JAMES SIDDONS -- 16th and 121stINFANTRY also 1st MA INFANTRYDROWNED IN THE SARANAC - At 18 years of age, or so he said, JamesSiddons, enlisted in the 16th Infantry in August 1862, three monthsafter his brother, George. At the time, he was living in Schuyler Fallson the farm of his parents, Henry Siddons and Sally Sorrell, and he wasonly 15 years old.James remained with the 16th until the regiment mustered out in May1863, after the battles at Marye's Heights and Salem Church in theChancellorsville Campaign. His three years' enlistment was not up so hewas first transferred to the 1st MA Infantry and then to the 121stNY Infantry. James was mustered out at Hall's Hill, VA, on June 25,1865, and came home.When he came home, he married Sophronia Rock and they had severalchildren. James worked in the local mills in the lumber industry tosupport his family.The May 25, 1889, edition of the Plattsburgh Republican carried thisarticle - DROWNED -- "James Siddon, a river driver, was drowned in themill pond at Morrisonville or below it, on Wednesday of this week. Hehad been working on the drive at Treadwell\'s Bridge and bad gone up theriver to Morrisonville to get a boat and bring it down, where it wasneeded on the drive. He was last seen where the bridge crosses the pond,some four or five rods above the dam, when he was dipping water out ofthe boat. Soon afterwards, the boat was discovered in the river belowthe dam and overturned, and he was missing. It is surmised that he madean attempt to run the boat over the dam, the fall being about six feet,and was drowned in that way. It is said that this is sometimes safelydone by river drivers, who are apt to get reckless and take great risks.Search was kept up for the body during the day on Thursday by quite aforce of men but without success. Mr. Siddon was about 40 years old, andhis home was in Morrisonville, where he leaves a widow and severalchildren."On June 7, 1889, the following notice was published in the PlattsburghSentinel -- SIDDON'S BODY FOUND IN THE RIVER -- "The body of JamesSiddon, the river driver, who met his death by drowning in the SaranacRiver at Morrisonville on the afternoon of May 22md, was found Tuesdaymorning, some two miles below where the fatal accident occurred. Thebody had been in the river for thirteen days, and when found, was lyingin about two feet of water. Coroner Gilliland of Plattsburgh wasnotified, and the inquest was held in Plattsburgh Wednesday afternoon. Averdict of death by accidental drowning was rendered. Siddon was about40 years old."James was buried in the St. Alexander's Old Cemetery in Morrisonville.Sophronia lived until 1915 and was buried under the same stone. George,his brother, died in 1920 in Massachusetts.
