Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 38

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 38

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Before dismissing Colonel Flower from consideration as a military man, one of his

most intimate daily companions in the field esteems it a great pleasure and a duty to bear testimony to his unfaltering courage, his fortitude under unexpected reverses and his unfailing regard for the well-being of his men. He had a feeling heart, a high sense of soldierly honor, and an undying faith that in the end all would come out right. Whether in the imminent turmoil and intense excitement of battle, under great personal danger, or borne down by long marches, sometimes in mud and rain amidst endless fa- tigue, he was always clear headed, patient, exemplary. We shared together, in many a bivouac, the same blankets, and divided often the last crust-but his hopeful soul ever over- looked the present discomfort to find pleasure in the hopeful future. Such a man in a regi- ment is a great comfort, for the fault-finder and the prophet of evil are ever present in an army, discouraging every one with their dreary pessimism.

It is not necessary to allude to his business career from the time of his resignation up to the time when he came to Watertown to re- side. He was measurably successful.

In 1865 Captain Flower became a citizen of Watertown, and was so well known and so popular that he was elected the first mayor under the city charter. His democratic ways made him popular with all classes, in that particular being much like his distinguished brother, the Governor. His business inter -- ests after a while drew him much away from Watertown, though there was always his family home after his removal thither. He built railroads and works of internal improve- ment in several localities, being at one time contractor for building the great retaining dam which holds back the water supply of New York city.

Mr. Flower's business career marked him as a very intelligent and able man. No enter- prise, however great, seemed to appall him, for he had a faith that may be called sublime. When absent on one of his expeditions, look- ing after his business, he contracted a serious cold, which developed into acute pneumonia, and he died at the Union Square Hotel in New York city, May 4, 1881, lamented by all who were so fortunate as to know him. He left a widow, who has continued to reside in

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Watertown since his death, and a son, Fredk. S. Flower, of Flower & Co., 52 Broadway, New York city. and a daughter, May E., wife of J. S. Robinson, now residing in that city.

By the death of Mrs. Cadwell, her two young daughters were left in charge of Col. Flower and his wife for rearing and educa- cation. They became conspicuous members of society, and their gratitude to their friend is manifested in the beautiful memorial chapel at Brookside, erected to his memory. [ See views in Brookside. ]

In passing upon the life of such a man as Colonel Flower, the biographer only brings out the leading and dominating traits of his character. But he possessed other traits which showed the thoroughness of the early training he received at his mother's fireside. He was a lovable man, as shown in his re-

spect and enduring affection for his parents ; by his quick response in sympathy and ma- terial aid for any one in distress, especially for those whom he knew in his youth. His affectionate attention to his wife and children and to the young wards who were placed in his charge, marked him as a man of fine sen- sibilities, possessing a high sense of personal responsibility. Though not one who vaunted of his religious belief, all who knew him well understood that the pious teachings of his mother were not lost upon him, and his kin- dred feel no doubt as to his status in that world he has entered upon. In its shadowy Valhalla he will meet other heroes whom he knew beyond the Potomac, and with them he calmly awaits the coming of those other noble patriots who yet linger in their pilgrimage, some of them impatient to depart. J. A. H.

HISTORY OF THE OLD STATE ARSENAL.

THE following interesting paper was pre- pared by A. J. Fairbanks, Esq., and read be- fore the Jefferson county Historical Society :

Prior to the construction of the Watertown arsenal the nearest depot available was at Utica. In 1808, Gov. Daniel D. Tompkins notified by letter Capt. Noadiah Hubbard, of Champion, that 500 stand of arms, 350 sets of accoutrements and 7,500 rounds of ammunition, etc., had been for some time stored at Utica, awaiting some place of de- posit, and their destination was, by an act of March 27, 1808, changed to Watertown. The selection and purchase of the site and the supervision of the building of the Watertown arsenal, were entrusted to Mr. Hart Massey, who, at that time, held the position of collec- tor of customs for the district of Sackets Harbor. A site was selected on the south side of Columbia street (now Arsenal street), near its intersection with Madison street (now Massey street), in the present 3d ward. This portion of the town at that time was but re- cently cleared of the forest, and there were but few dwellings in the vicinity. The west line of Madison street bordered on a dense forest extending to Black River Bay, with but few clearings or roads. During the year 1809 the arsenal was erected and completed. The structure was of brick with cut stone trimmings. Size 40x60 feet, two stories in height, with high attic. On the eastern slope of the roof was a platform on which was mounted two six-pounders, unlimbered, stand- ing muzzle to muzzle. Strong iron bars pro- tected the lower windows, and two tall masts supported lightning rods. In the rear was a one-story guard-house of wood. The whole premises were enclosed by a strong stockade, constructed of cedar posts set into the ground, with two sides hewed, to make the joints somewhat perfect, and the tops cut off about 12 feet from the ground, and sharp- ened. A gateway through the stockade on Columbia street, led to the rear and guard house. A sentry-box stood just within the

gateway. The cost of the arsenal was $1,- 940.99. On the completion of the arsenal, the arms and ammunition, etc., heretofore stored at Utica, were brought from there, and additional supplies from Albany were added, together with a large quantity of cannon balls and shells from a foundry at Taberg, Oneida county. From this time forward and during the war of 1812-14, the supply was continually added to and drawn from, accord- ing to the necessities of the times.

The general appearance and arrangement of the arsenal, up to its sale and final aban- donment, may be described as follows: The ground floor of one room was heavily planked for the storage of a complete battery of artil- lery and appendages. Along the eastern and southern sides on this floor were piled pyra- mids of cannon balls and shells. The walls above these were filled with hundreds of knapsacks and canteens, the former made of canvas painted lead color; on the outer flap was painted in white letters the legend in monogram, S. N. Y .; the canteens were of wood, cylindrical in form, composed of hoops and staves, with leather support-straps. On the western wall were suspended some four or five hundred pairs of snow shoes; these were discarded, and left here by Gen. Pike's brigade, after the long and tedious march overland through the northern wilderness to join Dearborn's army at Sackets Harbor, prior to the descent on Little York (now Tor- onto), in the winter of 1812-13. The ravages of time and mice soon despoiled the snowshoes of the netting and thongs so that they became worthless, and so remained untouched or un- disturbed for 37 years, or until 1850. On the second floor were stored the muskets; on the four walls and on racks extending from floor to ceiling on double hooks, two by two, with bayonets fixed, were ranged many hundreds of muskets, all of one pattern, smooth bore, flint locks of calibre 16 to 18 to the pound. Prominent in the assortment were many old brass mounted relics and trophies of Chip-

THE STATE ARMORY AT WATERTOWN.

173

HISTORY OF THE OLD STATE ARSENAL.

pewa and Lundy's Lane; also a few old con- tinentals. On the rafters in the attic were hung many sets of cross belts, cartridge boxes and bayonet scabbards; above these were a number of drums, the heads and strainers long since departed by age and neglect. On the drums were painted the State coat of arms and the number of regiment.

By the act of Legislature, April 9, 1850, the old arsenals of the State were ordered to be sold, the sites by private sale and the ma- terial by auction, except the artillery, which was sent to headquarters at Albany. Accord- ingly, sales by auction were advertised, and took place soon after. The arms were quickly sold and were mostly carried off by farmers and boys; the belts, etc., were sold in lump to a shoe dealer, who utilized the material in his business, but disposed of the old brass breast plates to a brass foundry. The site and building were purchased by Messrs. O. and E. L. Paddock, who leased the premises for a tobacco factory, for which purpose it was used for several years. Later it was sold to C. A. Holden, who made use of it for stor- age. Finally the structure alone was dis- posed of to W. G. Williams, who demolished it for the excellent material it contained, and which now forms a portion of a fine brick cottage on TenEyck street, owned by C. W. Simons. To-day not a stick or stone marks the old site. To those interested, we would say that the lawn on the western side of the premises of Mrs. C. A. Holden, No. 49 Arsenal street, marks the spot, and the fine stable on the rear occupies the site of the old guard-house.

INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES.

Requisitions for loans of arms were made at various times. At the time of the execu- tion of Evans, for the murder of Rogers and Diamond in 1828, a company of militia was furnished with arms by request of the sher- riff, and subsequently, in 1839, arms were loaned to the sheriff of Lewis county, at the execution of McCarthy for the murder of Alford, an attempted rescue being feared, as threats to this effect were freely made; but no outbreak occurred. During the summer of 1832, the Asiatic cholera raged with fatal violence in Canada, and to prevent its impor- tation on our boundaries, strong and rigorous quarantine regulations were established. Boards of health were organized in every town and every port on Lake Ontario and the river St. Lawrence. The citizens of Sackets Harbor procured a battery of artillery from Madison Barracks, and all the shot and shell in the Watertown arsenal were sent to the Harbor for the guns to enforce quarantine by force, if necessary, in preventing the entry of vessels or passengers during the prevalence of the disease. No occasion for the ammu- nition, however, was required, although the shot and shells were never returned.

During the Patriot War in 1838, intense ex . citement prevailed for many months, owing to the warlike operations on the border. Early in the morning of February 19, 1838, it

was discovered that the Watertown arsenal had been forcibly entered during the night, and a large quantity of arms carried off. It was surmised at once the direction was toward Canada. The keeper, who also held the commission of deputy United States mar- shal, at once commenced search with a posse of detectives, and also had handbills printed and spread in all directions, far and wide.

The pursuit, though active, did not effect the capture of the arms at this time, owing to the celerity of the plunderers, for on the same day there arrived at French Creek (Clayton), on sleighs, a considerable amount of arms, munitions and provisions, also, in the collec- tion, some 500 long-handled pikes, being the proceeds of the Watertown arsenal, and from the arsenals of Batavia and Elizabeth- town, which were plundered the same week. These arms were at once carried over the boundary to Hickory Island, in British waters. Hardly had the patriots reached the island before a stampede took place, and all came back on the run, leaving their arms be- hind or throwing them away in the river. The arms that were brought back to the American shore were hidden at French Creek, and were afterwards discovered and returned. No arrests were made.

For further interesting particulars relating to that episode see article upon the Patriot war in this History.

Many distinguished persons visited the old arsenal at various times. On the occasion of the first annual exhibition of the Jefferson County Agricultural Society, Sept. 29, 1818, many guests from abroad were present, viz: Governor DeWitt Clinton, General Stephen VanRensselaer, J. Le Ray de Chaumont, Hon. George Parish, Col. Jenkins, Col. Hugh Brady and staff of the 2d Infantry, U. S. A., from Madison Barracks, accompanied by the military band of the regiment, and others. During the march of the procession, a salute was fired by Major Masters, at the arsenal. General Macomb, in. 1838, and Generals Scott and Worth, in 1840, inspected the arms. The position of the keeper of the arsenal was a sinecure, and the first keepers were unchanged for many years, but later the place was filled by political preferment. During the war the charge was in the quartermaster's depart- ment. The names of some of the late keep- ers were Capt. Massey, Major Masters, and later on Messrs. Fairbanks, Soper, Meigs and Shephard. After the robbery in February, '38, a detachment of U. S. regular troops guarded the premises for several months. During the war of 1812-14, for the protection of the arms, and to facilitate the arming and disbanding of troops, a military post was es- tablished, and barracks and stables were built opposite the arsenal, on the site on which now stands the fine brick residence of the late Beman Brockway, No. 56 Arsenal street. McKnight's cavalry troops were on duty as military couriers, carrying dispatches, hunt- ing deserters, etc. This post was abandoned and demolished in 1815.

A. J. F.

174

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

MRS. JAMES BRINTNALL.

AMONG the large class of modest, humble and refined yet enerjetic females, who came here to cheer and encourage the hearts of their husbands, and to divide with them the trials and responsibilities of their border life, was the one whose name I have placed at the heading of this article. Her maiden name was Lydia Smith, born in Dracut, Massachu- setts, July 29, 1786. Her father, Samuel Smith, died when she was seven years of age, and she went to live with a maternal uncle, Ezekiel Hale, in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

While occupied in Mr. Hale's factory, at the age of 17, she had an introduction to Jonathan Ingalls. Mr. Ingalls wanted a wife, and without much ceremony solicited her hand.

It was in the fall of 1803 when they mar- ried, and in February following they came on together to take possession of their new home.

Mr. Ingalls had previously erected a log shanty on his land, and had kept bachelor's hall while he chopped and cleared a small piece of ground for wheat.

In these early years she did what she could in the way of working flax and wool into clothes for herself and husband, and in en- larging her stock of beds and bedding.

She took it upon herself to do much of the little occasional marketing of butter and eggs, and the procuring of such articles of neces- sity as had to be purchased at the stores, either at Brownville or in Watertown; and although the roads were rough she was so accustomed to riding on horseback that she had no difficulty in carrying a pail of butter or eggs over the roughest roads, in her lap, on horseback.

Thus passed the short and happy period until the war of 1812, by which time they had got a large clearing, a good barn and the be- ginning of a comfortable frame house.

Hitherto she had known only happiness, The scene was about to change, and her sun was about to set in gloom and darkness. The expedition which had resulted in the capture of Little York, in Canada, provoked the enemy to attempt to retaliate by a systematic attack upon Sackets Harbor, in May, 1813. Mrs. Ingalls saw her husband and husband's brothers take their hasty leave of home, on horseback, with their implements of war- with a heavy heart, and with a kind of melan- choly presentiment of harm.

After a while, there were alarming reports from the scene of strife, that our forces had been defeated, that the town of Sackets Har- bor was in the hands of the enemy, and that a portion of the victorious army, together with the Indians, were in rapid march for Water- town, to destroy the arsenal.

Hastily catching up some things of most value, and turning the cows and calves together, she took her children and a supply of such things as would be most needed, in a little bundle in her hand, and fell into the dis- ordered ranks of the fugitive company.

They had proceeded something like a mile and a half when Elder Libbeus Field overtook them, and having succeeded in allaying their fears by an assurance that the British had re- treated, they all faced about and returned.

It was dark that night before any confirm- ation of the favorable termination of the battle was had by Mrs. Ingalls, in her secluded neighborhood. At that time the brothers, James and David Ingalls, returned, and reported that they had run away from the battle before its close, and had therefore not seen her husband. The neighbor- hood soon became a scene of excitement when it was ascertained that Mr. Abraham Graves, who was ensign in the company to which Mr. Ingalls belonged, together with Mr. John Ayers, were among the missing.

Mrs. Ingalls proceeded at once to the Har- bor, with her friends, and instituted a system- atic search over the field of battle, but all in vain, and she was persuaded to return to her desolate home, with a faint hope that he might after all be a prisoner, even in the hands of the dreaded Indians.

It was the last of July before she got the intelligence, by way of a letter from Mr. Graves to his family, that the five persons named, viz: Messrs. Linnell. Cook. Ayres, Ingalls and himself were taken prisoners by the Indians, and given up to the British, who had conveyed them to Quebec, where all but himself were confined on board of a prison ship. He, being an officer in the militia, was permitted to remain on shore. He also stated that the persons named were well when he last heard directly from them.

In February following, Mrs. Graves got another letter from her husband, which gave the intelligence of the death of Mr. Ingalls and Mr. Ayers, from disease induced by cruel suffering and confinement in the hold of a filthy prison ship, and by starvation.

In the meantime there was sickness and death in the family at home, and a necessity for the most active efforts on her part, in harvesting and securing the crops. David Ingalls was never well a day after his return from the battle at Sackets Harbor, but con- tinued to decline until August, when he died. Mrs. Ingalls had a severe run of fever, such as was called the " epidemic," which raged in all parts of the county. Others of her family were sick at nearly the same time, so that a younger brother of Mr. Ingalls, who had been sent for before David's death, thought it most prudent for him to escape the danger by returning at once to his old home, New Hampshire.

She made arrangements the next spring with Mr. Brintnal, who was then a young un- married man, to rent the farm to him for three years. This arrangement proved per- fectly satisfactory to both parties, and re- sulted in a very agreeable matrimonial con- nection, by which she became, at the close of three years, Mrs. James Brintnal. S. M.

VIEW IN WATERTOWN.

PICTURE

FRAMES

THE WATERTOWN CITY OPERA HOUSE. BUILT IN 1886 BY REMINGTON, GATES & Co. COST $75,000.

TIIN

ITIST DENTIST

BOOKS & WA!

BOOKS

WASHINGTON HALL. PRESENTED TO THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BY THE LATE JOHN A. SHERMAN.

175

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

PERHAPS this point in our History is as ap- propriate as any other in which to introduce the city of Watertown, as independent from the town proper. This manner of treating the subject may appear to give the city more prominence upon the printed page than is its due. But Watertown village, from the very first, was an important business centre, geo- graphically almost equi-distant from any of the lines forming the county's boundaries; and notwithstanding the pretensions of sur- rounding villages, that frequently challenged Watertown's claims to supremacy-one move having gone so far as to propose two shire towns for holding courts (one at Adams and the other at Theresa)-yet the old town has gone right along increasing in wealth, social status, and in population, until now it is one of the most elegant and wealthy small cities of America. Viewed in any light-as the centre of a prosperous county, the centre of the wealth and industry of that county, or as the central influence whence have sprung much of the enterprise and learning of the county at large, its history and present status must ever be interesting, and perhaps instruct- ive. It is the common ground on which the people of all the towns may meet upon demo- cratic equality-the very Rialto of the com- mercial influences which have always centered here, and the Athens of a section which has needed no Acropolis, for the surrounding towns have produced local orators and soldiers whose names will sound in the remoter his- tory as do to us, now upon the stage, the names of Webster and Choate, of Soult, and Murat, and McDonald.

The city of Watertown is finely located on the Black river about seven miles from its junction with Lake Ontario. The river divides the city into two unequal portions, the bulk of the place being on the southern side of the stream. Two large islands, Bee- bee's and Sewall's, besides one smaller one, are encompassed by the various channels within the city limits. Of these Beebee's contains about five, and Sewall's fifteen acres of land, or rather land and rock, for underneath the scanty covering of soil lies the formation known as the Trenton limestone, composed of three stratifications, individually known as Trenton, Black River and Birds-eye, which comprise a large share of the surface or out- cropping strata of the county. The river is spanned by substantial bridges. One of these bridges, upon the suspension plan, was de- signed and constructed by a local mechanic.

The islands and banks of the river are mostly occupied by the various manufactories for over a mile, nearly all of which are very conveniently connected with the tracks of the railway lines which centre here. The main body of the town is beautifully situated on a broad-spreading plateau, running back to the

terraces of limestome which mark the ancient shores of Lake Ontario. The city is remark- ably well built, more especially in the line of dwellings, which for number, elegance and comfort are not excelled by those of any city in the country.

The place has all the necessary and charac- teristic elements of a large city, including fine, broad streets, good hotels, extensive printing establishments, costly churches, good schools, gas and water-works, a well-ordered fire de- partment, a competent police force, one great rural cemetery and several small ones, excel- lent bands, a fine opera-house, extensive and imposing business blocks, and heavy manu- factories. It is the centre of a very extensive trade in nearly all descriptions of merchandise and manufactured goods, and transacts a very large business in dairy and other agricultural productions, as well as in wood-pulp, the capacity of the river, from Carthage to Dexter, being placed as high as 200 tons per day.

ADVANTAGES AND ATTRACTIONS.

1. Its unsurpassed and almost unlimited water-power, furnished by Black river, which falls nearly 112 feet within the city limits.

2. Its location in the most fertile and pro- ductive portion of Northern New York, and in one of the most thriving and prosperous agri- cuitural counties in the State.

3. It is the virtual centre of a railroad system which has its outlets at favorable points in the interior of the State, and at the best ports on the "great lakes of the north."

4. It therefore possesses the advantages of railway connections, the superintendents ex- pressing and showing a liberal spirit towards all manufacturing enterprises.

5. It is situated in the midst of vast and valuable mineral deposits, chief among which are inexhaustible beds of the finest iron-ore to be found in the United States, many of which are in full and successful operation.

6. Within the limits of the city lie portions of a ridge of limestone miles in extent, which, it has been demonstrated, has no superior as a flux for use in the reduction of iron-ore.

7. It has direct railroad communication with the vast coal regions of Northern Penn- sylvania, by two connecting railroad lines.

8. It has direct railroad communication with the lumbering interests of adjoining counties, with lake and river ports receiving lumber from the west, and with the great pine and spruce forests of Canada.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 38

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