USA > New York > Franklin County > A history of St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, New York : from the earliest period to the present time > Part 57
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 57
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A forge was erected by Wm. Bailey about 1803-4, about three miles above Chateaugay,, on the river, but never made but a few tons of iron. Ore was derived from swamps in the vicinity of Chateaugay lake, but this proved to be in limited quantities. Some ore was afterwards drawn from Constable and from Clinton Co., but the manufacture under the circumstances was found to be a losing operation and was after a trial of two or three years abandoned. A large paper mill was begun by the same person in the vicinity of the forge, but never completed.
During the summer of 1812, the inhabitants for their own protection, and by voluntary labor and contributions, erected a block house on a commanding elevation on the bank of the Chateaugay river, three miles north west of the village. Upon the representation of Mr. Gate Hoit to Governor Tompkins, the sum of $100 was appliedj as a partial remu- neration for the expense of erection. During the war it was occupied a part of the time by the troops stationed in town, and towards the close of the war or soon after, it was privately burned as was supposed, by
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
some one from Canada. In 1812, a detachment of regular troops under Col's Wool and Snelling, were stationed a short time at Chateaugay. They were encamped near the north part of the town. Gen. Wade Hampden, with an army consisting mostly of new recruits from Vermont, and in- tended to cooperate in the unsuccessful enterprise of Gen. Wilkinson, against Montreal, marched from Plattsburgh as far as this town in Aug., and camped in the vicinity of Chateaugay Corners. In November he re- turned to Plattsburgh. A quantity of flour with a sinall guard for its pro- tection, was left. While he lay encamped near the Corners, small bodies of troops occupied positions nearer the province line, and one of these came near having an engagement with the enemy. One of the sentinels was shot, and a small show of force was made which retreated, and it was believed that an ambuscade had been laid in hopes of decoying the party into it. On this occasion, they took one of the inhabitants (Salmon Smith,) a prisoner into Canada, but he soon escaped and returned. For some years previous to the war, a settlement of New England people had existed in Canada near Chateaugay river, but on the occurrence of hostilities, they abandoned their improvements, and moved into the state. Few if any of these ever returned or received any compensation for the property left, which was subsequently sold by government to European emigrants. Soon after the arrival of General Wilkinson at French Mills, a regiment under Col. Bissell, which had formed a part of his force, pro- ceeded to Chateaugay, and remained during the winter. On the evacua- tion of French Mills, the greater part of Wilkinson's army passed through on their way to Plattsburgh, and were soon after followed by a detachment of the enemy under Col. Scott, who pressed whatever teams they could find, and succeeded in finding and in carrying away a consid- erable amount of provisions which had been left by the American army. On returning, the British destroyed the bridges to hinder from pursuit. At the time of their incursion they proceeded as far as where the road crosses Marble river, towards Plattsburgh, and succeeded in inter- cepting an express which had been dispatched to convey information to the American forces at Plattsburgh. Upon finally receiving information, a detachment started and had proceeded about a dozen miles, when they were met by the intelligence that the invaders had retreated. The enemy were joined at this place by a company of Indians under a white captain, who came up the Chateaugay river from Canada. Much complaint was made by the inhabitants about the seizure of private property by the en- emy, who were said to have been not over particular in selecting public from private stores.
After this occurrence, no military operations occurred in town during the war. A portion of the citizens, in common with other parts of the county, was called out on the eve of the battle of Plattsburgh, to assist in the defense of that place, and proceeded under the command of General Alric Man, by a southern route near Chateaugay lake, to avoid being in- tercepted by the enemy. This detachment did not arrive till after the action. On approaching the village a firing of cannon was heard, and they hastened on to afford any aid they might be able, but ascertained that it was but the firing of minute guns at the burial of the dead.
By an act of March 20, 1843, the sum of $500 per annum for three years, was applied towards the construction of a bridge over Chateaugay river, near Douglass's mills, out of the tolls collected on the military road from Plattsburgh. It was to be constructed under the joint direction of the military road commissioners in Franklin county, and the road com- missioners in Chateaugay.
Chateaugay Tunnel and Embankment-Northern Railroad.
730 4.10# 100 /1, 388
*
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Among the most successful achievements in the line of rail road en- gineering in the state, may be reckoned the high embankment and tunnel a short distance west of the station at Chateaugay. The surface of the country in the northern part of Franklin county, is in the main level, and finely adapted to agricultural purposes, but the Chateaugay, Salmon and other rivers in their descent to the St. Lawrence, have worn for them- selves deep and narrow valleys, which afford in numerous places, the most picturesque scenery, but which opposed an obstacle of great mag- · nitude in the construction of the Northern rail road. To overcome that at Chateaugay, it was resolved to fill in the valley with earth, in order to bring it up level with the surface on each side. To ensure a channel for the river in such a manner that the etnbankment should not suffer from its encroachment, a tunnel 300 feet long, was first made through the solid rock, which bordered the valley, and permanent walls erected to direct the stream through its new channel, and to retain the earth of the em- bankment in its place. This great undertaking was completed after nearly two years labor, at a cost of about $130,000. The tunnel was begun in August, 1848, and made in five months. The embankment is over 800 feet long, and its top 160 feet above the level of the river. It contains 500,000 cubic yards of earth. The tunnel is 25 feet wide, 22 high. Retaining walls 50 feet high. This work was planned and exe- cuted under the direction of Col. Charles L. Schlatter, civil engineer.
About a mile south of the Chateaugay tunnel, there occurs on this river a beautiful cascade, which from the singular wildness and sublimity of the surrounding scenery, is well worthy of the visit of those who take pleasure in studying the wild and picturesque. This locality affords much more of interest than many other places which annually draw their thousands, and if known and suitably appreciated, would not fail to draw its share of wonder-loving visitors, who would return amply compensated for their labor. This fall occurs in a ravine which the stream has worn through the Potsdam sandstone, to the depth of nearly 200 feet, and the principal fall is at the outlet of a narrow gorge, and has a vertical height of about 50 feet.
About half a mile east of Chateaugay village, and but a few yards north of the rail road, occurs an intermittent spring, which is worthy of notice. This spring rises from two sources through the sand, and in such volume as, in ordinary seasons, to turn a water wheel for a mecha- nic shop. The water is remarkably clear and cold, is never known to freeze, and discharges bubbles of gas (said to be nitrogen), in consider- able quantities while running. There is no certain period of its inter- mitting, nor does this appear to be affected by rains. Some times the period of its flowing will last for one or two years; but it is generally dry towards the close of summer. Once it failed in the month of Feb- ruary. It is said generally to stop quite abruptly, not occupying more than twenty-four hours from the time it begins to fail, till it is nearly or quite dry ; but on again starting, it will but slowly increase, and not attain its full flow before one or two weeks. It has been said that the return of the water is preceded by a low subteranean murmur, but there is a difference of opinion on this point among the inhabitants of the vicinity sufficient to render the fact doubtful, as it is in itself improbable. There is a smaller but constant spring less than a mile northeast of this, which discharges gas, but the nature of these gaseous emanations has not been ascertained. Springs of ample volume are common along the northern border of Franklin county, and in the towns of Chateaugay, Westville, and perhaps other towns, there are several of sufficient volume to turn a
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
mill, but with the exceptions above stated, there are none known that intermit or discharge gas. This curious spring in early time attracted the curiosity of the Indians, who called it Hu-nah-a-ta-ko-wah, " a big spring rushing out of the ground."
Religious Societies .- In 1800 or 1801, one Huntingdon, a Presbyterian, held the first meetings in town, at the house of Judge Bailey, and about 1802, Henry Ryan, a M. E. circuit preacher, visited the town. In 1805, a class of about 6, was formed with Benj. Emmons for leader. In 1804, a revival occurred. The first Methodist ministry had, it is said, some forty appointments in four weeks, extending 300 miles. 'The largest accession in any year, was 100, in 1843 or 4.
A Congregational church was formed in 1816, by the Rev. Jas. John- son and A. Parmelee, in what is now Burke. Since the division of the town, there has been formed in Burke a separate church. The form was changed, April 4, 1842, to Presbyterian, and like the other churches of this order in the county, it belongs to the Champlain Presbytery. The church edifice at Chateaugay was begun in 1827, and dedicated July 4, 1842, sermon by Rev. Ashbel Parmelee. The clergymen have been Jacob Hart, Moses Parmelee, James Millar, Andrew M. Millar, - Baxter and A. M. Millar, the present one, from whom most of the foregoing facts were received.
A Baptist church was formed Feb. 12, 1817, by Elder Isaac Sawyer. Israel Thayer was chosen deacon, and George W. P. Beman, clerk. The Baptist house of worship was commenced in 1820, and dedicated in 1838. The dedication sermon was preached by Elder Farr. The largest accession of their numbers occurred in 1830. The original number 'at the formation of the church, was about eleven. The Rev. Mr. Sawyer was succeeded by Rev. - Johnson, who remained but a few months; Rev. David Byington, who remained a year, and Rev. Ephraim Smith, who has been, with some short intervals, the only minister employed since 1820. The Rev. Jeremiah Dwyer, during the above period, has been employed one year. On the formation of the town of Burke, about two-thirds of the members found themselves in the new town, and soon organized a new society, which, in the fall of 1852, are erecting a brick church in that town. The Baptist church of Chateaugay is at present quite small.
In 1835, there were classes of Protestant Methodists formed in town, and the numbers belonging to them were once somewhat numerous, but the church is now extinct.
CONSTABLE
Was formed from Harrison, March 13, 1807, embracing townships 1, 2, 3, and the Indian reservation, The first town meeting was held at the house of Jacob Settles, at which Albon Man was chosen supervisor ; Ezekiel Payne, clerk; Joseph Wright, John Cadwell, Seth Blancher, as- sessors ; Anthony Sprague, collector ; Alric Man, Jonathan Hapgood, over- seers of poor ; Alric Man, Aseph Perry, Alexander McMillen, com'rs of highways ; Anthony Sprague, Isaac Fairchild, A. McMillen, constables ; John Smith, Seth Blancher, Amos Eldrige, fence viewers ; Jno. Hapgood, David Danforth, Albon Man, pound keepers ; John Livingston, Wm. Perry, Seth Blancher, David McMillen, Christopher Austin, overseers of high- ways.
Supervisors .- 1807-10, Albon Man; 1811, Alric Man; 1812-13, Albon Man; 1814.23, Alric Man; 1824-5, Lewis Dubois; 1826, Guy Meigs;
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AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES.
1827, Ebenezer Man; 1828-31, Sylvester Langdon; 1832, J. G. Dickey ; 1833, Sylvester Langdon ; 1834-5, J. G. Dickey; 1836-7, Harry Horton; 1838, Sylvester Langdon ; 1839, Augustus Martin; 1840-1, George W. Darling; 1842 3, Putnam W. Sumner; 1844-5, Sidney W. Gillett ; 1846-7, J. G. Dickey ; 1848, Washington Wooster; 1849, Lucian Wyman ; 1850-1, Wm. Daggett; 1852, Joseph Hastings.
Notes from the Records .- Bounties on wolves, $5, in 1807; $10 in 1808 to '14, 1817-28; $15 in 1821; $20 in 1830. On foxes, $1 in 1819-20; $3 in 1821, with half this price for young foxes that had not left the bur- row. On panthers, $20 in 1820. In 1812, voted in favor of making three towns of townships 1, 2 and 3. In 1814, $50 appropriated for burying the dead of the U. S. troops. 50 cts. penalty for geese running at large. In 1816, the question of diving the town again came up. In 1830, for abolishing the distinction between town and county poor. In 1846, on license election, 00, no license, 82. An act of April 21, 1846, required a tax of $250, for the erection or purchase of a town house, whenever the electors should direct.
William Constable, from whom this town is named, was a son of John Constable, a surgeon in the English army, during the French and Eng- lish war, who in 1762, took a commission in the 1st regiment of the province of New York. He had but two sons, William and James. The former was born in Dublin, in 1761. A sister named Eweretta, married James Phyn, of Scotland, and another, Harriet, Thomas Pierce, of Bristol, England. James, was a bachelor, and died at New York, in 1807. Wm. Constable was married in Philadelphia, to Ann, daughter of Townsend White. Their children were Anna, Eweretta, William, John, Harriet, Emily and Matilda, all of which names occur among the names originally given the townships of the Great purchase. Of the daughters, the first married H. B. Pierrepont; the second, James Mc- Vickar; the the third, James Duane; the fourth, Dr. Samuel W. Moore, of New York; and the fifth, Edward McVickar. Wm. Constable be- came a leading director of the Bank of New York, and a merchant on an extensive scale, and sent one of the first ships from this country to China for trade, with Wm. Bell, as supercargo. During the fifteen years previous to his death, which occurred in May, 1803, Mr. Constable was actively and extensively engaged in land sales, and had great influence with the other persons concerned in these operations.
The first settlement in town was made on the south line of the town, by Jonathan Hapgood and Christopher Austin, from Milton, Vt., in 1800. These were related and formed but one family. They come as far as Chateaugay in March, and in June proceeded to the place they had se- lected for a settlement. William Cooper, of Salem, N. Y., Solomon Cook, and Ebenezer Titus, from Rutland county, Vt., Saul Clark, James Welch, Artemas and Thomas Smith, Peleg Austin, James Lyman, Wil- liam Buell, and others had settled in town, in the year 1805, or previous. The first saw mill was erected by James Welch, in 1803. He settled a short distance south of the present village of Constable Corners. The first grist mill in town, was built soon after the war, by Joseph Colburn, of Vermont. The first school was taught in the summer of 1806, by Miss A. Mead, in a barn owned by J. Hapgood. At Constable Corners schools were not established earlier than 1811, when the first school was taught by one Blodget. The first physician who settled in town was Dr. Solomon Wyman. During the prevalence of the cholera, in
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
1832, a considerable number of cases occurred in, town, some of which. were fatal.
Religious Societies .- A Congregational society was formed May, 25, 1817, with Solomon Wyman, Samuel R. Nims, Alric Man, Oliver Bell, and John Child, trustees. A church was formed by Rev. J. Armstrong in 1822, who remained six years. His successors have been Jacob Hart, Butler, Tertius Reynolds, John L. Edgerton, Aaron Foster and Benjamin Marvin, none of whom have been installed the pastors. In 1847 its form was changed to Presbyterian. The society about . 1844 erected a commodious church at an expense of $2500, of which Edward Ellice, the land owner, gave $400. -
A Baptist church was formed May 4, 1833, of thirty one members. A Free Will Baptist church was formed in Malone and Constable, by Elder Samuel Hart, Moores Cole, a licentiate, in 1841. Pastors, Elder. Samuel Hart, W. Warner, G. W. Town. Present number 20.
DICKINSON,
Was formed April 11, 1808, (to take effect April 1, 1809,) from Harri- son, embracing Nos. 4, 5, 6, and all south. It has been reduced by the formation of Bangor and Moira, to its present limits. The first town meeting was held at the house of Appleton Foote. The name of the town is said to have been derived from a gentleman in New Jersey. At the time of formation, the entire settlement was in what is now Moira. and Bangor. The first set of town officers were Samuel Pease, super- visor ; Apollos Lathrop, clerk; Rufus Tilden, Chester Tuller, Elisha Drury, assessors; R. Tilden, collector; Appleton. Foote, and Joseph Plumb, poor masters ; Samuel Foster, John Potter, Robert Wilson, com'rs highways ; R. Tilden, Edward Chapman, constables.
Supervisors .- 1809, S. Pease ; 1810-12, Joseph Plumb; 1813-22; Jona- than Lawrence; 1823, Jason Pierce; 1824, J. Lawrence; 1825-28, J. Pierce; 1829-32, Loderick Butterfield; 1833-34, Erastus Hutchins; 1845, Reuben Cady ; 1836-41, E. Hutchins; 1842-43, Warren Ives; 1844-45, Peter Whitney; 1846-52. W. Ives. Bounties on animals have been voted as follows: For wolves, $10, 1809-10-12-17-18-19-20-28. $15 in 1811-12-13-21. $20 in 1815. For panthers, $10 in 1820. $15 in 1817. $20 in 1821. $25 in 1818. For foxes $2 in 1816 to 21. For bears, $3 in 1820; $5 in 1819-21. For, catamounts, $20 in 1819. For crows, 37₺ cents in 1816. For squirrels, 12} cents in 1817. For chipmucks, 123 cents in 1816. 1809, resolved, that all license money drawn from the town of Ezraville, and all that shall be due June 1, be appropriatrd for the use of the best kind of sheep. At a special meeting Nov. 10 1821, the bounties on animals withdrawn. In 1821 the poor moneys on hand amounted to $663.95 In 1830, opposed the poor house system. Dec. 10, 1830, voted to apply the poor moneys for schools. The town has usually voted for schools as much money as the law allows.
The earliest settlers in the present limits of Dickinson, is said to have been William Thomas, who located a short distance south of where the St. Lawrence turnpike was afterwards located. He had first settled in Hopkinton, and after a short residence here, returned to that town. Jonathan and Jesse D. Rice, from New Hampshire, settled at an early day. Reuben Cady and others had located in town previous to 1812. Most of the first settlement was limited to the St. Lawrence turnpike, which passes obliquely across the northern border of the town, and soon after its completion became a thoroughfare of great importance, espe-
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AND FRANKLIN, COUNTIES.
cially in the military movements of the years 1813, '14. The Port Kent- and Hopkinton road began to be settled soon after its construction, but the improvements along this route were scattered and limited. The pre- sent settlement of the town is limited to the central and western portions of Annastown, or township number seven. With the exception of three or four families on the Northwest Bay road, and a very small settlement at the head of Tupper's lake, near the southern extremity of the town, its whole extent is an unbroken wilderness. The facilities to market which the rail-road furnishes, has given new value to the timber of this region, in common with other portions of the northern counties, and has created several lumbering establishments in the depths of the forest, which will hereafter form the centres of settlements for farming pur- poses.
About midway between the Port Kent road on the south and the St., Lawrence turnpike on the north, and near the centre of number seven, is situated on Deer river a small village named Thomasville. It owes its origin and name 10 John Thomas, a former resident of Hopkinton, who in the latter part of the summer of 1839 commenced the erection of mills, and remained about a year. Deer river at this point affords a fine water. power, which has been improved by the erection of two saw mills and a grist mill. The hamlet contains several mechanic shops, two stores, and a small cluster of dwellings.
A most melancholy accident occurred in Dickinson, on the 3d of Sept., 1852, in which the dwelling of Mr. Eseck Hawkins was burned, and his wife, and a son six years of age, perished in the flames. Most of the family lodged in the chamber, except the parents, who on discovering the house to be on fire, made vigorons efforts to rescue their children from the devouring element, and in this Mrs. H. perished. The father rushed into the room where his children were sleeping, and succeeded in rescuing all but one, which he found it beyond his power to save. The charre.I remains of the mother and son were collected, and interred in the same coffin. , The funeral was attended by thousands of sympathiz- ing friends and citizens, and the melancholy disaster spread a gloom over the surrounding community.
Religious Societies .- The Christian sect was organized in' 1816, '17, by Eld. Spooner, and was for many years the only church in town. It prospered for some years, but has'now become almost extinct. The whole number received was eiglity. A Free Will Baptist church was formed in 1836. The clergy have been Chas. Bowles, John Kimble, and others; at present Eld. A. P. Walcott.
DUANE,
Was formed from Malone, Jan. 24, 1828, and in the erection of Har- rietstown reduced to its present limits. It was named from James Duane, Esq., from Schenectady, who having acquired, by marriage with a daugh- ter of W. Constable, the title of a considerable portion of the town, in 1821-2 caused the tract to be surveyed; in 1823-4 commenced improve- inents and erected a dwelling, and in 1825 removed with his family and made a permanent settlement. He was then nearly ten miles beyond neighbors, and the most remote settler in the forest. A considerable number located soon after, and the iron manufacture gave life and spirit to the settlements. A forge was erected in 1828, for the manufacture of iron from ore which had been discovered the year previous, but which from the disturbance of the needle in surveying, had been supposed since
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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE
1822 to exist. The ore wrought at this forge was the steel ore, so called, which occurred in its vicinity, the veins or beds running southeast and northwest in the direction of the strata of gneiss of the vicinity. The forge was carried off in a great freshet: afterwards rebuilt, burnt, and again rebuilt, to be a second time injured in a freshet. These misfor- tunes, together with the great expense of transportation, put an end to the enterprise after a few years. During the time that the forge was in operation, it made from a hundred to a hundred and twenty-five tons of iron annually. In 1838, a quarter furnace was erected by the Duane brothers, on Deer river, in the west part of No. 12. and was intended to be used for the reduction of primitive ores exclusively. The cold air blast was at first used, but afterwards the apparatus for heating the air was inserted. Immense difficulty was experienced in procuring iron, as the ores were very difficult to reduce, and many trials were found neces- sary to arrive at an economical method of fluxing and separating themn. The business was continued seven or eight years, during which about six hundred tons of iron were made, a great part of which was made into castings on the premises. The difficulty of smelting, together with the great expense attending the manufacture in a situation several miles distant from the district that was to afford support to the laborers, and especially the prohibitory expenses of transportation to market, resulted in the loss of many thousand dollars to the enterprising projectors, and the works were discontinued in 1849. The stack of this furnace, and all the arrangements connected with it, were admirably constructed, and will compare favorably with any of the class in the state. This furnace is located on the Port Kent and Hopkinton road, fifty-seven miles from Lake Champlain. Deer river post office was established here for the accommodation of that section of the town, but discontinued in 1841.
For manufacturing steel directly from the mixed primitive and specu- lar ores of Duane, a company was chartered by an act passed May 20, 1841, under the name of the Franklin Native Steel Manufacturing Com- pany. James C. Duane, Samuel W. Jones, Frederick A. Duane, Robert Duane, Benjamin M. Duane, and such as might join them, were to form the company. Capital $50,000; shares $100 each, with power to increase their capital to $150,000. This company was never formed.
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