USA > New York > Gazetteer of the State of New York: embracing a comprehensive view of the geography, geology, and general history of the State, and a complete history and description of every county, city, town, village, and locality, Part 1 > Part 88
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LYME11-was formed from Brownville, March 6, 1818. A part of Clayton was taken off in 1833, and Cape Vincent in 1849. It lies upon Chaumont Bay, in the w. part of the co. The sur- face is very level. The w. border is deeply indented by Chaumont Bay12 and its branches. The soil is principally clay. There are several sulphur springs in town. Near Chaumont arc extensive and valuable limestone quarries.13 Chaumont (p. v.) is situated upon the bay at the mouth of Chaumont River. Pop. 306. Three Mile Bay"4 (p. v.) lies upon a bay of the same name. Pop. 295. Point Peninsula (p. o.) is a scattered settlement containing 25 houses. The first settlement was begun under Jonas Smith and IIenry A. Delamater, agents for Le Ray, in 1801.15 The first location was 2} mi. above Chaumont ; but in 1805 the settlers removed to the site of the present village. During several years much sickness prevailed; but this gradually disappeared as the co. became more settled. In 1812 the inhabitants, numbering about a dozen families, built a blockhouse, which was taken and destroyed by the enemy. The first church (Bap.) was organized in 1816.16
ORLEANS-was formed from Brownville, April 3, 1821. A portion was annexed to Pamelia, April 1, 1829. Clayton was taken off in 1833. The boundary between it and Alexandria has twice been changed. It lies on the N. border of the co., and embraces the w. part of Wells and
Cols. Electus Backus, Timothy Dix, Jr., and John Mills, Maj. John Johnson, Capts, Ambrose Spencer, Jr., and Joseph Nichol- son, and Lient. Michael P. Vanderventer, officers who had been killed or had died of sickness during the war, were collected, and buried in one grave. A monnment of painted pine boards was erected to their memory by a grateful country: but it soon rotted down. and there is now a strong probability that the place of their interment will be forgotten.
I This canal was D0 feet wide at the top, 12 at the bottoni, and 4 feet deep.
2 M. E., Prot. E .. Presb .. Christian, and Seventh Day Bap. 3 Named for James Le Ray de Chaumont, the proprietor.
4 The land office for much of the land in the co. N. and E. of the river was located here until 1835, when it was removed to Carthage. P. S. Stewart has been the agent many years. 6 Named from Etloni Evans, who built the first inill in 1805-06. 6 This village is locally known as " Lockport." A trace of an ancient Indian fort was found near it; another 1 mi. s. ; and another near Sandfords Corners.
T Among these first settlers were David Coffeen. Dyer Rhodes, Gershom and John Maroon. Joseph Child and sons. Thomas Ward, William Cooper, and Benj. Kirkbride. The first child boru was Abi Brown: the first marriage, that of Jonas Alleu and Sarah Dyke: and the first death, that of Chester Ballon. Margaret Comstock taught the first school.
8 Bap., Friends, M. E., Presh., R. C., and Union.
9 This town embraces " Atticus," or No. 1, of the Boylston Tract. 10 In the following year, Comfort Stancliff, Benjamin Gates, Seth Cutler, John Alger, and others, came in. McKee and Fox kept the first inn. Mr. Frost built the first sawmill. and Mr. Cutler the first grist mill, in 1804. The first death was that of A. M. Child, killed by a falling tree.
11 Namo selected by Eben. Kelsey, a native of Lyme, Conn. 12 Name derived from Le Ray de Chaumont. Upon old maps this bay is named " Nighoure," " Niaoutre," and "Nivernais." The last name is probably derived from that of the Duc de Nivernois, a French nobleman.
13 The limestone quarries of this place have furnished large quantities of stone for the piers at Oswego, locks on the canal, and for other public works.
14 Nanie given from its being 3 miles w. of Chanmont. This bay is celebrated for its fisheries. In 1856, $90,000 worth of fish were taken, consisting principally of "ciscoes" (lake her- ring) and whitefish. It has been the seat of considerable ship building.
15 Among the first settlers were Richard M. Esselstyn. T. Wheeler, Peter Pratt, and Jonas. David, and Timothy Soper. James Horton was the first settler on Point Salubrious, in 1506.
16 The census reports 6 churches; 2 M. E., 2 Bap,, Presb, and Free W. Bap.
360
JEFFERSON COUNTY.
several smaller islands in the St. Lawrence. The surface is level, or slightly rolling. The principal streams are Perch River, Catfish and Mullet Creeks. Perch Lake lies upon the s. boundary. The soil is clay and loam. La Fargeville,1 (p. v., ) on Chaumont River, near the center of the town, is the seat of Orleans Academy. Pop. 295. Omar,2 (p. o.,) on Mullet Creek, and Stone MILLS,' (p. o.,) are small villages. Orleans 4 Corners, (p. o.,) Port Orleans, and Collins Landing are hamlets. Penets Square, which embraced most of this town, was settled by squatters." The first settlements commenced about 1806.5 In 1824, John La Farge, a large owner in these lands, came into town to assert his claim. After a great deal of difficulty and some resistance, he succeeded in establishing his title. In 1838 the mansion and farm of La Farge, 1 mi. s. of the village, was purchased by Bishop Dubois as the site for a Catholic seminary. This institution, named "St. Vincent de Paul," combining a theological seminary and classical boarding school, was soon after opened; but in two or three years it was removed to Fordham, Westchester co., and was afterward incorp. as St. Johns College. Rock Island Light- house was built in 1853. The British steamer Sir Robert Peel was plundcred and burned on the night of May 29, 1838, while taking in wood at Wells Island, in this town, by a party of 22 self- styled patriots, led by Bill Johnston.6 The census reports 8 churches.7
PAMELIA8-was formed from Brownville, April 12, 1819. In 1824 its name was changed to " Leander ;" but soon after the former name was restored. A portion of Orleans was annexed April I, 1829. It is the central town of the co. The surface is level, or gently undulating, and the soil is clay and sand. Near the cascade opposite Watertown are several caves in the limestone rock.º In the vicinity of Perch Lake have been found several barrows, or scpulchral mounds. Pamelia Village and Juhelville10-the former opposite the lower part and the latter the upper part of Watertown Village-are places of considerable manufactures,11 and have each 200 to 300 inhabitants. Pamelia Four Corners (p. v.) contains about 30 houses. The first settlement began in 1799.12 The census reports 2 churches.13
PHILADELPHIA-was formed from Le Ray, April 3, 1821. It is an interior town, E. of the center of the co. Its surface is level in the E., but rocky and broken in the w. The soil is generally a claycy loam. Indian River and Black Creek are the principal streams. Iron ore is found in considerable quantities. The principal bed that is worked is known as the Shurtliff mine. In Sterlingville is a large chalybcate spring. Philadelphia,14 (p.v.,) upon Indian River, has 55 houses, and Sterlingville, 15 (p. v.,) upon Black Creek, 40. At the latter place are a large blast furnace16 and a forge.17 The first settlement was commenced in 1804, by Friends from Penn. and N. J.18 In 1810 the Friends erected a building which for 17 years was used for a school and meeting house.19
1 Named from John La Farge, the proprietor; formerly known | are evidently all formed by currents of water flowing through as " Log Mills."
2 Named from a character in one of Johnson's allegories, found in the English Reader : formerly called " Mudges Mills." 8 Formerly called "Collins Mills," from John B. Collins, owner.
4 The improvident waste of timher and the slovenly clearings made by this lawless set promised little in the way of civiliza- tion : and their appearance, as they emerged from the swamps with an ox harnessed to a crotched piece of wood, laden with a trough full of "black salts," or, as they returned in like man- ner, with a sack of nical and a jng of whiskey, was little calculated to inspire hope of speedy improvement. They had a kind of law among themselves in relation to land, and were accustomed to run "possession lines" by lopping down bushes. " Claims" were often sold and secured by quit claim deeds,
6 Among the first settlers were Roderic C. Frazier, Peter Pratt, Dr. Reuben Andrus, Samnel and Daniel Ellis, and others. Alvah Goodman kept the first inn: Lemmel George, the first store; Collins & Platt erected the first grist mill, and Dr. Andrns, the first sawmill, in 1819.
6 After driving the passengers ashoro and plundering the boat, the brigands cast her off from the shore and set her on fire. Large rewards were offered for their apprehension, and several persons were arrested, but none convicted. In 1853. Johnston was appointed keeper of the Rock Island Light, wbicb shines on the spot where the Peel was burned.
7 Two Evang. Luth., Bap., Cong., M. E., R. C., Wes. Meth., and Union.
8 Nained from the wife of Gen. Jacob Brown. Her maiden name was l'amelia Williams.
º These caverns have been traced nearly 500 feet. Just helow and partly under the village of Juhelville, the open months of several caves appear on the river bank, opening at both ends on the cliff. The passages are lined with calcareons deposita, in the form of agaric mineral, stalactiter, and tufa, These caves
the natural seams in the rock and gradnally wearing away the soluble and yielding limestone. In the rear of the principal cavern a large area of land has sunk to a considerable depth, as though a portion had fallen in.
10 Named from Madame Jnhel, a relative of the Le Ray family.
11 These manufactures consist of Inmber, spirits, leather, cotton yarn, and portable steam engines.
12 The first settlers were Wm. Cooper and Win. Watkins. Anson Sigourney tanght the first school; Samuel Mack kept the first inn, Jabez Foster, the first store; and Tuttle and Bailey built the first mill.
18 M. E. and Union.
14 Often called "Quaker Settlement" by the old inhabitants. 15 Named from James Sterling, the owner of the iron works. Formerly called " De Launey's Mill," from the builder of the first mill, in 1807.
16 Built in 1837, by James Sterling. The ore is principally obtained from the Sterling mine of Antwerp, and the Shortliff mine of this town, near the line of Theresa, the ore from the latter being used principally as a flux
17 Built by Caleb Essington, in 1839.
18 These settlers purchased 16 lots of 440 acres cacb, lying in the corners of a square containing 25 lots, of which the central range each way was reserved by Le Ray. The center lot, (No. 611,) embracing the site of the present village, was conveyed to trustees " for the promotion of religion and learning" muler the care of the Quakers. This trust afterward occasioned much contention, and led to a miniature anti-rent war. The matter was finally settled in 1844, Cadwallader Child, Mordecai Tay- lor, and Samnel Evans came in the first year. Robert Com. fort kept the first inn, Saml. Case, the first store, and Thos. and Jobn Townsend built the first mill. Anna Comstock kept the first school. The first child born was JJohn Townsend, and the first death was a dunghter of Robt. Comfort, in 1807.
19 The census reports 5 churches; 2 M. E., Bap., Friends, Univ.
361
JEFFERSON COUNTY.
RODMAN !-- was formed from Adams, Mareh 24, 1804, under the name of " Harrison." Its name was changed April 6, 1808. A part of Pinekney (Lewis eo.) was taken off in 1808. It lies upon the borders of Lewis, in the s. part of the eo. The surface is hilly, and broken by the deep ravines of Saudy Creek and its branches. The soil is generally a fertile, gravelly loam. There are 3 sulphur springs in town. Rodman (p. v.) has 45 houses, Zoar and Whites- ville? (E. Rodman p.o.) each about 20. Settlement began in 1801, and from 1803 to 1806 it progressed with great rapidity.3 In 1813 an epidemie prevailed, eausing 60 deaths in 3 months. The census reports 3 ehurehes.‘
RUTLAND5-was formed from Watertown, April 1, 1802. It lies upon the s. bank of Black River, E. of the center of the eo. Its surface consists of the narrow river valley on the N., a terraced plateau in the center, and a hilly region in the s. The central plateau, embracing the greater part of the town, is 300 to 400 feet above the flat country farther N., and it deseends by a sueeession of steep deelivities to the level of the river. It is underlaid by Trenton limestone. Upon the s. the surface gradually rises to the summits of the slate hills which oecupy thie s. part of the eo. A remarkable valley, known as "Rutland Hollow," extends through the town upon the lower terrace of the plateau, parallel to the river. It is deeply exeavated in the limestone, and appears like the bed of an ancient river. Another smaller and deeper valley extends in the same direction aeross the summit of the plateau, and forms the bed of a deep, narrow lake. Pleasant Lake, in Champion, is situated in the continuation of this latter valley. These valleys and terraces seein the result of abrasion rather than of upheaval. Upon the edge of the terraee, 100 feet below the summit, may be seen the ancient lake ridge before described. There are 2 or 3 sulphur springs in town. The soil is a very fertile loam upon the plateau, and a sandy loam upon the river. Felts Mills,6 (p. v.,) on Black River, contains 50 houses; Black River,7 (p. v.,) on the river, partly in this town and partly in Le Ray, 40; Tylerville,8 (South Rutland p. o.,) in the narrow valley of Sandy Creek, 30; and Rutland Center,? (Rutland p. o.,) 10. This town fell to the share of Wm. Henderson, and settlement was begun in 1799, under Asher Miller, his agent. The greater part of the land was sold10 to New England farmers, who came in within 3 years after the first settlement.11 An old Indian fort is to be seen on the farm of Geo. Wilson ; and a bone pit was found near the line of Watertown. The census reports 5 churches.12
THERESA-was formed from Alexandria, April 15, 1841, and named from a daughter of Le Ray. It is the eentral town upon the N. w. border of the eo. The surface along Indian River is broken, and traversed by ridges of gneiss rock, with fertile intervales. A part of the town, underlaid by sandstone, is level or undulating. In the primary regions are a number of ro- mantie lakes; and some of these have highly interesting mineral localities upon their shores and islands.13 Theresa, (p. v., ) upon the Iligh Falls14 of the Indian River, was early selected by Le Ray as a favorable point for settlement, and about 1810 he eaused several "jobs" to be cleared and a sawmill to be built.15 West Theresa is a p. o. A furnace, built near Millseat Lake in 1847, was in part supplied with ores from the vieinity. A private academy has been taught several years. The census reports 3 churches. 16
1 It embraces No. 8, or "Orpliens," of the " Eleven Towns." Its | King, John Dale, C. Cummings, Gardner Cleveland, Warren former name was from Richard Harrison, of N. Y., a proprietor ; and its present one, from Daniel Rodman, of Hudson, Clerk of the Assembly in 1808-09.
2 Named from Thos. White, sub-ageut and early settler.
3 Among the settlers who came in this year were Anson and Ebenezer Moody, Noah, Jonathan, and Aaron Davis, Benj. Thomas, Win. Rice, and Simeon Hunt. Miss MI. Nobles tanghit the first school, in Anson Moody's barn, in 1803. Willard Sykes kept the first store; and Wm. Rice built the first sawmill, in 1904, aud gristmill. in 1806. The first child born was Walter Harrison Moody; and the first death, that of the same child, 3 years after. His father received 50 acres of land from Mr. Har- rison for the name. Timothy Greeuly moved into the 6. w. corner of the town in 1803.
4 2 M. E., Cong.
5 No. 3, or " Milan," of the " Eleven Towns." Named from Rut- land. Vt., the former home of an early settler.
& Named from John Felt, who purchased the site in 1813. and still resides here. Formerly the seat of an extensive lumber manofactory : now changed to a tannery.
7 Locally known as " Lockport." See p. 359.
8 Named from Josiah and Frederick Tyler, early settlers.
9 On some mapa called " Brooksville," from Curtis Q. Brooks,
a former citizen. It is never known by this name in town. 10 17,549 acres were sold, in farms within 3 years, for $50,738.
11 Among the settlers who came in during the first and second years were Levi Miller, Perley and Win. Keyes, David and Gold- smith Coffeen. Amos Stebbins, Raphael Porter. Israel Wright, Jonathan aud Clark Ross, Jas. Kilhum, Chas. Kelsey, Jephtha
Foster, and Jolin Cotes. Miss A. Porter taught the first school, in 1803. Levi Butterfield kept the first inn. and Jacob Williams the first store. David Coffeen built the first gristmill in the co., near the month of Mill Creek, in the present village of Felts Mills, in 1801, and a sawmill in 1802. The first child born was in the family of Chas. Kelsey, and the first death, that of Mrs. Francis Towne. 12 2 M. E., 2 Union, and Cong.
13 Fluorspar, sulphate of barytes, sulphurets of iron and copper, phosphate of lime, zircon, feldspar, tourmalines, liyalite, pyroxene, Rensselaerite, idocrase, calcite, phlogopite, and other minerals, are found in this locality, and some of them are bean- tifully crystallized. Iron ore has been found in cousiderable quantity.
14 The river here descends 85 feet within a quarter of a mile. From this place to Rossie its banks are low, and large tracts are often overflowed, causing much sickness. A small steamer has run upon this part of the river.
15 Among the first settlers were James Shurtliff, Anson and Jeremiah Cheeseman, M. B. Ashley. Sylvester Bodman, Azariah Walton, Col. S. Ball, Abram Morrow, Joseph Miller, Archibald Fisher. Jas. Lake, Ebenezer and N. W. Lull. and J. D. Davidson. Mr. Lull built the first store, in 1820. Dr. Jas. Brooks, the first physician, settled in 1822, and died the next year. The first school was taught by Lindley Gibbs, at Hyde Lake. The first child born was Fanny A. Cole, May 26, 1819. The first marriage was that of Ebenezer Lull and Elantra Barnes. The first death was that of Mr. Casselman, who was drowned. A gristmill and inn were erected in 1819 for the proprietor. 16 Presb., M. E., and Prot. E.
362
JEFFERSON COUNTY.
WATERTOWN-was formed from Mexico, Mareh 14, 1800. Rutland was taken off in 1802, and llounsfield in 1806. It lies upon Black River, s. w. of the center of the co. The surface in the s. E. part is broken by the irregular terraees of the Trenton limestone, and in the N. it is level or rolling. The river bank is roeky throughout its whole extent; and in the village, about 3 mi. below, are several extensive caves. It is an important agricultural town; but it is chiefly distinguished for the extent of its trade and manufactures. In amount of business it is unsur- passed by any town in Northern N. Y. Watertown,? (p. v.,) the co. seat, pleasantly situated upon the s. bank of Black River, was ineorp. April 5, 1816. Pop. 5873. It contains an academy,3 3 newspaper offiees, 5 banks, and 9 ehurehes. Black River here flows, for the space of a mile, in a succession of rapids over the limestone terraces, affording an abundance of water power, which is largely improved, making the village one of the most important manufacturing places in the State." Three road and 2 R. R. bridges eross the river within the limits of the village: one of the former is a wire suspension bridge. An ice eave, near Whittleseys Point,5 extends under a part of the village. By an act passed March 22, 1853, a board of water commissioners was created, with power to borrow $50,000 for the construction of water works for the village. The work was finished during the following summer. The water is taken from the river, near the upper part of the village, and thrown by water power into a reservoir 200 feet above the village, and about 1 mi. distant; and from the reservoir it is distributed through the streets. A beautiful fountain is construeted in the center of the principal square.6 At an early day, two rectangular pieees of land were given by the owners of the adjacent lots for public use;7 and these now constitute beautiful public squares.8 Burrs Mills9 (p. o.) is a hamlet, on Sandy Creck, in the E. part of the town. Watertown Center and Fields Settlement are hamlets. Henry Coffeen and Zachariah Butterfield were the pioneer settlers, in 1800; they located upon the present site of the village.10 An arsenal was built at Watertown in 1809, and a building for an academy in 1811; the latter was used as a hospital during the war. The eensus reports 10 churches.11
WILNA12-was formed from Le Ray, and Leyden (Lewis co.) April 2, 1813. It lies upon Black River, in the extreme E. part of the co. Its surface is somewhat broken. It is chiefly under- laid by the primary rock, which rises into low, naked ridges, and by calciferous sandstone. Black River forms its w. boundary; and upon it are a series of rapids, forming an abundance of water power.13 The Indian River, in the N. part, also affords water power at several places. At Natural Bridge this stream flows beneath the surface through passages worn in the coarse white lime- stone which here forms the surface rock. Several interesting minerals are found at this place.
I Its present limits embrace No. 2, or "Leghorn," of the [ latter were convinced that there was frand. By an ingenious " Eleven Towns." It first contained Nos. 1, 2, and 3. 2 First settled in 1800; and became the co. seat in 1805. In 1849 the business portion was almost destroyed by fire, but it recovered from the disaster in 2 years.
8 The Watertown Acad. was incorp. May 2, 1835, and a large academic building was erected in a grove in the s. E. part of the village. It was soon after merged in the Black River Literary and Religious Institute, founded under the joint auspices of the Watertown Presbytery and B. R. (Cong.) Assoc. in 1836. Iu May, 1846, its name was changed to the Jefferson County Institute.
4 During the war a factory was built, at a cost of $75,000, for the manufacture of cotton and woolen cloths. In 1827, Levi Beebe purchased Cowans Island and erected upon it an im- mense stone cotton fartory. It had just been put in operation wheu, July 7, 1833, it was burned, under suspicious circun- stances. The loss was $200,000 ; and the site has since remained a ruin. The manufactures of cotton and woolen goods, flour, paper, iron castings, machinery, leather, agricultural imple- ments, lead pipe, wash aud blinds, and furniture, are extensively carried on.
6 Named from the wife of Samuel Whittlescy, who in 1815 threw herself from this point into the river, and was drowned. Her husband, a lawyer, and paymaster to the drafted militia, had received in N. Y. the sum of $30,000, in bills, and while returning to Watertown was secretly robbed of $8700 by his wife. Ile was greatly alarmed, but was persuaded by her to keep quiet, as it would be difficult to convince the public that a thief would have left so large a portion, and, as they must them- selves be suspected of having taken a part, they might as well keep the whole. Her logic succeeded upon the weak-minded old man, and before reaching home she had matured plans for con- cealment and ovasion. He started with his portinantean for Oneida co, leaving appointosents along the road for paying on his return ; but on arriving at Trenton he found he had been robbed. The news of the robbery spread quickly over the country ; but the most active inquiry and very liberal rewards failed to bring the thief to justice. On his return home he met his family frantic with grief; but there was an inconsistency in his story, And upon a searching conversation, held separately, with his two bondsmen, Perley Keyes and Jason Fairbanks, the | the State Bridge 500.
course of inquiry and eavesdropping, they were not only con- finned in the belief, but assured that the family soon inteuded to remove, and that summary means must be employed to re- cover the money. They accordingly invited W. to take a walk, which led as if by accident to a lonely spot near the village, previously prepared, where they suddenly charged him with the robbery and threatened instant drowning unless he disclosed. He wns twice submerged and life nearly extinguished, when he confessed and was liberated. The money was found sewed into a pair of drawers fitted to be worn by either husband or wife. Mrs. W. immediately after slipped away from the crowd unob- served, rushed down to the river, and was drowned .- Hough's Hist. Jeff. Co .. p. 263.
6 An Artesian well was bored 127 feet deep upon Factory Square in 1829, and a copions supply of water was obtained, slightly impregnated with sulphur and iron.
7 These lots are respectively 12 by 28 and 9 by 32 rods.
8 The principal business of the village is located around the Square and upon Court St.
& Named from John Burr & Sons, who settled here in 1804. HIart Massey built a saw and grist mill here, in 1801, for Low, the proprietor.
10 Oliver Bartholomew came in the same year, (1801.) and in 1802. about 80 families arrived. Jonathan Cowan built the first grist mill, in 1802, and Dr. Isaiah Massey opened the first inn the same year. In 1803. a bridge was built near the present court- house. In 1805, Win. Smith and John Paddock opened the first store; and a dam was built across Black River the sune year. The first birth was in the family of Moses Bacon ; and the first death. that of - Thornton, who was killed by a falling tree.
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