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Jefferson County Biographies
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Jefferson County
History
New York History
Biographies
History at Rays Place
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Winslow, General Bradley.-No name in Northern New York is better known in legal, social, political or military
circles than that of General Bradley Winslow, who is descended from the good New England stock which was prominently
identified and largely instrumental in the settlement of New York State. General Winslow is a direct descendant
in the seventh generation of Kenelm Winslow, who was a brother of Edward of the Mayflower fame. He was born August
1, 1834, on his father's farm two and a half miles from Watertown, N. Y. After the usual course in the common schools
of his district, at the age of sixteen, he entered the Cazenovia Seminary, where made excellent progress in all
his studies and where the ability that has since distinguished him in the many walks of his active life was first
recognized. In 1850 and 1851 he attended Falley Seminary of Fulton, N. Y., and later entered Kingston (Pa.) Seminary,
which course completed his literary studies. At the age of twenty-two he began the study of law in the office of
the Hon. James F. Starbuck of Watertown; in 1854 he entered the Poughkeepsie Law School and was admitted to the
bar in 1855, remaining with Mr. Starbuck until the following year, when he opened an office in Watertown, associating
with himself J. L. Bigelow. Having early evinced a taste for politics, he was nominated in 1859 for district attorney
and after a heated campaign was triumphantly elected. When treason first reared its head upon Columbia's soil,
Mr. Winslow was one of the first to respond to the call to arms; the Black River Corps, of which Mr. Winslow was
first lieutenant, was one of the first local military organizations to tender their services to the governor of
the State. This company proceeded at once to Elmira under the command of Captain Potter; when the regimental organization
was perfected W. C. Brown was made colonel, Captain Potter, lieutenant-colonel, Lieutenant Winslow being promoted
to captain. In July the regiment was sent to the defenses of Washington, passing through Baltimore but a few days
after the attack made in that city upon the troops of Massachusetts. In August, 1861, Captain Winslow was promoted
to be lieutenantcolonel of his regiment and it took a prominent part in the battle of Cedar Mountain; Colonel Winslow's
health having failed him, he was forced to resign, and, receiving an honorable discharge, left the army deeply
regretted by all who knew him. Having regained his health he was unable to resist the feelings of patriotism that
had first prompted him to take up arms in defense of his country, and he proceeded to raise the 168th Vol. Infantry,
of which he was promptly commissioned colonel; the regiment immediately joined General Meade's command and was
assigned to the Second Division, Ninth Corps, and was at once stationed in front of Petersburg. This regiment also
took an active part in the battle of Weldon Railroad, fought October 31, 1864. On the 2d of April, 1865. Colonel
Winslow's regiment led an attack and captured Fort Malone in front of Petersburg; in an attempt to capture another
fortification Colonel Winslow fell shot through the body, a minne ball having entered his left side between the
lower ribs, passing entirely through his body and came out on the right side near the spinal column. For his gallant
conduct and the able management of his regiment Colonel Winslow received from Gen. S. G. Griffin one of the most
eulogistic letters ever penned by a commander to a subordinate officer. He was afterward, without any solicitation
upon his part, appointed by the president colonel of the 22d U. S. Infantry, which command he respectfully declined.
In 1868 Governor Fenton appointed him brigadier-general of the New York National Guard and placed him in command
of the 16th Brigade, in which capacity he served three years with distinguished ability. General Winslow is a stalwart
Republican and in 1875 was elected mayor of Watertown, which office he filled so satisfactorily that he was elected
State Senator from his district in 1879, serving two years, having the respect of his colleagues and unbounded
confidence of his constituents. In the first organization of the G. A. R. he was junior vice-commander of the State
of New York. November 15, 1855, he married Geraldine M. Cooper, whose family were pioneer settlers in Jefferson
county. As the result of this union three children were born: J. C.. born in 1856, was graduated from Dartmouth
College and studied and practiced law with his father until he received an appointment in the office of the attorney-general
of the State, and in 1890 died of consumption in California; Charlotte, born in 1859, has recently married William
G. Johnston, and lives in Watertown; and Florence, born in 1856, married Mr. Upham, a prominent manufacturer in
the city of Watertown. Mrs. Winslow died August 24, 1896.
Source:
Our County and it's people
a descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York
Edited by: Edgar C. Emerson
The Boston History Co., Publishers, Syracuse, N. Y. 1898
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