Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 69

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 69

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).

Captain George Wescott was born in 1813, and died in the town of Henderson in 1863. He married Catharine, daughter of Thomas Bell, and they had four sons and one daughter, viz .: Flora A., who died in 1859, aged 20 years; Wellington, of Adams; Edwin, of Winona, Minn .; Byron M .; and Nelson L. Byron M. Wescott married Hattie M., daughter of Henry and Laura (Fuller) Murphy, of Dexter, in 1869, who bore him two children, Belle M. and George H. Nelson L. Wescott married Sarah E. Murphy in 1878, who bore him a son, Frank N. By- ron M. and Nelson L. Wescott were drowned by the upsetting of a boat September 5, 1879, an account of which calamity see in preceding pages. Their widows and children reside on the homestead on road 2.

Orson K. Estes, son of Joseph and Asenath (MeArthur) Estes, was born in Essex County in 1814. At the age of about 15 years he was apprenticed to the blacksmiths' trade, and when 20 years old united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and fitted for the ministry at the Conference School at Gouverneur. He was licensed to exhort in 1837, was or- dained as deacon in 1842, and as elder in 1848. His zeal in the Master's work was greater than his physical endurance, and at times he was obliged to suspend his labors temporarily. In 1836 lie married Delina F. Austin, who died in 1850. Their children were Helen A., Persis S .. Warren F., and Flora D. He married, second, Elizabeth C., daughter of Jedediah and Betsey (Bell) MeCumber, in 1850, who bore him four sons and two daughters, viz .: Orson J. J., W. Eddy R. (deceased), Libbie Evelyn, Orvis K. (deceased). Jessie E., and Orvis K. Mr. Estes located in Henderson in 1868, where he died in 1884. His widow and surviving children oc- cupy the homestead.

Otis Thompson, a native of New Hampshire, married Jane, daughter of Parley Mason, and soon after engaged in farming and Inmbering in Derby, Vt. They had two sons-Perley M., now of Minneapolis, Minn .. and Payson F. The latter was born in 1844, and was reared upon a farm. He enlisted in Co. B, 8th Vt. Vols., and served to the close of the war, after which he resided in Kansas for a time. In 1867 he came to Henderson and engaged as clerk in the store of George Thompson, and in 1872 opened a store on his own account. In 1876 he built the Thompson block, where he is now engaged in mercantile business. Mr. Thompson married Frances A., only daughter of William and Mary Jane (Moody) Dobson, of Henderson, III 1869. He resides in his block on Park street.

Seth Rice, a native of Guilford, Vt., married, first, Abigail Chase, and located in Ellis- burgh about 1812. They had five children, all deceased. He married, second, Abigail Cole, and they had two children. For his third wife he married Judith Linton, and they had four children: Samantha, Cynthia, Almira, and Lucy. Henry Rice, son of Seth and Abigail, was born in Vermont in 1804, and came to this county with his parents when eight years of age, locating in the town of Ellisburgh. He learned the carpenters' trade, and worked with Jesse Smith, at Smithville. In 1829 he married Lucy, daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Kellogg) Sanford, by whom he had five sons and two daughters, viz. : William H., of Smithville; Sanford, of Michi- gan; Abalı, of Chicago; Frances (Mrs. Emory Clark), of Henderson; Walter E., of Michigan : Abigail A. (Mrs. O. D. Perry), of Dexter; and Alberto, of Henderson. William H. Rice was born in 1830, received a good education, and engaged in teaching for more than 22 years. He was a justice of the peace for 20 years, postmaster at Smithville for 11 years, and is now en- gaged in the general insurance business. He married Mila E., daughter of Reuben and Saralı (Carpenter) Leffingwell, in 1857, who bore him three sons, viz .: Arthur L., born in 1860, who married Carrie Englehart, and has a daughter, Florence E .; William S., born July 4, 1865; and Roscoe C., who died in infancy. Mr. Rice located in Smithville in 1870, and engaged in mer- cantile pursuits. William S. Rice engaged with Capt. W. A. Collins in the manufacture of

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TOWN OF HENDERSON.

elastic trusses, with whom he continued in business several years. He is now proprietor and manufacturer of Rice's adjustable elastic truss and " rupture cure ointment," and resides on Main street.

William Bnell was born in Huntingdonshire, Eng., in 1610, and in 1630 emigrated to. America, keating at Dorchester, Mass. He was the progenitor of those of that name now residing in Henderson. The direct line of deseent was as follows: William 1, Samuel2, Sam- uel 3, Samuel +. Jedediah 5, Jonathan 6, George 7, George S. 8, and Olin F. 9. George S. Bnell was born in Fairfield, N. Y., in 1817. In 1844 he married Sarah, daughter of Amos and Anrelia ( Minott) Farrington (who was born in 1822 and died in 1878). His son Olin F. was- born in Fairfield, N. Y., May 5, 1847, and came to Sandy Creek with his parents when about two years old. He was educated at Falley Seminary, at Fulton, N. Y., studied medicine with Dr. J. L. Buckley, of Sandy Creek, and graduated from the medical department of the Uni- versity of New York with the class of 1874. He began practice in Belleville in 1875, taught anatomy, physiology, and hygiene in the academy, and in the fall of the same year removed to Henderson village, where he is now located in the practice of his profession, and as a pen- sion agent with A. M. Kilby. He married Olive C., daughter of Ariel C. Harris, in 1869. Their daughter Helen S. married Merton M. Stevens.

Elias Babcock was born in Massachusetts, and was a stone mason by trade. His son Joshna, born in Adams, married Vina, daughter of George Lee, and they had two sons, Fred R., of Smithville, and Frank M., of Wisconsin. Fred R. was born in Adams, December 15, 1850, was reared upon a farm, and learned the blacksmiths' trade. He married Martha, daughter of Stephen and Betsey (Peck) Bishop, of Woodville, in 1875, and they have two sons, Edwin R. and Frank J. Mr. Babcock located in Smithville in 1876, and engaged in the black- smithing business. He bought the Hammond saw-mill in 1880, and the next year added a cider-mill. In 1884-85 he kept the Smithville Hotel. He is now engaged in blacksmithing and Iumbering.

Nathaniel Gleason, son of Nathaniel, was born in Bennington, Vt., in 1804, whenec he re- moved to Madison County, N. Y. He married a daughter of John Smith, and they had seven children, viz .: Laura A., Cordelia E., George W., W. Wallace, N. Miles, Fanny E., and Adelia S. W. Wallaee Gleason, born in 1840, enlisted in Co. B, 186th N. Y. Inf., as lieutenant, in 1861. and served to the close of the war. He married Engelia A., daughter of John and Miranda (Congdon) Chapman, in 1863, and they have a son and a daughter, Mae F. (Mrs. George Smith) and Ralph W. Mr. Gleason has followed the lakes for many years. He resides in Henderson village.

Samuel Ault, who served in Co. B, 186th N. Y. Vols., was a native of Clayton. whence he removed to Henderson, where he died, aged 47 years. He married Elizabeth Myers, of Clayton, and their children were Cary C., Hiram G., David E. and Josephine S. (twins), Ella, George S., Hannah M., William N .. Clara, and James O. The latter was born in Clayton, and in 1882 re- . moved to Sackets Harbor, but he now resides at Bishop Street in this town. He married Augusta, daughter of Seymour and Harriet (Thomas) Putnam, of Ellisburg, by whom he had two children, Nora M. and Rena C. He served in Co. B and Co. I, 20th N. Y. Cav .. and re- čulisted in Co. G. 4th U. S. Inf., and was honorably discharged. Hiram G. Ault served in Co. K, 35th N. Y. Vols., and in Co. I. 20th N. Y. Cav. David E. served in Co. K, 35th N. Y. Vols .. Co. B, 20th N. Y. Cav., and Co. G, 4th N. Y. Inf. William F. H. Ault, father of Samuel. was a captain in the Revolutionary war. His wife was Miranda Raymond, and they were married at Plattsburgh.

William Ripley, a native of Adams, married Lydia J. Mead, who bore him two sons, Lester M., who died in Adams, and Charles, who died while in service in the late war. Upon the death of his first wife Mr. Ripley married Maria, daughter of Stephen and Orma (Richards) Wilcox, and they had two daughters, one of whom, Lydia, married Thomas Webb, and has three children, Leila M., Jennie F., and Frances. The latter was born in 1847, and married Rollin C. Church. Mr. Ripley was an active member of the Methodist Church. He died Jan- uary 26, 1882, aged 70 years, respected by all who knew him.

Calvin Bishop, son of Captain John Bishop, a Revolutionary soldier, came with his parents and located at Bishop Street when quite young. He married, first, Sally Armstrong, who bore him six children, and second, Sally Peck, who bore him 12 children, many of whom settled in Henderson. Mr. Bishop died in 1850. His widow, aged more than 92 years, and their daughter, . Elizabeth, reside at Bishop Street.

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TOWN OF HENDERSON.

Robert Brodie, son of James and Margaret Brodie, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1820, and spent his early years upon a farm. He emigrated to America in 1844, loeating in Belle- ville, where he worked out among the farmers. He married Lueretia, daughter of Lyman Barney, in 1853, and they had two sons, James L., of Forest City, Iowa, and Hugh HI., of Kansas City. Mo. His wife died in 1856, and for his second wife he wedded Christia A., daughter of William and Tabatha (Drummond) Davison. Their children were two who died in infaney, Mary Louise, Robert W., and Marion Aliee. Robert W. was born in 1862. Marion Alice was educated in the State Normal School, and is now engaged in teaching. Their father, Robert, went to California in 1850, and remained there three years. He now resides with his children on road 5.

Hugh MeIntosh, son of Samuel, from the north of Ireland, came to Canada with his parents when 13 years of age. He married Phebe, daughter of Uriah and Rebecca (Sherwood) Beeman, who bore him five sons and four daughters. His son, Sanmel MeIntosh, was born in 1839. He married Almira, daughter of Rice and Polly (Scott) Honeywell, in 1862. and they had three sons and two daughters, viz .: Emily Melissa, Frank F., J. Willard, Carrie W., Adel- bert R., and Ray A. Mr. MeIntosh located in St. Lawrence County in the spring of 1867. In the fall of 1880 he bought the Williams farm on road 4, in this town, where he now resides. He is an earnest worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a prosperous farmer.

Peter Gilbert, son of William, was born on Long Island in 1794, and orphaned at an early age. He came to Ellisburgh a young man, loeating near the month of Sandy Creek. He learned the ship carpenters' trade. He married Polly, daughter of William Skelton, who bore him a son, Nelson, and died in 1820. For his second wife he married Elizabeth Ann, sister of his first wife, and they had eight children, viz .: Peter, of Ellisburgh; William, of Henderson; Grant (deceased); Polly, of Minnesota; Alvis (deceased); Louisa (Mrs. George Washburn), of Ellisburglı; Thomas, of Ellisburgh; and Jane (deceased). William Gilbert was born in 1827. At the age of 13 years he shipped on board the schooner William L. Marcey, as cook, and sailed on the lakes until 1848. He built a schooner, and was captain of the same for five years; was pilot on the steam barge Thomas Jefferson for one season, and owned and run the sehooner Trial four years. In 1863, with William McLean, he built the schooner Billow, 140 tons, which he run for a while, and in 1865. with Mr. McLean, bought the sloop Mclellan, which he run for four years. In 1872 he bought the schooner Union and run her for four years, and in 1879 built the schooner Gilbert. He came to Henderson Harbor in 1883, engaged in trade, and built a dock and warehouse. In 1888 he remodelled the sehooner, made her a steam barge, and named her William Gilbert. Mr. Gilbert followed the lakes more than 45 years, and never lost a man or had a wreck. He married Elizabeth, daugliter of Esquire and Phena (Washburn) Ellis, in 1853, and they have two sons and one daughter, viz .: Phena E., who married Erwin Sanford; John W., who married Myra Freeman, of Ellisburgh; and Grant A., who married Lottie M., daughter of C. D. and Addie (Norton) Eggleston. Mr. Gilbert resides at Henderson Harbor.

James M. Rice married Martha Durham and located in Ellisburgh about 1852. He had six sons-Nathan, James M., Silas N. and Noah E. (twins), and George W. Silas N. Rice was born in 1858, and was reared upon a farm. He worked at lumbering in Michigan for several years, and at farming in Depauville three years. In 1883 he married Sarah S., daughter of Peter and Susan (Durham) Lane, of Depanville, and they have a son, Perley A., born in 1884. Mr. Rice came to Henderson in the spring of 1887. He carries on a farm of 350 aeres, at. Bishop Street, for P. M. Davis.

30*

466

TOWN OF HOUNSFIELD.

HOUNSFIELD.

H OUNSFIELD was formed from Watertown, February 17, 1806. It embraces No. 1, or " Hesiod," of the "Eleven Towns," and was named in honor of Ezra Hounsfield, who, with Peter Kemble, purchased the south part of the town (15,913 acres) from the pro- prietors, March 10, 1801. It is situated on Black River Bay, on the west border of the county, has an area of 27,7902 acres, and is bounded on the north by Black River and the bay of that name, which separate it from Brownville, east by Watertown, south by Henderson and Adams, and west by Henderson Bay and Black River Bay. Galloe, Little Galloe, Stony, and Calf islands, which lie in Lake Ontario, also belong to the town of Hounsfield. The surface of the town is somewhat diversified, though in the main it is level, and the soil is a clayey and sandy loam. Through nearly the center of the town flows Mill Creek, which rises in the town of Watertown and dis- charges into Black River Bay. A branch of this stream from the north rises in a long strip of low land, originally a swamp, filled with tamarack, black ash, cedar, and elm, and other varieties of timber peculiar to such a locality. Much of this land has been reclaimed and cleared, and the stream, during the summer, becomes nearly dry.

The waters of Black River Bay were early regarded as an eligible place for a commercial point, and in a work published in Paris in 1801 * the following description of it is given under the name Niahoure :-

"' At the bottom of this gulf Black River empties, forming a harbor sheltered from the wind and surges of the lake, which, during the prevalence of the southwest winds, roll like those of the ocean. The land on the right or south of this bay is extremely fertile, and is a grove more fresh than can elsewhere be seen. That on the left, i. e., the country that extends to the north of the Bay of Niahoure, as far as the St. Lawrence, and east to the Oswegatchie, is not less fertile, and the colonists begin to vie in settling it.'" }

Much discussion has obtained regarding the location of La Famine, or Hungry Bay, and the question of its exact location has never been definitely settled to the satisfaction of all. On Charles C. Brodhead's map of Macomb's Purchase, made about 1791, and published in Documentary History of New York, vol. III., the name of Hungry Bay is given to the waters comprised within Six Town Point, in the town of Henderson, and Point Peninsula, in Lyme. Guy Johnson's map of the country of the Six Nations, including part of the adjacent colonies, made in 1771, and published in Doc.

* Voyage dans la haute Pennsylvanie, et dans l'état de New York, par un membre adoptif de la Nation Oneida, vol. III., p. 408.

+ Hough's History of Jefferson County.

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TOWN OF HOUNSFIELD.

History of New York, vol. IV., gave the name "Niourne Bay" to the above waters, and located "Famine Bay" near the mouth of Sandy Creek, in the present town of Ellisburgh. Famine Bay probably received its name from the want of provisions and sickness which decimated De la Barre's expedition in the latter part of August, 1684. The commissary of that expedition, De Meneles, in a letter to the minister (Paris Doc., II.), says that the camp at La Famine was made " in places never inhabited, entirely surrounded by swamps." Ellisburgh is the only town in this county, having a lake shore, which can furnish extensive marshes. Such marshes exist at the mouth of Big Sandy Creek.

This town is a part of the original Boylston Tract, and in common with Io other towns in Jefferson and Lewis counties, comprising an area of nearly 300,000 acres, became the property of Nicholas Low, William Henderson, Richard Harrison, and Josiah Ogden Hoffman, on July 15, 1795. These eleven towns form what has since been known as the Black River Tract. On the division of this tract Hounsfield fell to the share of Hoffman and Har- rison, who, on July 13, 1797, conveyed to Champion and Storrs 11, 1342 acres in the northern part of this town, with the town of Champion (25,708 acres), for $58,333.33. "On the 14th of November, 1798, Champion and Storrs sold a portion of the above to Loomis and Tillinghast, receiving two notes of $6,000 each, which, with a mortgage upon the premises, not being paid, the tract was sold by a decree of chancery, at the Tontine Coffee House in New York, June 20, 1801, and bid off by Augustus Sacket, of that city, who received a conveyance from Champion and the assignees of Loomis and Tillinghast. While the sale was pending Mr. Sacket, having heard of the location, and inclining to engage in its purchase, made a journey in 1801 to the place, and was so struck with the great natural advantages for a port which the place presented that he hastened back, and having secured the purchase returned with a few men to commence improvements. In the second and third years he erected an ample and convenient dwelling, and the little colony received the accessions of mechanics and others." *

At the first town meeting convened at the house of Ambrose Pease, and from thence adjourned to the house of Joseph Landon, March 4, 1806, Au- gustus Sacket was chosen supervisor ; William Waring, clerk ; Amasa Fox, William Baker, Samuel Bates, Jr., Theron Hinman, assessors ; Ambrose Pease, Robert Robbins, commissioners of highways ; Jotham Wilder, John Patrick, overseers of the poor ; Jeremiah Goodrich, collector ; J. Goodrich, William Galloway, and John Root, constables. At the same meeting it was

" Resolved, That the inhabitants of this town, who shall hunt any wolf or panther in this town (though he should kill such wolf or panther in any other town), shall be entitled to $10 bounty."

The meeting also appointed Theron Hinman, Augustus Sacket, and Am- asa Fox " delegates to a general meeting of the county to nominate a suita-

* Hough's History of Jefferson County.

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TOWN OF HOUNSFIELD.

ble candidate for the legislature, at their own expense." This first town meeting was warned by Amasa Fox, Esq. At subsequent early meetings the usual rewards for the killing of ferocious beasts, and fines for the neglect to mow down or destroy Canada thistles before they went to seed, were voted ; the fines thus obtained to be given to the inhabitant of the town who would discover the most practical method of destroying said thistles.

From Spafford's Gazetteer of 1813 we quote :-

" We were unable to determine the number of mills, etc., that were in town about 1810-11. Sackets Harbor was a port of entry and delivery; had a collector of revenues and a post- office; and contained about 40 families."

The same author in 1824 says of Hounsfield in 1820 :-

" The taxable property was $230,348. There were 5,813 acres of improved land, 2,158 cat- tle, 383 horses, 3,235 sheep; 10,472 yards of cloth were made that year in families. The town contained one grist-mill, six saw-mills, two fulling-mills, three carding machines, one distillery, and four asheries. The school districts were nine in number, where 547 children received ed- ucation; the schools were in session eight months in the year.

"Sackets Harbor had become a prominent village, and contained two churches, three school-houses, one printing office, 10 stores, and several mechanic shops. For the times the commerce of the place was quite extensive. There were 10 schooners owned there, engaged in the lake trade, aggregating about 700 tons tonnage. There were also two steamboats on the lake, which made regular stops here. There was at that time laid up at the port of Sackets Harbor a frigate of 68 guns, three ships of 28 guns each, four brigs, and a number of gun- boate. The village then contained 2,020 inhabitants, including about 600 United States troops stationed at Madison Barracks."

In 1880 Hounsfield had a population of 2,770. The town is located in the first school district of Jefferson County, and in 1888 had 17 school dis- tricts, in which 14 teachers were employed 28 weeks or more. There were 667 scholars attending school, and the aggregate days attendance during the year was 65,316. The total value of school buildings and sites was $12, 105, while the assessed valuation of all the districts was $1, 101,059. The whole amount raised for school purposes was $4,753.40, $2,279.15 of which was received by local tax. S. Whitford Maxson was school commissioner.

SACKETS HARBOR (post village) was incorporated April 15, 1814. It is a port of entry and a military post situated on Black River Bay, and is the terminus of the Watertown branch of the U. and B. R. division of the R., W. & O. Rail- road, IT miles from Watertown, 193 from Albany, and 335 from New York. It has telegraph, telephone, and express offices, a daily stage to Smithville, four churches (Presbyterian, Methodist Espiscopal, Protestant Episcopal, and French Roman Catholic), two hotels, a foundry and machine shop, saw and planing-mill, grist-mill, two general stores, four groceries, one hardware store, two drug stores, a merchant tailor, and about 1,200 inhabitants. The postoffice at Sackets Harbor was established just previous to the War of 1812, and Ambrose Pease was appointed first postmaster.

EAST HOUNSFIELD (p. o.) is a small hamlet in the eastern part of the town, near the Watertown line. It contains a church (Christian), cheese factory, school-house, and a small number of dwellings.

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TOWN OF HOUNSFIELD.

The villages of BROWNVILLE and DEXTER, on Black River, lie partly in Hounsfield. In addition to these there are the hamlets of STOWELL's COR- NERS, FIELD'S SETTLEMENT, CAMP'S MILLS, JEWETTSVILLE, and ROBBINS SETTLEMENT, which are simply clusters of dwellings around localities where early settlements in the town were made.

The McKee foundry, at Sackets Harbor, was built in 1840 by McKee & Hammond, and first engaged in the manufacture of stoves and mowing ma- chines. It is a stone building and cost $1,000, about its present value. The present proprietors are McKee & Son, who manufacture machinery for ves- sels and do a general repairing business.

Bacon's cheese factory at East Hounsfield, on road 33, was built by Cas- per L. Bacon, the present proprietor, in 1885, and cost about $4,000. It manufactures about 82,000 pounds of cheese per year.

The Empire flouring-mills, located in the northeast part of the town, were built by - Munson in 1850. The mills are run by water-power, and have the capacity for grinding 75 barrels of flour per day.

E. Drake's grist-mill, located in the northern part of the town, near the village of Dexter, was built by Henry Payne in 1867. The machinery is pro- pelled by water-power, and the mill at present is run by William H. Youngs.

Hoover's saw and planing-mill, located in the northern part of the town, near Dexter village, was built in 1880 by George Hoover. It is run by water- power, is fitted with circular saws, and cuts annually about 300,000 feet of lumber.

EARLY SETTLERS, ETC.

The first settlement in the town of Hounsfield was commenced in 1800, by Amasa Fox, who located on great lot 36, in the northern part of the town, near the cemetery, on road 18. His name appears frequently on the town records, and it was he who gave notice for the first town meeting, held in 1806. The settlement of the territory progressed rapidly, and in 1802 a traveler reported 30 families living in township No. 1. Five brothers, Solo- mon, Robert, Asher, Austin, and Joshua Robbins, from Berkshire County, Mass., located in the southwestern part of the town previous to the War of 1812, in the neighborhood since known as the Robbins Settlement. They were the first settlers in that locality, and made the first improvements. In the eastern part of the town, near the Watertown line, at what is known as Field's Settlement, located several of the sons of Elijah Field, who came with their father from Woodstock, Vt., in 1805 or '06. Mr. Field had no less than nine sons, most of whom were of mature age, and located in Hounsfield, while the father's location was in Watertown. Following the Fields in this locality came Palmer Westcott, who became an extensive manufacturer of potash.

In March, 1808, Ebenezer Allen, from Windsor, Vt., came with his family, consisting of his wife and 10 children, and located on great lot 38, where he

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 69

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