USA > New York > Franklin County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 51
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 51
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Supervisors .- 1836-40, John Sloper; 1841-2, Silvester Bacon; 1843-4, Horatio N. Dickinson; 1844, at a special meeting in October, Asaph Green; 1845-7, Asaph Green; 1848-50, Eli R. Paul; 1851-2, Asaph Green.
Joseph Pitcairn, from whom this town was named, was born in Fife- shire, Scotland, and was a son of a Scotch clergyman. In early life he came to the United States, and subsequently for several years he resided in the East Indies. At one time he held the office of consul for our government at Paris, from which office he was removed by Jefferson. Most of his life was spent in the capacity of a merchant, at Hamburgh, in Germany. In 1817, having acquired from Daniel McCormick, who took a great interest in his affairs, and to whom he is believed to have been somewhat related, the ownership of his unsold lands in St. Law- rence and Franklin counties, he came into the northern part of the state, appointed agents, and took measures for commencing settlements in Pitcairn, Edwards, Brasher, and other places. At one time he contem- plated making the village of Helena, in Brasher, his summer residence, and the fine stone mansion of Mr. Nevins, of that village, was erected for him. He died in New York, in June, 1844.
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The first settlement in Pitcairn was formed by emigrants from Pots- dam. In the fall of 1824, Nathan Dickenson and sons, Nathan, Justin, Anson, Leonard, and Hubbard, with Levi W. Gleason and Nathan C. Scovil, came in to select land, and most of them erected the body of log houses. In December, Justin Dickenson and family moved into town, and for some time lived alone. In February he was joined by others. James Streeter, from Fowler, arrived in February, having made the first clearing in town the fall previous, on the site of the present cemetery near the log chapel. Nathaniel, Joseph and Elisha Lamphear, came in in 1824, but did not move till the next year. Joshua Sloper, George
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Peabody, Aaron Geer and sons, Dayton Merrrill, Samuel Gustin, and others, came in 1824 and 1825. Elder Jonathan Paine in 1826, became the first Baptist preacher. In June, 1825, the first birth occurred in town, in the family of N. C. Scovil. The first school was taught by Miss Caroline Dickenson, in 1826. The first marriage was Aaron Bingham to Miss C. Dickenson. P. Jenny erected the first saw mill in 1828. There are two post offices in town, both of which are on the route from Edwards to Lowville. Pitcairn post office was established 5th June, 1840, John Sloper, postmaster; and East Pitcairn post office, February 8, 1850, Charles Bowles, postmaster.
Near the southeast corner of the town, is a valuable depository of magnetic iron ore, which will doubtless hereafter give employment to the industry of great numbers. The supply is reported to be ample. About 100 tons have been taken, and the mine has acquired the name of the Jayville mine.
Mining explorations for lead were formerly carried on in town, and much money expended.
The following incident happened in Pitcairn near where Green's mill now stands, and some time before any settlers had located in town. James Streeter, then living in Fowler, was out hunting for deer, in the winter time, when there was about three feet of light snow on the ground. When on Portaferry creek, he noticed a great number of tracks, which as he traced across the ice, he discovered had been made by five pan- thers. Following these, he found a place where they had pawed away the snow to the ground, and had nested the night previous, and a few rods beyond this, he overtook a large male panther, which his dog treed, and which was killed by a single shot from his rifle. A few rods beyond, a young panther was treed and wounded. A second shot despatched this, and shortly after another young one was chased to a spruce tree and despatched by a single shot. The three were beheaded, and Streeter returned to the camp, and the next morning came back with a companion and despatched the remaining female panther. A large male remained, who was treed without difficulty but not killed till after many shots. This one evinced much venom, keeping his eyes fixed upon the hunters, disregarding the dog, gnashed his teeth, growling, spitting after the fashion of a cat, and would run up and down, as if about to attack them. Getting more composed, he would climb to the topmost branches, and seating himself, would purr like a cat. When wounded, he would again become enraged. He was killed by a shot through the head. The bounties on panthers were $25 each at this time, which made the day's work very profitable.
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
POTSDAM.
This town was erected from Madrid, by the same act which formed Stockholm from Massena, and De Kalb from Oswegatchie, Feb. 21, 1806. The first town meeting was directed to be held at the house of Benjamin Raymond. In 1807, a part of the present town of Pierrepont was annexed, which was taken off in the erection of that town. The officers elected at the first town meeting, were
Benjamin Raymond, supervisor; Gurdon Smith, town clerk; Bester Pierce, David French and Gurdon Smith, com'rs of highways ; Giles Par- mele, Horace Garfield and Benjamin Bailey, assessors; Benjamin Ray- mond, Benjamin Stewart, Levi Swift, Abner Ray, Jun., Archibald Rayer and Isaac Buck, overseers of highways ; Ansel Baily, constable and collector ; William Smith and Oliver Boyder, pound masters; Jabez Healy and David French, overseers of poor ; Levi. West, B. Pierce and Benj. Stew- art, fence viewers.
At a special town meeting, convened at the academy, Sept. 1, 1813, in pursuance of an act entitled "an act for the establishment of common schools," passed June 19, 1812, the following named persons were elect- ed school commissioners, viz: Benjamin Raymond, Gurdon Smith and Howard J. Pierce. Four school inspectors were chosen, viz: James Johnson, Liberty Knowles, 'I homas Swift and Sylvester Bacon. These were the first persons who held that office in town.
Supervisors .- 1806-7, Benjamin Raymond; 1808, Charles Cox; 1809, Benjamin Raymond; 1810-11, Charles Cox; 1812-17, Benjamin Ray- mond; 1818-21, Gurdon Smith; 1822, Samuel Partridge ; 1823-4, Gurdon Smith; 1825, Samuel Partridge; 1826-7, Horace Allen; 1828-9, Samuel Partridge; 1830-4, Zenas Clark; 1835-7, Ansel Bailey; 1838, Amos W. Brown; 1839, Ansel Bailey ; 1840-3, Aaron T. Hopkins; 1844-5, Thomas Swift; 1846-7, Isaac Parker; 1848-9, Charles Dart; 1850-1, Amos Blood; 1852, Isaac Parker.
Notes from the Records .- 1810-11. A bounty of $5 offered for wolves. 1826-7. Voted that it was expedient to divide the county, and to erect a new one. 1837. Voted against any division of the town.
In June, 1799, Mr. Benjamin Wright, of Rome, having arrived at St. Regis with a surveying company of seven parties, despatched Mr. Gur- don Smith, one of his surveyors, up the Raquette river, to make obser- vations, and ascertain how far the river was navigable, and what places were most suitable for provision camps. He proceeded with his boat as far as Norfolk, from whence he proceeded by land to the present vil- lage of Potsdam. Finding a commodious place for spending the night, on the rocks near where the mills now stand, and a snug shelter under a fallen pine, he spent the night.
Here, far removed from every settlement, in the untraversed wilder- ness, and in all probability on ground which the foot of the white man had never before trod, he discoved a tuft of timothy grass, evidently the product of a single seed, which had been wafted by winds, or carried by birds, to a spot congenial to its growth. Much pleased with this familiar object, he hailed it as the harbinger of civilization, and a herald sent forward to anticipate the future destiny of the county, as a great grazing region. The figure of the great and indispensible staple, so essential to our prosperity as a dairy district, might, with much propriety, be adopted
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by the citizens of Potsdam, as an emblem for thetr seal, with equal or more application than the thistle, the shamrock and the roses, of Scot- land, Ireland and England, which have come to be considered as the national devices of these countries.
The first settlement of the town of Potsdam was begun by Benjamin Raymond, the agent for the proprietors, in 1803. In May of that year, he left Rome with a bateau laden with mill irons, provisions, and about half a dozen men, and proceeded by the difficult and tedious route of Oswego river, lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence, to Point Iroquois, above Waddington, where he left a part of his load, and proceeded to open his way through the forest, to his location in the present village of Potsdam. He first struck the river some distance below, and here he built a raft, and ascended about half a mile to the falls, where he arrived in June. He here erected a temporary hut on the rocks west of the river, and commenced building a saw mill, which was raised and got in operation the same year. During the summer, lines for roads were sur- veyed out in different directions, and some of them, among which was the route from Stockholm through Potsdam to Canton, was so far cleared of underbrush, as to allow the passage of teams. The frame of the saw mill was the first building erected in town. Mr. Raymond had, for two or three years, traversed the town as a surveyor, and was well acquaint- ed with its location, and sensible, before commencing a settlement, of the natural superiority of the soil over that of some other parts of the country. Ebenezer Patterson is said to have been the first man who moved his family into town, and his wife was, during the year 1803, reported to have been the "handsomest woman in Potsdam." In 1804, Mr. Raymond returned with his family, coming by the way of the Long falls (Carthage).
William Smith, Gurdon Smith, Benjamin Stewart, John Delance, David French, Chester Dewey, Joseph Bailey, Bester Pierce, Roswell Parkhurst,* William Bullard, Abner Royce, Reuben Field, and others, came in, some only to select farms, on which they began small improve- ments, preparatory to removal, and others moving on directly.
* Roswell Parkhurst, who lived many years in Potsdam, and died there, was in his youth the subject of an incident which has formed a prominent place in the annals of Royalton, in Ver- mont. In 1776, a company of tories and Indians attacked that town, and took a number of prisoners, among whom were several men and children. The mother of one of the latter followed the Indians, and urged them to return her little son, whom they had taken, and plead her request with such earnestness, that she succeeded. Encouraged by this success, she urged the matter further; and had the address to prevail with the savages to give up twelve or fifteen of her neighbors' children, among whom was the subject of this note. In a fit of good humor, one of the savages then offered to carry her on his back over the river, which offer she accepted, and she was safely conveyed across on the shoulders of the gallant Indian.
( Williams's History of Vermont, 2d ed. vol. ii, p. 241.
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
During the summer, a frame grist mill was raised and partly finished, but not got in operation till the following year. Ebenezer Wright, a brother-in-law of Raymond, was the millwright. In 1805, Horace Gar- field, Timothy Shepard, Jabez Healey, John Fobes, Oliver Boyden, Ansel Bailey and brothers, Giles Parmelee, David Corey, most of those who. formed The Union, which will be described presently, and Jolin and others by the name of Smith, from Tunbridge, Vermont, relatives of Joe Smith, the celebrated founder of the Mormon sect, came into town and settled. John Smith is at present the chief or high priest of the Morman settlement at Salt lake, in Utah territory. The first death in town among the settlers was that of James Chadwick, a young man from Tyrringham, Mass., which was caused by the falling of the limb of a tree, in July, 1805. The first birth in town, was a daughter, in the family of William Smith, in the year 1804. Levi Swift, Charles Cox, Asa and Ira Perrin, Abram Collins, and many others, came in and took up farms, and in that year the land around Potsdam village for quite a distance was contracted to actual settlers. The first frame dwelling in town was erected by Mr. Raymond, in 1804, on the west side of the river.
On the Raymond's again returning in the spring of 1805, he proceed- ed with a team and sleigli to the Ox Bow on the Oswegatchie river, in Jefferson county. Here the snow left them, and a company of some eighteen, who had come by different routes, and with different destina- tions, found themselves in the same dilemma; among these were Nathaniel Holt, James Burnett, Elijah Pooler, Isaac Burnham, Elisha Griffin, Dr. John Seeley, and perhaps one or two others, on their way to DeKalb. Mr. Raymond was accompanied by a brother in law, Mr. Ebenezer Wright, and his family. Finding no alternative, they con- structed a raft of about thirty pine logs, which they bound together se- curely, and upon which they placed their three sleighs, their goods and. families, and proceeded down the stream, at that time excessively swol- len by rains and melting snows. At night they came to, about opposite the present village of Richville, and towards the close of the second day (April 1,) the emigrants arrived at Cooper's settlement in DeKalb. The horses were sent around by the state road, in charge of Sewall Ray- mond, a cousin of B. Raymond.
The land records of Potsdam show the following list of early settlers, in the order of their purchases, commencing June 9, 1803. During that year the following persons purchased.
Christopher Wilson, Jabez Healey, John Fobes, Moses Patterson, Elihu Knights, Ash Knapp, Elias Champion, Gurdon Smith, Joshua Conkley, Francis Whitney, John DeLance, Benjamin Stewart, Giles
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Parmelee, Sylvanus Eaton, Archibald Royce, William Smith, Chester Dewey, Nathaniel Bailey, David French, Esau Rich, Reuben Ames, Barnabas Ames, Benjamin Bailey, Howard J. Pierce, Newel B. Smith, Ansel Bailey, Ebenezer Hubbard, Ebenezer Patterson. In 1804, Ebene- zer Parkhurst, Jun., Wm. Amnes, Barnabas Hogle, Thomas Bowker, David Covey, Jehiel Slafter, Joseph Wright, Lebeus Johnson, Bester Pierce, Roswell Parkhurst, Alvin Mills, Reuben Field, John Bowker, Spalding Waterman, William Bullard and associates, Ezra Crarey. In 1805, Ezekiel Wilson, Paul Raymond, Jehiel Slafter, Horace Garfield, Ebenezer Jackson, Dyer Bottum, Elijah Stevens, David French, Azariah Orton, David Hendee, Levi Wyman, Josiah Fuller, Wm. Pike, Charles Cox, Benjamin Pratt, Levi West, Jeremiah Gilmore, Abraham Collins, Samuel Harris, Levi Swift, Frederick Currier, Josiah Fuller, Ai Powers, Asa Goodnow, Abner Royce, Jun., Andrew Patterson, Timothy Parker, Luther Savin, William Isham, Timothy Shephard, Larned Rich, Moses Patterson.
On the 28th of Nov., 1804, Wm. Bullard and associates took up a tract of 2,427 acres, about two miles north of the present village, at a cost of $8656.04, with the view of establishing a colony, having a unity of interests, and on a plan which he had drawn up in New England. The records of the land office show, that his partners in the purchase were William, Thomas H. and Ammi Currier, J. Buttolph, J. Borroughs, J. and R Field, N. Howe, J. McAllaster, E. and S. Shaw, M. Smith, D. and L. Wyman, and B. Wells. Some of these withdrew and others joined ; and about the month of May, 1807, they formed an association styled The Union, a d consisting of the following members.
Wm. Bullard the projector, John Burroughs, Manassa Smith, Nathan Howe, Ammi Currier, Thomas Currier, Isaac Ellis, Wn. Currier, Alba Durkee, and John McAllaster. A constitution was formed, a clerk chosen, and all things relative to the Union was decided by a majority of votes, on strictly republican principles. The property of the company was held in common stock, each sharing equally in the proceeds, accord- ing to the amount of labor invested. An' account was kept with each member, of the amount of stock invested, and day's works performed, and at the annual meeting of the stockholders, which occurred in Janu- ary of each year, a settlement was made with each. The company were prospered to some degree. Bullard acted as agent, and Burroughs as clerk. They disclaimed all control over the political or religious views of the members. After dissolution, the land was divided, and most of the members continued to reside on the tract, and accumulated property. But two of the company are now living. Mr. Burroughs, in Potsdam, now in his 88th year, and Wm. Currier, in Ohio. Most of them afterwards adopted the religious tenets of the Christian sect. In March 1818, in this settlement, a great excitement was produced by finding in a hen's nest, an egg, on which was inscribed in white and raised characters, very legibly, the words, " wo! wo! to those that deny the Trinity." Like the golden egg of the fable, this prodigy and the hen that laid it, at- tracted the greatest curiosity, and hundreds from the surrounding country flocked thither to wonder at the miraculous denunciation, and satisfy themselves by actual inspection of the prodigy. It is said that $500 were offered for the hen, and that this sum was refused!
Numbers were exceedingly alarmed, and others looked upon it as a direct communication from Heaven, while still another class, said that it was a trick of some mischievous person, and that the characters were first traced with hot tallow, and then eroded by immersion in vinegar. From the account book of the Union, before us, it is observed that a minute re-
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
cord was kept of every item of business, apparently with strict justice, and at its dissolution, the most friendly feeling existed between the mem- bers. In Spafford's Gazetteer, 1813, this society is erroneously stated to be composed of Moravians. The members were from New England and had formed the association before settling in Postdam. Mr. Bullard, the projector, had issued a pamphlet to set forth the advantage of the as- sociation, and labored zealously to establish it.
In 1809, a bridge was built on the present site, which lasted till 1830, when the supervisors of the county were directed by an act of the legis- lature, to levy a tax of $300 in town, for the purpose of rebuilding it. The bridge then erected, lasted till 1849, when the board of supervisors were, by an act passed March 28, 1849, authorized to levy another tax of $500, in addition to the tax of $250, ordinarily raised for improving roads and bridges, across Raquette river, in the village of Potsdam, to be expended under the direction of Benjamin G. Baldwin, and Williard M. Hitchcock. The additional sum of $250 was also directed to be raised in 1850, for the same purposes. With this appropriation the present ele- gant bridge across the Raquette river was built. In 1810, Judge Ray- mond erected a building near the centre of the village, for a public school, and place of worship, which subsequently was given to the St. Lawrence academy, and for many years was occupied by tbe trustees of that institution as an academic building. In 1820, the first church in the village, was erected by the Presbyterians, and in 1825 the north academic building was built. That on the south was built in 1835, after the organization of a teacher's department. A full account of the origin and history of this institution, will be found in the chapter devoted to this subject. For several years from the time that settlements began, , they progressed quite rapidly, and in no town was more energy or in- dustry displayed in promoting internal improvemeuts, and thus offering inducements to settlement, than by Mr. Raymond.
The village early acquired a growth second only to Ogdensburgh, and. the location of the St. Lawrence academy tended much to promote this prosperity. A fire company was incorporated by an act of April 9, 1823, by which Samuel Partridge, and all of those residing in the village, were constituted a body corporate, with the powers, privileges and im- munities, usually granted to such associations, and with such exemptions from service, as militia, or jurymen, as is customary. On the incorpora- tion of the village, in 1831, the fire department was placed under the jurisdiction of the village trustees, who reorganized it and formed a code of by-laws for its government. The village possesses at present, two good fire engines, but there is scarcely any organization of a fire de- partment kept, further than suitable regulations for the care and preser- vation of the engines.
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In 1825, the citizens of this town united in celebrating the national anni- versary in a manner quite novel and utilitarian. The following extract from their programme, which was preceded by a series of patriotic resolu- ons, will be read with interest.
Resolved, therefore, that it be recommended to the inhabitants of said town, to assemble at the village, at an early hour on the 4th day of July next, with teams and suitable implements, for the purpose of embanking the meeting houses and gun house, and improving the public square in said town, as a principal part of the exercises of that day. Resolved, That Rev. Jonathan Wallace be requested to deliver an appropriate ad- dress on the square, at the close of said day. Resolved, That Messrs. Jabez Willes, John C. Smith, John Goulding and Anthony Y. Elderkin, be a committee of arrangements. Resolved, That the following persons be appointed as assistants of the said Committee, for the purpose of no- tifying the inhabitants of their respective neighborhoods, furnishing a due proportion of the several kinds of implements, and taking charge of the different portions of work, viz:
Warren Clark, Moses Cheeny, Ebenezer Brush, Solomon M Crary, Seth Benson, Ai Powers, David French, Ansel Bailey, Louis Plympton, William Smith, Sylvester Bacon, Giles Parmalee, Archibald Royce, James Murphey, Gurdon Smith, Stephen Buss, David Barnum, Thomas S. Hemenway, Perez Fobes, Joel Buckman, Ezra Lyman, Samuel Parker, 2nd, Samuel Stickney, Jacob Redington, Jonathan Hoit, Ammi Currier, Frederick Currier, Daniel Pride, James Porter, John Chandler, Charles Edgerton, Thomas W. Durkee, Isaac Ellis, Jun., Isaac Austin, Stephen Maynard, John Smith, Almond Howard, Parley Perrin, Ira Perrin, Amos W. Brown, Aikins Foster, Bester Pierce, Horace Garfield, John Olmstead, John M. Call, Alanson Fisher, A. Lyman, John B. Judd, Eleazer Johnson.
L. KNOWLES, Chairman.
H. Allen, Secretary.
In pursuance of the above resolutions, the undersigned give notice for the (4th of July next) of the following
Order of the Day .- 1. The day will be ushered in by the discharge of cannon. 2. At half past 7 o'clock, A. M., prayers will be attended on the common. 3. Labor will commence at 8 o'clock A. M, at the dis- charge of one gun. 4. At half past 12 o'clock, at noon, at the discharge of a gun and the sound of the bugle, the procession will form, and, aided by the band, will march to the table (on the common), to be fur- nished with the provisions which each man will bring with him; and it is presumed some appendages will be added by the people of the vil- lage. Liquor will be furnished by the committee. 5. At half past one o'clock, P. M., labor will recommence, at the sound of the bugle. 6. At 5 o'clock, P. M., the sound of the bugle will announce the cessation of labor, when the procession will form and proceed to the place for re- ceiving the address, from Rev. Mr. Wallace. 7. The day will close with music and the discharge of cannon.
J. WILLES, A. Y. ELDERKIN, Committee of J. C. SMITH, JOHN GOULDING. Arrangements.
Potsdam, June 23, 1825.
The trustees of public lands in the town of Potsdam, were by an act
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of the legislature passed April 18, 1828, authorized to sell the gospel and school lot, or any part thereof in that town, on such terms of credit less than ten years, as they might deem most conducive to the interests of the town. This was done.
The village of Potsdam, was incorporated March 3, 1831. The affairs of the corporation were directed to be managed by five trustees, elected annually on the first Monday of May, in each year, who were to elect one of their number as president, and to appoint a clerk, treasurer, collector, constable and pound master, who should hold their offices for one year unless sooner removed by the trustees.
At a meeting of the trustees, held May 3, 1832, a seal was adopted having for its device a tree, under the word Potsdam. July 3, 1832, Zenas Clark, George Wilkinson and Justus Smith, were appointed a board of health, and John Parmelee, health officer, in pursuance of the statute law passed June 22, 1832. This board met soon after, and passed a series of resolutions restraining persons from Canada from entering the village without having first obtained a bill of health from some health officer within the county, to be approved by the board. Regulations respecting domestic nuisances, &c., were also passed, and vigilant measures taken to remove all causes which might tend to generate disease.
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