Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 28

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 28

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).

William T. Burdick, M. D., son of Dr. Charles W. Burdick, is a graduate of Syracuse Uni- versity, class of 1875. He came to Watertown and entered into partnership with his father, remaining two or three years, when he went to Pamelia Four Corners, and practiced there a few years and moved to Fullerville, Lewis County, Ky., where he now resides. He became a member of the County Medical Society April 6, 1875, and was elected secretary and served from 1877 to 1888.

S. L. Parmelee, M. D., was born at Stockholm, N. Y., February 21, 1829. He was educated at the schools of Jericho, Vt., until he was 18, when he went to Coburg, Ontario, and taught school three years. He began the study of his profession in 1850 with Dr. Baxter, of High- gate, Vt., and also with Dr. Day, of St. Albans Bay, Vt. He attended lectures in the winter of 1851-52 at Castleton, Vt., and was two years at Woodstock, Vt., graduating from the latter place in 1853. Dr. Parmelee settled at Gouverneur, St. Lawrence County, where he practiced 23 years, and in 1876 moved to Watertown, where he practiced until his death, April 17, 1881, aged 52 years. His sudden death was a shock and surprise to the community, and he was mourned by a large number of friends and patients, to whom he had endeared himself by his

GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.

ADAMS.

A DAMS is situated in the southern part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Hounsfield and Watertown, east by Rodman, south by Lorraine and Ellisburgh, and west by Henderson. It is watered by the north branch of Sandy Creek and many tributary brooks in the south, and by Stony Creek, with numerous small branches, in the northern part. Both streams are fed by springs and afford permanent water-power, which has been utilized. The surface of the town is generally level, except in the northwestern part, which is somewhat broken by the lake ridge which here traverses the town. The territory was originally timbered with maple, beech, birch, elm, and butternut, a considerable area of which yet remains. Cedar and pine also prevailed, and contributed largely to the early wealth of the town. The soil is generally fertile-a black mold, sandy loam, or a loam somewhat mixed with clay, underlaid by limestone, with outcroppings of this rock on high ground. There is very little waste land in the town, a portion of the most elevated being susceptible of cultivation. That which seems most sterile affords excellent grazing.

This town was formed from Mexico, April 1, 1802. It received its name in honor of President John Adams, and included No. 7, or Aleppo, and No. 8, or Orpheus, of the " Eleven Towns," or the "Black River Tract." This area was maintained until No. 8 became a separate town, with the name of Rodman, March 24, 1804.

Adams, or No. 7, fell to the lot of Nicholas Low, in the subdivision of the eleven towns, by ballot, and was surveyed by Benjamin Wright in 1796, into fifty-six lots, numbered from west to east and from north to south, commenc- ing near Henderson Bay and extending on the line of Lorraine. Mr. Wright complained of local attractions, that rendered it impossible to run straight lines. The lots varied in contents from 240 acres to 676 acres, and the whole made an aggregate of 26,505 acres. The town is nearly square, its sides measuring about six miles from east to west, and not quite seven from

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north to south. This tract of land had been mortgaged to William Constable, June 15, 1796, by Henderson, Low, Harrison, and Hoffman. It was assigned to the Bank of New York, but Low succeeded in getting a release, June 16, 1804.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Eliphalet Edmonds, March 1, 1803, when the following officers were chosen : Nicholas Salisbury, super- visor ; Phineas Keith, clerk ; D'Estaing Salisbury, John W. Smith, David Grommon, Jr., Thomas White, assessors; Isaac Baker, collector ; Thomas White, David Comstock, overseers of the poor; Paul Stickney, Jacob Kel- logg, Simeon Hunt, commissioners of highways; Isaac Baker and Anson Moody, constables ; Daniel Comstock, David Smith, George H. Thomas, George Cooper, fence viewers; Jacob Kellogg, Benjamin Thomas, pound keepers ; Abraham Ripley, James Perry, Enan Salisbury, John Cowles, Con- sider Law, Solomon Robbins, Hezekiah Tiffany, Thomas White, Daniel Mansfield, Asa Davis, Squire Read, Abel Palmer, overseers of highways ; David Comstock, Simeon Hunt, deer reeves.

At a special town meeting, held November 10, 1803, a remonstrance was voted against taking three ranges of lots from the north side of the town to annex to the contemplated town of Newport ; also to agree to the division of the town on the line between towns Nos. 7 and 8. Wolf bounties of $5 were offered in 1803 ; of $to from 1804 to 1815 ; and of $15 in 1815.

In 1880 Adams had a population of 3,302. The town is located in the first school district of Jefferson County, and in 1888 had 14 school districts, in which 19 teachers were employed 28 weeks or more. The whole number of scholars attending school was 682, while the aggregate days attendance during the year was 68,234. The total value of school buildings and sites was $13,690, and the assessed valuation of all the districts was $1,870,305. The whole amount raised during the year for school purposes was $6,817.30, $4.352.94 of which was received by local tax. S. Whitford Maxson was school commissioner.

ADAMS is a large and thriving post village located on the north branch of Sandy Creek, and is a station on the R., W. & O. R. R. 13 miles from Watertown, 169 miles from Albany, and 31 1 miles from New York. It con- tains two national banks, is the seat of Adams Collegiate Institute, has four churches (Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Episcopal), two hotels, a weekly newspaper, express, telegraph, and telephone accommodations, and the requisite number of shops and stores necessary to supply its 1,500 inhab- itants and the surrounding country. A daily stage runs to Belleville, Hen- derson, and Worth. The village was incorporated under the general act, by the Court of Sessions, November 11, 1851, and confirmed by a vote of 79 to 51 on the 19th of December of the same year. The village plat includes 812 acres. In 1823 an unsuccessful attempt had been made to obtain an act of incorporation, the notice of application being signed by Elihu Morton, David Smith, Benjamin Wright, and John Burch. The first trustees

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TOWN OF ADAMS.

of the village were John H. Whipple, Samuel Bond, Calvin Skinner, Calvin R. Totman, and Wells Benton. May 27, 1852, the village was divided into five wards, and a code of by-laws adopted. The Rural Cemetery Associa- tion was formed January 17, 1848, of 33 citizens, who laid out a neat and quiet lot for the purpose in the eastern part of the village. Maple Wood Cemetery, in the northwestern part of the village, is one of the finest rural cemeteries in the county. A fire company was formed in Adams about 1836, and a small crank engine purchased by voluntary subscriptions. Since its organization the village has made ample provision for protection against the destructive element. April 23. 1852, an appropriation of $650 was voted to purchase a fire engine and its necessary apparatus. May 24, 1853. the 'Tempest Fire Company " was formed with 44 men. The new water works have added largely to the protection against fire.

SMITHVILLE is a post village on Stony Creek, on the west line of the town, lying partly in the town of Henderson. It is 12 miles from Watertown, five miles from Adams Center, five from Sackets Harbor, and six from Hender- son Harbor. It has telegraph, telephone, and express accommodations, and a stage line to Sackets Harbor. It has one church (Baptist), two stores. two truss factories, a grist and saw-mill, two blacksmith shops, a cheese factory, and about 200 inhabitants. It was named in honor of Jesse Smith, one of the early settlers and a prominent business man. Settlement was begun here in 1804 by Daniel Hardy, who kept the first hotel here. Brooks Harring- ton was the first postmaster.

ADAMS CENTER is a very pleasant post village of about 500 inhabitants, located about three and a half miles north of Adams village. It contains three churches (Baptist, Seventh- Day Baptist, and Seventh-Day Advents), a grocery store, boot and shoe store, drug store, hardware store, four general stores, a clothing store, two hotels, three blacksmith shops, three millinery shops, a grist-mill, sash and blind factory, a manufacturer of handy package dyes, two livery stables, a dealer in sewing machines and musical instruments, a lawyer, two physicians, a printing office, and a furniture dealer and under- taker. Settlement in this locality was first made in 1816, by Luman and Hiram Arms, on a farm just north of the village site. The first house where the village stands was built by a man named Priest, who sold out to Luman Arms before it was entirely completed. Jonathan Davis built the first store about 1830.

Adams Collegiate Institute was incorporated by the Regents, April 22, 1855, but not tully organized when a proposition was received from General Solon D. Hungerford, of Adams, for a substantial endowment. The name was changed to " Hungerford Collegiate Institute," March 24, 1864. Under this name an academic school was opened in the S. J. Mendell building,- known as the " Basswood Hotel," located near the sulphur springs and a few rods east of the present railroad depot,-with Rev. J. Dunbar Houghton as principal. About this time a very valuable mineralogical cabinet was pre-

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sented to the institute by Mr. J. G. Webb, which was nearly destroyed by the burning of the school building some years later. During the second year Prof. David Holbrook, a former tutor of Hamilton College, became as- sociated with Prof. Houghton as vice-principal. During the administration of Prof. Houghton the school was noted for its thorough scholarship and ex- cellent discipline. Col. E. S. Salisbury and others maintained military drill,. materially aiding in the discipline of the school. January 29, 1868, the building was consumed by fire, and about $13,400 was paid by the insurance companies to the trustees. February 3, five days after the fire, a meeting of the trustees was held, when it was resolved to erect another building imme-

ADAMS COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE.

diately. At this meeting the question of a change of site was introduced, and the site upon which the building now stands was selected. Gen. S. D. Hungerford donated the new site, and also made a very liberal cash dona- tion. The trustees had at their disposal about $16,000, and they were au- thorized to expend $20,000 in the erection of a suitable building for an acad- emy and boarding hall, that should accommodate at least as many students. as the former building. About June I work on the new builling was begun. The plans were by Prof. J. D. Houghton and Mr. White, of Syracuse. The- mason work was under the direction of Asa Lyons, of Adams. The carpen- ter work was done by William H. Wheeler, with David Gaylord as architect in charge. Both these latter gentlemen were of Adams. The building is of brick, 97 by 129 feet, four stories high, and is heated by steam and thor- oughly ventilated. The building was completed in August, 1870, and on the 28th of that month school was opened with the following corps of teachers :

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TOWN OF ADAMS.

Albert B. Watkins, A. M., principal ; Orlo B. Rhodes, A. M., vice-principal ; Mrs. H. N. Butterworth, preceptress ; Mrs. L. B. Woodward, teacher com- mon English; Miss L. Chatfield, oil painting and drawing ; Mr. W. H. H. Taylor, natural sciences and commercial; Mr. Gustave Gunther, music ; Mrs. H. B. Watkins, Spanish and English. There are six courses of study : I, classical ; 2, English ; 3, college preparatory ; 4, scientific or engineering ; 5, commercial ; 6, music. There are two literary societies connected with the school-Calisophian and Nousas. Kean. The library contains about 650 carefully selected volumes. The chemical and philosophical apparatus is full and complete, and there is also a first-class mineralogical cabinet, mainly the gift of William Rosa, M. D., of Watertown, and J. G. Webb.

The building will accommodate sixty boarders and 200 day pupils. The school had its home in this building from 1870 to 1882, when the same was sold for debt, and the school was removed to a block in the business part of the village. The name " Adams Collegiate Institute " was restored by the Regents, November 16, 1883. August 28, 1884, the block in which the school was held was burned. Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Dwight, of Adams, in co- operation with the trustees and citizens, purchased the Hungerford Collegiate building, $6,500, the insurance from the building burned, being applied toward the payment of the same. Mr. and Mrs. Dwight have conveyed this building by lease, subject to certain conditions, to the present board of trus- tees, one of the provisions of the present charter being that no person or persons shall have the power to encumber the institution with a debt of more than $100. This makes it impossible to again put out its light with the snuffles of the law. Since 1882 the institute has been under the management of Principal Orlo B. Rhodes, A. M., an alumnus of Brown University, a fine scholar and a cultured gentleman. During the years 1884-85 119 students were in attendance. The grade of scholarship is high, and the faculty com- petent and faithful. The following corps of teachers constitute the faculty of the institution: Orlo B. Rhodes, A. M., principal, Latin, Greek, Englishi litera- ture ; Mrs. A. H. Coughlan, preceptress, French and mathematics ; Mrs. L. B. Woodward, English department; Prof Herm Haydn, music ; Lincoln B. Irvin, commercial, chemistry, and physics ; Mrs. W. D. Arms, painting and drawing ; Miss Clara M. Cooper, elocution ; Prof. R. S. Bosworth, lec- turer on natural science.

Students who complete the college preparatory course are admitted on the certificate of the principal to Hamilton, Williams, Dartmouth, Hobart, and Vassar colleges, and the universities of Madison, Rochester, and Vermont. The institute has cost the community, of which Adams is the center, more than $80,000. The situation of the building is commanding ; the prospect from its windows is wide and beautiful. Mr. and Mrs. Dwight have in their generosity offered the building to the Presbyterian denomination of Adams, free from debt, upon the condition of their giving it a perpetual endowment, the same to be used for school purposes forever. The citizensagain contrib-

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uted to the repairs and the building was entirely refurnished at an expense of $5.000. The ladies of the town assumed the debt of $800 to put the chapel in repair.

The Farmers National Bank, of Adams village, successor to the Adams National Bank, was organized May 29, 1889, with a capital of $65,000. The officers are : C. D. Potter, president ; I. P. Wodell, vice-president ; and G. W. Hannahs, cashier. The Adams National Bank was organized January 2, 1883, with a capital of $50,000. W. A. Waite was president and G. W. Hannahs, cashier.

The Citizens National Bank of Adams was organized August 7, 1889, under the " National Bank Act," with a paid in capital of $50,000, and with the following directors : George Mather, Abel Bickford, Joshua W. Over- ton, Newton M. Wardwell, Lafayette Caulkins, William Mather, Talcott H. Camp, Willis A. Waite, Lucy J. Bullock, Anson S. Thompson, Charles A. Eastman, De Alton Rich, William H. Hathway. The officers are : George Mather, president ; Lafayette Caulkins, vice-president; William H. Hath- way, cashier. The bank was opened for business September 9, 1889:

Elmwood Cemetery is governed by an association bearing its name, formed in 1867, with James M. Cleveland as president and superintendent, who has had entire charge and control until the present time. The association was. reorganized April 26, 1876, with the following board of trustees : B. Ran- dall, A. Maxon, W. M. Johnson, R. P. White, W. E. Overton, G. W. Will- iams, N. Vickery, S. D). Hungerford, J. M. Cleveland, W. A. Gilbert, H. Green, G. W. Bond. The cemetery contains about 20 acres of ground finely laid out and kept with conscientious care and taste. The title is perfect and the association is entirely free of debt. It contains two miles of beautiful drives, shaded by trees, through a little valley lying between two ridges of land. In natural and acquired beauty it is a gem, and by common consent is regarded as the finest rural cemetery in Northern New York. It is ap- proached by Elmwood avenue, a third of a mile in length, shaded by rows of stately elms set by Mr. Cleveland personally. They now form a beautiful and complete arch over the entire avenue. The cemetery is entered through a handsome gateway. At the left as you enter is a fine Doric chapel and receiving vault, with excellent pieces of statuary presented by Mr. Cleveland. Passing along over a rustic bridge that spans a clear, winding brook you come to the family lot of Mr. Cleveland, in the center of the cemetery, where his ancestors as far back as 1722 are buried, representing five generations. Some of these remains were sought out at great expense from obscure places in New England. This lot is adorned by a very fine monument surmounted by a life size figure of Memory, beautifully wrought in the attitude of casting a wreath of flowers upon the graves below. From this point all the beauties of Elmwood may be seen at a glance. Lots carefully laid out and made beau- tiful with fine monuments in memory of the beloved dead fill the valley and cover the ridges. Space forbids special descriptions, but the eye is satisfied

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with seeing, and the better sentiments of the heart are gratified with the good taste and spirit everywhere displayed in this charming little city of the dead. Here, if anywhere, one is reminded of the beauty of life and the blessedness of death. To have so fair a home to sleep in for ages steals away unawares the fears of dissolution, and makes one " half in love with easeful death." The charming drives, the green grass, the shrubbery, the fragrant flowers, the bursting buds on hundreds of trees, the gleaming monuments, the air vocal with the songs of birds and the babbling of the brook,-all combine to make one say, " How lovely is this place !" Elmwood is the just pride of Adams, and the pet child of Mr. Cleveland's heart. Everywhere its beauty is his handiwork, its charm the product of his skill and faultless taste. It has been his care by day and his dream by night to beautify and adorn it. It repre- sents 20 years of almost constant labor and superintendence, and a per- sonal expenditure of $10,000. What has been the patient, unremitting care of his life is still the pride and pleasure of his old age, and the results are more than an adequate compensation in the assured prospect that Elmwood Cemetery will be to Adams, not only a thing of beauty and a source of joy for the present, but " a possession forever." It will be a monument to his devo- tion more enduring than the stately shaft which adorns the graves of his an- cestors.

Adams Water Works was organized as a stock company by Moffett, Hodgkins & Clarke, now of Syracuse, in 1885, and were built the same year. They are located on the north side of Spring street, have a 30-horse-power engine, with an H. R. Worthington high-pressure pump-capacity 400 to 600 gallons per minute. The water-tower on Doxtater hill is 15 feet in diam- eter and 40 feet high. Height of water above Main street, 120 feet. The main pipes are of cast iron, six and eight inches, and will stand a pressure of 300 pounds to the inch. The village of Adams pays $1,000 yearly for fire purposes. Isaac W. Payne is superintendent.

The Adams Electric Light and Power Company (Limited) was organized March 28, 1889, with D. A. Dwight, president ; C. H. Wardwell, vice-presi- dent ; W. H. Gillman, managing director ; Dr. W. H. Nickelson, secretary ; and W. J. Allen, treasurer.

Maple Grove Place and Stock Farm, located in the southerly part of Adams village, on Grove street, was established by the present proprietor, R. P. White, in 1859. Among the most celebrated horses raised and owned by him the following are particularly worthy of mention : "Capt. Emons," with a record of 2:19}, sold for $5.500 ; "Wizz," 2:234; "Buzz," 2:28; " Rufus," 2:29 ; " Venus," 2:31, who sold for $3,500 ; four mares-" Floss," " Silk," "Satin," and " Velvet," three of whom were valued at more than $6,000. "Whitewood," raised by Mr. White, when less than three years old trotted a mile in 2:24. Mr. White is one of the most noted horsemen in the state.

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Adams flouring mill was built by Willard Smith, on the site of the old David Smith mill, about 1825. In 1860 it was purchased by George Frasier, and in the spring of 1863 S. H. Pitcher became half owner. In 1879 Mr. Pitcher became sole proprietor. The mill has four runs of stones and grinds 60,000 bushels of grain annually.

O. De Grasse Greene's sash, door, and blind manufactory is located at Adams Center, and is run by water-power furnished by springs situated within 100 rods of his mills, which give an adequate and unfailing power. Mr. Greene manufactures doors, sash, blinds, and house builders' materials, and does all kinds of custom planing and matching, furnishing employment to from two to 20 men.

F. L. Webster's canning factory, in Adams village, on Railroad street, was established in July, 1889, and has a capacity of turning out 250,000 cans of goods annually. Mr. Webster makes a specialty of canning dandelion and spinach, and employs 60 hands.

The Adams foundry and machine shop was first started in 1863 or 1864 by T. P. Saunders and D. O. Holman. After several changes in proprietorship the property, in 1881, passed into the possession of the first named gentle- man, who has since been its sole proprietor. The machine shop is 72 by 24 feet in size and the foundry 72 by 32. Mr. Saunders employs about five hands in general job and repair work.

The Adams Lumber Company .- Mills were established by Julius Fox about 1860 for dressing lumber and manufacturing doors, blinds, moldings, and builders' supplies. In 1864 the works were purchased by William H. Wheeler, who subsequently (in 1865 or 1866) bought the old woolen factory by the bridge and converted the building into an addition to his works. Mr. Wheeler continued the business until April, 1889, when it was purchased by W. H. Proctor, of Ogdensburg, who immediately formed the Adams Lumber Company, with W. H. Proctor, J. G. Idler, Thomas F. Strong, and George L. Ryan, of Ogdensburg, and J. A. Cameron and W. L. Pratt, of Adams, as partners. The company manufactures and deals at wholesale and retail in lumber, and as contractors are prepared to erect buildings of any kind. The works are located on Factory street, Adams village.

Adams Furniture and Manufacturing Company (Limited) was organized September 22, 1888 ; capital, $20,000. D. A. Dwight is president ; A. W. Ingraham, vice-president ; John St. Clair, secretary ; G. W. Hannahs, treas- urer ; Edwin Gregory, superintendent ; and Dr. A. K. Hale and Harrison Fuller, with the officers of the company, trustees. The company occupies buildings 50 by 100 feet, three stories high, and 50 by 100 feet, two stories. In their engine room, 20 by 30 feet, is an 80-horse power engine. They have a dry kiln 17 by 44 feet.

Handy Package Dye Co., C. D. Potter, proprietor. is located on Church street, at Adams Center. The company manufactures handy package dyes,

M Cleveland

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TOWN OF ADAMS.

Excelsior bluing fluid, inks, and black walnut, mahogany, and cherry stains, and their goods find a market far and near.

James H. Moulton's grist-mill, on Stony Creek, was built by Hiram Cook about 1807. Mr. James Moulton, Sr., bought the mill about 1835, and it is now run by J. H. Moulton. It has three runs of stones.

Snell's grist and feed-mill, at Adams Center, was built by W. D. & M. D. Snell in 1884. It is operated by steam.

Muzzy cheese factory, two miles south of Smithville, was established by F. M. & J. B. Muzzy in 1864. It has a patronage of 250 cows.

WV. A. & E. J. Waite's malting establishment was started by Rufus P. White, and was purchased by the present proprietors in 1876. It has a capacity of 40,000 bushels of malt annually.

Although in the fall of 1799 many parties were looking for lands in the vicinity of Adams, yet no settlement was made until April 16, 1800, when Nicholas Salisbury, from Western New York, found his way into town through Lowville, by a tedious journey of 26 days, bringing with him an ox team and sled, his family and goods, fording the streams with great peril, and camping at night wherever necessity compelled them. Samuel and David Fox and Solomon Smith and son accompanied as hired men. John Smith, Francis McKee, Consider Law, David Smith, Peter Doxtater, and others, several with families, came into town and began small clearings, mostly in the valley of Sandy Creek. The terms of purchase were $3 per acre, and an obliga- tion to clear two acres and build a house within a certain time. In the spring of 1800 David Smith came in, taking up 500 acres of land including the site of the present village, where he built and operated a saw-mill. The same season witnessed the arrival of numerous settlers, mostly from Oneida County. Those on foot came by way of Redfield, but this route was then impassable for teams. The first acre of clearing was cut in May and June, 1800, by Samuel Fox,* three miles above the village. In 1801 or 1802 David Smith got in operation a very small grist mill that superseded the stump mortars of the first season, and relieved the settlers from the long and tedious journeys to Coffeen's mill in Rutland, or voyages in open boats from the mouth of Sandy Creek to Kingston. In 1801 Jacob Kellogg, John Cole, and many others moved in, and in the second or third following years a flood of immi- gration soon filled up the town, which everywhere presented small patches of clearing, rude huts, blind paths through the forest, destined to become roads, and from every side echoed the woodman's axe, that gradually prepared the way for cultivation.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 28

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