Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 59

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 59

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 first town meeting was held at the residence of Lyman Ellis, at which the following town officers were elected: Edward Boomer, supervisor ; Lyman Ellis, clerk ; Caleb Ellis and Amos B. Noyes, overseers of the poor ; Jere- miah Mason, Samuel Rhodes, and Benjamin Boomer, commssioners of high- ways; Matthew Boomer, constable and collector ; Abiah Jenkins, constable ; John Thomas, Christopher Edmonds, and Dyer McCumber, fence viewers ; C. Ellis, Jeremiah Mason, Timothy Harris, Benjamin Boomer, D. McCum- ber, Joseph Holley, overseers of highways.

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TOWN OF ELLISBURGH.

April 11, 1796, Marvel Ellis, of Troy, N. Y., contracted with William Con- stable for the purchase of this town, excepting a marshy tract each side of Sandy Creek, near the lake, which was afterwards included, and a tract of 3,000 acres in the southwest corner, sold to Brown & Eddy. The sum of $22, 111.50 was paid, and a deed given, March 22, 1797, upon which a mort- gage was given back upon the balance, amounting to $98,943.45. This mortgage embarrassed the early sales, and confidence was not restored until the property had reverted to the Constable estate, some years afterwards.

The greater part of the town was surveyed by Calvin Guiteau, in 1796, except the eastern part, which was surveyed by Nelson Doolittle, and the 3,000- acre tract in 1800, by Benjamin Wright, of Rome ; the latter, in 1808, sur- veyed the whole town.

The first school commissioners and inspectors for the town were elected at a special meeting held July 24, 1813, and were as follows: commissioners, Oliver Scott, Elijah Woodworth, and William Case ; inspectors, George An- drus, Lyman Ellis, and George Jenkins. Asa Averill was subsequently ap- pointed school commissioner in place of Oliver Scott, resigned. In 1813-14 the town was divided into 17 school districts, and public school buildings were first erected during those years. Previous to this school-houses were built and schools maintained by subscription.

The following account is taken from Spafford's Gazetteer of 1813 :---

"In 1810 there were four grist-mills, six saw-mills, two fulling-mills, one trip-hammer, a distillery, and a convenient number of common mechanics. There were six school-houses, which also served for worshiping assemblies. Ellis village, or Ellisburgh (?), contained a grist and a saw-mill, a fulling-mill, distillery, school-house, and about 14 or 15 houses and stores."

From the same author's Gazetteer of 1824 we quote :--

"In 1820 the taxable property was $242,465. There were 13,454 acres of improved land, 4,386 cattle, 682 horses, and 8,729 sheep. There were made in families 51,576 yards of cloth in 1821. There were in town five grist-mills, 14 saw-mills, one oil-mill, five fulling-mills, four carding machines, three trip-hammers, two distilleries, and 13 asheries. The school districts numbered 23, where were taught 1,039 children. The schools were kept eight of the 12 months."

In 1880 Ellisburgh had a population of 4,810. The town is located in the first school district of Jefferson County, and in 1888 had 31 school districts, five of which were joint, in which 34 teachers were employed 28 weeks or more. There were 939 scholars attending school, and the aggregate days attendance during the year was 85,067. The total value of school buildings and sites was $27,020, while the assessed valuation of all the districts was $2, 130,815. The whole amount raised for school purposes was $9,071.06, $5,175.33 of which was received by local tax. S. Whitford Maxson was school commissioner.

ELLISBURGH (p. o.) village is located on the south branch of Sandy Creek, about four miles from its mouth, and is the oldest village in the town. A postoffice was established here in 1806, and Lyman Ellis was the first post- master. Among the early industries here was a clothing works, by Joseph

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TOWN OF ELLISBURGH.

Bullock, Hiram Warren's tannery, Lyman Ellis's grist and saw-mill, above " Stone Mills," and a grist-mill owned by Andrew Scott and Thomas Davis, and located where the Hudson furniture factory now is. The village is 23 miles from Watertown, 163 from Albany, and 305 from New York city. It contains three or four general stores, two drug stores, a hardware store, whole- sale seed store, two hotels, two grist-mills, a saw-mill, sash, door, blind, and furniture manufactory, a number of shops, a cheese factory, telephone and American express offices, a daily stage to Pierrepont Manor, and a pop- ulation of about 400.

BELLEVILLE (p. o.) village is situated on the north branch of Sandy Creek, 20 miles from Watertown, and 175 miles from Albany. Settlements were commenced here by Metcalf Lee, Bradley Freeman, Joshua Freeman, Martin Barney, James, Benjamin, and Jedediah McCumber, and others who engaged in farming, about 1802. The place being favorably situated for mills it grad- ually grew to a village. Its name is said to have been suggested by Calvin Clark, an early merchant here, and taken from Belleville, Canada. It had first been known as Hall's Mills, from Giles Hall, who, in 1806, purchased of J. McCumber a hydraulic privilege here. The first merchant was Laban Brown, and John Hawn kept the first tavern. The Sackets Harbor and Ellis- burgh Railroad, completed in 1853, passed through this village and gave it a healthy impulse for a time. The road was discontinued in 1862. The first school was taught here in 1805, in a blacksmith shop, and in 1807 a log school-house was erected. This building was without floors, and its roof was made of elm bark. The Ellisburgh Agricultural Society's fair is held here. Belleville village was incorporated in 1860, and at an election held on May 29, of that year, the following officers were elected : De Alton Dwight, Al- cander Dickinson, Daniel Hall, Abner M. Durfee, Calvin Littlefield, trustees ; Arthur J. Brown, clerk ; William R. Pennell, Collins F. Armsbury, Henry F. Overton, assessors ; James E. Green, treasurer ; Cyrus N. Rowe, collector ; Patterson W. Stevens, poundmaster. At this election 52 votes were cast. Although Belleville is located principally on the north bank of the north branch of Big Sandy Creek, the corporation includes a considerable territory on the south side of the stream. The village now contains the Union Acad- emy, two grist and flouring-mills, a woolen-mill, a cheese factory, four gen- eral stores, one jewelry store, one millinery and fancy goods store, two cloth- ing stores, a hardware store, drug store, a dealer in agricultural implements, a furniture dealer, two wholesale seed dealers, two meat markets, two black- smith shops, a shoe shop, two dentists, two physicians, an hotel, and about 500 inhabitants.

PIERREPONT MANOR is a post village and station on the R., W. & O. Rail- road, and is located in the eastern part of the town, 19 miles from Water- town, 164 from Albany, and 306 from New York city. Stages run daily to Ellisburgh, Woodville, and Rural Hill villages. The first settlement was commenced here in 1805 by Joseph Allen, Pardon Earl, and Arnold Earl,

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who came in from Galway, N. Y., by way of Redfield to Adams, and thence worked their way through the forest to Bear Creek. William Tabor, William Case, and several others soon after settled here and engaged in farming. Mr. Allen opened the first inn, and Oliver Snow the first store. Mr. Allen also kept the first blacksmith shop. Pardon Earl became a local land agent and a man of extensive business, residing here until his death in 1844, aged 62 years. The first school-house here was built on the north side of Bear Creek, in 1811, and served the purpose of school-house, church, and place for public meetings. The first school teacher was Orson Tuller. Thomas E. Williamson was the first postmaster. The village now contains one hotel, two general stores, one millinery and fancy goods store, two blacksmith shops, harness shop, meat market, a fruit evaporating establishment, a livery stable, two churches (Episcopal and Union), about 60 dwellings, and 300 inhabi- tants. It has telegraph, telephone, and express offices.

MANNSVILLE (p. o.) is located in the southeastern part of the town, on Skinner Creek, 21 miles from Watertown, 161 from Albany, and 303 from New York city, and is a station on the R., W. & O. Railroad. David I. An- drus, as agent for Samuel Wardwell, of Rhode Island, was the first settler here previous to 1811. In 1822 Daniel Wardwell, son of Samuel, came on and took charge of the purchase made several years previously by his father, and in 1823 commenced the erection of a cotton factory, which stood a short distance below the present village, and was fitted for 600 spindles. Major H. B. Mann soon after purchased an interest in the factory, which was burned

February 16, 1827. Upon the establishment of a postoffice here the present name was given to the village in honor of Newton Mann, one of the early settlers. David I. Andrus erected the first saw-mill here, and after- wards the first dwelling, which was subsequently used as a tavern. The vil- lage now contains two general stores, two drug and grocery stores, a grocery, flour, and feed store, a grocery, bake stuffs and confectionery store, a hardware and agricultural implement store, a furniture and undertaking es- tablishment, three blacksmith shops, a millinery and fancy goods store, shoe shop, a cider and vinegar manufactory, grist-mill, saw-mill, tannery, two meat markets, an hotel, photograph gallery, a lawyer, three physicians, several churches, and about 500 inhabitants.

WOODVILLE (p. o.) village is located on the north branch of Sandy Creek, about three miles from its mouth, 22 miles from Watertown, 170 from Albany, and 312 from New York city. The settlement was begun here by Ebenezer, Ephraim, and Jacob Wood, sons of Rev. Nathaniel Wood, of Middletown, Vt., who came in to look for lands with Orimal Brewster, Simeon Titus, Ephraim Wood, Jr., and Hezekiah Leffingwell, in the fall of 1803. May 26, 1804, Ebenezer and Ephraim Wood purchased a tract of 754 acres, for which they paid $2,294.80, and, in March, Ephraim came in with a daughter and three sons. Nathaniel Wood, father of Ephraim, came on in June, 1804. Obediah Kingsbury, Oliver Scott, and others came the same year. A small

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saw. mill was built and in 1805 got in operation. In 1805 Ebenezer Wood, Nathaniel Wood, Jr., Mosely Wood, Samuel Truesdale, and families, and several young men, came in. Oliver Batcheller opened the first blacksmith shop in the village about 1810. The first store and the first hotel were kept by Ebenezer Wood, in his dwelling. The postoffice was established here be- tween 1820 and 1830. The village now contains one general store, an hotel, grist-mill, door, sash, and blind factory, wagon shop, blacksmith shop, paper- mill, saw-mill, cheese factory, a drug and grocery store, telegraph, telephone, and express offices, and about 100 inhabitants. J. F. Converse's Riverside stock farm is also located here.

RURAL HILL (p. o.) is a small hamlet in the northwestern part of the town. The postoffice was established here in 1849, and Philo Hungerford was appointed postmaster. The first settlement was commenced here in the spring of 1815 by Jedediah Hill. The locality was once known as " Buck Hill." Edwin Burnham opened a store here before the establishment of the postoffice, calling it " Rural Hill store," hence the present name. It has had at different times several stores and shops and a hotel, but at present has very little business.

WARDWELL is a settlement in the northeastern part of the town on the south branch of Sandy Creek, and was once considered of enough importance to have a postoffice, which has been discontinued.

Union Academy of Belleville .- Some time previous to 1824 Rev. Joshua Bradley, an eminent Baptist divine, made a persistent effort to interest the people in the vicinity of Belleville on the subject of education. He canvassed the towns of Ellisburgh and Henderson, here and there, and everywhere, again and again, to influence the people to give from their limited means for the purpose of schools. Before the building was determined upon he opened a school of higher grade at Mather's Mills, in the upper part of the house belonging to John R. Hawes, and employed Mr. H. H. Haff as teacher. This school was opened in the fall of 1824, and its prosperity awakened a greater interest, so that the people were anxious to establish an academic institution in Belleville. After a long trial Mr. Bradley presented a plan for a manual labor school, and stock was subscribed sufficient to erect a build- ing. A lot of about six acres was given by Giles Hall to be forever after used for school purposes. April 13, 1826, an act of incorporation was ob- tained by which Jotham Bigelow, Orin Howard, James W. Kennedy, John Hagedorn, Amos Heald, Peter N. Cushman, Wesson Thomas, Pardon Earl, Samuel S. Haws, Edward Boomer, Sidney Houghton, Benjamin Barney, Samuel Boyden, Ebenezer Webster, Israel Kellogg, Jr., Jesse Hubbard, Hiram Taylor, Henry Green, Rufus Hatch, Charles B. Pond, Calvin Clark, John Barney, Ist, Samuel Pierce, and Godfrey W. Barney were constituted, with such as might associate with them, a body corporate, under the name of " Union Literary Society," to have perpetual succession, and limited in their powers to the support of an academic school ; the yearly income of their

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SAGE OT

ZUFFA

UNION ACADEMY, BELLEVILLE.

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TOWN OF ELLISBURGH.

estate might not exceed $5,000 ; the number of their trustees, from 24 to. 30, to be elected annually, or until others were chosen. Elections were held on the first Wednesday of November, and the payment of $5 entitled to membership and one vote. The school was moved into the upper part of the stone church in the village. The stone school building was erected in 1828, and dedicated January 1, 1829, and on the 5th day of January, 1830, it was received under the visitation of the Regents, upon the application of the trustees and Benjamin Durfee, Nahum Houghton, James McCumber, Henry Shaver, Jesse Brewster, Matthew Green, Thomas Clark, Amos Pratt, Daniel Wait, Culver Clark, Jotham Littlefield, Wadsworth Mayhew, and Charles Avery, who had contributed to its erection. Charles Avery was appointed principal in 1829, and he served two years, being assisted the first year by Isaac Slater and the second year by W. D. Waterman. The academy flourished to a degree that justified the highest expectation of its friends, and attracted great numbers of students from distant parts of the county. A building was erected for a shop, partially furnished with tools, and a few stu- dents engaged on the manual labor plan. This was soon abandoned, how- ever, and the building sold and converted into a dwelling. The second principal was George W. Eaton, a graduate of Union College, who was suc- ceeded by La Rue Perine Thompson, who served two years, when Joseph Mullin (late Judge Mullin), a graduate of Union College, became principal, remaining one year, he being succeeded by Hiram H. Barney, also a Union graduate, who remained about two years. Lyman E. Boomer became prin- cipal in 1836, and was followed by Truman C. Hill in 1837. Both were graduates from Union College. During this time the debt on the building had been accumulating by reason of the unpaid interest on a mortgage, and in the fall of 1837 the academy was closed by the mortgagee. The trustees engaged with much zeal to raise the required amount, and were greatly assisted by Rev. Jedediah Burchard, the noted evangelist. Their efforts were attended with success, and in 1840, after needed repairs had been made, the academy was reopened under the principalship of Rev. George I. King, who was assisted by his wife, Betsey Sprague, as preceptress, and David Hunter. The school was well attended at once, and great joy was manifest among students and citizens that " Old Union " was again free.

In the fall of 1841 Mr. King associated with him Richard Ellis, a graduate of Hamilton College, as joint principal. Mr. Ellis had, during the acad- emy vacation, been teaching a mathematical and classical school in the vil- lage. In 1843 Mr. King resigned and Mr. Ellis became principal, who the same year was succeeded by Orsemus Cole, a Union College graduate. In 1845 Calvin Littlefield became principal, and he was followed by G. S. Ramsey, in 1847, with Mr. Ellis as assistant ; in 1848, Mr. Ellis ; 1850, John P. Houghton, Miss Porter, preceptress. In the fall of 1851 J. Dunbar Houghton, a young man who had prepared for college at Union Academy and graduated from Union College, became principal, with Miss Porter as

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preceptress the first year, who was followed successively by Miss A. E. Bar- ret, Miss Charlotte M. King, and Mrs. E. A. Ellis (formerly Miss Barret). The old building being entirely inadequate to the comfort and convenience of the increasing patronage, the trustees erected the present commodious structure in front of the stone building, at a cost of about $4,000, and had it ready for occupancy in October, 1856. The principal and family moved into rooms arranged for them in the fall of 1857. The following is a list of teachers employed in 1856: Rev. J. Dunbar Houghton, A. M., principal ; Rev. J. W. Whitfield, teacher of painting and drawing ; N. W. Buel, M. D., physiology and anatomy; Miss Lois M. Searles, preceptress ; Mrs. E. A. Houghton, music ; Miss Amelia Brigham, ornamental. In the winter of 1858 A. J. Brown and wife were added to the corps of teachers. In 1859 J. P. Buckley and George Fox became teachers. In 1861 Buckley and Fox enlisted in the civil war ; the latter was killed while on picket duty in 1861, and the former in the second battle of Bull Run. At the close of the aca- demic year ending July, 1864, Prof. Houghton, who had been in charge of the school for 13 years, resigned his position. During his administration grounds for a beautiful park had been laid out, and valuable books and ap- paratus had been purchased for the institution. The attendance was large, being, in 1852, 188 ; 1855, 287 ; 1858, 205 ; 1860, 227; 1862, 236; 1864, 219. In 1864 Rev. Benjamin D. Gifford became principal, and he was suc- ceeded in 1865 by Rev. Buel A. Smith. The whole number of pupils in 1866 was 342. In 1868 R. L. Thatcher was principal ; in 1869, '70, '71, '72, '73, W. W. Grant ; in 1874, Henry Carver ; from 1875 to 1881, George F. Sawyer. The next principal was William C. Joslin, who served until the fall of 1884, when Henry A. Gaylord, A. B., an alumnus of Amherst Col- lege, became principal, and is now serving in that capacity. Under Prof. Gaylord's administration the school has been greatly prospered. His assis- tants are james G. Riggs, A. B., mathematics and natural sciences ; Charles B. Durfee, book - keeping and penmanship; Miss Nora Blanchard, lady prin- cipal, English, French, and German ; Mrs. H. A. Gaylord, vocal and instru- mental music. The academy is delightfully situated in the midst of a rich farming community in the village of Belleville. It has an endowment fund of more than $34,000, and also the Frederick Williams scholarship fund of $3,000, and a scholarship fund of $2,000, the bequest of the late Eunice E. Shepardson. The library consists of about 1,675 well-selected volumes, of which histories and books of reference form an important part, though works of standard fiction are well represented.

Belleville woolen-mills, located on the north branch of Sandy Creek, have been in operation about 50 years. T. L. Peters is the proprietor, and here are manufactured woolen yarns, flannel cloth, etc., etc.

Stone mills, at Ellisburgh village, are located on the south branch of Sandy Creek, and were built by John Shaw for a cotton factory, but were not used for that purpose. The buildings subsequently became the property of Sam-

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uel Cook, who ran a grist-mill here a few years, when he sold to Henry Millard, who continued the business with his brothers George W. and Henry, they selling to a Mr. Gilbert, who in turn sold to the present proprietor, H. A. Hopkinson. The mills have three runs of stones, with an annual capacity of 25,000 bushels of grain.

Banner grist-mill, located at Mannsville village, on Skinner Creek, was built about 1869 by J. D. Finster. In 1886 Messrs. M. W. Bates and T. M. Rounds leased it of Winchester & Curtis. It is run by water and steam- power, and does custom grinding.

John Grow's grist-mill, leased by James N. Smith, is located on the south branch of Sandy Creek. It has two runs of stones and does a small amount of business.

William H. Phillips's grist and flouring-mill (formerly Hall's mill) is lo- cated on the north branch of Sandy Creek and is run by water-power. It has a thriving custom patronage.

Belleville grist and flouring-mill, William Mott, proprietor, is run by water- power, has two runs of stones, and does an extensive business.

Woodville flouring, grist, and cider-mill, owned by G. T. Converse, and operated by George Wood and J. F. Converse, is run by water-power, and has a capacity for grinding 8,000 bushels of grain annually.

E. L. Stone's cheese factory, located at Mannsville village, was built in 1861-62 by Shepherd & Grinnell. It had various owners until 1874, when it was purchased by the present proprietor, who has since conducted it. The size of the building is 110 by 35 feet, and the factory lias the capacity for handling the milk from 1,000 cows, manufacturing about 300,000 pounds of cheese annually.

C. H. Graves's cheese factory, at Wardwell settlement, receives the milk from about 400 cows.

Silver Spring cheese factory, owned by C. J. Curtis, has the patronage of about 300 cows.

A. J. Smith's cheese factory, located in the Goodenough neighborhood, was built in 1886. It receives the milk from about 350 cows.

Mannsville tannery was built by Daniel Goddard about 50 years ago. In 1874 it was purchased by J. H. & H. E. Root, who have since conducted it. It has the capacity of 50 sides of leather per day, giving employment to 10 men, the value of the product being about $60,000 annually.

Charles Cowden's sash, door, and blind factory is located on Mill street in Ellisburgh village. It does a thriving business.

Mrs. G. W. Green's saw and cider-mill was built by Daniel Goodenough. It is located on Lindsey Creek and does custom work.

Hopkinson & Dennison's cider and vinegar works, at Ellisburgh village, were established in 1875. Capacity, 10,000 bushels of apples annually.

Hawley & Bemis's cider and vinegar works were established in 1859.

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They are located on State road, two miles north of Pierrepont Manor ; ca- pacity, 10,000 bushels of apples per year.

Harvey C. Stacey's saw-mill, at Belleville village, was built by Giles Hall in 1806. It does custom work only.

Barnes & Freeman's saw-mill, located on Deer Creek, is operated by water-power, with a capacity for cutting 175,000 feet of lumber per year.

John Q. Johnson's saw-mill, on Lindsey Creek, is operated by water-power, and does custom work.

H. C. & E. I. Caster's mills, at Wardwell settlement, on the south branch of Sandy Creek, are engaged in the manufacture and planing of lumber. About 10,000 cheese boxes are also annually manufactured here.

C. F. Calkin's saw-mill, located near Pierrepont Manor, does custom work.

Mannsville steam saw-mill was built by Finster & Woodward about 1872. The present proprietors are Curtis & Winchester. The mill has the capacity for sawing 10,000 feet of lumber per day.

George S. Hudson's saw-mill and furniture manufactory, located in the north part of Ellisburgh village, were formerly known as Wild's mills. Fifteen men are employed, and about $15,000 worth of furniture and sash and blinds are manufactured annually.

The first settlement in the town of Ellisburgh was made by Lyman Ellis, in the spring of 1797, and was the first settlement in the territory now em- braced within the limits of Jefferson County *. In the spring of 1797 Marvel and Lyman Ellis, brothers, both of whom were interested in the purchase of the town from Constable, previously noted, came to the town, Lyman with a view of permanent settlement. In the fall of the same year Caleb Ellis, having met with Lyman Ellis at Rome, was casually introduced with the expectation that a relationship existed, but none was found ; yet the interview resulted in an invitation to settle in the new town. Caleb Ellis accordingly visited the town and selected a farm on the south branch of Sandy Creek, at a place where one Waldo had the year previous erected a hunter's shanty.

At the close of the same season Lyman Ellis had built a dam and saw- mill, three-fourths of a mile below the present site of Ellisburgh village, and the mill was got in operation the same fall, but was partly swept away the next spring by a flood. In the winter of 1797-98 William Hicks, with Butler and B. Pierce, remained in the town, and in the spring of 1798 Caleb Ellis and family, Robert Fulton, Elijah Richardson, Hezekiah Pierce, Chauncey Smith, William Root, Vial Salisbury, Isaac Waddle, Abram Wilcox, two men by the name of Thornton, and others came into town with Lyman Ellis to rebuild the mill and erect a grist-mill ; but nearly all were taken sick, and the pioneers were reduced to great suffering from want of provisions and necessary medical attendance.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 59

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