Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 105

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894 > Part 105

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SCHOOLS.

The first school-house in the village of Cape Vincent stood on Market street, near the old cemetery. From all that can be gleaned from the oldest inhabitant, the early schools of Cape Vincent were not of the highest grade. In those days, when muscle predominated and brains were only a second- ary consideration ; when a fair knowledge of the three R's was almost equal to a college diploma to-day ; when to achieve the feat of throwing the teacher out of doors was looked upon as meritorious by many and winked at by all, and a "feather in the cap" of the boy who did it; and when the teacher governed his school by personal prowess and brute force, and very frequently his only educa- tional claim was the fact that he could thrash all the big boys in the school at once ; it is not to be expected that, as educational institutions, the schools of an early day were of a very high order, and, more especially, in a river town, where the very business car- ried on of itself attracted numbers of young men with whom muscle was the first consid- eration. The wonder is, that the pupils of those days acquired as much book knowledge as they did. Among the first teachers re- membered was a man named Babbitt. It is said that he was a man of very fair educa- tion, but he had the little failing of re- turning to the school-house after dinner usually in a tolerably advanced stage of in- · toxication. Then came a man named Clews, who was, it seems, but a slight improve- ment on the other. A somewhat better order of things prevailed under Professor Shumway and Daniel George ; the latter went off into the Patriot war, so-called, and was hanged at Kingston. Finally the stone school-house was built; and a man by the name of Mont- gomery was employed to fill out a term, after three teachers in succession had been thrown out. At that time, a small stream which headed toward the eastern limits of the town and ran down back of where Mr. Willard Ainsworth's house now stands and across the grounds on which the Algonquin Hotel lately stood, through Morris E. Lee's garden and into the euphonious "toad hole," was a great skating ground, and in winter the water was usually high enough so that when the stream was frozen the boys could

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skate for a mile or more up into the woods, and in consequence were always too late for school. Three teachers in succession had tried to correct this little vagary, but the re- sult was disastrous. It ended in ejectment by summary proceedings in each and every case. Finally Montgomery came, and with him a change in the conditions, which, although none the less summary, were not coupled with ejectment. The young skaters pursued their former course once more, and once only, and then skating as a beverage seemed to lose its charm. In speaking about that occasion, an old white-haired citizen said the other day : "It was the blankety blankiest licking I ever got in my life. I can feel it now."

To-day Cape Vincent boasts of a first-class school, a good school building, an able principal, and a corps of excellent teachers in all the departments. The school stands sec- ond to none of the village schools in the county, and is largely patronized from out- side the district. The curriculum is that of the usual High School course, and the most advanced methods are in vogue, while thor- oughness is the prevailing idea. Prof. H. R. Smith, the principal, has charge of the senior department and Miss Minnie A. Loughren is preceptress of the junior department ; Miss Cora Courtney teaches in the junior depart- ment, Miss Mildred D. Hamlin has charge of the intermediate department, Miss Etta Wolover of the second primary, and Miss Alice Hinman of the primary department. In their respective departments and places these constitute a corps of very able teachers, and they are rapidly placing the school on a very high plane.

The district schools throughout the town are fully up to the average, and the people generally, are alive to educational matters. Mr. Sheridan Clark, of Cape Vincent, is the present school commissioner. He is an en- thusiast in all that relates to our common school system, and under his fostering care there will be no retrograding.

CHURCHES AND CHURCH SOCIETIES.

The first religious services in Cape Vin- cent, of which there is any certain knowl- edge, were held by Richard M. Esselstyn, in his own house, and consisted of a reading of the Episcopal service, and of a sermon each Sabbath, usually followed by a prayer ex tempore, by Deacon Kendall, who was a Baptist. Previous to 1820, now and then a missionary strayed into the village, among whom the names of Revs. Avery and Flint are remembered. There is still to be seen the original draft of a paper which shows that the first Sabbath school was organized July 30, 1820. John B. Esselstyn and Buell Fuller were managers; Richard M. Essels- tyn was superintendent, and a Mr. Ellis, teacher. The draft of the first "Constitution of the Auxiliary Female Missionary Society of Cape Vincent," is yet in existence; and although the paper bears no date, it is certain

that the society was organized previous to any church society, and not far from the year 1820; and it is very probable, a year or two earlier. The following list of its members will interest many of our readers : Charity Esselstyn, Delia Esselstyn, Clarissa Essel- styn, Hannah P. Esselstyn, Sally T. Rogers, Cynthia Rogers, Lucy Kelsey, Laura C. Kelsey, Sarah S. Kelsey, Lois Hubbard, Mary Hubbard, Emily Hubbard, Phoebe Green, Lydia Lake, Jemima Merritt, Sally Fuller, Tryphena Buckley, Abigail Smith, Rebecca Johnson, Mrs. Corcoran, Lydia W. Brewster, Hannah Ainsworth, Clarissa For- syth.

Many descendants of this noble band of pioneer women, who, 65 years ago, united themselves together to work for the mission- ary cause, are still living among us; and they can scarcely fail to look with pride upon such a grand array of ancestral names, who thus early, and under difficulties not en- countered in these days, directed their humble efforts toward the spread of Chris- tian enlightenment among the heathen of foreign lands.

The Presbyterian Church was formally organized at the house of Oliver Lynch, March 2, 1823. Rev. Noah M. Wells, of Brownville, was moderator, and Oliver Lynch, Abraham Morrow, Matilda Lynch, Jane Forsyth, Mary Forsyth, Cynthia Rogers, Hezekiah H. Smith and Ammarillis Mills, constituted the original membership. Oliver Lynch and Abraham Morrow were chosen elders and deacons, and on the 25th of June, the church was received into the presbytery of St. Lawrence. On the 13th of February, 1832, the First Presbyterian Society was organized, with Simon Howard, Henry Ainsworth, Michael Myers, Roswell T. Lee and James Buckley, as trustees. A site for a church building was donated by Mr. LeRay, and its erection was begun the same year, but not completed until 1840. Since that time the church edifice has been greatly enlarged, and recent improvements have transformed it into a tasteful place of worship. The first minister was Rev. Jede- diah Burchard, who came in 1824, and during the two years' of his pastorate, the member- ship increased to more than 50 persons. There were also large accessions in 1850. During Rev. Burchard's pastorate, services were held in a wagon shop, which stood two or three feet from the ground, on cedar posts, with no underpinning between. The space underneath the shop was a favorite nesting-place for a lot of hogs, which ran loose in the streets, frequently annoying both minister and congregation. On one occasion, Mr Burchard was trying very earnestly to impress upon the minds of his hearers, the necessity of obedience to the commands of God; and his language, always pointed and forcible, was at this time strongly broken in upon by sundry grunts and squeals from beneath the temporary pulpit. The reverend preacher endured this

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as long as possible, until patience and grace both giving way at the same time, he shouted : "Rudolph Shepherd ! Drive those hogs out !" The effect may well be imag- ined.

The society has a flourishing Sabbath school of 15 teachers, and 160 pupils en- rolled. Fred Shaffer is superintendent. At this writing the church has no settled pastor, although the pulpit is supplied from Sabbath to Sabbath. The societies of the church are: The Ladies' Aid Society-president, Mrs. Sarah Buckley Canfield; the Ladies' Mission- ary Society-Mrs. Willard Ainsworth, presi- dent; and the Y. P. S. C. E., numbering 58 members; Mr. Henry Pease, president. The church is in a very flourishing condition.

ST. JOHN'S PARISH (Episcopal), was organ- ized January 25, 1841, with Rev. John Noble as rector. John B. Esselstyn and Nelson B. Williams were chosen wardens; and Nelson Potter, Otis P. Starkey, Robert Bartlett, Calvin Pool, Judah T. Ainsworth, Robert Moore, Rice Parrish and William Esselstyn, vestrymen. The lot of one acre of ground, was the gift of Mr. Otis P. Starkey, as a site for the church building, which was erected the same year, and conse- crated June 2, 1842. A neat parsonage was built shortly afterward. The church edifice has been extensively repaired and improved under the supervision of the present very able rector, Rev. S. W. Strowger, through whose ministrations the membership has largely increased. On alternate Sabbaths he holds a service in the Union Church at River- side, at which point a number of the members of the parish reside. The edifice at Riverside is a very tasty one; it was built by the united efforts of the Episcopalians and the Methodists of that place, and com- pleted in 1872. The Methodists have a class there, which is connected with the charge at St. Lawrence, and they have a regular service on alternate Sabbaths. A Union Sabbath school is also sustained. St. John's has a large and flourishing Sunday school of 11 teachers and 100 scholars. Rev. S. W. Strowger is superintendent. The societies connected with the church are the Ladies' Aid Society-Mrs. Frank Dezengremel, president ; Women's Auxiliary Society, par- ish branch of the Diocese of Central New York, Mrs. L. O. Woodruff, president; and the Junior Auxiliary, Miss Etta Woodruff, president.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Was not organized until October 14, 1851, under the ministry of Rev. William Jones, with a membership of 55 persons The names of the original trustees were : William King, George Akerline, William Esselstyn, Phile- tus Judd, Asa S. Jones, John Hollenbeck and John Nims. Notwithstanding this so- ciety was so late in organizing, it was the Methodist denomination which maintained the first stated preaching. A class was formed about the year 1820, and in 1827 the first Conference appointee appeared in the

person of Elder Seth Green, Services were held in the stone school-house on Point street until the erection of a church edifice in 1855, which was first built at the head of Essl- styn street, but finally removed farther down on the same street, opposite the parsonage. In 1892 the building was repaired at a cost of nearly $1,000, and is now a well arranged house of worship. The Sabbath school has 10 teachers, with an attendance of 100 schol- ars. Charles E. Lane is superintendent. The Epworth League, with H. R. Smith as presi- dent, numbers 50 members, and the Junior League, Mrs. E. S. Cheeseman, superintend- ant, has 20 members. Mrs. Cheeseman is also president of the Ladies' Aid Society.

KING'S DAUGHTERS .- This a strictly unde- nominational society for benevolent work. It was organized in 1889, and has now 25 members. Miss Etta Wolover is president and Miss Josie Saunders secretary. Its mem- bership is gathered among the best young ladies of Cape Vincent, and it is doing a really good work. It should be heartily sup- ported by all classes. Those who can con- tribute in any way to the aid of the needy cannot do a wiser thing than to entrust their gifts to this society, whose members are at much pains to search out the deserving poor.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES. - The first Catholic edifice was built in the French Settlement. The corner-stone was laid with imposing ceremonies, in 1832. On that oc- casion the French settlers, most of whom, if not all, had been soldiers under Napoleon I., assembled, dressed in full uniform, finding their way from distant points by means of blazed trees, determined that for once a bishop should be received here as was the cus- tom in France. The basement of the church was already completed and appropriately decorated ; the uniformed and armed veterans were drawn up in line, and upon the ap- proach of the Bishop and Mr. LeRay, who was the donor of the church and grounds, arms were presented and the ceremonies pro- ceeded, closing amid volleys of musketry and general rejoicing.

A circular was issued for the settlers by Mr. LeRay, in February, 1832, and signed by Hugo Aubertine, of Blonde Fontaine, France ; Toussaint Laurent, Simon Cornair, Nicolas Cornair, Fierre Barthelemy, Nicolas Co- caigne, Jean Blanche, Nicolas Jacques, Fran- cois Chapron, all of Rosierie; Nicolas Cha- fron and Jean Billery, of Aubercy ; Claude Barbien, of Pigeret; Marcel Aubrey, of Sembry ; Jacques Mentry and Pierre Brunot. soliciting aid for the church fund.

The church building stood near the old cemetery to the east in the French Settle- ment, and in the rear of it LeRay had a land office. The celebrant of the first mass in the new church was Father Simon, who was served by a boy named Geaugien. Father Simon attended the mission but one year, and then, at long intervals, priests from Kingston officiated. This first church was also presented by Mr. LeRay with 100 acres

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of land. The present structure was built in 1879, at the Rosiere railway station. It is a tasteful structure, capable of seating about 800 persons. Rev. Wm. S. Kelley, who also officiates at Cape Vincent, is the pastor. During his incumbency Father Kelley has won the respect of all, both Protestants and Catholics. The parish consists of about 100 families, while the Sunday sehool has 15 teachers and 150 pupils.

St. Vincent de Paul's Church, in the village of Cape Vincent, was organized in 1850, by Father Ancet, a French missionary, and a building was started by him the same year. He was succeeded in 1851 by Father Louis Lepic, who completed the work. The church was dedicated by Father McCloskey, in 1858. During the pastorate of Father Sherry, from 1877 to 1883, besides building the new church at Rosiere, he made some notable improvements in the church at Cape Vincent, especially the stained glass windows and the erection of a magnificent altar, the latter being in great part the gift of the Peugnet family, who are always generous. It was in 1880, also during Father Sherry's pastorate, that Mr. John B. Grapotte, a prominent merchant of Cape Vincent, con- ceived the plan of appealing to all, Protest- ants and Catholics alike, for funds to pur- chase a bell. Heading a subscription liberally and presenting it in person, it is needless to say that he was successful; for the sweet tones of the bell are in themselves a de- monstration of the fact. The bell is suitably engraved with an inscription from the 98th Psalm, "With Trumpet," etc .; an engraved plate briefly sets forth the above facts as to the subscription. Extensive improvements in the way of decoration and otherwise, are due to the taste and energy of Father Kelley. The church has a Sunday school of nearly 100 scholars. Its societies are the Rosary, Sodality, and the Guardian Angel Society.

OLD HOUSES.

Cape Vincent has yet some historical old houses built by the early French settlers, but none more imposing, perhaps, than the one now the property of Mrs. Beaufort, which was built by M. LeRay Chanmont, about 1816. This old chatelet and its grounds are among the finest in the village, notwithstand- ing its ancient style of architecture. Its massive walls, though plain, at once attract attention. Its interior arrangement and finish are both convenient and realistic, well suited in every way for that elegant hospitality for which its owner was famed, and which has not suffered at the hands of his successors.

A quaint house is that of Mr. Bruce Ains- worth's, which was the property of Count Augustus Du Fort, who was a midshipman under Commodore Perry and participated in the battle of Lake Erie, which was fought near Put-in-Bay, September 10, 1813. The large drawing-room is the principal attrac- tion ; it is a room about 20 feet square. The ceiling is cross-beamed, so that it is divided

into 25 or 30 panels, each of which is filled with a choice oil painting. Here are elegant portraits, one of Napoleon I., one of Commo- dore Perry, one of George Washington, one of LaFayette, coats of arms, Marshals of France, Presidents of the United States, alle- gorical pictures, etc., all done in a very high style of art and producing an unique and pleasing effect. Some of the paintings are very valuable, and all are worth seeing. There are many other old French houses worth noticing, but our limits forbid.

ELEVATOR

The first elevator in Cape Vincent was built in 1853, by the Rome & Cape Vincent Railroad Company. In 1863 it was burned, with 36,000 bushels of grain. A fire-proof building was erected in July, 1864, and cov- ered entirely with corrugated iron plates and supplied with all the necessary machinery for elevating and cleaning grain, which is opera- ted by steam through a long line of shafting from an engine several hundred feet distant. The bins are heavily cribbed with plank, and, including floor-room, have a capacity of 150,000 bushels. Formerly, from 700,000 to 800,000 bushels were handled yearly, but now less than half the amount is handled. E. K. Burnham, Esq., is the present pro- prietor.

CAVES.

There are several caves in the town of Cape Vincent, occurring in the limestone forma- tion, one of which is interesting. Its en- trance is at a point about a quarter of a mile above the stone bridge which crosses Millen's bay. The opening, which is so low that the explorer must creep on hands and knees to enter it, is just at the side of a rivulet that flows down the high bank, breaking into numerous cascades, and adding largely to the already picturesque spot. Having passed through the difficult entrance, the visitor finds himself in a spacious room some 20 or 30 feet square, and as many feet high. It is no doubt owing to the hardness of the Birds- eye limestone in which the cavern is situated, that no stalactitic formations are pendant from the ceilings, as is the case in the great Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, and those in the vicinity of Cumberland Gap, Ky., where the limestone is much softer and more easily disintegrated by the action of water; however, in this case the ceiling or roof of the cavern is incrusted with a deposit of dazzling white- ness, which glitters in the light, making the interior very beautiful. The floor of the room is covered with dry sand for the most part of the year, though during some es- pecially wet seasons, the cave is an outlet for considerable surface drainage. A very

crooked passage leads back from the main chamber first entered, to an extent of several rods, forming in its angles numerous nooks and recesses, which might be easily converted into almost undiscoverable hiding places, and finally comes to the surface through a rift in the covering rock. That this cave was a hid-

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ing place for scouts during the War of the Revolution, there is little doubt. In fact, let- ters written by scouts sent from Fort Stanwix to watch the enemy on Carleton Island, then busily engaged in the construction of Fort Haldimand, speak of a "cave where they rested in security, and by going only a few steps from which they had a complete view of the island." That it was at one time a hiding place for "Bill " Johnston, whose fame extended far and wide in the "thirties," is a fact easily substantiated. Be that as it may, it is well worth a visit a visit from the curious. It is said, too, by those who ought to know, that when the cellar of the old stone hotel at Riverside was excavated, a cave was opened, which extended an unknown dis- tance inland ; but on building the cellar wall it was closed. There is another cave on the farm of Mr. Christie Irving, below Riverside, having its entrance in the lime- stone bluff some distance back from the shore of the river. This is not as extensive as the one above described, though of sufficient capacity to form a respectable hid- ing place in case of need. There is also a so-called cave on Carleton Island ; but what- ever may have been its extent in former times, it is now nothing more than a natural sewer for the drainage of quite a large tract of land, and is, in consequence, no doubt, pretty well filled up. In many places along its course, daylight is let into it through large crevices in the rock, while at its inland opening where it comes to the surface, the farmer has dumped loads of stone into it. The probability is that, though fully half a mile long, it is nothing more than a huge crevice in the limestone rock, which may in places widen out into cavities of greater or less extent.

THE LUMBER INDUSTRY.

Cape Vincent, from its earliest settlement until now, has been much interested in lum- bering, first as a producer, but in later years as a consumer and shipper. The late Frank A. Cross was once a large lumber dealer here, and later Mr. L. C. Kelsey handled large amounts of lumber, timber and shingles. There were others also engaged in the lum- ber trade, but space forbids us to enter into details. At present, Mr. J. Albert Scobell represents that interest, as well as others of importance, especially being a large dealer in produce. He has been in business here about 28 years. In 1882 he erected a substantial grain house, to which a switch extends from the R., W. & O. Railroad main track, and from which his shipments of grain, butter, timothy and clover seeds aggregate a large amount yearly ; and, in addition, his transac- tions in baled hay are large. His lumber business reaches 1,500,000 feet yearly, and in addition he handles from 55,000 to 75,000 cedar posts, and 150 car loads of shingles per year. A re-sawing, planing and matching mill fits his lumber for immediate use as ordered. His business extends through-

out the central part of the State. Most of his stock comes from the great lumber cen- ters of Canada.

It is said that some of the white-oak timber shipped from the lower end of Carleton Isl- land, cut along back of the St. Lawrence river road, in what is now the town of Cape Vincent, entered into the English ships com- posing a part of Nelson's fleet at Trafalgar. This seems to be a well authenticated historic fact, as the oak, grown in this section, was of peculiar value in shipbuilding. But, whether this be true or not, the imaginative student of history delights to believe that the era he describes is deficient in nothing good or grand.

THE GRANGE.

Cape Vincent Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry No. 549, is one of the flourishing societies of the order in Jefferson county. It now numbers 125 members, with a likeli- hood of a large increase during the coming year. That it has done much since its for- mation a few years since, to inculcate its principles, and thereby elevate and instruct its members, need not be told here. Its good effects are apparent on every hand ; and the Grange hall should be the resort- and in time it will be-of every progressive farmer in the land. The principal officers for the year are: Master, Edgar J. Vincent ; Secretary, Fred McQuain; Treasurer, Fred Rheinbeck.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES

According to a handbill, kindly shown us by John B. Grapotte, Esq., the first " An- nual Cattle Fair" of the first Cape Vincent Agricultural Society, was held on Thursday, September 25, 1851. The officers of the society were: William Ainsworth, Presi- dent; Jacob Van Ostrand, Vice-President ; Simon Howard, 2d Vice-President; Robert C. Bartlett, Recording Secretary; L. H. Ainsworth, Corresponding Secretary ; and S. W. Ainsworth, Treasurer. The general committee were : R. T. Lee, S. L. Kelsey, A. F. McWayne, Thomas Tarbell and Robert Moore. Room Committee: Charles Smith, F. A. Cross and Matthew Morrison. The following announcement is made: "All persons, other than members of the Society, and their families, with badges, will be charged six and a quarter cents admittance."

This society was but short-lived, and held but one, or at the most two annual exhibi- tions. The present Agricultural Society was organized in 1883, with A. B. Cleveland, President ; E. L. Beaufort, 1st Vice-Presi- dent ; J. B. Grapotte, 2d Vice-President ; L. G. Kelsey, Secretary, and L. O. Woodruff Treasurer. Suitable grounds were purchased and fenced, buildings erected, a fine trotting track graded, and everything prepared to hold exhibitions, which have ever since been continued with varying success, the last one being very successful. The present officers are : Philetus Judd, President ; Fred A. Bur- dick, Secretary ; Charles B. Wood, Treasurer.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 105

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823- Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Haddock, John A. 1823-
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : Sherman
Number of Pages: 1094