Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 53

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 53

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 P. Babcock, son of Jeremiah, married Rackey L. Lewis, by whom he had five children, four of whom are living, viz .: W. A., in this town on a part of the old homestead; Esther (Mrs. E. Greenfield), with her mother; Lysander W., in West Carthage; and Elizur, in Watertown. Mr. Babcock died in 1877. His widow survives and occupies the homestead.

Dennis Flander, Jr., from Montgomery County, N. Y., located at Pamelia Four Corners as a farmer. He married Charity Doxstater, and they had four sons and one daughter, of whom three sons survive, namely: Wilham, who resides in Boylston, Oswego County; Jere- mialı A., of Ellisburgh; and Reuben W. The latter was born in Pamelia, November 2, 1841. August 20, 1861, he enlisted in Co. I, 186th Regt. N. Y. Vols., and was discharged July 19, 1865, by reason of the loss of the left arm while on picket duty at Petersburg, Va. He was in the engagement at Hatcher's Run, and also at Petersburg. He married Sarah A., daughter of Peter Clintsman, of Wilna, and they have had 11 children. five of whom are now living.

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TOWN OF CHAMPION.

namely: Nettie, Nellie, Charles H., Fred L., and Harry R. Mr. Flander occupies the O. W. Wilmot farm, on road 39, in this town.

Philip Beyer came from Baden, Germany, in 1852, to Croghan, N. Y. He married Louisa Scherer, and they had five sons and five daughters. Charles A. Beyer, the eldest of the sons, stayed at home until he attained the age of 16 years, when, in 1876, he removed to Carthage and worked for his board for L. F. Bachman while he attended school. After two terms at school he engaged as clerk in Mr. Bachman's drug and grocery store, where he eontinned until 1883, when he entered into copartnership with George E. Hull, M. D., at West Carthage, in the drug and grocery trade. In 1884 Dr. Hull's health failed and he sold his interest to Mr. Beyer, who continues the business in a new block which he erected in 1885, corner of Bridge and Main streets, in West Carthage. June 1, 1884, Mr. Beyer married Almeda Perry.

Alfred Freeman, from Vermont, located in Wilna about 1808, on the farm now owned by Gny Penniman, where he built what was known as the "checkered house." He had six sons and five daughters, of whom Charles M., who resides in Montana, is the only one living. Erastus B. Freeman married Abi, daughter of John Strickland, Jr., and settled in the northern part of the town, on the farm now owned by J. H. Dawley. After 14 years' residence here he removed to Great Bend, where he died. He had eight children, all of whom attained ma- turity and married, and six are now living, namely: Amelia (Mrs. Sylvester Loomis), of Cham- pion: Helen (Mrs. Clark Loomis), also of Champion; Almira C. (Mrs. Charles Roberts), of Felt's Mills; Martha A. (Mrs. T. B. Phelps), of Lowville; and Joli E. and George E., of Great Bend.

James Glazier, Jr., son of James and Lovisa (Hubbard) Glazier, was born in Lowville, N. Y., September 27, 1844. When 18 years of age he enlisted in Co. M, 5th N. Y. H. A., and served three years. He was taken sick the second year of his service, and was in the hospital in Baltimore six months, when he returned to his regiment. During six months of his service he was on detached duty in Frederick City, Mo. His health was ruined in the service of his country, and for the past year he has been confined to his house. He married Margaret Rabb while home on a furlough, and they have one daughter, Emily (Mrs. William Austin).

Prosper L. Eaton was born in Canada, February 1. 1836. When 20 years of age he removed to Illinois, where he resided two years, when he returned to Canada. In 1864 he engaged in the sash and door business in Gouverneur, N. Y., where he remained until 1882, when he located in West Carthage and engaged in the same business, which he now continues in com- pany with his son Charles E. He married Josephine A. Read, and they have four children, Charles E., George L., Amy, and William, all of whom reside in West Carthage.

John Failing, Jr., was born in St. Johnsville, N. Y., and in 1835 removed with his parents to Pamelia, and located on the farm now owned by Mr. Flander. He had eight children who attained maturity, of whom Reuben and Menzo died at home; Benjamin lives in Clayton; Eliz- abeth (Mrs. Thomas Mowerson), in Iowa; Nancy (Mrs. John S. Dillenbeck) and James in Le Ray; Kate (Mrs. L. J. Jennings), in Antwerp; and Isaialı. in West Carthage village. Isaiah Failing was born in 1822. In 1849 he married Julia A., daughter of Enoch Swartout, of Pa- melia, and resided with his father until 1856, when he removed to the town of Le Ray, locat- ing near Evans Mills, where he carried on farming for 27 years. He reared four children. namely: Della J., who died at the age of 20 years; Elwood R., who lives in Sherburne, N. Y .; Eunice E. (Mrs. II. E. Van Brocklin), who lives with her father; and Frank A., who resides in West Carthage, and is engaged in business in Carthage village. Mr. Failing located in West Carthage in 1884.

Russell P. Lovejoy, son of David L., was born in Chatham, N. Y., in 1838. August 18, 1862, lie enlisted in Co. I, 5th N. Y. H. A., and was discharged July 3, 1865. In 1887 he located in West Carthage, where he now resides. He is a blacksmith by trade, but his health not per- mitting such heavy labor he has turned his attention to invention, in which he has been quite snecessful. He has invented the " Lovejoy rope fire escape," and also a horse-power potato sprinkler. He is now working on other inventions which he hopes will be snecessful.

Jacob Kring removed from Montgomery County to Alexandria in 1836, and took up a farm. the most of which was then forest land. He married Mary Ann Ecker, of Montgomery County, and their children now living in Jefferson County are Alice (Mrs. Orvis Hardy), Elizabeth (Mrs. S. B. Miller), Nancy (Mrs. Clark Patterson), and Alonzo. Alonzo Kring was born in 1833. He married, first, Mary Sprague, daughter of Benjamin, and located in Redwood, in

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TOWN OF CLAYTON.

the town of Alexandria. He had born to him a daughter, Minnie, who resides at home. In 1870 he located in Carthage, where his wife died in 1872, and in 1874 he married Alzina L., daughter of Abel Bigelow, of Redwood. In 1887 he removed to Champion village, where he now resides.

O. C. Ferguson, son of Franklin, was born in Clayton, August 22, 1846. October 14, 1861, he enlisted in Co. D, 94th Regt. N. Y. Vols., and served in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock, Rapidan, and second Bull Run. He was wounded in the last named battle, and was taken prisoner, and in 1862 was discharged from the hospital at Alexandria. In July, 1863, he reënlisted in Co. E, 20th Regt. N. Y. Cav., and was discharged in August, 1865. He married Catharine Hogan, and they have three children and reside at Great Bend.

CLAYTON.

C LAYTON was formed from Orleans and Lyme, April 27, 1833, and was named in honor of Hon. John M. Clayton, United States Senator from Delaware. It embraces two-fifths of Penet's Square, a gore west and another north of that tract, and Grindstone and several smaller islands in the St. Lawrence. The surface of the town is level or slightly roll- ing. The principal streams are Chaumont River, which takes a southwest- erly course through the town a little south of its central part, and French Creek, which takes a northeasterly and northerly course through the north- western part, emptying into the St. Lawrence River. The town is bounded on the north by the St. Lawrence River, on the east by Orleans, on the south by Brownville, and on the southwest by Cape Vincent and Lyme. Among the smaller islands lying within the limits of this town, and occupied as sum- mer homes, are Governor's* and Calumet* islands, opposite Clayton village, Round Island, upon which is located the Frontenac Hotel, one of the finest hotels in this famous region, Washington Island, Little Round Island, and Bluff, Robbins, Hemlock, and Maple islands. The latter has recently been purchased by Messrs. Charles H. Pierce and W. Allen Butler, of Syracuse, who contemplate the erection of an elegant park here. The topography of the island and its location are favorable for such an enterprise. Jefferies and Grennell islands, constituting Grennell Island Park, are also in this town.

At the first town meeting held at the house of Isaac L. Carter, June 4, 1833, the following town officers were elected : Hubbell Fox, supervisor ; B. F. Faxton, clerk ; Gurdon Caswell and Stephen Martin, justices of the peace ; Jesse Noyes, Abram Burdick, Bariah Carpenter, Jr., assessors ; Caleb Closson and James Barney, overseers of the poor ; Samuel P. Payne, Lloyd B. Farrar (or Traver?), Elkanah Corbin, commissioners of highways; Alfred

* Governor's and Calumet islands were once known respectively as Shot-bag and Powder- horn is lands.

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TOWN OF CLAYTON.

Fox, John Consaul, Jr., and Joseph Mason, commissioners of schools ; Josiah Farrar, David Baker, and B. F. Faxton, inspectors of common schools ; Erastus Warner, collector ; Erastus Monroe, T. Haskell, Sydney Spencer, and Eldridge G. Tilton, constables.

In 1880 Clayton had a population of 4,214. The town is located in the third school district of Jefferson County, and in 1888 had 25 school districts, in which 33 teachers were employed 28 weeks or more. The whole number of scholars attending school was 1,063, while the aggregate -days attendance during the year was 96,909. The total value of the school buildings and sites was $21,295, and the assessed valuation of all the dis- tricts was $1, 141,563. The whole amount raised for school purposes was $7,704.21, $3,669.12 of which was received by local tax. Charles E. Whit- ney was school commissioner. The town has an area of 49,244 acres.

CLAYTON (p. o.) village was incorporated April 17, 1872, by a vote of the citizens, as provided in an act passed by the state legislature, April 20, 1870. . The vote stood 140 for and 51 against, the assumption of corporate honors. The first election for village officers was held at the Walton House, May 8, 1872, at which the following were elected : Elijah McCarn, president ; S. G. Johnston, William Hawes, and S. D. Johnston, trustees ; Stephen Hill, treasurer ; Charles M. Marshall, collector ; and C H. Ross was appointed clerk. The village is situated on the St. Lawrence River, at the mouth of French Creek, and was the scene of a brief conflict during the War of 1812. The advance of General Wilkinson's army, under command of General Brown, reached French Creek on the afternoon of November 1, 1813, where it was attacked by a British force of two sloops, two schooners, and a strong infantry force in boats. Captain McPherson, with a battery of three 18- pounder guns, took position on Bartlett's Point, now Prospect Park, and re- turned the fire of the enemy, who were repulsed, but renewed the attack in the morning, when they were again defeated and forced to abandon their purpose. Three Americans were killed and two wounded, while the loss of the British was never fully known, although it was afterwards ascertained to have been very severe. The safety of the Americans lay in the fact that the British vessels, with their heavy 32-pounders, fired too high, and thus overshot their foes. Some of their shots have been plowed up on what is known as the Kline farm, now within the corporate limits of the village.

The village was in 1823 named Cornelia. In 1831 the name was changed to Clayton, which it has since retained. It was at one time very generally known as French Creek. In the primitive patent of Penet the creek and bay is named Weteringhra Guentere.

The village is a terminal station on the Utica & Black River division of the R., W. & O. Railroad, and is a popular stopping-place for visitors to the Thousand Islands, who pronounce a summer stay at Clayton the height of enjoyment and repose. Here within sight are many of the beautiful isles forming that most wondrous of all archipelagoes-The Thousand Islands.

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TOWN OF CLAYTON.

The village was surveyed by Clark W. Candee, in 1824, and resurveyed in 1833 by Oliver Child. It now contains five churches, one of the best graded schools in Jefferson County, two prosperous banks, several fine hotels, nu- merous manufacturing institutions, a weekly newspaper, telegraph, telephone, and express offices, electric light plant, and a population of about 1,800.

E. G. Merick in his day probably carried on the most extensive business of any man who has ever lived in Clayton. He and his associates since 1828 conducted a very large business here in rafting, lumbering, ship building, and merchandising. Mr. Merick came to Clayton soon after the village be- gan to develop, and remained until about 1860, when he went to Detroit, where he died.

DEPAUVILLE, named in honor of Francis Depau, an early settler here, is situated on Chaumont River, at the head of boat navigation, six miles from Chaumont Bay. The place was once known as "Catfish Falls," and above the falls the river was known as " Catfish Creek." It has a telephone and express from Chaumont, two churches (Methodist Episcopal and Freewill Baptist), an hotel, grist-mill, saw-mill, several stores and shops, and a popu- lation of about 300. The first improvement here was made by Simon and Jared White, who came on as trespassers to get out lumber ; but, being warned off by the agent, left a quantity of hewn lumber and removed to Three Mile Point, on Chaumont Bay, from which place they started, in May, 1817, for the West in an open boat. The party consisted of the brothers, their mother, wives, and children,-eleven in all,-and had arrived in Houns- field, a mile or two beyond Sackets Harbor, where they put up for the night. After leaving this place they were never seen alive. Their boat was found robbed of household goods, several hundred dollars which the men had was gone, and their bodies exhibited unmistakable marks of violence. The chil- dren were found drowned, but the bodies of the women were never found. The first house in this village was erected in 1818 by John Smith. The first store was kept by Peter B. Beadle, agent or clerk for Stephen Johnson. The first mills were built in 1824 ; the first tavern was kept by one Winthrop in 1820, in which year, and in the same building, was also taught the first school. The first church edifice was built about 1825, by the Episcopal Methodists.

CLAYTON CENTER is a hamlet situated a little northeast of the central part of the town. A postoffice was once established here, but has been discon- tinued.

CORBIN'S CORNERS is the local name for a settlement about a mile north- west from Depauville.

THURSO (p. o.) is on the north side of Grindstone Island, near which are located extensive granite quarries.

Bank of Clayton .- The first bank in this town was organized as a private institution in the fall of 1876, by A. F. Barker and R. P. Grant, under the title of Bank of Clayton. A. F. Barker was president and Mr. Grant was

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TOWN OF CLAYTON.

cashier. The bank was so continued until the fall of 1882, when it was re- organized as a state bank, under the same title, with a capital of $26,000, and remained so until July, 1884, when Mr. Grant and others purchased Mr. Barker's interest, and it was soon after merged into the Exchange Bank.

The Exchange Bank of Clayton was organized in 1884, under the state law, with an authorized capital stock of $100,000, and a paid up stock of $40,000. The present officers of the institution are those elected at its organization, and are as follows: John Johnston, president ; Jacob Putnam, vice-president; and R. P. Grant, cashier. The directors are, in addition to the officers of the bank, Lucien J. Strough, William H. Lingenfelter, Alfred D. Lowe, George H. Mckinley, John Faley, and William D. Clark. The Bank of Clayton was merged in the Exchange Bank soon after the organi- zation of the latter, and the business of the old organization was discon- tinued. The Exchange Bank is one of the prominent financial institutions of the northern part of Jefferson County, and its officers and directors are men of recognized business ability, experience, and integrity. The office of the bank is pleasantly located on Water street, commanding a fine view of the famous St. Lawrence River. According to the quarterly report, dated September 7, 1889, the surplus of the bank was $10,000.

The Citizens Bank of Clayton was started in December, 1884, by A. F. Barker, as a private bank, with William Rees, president ; A. F. Barker, cashier ; and O. L. House, assistant cashier. The bank was thus continued until October 4, 1887, when it was reorganized as the

First National Bank of Clayton, with a paid up capital of $50,000. The officers were originally and are now as follows: A. F. Barker, president ; William Rees, vice-president ; H. W. Morse, cashier ; A. A. Warner, assist- ant cashier. The directors are A. F. Barker, William Rees, George H. Strough, Charles A. Ellis, Frank L. Hall, James J. Belden, R. B. Biddlecome, and W. F. Ford. The surplus is now $9,000.

The Security Building, Loan, and Savings Association, of Clayton, was in- corporated in 1889, under the building and loan association laws of the state of New York, with a capital stock of $1,000,000 with shares at $100 each. The officers are Hon. James Johnson, president ; Thomas E. Walt, vice- president ; A. E. Wood, secretary ; William D. Clark, treasurer ; Charles E. Hocknel, manager.

Thousand Island Electric Light and Power Company was organized in 1887 and reorganized in 1888. The new company went into effect January 1, 1889. The plant is at Strough & Brooks's mill. Twenty-eight arc lights and 100 incandescent lights are now in use. The capital stock of the com- pany is $15,000. C. A. Ellis is president ; C. E. Rees, secretary ; and Sey- mour B. Barker, treasurer.

St. Lawrence River Skiff, Canoe, and Steam Launch Co., successors to A. Bain & Co., is located in Clayton village, where an extensive business is done in the manufacture of all kinds of small water craft. A specialty is 24*

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TOWN OF CLAYTON.

made of skiffs, canoes, and steam launches. The fame of the St. Lawrence River skiffs is known, not only throughout the United States and Canada, but also in England, Australia, and other foreign countries. The boat building industry in Clayton was begun in a desultory way about 20 years ago by Xaviar Colon. His means were limited, and his appliances for skillful and economi- cal work were crude, yet his genius was in the right direction, and led to splendid results. As the island population increased the demand for boats grew rapidly, until finally several men were employed in their manufacture. Finally Dr. A. Bain conceived the idea of uniting the entire boat building business under one head. In 1873 the first shop was built for Xaviar Colon, and the business was prosecuted with much vigor. In 1887 the present com- pany was formed under the firm name of A. Bain & Co., backed by capital in the hands of wealthy citizens of New York city, which was followed by the erection of the present extensive factory, 50 by 100 feet in size, three stories high, with a basement, and an extensive garret, or dormer story. One year after the formation of the company the present comprehensive name was given to it, and the manufacture of steam launches, canoes, and other special forms of boats was undertaken. The business is still under the management of A. Bain, and Mr. Colon, who laid the foundation of the business in 1870, is still with the firm.

The Jefferson County fish hatchery, formerly known as the St. Lawrence fish hatchery, and owned by M. B. Hill, was established in 1881, and is located at Prospect Heights, near the western part of the town, on road 50. It is now a state institution, in the jurisdiction of Superintendent Monroe A. Green. M. B. Hill is the local superintendent.

Clayton Furniture Manufacturing Company, on Theresa street, was or- ganized in the spring of 1889, with a capital stock of $12,000. The com- pany is at present engaged in the manufacture of chamber suits, the power being furnished by the Electric Light and Power Co. Frank L. Hall is presi- dent ; William H. Consaul, vice-president ; C. A. Shaver, secretary; and H. S. Barker, treasurer.

Gardiner M. Skinner, at Clayton, is engaged in the manufacture of troll- ing spoon bait, and his goods have acquired a national reputation for their sterling worth. Besides being attractive lures, they are uniformly made in such substantial manner as to win the confidence of the angler, and withstand the struggles and throes of greedy and powerful fish.

Strough & Brooks .- The business of retailing lumber in the village of Clayton was first entered into by Luther Eddy, who may be considered as the pioneer in that line. In April, 1880, he associated with him George H. Strough, a school teacher, who purchased the business for his son, Arthur B. Strough, having no intention of engaging in the business himself. During this copartnership the firm name was Eddy & Strough. The first year's busi- ness aggregated but little over $6,000. The third year it was over three times that amount. Mr. Strough, who had continued teaching up to this time,

TOWN OF CLAYTON.

then decided to give his whole attention to the lumber trade, and on Jan- uary 1, 1883, purchased Mr. Eddy's interest, and for the next four years his trade increased to over five times the amount done in 1880. January 1, 1887, wishing to add manufacturing facilities to his increasing business, Mr. Strough entered into partnership with Otis Brooks, a well-known and experienced lumberman and manufacturer, formerly a member of the firm of Roberts & Brooks, of Philadelphia. January 20, 1887, Strough & Brooks bought out the lumber and manufacturing business of the firm composed of J. B. Flynn and Myres Thompson, who occupied the extensive mill and factory at the corner of Mary and Theresa streets, where a rock projects out into the bay, forming a natural dockage, surrounded by water from six to 12 feet deep. Messrs. Strough & Brooks proceeded at once to inaugurate a system of im- provements which cost them thousands of dollars, but which added corres- pondingly to their facilities. Among the improvements have been the erec- tion of a store-house for dressed lumber, etc., a fine office building, in which is also a hardware and weighing room below and a large room on the second floor for priming and glazing purposes ; also docks, a coal-house, an engine- house in which the Electric Light and Power Company have an 80-horse- power boiler and a 60-horse-power engine which propels the machinery for Strough & Brooks. The factory is furnished with the latest improved ma- chinery for manufacturing sash, doors, and blinds, wood turning, and for the manufacture of all kinds of joiner goods, furnishing employment to from 20 to 30 skilled workmen. The transactions of Strough & Brooks during their first year were about $20,000 more than the aggregate of both concerns be- fore the purchase of the property of Flynn & Thompson. Arthur B. Strough is the efficient foreman of their factory, and John W. Williams is employed as architect and supervising foreman on all their job work outside. A large part of their contract work is in the erecting of buildings planned and drafted by hinı.

Syracuse Granite Company, incorporated, has a capital stock of $50,000. The quarries of the company are located on Grindstone Island, and the busi- ness office is in Syracuse. John H. Tolman is president, and William Van Auken, secretary.

The following relating to the ship building interests of Clayton is a revision of the sketch published in the History of Jefferson County ( 1878).

Ship building began at Clayton in 1832, by Smith & Merick, and has since been continued, sometimes giving employment to as many as 100 men. From two to four vessels have been built here annually, making a total of from 75 to 100, including most of the splendid steamers of the old Onta- rio and St. Lawrence Steamboat Company's lines. This business began here at about the time the burdensome tonnage duties upon the lakes, amounting almost to a prohibition, had been removed in part by Hon. Jo- seph Hawkins, of Henderson, who represented this district in Congress. From this time there existed no limit to the size of the vessels but that of the

372

UNITED STATES

The steamer United States, launched at Ogdensburg in November, 1831, at that time was the largest and most important American vessel navigating the St. Lawrence River and Lake On- tario. She was captured by the Patriots, at Ogdensburg, in 1838, and took an important part in the battle at Wind mill Point. The engraving is from a painting by Col. Jonah Woodruff.

TOWN OF CLAYTON.

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TOWN OF CLAYTON.

locks of the Welland Canal. The first vessels built here were the Jesse Smith and Horatio Gates, commenced by Captain Pickering and completed by George S. Weeks, for Smith & Merick, in 1830. G. S. Weeks continued building for the same firm, and built the steamer Black Hawk, and the schooners Franklin, Jefferson, Morgiana Willetts, Monroe, Gazelle, Madison, Lucinda, Cleopatra, Western, Chesapeake, Robert Wood, E. G. Merick, Sylph, and others, besides the steamer Swan. Mr. Weeks subsequently built vessels in Oswego, and later in Chicago.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 53

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