History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 39

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 922

USA > New York > Clinton County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 39
USA > New York > Franklin County > History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 39

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).

In 1781 the State of New York, for the purpose of en- couraging enlistments for its defense, offered a bounty of 500 acres each of unappropriated lands to such as should enter the service before a specified time. The act appro- priating these lands contained a provision that when the requisite number of persons entitled collectively to 30,500 acres should join in a location, the lands so located should be laid out into a township seven miles square. A wise provision in the aet devoted the remaining 860 acres to gospel and school purposes.

It was not strange that a region possessing so many natural advantages as this should soon be selected by the adventurous settler for his future home, and in 1784 Zeph- aniah Platt, of Poughkeepsie, who with others had secured the requisite number of "rights" for the location of a township, selected the lands formerly occupied by De Fre- denburgh. Letters patent were issued to Zephaniah Platt Oct. 26, 1784, and about the same time he also, together with Nathaniel Platt and Simon R. Reeves, obtained from the State a patent for 2000 acres of land, including Cumber- land Head, and extending north to the Beekman patent. De Fredenburgh's children subsequently applied to the Legislature for the recognition of the title to the tract which had been occupied by their father, and William Gilliland claimed the title to Cumberland Head under an assignment from Lieut. Howe, an officer in the French and Indian war. Both of these claims were unsuccessful .*

# Tho following is a list of the original proprieters of Plattsburgh Old Patent, and of tho number of neres allotted te cach : Thomas Treadwell, Nehemiah Benedict, and Thomas Benedict, 1120 acres; Nathaniel Platt, 950; Nathaniel Tom, 480; Burnet Millor, 480; Ezra L. Hommodicu, 320 ; Peter Tappen, 480; John Miller, 610; Benjamin Walker, 320; John Berrien, 480; Jonathan Lawrence, 480; Benja- min Smith, 480 ; Israel Smith, 960; Melancton Smith, 1120 : Zepha- ninh Platt, 900; William Floyd, 320 ; Benjamin Conkling, 500; An- drow Billings, 400 ; John Adams, 1600; Thomas Stono, 1000; Lewis Barton, 200; Ebenezer Mott, 200; Zacheus Newcomb, 1200; Platt

The patent granting these lands containing a condition requiring the patentec to "put one settler upon every 600 acres of land in the tract within three years after its date," steps were immediately taken for the settlement of the lands; and at a meeting of the proprietors, held at the inn of John Simmons, in New York, it was agreed to give such of the proprietors as should build a dam and mill upon the Saranac within two years the title to 150 acres lying at the mouth of the river, and the Fredenburgh mill- lot, containing 50 aeres ; which proposition was acecpted by Zephaniah Platt, Peter Tappan, Zachcus Newcomb, Na- thanicl Platt, Platt Rogers, Charles Platt, Thomas Tread- well, Simon R. Reeves, Melaneton Smith, Jonathan Law- rence, Israel Smith, and John Adams. Dec. 30, 1784, those twelve persons met at the house of Zephaniah Platt, in Poughkeepsie, and agreed "to be jointly concerned in the building of a saw-mill, grist-mill, and a forge on the river Saranac the next summer, each to advance an equal proportion of money." At this meeting Judge Platt was appointed agent for the company, and it was further agrced that they should build a "petty augcu" (pirogue) of a medium size, and also should purchase twine for a seine. The expense attending the ereetion of the mill was esti- mated as follows: Mill-stones, $100; irons, $125 ; nails, $37.50 ; iron, $16; transportation, $15; saw, $7.50 ; bolt- ing-cloth, $15; pork, $80; bread, $65; rum, $80.

The next important step in the new movement was that of transferring the title to the lands to the enterprising pioneers, which was effected Feb. 6, 1785, and on the 18th of the following June the first grist-mill was raised. On the 22d of the same month the first saw-mill was raised. This was an event of no small moment in the history of the settlement, and it was christened by Cornelius Haight " the glory of the Saranac." This was a building with a single saw, and was located near the bend of the river.

Although the grist- and saw-mills were built in 1785, the first forge was not erected until 1798. In a letter dated Plattsburgh, Oct. 24, 1798, from T. Platt to Z. Platt, he says, " I wrote by the last mail, in which I informed you that the forge started the day after you left us. She continues to do good business. We make about 12 (?) of iron per wcake with one fire. Many people that have seen her in motion are pleased to say that she is the best forge they ever saw. To this my Uncle Nathaniel sub- scribes."

This forge was located on the east side of the river, prob- ably on the site now occupied by the Saranac Mills. This primitive establishment doubtless bore as much resem- blance to a blacksmith-shop as to the style of forges of 1880. The bellows were of the same style as blacksmiths' bellows, and were twenty feet in length ! The forge was supplied with ore from Vermont.

The following is the amount of expenditures in erecting mills, forges, etc., as taken from Platt, Smith & Platt's books, dated 1797 :

Rogers, 1500; General Schnyler, 950 ; Benjamin Titus, 400 ; Charles Pintt, 800; John Smith, 400; Albert Adriance, 200 : Samnel Smith, 200 ; Jacobus S. Swartont, 200 : Simon R. Reeves, 2800; Zephaniah and Nathaniel Platt, 4050 ; Zophaninh and Nathaniel Platt und S. R. Roeves, 4300.

150

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

June and July, To Sundries for Grist-Mill

$422.05

66 Saw-Mills

14.17

" Dam

146 63

October, G .- Mill S .- Mill

88.87

500.13

G .- Mill

17.17

F .- Mill.

26.15

Dam

59.99

Saw-Mill

105.54

Clearing Green Lot.

24.37

Forge.

201.87

Fulling-Mill.

8.47

Dam ..

38.25

Grist-Mill

23.69

Saw-Mills

651.46

Forges

136.50

251.99

Saw-Mills, etc.

397.51

827.37

Total

$5390.21

To amt. of Platt, Bailey & Platt's acct. for acet. due

dit. people building mills, boat, forge-hammer,

fulling-mills, iron-house, etc.

$1640.18

Total

$7030.39

AN ESTIMATE OF IRON MADE.

Bushels (Coal ?).

Bruce & Osborn

1100

Isaac Allen

3117}

Asa Hays

4165

Asa Hays

120

Asa Hays

1360

George Glaisebrook

800

Benjamin Wood

2456

Stafford & Son

1885

Rowland Stafford, Jr .. .

1142

Lewis Ferris

464

Woods ...

260

Jonathan Sanbon

2220

Joel Judd.

980

John Culver.

300

Reuben Allen

742

Elkany Damolds

1040

Jobn Wurt

240

cwt. grs. lbs.

Iron made by David Beach from

March 27 to Aug. 2, 1800 .......

Do. By Kent.

0 18

14 11 2 5 at 408.

Cole ......... ...........

696

246

449

Workingmen's Wages

139

309

Iron Ore, 42 ton, @ 528 ..

10 0

234 11 3

Being desirous of effecting settlements upon the various lots at the earliest practicable inoment, the proprietors desig- nated 997 aeres as "gift lots," to be given to the first settlers in the patent. There were twelve of these lots, as follows: " Number one," says Judge Palmer, " which contained 61 acres, lay north and adjoining Cornelia Street, and extended from the Convent D'Youville to the lake-shore. This lot was given to Charles Platt, who also received lot two, containing 67 acres, which adjoined number one on the north. Next north was number three, containing 100 acres, conveyed to Thomas Allen. This lot extended as far west as the Bailey farm. Jabez Pettit received number four, which also extended from the lake-shore to the line of the Bailey farm, and was bounded on the north by the Boynton road. Numbers five, six, seven, and eight contained 81 acres each, and were given, in the order named, to Kinner Newcomb, Mr. Sexton, John B. Hartwick, and Derrick

Webb, and included all the territory lying west of Catha- rine Street to an extension soutli of the east bounds of the school lot. Number nine contained 81 acres, and was given to Cyrenus Newcomb This lot was bounded by the school lot on the west, and by the old Beekmantown road on the east. Number ten, which contained 50 acres, lay on the opposite side of this road, and included the Bailey home- stead farm and a portion of the Boynton farm lying south of the Boynton road. This was given to Moses Soper. Jacob Ferris received number eleven, containing 120 acres, including all the territory on the east side of the river ex- tending south as far as the bend of the river, near old Fort Brown. This lot extended twenty-five feet into the river, and included one-half its water-power. Number twelve, which was also given to Charles Platt, who received nuin- bers one and two, contained 94 acres. This lot lay north of the Boynton road, and included the east portion of the farm lately owned by Mr. Hewitt."

The proprietors also set apart thirty lots, of 100 aeres each, including some of the best lands in the town, to be sold at a " low rate." These lots included all the territory as far west as the "glebe lot," on the Boynton road, and as far as Thorn's Corners, on the Plank road, and Rugar Street. As early as Aug. 23, 1785, pioncers had purchased these lots, as follows : On the Boynton road, lots 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8 to Peter Roberts, Charles McCrecdy, John Kelly, Mc- laneton L. Woolsey, and William Mitchell, respectively, Mitchell taking the two latter. On the Plank road, Daniel Averill purchased lot 10; Joseph Wait, 11 ; Simeon New- comb, 17; Mr. Saxton, 14. On Rugar Strect, lots 9, 13, and 15 were sold to Daniel Averill, Nathan Averill, and Daniel Averill, Jr., and lot 20 to Samuel Beeman.

August 23d the proprietors divided among themselves 24,300 acres, embracing 81 lots, one-third containing 200 acres, one-third 300 acres, and the remaining one-third 400 acres each. This division was made by ballot, and resulted as follows : Simon R. Reeves drew 2700 acres; Simon R. Reeves and John Adams, 900; Zacheus Newcomb, 900; Israel and Samuel Smith, 900; Zephaniah Platt, 3600; John Adams, 900; Barrett Miller, 900 ; Melancton Smith, 900; Charles Platt and Platt Rogers, 900; Thomas Storm and Lewis Barton, 900; Platt Rogers, 900; Peter Taylor, Benjamin Smith, and Adelbert Andrance, 900; Benjamin Walker, John Berrien, and Andrew Billings, 900; Na- thaniel Platt, 3600; Nathaniel Tom, Jonathan Lawrence, and Ebenezer Mott, 900; Benjamin Calkins, Benjamin Titus, and Jacobus and Daniel Swartout, 900; William Floyd, Ezra L'Homedieu, and John Smith, 900; Thomas Treadwell, 900; and Philip Sehuyler and Nathaniel Nor- throp, 900.

Some time prior to 1787, Jacob Ferris, who owned the water-power on the east side of the river, built a saw-mill on the east end of the dam, and a grist-mill a short distance below. These were the second mills of the kind built in the town. Subsequently a fulling-mill, dye-house, etc., were erccted on the same side of the river .*

In the following October the mill belonging to the eom-

* Ferris, in a letter January 28th, says tbe dam is likely to stand well but "the mills dus but very Little business this winter."

33.39

Dam.

248.63

99.37

36.50

Photo. by W. A. Bigelow, Plattsburgh.

398. C. Hatt

This venerable and worthy representative of the pioneer Platt family, son of Isaac C. Platt and Ann Treadwell Platt, and the oldest living member of that family bearing the name Platt, was born in Plattsburgh July 30, 1805.

His grandfather, on the paternal side, was Judge Charles Platt, who removed to Plattsburgh soon after the organization of the town, and was elected its first supervisor, and for several years was town clerk. He was first judge of the Clinton Common. Pleas until 1804, and in 1808 was appointed to the office of county clerk, which he held until 1822. He was a native of Long Island, and a brother of Zephaniah Platt. His grandfather, on the maternal side, was Thomas Treadwell, of honored memory .*

During the war of 1812 he was sent to Vermont, where he attended school in the primary department of Middlebury College, of which institution his uncle was at that time principal. He subsequently attended school at the old Plattsburgh Academy, and succeeded in acquiring an education that well quali- fied him for his subsequent successful business career.

Mr. Platt early manifested an interest in agricul- tural pursuits, and has long been ranked among the leading agriculturists of the county. He is a man of ripe business experience and good judgment, and has had a large experience in the settlement of " es-

tates" throughout the county. Upon the organiza- tion of the First National Bank of Plattsburgh he was chosen its president, and was also first president of the Clinton County Savings Bank. Although never seeking political preferment, he has held vari- ous offices, always discharging his duties with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his fellow-citi- zens. He was supervisor in 1842, again in 1854, and was a member of Assembly in 1858. Politi- cally Mr. Platt is an "old-line" Democrat. His first vote was cast for Andrew Jackson, and he has voted at every presidential election, but one, since that time. He has always manifested an interest in religious matters, and is an elder in the Presbyterian Church. All matters tending toward the advance- ment of the interests of the county have found in him an earnest supporter. He was prominently identified with the movement which resulted in the building of the New York and Canada Railroad.

Jan. 14, 1829, he united in marriage with Ann Elizabeth Miller, and their family consisted of four children,-one son and three daughters,-viz .: Ann Elizabeth, wife of B. F. Felt, of Galena, Ill .; Caro- line D., widow of the late James Palmer ; John D., of Nebraska; and Mary L. His wife died Nov. 10, 1871, and he married Jan. 1, 1873, Julia Haynes, a native of Hoosac Falls, N. Y.

Although far on the down-hill of life, Mr. Platt still possesses, in a remarkable degree, the vigor and elasticity of youth.

* See history of Beekmantown.

151

TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH.

pany was doing a fair business, as Melaneton Woolsey, in a letter written to Mr. Platt, under date of Oet. 27, 1787, says,-

" The grist-mill has a good share of custom. I believe we have ground near 3000 bushels since you left us."

Zephaniah Platt evidently manifested a decided interest in matters concerning the new settlement, for, under date of Nov. 1, 1787, he writes to Woolsey & Platt,-

" I wish you to inform me of the state of the Ditch, what condition the mills are in, what you have ground on an average for two months past or more, and what you have saved, whether the salmon get over the dam, and numbers you catch, the quantity of wheat sowed in Plattsburgh ?"

The following copy of a letter from Win. Thorn to Zeph- aniah Platt, under date of June 4, 1786, is given as illus- trative of the first days of the embryo settlement :

" PLATS BURG, June 4, 1786.

" RESPECTED FRIEND, ZEPHANIAH PLATT,-We arrived at Plats Burg the 28th of May, when got there Found the Deatch Prete much as we left it, proves very hard Degging. The Mill Right is much against Puten the wing where it was before, as he thinks it is Best to Putt it at Jacobs' Rock, then it will stand. We don't no what to do till we here from the on this occasion, tho' we shan't alter nothing without orders from the. I sent to Sears Borough acording to orders, they told me that Jeames W. Payn had giv orders fer the wheat and corn that was in store. Before one came, therefore, he got 22 bushels of corn, and no wheat, whe sent him immediately to Canaday, but has not returned as yet. Thy company is More wanted than ever is po- able. Our french men are alle naked amost. We do not want to send fer. Charles Will Right for what is wanted.

" The 5th of June, Aston Returned from Canaday with 50 Bushels wheat ground, Cost their 58. 3d. per Bushel.

" Osten Brought 40 or 50 yards of Cloth from Canaday.

" I remain thy Deutefull friend, " WM. THORN.

" I have sold 300 acres of Land at interest, and 88. 3d. pr acre.

" Be pleased to Send me Shuthred or flax. We have none here."

Under date of Jan. 29, 1787, Chas. Platt writes to Zeph- aniah Platt, and says,-

"The saw-mill has not turned since you left us, the grist-mill has done but little and is now still, tho' I think both might, with care, go most of the winter if there was anything to grind."

Further on, he says,-

"Second of January the snow was all gone."

In November, 1787, Jacob Ferris, mentioned above, con- veyed an undivided half of his water-privilege and mills to Benjamin Mooers, and the other half to Theodorus Platt ; in October, 1792, and four years later Mooers conveyed his interest in the property to Zephaniah Platt. The title to the mill property on the other side of the river had passed into the hands of Zephaniah Platt, Theodorus Platt, and Melaneton Smith, Zephaniah Platt owning one-half.

This company at once eommeneed improvements on the property ; the old dam at the bend of the river was torn down, and a new one, about fourteen feet high, was erceted on or near the site of the present dam. They also erected a grist-mill about this time, situated baek from the street, near the west end of the dam.

In a letter of Charles 'Z. Platt, under date of Feb. 12, 1798, he says, "I arrived here on Saturday, the 27th of January. Found all well. The mills have done a great deal of business, but the Colliers, wood-ehoppers, carpenters,

blacksmiths, millers, and all the Lazy folks in this town have cat all the Toal up."

A few years later this building was carried away in a flood, when the location of the mill was changed to the site of the present Saranae Mills, on the east side of the river. " At the time of this freshet," says Judge Palmer, " sev- eral persons were engaged in removing the machinery from the mill when the building fell : all escaped except Daniel Robinson, who was carried down the stream as far as Mr. Sailly's ashery, one hundred rods below, where he was reseued by persons standing on the shore. When the water subsided the millstone was found at the place where Robinson had been drawn out of the river. The ' Gov- enor' declared that when he found the mill was tumbling to pieces he clung to the millstone for safety, and floated upon it to that point. The story seems improbable ; still the fact that the stone was found at the place where he landed is evidence of its truth. This freshet was for many years afterwards referred to as the one 'when Governor Robinson rode down the river on a millstone.'"

During the time the mill property remained in the pos- session of the above-mentioned owners, the " eight-and-onc- half" mill lot, as it is now known, was appropriated to mill purposes, which ineluded all the mill-privileges on both sides of the river.

In December, 1817, this whole property passed into the possession of Levi Platt. In 1827 the title passed to the Bank of Plattsburgh, and two years later, July, 1829, it was sold at public auetion. The mill and the lots 1, 6, and 7 were purchased by Richard Yates, as trustee for certain State banks, and the remaining lots by John Palmer, who immediately commeneed operations for the development of the water-power at this point. He constructed a dam for the supply of lots 2, 3, 4, and 5, and in 1839 built a dani about half a mile farther up the river, where, in the follow- ing year, a saw-mill was ereeted by Cyrus Waterhouse. Through the impetus given to business by John Palmer at this place, the crection of other works soon followed, and in 1833 the mills at this point presented a busy seene. The works located here were mills for sawing marble, large quantities of which were brought from the Isle La Motte quarries.

About this time various industries sprang up along the river, and for many years afterwards all was life and activity. Among the establishments were the earding and cloth- dressing business, which was carried on by C. S. Bliss & Co. and Noyes P. Gregory ; a foundry by Horace Board- man ; a marble-mill by Clark, McGregor & Co .; a comb- factory by E. H. Barnum ; a cotton-factory by William Palmer and Charles S. Mooers. Cornelius Halsey & Co. also operated a cotton-factory.

A few years, however, made a great change in this little eluster of manufacturing establishments. In consequence of the poor facilities for reaching a southern market and the small capacity of the cotton-mills, they were abandoned ; the marble-mills were closed, and the old saw-mill was in a dilapidated condition. In 1846 the old mill was supplanted by a large saw-mill, crected by J. & S. W. Barnard, of Albany, and the Halsey cotton-mill building was subse- quently used as a wheelwright and cabinet-maker's shop.

152

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

In 1859 it was demolished and a saw-mill erected on its site by Mr. Tefft.

In 1791 twelve building-lots were laid out, containing in all about 43 acres of land. "These lots included all the territory now bounded north by Cornelia Street, south by the brow of the hill in rear of Broad Street, and east by Margaret Street as laid out betweed Cornelia and Brinker- hoff Streets, and that line continued to the river."

Although these lots were surveyed and apportioned in 1791, none were occupied until 1797, when lot No. 2, north of the present court-house, was purchased by Dr. Chauncey Fitch, who soon after erected a dwelling thereon, and in February of the same ycar lot 5 was conveyed to Mrs. Phebe Ketchum, who occupied it during the following fall.

In 1798 about one-fourth of an acre in the southeast corner of No. 5 was purchased by William and James Bailey, who erected a store on the present site of the jewelry-store of William Reed. Near this store, on the south, Theodorus Platt had an office. These buildings fronted upon the unoccupied lands of the " mill lots," and at this time were the only buildings in this section of the little settlement. On the south road was a " block-house,"* which stood on the bank of the lake, on the farm now owned by E. L. Nichols. Near this block-house was a blacksmith-shop occupied by Peter Roberts.

PLATTSBURGH IN 1798.

In 1798 the village contained about 250 inhabitants. Near the railroad crossing, on the north bank of the river, was a store occupied by Platt & Mooers. Next east was the residence of Peter Sailly, Esq., erected in 1795-96, with a storehouse and ashery upon the bank of the river opposite. Next east of Mr. Sailly's was a dwelling occu- pied by Benjamin Graves, and beyond these were three or four dwellings ; and still farther on was a block-house, then used as a court-house and jail.

On the site of the old Fredenburgh house, on the east side of the river, was a house which was built and occupied by John Clark as a tavern, and subsequently occupied for the same purpose by Israel Green. At "Clark's Land- ing," the name given to the place back of this building, was a small storehouse, and there were also two buildings at " the Point," which had been erected by Jacob Ferris. The lot now owned by Mr. Lansing was purchased by John Lewis Fouquet in 1793, upon which he erected a dwelling. Here Zephaniah Platt soon after built the " homestead," now known as the " government house."

With the mills and mill-houses, and the few scattered locations on the building lots, mentioned on a previous page, the above constituted the village in 1798. It was indeed a small settlement. There were no streets, only the highways leading from adjacent settlements to the " proprie- tors' mills." These were four in number. One was known as the " Cumberland Head" road, which led down the north bank of the river to the foot of the bay; another was known as " South Street," leading into the settlements in

the southwestern part of the town; another which led to Beekman's patent, and a fourth known as the " Peru road." There was also a short road from Clark's tavern to the two Ferris' buildings on " the Point." "South Strect," from Theodorus Platt's office to Roberts' blacksmithi-shop, near the block-house, was simply a crooked way through the bushes.

Notwithstanding the village at this time was small, it was the most important settlement in Northern New York, and the shire-town of a large tract of country, embracing the territory now lying within the bounds of the counties of Essex and Franklin.

As an illustration of the price of land in this section in 1799, the following extract is made from a letter written by Z. Platt, dated Plattsburgh, Dec. 31, 1799. He says the Chateaugay land speculation has embarrassed him, and that he is selling land at 20s. per acre, cost 10s., and " we still continue to dispose of our lands in the patent (Plattsburgh) in which you are a large proprictor, at 3 dollars, and the settlement is filling fast."

THE VILLAGE IN 1811.

Its growth, however, for the first quarter of a century was not rapid. In 1811 it contained 78 dwelling-houses, 4 hotels, 13 stores, and 11 shops and offices. The manu- facturing interests consisted of a tannery on Broad Street, 2 saw-mills, a grist-, and a fulling-mill. Among the mer- chants were Fouquet & Green, Samuel Moore & Co., McCreedy & McDowell, Lewis Ransom, Carlyle D. Tylee, Benj. G. Wood, Elijah White, John I. and Roswell Wait, and Platt & Smith. Trowbridge & Seymour, hatters, were located on Margaret Street, opposite Brinkerhoff. Several of the stores were then on Broad Street.

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 39

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 922

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) 1n; Lewis, J.W., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 922