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 21
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Nor were there wanting incidents of a ludicrous kind, which
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enlivened the monotony of the camp, and showed the lights, as well as the shades of the soldier's life. Abuses will sometimes work their own reform, as was illustrated in an amusing instance at this station during the war. A mess of militia soldiers had received, for their rations, a hog's head, an article of diet not altogether available, or susceptible of fair and equal division among them. They accordingly, upon representation of the facts, procured at other messes in the cantonment, a contribution in kind, to supply their wants for the coming week, and after the morning review, having placed upon a bier, borne on the shoul- ders of four men, their ration of pork, they marched through the village with muffled drum, and notes of the death march, to the cemetery, where it was solemnly buried with military honors. On the next occasion, they received from the commissary store a supply of edible meat, and the occasion for a similar parade did not afterwards occur.
Soon after the battle of May, 1813, a breastwork of logs and earth was built around the village, one end touching the bay about half way between the harbor and Horse Island, and the other at the site of Madison Barracks. No opportunity was afforded subsequently for the use of these defences. The village contained at the close of the war, several block houses and can- tonments, a considerable quantity of military stores, and a large fleet of vessels that were laid up at this place; but these have gradually disappeared, until little now remains-one block house, the hull of a frigate of 120 guns, and the remains of one breast- work.
A. duel was fought with muskets near Madison Barracks, June 13, 1818, between two corporals of the 2d Reg't U. S. Infantry, by which one of them was instantly killed. The surviving party was arrested and imprisoned, but the result we have not learned. During the war several duels were said to be fought here, but they did not attract particular attention with the public, by whom these acts were then differently regarded from the present. The state of society left here after the war was necessarily cor- rupt, from the numbers of dissolute soldiers, and others, who re- mained, and the malign influence of vicious examples, of which a state of war and a military cantonment invariably furnish too many instances, could not fail of leaving their pollution, which years of effort on the part of well disposed citizens could not effectually remove. The place being continued both as a naval and a military station, gave employment to many laborers on the pub- lic works, among too many of whom intemperance was a com- mon habit, which was followed by all the vices of which it is the prolific parent. Among most of the officers stationed here after the war, was a high appreciation of morality and good
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order, and to them in no small degree is due the first efficient efforts towards the formation of religious societies, and the main- tenance of regular religious services on the sabbath.
A short distance from the village, and forming three sides of a square that is open to the bay, are Madison Barracks, which were built between August, 1816, and October, 1819, under the direction of Thomas Tupper, D. Q. M. G., of the 2nd Infantry, at a cost of $85,000; the plan of the buildings was drawn by Wm. Smith. Considerable irregularity occurred in the issue of due bills, for labor done on these works, which was in part remedied by an act passed in 1836, "for the relief of Jesse Smith and others." It would be as inexpedient, as to numbers still living unnecessary, to particularize instances of corruption and fraud in the expenditure of funds at this place, during the war, of which the government never had cognizance, but of which the public could not fail of being witness, and it may admit of ques- tion, whether the names of certain villains should be allowed to rot, or held up to the execration of honest men for all coming . time.
President Monroe, soon after his induction into office, undertook a tour through the northern section of the Union, to observe the condition of the frontier, and make such arrangements for its military security, as might be deemed necessary. Having reached Ogdensburgh, on the 1st of August, 1817, he was met by Major General Brown, and attended to Rossie, and Antwerp, where he was met by Mr. Le Ray, and conducted to Le Raysville. On the 3d he was waited upon by the committee of arrangements, and escorted thence by three troops of horse, under Captains Loomis, Fairbanks and White, to the house of Isaac Lee, in Watertown, where he received a concise though flattering address from the citizens. He then proceeded to Brownville, and on the 4th to Sackets Harbor. Upon arriving at the bridge, at the bounds of the village, he was saluted with nineteen guns. The bridge was tastefully fitted up with nineteen arches, on which were inscribed the names of the several Presidents; the first arch being sur- mounted by a living American Eagle. At its extremity, the chairman of the committee introduced to the President a number of veteran officers and soldiers of the revolution, by whom he was thus addressed:
" Sir-It is with pleasure that we, a few of the survivors of the revolu- tion, residing in this part of the country, welcome the arrival of the chief magistrate of the Union. It is with increased satisfaction that we recognize in him one of the number engaged in the arduous struggle of establishing the independence of the country. We have lived, sir, to see the fruits of our toils and struggles amply realized, in the happiness and prosperity of our country ; and, sir, we have the fullest confidence, that under your administration, they will be handed down to our posterity,
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unimpaired. Like your immortal predecessor, the illustrious Washington, may you be honored by the present and future generations, and finally receive the rich reward with him in realms above."
The President received this address with expressions of cordial- ity and esteem, highly cheering and satisfactory to the veteran soldiers, in several of whom he recognized his former associates in arms, in the revolutionary war. Upon passing Fort Pike, a national salute was fired, and at the hotel, to which he was conducted by Capt. King, chief marshal of the day, an address was read to him by the chairman of a committee of citizens. Commodore Woolsey then presented the officers of the navy, attached to his command. The public works were inspected, the troops reviewed, and in the evening the village was tastefully illuminated. The events of the late war had given importance to this place, and it became a subject of interest, to determine what works should be erected for its protection. In this the Pre- sident was aided by Major Totten, a military engineer, who had been ordered to join the suite at Burlington.
On the 6th, the President embarked on board the U. S. brig Jones, under a national salute, and sailed in company with the Lady of the Lake to Niagara.
For nearly ten years after the close of the war, Colonel Hugh Brady was stationed at the harbor, where he organized the 2d regiment of United States Infantry. He was subsequently as- signed the command of the station at the Sault St. Mary, and died, at Detroit, about two years since.
Captain Alden Patridge, of Middletown, Ct., the celebrated teacher of a military school at that place, in the summer of 1828, proposed to establish a military and scientific school at Madison Barracks, and Peter B. Porter, then secretary of war, on the 3d of July, announced in a letter to the citizens of Sackets Harbor, the consent of the President, to the loan of the premises, for a term of years to the trustees, who might have it in charge. This was confirmed by a joint resolution of Congress, of May 2, 1828, but nothing further was done toward effecting this object.
While Colonel Brady had command of this station, the remains of most of the officers, who had fallen in the field, or died of sickness, on the frontier, were collected and buried together, within the pickets of Madison Barracks, doubtless with the in- tention that at a future time they should be honored with a monument, worthy of the memories of American Citizens, who fell in the defence of the American Rights, and the vindication of our national sovereignty and honor.
A temporary wooden monument of pine boards, the form, without the substance, of a testimonial to their memory, and perhaps emblematical of the empty and perishable honors, which
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our people are too wont to bestow upon those who deserve well of their country, was placed over the spot where these remains were buried, but which, from neglect, and the natural action of the elements, has tumbled down. From the panels, which were broken and defaced, we made out, with great difficulty, the fol- lowing inscriptions:
NORTH SIDE .- "Brigadier GeneralIL. Covington, killed, Chrys- ler's Field, U. C., November 11, 1813." "Lieutenant Colonel E. Backus, Dragoons, killed at Sackets Harbor, 29 May, 1813."
EAST SIDE .- " Colonel Tuttle," " Lieutenant Colonel Dix," " Major Johnson," "Lieutenant Vandeventer."
SOUTH SIDE,-" Lieutenant Colonel Mills, Volunteer, killed at Sackets Harbor, 29 May, 1813," " Captain A. Spencer, 29th Infantry, aid-de-camp to Major General Brown, killed at Lun- dy's Lane, July 25, 1814."
WEST SIDE .- " Brigadier General Z. M. Pike, killed at York U. C., 27 April, 1813." -" Captain Joseph Nicholson, 14th Infantry, aid-de-camp to General Pike, killed at York, U. C., 27 April, 1813."
A few years since, the remains of Colonel Mills were removed to Albany.
A prominent and attractive relic of the war at this place, is the hull of the frigate New Orleans, which had a keel of 187 feet, beam 56 feet, hold 30 feet, and a measurement of 3200 tons. She was pierced for 110 guns, and could have carried 120. The British had got out the St. Lawrence, a three deck man-of-war, of 120 guns, and this rendered it necessary to produce some ves- sel to match the enemy, and led to the commencement of this undertaking. The vessel was never launched, and has been pre- served at considerable expense by the government who have caused it to be covered by a house. She was to have been named the New Orleans. The Chippewa, a vessel quite as large, was building at Storr's Harbor, further up the bay, when the news of peace put a stop to the building, which had not ad- vanced so far as the New Orleans. A house was built over this also, and it was preserved many years, but finally taken down for the iron it contained. Modern improvements in navigation, and especially in the use of steam, have rendered vessels of this class, especially on this water, entirely unavailable, and the question of keeping up this vessel may be regarded as one of doubtful expediency. There are but very few ports on the lake, where a vessel drawing water to a depth that this would require could enter.
About 1838, the political aspect of our northern frontier threatening collision with the English in Canada, a large num- ber of heavy iron cannon, of modern construction, and suited
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for a naval armament, was sent to this place where they now remain.
Previous to the war, a flourishing commerce had sprung up on Lake Ontario, and the following vessels were engaged in trade, all of them having more or less business at Sacket's Harbor: Genesee Packet, Capt. Obed Mayo, of Ogdensburgh; Diana, Capt. A. Montgomery; Fair American, Capt. Augustus Ford; Collector, Capt. Samuel Dixon; Experiment, Capt. C. Holmes; Charles and Ann, Capt. Pease; Dolphin, Capt. William Vaughan, and a few others whose names were not obtained. The Fair American is said to have been the first vessel built under the present government on this lake. She was launched at Oswego for the North Western Fur Company. Soon after the war, the schooners, Woolsey, Rambler, Farmer's Daughter, Triumph, Commodore Perry, Dolphin, &c., were advertised as running on regular lines as packets from this port. Ship building, during the war, was carried on under the supervision of Henry Eckford, who gained, and afterwards maintained, great eminence in this department. Noah Brown, and others, who began their career under him, subsequently became noted as ship builders. Ever since the war, the business of constructing trading vessels at this port has been more or less continued, but we have not been able to procure the details satisfactorily.
On the 2d of March, 1799, Congress first enacted a law ap- plying to the collection of duties on Lake Ontario, by establish- ing two districts, of which all east of Genesee River was in- cluded in Oswego, and all west in Niagara District.
On the 3d of March, 1803, another act was passed, the third section of which read as follows: " And be it further enacted: That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, to establish, when it shall appear to him to be proper, in addition to the port of entry and delivery already established on Lake Ontario, one other port of entry and delivery on the said lake, or on the waters or rivers emptying therein, and to appoint a collector of customs, to reside and keep an office thereat."
In pursuance of this law, Sackets Harbor District was soon after established and has been since maintained, having been reduced in extent by the formation of Oswegatchie District, in- cluding St. Lawrence County, March 2d, 1811, and Cape Vin- cent District, April 18th, 1818, comprising all below Point Peninsula inclusive. The collectors at this port have been: Augustus Sacket, Hart Massay, Perley Keyes, John M. Canfield, Thomas Loomis, Danforth N. Barney, Leonard Dennison, John O. Dickey, Otis M. Cole, Daniel McCullock and Abram Kromer.
Congress passed an appropriation of $3,000, May 20, 1826, for clearing out Sackets Harbor, and an equal sum May 23,
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1828, for improving the same. On the 3d of May, 1831, the sum of $4,000 was appropriated for a beacon. For improving the harbor at the mouth of Black River (Dexter) the following sums have been appropriated: July 4, 1836, $5,000; March 3, 1837, $10,000; July 7, 1838, $22,401.
About 1823, a project was brought up for diverting a portion of the waters of Black River from the lower pond in Watertown, into Pleasant and Mill Creeks, to supply a water power to Sackets Harbor. The subject was referred by the legislature to the attorney general for his opinion, who decided, that private property had often been taken for private purposes; but from the opposition of H. H. Coffeen, O. Stone, and others, through whose lands the canal would pass, with active influence at Brownville, the measure was then defeated. In 1825, the effort was renewed, and an act passed April 20, 1825, which authorized Joseph Kimball, Amos Catlin, and Daniel Hall, Jr., to divert the sur- plus waters of the river into Pleasant and Stony Creeks, in Houndsfield, Adams, and Henderson, for hydraulic purposes. Damages to be assessed by Egbert Ten Eyck, Clark Allen, and Joseph Hawkins; and road and farm bridges were to be maintained by the company. The act was coupled with a proviso, that the waters should not be taken from any dam then existing, without the written consent of the owners; that effectually defeated the purpose, for this was next to impossible. Being still determined to prosecute the matter, a meeting was called at Sackets Harbor, February 13, 1826, at which strong resolutions urging their ne- cessities, and deprecating the proviso of the late law, were passed. The annual loss and inconvenience to farmers for want of the privilege, was estimated at from $10 to $50 each, for those on the lake shore and its vicinity; and measures were resolved upon to get the obnoxious restriction removed by a new appeal to the legislature. On the 17th of April, 1826, the act was amended; but still it was attended with difficulties that could not be surmounted.
The proposition was next discussed of making the proposed canal navigable, which it was estimated could be done at a cost of $200,000 from Carthage to Sackets Harbor, and that an an- nual revenue from tolls amounting to $ 16,000 could be expected.
An act was accordingly procured, April 15, 1828, incorporating the Jefferson County Canal Company, with a capital of $300,- 000, in shares of $100, in which Vincent Le Ray, Philip Schuyler, Egbert Ten Eyck, Elisha Camp, Jason Fairbanks, Levi Beebee, Arthur Bronson, John Felt and Joseph Kimball, were named the first parties. Nothing was done under this act. It being under- stood that Mr. Elisha Camp, of Sackets Harbor, was willing to assume, under certain conditions, the stock necessary for the
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construction of the work, a meeting was held at Watertown, December 30, 1829, at which a committee of three was appointed to confer on the propriety of the course, and learn what encour- agement would be afforded in aid of the work.
By the act of April 28, 1839, a tax was imposed upon real estate within the village of Sackets Harbor, and on the mill sites on Pleasant Creek, amounting to $3000 in two years, to be assessed in proportion to the benefits to be received, and on 20th of April, 1830, Elisha Camp was appointed a commissioner for this duty in place of Daniel Hall, resigned, and the act was extended till June of that year. A canal twenty feet wide at top and twelve at bottom, four feet deep, was made in 1830, from Huntington's Mills, two miles above the village of Watertown, to the Big Swamp, and in 1832 it was finished, supplying to the village of Sackets Harbor a valuable water power, upon which there was erected there a grist mill, two saw mills, plaster mill, paper mill, furnace, &c.
The law was so framed, however, as to give rise to litigation. The greatest difficulty, however, encountered, was in maintaining the first half mile of the ditch, which was constructed along the margin of Black River, where it was liable to be washed away on one side, and filled by slides of clay and sand on the other. These difficulties finally led the work to be abandoned, after having been in use about ten years, to the pecuniary loss of all parties concerned.
On the 23d of May, 1838, a paper mill of Col. Camp, at the Harbor, was burned with a loss of from $7,000 to $10,000. It had been in operation about a year.
A destructive fire occurred at Sackets Harbor on the morning of August 21, 1843, originating in a ware house on the wharf, as was supposed from the cinders of the steamer St Lawrence, and spreading rapidly, consumed nine buildings on the north side of Main Street, and eight upon the south side. Passing up Bayard Street, it consumed several barns and dwellings, and from the violence of the wind the flakes of burning materials were wafted to the cupola of the Presbyterian Church, which was burned. Upon the alley or street in the rear of Main Street, a number of buildings and much property was burned. The whole number of buildings consumed was about forty; the loss over $35,000. Had this fire occurred in the night time, from its rapidity and violence, a loss of life could have scarcely been avoided. An ineffectual suit was instituted against the steam boat company. On several other occasions the village has suf- fered severely by fires.
The village of Sackets Harbor, comprising great lots number twenty-two and fifty-four, and subdivision lots one and two, in
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great lot number fifty-two, of Houndsfield, was incorporated April 15, 1814. Elections of seven trustees were to be held on the first Tuesday of June, annually. Not less than three, nor more than five assessors were to be elected annually, together with a collector, treasurer, and as many fire wardens as the trus- tees might direct. A president was to be chosen by the trustees from their number, and some proper person for a clerk.
The bounds of the village were curtailed April 18, 1831, by the detachment of all that portion north and east of the Pleasant, or Mill Creek, which were exempt from the operation of the former act.
On the 9th of May, 1840, the act was still further amended.
A ferry was established across Black River Bay at an early day, and by an act of March 31, 1821, Charles Colburn and Samuel Folsom were licensed to keep it five years. On the 21st of January, 1826, Ezra C. Folsom was in like manner licensed for five years. The subject is now under the care of the courts.
About 1840, a union school house, two stories high, besides a basement, was built at Sackets Harbor, on a lot at the corner of Broad and Washington streets, given by Mr. Ogden for the purpose. The cost was about $2,000, and it is intended for three departments. It has been taught by from three to five teachers, is supplied with a set of plilosophical apparatus, and af- fords facilities equal to those enjoyed at most academies. Schools are maintained here four terms of eleven weeks each in the year. It is the only public school within the corporation. The head teacher has generally been a graduate from college.
The Gull, Snake, Great and Little Galloo, and Stony Islands lying in lake Ontario, west of this town, are considered as be- longing to it, although they all are nearer the shore of Hender- son. On Galloo island is a lighthouse.
The Muskelonge Burial Ground Association of Houndsfield was formed March 31, 1849, with Frederick M. Livermore, Samuel Wilder, Thomas W. Warren, Richard Hooper, John Hunt, Chauncey Smith, trustees.
In 1815 (September 13), the Union Library of Sackets Har- bor was formed, with Justin Butterfield, Elisha Camp, Amos Holton, Daniel McGiven, James Goodhue, Andrew B. Cooke, and Samuel Bosworth, trustees, but was of short duration. It was succeeded by the Houndsfield Library, April 10, 1827, with Alexander W. Stow, John McMillan, Nathan Bridge, T. S. Hall, and Samuel Guthrie, trustees. About five hundred volumes were collected, but it has been long since sold. The Water- town and Houndsfield Library was formed January 11, 1831, with Eliphalet M. Howard, John C. Herrick, Chauncey D. Mor- gan, Obadiah Brainard, and Oliver Grow, trustees, which has also gone down.
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The Young Men's Association for Mutual Improvement in the village of Sackets Harbor, was incorporated March 2, 1843. The persons named in the act were Augustus Ford, M. K. Stow, Walter Kimball, Edmund M. Luff, Jonathan W. Tuttle, John O. Dickey, Edward S. Robbins, Roswell C. Bosworth, and William H. H. Davis. This association, after an existence of a few months, was dissolved.
Religious Societies .- The first regular meetings in this town were held by Edmund Luff, an English settler, who, at his own expense, erected a house, still standing, for religious services, and preached here many years without fee or reward. There being no other meetings in the place, these were generally at- tended by those of different religious faith. Mr. Luff* was a Restorationist, approaching somewhat the doctrines of Univer- salists, and was a man very free from that narrow spirit of into- lerance, that disgraces too much of what is too often denominated religion. His pulpit was opened to clergymen of other faiths, irrespective of name, and both Catholics and Protestants en- joyed, when occasion demanded, the freedom of his house. During the war the house was given up for public uses.
The Sacket's Harbor Presbyterian Society, was formed Feb- ruary 12th, 1816, with Melancthon T. Woolsey, Samuel Bos- worth, Samuel F. Hooker, Elisha Camp, and Enoch Ely, trustees. A site for a church was given by Thomas L. Ogden, September, 1817. In 1818, an effort was made to raise the means for building a church, which was built in this and the following year, and in the great fire of August 19th, 1843, it was burned. The Rev. Mr. Judd, and vestry of the Episcopal Church, soon after tendered the society the use of their church on Sunday afternoons, which was respectfully declined, and the session house fitted up until a new church could be built.
A brick church, 48 by 64, on the corner of Broad and Main streets, was built in 1846, at a cost of $6000. A parsonage has also been purchased. The Presbyterian Church, was formed by an effort of the officers of the army and navy, who were anxious to have religious privileges, although not members of a church. A minister was hired, and a church formed, February 6th, 1817, of which several of the army and navy became mem- bers. These, on removing, formed others in distant points, at Green Bay, Sault St. Marie, &c. Rev. Samuel F. Snowden was first employed in 1816, and staid till 1826. In December, 1826, Rev. J. Burchard was employed about a year, and De- cember 11th, 1827, Rev. James R. Boyd till 1830. Rev. J. Irvin, was employed in 1831, and January 5th, 1832, was in- stalled. In 1836, Rev. - Wilson was invited, and was em-
* Mr. Luff died at Sackets Harbor in 1822.
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