USA > New York > Lewis County > A history of Lewis County, in the state of New York, from the beginning of its settlement to the present time > Part 19
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College in 1817, settled soon after at Lowville, and after his resignation as prin- cipal in 1831, continued to teach a family school in the village a short time, and about a year and a half at the Lanpher place, on the West Road, now West Low- ville post office. He was then employed as preceptor of the grammar school, and afterwards professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in Hamilton academy. He was one of the founders and first president of the Lewisburgh University,Pa. He returned to Hamilton in 1850, accepted the office of president and Bleecker professor of natural and moral philosophy in Madison university, and continued in this office till his death, Jan. 7, 1856, aged 55 years. His father removed to this town after himself, and died Dec. 8, 1857, aged 90 years.
1 Both of these graduated at Union College in 1831. Mr. Barney was a native of Jefferson county and now resides at Dayton, O. Mr. Fay was from Montgomery county, went from Lowville to Buffalo, where he taught 16 years, and in 1848 went to California by the overland route. Returning unsuccessful he sickened at Granada and died at San Juan, Nicaragua, Dec. 12, 1850, in his 45th year.
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till the close of 1835. The academy was rebuilt nearly on its old site by James H. Leonard and dedicated Dec. 1, 1836. The school was opened by Henry Bannister1, who was succeeded by Erastus Wentworth2 in Oct., 1837, Harri- son Miller3 in 1838, David P. Yeomans4 and David P. May- hew5 in 1839, and by Wm. Root Adams,6 the present incum- bent, in June, 1852. The semi-centennal anniversary of this academy was celebrated July 21, 22, 1858, the proceed- ings of which, published by the home committee, afford many details of its history, for which we have not space in this volume. The number of students that have gone forth from this institution is supposed to exceed 3000. The citizens of Lewis county owe it as a duty to themselves to extend its facilities, so as to meet the increasing demands which the general growth of the county will create. It is the only institution of the kind in the county.
This academy has been designated by the regents for the instruction of common school teachers. It has a valuable library and an excellent collection of apparatus, minerals, &c. In its cabinet is a sword that once belonged to Gen. Pike, and was presented by him to Gen. Brady on the eve of his departure on the fatal expedition against Little York. Gen. Brady afterwards resided in Lowville and presented this memento to Charles D. Morse, who has placed it among other historical relics in the cabinet of the academy.
1 Mr. B. was born in Conway, Mass., in 1812, graduated at the Wesleyan university in 1836, went from Lowville to Auburn seminary, was two years principal of Fairfield academy and went thence to Cazenovia where he remained professor and principal till July, 1856. He is now a professor in the Garrett biblical institute, at Evanston, near Chicago, Ill.
2 Mr. W. was a native of Norwich, Ct., graduated at the Wesleyan univer- sity in 1837, and went from Lowville to Gouverneur. In four years he went to the Troy conference seminary, and about 1845 was appointed president of McKendree college, Ill. In 1849 he became professor of natural science in Dickinson's college, Carlisle, Pa., and in 1854 was sent by the Methodist Episcopal board of missions to Fuh Chau, China.
Tullen Mr. My a native of Champion, was several years at Watertown, after leaving Lowville, and died at Carthage, Sept. 23, 1843, aged 31 years.
4 Mr. Y. graduated at Williams college in 1837, was afterwards professor of chemistry in Lafayette college, Easton, Pa., and a physician in Canada.
OckWAS Mr. M., a native of Spencertown, N. Y., graduated at Union college, in 1838. In 1841 he became sole principal of this academy upon the removal of Yeomans. While here he fitted up a chemical laboratory in the academy and procured the addition of important facilities for education. The academy prospered beyond precedent under his management. He removed to Water- town, and in 1853 to Ohio. He is now connected with the Agricultural college at Yypsilanti, Mich.
6 Mr. A. is a native of Lowville and a son of Dr. Ira Adams. He graduated at Union college in 1851, and was several years an assistant teacher in this academy. He has proved himself an efficient, faithful and successful instruc- tor.
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Lowville.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES .- On the 29th of November, 1799, a Mr. Cinney, preached in No. 11, and from time to time other traveling preachers visited the settlement, among whom were-Hassenclever, Joseph Willis, and Lorenzo Dow. The latter passed through to Canada in Sept., 1802, and preached at Noah Durrin's house near the landing. Judge Kelley was an occasional exhorter of the Free Will Baptist sect, and held stated meetings in the absence of regular preaching. His meetings were held as early as 1798, and frequently at Stow's square. He was accustomed to take a text, and conduct the service methodically. Judge Stow was an Episcopalian, and is said to have some- times read the service to his neighbors upon the sabbath.
On the 3d of December, 1803, the Rev. Ira Hart, a mis- sionary from Connecticut, organized a Congregational church at Stow's square, consisting of Mather Bosworth, Benj. Hillman, David Wilbur, Philip Shaw, and their wives, David Scott, Rebecca Waters, Esther Wilcox, Sarah Bates, Abigal Sexton, Lydia Bennet and Sally Richmond. Bos- worth and Wilbur served as deacons till their deaths in 1850 and 1829 respectively. It belonged to the B. R. association until 1819, when it united with St. Lawrence Presbytery upon the Plan of Union. The 1st Presb. soc. of Lowville, was formed at Stow's square Dec. 8, 1818, with Levi Brownson, Bela Buell and Thaxter Reed trustees; and in 1819, a church edifice was built by Ezra Brainerd. The society was assisted by the United Domestic and the Western missionary societies.
The ministers who have preached here more or less, were Messrs Lazel, J. Murdock, Royal Phelps, Nathaniel Dutton, Jas. Ells, Wm. Vale, I. Clinton (March, 1808 to Feb., 1816), Daniel Nash (Nov., 1816 till Nov., 1822), Adam W. Platt (June, 1823 till Sept., 1823), Phineas Camp (May, 1824 till July, 1828), Abel L. Crandall (Jan., 1829 till Jan., 1832), Lewis A. Wickes (May, 1832 till May, 1836), Henry Jones (June, 1836, till Dec., 1837), David Dickinson (1838), W. W. Wolcott (Oct., 1840 till Oct., 1842), Charles Bowles (June, 1843 till May, 1846), Calvin Yale (July, 1846 till Feb., 1847). In 1833 the church numbered 160 members. A sabbath school was begun in 1820 and continued every summer since. It is claimed as the oldest in the county. Revivals occurred here in 1816-7, 1822-3, 1828-9 and 1832, at which about 500 are supposed to have been con- verted, nearly half in the second one. Meetings were dis- continued in 1847, and the church is falling into ruin.
The Lowville Cong. soc. was formed Sept. 7, 1805, and
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was the earliest legal society in town. Its trustees resided chiefly at Stow's square, and effected nothing. The 1st Cong. soc. of Lowville, was organized Sept. 18, 1807, with six trustees, of whom three were to reside in the village and three upon the Square. The first named were B. Hillman, J. H. Leonard, I. W. Bostwick, Jas. Stephens, Jonathan Patten and Wm. Darrow. The plan of a church between the two places was tried and failed, and although reincor- porated Dec. 8, 1808, this organization was given up. A church formed in 1807, invited the Rev. Isaac Clinton to become their pastor, Oct. 13, 1807, and continued to worship in the old academy building until it was burned. On the 22d of Nov., 1820, the Lowville Presb. soc. was formed having Chester Buck, Daniel Williams, Lemuel Wood, Ela Collins, Melancton W. Welles and Stephen Leonard first trustees. The old academy was purchased May 1, 1826 for $390, and arrangements were made for the erection of a church upon its site, when a fire Dec. 26, 1827, consumed the building.
A new wooden edifice, 44 by 64 feet, was dedicated Jan. 15, 1829, and burned Jan. 3, 1830. It had cost $3,500, and was built by Ezra Brainerd. The present stone church at the head of Main street, was built upon the site, and after the plan of the former in 1831, and dedicated Sept. 1, of that year. The church proper, was formed July 11, 1822. Mr. Clinton was succeeded by D. Nash as above from 1816 to 1821. His successors were : David Kimball (Oct., 1821 till Oct., 1830), Jas. D. Pickand1 (Jan., 1831, till July, 1833), Austin Putnam (Aug., 1833 till Aug., 1834), Dexter Clary (Sept., 1834 till March, 1835), Thomas L. Conklin (Oct., 1835 till May, 1836), Rufus R. Deming (Aug., 1836 till Aug., 1837), - Bellamy (Dec. 1837 till March, 1838), A. L. Bloodgood (Dec., 1838, till April, 1839), Moses Chase (Dec., 1839 till - -), R. M. Davis (May, 1840 till Nov., 1840), Geo. P. Tyler (Dec., 1840 till Sept., 1853), N. Bosworth (Oct., 1853 till Aug., 1857), Wm. H. Lockwood (Nov., 1857 till the present).
A session room was built in 1853, and a parsonage pre- viously.
About 1801, two ministers attended Mr. Kelly's meeting and requested the privilege of explaining the creed of the Methodist Episcopal church. This led to the organization of a church, and about 1805, the first house was erected in
1 Mr. Pickand was from Phila. He was eccentric and peculiar in his man- ners, and removed west, where he run a strange career at Akron, O., as a Second advent preacher.
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this town expressly for religious worship. It stood west of the village, near the house of Jesse Hitchcock, and con- tinued in use until 1822. At a quarterly conference held June 1, 1822, at Martinsburgh, Daniel Tiffany, Abner Clapp, Henry Curtis, Francis McCarty, Abel S. Rice, Wm. R. Allen, Luke Wilder, Rodney Leonard and Russell Hills were appointed to ascertain when the people in Lowville might safely attempt to build a church at the village. The decision was favorable, and a society was formed under the statute, July 25, 1822, with R. Hills, L. Wilder, D. Tiffany, H. Curtis, Levi Weed, Elias Wood, A. S. Rice, R. Bassett and R. Leonard, trustees. The present brick church was built in 1823, and the parsonage about 1838. The Lowville circuit (first reported separate in 1832), has had the following minis- ters stationed : 1832, Benj. Phillips, Schuyler Hoes ; 1833, Luther Lee; 1834, L. Lee, J. L. Hunt; 1835, Isaac Stone; 1836, E. B. Fuller, F. Hawkins ; 1837, Elisha Wheeler ; 1838, E. Smith, John Thompson ; 1839, E. Smith, John Thomas ; 1840, James W. Ninde; 1841, Squire Chase ;1 1842-3, Jas. Erwin ; 1844, Harvey E. Chapin ; 1845, Wm. Wyatt, R. Lyle ; 1846, W. Wyatt, J. S. Bingham; 1847-8, Geo. Sawyer ; 1849-50, Lorenzo D. Stebbins ; 1851-2, M. D. Gillet ; 1853- 4, J. F. Dayan ; 1855-6, W. W. Hunt ; 1857-8,2 D. Symonds; 1859, J. L. Hunt.
The Lowville Baptist church was formed from the Line Church, Sept. 8, 1824, to include all south of Moses Waters', inclusive. Eld. M. E. Cook, moderator, Palmer Townsend, clerk; seven united by letter and one by profes- sion. A society was legally formed Oct. 6, 1824, with Moses Waters, Richard Livingston and Calvin Batchiller, first trustees. On the 18th of December they resolved to build a church of wood, 40 by 50 feet, which was done in 1825. It was thoroughly repaired in 1852, and a parsonage was purchased at about that time.
The clergy have been : John Blodget (Dec. 1, 1825, till March 4, 1832), Geo. Lyle (March 11, 1832, till March 11, 1833), Charles Clark3 (March 14, 1833, till Oct. 20, 1835),
1 Mr. C., went twice to Liberia as a missionary. He died at Syracuse, July 26, 1843, aged 41 years, and was buried at Houseville.
2 Mr. S. remained only a part of the second year.
3 The Rev. Charles Clark was a son of Elijah Clark of Denmark, where he was born Dec. 29, 1805. He joined the church at 19, studied at the Lowville academy and read theology with Elds. Warner and Blodget, and was ordained at Boonville, Sept., 1830. He preached at that place two years, at Martins- burgh one, and at Lowville three. While here he labored in an extensive revival at Copenhagen, He afterwards preached at Watertown, Adams and Rome with efficiency. For 24 years he was absent from the sanctuary but a V
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Orrin Wilbur (March 20, 1835, till June 28, 1840), Harvey Silliman (Oct. 1, 1840, till Aug. 28, 1842), Geo. Lyle (Nov. 20, 1842, till March 1, 1845), Charles Graves (March 7, 1845, till Feb. 10, 1849), Lyman Hutchinson (April 7, 1849, till Feb. 1, 1850), Daniel D. Reed (Feb. 9, 1850, till Feb. 7, 1852), Conant Sawyer (Jan. 7, 1853, till May 31, 1856), Wm. Garrett (Sept. 14, 1856, till Sept. 19, 1858), James M. Ferris (March 1, 1859, till the present).
A Free Communion Baptist church was formed Oct. 12, 1816, and Amasa Dodge1 was ordained April 4, 1818. This sect never owned a house of worship in this town and has long since become extinct.
An Evangelical Luthera nsociety was legally formed Oct. 6, 1827, with Geo. D. Ruggles, Peter Lowks, John Guther- mute and Marks Petrie, trustees. It never erected a house of worship or became permanently established.
The Friends held meetings at private houses soon after the war. They were set off from the Le Ray monthly meeting, Jan. 3, 1826, and Lee was set off from Lowville soon after. A house was bought for meetings in 1819, and afterwards exchanged for the present site south of the creek, of which they received a deed Feb. 10, 1825. Their meeting house was built that year. These belong to the Orthodox class of Friends. The Hicksites held meetings for a short time in this town.
An Old School Baptist church was organized about 1834 in the north part of the town, but was given up a few years after.
Bishop Hobart visited Lowville in August, 1818, con- firmed several persons and reported the prospects for the speedy formation of an Episcopal church as auspicious. The Rev. J. M. Rogers of Turin occasionally officiated here, but after his removal to Utica, services were only occasion- ally performed by clergymen who chanced to be passing through.
Trinity church, Lowville, was legally organized Sept. 24, 1838, with Kent Jarvis2 and Geo. Lyman, wardens, Leonard Harding, L. S. Standring, Albert Strickland, Geo. D. Rug-
single Sabbath. He died at Rome, N. Y., Oct. 16, 1852, and was buried at Lowville.
1 Eld. Dodge came to Lowville in 1806, and died on the West Road, Aug. 13, 1850, aged 82 years. He was remarkable for his loud, boisterous preach- ing.
2 Mr. Jarvis came to reside at Lowville in July, 1828, and remained until Feb. 1840, when he removed to Massillon, O., where he now resides. He was a merchant and took a leading interest in public affairs.
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gles, Henry Butler, Samuel Wood, Ambrose W. Clark and Merrit M. Norton, vestrymen. The Rev. Edward A. Renouf became the first rector.
An edifice was built in 1846 and consecrated in Novem- ber of that year. A tower and bell were added in 1853 at a total cost of about $2000. A rectory was built in 1857.
MARTINSBURGH.
This town was formed from Turin,Feb. 22, 1803, in accord- dance with a vote of that town, and originally embraced townships four and five of the Boylston tract, or Cornelia and Porcia,1 as designated on the surveyor general's maps of 1802-4. The act took effect on the first day of March following, and directed the first town meeting to be held at the house of Ehud Stephens. Harrisburgh and Ellisburgh were created towns by the same act.
By a law passed April 2, 1819, that portion of Turin, north of a line passing nearly east and west, through the point of intersection of the state and west roads, was an- nexed to this town.2 It has been stated that this measure was effected against the wishes of Turin, by Levi Adams, then in the senate, and a few settlers east of Martinsburgh village, who found their residence in Turin equivalent to a deprival of their civil rights, on account of their distance from elections. The latter town consented to a change that should fix the line on Whetstone creek, but upon receiving notice of the proposed alteration, called a special meeting, voted against the division with but one dissenting voice, and appointed a committee to petition against it.
The early records of town meetings in this town appear to be lost. In 1806 the town officers were, Walter Martin, supervisor; Levi Adams, clerk; Ehud Stephens, Asa Brayton Orrin Moore, assessors; Truman Stephens, collector; Ehud Stephens and Elijah Baldwin, overseers of poor; John McCol- lister, Oliver Allis and Avery P. Stoddard, commis. highways; Truman Stephens and Bradford Arthur, constables.
Supervisors .- 1805, Asa Brayton ; 1806-8, Walter Martin ; 1809-10, Chillus Doty ; 1811-4, Levi Adams; 1815, C.
1 The latter has been sometimes erroneously written Persia. These names were derived from Roman ladies, conspicuous in classic history. They never received a local application among the settlers, and are perhaps nowhere found as geographical names, except upon the maps quoted, and on the statutes.
2 The line was directed to be run from the point where the line of lots, 151, 152, township 3, touched the river, to the place where the line, between the farms of Oliver Bush and Edward Johnson joined on the state road, and on the same course to the east line of township five.
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Martinsburgh.
Doty ; 1816-7, Bradford Arthur ; 1818-22, Baron S. Doty ; 1823, B. Arthur ; 1824, Barnabas Yale ; 1825-9, B. Arthur ; 1830-2, Asahel Hough ; 1833-5, David Miller ; 1836-8, Noah N. Harger ; 1839, A. Hough ; 1840, David Griffis ; 1841, Harvey Stephens; 1842, Henry McCarty ; 1843, Mor- gan Harger; 1844, Edwin S. Cadwell ; 1845, H. Stephens ;1 1846, Eleazer Alger ; 1847-51, Diodate Pease ; 1852-3, Avery Babcock; 1854, D. Pease ; 1855, Horatio Shumway ; 1856-60, Edwin Pitcher.
Town Clerks .- 1803 and 1806, Levi Adams; (in 1804-5- 7-8-9-10, the record not found) ; 1811-13, Enoch Thomp- son ; 1814, Edward Bancroft ; 1815-26, E. Thompson; 1827, John B. Hill ; 1828-30, Walter Martin, jr .; 1831-3, Charles L. Martin ; 1834-5, W. Martin, jr .; 1836-7, Elijah L. Thompson ; 1838-40, Lewis G. Van Slyke ; 1841, William King ; 1842, John E. Jones ; 1843, C. L. Martin ; 1844, David Griffis ; 1845, Jas. M. Sturtevant ; 1846, Wm. King ; 1847, Daniel A. Smith ; 1849-51, Henry W. King; 1852, Edwin S. Cadwell ; 1853, Alonzo J. Buxton ; 1854, John M. Michael ; 1855, John S. Hill; 1856-60, E. S. Cadwell.
Among the town records of Martinsburgh are noticed in 1809, '12 and '15, a vote imposing a fine of $4 for allowing Canada thistles to go to seed ; the money, when recovered, to be applied towards the support of the poor.
In 1823 it was voted that the collection of taxes should be made by the person who would bid to do it at the least price. The support of certain town paupers was put up at auction in like manner in 1820, and this practice has pre- cedent in the usages of other towns in the county.
This town was named from the proprietor, under whom settlement was made.
Walter Martin, a son of Capt. Adam Martin, was born in Sturbridge, Mass., Dec. 15, 1764, and in 1787 removed to Salem, N. Y., where he married a step daughter of Gen. John Williams, and became extensively engaged in busi- ness. An uncle, named Moses Martin, was one of the first settlers of Salem, and great numbers, from his native town, removed to that place. One of his sisters married Judge Asa Fitch, and another Andrew Freeman of Salem. Silas Conkey and Chillus Doty married two other sisters, and removed with him to the Black river country.
While living in Salem, Mr. Martin narrowly escaped death from an accident which he could never, in after life, relate without emotion. He owned a grist mill, in which it was
1 Died April 7, 1845, and Harvey Easton elected April 19.
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Martinsburgh.
found necessary to cut away the ice on a winter's morning, before it could be started. While engaged at this work, the miller, without knowing the danger, let water upon the wheel which began to revolve with Martin in it, and con- tinued to do so until it was stopped by his body. A leg was broken and he was dreadfully bruised by being thrown re- peatedly from axle to circumference, as the wheel revolved.
Early in 1801 Mr. Martin came up into the Black river country, and after spending a short time at Lowville, explor- ing the lands south, he went to New York in June of that. year, and bought of James Constable 8,000 acres of land, including the east subdivision of township five of the Boylston tract. The incidents of his settlement are related in these pages. A few years after his arrival, he again escaped death by the slightest chance. He had gone to a place near the West Road, which was frequented by deer, and climbed a wild cherry tree, for a better opportunity of shooting his game as it passed in the evening. A settler who was also out hunting, came near the place, and seeing a dark, living object in the tree, mistook it for a bear after cherries, and taking deliberate aim was on the point of firing, when Martin discovered his danger, and by giving a timely warning, escaped instant death. It would be diffi- cult to decide which party felt most grateful for this happy escape from a dreadful casualty.
Mr. Martin held successively the offices of assistant jus- tice of the Oneida court, loan commissioner, state road commissioner and state senator. Before the erection of Lewis county he held the rank of lieutenant colonel, and soon after was promoted to that of brigadier general, in which capacity he served a short time on the frontier in 1814. He was appointed post master upon the establish- ment of a post office, Jan. 19, 1804. His successors have been John W. Martin, May 23, 1831 ; William King, May 6, 1845 ; David T. Martin, June 14, 1849 ; Daniel S. Bailey, Aug. 24, 1853, and James H. Sheldon, Sept. 27, 1854.
In whatever promoted the interests of the town or county Gen. Martin felt a lively interest, and when a measure of public utility wanted the means for its accomplishment, he generally contrived to find them, and it appeared to be a governing maxim of his life, that when a thing was to be done it must be, if not by one way, by another. He was never backward in aiding to the full extent of his share, however large it might be, in any public enterprise. For some years after his first arrival, he evinced a partiality for a kind of investment which can never be overdone, as
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regards convenience to the inhabitants of a new settlement, although it may be without profit to the projector. This was the erection of saw mills, of which he owned several in Martinsburgh and Turin, upon which the country around depended for their supply of the essential elements of a comfortable house or a commodious barn. Gen. Martin died at his residence in Martinsburgh village, Dec. 10, 1834. His father was born Aug. 27, 1739, removed with him to Martinsburgh, where he died Aug. 9, 1818, aged seventy- nine. He had been an officer in the French and revolu- tionary wars and was a member of assembly from Wash- ington county in 1787. His wife died in this town Dec. 2, 1820.1
A tract of 8,000 acres, supposed to include the east subdivision of township five of the Boylston tract, was deeded to Walter Martin of Salem, N. Y., June 17, 1801, for $12,000.2 As early as Jan. 20, 1796, Shaler of Turin, was endeavoring to purchase No. 5, which would then have sold for more than it brought in 1801. At that time Con- stable refused to sell less than the whole tract of 14,820 acres, and in June, 1798, gave John Stephen a refusal for four months, at twelve shillings per acre. It will be re- membered that the political changes in Europe had checked emigration, and that the decline of prices in wild lands was general throughout the country. Just at this time, the land companies in the western states were opening their domains to settlers upon very favorable terms, the hostile Indian tribes in that region had been brought to terms of peace; and the tide of New England emigration, although still strong, was diverted to the broad plains and fertile valleys of the western country.
The purchase of this town was made from James, agent of William Constable, and the tract was familiarly known among the first settlers as The Triangle. Upon its being afterwards found that it fell short of 8,000 acres, 703 acres,
1 The three daughters of Gen. M. were married as follows : Jane, to Ste- phen Leonard of Lowville ; Abigail to Philo Rockwell, and Susannah to Dr. John Safford, both of this town. Walter Martin, the oldest son, resides in Marshall, Michigan. Adam Martin, the second son, died May 1826, aged 30 years. John Williams Martin, the third son, was elected to assembly in 1827, became first president of the Lewis county bank, and from 1843 to 1843, was first county judge. He resides in New York. Charles L. Martin, the first of the family born in this town, was for several years cashier of the Lewis county bank, and county treasurer. He is now connected with the bank of North America in New York city. Morgan Lewis Martin has resided many years at Green Bay. David Thomas Martin (named from his uncle, formerly state treasurer,) has always resided in this town, and has been for several years a magistrate.
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