USA > New York > Jefferson County > A history of Jefferson County in the state of New York, from the earliest period to the present time > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
On the 11th of April 1796; Marvel. Ellis,* of Troy, N. Y., con- tracted with Wm. Constable, for the purchase of this town, excepting a marshy tract, each side of Sandy Creek, near the lake, which was afterwards included, and a tract of 3000 acres, in the south-west corner, sold to Brown and Eddy. The sum of $22,111.50 was paid, and a deed given, March 22, 1797, upon which a mortgage was given back upon the balance, amounting to $98,943.45. This mortgage embarrassed the early sales, and confidence was not restored, until the property had reverted to the Constable estate, some years afterwards.
The greater part of the town was surveyed by Calvin Guiteau, in 1796, except the eastern part, that was surveyed by Nelson Doolittle, and the 3000 acre tract in 1800, by Benjamin Wright, of Rome; the latter, in 1808, surveyed the whole town. A proposition had been received from Moody Freeman, for the purchase of the town, but a bargain was not effected. The town, including the marshes, which in dry seasons afford wild grass, but which are often flowed, contains 54,7212 acres. The field notes of Guiteau, made in 1796, contain the following memoranda.
Lot 23 (three miles above Ellis Village). "About 5 chains west, from the north east corner, are falls of ten or twelve feet, but not perpendicular more than four or five feet, which do not obstruct the salmon, as I found many above."
Lot 34 (next west of 23). "About 20 chains from the west line is a small fall in the creek, where the water is confined to a narrow channel, and then expands out, forming a depth of ten or twelve feet of water of a smooth rocky bottom, and filled with innumerable multitude of salmon, the clearness of the water being such that they may be seen in any part of it." In the early settlement of the country these fish ascended as far up as the town of Rodman, but since the erection of dams and mills, they have scarcely appeared in Sandy Creek.
In the spring of 1797, Marvel and Lyman Ellis, brothers, and both interested in the purchase, found their way into town, the
* Marvel Ellis died in Utica, in 1806, aged 46; he removed there in 1803.
1
147
Ellisburgh.
latter with the view of permanent settlement. In the fall of the same year, Caleb Ellis, having met with Lyman Ellis, at Rome, was casually introduced with the expectation that a relationship existed, but none was found; yet the interview resulted in an invitation to settle in the new town. Caleb Ellis accordingly visited the town, and selected a farm on the south branch of Sandy Creek, at a place where one Waldo had the year previous erected a hut for hunting.
Many men were employed by Lyman Ellis the same season, who had at its close built a dam and saw mill, three-fourths of a mile below the present site of Ellis Village, and the mill was got in operation the same fall, but was partly swept off early the next spring by a flood. In the winter of 1797-8, Wm. Hicks, with - - Buller and B. Pierce, remained in town, and in the spring of 1798, Caleb Ellis and family, Robert Fulton, Elijah Richardson, Hezekiah Pierce, Chauncey Smith, Wm. Root, Vial Salisbury, Isaac Waddle, Abram Wilcox, two men by the name of Thornton, and others, came into town with Lyman Ellis, to rebuild the mill, and erect a grist mill, but nearly all were taken sick, and the pioneers were reduced to great suffering from want of provisions and necessary medical attendance.
The first death in Ellisburgh, was Mary, a young daughter of Caleb Ellis, and the first death of an adult, was that of Samantha Howard. The first birth is said to have been that of Ontario Pierce, a son of Hezekiah Pierce, in the summer of 1798. For the instruction of those who attach faith to sayings, we would notice that it is related as said by an old Indian, " that once in thirty years," there had been noticed a period of sickness among such of their number as had sojourned here. Whether this was said before or after the sickly season of 1828, we are not in- formed.
To supply the place of mills, Mr. Ellis and his settlers con- structed, after models of their own device, those primitive mortars, used from necessity in all new settlements, and made by boring and burning a cavity into the top of a hard wood stump, over which was suspended a pestle by a spring pole. With much difficulty, during the season, the saw mill was again fitted up, and the dam rebuilt; the iron and heavy freight as well as the furniture of settlers, having been brought into town in open boats by way of Wood Creek and Oswego.
On the 11th of September, 1798, Marvel Ellis wrote to Con- stable as follows:
" We have a good dam across the creek, which has been ex- pensive; a good saw mill, well finished, and running, and have done considerable towards a grist mill. We have on the same lot a large and handsome improvement, have had a fine crop of
148
Ellisburgh.
wheat, and have very fine corn. The people that are on the land, have good improvements for the time and are industrious. I in- close you an account of the small sales to the settlers, the price sold for, and what has been received, which is a small sum in proportion to what has been laid out on the land; if people would have been satisfied of having a release from the mortgage, by paying you, we should have had sufficient to have made the pre- sent payment now due. The remainder of the money due from these settlers, is due within a year. We wish you to give us some further indulgence, and something to convince people that you will release from the mortgage on receiving payment, which will enable us to make payments for the land, and make a large settlement soon."
Inclosed in the foregoing was the following list, with the num- ber of acres taken up by each. Joseph Caldwell, 60; Wm. Hicks, 51; John G. Hayward, 150; Caleb Ellis, 126; Neal Salsbury, 100; Elijah Pettybone, 100; John Paddock, 50: Isaac Souther- land, 130; Asahel Humphrey, 419; Elisha Phillips, 100; Levi Root, 140; Hez Peirce, 149.
The first corn and potatoes raised in the county by the present race of settlers, was by Lyman Ellis in 1797, who also, in 1798, was probably the first to raise winter wheat.
The winter of 1798-9 was one of remarkable severity. Snow fell on the 29th of Oct. and lasted till the 20 of April. A settler in town (Gideon Howard) having been to Rome, was returning when the first snow fell, and was overtaken by night in the woods near Little Sandy Creek, 5 miles from home. In the morning the snow had fallen nearly four feet, and was so light that it was impossible to travel in it. He had only provision enough to last home without obstruction, and was detained three days, endeav- oring to struggle through, having constructed a pair of snow shoes which however were of little avail. When he reached home he was nearly exhausted from fatigue and hunger.
In the spring of 1799, the dam of Ellis was again swept off, and the mill partly destroyed when this and the frame of a grist mill were removed to the present village above, and the latter was got in operation about 1803.
Many interesting details of the early settlement of this town and county, are given in the following extracts from the diary of James, the brother of Wm. Constable, who in 1803-4-5-6, made tours in the summer months through these northern counties, on business connected with the estate of his deceased brother, of which he was one of the executors. The original copy is owned by Henry E. Pierrepont, Esq. of Brooklyn, who has allowed us to make the following extracts.
149
Ellisburgh.
* * * September 5th, 1803. "Our course was west for some time, till we got to town No. 11 (Orwell), and I began to feel interested before we got there. The country was very pleasant, fine forests of large timber, and no underwood or brush, so that although the road was no better than a rugged path, and not a creature to be seen, I felt much pleased, as we journeyed on at the rate of two and a half miles per hour. We could not well judge of the soil, but by the timber it was covered with, which is principally maple, and beech, with a small portion of hemlock, which denotes good soil. * * After travelling some miles, I had at last the gratification of seeing a settler here (in No. 10, or Sandy Creek). Three men were cutting and burning large piles of enormous trees. Ellis being acquainted with them, we went and staid in their hut, which was about 12 feet square, built of logs; no chimney, and but very little furniture. There were two beds, in one of which a man and wife slept, and in the other the other two men. One man was distant from his family 70 miles. They had a contract from B. Wright for 500 acres at 12s being first settlers, and from their appearance and character, I think the land well sold, for they are the right sort to settle the country. We dined on salt pork, with good bread, butter, and chocolate, much to my satisfaction.
We left them at 4 o'clock for Ellisburgh, 9 miles distant, and soon after it began to rain quite hard, and continued till we got home. From the timber and appearances of this town I thought it superior in soil to any we had passed. I had the satisfaction to find that settlers and all other people find it equal to their wishes. We retired to bed about 8 o'clock and slept well. It was my intention the next morning to have gone to see every man in the settlement, but this was unnecessary, for immediately after breakfast, many of them came, and some from a con- siderable distance.
September 6th. Had several consultations with the settlers, who seemed ยท well pleased with my coming, and satisfied with my explanations. I heard of a daughter of one of them who had been seized with a fit and lay speechless for the preceeding twenty-four hours. There was no doctor on the town, and they had to send twenty miles twice, to one who was from home. This affected me much and determined me to propose encouraging one to settle here, when I meet the Co-ex'rs. Perhaps a lot of 50 acres, given to one, would be well bestowed. A parson will also soon be applied for. I find Ellis's house and mills good buildings, but unfinished, but he hopes soon to complete them. They are valuable and should be kept up. He will be useful here, and I think has some strong claims upon us, as I shall explain.
September 7th. Went after breakfast to see Lake Ontario 5 miles distant, and was much pleased with it. A steady west gale blew up the white caps, which contrasting with the sea green color of the water, had a fine effect. As far as the eye could reach, and the country about us either fine forests, or well cultivated. The more I see of the town, the more I am satisfied of its value. After my return I saw the rest of the settlers, who seemed to come prepared for disappointment, but were soon relieved, and after some explanations, they went away perfectly satisfied. I am convinced this property is extremely valuable, and will settle immediately, now that they feel themselves free from the danger of title. About roads I do not know what to say. Mr. Ellis has lived here nearly six years, and all he has received from our testator has been $221, for commission on lands sold. A lot was promised him upon condition of his coming to reside, but he never got a deed for it, though his mills were first erected there from whence they have been
S
150
Ellisburgh.
since removed to where they now are. He now asks the ex'rs for a conveyance for the lot promised, being No. 94, and for time to pay the above balance, the security for which is ample, as his buidings are valued at $2 000 and the title to the lot they are upon is still with the executors.
There are about 40 families on the town, most of them poor, but of that description of people fit to settle a new country; few comforts about them, and they seem to have few wants; no liquor is to be had, and they have not yet begun to distill, nor are there any apples to make cider, so that their only drink is water, with which they seem content. They do not hesitate about the price of $3, but paying & down is very difficult for most of them. There are good horned cattle amongst them, the horses indifferent, but the only ones fit for a new country. They do not seem to regard distance, and go 9 or 10 miles backward and forward daily, over roads that are nearly impassable.
I regretted much to find some cases of the lake fever, and too many of the fever and ague. I saw two families laid up with the latter, but it is admitted to have declined annually, and will, I trust, soon disappear. The crops of wheat and corn are very fine. I ate of new corn on the 6th of September. 80 bushels of corn have been produced on an acre, but 50 is about the general run. They had not yet turned much of their land to meadow, as they get sufficient hay on the marshes near the lake, which are considered a kind of common, though they belong to us. The town is extremely well watered by the two branches of Sandy Creek, but they are the only constant streamns,* and care must be taken that the lots on these waters are not all sold off, and the others left, for the latter would not sell. Perhaps a new allotment would be advisable.
September 8th. Left Ellisburgh at 4 P. M. for Capt. Boomer's, five miles distant, where I slept. This man owned about 100 acres in the town, upon which he improved about 15 acres, and the other improvements are, a log house, with some small buildings. He has sold the whole for $900, receiving the great part down, the remainder well secured. Other instances of the value they set upon small improvements might be men- tioned, such as another man refusing $1200 for 150 acres, with little more done than the above, but they will be better detailed by conversation.
September 9th. Left Boomer's to travel by the state road which passes from Ellisburgh through town 7 (Louis; now Adams), 1, 6, 7, to Redfield. ** * * What I saw of No. 1 (Lorraine), is much inferior to the remain- der, as Wright calls the whole a good town, and it is settling fast."
The portions relating to the territory now Oswego and Lewis counties are omitted. .
August 21st, 1804. "Proceeded on to Ellisburgh, and found the road from Ellisburgh so extremely bad, and so seldom travelled, and another route shorter and better presents itself, so that I have, by the advice of Mr. Wright, judged it advisable to alter to the latter; he is ac- cordingly authorized to give 5 or 6 lots, of 50 acres each, to settlers, en- titling them to deeds after a residence a certain time, on 10 and 11, after they have erected buildings and other improvements. The road will be nearly direct from Rome to Ellisburgh, and about 43 miles.
.August 23d. Went down Sandy Creek to the lake, and found the marsh covered with hay stacks, the contents of which had grown spontaneously, and there are many horses and cattle at pasture, which proves that this
* This was erroneous. There are numerous perennial streams in town, and no section of the county is better watered. F. B. H.
151
Ellisburgh.
place is of consequence. Some of it is indeed very fine, and people are very desirous of buying, but no judgment can be formed of the quantity of good and bad, and L. Ellis, is therefore to send me an estimate before the price is fixed. Went to Christopher Edmonds on the north side of the creek. He has a fine farm and has produced the best corn on the town. He expects this year a yield of about 90 bushels per acre. This article is very fine throughout the place, but the wheat has been affected by the fly and rust. The establishment has flourished generally, many settlers have come in since last year, and more are expected. There are now 60 families, and though cases of fever and ague happen near the lake, and sometimes the lake fever, yet the country is a healthy one, and the soil so good that it will settle fast.
August 24th. Left Ellisburgh, with directions to Ellis to sell the re- served lots (9), proceeding through Louis No. 7 (Adams), which is good land, and will settle, nearly the whole being taken up, thence through No. 1 (Houndsfield), formerly sold by Harrison and Hoffman to Cham- pion and Storrs, but which now belongs to several proprietors, among the rest, Messrs. Kemble and Houndsfield. It is a pretty good town, but has not many settlers, and the road only cut out in some places. No. 7, has been sold generally at $3. Arrive at Brownville, on the north side of Black River where we dine at the hotel, a building too large for the present state of the place, and not finished. The country appears somewhat stony about the rivers, and the soil not very good. There are good houses and other buildings, and a good deal of clearing done. The water very low, and Brown's mill can not work .* He has a store here, and does a good deal of business with the country people, to whom he pays money for their produce, sending it to Montreal, where he can not always dispose of it on his own account, by which he is a loser. Cross the river, and pass ou the south side 10 miles further, through No. 2 (Watertown), belonging to Mr. Low, and No. 3 (Rutland), formerly to Mr. Henderson, but now the property of Isaac Bronson, who bought it at 12s, cash, which is considered a great bargain in this part, as it is an excellent town, and well settled. No. 2 is settling by degrees. Slept at Butterfield's on No. 3, a poor tavern in an old log house.
August 25th. Pass on through No. 4 (Champion), formerly sold by Harrison and Hoffman to Champion and Storrs, a pretty good town tolerably well settled; 10 miles to the Long Falls, where we breakfasted at a middling good tavern. I find good corn universally in the country passed. The winter wheat good as usual, but that of the spring mostly lost by the insect or the rust (dew). What is raised, is used in the country by the inhabitants, and emigrants, and till there is more popula- tion, there will be none to spare for another market. It is worth, gene- rally, $1 per bushel. See the falls only at a distance, in part, as it would take much time and trouble to examine them further. Cross the river in a scow, the ferry kept by Baptiste, a Frenchman, one of a con- siderable number who settled here some years ago; but very few now remain, and the buildings being mostly in ruins, the country appears desolate. Proceed on 4 miles from the river, to a log hut, then 6 miles to another, then 12 to a third, there being but 3 settlers on the Great Tract No. 4, unless there are some on Penet's Square adjoining the River St. Lawrence.t This tract belongs to or is under the management of Mr. Le Ray and Mr. G. Morris, and nothing has yet been done towards
* This was Philomel Creek, now entirely dry except in spring and fall .- F. B. H.
t This is erroneous, the Square not being a part of No. 4 .- F. B. H.
1
152
Ellisburgh.
settling it; the three people now on have a verbal promise that they shall have the land at a fair price, as first settlers; but they are very anxious in their inquiries after Gen. Lewis Morris, who it is understood has undertook the selling of 100,000 acres. The soil on the road is good, but it is said there is a good deal of bad land and broken ground, in the tract. Sleep at Lee's Tavern, 22 miles from the falls, with hard fare and poor lodgings.
Aug. 26. Pass on 5 miles to the Ox Bow, a remarkable bend in the east branch of Oswegatchie River and a fine situation for a large house. 'There is now a log hut, at which we breakfasted, and another in sight." ***
The journal of travel through the St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties and back is omitted.
Sept. 9. S :t off from Lee's, after breakfast, and stop at Stearns' on No. 4, 12 miles distance, then 10 miles more to the Black River, which we cross at the Long Falls, in a scow, and dine at Moseley's tavern, on the south side. The heat this day excessive. My companions and their horses suffered more than either I or my horse did. Proceeded on 16 miles further to Lowville, through Mr. Harrison's No. 5 (Denmark), which is very good and well settled, the soil being very rich, and the road deep and muddy, especially for 4 or 5 miles after leaving the river, where are fewest settlers ***. Squire Collins* gave us some information of the local proceedings, the division of the county, and other intrigues, and with what I have heard from other quarters, it appears that Stow,t and Martin,t have made themselves very obnoxious, and they will differ about the division of the county on their side of it; each will be supported by opposite interests, and they will be defeated by the management of the proprietors of Redfield, or that of Jacob Brown, of Brownville. Each of the gentlemen requires a court house near to himself, and if they are all to be gratified, Oneida must be divided into five, but there will be opposition to their wishes, and perhaps to any division of the county, which would be for the interest of the land owners, as the extra expense would be saved."
The remainder of this year's journal, and the first of the next omitted, as relating to other sections. On returning, Aug. 6, 1805, he overtook a Mr. Ford, who was cutting out the state road in No. 7 (Redfield).
" Mr. Ford had 4 or 5 hands, and expects to increase to 10 in a few days. He carries with him a house, drawn on an ox sled. It is 14 by 7 of a small scantling and thin boards, but it is a sufficient protection against the weather, and a comfortable place to sleep in. His daughter attends to cook the provisions with them, and as his farm is at Redfield, they get sauce (vegetables) from thence every day or two. * * * Gates' is the first we come to on No. 1 (Lorraine), on lot No. 75; he is but badly lodged, though he has made a good clearing. We found that Mr. Wright had not passed this way, and Gates could give us no information, but he informed us there was a good road to Mr. Sweet's, on No. 2 (Worth), where we might meet with him, if he was employed in subdividing that town. We, accordingly, left the state road, and struck off east, intending to sleep at Sweet's. What we had seen of No. 1 pleased us better than the other two towns, and this appeared to us very good for the distance of 2} miles to Sweet's, tho' no settlers were on it. No tidings of Mr.
* Jonathan Collins, of West Turin, afterwards judge of Lewis County Court.
Silas Stow, of Lowville, first judge of Lewis Co. He was Low's agent.
# Brigadier General Walter Martin, of Martinsburgh. F. B. H.
153
Ellisburgh.
Wright. The house was small, not a tavern, and full of people, so that we gave up the idea of sleeping there. Sweet and associates are pur- chasers of 5000 acres, that formerly belonged to Mr. Hoffman. We were now at least 23 miles from Alger's tavern on No. 1 (Lorraine), and it was late in the evening, but we set off in haste through an untried road, and got there at dusk. The landlord was gone to mill, and the landlady lay sick of a fever. She requested to see one of us, and I went to her bed- side, when she expressed her regret at not being able to attend upon us, as she has always been attentive to travellers ;- that the best the house could afford should be prepared; that there was no wheat meal in the house, but her husband had gone for some, and the neighbors, attending her, would see to our accommodation, if we would stay. My companions concluded to go on to Mr. Hunter's, 4 or 5 miles further, but I remained, and after the husband returned, they got me a supper of tea, pork, and bread of Indian meal, and I went to bed in the same room with the landlady, who was indeed very sick, and attended all night, but I slept without waking. I should have preferred another situation, but it was not to be had. Alger has done but little, and does not look likely to succeed. He has not made any payment, and hopes for indulgence, but I referred him to Mr. Wright. He is on lot No. 34, and took up 73 acres, but has not made any payment since he came on in 1803, from which time interest is to commence. He has no contract.
Left early next morning, and the bridge over Salmon River being car- ried away, I forded it. The freshet in the spring was very destructive, three bridges and a mill dam being carried off, besides other damages. * * * On the way to Ellisburgh, found many settlers since last year, and the improvement considerable; the crops of wheat excellent, and the corn good, as they have suffered little from drowth. Arrived at Ellis' at noon, to remain 2 or 3 days. The mills are in tolerably good order, but the water so low they can grind only part of the day. Grists are brought from a great distance, and in boats from Oswego, and lower. Ellis has built a small house for himself, and a good barn. * * *
Aug. 9. Went down to the lake, and being fine weather, were rowed down Sandy Creek to the mouth. The lake is higher than it has been for some years, and more of the marsh is covered, which has prevented much hay being cut. If the waters continue to rise, which they think probable, most of the marsh will be of no use. We returned from the lake, and were caught in a shower before, we got to Ellis'. The first rain since leaving Schenectady. * A schoolhouse is now building, near Ellis' Mills, on the same lot, to be two stories high, the upper of which is to be devoted to divine service, when any minister travels that way. The town have also subscribed towards building a bridge across the creek, at the same place, and we agreed to contribute $20, as they could not raise sufficient, but they have engaged to improve the road from the bridge to the north line of No. 10. Dr. Dresser has but two patients, and there is less sickness than at any previous year in this season."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.