USA > New York > Franklin County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 46
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 46
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The mill was finalty raised in October of that year. He proposed to have the mill stones brought to the place in sections, and put together there, to save the expense of taking them whole up the rapids in boats. His Frenchmen he finally sent to Mr. Ogden, of Montreal, for the bal- ance due them; but was very soon enabled to remit the means of pay- ment. His opinion of the settlers from Canada was subsequently mo- dified :
" Those people upon the other side, who used to talk so much about purchasing and settling, say very little about the matter now. The in- tentions of some of them I have discovered, which was, to purchase upon the credit given, in hopes before the leases expired, the land would rise, so as to nett them a handsome profit; in this I prevented them by annex- ing to the terms, ' in case of actual settlement.' I think it much better the land should rise in your hands than theirs. There is another class which would come over but are so poor they durst not purchase. Knowing their own inability to pay, they are fearful that at the expira- tion of the time the land will be taken from them, and they lose their improvement; so that between the two classes, we are not like to get many from the other side. Indeed, the more I become acquainted with them, the less I fancy them as settlers. They are a strange medley, and I believe it is well the river is betwixt us. I am well convinced in my own mind, the country will settle, and by our own countrymen, one of whom is worth six of his majesty's beef-eaters. Let us get our buildings and our business well under way, and if possible get the legislature to assist in cutting a road from the Mohawk, and the country will soon set-
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tle itself. The road ought to be attended to this winter. You can, through the medium of your friends, get the thing pressed in the legis- lature. If this were done, the people on the other side assure me they would much rather take their produce to Albany in the winter, than go to Montreal. They have all a desire to trade with New York. Were this avenue once opened, it would be astonishing to see the number of people that would flock in. The navigation is too intricate and expen- sive for families to come in that way. The consequence is, hundreds are under the necessity of going to the army land, and the Genesee, and every other new country to which they can get with sleighs. The road finished, and our business under good way, will at once render Ogdens- burgh the emporium of this part of the world. I hope Edsal has fur- nished you with a map and field book of his work. I charged them to do so as soon as they got home. I was happy to be informed that Mr. G. M. was so soon expected. I hope he has arrived safe. I am much at a loss to account for your writing me only once since I left Jersey. You promised me you would be very punctual."
Postscript of a letter duted Dec. 17, 1797, by N. Ford, to Samuel Ogden.
N. B. The Yankees I mentioned to you in a former letter, have been with me, and go out to-morrow to view the lands upon the east branch. There are four of them who will settle together, and as I conceive it an object to get a settlement going in that part of the tract, I have made it an object with them, by allowing them each to take 100 acres adjoining each other, for 10s. per acre, in four annual payments. There are four more who wish to join them, and make a like settlement, and I have promised Mr. Thurber (who is the leading character in the business), if they come forward, and go immediately on with him and his associates, they shall have a like quantity at 12s. per acre. Mr. Thurber tells me I may expect them. As soon as I can get this settlement under way, I shall venture to put the lands in that quarter at 16s. and 20s., and so on from time to time, as the settlement advances. I mentioned in a former letter the plan the people over the river had laid for speculation. They having been defeated in that, have laid another, which is, to purchase and strip off the timber, before the payment becomes due, and then give up the land. This scheme I have also discovered and by frustrating this plan, we shall not have many settlers from the other side, unless it should so turn out, upon finding they can get no advantage from their plans, some may become actual settlers. The Yankee immigration is commonly in the winter, and as the ice over Lake Champlain has not. been good until lately, I expect there may be some along shortly. I shall have another opportunity to write you again in ten or twelve days, and when I return shall give you a full history of every thing. Don't forget the road to the Mohawk-every thing depends upon that. God bless you. N. F.
On the 24th of October, 1798, Mr. Ford wrote to Ogden:
" I have sold eight or ten farms, but not one shilling of money; but I think it better to let settlers come on under contract. I consider most of them pioneers making way for another set, which will most assuredly succeed them. Many stand aloof yet, waiting the fate of Watson (who I suppose is now in jail), hoping or doubting as to the title.
* * I mentioned to you the burning of our hay by the Indians, in consequence of Watson's arrest. The report was not true. I have had an opportunity of seeing the Indians who were suspected, and read
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them a lecture upon the subject. I found them submissive; the white Indians are the worst; but I have so totally got the better of white and black Indians, that they are perfectly quiet, and I have not the least ap- prehension from either. I can not conclude without pressing your at- tention to the road. Be assured it is every thing to this country."
The great object of solicitude, the mill, was at length completed so as to get grinding done on the 1st of December, 1798. On the 22d he had ground about 1,500 bushels. During the summer of 1799, while the surveys of the towns were in progress, vague reports of iron mines, salt springs, &c., were circulated, and high expectations formed from the latter. During the season of 1799, a second saw mill was erected. During the first eleven months, the grist mill ground 3,954 bushels of wheat, 1,820 of corn, other grain 100 for customers, and 693 for the owners. In almost every letter which he wrote Mr. Ford brought in the subject of a road to the Mohawk, as an object of vast importance to the prosperity of the new settlement. He observed in a letter to the Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, as follows:
" The difficulty of getting to this country with families is beyond what is generally supposed. The present road through the Chateaugay coun- try, accommodates the few who emigrate from the upper part of Ver- mont, but the immense flood of people who emigrate to the westward, go there because they have no choice. This road once opened as con- templated, the emigration would soon turn this way, not only because the distance would be less than to the Genesee, but also because the lands are better and more advantageously situated. If the legislature will not take up the business, I am fully of opinion the proprietors will find their account in cutting out the road at their own expense. I should suppose those who own in the big purchase, would unite partially in the thing, for that land can never settle until a road is cut "The traveling and commerce which will go to Albany from Upper Canada, will far surpass the most sanguine idea. I am confident the farmer from this country will take his produce to Albany as easily as he can to Montreal, and he is sure of going to a better market. Over and above this (which is a sufficient reason for inducing them this way), is, that generally speaking, those who have settled upon the opposite side of the St. Law- rence, are from the North and Mohawk rivers, and their connexions are there. So they have a double advantage of seeing their friends, and doing business upon more advantageous principles. Vast numbers of the most leading farmers in that country, have assured me they would go to Albany in preferance to Montreal, if it took them three days longer. I am con- fident that the commerce which would flow into Albany, through the medium of this road, would very soon reimburse the state for the ex- pense. Those who live on our own side of the river, are compelled from necessity to trade at Montreal. This is the case with myself. My incli- nation is to trade to Albany, but it is impossible. It is highly political to prevent if possible, the commerce of this country from falling into a re- gular system through Montreal ; for when people once form mercantile connections, it is vastly difficult to divert and turn the current into a new channel. I see no rational mode but having the road cut, to secure to Albany so desirable an object. I have taken the liberty of stating my 25
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ideas upon this subject, which if they should meet yours, I trust and hope you will take such steps as will secure a benefit to the state, as well as promote the interest of the proprietors and settlers.
- I can but be suspicious that you and Hoffman, have suffered an imposi- tion in Mr. - - and Mr. 's survey. I shall mention the grounds of my suspicion, and you will be able to draw your own conclusions. Some short time before Mr. had finished his part of the survey, I had
it hinted to me that - 's work was all wrong. Not many days after,
Mr. came to my place, when I mentioned the matter to him. He told me he had understood something of the matter, upon which I told him it was his business to ascertain the fact, and as an honest man, make you acquainted with the business early enough to prevent -'s re- ceiving his pay. This I told him was not a business that immediately concerned me, but I would not be in the knowledge of these things with- out communicating them, and he might take his choice of doing it him- self, or I would do it for him. A day or two after he came to me, and affected to be very much distressed, and wanted my advice; that he was confident was a villain, and much feared he should be involved with him. I told him to get two surveyors, go into the woods, and take with them, examine the lines he, , had run, as well as the lines given him to lay out his work from, and if his work was false, con- vict him of it upon the spot; then let these surveyors certify the fact, and then write you a letter fully upon the subject, and inclose the certificate. This was done. The surveyors and - told me they had never seen such infamous work done by any body who had the smallest pretensions of being a surveyor. They very particularly examined the line given him to lay off his work from, and found that right. wrote you a letter upon this subject, which I made him show me, also the certificate, both of which he promised to forward immediately. I have no doubt upon my mind he would have done it, for there never were two men who ex- ecrated each other more than they have, or appeared to be greater ene- mies, and I never was more surprised than to hear that they met by mu- tual agreement at the St. Regis village, and travelled on to Albany togeth- er, and found no difficulty in making up a very good survey, and getting their pay, and have now gone to N. Y. for another job of surveying. No alteration has taken place in the lines since they were examined and if they were wrong then, they certainly are wrong now. How Mr. reconciles this business, I cannot very well see. I should have been hap- pier to have given this information earlier."
During the fall of 1800, Mr. Ford was visited by Gouverneur Morris, on a tour to see his northern lands, and wrote :- " I have done all I could to add to his accommodation, but that has been so trifling it scarce de- serves a name; for there was no accommodation which he had not with him. He travels in the style of an eastern prince." In this season, a fulling mill was got in operation, and kettles for making potash were brought on at great expense. In the summer of 1801, Edsall was em- ployed to survey a road through to the Black river, which was completed in September. It was intended to run to the High falls, but he found that after leaving the Ox Bow, "he came to a most intolerably swampy and ridgy ground, growing worse and worse as he progressed, and before he reached the falls became so perfectly confident of the impracticability
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of a road as well as the impossibility of settlement, that he abandoned the idea." This surveyor took a contract of continuing the road from Louis- ville to the east branch of Black lake, (Oswegatchie) and arrangements were made for extending it on to the Long falls, (now Carthage, Jefferson county,) to intersect the road through the Black river country, then about being laid out by Jacob Brown. At this time a project was on foot of opening a road through to Schroon lake, in the direction of Albany, but the roughness of the country, as found of Edsall's survey, deterred for a time, the prosecution of this plan. The road towards Black river, was so far cleared of underbrush during the fall, that it was resolved to at- tempt the journey through by sleigh as soon as the snows permitted. Mr. F. was strong in the faith that before the next summer he would have a road that should be drove with loaded wagons, and added : "I have no idea of putting up with such a thing as they have made through Chateau- gay, which scarcely deserves the name of an apology for a road." Late in this season the arrival of a vessel from Oswego, with 120 bbls of salt, was recorded as a memorable event.
The erection of a new county was prosecuted with zeal, and in March, 1802, was successfully accomplished. Mr. Ford thus wrote to S. Ogden, concerning the first session of the county court:
. "We had a respectable grand jury, and a numerous audience, and the business of the day was gone through with tolerable propriety. I was much disappointed in Edsall's not being here. I however brought for- ward my propositions respecting the court house, and should have gone through it tolerably well, but Turner and Tibbets, with the assistance of a Mr. Foote, who lives in Canton, rather seemed to think it had rather be put off. I did not think it good policy to urge the thing, and make party at that particular time. This is of too much importance to be omitted a moment. [Reflections upon the personal motives of certain parties omit- ted, in which the interests of other localities for securing the county seat, are surmised.] If we can preserve harmony in the county, it will be the better way, but if it is reduced to a certainty that we are to be opposed, I am determined to take the field, and we will try our strength. I would wish to try all other means first. This letter and our determination, ought to be kept a profound secret, and let us pursue the same friendship which they affect towards us; if we take them upon their own ground, we may have a chance to fight them with their own weapons, but to do this with effect, caution on our part is necessary. You must let me hear as early as possible, for the board of supervisors must meet shortly, to fix about repairing the jail, and this can not be done for less than £100. It will be poor policy to tax the county that sum, in addition, for a thing that ultimately will be lost, and at this particular time, I do not think it practicable for the county to pay it; for wheat and flour have no market at Montreal, and the people have nothing that will bring money The policy of the county ought to be the strictest economy, and make the taxes as light as possible ; for nothing scares people like taxes, and par- ticularly in a new country. A man will be hardly willing to emigrate to a new country where his little all is subject to be sold for taxes.
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There is a curious circumstance about the law which perhaps it is not best to say any thing about at present, and which I am confident I am not mistaken in, and Turner stood by me when the law passed, and he is confident of the same thing. The bill as first reported, fixed the place of the court house here. That part was amended, and it was left with the judges and supervisors to fix the spot. But the bill now says, " to be left to the future order of the legislature." Another thing in the bill,- the time of opening the court was on the 2d Tuesday of June ; the bill now says the 1st Tuesday. Turner and myself both stood by, and our atten- tion was necessarily fixed on the bill, but we neither of us can remem- ber any such amendments. How they have since found their way into the bill I do not understand. As we now must apply to the legislature to fix the place, it makes it necessary that we should be as unanimous as possible. If we are, and apply, there is no doubt but we can succeed. Edsall has been from home these four weeks; what has become of him, I do not know,-I fear some accident. I met with him at the Little falls, and mentioned my plan to him, which he approved. I have delayed doing any thing very pointed, because he was not here. The season thus far has been the wettest and most backward of any known in the coun- try. Wheat has no market at Montreal, neither has any thing else."
In a letter to T. L. Ogden on the subject of taxes he said:
" It is of all consequence that taxes be kept out of view as much as possible, and a tax of £100 in addition to those which must be raised for other purposes, would when all put together be more to each, than any man within the county ever paid in his life, let him come from whatever part of the world he might, I need not tell you the influence this would have upon the mind as well as pockets of all the settlers, and also the influence it would have upon those who contemplated emigating to the county.
It is too obvious to need the smallest observation ; for there can be none but will readily believe the emigration would very soon be from, instead of into, the country. You will most undoubtedly agree with me in opinion, that all measures ought to be pursued which will have a tendency to promote and encourage settlement. This I take to be a primary object with all those who possess lands within the county, from which they expect to draw resource. Whilst I am upon the subject of taxes, I can not omit mentioning one circumstance which applies forcibly to this country, and is one which requires address and management in the affairs of the county to obviate its effects, and this arises from our proximity to Canada, where the taxes are very small, and scarce deserve a name. People will be drawing a parrallel, and when they find the taxes upon this side of the river to be so much higher than upon the other, I fear it will be difficult to explain away the effects which may be produced. The taxes last year were three times as high on this side of the river, as they were upon the other. I however explained the thing away very much in my settlement. People however talked and affected not to see what could make the difference. Our taxes now of course must be something higher, but if things are judiciously managed, I hope taxation will be circumscribed so as not to be oppressive. Many difficulties have this long time presented themselves to my mind upon those subjects, but never so forcibly as they have since my return home; and upon mature deliberation I concluded to make the following propositions, and if the county thought proper to accept the offer, I would set about the court house and jail, and before this time next year, I would have a room for
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the court, and also one jail room fitted, and the whole should be finished as soon as possible, and not repair the barracks.
Proposition .- That every person should sign in wheat, as many bush- els as they thought proper,-to be paid in wheat, delivered at our mill, in the following manner. } in Feb., } in the Feb. following, and } the next Feb. The house to be set upon the east side of the Oswegatchie river. Ogden and Ford would subscribe $1000, take the wheat subscription upon themselves, and go on and finish the building at once. The coun- ty was very much disposed to take the offer, and very properly conclud- ed that they could never get a house upon so good terms, but Tibbets Turner and Foote, threw cold water upon it, and I did not think proper to urge the thing. Their opposition did not extend beyond their own settlement, and many of them thought the offer too generous to be slight- ed."
In a confidential letter of August 8, 1802, the fear was expressed, that some project was on foot to extend the county back to the height of land, in which case the court house would undoubtedly fall in the great pur chase, or of dividing it by a line from the rear to the river.
On the 18th of Sept., 1802, he wrote concerning the road.
"I have got all the worst places cross-wayed; and to convince you I have effected something like a road, a waggon ftom the Mohawk river came through to Ogdensburg with me. I do not mean to tell you it is at this minute a good waggon road, but before cold weather, I intend it shall be so. I have finished the bridge over the east branch, (now Heuvelton), and a most complete one it is; there are few so good in any of our old counties."
During this season, vigorous efforts were made to collect materials for the court house. On the 12th of Nov., 1802, he wrote concerning the settlement:
" Emigration this year has universally been less than it has been for several years past, and this I impute to the sudden fall of produce, in consequence of the peace From the high price of produce, land in our old settled country was proportionate, and lands not experiencing the same sudden fall are still kept up by those who meant to sell and emi- grate; but the neighbor who meant to buy does not think he can (in consequence of the fall of produce), pay the price he expected he could, and the consequence is, the man does not sell, and as consequently does not emigrate. But this is a thing which will regulate itself, and emigra- tion must soon go on with its usual rapidity; for I can not learn there are any less children got in New England now, than there were when wheat was three dollars per bushel, and it is equally necessary that yankees swarm as it is for the bees. We are getting on with our settle- ment, I have got three settlers out upon the new road, fifteen miles from this, and several intend going. I hope to have the road a good one, I mean to have it in my power to say it is by far the best new road I ever saw in a new country."
The lumber trade, although often a source of loss at times, continued to be prosecuted, and one or two rafts were sent annually to Montreal.
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On the 10th of July, 1804, Mr. Ford wrote to Ogden concerning his raft, &c .:
" She sailed yesterday with flour, potash, pearl barley, boards and plank, all of which I fear will go to a dull market, but this is a fate attending doing business. We must hope for better times, and be the more in- dustrious. I found our business at home in as good a train as I could expect. The difficulty of procuring labor in this country is unusually great. The high price of lumber last year, was such as to induce almost every body to drive at that business, which takes off all the surplus labor this year. In old times, ' all the world went up to Jerusalem to be taxed,' but in modern days all the world go to Montreal with rafts, which if I am not mistaken will prove a heavier tax to them, than the old times people experienced at Jerusalem. I have got our tanning business under way; we shall make about two hundred hides. I find the man I have employed in the business to be very industrious, and hope we shall find the business to answer. ' Since my arrival I have determined to set a still at work. I have employed a man who has the reputation of being clever at the distilling business. I have sent to Albany for a still of 150 gallons, and a rectifier of 50 gallons. The size of these I imagine is as profitable as any. At all events I do not wish to dip too deep before I make the experiment. I brought in three masons from Troy to work at the court house, and I hope to see the chimney above the roof to-morrow or next day at furtherest. My intention is to hold our November term in the house. After getting through this and the two foregoing objects, I intend laying aside all further considerations in the building way, until we find ore, except it be to build a house, which I intend shall be of stone. I can not consent to live in those old barracks much longer, and the groundwork of this fabric I intend shall be laid next summer. I
found a number of settlers had got on before my return. I have sold several farms since, and a number more are intending to purchase, but money they have not. I can plainly perceive, there will not a great length of time elapse before a race of people will come along who will purchase improvements."
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