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

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Biographies:

Charles B. Clark, representative, was born in Theresa, N. Y., Aug. 24, 1844. He removed to Neenah, Wis., in 1855, and engaged in business. He served in the Union army throughout the civil war, 1861-65; was a member of the state assembly, 1885; and a representative in the 50th and 5lst congresses, 1887-91. He died in Watertown, N. Y., Sept. 10, 1891.

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

Roswell Pettibone Flower, governor of New York, was born in Theresa, N.Y., Aug. 7, 1835; fourth son of Nathan M. and Mary Ann (Boyle) Flower. His father was a native of Greene county, N.Y., and his mother of Cherry Valley, Otsego county. His paternal ancestors were from England, and settled in Hartford, Conn., in 1696, while on his mother's side he was descended from Scotch-Irish ancestors. His father was a wool-carder and cloth-dresser, and when he died in 1843 his wife and sons continued the business. Roswell paid his own way at school by working on a farm, in a brick-yard and at odd jobs about the village store. He was graduated at the Theresa high school in 1851, and then taught a country school. In 1853 he became a clerk in a store at Theresa, and then went to Philadelphia, N.Y., where he was a clerk for a short time. The firm failed and he returned to Theresa. He was appointed assistant postmaster of Watertown, N.Y., in 1854, remaining in the office for six years and saving out of a salary of $600 per year the capital with which he purchased a half interest in a jewelry store. In two years he bought out his partner. In 1859 his brother-in-law, Henry Keep, president of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, then in failing health, entrusted to young Flower the care of his vast property, and he removed to New York city. His management of this trust kept the property together and increased its value. Mr. Flower soon after formed the banking firm of Benedict, Flewer & Co., and afterward admitted two of his brothers as partners. In 1881 he was nominated by the Democratic party, with which he had always acted, representative in congress from the 11th district of New York, his opponent on the Republican ticket being William Waldorf Astor. The election was a special one to fill a vacancy in the 47th congress, caused by the resignation of Levi P. Morton, appointed by President Garfield, U.S. minister to France. He was elected by a majority of 3100 votes, a change of 7100 votes, and he served throughout the 47th congress. He declined renomination in 1882, and was a candidate before the Democratic state convention for governor of the state, receiving on the first ballot 134 votes to 134 for Gen. H. W. Slocum and 61 for Grover Cleveland; who was finally nominated. In 1885 he was nominated as lieutenant-governor, with David B. Hill for governor, but declined to run. He was president of the New York electric subway commission, 1886. In the Democratic national convention of 1888 his name was mentioned as an available presidential nominee and he had a large following, including one-half the delegation from New York state, but the inevitable happened in the renomination of Mr. Cleveland. He was a representative from the 12th district in the 51st congress, 1889-91, where he served on the committee on ways and means and on the committee on the Columbian exposition of 1893. He was re-elected to the 521 congress in 1890, and governor of New York in 1891 by a plurality of 47,937 votes, resigning his seat in congress on the day he was nominated at Saratoga. He served as governor until Jan. 1, 1895. His action in suppressing a panic resulting from the appearance of a few cases of cholera in New York harbor, and in suppressing the rail road riots at Buffalo, N.Y., were noteworthy incidents in his gubernatorial administration. He was elected president of the Columbia trust company, 1895-97, and was honorary vice-president, 1897-99. He was married in 1859 to Sarah M., daughter of Norris M. Woodruff of Watertown. He gave $50,000 in 1881 for the construtting of St. Thomas' home in connection with St. Thomas' church, of which he was a vestryman, a memorial to his son. He also built a hospital for the use of the students of the Homeopathic college, Trinity church, Watertown, N.Y.; and St. James church, Theresa, N.Y., in memory of his mother. He died at Eastport, L.I., N.Y., May 12, 1899.

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