Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 60

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 60

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).

* Excepting a military settlement which was made on Carleton Island about 1778.

4II

TOWN OF ELLISBURGH.

Mary Ellis, a young daughter of Caleb, was the first person to die in the town, and the first death of an adult was that of Samantha Howard. The first birth is said to have occurred in the summer of 1798-a son, who was given the name Ontario, to Hezekiah Pierce. The first female born in the town was Harriet Howard.

On September 11, 1798, Marvel Ellis wrote to Constable as follows :-

"We have a good dam across the creek, which has been expensive; a good saw-mill well finished, and running, and have done considerable towards a grist-mill. We have on the same- lot a large and handsome improvement, have had a fine crop of wheat, and have very fine corn. The people that are on the land have good improvements for the time and are industrious. I inclose you an account of the small sales to the settlers, the price sold for, and what has been received, which is a small sum in proportion to what has been laid out on the land; if people would have been satisfied of having a release from the mortgage, by paying you, we should have had sufficient to have made the present payment now due. The remainder of the money due from these settlers is due within a year. We wish you to give us some fur- ther indulgence, and something to convince the people that you will release from the mortgage on receiving payment, which will enable us to make payments for the land, and make a large settlement soon."

Inclosed in the foregoing was the following list, with the number of acres taken up by each : Joseph Caldwell, 60 ; William Hicks, 51; John G. Hay- ward, 150 ; Caleb Ellis, 126; Neal Salisbury, 100; Elijah Pettibone, 100 ; John Paddock, 50; Isaac Southerland, 130; Asahel Humphrey, 419 ; Elisha Phillips, 100; Levi Root, 140; Hezekiah Pierce, 149.

The first corn and potatoes raised in the county by the present race of settlers was by Lyman Ellis in 1797, who also, in 1798, was probably the first to raise winter wheat.

During the severe winter of 1798-99, when the snow lasted from the 29th of October until April 20th, the pioneers suffered severely, and one Gideon Howard, who was overtaken by a storm near Little Sandy Creek, while returning from Rome, was detained in the woods three days and nearly per- ished from fatigue and hunger.

In the spring of 1799 Mr. Ellis's dam was again swept away and the mill partly destroyed, when this and the frame of a grist-mill were removed to the present village above, and the grist-mill was got in operation about 1803.

James Constable, brother of William, made tours through these northern counties in the summer months of 1803-06, on business connected with the estate of his deceased brother, of which he was one of the executors. In his diary, under date of September 7, 1803. he wrote :--

"Mr. Ellis has lived here nearly six years, and all he has received from our testator has been $221 for commission on land sold. A lot was promised him upon condition of his coming to reside, but he never got a deed for it, though his mills were first erected there, from whence they have since been removed to where they now are. He now asks the ex'rs for a conveyance for the lot promised, being No. 94, and for time to pay the above bal- ance, the security for which is ample, as his buildings are valued at $2,000, and the title of the lot they are on is still with the executors.

" There are about 40 families in the town, most of them poor, but of that description of people fit to settle a new country; few comforts about them, and they seem to have few wants; no liquor is to be had, and they have not yet begun to distill, nor are there any apples

412

TOWN OF ELLISBURGH.

to make cider, so that their only drink is water, with which they seem content. They do not hesitate about the price of $3, but paying one-quarter down is very difficult for most of them. There are good horned cattle amongst them; the horses indifferent, but the only ones fit for a new country. They do not seem to regard distance, and go nine or 10 miles backward and forward daily, over roads that are nearly impassable." *

At this time the town was not honored by the presence of a clergyman, and the nearest physician was 20 miles away.

Regarding his visit to Ellisburgh the following year, under date of August 21, 1804, Mr. Constable's diary says :-

"Proceeded on to Ellisburgh, and found the road from Ellisburgh so extremely bad and so seldom traveled, and another route, shorter and better, presents itself, so that I have, by the advice of Mr. Wright, judged it advisable to alter the latter. * The road will be nearly direct from Rome to Ellisburgh, and about 43 miles.

" Angust 23. Went down Sandy Creek to the lake, and found the marsh covered with hay-stacks, the contents of which had grown spontaneously, and there are many horses and cattle at pasture, which proves that this place is of consequence. Some of it is indeed very fine and the people are very desirous of buying, but no judgment can be formed of the quan- tity of good and bad, and L. Ellis is therefore to send me an estimate before the price is fixed. Went to Christopher Edmonds' on the north side of the creek. He has a fine farm and has produced the best corn in the town. He expects this year a yield of about 90 bushels per acre. This article is very fine throughout the place, but the wheat has been affected by the fly and rust. The establishment has flourished generally; many settlers have come in since last year, and more are expected. There are now 60 families, and though cases of fever and ague happen near the lake, and sometimes the lake fever, yet the country is a healthy one, and the soil so good that it will settle fast."

The remainder of this year's journal, and the first of the following year, relates to other sections than the town of Ellisburgh, and are omitted. In 1805 his visit was made in August. His diary continues :-

" On the way to Ellisburgh found many settlers since last year, and the im- provement considerable; the crops of wheat excellent. and the corn good, as they have suf- fered little from drought. Arrived at Ellis' at noon to remain two or three days. The mills are in tolerably good order, but the water so low they can grind only part of the day. Grists are brought from a great distance, and in boats from Oswego, and lower. Ellis has built a small house for himself, and a good barn. * *

" August 9. * * * A school-house is now, building near Ellis' Mills, on the same lot, to be two stories high, the upper of which is to be devoted to divine service, when any minister travels that way. The town have also subscribed towards building a bridge across the creek, at the same place, and we agreed to contribute $20, as they could not raise sufficient, but they have engaged to improve the road from the bridge to the north line of No. 10. Dr. Dresser has but two patients, and there is less sickness than at any previous year in this season."

The proprietors had adopted the practice of giving certificates, allowing people a certain time after exploring to go for their families before taking contracts, but it was found that in many cases these had been transferred, and this having grown into a system of speculation, was discontinued as they were given to assist the first real settlers, and their transfer operated against the interest of both land owners and settlers. Mr. Constable's journal of August, 1806, speaking of the settlements in Ellisburgh, says :-

"From Asa Brown's passed on to Andrews' settlement, or Ellisburgh, through a very good road, four miles. He has made considerable improvement here. The saw-mill has been long in use, and has enabled them to erect frame houses, some good barns, and a large grist-mill, which is, however, not yet finished. * Ellis rents the mills for $400 per annum, and

413

TOWN OF ELLISBURGH.

his affairs will soon be in good order. * * There have been some cases of sickness dur- ing the season, but none fatal. Dr. Draper * is still on the town, and has considerable practice. He will continue here, and hopes to build a house next year, when he will require a deed for the 50 acres of land to which he is entitled. I should have remarked that 180 militiamen trained here yesterday ( September 2), and it is said by some that one-third were absent. If so, the population has greatly increased."

January 22, 1803, George Tibbets and James Dole, of Troy, were ap- pointed agents for Ellisburgh, and in 1807 were paid for their services in land. In the same year Benjamin Wright, of Rome, succeeded as general agent for the estate, and fixed his residence at Pulaski, where he continued in the capacity of surveyor and agent until employed on the canal surveys.

The embargo act of 1808 received much opposition from the Federal party in this part of the county. In September, 1808, an event occurred in this town that caused great excitement at the time. A party from Oswego, under Lieut. Asa Wells, entered Sandy Creek, and after seizing a quantity of pot- ash, under the embargo laws, proceeded to the house of Capt. Fairfield, sur- rounded it, and seized and carried away a swivel. Capt. Fairfield being ab- sent, his wife made complaint to a justice, who issued a warrant. The con- stable was intimidated and called upon his fellow citizens to aid him, when about 30 men took arms and went with him, but Wells's men presented bay- onets, when they desisted, and 20 of the men went off. Lieut. Wells ordered the remainder to be disarmed and bound, when they were taken, with the swivel, to Oswego. On the evening of the 25th of September the same party returned for the purpose of taking the magistrate and constable who had issued the papers. A warrant against Wells, and two others, for felony, in breaking open a house, was issued at Sackets Harbor, and given to Ambrose Pease, a constable, to execute, who, after examining the law, raised the hue and cry, and assembled about 200 persons in Ellisburgh, where a consulta- tion of several magistrates was held, and the next day at sunrise about 70 or 80 men, armed and equipped, volunteered to aid in the arrest, but the magis- trates durst not issue the order for their march, being apprehensive that some excess or injury might be done; and the question having been raised whether a constable had a right to demand aid before he had been resisted, the armed men were advised to disperse, and the civil officer requested to proceed to ap- prehend Wells and the others, without the force of the county. This proceed- ing was charged, by one of the political parties, as an attempt of the other to resist, by force of arms, the execution of the laws, and mutual criminations were exchanged with much bitterness. To justify themselves and secure pub- lic opinion in their favor the civil officers who had taken an interest in the matter prepared the following statement, which was published in the newspa- pers of the day, at Utica, Albany, and elsewhere :-

" At a meeting of the inhabitants of the connty of Jefferson, in the state of New York, suddenly convened (by command of the civil authority) in the town of Ellisburgh, to take

* In his diary under date of August 9, 1805,-see above,- Mr. Constable mentions "Dr. Dresser." We are not informed which name is correct.

414

TOWN OF ELLISBURGH.

into consideration the proper and legal mode to apprehend certain felons and robbers, who, in the town of Ellsburgh, in said county, being armed, and under the pretense of being in the service of the United States, to enforce the embargo laws, did there violently and forcibly enter into the dwelling house of Captain Fairfield, broke open the locks, forced open the doors, and robbed the said Captain Fairfield of his property, contrary to the laws; that they refused to submit to the civil authority of the country, and did then and there, by force and arms, seize, bind, and carry away to Oswego 10 of our fellow citizens, who were commanded to attend a civil officer in the execution of process on the said offenders; which citizens have been kept since, in close confinement, in want of every comfort and convenience of life, without lawful authority, and constantly subject to insult of soldiery, who seem insensible of the rights, privileges, and liberties of Americans. Feeling the spirit of freemen, and viewing this and many other late acts of violence as rapid strides towards despotism and martial law among us, the establishment of which must occasion a total deprivation of rights for which our fathers and many of us have fought and bled; therefore,

" Resolved, That we consider it a duty incumbent on ns, for our personal safety, for the security of our lives and property, and for the support of our civil law and authority, to write in all lawful measures to apprehend the said felons.

" Resolved, That such of our fellow citizens who have assembled in arms to aid our magis- trates and civil officers in the execution of lawful process against Lient. Asa Wells, and others, who stand charged under oath of felony, be requested to disperse, until another trial be made by them to apprehend the said Asa Wells.

" Resolved, That the magistrates and civil anthorities of the neighboring counties be requested to aid us in apprehending and bringing to justice the said Lieut. Wells, and divers other persons concerned in said felony.

" Resolved, That we will support the laws and magistrates of the country, and our civil officers in the execution of lawful process.

" Resolved, That Augustus Sacket, Jesse Hopkins, and John Cowles, Esq., magistrates of the county, be appointed a committee to cause these resolutions to be published, for the infor- mation of our fellow citizens.

" AUGUSTUS SACKET, JESSE HOPKINS, JOHN COWLES.

Committee.

" Ellisburgh, Sept. 27, 1808."

In the spring of 1814 a detachment of troops under Lieut. Woolsey, guarding a quantity of military stores from Oswego, were attacked by a detachment from the British fleet near the mouth of Sandy Creek. The Americans were completely victorious, as will be seen by the details of this event given under the heading " War of 1812."

In 1828 the town was visited by a sickness remarkable for its fatality, especially in the vicinity of the lake, where the water was extremely high and overflowed the marshes. The disease assumed the type of a malignant typhoid fever, and was very general, extending along the entire frontier.

Many shipwrecks have occurred on the shore of the lake in this town since the country was first settled. The first of which we find record was in the fall of 1800, when a small schooner under command of Capt. Gammon was lost off Little Stony Creek and all on board perished. A boat with eight men, that was sent in search of the vessel, was also swamped and all on board drowned. About 1807 a family was located at the mouth of Sandy Creek to afford aid to shipwrecked persons, and this lonely dwelling sheltered many a suffering sailor who might otherwise have perished.

In the autumn of 1876 a life-saving station was established at the mouth

415

TOWN OF ELLISBURGH.

of Big Sandy Creek. The building is of wood, 45 by 20 feet, and the station is provided with the necessary apparatus. The eastern coast of Lake Onta- rio is a dangerous locality in time of storms, and this station is a wise provision for the protection of the lives of the sailors on the lake.

A survey of the mouth of Sandy Creek was made in 1829, by order of the general government, with the view of improving it for a harbor. The cost of the work was estimated at $36,000, and was commenced and ended with the survey.

The journal of Rev. John Taylor's missionary tour through the Mohawk and Black River countries, in 1802, mentions and describes several ancient forts in this town. They have been fully described in the County Chapter in connection with the subject of pre-historic fortifications.

The town records contain descriptions of several of the early roads. The first one, laid out October 7, 1803, is described as follows :-

" Beginning near the end of a road cut out on the sixth town from Levi Schofield's to Hungry Bay, and where said road intersects a division-line of Great Lot 54 on said town; thence (by courses given in description) to the south line of the town of Adams, meeting a road laid out by the commissioners of said town to the said line."

Another road, laid out December 20, 1803, extended from " the road near the house of Lyman Ellis, on the north line of lot No. 76, thence north 81º west along said line 164 chains and 66 links, until it intersects the road laid out from Christopher Edmonds's to the town of Adams."

A road was laid out May 12, 1804, surveyed by Lyman Ellis, " Beginning on the east line of lot No. 25 in said town, where the road that is laid out running from Jeremiah Mason's to Joseph Holley's intersects said line ; thence north along said line 154 chains and 75 links, until it intersects the road leading from Asahel Hoisington's up to the south side of north branch of the Great Sandy Creek, to the town of Adams, laid out by actual surveys." The same year roads were laid out from the south line of the town of Adams to intersect the road laid out by the commissioners in 1803; and from the mouth of Bear Creek to the west line of township No. 1, 53 miles and 15 chains. Another road is recorded as " Beginning on the Ridge, so-called, where the road leading from the mouth of Bear Creek, so-called, to the west line of township No. 1, crosses said Ridge ; thence (by bearings given) to the south branch of Big Sandy Creek, and to the road by Mr. Isaac Burr's."

CHURCHES.

The Baptist Church was the first to effect an organization in this town. Elders Colwell and Littlefield, Baptists, at an early date adopted a Covenant and Articles of Faith, and held meetings at Belleville. The Articles of Faith were decided by a council of brethren to be contrary to the faith of the Baptist Church, and the meetings were accordingly discontinued, and for some time there was no ministry of this order. About 1807 Joshua Freeman

416

TOWN OF ELLISBURGH.

and Amos Noyes, two young men, commenced holding meetings at Belleville. They were joined by Deacon Edward Barney, and others, and in August of that year a regular Baptist church was organized. They enjoyed only occa- sional preaching until 1810, when Martin E. Cook, a licentiate, was called to the care of the church. He was afterwards ordained and (with an interval of two years in which Elder Bradley was employed) continued to labor in the ministry successfully for 24 years. The following have since served as pastors : Daniel D. Reed, Abner Webb, Joel H. Green, A. Webb (2d time), John F. Bishop, David McFarland, J. M. Shotwell, A. Cleghorn, G. W. Divoll, F. E. Osborne, G. A. Ames, L. E. Spafford, P. D. Root, C. E. Becker, and Milton B. Comfort, the last named of whom assumed charge in the fall of 1881 and is the present pastor. At its organization the society consisted of 12 mem- bers. Their house of worship is a wooden building, will seat 400 persons, and was erected in 1836 at a cost of $5,000. The present value of church property is $6,000. The present membership is 171. W. B. Doane is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has a membership of 100.

In 1819 a union meeting-house was erected at Belleville, costing about $3,300, but the society never perfected its organization, which led to litiga- tion. In March, 1829, the building was burned. A Baptist society had been formed December 4, 1821, with Matthew Green, Benjamin Barney, and John Barney, 2d, trustees. In 1831 the present Baptist Church was built at a cost of about $2,400.

The Baptist Society at Woodville was formed January 27, 1825, with Ebenezer Wood, Oliver Scott, Amaziah Filmore, Pedro Scott, William Ells- worth, and Abijah Jenkins, trustees. The church was formed by Rev. Asa Averill.

The Baptist Church of Mannsville was formed about 1831, by the union of one in Lorraine and one in the west part of the town. The latter, styled the Second Baptist Church of Ellisburgh, was formed October 8, 1817, under Timothy Brewster, assisted by Elders Emery Osgood, of Henderson ; Matthew Wilkie, of Wilna ; Martin E. Cook, of Ellisburgh ; and Elisha Mor- gan, of Rutland. In 1833 this sect, with the Congregationalists, erected a place of worship at a cost of $1,600.

The First Congregational Church of Ellisburgh was formed by David M. Dixon and Oliver Leavitt, January 1, 1817, of six members. The Rev. J. A. Clayton was employed soon after and was settled as pastor. November 11, 1823, a society was formed, of which the trustees were Amos Hudson, Hiram Taylor, Daniel Wardwell, John Otis, William T. Fisk, and William Cole. The organization was given up in 1844.

The Congregational Church of Woodville was formed November 22, and a society December 14, 1836, of which Ebenezer Wood, Oliver Batcheller, and William Gray were trustees. A union house had been erected and partly finished previously ; in 1837 it was taken down and a brick church erected at a cost of $1, 100. Rev. Charles B. Pond became the first pastor, and was

417

TOWN OF ELLISBURGH.

installed January 23, 1840. In four years Elisha P. Cook succeeded, since whom David Powell, J. Burchard, Frederick Hebard, and others have been employed. At its organization the church consisted of 18 members, and the present membership is 80, with Rev. J. K. Griffith, pastor. In 1868 the church edifice was rebuilt, and is now valued, including grounds, at $3,500. J. H. Wood is superintendent of the Sunday-school, which has a membership of 120.

The Second Congregational Church of Ellisburgh was reorganized at Mannsville, August 18, 1834, with Roswell Keeney, Benjamin G. Grenell, and Daniel Wardwell, trustees. The early records of this church were destroyed by fire. For a long time the society owned an interest in the only meeting- house in the place (the Baptist), but in 1856 they erected their present frame church edifice, at a cost of about $3,000. It will seat about 250 persons, is surmounted by a spire, and stands in the eastern part of the village.

The First Presbyterian Society in the town of Ellisburgh was formed August 28, 1820, and elected Nathan Barden, Isaac Burr, William T. Fisk, Amos Hudson, Liberty Bates, and Royce March, trustees. In 1830 it was reorganized, and the same year erected in Belleville a meeting-house at a cost of about $500. A church organization was formed at the house of Nathan Barden, December 18, 1829, by the Rev. Jedediah Burchard, of five males and six females, and on the 1 1th of February, 1830, it united with the Water- town Presbytery.

The Universalist Church of Ellisburgh was formed August 26, 1821, with 19 members. The persons chiefly instrumental in forming it were Isaac Mendall, Silas Emerson, John Clark, and Rev. Cornelius G. Persons. The society was formed September 2, 1833, with J. Mendall, Edmund M. Eldridge, Daniel Stearns, Edmund Palmer, and Richard Cheever, trustees. A house of worship was erected by Benjamin Bemis, at Ellis village, in 1843, at a cost of $1,500.

The Methodist Episcopal Society, in Ellisburgh village, was formed March 5, 1832, with Oliver N. Snow, Benjamin Chamberlin, Lyman Ellis, Jeremiah Lewis, and Hiram Mosley, trustees. In 1833 they built a church, which in 1850 was removed, repaired, and a steeple added. In 1836 a parsonage was built. The church is a neat frame building, surmounted by a bell-tower and spire, in the former of which is a splendid bell.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church and Society in Belleville was formed May 5, 1841, having Edward Boomer, Elias Dickinson, Thomas Ellis, Edward B. Hawes, Jesse Hubbard, Riley Chamberlain, Hall W. Baxter, Nelson Boomer, and John R. Hawes, trustees. A church was built near the Ward- well settlement, and afterwards removed to Belleville. This building has since been sold to the Catholics, and the Methodists purchased the church built by the Presbyterians. The parsonage belonging to the society was taken in trade for the old church.

27*

418

TOWN OF ELLISBURGH.

St. John's Church (Roman Catholic), located at Belleville, was organized in 1875 by Rev. James Hogan, with 60 members. Their house of worship was purchased from the Methodists in 1875, will comfortably seat 250 persons, and is valued, including grounds and other church property, at $2,000. The present membership is 60, under the pastoral charge of Rev. James Haggerty.

Christ Church (Protestant Episcopal), located in Ellisburgh village, was organized September 3, 1879, by Rev. J. Muir, John P. Houghton, Alva J. Smith, John J. Brown, and others, with 10 members, Rev. John Muir, LL. B., M. D., being the first rector, which position he has since retained. Their first house of worship, a wood building, was erected in 1879, and cost about $3,000. It will comfortably seat 200 persons, and is valued, including grounds, etc., at about $4,000. The present membership is 25.

Zion Church (Protestant Episcopal), at Pierrepont Manor, was organized with four members January 4, 1836, the building being erected and services maintained by Hon. William C. Pierrepont. Rev. A. Treadway was the first rector. Their first house of worship, a wood structure, was erected in 1835. This building was repaired and greatly improved in 1887, and cost about $4,500. It will comfortably seat 300 persons, and is valued, including grounds and other church property, at about $7,000. The present number of communicants is 60, and Rev. John Muir, LL. B., M. D., is rector. The Sunday-school has four teachers and 60 pupils. The church, in first instance, was planted here through the generous liberality of the Pierrepont family, and gradually drew to it a portion of the people of the neighborhood. Hon. William C. Pierrepont subsequently endowed the church, so that the services might not lapse at any time. In reference to the present rector of Zion Church the Dominion (Canada) Register (in its “ Data respecting Cana- dian Public Men ") has the following :-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 60

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