Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 93

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 93

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And under August 26 :

"Pass on five miles to the Ox-Bow, a remarkable bend on the east branch of the Oswegatchie river. and a fine situation for a large house. There is now a log hut, at which we breakfasted, and another in sight."

He returns after two weeks of travel through St. Lawrence and Franklin counties, and says under date of September 9 :

" Set off from Lee's after breakfast and stop at Stearn's, on No. IV. at 12 miles distance. then 10 miles more to the Black River at Long Falls "

In the following year, 1805, Constable

again traverses the same route and under date of August 16, has this to say of his trip from Long Falls (Carthage) to OxBow.

"Proceeded through the Great Tract No IV, and stopped at Stearn's 10 miles, where we dined, and arrived at Lee's 20 miles from the falls, where we passed the night, and, as the house was com- pletely full, an uncomfortable one it was. I see no alteration in this part of the country since last year; the road at least as bad, and no more settlers. We were told General Lewis R. Morris had been through it. and has now gone to Vermont, intending shortly to return, perhaps with his family. He has quieted Lee and other squatters, who seem well satisfied. He is expected to build at the Ox-Bow."

It is thus seen that in passing over the same route in the two years, he makes no mention of the spot where is now situated Antwerp village, for not a human being did it then contain. The solitude of the forest yet remained to be broken by the woodman's ax.

Daniel Sterling, a direct descendant of Governor Bradford, came to Antwerp in 1805. He settled upon the farm now belong- ing to his grandson, Bradford Sterling, one and one-half miles north of the village. His wife, Mary Sterling, had the honor of receiv- ing the first deed conveying lands in the town of Antwerp. Daniel Sterling was the father of James Sterling, the iron manufac- turer, whose brother Samuel was the first white child born in the town.

The first extensive settlement of Antwerp was made on the old Gouverneur road to the north of Sterling's, and the land now occu- pied and owned by the Dicksons and others, probably extending as far as the present location of Somerville.

In 1806 there settled here John Bethel, John C. Foster, Edward Foster, Hopestill Foster, Edward Foster, Jr., Silas Ward and Peter Raven. In 1807, Lyman Colburn, Asa Hunt, William Randall, Allen Thompson and Henry Adams; in 1808, Salmon White, Clark Lewis, Amos Keith and Thaddeus Park; in 1809, Caleb Cheney, Amos Streeter, Warren Streeter and Mrs. Nott, with her family of two sons (Moses and Reuben), and several daughters; in 1810, Solomon Pepper. Thus in four or five years there was a very substantial settlement, probably as thickly inhabited as at the present time, for in those days it was necessary to keep together in defense of their common enemies, the. In- dian and the wolf.

Zopher Holden came in 1806, and settled on the farm now owned by Mrs. H. Holden and sons, about two miles south of the village. On the Long Falls (Carthage) road there was an early settlement by Lemuel Hubbard in 1805, and as early as 1809 there were Henry C. Baldwin, Dexter Gibbs, Sherebiah Gibbs, Amasa Sartwell, Almond Beecher and William Fletcher.

The land-book shows the following names of settlers, with the dates of their purchase : 1805, William Lee; 1806, John Bethel, John Robinson, Peter Vrooman, Edward Foster, Jr., Mary Sterling, Benajah Randall, John Jennison, Peter Raven, Hopestill Foster,

429

ANTWERP.

John C. Foster and James Parker; 1807, Zebulon Rockwell, Samuel Griswold, David Coffeen, Zopher Holden; 1808, Samuel Ran- dall, Zebina Bishop, Mary Bishop, Alfred Walker, Daniel Gill, William Fletcher ; 1809, Richard McAllaster, Dexter Gibbs, Sherebiah Gibbs, Jonathan Marbles, Isaac L. Hitch- cock, Timothy Ruggles, Jesse Jackson, Daniel Heald, John Pease; 1810, Amasa Sartwell, Almond Beecher, William Fletcher, Jeduthan Kingsbury, Harrison Moseley; 1811, Oliver Stowell, Lemuel Hubbard, Anson Cummings, John White, Levi Wheelock; 1812, William Harris, William McAllaster, Daniel Sterling, Salmon White, Warren Streeter, William Randall, Elkanah Pat- tridge, Ira Ward, Asher Seymour, Roswell Wilder, Benjamin Goodwin, Elliott Lynde, Daniel Gill, Caleb Cheney, Henry C. Bald- win, James Briggs, Silas Brooks, Shailer Beckwith, Silas Ward, Ezra Church, Ben- jamin Cook.

These hardy pioneers have all passed away, and nearly all their names can now be read in the old village cemetery.

" Here. in their narrow cells forever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."

The hardships they endured, the dangers they encountered and the obstacles they sur- mounted, would have appalled any other than the rugged Yankee character, for a majority of the early settlers came from Vermont and Massachusetts, direct descend- ants of the Pilgrim stock. Many of their children and grandchildren, and great-grand children live in handsome houses upon the spots where their brave ancestors reared pole cabins. "A few toiled and suffered; myr- iads enjoy the fruits." The last of the early settlers was Benjamin Cook, who died about 12 years ago. Mr. Cook was the third school teacher in the town. He came from Scho- harie in 1811, and built a pole-cabin three miles north of the village, on the road to Keene Station, at a point near the residence of Ansel Clark, Jr., and lived within a few rods of the spot until he died. At that time there was no road to the place.

The town of Antwerp belonged originally to the famous Macomb purchase, to which every good title in the town refers. General Lewis R. Morris, a relative of Robert Morris, the Revolutionary patriot, who furnished Washington on his own credit a portion of the funds with which to carry on the Revo- lutionary war, was an early purchaser of a tract which included the entire town. It was under Gen. Morris' direction that the town began to settle. The Antwerp Company, of Belgium, also early owned a portion of the town, but it was in 1808 that the most ex- tensive purchase, with a view of actual set- tling, was made by David Parish, an eminent banker, of Hamburg, Germany. He pur- chased 29,033 acres in Antwerp, which was afterwards increased to nearly 90,000 acres by his successors, George Parish and George Parish, Jr., brother and nephew of the original David. It was under the Parish

administration that the town began to be settled rapidly, but the last of their lands was not taken up until the beginning of the Civil War.

The method by which General Morris had commenced to sell the land was changed by Mr. Parish, who, instead of deeding the property and taking back mortgages, gave contracts, calling for deeds only upon the last payment. The early sales were con- ditioned upon the clearing of a certain portion of land, and the creation of a house to insure the land from getting into the hands of speculators. Mr. Parish did not realize at first the importance which Ant- werp would some day assume, as to mineral wealth, but this was soon discovered, and he was shrewd enough thereafter to insert in all his contracts a reservation of all mines of iron, copper and lead.

John Jennison, early in 1807 was appoint- ed agent by the former proprietor, General Morris, which position he retained until suc- ceeded by Sylvius Hoard, and in April, 1824, he was followed by William McAllaster, under whose direction the greater part of the land was sold. Mr. McAllaster retained his position until all the tract was disposed of. The land office was located on the corner of the present Main street and Lexington avenue, near the farm-house of George D. McAllaster.

In the town of Antwerp, there is a range of ore deposits owned by the Jefferson Iron Company. They are, beginning at the south- west, Colburn, Ward, Dickson, White and Old Sterling mines. The Dickson mine was first opened in 1858. It is 150 feet deep, and worked wholly as an underground mine. The White mine is a small pit on the White farm, between the Dickson and Old Sterling. The Old Sterling mine is one mile northeast of the Dickson mine, and three miles from Antwerp. First opened by George Parish in 1836, and it has been in operation ever since. For years it was in the possession of the Sterling family, who used the ore in their furnace, and refused to sell any of it. In 1869 it became the property of the Jeffer- son Iron Company. The open pit at the northeast is 115 feet deep, and approximately 500 by 175 feet. The underground work- ings are south and southwest of it, and the ore has been followed for a distance of 900 feet, and to a depth of 185 fret. This de- posit lies between the gneissic rocks on the southeast, 400 feet distant, and the sandstone (Potsdam) on the west side of the mine, but no walls have as yet been reached in the mine. A serpentine rock occurs with the ore apparently without any order in its rela- tion to it. The ore varies from a specular ore of metallic lustre and steel-gray shade of color to amorphous, compact masses of deep red. The crushed powder answers well as a paint, and stains deeply all with which it comes in contact. The chemical composi- tion is shown by the following analysis:

430

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Sesquioxide of iron. 17.52

Oxide of manganese

0,07

Alumina

1,12

Lime

2.49

Magnesia

1.07

Phosphoric acid.

0.263

Sulphur

0,08

Silicie

9.80

Water

0.68

Metallic iron

.55.66

Phosphorus_

.0.115

The ore stands up well, and, by leaving pillars with arched roof in the galleries and drifts, no timbering is necessary. There is comparatively little water in the mine. The serpentine is not so firm as the ore, and is full of slickenslide surfaces. Small mine cars are used on the narrow guage tramways in the mine drifts. A skip track runs to the bottom of the open pit. A branch railroad three miles long connects this mine and the Dickson with the main line of the R., W. & O. Railroad, near Antwerp, although in a due east course the latter is less than a mile away.

The Dickson and Old Sterling ores are sold to furnaces on the Hudson river, and in Eastern Pennsylvania, and some in Ohio. The ease with which the Old Sterling ore is smelted, being almost sclf-fluxing, creates a demand for it in mixtures with other more refractory ores, and even where the freights make it expensive. The total output of these mines is estimated at 750,000 tons.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN.

Antwerp was formed from LcRay by an act of April 5, 1810, to take effect on the first of January following, and the limits were the same as they are to-day. The same act annexed a part of Lewis county to Jefferson, and it was directed that the first town meeting should be held "at the house of Francis McAllaster, occupied by William Fletcher, inn-keeper, in said town," on the 5th of March following. The name " Ant- werp" was given in honor of the Antwerp Company, of Belgium. Daniel Sterling was chosen moderator, and the following were the first town officers : Supervisor, Daniel Heald; Clerk, Samuel Randall; Assessors, John Jennison, Zopher Holden and Silas Ward; Commissioners of Highways, Francis McAllaster, Oliver Stowell and Elkanah Pattridge; Overseers of the Poor, William Fletcher and John C. Foster; Overseers of Highways, Daniel Sterling, Jeduthan Kings- ley, Salmon White, Matthew Brooks and Samuel Hendrix ; Constable and Collector, Elkanah Pattridge.

The highways were of the first importance then, as shown in the number of highway commissioners and overseers. It may seem more strange that in the civilization of nearly a century, the subject of highways is again forcing itself to the front. Early in the year 1805, a road was opened from Philadelphia to Antwerp and OxBow, and the following year to Gouverneur, which had begun to be settled. The work of road-making was

pushed forward from year to year until finally in 1849 a plank road was built from Philadelphia to Antwerp and OxBow, and also from Philadelphia to OxBow. Antwerp and Carthage were also thus connected.

The town of Antwerp seems to have been three-fourths of a century ahead of the rest of the State in the matter of registration of births and deaths, which is now universal. In 1813 a town resolution was passed making this excellent requirement, which was continued for many years. In 1825 it was voted that the town meeting should annually thereafter be held alternately at Indian River, as the village was then called, and at Ox Bow, but for 50 years they have been held at Antwerp altogether.

THE WAR OF 1812.

The inhabitants of Antwerp appear to have been as thoroughly frightened as the remainder of the country, by the news of the War of 1812. As soon as word was re- ceived of the war, measures of self-protec- tion were adopted by building a block-house, which stood in the street opposite the present site of the Foster House. It was a short time of anxiety, but the terror which the news of war first occasioned soon sub- sided, and the unfinished fort was demolished.

THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP. ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT.

THE father and founder of this village is Gen. Lewis R. Morris, and it would not have been singular if the settlement had been named Morristown or Parishville, after the next proprietor. On December 23, 1804, General Morris had purchased a tract of 49,280 acres, within the present boundaries of the town, which was more than two- thirds of its entire area, and included the site of the present village. For many years the little village had no more dignified name than Indian River.

The original settlement was probably due to the crossing of the State road over the river, which afforded good water-power, and naturally became the centre of business. The first improvement was the construction of a dam in 1805, by General Morris, under the supervision of Lemuel Hubbard, and in the following year, 1806, a saw-mill for Morris was built by Silas Ward, which was the first building erected.

Antwerp village is therefore 88 years old as a settlement. In the same year, as soon as the mill could turn out the lumber, a small frame house was put upon the present site of the Proctor House, and opened as an inn, with Gershom Matoon as its landlord. James Constable refers to the town in his diary under date of August 8, 1806.

The land office building was probably the next, with John Jennison as local agent. Dr. Hough says the first grist mill was built under the direction of Jennison, about 1807, on the site of the present " old red shop " of

431

ANTWERP.

J. G. Bethel. The Jennison mill must have been torn down or converted into a clothing mill, for a clothing mill was built there by Church about 1812, which he carried on for 16 years, when Thomas and Ezra Wait be- came proprietors. They demolished it after a time and built a new building upon the same site, the present "red shop." It was operated as a clothing mill until near 1856, when its machinery was taken out and re- moved to Wegatchie, St. Lawrence county. Some years ago there was a hot contest over the subject of moving the building out of the highway to its present location, at an expense of several hundred dollars, and the villagers carried their point.

Ezra Church was a man of great enter- prise and ingenuity, a skilled bridge-builder and mill-wright. He secured the single run of stone for the old mill where Augsbury's now stands, from the Parker ledge, and built the mill on a contract to purchase it from Parish, but the title always remained with the latter until 1839, when it became the property of Isaiah Bailey. In 1868 it was purchased by Morgan Augsbury, the present owner, who equipped it in 1887 with six sets of Hungarian rolls, and it has become a somewhat extensive industry, shipping flour to the surrounding towns.

Dr. Samuel Randall came to Indian River in 1808, and was the first physician of the town of Antwerp, and also the first post- master in 1809, with the office in his house, which positiion he retained for many years. It seems probable that he also built the first frame house in the village, very near the present location of the Congregational Church. The village was first commenced on the south side of the river, where the land is level, while on the north it is rough, and it would seem singular that it did not continue to grow in that direction. In the spring of 1811, the only buildings on the north side were Church's grist-mill, the inn first kept by Matoon, a building kept for a boarding house by a Frenchman named Bordeau, near the present Coolidge block, the "yellow store " of Zebulon H. Cooper, where the Chapin block now stands, which was the first store in 1810; the house and postoffice of Dr. Randall, to which he added a. stock of goods in 1812, including drugs ; and farther north the house of Major John Howe. A third store was opened by Orrin E. Bush.

A tannery became the next industry of the town in 1812, opposite the head. of Rail- road street, on the land now owned by Stephen Conklin's family. Luther Conklin purchased this property in 1815, but removed here a year later. Some time after that he de- molished the old tannery building and erected another upon its site, which disap- peared by fire long since.

Henry Welch, grandfather of J. R. Welch, was the first wagon worker, about 1820, and his old shop is still standing next to the present shop of his grandson, one of

the best remembered buildings in the town. The present double-arch stone bridge was built in 1880 at a cost of $6,000, and is an enduring monument to the builders. It was erected after fiercest opposition, and now gives universal satisfaction.

THE GREAT FIRE OF 1889.

Antwerp, like Theresa and Carthage, has suffered from disastrous conflagrations. A very great fire broke out on the night of February 3, 1889, but it spread to be a bless- ing in disguise, for it has been the means of adding several handsome brick blocks to the village. It soon swept into ashes over $50,- 000 worth of property, with an insurance of about $31,009. The only means available for fighting fire were a pump and about 200 feet of hose owned by the tannery, but it did not reach all of the burning buildings. Watertown was telephoned to for help about two hours after the fire had started. An engine and hose cart .were brought by special train about 3.30 a. m., but the engine froze up and soon broke a cog-wheel and was rendered useless. Their hose being attached to the tannery pump, saved the town.

The fire was disastrous, but from its ruins have risen better buildings and the appear- ance of a more progressive business town.

SCHOOLS.

For nearly 45 years Antwerp has been the seat of learning for a large territory, acquir- ing this reputation through the foundation of the Antwerp Liberal Literary Institute. The educational facilities were first consider- ed in 1813, when a school was commenced in a small building on the east side of Main street, near the present post office, which was the first educational institution in both village and town. The first principal of this temple of learning was Lodowick Miner, who came from the Royal Grant, in Herkimer. He was succeeded by Jacob Miller, and he by Benjamin Cook. Cook and Miner were respectively the first and second teachers of the second school house in the town, on the Ox-Bow road, on a knoll near the spring, just north of John Wilbur's residence. These schools were not free, but were supported by the subscriptions of the pupils. The second school-house of Ant- werp village is still standing and in good condition, being used as a dwelling. Being

a school house, it naturally stood out prominent, and was the cause of a recent liti- gation, the courts deciding that the yard was in the street, and the walk was straightened, or rather it was straightened first, which caused the litigation.

The third school-house in the village was the old brick one, built and given by Mr. Parish in 1816, and used up to 1879, when the present frame building was erected on the same site. The first division of the town into school districts was made on March 12, 1814, by John Howe, John C. Foster and Oliver Stowell, the town school com-

432

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

missioners, who divided the town into dis- tricts.

Ives Seminary, located in Antwerp village, is an outgrowth of two previously existing educational enterprises-the Antwerp Liberal Literary Institute and the Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary. The last named insti- tution was incorporated April 5, 1828, and was successfully conducted as a grammar school until 1837, when it was placed under the patronage of the Black River Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and be- came their Conference Seminary, with Rev. Jesse T. Peck as principal. It remained under the patronage of this church until 1869, when, as the buildings and facilities had become inadequate to the needs of the institution, it was transferred to Antwerp. The Antwerp Liberal Literary Institute furnished the beginning of the educational facilities, buildings, etc., which are now in use by the Ives Seminary. The Institute received a provisional charter in 1856, which was afterwards extended to February 1, 1860, and in 1861 it was made absolute. The erection of a stone building, three stories in height, 105 feet long and 50 feet wide, was commenced during the summer of 1857, but was not finished until May 9, 1861, at which date it was dedicated. The value of build- ings, grounds, library and apparatus at that timc was $13,000. Of this sum about $7,000 had been raised by subscription, and $3,000 by bonding the town, leaving an indebted- ness of $3,000, which amount was loaned to the Institution by the State, and subse- quently made a free gift. The Institutc was opened May 20, 1861, with J. M. Man- ning and two assistants in charge. During the following year three teachers were added, and the number of students was about 120. In 1863 it was proposed to trans- fer the property to the State for use as a Normal School, but this was not accom- plished. In 1865 an unsuccessful attempt was made to change the Institute to a graded school. In 1868 a proposition was made to lease the property to the Protestant Episcopal Society, but the parties interested could not agree on conditions. About this time the Black River Conference leased the buildings, and the Legislature changed the name of the Institute to " Black River Con- ference Seminary." In 1870 the erection of a boarding and ladies' hall, of stone, 72x43 feet and four stories high, was commenced. It was finished two years afterwards and cost $16,000. In 1873 it was resolved by the trustees to place the institution forever be- yond the possibility of failure by raising a fund of at least $30,000. Hon. Willard Ives, of Watertown, immediately headed the sub- scription list with $8,000, and two years later the Conference had succeeded in raising about $26,000. The entire wealth of the in- stitution, including buildings, etc., is more than $50,000. April 21, 1874, the name was changed to "Ives Seminary," at the sugges- tion of Dr. E. O. Haven, and at about the

same time an arrangement was made where- by the Seminary was adopted as Gymnasium C, of Syracuse University, students gradu- ating from it being admitted there without further re-examination. The school is in a prosperous condition, sustained by the following faculty : Rev. F. E. Arthur, A. M., Principal ; Ellen A. Corse, A. M., Pre- ceptress ; Merrill J. Blanden, A. B., Jennie A. Williams, Mima Munro.

There have been many private schools in Antwerp, but one in particular deserves mention, that of Miss Ruth G. Abell, who for 17 years conducted a successfu. select school, and her pupils, who have now reached manhood and womanhood, will always hold her in grateful memory. Miss Abell is still living in town, enjoying the fruits of a life spent in good works.

CHURCHES.

The progress of religion during the first years of Antwerp's history was not very en- couraging. The old Catholic Church, now in use on the hill, the second built in Jeffer- son county, was erected and given by Mr. Parish to the people of Antwerp as a housc of worship, to be used by all denominations. For about 10 years it was thus used, but Mr. Parish excluded the Congregationalists because they would not have a minister who was able to suit all classes, and stormy times followed, well remembered to-day by many old inhabitants.

The old brick church was erected by David Parish, in 1816, at a cost of $9,692.26. The building to-day is well preserved, and is good for another century. It was dedi- cated in 1819, and was sold in 1849 to the Catholics for $600. In 1816 the town appointed a committec, consisting of John Howe, Sylvius Hoard and Samuel Randall to take charge of the church. Mr. Parish would never allow a fire in the church, for some peculiar reason, and people were com- pelled to take with them cans of coals, or shiver, and generally both. Since the Catholics have occupied the church a steeple and a bell have been added.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Is the oldest church organization in town. It was formed in July, 1819, by Rev. Isaac Clinton, then principal of the Lowville Academy. The original members were William Randall, Percival Hawley, Edward Foster, Hosea Hough, Mrs. Hawley, Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Frances Eaton and Mrs. Polly Copeland.

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Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 93

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