Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 123

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 123

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).

On August 2, 1854, the tannery property passed into the hands of Heze- kiah Dickerman, of Blenheim, N. Y., his son Rollin acting as his superin- tendent or foreman. Mr. Dickerman removed here with his family May 29, 1862. The life and character of Major Dickerman (the title by which he was

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generally known) deserves more than a passing notice at this time, not only on account of the exceedingly important and prominent part which his busi- ness operations held in the material interests and prosperity of the village during the nearly 20 years which they were carried on, but also for his per- sonal worth as an upright man, whose life was filled with usefulness-charit- able even to generosity, and whose honor was without stain. Major Dicker- man was born in Hamden, Conn., in 1801. At the age of 14 he was bound out to Ezra Pratt, of Lexington, Greene County, N. Y., to learn the tanners' trade. His capital upon starting out for himself, after attaining his majority, consisted of five dollars in money. After working for a year and a half on a farm an offer was made to him and Col. Zadoc Pratt, by Gideon Lee, of New York, to build a tannery in Prattsville, N. Y., for which Lee would furnish the money. The offer was accepted, and the tannery was built and run for four years successfully. He then sold his interest there to Col. J. Watson, and engaged in manufacturing and farming in that place. Three years later, in connection with Archie Crossman, he built a tannery in Gilboa, Schoharie County. This was run about five years, Mr. Dickerman continuing the farm and mill during the meantime. About 1840 he sold his interest in the Gilboa tannery and went to Blenheim, and in company with Henry Sanford built a tannery that for those days was very large. In 1846 he bought Sanford's interest, and the same year removed from Prattsville, which had during all this time continued to be his place of residence, to North Blenheim. At this time he sold the mill at Prattsville, and took stock (about one-third of the whole amount) in the Prattsville Woolen Manufacturing Company. June 15, 1861, the tannery burned, and in May of the following year, as previously stated, he moved with his family to Carthage, where he resided until his- death, March 4, 1873.

In April, 1861, a terrible disaster overtook the business on Tannery Island, caused by the memorable flood and high water in the river, augmented by the breaking away of the great reservoir in the canal reservation at the head of the river. This flood did great damage at and near Watertown, and will long be remembered by many who suffered from its destructive power. The damage to stock and property on the island amounted to $50,000. From- this severe blow Mr. Dickerman never recovered.

About this time, and continuing for a series of years, great depression ex- isted in the tanning business, and indeed in business of all kinds throughout the country. This, coupled with the overwhelming loss from the flood, had a serious effect upon the resources of Mr. Dickerman ; but he continued in business until his death. Work did not stop, however, until May, 1876, when the tannery was idle until September or October, when John F. McCoy, of New York, came into possession, and, taking up his residence here, he, with Rollin Dickerman as superintendent and foreman, conducted the busi- ness until May 1, 1880, when he sold out to Rollin Dickerman and John C. Reed. Mr. Reed came here from Syracuse. They began business June I,

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1880, and continued until July, 1888. The tannery is now owned by John C. Reed, and is carried on by Thomas Ruell, of West Carthage, who leases the plant and is engaged in the manufacture of upper leather, which he sends to market in what is termed "the rough."

The tannery business has also been carried on extensively within the cor- poration by Samuel Branaugh, who came here in June, 1870, and, pur- chasing the privilege and buildings near the brickyard, rebuilt and greatly en- larged them, and has continued the manufacture of sole leather up to the present time. Mr. Branaugh's operations have been very large and impor- tant. He also conducts a large tannery in Belfast, Lewis County, but is now about closing out his business here, bark having become too scarce and dear to make a continuation profitable at this point.

. Guyot Island .- Bazille Guyot, from whom this island takes its name, came to this town from Troy, France, in 1816, a year long remembered on account of the unprecedentedly cold summer which attended that period. No corn was raised that year, and snow fell to the depth of a foot in the month of June. Mr. Guyot and Louis Bryant built the machinery, bellows, etc., for the forge erected that year, in what would now be nearly the center of the mill stream, just about opposite the Illuminating Company's building. (This may be explained by the fact that the old dam was differently situated from its present location.) Guyot also built a saw-mill for James Le Ray, on the island, near the present grist-mill. Having bought the island he built the grist-mill in 1833. He married Mary La Rue, who came to this country from Brest when 10 years of age. Mr. Guyot died in Carthage in May, 1865, aged 79 years. The property remains in the possession of his sons, J. Victor and Frederick.

The nail works, spoken of in another place, built in 1828, were located on this island. This spot has been the scene of active operations since the very beginning of settlement of the village. Forge, rolling-mill, nail works, grist-mill, axe factory, carding-mill, broom handle factory, furniture factory, custom and repair shops for machinery, turning, and in fact almost every branch of manufacturing industry known to the history of the place have been carried on here. Connected with the island, although not situated ex- actly upon it, stands the historic site of the old "blast furnace." The building of the forges and nail works, and subsequent erection of the furnace, were beyond doubt the operating causes of the first settlement and early growth of the village. The forge erected above the furnace site was burnt the same year in which it was built, and soon thereafter James Barney, Francis Lloyd, and Nathan Brown, from Fort Ann, N. Y., leased for 10 years the water-power, with privileges of ore, coal, etc., and erected a forge in the lower part of the village, the principal business of which was making mill irons and anchors. The site of this forge is the one which afterwards became conspicu- ous as the theater of extensive operations in the business career of Hiram

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McCollom. On the death of Mr. Barney the property reverted to Mr. Le Ray.

In 1819 the furnace was built by Mr. Le Ray and got into operation in the fall of 1820. A refining forge, with two additional fires, was also built, the whole being under the supervision of Claudius S. Quilliard. The house in which Mr. Quilliard lived occupied the site now covered by the tracks of the railroad in the immediated vicinity of the station. It was a fine dwelling, with a broad piazza in front, and, as was customary in those days, contained the large chimney, with ample open fire· places, now seldom if ever seen, but always spoken of in sketches of the olden times. The furnace was run for a time by Le Ray and then passed into the control of Joseph C. Budd and William Bones. Budd & Bones made pig-iron, and also had a molding floor, where they made various kinds of castings, such as potash kettles, stoves, etc. They also conducted a store, which was situated on the site of the present village hall and engine-house, and was familiarly known throughout the vicinity as the " Company Store." The proprietors kept a general stock, comprising almost everything which could possibly be needed by the people in their employ.

The furnace and the old "Company Store " with its surroundings are among the most vivid of the remembrances of the writer's boyhood days. The one or the other must needs be passed on the way to the "old academy" school, and the attractions of each made getting by an equally difficult mat- ter, unless, perchance, one took it into his mischievous pate to " sass " some one of the burly Celts who labored around the furnace yard, when all such attractions would be held as naught, and an exit from the environment would be made with " neatness and dispatch."

Budd & Bones carried on the business until 1846, when operations ceased and the furnace was allowed to fall into decay. It remained in this condi- tion until 1863, when Cole & Allen, who came from Pennsylvania, took pos- session, rebuilt it pretty much throughout, and finally got it in operation in 1865. The works again remained idle from May, 1866, up to 1870, when they were purchased by the Carthage Iron Company, a stock company with a capital of $60,000. The company consisted of R. N. Gere, of Syra- cuse, president ; L. H. Mills, of West Carthage, vice-president ; and Charles T. Bissell, of Rome, secretary. This company rebuilt the works on a scale immensely larger than was ever before even dreamed of by the most sanguine operator. They not only entered into large contracts with the owners of timbered lands for charcoal, but purchased lands and timber and manufact- ured the fuel on their own account. Where in olden times the ore had been hauled slowly and laboriously to the works it was delivered to them on their own side-track in front of the furnace, on cars which were subject to their control. A store was opened on the premises and run in connection with the business by Mr. Mills. Numerous men with teams were employed around the works in the various labors belonging to the carrying on of the works,

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and many families drew their support from the employment given by means of the enterprise.

Owing to some defect in the manner of raising in height and repairing the stack, or perhaps by reason of the enormous weight of the oven for heating the air blast which stood on the top, or probably from both causes, one side of the stack suddenly gave way and fell in ruins to the bottom, but most for- tunately without causing any loss of life, or even injury to the workmen. The business up to this time had been one of great activity and profit to the manufacturers. To repair this accident and again get into active operation necessarily took some time, during which the price of iron of all kinds, espe- cially pig-iron, feil to a much lower figure. This state of things continued after the works were again started, until finally it became impossible to realize a profit commensurate with the outlay.

The quality of iron made was very fine and was largely used in the manu- facture of car wheels, and also for malleable iron products and every kind of machinery castings. The ore used was mostly from the Shurtleff bed in the town of Philadelphia, although other ores were used in connection to some extent.

The business was continued by the company with varying fortune, until the manufacture of iron from the ore ceased, in all probability so far as Car- thage is concerned, for ever. It is, we think, safe to say that no person will ever see the manufacture of charcoal iron again carried on in Carthage. The buildings were unoccupied for a time, until a part of the plant was utilized by Mr. Mills for a saw-mill. The conflagration of 1884 swept all away, and an old land-mark, around which cluster many associations and memories of the native Carthagenian, passed away forever .*

Furnace Island .- The first inception of opening up of business upon this little spot grew out of one of the numerous necessities of that indefatigable man who, in his day, might well be styled the Napoleon of Carthage. When Hiram McCollom began to build his rolling-mill and nail works in 1845, and the draughts for the necessary machinery were being made, it became apparent that no foundry at that time in operation in Carthage was of sufficient capacity to produce the immensely heavy castings which would be required for the works. He therefore entered into an agreement with James P. Hodgkins, who im- mediately went to work, and the same year, 1845, erected a foundry on what has since been known as Furnace Island. The main purpose for which this foundry was built was to mold and cast this machinery. Some of these cast- ings were immensely heavy, weighing tons. The fly-wheel was a huge affair, put together in segments, and contained an enormous amount of iron. Mr. Hodgkins carried on the business until 1852. For about eight months Seth R. King was a partner in the concern. Mr. King was the mechanical en-

* Mr. Mills rebuilt the saw mill and carried on an extensive business in the manufact- ure of lumber until his death, December 25, 1889.

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gineer of the nail works and rolling-mill. In 1849 or 1850 Ezra Hodg- kins became a partner, and in 1852 the connection of James P. Hodgkins with the foundry ceased, and the firm became Hodgkins & Fuller. About a year after this partnership was formed Levi Wood bought Fuller out, and the firm became Hodgkins & Wood. This partnership lasted about two years. They put in a lathe and planer, and thus inaugurated that part which has since grown to such large proportions-the machine shop. The island and all its belongings were now purchased by George M. and Alexander Brown, who conducted the business until 1860, when the firm changed its name to that of Brown, Winch & Bliss, William Winch and Jacob A. Bliss corning from Watertown and taking up their residence here. Mr. Winch sold his in- terest to the remaining partners and returned to Watertown in 1865, where he died a few years later. He was an expert founder, and an upright and respected citizen.

Upon the formation of the firm of Brown, Winch & Bliss the business became more extensive than ever before. Mr. Winch had charge of the foun- dry, while Mr. Bliss, who was an experienced machinist, assumed the man- agement of that part of the business. G. M. Brown managed the finan- ces of the concern. Mr. Brown was an exemplary man, and won and retained the highest regard of those with whom he was most intimately associated. He died in February, 1868. Mr. Bliss then sold his interest to Mrs. Alex- ander Brown. In 1868 C. P. Ryther bought a half interest, and the firm continued with the name of Brown & Ryther until 1871, when James Prin- gle became associated with Mr. Ryther, under the firm name of Ryther & Pringle, who are the present owners and managers of this large and prosper- ous business. On the destruction of the shops and foundry in October, 1884, they rebuilt the works on a much larger scale and with greatly improved fa- cilities, putting in a large amount of the best machinery, sparing no expense necessary to make the plant what it now is-one of the largest and best con- ducted works in Northern New York. The Ryther Manufacturing Company also carry on their business here. The machine shop is two stories high, and covers an area 140 by 50 feet. The foundry is 40 by 80 feet, and the black- smith shop 40 by 44 feet. The firmn employs from 20 to 30 men.

The remaining industries on this (the east) side of the river are at present as follows :-

The Carthage Company, organized in April, 1883, purchased about 50 acres of land and a valuable water-power a short distance above Branaugh's tannery, and erected extensive works for the manufacture of wood pulp and heavy board. These works have been lying idle for some time, owing, it is said, to litigation. They were recently sold at auction to Harvey B. Rich, of New York city, for $5,000. The power is an excellent one, and the com- pany has expended a large amount of money upon the plant, first and last.

The Empire Steam Pump Company, next above, manufactures a pump for either hot or cold water, invented by E. G. Shortt. Mr. Shortt is a resident of

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Carthage, and served his apprenticeship at the machinist trade with Brown & Bliss. His most recent invention is a high speed, duplex steam engine, which, in its construction and manner of working, especially the novel way in which an instant reversal, while running at extremely high speed, is ac- complished, no eccentrics or complicated affairs of any kind being attached, is the admiration of all who see it. The engine wins the highest praise from experienced engineers in the navy department, and elsewhere, and is rapidly coming into use for the propulsion of dynamos, screw wheel boats, etc., and for many other purposes for which it is peculiarly adapted.

Spicer & Sons' pulp-mill occupies the site upon which McCollom's cotton factory stood. The firm began operations here in the summer of 1889, and expended a considerable sum in repairs to the dam, in building flumes, and clearing the channel. The improvements are of a substantial nature, and the business is a valuable addition to the manufacturing interests of the place. About five men are employed, and two and a half tons of pulp are manufact- ured daily.

P. L. & C. E. Eaton bought the business of William P. Hull, at West Carthage, in 1882, and continued it until 1884, when they were burned out. They immediately rebuilt their factory and continued there until December, 1888, when they removed to a factory on the Carthage side of the river, which they had con tructed. The building occupies the site once covered by C. W. Manning's planing mill. It is two stories high, and covers an area 40 by 91 feet. The firm manufactures sash, doors, and blinds, and does a large contract business in house furnishings, cornice, brackets, etc. They employ from 10 to 15 workmen.

M. J. Garvin's roller-mill, used principally for feed and custom grinding, in connection with his flour and feed store on State street, is located next adjoining Eaton's factory.

L. H. Mills's saw-mill, on Guyot Island, was built by Mr. Mills (whose decease has occurred since these articles were begun). The mill has been leased and is now carried on by Augustus Kesler.

Brace & Balcom's veneering mill is situated between Guyot's grist-mill and Mills's saw-mill. The firm manufactures cherry, maple, birch, and ash veneers, and piano sounding-board lumber. They also deal in hard wood lumber of various kinds. The products of this mill find market principally in Boston and New York. About 10 skilled workmen are employed.

J. V. Guyot's grist-mill now occupies the site of the old grist and saw- mill erected in 1815. Adjoining is the planing-mill and custom shop of Fred Guyot, while overhead is the wool-carding establishment of Miner Guyot. The stone shops and factories enumerated in the article in the Carthegenian, of December, 1839,-the nail factory and rolling-mill, axe factory and machine shop,-which stood on this little island, have long since vanished. The site of the nail factory and rolling-mill is now occupied by Smith &

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O'Keefe's factory and the works of the Illuminating Company. This latter company was organized in 1887.

Smith & O' Keefe's furniture manufactory was started in 1887 by the pres- ent proprietors. They manufacture chairs of superior finish, principally up- holstered, and also do a large business in the manufacture of school and office desks, bank, church, and hall furniture. About 10 men are employed, the manufactured product amounting to about $25,000 annually.

C. H. Wing & Son, machinists, are located on River street, just above the railroad bridge, do general work, and employ from three to five men. The works were established in 1888; both the proprietors are experienced workmen, and do an increasing business. The machinery is run by steam- power.

The Carthage marble works, organized in the spring of 1854, by G. G. & H. J. Kellogg, are at present carried on by F. A. Hewitt. First-class monu- mental work is done.

The Carthage Lumber and Wooden Ware Co. (Limited) was incorporated in April, 1889 ; capital stock $30,000. The works are located upon the site of the storehouse formerly occupied by the C., L. & N. Y. Line. The main building is three stories high, and the plant has 4,000 feet of floor space. The company manufactures hard wood flooring, ceilings, moldings, and wain- scoting, and all kinds of hard wood interior finish, clothes pins, chair stock, etc. The works are operated by steam-power, the plant for this purpose consist- ing of a very fine high speed engine of 160 horse-power, and two steel boilers of 100 horse-power each. Adjoining and belonging to the works is a first - class circular saw-mill. About 50 men are employed and 2,500,000 feet of lumber is used per annum.

There was a time when carriage and wagonmaking was a flourishing and profitable industry in the village. It has here, as well as elsewhere, suffered comparative extinction through the changes wrought in the business by the large wholesale factories. Manly Loomis and Charles Gregory each con- tinued business at their old stands, making mostly " lumber work," and doing repairing, horseshoeing, etc. James H. Davis, John McGowan, and Isaac Trombly each carry on horseshoeing and general custom shops.

Carthage boasts a goodly number of skilled workmen in the different branches of the building trade. The introduction of machinery has rendered the old-fashioned carpenter shops obsolete. In this respect they have fol- lowed the fate of the carriage shop; but as the art of erecting buildings entirely by machinery has not yet been perfected, the work of the carpenter, mason, bricklayer, and painter is occasionally in demand.

C. E. Dodge's glove and mitten factory was started in Carthage in 1889. About three workmen are employed.

There are five tin shops in the village, generally carried on in connection with other business; in fact wholly so with the exception of that of H. H. Frink. The names of those thus engaged are J. Rogers & Co. and J. E.

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Strickland, both extensive dealers in hardware, stoves, etc .; F. D. Hubbard, a practical tinner, who also deals in hardware, stoves, etc .; and L. Vinier, who also deals largely in stoves.

HOTELS.

The traveler will find no village in Northern New York better supplied with hotel facilities than Carthage. There are at present on the east side of the river at this point six of these places for the accommodation of the public. On State street are the Elmhirst, Mrs. S. E. Hatch, proprietress; Levis House, J. C. Carney, proprietor ; Hatch House, Mrs. J. H. Murray, proprie- tress. On School and Mechanic streets is the Gill House, Robert Gill, manager. On Alexandria and Francis streets is the Brunswick, Patrick H. Brown, proprietor. And on Church street is the Dougherty House, lately under the management of C. W. Hall. It would be invidious to draw comparisons between these places, as all are well kept and of good repute. Heman Grin- nell keeps a first-class restaurant on State street, where a limited number of guests are also accommodated.

In addition to the manufacturing industries, etc., enumerated in the fore- going, this thriving village contains five churches (Methodist, Baptist, Pres- byterian, Episcopal, and Catholic), two weekly newspapers, a new and com- modious opera house, two banks, nine general stores, three variety stores, eight groceries, four clothing stores, one merchant tailor, three boot and shoe stores, two harness shops, four hardware stores, two furniture stores, two un- dertaking establishments, five meat markets, two photograph and art galleries, five barber shops, four drug stores, three liquor stores, two furniture stores, two flour and feed stores, four watch and jewelry shops, two insurance offices, two livery stables, two bakeries, and a dealer in tobacco and cigars.

FIRES.

Although fires have probably been of no more frequent occurrence in this than in villages generally throughout the country, the ravages of this destruc- tive element have, in one memorable instance, attained proportions that to the sufferers were appalling, and which, in extent and the amount of destruc- tion to homes and property involved, would be difficult to parallel in the his- tory of any place of similar size anywhere.

The first notable incident of this character occurring in the annals of the village took place July 15, 1861. The alarm was given about 1 o'clock in the morning, and it was found that the fire was in the store occupied by J. T. Walsh, on State street, between Brown's Hotel and the Baptist Church. The flames soon extended to the hotel, and in spite of all efforts the church also was soon enveloped. The fire had now attained such headway that it was beyond the control of the very limited means at hand, and by sunrise the

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greater part of the business portion of the village was in ashes. About 20 buildings were burned in all, including four dwellings, two hotels, nine occu- pied stores, and the fine large church owned and occupied by the Baptists. The fire extended from Dr. West's store (now H. Grinnell's Hotel and res- taurant), on the southeast side, to Hooker & Gallagher's block, and from O. Leary's block to Mechanic street, on the opposite side. The loss, including buildings, damage to goods, etc., was estimated at more than $60,000, with an amount of insurance which would reduce it to about $34 000. It was considered at the time as a most crushing blow, but, as often happens in such cases, turned out in the end to be an actual benefit to the place. The old wooden structures were replaced by neat and durable brick blocks, the street was widened (an improvement which was greatly needed), the unwise pol- icy of erecting wooden buildings for business purposes upon our principal thoroughfare was fully demonstrated, and the better condition of things in- augurated at that time has continued fairly to the present day. Without doubt the most severe loss which the village has sustained in the burning of any single structure was that of the cotton factory erected by Hiram McCol- lom in 1849-50. This extensive and valuable building was utterly destroyed on the night of January 6, 1856. It had been recently fitted up with ma- chinery and stock for the manufacture of cotton goods, and was in active operation. The loss was entire, and that which bid fair to become a very important industry in this locality was thus brought to a stop, which has so far been permanent.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 123

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