USA > New York > Lewis County > Gazetteer and business directory of Lewis county, N.Y., for 1872-73 > Part 16
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* The stone quarried here is hi,-hly esteemed for building purposes.
+ We acknowledge our indebtedness to Mr. T. E. Munn for information relative to this village.
# Amopg the manufactories in other parts of 1 : town are Sugar River cheese factory, locited about three-fourths of a mile east of Ti itville, and owned by Chas. Sey- mour, Eli Hall, E. Roberte. C. C. Northam and . Topping, which, in size, is 18x 10 feet, in capable of using the milk of 600 cowe a .akes on an average twelve cheeses per day daring six months of the year ; S. Thayer's cheese factory, located at Thayer Hill, which is capable of using the milk of 200 cow. ; and Win. HI. Potter's saw mill and cheese box factory, situated four miles south-west of Talcottville, in which about 2,000 boxes are made annually.
§ Doc. Hist. Vol. III., page 1070.
! Among these more fortunate ones were Ebenezer Coe, whose deed for lot 89, 152 acree, is dated June 19th, 135, and ws. given by Arthur Breese, attorney for Inman ; Jared Topping, who received a deed for lot 60, 139 acres, Oct. 28, 1795. for $128 ; Thos. Bravton, whose deed for 100 acres was dated July 2, 1797; Wmn. Bingham and Asa Lord. - Hough's History of Lowris County.
" Hough's History of Lewis County.
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town occupied two weeks. There they turned north into the wilderness and pursued their course through tangled under- brush and around fallen logs, with an ox team, which the wife helped to drive, while Mr. Topping preceded them and cleared the way with an ax. They reached lot No. 60 late in April and built a bark hut against a large log, which formed the back, while the sides were supported by poles and the door formed by a blanket. His neighbors to the south were many miles dis- tant, and to the north none were nearer than Canada. His brother, Jared, came the following June to assist in building a log hut. Immediately after Topping came Asa Lord, who was born in Franklin, Conn, Oct. 6, 1767, and built the first log house in the County, on Leyden Hill. Wm. Dustin and Bela Butterfield came the same year ; the latter remained only about six years. Topping's and Butterfield's families are believed to be the only ones who remained during the winter of 1794-5. Allen Augur from Haddam, Conn., and families named Olni- stead. Adams, Bingham, Hinman and Miller came in 1795; and David Brainerd Miller, Peter W. Aldrich, Eber Kelsey and Brainerd Coe, (the latter from Middlefield, Conn.,) in 1796. Ezra and E. C. Rice, Bela Hubbard, Rodolphe Tillier, Jonathan Boardman, David, Calvin and Amos Miller, Asahel Hongh, Chandler Otis, Eben Wheeler, Asa Brayton, Elisha Randall, Paul Green, John Worden, Daniel Topping, John Barns, Ephraim Town. Joseph Buttolf. Jonathan Wheeler, Asher Hold- ridge, Edmund Newell, Jerden Ingham, Moses Warren, Thomas Stone, Eliasheb Adams, Lemuel Storrs, Nathaniel Dustin, Abel Lyman, Samuel Douglass, John Allen settled here previous to May. 23, 1797, as appears from a road warrant of Dist. No. 5, of that date. An advertisement in the Western Centinel, dated 1797, records the fact, that there were at that time forty actual settlers upon Inman's Triangle. The first birth was that of Jonathan, son of Wm. Topping, and the first death of an adult person, that of Calvin, son of David B. Miller; the former occurred in June, 1796, and the latter March 23, 1997 .* The first fatal accident known to have occurred in the County was the killing by a tree of a man named Bingham, early in 1:97 or '98. The first saw mill in the County was erected at Talcott- ville, in 1795, by Bela Butterfield : but it was carried off by the spring flood. In 1198, Butterfield sold to the Talcott families from Middletown, Conn., who, says Dr. Hough, "adopted a policy adverse to the building up of a village at the point where
** This historical fact is recorded on his toutb stone in the old Leyden bill cemetery as follows :--
"'Of all the adults which in this yard lie I was the first eturnity to try.' Hough's History of Lewis County.
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natural advantages greatly favored. It is said they refused to sell village lots to mechanics, and retained the water power on Sugar River, although parties offered to invest liberally in manufactures." The first framed , barn was built by David B. Miller, in April, 1798 ; and the first framed house by Lemuel Storrs, the same year. The first grist mill in town, and the second one in the County, was built at Port Leyden, by Peter W. Aldrich and Eber Kelsey, millwrights from Killingworth, Conn., in 1799, and was got in operation the next year; the second one was built at Talcottville, by the Talcotts, in 1803. Previous to the erection of the first grist mill the settlers car- ried their grists to Constableville, but in dry weather, when the supply of water was inadequate there, they went to Whitestown, six and three-fourths miles north-west of Utica. Aldrich and Kelsey came on a tour of exploration in the fall of 1796, and selected a site and purchased two lots extending from the river to near Leyden Hill. The following spring they removed their families, and erected a frame for a saw mill which was swept off by the next spring flood and lodged on the rocks below. The frame was again set up and the mill got in operation in 1798. The first store was kept by Benj. I. Starr, at Talcottville. Starr also kept the first post office at the same place. Jotham Snow was the first physician. Silas Southwell taught the first school. The first school house was built at Leyden Hill, in 1802 .*
The First Baptist Church of Leyden, at Talcottville, was organized with five members (four males and one female.) at the house of Thomas Brayton, April 22, 1803, by Elder John Clark, its first pastor. The first church edifice was erected at Leyden Hill, in 1821. at a cost of $1,660; and the present one, at Talcottville, in 1863, at a cost of 84,500. It will seat 300 persons. There are 67 members, but the Church is without a pastor. The Church property is valued at $4,000. It is the oldest Church in town, and the oldest of this sect north of Oneida county.t
The M. E. Church at Port Leyden, was organized with 104 members, by the Black River Conference, in April, 1868. The Society worships in a house erected for a Union Church, which has been deeded to the Congregationalists, who accord to the Methodists the privilege of using it a part of the time. The first pastor was Rev. B. F. Wood ; the present one is Rev. O. P. Pitcher, our informant. The present number of members is
** The first school organization under the act of 1813, was effected at a special town meeting. held Dee. 27. in that venr, at which Thomas Wolcott, David B. Miller and Winthrop Felshaw were appointed school commissioners, and Nathan Pelton, Sainnel Kent. Izrael Douglass, jr., Amos Miller, Allen Auger and Benj. Starr, inspectors."- Hough's History of Loveis County.
+ Information furnished by E. Spencer.
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120. The Church property, consisting of parsonage and church site, is valued at $2,400 .*
From the meager data furnished us relative to the First Universalist Church, the First M. E. Church of Leyden and St. Mark's Church, (Episcopal) we glean these facts: that the first was organized June 4, 1831, erected a house of worship, but did not until about 1860, hold regular meetings ; the second was organized March 12, 1832, erected its first house of worship at Talcottville, and the present one, which will seat 275 per- sons, at the same place, in 1868, at a cost of $4,500, which is the present value of Church property, has twenty members and is ministered to by Rev. D. F. Wood; and the last erected its house of worship, which will seat 400 persons, at Port Leyden, in 1864, at a cost of 85,000, and is ministered to by Rev. G. W. Porter, D. D.
LOWVILLE, was formed from Mexico, (Oswego Co.) March 14, 1800.1 A part of Harrisburgh was taken off Feb. 22, 1803. It lies upon the west bank of Black River, north of the center of the County. The surface of the town inclines toward Black River, which is 400 feet below the west border, though it nowhere presents marked abrupt declivities. A wide intervale extends along the river bank, and a large portion of it is subject to annual inundations. In the north part it is swampy. The town is watered by small streams flowing east into Black River. Upon the north border is a sulphur spring, which emits inflammable gas, whose existence has been known since the earliest survey. Another spring similar to this was recently discovered on the farm of Nicholas Gordinier, near Lowville, which, by analysis, is shown to possess valuable curative properties for scrofulons and rheumatic diseases.S
* This Church, one at Fish Creek, in Greig, and another at North Greig, compose the Port Leyden charge and are under one pastorate.
t This town embraces No. 11 of the Black River Tract, and was named from Nicholas Low. of New York, who became proprietor of this town in connection with Adams ant Watertown (Jefferson Co.) of the same tract. Aug. 5, 1796. Mr. Low was born hear New Brunswick, N. J., March 30, 1732. At the breaking out of the Revolution he maintained his fidelity to the American cause, while his brother Isaac, who also firat cast in his lot with the colonies, Anally .spoused that of the mother country.
# At the first town meeting, held at the house of Silas Stow, Daniel Kelle was chosen Supervisor : Mores Coffeen, Clerk ; Charles Davenport, Jonathan Rogers and Benj. Hillinan, Assevors ; Ehna Stephens, Constable and Collector ; Billa Davenport and Aaron Cole, "verkeers of the Poor ; I-aac Perry. James Bailey and Benj. Hillman, Com- prissimuers of Higheraye ; Ehad Stephens, David Cobb. Asa Newton, Daniel Porter and Zadoe Buch, Puta Masters ; Jonathan Rogers and Elijah Stevens, Pound Masters and Fence Viewers.
§ The following relative to this spring appears in the Lewis County Democrat, July 31, 1872 :
" There are found eleven ingredients. among which are magnesix and componnda of potash, chloride of sodinm and iron, sulphuretted hydrogen, and other qualities equal y important. Dr. H. S. Hendec. upon learning that his theories of the value of the water were correct, completed the purchase of the spring, with six adjacent acres of land, for which he paid $6,000. He will immediately proceed to grade and put the grounds in shape, and is abont to let the job of erecting a building capable of accommodating comfortably fifty guests."
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LOWVILLE.
The soil is a deep, fertile loam, intermixed with disintegrated limestone. The town contains 21,300 acres, In 1870 it had a population of 2,805, of whom 2,454 were native and 351. foreign ; 2,793, white and 12, colored. During the year ending Sept. 30, 1871, it contained eleven school districts and em- ployed twelve teachers. The number of children of school age was 906; the number attending school, 567; the average attendance, 287; the amount expended for school purposes, $3,835.44; and the value of school houses and sites, $8,700.
The Utica & Black River R. R. extends through the east border.
LOWVILLE, (p. v.) the County seat,* is situated in the south- east part of the town, on Mill Creek, a tributary of Black River, and on the Utica & Black River R. R. It was incorporated under the act of 1847, and its charter was confirmed Feb. 27, 1858. Its streets are beautifully shaded, principally with maples, and these with its many fine residences give it an attractive appearance. It reposes in a vale, encircled on three sides by hills, leaving an outlook to the east, across the River. It is the seat of the Lowville Academy,t and contains six churches, two printing offices.t ( The Journal and Republican and The Lewis County Democrat) two banks, six hotels, two grist mills,§ a foundry and machine shop, a sash,
* The County seat was removed from Martinsburgh to Lowville, by an act of the Legislature, passe ! March 10. 1864. The site of the court house, jail and clerk's office was changed to Lowville, and the courts anthorized to be held in the town house of Lowville, which, together with the ground on which it stood, was deeded to the County for that purpose, by the Supervisor of the town, the President of the Board of Trustees of Lowville Academy and the Town Clerk, in whom the right was vested April 1, 1859. Until a jail was erected in Lowville and the jail limits established there, the one at Martinsburgh was authorized to be used.
t The charter of Lowville Academy was granted by the Regents, March 21, 1808. The building first used by it-a wooden strini tare. 39x52 feet, two stories high-was erected upon a site donated by Silva Stow. Jan. 3, INT, at a cost of $2.000, which was raised by subscription, in shares of $25 esch, and i- supposed to have been built for a court house, with a view to securing the location of the county weat at Lowville, efforts toward which were made upon the erection of the County. The prosperity of the school under the management of Stephen W. Taylor, who became its principal in Isi7, seemed to warrant the erection ef a new building, more commodions and better adapted to its needs. A Bite of four acres was donated by Mr. Low, for academic purposes and a building novel in design though undemocratie in arrangement, (inasmuch as the pupils were each wrated in small ch set-like apartinente. separated. or surrounded on all sides, except thet looking toward the teacher's rostrum, to prevent communication with each other, and so arranged around seven sides of a twelve sided apartment, ss to bring them nuder the constant surveillance of that functii naty.) was erected under the superintendence of Mr. Taylor, at & coat of Sagen, and dedicated Jan. 12, 1826 ; but this proved defective, and in 1 26 it was taken down. It was rebuilt nearly on the same site and dedicated Dec. 1. 1530. Two additions on the erst end of the old building were some years since erected. Rev. G. C. Waterman, mi der whore superintendence it now je, became its principal at the commencement of the fall terin in 1872. The academy has always main- tained a high reputation and its rueceny reflects credit upon the citizens of Lewis County.
$ A history of the press appears on pages 68- 70.
§ John Pfister's griet mill is one of the best in this section of the country, and is operated by steam and water power.
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LOWVILLE.
door and blind factory,* a scythe snath and grain cradle fac- tory,t a tannery .¿ three hardware stores, four general stores, two book stores, three harness shops, four drug stores, a marble shop, three carriage shops, three clothing stores, and numerous groceries and miscellaneous shops of minor importance.§
The Lowville Rural Cemetery Association was organized Jan. 26, 1867, and the grounds were dedicated Oct. 9, 1867. The cemetery embraces over twenty-five acres of land, eleven of which were given by the late James L. Leonard, and was laid out by B. F. Hathaway, of Bridgeport, Conn. It occupies a. plateau and wooded side hill, between two streams, a short distance west of the village, of which and the valley it com- mands a fine view. While very near the village, it is so isolated from it by-the brooks on each side, as to be forever free from encroachment by the growth of the town. Its sections are designated by letters ranging from A to T, both inclusive, the latter being reserved exclusively for those of the Catholic reli- gion.|| The price of the lots throughout, except a narrow border on the west side, is fixed at twenty cents per square foot. The Association have erected a tasteful cottage for the sexton, a fine receiving vault and a substantial gateway of mas- sive cut stone, and have laid out over a mile of carriage road, much of which has been finely graveled. Between 200 and 300
* M. D. Moore & Son's planing mill and sash, door and blind factory, located on Sil- ver Creek, near the cemetery. in the west part of the village, gives employment to eight to ten men, and manufactures a large stock of sash. doors, blinds, mouldings house fittings and turned stuff. Two Woodworth planers and a large assortment of other improved machinery are used.
+ S. B. Batcheller, Son & Co., at their factory near the east end of State Street, manufacture 15,000 to 20,000 scythe suaths and 1.200 to 1,500 grain cradles annually. The motive power is furnished by steam. This business was begun here in a small way many years ago, but it has steadily increased nutil, at the present time, the pro- ducts of this company are known throughout the country.
# Hiram Gowdy's tannery, located near the east line of Lowville village, was started in 1863, and is operated by steam and water. It gives employment to six or seven per- sons, annually consumes about 490 cords of hark and tans 6.000 to 7.000 sides of rough upper leather. The building is 127 by 35 feet ; 45 feet of its length are 25 stories above the basement, the remainder one story. Connected with the works are twelve acres, on which are five dwellings, a bark house, and hide house, in addition to the tannery.
§ Lowville has been visited by several destructive firea within the last few years, but the burnt districts have been built up again with more substantial and imposing struc- tures, which vastly improve the appear ance of the village. In ist ?. W. Howell erected the Howell House block, on the site of the old Bostwick House, which was burned Jan. 16, 1864. The new house has a fromage of Jos fret. is four stories high, and was opened to the public Jan. 27. 1850. The adjoining blocks east and west were erected it the same tinm, with the same architectural design, which give the appearance of wings of the central building.
By an agreement entered into between the President of the Association and the Bishop of the Diocese, the former agrees that no lots in this section shall be sold to any other class, and the latter, that no place of burial shall be authorized by him in town, while any of these lots remain unsold.
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burials have been made, many having been recently removed from old burying grounds in other parts of the town .*
The Lowville Fire Department was organized in March, 1866. It is composed of three companies, ( Rescue Engine Co. No. 2, Active Hose Co. No. 1, and Alert Hook and Ludder Co. No. 1,) which comprise about 110 men, and are under the supervision of Henry E. Turner as Chief Engineer. A splendid fire-proof brick building was erected in 1870, for the use of the depart- ment, at an expense of $5.000. It is two stories high, the lower floor being occupied by the machines and other appliances of the department, and the upper floor, by a large hall and two company rooms.
The armory of the 87th Regt. N. Y. S. N. G., is located on Shady Avenue near the depot.
Lowville Lodge No. 134 of F. & A. M. was organized May 20, 1848, and its charter was granted June 13, 1848.t
Lowville Chapter No. 223, Royal Arch Musons was organized Feb. 5, 1868, and received its charter Feb. 29, 1868, which it adopted March 30, 1869.1
WEST LOWVILLE is a hamlet in the south-west part. The postoffice at this place was discontinued in the spring of 1872. A. G. Stoddard's cheese factory, located here, is capable of using the milk of 400 cows. The building is two stories high, and is 100 by 28 feet. Steam power is used.
SULPHUR SPRING is situated five miles north of Lowville, and contains a grist mill, saw mill, cheese factory,§ and about a half dozen dwellings.
* The affaire of the Association are managed by a Board of Twelve Trustees, who are elected by lot owners, for a term of three years. The elections occur the second Mon- day in May annually. The following is a list of the names of the present officers : Franklin B. Hough, President ; Charles H. Curtis, Vice- President ; J. Carrol House, Secretary ; Rutson Rea, Treasurer ; Chas. P. Leonard, O. P. Hedden Aud Horace Bush, Ere utive Committee.
E. H. Bush, Term
F. B. Hough, J. C. House,
Term
D. C. West, S.M. Benedict, O. P. Hedden,
Term
Rutaou Rea,
expires
HI. Bush.
in 1574.
J. Poister,
expires in 1875.
C. S. Rice,
in 1873.
C. P. Leonard,
expires
C. H. Curtis,
t The present officere are John S. Stewart. W. M. ; James L. Knox, S. W. ; A. M. Lanpher. J. W. ; S. Phillip, Treasurer ; Chas. E. Mitchell, Secretary ; L. A. Bostwick, S. D. ; Fred. D. Howell, J. D. ; Samuel S. Rain, S. M. C. ; Samuel W. Henry, J. M. C. ; and Wm. B. Nicholson. Tiker.
# The first officers were Rufus L. Rogers, I. P. ; David A. Stewart, K .; Alex. R. Gebbie, S. ; Henry Hareford, Treasurer ; Geo. J. Magor, Secretary ; Horace Bush, C. of H. : Warren L. Scott. P. S. ; Louis A. Scott. R. A. C. : Geo. E. Morris. M. 3 V. ; Geo. HI. Mccarty. M. 2 V. ; Rer. C. W. Brooks, M. 1 V. ; Rev. Wm. N. Irish, Chaplain ; Chas. E. Mitchell, Tiler. The present officers are A. R. Gebbie, H. P .; Horace Bu-h. K. ; D. Frank Dodge, S. ; Wm. H. Lawton, Treasurer ; Geo. J. Mager, Secretary ; V. Lan- sing Waters. C. of Il. ; Sher. Phillips, P. S. ; Chas. L. Knapp, R. A. C. ; Charles W. Moore, M. 3 V. ; Janey I. Knox, M. & V; F. A. Crane, M. 1 V. ; Rev. Wm. N. Irish, Choploin ; and C'has. E. Mitchell, Filer.
& Sulphur spring Cheese Factory, of which C. L. Sheldon is proprietor, is capable of using the milk of Gom cows, and making 140.000 Ths. of cheese annually. The main building ia two stories high. The drying house is 32 by 96 feet, the making room 30 by 36 feet, the ateam and wood room, 16 by 20 feet, and the whey and press room, 13 by 32 fuet.
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LOWVILLE.
STOWS SQUARE is situated about three miles north of Low- ville. It was formerly a village containing a postoffice, but now possesses no characteristics which entitle it to that name.
SMITH'S LANDING, upon Black River, two miles east of Low- ville, contains a hotel, storehouse, about a dozen houses, and fifty inhabitants.
LOWVILLE LANDING, upon Black River, is also distant about two miles from Lowville.
Lowville Cheese Factory, of which Messrs. Rees & Dence are proprietors, is situated just east of Lowville village, uses the milk of 900 cows, and annually manufactures, on an average, about 250,000 lbs. of cheese, and 7,700 lbs. of butter .* The building is 140 feet long and 30, wide; one-third is three stories high, the remainder, two. The making room is thirty feet square, the engine room, twenty-two feet square, and the press room, eighteen by twenty-two feet.
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Union Cheese Factory, situated on the west road, five miles west of Lowville, uses the milk of 200 to 300 cows, and is operated by a Company, consisting of Orris S. Bowen, Alex. R. Gebbie, George Stoddard, Cornelius C. Galloway and Henry W. Brown.
Settlement was begun in 1797, under Silas Stow. agent of Nicholas Low, by emigrants from New England. Stow was a native of Middlefield, Conn., where he studied law, but previous to entering upon its practice, he became the agent of Low, for the settlement of Leyden. A company from West- field, Mass., consisting of Enoch Lee, Russell Pond, Ehud Ste- phens and Jonathan Rogers, were returning from a tour to the Genesee country, and were induced by Chas. C. Brodhead, who had been recently employed in surveying lands in the Black River country, to visit that locality, which subsequently becante the home of three of them. Ehud Stephens received a con- tract from Mr. Stow, June 2, 1797, for lot 38, at $3 per acre. This was the first contract executed in the town. Ruscell Pond, Jonathan Rogers, Daniel Kelley and Moses Waters se- lected land in the summer and fall of 1797, and commenced clearing and the erection of rude shanties, but the former never' settled here. Waters settled at Stows Square, and was the first in that locality. Early in 1798. Rogers and Stephens com- menced the removal of their families to this locality, and were accompanied by Jesse Wilcox, Philemon Hoadley, Zebulon
* There was made at this factory, in 1571, 190,011 lbs. of cheese, and 5.77216 Ihm. of butter, but that year was an unfavorable one for the business, and the product wasat least one-third below the annual average.
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Rogers and Elijah and Justus Woolworth. At the High Falls they were delayed two weeks in the construction of a boat, in which they and their effects were conveyed to their destination .* Hoadley and the Woolworths had settled in Turin, whither they returned. Mrs. J. Rogers did not accompany her family, but followed them the next week. Wilcox commenced a clear- ing on Stows Square,t in June, and settled there. The usual landing place of those of the first settlers who came by water was at Spafford's Landing,t in the south-east corner of the town. James Bailey, from Lebanon, Conn., Jehoida and Nathan Page, Wm. Darrow, from Hebron, N. Y., and Moses Coffeen, settled in the town in 1798, Bailey and Darrow on Stows Square, and Coffeen on the east road. Bailey was an early innkeeper ; Darrow the first physician in the north part of the County; and Coffeen subsequently settled upon a purchase of 300 acres on the west road, whence he removed to Jefferson county, where his brothers were pioneers. Adam F. and Jacob Snell, Benj. Millman, Jacob Eblie, James Craig, John Shull, Jeremy Rogers, John Bush, Daniel Porter, George Bradford, Zadock Bush, Asa Newton, James Parsons, Richard Livingston, (from Johnstown) Zeboim Carter, (from Westfield, Mass.,) Noah Durrin, Ebenezer Hill, Samuel Van Atta, James and Garret Boshart, Wm. and Benj. Ford, John Kitts, Hooper Boohall and James Caldwell came in 1799. Shull, Eblie, Snell, Van Atta and Boshart came in company from the Mohawk settlements. The farm of the latter was a model of neatness and order worthy of emulation. Reuben Putney, Luther Washburn, Aaron Coles, David Cobb, Nathaniel Dur-
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