A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time, Part 52

Author: Hough, Franklin Benjamin, 1822-1885
Publication date: 1853
Publisher: Albany, N.Y. : Little & Co.
Number of Pages: 750

USA > New York > Franklin County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 52
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 52

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The act of 1831, incorporating the village of Potsdam, was amended April 10, 1849. The bounds of the village were by this act increased, and additional powers were conferred upon the trustees in relation to the pur- chase and conveyanee of real estate, the making and repairing of side- walks, roads, &c., and the planting and protection of trees, and the con- struction of reservoirs, sewers and ditches.

About five miles from the village in the north west part of the town is a small village commonly known as Smith's Corners, from Gurdon Smith, the first settler. It is the centre of business for a rich agricultural dis- trict, and is the seat of the post office of West Potsdam of the U. States Mutual Insurance Co. One mile south from this is a small settlement which has acquired the name of Yaleville. The first beginning was made here in 1806, by Moses Patterson. It contains two saw mills, grist mill, tavern, two stores, several mechanic shops, and about eighteen families. The post office of West Potsdam, was first established here in 1847. Barnabas Yale and sons, Lloyd C. and John, settled here in 1836, and from them the settlement derived its naine.

Buck's Bridge is the name of a small village in the western corner of the town, on Grass river, three miles from the rail road depot for Madrid and Canton, and on the plank road between those places. The place derives its name from Isaac Buck, from Shoreham, Vt., who settled here about 1807. In 1809, a saw mill was built and in operation, and some thirty or forty acres of land cleared. A store was opened by Mr. Buck, about this time. A Methodist chapel has been erected here, and it is the seat of a post office.

Raquetteville is the name of a village which has sprung up as if by magic, near the point where the Northern rail road crosses Raquette river, and at the depot for a rich and growing country, both north and south, with which it commuicates by plank road. Under the combined influ- ences of these communications, a valuable water power, the character- istic energy of its spirited founder, and the very strong probability that it will become the terminus of the rail road about to be built to Watertown, it can not fail to attain that importance to which it is entitled. It has sprung up since October, 1850, and is mostly upon a farm of 400 acres

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POTSDAM

DEPOT

N. RAIL ROAD

SQUARE

PLANK ROAD

POTSDAM & WATERTOWN. R. R

MILL

Piling Ground

BIOOZ

PLAN OF RACQUETTEVILLE. St. Lawrence Co.N.Y.

N. ORR . KY

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purchased by Benjamin G. Baldwin, 1836. This gentleman conveyed 15 acres to the company for a depot, besides road way ; in 1850, he erected a tavern house, which burnt down the next March, and in 1851, two other taverns and several dwellings were built. In 1852, a substantial dam with eight feet fall, was erected on Raquette river, which affords a water power of great value; a highway bridge constructed a little below ; the premises around laid out for a village, with ample reservations for public grounds and numerous dwellings, built. Among the latter was a large hotel built by Robert M. Gill, three stories in height. An extensive forwarding and mercantile interest has sprung up, and the returns of the rail road show an amount of business surpassed only by that of its two termini. It is anticipated that additions to the depot which is 50 by 100 feet, will soon be necessary for the accommodation of passengers. The water power is owned by a company, and there is in preparation for building a large gang saw mill on each bank, and other machinery on an extensive scale. The peculiar facilities for the transportation of timber which this river affords, will long give prominence to this department of industry,-the manufacture of wooden fabrics, and Raquetteville, in addition to the facilities of other points on the river, will possess the additional one of direct rail road communication with market. A post office named North Potsdam, is established here, and a telegraph station on the main line from Ogdensburgh to Burlington, uniting with most of the large cities.

By an act passed April 18, 1845, the board of supervisors were re- quired to levy a tax of $600 in each of the years, 1846 and 1847, in the town of Potsdam, which moneys were to be paid over to the supervisors of the town, Henry L. Knowles, Samuel Partridge, Flavel Smith and William W. Goulding, for the purpose of being spent in the erection of a town house in the village. The committee hereby appointed were at liberty to anticipate this appropriation by loans, if they thought proper. The town was directed to choose by ballot some person who with the supervisor and town clerk, were to have charge of the town house, with liberty to grant its use for such purposes as might not be deemed incon- sistent with the purposes for which it was erected, or the interests of the town. If it should be located upon the westerly side of the public square it should not be let for any such use on Sunday without the consent of the trustees of the societies occupying the two nearest churches.

A town hall was accordingly built the same year under a contract with Wm. J. Sweet. It is of wood, about 64 by 40 feet, and stands on the centre of the west side of the public square.

We are much indebted to William H. Wallace, Esq., for the following statistics of Potsdam village, as it was in the fall of 1852:

Population of village, 1,500 to 1,600; of town, 5,000 to 6,000. There were 175 dwellings ; 5 churches; 2 large stone academic buildings ; 12 dry goods stores, and six others in town; 1 furnace or hardware store; 1 book store; 3 shoe stores, and 1 shoe shop; 2 wholesale and retail gro- cery stores; 1 printing office (issuing a weekly paper, circulation 900); 6 groceries; 3 hotels; 2 jeweler shops and stores; 2 saddle and harness shops and stores; 2 tailor shops; 3 shoe and leather stores; 2 tanneries; 4 cabinet shops; 2 finishing machine shops; 1 foundry and furnace; 1 trip hammer shop; 5 blacksmith shops; 1 wholesale and retail tin store; 2 cooper shops; 1 carriage factory; 2 wheelwright shops; 1 chair shop and factory; 1 marble factory; 1 fanning mill factory; 1 large flouring and grist mill; 2 saw mills, one gang mill with 100 saws and 4 gates; 1 woolen factory; 1 cloth dressing and carding factory; 1 hoe factory ; 2

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE

asheries; 1 plaster mill; 1 drug store, excluding two others who deal extensively in drugs; 1 bakery; 1 book bindery; 1 millinery furnishing store; 2 milliner shops; 4 physicians and surgeons; 5 practicing lawyers; 4 settled clergymen; 1 large gang saw mill, 2} miles below Potsdam village, on Raquette river, 80 saws.

The second legal execution for murder in St. Lawrence, was that of John Donnovan, for the murder of James Rowley, at Potsdam, Jan. 23, 1852. Both were Irishmen. They had been drinking beer together, and afterwards a quarrel arose, hard words and blows were exchanged, but subsequently the matter was settled, and they parted, apparently as friends. Rowley had, however, proceeded but a short distance, when Donnovan followed, and with a jack knife inflicted several wounds, which proved fatal. The murderer was arrested, after somes how of resistance, and tried before judge Hand, in February, 1852, at Canton. The jury, after two hours' deliberation, brought in a verdict of guilty, which verdict the prisoner received with the same apparent indifference and stupidity he had evinced throughout the trial. On the 21st, he was arraigned and received his sentence, to be executed on the 16th of April, which sen- tence was carried into effect in the yard of the jail, in the presence of the limited number which were legally admitted, and several hundred, who gained a sight of the spectacle from the roofs of buildings and other places.

The Washington Benevolent Society Library was incorporated in Pots- dam, June 14, 1814, under a general act, with Benjamin Raymond, Liber- ty Knowles, Azel Lyman, Robert McChesney, Pierce Shepard, Jacob Redington and Sewall Raymond, trustees.

The Union Library Association was incorporated Jan. 8, 1828, with Jabez Willes, Zenas Clark, Amos W. Brown, Myron G. Munson, Horace Allen, Solomon M. Crary, Solomon Parmeter, trustees.

Religious Societies .- A united religious society was formed in Potsdam, September 16, 1806, with Wm. Bullard, Jonathan Adams, Ammi Currier, Reuben Field, Manassch Smith and Alba Durgec, trustees. This was the Union mentioned in our foregoing pages.

St. Paul's church society was formed August 14, 1811, with Liberty Knowles, Joseph P. Reynolds, and Azel Lyman, trustees. Exceptions having been taken at the name, it was, Dec. 16, 1820, changed to the first Presbyterian society in Potsdam, with A. Lyman, Sewall Raymond and Forest Morgan, trustees. A church organization was effected June 9, 1811, by about 20 members, who were united by the Rev. William Wright, and Rev James Johnson, the latter of whom became their first pastor, and was installed March 10, 1812. The council that performed this duty, were the Rev. Messrs. A. Pettengill, of Champlain; A. Par- melee, of Malone; E. Wright, of Russell; J. Winchester, of Madrid, and Amasa Blanchard and Salmon Gray, delegates; the former from Hopkinton, and the latter from Madrid. Ora P. Hoyt was ordained Jan. 18, 1826; F. E. Cannon, Sept. 7, 1831. He was succeeded by B. B. Hotchkin, and the latter by Elijah W. Plumb, the present pastor. Up to the close of 1826, 199 had joined the church. In 1846, 317 had united. The present edifice represented on our engraving, between the two aca- demic buildings, was built in 1820, at a cost of $4,500, and dedicated Feb., 1822. In 1820, and in the fall and winter of 1826-7, were periods of unusual religious interest, and the number of members was largely increased.

The Christian sect, in the autumn of 1815, through the labors of Bela Palmer, for a church in the neighborhood of the Union. It numbered

Trinity Church, Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y.

A J. Hoffman' St. Albans

NIEN X PAR TRIDGE

- DEL.

------

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from 30 to 40 members, most of whom had belonged to that community. Eld. Ira Allen commenced preaching here in 1819, and has since had the pastoral charge of the church with only two years interval. In all 177 have united, of whom 45 have died, which, with other causes, have reduced the numbers to 78.

.. A Baptist church was organized Jan. 9, 1824, of 6 males and 6 fe- · males, delegates being present from the churches in Hopkinton, Madrid, Stockholm, Canton and Parishville. The following have been employed as pastors: Rev. Messrs. - - Palmer, Silas Pratt, Runs Bacheldor, Henry Green, Wm. H. Rice, I. Ide; some of them at several successive times. The present number of the church (Oct., 1852), is 58, and 150 have been received from the first. No society has been incorporated.

A Universalist society was incorporated October 2, 1825, with James Whitcomb, Asher Brown and Steward Banister, trustees It had been formed on the 17th of Jan. previous, but this soon lost its organization, which was again effected Jan. 6, 1825. . The early efforts failed to secure the means for building a church, until 1832, the meeting being previously held in the old academy. A committee was then appointed, who in 1835-6 erected the present church edifice. Rev. Jonathan Wallace, Rev. Wm. H. Waggoner and Rev. Jonathan Douglass, have been successively employed as clergymen. A church organization was effected January 17, 1852, of 24 members, and the present number (October, 1852), is 33.

A Methodist society was formed Feb. 4, 1833, with John Lockwood, Gersham Conger, Jonathan Paul, George Wright and John Byington, trustees. It was reorganized January 4, 1836. A Methodist society was formed in West Potsdam, June 1, 1846, with John Wellwood, Erastus Robbins and Wm. S. Horr, trustees.

Trinity church, Potsdam, was organized on the 23d, and incorporated on the 25th, of March, 1835, with John C. Clarkson and Augustus L. Clarkson, wardens; David L. Clarkson, Zenas Clark, Theodore Clark, Myron G. Munson, Noble S. Elderkin, Samuel Partridge, Frederick Mil- ler, Jr. and Aaron T. Hopkins, vestrymen. Rev. Richard Bury, appears from the records of the vestry, to have been employed as a clergyman previously, and to have signed the records of the first meeting. He was employed on the 16th of October, 1834. The elegant church edifice on the island in the village of Potsdam, represented on the opposite page, was erected in 1835, and consecrated on the 7th of August, 1836. In September, 1839, the Rev. Albin R. Putnam was employed as rector of

the church. Having received a call to the rectorship of Immanuel church, of Bellows Falls, Vt., he resigned on the 20th of February, 1844, and was, on the 29th of April following, succeeded by the Rev. Nathan Watson Monroe, who resigned Aug. 10, 1846. The Rev. J. G. Hubbard was elected rector of the church, April 18, 1847, who held this office till February, 1851, when he resigned. The Rev. Kendrick Metcalf, D. D., was elected on the 29th of September, 1851. He had been previously employed as a professor of Greek and Latin, in Geneva College; and on the change of name and fuller endowment of that institution, in the early part of 1852, he resigned, and returned to that institution. He was im- mediately succeeded by the Rev. William Staunton, from Ridgefield, Ct., the present rector.

In the corner stone of the church edifice, was deposited the following inscription : " This church is erected to the worship and service of Almighty God, by the name of Trinity church, Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, state of New York, Anno Domini, 1835. Rt. Rev. Benjamin Onderdonk, bishop of the Diocese. Richard Bury, rector; John C. Clarkson, Augustus L. Clarkson, wardens; David L. Clarkson, Theodore

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE

Clark, Zenas Clark, Aaron T. Hopkins, Samuel Partridge, Frederick Miller, Jun., Myron G. Munson, Noble S. Elderkin, vestrymen. Names of the building committee, John C. Clarkson, Augustus L. Clarkson, David C. Clarkson, Zenas Clark, Samuel Partridge, Theodore Clark. Master builders, Alanson Fisher, Jedidialı Reynolds."

There were also deposited in the box, one Bible, one Common Prayer Book, one copy of The Spiritual Character of the Liturgy, sundry tracts, religious periodicals, papers of the day, and coins. The ceremony of lay- ing the corner stone, was performed on the 3d of June, 1835.

The Congregational church of West Potsdam was incorporated, July 8, 1842, with David Barnum, Bashin Heminway and Henry Dayton, trustees.

A Free-Will Baptist church was formed at West Potsdam, July 4, 1841, by Eld. D. F. Willis, of 30 members. Pastors; Elder Willis, in 1841-2, since then Elder William Whitfield has been, and still is their pastor. Present number 49. This church erected a house of worship in connection with the Methodist Episcopal society. in 1842, at the cost of about $600. It was dedicated, 2d Oct., 1842. Sermon by Eld. Moores Cole. The society was incorporated, June 29, 1843, with G. S. Hathaway, Horace Hathaway, and B. Lane, trustees.

There is a small congregation in Potsdam, calling itself the Catholic Apostolic church, which is one of a body of churches bearing that naine now existing in England, Germany, and other parts of Europe, as well as in North America. It was gathered in the spring and summer of 1837, by the preaching of two Evangelists, who came from England to . Canada, the year before, and were invited to Potsdam by some persons who had heard of their mission. As it is, with a single exception, the only one of the kind in the United States, the following account of the origin, government, faith, and worship of the body of which it forms a part, is given on the authority of one of its ministers.

"In the year 1830, remarkable spiritual manifestations began to appear in different parts of the church, at first in Scotland, and afterwards in England, under the form of prophesyings, speaking in tongues, healings &c. Many in those countries believed them to be true gifts of the Holy Ghost, as in the beginning, revived again to prepare the church for the coming of her Lord; and some ministers (amongst whom Mr. Irving of the Scotch Presbyterian church in London, stood foremost), gave liberty for their exercise in their congregations. This continued for a year or two, during which, the spiritual utterances were most abundant, throw- ing light upon the scriptures, and searching and cleansing the hearts of hearers, when a new form was given to the work by the naming of men to the office of Apostle, by the Holy Ghost, speaking, as was be- lieved, through Prophets. The number was gradually increased until, after several years, the Apostolic college was completed, and stood twelvefold, as at the first. Under their rule, guided by the light of prophecy at a living ministry in the church, the work has gone forward, and been developing itself more and more to the present time. Churches have been set up in several of the countries of Europe, in Canada, and in the United States; and a well defined system of order and worship has been established, of which the following are the principal features. There is a fourfold ministry of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, and Pastor, by the conjoined working of all of whom in their several places the building up and perfecting of the church is to be accomplished. The Apostles, the peculiarity of whose office is, that they are sent im- mediately by the Lord, without the intervention of man, have the rule

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and guidance of all the churches; and are, under Christ, the heads of the whole body of the baptized. They have authority to ordain ; they confer the gifts of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of their hands; and they serve as bands of unity, by the general oversight which they exer- cise over all the ministers and their flocks, in all matters of worship, doctrine, and discipline. Prophets are the channels through which the supernatural light of prophecy is given by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost; Evangelists have it for their special work to carry forth the gospel; and l'astors are entrusted with the care of souls in all the congregations that are gathered.

Each fully organized church is under the rule of an angel (a chief Pastor, or Bishop), assisted by Elders and Deacons; and there are also Under Deacons and Deaconesses, as the necessities of the people may require. All who are of the Priesthood, are called to their office by the voice of prophecy, and ordained by Apostles, (or those delegated by them for that purpose); but the Deacons are chosen by the people, to whom they act as counsellors in temporal matters, while they can also be used as Evangelists. In such churches, there is daily worship, at six in the morning and at five in the evening, with additional shorter services at nine and at three; and the Eucharist is celebrated every Sunday, and the Communion also administered every day at the close of the morning worship. Forms of prayer are used, embracing the most valuable parts of the existing rituals of the church, with such changes and additions as have been thought necessary to free them from error, to adopt the services to the present wants of Christendom, and to bring the worship of God into the highest form which the circumstances of the time allow. Vestments are worn by the ministers in fulfilling their public offices. As to their faith, it is that of the Church Catholic in all ages, as embodied in the three great creeds, commonly called the Apostles', the Nicene, and the Athanasian, all of which are used in their worship. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the apostacy of man, the Incarnation of the Son of God, the atonement for sin through His suffer- ings and death, the office of the Holy Ghost to regenerate and sanctify, and the eternal retributions of the judgment, are held by them as fundamental truths of Revelation. They expect the speedy coming of the Lord to establish his kingdom upon the earth, and to rule over it with his saints, risen and translated; at which time they also believe that God will fulfil His promises to the Jews, gather them to their own land, and make them a blessing to all nations. They look upon the church as embracing all the baptized, in all their divisions; and as being a divine institution, with ministries, sacraments, and ordinances appointed by the Lord himself. 'They recognize all Christian men as brethren, members with them of the one body of Christ, which however, they believe to be in a state of dismemberment and schism, and full of error and pollution, through the sins of many generations. They are distinguished from others only in being the first gathered under Apostles, whose work they believe to be to present the bride of Christ to Him at His coming, holy and undefiled. They look upon themselves, as stand- ing in no other attitude to any partof the church, than that of brethren, to whom the returning grace of God lias been first vouchsafed, and that only that they may be witnesses to all that His kingdom is at hand, and that He is visiting His people now at the end of the dispensation, to bring them back to His ways, and to adorn them with all the gifts of His spirit, they take no other name, therefore, than that which belongs to the whole church-Holy Catholic and Apostolic -- as that which expresses its true

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE

standing before God, and which should never have been laid aside by any. In the congregation in Potsdam, which has never yet received the full organization of a church, and is only under the care of a Pastor and Deacons, there are regular services, sometimes daily, and sometimes only on Wednesdays and Fridays, of the week days; and the Lord's supper is administered every Sunday. There are between fifty and sixty communicants, amongst whom there have been some spiritual manifesta- tions in the form of prophetic utterances."

ROSSIE

Was erected from Russell, Jan. 21, 1813. The following memorandum in relation to the organization of this town occurs on the records of the town of Russell :

" At a special meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Russell, assembled on Tuesday, the first day of January, 1811, at the dwelling house of Moses A. Bunnel, in said Russell, voted, To grant the request of Benjamin Pike, in behalf of the inhabitants living on that part of Russell called Somerville, that they be set off from Rus- sell and annexed to the town of Gouverneur."

As originally formed, it embraced townships 1,2 and 7, or Hammond, Somerville, and Kilkenny, of tract No. 3. Fowler and Hammond have since been taken off, and the line between Rossie and Hammond was altered Feb. 7, 1844. The town derives its name from Rossie castle in Scotland, which was owned by the husband of David Parish's sister. Her name was Rossie, but she usually bore the name of Rosa.

The first town meeting was directed to be held at the house of Reuben Streeter, but the day having passed the legislature appointed another , and the first town election was held in the block house, then the resi- dence of Mr. S.

Supervisors .- 1814, Reuben Streeter; 1815, Theodosius O. Fowler; 1816-18, Reuben Streeter; 1819, Ebenezer Marvin; 1820, Roswell Ryon; 1821, Reuben Streeter; 1822-4, Lewis Franklin; 1825, Ebenezer Marvin ; 1826-7, James Howard; 1828, William Brown; 1829, Renben Streeter; 1830-2, S. Pratt; 1833-4, William Skinner; 1835, S. Pratt; 1836-8, Robert Clark; 1839-40, Martin Thatcher; 1841, Sylvenus Barker; 1842, Martin Thatcher; 1843-4. Wmn. B. Bostwick; 1845-6, S. Pratt; 1847-8, Henry V. R. Willmot; 1849, Zaccheus Gates; 1850, Adam Turnbull; 1851-2, Zaccheus Gates. Mr. Gates died in April, 1852, and S. Pratt was elected in his place.

The first school districts were organized March 30, 1815, when No. 1 embraced the present town of Fowler; No. 2, all Rossie southeast of Indian river; and No. 3, between Indian and St. Lawrence rivers. The town is very unpleasantly situated for the transaction of its business, in being so divided by the Oswegatchie and Yellow lake, that no commu- nication can be had without going out of the town and county. In 1817- . 18-19-21, and 22, a wolf bomty of $5 offered. In 1828, the town voted in favor of Potsdamn as a county seat. In 1844, voted unanimously in favor of a new county from parts of St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis.

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The earliest settlement in this town was commenced in 1807, by Jo- seph Teall, of Fairfield, and Reuben Streeter, of Salisbury, Herkimer county, who had contracted of Lewis R. Morris, the nephew of Gouver- neur Morris, a tract lying between the Oswegatchie and the south line of Gouverneur extended to the county line. Mr. David Parish, Dec. 2, 1808, purchased the town (26,804 acres), the money going to G. Morris and J. D. Le Ray, with whom was the title previously. The land records at Ogdensburgh show the following purchases under date of October 1, 1806, at which time these men came into town and selected lands. They were mostly from Herkimer county. Ambrose Simons, Oliver Malterner, Amos Keeney, Jr., Saniuel Bonfy, Silvius Waters, Joshua Stearns, Jerom Waldo, George W. Pike, Benjamin Pike, Jr., Ebenezer Bemis, David Shepard. The first improvement was made by Reuben Streeter, in 1807, on a farm about half a mile east of the present village of Wegatchie. In 1808, he commenced the erection of a mill on the Oswegatchie, and in the spring of 1811, the following families were living on the Teall and Streeter tract, besides those already named: David Freeman, James Streeter, Joseph Teall, Diamond Wheeler, Eli Winchell, Simeon Ste- vens, John and Wheaton Wilcox, and Daniel Wilcox, (single.) The first school in town was taught about a mile west of Somerville, by a Mr. Maynard. The following additional names of families appear on the first assessment roll, some of whom resided in the portions now Fowler and Hammond: Lemuel Arnold, Jeduthan Baker, James Barnes, Hora- tio G. Berthrong, (first innkeeper at Rossie,) Samuel B. Brown, Truman Bristol, Joseph Desbrow, James Haile, Samuel Hendrix, Jedediah King- sley, Alexander Osburne, Ebenezer Parker, Richard Townsend, Joseph Teall, Jr., Elias Teall, Alvin Wright. Total number of acres wild land 90,575; tax payers 37, (some of them non-reidents); cleared 4992 acres; total value, $183,754; value of buildings in the three townships, $2,990.

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A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time, Part 52

Author: Hough, Franklin Benjamin, 1822-1885 Publication date: 1853 Publisher: Albany, N.Y. : Little & Co. Number of Pages: 750

Author: Hough, Franklin Benjamin, 1822-1885
Publication date: 1853
Publisher: Albany, N.Y. : Little & Co.
Number of Pages: 750