USA > New York > Lewis County > Gazetteer and business directory of Lewis county, N.Y., for 1872-73 > Part 14
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GREIG.
97
and planing mill, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, a shoe shop, livery stable, about thirty dwellings and 150 inhabitants.
LYONSDALE* (p. o.) is located on Moose River, three miles from its mouth. The woolen yarn manufactory, of which E. B. Woolworth & Co. are proprietors, is located here.t Ayers' news and wrapping paper mill is located near here ;t and about one and one-half miles lower down on the river is Miller, Churchill & Co.'s pulp mill.§
BRANTINGHIAM (p. o.) is located in the west part, between the villages of Greig and Lyonsdale.
MOOSE RIVER (p. o.) is located on Moose River, in the south east corner, and contains a school house, hotel, store, an exten- sive tannery, | a saw mill, wagon shop, blacksmith shop, twen- ty-five dwellings and 250 inhabitants.
BROWNVILLE is a hamlet on Moose River, near the mouth of Pine Creek, containing a saw mill and five or six dwellings.
OTTER CREEK is a hamlet on a branch of Otter Creek, in the north-east part, containing a school house, store, tannery, " saw mill, blacksmith shop, wagon shop, boarding house, about twenty dwellings and 100 inhabitants.
PORT LEYDEN (p. v.) is partly in this town, but mostly in the town of Leyden, where it will be more fully described. Of its 977 inhabitants, 254 reside in Greig .**
* This is the residence of Caleb Lyon, the " poet, lecturer, traveler and politician."
t About 100,000 pounds of wool are annually used in the manufacture of woolen yarn of all kinds, of which from 250 to 350 pounds are made per day. This yarn is of excel- lent quality. About thirty persons are employed.
# About eight persons are employed in the paper mill, and 10001bs. of paper manu- factured per day.
§ This is one of the few establishments of the kind in the U. S. Spruce aud poplar wood is, by aid of machinery, converted into pulp, from which paper of various kinds is made. Thirteen runs of stones are used to grind the wood to pulp ; and from 23 to 35 men find employment here. Each day is produced from 16,000 to 18,000 ibs. of pulp, which is shipped to Rome and made into paper by the same firm.
I The Moose River Tannery of which H. J. Botchford & Co. are proprietors, was built in 1866, by Lyon & Snyder, and is said to be the largest in the State. It contains 238 vats, 45 pools and S leaches, gives employment to 50 to 150 men, annually consumet from 8,000 to 10,000 cords of bark and tans about 50,000 sides of solo leather, though it is capable of tanning 80,000 sider.
S Otter Lake Tannery is 360 feet long. 80 wide, containe 121 vats, and 4 leaches, gives employment to 40 to 50 men, annually consumes about 4,000 cords of bsrk and manufac- tures about 30,000 sides of sole leather. It was built in 1867, by Li. J. & G. M. Botchford, the present proprietors.
** The Empire grist mill and hub factory, owned by Orlando C. Hubbard, and built by him in 1856, is located em Silver Creek, within the limits of this village. The mill Contains two runs of stones. From 3,000 to 4,000 sute of wagon hubs are annually made.
On Miller Creek, about one-third of a mile from its mouth is Goo. F. Brown's brick yurd, in which about 200,000 bricks are annually made.
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GREIG.
This locality is believed to have been first visited by white men in 1755, by Belletres' expedition against the settlement at German Flats, and again in 1757, by Lery's, which captured Fort Bull. In 1779 Lieutenants Mcclellan and Hardenburgh were sent through the interior to Oswegatchie, with a view to prevent any disturbance to the friendly Oneidas through Sulli- van's expedition in the western part of the State .* The first settlement was made by a French colony under Rodolphe Tillier, in 1794, below the High Falls on Black River, but they soon demonstrated their inability to grapple successfully with the difficulties of pioneer life and abandoned the slight im- provements made to return to their native sunny France, or seek homes in localities where the methods of living were less at variance with their tastes and previous experience.t The first permanent settlement was made in 1819, under the agency of Caleb Lyon,; although John H. Dickinson, several
* Musket barrels and other military relics have been found in this town on the line of this route, which are supposed to have been lost by these expeditions.
t " Among the ruins of the French honses at the Falls," says Dr. Hough, " there have been found brick of a peculiar form and a hghit yellow color. If these were made in the locality. the source from whence they obtained the clay is well worth inquiry. If they were brought hither from a distance, the circumstance has scarcely lese interest, especially since stone, well adapted for building, could be procured abundantly near the spot. and must have been noticed by the first explorers, had they been in the least degree observant."
Caleb Lyon was born at East Windsor, Conn .. in 1761, and removed when a child to Greenfield. Mass. His Ancestors, who were Scotch. removed to Hertfordshire. England, during the troubles of the Covenanters, and thence to New England, about 1690. His father, who bore the same name, was a captain during the Revolution and was wound- ed At Bunker Hill. He entered Harvard College, but did not graduate there. About 1800 he removed to Walworth. Wayne county, in this State ; and was. for several years, during the winter months, engaged in the manufacture of palt at Salina. In 18 0 he removed to North Penfield, Monroe county, where he laid out a village, projected a har- bor and formed a settlement. This enterprise proved a failure, and he removed to Carthage, on the Genesee River, below Rochester, where he purchased 1.000 acres of land and erected buildings, with the expectation of its becoming the city of the west. But here again his expectations were not realized and in 1-16 he sold to his 'associates.
Having been for some time agent of the Pulthey e-rate he became acquainted with Mr. Greit amt undertook the agency of the Brantingham tract. He was elected to the as- seinbly in 1-24. He was deeply interested in the con-truction of the Black River Canal, but he died in the woods, as is supposed. from apoplexy. Sept. 15, 1835, the year provion- to the authorization by law of his loug cherished project.
His rone, Lynno R. and Caleb, were residents of this town, the former near the river a short distance below the falls, and the latter at Lyon date. Lyman was born at Wal- worth. Wayne Co .. in Isti, and was educated under the Rev. John Sherman at Trenton, and at the Lowville Academy. He was deputy clerk in the assembly from 183010 1-25, and was afterwards for soveral years employed up in government contracts, in dredging the channels of western rivers and harbors. He was & veral years Cashier and President of the Lewis County Bank. In 1-39 he was member of assembly. Caleb was born at Lyons- dule. Dre. 7. 1-22. He graduated at the Norwich University of Vt. in 1841, and early acquired a local reputation as a poet and essavirt. Ho traveled extensively in Europe ; we- appointed con-ut to Shanghai, China, Feb. 15, 1817. by Prest, Polk, and on his retorn in 1~45. visited Mexico, Brazil, Chili, Peru, the Sandwich Islands and California. He was Secretary of the Convention called in 1-1. toform a constitution for California, and designed its state seal, for which he received Sito0. In 1:50 he was elected to the A-senibly. but resigned. April 26. 15 1, and was elected to the State Senate, as t're advoeste of the eilargement of the Erie Cient. a project which was then agitated. In 1858 he was elected to the 331 Congress and soon after the expiration of ba term he made a second journey to Europe, and extended his travels to Turkey. Egypt and Palestine While at Constantinople be addressed a letter (dated June 2-th. 1:599 to Com. Duncan N. Ingraham, of the U. S. corvette st. Louis, highly " approving
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GREIG.
brothers named Chase and others had made improvements previous to that time. Lyon took up his residence at Lyons- dale in 1823, and erected a bridge in 1829, and a grist mill in 1830-1. The mill is now used by E. B. Woolworth & Co. for the manufacture of woolen yarn. It was the first grist mill erected in the town. Johannes Saut settled in the town about 1819. Several accessions were made in 1823. Among those who settled that year were Jacob Anthony, (who settled on the farm now occupied by Wessel Gallup, one and one-half miles west of Goodsells Corners, who still resides here aged 82 years, and whose daughter was the first white child born in town.) Jonathan Gould, David Higby and Dennis and Milo Clark, all of whom came from Otsego county; Jacob P. Schell, who located on the site abandoned by the French; and Asa Brown, who settled near Brantingham Lake, and was the first to settle in that locality. Benj. Smith, Miles White, Chauncy Carl, Martin and Pikar Howard, - Kittridge and Joseph Allen were the next to settle near Brantingham Lake. Jabez Rexford and Richard Palmer, frow Otsego county, Sim- eon Goodsell, who settled at Goodsells Corners, and Simeon P. Garrett, who settled at Fowlerville, on Moose River, came here in or about 1824. Wheelock Beals came from Mass. in 1825 and settled on the north bank of Fish Creek, about two miles from Greig, on the farm on which he now lives. John Sand and Ezbon Prindle came about the same time and settled, the former on lot No. 145, and the latter on lot No. 150. These three wore the first to settle north of Fish Creek. Mr. Beals kept sheep, and as the country was then infested by wild beasts his flocks suffered from their depredations. He is now 47 years old. Joshua Harris. Albanus Hutchings, Joseph HI. Stalker and Abner Blakeman came the same year. Harris wasfrom Albany connty, and settled where he now resides. about one and one-half miles north of Lyonsdale. He was the first town clerk, and after filling that office one year was elected to that of Super- visor, which he held for five successive years. He has been justice of the peace in this and Albany county twenty-two years. He is now in his 820 year. The last three settled near Goodsells Corners. Hezekiah Abley. John Fisher, Gilbert Tompkins and Henry Harris came in 1826. The former located at Abbey settlement, abont half-way between Brantingham Lake and Moose River. Judge Francis Seger, from Albany county, and William Dommick from Schoharie county,
the measures of Mr. Brown, in the case of the exile Martin Koszta, which excited much interest in this country and led to a sharpdiplomatic correspondence." The Nor- wich University of Vt. com'erred upon him the life of LE. D .. in 1951. Ho wesappoint- ed Governor of Idaho by Piest. Lincoln, in Feb., Fbi, and on his return to Washington in Dec., 1866, he was robbed on the railway from New York, of $ 17,000.
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GREIG-HARRISBURGH.
settled here in 1827, the latter about two and one-half miles north of Lyons Falls, on the premises now occupied by his son, Frank. Arnold Slocum came from Martinsburgh, his place of birth, about this year, and settled in the north-east part of the town, near Otter Creek. Alexander and John Hess came from Schoharie county about 1830 and settled in the west part, a little south of Fish Creek. At that time there was no bridge across the Black River, and when it was desired to get cattle across a raft was constructed or boat obtained, on, or in which the settlers paddled across, while the cattle swam behind, being guided by a rope attached to their horns. Aaron Perkins and Waitstill Cleaveland became residents in 1833. The former was originally from Massachusetts, but immediately from Jefferson county, and is still residing here, aged 79 years ; the latter came from Columbia county and settled in the north part of the town. He too still resides here. Hosea B. Smith settled in 1835, on the farm he now owns, on Fish Creek, when, he says, this part of the town was a wilderness, without roads, and there was neither hotel, church nor minister in the town. Stephen Barnes, from Jefferson county, but originally from Vermont, came here in 1842, and was the first to settle in the south part, on Brown's Tract road. Gabriel Pinney and his sons George and Gilbert, from Albany county, were the first to settle in the locality of Pinney settlement, but in what year we did not learn. Phineas Olmstead, John H. McKee and Willard Warriner were among the first to settle in the north part. They came in 1843. Olmstead was a native of New Hampshire, and located near Otter Creek; McKee was from Vermont; and Warriner from Martinsburgh, to which place he came from Montgomery county.
HARRISBURG HI* was formed from Lowville, Cham- pion (Jefferson Co.) and Mexico, (Oswego Co.) Feb. 22, 1803,+ and embraced townships Nos. 5 and 10, or Mantua (now Den- mark) and Platina, of the Eleven Towns. No. 9, or Handel, (now Pinckney.) was annexed from Mexico, March 24, 1804. Denmark was taken off. April 3, 1807, and a part of Pinckney, Feb. 12, 1808. Itis an inland town, containing 23,585 acres,
* Named from Richard Harrison, of New York, who once owned it.
t The first town meeting was convened at the house of Jesse Blodget, the first Tues- day in March, 1803, and adjourned to the house of Freedom Wright, in Denmark vil- lage. The following named offers were elected : Lewis Graves, Supervisor ; Charles Wright, Jr .. Tous Clerk ; Jabez Wright, David Graves and Solomon Buck, Assessors ; Andrew Mills, Franci- Faunders and Jerry Blodget, Commissioners of Highways, Charles and Freedom Wright. Gram of the Poor ; Nathan Manger, Jr., Constable and Collector ; and Charles Mosely and Andrew Mille, Fence Viewers. The schools were not legally formed until 1:14, when John Bush, John Lewis and Micah Humphrey, were chosen School Commissioners, and David Richards, Hart Humphrey, Nathan Look, Jr., Charles Loomis and Seth Hanchet, School Inspectors.
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HARRISBURGH.
and lies on the slate hills. and limestone terraces north-west of the center of the County. 'It has a rolling surface, except in the south-west, where it is moderately hilly, and a general in- clination toward the north-east, the south-west corner being from 300 to 500 feet above Black River. It is watered by Deer River, in the north-west part, and Cobb's Creek and other trib- utaries to the former stream. The banks of Deer River are in some places very high and steep, and on the west side of that stream the surface is broken by many deep gulfs, which are almost impassable. The soil is generally a rich loam largely in- termixed with disintegrated limestone and slate, though rocky patches appear in many places.
The population of the town in 1820 was 1,090, of whom 920 were native and 170, foreign ; 1,083 white and 7, colored.
During the year ending Sept. 30, 1871, the town contained twelve school districts, in which twelve teachers were employ- ed. The number of children of school age was 397; the num- ber attending school, 282; the average attendance, 141; the amount expended for school purposes, 82,243.47 ; and the value of school houses and sites, $3,3:0.
HARRISBURGH (p. o.) is situated in the north-east part, five miles south-east of Copenhagen, and about the same distance north-west of Lowville. This is the only postoffice in the town, the one at South Harrisburgh having been discontinued. There is neither a village nor a hotel in the town, though it is pretty uniformly settled. There is a Union Baptist church in the vicinity of the postoffice.
The town was surveyed by B. Wright in 1796, and was after- wards divided into 49 lots by Joseph Crary, of Denmark. Wright thus describes this town :
" The north line is, in general, an excellent soil, timbered with bass- wood, maple, elm, beech, birch, butternut. There is one small cedar swamp near the 5 mile stake on this line. The country is level in gener- al, and very finely watered. A large creek crosses this line, near the one and # mile stake, which makes a N. E. direction, on which there is a fine country. The E. line is excellent, and very finely watered. There is some near the S. E. corner which is rather indifferent, but very little ; the timber is maple, bass, ehm, beech, birch, butternut and hemlock. On the South line there is middling country, some considerable swamp and some beaver meadow, on which excellent hay may be cut. Along the W. line there is a good country of land: Some small gulfs along it which are made by the streams, and a considerable gulf where the Deer creek cross- es the line. The timber. in general, is maple, beech, bass, ash, birch, chin and some butternut and hemlock. Towards the South part, the land is swampy and timber sprucy."*
* Ilough's History of Lewis County.
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102
HARRISBURGH.
Settlement was mostly made under the agency of I. W. Bost- wick, of Lowville. The first improvements were made in 1802, or shortly previous, on the west road, which crosses the north- east corner of the town, and among those who first settled there were Wright Knapp, John Lewis, Waitstill Stoddard. John Bush, Ashbel Humphrey, Joseph Richards, Col. Jared Knapp, Sylvanus Mead and Palmer Hodge. Wright Knapp came from Connecticut in 1802. His son, German, who was then three years old, has since resided in the town. Lewis was born in Suffield, Conn .. Feb. 16, 1784, and removed to this town in 1804, settling about two and one-half miles from Copenhagen. He died Dec. 1, 1865. His son, also named John, now lives on the old homestead. Stoddard came here in 1809. At that time, says his widow, Mrs. Rosamond Stoddard, who still re- sides in the town, aged 81 years, there were but two or three log houses in the town. Richards came from Cummington, Mass., in 1803, and died in February, 1813, aged fifty-eight years. David R. Richards came the following year, and died in the town in 1845. Knapp died at Copenhagen, March 29, 1854, aged 73 years; and Mead died Aug. 15, 1848, aged 61 years. Silas Greene, Thomas and Ebenezer Kellogg, John Snell, Mark Petrie, John F. Snell, Jacob Walrod and families named Lam- berton and Weston, several of whom were Germans from the Mohawk Valley, settled on the State road, which extends through the south part of the town, in 1806. From them the settlement acquired the name of Dutch Hill. Jacob Hadcock settled on the River road in 1821. Michael Parish, Peter Pick- et, Henry Cramer, Jacob Biddleman, and Thomas and Gilbert Merrills, soon after settled in the same locality .*
* Among those who entered the army during the war of the Rebellion, from this town, we have been able to glean some particulars relative to the following :
Maurice Vaughn enlisted in 1-61, in the 35th N. Y. Infty., and served two years, when ho re-enlisted in the 40th N. Y. Cavalry, and rerved until the close of the war.
Andrew J. Hall enheted in Co. M. 5th Rest., ( whether artillery, cavalry or infantry, we are not informed.) Ang. 6. 1-62. and was discharged in June, 1865.
Duane Seart enlisted in the 35th N. Y. Infty., in Isol, and was discharged in June, 1863.
Win. Wood erlisted in Co. H. Ist N. Y. L. A., in August, 1862, and was discharged May 30, 1865.
Albert Hamlin enlisted Ang. 25. 1-64, and was discharged in June, 1865.
John M. Rice endieted in Co. A. 185th N. Y. Infty., Ang. 16, 1864, and was discharged June 6, 1865. John Birks enlisted in Co. A. 156th N. Y. Infty., In 1802, and was discharged at the close of the war. Eugene Alerander enlisted in Co. M. 5th N. Y. H. A., in August, 1862, and was dis- charged at the close of the war. Edward Whener enlisted in Co. B. 35th N. Y. Infty., in May. 1861.
John G. Goutermont enlisted in Co. L. 5th N. Y. H. A., Sept. 11, 1862, and was dis- charged at the close of the war. Gen. R. North enlisted in Co. M. 5th N. Y. H. A., in Angust, 1862.
John HI. Handlin enlisted in Co. 1. 24th N. Y. C., Sept. 9, 1843, and was discharged Ang. 11, 1865.
James Mee enlisted in Battery C. 3d N. Y. L. A., in August, 1862, and served till the close of the war.
James H. McLane enlisted in Co. A. 20th N. Y. C., Aug. 27, 1863, and served till the close of the war.
103.
HARRISBURGH-HIGH MARKET.
The first religious services were conducted by Elder Amasa Dodge, a Free Will Baptist.
The Free Will Baptist Church was organized July 16, 1822, by a council composed of delegates from Lowville, Martius- burgh and Turin. The church edifice, which is located on the West Road, was erected in 1847, on the site of the first one, at a cost of 8945. It is owned jointly by this Society and the Baptists who organized in 1842, -with seven members. The edifice will seat 250 persons. It is occupied by both Societies, who are ministered to by Rev. Chester M. Prescott. The Free Will Baptists number 53, and the Baptists, 25. The Church property is valued at 8500.
St. Patrick's Church (Catholic) was organized with fifty mem- bers, in 1850, by Timothy White, Christopher O'Brian, Chris- topher Duffy, Murty Corcoran, and Martin Battle. Their house of worship, which is located in the north-west part of the town, was erected in 1850, at a cost of 8555, and will seat 175 persons. The first pastor was Rev. Michael Power ; the present one is Rev. Thomas McNally. There are about 100 members. The Church property is valued at $1,000 .*
HIGHI MARKET} was formed from West Turin, Nov. 11, 1852.1 It is an interior town, irregular in shape, and lies upon the elevated 'slate region west of Black River, and south- west of the center of the County. It is bounded on the north by Martinsburgh, east by Turin and West Turin, south by Lewis, and west by Osceola, and contains 36,723 acres. Its surface is rolling in the south, but broken and somewhat hilly in the north and west, and has a general inclination toward the south-
Franklin Scramof enlisted in Co. A. 186th N. Y. Infty .. in August, 1864, and served till the close of the war.
Joseph Scrampf enlisted in Co. K. 14th N. Y. H. A., in November, 1863, and was dis- charged by reason of disability.
Joseph Hamblin eulisted in Co. L. 14th H. A., Dec. 8, 1863, and was discharged May 11, 1805.
* Information furnished by Wm. O'Brien.
t This town comprises Township No. 9, or Penelope, of the Boylston Tract, and 35 lots of Township No. 2, or Fiora, and 6f lots of Township No. 3, or Lucretia, of Con- stable's Four Towns.
Its name is derived from that of the postoffice, which was established in 1849, but since discontinued, and which was suggested by S. C. Thompson. "The Irish set- tiers," says Dr. Hough, "wished to hive the town named Sligo, and usage had long before applied to an undefined region, west of Constableville, the nondescript name of Kiabin, by which it is still, to some extent, known."
# The first town meeting was directed to be held at the house of Schuyler C. Thomp- Eon, who was elected Supervisor, and Lynville M. Reals, Torn Clerk. The inhabitants of the town at the time of Its organization, it appears, were not entirely harmonions in their views and actions, for the owner of the house. at which, by adjournment, the second town meeting was to be held. refused to open it for that purpose. The day was spent in debating what was properto do, and just before sunset, by legal advice a meet- ing was organized in the street, as near the house aw practicable, and adjourned to a more convenient place the next day. In I-58 a petition for re-annexation to West Tu- rin received but one dissentient vote, though the project failed.
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HIGH MARKET.
east. The highest point is said to be on lot 50, township 3. Its streams are Fish Creek,* which flows south near the west line, and its branches, the principal of which are Big and Lit- tle Alder Creeks, which rise in the north part and flow south through the center, and unite before their junction with their recipient is made. The soil is a productive yellow loam, inter- mixed with disintegrated slate, and is admirably adapted to pastura. e. The people are principally engaged in dairying, and the products of the four cheese factoriest in the town are of no inconsiderable value. There is neither church nor postoffice in the town, though efforts are being made to establish the latter at High Market. The majority obtain their mail at Constableville, a few at Turin.
The population of the town in 1870 was 1,051, of whom 755 were native and 296, foreign; and all white. The foreigners are composed principally of an industrious class of Germaus and Irish.
During the year ending Sept. 30, 1871, the town contained nine school districts, and employed nine teachers. The num- ber of children of school age was 415; the number attending school, 343 ; the average attendance, 141 ; the amount expend- ed for school purposes, $1,688.26; and the value of school houses and sites, $1,605.
HIGH MARKET is a hamlet situated east of the center and contains a town hall, a store, cheese factory, blacksmith shop and seven dwellings.
BYRONS CORNERSt is a hamlet situated in the south corner. and contains a store, cheese factory, blacksmith shop, school house, five dwellings and thirty-tive inhabitants.§
* An act incorporating The Fish Creek Improvement Company was passed, April 19. 1ST1, through the efforts of MeVickar, Allen & Co. The capital of the Company is $50,- 000. and they are privileged to increase it to $100.000. The shares of stock are $100 each. The charter contemplates such improvements in Fish Creek, in Lewis and Onei- da counties. from two miles south of the south line of Martinsburgh, to the village of Taberg, in Oneida county, as will admit of the passage of logs and timber down it.
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