Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 172

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 172

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).

WORTH.

THIS town is known in the old records as town No. 2. of Bolyston's tract, and was erected from Lorraine, by an act of the Sen- ate and Assembly, April 12, 1848. It is pro- vided that the town shall be about six miles from east to west, and about seven miles from north to south, the boundaries to be co- extensive with those of town No. 2. Its name was bestowed in honor of Gen. J. W. Worth, of the United States army, who be- came personally known in this county during the Patriot disturbances of 1838-40, and whose services in the Mexican war, about the time the town was separately organized, had made him one of the most prominent actors on the American side. His name was selected in preference to Roseville and Well- ington, which had also been proposed.

The general surface of the country is un- dulating and very elevated, the altitude of this town being probably greater than of any

other portion of the county. In the eastern part of the town is the divide between the Black river and Sandy creek in Jefferson county, and the Salmon river in Lewis county. The south branch of Sandy creek flows through the town in a general westerly direction to its confluence with the north branch, in the town of Ellisburg. It has numerous tributaries, the principal ones be- ing Chloe and Abijah creeks, named after Miss Chloe Wilcox and Abijah Gillett respec- tively. These streams afford water power at certain seasons of the year, and drain the town thoroughly. In general the town is less broken by "gulfs" than Rodman and Lorraine, but from its great elevation it is subject to early frosts and deep snows. The soil, being underlaid by a shale rock, is less liable to drouth than the lower portions of the county. and is admirably adapted to grazing. The surface was originally covered

826

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

with a fine growth of timber, chiefly beech, maple, hemlock and pine, and considerable forests are yet found in the southern and eastern parts of the town. These forests have hitherto been the source of considerable revenue, furnishing the material for numer- ous mills and tanneries. Gathering these products and dairying are the principal indus- tries of the people of Worth.

In order to make the portion of the pro- prietors of the Black River Tract equal, the eastern portion of the town of Worth was divided among them. Reckoning from north to south, these tracts were Harrison and Hoffman, 1,283; Henderson, 649; Low, 1,576 ; William Constable, 947 acres ; the re- mainder to Harrison and Hoffman, 22,004 acres. A portion of these lands are in what is known asthe "mile strip," an unlotted tract a mile wide, extending along the eastern side of the town. In the northwestern part of the town Daniel McCormick and Charles Smith made purchases, which afterwards be- came the center of the first settlement. Abel French, an active and prominent agent of McCormick and Smith, secured the services of Joseph Crary to make the first surveys in November, 1801, and in May, 1802. The town was only partly surveyed, and subse- quently was plotted in such a way that several duplicate numbers occur, which has occasioned some trouble. French was also instrumental in the formation of the first settlement. Passing through Herkimer county, from his home at Denmark, he suc- ceeded in inducing a company of citizens, re- siding at Litchfield, to purchase, in common, a large tract in this town. Timothy Greenly, Joseph Wilcox and Elihu Gillett were ap- pointed a committee to visit the tract and report upon the advisiblity of making a purchase upon the proposed basis. Their report being favorable, a contract was con- cluded July 22, by which they agreed to pay French, as the representative of McCormick and Smith, $7,622 for the northwest quarter of the town. Afterwards a deed was execu- ted to them, in trust, for themselves and their associates, and a mortgage given. The tract was divided into lots (it comprised the nine great lots in the northwest corner), and drawn by ballot by the company, who paid over certain moneys to the committee, and re- ceived bonds for the delivery of the deeds when the purchase money should have enabled them to produce a clear title. Be- sides the committee mentioned, the company consisted of Asaph Case, Leonard Bullock, W. Flower, Eli Gillet, Lodwick Edwards, John Griswold, Ezekiel Chever, Phineas Rose, Joel Caulkins, Abram Ford, Nathan Matson, Asa Sweet, John Phinear, Phineas Stevens, Elijah and David Richmond, John and William Sagas, John Houghtailing, and perhaps a few others, all from Herkimer county, and mostly natives of Connecticut.

Among the first to settle in the town were Asaph Case and Leonard Bullock. They came in the fall of 1802, and settled on lot seven

and eight, some of their families residing there at the present time. The latter had three children-Electa, Alanson and Char- lotte-on coming to Worth, and had nine more born to him. Of the twelve, eleven grew to mature years. Leonard Bullock was born in 1817, and resided upon the farm taken by his father many years continu- ously. Contemporary with the Case and Bullock families, was that of Elisha Gillet, one of the company's committee. Of the Gillet family, several are yet citizens of Jefferson county. Mr. Bullock's first house was built entirely of logs. There was no floor, dooror window in any part of it. The roof was made of hollow basswood logs, split and so laid that every alternate one formed a trough to carry away the water. A blanket hung up served as a door, and the earth, smoothed down and covered with leaves served for a floor. A large open chim- ney supplied a place where they might cook their scanty meals. The following year Joseph Wilcox came, by way of Redfield, making the journey in the month of March, with an ox-team hitched to a sled. There were no roads nor bridges, and their only guides were by blazed trees Reaching the Sandy creek, then swollen by a recent freshet, they were at a loss how to cross it. But the strong native sense of the pioneer is equal to any emergency. A tree was felled across the stream, so as to form a foot bridge, over which the load was carried piece by piece ; the oxen were then urged into the stream and swam across, carrying the sled with them ; and then a bed-cord was fastened in turn around the necks of of their three hogs, and these, too, were safely piloted across, although it was at first feared that they had met a fate similar to that which had befallen the swine of the Gadarenes, when the com- mon enemy of man had taken refuge in them. Upon reaching the spot selected for his home, Mr. Wilcox erected å log house, which had a puncheon floor, bark roof, and for a window a sheet of paper, oiled, so as to admit the light. It had a chamber floor, too, but, being made of elm bark, the utmost caution was required in the movements of the occu- pant. The winter winds, too, would some- times ruthlessly take away a portion of the roof, admitting the snow to the depth of several inches, so it was not uncommon to be obliged to shovel away the snow before those in bed could descend to the room below.

Sterling Wilcox, then a lad of 15, came with his father, and for many years lived near the spot where they first broke the quietude of the forest. He served in the War of 1812, and was an active, useful citizen. Nearly all the others of the Litchfield company came in 1803, working their way to their destina- tion with great difficulty. After this was reached, their labors and trials were by no means ended. Living remote from the set- tlements below, they had no roads except wood-paths, and no vehicle but a drag formed from the crotch of a tree and drawn

827

WORTH.

by oxen. However, the settlements grew apace and had attained respectable propor- tions, when the war broke out and filled the country with alarm. Many deserted their homes and went back to their native places. Several cold seasons followed, causing others, who had braved the terrors of war, to follow, until the settlements were almost depop- ulated. Then the mortgages were fore- closed, bringing hardships upon those who remained; for all had, by the terms of the contract, måde themselves liable for the fail- ure of one, and much of the land reverted to the proprietors.

From this time until 1828 the history of the town is uneventful, and in 1830 it was yet comparatively new and unsettled, as will be seen from a list of the names of those then residing in Worth: Joseph Wilcox and his son, Sterling ; Daniel Wilcox; Asaph, Abel, and John Case; E. West, John Russell, Chester Bushnell, Andrew W. Craig, John Wilson, Paul Pryor, Peter Wakefield, Joseph H. and Venus C. Rising, Joseph Totten, James Potter, Zadoc Hale, Henry, Erastus, and Richard Lyon; Leonard and Alanson Bullock, Joel Overton, Boomer K., Charles and Lyman Jenks; William, Simeon, and James Houghtailing ; Eli, Elihu, David, and George Gillet ; Leonard Parker, Daniel and Joseph Caulkins, and Nathan Matoon. Among those who came to Worth this year was Albert S. Gillet. He at once identified himself with the town, and he, as well as his brother, Lorenzo P., made a good record in Worth's history. The organization of the town in 1848 gave it another impetus, which resulted in the formation of settlements in the central and southwestern portions.

The manufacturing interests of Worth are limited chiefly to saw-mills. The first at- tempt to build one was made by Leonard Bullock in 1808, on the Sandy creek, on lot 7. The work had progressed as far as the raising of the frame, when a foreclosure on the land of one of the company obliged him to post- pone it. The building was never completed. In 1810 Joshua Miles built a saw-mill and grist-mill under one roof, on the Sandy creek east of the Corner. Miles selected his mill- stones from the rocks in the woods, and very ingeniously constructed a mill with the few simple tools at his command. He operated the mills five or six years, then sold to Timothy Greenly, who, in turn, sold them to Abner Rising. They remained the property of the Rising family while in use. The grist mill was for a long time the only one in town. and until it was built the settlers had to carry their grain to Adams or Whitesville, which usually took two days.

A saw-mill was next built, about 1816, by Joseph Wilcox and Green Kellogg, near the Corners, on the site of the present grist-mill. To erect the latter, a company was formed in 1856, composed of A. S. Gillet, L. P. Gillet, Abel Case, Sterling Wilcox, Leonard Parker, Horace R. Chafin, and Boomer K. Jenks, who bought the millsite of John Henderson,

and offered it, together with a cash bounty, to Pealer and Fox, who erected the mill in 1860. It is a two-story frame, has two run of stone, and was capable of doing fair work.

In 1857 a saw-mill was erected just below the first mill by Abel Case. This was re- modeled and enlarged, and became a first- class mill, having circular and upright saws, a planer, matcher, and lath-saws. Its capacity in times of fair water is 10,000 feet per day.

The Gardner brothers built a mill on the site of an old wood-turning establishment, a short distance up the creek, about 1850. For many years it was known as the Tucker mill. In the neighborhood of this, Henry Prouty, in 1863, erected a very good saw-mill, which was supplied with a shingle-machine, and turned off a large amount of work.

The Worth Centre mill was built by E. Cornell, about 1862, and is the most exten- sive in the town. Vast quantities of lumber are manufactured annually, and nearly every grade can be supplied. Employment is given to a dozen or more hands, and the establishment was regarded as first-class for this region.

Other mills had been built on the Abijah creek, by William Houghtailing and J. M. Ackley. The former, while the property of Brown & Haddock, was destroyed by fire. The latter has been out of use for many years.

A cheese-factory was built at Worthville, in 1867, by a stock company, at a cost of $4,000. The company consisted of Leonard Bullock, Levi Wilcox, C. C. Moore, B. B. Brown, and J. H. Rising. The factory was operated by them a year, then sold to Abel Bickford. Lucius Manigold started a fac- tory in the western part of the town in 1870.

SCHOOLS .-- About 1807 the first district school in Worth was taught in Asaph Case's barn, by a Mrs. Nobles. Her husband died in the town, and she moved to the west. She had 10 or 12 pupils from the Case, Russell, and other families. In the winter of 1808 Ruel Canfield taught a school in a part of Timothy Greenly's house, in Rodman, near the "Corners." Miss Betsey Bugbee taught a school in a log house, a few years later, in what is now known as district No. 2. She was carried to and from her duties by an ox- team hitched to a sled. About this time a log house for school purposes vas erected at the "Corners." This was supplanted by other small log and frame houses, where A. S. Gillet taught for a number of years.

In 1845 a frame school-house was built. There are eight districts in the town, pro- vided with respectable buildings. The one at Worth Centre is especially neat.

CEMETERIES .- There are several cemeteries in Worth, all controlled by the town board. One of the oldest is on lot No. 9. Elisha Sweet was one of the first interred in the town. The old cemetery having poor drain- age, a more favorable spot was selected on

828

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

lot No. 8. This has been well kept, and con- tains some fine tablets and head-stones.

CIVIL ORGANIZATION .- At a special elec- tion held at the house of Benjamin Gates, in Lorraine, February 6, 1810, the division of Worth from Lorraine was unanimously voted, but the War of 1812 prevented the immediate carrying out of this vote. No further action was taken until 1848. In that year the division was ordered by the Legisla- ture, with a provision that the first meeting be held at the school-house at Wilcox's Cor- ners, on May 2; that the town officers of Lor- raine residing within the limits of Worth were to exercise the functions of their re- spective offices until the next ensuing elec- tion; and that Matthew Fox, Jonathan M. Ackley, and Albert S. Gillet be a board of election, with the power of justices of the peace. The election resulted in the choice of the following officers: Supervisor, A. S. Gillet ; Town Clerk, Daniel Wilcox ; Justices of the Peace, A. S. Gillet, Riley W. Green, Jonathan M. Ackley ; Assessors, George W. Gillet, Albert Nichols; Coms. of Highways, Leonard Bullock, Levi Smith, William Bell : Constables, Levi Wilcox, Ozias E. Elmer, Newman A. Hawley ; Overseers of the Poor, Boomer K. Jenks, Sterling Wilcox ; Col- lector, Matthew Fox ; Supt. Com. Schools, Robert R. Bell.

Since 1848 the supervisors have been : 1849, A. S. Gillet ; 1850, Riley W. Green ; 1851, Jonathan M. Ackley ; 1852, Riley W. Green; 1853-4, Jonathan M. Ackley. For continuation of this list from 1854 to 1894, see pp. 337-344.

DIAMOND is a post-office, established about four years since, about 11 miles from Manns- ville, in the town of Worth. Mrs. Folsom is the post-mistress. There is a small settle- ment and one church (Episcopal) at that place.

WORTH CENTRE .- This is a hamlet of a dozen buildings, near the centre of the town, on the Abijah creek. The first settlement here was made about 1850, by E. Cornell. The country was then in a primitive con- dition, and Mr. Cornell's house was as rude as that of the first settler 50 years before. But roads were built to the Centre and farms opened until quite a neighborhood was gathered ; and when the saw-mill was erected its future was assured. A small store was opened at this point about 1874, by E. Cor- nell, and a postoffice established, with daily mails from Adams, via Worthville.

WORTHVILLE. - This village, formerly known as Wilcox Corners, is located on both banks of South Sandy creek, and has a population of about 100. The village is one mile south of Rodman, two southeast of Pinckney, in Lewis county, and was the centre of the early settlements, Joseph Wil- cox having made the beginning at this place. The situation is pleasant, and it was once the largest trading point in the town.

A store was opened here in 1849, by Lor- enzo P. Gillet, who erected a large two-story

frame house on the southeast corner for this purpose. A portion of the house was used for a tavern. He was succeeded, in 1858, by A. S. Gillet, who conducted both places until 1866 The store was then closed, and the building used for a tavern only, by Horace Struter, Ormsby Moon, Alanson Pettengill, Levi Calvin, landlords, in the order named. In 1858 an opposition tavern was started on the opposite corner, by Orlin A. Chase. A large hostelry was erected. Duane Earl and Leonard Parker were also among the hosts. The building was later occupied as a residence.

Another store-house was erected in 1865, down the street, where Henry L. Porter opened a stock of goods. The place passed into the hands of George D. Macomber.

Blacksmith shops were conducted at an early day, and at different periods, by Can- field, Elihu Gillet and Egelbert West, all prior to 1840. Richard Lyon followed, and built a shop east of the village. Albert Har- rington worked here a number of years. Wagon-shops were conducted by David H. Atkins and L. H. Spaulbury, established in 1860 and 1875 respectively.

The postoffice was established in 1848, with L. P. Gillet as postmaster. The mail route was from Adams, via Lorraine, to Copenhagen, in Lewis county. Richard Lyon was the carrier, going on horseback once a week. A subscription on the part of the citizens of Worthville secured a semi- weekly mail. In 1865 a tri-weekly mail was supplied. At present there is a daily service from Adams to Worth Centre, via Worth- ville.

TOWN OFFICERS OF WORTH.

Supervisor, A. D. Boyd; town clerk, C. G. Van Brocklin ; highway commissioner, George Robbins; justices of the peace. C. G. Van Brocklin, Daniel Graner, A. D. Boyd and S. M. Taber; collector, Eli Butts ; as- sessors, D. C. Flaherty, Wayne Gilbert and Thomas Hayes; constables, Noah Hyde, George Hannahs and George Bellinger.

At the election in 1895, Worth voted for no license.

Among the prominent men we name the following : George Bert, L. C. Bullock, Eu- gene E. Greenly, Charles Coon, A. D. Boyd, H. J. Jenks, D. C. Flaherty, G. W. Taber, Eli Moore, Len. Calkins, W. P. Ackley, A. M. Frolick, C. C. Mattoon, Leesy Brothers, George Robbins, Peter Bert, Orin D. Green- leaf, D. B. Scott, Hannahs Brothers, G H. Wilcox, Timothy Hayes, B. S. Richards, Thomas Hayes and John Sloan.

BUSINESS PEOPLE OF WORTH.

C. P. Ramsey, proprietor of hotel.

J. D. Cameron, blacksmith.

C. W. Van Brocklin, furniture and butter- tub factory.

There are 15 saw-mills in the town of Worth, proprietors unknown to the writer.

829

WORTH.

C. G. Van Brocklin, ready-made clothing and groceries.

C. D. Grimshaw, dry goods, groceries, &c. The postoffice is also in his store, as well as the telephone. The postmaster is George Bert, Jr.

L. D. Spaulsbury, manufactory and repair shop.

Albert Harrington, machine and iron-work- ing shop.

Lewis Jones, sash and blind factory.

BUSINESS OF WORTHVILLE.

There are here three general stores.

Mrs E. C. Horth has a millinery store in addition to her general merchandise.

CHURCHES.

THE WORTHVILLE UNION CHURCHI Was for a long time the only church edifice in the town. It was erected by a committee in 1875, costing $3,000, and would seat 250 per- sons. It has a board of seven trustees, ap-

pointed by those who subscribed in building the edifice. It was open to all denominations irrespective of creed. For several years a Sunday school has been and is now conducted in this church.

THE METHODIST CHURCH .- The Metho- dists were among the first to organize a class, and finally a society in Worth. The s was at first severe, but at last they built a church in 1875, and the membership has in- creased to 75. The present pastor is Rev. G. S. Carley. In the Sabbath school are 110 scholars, under the charge of Mr. D. B. Scott, the superintendent.

SOCIETIES.

THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS has an organization at Worth, with 65 members, and is in a flourishing con- dition. There is also an organization of Juvenile Templars, with 40 members.

THE G. A. R. Post at Worth has about 20 members. S. B. Kellogg is commander.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

LEVI WILCOX .- In the year 1805, while yet Jefferson county was an almost un- broken wilderness, Joseph Wilcox, a native of Connecticut, emigrated to the present town of Worth. At that time there was but one other family in the town. He purchased 150 acres of wild land, built a house, and moved into it with his family, which at that time consisted of his wife and six children. This old pioneer couple lived to advanced ages-the wife dying at the age of 76, and the father at the age of 88.

STERLING WILCOX, the son who succeeded to the old home, was born in 1791, and lived in Worth from 1805, on the same spot. He was married in 1818 to Miss Sarah Smith, of Lorraine, by whom he became the father of six children : Lydia, Philura, Levi, Caroline, Gilbert and Charles. Mrs. Sarah Wilcox, the mother, died March 22, 1867, aged 67 years.

LEVI WILCOX was born November 26, 1825, and was united in marriage with Miss Mary Fox, of the same town, in 1847. Two children have been born to them, Emma G. and Gilbert H. Thus could be seen three generations of this pioneer old family, living for years together in one family, on the same spot selected by the great-grandfather of the younger members of the family. The farm consists of 220 acres, and is one of the finest in the county. Mr. Levi Wilcox erected a, very fine and commodious house near the old home, which adds much to the beauty and

comforts of this old landmark of Jefferson county.

LEONARD BULLOCK .- One of the very earliest settlers of the town of Worth was Leonard Bullock. He came originally from the State of Rhode Island, to Oneida county, N. Y., and to the present town of Worth in 1802. He here located a tract of land, which has since been the home of himself and his descendants. He built a log shanty and commenced clearing up his land. He was married to Miss Bethsheba Hancock, and at the time of his settlement in Worth was the father of two children. The whole number of children reared by this worthy couple was 12-four sons and eight daughters, who all grew up to manhood and womanhood except one son, who died in infancy. Mr. Bullock lived to the age of 55, dying in 1828.

LEONARD, next to the youngest of these 12 children, was born January 3, 1817. He was reared a farmer, and after his majority bought out the other heirs, and thus became possessed of the old home farm, where he was born. At the age of 20 he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Gillet, of Worth, the daughter of Elihu Gillet, another old settler of Worth. To them were born three children : Emily L., Levi S. and Leonard C. The farm owned by Mr. Bullock consisted of 320 acres of the finest farming lands in the town.

830

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION.

INCORPORATED JANUARY 22, 1895.

OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1895.

PRESIDENT-WILLIAM C. BROWNING.

VICE-PRESIDENT-E. R. HOLDEN.

SECRETARY AND TREASURER - EDWARD W. DEWEY.

DIRECTORS - WILLIAM C. BROWNING, CHARLES G. EMORY, EDWARD W. DEWEY, E. R. HOLDEN, CHARLES I. HUDSON, JAMES C. SPENCER, GEORGE C. BOLDT, JAMES H. OLIPHANT, GEORGE M. PULLMAN.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE-WM. C. BROWN- ING, E. R. HOLDEN, EDWARD W. DEWEY.

The objects for which this association was formed are as follows :

To purchase and to hold and occupy, and to buy and sell and mortgage, or to lease, lands and real estate on the shore or on the islands of the St. Lawrence river, and in that portion of said river known as "The Thousand Islands."

To lay out, improve and beautify said lands and real estate by the erection and construc- tion thereon, or upon portions thereof, a club house or casino, and cottages and other buildings, and piers and wharves, terraces and pleasure grounds, for the use and occu- pation of this association or other persons, or of clubs or societies organized for the promo- tion and cultivation of social enjoyment and recreation as summer residents of the St. Lawrence river, among said Thousand Islands, to whom the Association may sell or lease said lands or real estate.

Especial reference is made to "The Thous- and Island Club," an incorporated association under the laws of the State of New York, to whom the said lands and real estate pur- chased and improved, or portions thereof, may be leased or sold by this association.

The amount of the capital stock of the as- sociation is twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), divided into two hundred (200) shares, of the par value of one hundred dollars ($100) each, all of which shall be common stock.

The location of its principal office or place of business is in the village of Alexandria Bay, N. Y., where the stockholders, directors and officers of this Association may meet and transact their business, as may be provided and stated in the by-laws of this Association, or ordered by the directors from time to time.

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 172

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