A history of Lewis County, in the state of New York, from the beginning of its settlement to the present time, Part 21

Author: Hough, Franklin Benjamin, 1822-1885. dn
Publication date: 1860
Publisher: Albany : Munsell & Rowland
Number of Pages: 422


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 21


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As Miss Mary Ann Waters, a young lady about twenty years of age, engaged in teaching school in the east part of the town, was returning home on horseback, June 20, 1829, her horse was startled and stopped by a tree falling across the road in front, and directly after another tree fell upon and killed both the horse and its rider.


In the fall of 1828 a thin vein of galena disseminated in calcareous spar, was discovered a short distance north of the village of Martinsburgh, near the brow of the hill, and hopes were excited which further exploration did not jus- tify. In the spring of 1838, as Levi Edwards, in the service of Richard Arthur, was plowing in a field about a mile


1 This event, derived from those who were intimately concerned, is detailed in the History of Jefferson county, p. 262.


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northwest of the village, the point of his plow broke off a bright shining ore, which proved to be galena. This led to an examination, and as the rock lay near the surface, the vein was easily uncovered and presented truly an attrac- tive spectacle. The ore from four to ten inches wide stood like a wall several inches above the surface of the rock, and run in a course about N. 80° W. a distance of over twenty rods, and so readily was it obtained that two men in two days threw out over four thousand pounds. Trenches dug across the direction of this vein disclosed others nearly parallel, and the prospect of mineral wealth for a time seemed never fairer. The right of mining was purchased by Thomas L. Conklin1 for $700, and a company at first of twelve, but afterwards of a hundred shares was formed.


A building, formerly a fulling mill, adjacent to the bridge south of the village was fitted up for smelting the ore, and got in operation in June, 1838, and several tons of the metal were reduced. Meanwhile the cost of mining rapidly in- creased as the excavations were sunk below the surface, while the yield of ore diminished, and after considerable expenditure during the first year and part of the next the work was abandoned, with heavy loss to all concerned.


In 1853, the mineral right of this locality was purchased on speculation by parties in New York, and a company was legally formed for working the mines. The Lewis County Lead Co., is not " known by its works" in the county, and there is no present prospect of any further enterprise of the kind being attempted.2


A serio-comic incident occurred in the western part of this town in the summer of 1836, occasioned by a search after a child lost in the woods. The little wanderer was soon found and restored to its parents, but on counting up after their return it was discovered that a middle aged man named C. N. K., and a lad about 18 years of age in his com- pany were missing. This happened on Thursday, but Fri- day came and passed without any tidings of the lost. On


1 Mr. Conklin was from Rensselaerville, N. Y., was admitted to the Lewis county bar about 1824, and for some time was actively engaged in his profes- sion. In 1831, he entered the ministry and removed to Carbondale, Pa., but soon after returned. After the failure of his lead speculation he mostly withdrew from business, and died July 1, 1851, at the age of 55, having mostly secluded himself from society during several years. He was acknow- ledged by all to be an effective and elegant public speaker, enthusiastic in in whatever he engaged, eccentric in his theories, but withal, the possessor of considerable talent. He studied his profession with Simeon Ford of Her- kimer county.


2 This company filed its articles Feb. 4, 1854. Capital $200,000 in shares of $2, each, limit fifty years.


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Saturday the report spread generally, and towards the close of that day a public meeting was called, and it was agreed that in case they did not appear by morning, the town bell should be rung at sunrise, as a signal for the inhabitants to rally and engage in a careful search in the woods. The bell was accordingly rung on Sabbath morning, and hundreds of men assembled at the appointed place, agreed upon their signals, formed into a line, and began their search in the forest. About ten o'clock, the signal for "found" was passed along the line, and each hastened to the spot to learn in what condition the lost had been found, and by what casualty they had been detained. The estrays were found in an open beaver meadow, on the head waters of one of the streams, but two or three miles from inhabitants, and almost within hearing of the town bell. The weather had been bright and clear, and the sluggish stream after a few windings in the wood emerged into the clearings. When asked why they did not follow out some one of the hay roads, for winter use, which led into the meadow, Mr. K., with great naivete and perfect sincerity, replied, that they had found a plenty of paths leading into the meadow, but none that led out.


At the Oneida circuit of Sept., 1844, a suit brought by Abel Fuller, of this town, against Alanson Tyler, of Lowville to recover money alleged to have been paid, disclosed the existence of a combination of swindlers in this and adjoining towns, who had in various ways, for several months pre- vious, been operating to obtain money by fraud. In the case mentioned, perjury was freely offered as evidence, and it subsequently appeared, that numerous schemes of extortion had been planned, and means the most unscrupulous ar- ranged to secure their execution. This club received the name of " the forty thieves." It is said to have met by night in private places, and to have enjoined secresy and fidelity by the most solemn oaths, but the result of the trial in Utica, by removing the leaders to state prison, put an effectual end to their operations.


A distressing accident occurred Sept. 3, 1852, at the Ma- ple Ridge in this town. As a daughter of Timothy Canaan, aged 9 years, was in a field in which the embers of log heaps were still burning, her dress caught fire, and before she could be relieved was literally burned alive


The town of Martinsburgh has three post offices. Mar- tinsburgh (P. O.) village is built upon a bold terrace of Trenton limestone which here rises to a greater elevation than at any other point in the town if not in the county.


X


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Martinsburgh.


In 1855 it reported a population of 210. It has besides the court house and jail, four churches, an inn, four stores, the usual variety of mechanics and on its southern border a limited water power. The scenery, which the surrounding country affords, especially towards the east, is much finer than that of any other village in the county. The most disastrous fire which ever occurred in the county, broke out in this village, on the morning of Feb. 5, 1859, destroy- ing the only hotel,1 four stores, and all the offices, sheds, barns and buildings attached. The fire occured during court week, and the hotel was filled with guests, who were aroused from sleep, and several of them narrowly escaped with life.


West Martinsburgh (P. O.) three miles north west, on the west road, is rather a thickly settled street, with two church- es, an inn, store and a few mechanic shops. As a farming region this vicinity is one of the finest in the county.


Glensdale (P. O.) is a hamlet of about a dozen houses, a mill, store, church and a few shops, in the east part of the town, where Whetstone creek falls over the last terrace of limestone before reaching the river. The post-office at this place was established in March 1855, with S. D. Mason, P. M.


The Lewis County Bank, was incorporated April 20, 1833, and located at Martinsburgh, with a limit of thirty years, and a capital of $100,000. The commissioners for opening subscriptions and distributing stock, were, Geo. D. Ruggles, John W. Martin, Andrew W. Doig, Wm. D. Shaler, Ashley Davenport, John Whittlesey, Ela Merriam, Stephen Leonard and Ozias Wilcox.


In the petition to the legislature which procured this act, the annual surplus products of the county are stated as: cattle $40,000, horses and mules $35,000, flour and wheat $50,000, pot and pearl ashes, $25,000, pork and hogs, $25,000, and whiskey $15,000. It was stated that 75,000 pounds of wool were sent annually, and that hemp, iron, and lumber, formed a large and increasing subject of ex- portation. It was estimated that the merchants purchased $200,000 worth of goods annually, and that the products of agriculture and opportunities, for manufactures which our hydraulic privileges offered would be largely benefited and encouraged by a bank at the county seat. It will be no-


1 This was originally built in 1807 for Gen. Martin, and afterwards much extended. At the time of the fire it was kept by T. Atwood. The hotel premises are about to be rebuilt by Edwin Pitcher, with the aid of a subscrip- tion of $2000 from townsmen.


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ticed that no allusion is made to that great feature of pro- ductive industry, the dairying interest, which has conferred wealth and reputation upon Lewis county, as this resource was entirely unknown, and did not begin to develop itself until about two years after. A few years before, a merchant in Lowville who had advertised for three hundred pounds of butter, payable in goods at ten cents the pound, was con- sidered an adventurer, in a county which now produces over 2,000,000 pounds of butter, and much greater amount of cheese.1


The profits upon banking capital had for many years been great, and the prices upon bank stock had been much above par. The franchises implied in a charter were diffi- cult to obtain, and it is not surprising that multitudes should seek this investment, or that an immense subscrip- tion should have been offered beyond what could be taken. The charter limited the amount which one person might take at fifty shares, or $2,500, and left the commissioners the invidious task of deciding who should be favored in the assignation of stock. The total amount offered, is said to have been about $1,200,000, which would necessarily leave eleven in twelve on the disappointed list. As an unavoid- able result, many were free to charge upon the commissioners the most selfish and ungenerous motives. Each of their number took the amount limited by law.


A bank building was erected in Martinsburgh, adjacent to the court house in 1833, and the bank was opened for business in December of that year, affording the only bank- ing facilities in the county until after the passage of the general banking law of 1838. While the Bank of Lowville was in course of organization, an unsuccessful effort was made to increase the capital of this bank to twice the sum named in the charter. On the 3d of May, 1842, the bills of this bank were rejected by the Commercial bank of Albany, and on the same day an injunction was served upon its officers. Mr. Forbes, one of the bank commissioners, had been for some days investigating its affairs and deemed the measure necessary as large assets were not available for use. The bank was allowed to resume business Jan. 3, 1843, and public confidence had not been entirely restored so as to allow its bills to circulate freely at a distance, when' a second injunction was served in 1845, and business was again resumed in September, 1846, with the capital reduced one half. It went on until November, 1854, when it finally failed, beyond prospect of recovery.


1 Black River Gazette, Sept. 18, 1827.


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Martinsburgh.


This bank paid 10 per cent dividend upon its stock until 1842, and a single dividend upon its preferred stock after its first suspension. Frederick Hollister of Utica in 1845, bought a large interest, and for time held a controlling amount of stock.


The following is a list of presidents and cashiers of this bank :


Presidents.


Cashiers.


John W. Martin, .


1833


Andrew W. Doig, .


1833


Isaac W. Bostwick,


1843


Charles L. Martin,


1834


Lyman R. Lyon, ..


1844


Lyman R. Lyon, .. 1842


Isaac W. Bostwick,


1845


S. D. Hungerford,


1844


Andrew W. Doig,


1845


Ela N. Merriam, 1846


F. W. Grannis, 1852


Statistics as reported annually near the beginning of each year :


Loans and


Total


Loans and


Total


Years.


Discounts.


Circulation. Resources.


Years.


Discounts.


Circulation. Resources.


1834,. . $116,610


$86,242


1845, ..


119,038


97,097


248,407


1835, .. 211,484


129,525


$259,116


1846, . .


136,787


97,117


223,227


1836,. .


245,315


192,656


349,607


1847,. .


147,165


101,824


255,649


1837, .. 245,882


172,538


355,300


1848, . .


166,057


128,807


276,898


1838, .. 196,890


147,066


311,123


1849,.


117,912


1839, .. 238,108


139,679


308,519


1850,


149,997


1840, .. 236,896


128,555


329,461


1851,


149,988


1841, .. 228,248


137,754


321,180


1852,


48,981


1842, .. 204,763


97,422


274,878


1853,


99,987


1843, .. 162,710


72,864


257,232


1854,


149,995


1844, .. 114,366


72,452


229,239


Lyman R. Lyon, .


1846


The Martinsburgh Library was formed at the house of John Atwater, Feb. 10, 1807, and Nathan Cheney, John Atwater, John McCollister, David Shumway, Truman Ste- phens, Enoch Bush and Horatio G. Hough, were chosen its first trustees. A good selection of about two hundred vol- umes was made, and the library was continued till the spring of 1835, when it was broken up and distributed among its remaining shareholders. Asa L. Sheldon, was for many of the later years the librarian.


A wooden building two stories high and furnished with a small cupola, was built in the village in 1828, for an academic school and probably with the ultimate design of obtain- ing an incorporation. The expense was defrayed by sub- scription, and the property was to be managed by trustees elected by the contributors. The first Trustees were Rev. David Kimball, John B. Hill, David Waters, Edward Ban- croft, Philo Rockwell and Enoch Thompson. It was opened as a young ladies' seminary by Miss M. S. Williams, June 15,


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Martinsburgh.


1829, and a few years after was used as an infant school. Calvin B. Gay, the Rev. Calvin Yale and others have taught at different times and scarcely a winter has passed without a select or other school being taught. Since 1854 it has been used as a district school house.


RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES .- The first church edifice in the state north of the Mohawk, was erected in Martinsburgh, in 1806, chiefly through the aid of Gen. Martin, who de- frayed the principal share of the cost, and sold out pews to families as opportunities offerred. The first Presbyterian society of Martinsburgh, was formed Dec. 9, 1810, the ori- ginal trustees being Walter Martin, Levi Adams, John McCollister, Chillus Doty, Chester Shumway, Nathan Cheney, Elizur Stephens, Ephraim Luce and Barnabas Yale. The society began with forty-seven members. The edifice was painted by subscription, and furnished by Gen. Martin with a bell in 1827 in return for the compliment of naming the town after him. It was thoroughly repaired in 1832, fur- nished with an organ in 1838, again repaired in 1853, and burned by lightning, on the morning of Aug. 1, 1854.


The first bell weighed alone about 800 lbs. and cost $400. It was broken in the fire, and the old metal exchanged in part for the present one, which weighs (with the yoke) 1556 lbs. and cost $450. Both were from Meneeley's found- ry in West Troy. The site of the church was not deeded to the society until 1818. A new church edifice was erected in 1858 on the site of the former, at a cost of $3000, and dedicated in November of that year. A parsonage belong- ing to the society, was burned, Oct. 15, 1849.


The first religious meetings were held by missionaries, in private houses, and afterwards in the school house on the brow of the hill south of the village. The Rev. Mr. Clinton of Lowville, and others preached occasionally in the meeting house, but none were regularly hired until about 1809, when the Rev. Elijah Norton, an old man from Litch- field, N. Y., was hired a few months.2


The Rev. Aaron Jordan Booge from Galway, N. Y., having preached a few times, was invited to become the stated supply of the society, Feb. 19, 1810, for a term of four years, from the first of November, preceeding. That he might be "free from worldly cares and avocations," the trustees promised to pay $250 per annum in quarterly in-


2 He had been a prisoner with the Indians in the Revolution, and is remem- bered as a man zealous in his labors, but somewhat intolerant towards other sects, especially the Methodists. It so happened that an only daughter be . came an earnest believer in the creed of these people, and chose to leave the paternal roof, rather than relinquish her religious faith.


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Martinsburgh.


stallments. He accepted, but stooping to meddle in politics was silenced. While endeavoring to retrieve his position, he yielded in an evil hour, to a besetting sin.1 The Rev. Mr. Mandeville was next employed a short time, when the Rev. James Murdock was installed first pastor Feb. 11, 1812, and remained about seven years.2 The Rev. David Kimball ac- cepted a call Dec. 6, 1821, and was ordained pastor of this church and that of Lowville village, June 24, 1822. He continued in this relation until Oct. 19, 1830, when he was dismissed at his own request.3 After employing one Fisk, a few months, the Rev. Leicester A. Sawyer was engaged, and on the 12th of Oct., 1832, he was installed.4 He remained about three years and was succeeded by the Revs. Loring, Bushnell, and Joel Osborn in 1835-6, and by the Rev. Calvin Yale, as pastor from 1837 to Feb. 11, 1841.5 The Rev. Erastus S. Barnes6 was pastor from Sept. 13, 1841, to to Aug. 24, 1846. His successors have been, the Rev. Her- bert W. Morris, from March 8, 1848, to Feb. 1, 1850; Rev. Joseph Rosecrans, stated supply from 1850 to March 8, 1852; Rev. Revilo J. Cone, (do.) from July, 1852 to Feb. 20, 1854 ; Rev. Samuel L. Merrill from June, 1854 to June, 1857. The Rev. R. A. Wheelock of Deer River has been employed on alternate sabbaths since April, 1859.


This church, originally Congregational, was changed to Presbyterian, Jan. 9, 1812. In the fall of 1830, and winter following, a remarkable revival occurred, and a larger num-


1 Having rode to Turin on the 4th of July, he was seen walking home on the 5th with his garments covered with mud and his saddle on his shoulder. He enlisted as a chaplain in the army June 16, 1813, and was disbanded April 14, 1818.


2 Mr. M. was a native of Saybrook, Ct., graduated at Yale College in 1774, in the same class with Mr. Booge; came to Lewis county March, 1805, preached some time in Turin and Constableville. From Martinsburgh he went to Gouverneur, and in 1839 to Crown Point, where he died at his son's residence, Jan. 14, 1841, aged 86 years.


3 Mr. K. was born in Hopkintown, N. H., March 18, 1791, learned the prin- ter's trade at Concord, fitted for college at Phillip's Academy, Andover, gra- duated at Yale in 1818, and directly after entered the Theological Seminary at Andover. In 1821 he came to this town, and in January, 1831, removed to Plainfield, Mass. He publishes a newspaper at Hanover, N. H., at the pre- sent time.


4 Mr. S. was a native of Burrville; Jefferson county ; graduated at Hamilton College in 1828, and began his ministry here. He has since become known as an author, and has published a new translation of the New Testament.


5 Mr. Yale was from Kingsboro, N. Y. He graduated at Union College in 1812. Since the dissolution of his pastoral relation with this church, he has preached at Lowville, Watertown, Brownville, and other places, but now re- sides in this town.


6 Mr. B. was from Gouverneur. He graduated at Amherst College. From this place he went to Chazy, but has since resided in this county and Oneida several years.


191


Martinsburgh.


bers were added to the church, than at any similar period before or since. A sabbath school has begun in 1821, in connection with this church, and held at first at private houses, in different parts of the town. Over a thousand have been connected with it first and last, as teachers or scholars, Mr. Ezra Botsford has been many years its super- intendent.


Methodist meetings were among the earliest held in town, and stated preaching was had by appointment many years before a legal organization was effected. The M. E. church in this town was made a separate circuit from Lowville in 1840, since which the circuit preachers have been : 1840-1, Jas. Erwin ; 1842, J. E. Downing; 1843, Lorenzo D. Steb- bins ; 1844-5, Allen O. Wightman ; 1846, Hiram Shepard ; 1847-8, H. O. Tilden; 1849-50, Benj. S. Wright ; 1851-2, Eleazer Whipple ; 1853, W. B. Joyce ; 1854-5, R. E. King ; 1856-7, L. L. Palmer ; 1858, G. W. Elwood, S. B. Shepard ; 1859, M. H. Church, A. T. Copeland.


The First Meth. Ep. Ch. of Martinsburgh, was legally formed Sept. 4, 1831, with Abner Clapp, Elijah Baldwin, Sedgwick Coates, Burrage Hough, John C. Hough, Arnold Clapp and Samuel Gordon, Jr., trustees. A stone church was built in 1832, on the brow of the hill east of the state road and on the south border of the village, and dedicated in Jan., 1833. After being used a dozen or fifteen years it fell into decay, and upon the erection of churches in other parts of the town it was discontinued, sold and taken down. A. Meth. Ep. church was built adjacent to the clerk's office in Martinsburgh village in the summer of 1857.


The West Martinsburgh soc. of the M. E. Ch., was formed Jan. 30, 1840, with Lobdell Wood, Moses Talmadge, Giles Easton, Henry McCarty, Norman Gowdy, Henry Miner, Henry Curtis, Noah N. Harger, and Moses M. Smith, trustees. In the summer of that year their present church was erected, and about 1846 was furnished with a bell.


The 2d M. E. ch. and soc. of West Martinsburgh was was formed Sept. 8, 1840, with D. Seymour, Joseph Brown and Wm. Peebles, trustees. A small church edifice was erected on Chapel hill, so called, west of the village


A second Advent society in West Martinsburgh village, erected a house of worship in 1851, but meetings have not been regularly continued.


A Baptist church was formed at the school house a mile and a half south of the village, on the 27th of June 1818, under the advice of Eld. Stephen Parsons. It at first con- sisted of seven members, and worshiped in the school house


192


Martinsburgh.


until the erection of a church in 1825. In 1840, it removed to the village where its meetings have since been held. The first settled minister was Eld. Samuel Marshall, who was ordained Mar. 13, 1822. Elders Martin Salmon, Riley B. Ashley, L. S. Baker, Charles Graves, John B. Ambler, O. Wilbur and others, were afterwards employed.


A Free Communion Baptist Church was formed by a council of delegates from Russia, Lowville and Turin, convened at Martinsburgh Oct. 17, 1818. It continued in existence until about 1840, when by death, removal, and union with other churches it had become so reduced in number, that but four females attended its last covenant meeting. Elder Russell Way, of Turin, was the minister under whom this church was chiefly formed and continued. The sect is considered as extinct in this town.


The Martinsburgh United Baptist Society, was formed Nov. 6, 1824, with Daniel Pitcher, Enoch C. Johnson, Nor- man Griffis, Jonathan Searle and Daniel Ashley, Jr., as trustees. In 1825 it erected a church edifice one and a half miles south of the village, which continued to be used on alternate Sabbaths by the two Baptist churches about fifteen years, when it gradually fell into decay, until, at length, every vestige has disappeared. The Martinsburgh Baptist society, was formed Sept. 30, 1839, with Levi Bronson, John Waters, Shepard Lee, Samuel Miner, James M. Sturdevant, and David Griffis, trustees. In the year following, a new church was erected in Martinsburgh village, and the congre- gation worshiping in the former edifice removed thither.


A church was built at Glensdale in 1853, by the joint ef- forts of the Protestant and Episcopal Methodists, and dedi- cated Jan. 4, 1854. The society owning this was legally formed April 25, 1854, under the name of the People's Church, Jerrard Stiles, Wm. Glasgow, Alfred Arthur, Walter Hubbard, and Wm. Olivers, first trustees.


A number of persons known as Unionists, professing to be held together by no creed or covenant but such as the scriptural belief and the conscience of every member might dictate and approve, associated in 1857, under the Rev. Ste- phen P. Taft in Martinsburgh village, and on the 12th of April, 1858, organized themselves into a corporation, styled " The Trustees of the Church of Martinsburgh," of which Charles Peebles, Horatio Hough, Lewis A. Pitcher, Warren A. Peebles, Diodate Pease, Perry S. Hough, Martin Sheldon, Mithra J. Reed and Charles E. Peebles were first trustees. In the summer of that year, they erected a small but neat Gothic chapel for worship on the eastern border of the village.


193


Montague.


MONTAGUE.


This town was formed from West Turin by the Board of Supervisors, November 14, 1850, embracing Township 3, or Shakespere, of the Boylston Tract. The first town meeting was directed to be held at the school house near Roswell Parmenter's.




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