Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 80

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 80

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).

David Lawrence was born in the town of Le Ray, June 19, 1841. He was reared upon a farm, and his educational advantages were those afforded by the common schools, which he attended winters. At the age of 21 years he married Emogene Baum, of this town, by whom he had five children, namely: Nelson J., George D., William J., Edson H., and Kate E. Mr. Lawrence died at the age of 45 years. His widow and five children survive.

Joseph V. Bisha came from France to his country in 1828, at that time being 13 years of age. In 1841 he married Almira, daughter of Robert Sixbury, and followed the occupation of farming on road 8, where they remained 16 years. They then removed to Pleasant Valley, in the town of Cape Vincent, remaining there five years, when they returned to this town and purchased a farm on road 35. During the next 19 years they resided in several different places, finally returning to the farm on road 35, where Mr. Bisha died November 24, 1883. Their children were Mary V., Sarah J., Malinda, Lonis J., Charles E., Ferdinand A., Julia A., Peter J., George A., and William M. The latter resides with his mother on the old homestead.

Thomas Gillespie, a native of Ireland, emigrated to America at an early day and located in this county. He married Hannah, daughter of John Gardner, of Brownville, and they had seven children, three of whom are living, two in Black River village, viz .: John W., who is employed in Dexter's chair factory, and George G. The latter was born September 10, 1837, and in 1859 he married Amelia, daughter of William Wolf, and settled at Black River, where

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TOWN OF LE RAY.

he has since resided, in the employ of D. Dexter & Sons. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Bat- tery C, 1st N. Y. Lt. Art., and was discharged May 24, 1862, on account of sickness. In Angust, 1863, he enlisted in Co. E, 14th N. Y. H. A., and participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Tolopatomy Creek, Bethseda Church, Cold Har- bor, Petersburg, Weldon Rrailroad, Blicks's Station, Poplar Grove Church, Pegram Farm, Hatcher's Run, Forts Haskell and Stedman, and at the taking of Petersburg. He was dis- charged in September, 1865. He had one son, George W., deceased. He has an adopted daughter, Fanny.

Lawrence Scott was born at Little Falls, Herkimer County, in 1811, where he married, in 1835, Betsee Frank, who was born in France. They located in this county in 1842. Of their six children, Nelson R. was born in Herkimer County in 1840. In 1862 he enlisted with the Union army and served three years. In 1866 he married Helen Lyon, by whom he has one son, Melvin L., who lives at home with his parents. Mr. Scott is a farmer on road 39. 4

Jacob Doxtater was born in Herkimer, N. Y., in 1816. After the death of his mother, which occurred when he was nine years old, he went to live with his uncle, Frederick Doxta- ter, a banker and farmer in Herkimer village, and here resided until he attained his majority. Jacob worked upon his uncle's farm, attended the district school, with a few terms in the High school in the village. At the age of 25 years he married Catharine, daughter of Christian Davies, of Herkimer County. In March, 1843, they removed to the town of Pamelia, and in 1848 bought the farm in Le Ray where they now reside. They have had seven children, five of whom survive, viz .: Alexander, Mary C., Milton W., Emma E., and Charles G. Emma E. has been twice married, first, to Myron S. Stollar, of Theresa, by whom she had one daughter, Rosabel. Upon the death of Mr. Stollar his widow married James D. F. Shead, of Brownville, and they occupy the farm owned by Mrs. Doxtater.

George G. Gardner, a native of Nantucket, Mass., married Maria, daughter of Uriah Coon, by whom he had two children, Eliza M. and Alexander P. For some years they resided in Columbia County, subsequently removing to Albany, N. Y., where Mr. Gardner successfully conducted a meat market and grocery for abont 10 years. In 1864 he purchased a farm on road 49, in this town, where he now resides, aged 84 years. Alexander P. was born in 1832, and now resides in this town on road 30. He was educated in the common schools, and at the academy at Evans Mills. In 1864 he married Fanny A. Stone, of Lewis County, by whom he has one daughter, Lila M., who is now attending the Friends School at Union Springs, N. Y. Mrs. Gardner died in 1887.

John St. Lonis was born in Plattsburgh in 1823, and died July 15, 1885. His boyhood days were spent in Canada and in Plattsburgh. At the age of 19 he married Catharine, daugh- ter of Joseph Lamay, of Canada, and soon after located in Watertown. They had 10 chil- dren, viz .: Delia, Mary, James, Henry, Celia, Jane, Ann Eliza, Harriet, Anthony, and Joseph. Anthony, Henry, Celia, and Ann Eliza are dead. Joseph attended school and did farm work until he was 15 years of age. when he enlisted in the 10th N. Y. H. A., served three years, and was discharged at the close of the war. In December, 1865, he married Josephine, daughter of Joseph Legacy, of Le Ray, by whom he has had four sons and one daughter, viz .: John, Anthony, Wallace, Mand (deceased), and William (deceased). They reside at Black River village.

George A. Fisk was born in Randolph, Vt., in 1841, and was a resident of that state until 1861, when he removed to Albany, and enlisted in Co. G, 22d N. Y. Vols., in the first call for 75,000 men, and served two years. He reënlisted in Co. A, 2d N. Y. Veteran Cav., at Saratoga Springs. He was in 12 general engagements during his first term of service, and escaped with- out a wound. During his cavalry service he was wounded twice, first with a rifle-ball through his ear, and second, he was ent on the neck with a sabre. He also had two horses shot under him. At the close of the war he visited his old home in Vermont, and shortly after removed to this county, finally locating in Le Ray. In 1870 he married Caroline, daughter of Curtis W. Cory, of this town, and they have two children, George M. and Lottie C.

Sylvester Gould was born at Gould's Corners, in the town of Pamelia, in 1819. He mar- ried Lucy Gale, of Le Ray, and they had seven children, viz .: Harriet, who died at the age of six years; Maria, who married Anthony F. Sheffner, of Pamelia Four Corners, and died at the age of 41 years; Lodema S., who died at the age of 35 years; and Edith L., Mary R., Emma D. (Mrs. Harrison K. Cole), and Stephen N., who survive. Stephen N. remained at home until he

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TOWN OF LE RAY.

was 20 years old. He then attended the business college at Watertown for three years, and graduated from that institution, following which he worked on the farm for four years, and taught school winters. At the age of 27 years he married Viola, daughter of William Watts, then of Pamelia, now of Watertown, by whom he has two children, Lula L., born in 1874, and William S., born in 1884. They have resided on their farm on road 40 for the past 15 years.

A. W. Hadsell, son of Solomon, was born in the town of Champion, January 14, 1835. He married Louisa, daughter of Asahel and Caroline Sheldon, and located on the old homestead, which he occupied until 1880, when he moved to Alexandria Bay and run the St. Lawrence Hotel for two years, when he located in Black River village, in the town of Le Ray, where he is now engaged in mercantile business. He attended the district schools until he was 20 years of age, and subsequently attended the High school at Watertown one term. He was supervisor of the town of Champion in 1870-71, has been one of the board of trade since the organization of that body, was railroad commissioner for Champion from 1871 till 1880, and has been asses- sor of Le Ray since 1886. He is said to have been the first person in the county to make fae- tory cheese, about 1857 or '58. He has a daughter, Carrie A.

Spencer Failing attended school at Clayton until he was 19 years of age, and from this time until he was 22 he worked on his father's farm by the month. He then married Patience, daughter of Augustus Coon, of Leeds County, Ont. He worked his father's farm seven years on shares, and soon after removed to this town and purchased of his uncle, Josiah Failing, the farm where he has resided for six years, and by frugality and industry has greatly improved the place. Mr. and Mrs. Failing have three sons and two daughters, viz .: Emmo- ratta, Willie E., Burton E., Roy A., and Gertie B.

Samuel O. Barnes was born in the town of Pamelia in 1821. He worked on his father's farm and attended school until he arrived at the age of 18 years. At the age of 25- years he married Gracie Eddy, of Pamelia, and for six years worked, on shares, the farm which he afterward purchased. He died September 6, 1867, aged 46 years. He had one son, Oscar W., born February 20, 1852. Oscar W. attended the Clinton Liberal Institute, Oneida County, for three years, and shortly after his return home took charge of the farm which he has since conducted. December 22, 1875, he married Eva J., daughter of J. B. Ball, of Watertown, and they have one son, Roy O., aged 10 years.

Richard Smith, father of Richard, Jr., was born in Montgomery County in 1791. He mar- ried Catharine Beach, of Brockville, Canada, and they had three sons and seven daughters, four of whom died young and six survive, viz .: Maria, Christina, Julia, Amanda, Sarah Jane, and Richard, Jr. About 1847 Mr. Smith removed with his family to South Rutland, in this county. His health failing, mueh of the care of the family devolved upon his son Richard, Jr., then only 15 years of age. Richard, Jr., remained at home until he was 28 years old, when he married Mary A., danghter of Henry Pinckney, of Lewis County. They remained in Rut- land seven years, and then removed to Rodman, thence to Hounsfield, then located in Le Ray, from whence they returned to Rutland, and are now hving at Felt's Mills. They have one son and two daughters, viz .: Flora A., William H., and Minnie Ola.

Samnel Martin was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1834. At the age of 23 years he married Alice Carl, of County Monaghan, by whom he had four sons and five daughters, viz .: Mary Ellen, Wilson, James, Jane, Margaret, Samuel, William Henry, Alice, and Annie. Mar- garet and James immigrated to America in May, 1885. Wilson followed in April, 1886, and they first located in the village of Dexter, in the town of Brownville, subsequently settling near Evans Mills, in this town. They purchased a house and one acre of land on road 43, with the laudable purpose of furnishing a home for their parents, and to which they came, September 22, 1887, with two boys.

Justice Wolcott came from Old Hartford, Conn., and located in the town of Wilna about 1812, where he took up a lot of land and cleared it. He reared a family of eight children, only one of whom, Henry, is now living. Hemy Wolcott resides at Black River village with his- sons George H. and Engene R., who are contractors and builders.

542

TOWN OF LORRAINE.

LORRAINE.

L ORRAINE was formed from Mexico, March 24, 1804, as Malta, which was changed to the present name, April 6, 1808, on account of there being another Malta in the state, in Saratoga County. When first erected it included, besides its present limits, the town of Worth, which was set off in 1848. It is the central town in the southern border of the county, and is bounded on the north by Adams and Rodman, east by Worth, south by Oswego County, and west by Ellisburgh. The surface or the town is ele- vated, and very much broken by hills and gorges. The soil is underlaid by shales so finely developed that the term Lorraine shales has been applied to the formation. The layers of this rock are alternately soft and hard, so that they yield with great facility to the disintegrating agencies of frost, atmospheric action, and running water of the streams which traverse the town. Deep and immense gulfs or channels have been worn wherever these means of natural drainage exist. These chasms are in most places impassable, and have caused the town much inconvenience and great expense in the location of roads, and the building of bridges, while some of them are invested with tragic interest. Numerous accidents have happened to persons who have attempted to cross some of the deeper ones, and the loss of animals from falling over the steep and treacherous banks is frequently reported. Yet the gulfs afford attractions, in their ever changing beauty and quiet grandeur, that will repay the labor of a visit.

. All the streams of the town have romantic gorges, but the gulf on the south branch of Sandy Creek is particularly impressive, and will convey a fair idea of the nature and proportions of the many others in the town. "Its depth varies from one to two hundred feet, and its breadth from four to ten rods. The bottoms, and in many cases the sides, are overgrown with timber, and the stream wanders alternately from right to left, affording, wherever it washes the base, a cliff nearly vertical and of imposing grandeur. As the vis- itor follows the sinuous channel, which the stream through a long lapse of ages has quietly wrought deep into the earth, the scenery constantly changes, af- fording an endless succession of beauties."

The south branch of Big Sandy Creek traverses the northern part of the town, having a western course, and with its tributaries affords good drainage and some water-power, although the steepness of their banks generally pre- vents this from being fully utilized. In the central and southern portions of the town are Hull and Deer creeks, streams of moderate size, and flowing in a northwesterly direction; while farther south are large brooks whose water- power has been more or less improved. The soil generally is fertile, but is

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TOWN OF LORRAINE.

better adapted to grazing than the culture of the cereals. In the northwest corner of the town the surface is nearly level, and here and along Sandy Creek are some productive farms.

The first town meeting was held at the house of John Alger, March 5, 1805, at which the following town officers were elected: Asa Brown, super- visor ; William Hosford, clerk ; Clark Allen, Ormond Butler, Warner Flowers, assessors ; O. Butler, constable and collector; William Hunter, C. Allen, poormasters ; William Hosford, Michael Frost, Asa Sweet, commissioners of highways ; William Lanfear, Joseph Case, Elijah Fox, fence viewers ; James McKee, John Griswold, poundmasters.

From Spafford's Gazetteer of 1813 we quote :-

" In 1810 the town contained three religious societies (Congregational, Baptist, and Metho- dist), six school-houses, two grist-mills, and four saw-mills. The houses were mostly of logs, only about 30 being framed."

The same author in 1824 says :-

"In 1820 the town included Worth, and there were of improved land 3,156 acres, 1,288 cattle, 243 horses, and 2,355 sheep. There were two grist-mills, six saw-mills, one fulling-mill, one carding machine, one distillery, and one ashery."

In 1880 Lorraine had a population of 1,435. The town is situated in the first school district of Jefferson County, and in 1888 had 13 school districts, two of which were joint, in which 13 teachers were employed 28 weeks or more. There were 366 scholars attending school, and the aggregate days at- tendance during the year was 26,396. The total value of school buildings and sites was $6,920, while the assessed valuation of all the districts was $594,722. The whole amount raised for school purposes was $2,631.97, of which $1, 142.80 was received by local tax. S. Whitford Maxson was school commissioner.

LORRAINE (p. o.) is a small village located at the confluence of Deer and Hull creeks, near the center of the town, 18 miles from Watertown, 174 from Albany, and 316 from New York. It has telephone and express offices, two churches (Baptist and Congregational), three stores, a hotel, three blacksmith shops, two saw-mills, a grist-mill, three cheese-box factories, a wagon shop, harness shop, and cheese factory. Caulkins & Grow do an extensive business in packing eggs, and have handled as many as 170,000 dozens in a year. The vil- lage has a population of about 200. Its location is romantic, amidst picturesque scenery, which, with the medicinal springs near by, render the place a pleas- ant resort for summer tourists in quest of health and quietude. The first house in Lorraine village was erected in 1803, by John Alger. Others were built a few years later, and the settlement acquired the name of " Lorraine Huddle," or " The Huddle," which appellation attached to it to some extent for many years. It has always been the principal point in the town, and is the only postoffice within its limits. The first store in the village was opened by Aaron Brown about 1809, who afterwards associated with him Joel Brown. About six years later John Caulkins and Alanson Russell opened a store,

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TOWN OF LORRAINE.

which was consumed by fire in 1825. John Alger was the first to open a house of entertainment in the village, in 1803, and this was the first regular hotel in the town, although McKee and Fox accommodated travelers as early as 1802, at their humble log cabin south of the present village, on the State road. In 1807 Aaron Brown built a saw-mill at Lorraine village, and in 1808 a grist-mill with two runs of stones. Ward Fox was the first black- smith here, and a man named Curry was the first wheelwright. A fulling- mill was erected by John Boyden in the gulf below the old Fox blacksmith shop. It did such an extensive business that a new and larger shop was erected on Hull Creek. Boyden was succeeded by Sardis Abbey. About 1808 Aaron Brown built a distillery on Deer Creek, which was continued about six or seven years. The postoffice was established here in 1806, and Benjamin Gates was the first postmaster. Simeon Parkhurst was the mail carrier from Rome to points north. William Corruth was also one of the early postmasters. The first physician to locate in the village was Dr. Isaac Weston. It is said he once prescribed blood-letting and calomel to a man who had accidentally cut himself while chopping wood.

WATERVILLE, in the eastern part of the town, on Hull Creek, is a small hamlet of a dozen houses. A chair factory was formerly carried on here by L. Warner. At present its manufacturing interests are limited to a saw-mill.

ALLENDALE is a small hamlet in the western part of the town, on Sandy Creek, about two miles south of Adams village. It received its name in honor of Gen. Clark Allen. A postoffice was established here in 1871, under the name of Caulkins's Mills, with Lorenzo Reed as postmaster. I has since been discontinued. About 1830 Martin Rice built a small factory here for- the spinning and weaving of flax. It proved unprofitable, and was discon- tinued after about seven years. The proximity of Adams detracts from the- business importance of this place.

George A. Fox's cheese factory, located on the State road, south of Lor- raine village, was established in 1870. It has the patronage of 275 cows.

Grow Brothers' cheese factory, located at Lorraine village, was established in 1882, and has the patronage of about 300 cows.

Erwin Pitkin's cheese factory, about three and one-half miles south of Lor- raine village, has been in operation several years, and is doing a business quite satisfactory to its numerous patrons.

Maple Grove cheese factory, about one and a half miles northeast of Lor- raine village, owned and operated by E. M. Brown, receives a liberal patronage.

Mr. Stone's cheese factory, near the southwest corner of the town, does quite an extensive business.

John Bridgeman's saw-mill, in the southwest part of the town, does a small custom business.

H. D. Bartlett's sare-mill, located on road 37, on Deer Creek, does cus- tom work.

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TOWN OF LORRAINE.

William N. Standish's lumber and shingle-mill, on Deer Creek, manufact- ures about 300,000 feet of lumber and 200,000 shingles annually.

Abeel Wagoner's saw-mill and cheese-box factory is operated by both steam and water-power. About 11,000 cheese-boxes are manufactured annually.

Caulkins & Grow's egg-pickling establishment, at Lorraine village, has been in operation several years. About 170,000 dozens eggs are handled annually.

The Rural Cemetery Association of the village of Lorraine was formed January 8, 1852, by John Boyden, Aaron Brown, John Bentley, Eben Brown, Knapp Macumber, Joseph Grimshaw, Allen Pitkin, Lorenzo Reed, John Hancock, Moses Brown, Elihu Gillet, Augustus L. Baker, Sardis Abbey, Peter Hanson, Leonard A. Parker, Joel Buel, Luther Lanfear, and Parley Brown. 'Tis here

"'Neath yonder spreading elm, the yew tree's shade, Where heaves the turt in many a mouldering heap,

Each in his narrow cell forever laid,

The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."

The town of Lorraine was settled under the agency of Benjamin Wright, and others ; for a long time the unsettled interests being owned by Hon. William C. Pierrepont. On September 1, 1806, there were 128 settlers in the town who had either acquired titles to their lands or long terms in which to pay for them. The practice of issuing certificates led to speculation in these papers, which was strongly condemned by the original owners, who de- sired actual settlers. In a journal kept by James Constable, under date of August 10, 1805, appears the following :- ,

" Town No. 1 is settling very fast, and, indeed, all that part watered by Sandy Creek has a name that brings settlers in great numbers. The practice of giving certificates to the people, and allowing them a certain time after exploring to go for their families before they take con- tracts for their lots. has been productive of speculation, and must not be continued. A Mr. Salisbury, who had formerly taken a contract, sold it to another, and bought, or procured, one of these certificates, came to us, apparently to ask indulgence as to time of payment, but really with a view to ascertain what our intentions were in respect to such instruments; when we explained to him that they were given to assist the first real settlers, and by no means to be transferable to second or third parties, as that led to speculation upon the persons who ought to have indulgence, not to the speculators, who profited to the disadvantage of both the pro- prietors and the actual settlers. We, of course, would oppose all such attempts, and as he has seen fit to change his situation from holding a contract under us to speculating in cer- tificates, which he must know were intended only as an accommodation to the first parties, we could not treat with him, since the indulgence intended for them could not be transferred. Upon conversation with Mr. Wright we found that the certificates had already occasioned some mischief, and we discovered from the others that some of the holders of them had caused it to be believed that all the best part of the town was taken up, so that new comers were obliged to apply to them or go to some other town. Mr. Wright had no books or accounts here, but supposed that one-half of the town was sold, either by contract or by conditional agreement, and would average 83, though the sales were begun, and a good deal sold, at & . The lowest price was now $3, and it might at once be raised to $4 for the whole, from the great immigration to this quarter. He gave it as his opinion that it would not be for our interest to hurry sales, as this town would speedily settle, and the price might be raised."

35*

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TOWN OF LORRAINE.

James McKee and Elijah Fox, brothers-in-law, the latter unmarried, were the first permanent settlers in this town. They came on in November, 1802, and took up a lot of 50 acres on the State road south of the present village of Lorraine. Here they erected a log cabin, in which they passed the winter, Fox subsequently disposing of his interest in the lot to McKee. In this rude cabin the early land-hunter found entertainment until the regular inn of John Alger was opened at the present village. Mr. Fox returned to Oneida County and married, and in the spring came back and purchased the tract of land now occupied by his son George A., where he soon after erected a house. During the winter and spring of 1803 a number of families from Herkimer County settled along the State road from Rome to Brownville, in the neigh- borhood of McKee and Fox. Among the best known of these were Com- fort Stancliff, Seth Cutler, Benjamin Gates, and John Alger. The latter, as has been previously mentioned, built the first house on the site of Lorraine village. Several months later, the same year, 1803, Clark Allen, a native of Connecticut, took up his abode in the northwestern part of the town, on Sandy Creek, on land still occupied by his descendants. Mr. Allen, from his service in the War of 1812, was known as General Allen. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and served this town as supervisor for nearly 20 years.

Isaac and William Lanfear, from Columbia County, and Asa and Aaron Brown, the last two named not being related to each other, came in about the same time, in 1804. Asa Brown was the first supervisor of Lorraine, but removed from the town several years after. Aaron Brown married Betsey Burbee, who had come to the town as a school teacher, and many of their descendants still reside here. Miss Burbee taught the first school in town, in 1807, in a log house erected for this purpose near where the Baptist Church now stands in Lorraine village. The principal settlers of the town prior to 1810, in addition to those already mentioned, were William Hosford, Ormond Butler, William Hunter, Asa Sweet, John Griswold, Calvin Clifford, James Perry, Elnathan Doane, Ebenezer Brown, Ozias Barton, Allen Pitkin, Michael Risley, Thomas Stancliff, Allen Hills, Oliver Miller, Henry Voners, David Steadman, Nathan Gould, Charles Thompson, Hubbard Randall, John Cowles, Isaac Weston, Abner Baker, Timothy Heath, George Sampson, John Brewer, Joseph Studly, and William Adams. Most of these cleared their farms and made permanent improvements. Michael Risley and Allen Pitkin, brothers-in-law, started a tavern on the old State road. This was the second regular inn in the town. It was only conducted for a few years. Dr. Isaac Weston erected a hotel in 1807, in Lorraine village. It was a large structure for those times, being two stories high, and became a popular place in which to hold dances, and many a rustic's heart has quickened with the thought of taking his " best girl " to a New Year's ball, held in this favorite hostelry. The building was demolished in 1850, the Doctor having several years pre- wiously removed to Watertown. Another old-time tavern, about two miles

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 80

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