Colonel William Lord

COLONEL WILLIAM LORD

Colonel William Lord, a man long identified with the interests of Brownville, came here from Vermont, just before the breaking out of the war. He was induced to come to act as book-keeper for his uncle, Wm. M. Lord, who kept the Brownville hotel. His uncle having leased the hotel, William taught a winter school at Blanchard’s Corners, spending his time out of school in getting out the timber for forty wooden plows, which the next spring he finished up for market. In the fall he concluded to return to Vermont. He packed his clothes, bought a horse, and saddle, and was intending to start the next morning, in company with Isaac Farwell, Chesterfield Parsons, and a Mr. Stow. While taking supper together at Abijah Farwell’s, Warren Skinner, acting as sergeant in Captain Wm. Cole’s company, came in, and warned each of them to report with axe and gun the next morning for service in cutting and felling trees across the road between Brownville and Cape Vincent, to prevent the enemy approaching by way of the cape, fearing an insufficient guard there would enable the enemy to gain access to Sacket’s Harbor by this route.

Farwell, Parsons, and Stow concluded it safest to go on to Vermont as designed. Mr. Lord said, “If my country wants my services, I have nothing to withhold.” He joined the company, turned his horse into the streets, and did not see him again for months. He was engaged in the service twenty-eight days, and did not see Vermont in six years.

This incident probably turned the current of his life towards Brownville. He established the well-known foundry of Lord & Skinner, and afterwards Lord & Sons. He was also one of the most efficient men in securing and promoting interests of the Watertown and Rome railroad, as well as for many years one of its directors. Two of his sons (Col. N. B. Lord and N. N. Lord) were in the country’s service during the civil war; the former was efficient in organizing two regiments-the 35th Infantry and the 20th Cavalry-for the service.

Col. Lord is now, at the age of eighty-six, in the enjoyment of all his faculties, living quietly with two of his children in the family mansion at Brownville.

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Transcribed by Holice B. Young from Jefferson Co. History by L. H. Everts.