USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 1
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 1
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M. I
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01178 3849
Check pocket in back of book for map (1853)
C 9
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/ourcountyitspeop00curt_0
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE:
A MEMORIAL RECORD
+
OF
ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY
NEW YORK.
ILLUSTRATED.
EDITED BY GATES CURTIS.
SYRACUSE, N. Y .: D. MASON & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 1894.
PREFACE. 1239385
O RDINARILY the history of a place or town commences with the adventurer or pioneer who grapples with the difficulties pre- sented, the events of which become fixed in his memory and thus come down in traditional form to be recorded by the historian.
The essential prerequisite of a rational patriotism is an intelligent acquaintance with the history of one's country. To supply the means of making that acquaintance is the cherished object of this work. Hence the manifest interest of our citizens demands a clearer record of the early days of this part of Northern New York than we now possess. Therefore, in the following pages it is designed to give a complete narrative-in as few words and as simple form as possible-chrono- logically arranged, relating to the discovery of America; of the St. Lawrence River ; of the chain of Great Lakes and of the Father of Waters; together with the conflicts between the French, English and natives, in the settlements along the shores of these waters ; also a brief sketch of the character, habits and religious views of the aborigines ; but more particularly the names, occupancy, changes, organizations, and progress of the civil and religious bodies of the county of St. Law- rence from its first settlement up to the present time. It is our pur- pose to avoid all dry discussions and documentary array, yet to preserve and perpetuate, as far as possible, the history of the most important events and some of the quaint sayings of the pioneers who had such a controlling influence in shaping the destiny and moulding the character of this people.
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6
PREFACE.
For the historical part of this work a large amount of valuable infor- mation was selected from the French war records, from Hough's history of St. Lawrence county, and the works of many other eminent writers were used so far as applicable to this work.
With a due acknowledgment for these historical facts thus selected ; for the " Judiciary," the bench and bar of the county by Judge Tappan ; for the valuable information of the religious bodies of the county fur- nished by the various church clerks ; and for the many incidents of interest, not heretofore published, given by our venerable and esteemed citizens, thanks are hereby tendered.
With a consciousness that the greatest vigilance cannot wholly ex- clude errors and faults, and trusting to the charity of a generous public, this work is respectfully submitted.
OGDENSBURG, May 1, 1894.
GATES CURTIS.
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
The Beginnings of History-The History of the First Discoveries of the Western Continent Buried in Conjecture -- The Rediscovery by Columbus -- Importance of the French Occupation -- Plan of this Work. 17
CHAPTER I. DISCOVERY OF THE WESTERN CONTINENT.
Pre-Columbian Discoveries -- Irish Discovery -- Chinese Discovery -- Norse Dis- covery -- Arabian Discovery -- Welsh Discovery -- Other Discoveries -- Final Discovery by Columbus -- Difficulties Encountered by Columbus -- His Final Fate. 19
CHAPTER II, THE ABORIGINES.
Pre-historic Inhabitants of the Western Continent -- The Aborigines and their Great Divisions -- The Iroquois -- The Esquimaux -- The Destiny of the Red Man 27
CHAPTER III.
FRENCH DISCOVERY OF THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER.
French Explorations-Jacques Cartier -- Discovery of the St. Lawrence -- Hoche- laga-Lord Roberval's Expedition -- Grant to Aylmar de Chastes -- Samuel Champlain -- Sieur de Monts at Acadia -- Pont-Greve and Poutrincourt -- Ex- pedition of Champlain and Indian Allies against the Iroquois -- The First Bloodshed-The Establishment of Montreal -- Champlain's Trip to the North- west -- Arrival of Catholic Missionaries and their Explorations -- The Company of New France-Champlain's Labors and Sacrifices -- La Galette -- Origin of the Name-Voyageurs -- Occupation of La Galette as a Station -- Existing Evidences of Early Occupation of the Locality -- Frontenac's Expedition- Mention of La Galette by De la Barre-Other Allusions to the Place -- " It Takes the Cake."
31
8
- CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
THE OLD REGIME.
Condition of the Colonies in 1659 -- Hochelaga and its Occupation -- Contrast be- tween the Montreal of that Period and that of To-day -- The Old Spinner -- The Company of the West and its Efforts -- Importations of Women-The Seignorial Grants-Stringent Rules of the Church - Intemperance-Divine Chastisement -- Spirit of Discovery-De la Salle and his Western Expedi- tion -- Paucity of English Posts of Occupation
47
CHAPTER V. CONFLICTING INTERESTS.
Jesuit Enterprise -- Alarm of the English - Conflicting Claims and Measures -- Washington's Mission to the Ohio Valley-Fort Duquesne -- Washington at Fort Necessity - General Braddock's Expedition -Vigorous Movements of the French -- Father Piquet at La Gallette -- His Successful Establishment- His Report Concerning the Location -- French Industry in Founding Estab- lishments for Civilizing the Indians -- The English Awakened to Action -- Eng- lish Endeavors to Secure an Alliance with the Indians-Piquet's Improvements at La Galette. 55
CHAPTER VI. ENGLISH SUPREMACY.
Campaign of 1758 -- Campaign of 1759-Campaign of 1760-Military Operations in the Vicinity of La Galette-Capture of the Post by the English-Treaty of Paris -- Failure of French Hopes -- Piquet's Departure.
65
CHAPTER VII. ENGLISH POSSESSION.
La Galette Improved by the English-Name Changed to Oswegatchie -- The In- dian Village of La Galette-The Revolutionary Period-English Possession of Oswegatchie after the Declaration of Peace -- Its Unimportance During the War-The Expedition of Lieutenants McClelland and Hardenburgh -- The Boy Soldier and the Indian-Isaac Wells's Description of Oswegatchie in 1796 -Land Leases from the Indians and the English-Mohawks' Surrender of Lands-The Ten Townships Surveyed and Mapped on the South Side of the St. Lawrence-Transfer of Lands-Samuel Ogden and his Purchase-Nathan Ford-His arrival at Oswegatchie.
73
9
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
SETTLEMENT COMMENCED.
Nathan Ford's Occupation of Oswegatchie-His Labors and Difficulties-Saw Mill Erected -- Canadian Squatters -- The American Hotel -- Erection of Grist Mill -- Mr. Ford's Financial Embarrassments.
89
CHAPTER IX. THE PIONEER'S EXPERIENCE.
Pioneer Methods-Equipment for Pioneer Life -- The Shanty -- Clearing of Land -- Construction of Log Houses -- Food of Pioneers- Wild Animals -- Description of Pioneer Houses-The Dutch Chimney --- Lumber and Black Salts -- Pioneer Social Life
97
CHAPTER X.
ERECTION OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Causes Leading to the Organization of St. Lawrence County -- The Erection Act -- Name -- Rivers -- Lakes -- Geology and Mineralogy -- Mineral Waters, etc .-- Analysis of Water from Various Sources-Soil and Timber -- County Officers Appointed-County Clerk's Office Building -- First National Celebration -- Lo- cation of County Seat -- The First Court House -- Hasbrouck's House -- The State Road. 106
CHAPTER XI. WAR OF 1812 TO 1815.
Causes of the War-Mr. Ford's Letter upon the Prospect -- Militia Called Out to Enforce the Embargo Act-Events of the War at Ogdensburg -- A Zealous Sentinel-Bombardment of the British in 1812 -- Sacking of the Village in 1813 -- General Wilkinson's Expedition 136
CHAPTER XII. AFTER THE DECLARATION OF PEACE.
Ogdensburg after the Declaration of Peace-President Monroe's Visit-Removal of the Public Buildings -- Description of the Buildings -- The New Jail -- " Jail Liberties " -- Destruction of the Court House by Fire-Measures for the Erec- tion of a New One -- Description of the Building-The New County Clerk's Office -- The Poorhouse and Asylum-Statistics of the County's Charities. ... 152 2
10
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIII.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Various Plans for Internal Navigation -- State Roads -- Plank Roads-Steamboat Navigation -- Marine Railway -- The Northern Transportation Company-The Ogdensburg Transit Company-Port of Transfer -- The Northern Railroad- The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railroad-The Utica and Black River Railroad -- The Gouverneur and Oswegatchie Railroad -- Street Railway. 163
CHAPTER XIV. THE PATRIOT WAR OF 1837-40.
Cause of the Uprising -- Meetings, Open and Secret -- Seizure of the Sir Robert Peel -The Two Mysterious Schooners -- Connection of the United States with the Affair -- Her Seizure -- Arrival of United States Troops -- Statement of Stephen S. Wright-Futile Attempts of Ogdensburgers to Relieve the Patriots-Their Surrender -- Animosity of the Canadians-The Affair of the Schooner G. S. Weeks 180
CHAPTER XV. WAR OF THE REBELLION, 1861-65.
The First War Meeting-Captain Nevin's Company-Other Companies -- Various Organizations Containing St. Lawrence County Representatives- Drafts -- Bounties-Confederate Raids from Canada-Major General Dix's Order- Ogdensburg Home Guards-The Fenian Movement -- Ogdensburg a Center of Active Operations-Misunderstanding Regarding the Strength of the Move- ment. 196
CHAPTER XVI.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, SOCIETIES, CIVIL LIST, STATISTICS, ETC.
Telegraph Lines and Companies -- Telephone Line-St. Lawrence State Hospital -- Agricultural Societies-Dairymen's Association and Boards of Trade-Civil List -- Statistics of Population. 209
CHAPTER XVII. CLOSE COMMUNION, OR SECRET SOCIETIES.
Lodges of Free and Accepted Masons -- Royal Arch Masonry -- Knights Templar -- Scottish Rite -- Order of the Eastern Star -- Odd Fellowship -- Grand Army of the Republic -- Benevolent Organizations -- Knights of Labor-Grangers ...... 224
11
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVIII. ANCIENT RELICS.
Evidences in St. Lawrence County of Pre-historic Occupation -- Trench Enclosures -- Mound near Ogdensburg-Nature and Uses of Implements Found-Theories Concerning the Mound Builders 237
CHAPTER XIX.
THE COURTS, THE BENCH AND THE BAR OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Origin of our State Laws -- The Original Courts -- The Court of Appeals -- The Su- preme Court -- Justices of the Fourth Judicial District-Court of Common Pleas -- Judges and Justices of the Court of Common Pleas - The County Court -- County Judges - The Surrogate's Court -- District Attorneys-Sheriffs -Biographical 243
CHAPTER XX.
ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Organization of the St. Lawrence County Medical Society-Reorganization of Same-List of Presidents of the Society-List of Resident and Non-Resident Members-St. Lawrence Homoeopathic Medical Society-Medical Association of Northern New York -- Biographies .. 284
CHAPTER XXI.
THE TOWN OF LISBON 321
CHAPTER XXII.
THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE 325
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE TOWN OF MADRID. 391
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE TOWN OF MASSENA.
CHAPTER XXV. 404
THE TOWN OF HOPKINTON. 417
12
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE TOWN OF CANTON.
423
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE TOWN OF POTSDAM 462
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE TOWN OF DE KALB
504
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE TOWN OF STOCKHOLM 518
CHAPTER XXX.
THE TOWN OF RUSSELL
526
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE TOWN OF LOUISVILLE. 533
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE TOWN OF GOUVERNEUR 541
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE TOWN OF ROSSIE 584
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE TOWN OF PARISHVILLE.
595
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE TOWN OF FOWLER 599
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE TOWN OF PIERREPONT.
607
CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE TOWN OF MORRISTOWN 614
13
CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE TOWN OF NORFOLK 623
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE TOWN OF BRASHER
631
CHAPTER XL.
THE TOWN OF DEPEYSTER 640
CHAPTER XLI.
THE TOWN OF HAMMOND 651
CHAPTER XLII.
THE TOWN OF EDWARDS
661
CHAPTER XLIII.
THE TOWN OF LAWRENCE.
669
1
CHAPTER XLIV.
THE TOWN OF HERMON
678
CHAPTER XLV.
THE TOWN OF PITCAIRN
685
CHAPTER XLVI.
THE TOWN OF MACOMB
688
CHAPTER XLVII.
THE TOWN OF COLTON
694
CHAPTER XLVIII.
THE TOWN OF FINE. 698
CHAPTER XLIX.
THE TOWN OF WADDINGTON 701
14
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER L.
THE TOWN OF CLIFTON 713
CHAPTER LI.
THE TOWN OF CLARE 715
ADDENDA 716
PART II
BIOGRAPHIES
1-66
PART III.
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
1-354
INDEXES.
INDEX TO PART I. 355-366
INDEX TO PART II. 367
INDEX TO PART III. 368-372
PART I.
HISTORICAL.
HISTORY
OF
St. Lawrence County.
INTRODUCTION.
The Beginnings of History-The History of the First Discoveries of the Western Continent Buried in Conjecture-The Rediscovery by Columbus-Importance of the French Occupation-Plan of this Work.
IN studying the history of any people it is very interesting to learn of their beginnings and the circumstances under which they were brought into notice, as well as of the political powers by which they were sustained or governed. The books of Moses, however, open with the simple statement that " In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth;" but no where in the Holy Writ can we learn how remote the " beginning " was from any age of the world known to science or history. Yet all things temporal had a beginning, but it is not always that a minute or correct history with dates of origin can be furnished. In such cases theory and conjecture must take the place of facts.
The history of the Western Continent virtually began with its acci- dental discovery by the restless and roving Norsemen in the tenth cent- ury of the Christian era. They settled and occupied a portion of the eastern shore, more or less, for nearly five hundred years, without learn- ing its extent and true value, or publishing their discovery to the world. During this period (the dark ages), society in the Old World was very much unsettled by the unfriendly feelings and jealousy existing between
3
18
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
the petty nations of Europe. Property, life, and female honor were ex- posed to daily risk from tyrants and marauders. Even the pious monks and the monastic institutions were unable to supply a refuge inaccessible to cruelty and licentiousness. Therefore, during such a period of wick- edness and uncertainty in the religious and political affairs of the coun- try, it was not to be expected that the people would be sufficiently en - lightened to undertake to navigate unknown seas in search of new con- tinents.
At length the darkness which had so long enveloped the minds of men began to give way to the influence of Christianity and the light of science, enabling the people to solve the problems of astronomy and navigation. The earth was no longer believed to be flat, but a sphere, and the theory was advanced by the new school that by sailing in a westerly direction the Indies could be reached, as well as by sailing easterly. Acting upon this belief, an expedition for exploration, en- couraged by the queen of Spain, and under the direction of Christopher Columbus, resulted in the rediscovery of the Western Continent in the latter part of the fifteenth century. This discovery gave birth to a new order of things, opening up a country which has become an asylum for the oppressed and down-trodden of all nations of the earth.
The French being the first white race to inhabit this part of our coun- try ; very active in exploring and in forming settlements along the main water-courses of the interior ; remarkable for the political power they wielded over a large territory, deserve more than a passing notice, as their history is closely connected with the early settlement of Ogdens- burg. For this reason a brief account will be given of their doings, commencing with their discovery of the St. Lawrence River, and fol- lowing them through their various expeditions until the close of their supremacy and final surrender to the British forces.
From this point the narrative will be confined more especially to the events that have occurred in connection with the affairs of Ogdensburg and its vicinity, consisting in part of the possession and evacuation by the English, the settlement of the place by the Americans, the organi- zation of the county and the towns, the events of wars, a description of navigation, internal improvements, ancient races and relics, societies, hospitals and other public institutions, church organizations, biogra-
19
DISCOVERY OF THE WESTERN CONTINENT.
phies of leading men, etc., from the earliest settlement down to the present time.
CHAPTER I.
DISCOVERY OF THE WESTERN CONTINENT.
Pre-Columbian Discoveries-Irish Discovery-Chinese Discovery-Norse Discov- ery-Arabian Discovery-Welsh Discovery-Other Discoveries-Final Discovery by Columbus-Difficulties Encountered by Columbus-His Final Fate.
H ISTORIANS have recorded the so- called pre- Columbian discovery of the western hemisphere by various persons. Some of the discoveries were accidental, the navigators being driven by storm upon, or in sight of, strange lands, and doubtless many others were forced to make similar visits, but were lost before reaching their native shores. These claims to discovery, or some of them at least, are re- garded by many to be mythical ; be this as it may, there can be but one conclusion as to their results, and that is, that the Columbian discovery has been fraught with incalulable benefits to the human race, while all former ones were of no particular advantage to the world at large.
The documentary evidence in support of claims to early discovery is here given, so far as practicable, in chronological order.
Irish Discovery .- St. Patrick sent missionaries to the "Isles of America," which included Iceland, Greenland and Labrador, previous to the year 460; and, second, missionaries went out to the New World at a time little anterior to the Norse discovery, or towards the close of the tenth century.
Chinese Discovery .- Hoci-Shin, a Buddhist monk, in the year 499 returned from an extensive journey to the east and reported that he had visited a country lying about 6,600 miles to the east of Japan, and an equal distance to the east of China. He called the country Tusango, on account of many trees growing there that went by that name. It has been assumed that this country was Mexico and California. Rev. Frederick J. Masters, a missionary who has spent nine years in China
20
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
and eight in California among the Chinese, has found in their literature and traditions what he considers ample proof of the truth of these claims to discovery, and has recently made his convictions public.
Norse Discovery .- Previous to 986 A. D. the red men of the forest held full sway over the western continent and were unconscious of the fact that a white race of people dwelt beyond the rising sun, who would eventually supersede them and take possession of their hunting grounds. The first to open the way to the New World, according to the records found in the Sagas, were the roving Norsemen, to whom the honor of first discovery undoubtedly belongs, and which discovery is verified by their repeat- NORSE SEA-KING. ed trips to the country and evidences of settle- ments on our eastern shores. The navigator, Bjarne Herjulson, when sail- ing from Iceland to Greenland in 986, was driven westward by a storm nearly to the banks of Newfoundland or Labrador. Several times he came within full view of the shore, but did not land; yet he was certain, by the appearance of the forest growth, that another country hitherto unknown to him was in sight. Returning to Greenland he made known his discov- ery, and his description of the beautiful coast led the navigator, Lief Erick- son, to fit out an exploring party to visit the new country. It was, how- ever, about fourteen years before he was fully prepared for his departure. He sailed westward from Greenland in the spring of the year 1000, follow- ing the directions of Herjulfson, and reached Labrador. He explored the coast for a considerable distance, finding the country more attractive and the climate milder than in Greenland. Sailing southward he ex- plored the coast as far as Massachusetts, where he remained more than a year. It is claimed that he also visited Rhode Island and made his way into New York harbor. Erickson's voyage was succeeded in the following year by those of other Norsemen, and in 1005 and 1007 they went as far south as Virginia. Still other companies of Icelanders and Greenlanders visited the country farther north and planted a colony in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Very little was learned, however, by these hardy adventurers of the extent of the country they had discov-
21
DISCOVERY OF THE WESTERN CONTINENT.
ered, and they believed it to be the western part of Greenland bending around an arm of the sea.
Other adventurers visited our eastern coast in the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and in 1347 a Norwegian ship visited Labrador and the New England coast, giving to the latter vaguely defined country the name " Vineland," and small settlements were established ; they all soon disappeared, however, and the navigators returned to their native country, failing to grasp the great prize that was within their reach. But they left unmistakable evidences of their presence at points on Massa- chusetts Bay, on the banks of the Charles River, and other points, which have been made the objects of extensive research and elaborate descrip- tion by Prof. E. A. Hosford, of Harvard University, and others, to whose writings the reader is referred. The knowledge and occupancy of this country by the Norsemen for some five hundred years, in this intermittent and uncertain way, proved to be of no practicable benefit to them or others. The Old World did not yet need the New. The time was not yet ripe.
Arabian Discovery .- Some time previons to 1147 there set sail from Lisbon eight Arabian brothers called Maghrourins, who swore they would not return till they had penetrated to the farthest bounds of the dark sea. They finally reached an island, inhabited by people of lofty stature and red skin.
Welsh Discovery .- About the year 1169, Madoc, a son of Owen Gwywedd, Prince of North Wales, left his country on account of dis- turbances, and determined to search out some unknown land and dwell there. With a few ships he embarked with his followers, and for many months they sailed westward, until they came to a large and fertile country, where they disembarked and permanently settled. After a time Madoc returned to Wales, where he fitted out ten ships and in- duced a large number of his countrymen to go with him to the new country. Both Mexico and California have been assigned as the place of this Welsh settlement. There are indications of a pre-Columbian civilization in the Sacramento valley. Eight miles north of, and run- ning parallel with " Putah" Creek, is a canal fifteen miles long, some two rods wide, and about six feet deep. It was cut on a straight line through a low belt of level land, and the earth was thrown out on the
22
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
north side, forming an oval ridge some two feet higher than the oppo- site bank. The natives and the earliest white settlers have no knowl- edge of its origin. There are also Indian tribes in that region whose habits of living and general custom of dealing are far above the average of the North American Indian, and to all appearance have European blood in their veins. It is assumed that this Welsh settlement, having ro intercourse with Europe for upwards of three hundred years, eventu- ally gave way to the influences of their surroundings, intermarried with the Indians, and thus lost their identity. It is also possible that the Indians gained their ideas of the flood from this Welsh source.
Besides the foregoing, it is known that other intrepid navigators reached the shores of the New World prior to the great Columbian dis- covery. In the year 1463 John Costa Cortereal made a voyage west- ward, and reached the ice-bound coast of Newfoundland. In the following year he attempted a second voyage in company with his brother, and both perished at sea.
A Pole navigator named John Scolvus, or Kolno, while in the service of Denmark, in 1476, made a voyage to the New World and visited the coast of Labrador.
About the close of the fourteenth century, Nicolo Zeni, or Zeno, left Venice on a voyage in quest of new lands beyond Hercules's Pillars, and after sailing among the islands of the west for nearly a year, be- came pilot to an island chief named Zichmni, where he was afterwards joined by his brother Antonio. Four years later Nicolo died in a country called Frieslanda, but Antonio continued in the service of Zichmni ten years longer, finally returning to Venice, with not only an account of a strange land beyond the Atlantic, but also maps, letters, etc., referring to the strange country. These documents were for some reason laid aside, and it was not until more than one hundred and fifty years later, in 1558, that a descendant of Zeni discovered them and caused their publication, with an accompanying narrative of the voy- ages. Many places on the American coast from Labrador to the West India Islands were clearly described on the Zeni map.
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