Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 13

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 13

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).

The Sunday Miscellany. started in 1878, by Frank M. Redfield as a Sun- day paper, at the end of six months was sold to G. Preston Sikes, who changed it to a Saturday publication. It lived a year and three weeks.

The Watertown Advocate, Prohibition, was started in 1884 by George E. Satchwell, and is still in existence.

The Watertown Herald, Independent, was started July 3, 1886, by Jere. Coughlin, assisted by F. D. Rogers, and is still published.

The Silent Worker, an evangelical newspaper, published semi-monthly, and edited by Rev. W. D. Stokes, commenced in Watertown, January I, 1888.

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NEWSPAPERS.

Northern Harvester, one number issued in the latter part of 1882, then changed to the Good Farmer, a quarterly, published by Greaves & Dewey, edited by D. S. Marvin, published one year at 25 cents.

The Poultry Chronicle, only a few numbers issued.

The Annals of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Catholic monthly) was started in June, 1887, and still lives.

The Liar, a monthly devoted to " wit, humor, sports, and satire," made its first appearance in September, 1889. It was discontinued after a few num- bers, its editor and proprietor, Frank D. Rogers, having been appointed to a government position in Washington.

Daily Papers.

There has been a great demand for a daily paper in Watertown, as is evi- dent from the repeated efforts made to bring one into existence. The first was started by Joel Greene, in the spring of 1846-a short-lived venture.

The Daily Jeffersonian, issued from the office of the Weekly Jeffersonian, initial number dated May 10, 1851, was published two and a half years.

A campaign paper, called the Daily Republican, was issued from the office of the Reformer, by Ingalls & Stowell, from the first of May, 1856, to the close of election in that year. It was devoted to the interests of Col. Fre- mont and the Republican organization.

The Daily Telegraph was started in 1858, after the successful laying of the Atlantic cable, by J. D. Huntington, who then had charge of the telegraph office in Watertown. The enterprise was aided by John H. Rice, William Farwell, and other stock speculators. It was succeeded by the

Daily News, started by L. M. Stowell, March 13, 1859, published one year. It was from this office that A. H. Hall issued his

Daily News, which was commenced in January, 1861. Most of the orig- inal matter was prepared by L. J. Bigelow, until March 16, when G. C. Brag- don assumed charge of the editorial department, and continued with the paper until January 20, 1862, when the plant was sold to the proprietors of the

Daily Reformer, the publication of which was commenced April 22, 1861, and while Ingalls, Brockway & Beebee were the publishers of the Weekly Re- former. The name of the daily paper was changed to the

Watertown Times, January 4, 1870. It was then a small sheet with less than 1,000 subscribers, but now ranks among the best dailies of the country, and has a circulation aggregating 4,000. The present publishers and pro- prietors are Beman Brockway, J. W. Brockway, and H. A. Brockway. It is edited by B. Brockway, assisted by W. D. Mckinstry, Alpha Child, L. L. Pratt, Charles E. Cole, Charles S. Adams, Fred Britton, and A. W. Munk.

The Daily Republican, also a morning paper, was started in July, 1888, by Ingalls, Shepard & Dewey, L. Ingalls, C. R. Skinner, and H. E. Knicker- bock, editors. It lived six months.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY.

Campaign Papers.

Campaign papers were issued in the summer and fall of 1828, supporting Dewitt Clinton for governor, printed by Harvey & Hewitt, and called the Voice of Jefferson ; in 1832, anti-Masonic, called the Veto.

In 1834, anti-Republican, printed by B. Cory, called the Spirit of '76.

In 1838, Democratic, supporting Ezekiel Lewis for Congress, and C. Par- sons, W. C. George, and S. Robbins for Assembly, printed by Randall D. . Rice, called the Patriot and Democrat.

In 1840 a Democratic paper from the office of the Jeffersonian.

SACKETS HARBOR.

The first printing office in Sackets Harbor was established by George Camp, who, as " proprietor, publisher, and editor," issued the first number of the Sackets Harbor Gazette, March 18, 1817. The following year the title of Advertiser was added, and by that title continued to the close of its third volume, 1820. Subsequently Matthew Cole, Elisha Camp, and others became owners and changed its name, February 9, 1821, to Jefferson Republican. The Gazette and Advertiser was a 20-column folio sheet, and for the times was on a par with the better class of newspapers of the state.

The firm of Camp, Merrell & Camp, of Utica, had been publishers of books of a high order of merit previous to their dissolution in 1816. The junior member came to Sackets Harbor in December, 1816. His first issue contained 18 columns of solid matter and two of advertisements, and was gotten out with the help of one assistant. Before the year expired there were eight columns of advertisements and many judicial notices. The steamer Ontario appears, with cut, in the first number, announced to sail upon the opening of navigation, which was to test the question : " Can boats be propelled against waves by steam ? " All the current news, foreign and domestic, was carefully collated, bringing the most important events with illustrious names in history to the front. The Republican was continued for a year or more, when its publication was suspended. In the spring of 1824 Truman Haskall started the Freeman's Advocate, which continued to the close of 1828. All these papers advocated Federal principles. The last was strongly anti-Masonic.

Between this date and 1837 the Sackets Harbor Courier was conducted with considerable credit by James How.

Edward H. Purdy began the publication of the Jefferson County Whig in September, 1837. This continued only one year, though it is pleasantly re- membered by the old inhabitants. In October, 1838, Edmund M. Luff pub- lished the Sackets Harbor Journal, edited by D. N. Burnham for a season,

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after which W. Luff conducted the paper, with C. Woodward as printer, to the spring of 1841.

About this latter date, when [General] Grant was stationed here, Lieuten- ant Lee gave us that disturbing reflection on Watertown, in his contribution to the Journal :-

"South, Adams wears her deacon's face, North, Brownville stands with modest pace, And Watertown 's a little place, Just back of Sackets Harbor."

On Mr. Luff retiring from the Journal Joel Greene became proprietor. The Journal was enlarged under his management. The spirit that had per- vaded the previous papers passed away with the new element, and, however active, it did not presage success. After his second year as publisher his in- terest passed to Calvin Green, who, in the same year, 1843, discontinued the paper. Joel Greene now undertook to ride two "mules," by publishing the Black River Fournal at Sackets Harbor and Watertown, removing the press to Watertown. In 1846 it passed into the hands of A. W. Clark.

No paper was published in Sackets Harbor thence till O. H. Harris issued the first number of the Sackets Harbor Observer, March 20, 1848, and un- der that head continued with its Whig proclivities until 1852, when Mr. Har- ris and Mr. Huntington then associated in the Jefferson Farmer, which was published as a neutral sheet. Mr. Harris again restored the former title of Sackets Harbor Observer, and with his removal from the village ended the newspaper enterprise in this village.

To the credit of these varied sheets none ever stooped to low partisan or vulgar methods, but maintained a high standard as instructors of the people. In fact they reflected the sentiment of the citizens and the character of the inhabitants, who early gave prominence and a marked individuality to the now liistoric town.

ADAMS.

The first paper at Adams was started July 1, 1828, by Theron Parsons, who had previously lived in Watertown, and as the paper he published, which was called the Censor, was removed to Watertown after 26 numbers nad been issued perhaps he did not change his residence. The Censor was anti-Masonic, and probaby anti-Republican. Abner Morton was the editor. A reasonably perfect file of the Censor, from the time it was commenced at Adams, July 1, 1828, to the time it was sold to Abner Morton, in Watertown, January 5, 1830, has been presented to the Jefferson Historical Society, by Justus Eddy, of Syracuse, and handsomely bound for its use. The first issue of the paper under Mr. Morton's management is " number 70, of vol- ume 2," indicating an unusual way of numbering, as in the regular way the highest number for a weekly issue would be 52, after which the volume would change, and the numbers of the issues would begin at one again. When the

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JEFFERSON COUNTY.

Censor was removed to Watertown the Anti-Masonic Recorder was discon- tinued, the Censor taking its place as the organ of the Anti-Masonic party. When Abner Morton announced his connection with the Censor in Water- town, January 5, 1830, there were two papers in the village-the Freeman, Republican, and the Register, anti-Republican.

The Censor was published about five months (till June 8, 1830), when Enoch Ely Camp was announced as the editor. He is said to have been concerned in the paper from the beginning. He changed its name to the Anti-Masonic Sun. It was afterwards published 39 weeks by Dr. R.Goodale, commencing December 13, 1830, as the Constellation, and subsequently it passed into the hands of Mr. Morton, who called it the Jefferson Reporter, and published it from September 11, 1832, till January 21, 1834, when he removed to Michigan, taking his press with him.

There was no other paper at Adams until 1844, when Josephus C. Hatch, a practical printer, and brother-in-law of the late Alvin Hunt, started the Jefferson County Democrat, which he continued until 1847, when the paper passed into the hands of E. J. Clark. He was with Mr. Hatch about three years, or until the first of July, 1847, when he purchased the interest of Hatch, and continued the publication of the paper eight years, when he removed to Watertown and went into the milling business with his brother, Samuel Clark. The business not being remunerative he quit it, and in the fall of 1857 purchased the Jefferson County Union, associating with him Royal Chamberlain. Three years afterward he purchased Mr. Chamberlain's inter- est, and remained sole proprietor until the fall of 1864, when he sold out to R. A. Oakes. Since that date, though a writer for various papers, he has had no pecuniary interest in any except for a brief term, while a resident of Michigan.

After the removal of Mr. Clark to Watertown the Democrat came into the hands of Justus Eddy. Mr. Eddy changed the name of the paper to the Jefferson County News, and made it independent in politics. It had hitherto been Democratic, belonging to the free-soil or barn-burner wing of the party. This was in 1855. Mr. Eddy was the publisher of the paper about eight years.

In 1863. D. A. Dwight, an Adams bookseller, was associated with Mr. Eddy, and the paper was continued by them until April, 1865, when it was sold to George C. Bragdon, who changed the name to the Adams Visitor, and was burnt out a day or two before his first number was to have been printed. He immediately purchased new type and presses, issued the following week, thus skipping only one number, and continued to publish the paper something over three years, when he sold to Babcock & Delong, who conducted it until 1868.

The next year S. R. Pratt purchased Mr. Babcock's interest, and on the 15th of April, 1869, the form of the paper was changed to eight pages, and the name to Northern Temperance Journal, becoming the organ of the Good

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NEWSPAPERS.

Templars. It was continued as such until October 20, 1870, when Pratt & Delong changed the name to the Jefferson County Journal, and made it an independent sheet.

In 1871 William J. Allen purchased Pratt's'interest, and four months later S. W. Hatch Delong's interest, the new firm being Hatch & Allen. The paper was continued by these gentlemen until the health of Mr. Hatch gave out, when he sold his interest to Mr. Allen, who has since been its efficient conductor.

The Adams Herald was founded in March, 1876, by H. W. Gunther & Co., with C. W. Jennings as editor, and continued one year, when the ma- terials were purchased by the Journal.

CARTHAGE.

On December 19, 1839, the first paper appeared in Carthage, the most of the funds being furnished by H. McCollom, then the leading business man of the place. It was named the Carthagenian, and David Johnson was the editor. It was a weekly Whig paper, but principally devoted to the Black River Canal. June 18, 1840, William H. Hough became the editor. It was a six-column folio.

In April, 1843, the paper appeared under the name of the Black River Times, reduced in size, with the same editor. It was only continued for a short time.

January 1, 1847, Myron F. Wilson began the publication of the People's Press, a semi-monthly neutral paper. In the third number W. H. Colston became associate editor, and in September L. Jones took charge of it. It was soon discontinued.

In January, 1858, W. R. Merrill and E. R. Cole, who were publishing a paper in Constableville, were prevailed upon to bring their press and mate- rial to Carthage, and A. W. Allen started the Carthage Standard. W. R. Merrill became proprietor soon after the paper was started, and in a few months it was published by Merrill & Cole, with Charles T. Hammond as associate editor.

The Standard was succeeded in December, 1858, by the Black River Budget, which was published by Almont Barnes and Alva Wilson. This paper was continued for a little over a year. Mr. Barnes became sole pro- prietor after it had run about eight months.

In the spring of 1860 Marcus Bickford commenced the publication of the Republican, with O. T. Atwood, associate editor. In September, 1865, James H. Wilbur became proprietor, and Mr. Bickford was retained as editor. In September, 1866, M. M. Williams became a partner, and in 1872 the sole proprietor. It was during his administration that the paper was enlarged to its present size, the old hand press discarded, and the power press intro- duced. In January, 1873, S. R. Pratt became proprietor. Mr. Pratt started,

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JEFFERSON COUNTY.

in connection with the Republican, the Farmers' Fournal, as an organ of the State Grange, and sold it to John O'Donnell, of Lowville, in 1876.

In April, 1875, Durhamn & Gillett started the Northern New Yorker, and in the fall Wesley Barr became proprietor. In the April following Jere. Coughlin became editor, and continued so until the paper was consolidated with the Republican.

In August, 1876, Lloyd G. Chase became proprietor of the Republican, with Jere. Coughlin as associate editor. Mr. Chase is the present proprietor.

In 1879 E. D. Bates moved his press and material from Copenhagen, and started the Carthage Democrat. It lasted about three months.

In March, 1876, B. G. & C. E. Seamans started the Carthage Leader. In June of the same year it was purchased by Jere. Coughlin, who combined its list with three other papers in starting the Watertown Herald.

In October, 1887, the Carthage Tribune was started by a stock company, with William B. Kesler as editor and business manager. G. W. Dickinson is now the editor.

THERESA.

The Theresa Chronicle was started at Theresa, January 14, 1848, and con- tinued 28 weeks, published by Elisha Church Burt, brother of Benjamin Burt, of Ox Bow. The press was subsequently removed to Madrid, St. Lawrence County, whence it was taken to Canton. The Chronicle was to a large ex- tent edited by James L. Bufford and William Fayel. The latter went from Theresa to Lockport and was engaged in the conduct of the Lockport Journal something like two years. He then removed to St. Louis and took a posi- tion upon the Republican, which he still holds. Mr. Bufford went to Boston, and from there to California, where, it is said, he was killed in a duel. Vic- tor Cooper, who still resides in Theresa, worked in the office of the Chronicle during the time of its publication, and afterwards with the late Alvin Hunt, of Watertown, but ultimately abandoned printing to engage in trade. Mr. Burt went west from Theresa, and turned up a soldier in the late war.

When Major Durham started his paper in Carthage, in 1875, he proposed to print an edition for Theresa, to be called the Theresa Journal, and to con- tain the local doings of that thrifty village. The enterprise, however, was short-lived, and Theresa again found itself without a newspaper of any kind.

In 1881, or thereabouts, W. S. Saunderson, a practical printer, went to Theresa and started a paper, which he called the Theresa Advertiser, and which was continuted somewhere about two years. The materials were finally brought to Watertown, and were employed in the newspaper commenced by Gen. Bradley Winslow, called the Northern New York Republican, and Mr. Saunderson officated as foreman in the office. The paper did not last a great while, however, and the materials were sold to the proprietors of the Post, and are now in use in that office.

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NEWSPAPERS.

The next effort to give the Theresa people a newspaper was made by Mr. Van Slyke, of the Antwerp Gazette, who dated some copies of his paper at Theresa, calling it the Sentinel. That arrangement is continued by Mr. Van Slyke's successors. Mr. Beamen at one time had charge or the Theresa branch office ; at another time Robert Jackson was the Theresa editor.

CAPE VINCENT.

The Cape Vincent Gazette was started by Paul T. Leach, and the first number was dated May 8, 1858. It was succeeded by the Frontier Patriot, May 10, 1865, with P. H. Keenan, editor and proprietor. Mr. Keenan entered the army the same year, when the name of Robert Mitchell appeared as editor, and P. H. Keenan as proprietor. In the fall of 1862 Mitchell absented himself to buy a new stock of paper, and did not return. The Cape Vincent Eagle appeared on the roth of April, 1872, established by Ames & Hunt. Hunt soon after sold out to his partner, who continued as publisher till the spring of 1877, when Mr. Ames disposed of his paper to Charles B. Wood, who subsequently changed the name to the Democratic Eagle, and has since conducted it with success. It now bears the name of the Cape Vincent Eagle.

CLAYTON.

The first paper published in the town of Clayton was started in May, 1873, when two young men, William D. Clark and George Beden, started the Clay- ton Independent. It was a seven-column folio, and was printed on a Wash- ington hand press. Mr. Beden retired from the partnership after the first issue, and Mr. Clark continued the business for two years and then sold out to W. H. Rees, a young lawyer, and a native of that place. Mr. Rees ran. the paper for about a year, when he sold the plant to Warren W. Ames, of De Ruyter. He soon sold out to George A. Lansing, who did not make a financial success of the business. Mr. Ames, again having control of the paper, sold a half interest to Frank D. Rogers, then of Chaumont. In about a year Frank D. Braun purchased the interest of W. W. Ames, and for two years the paper was published by Rogers & Braun. During this time the paper was enlarged to a five-column quarto. E. C. Rogers, a younger brother of Frank D , purchased the interest of Mr. Braun and a power press was added. For three years the business was successfully carried on and a large circulation was secured. In the winter of 1882-83, owing to disagree- ment in the management, the publication of the paper was suspended.

June 26, 1883, the first number of the Clayton Standard was issued, with C. E. & F. G. Hocknel as editors and proprietors. In November, 1884, C. E. Hocknel purchased the interest of the brother, and two months later changed the name of the paper to On the St. Lawrence. A year later Ratchford,. Phillips & Slate purchased the paper.

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JEFFERSON COUNTY.

In the spring of 1884 the Clayton Independent was again started by Frank D. Rogers, but after six months was again discontinued, owing to a lack of patronage.

In the spring of 1885 E. D. & W. M. Vincent began the publication of a seven-column folio, called the Free Press, but failing to secure a fair share of the patronage soon suspended.

In the fall of 1886 W. H. Rees purchased the plant of Ratchford, Phillips & Slate. January 1, 1888, Phillips & McCarn purchased the paper from W. H. Rees. The name of W. B. Phillips now appears as editor and pro- prietor.

ANTWERP.

The Antwerp Gazette was commenced by James M. Beaman, September I, 1873. He sold to James W. Van Slyke, December 24, 1874, who con- ducted it till December 12, 1888. He then sold to M. H. Bent. Mr. Van Slyke started the Philadelphia Monitor, May 1, 1883, and the Theresa Sen- tinel, November 1, 1886. Both papers are still published, and issued from the office of the Gazette.

BLACK RIVER.

The Black River Herald, weekly, formerly the Croghan News, was estab- lished in Black River in May, 1889 ; proprietor and editor, P. B. Mereness ; independent in politics. It suspended publication in April, 1890.

THE THOUSAND ISLANDS.

"The Thousand Isles! The Thousand Isles!

Dimpled, the wave around them smiles, Kissed by a thousand red-lipped flowers, Gemmed by a thousand emerald bowers; A thousand birds their praises wake,

By rocky glade and plumy brake;

A thousand cedars' fragrant shade

Falls where the Indians' children played; And Fancy's dream my heart beguiles While singing thee, thou Thousand Isles!"

The Thousand Islands have been the subject of descriptive writers-poets, novelists, historians, tourists-since they were first visited by white men, all bearing testimony to the wondrous natural beauty and picturesqueness of this incomparable region. Long before the advance of civilization had driven the aborigines hence the Indians had recognized the beauty and tranquil grand- eur of the place, and had designated it Manatoana, or Garden of the Great Spirit.

For many years before the locality became famous as a summer resort a few persons, some of them men of note, made this their favorite fishing-ground and summer outing-place. It was not until 1872, however, that the grand

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THE THOUSAND ISLANDS.

rush to the islands commenced. Since that time hundreds of thousands of dollars have been expended in the erection of private homes, hotels, and pub- lic parks, and in the improvement of the many beautiful islands, of which there are, in this famous archipelago, as stated officially in the Treaty of Ghent, 1,692.

This charming locality attracts people from all parts of the United States and Canada, and from Europe, who spend a portion of their summers here, hundreds, almost thousands, of whom have built for themselves summer houses, some modest but comfortable, while others are more pretentious, and in many cases grand and palatial. The scene at night during the height of the season is gorgeous indeed. At that time the cottages on the islands are mostly illuminated with colored lanterns, and the steam yachts, with, their gay parties, go flitting by, the whole scene, like a kaleidoscope, continually changing, but ever beautiful and full of surprises.

Much of historical interest is associated with this region, which has four times been the boundary line between contending nations. The first great strife was inaugurated before white men were known here, and was car- ried on between the two great savage nations, the Algonquins and Iroquois, the former dwelling for the most part to the northward and eastward, while the latter had their principal homes along the lakes and rivers of Central and Western New York. Champlain found this feud in existence in 1608, and formed an alliance with the Algonquins againt the Iroquois, which made the latter nation the deadly enemy of the French ever after. Following this sanguinary period came one not less bloody-the French and Indian war. The next period of strife was the Revolutionary war, which was followed by the War of 1812, thoroughly establishing the independence of the United States. The hostile events of 1837-40, generally denominated as the " Patriot war," in which an abortive attempt was made to revolutionize the Canadas, also found in this region the theater of operations.

An extensive sketch of the Thousand Islands should include a particular description of the portion owned by private individuals, with their costly improvements. This we will not attempt here, but will simply give some account of the public parks and hotels, which receive the patronage of thous- ands of visitors during the summer season.

The Thousand Island Park Association was incorporated as " The Thous- and Island Camp-Meeting Association," in December, 1874, with a cap- ital stock of $15,000, in shares of $10. Its present name was assumed by special act passed January 18, 1879. It was organized as a religious institu- tion, and is under the management of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, although many persons not of this denomination have residences upon the grounds and participate in the proceedings. The park is located upon Wells or Wellesley Island, and occupies the point known upon Capt. Owen's British chart of 1818 as " Talavera Head." It was surveyed by Frank A. Hinds, of Watertown, in 1875, and originally embraced a tract of about 983

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 13

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