigadier-general, March 13, 1865. He was made colonel of the 10th infantry, Feb. 22, 1869, and at his own request was placed on the retired list, July 1, 1885, after forty years' continuous service. According to the Army Register of Jan. 1, 1890, he was last seen at Niagara Falls, N.Y., Oct. 30, 1888.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Martha Emille Foote Crow, educator, was born at Sacket Harbor, N.Y., May 28, 1854. 8he was graduated from Syracuse university in 1876 and was preceptress of Ives seminary, Antwerp, N.Y., 1876-77. She then held the position of lady principal of Waynesburg (Pa.) college, 1877-78, and was teacher of English literature at Newton (Mass.) high school, 1878-82. In 1882 she became teacher of history and president's assistant at Wellesley college, and was lady principal at Iowa college, 1884-90, being instructor in German, 1888-89. In 1891 she was sent to Europe in the interest of the National bureau of education, and in 1892, was a student at Oxford university, England. On her return to the United States she accepted the assistant professorship of English literature in the University of Chicago. She was married Aug. 7, 1884, to Prof. John McClusky Crow. She received the degree of Ph.M. in 1879 and that of Ph.D. in 1885 from Syracuse university, Syracuse, N.Y.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Mellen Brady Clitz, naval officer, was born in Sacket Harbor, N.Y., Dec. 21, 1821; son of Capt. John Clitz, U.S.N., who was a hero at Fort Erie, Sept. 17, 1814, and died while in command of Fort Mackinac, Nov. 6, 1836; and brother of Gen. Henry Boynton Clitz. He entered the navy as midshipman in 1837, served in the Mexican war and was present at the bombardment of Vera Cruz and the capture of Tuxpan. He received his promotion as lieutenant, April 6, 1851; commander, July 16, 1863, and was engaged in blockading service during the war and in both attacks on Fort Fisher, 1864-65, receiving recommendation for promotion in Admiral Porter's commendatory despatch of Jan. 28, 1865. He was made captain July 25, 1866; commodore, Dec. 28, 1872; rear admiral, March 13, 1880, and was retired Oct. 16, 1883, taking up his residence in Brooklyn, N.Y. He died in Washington, D. C., Oct. 9, 1897.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

William Henry Penrose, soldier, was born at Madison Barracks, Sacket Harbor, N.Y., March 10, 1832; son of Capt. James Wilkinson, 1808-1849 (U.S.A.) and Mary Ann (Hoffman) Penrose; grandson of Clement Biddle (1771-1820) and Ann Howard (Bingham) Penrose; great grandson of James (1737-1778) and Sarah (Biddle) Penrose; great2-grandson of Thomas (1709-1757) and Sarah (Coats) Penrose and great3-grandson of Bartholomew (the emigrant from Cornwall, England, about 1700, ship-builder in Philadelphia) and Hester (Leech) Penrose. He attended Dickinson college, Pa., in 1849, and engaged in business as a civil and mechanical engineer in Michigan. He was commissioned 2d lieutenant in the 3d U.S. infantry, April 13, 1861, and was promoted 1st lieutenant, May 14, 1861. He was appointed colonel of the 15th New Jersey volunteers, April 18, 1863, and commanded the 1st brigade, 1st division, 6th corps from the afternoon of the first day's fight at Chancellorsville (2d Fredericksburg) until three days before the fight at Gettysburg, when Gen. A. T. A. Torbert, absent by reason of wounds received at Crampton's Gap Sept. 14, 1862, returned. He commanded the regiment at Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863; in Grant's campaign against Richmond early in 1864, and again commanded the 1st brigade, 1st division, 6th army corps at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864; and through the overland campaign, having been placed in command without regard to rank, being the junior of four colonels, while engaged on the battlefield in front of Spottsylvania Court House; continuing in command through the Shenandoah valley under Sheridan, and being wounded at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864. He was brevetted captain, May 3, 1863, for Marye's Heights, Va., and major, July 2, 1863, for Gettysburg; promoted captain, Sept. 11, 1863; brevetted lieutenant-colonel, May 5, 1864, for the Wilderness, Va., colonel, Oct. 19, 1864, for Cedar Creek, Va., brigadier-general of volunteers, Oct. 19, 1864, for Middletown, Va., and brigadier-general U.S.A., April 9, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services in the field during the war. He was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers, June 27, 1865, and was honorably mustered out of the volunteer service Jan. 15, 1866. He was promoted major of the 12th infantry, May 31, 1883; lieutenant-colonel of the 16th infantry, Aug. 21, 1888, and colonel of the 20th infantry, Nov. 28, 1893. He was transferred to the 16th infantry, Sept. 15, 1894, and was retired, March 10, 1896, by operation of law. He invented a set of infantry equipments recommended for use in the army by a board of officers. In 1903 he was residing at Salt Lake City, Utah, where he conducted a mining bureau of information.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor