Growth of a Century : as illustrated in the history of Jefferson County, New York, from 1793 to 1894, Part 98

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 98

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).

DR. EMERSON SEYMOUR was born in Ant- werp in 1839. He graduated from Bellevue Medical College, and practiced for more than 20 years in Antwerp. He married Miss Jennie Christian, of Natural Bridge, who survives him, and is a resident of Carthage. He died in 1882, aged 43 years. His grand- father, Asher Seymour, was a pensioner of the War of 1812, having gonc from Antwerp.

T. T. BALLARD was born and lived in the town of Clayton, near Depauville, until 19 years of age, when he enlisted in Company H, 2d Regiment N. Y. Heavy Artillery, October, 1861, and served in that command until the regiment was mustered out of service. This regiment was stationed in the fortifications of Washington, on the Virginia

side of the Potomac, until Grant was made lieutenant-general, when they joined the Army of the Potomac during the progress of the battle of the Wilderness, and was assigned to the first brigade, first division of the second army corps, participating in all the battles, 19 in number, that that heroic command engaged in, until the culmination of Appomattox. Since the close of the war he has been a resident of the village of Ant- werp.

GEORGE B. HOARD was one of the first settlers of the town of Antwerp, and brother of Hon. Charles Brooks Hoard, formerly member of Congress from Jefferson and Lewis counties, who died at Ceredo, W. Va. A son of George B. Hoard was Charles A., who married Catharine McIntyre, and they had born to to them two children, Lena and Frcd C. The latter first saw the light in 1866, in Antwerp. He has always resided in his native town, and is now clerk in the store of Alonzo Chapin. His father, Charles A. Hoard, died in 1880, aged 33 years.

THE PATRIOT WAR.

Several Antwerp citizens were involved in the disturbances of 1837-38, known as the Patriot War, although that episode hardly justifies a name of such dignity. Meetings were held frequently in Copeland's hall, and afterwards in the old building on the west side of Main street south of the bridge. The excitement ran high, and many enlisted and went to the "front"-ier. Among them were Gen. T. R. Pratt, Nelson Truax, who was tried and let go, and Benjamin Fulton, cousin of Elijah Fulton. The latter, with one or two others, escaped from the famous " Windmill" and crossed the St. Lawrence on a raft. A. H. Munro, of this village, then lived in Canada, and took part in the "Battle of the Windmill" on the side of the British forces. None from Antwerp were hung for their foolishness.

The Gen. T. R. Pratt named above, was an unique character. He first came into public notice as a hotel keeper at Antwerp, but his acquaintance was finally so extensive as to make him known to nearly the whole county. He served one term as sheriff, finally remov- ing to Watertown, when so elected. Thc lands where the Keep Home is located were once his. General Pratt received his com- mission from Gov. R. E. Fenton. He died in the seventies, but his widow survived until the nineties. They both died in Wa- tertown.

Antwerp, it is but just to say, was not alone in furnishing foolish men who par- ticipated in the unprecedented movement known in our day as the "Patriot War" of 1837. Some of the best men in nearly every town in the county, and all along the frontier settlements from Niagara to Ogdens- burg, were in active sympathy with the movement, and some of them participated, much to their regret and suffering.

ANTWERP.

456 a

COLONEL HIRAM B. KEENE.

WE present to our readers with pleasure the face of one of the most widely known and highly esteemed of the early pioneers of Antwerp, who stands as an example of what perseverance, industry and integrity may ac- complish. Hiram B. Keene was born at Pompey, Onondaga county, N. Y., June 17, 1810. His parents, Job and Mary Keene, reared 13 children in the habits of frugality and industry, and all of them, except two, became heads of families. Of the five broth- ers, but two survive, Miles A., who resides in Hermon, St. Lawrence county, at the age of 71, and Hiram, the subject of our sketch. He was early taught the value of money. His advantages for acquiring an education were of a limited character. At the age of 12 (February, 1822), he came to Jefferson

county with his parents and settled in the town of Antwerp. He assisted them on the farm until he reached his majority. With a large family to provide for amidst the hard- ships incidental to farming in pioneer life, Hiram's parents could afford him very few advantages and very little pocket money. He married (January 17, 1831) Miss Betsey Doud, of Rupert, Vt. At the time of his marriage he had but two dollars and owed for his wedding suit. One of the dollars he gave to the minister, who married them, and the other dollar he divided equally with his wife. Thus he commenced his wedded life with almost nothing, but he possessed a great amount of energy and perseverance, which enabled him to provide a comfortable home and finally to accumulate a handsome com-

456 b

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

petence. He first purchased on credit 25 acres of land at $6.00 per acre. This indebtedness he cleared up in two years. Once, while plowing, the point of the plow struck a hard substance, which proved to be iron ore, and the iron ore mine thus discovered is yet known as the "Keene ore bed." It is near the line between Antwerp and St. Lawrence county. Other mines were developed soon after. One, about a mile from Keene's station, is called the Carney or Caledonia mine. Neither of them are now in active operation. At one time the ore was delivered on the cars for $5.00 per ton, but now would not bring $1.00. This is accounted for by mines in the South, which are operated more advantage- ously. Colonel Keene sold his interest in the Keene mine for $920 to James Sterling. It is now owned by New York parties.

From time to time he added to his small farm until to-day he is the owner of 1,400 acres of land, comprising six different farms, on which are 200 head of cattle, 165 of them cows giving milk. Of late years he has been interested in these farms and in con- ducting dairies and making cheese. While proud in the consciousness of owing no man a dollar and enjoying his well-earned prop- erty, many enterprises of a worthy . local character have received substantial aid. He gave $500 toward the beautiful soldiers' monument at Antwerp, at a time when the projectors were about discouraged in their efforts to obtain the necessary funds for its erection. Each one of the churches in Ant- werp in turn have been benefited by his liberal hand, and he has always been a liberal supporter of the schools. The handsome marble Masonic temple of Gouverneur re- ceived $100 from him, and many other in- stances of his generosity of a private nature might be cited. While a resident of Ant- werp he enjoyed the confidence of his towns-

men, holding every office from postmaster to supervisor. He was justice of the peace eight years, town assessor 24 years and su- pervisor three terms. Colonel Keene was a captain of the 84th Regiment State Militia, and was afterwards promoted to be its colo- nel, which position he held several years, until the regiment was disbanded. For three years he was a director of the old Watertown & Potsdam Railroad, and gave the right of way across 1,400 acres. He acted as their agent for five years, and was station agent at Keen's station for 11 years. By signing paper for other people connected with the railroad he lost nearly $10,000, which he paid. For 12 years he was president of the Board of Trade of Gouverneur, and many years presi- dent of the Antwerp Union Agricultural So- ciety. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, being transferred from Antwerp Lodge when he made Gouverneur his home in 1885. Although a member of no church, he believes in the final restoration of all mankind to the loving favor of God. Politi- cally he was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when he joined that organization.

His first wife died in 1882, aged 75 years. For his second wife he married Mrs. Frances Jacobs, daughter of Noah Williams, and they have one daughter, Miss Mary F. Keene, aged nine years. At the age of 85, Colonel Keene is a remarkably well-preserved and intelligent gentleman, possessing a cour- teous, genial and kind disposition, enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life, one whom it is a great pleasure to know. He has shown himself a kind husband, an accommodating neighbor and friend, and a good citizen. One could hardly say more of anyone. But in this instance, all that is said of this genial gentleman is true. His manner is gentle, his bearing that of a gentleman of the old school.

COLONEL ZEBULON H. BENTON.

[Copied from Wallace's Guide to the Adirondacks.]

THERE was probably no more romantic, picturesque or conspicuous figure connected with the chronicles of Lake Bonaparte than Colonel Zebulon H. Benton. The accom- panying engraving faithfully represents his appearance in daily life. He invariably dressed with the nicest regard to minute par- ticulars, in peaked felt hat, long black coat and ruffled shirt-every article faultlessly neat. With his fresh, ruddy complexion, clean-shaven face, rich growth of snow-white hair, graceful carriage, and form almost as lithe and perfect, at the ripe age of 82, as if in the flower of youth and strength, he seemed the embodiment of a gentleman of the old regime.

Colonel Benton was born in Apulia, N. Y., January 27, 1811, and the details of his checkered life would fill a book. We can only briefly allude to the following facts :

He was a cousin of Thomas Hart Benton, the great Missouri statesman, and consequently a kinsman of his daughter, Jessie Benton Fre- mont, the noted wife of the famous "Path- finder." In the War of the Rebellion he re- ceived an appointment on the staff of Gen- eral Fremont, but before he could arrange to take the position the General was suspended. He was also a relative of the eminent novel- ist, James Fenimore Cooper. From his very boyhood he led an extremely active life, and before he was fairly out of his teens he was entrusted by his employers with commissions of the utmost importance, which he brought to successful consummation. He was en- gaged from time to time in great enterprises, especially those of land, mining and rail- roading. The capital invested in these some- times exceeded a million dollars. His ven- tures, often gigantic, were not confined to Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, but ex-

ANTWERP.

456 c

COL. ZEBULON HOWELL BENTON.

tended into the Canadas, to the Gulf of Mexico, and even into South America. The mines at Rossie, Clifton, Jayville and Alpine are examples of these operations. We are convinced that the Carthage & Adirondack Railway owes its existence to Colonel Ben- ton and to Hon. Joseph Pahud, of Harrisville, N. Y., as they were unceasing in their efforts to establish that line to the Jayville mines.

From the Carthage Republican, Philadel- phia Press and other reliable sources, we

glean the following interesting information : Soon after the arrival of Joseph Bonaparte in this country, he met and loved a beautiful Quakeress, by the name of Annette Savage, a member of a family of high respectability, residing in Philadelphia, descendants of the celebrated Indian princess, Pocahontas. They were subsequently married in private by a justice of the peace in that city. Two daughters were the fruit of this union, one of whom died in infancy. The other was

456 d

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

christened Charlotte C. Soon after arriving at maturity, she became the wife of Colonel Benton. Their marriage resulted in seven children. The five surviving bear the appro- prite names of Josephine Charlotte. Zenaide Bonaparte, Louis Joseph, Zebulon Napoleon and Thomas Hart.

Mrs. Benton, having obtained a letter of introduction from General Grant to Hon. Elihu B. Washburn, United States Minister to France, and one also from Dr. J. De- Haven White, the eminent Philadelphia dentist, to his former pupil, Dr. Evans, the dental surgeon of Louis Napoleon, repaired to Paris in 1869. She obtained audience with the Emperor, and received immediate recognition as the daughter of Joseph Bona- parte; and by his imperial will and the laws of France, the union of her parents was con- firmed and her legitimacy established. Hon- ored by an invitation to attend the French court, she and two of her children were there kindly and cordially entertained by the Emperor and Empress, who presented her with valuable souvenirs upon the occasion. Napoleon often expressed great regret that

he did not know his cousin earlier, so that he might the sooner have bestowed upon her children the places to which, by birth, they were entitled. He presented her with her father's palace; but this was lost through the downfall of the empire and of that ill-fated royal family. Mrs. Benton attended Na- poleon during his imprisonment in Germany, and a short time afterward (1871) returned to America. She was a woman of remarkable beauty and talent, and of most lovely char- acteristics. Her eyes were large, dark and lustrous, and, like the Colonel's, never dimmed by age. Receiving a fine education, in Europe and in this country, she early de- veloped great versatility in writing. Many brilliant articles in various papers and maga zines were the productions of her pen, and she was the author of a book of rare merit, entitled "France and her People." She died December 25, 1890, at Richfield Springs. Her husband, the subject of this sketch, died May 16, 1893. closing an unique, inter- esting and wonderfully romantic life.

For further information in reference to the Bentons see page 440.

PUBLIUS DARWIN FOSTER,

OF Killingly, Conn., although he has not been a resident of Antwerp since the war, yet deserves mention in this History, for he has left here the impress of his good work.

His grandfather, Daniel Foster, was a pri- vate in the Continental Army, whose youngest son, Wodin Foster, was born in Maine, and,

in 1827 was commissioned a colonel by Gov. Clinton. He married Harriet Gould, and Publius D. was the first child born to them, December 13, 1828. Publius attended the common' schools, became a bookkeeper, studied law with Judge Daniel Kellogg in Vermont, returned to Antwerp in 1852, and studied with Bagley & Wright at Water- town until admitted in 1853. Mr. Foster was a member of the first Republican State convention at Syracuse, presided over jointly by R. E. Fenton and J. A. King, which pre- sented the name of Preston King for Secre- tary of State, and Joseph Mullin for judge of the Court of Appeals. In 1862 he entered the government service, having charge of the ac- counting branch of the War Department, un- der whose writing passed bills calling for $1,200,000,000, and he at one time saved the government a large sum in detecting a spurious claim. During the war, Mr. Foster was secretary of the N. Y. State Soldiers' Aid Association, with Hon. R. E. Fenton president. He was a good lawyer, and was admitted to the U. S. Supreme Court in 1870, but retired from practice and left the capitol city in 1876.

In 1857 he married Amanda E. Warren, and three of their four children are now living-Warren Wodin Foster, M. D., Irving Lysander Foster, and Harriet, now Mrs. J. G. Moore, of Chicago. The youngest son, Irving, is a graduate of Brown University, and is a remarkable linguist. He recently refused an offer to teach French, Italian and Spanish at Williams College, and another to teach French and German at Phillips Exeter (N. H.) Academy, and is now studying in Germany.

PUBLIUS DARWIN FOSTER.

457

BROWNVILLE.

THE village of Brownville, aside from the town of that name, is somewhat difficult to describe concisely. In the early settlement of the county, no town, Watertown not ex- cepted, was more important, and none main- tained, for many years, a more persistent de- termination to be "on top," and become a leading town of the Black River country. The final settlement of the question of loca- ting the public buildings, gave Watertown a greatly preponderating advantage, and though Brownville still kept along a close second in the race for supremacy, her chances steadily diminished. In the days from 1815 to 1840, Brownville had very many able citizens-men who would have come to the front in any community where their lot might have been cast. We name a few, all of them now dead; but they left records that will be long remembered. Col. William Lord was not one of the earliest of these worthies, but he made a more success- ful and determined fight than any of the others-his business life covering two gener- ations. Major Kirby was an ardent friend of Brownville, and maintained the fine style of living originated by Major General Jacob Brown, whose daughter he married. [Gen. Brown will be found mentioned on page 464]. The General had good reasons for loving Brownville, for it was named for him, and there were his "lares and pen- ates," his home, his ambitions-and there nearly all his immediate family are buried, though the General's body rests, we think, in the old Congressional burying-ground at Washington. The Loomis family was a large and important one, the father and all the sons being men of large proportions. Charles K., in particular, was a very able business man, at one time holding a leading position in the management of the Lake Shore (Cleveland & Buffalo) Railroad. He was instantly killed in an accident on the Erie road, some 15 years ago. A peculiarly able man was Mr. Knapp, who started the manufacture of white lead in Brownville, but who removed to Pittsburg, Pa., dying there of cholera in 1851.

Alanson Skinner, once State Senator, was also an able mechanic, for several years part- ner of Colonel William Lord, subsequently becoming widely known by his stove and machine castings. George I. Knight was a successful and a very enlightened and pro- gressive farmer, living not far from the village. He was scarcely appreciated in Brownville, but he was a courteous gentle- man, worthy of decided praise. One of his sons was for a long time secretary of the re- nowned Franklin Institute at Philadelphia, Pa., the oldest and most distinguished and deserving mechanical institution in America. We might mention others, nearly as able, but the list already given shows that Brown- ville was behind no other town in the char-

acter of its leading men and in its location. Following the departure of these men, there came upon Brownville a period of business depression, which continued for some 25 years, interrupted for a short time by several more or less successful efforts to start up and run the cotton factory. At the present time (October, 1894), the old town gives evidence of some improvement. There is now a pulp-mill in operation, owned by the Outterson Paper Company, Mr. Gotham has a fine foundry, the electric railroad affords easy and cheap access and egress, and the in- habitants feel encouraged to believe that the worst is over, and that the oscillation of the pendulum of business stability having swung so far towards poor times, may now, in its return sweep, bring a protracted season of prosperity. We hope that this ex- pectation may be more than realized.

Brownville was formed from Leyden, April, 1802, and was named in honor of its founder and first settler, Jacob Brown, who afterwards became a Major General in the United States army. The town originally embraced all that portion north of Black river, from a line running from the north- west corner of Champion, north 45 degrees east to the southwesterly bounds of the county of St. Lawrence. LeRay was taken off in 1806; Lyme in 1818; Pamelia in 1819, and Orleans and a part of Alexandria in 1821. It is situated on the north side of Black river and Black River bay, which separates it from Houndsfield and Water- town; is bounded on the north by Clayton and Orleans, on the east by Pamelia, on the west by Lake Ontario, and on the northwest by Guffin's Bay (an arm of Chaumont Bay), and the town of Lyme. The present limits of the town include 33,994 acres. Railroad facilities are afforded by the P., W. & O. Railroad, which passes through the town, with stations at Brownville village and Limerick.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Samuel and Jacob Brown, and ad- journed to Brownville hotel, March 1, 1803, at which the following town officers were elected : Jacob Brown, supervisor; Isaac Collins, clerk; John W. Collins Richard Smith and Peter Pratt, assessors; J. W. Collins, Ozias Preston, Samuel Starr, com- missioners of highways ; O. Preston, Richard- son Avery, Henry A. Delamater, Samuel Brown, Benjamin Brown, William Rogers, Abijah Putnam, fence viewers; S. Brown, S. Starr, overseers of the poor; S. Brown, Sanford Langworthy, Caleb J. Bates, Syl- vanus Fish, H. M. Delamater, Frederick Sprague, George Waffle, Ethni Evans, path- masters; J. W. Collins, H. A. Delamater and S. Brown, poundmasters.

SUPERVISORS-1803, Jacob Brown; 1804-5, John W. Collins; 1806-7, Jacob Brown; 1808, J. W. Collins; 1809-10, John Brown;

458

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

1811-12, Josiah Farrar; 1813, John Brown; 1814, Joseph Clark; 1815, John Brown; 1816-17, Walter Cole; 1818, George Brown, Jr .; 1819-20, Hoel Lawrence; 1821-28, Walter Cole; 1829-33, George Brown (of Perch River); 1834-35, Aaron Shew; 1836- 37, Walter Cole; 1838, Mahlon P. Jackson ; 1839-40, Alanson Skinner; 1841, William Lord; 1842-3, A. Skinner; 1844-5, Charles B. Avery ; 1846, A. Skinner; 1847, Charles B. Avery ; 1848, Arba Strong ; 1849, Cyrus Allen ; 1850, Thomas L. Knapp, C. Allen, special meeting; 1851, Cyrus Allen; 1852, Samuel Middleton, 2d; 1853, Charles K. Loomis. Members from 1854 to 1894 shown on pp. 337-344.

At a special meeting, January 29, 1818, the town petitioned for a tax upon themselves of $2,000, towards building a bridge at Williamstown (Pamelia) village, and another at Brownville village. John Brown, Joseph Clark and Thomas Loomis were appointed commissioners for this purpose. In 1813 a law had also been passed for the erection of bridges, by a tax npon this and adjacent towns.

At the annual town meeting in 1820, which was held at Perch River, after electing a portion of the officers, the meeting adjourned to the house of Edward Arnold, on Penet Square, till the next day. This measure created much excitement, and those living in the southern and eastern portions of the town rallied with all their forces, attended promptly at the earliest moment of the ad- journed meeting, organized and immediately voted another adjournment to the house of Elias Bennet, at Brownville village, on the afternoon of the same day, where the vote for town clerk was reconsidered, and the re- maining officers elected. Being thus robbed of their town meeting, the settlers on Penet's Square and in distant localities de- manded a separate organization, which was readily consented to, and all parties having met at an informal meeting, or convention, at the village, agreed upon a petition to the Legislature, which was acted upon, before another town meeting. The foregoing is a concise statement of the act of "stealing a town meeting," which gave rise to much talk at the time, and about which many fabu- lous stories have been related. It is said that this heinous crime of robbery was made the subject of a painting, that formed a part of a travelling exhibition.

At the town meeting, in 1821, the clerk read three notices for the division of the town, which were not voted. The first was to annex a part of Brownville to Pamelia ; the second, a part of Brownville to LeRay, and the third to erect four new towns from Brownville and LeRay. In 1822, a motion to annex Pamelia to Brownville was de- feated.

This town was first explored, with a view of settlement, by Jacob Brown, afterwards a distinguished citizen, who, while teaching a school in New York, had met with Rodolph

Tillier, the general agent for the Chassanis lands, and was induced to purchase a large tract, and become the agent for commencing a settlement, at a time when the difficulties attending such an enterprise were very great.

[For an account of the efforts made by General Brown and others to settle Brown- ville, reference is made to the extended sketch of General Jacob Brown, p. 464.]

In the fall of 1800 a saw-mill was built at the mouth of the Philomel creek, the mill- wrights being Noah Durrin and Ebenezer Hills, and late in the fall of 1801 a grist-mill was built for Mr. Brown by Ethni Evans, afterwards the pioneer of Evans Mills. A. few goods were brought on with the first family, but in the fall of the same year Jacob Brown went to New York on other business, and selected a small stock better adapted to the market. In 1799, a great number came in to look for lands, many of whom selected farms on Perch River and between that place and Brownville, where they commenced small clearings, and made arrangements for removal with their families in the spring. Among these were John W. Collins, Richardson Avery, Nathan Parish, Horace Mathers, and others. In the sum- mer of 1800, a great number settled, and the clearings had extended from the bank of the river nearly half a mile. The first settlers on Perch river incurred an obligation to clear a certain amount of land and build a house.

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 98

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