Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 92

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 92

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).

615

TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

send brothers, were the only inhabitants of the center lot during the winter of 1805-06.

"Jason Merrick came in 18c6, and located on his lot, No. 675, at the westerly end, directly opposite the place to which Cadwallader Child re- moved, upon the easterly end of 644 ; this removal from his first clearing be- ing on account of the laying out of the road running on lot-lines northeast from Strickland's Corners into Antwerp. The families of Benjamin Gilbert and Stephen Roberts also came in the spring of 1806. John Strickland, Jr., came in 1807, but did not bring his family until the next year. Robert Com- fort removed from his inn on the center lot to his farm in 1807, and in the summer of that year lost two young daughters by death from a prevailing fever. John, a son of Jason Merrick, died from the same cause, and these were the first deaths which occurred among the settlers of the town.

" The first births were those of John, son of John and Asenath Townsend, February 14, 1807, and on the 16th of the same month Oliver, a son of Cadwallader and Elizabeth Child.

" Joseph Bolton came with his family in the fall of 1807, took the house which had been built by Robert Comfort, and continued it as a place of pub- lic entertainment. In the spring of 1809 Ezra Comley settled on reserved lot 645, his farm being that afterwards owned by Seth Strickland. John Strickland, Sr., one of the wealthiest of the settlers, arrived and purchased the property of the Townsends at the Settlement, John Townsend removing thence to his farm, and Thomas purchasing lands a short distance south of the village, now the farm of Joshua Roberts. Mr. Strickland took possession of the mills, and made liis residence in the block-house built by Thomas Town- send, to which, however, he was soon obliged to build an addition larger than the original house. This was the first frame dwelling house in the settlement and town, though there were other buildings of that construction built earlier. Mr. Strickland had a family of 11 children, 10 of whom reached maturity. He was early a very large land-owner, first exchanging with Le Ray his farm of 300 acres in Bucks County, Pa., for a much larger tract here, to which he added by purchase until he became the possessor of fully 5,000 acres, most of which he lost, owing to the great depreciation of business values at the close of the War of 1812.

" The settlements on the center lot were not rapid under the system of leasing in sub divisions, and during the first 10 years an average of less than Io acres per year were taken up. The trustees became weary and dis- heartened, and on the formation of the Le Ray monthly meeting, in 1815, they requested that body to relieve them of their trust, which could not, however, be effected without an act of incorporation, and for this the meet- ing would not petition. On April 11, 1816, a committee, consisting of Daniel Child, Richard Hallock, William Barber, Joseph Child, Jr., John Strickland, Jr., and Joseph Hayworth, were appointed by the meeting to con- fer with and assist the trustees in the management of the lot, which was, in

616

TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

reality, an assumption of the direction of its affairs by the meeting. Four trustees were reappointed, and the fifth, Jason Merrick, who was not a mem- ber of the Friends Society, continued to exercise the functions without re- appointment. Energetic efforts were made to lease the remaining portions of the central lot, and the system of leases in perpetuity was adopted ; but, notwithstanding this, very little was accomplished, and it was fully 30 years from the adoption of the short lease system before the last of these sub-divi- sions was disposed of. The lands outside the central lot, however, being open to absolute purchase, were settled with reasonable rapidity, and gen- erally with a very excellent class of immigrants, who, at the end of 17 years from the time of the first arrivals, had become ready, and sufficiently numer- ous, to assume the responsibilities of separate township organization."*

Sometimes abstracts of accounts furnish historical data, and so, from the books of Cadwallader Child, the following is given:

In 1805 Mr. Child had opened accounts; with Thomas Townsend and John Petrie, who paid principally in work. In 1807 he first charged Robert Com- fort, and February 1, 1810, to a discount on a Vermont bank bill, 25 cents, and credited him by one dozen pigeons, 25 cents. Under date of February 10, 1809, he charges Thomas Mosher " to 7 meals victuals and 3 nights' lodging, 84 cents," and in December of the same year,

" To 9 days' board while cutting the road $1 93 use of horse going to mill, &c., 3 days 75"

He credits the same man, "June 27, 1811, by about three days' work with horse at 25 cts., 75 cts."

In 1809 he had opened accounts with Benjamin Kirkbride, John Strickland, Sr., and Samuel Tucker, and to the latter he charged, among other things, under date of April 16, 1810, "to a Vermont State Bank bill returned, $2.00," and Henry Tucker, to whom he charged

" 4th Month 30, 1810. To 112 day with both yoke of cattle, moving, at 56 cts. for each yoke per day, being found keeping $1 68"

With Daniel Hunter, Henry Cooper, Joshua Winner, Nathan Goodale, Jonas Allen, Gardner Hall, and John Bowdry he also opened accounts in 1809; in 1810 with Stephen Roberts, Solomon Parker, Thomas Ward, John Jenison, Asher Seamen, Henry Cooper, and Sela Cooper ; and in 1812 with Warren Foster, Ebenezer Page, and Nathan Dyke ; and against nearly all accounts were one or more items charged for surveying.

Only a few items appear in this book as charged against Mr. Le Ray. Among them, in 1809, are :-

*History of Jefferson County, 1878.

+ Probably Mr. Child had other books not known to the writer, for in the book re- ferred to the earliest charge against Mr. Le Ray is in 1809, while it is well known his services began in 1804.

617

TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

7th mo. 30. To 2 days inspecting and measuring Crooks & Durky's job of cross- way on the Montreal road, at $2.50, $5 00 10 mo. 4th. To 4 days going to, inspecting of, and returning from the jobs next the St. Lawrence, 8 00

.6 6th. To making returns of these jobs, and running a line from Le Ray's house down to the bridge across a creek below saw-mill, 172 days, 2 50

21. To 6 days maping my last survey, ascertaining the contents of every separate division-being 40-and making a survey bill for 32 divisions, 12 00

1810, June 9. To 212 days marking out the places for causways on the Alexandria road from Theresa Mill to Alexandria, 5 00

To 1 day going to Le Raysville paying off my hands, 2 00

In 1813, second month, 24th, is the following entry :-

" Richard Hallock and I bought a barrel of salt marked 300 lbs. and weighed 266 lbs. We paid for the same,

$5 33

The following are quotations of prices current from Mr. Child's books :-

1808. Beef, 5c .; 1/2 paper pins, 10c .; potatoes, 45c .; day's work, 62}}c.

1809. P'd hired man, Nathan Hudrix, for one month's labor, $12.50.

1813. Wheat, $2.00; shingle nails, 18c.

1818. Wheat, $1.50; potatoes, 3 shillings; load hemlock bark, 50c.

1820. Barley, 72c .; tallow, 12}}c .; corn, 3712c.

The assessments for road tax in 1811, in district No. 13, of Le Ray (now Philadelphia), were as follows :-

John Strickland (overseer). 25 days Reuben Pownell, 2 days

Benjamin Gilbert, 2 66 Daniel Hunter, 2

Stephen Roberts, 1 Thomas Townsend, 12 4

Daniel Roberts, 2 6

In district No. 14 the assessments were :-

Jason Merrick (overseer). 10 days

Warren Foster, 2 day.

Cad. Child, 10 +

Andrew Foster, 5 44

John Strickland, Jr.,

James Chase, 8 .

Robert Comfort, 4 John Wilkinson, 2 ..

Richard Hallock, 8

Among the earlier officers of the town the following appear for the first time :-

Jeremiah Cooper, as commissioner of schools, 1823; Jonathan Mosher and David Mosher. as pathmasters and fence viewers, 1823; Gardner Clark, a commissioner of highways, Richard Hallock, commissioner of schools, Samuel Rogers, school inspector, Elias Roberts and Mahlon Strickland, overseers of highways, 1824; Benjamin Jackman, commissioner of schools, 1825; Edmund Tucker, town clerk, Jason Merrick and Samuel D. Whiting, assessors, John Whiting, commissioner of highways, Henry York, poundmaster, 1826; Weden Mosher, inspector of elec- tions, 1828; Charles Coolidge and David Merrick, pathmasters, 1829; Alfred Coolidge, assessor, Alvah Murdock and Robert Townsend, inspectors of schools, Henry Baxter and James Cooper, pathmasters, 1830; John Cross and William Allen, justices of the peace, Henry Danforth and Theodore Cross, constables, 1831; Asel W. Danforth, justice of the peace, Lyman Wilson, as- sessor, William Chadwick, pathmaster, 1832; Smith Bockus, justice of the peace, 1833; Jesse Smith, supervisor, William K. Butterfield, justice of the peace, David Isdell, commissioner of highways, Cyrus Mosher, pathmaster, 1834; Seth Strickland, Allen Cooper, Seth Aldrich, and Joseph A. Child, pathmasters, 1835; Miles Strickland, town clerk, John F. Latimer, justice of the peace, Daniel Rogers, collector and constable, 1836.

618

TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

It was voted at the town meeting of that year, " That there should be $10 raised to purchase a book-case to keep the town books and papers in." William Strong was town clerk in 1838.

All of the foregoing were officers of the town more than half a century ago, but many of them have lived within the remembrance of the young men of to day, and several of them continued to hold office for many years.

Early roads .- While yet a portion of Le Ray several of the most important roads had been opened, but after the town was erected the first road surveyed was the following :-

" Survey of a road from that leading by Jonathan Mosher's, viz .: Beginning in the center of said road on the division line of lots No. 640 and 641, on a course N. 54° W. 1412 rods. Thence S. 54° E. 8412 rods on the division line of lots No. 640 and 641, to the corner of lots No. 640, 641, 671, 672, and continuing on the line between 671, 672, to the center of the Bend road. Surveyed 3 mo. 31, 1823, by Cad. Child, surveyor.

" ALDEN BUCKLIN, Com's of Highways." "JAMES CROFOOT, 5

The second road was also surveyed by Cadwallader Child. The following seven roads were surveyed by Aaron Child in the years 1824 and 1825. The first road surveyed by Edmund Tucker was in 1825, May 18th, "from the most westerly corner of lot No. 710 * to the most westerly corner of lot No. 709." Following this, in 1825, two other roads were "laid" by the commissioners, Samuel C. Frey and Samuel D. Whiting. The first road to be surveyed by Oliver Child in this town was on November 10, 1826, and running as follows :-

" Beginning at the most S. E'ly corner of lot No. 673, thence N. 36° E. on the line between lots No. 674, 705, 675, 706, 707, one mile 247 rods."

From 1827 to 1840 the roads were surveyed by Edmund Tucker, Cad- wallader Child, Oliver Child, Daniel Child, Miles Strickland (the first by him on December 18, 1830), Nathan Ingerson (the first by him February 18, 1831), Aaron Child, Levi Miller (the first by him June 1, 1833), David Miller (the first by him September 27, 1834), Joel Hayworth (the first by him Febru- ary 16, 1835), Gorham Cross (the first by him April 5, 1838), and William Howland (the first by him September 5, 1840). Many of the surveys were for changes, and in many cases the roads were " laid by us the commissioners."

Ear marks .- After the erection of the town the following were some of the ear-marks for stock recorded in 1822 :-

John Strickland's mark is a hole in each ear. John Strickland, Jr.'s, mark is a crop off the right ear. Alden Bucklin's, a crop off the right ear and two slits in the same. Jonathan Mosher's, a crop off the right ear and a half crop off the underside of the left ear. David Mosher's, a crop off the left ear and a slit in the right ear. Cadwallader Child's (1823), a crop off the left ear and a slit in the same. William Allen's (1823), a half crop in the foreside of the right ear and a slit in the end of the left ear. Stephen Mosher's (1825), a double swallow fork in the right ear. Samuel Rogers's (1826), a half crop in the upper side of the left ear.

The last ear-mark appearing upon the record is that of George W. Town- send, November 19, 1852, and was "a slit in the under side of the right ear."

619

TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

At the town meeting in 1840 it was voted "to raise $75, by tax, for the purpose of levelling, fencing, etc., the burying-ground, deeded to the inhabi- tants of the town for that purpose, by the Society of Friends, and that said society should be exempt from said tax."

Early assessments and taxes .*- In 1827 the following were among those taxed :-

NAME.

ACRES.

VALUE.

TAX.

William Allen,

114

$ 330 00

$1 98

Stephen Baker,

148 00

Alfred Coolidge, t

100

275 00

1 65

James Cooper,

88 00

Allen Cooper,

69 00

Cadwallader Child.

227

609 00

Aaron Child,

110

263 00

1 58

Gardner Clark,

110

333 00

2 00

John Edwards,

9 00

Harvey Hamblin,

114 00

Nehemiah Howland.

153 00

David Holden,

56 00

Jonathan Mosher,

239 00

1 43

Samuel Rogers,

270

597 00

3 58

Stephen Roberts,

115

341 00

2 05

Mahlon Strickland,

220

670 00

4 02

John Strickland, Jr ..

217

720 00

4 32

John Strickland,

952

204 00

12 24

Ai Shattuck,

162 00

Abial Shurtleff,

265

573 00

3 44

John Townsend,

330

1,058 00

6 35

Edmund Tucker,

120

300 00

1 80

(a center lot),

616 00

3 69

John Whiting,

104 00

Erastus Whitney.

100

221 00

1 33

William York,

129 00

The resident valuation was,

$30,609 00

The non-resident valuation was,

17,519 00

Total,

48,128 00

Resident tax,

$183 62

Non-resident tax.

105 11

Total.

$288 73

A writer in a number of the Northern New York Journal, in 1863, speak- ing of 1827, of which time he well remembers Philadelphia, says in substance: Over two-thirds of the area of the town was then a wilderness. There were but six frame farm houses, none of them painted, and but two houses were

* The assessment rolls previous to 1827 appear to have been mislaid; they could not be found in November, 1889.

+ Of the 156 tax payers in that year the only one now living is believed to be Alfred Coolidge, whose erect but venerable form is yet an object of interest to his many friends in Watertown. He lives in easy and quiet retirement with his daughter, and it is hoped he may be spared for inany more years.

66 & Jno. Strickland, Jr. (saw-mill ),

110 00

620

TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

painted in the village. The same writer, speaking of some of the early hard laborers and jobbers who felled the forests, -without date,-mentions Andrew Warren, Benjamin Foster, Benjamin Gilbert, Samuel and Harvey Copley, and Thomas Mosher; and later came Alfred Coolidge, Duty G. Mosher, and Gardner Clark.

The population at Quaker Settlement, as Philadelphia village was then known, increased very slowly, and in 1828 the heads of families located there were Edmund Tucker and Miles Strickland, proprietors of the flouring-mill ; Platt Homan, their miller ; Samuel C. Frey and Cyrus C. Dodge, both inn- keepers ; Harvey Hamblin, John Cross, W. Mosher, shoemakers ; James Cromwell, cabinetmaker; Stephen Roberts, Orrin Cloyse, Elijah Comstock, John Roat, Justin Gibbs, Edmund Hall, Robert Gray, merchant, and suc- cessor of Samuel Case who opened the first store in Philadelphia, corner of Main and Antwerp streets, Seth Otis, also a store-keeper, Dr. Almon Pitcher, and Horace Ball. The latter built the first fulling-mill and cloth- iery, afterwards successively owned by William Comstock, Miles Shattuck, and Hollis S. Houghton. Robert Gray built the first and only distillery in Philadelphia, on the west side of the river, at the Settlement.

In 1828 a number of the Quakers in this town, headed by Edmund Tucker and the Stricklands, became converts to the Hicksite doctrine ; but the Or- thodox wing, supported by the meeting, retained control of the center lot until the final settlement by quit-claim.

About 1835 symptoms of rebellion against the payment of rents began to be manifest, caused by complications arising from the system of sub-leasing. In 1838 a public meeting was called at the village for the consideration of measures tending to the abolishment of the system of leases. But little was accomplished at this time ; the interest in the project continuing, however, other meetings of similar character following, nearly every tenant participat- ing, they being represented by a committee composed of John F. Latimer, Samuel Rogers, and Jesse Smith. They having boldly declared their inten- tion to pay no more rents, suits were brought against several of them ; but these were afterwards withdrawn, probably on account of the firmness of the defendants, and the prevailing sentiment among the friends in favor of the anti-renters and against litigation. In March, 1844, the society petitioned for a law authorizing the trustees to sell the center lot, which was referred by the Senate to the attorney-general for an opinion, who decided " that it is not competent for any court, or even the legislature itself, to add to or diminish from the estate thereby created, or to change the nature of the trust, or to confer authority upon the trustees to convey the legal estate discharged of this trust thus annexed to it." In consequence of this opinion the legislature declined acting, and so informed the petitioners. This, however, did not pre- vent a settlement of the difficulty. The lessees were willing to pay certain -amounts, which were agreed on, and to accept quit-claim from the meeting, which that body, on January 9, 1845, directed the trustees to execute. About

621

TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

25 of these deeds were given, the tenants receiving them, paying all arrears of rent up to April 1, 1844. Two or three, who were members of the meeting, declined to receive the quit-claims, preferring rather to hold their perpetuity leases at the extremely low figure of $1 per acre, or less, annual rent. And thus ended this long and vexatious controversy.

About the time of the opening of the Sterling mines in Antwerp, in 1836, iron ore was discovered in this town, in the northern part, on the line of Theresa, in lots 343 and 344. It was worked to some extent in the furnaces at Sterlingville, Carthage, Antwerp, and Redwood, a royalty of 50 cents per ton being paid to Almon Fuller and Abial Shurtleff, who owned the land from which the ore was taken. It was a lean ore, and was used mostly as a flux in the reduction of the Sterling and other rich ores. The requirements for this purpose were comparatively small, and for many years the beds were not ex- tensively worked ; but upon reaching greater depth the quality of the ore was found to be improving, until it was ranked among the best ores of the region. In 1867 the mines were purchased by the Sterling Iron Ore Com- pany, of Syracuse, to which place, as well as to other points west, the ore was shipped for reduction. The mine is not now in operation.

In 1836 James Sterling commenced the erection of a furnace on Black Creek, in this town, for the purpose of working the ores from the mines in Antwerp. This furnace was completed in 1837, and put in blast in June of that year, the production for the first three months being 155 tons. In the fall of that year Mr. Sterling associated with him Messrs. Orville Hungerford, George Walton, Caleb Essington, and George C. Sherman, and with them organized the "Sterling Iron Company," which continued until 1840, when it went out of existence, and the " Philadelphia Iron Company " was formed, composed of Ephraim Taylor, Fred Van Ostrand, George Dickerson, Will- iam Skinner, and John Gates. The date of their incorporation under the gen- eral law was May 19, 1840. The company rebuilt the furnace, and, having operated it for some time without much success, ceased to exist, when Samuel G. Sterling, a brother of James Sterling, became interested in the business until 1859. From 1859 to 1869 it was carried on by A. P. Sterling, of Antwerp, assisted by his brother, James, Jr., and then sold to the Jefferson Iron Company, of Antwerp village, but until his death, in 1863, James Ster- ling was the master spirit and prime mover in the iron manufacture here, and at Antwerp and vicinity. All that now remains of this once important enter- prise is the picturesque ruin of the old furnace.

Caleb Essington erected a forge at Sterlingville in 1839, where for a num- ber of years he manufactured refined iron. The forge long since went into disuse.

About 1815 Samuel Case opened a tavern in the Friends settlement upon the site of the present Eagle Hotel. Mr. Case was the first landlord, and was succeeded by Harvey Hamblin, and he by Samuel C. Frey. Among other proprietors have been W. K. Butterfield, James Kirkbride, and Rus-

622

TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

sell Washburn and his sons George and Henry. The building was destroyed by fire a number of years ago, when C. W. Hall erected the present elegant Eagle Hotel, at a cost of about $20,000. The present proprietor is Earl L. Comstock.

About 1825 a Mr. Crofoot opened a hotel on Main street, near the canal bridge, in Philadelphia village. One of its first proprietors was Cyrus Dodge, who was instantly killed by the bursting of a cannon, July 4, 1829. John Cross, Charles G. Bunnell, and William Mosher were successively proprietors until 1834, when Daniel Rogers took possession. The latter continued as landlord until after the civil war. The building has not been used as a hotel for several years. At the station of the R., W. & O. Railroad is the Comstock House, erected about 10 years ago, and now owned and conducted by Wil- son & Brown.

Rufus Hatch opened a hotel at Sterlingville previous to 1840, and there kept a public house for many years. In 1841 Frederick Van Ostrand opened the Sterlingville House, now kept by Henry Ritter. Hotels were formerly kept at Barber's Corners, two and one-half miles east of Philadelphia village, and at Pogeland, near Antwerp line.

The first school in town was taught by Anna Comstock. It was opened in 1810, in a frame building which John Strickland had added to the block- house purchased by him from Thomas Townsend. The Quaker meeting- house, built in 1810, was also used as a school-house. Miss Comstock opened the first school in this building.

In 1831 the " Philadelphia library " was formed, the first trustees being Edmund Tucker, Alvah Murdock, Henry W. Marshall, Joel Hayworth, John F. Latimer, Samuel Rogers, Azel Danforth, Weden Mosher, and John R. Taylor. It is not now in existence as an organization.

CHURCHES.

The Friends organized meetings here soon after their settlement, and in 1809 built on the center lot a small frame house, which, in 1827, was set apart for a school and a second house erected, 30 by 50 feet, at a cost of $800, under the direction of Edmund Tucker, J. Strickland, Jr., J. Town- send, and C. Child. In 1828 there occurred a division in the Friends Soci- ety, a part becoming converted to the Hicksite doctrine, and after that the orthodox and the Hicksite members usually held meetings at different stated periods, the orthodox wing controlling the affairs of the center lot until their final settlement by quit-claim. The meeting-house was sold to the village for a public school in 1869.

Philadelphia Congregational Church was organized as a Christian union church in 1859, with James Gregg as pastor. In 1868 it was reörganized as a Congregational Church, with Josiah Newton as pastor. Their church building, a wooden structure, was built in 1859, and cost $2,000. In 1841

623

TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

they united with the Baptists in the erection of a church, in which each so- ciety owned an equal share. It cost $1,600, and is now occupied by the Bap- tists. A Congregational society was formed in 1841, with 13 members, by Rev. N. Dutton, the first pastor, who continued as their minister for several years. The trustees were Nelson Ackert, Milo Shattuck, Abijah Ford, Peter Bethel, and Alvah Murdock. Before 1860 the church was changed to Pres- byterian, and so remained until 1868, when it was merged in the Congrega- tional Church. In 1889 their house of worship was extensively repaired at a cost of $2,000. It will seat about 250 persons. Rev. W. T. Stokes is the present pastor.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Philadelphia was formed March 9, 1839, with William Powell, George Sim, Theodore Cross, Charles R. Sweet, and Stephen Post, trustees. Soon after the society was formed they built a church at Pogeland, owned by William Powell. The organization continued until 1867, when it was merged in the society at Philadelphia village. This latter society was organized in 1843, with Sterling Graves, Richard Crabb, Benjamin Allen, and Nelson Chadwick, trustees. Their house of worship was erected the same year, at the southerly end of the village, on land pur- chased of Elizabeth Mosher. In 1858 a larger lot was purchased of Jesse Roberts, on the opposite side of the street, to which the church was removed, and afterwards enlarged and greatly improved. It will seat 250 persons, and is valued, including parsonage (erected in 1859) and other church property, at $4,000.

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Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890, Part 92

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