Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 82

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 82

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).

Robert Piddock, son of Thomas, was born in Canterbury, Kent. England, in 1799, and died in Lorraine in 1885. He married Alice Mumery, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Baker) Mumery, in 1820, and about 1828 immigrated to America. His children were Sarah C. (Mrs. Jedediah MeConnel) and Charles, of Lorraine; Thomas, who died in infancy; Robert; Eliza- beth (Mrs. W. Stewart), deceased; Charlotte (Mrs. A. D. Waters), who died in 1888; James, and William. The latter was born in 1837. He married Catherine, daughter of Patrick and Mary (McAnley) Groves, in 1867, by whom he has had one son and five daughters, viz .: William W., born in 1869, now resides at home: Ina Eudia, born in 1872; Ellen Eva, born in 1874; Dora Mary, born in 1875; Frances Fidelia, born in 1877; and Mabel Maude, born in 1879. Mr. Pid- doek served in Co. D, 10th N. Y. H. A. He now occupies the homestead farm where he was born.

Benjamin Shelmidine, a native of Schoharie County, married Polly Judd, by whom he had children as follows: William, who died in Lorraine in 1860; Sally, who married W. Goodrich; Ehiel; Huldah, who married John Cunningham; Almira, who married George Burton; Rosina, who died in Pennsylvania; Datus, who resides in Iowa; and Olive, who died young. William Shelmidine was born in 1806 and reared upon a farm. He married Anna, daughter of Ara and Rosanna (Lown) Lanfear, in 1830, and they had five sons and six daughters, viz .: Rosina, who died at the age of 23 years; Naney, who married Samnel MeCumber; Jerome, who died at the age of three years; John, who died in the army in 1862; Huldah, who died in infancy; Lester,

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who died at the age of six years; Huldah, who married A. Wagener; Benjamin B., of Lorraine; Alvira, who resides with her mother; Mary R., who married Eli Caulkins and has one son, Willie, born April 30, 1885; and Jerome L., born May 9, 1838. The latter was reared upon a farm, and was educated in the common schools. He married Betsey R., daughter of Andrew and Roxiana (Seott) Middleton, in 1861, by whom he has two sons-Ora L. and John D. Ora L. Shelmidine was born in 1863, graduated from the Adams Collegiate Institute, class of 1884, is a school teacher, and is in business with his father. John D. was born in 1869, and resides at home with his father. Mr. Shelmidine is a prosperous farmer, and is extensively engaged in buying sheep, wool, shingles, and wood ..

John Lyman was born in England, in 1693, and about 1716 immigrated to America, and located in Connecticut. He married Abigail Strong and reared a family of 12 children. His son Caleb, born in 1740, married, and reared three children- Isaae, Martha, and Caleb, Jr. The latter, born in 1775, married Aznbah Cooley, and of their children, Elam, who was born in 1803, married Susan Wiswell, who bore him children as follows: John M. (deceased); Adelia, who married James Lloyd, of Lorraine; Martha M., who married M. Jewell, of Sandy Creek: Samuel (deceased); Lois, who married Thomas Bateman, and is now deceased; Mary, who married Gilbert Purdy; Elam S., who resides in this town; Alsimenia; William (deceased); and Joseph M. (deceased). Elam S. Lyman was born on the homestead August 5, 1838, and was reared upon the farm. He married Mary Caroline, daughter of Cyrus and Harriet (Thayer) Weatherbee, in 1859, who bore him two sons and three danghters, viz .: Hattie B., who married George Olney, in 1880, and has one daughter, Mary S .; Freddie and Lois, who died in infancy; Frank C., born in 1869; and Eva Belle, born in 1872. Mr. Lyman enlisted in Co. M, 14th N. Y. H. A., was engaged in the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, and was slightly wounded; was wounded in the left hand in the battle of Cold Harbor, and was se- verely wounded by a shell near Petersburg, Va., and for several months was confined to the hospital, receiving lis discharge on account of disability in the spring of 1865. Mr. Lyman has for many years been engaged in breeding fine road and trotting horses of the Hambleto- mian stock. He owns and occupies the homestead on road 15, known as Maple Lane stock farm, where he was born.

Chauncey L. Bartlett was born in 1806, and in 1831 married Martha T. Pierce, who bore him children as follows: Henry De Witt, of Ohio; Homer A., of Watertown: Martha J., who married Rev. M. T. Hill; Julia Ann, who married A. A. Johnson, and resides in Watertown; and Charles S. and Willis P., who reside in this town. Charles S. Bartlett was born November 16, 1848, and was educated a farmer. He married Sophia A., daughter of George A. and Amelia (Webb) Fox, in 1872, and they had two sons and one daughter, viz .: Myron H., who died in infancy; Homer F., born in 1877; and Mabel Molly, born in 1882. Willis P. Bartlett was born in 1850. He married Nettie M., daughter of George H. and Fannie (Miles) Hall, October 20, 1875, by whom he has had two sons and one daughter, viz .: Mattie Ethel, born in 1878; Glen- nie, who died in childhood; and George C., born in 1885.

Lorenzo D. Reed. son of John and Esther Reed, born in 1817, came to Lorraine about 1850. He married Eliza, daughter of Stephen and Abigail (Washburn) Adzit, by whom he had four sons and two daughters, viz .: Erastus, of Lorraine; Esther (Mrs. L. M. Tabor), of Worth; Albert C., of Lorraine; George W., of Worth; Herbert D., of Lorraine; and Ella, who married B. D. Swan, and died in 1881. Albert C. Reed was born in Rodman in 1848. He was reared upon a farm, and for several terms attended Hungerford Collegiate Institute at Adams. In 1866 he married Hannah A., daughter of L. C. and Adeline (Davison) Tabor, and their children are Addie E., born in 1872; Fred B., born in 1877; and Olin B., born in 1880. Mr. Reed's wife died in 1877. For his second wife he married Abigail, daughter of Abeel and Tri- phenia (Lyon) Adzit, and widow of Luman Heath. Ile resides on School street, in Lorraine village.

Luther L. Bateman, son of George and Mary (Cypher) Bateman, was born in the town of Le Ray in 1837, and was reared upon a farm. At the age of 16 years he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, and in 1855 came to Lorraine and worked at his trade. In 1868 he bought the Boyden saw-mill at the village, where he does planing, matehing, and molding, and manufactures cheese-boxes. He married Olive, daughter of Elihu and Sophia (Allen) Gillette, in 1858, and they have a daughter, Jennie Lutheria, born in 1869. Mr. Bateman was a soldier in the late war and served until its close.

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TOWN OF LORRAINE.

Carleton C. Moore, son of Richard and Keziah (Phelps) Moore, was born in 1826, and when a young man located in the town of Worth, where he engaged in farming. In 1868 he engaged in mercantile pursuits at Lorraine. Mr. Moore served as supervisor of the town of Worth for 11 years, and of Lorraine six years. He was justice of the Court of Sessions three years, and loan commissioner three years. He married Triphenia A., daughter of A. W. and Triphenia (Lyon) Adzit, in 1850, by whom he has had 12 children, viz .: Martha A., born in 1854; Frank A., born in 1860; Minnie A., born in 1863; Eddie H., born in 1866; Stephen, born in 1868; and De Alton E., Richard E., Ormsby D., Carleton C., James M., and Clara M., who- died in childhood. Mr. Moore and son Frank A. are merchants.

Martin P. Thomas, son of Isaac, was born in Schoharie County, and about 1833 located in Orwell, Oswego County, where he kept an hotel. He married Ann Ostram, and their children were Caroline (Mrs. A. D. Peake); Martin H., of Sandy Creek; Jane A. (Mrs. La Fayette Tifft), also of Sandy Creek; James, who died in Orwell; Maryette, who married G. S. Thompson, now of Washington, D. C .; Charles E., of this town; Hannah M. (Mrs. D. C. Walch), deceased; and George D., who resides in Orwell. Charles E. Thomas was born in 1837. He learned the carpenters' trade, and when 20 years of age located at Sandy Creek. He married Phebe A., daughter of Hon. Amaziah and Almira (Ormsby) Wort, in 1859, by whom he had two sons, viz .: Charles A., born in 1861, resides at Sandy Creek, and George M., of Western, N. Y. In 1861 Mr. Thomas enlisted in Co. G, 24th N. Y. Vols., and served until the close of the war. He . is proprietor of the hotel at Lorraine village.

Jeremiah Crandall, son of William, was born in Watertown, and was reared npon a farm. He married Malvina, daughter of Backus Babcock, by whom he had children as follows: Octavia M. (Mrs. Olney Staplin), of Iowa; Ennice L. (Mrs. Milton Allen), of Seneca Falls; Content S. (Mrs. Chauncey Bull), of Iowa; Emogene (Mrs. Samuel Wetmore); and Jeremiah W. The latter was born in Watertown in 1845. He married Ida Jane, daughter of Franklin and Albina (Staplin) Kellogg, in 1875. Mr. Crandall owns and occupies the beaver meadow dairy farm one mile south of Adams village.

George Bovee was born in Montgomery Connty, N. Y., in 1806. He was a blacksmith, and about 1858 located in Tylerville, in the town of Rutland. He married Maria Yeardon, by whom he had five sons and one daughter, viz .: Eliza, Franklin, Daniel, Erwin, Melvin, who was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, and Abraham. The latter was born in 1843, learned the carpen- ters' trade, married Addie E., daughter of Joel and Olive (Bailey) Brooks, of Rodman, in 1870, and they have one son and one daughter, viz .: Joel B., born March 11, 1871, and Edith Maria, born April 14, 1873. Mr. Bovee came to Lorraine in 1880, and has been engaged in farming.

Orvis B. Cornwell, son of John and Lonisa (Bentley) Cornwell, was born in Lyme in 1855. He remained with his father until he was 18 years old, after which time he worked for George Penfield one year. He then engaged in business in New Haven, Oswego Connty, re -- maining there about one year, when he removed to Rodman, remaining there a few years. He married Ada M., daughter of Cyrenus and Riza (Stanford) Flint, of Rodman, in 1876, and they have a son, Earl F., born in 1879, and a daughter, Zilpha R., born in 1882. Mr. Cornwell is now engaged in the manufacture of furniture and sleighs.

Eugene Cornwell, son of Egbert and Theda J. (Cole) Cornwell, was born in Redfield, Oswego County, August 18, 1846, and was reared npon a farm. He married Flora M., daugh- ter of Christopher and Hannah (Boss) Harris, in 1879, and they have had five sons, viz .: George E., born in 1879; Willis, born in 1881; Ora C., born in 1882; Floyd Grover, born in 1885; and Jesse W .. born in 1887. Mr. Cornwell is a farmer on road 52.

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LYME.

L YME was formed from Brownville, by an act of March 6, 1818, em- bracing the present towns of Lyme and Cape Vincent, adjacent islands, and that part of Clayton lying west of Penet's Square. A part of Clayton was taken off in 1833, and Cape Vincent in 1849. The town lies in the western part of the county, upon Chaumont Bay, which, with its tributaries, deeply indent its western border. It is bounded on the north- west by Cape Vincent, on the northeast by Clayton, on the southeast by Brownville, and on the southwest by Lake Ontario, and contains an area of 28,912 acres. It received its name from Lyme, in Connecticut. The town includes Grenadier and Fox islands, in Lake Ontario, and Cherry Island, in Chaumont Bay. The surface of the town is level, and the soil is principally clay. The most important stream is Chaumont River, which empties into the bay of that name. Several smaller streams discharge into Three Mile Bay, an arm of Chaumont Bay.

At the first town meeting held at the house of Luther Britton, March 3, 1818, Richard M. Esselstyn was chosen supervisor; John Dayan, clerk ; John B. Esselstyn, Luther Britton, and Benjamin Estes, assessors ; R. M. Es- selstyn, James M. Craw, and Benjamin T. Bliss, commissioners of schools; J. B. Esselstyn, L. Britton, overseers of the poor ; John M. Tremper, Eber Kelsey, and Thaddeus Smith, fence viewers and poundmasters ; Elnathan Judd, John Dayan, and Joseph Rider, commissioners of highways ; Alexan- der Gage and Daniel Robbins, constables.

At this meeting it was voted to divide the town into eight road districts, to give $100 to the poor, and to forbid hogs to run at large without yokes about their necks and rings in their noses, the penalty for the violation of this last regulation being a fine of 50 cents. Regulations were also made regarding horses and horned cattle ; and the second year (1819) $40 was voted to build two pounds, one at Cape Vincent and the other at Chaumont. It would appear from the records that the hog law was frequently evaded, for, in 1821, it was voted that all the porkers running at large should have "a sufficient yoke around his or her neck "; and that the fines collected should be paid over to the commissioners of schools. The usual bounties for wolves, etc., were offered.

From Spafford's Gazetteer of 1824 we quote :-

"In 1821 the town included Cape Vincent and part of Clayton, and contained three post- offices, one at Chaumont, where was a growing trade, one at Cape Vincent, where were several stores, boats, and considerable business, and one on Carleton Island, where was also a store and wooding station. The fisheries of Chaumont Bay had at that time assumed considerable

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proportions, as upwards of 3,000 barrels of white fish and siscoes were the yearly catch in this town, and were sold at an average of $3 a barrel. In the whole of that large town there was $124,994 of taxable property, 3,629 acres of improved land; 1,034 cattle, 129 horses, 1,082 sheep; two grist-mills, three saw-mills, 22 asheries, and six school districts."

In 1880 Lyme had a population of 2,277. The town is located in the third school district of Jefferson County, and in 1888 had 16 school districts, in which 21 teachers were employed 28 weeks or more. There were 563 scholars attending school, and the aggregate days attendance during the year was 58,070. The total value of school buildings and sites was $12,983, while the assessed valuation of all the districts was $1,379,210. The whole amount raised for school purposes was $5,546.73, $3, 176.99 of which was received by local tax. Charles E. Whitney was school commissioner.

In 1805, four years after the settlement of the town, Nancy Smith opened a school on the south side of the bay, which was the first school in the town.

CHAUMONT is an incorporated village and postoffice and station on the R., W. & O. Railroad, 14 miles from Watertown, 196 from Albany, and 338 from New York. It has telegraph, telephone, and express offices, two hotels, two churches (M. E. and Presbyterian). three general stores, several dealers in hay, grain, and produce, a hardware store, two or three groceries, a drug store, bending works, several cheese factories, limekiln, stone quarries, a number of blacksmith and shoe shops, harness shops, numerous dressmaking establishments, an extensive seed growing establishment, several coal dealers, a jewelry store, meat market, a number of livery stables, and about 700 in- habitants.

THREE MILE BAY is a post village and station on the R., W. & O. Railroad, 18 miles from Watertown, 200 miles from Albany, and 342 from New York. The village is about one mile south from the station, with which it is con- nected by stage. It has telegraph, telephone, and express offices, two churches (M. E. and Baptist), one hotel, three general stores, two gro- ceries, two hardware and stove stores, a drug store, two furniture stores, a merchant tailor, marble works, coal dealers, several blacksmith shops and carriagemakers, meat market, restaurant, billiard saloon, dressmakers, shoe- makers, a saw, shingle, and planing-mill, grist-mill, several manufacturing es- tablishments, and a population of about 500. This village suffered from a disastrous fire in 1877.

WILCOXVILLE (Point Peninsula postoffice) is a small hamlet about 12 miles from Three Mile Bay, with which it is connected by stage semi-weekly. It has a telephone office, one church (Methodist Episcopal), two stores, one hotel, blacksmith and millinery shops, and a population of about 100.

The Union School at Chaumont village was built in 1880 by Ira Inman, and cost $6,000. Three teachers are employed, and 125 scholars attend school. This school is under the able principalship of Prof. John T. Delany.

Copley's saw mill, at Chaumont village, was built in 1880, and in 1885 be- came the property of Hiram Copley. It is run by steam-power, and has the

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capacity for cutting 2,000,000 feet of lumber annually. It also has a shingle- mill attached.

The saw-mill at Three Mile Bay was built in 1820, by Peter and Richard Estus, who ran it many years. It was rebuilt in 1860 by Menzo Wheeler, the present proprietor. It is run by water-power, and has the capacity for cut- ting 500,000 feet of lumber annually.

The grist and flouring-mill at Three-Mile Bay was built in 1862, by Lewis P. Phelps, the present owner. It is run by water-power, has three turbine wheels, and three runs of stones.

The first settlement in the town of Lyme was commenced in 1801, on the north shore of Chaumont River, about two miles above the village. These pioneers came by the way of Oswego and the lake, and among them were Jonas Smith, Henry A. Delamater, from Ulster County, Richard M. Essel- styn, from Clavarack, then in Albany County, David Soper, T. Wheeler, James Soper, Peter Pratt, and Timothy Soper. The first site chosen for a village proved to be an unfortunate one, on account of the unhealthful character of the locality, and the next spring it was abandoned. The winter of 1801 and 1802 was spent by the settlers in the respective homes from which they had emigrated, having returned there in the fall, after their summer's ciearing and building. In 1802 Mr. Delamater cleared the first land on Point Salubrious. The sickness resulting at an early period from the noxious miasma of Chau- mont River did not extend to this place, which suggested its present name, first applied by Mr. Le Ray. In 1803 a part of the colony settled on the site of the present village of Chaumont, built a saw-mill and warehouse, and put in operation a log tavern. Their number was increased by several other families from Ulster County, among whom were a few unmarried men, and an occasional immigrant from Canada.

In 1805 James Horton moved the families of Daniel and John Tremper to the Chaumont settlement, and the next year came with his own family from Colchester, Delaware County, and located on Point Salubrious, where he was the first permanent settler. The Trempers were tanners, in which business they engaged soon after locating here. A Mr. Mills was probably the second settler on Point Salubrious. After him came Joseph Rider, Silas. Taft, Stephen Fisher, and David Rider, who settled about 1807. Harry Horton and many others were here in 1810, but no village was established, and Chaumont continued to retain its position in that respect.

In 1806 Smith and Delamater, who were the agents of Le Ray, failed, which fact, with the discouraging sickness from malarial fever, from which several had died, greatly disheartened the afflicted settlers, and several returned to their old homes. A majority of the people, however, remained,. and decided to start once more anew.

Chaumont village has been visited by two quite insalubrious seasons. In. 1 828 malignant fevers prevailed very fatally, and in 1875 50 deaths occurred

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within the limits of the corporation from typhoid pneumonia and diphtheria. With these exceptions the region has been considered healthy.

When the War of 1812 was declared the settlements at Chaumont village and Point Salubrious contained about 15 families. 'The country north and west, to near the St. Lawrence River, was an almost unbroken wilderness. In June, 1812, with the advice of General Brown, the inhabitants begun to build a block-house on the north shore of the bay, in front of the stone house of F. Coffeen, which had been commenced in 1806, but was unfinished. During the summer the place was visited by the British, and their fort was demolished by the inhabitants, under an assurance that in this case their prop- erty should be respected. An iron cannon had been found on the isthmus of Point Peninsula, which Jonas Smith had purchased for two gallons of rum. Mr. Camp, of Sackets Harbor, subsequently purchased it for $8, and it was afterwards taken to Ogdensburg, where it was finally captured by the British.

The first celebration of the Fourth of July in Jefferson County was held at Chaumont in 1802. The settlers came from miles around, and some of them were most hilarious in their manner of demonstrating their patriotism. The exercises, which consisted of athletic sports, songs, shooting at a mark, chasing the lubricated swine, and climbing the greased pole, were interspersed with martial music of the most inspiring nature. The veterans of the war rehearsed tales of strife, and fought over again the battles of their youth, for the entertainment of their patriotic sons.

In 1812 an unsuccessful attempt was made to settle Point Peninsula. The war interfered, and the project was abandoned. In 1818 Sebra Howard, William Wilcox, Oliver Wilcox, and John Wilcox, with their families, made a permanent settlement. They were soon after followed by Brittle Minor, Asahel Hoisington, Asa Collins, John Combs, and others. In 1823 but one man was living at Three Mile Bay, in a log shanty east of the village, where was also a toll-gate. Point Peninsula was nearly all taken up before the Bay was permanently occupied. John Reed, Charles Leonard, and Benjamin Estes were the only settlers there in 1835. Daniel Borden lived about half a mile to the west of the village site, and within a distance of two miles eight families by the name of Wells subsequently located. Daniel J. Schuyler set- tled at Three Mile Bay in 1835, and was the first merchant. About this time Asa Wilcox located here, and engaged extensively in building lake vessels and smaller sailing craft.

In 1818 Musgrove Evans, a surveyor, and an agent of Mr. Le Ray in this region, brought a colony of Quakers from Philadelphia, Pa., and located them at Chaumont. The sickness already referred to discouraged them, and they soon after moved away. Mr. Evans removed to Michigan, where he founded the town of Tecumseh in 1823.

William Dewey and his father, Timothy Dewey, purchased 1,000 acres of land from Vincent Le Ray, in 1833, located near Three Mile Bay. This

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same year Alexander Copley came to Lyme. Mr. Copley was for many years the largest land-owner in all this region of country. On June 7, 1833, he purchased 2,562 acres of Vincent Le Ray de Chaumont, and on October 5, 1836, the large tract of 16,961 acres from Gouverneur Morris. These lands were in the towns of Clayton, Brownville, and Lyme. He afterwards added to his estate 10,000 acres situated in Antwerp. Mr. Copley did much to advance the interests of this locality. He made his home at Chaumont, although business often called him elsewhere. The mantle of his business in this section has fallen upon the shoulders of his son, Hiram Copley, who is now the largest land-owner in the town, and probably possesses more farming lands in this county than any other man residing in it.

The fisheries in the waters adjacent to the town of Lyme have afforded, from an early period, a leading pursuit for many persons living in the vicinity, and have proved of much commercial importance to the locality. It has been estimated that, for 30 years from 1815 or 1816, 10,000 barrels of ciscoes and white fish were annually obtained. The business is not now so extensive as formerly. In 1875 the shipment from Chaumont station was about 5,000 barrels, of which number 2,000 barrels were fresh fish. For some years the ciscoes have been conspicuous by their absence from these waters, but indi- cations now are that they may return to their old haunts.

Near the village of Chaumont are extensive lime-stone quarries, which were opened as early as 1825. About 1875 a quarry was opened at Three Mile Bay. The industry is an important one in the town, the value of the prod- uct reaching as high as $45,000 in a single year. The principal firms in Chaumont are Adams Brothers and F. Duford & Son, and H. Copley, man- ufacturer of quick-lime. There are 10 quarries here, four of which are owned by H. Copley, two by Adams Brothers, and one each by Adams & Enos, Silas Davis, A. J. Dewey, and T. Gale. Mr. Copley's quarries are princi- pally worked by F. Duford & Son. The combined quarries in Chaumont have a working face two miles in extent. The quality of the stone is first- class, as is also that at Three Mile Bay. The only dealer in the latter place is John Barron, who does a business of about $2,000 a year. The insufficient shipping facilities at Three Mile Bay prevent thie quarries there from coming into strong competition with those in Chaumont. Adams Brothers also manufacture about $3,500 worth of quick-lime annually. For building pur- poses the stone is noted for its firm texture, freedom from seams and other imperfections, and its ability to withstand exposure to the weather without cracking.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 82

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