Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 118

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

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ELLISBURGHI.

an extensive business, and was a citizen of much public spirit and usefulness. The tan- nery was rebuilt by Baldwin & Douglas, and J. H. & H. E. Root became the owners in 1879.

Joel Brown was one of the early mer- chants here. James I. Steele was in the mercantile business many years, and was a prominent citizen, as were also Dexter Wilder and Melvin J. Earl. Mr. Steele was postmaster for a long time.

William West, from Vermont, made Mannsville his residence about 1838, and started a tin-shop. He also had an ashery, and at one time had perhaps 12 teams on the road. About 1846 he removed to Adams. John Hughes was his successor in business, coming here in 1841. His business grew to be an extensive one, having at one time 16 teams in use. He is still in business, and has done much to aid the growth of the vil- lage.

THE CHURCHES.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH of Mannsville was organized in 1831. It was formed by the union of the Second Baptist Church of Ellis- burgh at Brewster Settlement, and the west- ern portion of the Lorraine Church. In 1833 this church, with the Congregationalists, erected the present house of worship. Most of the records of the society were lost at the time the store of P. E. Martin was burned. The 50th anniversary of the organization was celebrated in 1881. The membership is 150. Elder Allen was the first pastor, and Elisha Sawyer, Perley Brown and -- Taylor were early pastors.

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of Ellisburgh was re-organized at Mannsville, August 18, 1833, and a church edifice built the same year, in which the Baptists had an interest. Part of the early records were lost in a fire. The first trustees were Roswell Kinney, Benj. P. Grinnell and Daniel Ward- well. Rev. Mr. Moulton was the first pastor, and Daniel Goddard the first clerk. In 1854 the society sold their interest in the church building to the Baptists, and erected a church on Railroad street, at a cost of $3,000, which was dedicated January 30, 1856. In 1871 a lecture room was added. William M. Ward- well, at the time of his decease (1881), had been clerk of the society 37 years. The semi-centennial of its organization was cele- brated July 8, 1883. The present member- ship is 102.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Was organized about 1847. In 1826, Rev. Elisha Wheeler held meetings at the house of John Clark, in the town of Lorraine, and it is thought he also preached here, at least occa- sionally, and perhaps was the first Methodist preacher here. From 1833 to 1854 the Mannsville and Ellisburgh congregations were in one charge ; for three years this was a mission, and in 1857 was made a charge by itself. A church edifice was built in 1859, and a parsonage in 1880. The present mem- bership is about 150. The name of the first

pastor was Rev. A. Fuller. The present (1894) pastor is Rev. C. E. Beebe.

THE FIRST SEVENTH DAY ADVENT CHURCHI was organized in Ellisburgh in 1851. A. H. Robinson was ordained local elder. A frame church was built in Mannsville in 1859. The ministers of this denomination are Evangel- ists.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST (Disciples) was or- ganized in 1871 at Mannsville, with a mem- bership of about 70. A society had been formed as early as 1830, at Brewster Settle- ment. A frame church was built in 1872, at a cost of $2,500. The first pastor was Elder J. S. Hughes. Lucian F. Hudson was the first and only superintendent of the Sunday school. The church was burned in 1885, and the society is not continued. With the fund received from insurance other societies were helped, the Watertown Society receiving $1,000.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

Mannsville Lodge No. 175, I. O. O. F., was instituted in 1852, with officers : N. G., Sam- uel Nichols; V. G., James I. Steele ; Rec. Sec., Dr. J. C. Rudd ; Treas., John V. Ben- son. The early records were burned, and the Lodge has met with losses in three fires ; April, 1862, February, 1873, and July 29, 1885. At the time of the last fire there was a small insurance. The present membership is 56.

Mannsville Tent, No. 276 Knights of the Maccabees, was organized in the spring of 1894, with a membership of 20, and R. W. Huested elected P. C.

Mannsville Grange, No. 16, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized October 23, 1873, by Luke Fulton, with 30 members. Thomas B. Shepard was elected Master, and on Janu- ary 1, 1874, was succeeded by O. S. Potter, who held the office for five years. Adelbert Schell is the present Master. The member- ship is 125. Regular meetings are held the first and third Friday in each month.

In the early history of Mannsville what is known as the old part of Maplewood ceme- tery, was given to the village by Daniel Wardwell. In 1871 the cemetery was en- larged by the addition of nearly three acres.

In 1887 Dr. William L. Wheeler, son of Philip and Roxanna Wheeler, died at his home in Newport, R. I., and was buried at his native village. His wife, Esther Gracie Lawrence, daughter of Gov. William B. Lawrence, of Rhode Island, purchased two acres adjoining the cemetery, of the Kinney estate, and built a memorial chapel for her husband, expending on chapel and grounds about $20,000. The chapel is of native stone, rough hewn. In the chapel is a beautiful work of art, a stained window by Miss Mary Tillinghast, of New York; the subject, "Christ Healing the Blind Man." One of the windows in Grace Church, New York, is by the same artist. Mrs. Wheeler was fatally injured in 1893, in Boston, by an acci- dent resulting from a runaway horse, and her

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remains rest in the chapel vault beside her husband's. By Mrs. Wheeler's will the chapel and grounds are given in trust of per- petuity to the trustees of the Parochial fund of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Central New York, with a fund of $10,000, the income to be expended. in maintaining the chapel and grounds forever.

INDIAN RELICS .- Mrs. Thomas Loomis, of Mannsville, daughter of the late Nathaniel Clark, who settled in the town of Lorraine in 1805, says one of her brothers, born in 1807, used to speak of visiting in company with his father, an Indian encampment which was on or near the road now running from Manns- ville into that town. The Indians numbered about 200, and there was a wolf-pit near where the roads meet-the one going over the other around a hill. The Indians, with the assistance of dogs, would drive wolves into the pit.

In 1894, Mannsville contained : Four churches, one lawyer, two physicians, one dentist, one hotel, one weekly paper, three general stores, two drug and grocery stores, one bakery and grocery, two hardware and agricultural implement stores, one boot and shoe store, two millinery stores, three black- smith shops, two grist-mills, one saw-mill, one tannery, one cider and vinegar manufac- tory, one harness-shop, two carriage-shops, one sash, door and blind manufactory, one cheese manufactory, one bending works, one undertaker, two markets, one photograph gallery, one tailor, two shoemakers.

Among the prominent business people at Mannsville, are :

Huggins & Beebe, dealers in hardware, stoves, ranges and agricultural implements.

R. W. Huested, photographer ; fine cabi- net portraits a specialty.

Andrew A. Wheeler, attorney at law and notary public.

ELLIS VILLAGE.

THIS is the oldest village in the town of Ellisburgh, located on the south branch of Big Sandy creek, about four miles above the mouth of Big Sandy. The name of the postoffice is Ellisburgh.

The first frame building in the village was probably erected by Lyman Ellis, and stood on the ground back of the brick store now owned by H. M. Wilds. In 1803 the house was occupied by a family named Noyes. At this time a log house, used for a tavern, stood about on the ground where the Central House stands.

Lyman Ellis, having met with severe losses in the destruction of his dam and mill property by freshets in 1797 and 1799, where he at first located, near what is now known as the Kibling place, decided to start anew three-fourths of a mile above, and on the site of the present village. He built a spar dam, a grist mill, in which he used the frame of a grist mill he had commenced below; and also

a saw mill, using the material that was left of the mill partly swept away, a second time, in 1799. The mills stood a short distance above what are now known as the Stone Mills ; the grist mill was in use about 1803. The mills were burned the second year of the War of 1812, and there was no insur- ance. He was strongly urged to re-build, and he did so at much expense, some of his machinery used being brought from Eng- land. He was deeply in debt, the money market was stringent, and the sum he in- vested proved almost a total loss. This was doubly severe to Mr. Ellis, following as it did a heavy loss he had sustained a few years before, having been interested with his brother, Marvel, in the purchase of the town- ship ; and in that the loss of Lyman is said to have been about $25,000-the sum ad- vanced by him on the first payment.

Judge Ellis always retained the respect of the people among whom he resided. One, who was in his family 14 years, speaks of him as "Always a gentleman, upright and honorable, doing all the good he could. Every one who had trouble came to him for advice or help, and he was a benefactor and friend to all." Lyman Ellis was born in the town of Mendon, Mass, He was supervisor of Ellisburgh eight years, and also held the office of magistrate. He continued to make Ellis village his residence until his death, March 13, 1847, at the age of 87 years.

A post-office was established here about 1805, with Lyman Ellis postmaster. One who when a child, used to go to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis-a model of neatness- for mail, speaks of Mrs. Ellis bringing out a small basket, in which the mail for the office was kept, and which contained a dozen or two letters and a few papers.

Dr. Dresser was the first physician here, and Geo. Tibbetts, a land agent, gave him 59 acres of land as an inducement for him to settle here. Dr. Alfred Ely and Dr. Wm. T. Fiske were among the early physicians.

The first school house was built in 1805, where the seed store of W. A. Denison now stands.

Lyman Ellis, at an early day, gave an acre of land near Ellis village for a cemetery; afterwards an addition to the ground was needed, and the cemetery has the name of Riverside. The southerly portion of the old part presents the trace of a trench enclosure, and with the aid of the natural bank on which it was built, enclosed almost two acres, which extended into the lot adjoining below. Arrow heads and earthern vessels were at one time found there.

Stafford's Gazetteer for 1813 says: "In 1810 Ellis village contained a grist mill and a saw mill, a fulling mill, distillery, school house, and about 14 or 15 houses and stores."

From the school district records we copy as follows: "At a school meeting at the house of Gad Ackley, August 16, 1813, it was voted that Elijah Woodworth serve as moderator; Ezra Stearns, clerk; Lyman

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ELLISBURGH.

Ellis, Luban Dalu and Shubael Lyman, trustees ; John Otis, collector."

An oil-mill was built at a very early day, where the Bear Creek works of Col. L. F. Hudson stands, by Lyman Ellis, William McCune and Joseph Bullock. The mill was burned about 1818.

The stone grist-mill was commenced by Peter Robinson about 1826 or 1827, after- ward purchased and finished by Samuel Cook. It contained three run of stone, same as at present. Benjamin F. Wilds quarried the stone of which the mill was built, and also built the dam which took the place of the spar-dam Lyman Ellis had erected. The present dam was built by George and Henry Millard about 1854. Following Mr. Cook, the owners have been Henry Millard, Stephen Martin and Henry Hyde, L. P. Gillett, Hop- kinson & Denison and A. P. Denison. One of the mill-stones used by Lyman Ellis lies near the Stone Mills.

Noah M. Green was a general merchant here as early as 1820, and among the early merchants may be mentioned John Shaw, Peter Robinson, Theodore Dickinson, New- ton Mann and Daniel H. Fiske, E. D. Sher- wood, James and William T. Searles, George M. Hopkinson, Franklin Waite, Theron Holley, Jr., Edward Denison, and at a more recent date Horace M. Wilds, Adele Albro and W. S. Bushnell.

The Central House was built as early as 1812. Among the proprietors have been Ezra Stearns, Joseph Bullock, W. T. Fiske, Franklin Waite, Thomas Davis, Mr. Pat- ridge, Mr. Edgett, Benjamin Bemis, Robert Proctor, Chas. Gibeau, Henry C. Harrington.

The Empire Hotel was at one time known as the "Cottage," and Albro & Nash the first landlords. J. M. Huffstater is the present owner, and took charge in 1881. For 12 years he was proprietor of the Central.

The first distillery was built about 1819 . by Andrew Scott and Seneca R. Soles. The second distillery by Liberty Bates and Isaac Burr, about 1824. Many years afterward Samuel Cook erected a distillery. This was made into a malt house and run by Michael Tining.

Shubael Lyman was the first clothier, and Joseph Bullock was also in this business.

Gen. Gad Ackley had potash works.

About 1825 Andrew Scott and Thomas Davis built a grist-mill where the furniture manufactory of George S. Hudson now stands on South Sandy creek. It came into possession of Turner & Maltby, who changed it into a plaster-mill; they were succeeded by Franklin Waite, and afterwards B. F. Wilds purchased the property. George S. Hudson became the owner in 1870, and the building is used by him for the manufacture of cabinet-ware.

Thomas Crandall, from Petersburg, N. Y., started the first tannery about 1825, near the stone grist-mill. After this, Hiram Morley was in the same business, perhaps 50 years ago. The first one who started a furnace was

John Hildreth, about 1830. He was suc- ceeded by Simeon B. Griffin, N. Palmer William E. Whitney, and Loren D. Palmer, who was in the business perhaps 25 years, until about 1870, when the furnace was given up.

Carding-machine works were run by Benj. Bemis about 1825-30, and was afterward changed into a chair manufactory, and oper- ated by Samuel and C. C. Comee, from Massachusetts.

Amos Hudson was born in Oxford, Mass., in 1876, a scythe-maker by trade; settled in Ellis Village in 1820. He built a shop on Bear creek for the manufacture of edged tools, where the Ellis oil-mill stood, and was in business there many years. He died in 1830. In 1833 his son, Lucian F., born in 1810, established a shop at the same place for the manufacture of agricultural implements, now known as the Bear Creek Works, Col. L. F. and E. H. Hudson, proprietors. Colonel Hudson has been in business 61 years, re- taining much vigor, and is a man of discrim- inating mind and moral worth. For 16 Presidential elections, commencing in 1832, he has voted at the Central House. He was long connected with the State militia, and during the Patriot War was at French Creek, Captain of a company of Light Infantry ; after this he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. He was married, in 1835, to Ade- line, daughter of Ezra and Polly Stearns, and four sons and three daughters were born to them. Mrs. Hudson died in 1894.

A grist-mill a mile above the village, on South Sandy creek, was built by John Shaw, from Cooperstown, N. Y., about 1827, and at the same place, soon after, Alfred and Daniel Sterns erected a distillery, which was run a number of years by the latter. Carding-ma- chine works stood here as early as 1820, built, it is thought, by Elam King. Only the grist-mill is standing. Col. James A. Rey- nolds, from Oriskany, a millwright by trade, carried on the mill for many years. At a very early day he was the bearer of a letter from Mr. Constable to Lyman Ellis, coming from Utica on horseback. Col. Reynolds died in 1864, aged 76 years. J. C. and L. B. Allen were at one time proprietors of the mill, and John Grow was the owner a num- ber of years. The creek has a fall here of 24 feet. In the bed of the creek, near the mill, are numerous pot-holes, varying in size from a small, cup-shaped hollow to a pit 15 feet in depth and 8 or 10 feet in diameter. Such holes are not rare, but are apt to escape no- tice. There are two very large ones in Eel Bay, near Thousand Island Park, several near Gen. Bradley Winslow's farm on Star Island, one at the western base of Mount Mc- Quillan, near Carthage, and a remarkable one at the river bluffs at Theresa, where it has been cut transversely through by the water's erosion, leaving only one-half ex- posed to view.

About 1820 Isaiah Cheever, in company with several others, was in Kingston,

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Canada, and came in possession of an iron swivet gun, three-pounder, and made it a present to the citizens of Ellis Village. For many years the "Little Isaiah," as it was called, was in use at celebrations, and shared by all alike. As a result of party feeling, in 1863 the cannon was secreted, and its hiding place unknown for a period of 11 years. Missing since 1880-perhaps for reasons other than partisan-the "Little Isaiah " will again be brought home to the villagers, who still retain an especial pride in its owner- ship.

There was a " general training " at Ellis Vil- lage one day in September, about 1824, and a notable event were three regiments, which took part. The artillery was com- manded by Col. Elisha Camp ; the infantry by Gen. Gad Ackley, and the riflemen by Gen. Clark Allen, of Lorraine. The day was fine and there were thousands present. "It was a grand time," says Col. Hudson, who well remembers the day.

THE CHURCHES.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of Ellisburgh was formed by Daniel M. Dixon and Oliver Leavitt, January 1, 1817, with six members. The first pastor was Rev. Joshua A. Clayton, installed November 9, 1826. A society was formed Novemer 11, 1823, with Amos Hudson, Hiram Taylor, Daniel Ward- well, John Otis, Wm. T. Fiske and Wm. Cole, trustees. A church edifice was erected about 1824. The building was taken down in 1843, and the organization discontinued in 1844.

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH of Ellisburgh was formed August 26, 1821, with 19 mem- bers. Among those instrumental in its forma- tion were Rev. Cornelius G. Person, Isaac Men- dell, Silas Emerson and John Clark. The society was formed September 2, 1833, with Isaac Mendell, Edmund M. Eldridge, Daniel Stearns, Edmund Palmer and Richard Cheever, trustees. A church edifice was erected in 1843, at a cost of $1,500, and dedicated August 24, of the same year. Among the early Universalist clergymen who preached here were Rev. N. Stacy and Rev. M. Wins- low, who was perhaps the first clergyman of that faith to visit the place. Arthur Roberts is the present minister.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY was formed March 5, 1832, with Lyman Ellis, Oliver N. Snow, Benjamin Chamberlain, Jeremiah Lewis and Hiram Morley, trustees. A church edifice was built in 1833 on the site of the present residence of John Rury. In 1849 the building was removed, and in the steeple was placed a musical, deep-toned bell, purchased by the citizens at a cost of $400, and owned by the village. In 1877 a parsonage was built to take the place of the old one erected in 1836. The present mem- bership is 45. From 1833 to 1854 the Ellis village and Mannsville congregations were in one charge. In 1857 the pastor was M. M. Rice. C. J. Middleton is the present pastor.

CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized Sept. 3, 1879, by Rev. John Muir, John P. Houghton, Alva J. Smith, John J. Brown and others, with ten members. A church edifice was erected in 1879, at a cost of about $2,500. It was consecrated June 2, 1880, by Bishop F. D. Huntington. The pastor of Zion Church, Pierrpont Manor, has charge of the parish, Rev. A. J. Brockway succeeding Rev. John Muir in 1891.

Ellis Village contains: Two hotels, three churches, two general stores, one clothing store, one drug store, one hardware store, one variety store, one grocery store, one seed store, one grist-mill, one saw-mill, one furni- ture factory, one jewelry store, one harness- shop, one cooper, two markets, two black- smith shops, one shoemaker, one cider and vinegar factory, one wagon and agricultural implement factory.

The Calvin P. Burch G. A. R. Post, No. 375, was organized about 1866; its present membership is about 60.

Ellis Village is a good business place, lo- cated in the midst of a rich agricultural dis- trict. It numbers about 400 inhabitants ; is situated 23 miles south of Watertown, and four miles west of Pierrepont Manor, the nearest railway station, and with which it is connected by stage.

Among the business concerns at Ellisburgh we name the following :

L. F. & E. H. Hudson, manufacturers and dealers in carriages, wagons, road-carts, cut- ters.

G. S. Hudson & Son, manufacturers of stands, tables, desks, etc.

H. M. Wilds, justice of the peace, convey- ancer, collecting attorney, pension and in- surance agent ; dealer in carpets, butter, wool, eggs, lumber, shingles, cedar posts, etc.

A. P. Denison, dealer in flour and feed.

BELLEVILLE.

THIS place was begun as a farming settle- ment about 1802-03 by Metcalf Lee, Bradley and Joshua Freeman, Martin Barney, James Benjamin and Jedediah McCumber, and a few others. Elder Edmund Littlefield, a minister of the Baptist faith, settled soon after. This place being favorably situated for mills, gradually grew into a village. Soon after the War of 1812-13, a meeting was called at the suggestion of Calvin Clark, a merchant, to select a name for the place. A committee was appointed who chose the present name, said to be taken from Belle- ville, in Canada. Previous to this time it had been known as Hall's Mills, from Giles Hall, who, in 1806, purchased of J. McCum- ber a hydraulic privilege here, and resided in the place for many years. Mr. Hall was a man much esteemed. He built a grist-mill here, and also erected the first blacksmith- shop and the first trip-hammer. His mill stood in the upper part of the village. He also built a saw-mill, which is yet standing.

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ELLISBURGH.

Belleville was incorporated in 1860, and an election for trustees was held on May 29, at which time the following corporation officers were elected : De Alton Dwight, A. Dick- inson, D. Hall, A. M. Durfee and Calvin Littlefield, trustees ; Arthur J. Brown, clerk ; W. R. Pennell, C. F. Armstong and H. F. Overton, assessors; James E. Green, treasurer ; Cyrus N. Rowe, collector, and P. W. Stevens, pound-master. The village is located principally on the north bank of Big Sandy creek, although the corporate limits extend to some distance on the south side. At one time the Sackets Harbor and Ellis- burgh Railway passed through the village, and at that time it bid fair to be a place of some considerable size and importance; but now that the road has been taken up, it is left to depend chiefly upon the trade of the surrounding country for its support, together with its local manufacturing interests, and its school, which will be fully described hereafter. Belleville is located in the midst of a fine agricultural country, is three miles dis- tant from Woodville, three miles from Ellis Village, six miles from Adams and the same distance from Pierrepont Manor. It has three churches, Methodist, Baptist and Roman Catholic.

THE CHURCHES OF BELLEVILLE.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH is the oldest church in the village, having been organized as a regular Baptist church on August 22, 1807. The first promoters of this church were Joshua Freeman and Amos Noyes. Martin E. Cook began to preach here in 1810, and labored in the ministry for 24 years. The present pastor is Rev. J. Niles Bacon. The membership numbers 184, of which 25 are studying in academies, and three are in college. The Sabbath school has 144 pupils and 20 teachers. W. B. Doane is superinten- dent. The societies are the Senior and Junior Christian Endeavor societies, the offi- cers of which are: Fred E. Lee, president ; Ora Taylor, vice-president ; Hattie M. Ed- wards, secretary; Sadie Lewis, treasurer ; Grace Boomer, organist; Winifred Rians, assistant ; D. M. Kelsey, corresponding secretary.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. - The first M. E. Society in Belleville was formed in 1841, May 5th, and Edward Boomer, Elias Dickinson, Thomas Ellis, Edward B. Hawes, Jesse Hubbard, Riley Chamberlain, Hall W. Baxter, Nelson Boomer and John R. Hawes elected trustees. The first church was built near the Wardwell Settlement, and after- ward removed to Belleville. It was after- ward sold to the Catholics, and the building, which was erected by the Presbyterians, was purchased. A new parsonage adjoins the church. The value of the church property is assessed at $5,800. The membership is 125. There is a flourishing Sabbath school of 100 pupils, with 10 teachers. The super- intendent is Mr. Fred A. Fulton. The church societies are : Ladies Aid, Mrs. O. B. Veits,

Pres .; Epworth League, Perrin H. Crandall, Pres., with a membership of 100; Women's Foreign Missionary, Mrs. W. M. Holbrook, Pres., membership 32. The society is in a flourishing condition and increasing.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 118

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