| Notes |
- Zebulon James (Ezeb) PARO was born in 1825 in Canada. He died on 17 Feb 1894 in Oswegatchie, NY. He was buried in South Russell Cemetery, South Russell, NY. Zebulon went by the name Ezeb, and most documents including censuses and his death record give his name as Ezeb. However, newspaper articles about his death gave his name as Zebulon; it is believed his wife would have provided reporters with his given name, Zebulon.
It is believed that Ezeb came to Canada as a child along with at least one brother from France. At that time, orphan or homeless children were brought over from France and given out to farm families as they always needed extra help on these early farms because the work was endless. In 1988, there was a TV program called "The Home Children", and it paralleled this exact situation except the children were from England that settled on farms in Canada. The story further paralleled Ezeb's in that several of the children were brothers and sisters and were settled on different farms and in separated moves became lost to one another. Ezeb tried to locate his brother for many years, and one day he came hurriedly to the house waving a letter, shouting, "Halleluiah! Halleluiah! I have found my brother." He had received a letter from Michigan from his borther. And on that very day, he was killed by a tree while working in the woods. See following paragraphs that document the accident that killed him.
In the 10 July 1860 Russell census, Ezeb, age 30, is living with his wife Cordelia (age 27), daughter Rachel (age 7), daughter Mercillean (age 3), and son Abner (age 9/12). Ezeb was born in Upper Canada, and the rest of the family was born in New York. Ezeb's family was living next to his wife's mother, Rachel Hazelton Freer's, family.
Ezeb lived near Browns Falls that is near Star Lake, NY when he died. His son's, James Paro's, death record says that Ezeb was born in Russell, NY. Ezeb's death record, from the Town of Fine, NY, says that he was born in Canada and died at age 69; therefore his birth year would be 1825. His death record doesn't give his parents' names. The 1870 Russell census states that he was 45 (agreeing with 1825 birth), and he was born in Canada. Other researchers give his birth date as 18 December 1821 and 25 December 1820. His death record says that he was in the US for 57 years, and his cause of death was listed as "blow from a tree."
An article in The Northern Tribune, Gouverneur, NY, Wednesday, February 21, 1894:
"A report has reached us from Oswegatchie that on Saturday last, Zebulon Parro, a farmer residing near that place, was killed by a falling tree. It seems Parr had just cut down a large spruce tree and in falling, it lodged against some smaller ones. While working at these, the suspended tree fell killing him instantly. He was sixty-nine years of age, had lately moved from DeGrasse and leaves a wife and child."
The Northern Tribune, Gouverneur, NY, Wednesday, February 21, 1894, Page 5
"A report has reached us from Oswegatchie that on Saturday last, Zebulon Parro, a farmer residing near that place, was killed by a falling tree. It seems Parr had just cut down a large spruce tree and in falling, it lodged against some smaller ones. While working at these, the suspended tree fell killing him instantly. He was sixty-nine years of age, had lately moved from DeGrasse and leaves a wife and child."
The Watertown Times, Tuesday, February 20, 1894, Page 1
“An Old Man Killed by a Tree.
(Special to the Times.)
GOUVERNEUR, Feb. 20 - A report from Oswegatchie says that Zebulon Parro, aged 69 years, was killed Saturday afternoon by a falling tree which he had cut down. He leaves a wife and one child.”
The Watertown Times, Wednesday, February 21, 1894, Page 1
“PERILS OF THE WOODS.
How an Old Man Lost his Life and a Young One Narrowly Escaped.
GOUVERNEUR, Feb. 21, - J. B. Pike met with a painful accident near Richville last Wednesday. He was chopping in the woods, when his axe in some manner slipped and cut an ugly gash in his foot. Had not help been near at hand he would probably have died from loss of blood. The unfortunate young man, weak and fainting when discovered was taken to the home of Adam Dixon, where the wound was properly dressed. He is now doing well.
Fuller particulars of the fatal accident occurring at Oswegatchie Saturday are as follows: Parro was cutting pulp wood on his farm. He had just cut down a large spruce tree. In falling, the top lodged in two smaller trees which stood near by. Parro, it is thought, was trying to cut down one of these when it broke, from the weight of the burden, and in falling struck him on the temple, killing him instantly. Except a slight bruise on the right shoulder and the one on the temple he was unmarked. About five o'clock his wife blew the supper horn, and as he did not come she became alarmed and went in search of him. She was unable to find any trace of him, but later on her son went out into the woods, and after a short search discovered the body. The body will be taken to Monteray, his former home, for burial. Mr. Parro had been a resident of Oswegatchie but a few months, but in that time he won many friends, who will one and all regret his untimely end.”
The Watertown Times, Wednesday, February 28, 1894
Accidents in the Woods.
Zebulon Parro, aged 69 years, was killed while working in the woods near Oswegatchie a week ago Saturday. He was felling a tree when it lodged and broke off the top of a small maple. The top came down striking him in the face, from all appearances killing him instantly. Not returning at dark his son went out in the woods and found him lying dead in the snow.
J. B. Pike was chopping in the woods near Richville, Wednesday, when his axe glanced and struck his foot. Had not help come to him in the nick of time he would have bled to death. He was fainting from loss of blood when found, but his life was saved.
The St. Lawrence Plaindealer, Canton, NY, Wednesday, February 28, 1894, Page 1
“DeGrasse.
The remains of Ezeb Paro, of Oswegatchie, were brought here on Wednesday last for burial. Rev. C. Shaw officiating. Mr. Paro left home a week ago today and went to the woods alone to chop pulp wood. When it was time for him to come home they went to look for him and found him killed by a tree, which had struck him on the right side of his head. The deceased was a man sixty-nine years of age. He lived in this place nearly twenty-five years. About fifteen months ago he moved to Oswegatchie. He leaves a wife and two daughters, who are married, and five sons, of whom three are married.”
The St. Lawrence Herald, February 1894
A TREE FELL ON HIM
While felling trees at Oswegatchie a few days ago, Zebulon Parro was hit by a falling maple and instantly killed. Parro's father was killed by lightening thirty years ago. Note: The next article says that Mrs. Parro's father was the one killed by lightening; Mrs. Parro's father is likely correct because there is no information on Mr. Parro's father.
The Norwood News, Tuesday, March 6, 1894, page 4
Jebulon Parrow, while chopping wood near Oswegatchie, was instantly killed by a falling tree. He had cut down a large spruce tree, which in falling, lodged in two smaller trees near by. Parrow, it is thought, was trying to cut down one of these when it broke, from the weight of the burden, and in falling struck him on the temple, killing him instantly. Except a slight bruise on the right shoulder and one on the temple, he was unmarked. About five o'clock his wife blew the supper horn, and as he did not come she became alarmed and went in search of him. She was unable to find any trace of him, but later on her son sent out into the woods, and after a short search discovered the body. Mr. Parrow was 69 years of age, and was much respected by his neighbors. Mrs. Parrow is his second wife and her father was killed by lightening 32 years ago last July.
From an unknown newspaper, an article in the Grace Paro scrapbook at the St. Lawrence County Historical Society.
“RUSSELL, Feb. 26, - Mr. Ezeb Paro, formerly a resident of this town was killed at Oswegatchie, Saturday, the17th inst. He was alone in the …….. appears he had cut a spruce which lodged against two other trees and in cutting one of them it seems that the other broke and gave way unexpectedly. He did not return from work at the usual hour and as night came on his boy was sent to look for him. Mr. Paro was about a mile from home and when his son reached the place of the accident, the moon was shining brightly. We are told that the son was unable to find the unfortunate father until after a very thorough search among the limbs of the tangled trees as he was nearly out of sight in the snow. Help was at once procured and the remains carried home.
Note: The February 21, 1894 article in the Watertown Times refers to Monteray, his former home. DeGrasse originally had the name of Monterey. When Monterey tried to get a post office, they found that there was another Monterey in Cayuga County, NY. Therefore, Monterey in St. Lawrence County had to change its name. Abner Armstrong, who is the son of Rachel Hazelton Armstrong, named it DeGrasse.
A newspaper article, likely, in the Watertown Daily Times
People
Naming DeGrasse.
To The Times:
Recently an article entitled DeGrasse appeared in your paper closing with a request for information as to how and why the name was changed from Monterey to DeGrasse. Here is a bit of history: Aug. 13th, 1862 Abner Armstrong enlisted in the Civil War, took part in the battle of Locee's Grove, Mine Run, and Meed's Retreat. He served three years and one month, being discharged Sept. 10, 1865 with the loss of one leg. He was with Grant through the campaign in the wilderness to Petersburg, later with the fiery leader, Sheridan, at Martinsburg, Fairmont, Opequam Creek and at Winchester.
In 1867 Abner Armstrong opened a mercantile establishment in the hamlet of Monterey. Later in the year he was married to Florence Melinda Bigelow. In 1880 the first post office in DeGrasse (then known as Monterey) was opened with Abner Armstrong postmaster. Here is the why of the change in name. Up until 1880 the hamlet was Monterey but without a post office. The hamlet had grown and the post office department opened a post office with Mr. Armstrong as postmaster and soon found there was another post office in the state bearing the name of Monterey; Monterey in Cayuga county near Skaneateles. This necessitated the changing the name of Monterey in St. Lawrence County. The post office department informed Mr. Armstrong he should call a caucus and give the hamlet a new name. Mr. Armstrong called the caucus but they could not agree on a name so they appointed Mr. Armstrong as a committee of one to name the hamlet. Mr. Armstrong gave the town the name of DeGrasse as it was situated on the Grasse River. The proper spelling is with a capital G. - DeGrasse.
Mr. Armstrong was the grandfather of the writer.
R. E. Bohall, Norwood, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1946
Spouse: Cordelia SPICER. Zebulon James (Ezeb) PARO and Cordelia SPICER were married on 7 Jul 1846. Children were: Rachel Ann PARO, Mercillean (Lena) PARO, Abner Lewis PARO, James Edward PARO, Samuel Henry PARO.
Spouse: Julia Ann HARRISON. Zebulon James (Ezeb) PARO and Julia Ann HARRISON were married on 12 Aug 1865. Children were: John Henry PARO, William Ezeb PARO, Gertrude A PARO.
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1825 - 1894 (69 years)