Col. Elisha Camp

Born in 1786, Catskill, Greene County, NY. Died September 25, 1866 at the age of 80 in Sackets Harbor where he is buried. He married Sophia Hale in Catskill, Greene County, NY on April 18, 1811. Founder and builder of Camp Manor.

Sophia was born on March 24, 1789, in New Britain, Hartford County, CT. She died on September 13, 1866 at the age of 77 in Sackets Harbor, NY, where she is buried.

Elisha Camp moved to Sackets Harbor in 1804 at the age of 18 with his friend and brother-in-law, Augustus Sacket, and his wife, Minerva Camp Sacket (Elisha’s sister). Sophia joined him after their marriage in 1811. Elisha and Sophia built their lives in Sackets Harbor by building Camp Manor, a shipping industry, a real estate empire, general store, mills, and railroads and by additional ventures as an attorney and in banking and mining. Camp entered into the shipping industry with his brother-in-law, Dennison, who built the brick home next door to the east. One of the interesting developments from this time is the fact that Camp enters into the first license for steamships on the Great Lakes with its inventor, Robert Fulton. Prior to the War of 1812, Camp forms an artillery battery where he serves as Captain. During the war, however, he serves the army as one of its Quartermasters for Sackets Harbor and during the army’s campaign at Niagara-on-the-Lake under General Jacob Brown. Camp fights in both Battles of Sackets Harbor as the commander of his volunteer artillery company, repelling British assaults on this key naval installation. During the construction of the Erie Canal, Camp undertook the digging of Camp’s Ditch, which connected Sackets Harbor to the Black River Canal and then to the Erie Canal to move goods. He constructs the Sackets Harbor to Pulaski Railroad and the Sackets Harbor to Saratoga Railroad, which he sells to Dr. Thomas Durant in 1862. There are many other commercial endeavors that Elisha Camp set forth in the collection of his papers which are at Cornell University. Camp was also an educator and philanthropist. He built several one room school houses throughout the community and provided teachers for each of them. On the philanthropy front, Camp hosted an annual Fourth of July picnic for veterans of the War of 1812, enlisting his children and grandchildren to serve as waiters for the veterans. He also assisted in the establishment of Liberia, raised capital for the building of Christ Church Sackets Harbor, and ultimately donated the land that is now the Sackets Harbor Battlefield.

Elisha Camp’s Last Will and Testament stated that the boys receive the land and Camp Manor if Sophia was not alive. They sold off most of the land except the acreage in and around Sackets Harbor. In the 1880s, the family gifted a swath of this land to the village that is now known as the Sackets Harbor Battlefield commemorating the First and Second Battles of Sackets Harbor during the War of 1812 that were fought on the premises.

The money from the land sales and Elisha’s ventures went to the widows of Elisha Ely, Edgar, Erskine and George Hale Camp. George Hale Camp, who was the eldest son of Elisha, lived and raised his family in Camp Manor, comprising of the second generation to live in the house.

Nathan Hale

Relative of Sophia. Famous as an American hero as a spy during the Revolutionary War, Hale was caught by the British and then hung to death on September 22, 1776, for his espionage at the young age of 21. As of 1985, Hale is the state hero of Connecticut.

His famous last words inspire patriotism: “I only regret that I have but one life to live for my country.”

Nathan Hale Wikipedia

History Channel

Encyclopedia Britannica Page

Anna McQuaid Mason

Born in Picton, Ontario, Canada on February 18, 1861, Anna married Edward Vollum Samson Mason and comprises the Fourth Generation of Camp Family inhabitants of Camp Manor. Anna died on April 14, 1956, and is buried in Sackets Harbor.

Most notably, Anna was the first woman elected as mayor of a village in New York State when chosen to be Village President of Sackets Harbor on March 20, 1918, for a two-year term. She ran on the Republican ticket against a male Democrat candidate during the first election in which women were allowed to vote after the passing of women’s suffrage on November 6, 1917. Since her duties as Village President required this responsibility, Anna also served as the first female Police Chief of a village in New York State.

Anna was known to be the first suffragist in Sackets Harbor and a leading women’s rights advocate in Jefferson County.

Anna McQuaid Article Obituary and Women’s Suffrage

Anna McQuaid Victory and Obituary

Brig. Gen. George Stanley Smith

Born in Somerville, NJ, on June 10, 1900. George married Sydney Mason on September 13, 1924, comprising the Fifth Generation of family inhabitants of Camp Manor. George, or “Budge” as he was known to his close friends, died on September 4, 1968 in Sackets Harbor. He is buried with full military honors.

A West Point graduate, General Smith was a decorated WWII war hero who served in the North African and Mediterranean theaters and was an early leader of the modern US Army Intelligence. He played a pivotal role in the Allied captures of Naples and Rome.

Upon returning stateside, Smith was very active in the local Sackets Harbor and Jefferson County communities as a school district administrator and other public roles.

Bulletin, Smith Memoriam

West Point Obituary

Watertown Daily Times Obituary

Brig. Gen. George S. Smith, Somerville’s Highest Ranking Officer, to Visit Family

General Smith to Retire From Service - Ithaca Journal

General Dies - Ithaca Journal

Naming of General Smith Drive

Sydney Mason Smith

Born November 13, 1903 in Sackets Harbor. Sydney married George Stanley Smith on September 13, 1924. Died on March 27, 1989. Along with her husband, she formed the Fifth Generation of Camp Manor family inhabitants.

Sydney is known as the family historian and grandest story-teller. She was the first family member to attempt to catalog all of the contents of the building. Along with her husband, Sydney participated greatly in the community to the betterment of the area.

Bulletin, Smith Memoriam

Brig. Gen. Tully McCrea

Married Elisha Camp’s granddaughter, Harriet Camp, and commands an artillery battery at the Battle of Gettysburg. Tully was a graduate of West Point and roommate of the infamous George Custer, dishonored general of the Battle of Little Bighorn, while at the academy.

Tully’s account as a service member during the Civil War and subsequent Florida campaigns against Native Americans has been published in the memoir Dear Belle: Letters from a Cadet and Officer to his Sweetheart. The book comprises Tully’s correspondence with his sweetheart, Belle, while he is away at war, and provides unique insight into the time period and experiences of young star-crossed lovers.

Tully’s portrait as a young man hangs above the fireplace in the family room of Camp Manor.

Tully died on September 5, 1918, at the age of 79 and is buried at the United States Military Academy Cemetery.

Col. Rodney Mason

Born in 1824 in Springfield, Ohio. Married Margaret (Mary Alice) Camp, born in 1844. Mason dies in 1893 and is buried in Sackets Harbor. Rodney and Mary Alice compose the Third Generation of Camp Manor family inhabitants.

The son of US Congressman Samson Mason, Rodney Mason was a patent lawyer, employed by Pillsbury Co. and served as a Colonel in the 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War at the battles of Bull Run, Shiloh, and Clarksville.

Mason was unceremoniously cashiered out of the military due to apparent cowardice after his actions at the Battle of Shiloh and surrender at Clarksville, despite being severely outnumbered and repeated denial for reinforcements by his commanders. He fought his discharge in court and petitioned President Lincoln for reinstatement on the grounds of wrongful termination and unworthy accusations. Mason supported his position with testimonials and official depositions from fellow officers and soldiers that he commanded.

Mason published his findings and testimony (below), and even received an audience with the President. However, he was not welcomed back into the military.

Testimony of Rodney Mason

Dr. Elisha Camp

Father of Elisha Camp. Born in 1751 in New Milford, Litchfield, CT. Married Keziah Durkee, also of New Milford. Died in January of 1793 at the age of 42 in Catskill, NY, where he is buried.

Dr. Camp was trained as a physician. He had many patients including treating the Marquis de Lafayette, for which he was paid with fine china from Louis Philippe II, the Duke of Orleans. The Duke was guillotined during the Reign of Terror while his son eventually became King of France after the Revolution of 1830.

This china set from the French royal family remains in the corner cupboard in the dining room of Camp Manor.

Elisha Ely Camp

Son of Elisha Camp. Born on December 21, 1824 in Sackets Harbor, NY. He was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Army by President Abraham Lincoln and then a Capitan by President Andrew Johnson. Elisha Ely was a sutler with and business partner of Ulysses S. Grant when serving in the Western Territories. There is a collection of letters that he wrote to his parents about his adventures out west under Grant, who also frequented Camp Manor while stationed at Madison Barracks.

He married Louisa Kellar in Washington, D.C. on February 18, 1862. They had one son, Elisha Kellar Camp also known as Elisha V. While stationed in the capital, Elisha Ely served as a quartermaster during the Civil War efforts. He was ordered to the front, however, to serve the Union Army in November of 1864, according to the Church of the Epiphany. He rose to the rank of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel in the military.

Elisha Ely died on August 4, 1867 in Washington, D.C. where he is buried with his wife.

Church of the Epiphany Source

Maj. Gen. William H. Tschappat

Known to the family as Uncle Pat. Married Alice McCrea and was the 14th Chief of Ordinance of the US Army. Uncle Pat developed the mathematics behind the ballistics that defined US military infantry weaponry during World War II and onward, including the M1 Garand rifles.

Tschappat constitutes one of the three family members to graduate from West Point.

Tschappat West Point Memorial

Tschappat Wikipedia Page

Samson Mason

Father of Col. Rodney Mason (Third Generation of Camp Manor family). Born in Fort Ann, NY, on July 24, 1793. Mason made a name for himself in Ohio, beginning a law practice in Springfield, Ohio. Most notably, Mason served as a US Congressman from Ohio for nine years, from 1835 to 1843. For the Twenty-Fourth Congress, he ran as an Anti-Jacksonian and then reelected thrice as a Whig party candidate. Mason’s illustrious national and local career consisted of positions such as:

• County Prosecutor for Clark County, Ohio, 1822.

• Ohio State Senator, 1829-1831 and 1862-1864.

• President Judge of the Court of Common Please, 1834.

• US Congressman, 1835-1843.

• Presidental Elector, 1844.

• Ohio State Congressman, 1845-1846.

• United States Attorney, 1850-1853.

• Served from captain to major general in the Ohio state militia.

Mason died on February 1, 1869, in Springfield, Ohio.

Samson Mason Wikipedia Bio