USA > New York > Franklin County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 41
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 41
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" It having been stated to the board that the Hon. John Ogilvie, his Britannic Majesty's commissioner, for ascertaining the line between the United States and his Majesty's province of Upper Canada, has pre- sented a bell for the use of said church; therefore :-
Resolved, Unanimously, that the thanks of this board be presented to him, and further as a means of perpetuating our gratitude and his libe- ralty that the following inscription be engraved on the said bell, viz: " Presented by the Honorable John Ogilvie, of the city of Montreal, June 1818." In answer to this resolution, which was communicated to the honorable gentleman, he expressed a wish that the bell might " ring till the end of time," but this benevolent wish has not been fulfilled, be- cause the bell has been accidentally broken and its place supplied by another.
The First Associate Reformed church in Madrid, was incorporated Sept 17, 1819, with Richard Rutherford, Mark Douglas, John Mofatt, Jolin Rutherford, and Robert Ridu, trustees.
The First Catholic Congregation in Madrid, was incorporated May 28, 1859, with Wm. Fitz Geralds, John Hamlin, Patrick Welch, Thomas Fay, and Michael Hughs, trustees. The church was built by the Rev. James Mackey, now of Ogdensburgh.
The Waddington Methodist Episcopal church, was incorporated April 13, 1849, with Wm. Jordin, Miles M. Sheldon, Richard Tindale, John Tackereel, and John McDowal, trustees. That of Columbia vil- lage June 30, 1847 with Solomon S. Martin, Stephen F. Palmer, and Wm. L. Reed, trustees.
MASSENA.
Incorporated in the act that formed the county, March 3, 1803, the whole of Great tracts 2 and 3 being attached. By the erection of Hop- kinton and Brasher, it has been reduced to its present limits, which were never a part of Macomb's purchase.
The earliest records extant are 1808, when John Wilson was elected
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
supervisor ; John E. Perkins, clerk; Elisha W. Barber, Thomas Stead- inan, Enoch French, assessors ; Aaron Wright, collector ; Benj. Willard, Jarvis Kimball, Enoch French, com'rs. highways; Jno. Reeve, Aaron Wright, constables ; Griffin Place, John Garvin, fence viewers ; John Bul- lard, Griffin Place, pound masters. At this meeting, voted a petition for the erection of Louisville. In 1806, a wolf bounty of $3, and in 1810, of $5. In 1818, $500 voted for the poor. In 1820-1, a fox bounty of 50 cts. In 1825, voted to let the Deer river settlers have $200 out of the poor funds, in case they are set off, and no more. In 1826, voted in favor of allowing that part of No. 16, still belonging to Massena, to be attached to Brasher, and of allowing $10 of poor money to be allowed them. In 1828, J. B. Andrews, John E. Perkins and Lemuel Haskell appointed to wait upon the court house commissioners, and represent the interests of the town. The location at Columbia village advised. In 1849, voted to raise $100 to build a float, and furnish wires for a ferry on Grass river, near the centre of the town. In 1850, voted not to make a distinction between the town and county poor; and in 1851, against a tax for repairing the court house.
Supervisors .- 1802, Amos Lay ; 1808-9, John Wilson ; 1810-11, Thomas Steadman; 1812, Calvin Hubbard; 1813-17, Willard Seaton; 1818-19, John E. Perkins; 1820-1, John Stone, Jr .; 1822-4, John B. Andrews; 1825-6, Chester Gurney; 1827-8, Lemuel Haskell; 1829-30, Ira Good- ridge; 1831, John B. Andrews; 1832-3, L. Haskell; 1834-7, Ira Good- ridge; 1838-9, John B. Judd; 1840-1, Benjamin Phillips; 1842-4, John B. Andrews; 1845, E. D. Ransom; 1846, Allen B. Phillips; 1847, E. D. Ransom; 1848-9, Allen B. Phillips; 1850, Willson Bridges: 1851-2, J. B. Andrews.
The first settlement in Massena began as early as 1792, by the erection of a saw mill on Grass river, a mile below the present village, on premises leased and owned by the St. Regis Indians. Amable Foucher, from Old Chateaugay, near Montreal, afterwards occupied them, and was in pos- session till 1808. The first dam built by F. was swept off up stream, by the back water from the St. Lawrence, thrown up by the obstruction of ice. The peculiarity of the great river, which caused this, deserves notice.
From the commencement of the rapids below the village of Ogdens- burgh to the head of lake St. Francis, at St. Regis, the St. Lawrence seldom freezes sufficiently to allow of crossing on the ice, although at particular seasons, and for a short time there has been a bridge of ice sufficiently strong to support teams. The waters, however, being chilled by snows drifted into them, and obstructed by anchor ice, or masses formed at the bottom of the stream, as is common in running water in our climate, will commence forming a dam or slight obstruction usually near St. Regis, where its surface is covered with solid ice, and this being fixed by freezing, and increased by cakes of floating ice and snow, will accumulate at successive points above, raising the surface, and causing still water just above the obstruction, which allows the freezing process
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to take place. This has taken place during severe snow storms, and in intensely cold weather, so rapidly, as to raise the waters of the St. Lawrence at certain points fifteen feet in as many minutes ; and the Long Saut rapids, where the waters usually shoot downward with the swiftness of an arrow, have been known to be as placid as the surface of a mill pond, from obstructions below. The descent of the water is, of course, the same, but the rapids are carried further down stream, and still water occurs at points where it is rapid at ordinary seasons. The extreme difference of level hitherto observed from these obstructions, is about twenty-five feet, in Robinson's bay; in Massena, about nine miles above St. Regis, and in Grass river, it has been known to raise to an equal height. No winter passes, without more or less of these ice dams and reflex currents, which usually happen towards the latter part of winter, after the waters have become chilled, and ice has formed below. Above the head of the Long Saut, they are seldom or never noticed. Similar occurrences happen at Montreal, at certain seasons, and have often caused serious accidents. The apparent solidity of the obstructions thus tempora- rily formed, is seldom trusted by those acquainted with the river; al- though there have been those, fool-hardy enough, to venture across the channel upon them. They will sometimes form and break away with astonishing rapidity; for such is the irresistible force of the mighty cur- rent, that no obstruction can long withstand its power. In 1833, a bridge at Massena Centre, supposed to be placed sufficiently high to be above the reach of all floods, was swept away from this cause, the waters having arisen nearly five feet higher than had been before observed; and it has been found quite impracticable to maintain bridges below Massena village across Grass river. The water has been seen to pour over the dam at Haskell's mill, up stream, for a short time, and the dam at Massena village has been preserved against the back water with extreme difficulty. The lower damn on Grass river is built to resist the current from both directions, and the level of this river, as well as the St. Lawrence, is from this cause higher through a portion of the winter than its normal level.
Settlements under the proprietors began in 1798, in the fall of which year Amos Lay began to survey .* In 1799, a road from Oswegatchie to St. Regis, was surveyed and partly opened, and portions of it are still traveled. The first land agent was said to be Henry Child, who was
* Mr. Lay was born Aug. 17, 1765, in Lyme, Ct .. and was early employed in the northern surveys, of Massena, in the fall of 1798; of Canton and Lisbon, in '99, and afterwards, of Stockholm and Louisville ; and in 1820, No. 7, tract No. 2. In 1817, he published a map of New York, and afterwards one of the United States, which have gone through several editions. He was recently living in Lower Canada.
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
succeeded by Amos Lay, and the latter by Matthew Perkins. Mamri Victory, Calvin Plumley, Bliss Hoisington, Elijah Bailey, David Lytle, Seth Reed, Leonard Herrick, John Bullard, Nathaniel Keeser, Jacob and David Hutchins, Daniel Robinson and others had settled in 1802, mostly from Vermont, who came by way of Chateaugay and St. Regis. The town began about this time to settle rapidly, and in 1807, there were in the town, as it then was constituted, 98 voters, with property qualifica- tions.
In the summer of 1803, Calvin Hubbard and Stephen Reed erected a saw mill on Grass river, at the village of Massena, which was the second one in town. In 1807 or 8, they built the first grist mill near the same place, which had a single run of rock stone. In 1810, they sold to James McDowell, of Montreal, who held the lower mill, and the Indian reser- vation on which it stood. He continued the owner of the upper mills until about 1828.
The first school is said to have been taught in the winter of 1803, by Gilbert Reed, at what is now Massena village.
The annoyances experienced from the Indians by the early proprie- tors and settlers, are set forth in the following memorials.
" To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of New York, in Senate and Assembly convened:
The petition of the subscriber, humbly sheweth: That he, together with a number of others, his associates, did, (at sundry times), locate on several tracts and pieces of land, and obtained grants for the same, on the southeast side of the river St. Lawrence, and easterly of and adjoin- ing the township of Louisville. That your petitioner and associates, were induced to this distant object; first, to be clear of intefering with other claims, and secondly, by a stream of water passing through the middle of the said collected several tracts, then called and known by the name of Little Black river, and noted in a map of the state, published at the time of the Revolution, by the name of Eyensawye, and now called by the St. Regis Indians, Grass river. That your petitioner and associa- tes, attempted last season to commence settlements on the premises aforesaid, and were prevented from taking possession by the St. Regis Indians, who alleged that the said Black river and one half mile on each side thereof is reserved by treaty, and confirmned to them by the com- missioners of the United States and the state of New York. That your petitioner, therefore, to investigate the claim, applied to the record of the state, and found the original treaty there desposited, dated the 31st May, 1796, whereby it appears, the premises so surrendered by the com- missioners aforesaid, is about eight square miles, being the most valuable part of the property held by your petitioners, &c., under the solemn grants of the state, in the years 1788, and 1790. A copy of said treaty, and cession aforesaid, is hereunto annexed, together with a map of the several grants certified by the surveyor general. That your petitioner, previous to the discovery of the cession aforesaid, did subscribe, and is accountable to contribute a considerable proportion towards a road from Plattsburgh, jointly with the proprietors of Louisville, and is now without
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the prospect of deriving the least benefit therefrom, In case thus circumstanced with the St. Regis Indians, who are not amenable to the laws, your petitioner and associates are induced to apply for legislative aid in the premises, and pray that they will be pleased to grant such relief as they in their wisdom will judge equitable and just.
JER'. V. RENSSELAER. Himself and Associates."
Albany, 17th January, 1799.
In consequence of the above, the state purchased the grass meadows, paying, it is said, much more than they were worth, and more than after- wards sold for.
To His Excellency, John Jay, Esq., Governor of the State of New York, in council. The petition of the several persons, whose names are hereunto subscribed, settlers in the townships of Massena, and Louis- ville, on the banks of the river St. Lawrence, in the state of New York. Humbly representeth; that the Indian chiefs and warriors of St. Regis, are possessed of a tract of land, chiefly wild meadow, extending from the mouth of Grass river, in the township of Massena, up to the falls, which is about seven miles. That your petitioners having settled in the said townships of Massena and Louisville, are greatly annoyed by the said Indians, who threaten to kill and destroy their cattle unavoidably trespassing upon these meadows, they being exposed chiefly without fence, and several of their cattle are missing. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray your Excellency, in council, to take such measures of accommodation with the said Indians, as shall seem meet, in order to secure to your petitioners the peacable enjoyment of their lands and property, against the depredations of the said Indians. And your pe- titioners will ever pray, &c.
Signed, Amos Lay, Mamri Victory, Calvin Plumley, Kinner New- comb, Samuel Newcomb, G. S. Descoteaux, Wm. Polley, Anthony Lamping, Aaron Allen and two illegible signatures. Dated June 24, 1800."
The first bridge over Grass river, was built in 1803, at the village, and has been rebuilt several times. In 1846 a tax of $873 was, by law, directed to be raised for the erection of a bridge, which was done in the same year. A bridge was built at the centre of the town, in 1832, but soon swept off. Raquette river is crossed by two bridges.
In early times, when from the insecurity of the laws and the tardiness of justice in overtaking and punishing offenders, there lived in the lower part of Massena, a class of people who sometimes executed the laws that pleased them best, and the " blue beech law" had perhaps, in some cases, the precedent of that formed upon the statute. Fighting was of. frequent occurrence, and the only redress in certain cases, that could he appealed to, for the settlement of personal difficulties. When courts of justice came to be established, the decisions were at times very unsatis- factory, and sometimes absurd. It is said that on one occasion, a man having been convicted before a magistrate for fighting, was sent to Og- densburgh jail, in the custody of a constable. To sustain the journey, hey took along a jug of rum, and both partook freely of its contents,
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
until becoming nearly intoxicated, they fell to blows, and both being badly beaten and gory with blood, returned. The keeper of the prisoner then offered to again start, and the latter promised peaceably to go, on condition, that their jug should be replenished. The account does not relate whether this very reasonable offer was complied with, on the part of the worthy magistrate.
Early in the summer, 1812, an American Durham boat on its way up from Montreal, was stopped at Mille Roche, a corporal's guard was put on board, and it was ordered to Cornwall. The militia officer, (Mr. Grant,) being somewhat a stranger to the river and its channels, gave up to the captain and crew of the boat its management, and the latter in running it down, steered across the foot of Barnhart's island, and before the guard on board had time to realize their situation, they were moored to the shore, and taken prisoners by the inhabitants, who seeing the boat ap- proaching, and comprehending the movement, had seized their arms and rushed to the water's edge, to await them. The boat's crew had more- over carelessly spattered water upon the guns of the guard, so as to render them entirelely useles. A militia training was then in progress at Massena village, and thither a messenger was despatched for help, but before they could arrive, the boat and the guard had been secured, and the latter were on their march to the village as prisoners. Their leader thenceforth bore the title of Commodore Grant, and the thing was looked upon as a good yankee trick. The boat was never recovered by the British, but the guard having been handsomely treated, were dismissed on parole.
During the same summer, the inhabitants of Massena village, by volun- tary labor, undertook to enclose a portion of their premises with a stock- ade. This was built of timber set into the ground, with two sides hewed to make the joints somewhat perfect, and the tops cut off about twelve feet from the ground and sharpened. A difference of opinion having arisen, in relation to where the line of pickets should run, and what pre- mises should be included, the work was abandoned, and of course never afforded any protection, if indeed any was in reality required. Quite an amount of labor was expended on this work. During the months of July and August of the same year, a barrack was erected near the centre of the town, north of Grass river, at the expense of the government, under the direction of Lieut. Emerson. It was a frame building, about one hundred feet in length, and occupied by militia of the county, under the command of Col. Fancher, of Madrid, for about three months. The numbers posted here were about 200 or 250. At the expiration of this period a part of these returned home and a part repaired to Ogdens- burgh.
H
FLOSSING - BAPPITT
United States Hotel, Massena Springs, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. Benjamin Phillips, Proprietor.
SUMMER HOUSE
OSSING-BARRITT
Harrowgate House-Spring and Bathing House. Massena Springs. St. Lawrence Co., N. F. B. Phillips, Proprietor.
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In September, 1813, a company of some 300 provincial militia of the county of Stormont, in Canada, and under Major Joseph Anderson, crossed the St. Lawrence in the night, burned the barrack, and took several prisoners who were subsequently released. A building which had been used as a storehouse for provisions, &c., was spared, on the representation that it was private property. They also destroyed several Durham boats that had been sunk in the river, and which were partly exposed by the low water. This party crossed at the foot of Barnhart's island, and returned by way of Grass river, up which the boats that had brought them over had been sent to meet them.
Half a century since Massena was overspread with a forest that afforded superior lumber and timber for spars, which made the business of lum- bering one of much prominence for many years. In 1810, $60,000 worth of timber was rafted to Quebec by one man: Spars from 80 to 110 feet long, were often obtained. This business ceased with the pro- gress of the settlements about 1828, although wood, and certain qualities of timber are still annually rafted to Montreal.
Massena Springs are situated on the west bank of Raquette river, one mile from Massena village, which is on Grass river, and communicate with the depot of North Potsdam by a plank road. They have acquired a wide reputation for their medicinal qualities, and this celebrity is ra- pidly increasing. The early surveyors noticed them in 1799-1800, when a copious volume of clear cold water was thrown up, strongly charged with sulphur, and the earth around trod into a mire hole, by deer and moose, which frequented the spot on account of the saline qualities of the water. The Indians here found an abundance of this game at all seasons, and vague traditions exist, that they used the waters medicinally, but of this there is much doubt. The whites, however, began to use the waters at an early day, and Spafford, in 1813, mentioned them as occur- ring near Lay's falls, and as possessing a reputation for the cure of cu- taneous complaints. In 1822, Capt. John Polley erected the first accom- modations, and in 1828, the present Harrogate house was built by Ruel Taylor, for Parsons Taylor, of St. Regis, which was opened for the ac- commodation of invalids, by David Merrils. Other private houses were erected in the vicinity soon after, and the spring was curbed and the ground around improved by a platform. In 1848, Benjamin Phillips, Esq., erected the present spacious and convenient hotel represented in our accompanying engraving. It is of brick, 90 by 44 feet on the ground, three stories in height, with the wings and accommodations for about two hundred visitors. It is proposed to extend the building to the ground occupied by the barn, which would quite double its capacity. Both hotels are now owned by Mr. Phillips, who has provided every
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
convenience as well for the sick, as for those who resort thither for pur- pose of recreation during the warm season. A neat building, supported by pillars, has been erected over the spring, and the grounds around planted with shade trees, and appliances for the external use of the water by warm and cold bath, have been prepared. The waters have been analyzed by Prof. Emmons, with the following results:
Warm spring.
Cold spring"
Chloride of Sodium,.
6,988
6,205
Magnesia,. .
644
846
Calcium,.
1,026
466
Sulphate of Lime,
2,794
1,960
Carbonate of Lime,
1,630
1,100
Hydro Sulphuret of Sodium, Magnesia and Or-
ganic Matter,.
1,870
13,082
12,447
The complaints for which these waters have been most used, are cu- taneous diseases of nearly every description, dyspepsia, especially of the chronic variety, and chronic diarrhea. For a disordered condition of the digestive organs in general, and for the debility arising from want of exercise, and close application to any sedentary employment, they have been found to exert a salutary influence. Active organic diseases of the liver and lungs have been oftener aggravated than relieved by the use of these waters. They are found serviceable also, in general debility, chronic ophthalmia, calculous affections, and the debilitating causes peculiar to the female constitution.
Religious Societies .- Meetings were held as early as 1803, by traveling preachers, and in 1806 two missionaries, one of whom was the Rev. Royal Phelps, visited the town, but no church was formed until February, 1819, when a Congregational one was formed under the Rev. Ambrose Porter, a native of Connecticut, and a graduate of Dartmouth College. The number at first, was 12. In five years he was succeeded by F. F. Packard, who stayed three years. In September, 1833, the 2d Congrega- tional Church was formed at the village, the former being at the centre of the town. The same clergyman has usually preached at both. The Rev. Messrs. Philetus Montague, Justin Taylor, Joseph A. Northrup, Rufus R. Demming and Thomas N. Benedict, have been successively employed. The 1st Congregational Society, was incorporated August 6, 1825, with John E. Perkins, Benjamin Phillips, Charles Gurney, James G. Steadman and U. H. Orvis, trustees. This society, aided by other sects in 1836, erected near the centre of the town, west of Grass river, a brick meeting house, at a cost of $1,600. The 2d Congregational Society, was incorporated October 15, 1844, with Silas Joy, William S. Paddock, Samuel Tracey, Benjamin Phillips, Robert Dutton, John B. Judd and J. B. Andrews, trustees. A meeting house was built at the village in 1843-4, at a cost of $2000, including the site. The years 1825, 1842 and 1846, have been marked by religious revivals, in which other denomina- tions shared.
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The Baptists and Methodists have each an organization in town. The church of the former is in the census of 1850, estimated worth $800. A Universalist Society was incorporated September 21, 1835, with Cornelius Barnes, Enos Beach and Joseph Tucker, trustees. They have no place of worship.
There is a Catholic church west of Grass river, about a mile below the village, which in the last census, is reported worth $900.
MORRISTOWN
Was formed from Oswegatchie, March 27, 1821, at first 10 miles square, but in the erection of Hammond and Macomb, reduced to its present limits.
The first town officers were David Ford, supervisor ; David Hill, clerk; John Canfield, Paschal Miller, Horace Aldrich, assessors ; Henry Hooker, collector ; John Hooker, Daniel W. Church, John K. Thurber, overseers of poor ; Wm. Swain, Alexander B. Miller, Win. R. Ward, commissioners of highways ; Powel Davis, James Burnham, commissioners of schools ; Erastus Northum, John Grannis, Alexander R. Miller, inspectors of schools.
Supervisors .- 1821, David Ford; 1822, Timothy Pope ; 1823-4, Augustus Chapman; 1825-6, Paschal Miller; 1827, Augustus Chapman; 1828-9. Jacob J. Ford; 1830-2, Richard W. Colforx ; 1833-4, John Parker ; 1835-7, Jacob J. Ford; 1838-9, Isaac Ellwood; 1840-52, Moses Birdsall.
Notes from the Records .- 1821, Canada thistles to be cut twice in the year, under a penalty of $5, to be sued by the poor masters. In 1833, voted against any part of the town being set on to Hammond. In 1836, efforts made to bridge Black lake at the Narrows. In 1844, voted against any division of the county. Resolved to build a town house, but this has not been done. In 1846, voted in favor of abolishing the office of deputy superintendent of schools. In 1848, resolved that an application be made to the legislature for an act granting the ferry money received at Morristown, to the support of common schools, and to give the care of the ferry to the town officers. The same resolution was passed in rela- tion to a ferry across Black lake. The care of this ferry was asked to be given to the town officers of the two towns.
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