History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 41

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 41
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 41

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).

At twelve o'clock, on the 26th of July, he arrived at Cumberland Head on the steamboat "Phoenix," and was conveyed to the wharf in the village in Col. Atkinson's barge. A national salute was fired from the cantonment, and upon landing his suite was joined by Gen. Brown, Col. Atkinson, Col. Snelling, and several other officers of the army, and was escorted by Capt. Sperry's company of horse, the United States Guard, commanded by Capt. Clark, with the "ex- cellent band of the 6th Regiment," and the Plattsburgh Riflemen, to the hotel of Israel Green, where an address of welcome was delivered by Reuben H. Walworth. He afterwards reviewed the troops, and dined with Col. Atkin- The girls of Miss Cook's and Miss Florence's school strewed flowers in his pathway,-a compliment which he re- ceived iu a very courteous manner. In the evening he attended a public party at Capt. Sidney Smith's, of the navy, and on Sunday attended Presbyterian church and took tea at Judge De Lord's. At ten o'clock on tlie morn- ing of Monday he left Plattsburgh, en route for Sackett's Harbor. But he was not through with the generous hos- pitalities of the people of Plattsburgh. The event of his visit was yet to come.

son.

Upon leaving the village he was accompanied by a mili- tary escort under Capt. Sperry and a large concourse of citizens, and after proceeding eleven miles in the woods on the Chateaugay road the party, halted, and there in the quiet recesses of the forest partook of a sumptuous feast which had been prepared by the people of Plattsburgh. The event is thus glowingly described in the columns of the Republican : "The site was romantic and well adapted to the occasion." " It was on the margin of the brook which crossed the road, gently breaking by its murmurs the still- ness of the surrounding forest. Here it was contrived that our illustrious visitor, after having long traveled over a road

Photo. by Howard & Co., Plattsburgh.

CYRENIUS MEAD.

was born Jan. 9, 1785, in New York State. His boyhood was passed in Chester, Warren Co., N. Y., on a farm. He was the son of Nehemiah Mead, and was the third son of a family of fifteen children, all of whom, except one, lived to adult age.

When he was twenty-one years of age, he went to Easton, Washington Co., and commenced working on the farm by the month. Of an ingenious turn of mind, he soon mastered the trade of carpenter and joiner, which business he followed till 1832, jobbing and contracting generally as contractor; building many of the bridges crossing the Champlain Canal.

He had purchased a farm in Washington County in the mean time, the cultivation of which he personally attended to together with his business as contractor. After 1832 he devoted himself exclusively to agri- culture, and in 1837 moved with his family to Plattsburgh, Clinton Co., where he purchased the Judge Newcomb farm, consisting of six hundred acres. Here he remained until 1852, when he re- turned to Easton. After a few years' residence in the latter place he returned to Plattsburgh, taking

up his residence on a large farm that he had pur- chased while living in Easton, situated near the farm of his original purchase.

March 8, 1815, he was married to Mary McKin- stry, by whom he had seven children, namely: Sybil (deceased), Priscilla (deceased), Smith N., Homer E., William W., James N. (deceased), Roby P. (deceased). William W. Mead resides on the old homestead cultivating a part of the farm; Smith N. owns and cultivates over two hundred acres of the original purchase.

In politics Mr. Mead was a staunch Republican. His leading trait-his most conspicuous virtue,-if there can be conspicuity of a part where the whole is prominent-was his unswerving honesty; so con- scientious was he that he would never take more for his produce than he thought it worth, no matter what the market price was, nor could he be induced to take more than one dollar per day, on any oc- casion, for his services. Mr. Mead died April 23, 1862, his widow surviving him ten years, dying May 23, 1872.

LITTLE

Photo. by Howard & Co., Plattsburgh.

Smith Mead

SMITH MEAD was one of the early pioneers of this county. He was the tenth child of Nehemiah Mead and Sarah Newcomb, his wife. He came to this county, in 1807, from Washington Co., N. Y. He was of Quaker descent. He married Hannah, daughter of John Roberts, of South Plattsburgh, an old Revolutionary soldier and pensioner, Jan. 1, 1809.

For many years Mr. Mcad lived in West Platts- burgh, and during the war of 1812 he owned and occupied the farm on the Saranac River Plank Road, now known as the Dr. Bidwell farm. At the battle of Plattsburgh, and the skirmishing prior to the battle, the subject of this sketch was a member of Capt. Baker's company, and a very active one. He was engaged in the skirmishing in Beekman- town ; then went to his farm, took his wife and child (his daughter Sarah) in an ox cart, and took them across the river to John Roberts', in Sonth Plattsburgh, and was back with his company in the fight at the old bridge, at the head of the Indian Rapids (the old abutment near the cemetery in Plattsburgh village), where they successfully repulsed the British column.

Mr. Mead was appointed under-sheriff, and moved into Plattsburgh village in 1824. He was after- wards elected county clerk, and held other places of trust at the hands of the people.

He was a friend and associate of such men as Reuben H. Walworth, Azariah C. Flagg, M. M. Standish, W. C. Watson, and William Swetland. Mr. Mead resided in Plattsburgh until his death, which occurred March 8, 1875. He had by his first wife four children, Sarah A., wife of Roswell A. Weed; Erastus Smith Mead, who afterwards became and is now a prominent citizen of Clinton Connty, and has been largely identified with the interests of both Clinton and Franklin Counties ; James Newcomb Mead, a very promising young man, who died in 1839 in the twenty-third year of his age; Comelia, wife of John H. Sanborn, who died Aug. 20, 1872.

Mr. Mead was a man of great reading and in- telligence, a strong mind, honest and upright, uni- versally respected and beloved by all.

In the year 1854 he married, for a second wife, Mary P. Roberts, dangliter of Gen. Roberts, of Manchester, Vt., and a consin of his first wife.

Iloward & Co., Plattsburgh.

ROSWELL ALCOTT WEED was the third son of Joseph Weed, who was a prominent eitizen of Han- over, N. H., where the subject of this sketeli was born Aug. 8, 1798. He remained with his father until he was eighteen years old, and then settled in Plattsburgh, N. Y., where he resided nearly all the remainder of his life. He left home with an axe, a bundle of elothes, a dollar, a large stock of sound sense, an active body, quick brain, and an honest heart. He soon took front rank with the young men of that day. At the election of Gen. Jaekson to the Presidency, Mr. Weed was very active, and made the most thorough politieal can- vass of Clinton County ever made. For many years he was in the employ of Ira & Benjamin Wood, of Plattsburgh.

In 1831 he married Sarah, the eldest daughter of Smith Mead, Esq., and went to Belmont, Franklin Co., N. Y., to reside, where he owned a grist- and saw-mill, and a large farm. He continued to reside in Belmont until 1839, when he moved baek to

Plattsburgh, and established a mercantile business under the firm-name of Weed & Mead, which busi- ness was carried on for several years. Mr. Weed was always fond of buying and selling real estate; and after he retired from the mereantile business, he devoted himself almost entirely to real estate. He was active in the building of the old Plattsburgh and Montreal Railroad, the Saranac River Plank Road, and was prominent in all enterprises organ- ized for the welfare and development of the county in which he lived. He died quite suddenly on the 19th day of June, 1860, from a cold contracted at Belmont.

Mr. Weed left his widow and five living children, -- Cornelia A., wife of Thomas Benedict, Jr., of South Norwalk, Conn. ; Hon. Smith M. Weed, and William B. Weed, of Plattsburgh ; Mary E., wife of Hon. Daniel A. Diekinson, of Mankato, Minn. ; and Sarah B., wife of William S. Ketchum, Esq., of Plattsburgh. His widow and all his children, except William, are still living.

157

TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH.

hard and rugged, with little to enliven the tedious mono- tony of the scene, should fall unexpectedly in view of the spot,-here was met by a committee and conducted through a triumphal arch of green boughs to a shaded seat, where the repast, as if raised by enchantment, was spread for his reception." The writer evidently must have been thor- oughly imbued with the spirit of his surroundings, for he says, " In such a moment, so congenial to convivial gayety, form and ceremony have no place; age loses its caution ; philosophy itself is taken off its guard, and the flow of soul alone triumphs ; the heart is thrown open in generous confidence ; its impulses communicate with sweet sympathy from breast to breast; and the unrestrained intercourse of social feelings manifests itself in sentiments and expressions of mutual esteem and respect."* It is not strange that after a repast, etc., which so wrought upon the feelings of this writer, the President should toast the citizens of Plattsburgh in the "most flattering terms and manner." The convivial scene being over, he continued his journey westward; the people returned to their homes, and the President's visit of 1817 passed into history.t

THE COLD SEASON OF 1816.

There was great distress throughout the county of Clin- ton during the winter of 1816-17. Mr. Peter Sailly, in a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, under date of Jan. 24, 1817, says, " A large portion of the inhabitants are much distressed for want of bread, whilst the poorer and laboring class are absolutely destitute of the means of ob- taining it at the high price it sells for." The columns of the Republican bear evidence to the severity of the season. The summer was unusually cold and backward. On Thurs- day, the 6th day of June, the atmosphere at Plattsburgh was filled with particles of snow, and it was uncomfortable out of doors without a great-eoat. In Vermont the weather was still more severe. On Thursday " the snow fell rapidly, but melted as it fell. Much snow fell on Friday night, and on Saturday in the forenoon in many places. In Williston it was twenty, and in Cabot eighteen, inehes deep. The ground at Montpelier was generally covered during the whole of yesterday (June 8th), and the mountains, as far as can be seen, are yet completely white." [Letter pub- lished in Republican of July 13th, dated Waterbury, Vt., June 9th.] This cold weather was succeeded by an un- common drought. No rain fell during the months of Au- gust and September. The earth became parched, and, in clay soils, opened in large eracks; swamps were dried up, wells and brooks failed to furnish water, and the rivers be- came so low that the mills could not grind sufficient to an- swer the wants of the inhabitants. Wheat was brought to the mills of Messrs. Smith and Platt, in this village, to be ground, by farmers residing as far north as Lacadie, in Canada. Fires also raged throughout the county, burning up large quantities of timber, and frequently destroying

pastures and meadow lands. No rain of any consequence fell until after the 10th of October. "The atmosphere," says the Republican of October 5th, " has been so filled with smoke, arising from the fires in every direction, that even in this village, for three or four days the first of the present week, it would be difficult in the morning to dis- tinguish a man at the distance of fifty rods."

CHAPTER XXXVII.

PLATTSBURGH-(Continued).

Educational-The Pioncer School-1786-The First Teacher-Sam- uel Young-Other Early Schools-The " Dutch Barn"-The Platts- burgh Academy-Its Organization in 1811-Occupied by the Mili- tary in 1813-14-First Principal and Assistants-Principals from Organization to Present Time-Incorporation of Academy-First Board of Trustees-Organization of Union School District-First Board of Education-Old Building Burned-Erection of Present Building, Its Cost, etc .- Present Board of Education-Present Faculty.

Nor only did the pioneers of Plattsburgh manifest a de- cided interest in religious matters, but the educational training of the youth also received their early attention, and it is believed that a school was kept here as far back as 1785 or 1786, for in the records of the " Mills and Survey . ing Company," under date of June 5, 1786, the following charge appears, being an extract from an account kept with Samuel Young :

" Mr. Young, school-master, Dr. "4 lbs. butter, at 18. £0 48. 3d.

" The above account is taken out."

In the accounts of the same company also appears a charge of "£5 6s. 8d." for " school." There is also a credit in the account to S. Young. The accounts seem to clearly establish the fact that a school was kept here by Samuel Young, certainly as early as 1786, which was doubtless the first school in Northern New York.

Schools were subsequently kept at an early period in various parts of the village, but the names of those pioneer teachers who ruled the destinies of the " village school" lie buried in oblivion with doubtless many interesting records of that early day. Among the pioneer schools was one kept in the first block-house. There were other schools also taught in private houses. The old town records show that at a town-meeting held June 2, 1795, a tax of £25 was voted for the benefit of schools.

In 1796 the sum of $126 was apportioned by the State for the use of schools in Plattsburgh, and in the same year $63 additional was raised by the town.

Upon the authority of Thomas Miller, who was born in Plattsburgh in 1802, it is stated that in about the year 1805 or 1806 a school was kept by one Taylor, in Judge Charles Platt's old Dutch barn, which stood at the foot of what is now known as the " Boynton Hill," west of the Boynton House. The same year a school-house was commenced a short distance west of the Dutch barn, but, in consequence of the lightning striking the frame, the location was decmed unsafe, and it was not completed in that spot, but was given to Rev. Frederick Halsey, the first pastor of the Presby-

Evidently, says Judge Palmer, the Clinton County Moral Society had taken a recess for tho occasion.

+ Tho citizens roturned to their homes, and the trustees watched over the villago for another yoar without a fire-engino. Tho Presi- dent and his escort had eaten it up in that " shaded bower" by tho " murmuring brook."-JUDGE PALMER.

158

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

terian Church, who removed the frame to his lot, a short dis- tance farther west, where it was finished and occupied several years as a school-house, Mr. Halsey being the teacher. Among the scholars who attended this early school are mentioned the names of Thomas Miller, Harriet Miller, Eliza, Temperance, Nancy and Zephaniah Platt, Vail, John, Charles, James, Mary Ann, Esther, Thomas, and William McCrady, Isaac and Henry Smith, Phil. Burnett, Henry, John, Thomas, and Enoch Miller, etc.

furnished with a bell, and "at the time of its erection," says Judge Palmer, " was the largest and most imposing public edifice in Northern New York."

The following is a list of the original subscribers to the academy fund :

Shares.

Chas. D. Backus.

2 Edward Wait

Samuel Moore ..

5 Martin Winchell.

Levi Ransom

5 Aaron Waters

John Wait, Jr.

Enoch Chase.

Roswell Wait

3 Abraham Travis

CROESCA

PWLA

THE PLATTSBURGH ACADEMY.

The decade beginning with the year 1811 marked an important epoch in the history of Plattsburgh. During this period a bank, a printing-office, and various other institu- tions were established as the wants of the community de- manded. The district schools, though doubtless on a par with the best schools of the kind in the State, were deemed inadequate to the needs of the rapidly-increasing popula- tion, and in the spring of 1811 a public meeting was held for the purpose of appointing a committee to raise money and purchase a suitable building-lot for an academy. The names of the committee were as follows: Peter Sailly, William Bailey, Melancton Smith, John Miller, Samuel Moore, Jonathan Griffin, and Levi Platt. Steps were im- mediately taken towards the consummation of this design, and the 14th of May, 1811, a lot on Oak Street was pur- chased of James Brinkerhoff, Jr., of New York, for $100. A building committee, consisting of Samuel Moore, Jona- than Griffin, and Louis Ransom, was at once appointed, and the erection of the building commenced. It was completed during the summer of 1811. The building, which was two stories in height, with a cupola, was sixty feet long and twenty-seven in width, and fronted on Oak street. It was

Carlisle D. Tylee ..

Nathaniel C. Platt

Eliza C. Platt.

Hervey Rowlson.

2 John C. Freligh

John Mallery

1 Reuben H. Walworth

Lewis Basset.

1 George Freligh

1 John Miller

3 William Bailey.

2 Jonathan Griffin.

1 Nathaniel Platt

John Nichols.

Oliver Davidson

Noah Broadwell

3 John Roberts (3d)

Moses I. Jenner

2 Jonathan L. Webster.

Isaac Lewis,

1 Thomas Green

John Witherill

1 Samuel Howe.

Guy Dunham.

1 Isaac Allen

James P. Finch

1 Jeremiah McCreedy

Benjamin Reynolds.

Samuel Lowell.

2 Eleazer Miller.

Benjamin P. Roberts

2 Benjamin G. Wood.

Joseph Green

4 Nathaniel Averill, Jr.

M. F. Durand

2 Edward Hunter

Frederick Halsey

2 Benjamin G. Mooers

1 1

Timothy Balch

1 Asa Hayes ..

Patrick Roach

1 Thomas Miller 3

George Marsh ..

8 Total. 190

2 Levi Platt.

3 Peter Sailly .

Henry Powers ..

James Hammond

Horace Olds.

Ichabod Fitch ..

James Farnsworth Isaac Platt, paid $5.

2 Benjamin Mooers

2 Stephen Averill

3 Charles Marsh.

1 Isaac S. Platt

5 2

James Russel

Jonathan Scribner.

1 Philip B. Jackson

Melancton Smith.

On the back appears the following :

2 John Fouquet

2 Jason Terbell.

John Warford

Benjamin Graves.

5 Sidney Smith ....

2 5 5

159

TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH.

DELINQUENTS ON THE FIRST PAYMENT.

Shares.

Hervey Rewlson. 2 James Russel .. 1

James Hammond.

Benjamin P. Roberts. 2

Isaae Lewis.

On a separate paper preserved with the above list appears the following :

Paid to the committee by the eollceter, viz. : 1811, April 4, in eash, $248.10 ; in netes, $94. April 17, in cash, $44; in notes, $6. June 4, in eash, $121 ; in notes, $120. June 6, in eash, $57; in netes, $89. July 13, in cash, $39. August 8, in eash, $151.30 ; in notes, $244.70. August 19, in eash, $20; in notes, $313. Total, $1547.10.

Dr. Geo. F. Bixby, in the Republican, says, "The weather- vane consisted of a horizontal winged figure, supposed to rep- resent the angel Gabriel, clothed in black and gilt, blowing his trumpet. This triumph of art was designed and executed by the eccentric and versatile physician, dentist, and natu- ralist, Dr. Oliver Davidson, the father of Lucretia Maria and Margaret Miller Davidson, who, by universal eonsent, rank among the most wonderful and precocious poetical geniuses the State, if not the country, has yet produced."

The academy was hardly established and in successful operation when it was abruptly brought to a close by the war of 1812, and in the winter of 1813 and 1814 it was leased to the United States Government and occupied as barracks. The academy was used by the artillery, and the old Presbyterian church adjoining was occupied by the infantry. The academy building was refitted in 1814, and the upper story for many years was used for publie meet- ings and a place of worship.

The first principal of the academy was Bela Edgerton, assisted by Benjamin Gilman. At the close of the war Spencer Wall became principal, and remained until 1817, when he was succeeded by Frederick Halsey, with William Young and a Miss Cook as assistants. Previous to this, however (Sept. 9, 1816), a school had been organized on the Laneasterian plan, and placed under the supervision of William Young, mentioned above, and in May, 1817, a "Sunday free school" was organized, which was doubtless the first Sunday-school in the county. A school "for the instruction of young ladies in the various useful and orna- mental branches of education" was also started about this time by a Miss Clark.

Rev. Frederick Halsey became the principal in November, 1817, with Mr. Young and Miss Clark as assistants, and in December of the following year he was suececded by A. C. Fowler, who remained a year or more, and was followed by Alexander H. Prescott as principal, and David Brock as- sistant, with Miss Deming in charge of the ladies' depart- ment. She remained until the fall of 1824. Mr. Preseott continued as principal until about the year 1831, when he was sueeeeded by Jonathan Blanchard, Jr. At this time the academy was in a highly prosperous condition, and in 1832 the number of students reached 100. "Of these," says Judge Palmer, "35, including Margaret Davidson, the gifted poetess, her brother, Levi P. Davidson, after- wards an officer in the United States Dragoons, and William Sydney Smith, an officer in the First Regiment United States Artillery, are known to have died. Of those of the classes of 1832 now living, we call to mind Samuel B. M. Beckwith

and Dr. George Howe, now of Chateaugay ; A. J. C. Blaek- man, of Mooers; Joseph K. Edgerton, of Fort Wayne, Ind. ; Hon. John C. Churchill, of Oswego; Hon. D. B. McNeil, of Auburn ; Samuel Platt and George Stevenson, of New York ; John White, of Cleveland, Ohio; Rev. Cy- renus Ransom, of Peru ; Erastus S. Mead, of Belmont ; and Dewitt C. Boynton, Rev. Charles L. Hagar, John W. Lynde, William D. Morgan, Elric L. Nichols, Peter S. Palmer, Levi Platt, and George M. Sperry, of this town."

Mr. Blanchard continued as principal several years, and was succeeded by Messrs. Boynton, Rich, Doolittle, Scott, Foster, and Rev. Dr. Coit. During the years 1844 and 1845, Robert T. Conant was principal, who was succeeded in January, 1846, by John S. D. Taylor, familiarly known as Dorsey Taylor. In the following year his brother, Joseph W. Taylor, became associated with him, and under their ad- ministration the academy attained a high reputation.

The principals from that time to the present have been as follows : Royal Corbin, 1860 ; E. P. Nichols, 1861; F. G. McDonald, 1865 ; W. L. R. Haven, 1867 ; E. A. Adams, 1869; W. M. Lillebridge, 1869; Oscar Atwood, in 1871.

The academy was under the control of the committee appointed in 1811 and their successors until April 21, 1828, when it was incorporated under the name of the " Plattsburgh Academy." The first board of trustees was composed of Benjamin Mooers, John Lynde, William Swetland, Jonathan Griffin, Frederick Halsey, Frederick L. C. Sailly, Heman Cady, Ephiram Buek, William F. Haile, George Marsh, John Palmer, and Henry K. Averill, all of whom are deceased except Mr. Henry K. Averill, who is now living at an advanced age. Judge Peter S. Palmer, in the " Northern New York Historical Papers," in referring to the academy, says, " The board of trustees of the Plattsburgh Academy has from the beginning been a strong one. The leading men have filled this office and their names are ' household words,' always serving without pay, and often contributing liberally in aid of the institution."

Mr. Swetland was for nearly his whole lifetime associated with the board of trustees, and for many years its presiding officer. Judge John Palmer was also during his lifetime identified with the institution.

The institute remained under the control of the board of trustees until May, 1867, when an act passed the Legisla- ture forming a union school district, and placing the aca- demy under the management of a board of education.

The old academy building was burned down on the even- ing of Friday, Nov. 10, 1871. Soon after, two lots were purchased adjoining the academy-lot, and in 1873 the eree- tion of a new building was commenced. It was ereetcd at a cost of $35,000, and on the 1st of September, 1875, was completed and ready for occupancy. The building is of brick, four stories in height, pleasantly located on the corner of Brinckerhoff and Oak Streets, and is a neat, substantial, and commodious structure .*

# The academy bell, which was made by Meneely & Kimberly, of Troy, N. Y., and weighs 700 pounds, bears the following inscription : " Plattsburgh High School Building, eempleted Sept. 1, 1875, at an expenso, including furniture, ef $40,000. Board of Education, W. W. Hartwell, President; E. C. Baker, Scerotary ; M. K. Platt, A. Williams, G. M. Bockwith, Monree Hull, George L. Clark, B. McKee- vor, S. M. Weed, O. A. Teft, D. S. MoMaster."

160

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The academy is now in a prosperous condition, and is in charge of the following faculty :

John E. Myer, A.M., Superintendent.

High School : Miss Helen D. Woodward, Preceptress ; Miss T. M. Knight, Assistant.

Grammar Department: Miss Grace E. Cooley, Principal; Miss Lucy Chisholm, Miss Maria L. White, Assistants.

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 41

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