Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 131

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 131

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).

Scattered settlements had begun in various parts of the present town of LeRay in 1803-4, among whom were Joseph Child and sons, Daniel, Samuel and Moses ; Benj. Kirkbride,

621

LE RAY.

Thos. Ward and others. Wm. Cooper settled at a very early day, resided till his death, January 11, 1851. Dr. Horatio Orvis was the first practicing physician who located in town about 1808. Roswell Woodruff settled in 1804, about six miles from Watertown, in the direction of Evans Mills, where he purchased a large farm, and resided till his death.

The first general agent from abroad, sent by Mr. LeRay to look after his lands, was M. Pierre Joulin, the cure of Chaumont, in France, who was one of the faithful few who would not take the constitutional oath, and was sent to America by Mr. LeRay, to save him from the guillotine, and to have a fair prospect for providing the means for a comfortable subsistence. Joulin was loved and respected by all who knew him, and after the troubles in France had subsided, he returned.

Moss Kent was early appointed to the agency of lands, and continued in that ca- pacity several years, living in Mr. LeRay's family until that gentleman departed for Europe, remaining afterwards with his son Vincent, who settled up his father's estate.

In 1806 Dr. Bawdry, another Frenchman, was sent by Mr. LeRay to select the site of a home for his own residence, and to superin- tend its erection. He probably selected a site in LeRay because it was nearly central in Mr. LeRay's possessions ; but the selection was admirable.

It is near the edge of what was then a noble pine forest, in the midst of a native growth of timber, which was judiciously thinned out, and the premises adorned with every appendage that wealth could supply. To this elegant chateau Mr. LeRay came to re- side in 1808 with his family, and began a very liberal and judicious system of set- tling his lands, by building mills at conven- ient and central localities, building bridges and opening roads.

. For a more complete and interesting refer- ence to Mr. LeRay's elegant mansion and grounds at LeRaysville, the reader is referred to Mr. Joseph Fayel's reminiscences of this distinguished gentleman, p. 334.

LeRaysville continued to be the seat of the land office until about 1835, when it was re- moved to Carthage, since which LeRaysville has lost much of its importance.

The Pine Plains, a very interesting feature, due to geological causes, extend into this town from Wilna, and were, when the coun- try was first explored, covered with a most valuable growth of pine timber. Immense quantities have been cut off, and fires have run over more of less of the tract every few years since 1804, so that between the two agencies they have been mostly stripped of their timber, leaving a light, barren, sandy soil, of little value. Perhaps the most des- tructive fire that has occurred on these plains was in July, 1849, but running fires have occurred in almost every season of extreme drouth. With the exception of thesc sand plains, the town is fertile and well cultivated.

Like several adjoining towns, it is underlaid by vast quantities of water limestone, which was once manufactured to a considerable ex- tent at one or two places.

Guillaume Coupart, better known in Le- Ray as William Cooper, or "French Cooper," was one of the comers in 1803. He was born in Normandy, France, June 24, 1773, and about 20 years later fled from his native country to escape conscription. He went to Newfoundland, was there taken prisoner, and carried to Halifax, whence he escaped and went to Connecticut, where he remained for some time. In 1798 or '99 he located in Pamelia, and in 1803 settled in LeRay, west of the village of LeRaysville. He became a large land-owner, and died there January 11, 1851. In 1804 Roswell Woodruff settled at Sanfords Corners. He afterward sold his property there and removed to New Hart- ford, Oneida county, where he died. Benja- min Kirkbride also settled in 1804, about a mile southeast from Evans' Mills.

Among the earliest pioneers in LeRay were Michael Coffeen, Ruel Kimball, James Anthony, Capt. Richardson Avery, William Barber, S. Brownell, Alfred Comins, Eli Davis, Sylvanus Evans, Amos Braughton, David Burhans, Perley Fuller, Oliver Fuller, William H. Granger, Peter Hoover, Thomas Huston, John Huston (a weaver), William Huston, Isaac Ingerson, Silas Ward, Lee Woodward, Francis Traviller, Joseph Tag- gart, Reuben Treat, Elisha Steele, Abiel Shurtliff, Elisha Scofield, Alvah Scofield, Amaziah Parker, Solomon Parker, Barnhart .Minick. Elias Minick, Arnold Miller, Alanson Lyon, Thomas Hurlburt, Joel W. Hurlburt, Lyman Holbrook and Iva Holbrook. Others among the list of early settlers in the town were Alvin Clark, David M. Caldwell, Dr. Horatio Orvis (LeRay's first physician), Willard Barrett, Fred H. Bellinger, Adam P. Bellinger, Peter Bellinger, Levi Butterfield, Asa Barnes, David M. Caldwell, Jotham Goodale, Alfred Vebber, Alvin Herrick, Fayette Herrick, Solomon Hawkins, John Ingerson, Ansel Winslow, Gilbert Taylor, Stephen D. Sloan, Edwin Hungerford, Peter Slack, Jesse Smith, Samuel Steward, John V. and Patrick S. Stewart, Levi Reed, Wm. Palmer, Isaac Palmer, Joseph J. Petrie, Oliver Pierce, Abraham Jewett, Ezekiel Jewett, James J. Murphy, Heman Millard, John Macomber, Stephen Macomber, Chaun- cey Morse, Samuel C. Kanady, Sylvester Kelsey, Beni Henry, Elom Henry, Stephen and Nathan Ingerson, Andrew Roberts, Ezra Ingerson and Olsey Roberts.

In 1890 LeRay had a population of 2,565. The town is located in the second school district of Jefferson county, and in 1888 had 18 school districts, in which 20 teachers were employed 28 weeks or more. There were 476 scholars attending school, and the aggre- gate days' attendance during the year was 41,651. The total value of school buildings and sites was $5,640, while the assessed valu - ation of all the districts was $1,468,588. The

622

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

whole amount raiscd for school purposes was $4,186.78, of which $2,165.16 was received by local tax.

SCHOOLS.

No authentic account has been obtained of schools in LeRay previous to the year 1815, though there is no doubt that teaching com- menced in the town several years earlier. At that time a school was taught in a small building, which stood on the site of the resi- dence of C. P. Granger, in Evans Mills. In 1816 or 1817 the teacher of that school was Mrs. Treat, widow of Reuben Treat, one of the early settlers of the town. The first school district established wasthat embracing the Jewett neighborhood, first settled by Roswell Woodruff ; the second district was at Elder Matthew Wilkie's, in the west part of the town ; the third at Evans Mills ; the fourth at Ingerson Corners, and the fifth at LeRays- ville.

The number of districts is 18; number of schools 19; there being both a primary and high school in district No. 3 (Evans Mills). Male teachers are quite generally employed in winter, and females for the summer term. In district No. 3 a salary of $85 per month was at one time paid to male teachers, but from that figure the remuneration fell to $60, then to $50, and now ranges from $40 to $50. Fe- males in that district receive about $20 per school month of 20 days. In other districts male teachers receive $25 to $35 per month ; females, about $2.50 per week, and their board among the various families. Thc school house at Evans Mills was crccted in 1875, at a total cost of about $2,300. The house in district 7, embracing a part of Evans Mills district, is valued at about $1,000. The value of the school buildings in the other districts range from these figures downwards to less than $100.

AGRICULTURAL.

the town of LeRay lay in Illinois or Wisconsin, it would be termed a rolling prairic, unusually well watered, and inter- spersed with belts of timber. It is not broken into abrupt hills, like portions of Theresa, Philadelphia and Antwerp, and it is compara- tively free from rocky wastes and ledges. Leaving out of consideration the unproduc- tive pine plains upon its southeastern side, it is a township of excellent and fertile land, especially adapted, like the greater portion of Jefferson county, to purposes of grazing, and is, like its sister towns, devoted by its farmers to the production of butter and cheese, but more especially and extensively the latter, in which the product of more than 3,000 milch cows is consumed. Home-made cheese is almost entirely unknown, but more than nine- tenths of that article of food is made in fac- tories. A large amount of butter is made in LeRay-all by the hand process, without the aid of factories.

The agriculturists of LeRay have reason to be proud of their town, as having been the . one named for Monsieur LeRay de Chaumont,

the president of the New York State Agri- cultural Society, the first president of the Jefferson County Agricultural Society, and also one of the most prominent movers in the formation of the Otsego County Agricultural Society, the first county organization of the kind in the State, that of Jefferson being the second. Vincent LeRay de Chaumont, Roswell Woodruff, and other residents of the town were also prominently identified with the early organization for the promotion of the interests of agriculture in Northern New York.

MASONIC.

" PISGAH LODGE, No. 720," was chartered June 13, 1872, with 24 charter members. The first officers were Wesley Rulison, W. M .; E. H. Cobb, S. W .; H. S. Morris, J. W .; C. G. Schuyler, S. D .; W. N. Priest, J. D .; S. T. Potter, Treasurer ; J. Boyer, Secretary ; H. D. Merritt, Tyler.

The lodge meetings are held at their hall in the village of Evans Mills.

More than 50 years ago (1826) the "Her- mon Lodge" was institutcd, with William Palmer, Worshipful Master. The lodge went down and the charter was surrendered during the period of the anti-Masonic excitement.

THE CHURCHES OF LERAY.

LERAY PRESBYTERIAN .- On January 13, 1814, a meeting was held at the house of Elisha Scofield, at Ingcrson's Corners, for the purpose of organizing a Congregational church society. This was the first attempt made for the organization of any religious society in the town of LeRay. The follow- named persons were then organized into a visible church : Elisha Scofield, Abigail, his wife, Ruel Kimball, Hannah, his wife, Ger- sham Mattoon, Nancy, his wife, Ezra Sayer, Elizabeth S., his wife, Widow Mattoon, Mrs. Cheeseman, afterwards the wife of Joseph Tuttle, Abner Cheeseman and Hannah Parker. Ruel Kimball was elected to the deaconate, and was chosen standing modera- tor and clerk.

Up to 1820 there had been no stated minis- ter in charge. Regular meetings were con- ducted by Deacon Kimball, with exhortation and prayer. Occasionally, Rev. Mr. Dutton would attend and administer the Lord's Sup- per. The place of meeting was for some time at Ingerson's Corners, but when a frame school-house was built at Evans Mill the church was moved to that building.

During the ministry of Rcv. Ruel Kimball the place of worship was changed from the old frame to the new stone school-house, then just completed. Soon after the coming of the Rev. Charles G. Finney, a great season of revival commenced, and protrac- ted meetings were held by him for several weeks.

From the close of Mr. Finney's pastorate to 1831 the church was ministered to by special supplies, and during this interval (in 1826) a handsome and commodious stone house of worship was erected on a lot dona-

623

LE RAY.

ted by Judge Evans, the same on which the present church stands. The cost of the edi- fice was $2,600. Mr. LeRay and several others were very active and energetic in the erection of this edifice, giving liberally in money and labor to accomplish it. The con- tribution of Mr. LeRay was $200.

The new church on Church street, Evans Mills, the present place of worship, was erected during the pastorate of Rev. R. G. Keyes, and dedicated in June, 1869. The membership of the church is about 75. Rev. C. I. Hastings is the present pastor.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF LERAY was or- ganized by Elder Maltby, in 1814, two miles south of Evans Mills, and was removed to that village in 1818. A corporate society was formed in November, 1823, with Ethni Evans, Asa Hall, Levi Read, John Mc- Comber, Stephen D. Sloan and Chauncey Morse as trustees. A stone church edifice was commenced and brought near comple- tion, when it was partially destroyed by fire. The walls, however, remained but little in- jured, and were used in the rebuilding, in which the society was materially assisted by donations, the chief of which was from Mr. LeRay. The building then erected is the present house of worship of the society. It is located in the south part of the village, on Main street, and is now also used by the Episcopalians, who do not support a regular rector, but are served from Antwerp.

THE FRIENDS' MEETING. - The LeRay Monthly Meeting of Friends was organized in 1816. The meeting-house, a solid but plain and unpretending stone structure, was built in 1816, and having since that time re- ceived at least one new roof, with a modest projection and cornice, stands as good as when first completed, about a mile northwest from LeRaysville, on the road to Evans Mills. The Friends have also a small meeting-house at LeRaysville.

In this, as in other Quaker communities, the rising generation show a disinclination to conform to the ancient usages of the sect, and as a result the numerical strength of this peculiar people is slowly but steadily dimin- ishing.

THE CHRISTIN CHURCH IN LERAY Was or- ganized March 12, 1825. Among its earliest members are found the names of Elder Eli Denio, Edmund Allen, Elisha Allen, Ebe- nezer Dunten, Fayette Herrick, James Rogers and others, well known in this part of the county. The church is now in a prosperous condition. Its place of worship is the Union church, at Sanfords Corners.

THE M. E. CHURCH AT EVANS MILLS .- The organization of this church dates back to November 20, 1824, the first trustees being Henry Churchill, Parker Chase, John Y. Stewart, Daniel Smith, P. S. Stuart, James Ward, Wilson Pennock, Elijah Smith and William Taggart. Their first house of worship was a small stone building, which stood about two miles from Evans Mills on the road to LeRaysville. Some time after,

being superseded by the new edifice, this was sold to the Methodists of Philadelphia. The present edifice at Evans Mills was erected at a cost of about $3,000, on a lot do- nated by Judge Evans. It was commenced in 1832, and advanced so that meetings were held in the basement in the fall of that year. It was dedicated in the summer of 1833. Rev. A. C. Danforth is the present pastor.

The church has a Sabbath-school, with an average attendance about 60. A class of about 25 members, belonging to this charge, worship in the school-house at LeRaysville.

THE M. E. CHURCH AT SANFORDS COR- NERS .- A Methodist class has existed at this place for more than half a century ; San- fords Corners having been one of the oldest preaching places on LeRay circuit, and the location of its first parsonage. In 1847 and 1849 efforts were made to remove the location of the parsonage to Black River village ; that place having given name to the circuit and become its geographical centre.

THE UNION CHURCH EDIFICE AT SAN- FORDS CORNERS was erected by a union composed of Universalist, Methodist and Christian societies, each owning a quarter interest, and certain liberal-spirited citizens of the vicinity, who furnished the remainder of the necessary funds, and held the other one-fourth interest. The edifice was dedica- ted in 1853, jointly by the three denomina- tions. The house has since been used by the above-named congregations as a place of worship.

ST. MARY'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH .- Services were held in various dwellings at Evans Mills and vicinity, by Rev. Father Guth and other priests of the Catholic Church, soon after 1840. The present church building at Evans Mills was erected in 1847, on a lot of a quarter of an acre, purchased of Joseph Boyer for $80. It is a stone structure, about 40 by 60 feet in dimensions, and cost about $2,500. The trustees at that time were Jas. Kinney, Francis Bichet and Augustus Grap- pot. The worshippers included about 30 families. The resident priest is Rev. Father O'Brien.

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- The first Epis- copal service at Evans Mills was held in the spring of 1871, in the Presbyterian Church, by Rev. Theodore Babcock, of Watertown. At that time there were but three communi- cants, namely, Mr. R. E. Granger, Mrs. L. E. Jones and Mrs. William S. Cooper. Dur- ing the following summer, services were held fortnightly by Rev. H. V. Gardner, rector at Antwerp. In the winter of 1871-2, Rev. Leigh Brown, rector of Trinity Church, Watertown, established here a mission, assist- ed by Rev. Mr. Bonham, an evangelist. Since that time, T. H. Brown, rector of St. Paul's Church, at Antwerp, has officiated as rector. The church now numbers 50 com- municants.

THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH of Black River, was organized in 1873, and a church built soon afterward. Rev. L. H. Robinson

624

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

was the first pastor. It is embraced in the Black River and Watertown circuit. The first trustees were: Josiah Johnson, J. C. Kennedy and David Dexter. The present pastor is Rev. E. N. Jinks, who is superin- tendent of the Sunday-school; and the present trustees of the church are: Erwin Dexter, Joseph Croan and Thomas Lester.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH of Black River was organized in 1821, and is one of the oldest in the county. There was a church previously in Rutland Hollow which was burned. The present trustees are: H. C. Dexter, R. D. Gibbs, M. V. Sco- field and A. C. Middleton. The present pastor is Charles M. Smith, and George A. Pohl is superintendent of the Sunday-school.

CEMETERIES.

The first cemetery at Evans Mills was do- nated by Ethni Evans. The present Main street, when it was laid out, cut the old graveyard in two. The remains of the south- eastern part were removed to the opposite side. Subsequently they were transferred to the present old cemetery. A few years ago a number of prominent citizens purchased an- other tract of land adjoining the old burying ground, have laid it out into lots, and have given it the name of Maple Grove Cemetery.

THE QUAKER BURIAL-GROUND .- The first place of interment used by the society of Friends in LeRay, was in the lot adjacent to their meeting-house, and here members of the Childs family and others of the earliest Quaker settlers were interred. This, how- ever, has ceased to be used, another cemetery ground having been established by the society on land taken from the farm of Stephen Boberts, a short distance southwest from LeRaysville, on the road to Black River village.

EVANS MILLS CEMETERY .- On May 19, 1840, Aaron Root and Betsey, his wife, con- veyed by deed to S. D. Sloan, William Palmer, Lybeus Hastings and Elisha Steele, Jr., as trustees, a fraction over two acres of land, for use as a public burying-ground. This was a part of his farm on the west side of the village. The first interment in this ground was that of a child of Philander Miller, who died by drowning ; the second was that of Mr. Root.

This was the commencement of the present cemetery. The ground was enlarged by the addition of some 60 square rods of land in October, 1866, by Joseph D. Grinnell and others.

On June 29, 1869, a meeting was held at Evans Mills for the purpose of forming a cemetery association, which was done, and Adolphus M. Cook, Samuel S. Potter, Alex- ander Kanady, Rezot Tozer, Randall Barnes and Wayne Stewart were elected its trustees; and it was at the same time "resolved that the trustees of the old burying-ground be re- quested to convey their right to the trustees of this Association," in accordance with which resolution Messrs. Sloan, Palmer,

Hastings and Steele, the old trustees, did on the following day convey the ground laid out in 1840 to the trustees of the Associa- tion. On the 13th of July following, De- Witt C. Grinnell and Joseph D. Grinnell con- veyed to the same trustees a piece of land (area not stated) on the northeast end of the cemetery, for the purpose of enlargement, and they also quit-claimed the tract added in 1866. The Association was incorporated under the general law, and consisted of Anthony Peck, C. P. Granger, S. S. Potter, James A. Pierce, James D. Grinnell, Wolcott Steele, Randall Barnes, Alexander Kanady, and 14 other original members.

Adjoining the old cemetery, an organiza- tion known as the Maple Grove Cemetery, has been established, and they have made substantial improvements.

THE HOOVER BURIAL-GROUND is located about two miles north of Evans Mills, and was originally a part of the farm of Peter Hoover. The first burial was that of J. Adam Walradt, who died February 27, 1831. While living he had expressed a strong desire that he might be interred in that vicinity rather than at Evans Mills, and, after his death, this spot was selected by his friends as being the most appropriate. Mr. Hoover's permission was easily obtained, and after a few more burials had been made there, he sold the spot-a quarter acre-to Alfred Veb- ber, Isaac Walradt and Alexander H. Van Brockelin, as trustees, for a public burial- place. In this ground there have been many burials ; among them being that of Peter Hoover's son, Simon P. Hoover, who was cruelly murdered on March 4, 1876, near the house of Alfred Vebber, by Francis Grappot, who, after conviction of the crime, took his own life in the jail at Watertown.

THE CATHOLIC CEMETERY, belonging to the congregation of St. Mary's Church at Evan's Mills, is located one and three-quar- ters miles southwest of that village, on the Watertown road. It is a ground of about two acres, purchased by the society from Isaac Kellar for $200. It was laid out in 1857, and the first burial within it was that of Mrs. Champaign. It is a good and con- venient ground, well inclosed, and the im- provements are fine.

SANFORD CORNERS BURIAL-GROUND. - This cemetery site, a plot of about four acres, was donated by LeRay de Chaumont to school district No. 1, about the year 1812. The first interments in it are believed to have been those of Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff, grand- parents of the late N. M. Woodruff, of Watertown. Adjoining this, another ceme- tery plot was laid out a few years since by Isaac T. Fuller, on land purchased by him from the farm of Charles Ryder. This was a private enterprise ; but burial-lots were sold by the proprietor to such as desired to be- come purchasers. These two cemeteries are divided by a partition-fence. The location is adjacent to the Union Church at Sanfords Corners.

625

LE RAY.

LERAYSVILLE (p. o.) is a small hamlet in the southeastern part of the town. It con- tains a store, blacksmith shop, shoe shop, a Friends' meeting-house, and about 15 or 20 dwellings. The first settlement was made here in 1801 by Benjamin Brown, a brother of Gen. Jacob Brown. Mr. Brown erected mills on Pleasant creek, across which he construct ed a dam. He spent the winter of 1801-02 in Brownville with his brother, and in the spring returned to his purchase, where he erected a log cabin, in which, in the July fol- lowing, he established his newly-made bride, the first white woman to set foot in the pre- sent town of LeRay.

The first public house in LeRaysville was opened in 1810. The first store was opened by Mr. LeRay, and was conducted for the proprietor by Mr. Devereaux. The first physician of the village was Dr. Horatio Orvis, who settled here in 1808, and continued in practice for many years. The post-office was established in the spring of 1818, upon the first opening of the mail route from Den- mark to Wilna, via this village. Samuel C. Kanady was the first postmaster, and held the office until his death, in 1835. LeRays- ville is now a mere hamlet, not even a tavern being kept. One store, a Friend's meeting- house and a shop or two are about all to be found there.

One mile north of LeRaysville, on Pleasant creek, is a locality known as Slocumville. Settlement was commenced here in 1819 by one Desjardines, whom LeRay had sent from France for the purpose of erecting a powder- mill. This enterprise was short-lived. A grist-mill was also built here about the same time, and was said to have contained the first burr-stones brought to LeRay, they having been sent from France for this especial pur- pose. The first miller was a Frenchman named Bidrot. A brick house was erected here, one of the first dwellings of that ma- terial in Jefferson county. The powder-mill was subsequently converted into a potato starch factory.

SANFORDS CORNERS is a postoffice and station on the R., W. & O. Railroad, in the southwestern part of the town, about five miles from Watertown. It contains a church, store, large cheese factory, several shops, and about 50 inhabitants. The first settlement was commenced here in 1804, by Roswell Woodruff. The hamlet was known as "Jewett's Corners," "Jewett's School- House," and "Capt. Jewett's," from Ezekiel Jewett, who purchased the farm of Wood- ruff, and became, in that particular, his suc- cessor. Mr. Sanford, in whose honor the place was named, erected here a stone build- ing, with the intention of opening a store, but this was never done. The postoffice was established in 1828. This hamlet claims the honor of having the first school-house in the town of LeRay. But, it is somewhat re- markable to note the "first school-houses," "first births," etc., that crop out in so many localities, each claimant being persistent.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 131

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