Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 37

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 37

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).

It is apparent from this that Mr. Constable's journey was northward from Carthage, through the present towns of Antwerp and Wilna, and that he found a cabin at the end of the first four miles, then another six miles fur- ther on, then nothing but wilderness for a distance of 12 miles, including the present site of the village of Antwerp, until he reached Captain Lee's log tavern, north of Antwerp village. He then proceeded, according to the con- tinuation of his diary, "five miles to the Ox Bow, a remarkable bend in the Oswegatchie River," where he breakfasted in a log hut (evidently Vrooman's), with another in sight. After a journey through St. Lawrence and Franklin counties he returned over the same route, and under date of September 9 says :-

" Set off from Lee's after breakfast and stop at Stearn's, on No. IV., at twelve miles distance, then ten miles more to the Black River at Long Falls."

In his tour of the next year (1805) he again traversed the same route, and thus recorded his journey from Carthage to the Ox Bow under date of August 16 :-

" Proceeded through the Great Tract No. IV., and stopped at Stearn's, ten miles, where we dined, and arrived at Lee's, twenty miles from the falls, where we passed the night, and, as the house was completely full, an uncomfortable one it was. I see no alteration in this part of the country since last year; the road at least as bad, and no more settlers. We were told General Lewis R. Morris has been through it, and has now gone to Vermont, intending shortly to return, perhaps with his family. He has quieted Lee and other squatters, who seem well satis- fied. He is expected to build at the Ox Bow."

The next day (August 17) Mr. Constable left Lee's and journeyed to Ox Bow, " five miles of as bad road as we have yet traveled."

In the spring of 1806 Silas Ward commenced the erection of a saw-mill at the present village for Mr. Morris, the proprietor of the town, which was the first improvement here, and the place acquired and long maintained the name

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of " Indian River." It being at the point where the State road crossed the river, and affording a good water-power, the place was naturally destined to become the center of business for the surrounding country. In the winter of 1805 a road was opened from Philadelphia to this place and Ox Bow, and the next year to Gouverneur, which began to settle at about this time. Gershom Matoon kept the first inn at the village. In January, 1807, John Jennison was appointed a local agent, under whose direction a grist-mill was built. The land books show the following names of settlers, with the dates of their purchase: 1805, William Lee. 1806, John Bethel, John Robinson, Peter Vrooman, Edward Foster, Jr., Mary Sterling, Benajah Randall, John Jennison, Peter Raven, Hopestill Foster, and John C. Foster. 1807, Zebulon

Rockwell, Samuel Griswold, David Coffeen, Zopher Holden. 1808, Samuel Randall, Zebina Bishop, Mary Bishop, Alfred Walker, Daniel Gill, William Fletcher. 1809, Richard McAllaster, Dexter Gibbs, Sherebiah Gibbs, Jonathan Marbles, Isaac L. Hitchcock, Timothy Ruggles, Jesse Jackson, Danield Heald, John Pease. 1810, Amasa Sartwell, Almond Beecher, William Fletcher, Duthan Kingsbury, Harrison Moseley. 1811, Oliver Howell, Lemuel Hubbard, Anson Cummings, John White, Levi Wheelock. 1812, William Harris, William McAllaster, Daniel Sterling, Salmon White, Warren Streeter, William Randall, Elkanah Pattridge, Ira Ward, Asher Sey- mour, Roswell Wilder, Benjamin Goodwin, Elliott Lynde, Daniel Gill, Caleb Cheney, Henry C. Baldwin, James Briggs, Silas Brooks, Shailer Beckwith, Silas Ward, Ezra Church. In 1808 David Parish, an eminent banker of Hamburg, made extensive purchases in Northern New York, including 29,033 acres in this town.

Soon after this purchase great alarm was spread throughout the settlement by the misrepresentations of a vicious-minded person who had previously been employed as a land agent in St. Lawrence County. With no apparent motive but a morbid love of mischief, he visited some of the settlers and announced that they had now changed masters, and would soon know what it was to be in the hands of a tyrant ; that their dues would be exacted with vigor and forthwith, or they would be stripped of their property and turned off destitute from their homes. This announcement, coming from one of supposed knowledge of such affairs, created consternation throughout the settlement, and when they were shortly after visited by Mr. Joseph Rosseel, agent of the new purchaser, the excitement was intense. He soon succeeded in restoring confidence, which was firmly established on the arrival of Mr. Parish, who visited every family and assured them that they might depend upon any indulgence that might be reasonably asked. The sincerity of this promise they never had reason to distrust.

In 1808 a party of militia under Captain Timothy Tamblin was stationed near the intersection of the two great roads leading into St. Lawrence County, a mile north of Antwerp village, to prevent smuggling under the embargo law. During the War of 1812 a company of regular troops was stationed

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near the same place, and also for the purpose of preventing smuggling into the country from Canada. Much ingenuity was exercised in evading the vigilance of sentinels, and sometimes with great success.

At a special town meeting held July 2, 1812, to take measures considered necessary in consequence of the war, it was " Resolved, That Samuel Ran- dall, town clerk, shall be made moderator. Resolved, That there be built a fort 36 by 20, the lower story, and upper 40 by 22, for the security of the inhabitants of said town. Resolved, That it be set north of Indian River 30 rods, in front of Sylvius Hoard's house." John Howe, Silas Ward, and Oliver Hoard were appointed a building committee; 50 cents were to be allowed for a day's work, to be paid by tax. July 17 another special meeting was held for the purpose of devising " a proper method for our defense, through a tragedy of war which is now beginning action be- tween the United States and Great Britain," and according to law notice was given to the inhabitants for the said meeting, to be held at the house of Francis McAllaster, inn-keeper. A similar series of resolutions were passed, with the additional clause requiring the laborers on the fort to work for 50 cents a day and board themselves.

In the spring of 1867 a large part of the business portion of the village was destroyed by fire, a circumstance which resulted in greatly improving the appearance of the place, as the buildings, which had been only an inferior class of wood structures, were replaced with brick and stone blocks of good style.

On February 3, 1889, the village was again visited by a disastrous confla- gration, which destroyed the business portion of the town, leaving only two buildings which could be used for offices and stores. About II o'clock Sunday night, the thermometer registering 22 degrees below zero, fire was discovered in the basement of Fred Spears's drug store, and before the flames could be got under control over $50,000 worth of property had been destroyed. The village had no facilities for fighting fire, as it owned neither engine nor hose. The tannery in the village was run by an engine which had a force pump attached. There was also about 200 feet of hose belong- ing to the tannery which could be used, and this was brought into play, but it was not sufficient to reach all the burning buildings. About two hours after the fire started word was telephoned to Watertown for help. An engine and hose-cart were loaded on a special train and immediately dispatched, arriving at the scene about 3:30 a. m. By the breaking of a cog-wheel the engine was rendered useless a few minutes after starting. The hose brought by the Watertown firemen proved to be a valuable acquisition, for by attach- ing it to the tannery pump the burning property was reached and several buildings saved that otherwise would have burned. When the fire was dis- covered in the basement of Spears's drug store it had made such progress that nothing could be done to save either the store or the Antwerp bank. From these two buildings the flames communicated to Fuller's restaurant,

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E. B. Perley's drug store, and Miss A. Beaman's dry and fancy goods store in quick succession. As the fire devoured the latter place the wind changed and drove the flames back along their course, which had so far been through wooden structures, to the brick block in which John Burtis kept a restaurant. William Bentley's dry goods store followed ; then J. Winkler's boot and shoe store, the Antwerp Gazette office, W. S. Smith's grocery, and C. B. Hall's undertaking rooms.

Over the stores were the offices of Dr. Abell, Dr. Wood, George H. Lathan, dentist, and that of Attorney J. C. Trolan. Mr. Burtis made his home over the restaurant, and Mrs. Johnson had a dressmaking establishment on the second floor. The office of Dr. W. L. Hartman was situated in the block. John C. Trolan's valuable law library was completely destroyed, and the medical works, comprising libraries of the physicians who were located in the building, were burned. The Masonic hall, W. R. Smith's block and stock of groceries, Miss Pauline McIntosh's stock of millinery, Hall Broth- ers' stock of furniture, and the goods in the store of the Jefferson Iron Com- pany were more or less damaged by water and smoke and haste in removal. The total insurance on the property destroyed was about $31,500. The young lady who telephoned the Watertown office for help stuck to the tele- phone until her face was scorched by the heat, but she got her message through and received an answer before she left her post.

At this writing (October, 1889) these buildings are all replaced with nearly completed and much better stone and brick buildings than those destroyed. In addition to those there is also in process of construction a brick block 93 by 65 feet. It is located on the corner of Main and Van Buren streets, and contains four stores and a large public hall. It is the property of Fred Y. Spears, Charles L. Dillenbeck, George and Daniel Alton, and William T. Bentley, and is known as the Opera House block .* The new block by E. B. Perley and Cassius Marsh is of brick, ornamented with Gouverneur marble and Potsdam sandstone. It is in three stories, and will contain the Perley drug store and the Marsh shoe store, the Odd Fellows hall, the office of Dr. I. H. Abell, and the dental office of G. H. Lathan.

In 1880 the board of town officers, then consisting of H. H. Bent, super- visor ; John F. Cook, William N. Johnson, M. M. Gillett, and Daniel W. Sprague, justices of the peace ; and James W. Van Slyke, town clerk, de cided to build a stone bridge across Indian River on Main street, and appropriated $6,000 for that purpose. The bridge was built by Howard Sterling, who was then highway commissioner of the town of Antwerp. It is a massive double arch of heavy blocks of limestone laid in Rosendale cement.

Martin L. Willard, the postmaster at Antwerp, possesses an interesting old document. It is the commission of an ancestor as captain in the colonial troops of King George II., and is highly prized by the family. It reads :-

* On February 14, 1890, this opera house was formally opened by a grand ball.

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TOWN OF ANTWERP.

PROVINCE OF THE WILLIAM SHIRLEY Efq. Captain-General and GOVERNOUR in MASSACHUSETTS-BAY, Chief, in and over His MAJESTY's Province of the Maffachufetts-Bay in New England, &c.

To JOSEPH WILLARD, Gent., Greeting.

BY virtue of the Power and Authority, in and by His Majefty's Royal Commiffion to me granted, to be Captain-General, &c. over this His Majesty's Province of the Maffachufetts Bay, aforefaid; I do (by thefe Prefents) repofing efpecial Truft and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct, conftitute and appoint Yon the faid Joseph Willard to be Captain of the Foot Company in Grafton in the Third Regiment of Militia in the County of Worcetter and Middlefex, whereof Nahnm Ward, Efq., is Colonel.

You are therefore carefully and diligently to difcharge the Duty of a Captain in leading, ordering and exercifing faid Company in Arms, both inferiour Officers and Soldiers, and to keep them in good Order and Discipline; hereby commanding them to obey you as their Cap- tain and your felf to obferve and follow snch Orders and Inftructions, as you fhall from time to time receive from Me, or the Commander in Chief for the Time being, or other your fnpe- rior Officers for His Majefty's Service, according to military Rules and Difcipline, purfuant to the Truft repofed in you.

Given under My Hand & Seal at Arms, at Grafton, the Thirteenth Day of September, In the Seventeenth Year of the Reign of His Majesty King GEORGE the Second, Annoq; Domini, 1742.

By Ifis Excellency's

Command, G. WILLARD, Sec'y.

W. SHIRLEY.

Major Simon Willard was born in the parish of Horsmonden, Kent, Eng- land, in 1605. He embarked from England in April, 1634, and arrived in Boston about the middle of the month, or May. He first established himself in Cambridge, Mass., where were born eight daughters and nine sons. Capt. Benjamin Willard, the eighth son of Major Simon, was the ancestor of Post- master Willard, whose granddaughter is in the tenth generation in direct descent of the family in the United States. The record is as follows : Maj. Simon Willard, born in England, 1605; Capt. Benjamin Willard, born in Lancaster, Mass., 1665; Maj. Joseph Willard, born in Sudbury, Mass., 1693 ; Lieut. Isaac Willard, born in Grafton, Mass., 1716 ; Solomon Willard, born in Worcester, Mass., 1750; Solomon Willard, born in Sterling, Mass., 1784; Otis Willard, born in Rutland, N. Y., 1807 ; Martin L. Willard, born in Antwerp in 1842 ; Charles O. Willard, born in Rives, Mich., 1869; infant daughter of Charles O. Willard, born in Antwerp, March 15, 1889.

CHURCHES.

St. Paul's Church (Protestant Episcopal), located on Mechanic street, in Antwerp village, was organized in 1866, by Rev. J. Winslow, who was the first rector. Their house of worship, the present wooden structure, was built in 1871-72, at a cost of $5,500, will comfortably seat 200 persons, and is valued, including grounds and other church property, at $6,800. The church now has 35 communicants, and at this writing (February, 1890) is without a rector, the Rev. William Bours Clark, until recently in charge, having resigned to accept a call to Cortland, N. Y. The Sunday-school has a membership of 45 scholars and six teachers.

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TOWN OF ANTWERP.

The Congregational Church of Antwerp, located in Antwerp village, was organized in 1819, by Rev. Isaac Clinton, then principal of the academy at Lowville. The first house of worship was built of wood in 1833. The pres- ent structure, which is one of the finest church buildings in this section of the state, was built of stone in 1876, at a cost of $20,000. It will comfort- ably seat 400 persons, and is now valued, including grounds and other prop- erty, at $21,000. The present number of members is 188, under the pas- toral charge of Rev. C. M. Westlake. The Sunday school has a member- ship of 120, and an average attendance of 90 scholars and teachers.

The Methodist Episcopal Church, located in Antwerp village, was organ- ized in July, 1863, by Rev. Darius Simons, the first pastor, with about 20 members. The first house of worship, a brick structure, was dedicated Feb- ruary 1, 1872, and was destroyed by fire January 5, 1877. The present building, also of brick, was dedicated December 4, 1877. It has a seating capacity for 375 persons, cost $12,000, and is now valued, including grounds, at $8,000. The present membership is 100, and Rev. Charles W. Brooks is their pastor. The Sunday-school has a membership of about 100.

The Ox Bow Presbyterian Church, located at Ox Bow village, was organ- ized May 15, 1820, with Abraham Cooper, Abraham Lewis, Reuben Streeter, James Ormiston, James Douglass, Oren Matthews, Percival Hawley, and Abner Benton, trustees. At its organization it had about 40 members, and Rev. James Sanford was installed pastor September 5, 1820. The people worshiped in a brick school-house, on the lot where the present church now stands, until 1839, when the present building was erected, of stone, 40 by 50 feet, and originally cost about $2,200. In 1861 it was enlarged and remod- elled, 25 feet being added to the length, the whole costing about $3,000. It has a seating capacity of about 400, and is valued, including grounds and other property, at about $5,000. The church is now without a pastor, and the present membership is 124.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Ox Bow was organized in 1872, by Rev. Samuel Clark, the first pastor, with 12 members. The house of worship was formerly an old store, and was remodelled into a church in 1873. It is of stone, will comfortably seat 200 persons, and cost $4, 100. Tlie pres- ent value of the church property, including buildings and grounds, is $6,000. The church now has 60 members, and Rev. W. Merrifield is pastor.

The Roman Catholic Church .- The Roman Catholic form of worship was commenced in Antwerp in March, 1849, at which time that denomination purchased of Mr. Parish the brick church which he had built in 1816 for the use of the town. The building, which had cost nearly $10,000, was sold to them for $600.

A Baptist Society was organized in Antwerp in 1824, and continued to worship here until 1865. Their house of worship was afterwards occupied by the Methodist Protestant Society of Antwerp.

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WILLIAM MC ALLASTER.

William McAllaster was born in Antrim, N. H., March 6, 1792. His father, Richard McAllaster, was an Irishman; his mother, Susan, Scotch. They were highly respected in the community, and until William was 13 years of age in easy circumstances. Then misfortune came and swept away the results of years of industry and frugality. The times were hard and the exigencies of the case demanded vigorous action on the part of Richard, and one of the measures he took to relieve himself and family from the pressure of want was to bind William under the apprentice laws, then existing in that state, to a neighboring farmer for a term of years. At the age of 18, finding himself at liberty and on the world, with only a small amount of money in his pocket, William packed his scanty wardrobe in a bundle, and taking it upon his back set out upon a long march through the wilderness, hardly knowing whither he was going, but carrying in his breast a stout heart and in his vigorous frame the health and strength requisite to a successful encoun- ter with fate however obstinate she might prove. Of the length of time con- sumed or the hardships and privations endured upon this journey we can say nothing ; but we know that upon reaching Antwerp he found little or nothing to do, and so continued his journey to Ogdensburg. Here he obtained employ- ment of Mr. Ford, the builder of the State road, one season. Returning to New Hampshire he came again to Antwerp, bringing with him his parents and one brother and five sisters. The journey was performed with a yoke of cattle and a two-wheeled cart. On arriving at Antwerp village Richard immediately set about the erection of a house on a site now within the limits of Hoyt street, just in the rear of the new Congregational Church. Richard and Susan died in 1813, their graves being among the first dug in the old burying-ground on the hill. In the meantime William was laboring hard at small wages on the turnpike, which was then being built from Antwerp village to the Ox Bow. Subsequently he was elected constable and collector. As collector he com- pelled Parish to pay his taxes in Antwerp instead of Albany, somewhat against the gentleman's inclination, but William's energy and promptness in the mat- ter pleased the wealthy land-owner and he subsequently made the young man his agent. In 1828 he married Nancy Stowell, a lady who came to Antwerp in 1809 from New Hampshire, and who was born January 6, 1804. Of this marriage were born four children, William P., George D., Oliver R., and Major. Of these only George D. is now living. Major died while young, and William P. and Oliver while engaged in the service of the United States in the war of 1861-65. The Grand Army Post at Antwerp bears the name of Oliver. Hon. George D. McAllaster has served one term in the legislature, and has been several times supervisor of his town.

William McAllaster continued as Parish's agent until his land was all sold and he ceased to do business in the town. For many years he managed the- whole of that gentleman's business in this section with satisfaction to his em-

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ployer. In 1828 he purchased 550 acres of Parish, and this he kept until his death. He was elected to the Assembly in 1840, and for one year was supervisor of his town. During the latter part of his life he dealt in real estate and personal property. He died May 5, 1870.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

John R. Sterling, son of Daniel, was born in Connecticut, May 20, 1802, and when five years of age came with his parents to Antwerp and located at Sterling Corners, corner of roads -31 and 41. The land upon which Daniel Sterling settled has ever since been owned by some member of the family. John R. Sterling married Roxana S., daughter of Ezra Church, Janu- ary 27. 1828, and they had children as follows: Howard. Bradford, James L., Jennie S., Ella T, and Julia A. Bradford Sterling is a farmer, owns the old homestead, and is as happy as a bachelor can be. Frances E. died at the age of nine years. Mr. Sterling died May 2, 1867. His wife survives at the age of 79 years and resides with her son Bradford. Jennie S. and Ella T. also reside on the homestead. This family are descendants of Governor Bradford of colonial fame.

Watson T. Seaver was born in Moretown, Vt., in 1802, and in 1818 came with his parents to Antwerp. December 26, 1822. he married Almira, daughter of Thomas Wait, formerly of Waitsfield, Vt., and they have had seven children, four of whom survive, namely: Luana, Freeman W., John W., and Maria N. Luana married, first, Seott S. Clark, by whom she had a daughter, and second, John M. Eggleston, by whom she had a son, Richmond H. Ahnira Seaver, widow of Watson T., is living with her son John W., aged 83 years. Maria N. married Vietor Kitts. Lovina A. Keith has lived with her grandmother, Mrs. W. T. Seaver, since she was four years of age.

Oliver Webster, a native of Vermont, married Sally, daughter of Abel and Lovis Phelps, and about 1812 they came by wagon to the town of Pinekney, Lewis County. They were on the road 17 days, and it rained every day of their journey but two. A part of the way they followed the army on its march to Saekets Harbor. They remained in Lewis County five or six years, when they settled in Antwerp and took up 170 aeres in the northern part of the town, and built a log honse. Mr. Webster died here in 1822, aged 43 years, leaving a widow and six children. Their daughter Polly died a few days after her father. Sally married Na- thaniel Redfield and resides in Lisbon, Ill. Gardner occupied the homestead with his mother until a few years before his death. He married Miranda Wood, by whom he had eight chil- dren, five of whom reside in this town. He died in Ox Bow village. Eli married Ann Barstow and removed to Illinois. He is now living with his second wife in Eagle Grove, Iowa, and has three children. Lois married Dan Forward, of Le Ray, and they had two children, Byron and Ennitia. Lucy, born December 27. 1821. married Charles, son of Philemon and Lovina (Hunt) Wieks, who was born December 27, 1821. March 9, 1846, Mr. and Mrs. Wicks located on the old homestead where his grandfather. Benjamin, and father were the first settlers. He died in Champion village, August 4. 1865, leaving two daughters, viz .: Emma L. (Mrs. Amos J. Colvin) and Ada D. (Mrs. W. V. Graves), both of Champion. For her second husband Mrs. Wieks married Nelson Brooks. April 22, 1869, who died January 18, 1875. His widow now lives in Champion village. Sally Webster, widow of Oliver, ched June 1, 1871, aged 91 years.

Joseph and Isaac Hinsdale, brothers, came from England to America as early as 1724. Ira Hinsdale, a descendant of one of the brothers, and grandfather of Ira C., was born in Pompey, N. Y. George, son of Ira, and father of Ira C., was born in Antwerp, November 11, 1819. He married Harriet A. Hamlin, of Ox Bow village, and they had three children, namely: Ira C., Florence L., and George J. Ira C. was born in Antwerp. December 26, 1844. When he was 13 years of age his father died, and his early life was occupied with work upon the farm summers and attendance at the district school winters. September 4, 1862, he enlisted in the Union army and was discharged as second lieutenant at the close of the war. February 15, 1870, he married Margaret F. Seymour, of Antwerp, and they have a sou, Roy S. Mr. Hinsdale is a successful general merchant at Antwerp village. He was formerly located at Ox Bow. His sister Florence H. married Alexander B. Clark, of Ox Bow village.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 37

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