History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 47

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 47
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 47

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).

They were not disappointed in their hopes, for before the time arrived for the next payment they were able to meet it, paying also the interest upon the whole sum.

Before two years elapsed they were compelled, by increas- ing numbers, as well as to provide for the comfort of their aged inmates, to consider the question of an addition to the house. Many misgivings were expressed by the man- agers at the bare suggestion of increasing the already exist- ing debt, but these doubts soon gave way to the remembrance that this must still be a work of faith in Him who had led them hitherto. The work was commenced, and the addi- tion, with other conveniences, completed in the summer of 1877, at an expense of about $700.

But a few months elapsed before they received from the Essex County House 9 children, at a remuneration some- what less than that allowed them by the supervisors of Clinton County. This remuneration was of great assistance to them during the past year of financial depression ; in consequence of which, many of their liberal donors were obliged to restriet their charities.

The whole number of adults and children who have shared the benefits of the home during these five years is 59.

The first matron of the institute was Mrs. Atkinson, " whose unmitigated interest in the domestic affairs of the institution alone enabled her to perform these duties so long and faithfully."* She was succeeded by Mrs. Brad- ley, of Williston, Vt.

This is an humane institution, and great credit is due its enterprising and benevolent progenitors, and those through whose influence it has been sustained and prospered.

The following persons compose the board of resident managers, also managers in other towns :

Board of Resident Managers .- President, Mrs. Moss Kent Platt ; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. F. B. Hall, Mrs. Smyth, Mrs. A. J. Waugh, Mrs. B. B. Loomis ; Secretary, Mrs. M. P. Myers ; Treasurer, Mrs. Henry Orvis.

Board of Managers .- Mrs. George L. Clark, Mrs. I. P. Foot, Mrs. F. B. Hall, Mrs. B. B. Loomis, Mrs. M. P. Myers, Mrs. George F. Nichols, Mrs. P. S. Palmer, Mrs. A. J. Waugh, Mrs. George F. Bixby, Mrs. C. E. M. Ed- wards, Mrs. L. D. Larkin, Mrs. John H. Myers, Mrs. Henry Orvis, Mrs. M. Sowles, Mrs. H. D. Witherill, Mrs. A. Williams.

Advisory Committee .- John H. Myers, Chairman, Hon. S. P. Bowen, Henry Orvis, William Reed, C. E. M. Ed- wards, Hon. P. S. Palmer, M. Sowles, Hon. A. Williams.

Managers in other Towns .- Mrs. Frank Palmer, Altona ; Mrs. Philetus North, East Chazy ; Mrs. A. B. Wood, West Chazy ; Mrs. T. P. Roberts, Mrs. Coonley, Chateaugay ; Mrs. John Hammond, Crown Point ; Mrs. Julius Moore, Champlain ; Mrs. S. Edgerton, Dannemora ; Mrs. Harmon Noble, Essex ; Mrs. Richard Hand, Elizabethtown ; Mrs. L. S. Carter, Ellenburgh Depot ; Mrs. F. M. Vilas, Ellen- burgh Corners ; Mrs. Fred Judd, Port Henry ; Miss Mary Comstock, Port Kent and Kecseville; Mrs. R. P. Moon, Peru; Mrs. J. Shedden, Mrs. Messenger, Mooers ; Mrs. Jacob Broadwell, Morrisonville; Miss Heaton, Rouse's Point ; Mrs. David Parsons, Saranac ; Mrs. A. A. Richards, Westport ; Mrs. Ira Rowlson, Beckmantown ; Mrs. George Hawkins, Malone; Mrs. Abram Hoffnagle, Willsborough ; Mrs. Angell, Sciota.

THE CEMETERY.

The cemetery is pleasantly located in the western part of the village, and was selected for a burial-place by the carliest settlers, and here many of the " forefathers of the hamlet sleep."

The oldest stone bears the following inscription :

" Betsey, daughter of John Wait, died Feby 2, 1798, aged 3 weeks. " Frail as the flowers that blossom but to die."

The burial-lot of the Platt family is near the centre of the grounds, and the tablet to the memory of the pioneer, Zephaniah Platt, bears the following :

" In memory of Zephaniah Platt, Esqr, who departed this Life the 12th day of Sep., 1807, aged 72 years."

On the stone erected in memory of Gen. Benj. Mooers is the following :

"In memory of Genoral Benjamin Mooers, who diod Feb'y 20. 1838, aged 79 years.

# Report of the secretary, Mrs. M. P. Myers, for tho year ending March 11, 1879, from which this sketch is compiled.

178

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

" He served as Lieutenant and Adjutant in the Revolutionary war. He commanded the Militia at the battle of Plattsburgh, Sep. 11, 1811. He was the first settler in the county who remained here through life. He was the first sheriff of the County, and for 30 years County Treas- urer. He repeatedly represented this section of country in the As- sembly and Senate of this State, and discharged the important duties which devolved upon him as a Citizen and Soldier and a Christian with fidelity to his country."

The Bailey monument bears the following :

" In memory of Judge Wm. Bailey, born in Dutchess Co., Nov. 11, 1763; died in this town, Aug. 15, 1840, aged 77.

" Ile was a pioneer settler in Clinton and Franklin counties, and as a surveyor explored and located some of the towns in this unbroken wilderness. He passed many years in this neighborhood, and partici- pated in its developments, in which he was largely interested. He held various positions of Public Responsibility, and enjoyed the Es- teem and Love of all who knew him. He was a son of Col. John Bailey, of Poughkeepsie."

THE GRAVE OF LUCRETIA MARIA DAVIDSON.

This gifted young poetess died Aug. 27, 1825, aged six- teen years and eleven months. She was buried in the Plattsburgh Cemetery, and her father erected an obelisk over her grave, said to be the second* monument raised in the old cemetery, and certainly in those times a very cred- itable mark of regard for her memory, as well as " testimony of affection." The grave is located on the west side of the main avenue, only a few rods north of the vault. On the monument are inscribed these lines of Pope :

" Here innocence and beauty lies, whose breath Was snatched by early not untimely death."

Also the following familiar, appropriate, and beautiful lines of Bryant :

" In the cold, moist earth we laid her, Where the forest casts the leaf, And we wept that one so lovely Should have a lot so brief; Yet not unmeet it was that one Like that young friend of ours, So gentle and so beautiful, Should perish with the flowers."

Here lie buried a brother of Chancellor Walworth,- Hiranı Walworth,-who died Jan. 30, 1858, aged fifty- seven years, and a brother of Chancellor Kent,- Moss Kent,-who died May 30, 1838, aged seventy-two years. Several children of the celebrated Dr. Beaumont, and a child of the notorious veiled murderess, Mrs. Robinson, are also buried here.

There are many curious inscriptions on the stones in this old cemetery, of which the following are specimens :

" Joseph Latray, died January 5, 1848, aged 39 years.

"Reader, behold, as you pass by ! As you are now so once was I; As I am now so you must be, Prepare for death and follow me."

"In memory of Henry, son of Hannah and Capt. John Stevenson, who was drowned 28 Ap'I, 1828, aged 21 years.

" Many stood round, but none could save This blooming youth from a watery grave; Great search was made his corpse to obtain, But all the searches were in vain. Long time elapsed, the corpse did rise, His weeping friend then grasped the prize."

On the headstone marking the resting-place of two chil- dren appears the following epitaph :

" They tasted of life's bitter cup, Refused to drink the potion up ; They turned their little heads aside, Disgusted with the taste, and died."

In the spring of 1839, Lieut. Hale, a talented young officer of the regular army, died at the barracks in this vil- lage, and was buried here. He is supposed to have been a near relative of Sarah Jane Hale. His stone bears the following inscription :

" Lieut. D. E. Hale, of the Ist Regt. U. S. Art., died on the 30th of April, 1839, aged - years. This monument is erected by his brother officers. He was amiable, brave, and talented."

Commodore Downie and others who fell at the battle of Plattsburgh were also buried here. The cemetery is under. the able superintendence of Mr. John F. Percy.

The Catholic Cemetery is pleasantly located on an emi- nence on the south side of Saranac River, and contains many costly and elaborate monuments.

THE CHOLERA SCOURGE IN 1832.

The following account of this revolting pestilence, which swept over Plattsburgh in 1832, is from the pen of Hon. Winslow C. Watson, Sr. :

In 1832 Plattsburgh passed through the most terrific ordeal and the most appalling and solemn scenes man is called upon to confront. About midsummer we learned that the deeply-dreaded pestilence, whose advent had long been feared, the Asiatic cholera, had traversed the Atlantic and been introduced into Quebec by a foreign ship. None had cherished even the hope that we might escape the scourge, but the point on which it had fastened upon our shores was not anticipated. In a few days it reached Montreal, and spread rapidly in that city in its most malignant form. A public meeting was held in Plattsburgh in reference to the impending calamity, and Dr. Kane, an able and experienced physician, was sent to Canada to investigate the nature and character of the disease, and to ascertain the treatment that had been there adopted. But before he had accomplished his mission the fearful malady had fallen like a thunderbolt in our own inidst. We had hoped for an exemption of days, and possibly weeks, from the awful visitation. A remark- able quality was developed in the disease by this event, which at the time elicited much attention and comment. After the most careful investigation we were not only unable to detect any indication of its gradual progress towards us, but not even the occurrence of a single isolated case be- tween the two places. As accurately as could be deter- mined, it had leaped by a single bound over the interval of seventy miles and fastened upon a locality in Plattsburgh which might well have been the nursing-bed of its sporadic generation. A small hamlet of cabins had sprung up on what was then known as De Lord Point, at the mouth of the Saranac and on its northern bank. It was the home, or rather resort, of a French population who were almost exclusively fishermen. The offal incident to their occupa- tion was thrown out with reckless improvidence and disre- gard of cleanliness and health, and lay in reeking and fest ering heaps about their huts. This pollution and filth

* The first monument in the cemetery was erected by the celebrated jurist, William Swetland, in memory of his wife, Julia, who died April 6, 1821.

179

TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH.

rendered it a congenial spot for the reception of the pesti- lence, and here it lighted, armed with all its destructive powers. We could not ascertain that there had occurred the slightest personal intercourse between any of the people residing in these cabins and the infected distriets in Canada. Contact or communication seemned unnecessary to its pro- pagation, but borne on the wings of the wind, or diffused by some subtle and unknown influence, it appeared to rest amid filth and pollution. It is my impression that the dis- ease was confined for some days to its original locality, by which it was frightfully devastated, and we almost hoped that it might be limited to the place, but it was not long before it attacked other persons under similar circumstances in other sections of the village. The terror and alarm that agitated the community may be imagined, but I ven- ture to assert that we carried ouselves in bravery and calm- ness under a calamity so dark and portentous. When it became manifest that the disease was extending, and that all were within its terrible grasp, an informal meeting was held by many of the leading citizens to discuss the course we should adopt. Should we flee from the presence of the destroying angel? But where should we go sure of im- munity from the pestilence ? I think nearly every person decided to remain, and these considerations influenced the decision : We had confidence in the skill of our physicians, who already had some experience in the treatment of the disease ; we were secure of the care and comforts of home, and by fleeing we sacrificed these privileges and might be overtaken by the disease under circumstances where we should be destitute of them all. If we shrunk from the peril that surrounded the whole community, those who were compelled to stay would be left unaided and without support. We deliberately decided to remain and confront the danger, to stand by each other, and to afford every mutual assistance and relief in our power. I always be- lieved that this manly determination, as it partially relieved the system from the apprehension and sensitiveness which no doubt renders us far more susceptible to the assaults of contagion, exerted a great tendency to avert its influence. In my own family we called in our domestics, advised them of our purpose of remaining, but freely gave them the privilege of deciding for themselves without any regard to our convenience. They decided to remain and abide with us the issue.

My first act cach morning was to go into the streets and inquire what deaths had occurred in the previous night and what new cases had appeared. The victims of the conta- gion were chiefly among those living in the midst of squalor or in the use of unhealthy and improper food, although all felt the influence and effects of the contagion. The atmo- sphere was lurid and unnatural in its aspect, and seemed charged with the presence of the pestilence. The sun glared through a strange glamour that veiled it. At least such was the appearance of nature as revealed to our faney. The circumstance was remarkable and striking, but physi- cians pronounced it not extraordinary, that nearly every sickness, no matter of what type, which occurred during the most malignant presence of the cholera, was almost uniformly impressed with its symptoms and often ran into a positive attack of the disease. My much loved friend,

George Marsh, was stricken down by paralysis, and died after a brief sickness. One of his physicians assured me that towards its close there existed the most decided cholera symptoms in his case. And another singular faet indicated the malarial or contaminated condition of the air. After a few days the flies began to disappear, and very soon none were seen alive, but they were found lying dead in heaps. Their mission, doubtless, is to administer to man's security by extracting the impurities of the atmosphere, but the venom of the eholera imparted to the air was too great for the capacities of the flics.

No tribute is adequate to do justice to the heroism and zeal of the physicians of Plattsburgh in this period of trial and peril. They flinched from no exposure, and although the pestilence mainly prevailed among the poorer classes, and they had slight prospect of remuneration for their ser- vices, I did not hear of a single case in which the sufferer was subjected to neglect from the lack of medical aid. They were always promptly found, however loathsome and revolting the place, where their presence was required. I recall an instance of their brave devotion. I had just heard of the appearance of a cholera case near the dock, when I met the excellent Dr. Mooers driving in the opposite direc- tion. I stopped and informed him of the circumstance, and suggested his visiting the patient. Without a single remark or a moment's hesitation he instantly turned about his carriage and hastened to the scene of suffering, influ- enced by no thought but that of beneficence and duty ; and such was the brave and Christian practice of all of our physicians.

A domestic incident will illustrate the condition of ner- vous and distressing excitement that existed, and the solic- itude of friends for each other. I rarely attended at my office, but on one evening I was compelled to go to it by an important and pressing case, and was detained somewhat beyond the usual hour of my return. On my way home I observed the glimmering of a lantern in the distance, and when I met the bearer I found my wife and colored girl, who, alarmed at my absence, had left home in pursuit of me, dreading lest they should find me prostrated in the street by the cholera. My surprise at meeting them was equal to their joy in finding me.

Business was almost wholly suspended, as the strength and attention of all were absorbed by the appalling scenes we were compelled to contemplate. Several cases of the cholera occurred on board the steamboat, and as all travel was intermitted after a few days, the boats were laid up. This measure ent us off from all direct intercourse with the world, and we were like a people enclosed by a stern behest of quarantine. The boats transmitted the daily mails, and their suspension of course interrupted our receipt of that great, and at sueh times peculiar, privilege. I do not recol- lect what postal arrangement was made, but think we re- ceived an irregular mail by the land route through Warren County. I have no statisties by which I can determine the number of deaths in Plattsburgh from the disease. It was large, but the mortality was far less than in some other vil- lages, as Whitchall and other places in a similar hygienic condition. One scene in this frightful disease was solemn and gloomy beyond description. A Mrs. Parker lived a

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

few rods from us, we residing on Broad Street and her home situated on Margaret Street, nearly at the foot of Broad. Her husband was a respectable mechanic, and both were members of the Presbyterian Church. She was in as good health as any one enjoyed within the cloud of such a pestilence, and prepared the usual breakfast for her family. In the course of the forenoon she was attacked by the cholera in its most virulent form, and died before night. The case was one of the most alarming and sad that had occurred, and all were inclined to shrink from it. She was a very large and corpulent woman, and, dying in full health, decomposition rapidly intervened, and was attended with uncommon peril from the augmented diffusion, as was ap- prehended, of the choleric effluvium.

It was necessary, however, that she should have a Christiau burial, and a few members of our church, led by our cour- ageous pastor, Mr. Chase, undertook to discharge the pain- ful and hazardous duty. If my memory is correct, the body was simply infolded in the bedclothes in which she died, deposited in a rough deal box, and borne to her sepulchre in a one-horse lumber wagon. The night was dark and gloomy, and, guided only by the gleaming of our lanterns, we pro- ceeded to the cemetery, and there deposited her remains in a hastily made grave, or rather aperture in the earth. The solemnity and impressiveness of the spectacle no one who was an actor in it could ever forget or recall without emotion .*

After the lapse of almost half a century, I have endeavored to portray the events of this fearful period, and, although their recollection is vividly impressed on my memory, it is scarcely possible that I have escaped omission or miscon- ception in some of its dread details. One episode in our cholera experience the people of Clinton always regarded as unjust and an unrighteous exercise of power. Possibly our great sufferings had rendered us unduly sensitive and jeal- ous of increased burthens. In those days the tide of immi- gration flowed wholly from Canada into the States through Lake Champlain, and often in an immense volume. The emigrants were transported exclusively by the steamboats, and hundreds frequently crowded upon them in a single trip. The interrupted navigation suspended this movement, while the numbers of forcigners were continually augment- ing in the provinces by fresh arrivals. The condition of these wretched people became infinitely sad and forlorn. Usually they only possessed a pittance sufficient to carry them to their point of destination .; Many of them, de- tained in their expected passage, attempted to proceed by land, and soon thronged the highways. Destitute, helpless, and bearing with them the germs of the pestilence, their

# Since the above was written, I have been favored by my friend and fellow-laborer in antiquarian researches, Mr. John Percy, whose taste and zeal have so happily embellished the cemetery in Platts- burgh, with an impression from the inscription on the grave-stone of Mrs. Parker, from which it appears she died Aug. 4, 1832.

+ These were usually their circumstances, but occasionally they car- ried considerable sums secreted on their persons. The steamboat com- manders were often much annoyed and perplexed by their noisy decla- rations of penury. An amusing story is told of the celebrated Capt. Sherman. Vexed by the obduracy of an immigrant who declared that he had "Nothing in the world but this coat," Sherman seized it and threw it overboard. Then the owner cried out, " Me God, there goes twenty guineas into the sae." The small boat was let down, and re- covered the rich deposit.

condition was not only most sad and distressing to them- selves, but they soon became objects of alarm and repul- sion to the people. A special session of the Legislature, I think, was called ; at all events, a law or proclamation under it was announced, authorizing the invasion of this helpless class to be stopped, and enjoining upon the local authorities to take charge of them and to provide the necessary accom- modation and food. In accordance with this policy, every avenue leading from Canada was closed by a sanitary cordon, and the immigrants were transferred to a large wooden bar- rack, erected near Dead Creek, where all their wants for some days and weeks were cared for and relieved. Other simi- lar establishments may have been built in the county. These ignorant people could not comprehend this arrangement, and were supremely terrified by the humane restraints to which they were subjected. The extemporaneous lazaretto constantly exhibited heartrending scenes of distress, anxiety, and woe, although I do not remember that its inmates were particularly scourged by the pestilence. The situation was healthy, and they were protected from exposure and suf- ficiently fed

The expenditure connected with these measures was necessarily very large, and when we confidently appealed to the State for relief our claims were rejected, on the ground that the disbursements were an incidental local burden, to which every county, and especially New York, was con- stantly exposed. A most onerous taxation was thus im- posed on the county.

CELEBRATION OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF PLATTSBURGH.

Sept. 11, 1843, the citizens of Plattsburgh and Clinton County appropriately celebrated the anniversary of the bat- tle of Plattsburgh, and erected monuments to mark the last

VIEW IN PLATTSBURGH CEMETERY, SHOWING THE GRAVES OF THE SLAIN.

resting-places of the American and British officers who fell in the memorable battle of Plattsburgh, and who lay buried side by side in the village cemetery.

181

TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH.

The following plan shows the position of the graves, with the inseriptions on the monuments* ereeted Sept. 11, 1843:

WEST.

Lieut.

Colonel

Ensign

Lieut.

G. W. RUNK,

WILLINGTON,

J. CHAPMAN,

R. KINGSBURY,

6th Regt. U. S.

3d Regt. Buffs,

3d Bnffs,

3d Buffs,

Army, 8th Sept.

B. Army.

1814.

6th Sept. 1814.

Lieut.

Sailing Master

Midshipman

PETER GAMBLE,

JOHN STANSBURY

ROGERS CARTER,

J. M. BALDWIN,

U. S. N.

11th Sept. 1814.

11 th Sept. 1814.

11th Sept. 1814.

SOUTH.

Sacred to the memory of

NORTH.

GEORGE DOWNIE, Esq.,

Pilot

Boatswain

JOSEPH BARRON,

CHAS. JACKSON,

Ship Saratoga.

attack of the American Flotilla, at anchor in Cumberland Bay,

B. Navy.

11th Sept. 1814.

CAPT. PURCHASE,

ALX. ANDERSON,

Acting Lieut.

Midshipman

76th Regt.

Capt. Marines,

WILLIAM PAUL,

WILLIAM GUNN,

B. Army.

B. Navy.

11th Sept. 1814.

EAST.

At a meeting of the Clinton County Military Assoeia- tion, Aug. 21, 1843, Major A. A. Preseott offered the fol- lowing resolutions, which were adopted :

" Resolved, That this Association do celebrate, in some appropriate manner, the Anniversary of the Battle of Plattsburgh, on the eleventh of September next.

" Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to confer with the Trustees of the Village, and make arrangements for the Celebra- tion."

Maj .- Gen. Skinner, Brig .- Gen. Halsey, and Col. Moore were appointed said committee.

The following-named gentlemen were duly appointed a committee, on the part of the eitizens, to eonfer with the committee of the Military Association in making the neces- sary arrangements for the proper eclebration of the day : William F. Haile, Moss K. Platt, D. B. MeNeil, C. S. Mooers, R. A. Gilman, G. M. Beekwith, G. W. Palmer, S. Coueh, Benjamin Ketehum, R. A. Weed, J. Bailey, Peter S. Palner, T. De Forris, William H. Morgan, J. W. Tuttle.

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 47

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