Jefferson County New York Biographies - Surnames A-B

Transcribed by Jeffrey Tooley

Jefferson County New York Biographies extracted from the Genealogical and Family History of the County of Jefferson New York Illustrated, Volume II, Compiled by R. A. Oakes, 1905

BAGLEY, Hon. George Augustus, Biography

BAGLEY, Hon. George Augustus, one of the influential and well known business men of Watertown, who has been prominently identified with the commercial, political and social interests of Jefferson county since early manhood, is president of the Bagley and Sewall Company and the Newton Falls Paper Company, and now in his declining years, enjoys the high regard and esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact either in public or private life. He was born in Watertown July 22, 1826, a son of Bernard and Zurviah (Gates) Bagley.

Bernard Bagley was born in Durham, Greene county, New York, Nov. 5, 1791, removed from thence to Jefferson county in the year 1812, and for several years thereafter was engaged in teaching school and building roads in Antwerp. In 1816 he changed his place of residence to Watertown, the county seat, began reading law in the office of Charles E. Clarke and was admitted to the Jefferson county bar? in 1826. He possessed the characteristics requisite for a successful career as an attorney at law, and therefore his clientage was one of the most extensive and select in the county. Prior to entering the profession of law he was engaged as a surveyor. He served as a member of the legislature, was one of the twenty-two trustees appointed at the incorporation of the Jefferson County Savings bank, Apr. 5, 1850, and also filled a similar position for the North Watertown Rural Cemetery, which was laid out in 1838. He married Zurviah Gates, daughter of Jacob and Zurviah (Harris) Gates. He died at his home in Watertown, June 26, 1878.

The common schools of Watertown afforded George A. Bagley excellent opportunities for acquiring a practical education, which qualified him for a life of usefulness and activity. He began the study of law in his father's office, and was admitted to practice before attaining his majority, but not finding this congenial to his tastes and inclinations, he soon abandoned it and in 1853 entered into partnership with Edmund Q. Sewall and George Goulding. The business, which was known as the Bagley and Sewall Machine Works, is the outgrowth of the formdry? and machine shop established by George Goulding in 1823, and from this small beginning have developed the vast structures which cover almost two acres of land and furmish almost constant employment to more than four hundred mechanics. The plant is located on Sewall's island, a locality noted for the number and magnitude of its mmanufactures, is devoted exclusively to the manufacture of iron machinery, and its products are sent to all parts of the civilized world. Mr. Bagley has always been a potent factor in the Republican politics of Watertown, served as trustee and president of the village of Watertown, was a member of the board of supervisors and during the year 1874 served as chairman of that body, and from 1875 to 1879 was a member of the Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses.

In 1858 Mr. Bagley married Sabine P. Clark, daughter of Colonel Ambrose W. Clark. Their children are: Jessie, wife of Virgil K. Kellog, Carrie, wife of Stuart D. Lansing; Madaline and Ambrose Bagley, the last associated with his father in business. Mrs. Bagley is a member of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church of Watertown, and takes an active and prominent part in the work of the various societies connected with the same. [Source: Genealogical and Family History of the County of Jefferson New York Illustrated, Volume II, Compiled by R. A. Oakes, 1905.]