Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 106

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

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492

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

SEED HOUSES.

Of these there are two; the Cleveland Seed Company and the Cape Vincent Seed Com- pany. The first seed house was started in 1879, by Artie B. Cleveland, of Adams, Jefferson county, N. Y., whose father, Hon. J. M. Cleveland, was the pioneer of the busi- ness of growing peas and beans in Northern New York-having begun the business in Adams in 1851. Experience long ago demon- strated the fact that certain localities pro- duce perfect seeds : that is to say, seeds fully matured, and reliable as to germinating qualities, so that they are valuable for seed. Certain portions of the country bordering on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence river, both in Canada and the United States, have been found to be suitable for such growths, especially peas, beans and some other varie- ties in the way of small garden seeds. Be- coming aware of this fact, Mr. Cleveland located his business at Cape Vincent, and commenced the growing of peas on a large scale, by furnishing seeds to farmers and contracting to pay large prices for the crops. It is needless to say that the business was a success from the outset. A large building was erected, suitable power and machinery put in, only to be followed with an additional building having a greater capacity, additional machinery, and yet that was not enough. More land was acquired and other buildings erected ; docks were built and branches established at Sackets Harbor, Kingston, Colborne and Picton, Ont., and finally a stock company was formed, with head- quarters in New York, in whose hands the business still remains. Mr. Cleveland having retired. The present company have enlarg- ed their plant in Picton, Ont., until it rivals the original in Cape Vincent. In Cape Vin- cent, the growing of small secds is rapidly gaining in importance.

Anything like a full description of the dc- tails of the business carried on herc, with. the most improved methods, processes and machinery, some of the latter invented in the building, and especially the preparation of "split peas" for the grocery trade-than which no firm produces a superior article- would, of itself, fill a book ; and so we must be content with but a few lines more. The company employs a large number of hands at all times, and during the picking season, when the peas are all carefully hand-picked, rendering them absolutely clean and free from imperfect grains, a large number of women and girls are employed, aggregating in all 200 or more people.

The output of this house yearly is 150,000 bushels of peas, 15,000 to 20,000 bushels of garden beans, 2,000 to 3,000 bushels of sweet corn, besides garden seeds of all kinds, and a stock of 25,000 bushels of peas and beans held in reserve each year for seed. The company cultivates large gardens, and devotes much time to developing new and better varieties of seed, with great success. The members of the company resident in

Cape Vincent, are: S. M. Pease, Manager; and Robert S. Fowler, Treasurer. Other members of the company reside in New York.

The next venture in the seed-growing line was started by Howard & Underhill, who organized a company and erected a large building on Broadway, opposite the R., W. & O. R. R. station, from which a side track leads to the house. The first company failcd, and the business went into other hands. The writer has been unable to pro- cure any data whatever from the local management, but the following are under- stood to be the officers of the company : C. V. Sidell, New York, President; E. N. Jackson, New York, Treasurer and General Manager; Macomb Grey, Esq., of Cape Vincent, superintendent of the seed-growing department; D. A. Anderson, of Cape Vin- cent, local manager. The business seems to be successfully carried on, though to what extent the writer is unable to ascertain.

BUSINESS HOUSES.

Henry Zimmerman, dealer in furniture.

Cape Vincent Seed Company, Limited, growers of peas and beans.

Union House, H. T. Frisbie, proprietor.

Miss Minnie Davis, millinery and fancy goods.

G. W. Warren, dealer in groceries, boots, shoes, crockery, books, stationery.

Horton & Shaffer, groceries, boots and shoes.

Frank N. Potter, collector of port of Cape Vincent.

Thomas Holland, baker and confectioner. M. S. Cornair, groceries and provisions.

Arniel Brothers, diamonds, watches, jewel- ry and silverware.

W. C. Wills, Cape Vincent boat livery, also manufacturer of St. Lawrence river boats.

William Anthony, groceries, boots and shoes.

Eliza Williams, laundry.

Abner Millen, meat market.

Lloyd O. Woodruff, druggist, dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, crockery.

E. C. Kelscy, insurance in first-class com- panies; life, fire, accident, plate glass, marine.

Bank of Cape Vincent, E. K. Burnham, president ; S. S. Block, cashier.

The Cleveland Seed Company, manufactu- rers of Cleveland's New Process Split Peas.

Mann & Company, dealers in tested garden seeds.

L. G. Kelsey, dealer in drugs, medicines, groceries, crockery, toilet articles, etc.

Fred Stowell, attorney at law.

John H. Grapotte, dealer in drugs and medicines, groceries, cigars, tobacco, ladies' fine shoes.

Lake Ontario Fish Company, Limited, wholesale dealers in fresh, salt and frozen fish.

R. J. J. Newman, groceries, books, news- papers, stationery, etc.

493

CAPE VINCENT.

Henry G. Dawson, M. D., physician and surgeon.

J. L. Dunning, postmaster.

James Augustus, harness-maker.

H. N. Bushnell, M. D., physician and sur- geon.

Dr. George A. Potter, surgeon dentist.

August Charles, blacksmith and carriage maker.

W. G. Northam, undertaker, of 40 Arsenal street, Watertown, has a branch store. .

Burdick & Armstrong, general merchants.

John F. Constance, ready-made clothing, hats, caps, etc.

C. W. Londraville, barber, undertaker and embalmer, and dealer in undertakers' sup- plies.

Joseph C. Gregor, dealer in family grocer- ies, tobacco, cigars, confectionery, fishing tackle, fancy goods, notions, etc.

Dr. S. W. Gordon, surgeon dentist.

Watertown Dry Goods Store, Henry John- son, manager.

Fitzgerald & Dunning, dealers in fresh, salt and smoked meats, groceries, vegetables and fruit.

E. K. Burnham, president Bank of Cape Vincent, grain elevator and coal dealer.

Parker Bros., general merchandise.

Levi Rousseau, livery and sale stable.

Christopher Clark, livery stable.

P. Reed & Son, coopers.

Henry Potter, M. D., physician and sur- geon.

R. A. Davis, real estate.

S. S. Black, insurance.

Joseph Peo, boat livery and builder.

Henry Glenn, painter, wall paper ware- house.

Thomas Masson, M. D., physician and sur- geon.

Adam Van Leuven, veterinary surgeon.

Mrs. Van Leuven, millinery.

M. E. Lee, counselor and attorney at law. Peter Garloch, dealer in boots and shoes.

Henry Earl & Co., wagon and carriage making and blacksmithing.

J. H. Kelley & Son, blacksmiths.

Stratford & Co., blacksmithing.

C. P. Morrison, meat market.

S. Vincent, shoemaker.

Cape Vincent Hotel, - Hyde, proprietor. Andrew Gareis, bottling works.

Miss Kate Walsh, millinery.

P. Walsh, tailor.

C. B. Wood, printer and publisher.

FREDERICK A. FOLGER.

FREDERICK A. FOLGER was born in Nan- tucket, in 1809, and at the age of 14, came with his father, Captain Matthew Folger, to Cape Vincent. But little is to be ascertained concerning his boyhood days from childhood up to 14 years of age; but from the fact that his father was a "sea captain," and that in those days the whole trade was the absorb- ing business of Nantucket, it is more than likely that Captain Matthew Folger was one of those adventurous spirits who helped to make the American whale fishermen known in every quarter of the globe; and to establish his fame on the highest pinnacle, for adventurous daring, supreme courage in time of danger, and for a power of endurance unequaled ; to which may be added a degree of intelligence not usual to those of other nations.

Be this as it may, the young Frederick possessed many, if not all of these traits to a degree that goes far to fully establish much that enthusiastic devotees of heredity claim for it. At the time of his arrival at the village of Cape Vineent, it was just fairly re- covering from the enervating effects of the War of 1812-15, and beginning to show some indications that it might in a few years become a prosperous town. Its educational advantages were not great, but such as they were, they were fully improved by this lad, who early showed signs of a natural aptitude for the acquirement of knowledge, far above the average; and in fact, throughout his whole life he gave evidence of a great love for intellectual pursuits, especially along the

line of poetical composition-as some fugi- tive pieces from his facile pen, which are yet in existence, will abundantly prove. In those days, however, writing poetry was not an available method of winning wealth nor anything else, beyond a mere local renown ; and so the young man took up more profit- able employment. With true "down East" instincts, he was a born speculator ; that is to say, he had the instincts of trade. he was quick to see in which direction an opening lay, or in what occupation he was most likely to realize the greatest profit with the quickest returns; and so, when he was ready to assume the responsibility of engag- ing in business for himself, he began the slaughtering of beeves for market. At this time it was a profitable trade, and the young man made a success of the business. In view of his parentage, and what must have been his childhood associations in Nantucket, that Mecca of seamen, it would have been strange if the young Frederick had not him- self had something to do with ships and shipping. Accordingly, at one time we find him in command of a small sloop, trading be- tween Cape Vincent and Gananoque, at which port the farmers found their best wheat market, because of the flouring mills which were erected there at an early date.

Connected with this trade, Captain Hinck- ley, of Cape Vincent, now a very old gentle- man, relates, with great glee, a story about Mr. Folger. Captain Hinckley was also engaged at the same time in trading between the same places, and on one occasion when returning

494

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

FREDERICK A. FOLGER.

from Gananoque, very early in the morning, they tied up on the shore of Carleton Island, built a fire, and set about preparing break- fast. Mr. Folger was not only fond of pan- cakes, but prided himself on his skill in pre- paring them for the table; and he proposed having some for breakfast. Turning a bar- rel bottom side up, he placed a pan thereon, mixed his batter, put the requisite quantity in the frying-pan, and held it over the fire to bake, boasting, at the same time, of his skill in tossing them up when ready to turn, and catching them in the pan with the unbaked side down. This time he was too eager, and instead of catching the half-baked disk in the pan, he caught it on his bare wrists, when, giving one yell of pain, he plunged at full length into the river, satisfied for once that his usual skill had failed him. They had pancakes for breakfast, however, though the

narrator failed to state whether or not they were turned with a curve-toss and caught on the fly.

Speaking of the " curve," brings to mind what is said of Mr. Folger by one who knew him well in his younger days. It seems that he was exceedingly fond of sports requiring skill and dexterity, rather than mere brute force. As a rifle-shot, he was seldom ex- celled. It was his custom, when slaughtering beeves, to shoot them in the centre of the little curl of hair in the forehead, a spot which he never failed to hit. Another of his favorite sports was ball playing, especi- ally the old time game of base-ball. Whether he was the inventor of the "curve throw " or not, it was a fact attested by many, that he would so throw the ball that it would almost reach the batter's club, when it would take a sudden curve upward, while the un-

495

CAPE VINCENT.

lucky batter struck beneath it. Saturdays were generally devoted to base ball; and no matter how busy the season, every one left work to go to town to see the game, for which sides had been chosen the previous Saturday, the losing party to pay the egg- nogg or a supper. Mr. Folger finally built a tavern on the corner of Market and Broad- way, having a restaurant in the basement now occupied as a beer saloon. He was also a speculator in village lots to some extent with the late Hon. Charles Smith.

He married Miss Laura Breck, a sister of Mr. Breck, of the well-known firm of Calvin & Breck, and sister to Mr. Calvin's second wife. The fruits of this union were Benja- min W., Henry M., Fred A., Helen, Hattie, Mamie and Etta. The sons are too widely and favorably known to need further men- tion here. It was their misfortune that their father died when they were very young, and at a time when the guidance of such a father would have been a priceless boon. He died on the 28th of September, 1851, aged 42 years. He was cut off in the very prime of manhood, beloved by all, mourned by all. When Cape Vincent was taken from Lyme and erected into a town in 1849, he was the first and only choice of the people for their supervisor. Kind-hearted, affable, polite,

agreeable, he was popular with all classes. Quick-witted, he had no equal at repartee ; and yet so acute his perceptions and gentle his nature, that his keenest shafts, pierced they never so deeply, begot nothing but love and admiration in the breast of the wounded.

His early demise was not only a great loss

to his family, but if such a thing were pos- sible, greater to the community in which he lived. As one who knew him well said to the writer: "What a pity it is that Cape Vincent did not have a hundred such men."

FROM THE WATERTOWN JEFFERSONIAN.

Died, on the 28th of September, at Cape Vincent, in the 43d year of his age, F. A. Folger, Esq , the idol of his family, the ornament of the social circle, the useful citizen, the benefactor of the poor, the friend of man.

Cut off in the midst of his years and his labors for the public good, his death will be universally and deeply deplored.

The following, copied from a Nantucket newspaper, shows the ancient renown of the Folgers, who seem to have been related to the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Franklin :

Considering its position, writes a correspondent of the New York Post, Nantucket has been wonderfully prolific of great men and women. Among the first families on the island were the Macys. The Folgers are another noteworthy race. The only child of "Peter Foulger," born after his removal from Martha's Vineyard to Nantucket, was Abiah, who, in her young maidenhood, removed to Boston and mar- ried Jonah Franklin, the tallow chandler. The 15th child by this marriage was Benjamin Franklin, the philosopher. The mother, in talent and worth, is said to have been every way worthy of her illustrious son. Another member of this family was Charles J. Folger, the present secretary of the treasury, who was born in Nantucket, in a house which stood on the site of the present Sherburne House, on Orange street. The Coffins, famous in naval annals, are a numerous family on the island. Lucretia Mott was born at Nantucket in 1793. Phoebe A. Hanford is a native of Siasconset; Gen. George N. Macy, of the late war; the Rev. Dr. F. C. Ewer, of New York; the Mitchells, mathematicians and astronomers, and scores of other men and women who have gained honorable positions in the professions figured in these reminiscences.

NATHANIEL CARVER.

JOHN CARVER landed from the Mayflower, and among the Pilgrim band who thanked God for their preservation, he knelt on Ply- mouth rock. In time he became the first Governor of the Colony of Massachusetts. The Carver family grew and multiplied, a grandson, Dr. Eleazer Carver, settling in Marshfield, neighbor to Daniel Webster. The doctor had a son, Nathaniel, who seems to have been fully endowed with the Yankee spirit of push and unrest; and withal, he seems to have been to some extent the unruly member of the flock, or to put it mildly, not so fully imbued with the Puritan notions of the day as should have been the case, or might have been looked for in one of his anecstral descent. At all events the young Nathaniel wandered into the South, where he spent many years in varying fortuues. He was very ingenious, and at one time devoted much attention to the cotton-gin as invented by Eli Whitney, an improvement on which he finally invented, taking out the first patent ever issued for "an improvement in cotton- gins." With the usual fate of inventors, however, Mr. Carver grew poorer, while those who had the capital to invest in his im-

provements grew wealthy, and finally he left the South in disgust, and straying finally into Northern New York, settled on the shore of the St. Lawrence, sometime in the thirties. Here he married Sarah Jane, daughter of Samuel Britton, of whom mention has already been made, by whom he had three children, Nathaniel Eleazer, who graduated at Bridge- water, Mass., Normal Institute, and is now in Wisconsin ; Sarah (Britton), who is now the wife of James H. Fox, Esq., of Clayton, and Lizzie M., who married Capt. Myron W. Gotham. Nathaniel Carver died in 1849, and was buried close to the shore of the St. Law rence river, of which he was often enthusi- astic in his praise. Some years later, through the efforts of his daughter, Mrs. James Fox, his remains were removed to the little ceme- tery at Sand Bay, where, with a modest stone at their head, placed there by the hands of a loving daughter, they now rest, a broken link of a long chain of Puritan ancestry, whose blood, however mixed, has been the predominating strain, whose influence has been strongest felt in the growth, training and development of the American Nation. Peace to his ashes.

496

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

BRIGADIER GEN. DELOS B. SACKET

WAS the son of Dr. Gideon S. Sacket, a prominent physician of Cape Vincent in an early day. He was born in 1822, and at first attended the common schools of the village, but later attended the celebrated school in New York, taught by Hyacinthe Peugnet, a distinguished Frenchman, whose home was in Cape Vincent. He was one of those who fled from France on the downfall of the First Napoleon. Here the young student became a ripe French and Spanish scholar, in com- pany with many young Cubans and rich planters' sons from the Southern States. At this school young Beauregard, afterward a distinguished Confederate general, got his rudiments of military tactics and his knowl- edge of fencing, spending his vacation at

one time in Cape Vincent, to keep up his practice with the foils at his teacher's home, in company with a dozen or more young Cu- bans. Later on, our general in embryo, se- cured an appointment to the Military Academy and from that time his biography is a matter of record. Graduating fairly in the class of '45, he was breveted 2nd lieuten- ant of the 2nd Dragoons, then the elite of the army, on the 1st of July, 1845, and was made full 2nd lieutenant of the same regi- ment on the 30th of June, 1846 ; and promo- ted to be a 1st lieutenant of the 1st Dragoons on the 27th of December, 1848. He was again promoted to a captaincy in the 1st Cavalry, on the 3rd of March, 1855; major, January 31, 1861, and lieutenant-colonel of

497

CAPE VINCENT.

the 5th Cavalry, May 3, 1861. He was ap- pointed on the staff of the army to the grade of colonel and inspector-general, October 1, 1861, and filled that position with great credit until long after the close of the war. In 1881 he was promoted to the rank of briga- dier general, and became the head of the In- spector-General's department. He was several times breveted for gallant and meritorious service. His first brevet was that of 1st lieutenant for gallant and meritorious con- duct in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, where he followed the gallant May, in the memorable charge of the 2nd Dragoons upon the Mexican artillery and the capture of the Mexican General La Vega. Again, he was breveted brigadier general for gallant and meritorious service in the field during the Rebellion, March 13, 1865, and on the same day to brevet major general of the U. S. A., for like services. He was a brave and efficient officer, and esteemed by all. Among his old friends and neighbors at Cape Vincent, he was idolized. Simple and unassuming in his manners, he was the friend of rich and poor alike, and every one was pleased when it was known that the " General" would pass even a small part of the season in his elegant summer home in the village. His death took place in Washing- ton, in 1885, and his remains were brought to Cape Vincent for interment in the cemetery of St. John's (Episcopal) church. He left a widow and four children, two sons and two daughters, to mourn his loss. One daughter is married and resides in the Northwest, and the remainder of the family usually spend their summers at Cape Vincent, where the memory of the distinguished husband and father will ever be cherished in the com- munity where he was born.

LIST OF SOLDIERS.

The following are names of soldiers of Cape Vincent who served in the Union army, and the list is believed to be nearly correct. Many of them are dead :

H. F. Rogers, M. B. Ladd, Robert Percy, Samuel White, James McKee, James Brown, J. G. Roseboom, Henry Huck, John Cleene, Jacob Miller, Joseph Hibbard, Joseph Majo, Thomas Hudson, Albert Lee, John O' Connor, E. Brooker, Samuel Hubbard, H. M. Downey, J. F. Ackerline, Patrick Ryan, Jno. H. Moore, William Cary, Patrick Ryan, William Bar- up, James Rachford, Alex. Delmars, John Rinagle, A. G. Rogers, Lorenzo Dodge, Fran- cis Bailey, John Miller, George Darby, Nel- son Swartwout, L. Swartwout, Joseph Zeron, O. Stowell, Frank Goulding, Jabez Bullis, A. Hurlburt, Sidney Ainsworth, J. B. Esselstyn, R. W. King, Horace Smith, Joseph Albecker, Sidney Ainsworth, B. B. Offin, Peter Hose, Norman Ross, William Betts, James Rachford, B. Harrington, A. D. Shaw, Thomas Cameron, Erasmus Watkins, John Whiting, A. Pettet, Peter Delmars, R. Chapman, Joseph Chapman, H. D. Chapman,

Merrit Sperry, A. K. Tuttle, G. W. Pratt, M. B. Ladd, Orrin Rice, Phillip Gates, F. B. Smith, James Knight, W. H. Powers, Alex. Ladd, Alonzo Walrath, Watson Walrath, Joseph White, C. R. Robinson, F. Whitte- more, William Betts, John O'Connor, Charles A. Briggs, Andrew Miller, Chas. Clark, Phil- lip Monroe, Thomas Maloney, William War- ren, Orville Fish, T. E. Briggs, H. or M. Perego, John Reff, Jude Loilet, George Fa- ker, Andrew Faker, John Woolover, Sebas- tian Gregor, Joseph Welch, J. Graham, E. F. Morrison, A. Morrison, Peter Sheldon, Ransom Campbell, Delos Arnold, I. Griffin, Austin Horr, Austin M. Horr, Ed. Garland, Louis Mentz, James Webber, Joseph Bed- ford, Robert Carrigan, Charles Elsworth, Don A. Freeman, J. N. Forton, Sweetin Miller, Richard E. Keys, John Shareman, Louis Lafleur, Bruce Cough, William Karney, William McKendry, Marshall S. B. Pringle, William Hill, James Ratican, Samuel Blair. Thomas Connely, Patrick Scheedy, Joseph Trimble, James Wall, Jethro Worden, John Hair, James Griffin, Peter Carrol, George Frasier, Howard Roseboom, Jno. Shaffer, Henry Zimmerman, James East- erly, Fred. G. Shaffer, Geo. Montney, U. M. Burnett, Isaac T. Cross, B. F. Cross, Joseph Lovell, Z. P. Briggs, J. W. Pool, John O'Connor, Charles A. Briggs, Albert Briggs, Robert Burgiss, John Armstrong, Jacob Bassa, John D. Clark, C. Clark, Henry Bechut, George Jondeo, W. Tanson, George Doty, W. E. Franklin, Joseph Rouse, Gilbert Chapman, G. W. Pratt, James P. Rector, George Lince, J. P. Lince, W. S. Carlisle, George Rinagle, Michael Reff, Frank Fav- rie, E. Dezongremel, Augustus Roats, Wil- liam Anthony, Charles Judd, A. Hollenbeck, John Smitling, Charles Warren, Timothy Farlick, W. A. Farlick, E. Cornwell, Arthur White, Horace Ingerson, Thomas Cameron, Horace Dodge, B. B. Braun, O. B. Cadwell, Louis Ruso, Benjamin Akin, Carl Britzki, W. H. Bush, Amasa Bass, Elisha L. Dodge, John Donahue, E. Dugal, Jacob Folen, Frank Favry, Joseph Fyrle, David Forton, Barney Hazer, Louis P. Jodwine, E. Lawrence, Asa Lanphear, James Lawrence, Fred. Marks, N. McCarty, Ira C. Nicols, Albert Percy, Alfred Pluche, G. H. Reade, Henry S. Simmons, B. L. Seeley, Samuel Woolover. Col. A. D. Shaw, our distinguished citizen, eminent pub- lic speaker and grand, good soldier, was the first man to enlist from Cape Vincent in Co. A, 35th N. Y. Vol. Infantry, May, 1861.

The Historian finds it very difficult to pre- pare rolls of Union soldiers that are entirely reliable. Such as they are, we present them, and if any veteran is unmentioned he can charge it to his own inattention in neglecting to have his record right at G. A. R. head- quarters.

The death rate of Cape Vincent is but 8 per thousand, being the lowest in the State, as per report of the Health Commissioners of the State.

498

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

MAJOR JAMES HERVEY DURHAM

Is the youngest son of John Perrin Durham, who came from County Durham, in the north of England, with his father William Egbert Durham, just at the close of the Revolution, at the age of two years. William E. was a major in the British army, but becoming dis- gusted with the license given to the Indians to murder and scalp their prisoners, he threw up his commission, returned to England, and finally emigrated to the United States. John P. became first an ensign in the Fraser rifles, and finally a major in that noted regiment. James H. Durham, the subject of this sketch, was born in Syracuse, N. Y., Dec. 17, 1821, and in 1831 went with his parents into the wilds of Ohio, on a farm five miles from the nearest inhabitant. He attended the district

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 106

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