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 18
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The proprietors had adopted the practice of giving certificates, allowing people a certain time after exploring to go for their families, before taking contracts, but it was found, that in many cases these had been transferred, and this having grown into a system of speculation, was discontinued, as they were given to assist the first real settlers, and their transfer operated against the interests of both land owners and settlers. About half of No. 1 was at this time sold. A reputed locality of iron ore was
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visited on No. 6 (Redfield), which was thought upon examination to be coal, but which, from the description given, must have been the oxyde of manganese.
Aug. 19. "Set off in the morning, and stopped at Gates', on No. 1, seven miles from Drake's. Gates is an intelligent man, and has taken up no more land than he can cultivate. He states his inability to meet his payments and hopes for indulgence. He was told that every thing reasonable would be done. Passed on to Smith's Mills, 7 miles further, but did not stop, and arrived at Mr. Hammond's, in No. 6 (Henderson), where we got dinner, and spent the night. He is settled on Stony Creek, about 1} miles from what is called the Harbor; has a good log house, built though not finished, and a stone foundation, for a large barn. He has cleared considerable, and owns 350 acres of land. Though the report is that all the land is taken up in town, he tells us there are 6000 acres, that have not yet been surveyed. Mr. Wright expects to meet Mr. Henderson here, about the 20th, to survey and to lay out a village at the Harbor. Went in the evening to see the Harbor, 2 miles distant, and bathed in it. It is formed by a peninsula on Lake Ontario, where Stony Creek empties, and tho' not a safe one, is a pretty situation. The trees are at present only felled, at some places, so that the prospect can not be judged of, but it will probably be very fine. Mr. Hopkins, the agent for Henderson, has begun a large house, and has gone to Vermont for his family. It narrowly escaped being burned to the ground, by a fire from a piece cleared near it in the dry weather."
The price of land in this town is $3,50, which is high enough for the soil, which is very light over the rock, so that by burning a fallow, it is nearly consumed, and from the wind falls it appears the roots of the trees can get but a slight hold on the soil, on account of the rocks.
Aug. 15, Left Hammond's after breakfast, for Sackets Harbor, 12 miles distance. The road to Henderson's Harbor plain, but in consequence of the chopping, the road to the lake was shut up, and we were obliged to take to the woods for a mile or two, and found it difficult to get along. Saw two or three clearings before we reached the lake, and at each the road or path was almost shut up. When we reached the shore found it rocky and somewhat dangerous for horses. I alighted and walked some miles, but my companions rode the whole distance. When we came to a sandy beach I mounted, and we went on pleasantly for some miles, till we came to a creek* emptying from a beaver dam into the lake which had the appearance of being too deep to ford, but seeing a man on the opposite side, we hailed him, and he answered to us to come on, as the water was not deep. We went on, but the water was at least 3 feet, and I was not easy in crossing. After travelling the beach a mile farther, and through the road another mile, we arrived at Sackets Harbor, which has a very pretty appearance, and promises from its situation to become of importance. A collector's office is established by the United States, and Mr. Sacket, the collector, has a salary of $700. He called upon us, and we went to his house, which is quite a building, and the premises are very neat. The drouth has been very severe. He informed us that the proprietors of this town had lately declined selling, but that the whole would sell readily at $5, Mr. Low had determined not to sell at any price, but in this we were afterwards told he was incorrect. He talks of the collector's office not being worth his attention although 1000 tons of ashes have been sent from the Harbor, and he is quite dsirous of selling his
* Bedford Creek,
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whole property. * * * Proceeded to Brownville, 9 miles where we dined; found the water very low, and Brown's mills not at work. The place is not materially altered from last year, except some new buildings, and the road through the village turnpike by private subscription. Called on Jacob Brown, who was not at home, but he soon after called upon us, when we were about to set off, * * *. Rutland was formerly sold to Isaac Bronson, by Mr. Henderson, at a great sacrifice, and the former will clear a large sum of money by it, unless as we are told he has given it up to his brother, binding him only to his principal and interest, in which case his brother who lives here will get the benefit of it and it will be large, if as they say every acre will sell for $5, or $6. The settlers are numerous, on the road at least, and the buildings generally good.
Aug. 16. Left Heth's early, and went towards the Long Falls, expect- ing to be obstructed by many wind falls, in consequence of the boisterous night, but we got on very well, and found the country thickly settled in Champion, where they told us the price of land was from $6 to $10, and not much for sale, when we arrived at the falls, the house on this side not being a tavern, we were obliged to cross the river for breakfast, and were detained nearly an hour at the ferry. Proceeded through great tract No. IV and stopped at Stearn's 10 miles, where we dined and arrived at Lee's, 22 miles from the falls, where we passed the night, and as the house was completely full an uncomfortable one it was. I see no alteration in this part of the country since last year, the road at least as bad, and no more settlers. We were told Gen. Lewis, R. Morris, has been through it, and has now gone to Vermont, intending shortly to return and perhaps with his family. He has quited Lee, and other squatters, who seemed well satisfied. He is expected to build at the Ox Bow.
Aug. 17. Left Lee's very early, and came through to the Ox Bow 5 miles of as bad road as we had yet travelled," * *
One year afterwards ( August 8, 1806), Mr. Constable in going over this route remarked.
" Passed from the Long Falls to the bridge at Indian River (Antwerp Village), where we spent the night. The country generally remains as last year, except at this place where they are building a saw mill for Gen. Lewis, R. Morris, who has gone to Vermont, his family not having yet moved to this town." The same journal (August 1806) speaking of the settlements in Ellisburgh says: " From Asa Brown's passed on to Andrews' settlement, on Ellisburgh, through a very good road, 4 miles. He has made considerable improvement here. The saw mill has been long in use, and has enabled them to erect frame houses, some good barns, and a large grist mill, which is however not yet finished and after dinner walked to see the lake, which as the wind blew fresh from the west, had a very pleasing appearance, * Ellis rents the mills for $400 per annum, and his affairs will soon be in good order. We heard with great concern the death of Elder Littlefield, which happened a few days before our arrival. He was a man of some consequence and much respected, and has left a widow and nine children. It is supposed he died intestate. * * * There have been some cases of sickness du- ring the season, but none fatal. Dr. Draper is still on the town, and has considerable practice. He will continue here and hopes to build a house next year when he will require a deed for the 50 acres of land to which he is entitled. I should have remarked that 180 militia men trained here yesterday (September 2) and it is said by some, that one third were ab- sent. If so the population has greatly increased."
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On the 22d of January, 1803, George Tibbets and James Dole, of Troy, were appointed agents for Ellisburgh, and in 1807 were paid for their services in land, In the same year, Benjamin Wright, of Rome, succeeded as general agent for the estate, and fixed his residence at Pulaski, where he continued in the capaci- ty of surveyor and agent until employed on the canal surveys.
No incident worthy of remark occurred until 1808, when the embargo act was passed; that led to much opposition from the Federal party in this county, and was in some places on this frontier systematically violated.
In September, 1808, an event occurred in this town that cre- ated great excitement at the time. We take it from accounts published in the Albany Gazette, Oct. 10, 1808. A party from Oswego, under Lieut. Asa Wells, entered Sandy Creek, and after seizing a quantity of potash, under the embargo laws, proceeded to the house of Capt. Fairfield, surrounded it, and seized and carried away a swivel. Mr. F. being absent, his lady made complaint to a justice, who issued a warrant. The constable was intimidated, and called upon his fellow citizens to aid him, when about thirty men took arms, and went with him, but Wells' men presented bayonets, when they desisted, and twenty of the men went off. Lieut. Wells ordered the remainder to be disarmed, and bound, when they were taken, with the swivel, to Oswego. On the evening of the 25th September the same party returned, as reported, for the purpose of taking the magistrate and constable, who had issued the papers. A warrant against Wells, and two others, for felony, in breaking open a house, was issued at Sackets Harbor, and given to Ambrose Pease, a constable, to execute, who, after examining the law, raised the hue and cry, and assembled about 200 persons in Ellisburgh, where a consultation of several magistrates was held, and the next day at sunrise about seventy or eighty men, armed and equipped, volunteered to aid in the arrest, but the magistrates durst not issue the order for their march, being apprehensive that some excess or injury might be done, and the question hav- ing been raised whether a constable had a right to demand aid, before he had been resisted, the armed men were advised to dis- perse, and the civil officer requested to proceed to apprehend Wells and the others, without the force of the county. This proceeding was charged, by one of the political parties, as an attempt of the other to resist, by force of arms, the execution of the laws, and mutual criminations were exchanged with much bitterness. To justify themselves, and secure public opinion in their favor, the civil officers who had taken an interest in the matter, prepared the following statement, which was published in the papers of the day, at Utica, Albany and elsewhere :
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"At a meeting of the inhabitants of the county of Jefferson, in the state of New York, suddenly convened (by command of the civil author- ity), in the town of Ellisburgh, to take into consideration the proper and legal mode to apprehend certain felons and robbers, who, in the town of Ellisburgh in said county, being armed, and under the pretense of being in the service of the United States, to enforce the embargo laws, did there violently, and forcibly, enter into the dwelling house of Captain Fairfield, broke open locks, forced open doors, and robbed the said Capt. Fairfield of his property, contrary to the laws; that they refused to sub- mit to the civil authority of the country, and did then and there, by force and arms, seize, bind and carry away to Oswego, ten of our fellow citi- zens, who were commanded to attend a civil officer in the execution of process on the said offenders; which citizens have been kept since, in close confinement, in want of every comfort and convenience of life, without lawful authority, and constantly subject to insult of soldiery, who seem insensible of the rights, privileges and liberties of Americans. Feeling the spirit of freemen, and viewing this and many other late acts of violence as rapid strides towards despotism and martial law among us, the establishment of which must occasion a total deprivation of the rights for which our fathers and many of us have fought and bled; therefore,
Resolved, That we consider it a duty incumbent on us, for our personal safety, for the security of our lives and property, and for the support of our civil law and authority, to unite in all lawful measures to apprehend the said felons.
Resolved, That such of our fellow citizens who have assembled in arms to aid our magistrates and civil officers in the execution of lawful pro- cess against Lieut. Asa Wells, and others, who stand charged under oath of felony, be requested to disperse, until another trial be made by them to apprehend the said Asa Wells.
Resolved, That the magistrates and civil authorities of the neighboring counties be requested to aid us in apprehending and bringing to justice the said Lieut. Wells, and divers other persons concerned in the said felony.
Resolved, 'That we will support the laws and magistrates of the coun- try, and our civil officers in the execution of lawful process.
Resolved, That Augustus Sacket, Jesse Hopkins, and John Cowles, Esqs., magistrates of the county, be appointed a committee to cause these reso- lutions to be published, for the information of our fellow citizens.
AUGUSTUS SACKET, JESSE HOPKINS, JOHN COWLES,
Committee.
Ellisburgh, Sept. 27, 1808.
During the war a company of Silver Greys, composed of old men and boys, not liable to military duty, was formed in Wood's Settlement, but was not called to serve, except to guard the beach and mouth of Sandy Creek.
In the spring of 1814, a complete victory was gained with slight loss, by a detachment of troops guarding a quantity of military stores from Oswego under Lieut. Woolsey, which had entered Sandy Creek, and were attacked by a detachment from the British fleet. The details of this transaction will be given in our chapter on the war.
The aboriginal remains of Ellisburgh, have given occasion for
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the weak minded to believe, that they were in some way con- cerned with buried treasures, and this being confirmed by the supposed indications of the divining rod, led in early times to explorations for them, despite of the guardianship of the spirits of the murdered, who according to the most approved demon- ologists, are ever placed sentries over concealed coffers. The projectors of these speculations were in some instances charged with making money out of the credulous victims of superstition, by selling provisions, and in several instances, the diggers were almost frightened out of their senses by ghosts and demons; some got fleeced of substantial property in pursuit of imaginary wealth, and others lost the respect of sensible men, by the favor with which they regarded these follies. On a certain occasion in pre- paring the enchanted circle for digging, a lamb was sacrificed, to appease the guardian demons of the supposed treasure; but this act was generally regarded as a sacrilege, and did much towards bringing discredit upon these heathenish orgies.
It is humiliating to know, that at a period so recent, and in a locality that enjoyed the means of education as early as any in the county, such absurdities of belief in witchcraft should have prevailed, nor is consolation afforded in the fact, that in other , sections, and at the present day, we daily witness the evidences of a belief in superstitions quite as absurd. Incidents might be given, and details related, of the ritual observed by these mid- night seekers for subterranean gold, but the narratives would be unprofitable, and can not be too soon forgotten.
In 1828, there again occurred a sickness that was remarkable for its fatality, more especially in the vicinity of the lake, where scarcely a single person escaped an attack. It continued through the summer months, which were remarkable for their intense heat, with copious showers, alternating with clear sky and hot sun. The lake was very high, and the marshes were flowed. The disease assumed the type of a malignant typhoid fever, and was very general, extending along the entire frontier, being especially severe in the vicinity of marshes and standing water. In the western part of the state, this year was distinguished by the prevalence of intermittent and other fevers.
Ellis Village (Ellisburg P. O.), is situated mostly on the north bank of the south branch of Big Sandy Creek, about four miles from its mouth. It is the oldest village in the town, and contained, in August 1853, four stores, two inns, two flouring mills, one plaster mill, one chair shop, one tannery, one saw mill, one shingle factory, two carriage shops, four blacksmith shops, and about sixty families. Four physicians resided in the place, and the village contained churches of the Methodist and Universalist orders. It is distant from Belleville three miles;
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Mannsville four miles; Pierrepont Manor three miles; and Wood- ville two and a half miles.
Belleville, on the north bank of North Sandy Creek, three miles above Woodville, and by rail road, five from Pierrepont Manor, began as a farming settlement, by Metcalf Lee, Bradley Freeman, Joshua Freeman, Martin Barney, James, Benjamin, and Jedediah McCumber, and a few others about 1802-3. Elder Littlefield soon after purchased, and the place being favor- ably situated for mills, gradually grew to a village. Soon after the war, at the suggestion of Calvin Clark, a merchant, a meeting was called to select a name for the place, and a com- mittee was chosen, who selected the present, which is said to bave been taken from Belleville in Canada. Before this it had been known as Hall's Mills, from Giles Hall, who in 1806, pur- chased of J. McCumber a hydraulic privilege here, and who has ever since resided in this place. The first merchant was Laban Brown; John Hawn was the first innkeeper.
This place has, within the last year, been brought in commu- nication with markets, by completion of the Sackets Harbor and Ellisburgh Rail Road, which has given a new impulse to its growth. It is the centre of a highly cultivated district, and one that has taken great interest in agriculture as a practical science. The Ellisburgh Agricultural Society, of which an account will be given, has recently fitted up a fair ground adjacent to the village; and in no town in the county has so much emulation been evinced in agricultural pursuits as in this. The village of Belle- ville contains a Presbyterian, a Baptist, and a Methodist church, and is the seat of the Union Literary Society, an academic insti- tution, whose history and condition will be given in a future chapter. It is three miles from Ellis Village, two and a half from Woodville, six from Smithville, six from Henderson, five from Adams, and five from Pierrepont Manor.
Rural Hill Post Office, a small settlement two miles west from Belleville, was formerly called Buck Hill, has two stores, one tavern, and a few dwellings.
Woodville, a small village on North Sandy Creek about three miles from its mouth, formerly Wood's Settlement, was settled by Ebenezer, Ephraim, and Jacob Wood, sons of Nathaniel Wood, of Middletown, Vt., who came in to look for lands with Orimal Brewster, Simeon Titus, Ephraim Wood, Jr., and Hezekiah Leffingwell, in the fall of 1803. Messrs. E. & E. Wood pur- chased May 26, 1804, for $2,294.80, a tract of 754 acres, and in March, Ephraim Wood, with a daughter and three sons, came in to reside, his brother Ebenezer remaining to settle the estate. Rev. Nathaniel Wood, their father, an old man, came on in June, 1804. Obadiah Kingsbury, Oliver Scott, and others, came the
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same year. A small mill was built, and in 1805, got in opera- tion. In 1805 Ebenezer Wood, Nathaniel Wood, Jr.,* Mosely Wood, Samuel Truesdale, and families, came in, and several young men. A field of corn planted by the Woods, on the marsh, as late as June 7, produced an immense yield, which greatly raised the reputation of the settlement, and the hopes of the settlers.
Woodville, in August, 1853, contained a store, two saw mills, grist mill, two churches (Baptist and Congregational), a paper mill (built by Messrs. Clark, about seven years since), the usual variety of mechanics, and about thirty families.
In 1802, Joseph Allen, with Pardon Earl+ and Arnold Earl, from Galway, N. Y., came in by way of Redfield, to Adams, and thence worked their way through the forest to Bear Creek, and settled on the site of the present village of Pierrepont Manor. William Tabor, William Case, two or three families by the name of Simmons, and a few others settled for farming purposes soon after. Allen opened the first inn, and Oliver Snow the first store. Mr. P. Earl, after 1807, became a local land agent, and a man of extensive business, and in 1822 the agency of the es- tates derived by H. B. Pierrepont from William Constable, lying in Jefferson and Oswego counties, was assumed by William C. Pierrepont, his elder son, who has since resided here, and ac- quired the title of these lands. The village has at present an inn, two stores, a number of mechanics, and between thirty and forty dwellings. It is by plank road five miles from Adams vil- lage, two from Mannsville, and thirteen from Pulaski. The W. and R. Rail Road has a station and eating house at this place, and it here joins the Sackets Harbor and Ellisburgh Rail Road. Few villages will compare with this, for the neat and quiet aspect which it presents. It is situated on the level of the lake ridge, and commands a distant prospect of the lake.
A melancholy accident occcurred near this place, on the even- ing of May 6, 1852, by an engine, while running backwards, coming in contact with a hand car containing a party of young ladies and gentlemen, by which three of the former were killed, and one severely injured. The hand car was taken contrary to explicit orders of the company by employees, who were at once discharged. No blame was attached to any one, except those who had allowed the hand car to be placed upon the track.
Mannsville, on Mannsville, or Skinner Creek, two miles south of Pierrepont Manor, and on the line of the W. & R. R. R., began to be settled by David I. Andrus, as agent for Samuel
* Reuben Wood, late governor of Ohio, and now in Valparaizo, is a son of Nathaniel Wood.
t Mr. Earl died here January 9, 1844, aged 62.
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Wardwell of Rhode Island, who had made extensive purchase here and elsewhere in town. The improvement by Andrus was slight, and the place only began to increase in 1822, when Dan- iel Wardwell came on and took charge of the purchase made several years previous by his father, and in 1823 he began the erection of a cotton factory, having for its dimensions forty by fifty feet, and three stories high, which stood a short distance below the present village, and was fitted for 600 spindles. Soon after, Major H. B. Mann purchased half of the factory, which had been two or three years in operation, when it was burned February 16, 1827. The loss was estimated at $10,000.
The present name was adopted on the formation of a post of- fice. In August, 1853, it contained five stores, one hotel, two harness shops, four black smith shops, two carriage shops, one tin shop, two tanneries, one grist mill, one saw mill, three shoe shops, a church and about fifty dwellings. It is on the Adams and Ellisburgh Plank Road, formerly a stage road.
The lake shore in this town is nearly a straight line, and is bordered by a low ridge of sand hills, scantily covered with trees at a few points, but mostly composed of drifting sands. Behind this is a large marsh that extends several miles each way from Sandy Creek, in which are open ponds. These marshes are without timber, are covered with sedges, aquatic plants, and wild rice, and when the lake is low, a considerable portion of them may be mowed, but in high water they are mostly flowed. A large part of the marsh remains unsold, and is used as a kind of common. Where capable of tillage it is found very productive.
The lake shore has been the scene of many wrecks, since the country was settled, the first within the memory of those living having occurred in the fall of 1800, when a small schooner from Mexico, to Gananoqui, Capt. Gammon, master, was lost off Little Stony Creek, and all on board perished. A boat of eight men, that was sent in search of the vessel, was also swamped, and all hands were drowned.
About 1807, a family was located by Mr. Benjamin Wright, ยท at the mouth of Sandy Creek, to afford aid to shipwrecked per- sons, and since that period this lonely dwelling has sheltered many a suffering sailor, who might otherwise have perished. Within the memory of the present tenant, who has occupied the premises thirty years, the following vessels have been wrecked on this coast, and several near the house : Atlas, Asp, Huron, Ann, Fame of Genessee, Two Sisters, Victory, Hornet, Three Brothers, Medora, Burlington, Caroline, Henry Clay, Neptune, Napoleon, White Cloud, and several others, names not known, of many of which the entire crews were lost, and of others a part were saved. These are but a part of the whole number
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