Russell C. Calkins
1798 - 1893 (95 years)
Set As Default Person 
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Name Russell C. Calkins [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] Born 6 Jan 1798 Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont, USA 
[2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] Gender Male Buried Aug 1893 South Richland Cemetery, Pulaski, Oswego County, New York [2, 3] Died 4 Aug 1893 Richland, Oswego, NY [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] Age 95 years Person ID I3216 Tree2020 Last Modified 20 Nov 2020
Father 
Solomon Calkins, b. 30 Dec 1773, St Albans, Franklin, Vermont, USA , d. 10 Dec 1848, Greenfield, Huron, Ohio, USA (Age 74 years) Relationship natural Mother Eunice Richardson Relationship natural Family ID F2289 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family Pamela Andrus Price, b. 5 Sep 1800, Saratoga Co., NY , d. 26 Mar 1893, Richland, New York (Age 92 years) Married 16 Aug 1818 Richland Twp., Oswego County, New York [2, 3] Notes - Newspaper Article - Thursday, August 22, 1878 Pulaski Democrat - Pulaski, New York - A Rare Event - The 60th anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Calkins, old and highly respected residents of this town, was dully celebrated at their home on the 16th inst. by a re union of their family, including four generations. Of their ten children, four sons and five daughters were present. Several had made long journeys in order to join in this memorable gathering under the parental roof. One son, a resident of Wisconsin, was missed from the circle. That alone rendered perfect happiness incomplete, for thought would wander to the absent one. On the lawn a tasteful bower of evergreens had been prepared by Mr. F. D. Jones, a grandson present from Milwaukee. Beneath this was spread a table well laden with delicacies to tempt the appetite, and which gave proof that Grandma Calkins' descendants, with all their other accomplishments, have not neglected the culinary art The head of the table was graced by the aged paid. The Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Comfort of Pulaski sat at their right. Then according to their ages the sons and daughters and others were arranged, bringing the great-grandchildren at the foot. Over their childish heads was suspended the appropriate motto, "With joy we greet you." It was found that the whole number related to this venerable couple by birth and marriage just one half, or _, were present. After the repast we re-entered the house, where we were highly entertained with music and singing. Elder Comfort, of Pulaski, delivered a short but very suitable, thoughtful and pleasing address, in which he very aptly touched upon some of the historic facts relating to the aged pair, and the varied experience through which they had passed during the long years that God, in His great kindness and mercy had extended to them. Elder Comfort and his amiable wife then gave the company a rare treat in singing several songs in the A_ tongue. We would by no means omit to mention the fact that we never saw so many little human twigs together that made so little disturbance, even the babies came fully determined to copy their elders and to show their great-grandparents that they intended to walk in their footsteps and imitate their virtues.Mr. Calkins was 80 years old last January. He was born in Vermont. His father afterwards removed to Canada, where he acquired considerable property and made it his home until the breaking out of the war of 1812. He was then offered the alternative of taking the oath of allegiance or of sacrificing his property. With a truly patriotic spirit he chose the latter. Himself and family with others from the beach above Kingston, took boats for the American Shore. On their way over they were chased by a British vessel which fired several times to bring them to, but they disregarded these calls, increased their speed by double manning the oars, and finally effected a landing near the mouth of Stony Creek. Mr. Calkins was then 14 years of age and his remembrance of those exciting incidents is very vivid. The years of the war were passed in Central New York. He afterward removed to Oswego County, and in that he had made his home ever since. His personal history illustrates alike the possibilities of success that lie before the American youth who is sober, enterprising and industrious, and the vic_itudes of human life. In proof of the former, it is only necessary to say, that beginning with nothing but a brave heart and hand for toil he accumulated property until there was only one mad in the town of Richland who paid more taxes than he did As equally proof of the latter, the fact may be mentioned that he afterward lost all and began the world in advanced life hampered by heavy debts. Towards the payment of these, every dollar of his property was given, and it is refreshing in these days of loose commercial mortality to be able to point to one case in which a man would accept the greatest reverse of worldly fortune rather than sacrifice his integrity. He could have failed and secured himself, as men sometimes do, at the cost of others. He was even advised to do so by some, especially in view of the fact that he became involved through the acts of others, but he heroically refused, and in that refusal he had the approval of his faithful wife who was willing to accept poverty rather than that one _ should be dishonorably retained. Mr. Calkins has informed the writer that he paid more than $12,000 in cash for others for which he never received one cent of an equi_. Mrs. Calkins will be 78 years of age in the coming month of September. She was the daughter of Col. Rufus Price, an old revolutionary officer. And this the home of this aged pair can retain in the personal history and the family traditions of its _ much connected with the most exciting periods of our national life. Attention has already been called to the large family they have reared. These are all honorable members of the communities in which they dwell. One son and three daughters, Russell, Mrs. Douglas, Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Jones, are residing in the West. The others, Charles, Rufus, Frank, Jesse, Mrs. Beman and Mrs. McChesney, reside in Oswego County, within a radius of perhaps 30 miles. It must have been gratifying that so many of them could participate in the interesting event of last Friday. It will be a memorable occasion to them all, and all the more so from the fact that another such a re-union is not among the probabilities of the future. And yet the numerous friends of the above highly respected couple will all join in the wish that their honored lives may be many years prolonged.
Children 
1. Jesse Elliot Calkins 2x , b. 26 Aug 1837, Richland, Oswego, NY , d. 31 Mar 1920, Albion, NY (Age 82 years) [natural]2. Charles Salmon Calkins, b. 19 Jan 1823, Daysville, Richland Township, Oswego, New York , d. 3 Apr 1909, Buena Vista, Chaffee, Colorado, USA (Age 86 years) [natural]3. Isabelle Josephine Calkins, b. 9 Apr 1831, Richland Twp., Oswego County, New York, United States , d. 11 Dec 1909, Clovis, Fresno, California, United States (Age 78 years) [natural]4. Hester Ann Calkins 2x , b. 1 Aug 1825, Daysville, Richland Township, Oswego, New York , d. 18 Nov 1904, East Syracuse, Onondaga, New York, United States (Age 79 years) [natural]5. Harriet Calkins, b. 13 Feb 1820, Daysville, Richland Township, Oswego, New York , d. 9 Dec 1907, Napa, Napa, California, United States (Age 87 years) [natural]6. Eliza Melissa Calkins, b. 21 Jan 1836, Daysville, Richland Township, Oswego, New York , d. 9 Jun 1916, Oconomowoc, Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States (Age 80 years) [natural]7. Henry Barnard Calkins, b. 11 Jul 1839, Richland Twp., Oswego County, New York, United States , d. 7 May 1841, Daysville, Richland Township, Oswego, New York (Age 1 years) [natural]8. Martha Patty Calkins, b. 3 Aug 1821, Daysville, Richland Township, Oswego, New York , d. 2 May 1900, Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA (Age 78 years) [natural]9. Rufus Price Calkins, b. 24 Jun 1827, Daysville, Richland Township, Oswego, New York , d. 24 May 1907, Mexico Township, Oswego, New York (Age 79 years) [natural]10. Russell Dean Calkins, b. 18 Apr 1829, Daysville, Richland Township, Oswego, New York , d. 13 Aug 1917, Eugene, Lane, Oregon, United States (Age 88 years) [natural]11. Francis Marion Calkins, b. 17 Aug 1833, Daysville, Richland Township, Oswego, New York , d. 20 Oct 1900, Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York (Age 67 years) [natural]Last Modified 20 Nov 2020 Family ID F1021 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Notes - Newspaper Article - Thursday, August 21,1884 Pulaski Democrat - Pulaski, New York - Oswego County Pioneers - Our Old Settlers in Convention - (excerpt) - I referred to the family of Russell Calkins, who was born in Vermont in 1798. Move to Montreal with his father at a very early age, he remained for two years. From thence they moved to Coburg, north side of the Lake, where they remained until the summer of the war of 1812. The inhabitants along the north shore of Lake Ontario were principally refugees from our Revolutionary war, and consequently were what were then called tories. There were some, however, who were favorable to the revolution. A short time before the war of 1812, and while differences were rising in the political horizon between Britain and the United States, a proclamation was issued by the Crown for all the people in Canada to take the oath of allegiance to the British Crown within 30 days or leave the realm. Salmon Calkins, father Russell, was a well-to-do man in Coburg. He had a farm of 160 acres at a nominal rent made under a perpetual lease, a span of horses, yoke of oxen, several cows, and other property appropriate to the farm. The Calkins, of which there were four families, Samuel, Seth, Salmon, Asahel, a younger brother and a brother-in-law by the name of Benedict, unwilling to take the oath of allegiance, but a small boat and built one to convey their effects to the states. Their personal property had become almost valueless by reason of the uncertainty whether war would be declared or not. Salmon sold one horse for $30 which would now be worth 300. He sold another good horse for a piece of cloth, a good yoke of cattle for 3 bbls. of flour; sheep with fleeces on at $1.50 each. Their flight was as it were from a burning building. Their most valuable effects which could be taken away were placed in the boats. Other articles of lesser value and minor importance, together with the farm, for which he could get nothing, were left behind. With an Indian for a pilot who said he had been at Oswego, they all, with such effects as they could carry, five families in all, got into the boats and started for their destined port, Oswego, in their frail and open boats, propelled in part by sails and part by oars. They started with their prospects but before night a violent storm arose and they were driven back to the Canada shore near the Bay of Quinte. There they first learned that war had been declared between the two governments. The following day they again started and as they came down by the islands, they saw a British vessel becalmed. They put all hands to the oars, women and all, and pulled for the American shore. A gun was fired across their bow for them to stop. They pulled on until three shots were fired. At that instant another vessel hove in sight from the American shore and which came down to their relief. It proved to be an American revenue cutter. The captain kindly offered to take them to their port. On their way, they stopped at Big Sandy, at Salmon River and at Mexico Point, where they found several vacant houses, the owners of them having not long before gone out on the lake and all been drowned. There they were invited to go up to one Roberts to help raise a barn. Help being scarce, they did so, and then continued on their journey. They went up the Oswego River and finally landed at Whitesboro, where they remained till 1815, when they all came to Richland and settled in the south part of the town. They bought in all 500 acres of land, which was subsequently divided among them, and the most innumerable hosts of Calkins in this town are their descendants. Russell remained with his father clearing up the farm until of age. He then hired out to Col. Rufus Price at $11 per month. Price then resided between here and Port Ontario, south side of the river on the farm where Isaac, his son, afterwards resided and Isaac Douglas now resides. Col. Price, who had been an officer in the Revolutionary war, had moved in the town in 1807. He was a well-to-do man and of much influence. His wife was a cousin of the father of General Grant. Our young Russell Calkins, while working for Col. Price, carried on a little conspiracy with the colonel's daughter which resulted in the capture and carrying away of the young lady, who is now before you, the mother of five boys and five girls, all living and healthy. She and her husband are the ancestors of some 78 descendants, living, and if she lives until tomorrow, August 16th, will have lived with her husband 66 years, their ages being respectively 86 and 84 years. Within the three years since your previous meeting at Pulaski, several of the old pioneers of the town who were present at that.
August 4, 1893 ~ Russell Calkins, age 95 years, 6 months, 28 days, Farmer, born in Vermont, Resident of Richland Township about 70 years, Son of Solmon Calkins and Eunice Richardson, died in Richland Township of organic heart disease.
Newspaper Obituary - Thursday, August 10, 1893 Pulaski Democrat - Pulaski, New York - The death of the venerable Russell Calkins of Richland, this county, on the 4th inst., at the advanced age of 95 years, 6 months and 28 days, deserves more than a passing notice. Mr. Calkins was born in Vermont on January 6, 1798. His father's family moved to Canada soon after and they remained there until the War of 1812, when they came to the states, choosing this country in preference to taking the oath of allegiance to Great Brittan, which thing they were required to do. Five families put their goods in an open boat and after many hardships in crossing Lake Ontario, reached Oswego. They then went up the Oswego River, through Oneida Lake and on to Fort Stanwick (Rome, New York), then down to the Mohawk to Whitestown, where they located. After the war, young Calkins and a few others came on foot through the wilderness to Richland, taking each of them an ax with which to clear the forests. They bought 500 acres of land at $4 per acre near what is now Sand Hill, that was the year 1816. In 1818 the subject of this sketch was united in marriage to Miss Pamelia Price, daughter of Col. Rufus Price, formerly an officer in the Revolutionary Army. To that couple were born ten children, five sons and five daughters, all of whom are living today. What is remarkable, the first child was born in 1819, and then one in each alternate year, the oldest being 74 and the youngest 56 years old. The mother of these children died March 26, 1885, at the age of 87 years. The father, who has gone, has been a very active man and one prominent in town for a great number of years. During Norman Rowe's first term as sheriff from 1840 to 1844, we think Mr. Calkins held the office of deputy. Since Mrs. Calkins death, deceased has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Beeman of Richland, where he has had the tenderest care. During his last sickness his oldest daughter has been by his bedside and with her sister, Mrs. Beeman, have been solicitous for every want in the care of their dear father. The other children, as far as possible, have been kind and considerate in their attentions for the dear one. Deceased seemed fully prepared for the great change and passed away quietly, like a child going to sleep. Mr. Calkins was a member of the Old Settler's Association.
- Newspaper Article - Thursday, August 21,1884 Pulaski Democrat - Pulaski, New York - Oswego County Pioneers - Our Old Settlers in Convention - (excerpt) - I referred to the family of Russell Calkins, who was born in Vermont in 1798. Move to Montreal with his father at a very early age, he remained for two years. From thence they moved to Coburg, north side of the Lake, where they remained until the summer of the war of 1812. The inhabitants along the north shore of Lake Ontario were principally refugees from our Revolutionary war, and consequently were what were then called tories. There were some, however, who were favorable to the revolution. A short time before the war of 1812, and while differences were rising in the political horizon between Britain and the United States, a proclamation was issued by the Crown for all the people in Canada to take the oath of allegiance to the British Crown within 30 days or leave the realm. Salmon Calkins, father Russell, was a well-to-do man in Coburg. He had a farm of 160 acres at a nominal rent made under a perpetual lease, a span of horses, yoke of oxen, several cows, and other property appropriate to the farm. The Calkins, of which there were four families, Samuel, Seth, Salmon, Asahel, a younger brother and a brother-in-law by the name of Benedict, unwilling to take the oath of allegiance, but a small boat and built one to convey their effects to the states. Their personal property had become almost valueless by reason of the uncertainty whether war would be declared or not. Salmon sold one horse for $30 which would now be worth 300. He sold another good horse for a piece of cloth, a good yoke of cattle for 3 bbls. of flour; sheep with fleeces on at $1.50 each. Their flight was as it were from a burning building. Their most valuable effects which could be taken away were placed in the boats. Other articles of lesser value and minor importance, together with the farm, for which he could get nothing, were left behind. With an Indian for a pilot who said he had been at Oswego, they all, with such effects as they could carry, five families in all, got into the boats and started for their destined port, Oswego, in their frail and open boats, propelled in part by sails and part by oars. They started with their prospects but before night a violent storm arose and they were driven back to the Canada shore near the Bay of Quinte. There they first learned that war had been declared between the two governments. The following day they again started and as they came down by the islands, they saw a British vessel becalmed. They put all hands to the oars, women and all, and pulled for the American shore. A gun was fired across their bow for them to stop. They pulled on until three shots were fired. At that instant another vessel hove in sight from the American shore and which came down to their relief. It proved to be an American revenue cutter. The captain kindly offered to take them to their port. On their way, they stopped at Big Sandy, at Salmon River and at Mexico Point, where they found several vacant houses, the owners of them having not long before gone out on the lake and all been drowned. There they were invited to go up to one Roberts to help raise a barn. Help being scarce, they did so, and then continued on their journey. They went up the Oswego River and finally landed at Whitesboro, where they remained till 1815, when they all came to Richland and settled in the south part of the town. They bought in all 500 acres of land, which was subsequently divided among them, and the most innumerable hosts of Calkins in this town are their descendants. Russell remained with his father clearing up the farm until of age. He then hired out to Col. Rufus Price at $11 per month. Price then resided between here and Port Ontario, south side of the river on the farm where Isaac, his son, afterwards resided and Isaac Douglas now resides. Col. Price, who had been an officer in the Revolutionary war, had moved in the town in 1807. He was a well-to-do man and of much influence. His wife was a cousin of the father of General Grant. Our young Russell Calkins, while working for Col. Price, carried on a little conspiracy with the colonel's daughter which resulted in the capture and carrying away of the young lady, who is now before you, the mother of five boys and five girls, all living and healthy. She and her husband are the ancestors of some 78 descendants, living, and if she lives until tomorrow, August 16th, will have lived with her husband 66 years, their ages being respectively 86 and 84 years. Within the three years since your previous meeting at Pulaski, several of the old pioneers of the town who were present at that.
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Sources - [S57] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;), Ancestry Family Tree.
- [S570] Public Member Trees, Ancestry.com, (Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;;), Database online.
Record for Pamela Andrus Price - [S570] Public Member Trees, Ancestry.com, (Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;;), Database online.
Record for Pamelia Andrus Price - [S570] Public Member Trees, Ancestry.com, (Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;;), Database online.
Record for Charles Salmon Calkins - [S570] Public Member Trees, Ancestry.com, (Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;;), Database online.
Record for Russell Dean Calkins - [S570] Public Member Trees, Ancestry.com, (Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;;), Database online.
Record for Jesse Elliot Calkins - [S570] Public Member Trees, Ancestry.com, (Name: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;;), Database online.
Record for SOLOMAN CALKINS
- [S57] Ancestry Family Trees, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;), Ancestry Family Tree.