Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 111

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 111

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Following is a list of chief engineers of the department since its formation : 1832 to '37, Dyer Huntington ; 1838, Asher N. Cross ; 1839, W. H. Robin- son ; 1839 to '48, records destroyed ; 1848 to '51, N. M. Woodruff ; 1852 to 53, N. Farnham ; 1854 to '65, Fred Emerson ; 1866-67, S. B. Hart ; 1868-69, T. C. Chittenden ; 1870-71, G. L. Davis ; 1872-73, J. M. Car- penter ; 1874-75, W. S. Carlisle; 1876, R. L. Utley ; 1877-78, Henry A. Smith ; * 1879, John E. Bergevin ; 1880-81, Eugene C. Van Namee ;

* March 25, IS78, Mr. Smith resigned, and J. E. Bergevin was elected to fill the vacancy.

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

1882-83, Egbert W. Knapp; 1884, William H. Cole ; 1885-86, Silas L. George ; 1887-88, John L. McCarty; 1889, William Clark; 1890, Charles E. McClare.

Following are the officers of the department for 1890: Chief engineer, Charles E. McClare ; Ist assistant, John E. Gray ; 2d assistant, Bradley C. Bauter ; secretary, Ross C. Scott ; treasurer, Edgar C. Emerson. The present efficient secretary of the department has held that office for 25 con- secutive years.

WATER WORKS.

As early as May 22, 1821, a plan for supplying the village with water was discussed, and action was taken towards the erection of reservoirs ; but the measures were not carried out. June 14, 1828, the sum of $50 was appro- priated by the trustees for the purpose of boring for water on Factory Square. At the annual meeting in 1829 the proceeds of licenses in the First Ward were applied towards procuring water for the village. May 21, 1829, the sum of $200 was voted for the purpose of boring for water, and in pursuance of this object an artesian well was commenced on Public Square. After it had been sunk many feet a steel drill was maliciously dropped into it, thereby stopping the work.

In 1829 an association was formed for boring for water on Factory Square. A hole 22 inches in diameter was drilled to the depth of 127 feet, when water was obtained, and, having been tubed, discharged for many years, until about 1860, a copious volume of water slightly charged with sulphur and iron. On Sewall's Island a similar well was bored into the rock, which at 80 feet discharged water and an inflammable gas, but being drilled deeper these both were lost.

April 10, 1826, the Watertown Water Company was incorporated, but nothing definite resulted, and a similar result followed the incorporation of the Watertown water works, April 11, 1845. But in 1853 (March 22) L. Paddock, G. C. Sherman, I. H. Fisk, and H. Cooper were incorporated as the water commissioners of the village of Watertown. These citizens gave a joint bond of $60,000, and were empowered to borrow on the credit of the village $50,000 for a term of 30 years. Soon after their appointment the commissioners contracted with J. C. Wells for the construction of a pump- house and reservoir, the latter to be 150x250 feet at the water line and 12 feet deep, properly made with two center walls for filtering. The reservoir was located about a mile southeast of the village, on a lot of six acres, upon the brow of the limestone ridge, 180 feet above the village, and was given a capacity of 2,000,000 gallons. On November 23, 1853, the water works were completed and water for the first time was pumped into the reservoir, and let into pipes communicating with residences and fire hydrants. An ex- periment then made showed that water could be thrown 120 feet perpen- dicularly.

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No serious fires have devastated the city since the completion of the res- ervoir, but the growth of the city, and the increasing demands of its people, led the water commissioners, in 1871, to construct still another reservoir. This was located by the side of the former, and was completed in 1873. Its dimensions are 250x200 feet, and its capacity 4.500,000 gallons.

In 1882 another pump-house was built, on the south side of Black River, at the Delano Falls, and just within the city limits, at a cost, including main pipe to the reservoir, of about $60,000. The whole river falls about 18 feet, over a natural dam of limestone, and furnishes an abundant power for driving the pumping machinery which supplies the city with water. The building is of stone, 48 by 80 feet, and contains two duplex, double acting pumps, with 18 by 36 inch plungers. Each pump is driven by two 72-inch turbine wheels. The raceway is blasted from the solid rock, and the pumps and machinery stand upon rock foundations. Water was introduced on the north side of the river in 1887, and there are now nearly five miles of mains on that side. Within the city limits are located 203 hydrants, and 189 gate valves for conducting the flow of water through. There are at present about 1,500 taps and 232 miles of pipes in the city. The entire amount of water bonds of the city, issued at different times, aggregate $235,000.

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

The Henry Keep Home was incorporated March 11, 1879, by Emma A. Keep-Schley, Roswell P. Flower, Allen C. Beach, Pearson Munday, George W. Flower, Anson R. Flower, and their associates. The object of this corporation is to provide a home and support for destitute and homeless men, women, and children. It is located on Washington street, a short dis- tance from the business center of the city, and is surrounded by 35 acres of excellent tillable land, which is the property of the institution. The building is a handsome brick structure of gothic style of architecture, and is three stories high in front and rear gable. Its dimensions on the ground floor are 114 by 55 feet. A veranda extends entirely around the Home. Inside, the arrangements for comfort and living are complete. It is heated by steam from both direct and indirect radiators, and ventilation is obtained in every room by direct communication with the towers. The building contains 40 rooms for inmates, besides a dining room, kitchen, pantry, laundry, recep- tion room, reading room, and parlor. There are gas fixtures and steam radiators in every room, while bath rooms and closets are distributed through- out the building, with hot and cold water on every floor. A complete system of sewerage makes the sanitary arrangements of the institution complete. This worthy charity was established through the munificence of Mrs. Emma Keep-Schley, in memory of her husband, Henry Keep, who was a native of Jefferson County, and long a resident of Watertown. It has about 30 inmates, and the rents from the property have paid all expenses, a surplus of

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about $10,000 now being it the treasury. The present officers of the insti- tution are Mrs. Emma Keep-Schley, president ; Allen C. Beech, vice-pres- ident and treasurer ; Silas L. George, secretary ; Mrs. Emma Keep-Schley, Mrs. Emma Keep-Halsey, Roswell P. Flower, Allen C. Beach, Anson R. Flower, Wilbur F. Porter, Byron B. Taggart, S. T. Bordwell, and Silas L. George, trustees.

City Hospital-House of the Good Samaritan, located at No. 35 Ten Eyck street, was established in 1880. The object of this institution is the care of all persons with diseases not contagious or incurable ; care free when unable to pay. The present officers are H. M. Stevens, M. D., president ; H. H. Babcock, vice-president ; Rev. John Nichols, secretary; Rev. R. A. Olin, treasurer ; Mrs. Caroline Fitch, matron.

CHURCHES.

Religious services were held in Watertown almost as soon as the town be- gan to settle. In 1801, the first Sunday after Hart Massey had removed his family here, his neighbors met in his rude log cabin and held the first relig- ious services ever enjoyed within the present limits of the city. The first society in the town was formed at Burrville, July 3, 1803, as a Congreg 1- tional Church, by Rev. Ebenezer Lazelle, and meetings were held in the barn of Caleb Burnham. The church was supplied with preaching by missionaries until October 5, 1815, when Rev. Daniel Banks was installed as first pas- tor, remaining until 1821, when the form of its government was changed to Presbyterian. and its location fixed at Watertown. This was the formation of the First Presbyterian Church. The first deacons were Hart Massey and T. Redfield.

The First Presbyterian Church (incorporated as the Watertown Ecclesi- astical Society) was formed in 1803, as mentioned above, and at its organ- ization consisted of 15 members. Their first house of worship, a stone build- ing, was completed in 182r. In 1851 the present brick building, corner of Washington and Academy streets, was erected, costing about $20,000. It will comfortably seat 1,100 persons, and is now valued, including grounds and other church property, at $50,000. It now has a membership of 388, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Allen Macy Dalles. The Sunday-school has 340 members.

First Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1804. The first serv- ices were held by Griffin Sweet and Asa Cummings. The present house of worship, a brick structure, located on Arsenal street, was built in 1880. It will seat 500 persons, and is valued, including grounds and other church prop. erty, at $22,000. The present membership is 580, under the pastoral charge of Rev. J. B. Kenyon. The Sunday-school has a membership of 435.

The First Universalist Church was organized in 1820 by Rev. Pitt Morse, the first pastor. Their first house of worship, a stone building, was erected about 1824, and was burned in 1850. In 1852 the present brick structure

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

was erected on Public Square. It will comfortable seat 350 persons, and is valued, including grounds, etc., at $30,000. The church has 184 mem- bers, and Rev. Richmond Fisk, D. D., is the pastor. The Sunday-school has a membership of 175.

St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, located on Massey street, was or- ganized in 1831 by Rev. Father O'Reilly, and at its organization consisted of about 50 persons. The first pastor was Rev. Father Salmon. Their first house of worship, a wooden building, was purchased from the Baptist Society in 1838, was located on Factory street, and cost $1,250. Their present house of worship, a brick structure, located on Massey street, was build in 1854, by Rev. Father McNulty, then pastor, and cost about $25,000. It will com- fortably seat about 800 persons, and is valued, including grounds and other church property, at about $30,000. The present number of members in the parish is about 1,500, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Father T. Glenn. The Sunday-school has an average attendance of about 300 children.

St. Patrick's Parochial School, located at 31 Massey street, was organized in September, 1885. It is in charge of the Sisters of Mercy, employs six teachers, and has an average attendance of 180 pupils.

The Watertown Baptist Church was organized May 29, 1823, with 17 members, by a council representing the Black River Association, and Elder Norman Guiteau was the first pastor. Their first house of worship, a wooden structure, was built in 1828. This gave place, in 1837, to another wooden building, which was burned in 1846, and the same year the present brick structure, corner of State street and Public Square, was erected at a cost of about $10,000. It will comfortably seat 400 persons, and is valued, includ- ing grounds and other church property, at $16,000. The present pastor is Rev. C. E. Maxfield. The Sunday-school has a membership of 250.

Trinity Church (Protestant Episcopal) was organized in May, 1828, by Rev. Joshua M. Rogers, who was the first rector. The first house of wor- ship of the society, located on Court street, was built of wood in 1833, and was destroyed by fire in the great conflagration of May 13, 1849. In 1851 another wooden church, also on Court street, was completed, and was used until the erection of Trinity House, of stone, on Trinity Place, in 1888. The large church now being constructed, adjoining Trinity House, was com- menced in 1889, and will probably be finished the present year (1890). It will seat 1,000 persons, and will cost, when completed, about $100,000. This beautiful church and the adjoining chapel were presented to the par- ish principally by Hon. Roswell P. and Anson R. Flower. The present value of church property, including grounds, etc., is about $160,000. The church has 675 communicants, and the present rector is Rev. Russell A. Olin, who is assisted by Rev. Frederick P. Winne. The Sunday-school has a mem- bership of 547 offices and scholars.

Stone Street Presbyterian Church was organized October 10, 1831, as the Second Presbyterian Church, by Revs. Abel L. Crandall and George S.

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Boardman, under the direction of the Watertown Presbytery, with J. W. Baker, H. Kitts, and G. W. Knowlton, trustees. It sprang from the First Presbyterian Society, and its organization numbered 21 members. Rev. James R. Boyd was the first pastor. Their first house of worship, a wooden structure, was erected in 1831. The present brick building, which was erected in 1864, cost about $20,000. It will seat 500 persons, and is valued, including grounds, etc., at $25,000. The present membership of the church is 380, under the pastoral charge of Rev. S. A. Hayt, D. D. The Sunday- school has 225 members.

State Street Methodist Episcopal Church was organized January 29, 1849, by Bishop E. S. Janes, D. D., and at its organization consisted of 138 mem- bers. The first pastor was Rev. James Erwin. In 1850 the society erected a church, of wood, which will seat 500 persons, and is valued, including grounds, etc., at $20,000. The present membership of the church is 315, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Charles W. McCormick. The Sunday- school has about 300 members.

Grace Church (Protestant Episcopal) was organized in August, 1867, by Hon. F. W. Hubbard and 19 others of Trinity Church, Watertown. The first service was held at the court-house, Rev. Dr. Edwin M. Van Dusen offi- ciating. The first rector was Rev. John A. Staunton, who began his minis- trations October 4, 1868. In 1868 the brick school house on Sterling street, corner of Jay, was purchased and transformed into a house of worship, at a cost of about $6,000, and has since been occupied by the society. A new church, which will cost about $40,000, is now in process of erection on the same site, and will probably be finished this year (1890). The present rec- tor is Rev. John F. Nichols. The Sunday-school has a membership of 14 teachers and 118 scholars.

The Free Methodist Church was organized in 1878 by Rev. T. Wiffin, the first pastor. The house of worship of the society, a wooden structure, was built about 1878, and cost $1,000. It will seat 150 persons, and is valued, including grounds, etc., at $1,500. The present membership is about 12, and Rev. L. H. Robinson is pastor.

Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Roman Catholic), located on Thompson street, was built in 1878 by Rev. Father J. F. Durin, M. S. H., who was the first priest in charge. The number of parishoners at that time was about 600. The church is of wood, will seat about 250 persons, and cost originally about $6,000. In connection with the church are St. Joseph's Apostolic School, in which young men are educated for the priesthood, and the Institute of the Sacred Heart, which teaches a commercial course. The school has accommodations for about 60 scholars, and 30 boarders are in attendance. The entire property is incorporated under the name of St. Jo- seph's School of the Sacred Heart, and is valued at about $30,000. The parish consists of about 600 persons, and Rev. Father C. Ramot, M. S. H., is present pastor.

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A. M. E. Zion Church, corner of River and Court streets, was organized by Rev. H. R. Phonix. Their house of worship, a wood structure, was built in 1878, and cost about $900. It will comfortably seat 225 persons, and is now valued, including grounds, etc., at $750. Rev. John E. Allen is the present pastor.

The Emmanuel Congregational Church of Watertown was organized July 5, 1887, with 37 members, which have more than doubled in number in three years. The organization of the church, and the building of the chapel and vestry on Rutland street, which the congregation occupies, were the result of the efforts of Rev. William Taverner Stokes, who commenced his labors in Watertown under the auspices of the American Home Missionary Society. The chapel and vestry are frame buildings, and are worth, with grounds, etc., about $5,000. The Sunday-school has a membership of 190, and an aver- age attendance of 110. A newspaper states that Rev. W. T. Stokes, who has been pastor since the organization of the church, has recently resigned.

Watertown Seventh-Day Adventist Society was organized June 1, 1887, by Elder M. H. Brown, of Adams Center, and at its organization consisted of 14 members. The first pastor was Elder J. E. Swift. Their house of wor- ship, located on Mundy street, a wooden structure, was built in 1887, at a cost of $1,900. It will comfortably seat about 200 persons, and is now valued, including grounds, etc., at about $1,800.

The German Lutheran Society, recently organized, has been holding meetings on Factory street. The society contemplates building a new church, on Emerson street, with a seating capacity of about 200.

Convent of the Immaculate Heart, located at 114 Main street, was estab- lished in 1881 by Sister Margaret Mary, who has since been superintendent of the institution. The building it now occupies was erected in 1883. From 75 to 80 pupils attend the school daily. A branch convent is located at Carthage, St. James's Church, and one also at Cape Vincent, St. Joseph's Church, all under the supervision of Sister Margaret Mary. The convent is in St. Joseph's Society.

The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1870. The first. permanent officers were elected January 18, 1870, and were as follows: C. C. Case, president ; F. R. Farwell, vice-president ; H. W. Congdon, second vice- president ; Orrin C. Frost, secretary ; George I .. Davis, treasurer. In Janu- ary, 1877, the association joined the State Association, and in February of the same year became incorporated under the laws of the state of New York, allowing it to hold real and personal estate, receive bequests, etc. The first general secretary, who received a salary, was C. D. Choate, who was chosen in January, 1877. Since the organization of the association the following have served as presidents: C. C. Case, 1870; J. F. Moffett, 1871 ; H. W. Congdon, 1872; C. O. Maltby, 1873 ; G. B. Massey, 1874 ; I. L. Hunt, Jr., 1875; J. M. Adams, 1875 ; Dr. C. M. Johnson, 1876; J. D. Huntington, 1877; Phi Norton, 1878; G. R. Hanford, 1879; I. A. Graves, 1880; W. H.

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Porter, 1881; E. W. Herrick, 1882; H. J. Brimmer, 1883 ; S. F. Bagg, 1884; J. M. Adams, 1885 ; L. C. Greenleaf, 1886-89 ; W. H. Stevens, 1889. The present officers are William H. Stevens, president ; William A. Teele, vice- president ; Frank M. Bosworth, recording secretary ; George B. Massey, treasurer ; Ben M. Lewis, general secretary ; Charles G. Lang, physical director. The association occupies rooms in Washington Hall block, which block was the gift of J. A. Sherman to the association.

The First Progressive Spiritualistic Society of Watertown was incorporated in November, 1889, with the following officers : President, John Gifford ; vice-president, Frederick Mattison ; treasurer, Mrs. M. L. Gifford ; secretary, Mrs. F. Mattison ; trustees, Mrs. Abel Davis, Mrs. S. F. Graves, John Gifford, Mrs. M. L. Gifford, F. Mattison, Mrs. F. Mattison, and A. Burr. The temple of the society, located on Davis street, was erected largely at the expense of Mr. and Mrs. Abel Davis, and was dedicated January 1, 1890. It will seat 400 persons, and is probably the first temple erected in the state of New York for the uses to which it will be put.

HON. WILLARD IVES.

Hon. Willard Ives, whose connections with the religious, educational, po- litical, and philanthropical institutions of Jefferson County have made his name familiar throughout Northern New York, was born in the town of Water- town in 1806. His ancestry came from New England ; his father, Dr. Titus, and his mother, Mary (Phelps) Ives, were both natives of Connecticut, and came to Jefferson County in 1801. A brother, Jotham Ives, had previously, in the fall, located here, and a few years subsequently the two brothers were joined by a third, Erastus. They located large tracts of land in the western part of Watertown and, adjoining, in Hounsfield, where they resided until their deaths. Dr. Titus Ives was a graduate of medicine, but did not con- tinue the practice to any extent after coming to Jefferson County. He was quite prominent in local town affairs, and represented his district in the state legislature in 1829-30.

Willard Ives, our subject, was an only child, receiving a good education for pioneer days, and has always taken a deep interest in religious and educa- tional affairs. He has always followed the avocation of a farmer, and has done much to elevate the standard of agricultural pursuits. Mr. Ives has re- sided upon his farm (now in the city limits) since 1850, and has witnessed the change of his neighborhood from pioneer days to its present advanced po- sition in the progress of the age. In 1840 he became a director of the Bank of Watertown, and subsequently became its president. He has also been con- nected with other banks, and served as president of the Merchants' Bank. In religious affairs he has always been an earnest and efficient member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in 1846 was appointed by his conference to represent them at the World's Convention in London, after which he passed

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some months in observation on the continent. In 1848 he was a candidate for Congress, and, notwithstanding the demoralization of his party during that eventful year, came within 300 votes of an election. In 1852 he was elected and served one term.

Mr. Ives is still hearty and vigorous, and enjoying the evening of his life from the results of his own industry and sagacity. He owns 300 acres of su- perior farming land, all of which now lies within the city limits of Watertown. Although over 80 years of age he still conducts his many business and be- nevolent affairs. He is the president of the Ives Seminary at Antwerp, which he endowed, and has always contributed largely to its support. He is also president of the Jefferson County Orphan Asylum, of which institution he was one of the instigators and most earnest advocates. He has always been a prominent and earnest worker in the Arsenal street Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday-school, and was one of the organizers of the Syracuse University, and was also one of the incorporators of the Thousand Island Camp-Meeting Association. He is also a director of the Davis Sewing Ma- chine Co. and the Agricultural Insurance Co.

Mr. Ives has been twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Charlotte Winslow, died in 1861. His second wife is a native of Oswego County, and her maiden name was Lucina M. Eddy. Her parents were old residents of the town of Philadelphia.

HENRY D. SEWALL.

Henry Devereux Sewall, who was for a number of years identified with the best interests of the village of Watertown, came to that place in 1828, and resided there until his decease, in 1846. He was the son of Samuel Sewall, judge and chief on the bench of the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. He was born at Marblehead, Mass., in 1786, and at the age of 18 entered as a clerk in the counting house, in Boston, of his uncle, Joseph Sewall, the head of the house of Sewall, Salisbury & Co., then the principal dry goods importing and jobbing firm in New England. The ancestry of. Mr. Sewall were among the more notable of the old fam- ilies of New England. His descent was direct from Henry Sewall, a merchant of Coventry, in England, in the 16th century, the most important city in the kingdom, next to London. This ancestor was, in the latter part of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th, for several years mayor of Coventry, which honor had been likewise borne by his father in the earlier years of Elizabeth's reign. Coventry, from having been the last stronghold of the Catholic party, became, during Elizabeth's, and more notably in James's, reign, the headquarters of those Republicans of the Establishment, the Puri- tans, to which sect the late mayor transferred his allegiance ; and weary of the persecution he thereby incurred he determined to emigrate to America, first sending his son of the same name, in 1634, to the colony, and soon after

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coming over himself. His son, Henry Sewall, was the father of a numerous family, the most distinguished of his children being Samuel, long a member of the council and judge in the colony of Massachusetts Bay, known to history from his connection with the Salem witch trials in 1692, but less rec- ognized by posterity as having been the first to proclaim that the statutes against witchcraft were based upon human superstition ; the first to publish a printed book denouncing slavery and the slave trade as an abridgement of human rights. Of this Samuel Sewall's two surviving sons, the second, Joseph, was for 56 years pastor of the Old South Church, in Boston. By his wife, a daughter of Governor Dudley, he had but one child, a son, Samuel, a merchant in Boston, who left a considerable family of daughters who inter- married with the Quincys, Salisburys, Higginstons, Mays, - noted Boston people,-and two sons, Joseph, the merchant, heretofore mentioned, and the judge, Samuel, father of Henry Devereux, now under notice.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 111

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