Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 108

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890 > Part 108

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to that section of the village. It did, however, provide for the citizens in general a capital base-ball field, and also a convenient place for military parades.

" As soon as the question of the site of the county buildings had been set- tled there was commenced the erection of three taverns on either side of the river, six in all, in order to be ready in time to secure business and patron- age from those who might visit the courts at a distance. About the same time, or a little later, Mr. Coffeen proceeded to erect near by an immense structure of wood, afterwards known as the old sugar-house. There was not, as far as known, any design in regard to its use, unless as a make-show of growth and business in that vicinity. It was later at one period used as a refinery, and for casting into molds sugar for table use in place of that of English make obtained through Canada. This having proved a failure the lower part was next used as a grocery store and afterwards as a bakery, con- ducted by a man named Ingraham. It was finally destroyed by fire.

" Besides the attempted diversion from the center referred to a singular movement was made in favor of the Factory Square, or village at a later pe- riod. This was after the cotton factory was completed and in motion ; also the woolen-mills of Lovell Kimball, the foundry and machine shops of George Goulding and N. M. Wiley, the removal hither of the immense tan- nery of Jasan Fairbanks, and various accessions of mechanical and other en- terprises about that time, together gave much encouragement, inclining those most earnest in the movement to be both confident and aggressive. In the early and later growth of Watertown it is interesting, especially to those who have ever made it their home, to note the fact that in selecting names for streets, old and new, after a few in honor of distinguished statesmen, and as many more indicated by local considerations, the rest have been chosen from among the foremost citizens of the different decades, first of the village, and afterwards of the city. However that may be it is entirely within the bounds of truth to say that whenever and by whomsoever the choice was made they are good names, all of them."

The autumn previous to their location here Henry Coffeen and Zachariah Butterfield had visited the country and purchased farms. Oliver Bartholo- mew arrived in March, 1800, and settled one and a half miles from the present village of Brownville, and his family, with those of Coffeen and Butter- fierd, were the only ones to spend the winter of 1800-or in the town. Dur- ing the following season many others who had previously purchased farms came on, and the settlement on Black River rapidly became a place of im- portance.

During the first summer of the settlement, in lieu of mills, the most ac- cessible being in Canada, a huge samp mortar, with a spring pole and pestle attached, was erected on the Public Square, by hollowing out a large stump. This served the purpose of a grain-mill to the settlement. In 1802 Jonathan Cowan began the erection of a grist-mill at the bridge that crosses to Bee-

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bee's Island, which he got in operation the following year. In 1802 Dr. Isaiah Massey opened an inn, probably near the site of Paddock's arcade. Hough's History says: "During two or three succeeding years John Pad- dock, Chauncey Calhoun, Philo Johnson, Jesse Doolittle, William Smith, Medad Canfield, Aaron Keyes, William Huntington, John Hathaway, Seth Bailey, Gershom Tuttle, and others, several of whom were mechanics, joined the settlement, and at a very early day a school-house was built on the site of the Universalist Church, which served also as a place of religious meetings. In 1805 John Paddock and William Smith opened the first store in the place, their goods being brought from Utica in wagons. An idea may be had of the hardships of that period, compared with modern facilities, from the fact that in March, 1807, 17 sleighs, laden with goods for Smith & Paddock, were 23 days in getting from Oneida County to Watertown, by way of Redfield. The snows were in some places seven feet deep, and the valleys almost impassable from wild torrents resulting from the melting of snows. The winter had been remarkable for its severity and the destructive spring floods."

In 1803 a bridge was built below the village, near the first court-house, by Henry Coffeen and Andrew Edmonds, over which the State road afterwards passed, and in 1805 the dam was built below the bridge, at which, the same year, a saw-mill was built on the north side, and in 1806 a grist-mill by Seth Bailey and Gershom Tuttle. A saw-mill was built on the Watertown side by R. & T. Potter a little below, and a saw and grist mill soon after by H. H. Coffeen.

The first brick building in the county was erected by William Smith in the summer of 1806. It was two stories in height, with a stone basement, Mr. Smith working upon it with his own hands. The bricks were manufactured by Eli Rogers, on the point of land between Public Square and Franklin street. The site of this building is now occupied by Washington hall.

In 1805 Henry Coffeen, Zachariah Butterfield, Hart Massey, Isaiah Mas- sey, Jesse Doolittle, Medad Canfield, Aaron Keyes, and Jonathan Cowan, who owned the land now comprising Public Square, and believing this loca- tion would in time become an important village, held an informal meeting, at which they agreed to give forever to the public, for a park or place, a piece of land 12 rods wide and 28 long, and another running south at right angles to this, nine rods wide and about 32 long. A map of the premises was made by John Simons, a surveyor, and deposited in the town clerk's office, but this was afterwards lost. Mr. Cowan subsequently attempted to resume title to a portion of the land, but his mercenary actions were without effect, Judge Nathan Williams deciding in court that, although the claimant had never deeded land on the Public Square, yet he had acknowledged its existence by bounding certain conveyances upon it.

The business of the place early centered around Public Square, especially at its west end, and on Court and Washington streets ; and in 1815 John

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Paddock erected a three-story block, which was the first edifice of its size in the village. The corner of Arsenal and Washington streets became, at an early day, the site of a two-story wooden tavern, and was occupied until 1827, when an association of citizens, desiring to have a hotel in the place that should compare with those of the first-class in cities, was formed under the name of the Watertown Hotel Company, having a capital of $20,000. In the same year they erected the American Hotel, and this establishment con- tinued to be owned by the company until it burned, in 1849, when the site was sold for $10,000, and another building of the same name was erected on its site by individual enterprise.

The Public Square of to-day is surrounded by the principal commercial in- stitutions of the city. It is laid out into two large oval parks, shaded with large trees, and sodded as lawns, with a smaller one between the two, con- taining an elegant fountain. Spacious driveways pass completely around the three ovals, the larger ones being provided with neat stands where, on pleas- ant summer evenings, the music of the city band lifts the weight of business from the minds of the weary workers and fills their hearts with melody.

The following sketch relative to the old New York state arsenal was pre- pared by Andrew J. Fairbanks and read before the Jefferson County Histor- ical Society in 1887 :---

" Prior to the construction of the Watertown arsenal the nearest depot available was at Utica. In 1808 Gov. Daniel D. Tompkins notified by letter Captain Noadiah Hubbard, of Champion, that 500 stands of arms, 350 sets of accontrements, and 7,500 rounds of ammuni- tion, etc., had been for sometime stored at Utica awaiting some place of deposit, which was not, however, provided, and their destination was, by an act of March 27, 1809, changed to Watertown. The selection and purchase of the site and the supervision of the building of the Watertown arsenal were entrusted to Mr. Hart Massey, a prominent citizen of Jefferson County, who, at that time, held the position of collector of customs for the district of Sackets Harbor. A site was selected on the south side of Columbia street (now Arsenal street), near its intersection with Madison street (now Massey street), in the present 3d ward. This portion of the town at that time was but recently cleared of the forest, and there were but few dwell- ings in the vicinity. The west line of Madison street bordered on a dense forest, extending to Black River Bay, with but few clearings or roads. During the year 1809 the arsenal was erected and completed. The structure was of brick, with cut stone trimmings ; size, 40x60 feet, two stories in height, with high attic. On the eastern slope of the roof was a platform, on which was surmounted two six-pounders, unlimbered, standing muzzle to muzzle. These guns (quakers) were very real and artistic. Strong iron bars protected the lower windows, and two tall masts supported lightning rods. In the rear was a one-story guard-house of wood. The whole premises were enclosed by a strong stockade constructed of cedar posts set into the ground, with two sides hewed, to make the joints somewhat perfect, and the tops eut off about 12 feet from the ground and sharpened. A gateway through the stockade on Co- lumbia street led to the rear and guard-house. A sentry box stood just within the gateway. The cost of the arsenel was $1,940.99. On the completion of the arsenal the arms and ammu- nition, etc., heretofore stored at Utica, were brought from there, and additional supplies from Albany were added, together with a large quantity of cannon balls and shells from a foundry at Taberg, Oneida County. From this time forward, and during the War of 1812-14, the supply was continually added to and drawn from according to the necessity of the times.

"The general appearance and arrangement of the arsenal up to its sale and final abandon- ment may be described as follows: The ground floor of one room was heavily planked for the storage of a complete battery of artillery and appendages. Along the eastern and southern sides on the floor were piled pyramids of cannon balls and shells. The walls above these were

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filled with hundreds of knapsacks and canteens, the former made of canvas, painted lead color; on the outer flap was painted in white letters the legend in monogram S. N. Y .; the can- teens were of wood, cylindrical in form, composed of hoops and staves, with leather support straps. On the western wall were suspended some 400 or 500 pairs of snow-shoes; these were discarded, and left here by General Pike's brigade after the long and tedious march overland through the northern wilderness to join Dearborn's army at Sackets Harbor prior to the de- scent on Little York (now Toronto) in winter of 1812-13. The ravages of time and mice soon despoiled the snow-shoes of the netting and thong so that they became worthless, and so re- mained untouched or undisturbed for 37 years, or until 1850. On the second floor were stored the muskets on the four walls, and on racks extending from floor to ceiling on double hooks, two by two, with bayonets fixed, were ranged many hundreds of muskets, all of one pattern smooth-bore, flintlocks of calibre 16 to 18 to the pound. Prominent in the assortment were' many old brass-mounted relics and trophies of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane; also a few old continentals. On the rafters in the attic were hung many sets of cross-belts, cartridge boxes, and bayonet scabbards; above these were a number of drums, the heads and strainers long since departed by age and neglect. On the drums were painted the state coat of arms and the number of regiment.

"By act of legislature, April 9, 1850, the old arsenals of the state were ordered to be sold, the sites by private sale and the material by auction, except the artillery, which was sent to headquarters at Albany. Accordingly sales by auction were advertised and took place soon after. The arms were quickly sold, and were mostly carried off by farmers and boys; the belts, etc., were sold in lump to a shoe dealer, who utilized the material in his line of business, but disposed of the old brass breast-plates to a brass foundry. The site and building were purchased by Messrs. O. and E. L. Paddock, who soon leased the premises for a tobacco fac- tory, for which purpose it was used for several years. Later it was sold to C. A. Holden, who made use of it for storage. Finally the structure alone was disposed of to W. G. Williams, who demolished it for the excellent material it contained, and which now forms a portion of a fine brick cottage on Ten Eyck street, owned by C. W. Simons. To-day not a stick or stone marks the old site. To those interested we would say that the lawn on the western side of the premises of Mrs. C. A. Holden, No. 49 Arsenal street, marks the site, and the fine stable in the rear occupies the site of the old guard-house."

The present state armory on Arsenal street was built in 1879, by George W. Flower, contractor, and cost about $30,000. The county furnished the site and appropriated $5,000 for that purpose. It is a imposing brick struct- ure, amply sufficient for the requirements of the excellent National Guard company which now occupies it. The size of the drill room is 155 by 77 feet.

The history of the National Guard in Watertown started with the 35th Reg- iment Infantry, which was organized before the civil war, about 1850 or '55. March 17, 1874, companies A, C, D, E, G, and K were mustered out, leaving companies B, H, I, and F, which were designated as the 35th Bat- talion. On April 21, 1875, Co. C was organized with the following officers : James R. Miller, captain ; Lewis F. Phillips, first lieutenant ; and Thorne J. Corwin, second lieutenant. The battalion was at this time com- posed of companies A, B, C, and D, the latter of which was located in Theresa village. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles B. Fowler at this time com- manded the battalion. He was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred J. Cass, who was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel James R. Miller. In June, 1881, companies A, B, and D were mustered out, Co. C being re- tained as a separate company and designated as the 39th. After Colonel Miller's promotion Charles A. Settle was elected captain of the company, and

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continued in command until the battalion was mustered out in 1881, and of the 39th Separate Company until his death in December, 1884. On the 24th of February, 1885, James R. Miller again took command and served until March 28, 1888. The present officers are William R. Zimmerman, captain, elected April 13, 1888 ; James S. Boyer, first lieutenant, elected at the same time ; Charles R. Murray, second lieutenant, elected December 2, 1888; and Mason L. Smith, first lieutenant and assistant surgeon, appointed October 23, 1883. The muster roll of the company contains the names of four officers and 87 men, many of whom are representative and interprising citizens.

During the War of 1812 bodies of troops were stationed at Watertown for short periods, and the sick were often sent here for that attendance which could not be procured at Sackets Harbor. The old brick academy building, erected in 1811, which stood just in the rear of the present residence of B. B. Taggart, on the corner of Academy and Washington streets, was used as a hospital for a considerable time.

Soon after this war there occurred in the village an event which excited extraordinary interest throughout the country, and one which well-nigh wrought the financial ruin of two of the most honorable and respected resi- dents of the county. The affair referred to is that in which Samuel Whittlesey, a prominent lawyer, who, in collusion with his wife, a most vicious and de- signing woman, attempted to retain for his own use, by declaring it had been stolen by others, a large sum of money which had come to him in his official capacity as brigade paymaster of the militia, thereby making his sureties, Jasan Fairbanks and Perley Keyes, responsible for the amount. Not having space here to give the details of this deplorable affair, we refer the reader to the accounts published in previous histories of Jefferson County.

It is to be regretted that lack of space will not allow the publication of many interesting incidents connected with the earliest settlements in Water- town, especially those preserved to history by Solon Massey, than which none others could be more authentic.

Before making our acquaintance with Watertown, after she had assumed the dignity of an incorporated village, we will reproduce from Spafford's Gazetteer of 1813 a description of the village as it then existed. In a news- paper article published in 1887 Marcellus Massey said that "Watertown " was the only name by which the village had ever been known. It will be seen by the following that it also claimed, at this early day, the appellation of " Jefferson Village " :---

"Watertown, or Jefferson Village, is a flourishing post-village of Watertown, Jefferson County, on the south bank of Black River, four miles from Brownville, and the same distance from navigable water communicating with Lake Ontario. Here are the county buildings, consisting of a handsome court-house and jail, and a State arsenal now building, within the village, beside a Mark Lodge, a paper-mill, two grist-mills, three saw-mills, one or two card- ing machines and fulling-mills, and an air-furnace now building. The village contains about 50 dwelling houses, some quite elegant, handsomely finished, and painted, six stores, two brew

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eries, three tanners' works, a printing press which issues a weekly paper, and a great variety of mechanics. Nearly opposite the village the Black River falls about 20 to 24 feet perpendicularly, and continues very rapid for three or four miles, and is thence smooth to the lake. Jefferson, therefore, enjoys great advantages for water-machinery, is within four miles of boatable water to the lake, and but 10 from good navigation on the lake. A quarry of good building limestone, and clay, and sand abound in the vicinity of the village. Pine and other timber plenty. In short, it is a busy, thriving place, and the public improvements, the state of the roads, bridges, etc., of this and the surrounding towns, together with the improved state of the farms, and every field for enterprise and industry, do very great credit to the inhabitants."

VILLAGE INCORPORATION .*

The village of Watertown was incorporated April 5, 1816. The act pro- vided for the election of five trustees, who were to possess the powers and immunities usually vested in similar corporations. These extended to the formation of a fire department, the construction of water works, regulation of markets, streets, etc .; the building of hay scales, supervision of weights and measures, and whatever related to the preservation of health, or the suppres- sion of nuisances. Three assessors, a treasurer, collector, and five fire wardens were to be elected. Fines not exceeding $25 might be imposed. The annual election was to occur on the first Monday of May, and the trustees were to choose one of their number for president. The president, with the advice of the trustees, was to appoint a company, not exceeding 20, of fire- men, and to enforce, in the name of the trustees, the ordinances and regula- tions which they might establish. The village of Watertown was constituted one district, and exempted from the jurisdiction of the town commissioners.

On April 7, 1820, an act was passed altering the bounds of the village, and amending the charter ; and on April 17, 1826, and April 26, 1831, the charter was still further amended. March 22, 1832, the trustees were em- powered by an act to borrow a sum, not exceeding $2,000, to improve the fire department of the village, and supply it with water to be used in fires, and April 21, 1832, the doings at an election were confirmed. An act was passed April 23, 1835, granting additional powers to the trustees, repealing former provisions of the charter, and authorizing the erection of a market. The village charter was amended by an act of April 16, 1852, by which its bounds were increased, the district included being directed to be divided into from five to seven wards. A president, three assessors, a clerk, treasurer, collector, and two police constables were to be elected annually, and one trustee to each ward, of which there were five. Elections were held on the first Monday of March, and the powers and duties of the trustees were much extended.

The first village election was held at the house of Isaac Lee, in May, 1816, David Bucklin, Esq., presiding, and the following officers were chosen: Tim- othy Burr, Egbert Ten Eyck, Olney Pearce, Marianus W. Gilbert, and Norris M. Woodruff, trustees; Reuben Goodale, William Smith, Orville Hungerford,

* Hough.

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assessors ; Micah Sterling, treasurer ; Seth Otis, collector ; Jabez Foster, Samuel Watson, Jr., Rufus Backus, William Fletcher, Joseph Henry, fire wardens.

During the existence of the village corporation the following served as pres- idents : 1816, Timothy Burr; 1817, Isaac Lee; 1818, Orin Stone; 1819, William Smith ; 1820, Egbert Ten Eyck; 1821, Olney Pearce ; 1822, David W. Bucklin ; 1823-24, Orville Hungerford ; 1825-26, Olney Pearce ; 1827-31, Norris M. Woodruff ; 1832, Jasan Fairbanks ; 1833-35, Orville Hunger- ford ; 1836, Jasan Fairbanks ; 1837-38, Dyer Huntington ; 1839, David D. Otis; 1840, George C. Sherman ; 1841, William Wood; 1842-43, William H. Robinson ; 1844, Benjamin Cory ; 1845, Dyer Huntington ; 1846, Orville V. Brainard ; 1847, Stephen Boon ; 1848, Peter S. Howk ; 1849-50, David D. Otis ; 1851, Joshua Moore, Jr .; 1852, Kilborn Hannahs ; 1853-54, Joseph Mullin ; 1855, Randolph Barnes ; 1856-58, Henry H. Babcock ; 1859, Ambrose W. Clark ; 1860-63, Henry H. Babcock ; 1864-65, John M. Car- penter ; 1866, George A. Bagley ; 1867, Wilbur F. Porter ; 1868, Lysander H. Brown ; 1869, Edmund B. Wynn.

The trustees at their first meeting divided the village into five wards, to each of which a fire warden was to be assigned, and each was to be supplied with four ladders. A series of regulations providing against fires and mak - ing provision for the several objects named in the charter was also adopted. A fire company was organized May 28, 1817, and at a meeting of freeholders called for the purpose, June 10, the sum of $200 was voted for a fire en- gine. February 6, 1818, $500 was voted to assist in building a bridge near Newel's brewery. May 4, 1818, a committee of three was appointed to con- fer with the supervisors concering the purchase of a bell for the court-house. October 27, 1823, a plan for a cemetery, previously purchased of Hart Mas- sey, was accepted, and on December 6, 1825, the lots, one rod square each, were balloted for, each taxable resident being entitled to one share. To non- residents lots might be sold, the proceeds to be applied to the building of a tomb. Four lots were drawn, one for each of the clergy of the village. June 14, 1828, $150 was voted for the improvement of the Public Square. A hook and ladder company was voted to be formed in May, 1826.

At a meeting held November 24, 1831, the inhabitants advised the trus- tees to purchase a new fire engine, and the sum of $50 was directed to be drawn out of the village treasury, and presented to Messrs. Barrett and Par- ker for their prompt and efficient exertions with their new engine at the late fire in the village. A fire company, to be attached to the engine belonging to the Jefferson Cotton Mills, was formed August 6, 1832. Dyer Hunting- ton was at the same time appointed chief engineer, and Adriel Ely assistant engineer, of the fire department.

June 19, 1832, a special meeting of trustees was held to adopt measures to prevent the spread of the Asiatic cholera, which at that time was spreading terror throughout the country. One trustee, one fire warden, one physician,

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and three citizens were appointed in each ward to take efficient measures for enforcing sanitary regulations. A special meeting of citizens convened at Parsons's hotel on the next day, and after the reading of several papers from Albany, Ogdensburg, and Prescott, a "committee of health," consisting of 12 persons, was appointed, and Drs. Crawe, Trowbridge, Wright, Green, Good- ale, Sykes, Bagg, and Safford were named as a committee to consult with the health committee. The state and national legislatures were petitioned for a law preventing the landing of foreigners, and for powers similar to those given to cities. The surrounding towns and villages were invited to cooperate in the adoption of sanitary measures. Three days after the passage of the act of June 22, for the preservation of the public health, the following per- sons were appointed a board of health: Marianus W. Gilbert, Levi Beebee, John Sigourney, Orville Hungerford, William Smith, Norris M. Woodruff, and Peleg Burchard. Dr. I. B. Crawe was elected health officer. May 3, 1833, William Smith, Levi Beebee, P. Burchard, N. M. Woodruff, and John Sigourney were appointed the board of health, with Dr. I. B. Crawe, health officer. In compliance with the act of 1832, and in pursuance of the proc- lamation of the governor, on June 19, 1849, the trustees of Watertown or- ganized a board of health, to adopt sanitary regulations as preventives of the Asiatic cholera, then ravaging some sections of the Union.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 108

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders Number of Pages: 1384

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- [from old catalog] comp; Horton, William H., [from old catalog] ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., The Syracuse journal company, printers and binders
Number of Pages: 1384