History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 48

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 48
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 48

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).

# The Downie monument was eonsigned to Col. Atkinson, U. S. A., by whom it was placed ovor the remains of Capt. Downie in August, 1818

At a meeting of the joint committee of arrangements, Col. D. B. McNeil (who was aeting assistant adjutant-gen- eral of the militia forees at Plattsburgh in September, 1814) was designated to aet as president of the day, and the fol- lowing resolutions were adopted :

" Resolved, That the citizens of Plattsburgh, in connection with such other persons as may unite with them, will, on the 11th of Sep- tember, instant, proceed to the ercetion of plain marble monuments to mark the several spots where rest the mortal remains of the Amer- ican and British officers who fell at the memorable ' Battle of Platts- burgh.'

" Resolved, That R. A. Gilman, George Moore, and Roby G. Stone be a committee to procure the monuments and make the necessary arrangements to carry out the foregoing resolution.

" Resolved, That Brig .- Gen. Wool and Lt .- Col. B. Riley, of the U. S. Army, be requested to unite with the citizens and military of this place in the proposed celebration, and the erection of the monuments above mentioned.

" Resolved, That Gen. Skinner, Gen. Halsey, and Col. R. G. Stone be the committee of invitation."

Resolutions were also passed inviting the United States offieers and troops stationed at this post, the surviving offi- eers and soldiers of the regular army, the Clinton and Es- sex militia, and the Vermont volunteers who participated in the events of that time to unite with us in the proposed celebration.

In accordance with the above arrangements, the anniver- sary of the battle of Plattsburgh was eelebrated in an ap- propriate manner by the Clinton County Military Assoeia- tion and the citizens of Plattsburgh and its vieinity. Gen. Wool and suite, and several other gentlemen who were in the battle of the 11th, were present by special invitation.

The procession was formed at Fouquet's Hotel at ten o'clock, under the direction of Gen. C. Halsey, chief mar- shal, assisted by Messrs. C. S. Mooers, G. W. Palmer, and R. G. Stone, eseorted by the United States troops at this post, under the command of Capt. C. A. Waite, and moved to the park in front of the eourt-house, where an able and patriotie address was delivered by Col. A. C. Moore, to a large and attentive audienee of ladies and gentlemen.

After the address the procession was again formed and moved to the burying-ground, where a square was formed by the United States troops and the Military Association around the unmarked graves of those who fell in the battle of Plattsburgh.

After a prayer by the Rev. Mr. Witherspoon, and an ad- dress by Gen. Skinuer, the president of the day (Col. MeNeil) said,-

" FELLOW-CITIZENS, -The president of the day has des- ignated our distinguished guest, Brig .- Gen. Wool, of the United States army, who commanded the detachment of American regular troops opposed to that division of the British army which advaneed upon Plattsburgh by the Beekmantown road, on the 6th of September, 1814, to creet a monument at the head of the grave of Col. Willington, of the 3d Regiment of British Buffs, who gallantly fell at the head of his regiment at Culver's Hill, ou the Beekman- town road, in the memorable battle of the 6th of September, 1814.

" The division of the British army in which the brave and lamented Willington fell was not less than 4000 strong;

[PINE X TREE.]

A Post Captain in the Royal Brit. Navy, who gloriously fell on board His B. M. S. the Con- fiance, while leading the vessels under his com- mand to the

[PINE X TREE.]

off Plattsburgh,

on the 11th September, 1814.

To mark the spot where the remains of a gallant officer and sincere friend were honorably interred, this stone has been erected by his affectionate Sister-in-Law, MARY DOWNIE.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and when we take into view the fact that Gen. Wool (then a major), with a light corps of but 250 regular troops, all told, contested every inch of ground with this formidable force in their descent upon Plattsburgh, the selection of Gen. Wool to perform the melancholy duty assigned to him cannot fail to give deep interest to the solemn occa- sion which brought us together upon this hallowed spot. Nothing can be more appropriate than that the monument about to be erected should be raised by the hand of an officer who bore an honorable and conspicuous part in the events of the memorable day on which the gallant Wil- lington fell. It is a pleasing spectacle to see the living brave doing honor to the memory of the illustrious dead."

Gen. Wool proceeded to discharge the duty assigned him, and said,-

" FELLOW-CITIZENS AND SOLDIERS,-The duty assigned me by the president of the day, in behalf of the citizens of Plattsburgh and the Military Association of the county of Clinton, is no less gratifying to me than it is honorable and magnanimous to its authors, and will furnish an example worthy of imitation for all time to come. It is not less a holy and pious offering to the illustrious dead than the off- spring of noble and generous hearts to a fallen foc, and will furnish themes of praise to the end of time. It will be a healing balm to the wounded hearts of relatives and friends, whilst it will not fail to call forth from every Briton who passes this consecrated spot tears of gratitude as well as tears of sympathy.

" With these brief remarks, I now erect, in behalf of the citizens of Plattsburgh and the Military Association of Clin- ton County, this monument to the memory of Col. Willing- ton, who fell the 6th of September, 1814, at Culver's Hill, leading to the charge the advance of the British army marching on Plattsburgh."

The president of the day said,-

" FELLOW-CITIZENS, - Our esteemed fellow-citizen, Judge Haile, late a captain in the United States Army, will now proceed to place monuments at the respective graves of Capt. Purchase, late of the British army, Lieut. Runk, late of the 6th Regiment United States Infantry, and Ensign John Chapman, late of the 3d Buffs."

The president of the day, in designating Judge Haile to perform the duty assigned to him, did so from a full knowl- edge of the fact that no officer of his rank ever left the army of the United States with a higher and more enviable reputation as a fearless and fighting officer than did Capt. Hailc.

Judge Haile proceeded to the duty assigned him with suitable remarks.

The president of the day then said,-

" FELLOW-CITIZENS,-To Cols. Miller and Manly, and Maj .- Gen. Skinner, all of whom bore a distinguished part in the battles of Beekmantown and Plattsburgh, is assigned the honor of erecting monuments to the memory of Lieut. Peter Gamble, United States navy, John Stansbury, United States navy, and Midshipman James M. Baldwin, United States navy."

The gentlemen above mentioned proceeded to discharge the duty assigned them, accompanied by appropriate re- marks.

The president said,-

" To our estcemed fellow-citizen, Platt R. Halsted, Esq., late a lieutenant in the United States army, I assign the honor of placing monuments at the graves of Capt. Alex- ander Anderson, of the British marines ; Lieut. William Paul, midshipman ; William Gunn, and Boatswain Charles Jackson, of the British navy, and Joseph Barron, pilot on board Commodore Macdonough's ship, all of whom fell in the naval engagement in Cumberland Bay, off Plattsburgh, on the 11th of September, 1814.

" Joseph Barron, pilot, was personally known to Lieut. Halsted and myself, and was a man held in high estimation for his intelligence and patriotism by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance."

Lieut. Halsted, in the discharge of the duty assigned him, crected the monuments at the head of the graves of the three lieutenants of the British navy, and proceeded to the grave of Joseph Barron, where he spoke as follows :

" I take a melancholy pleasure in erecting this monu- ment at the head of the grave of Joseph Barron, Commodore Macdonough's confidential pilot. I knew him well ; he was about my own age; we were school-boys together. A warmer hearted or a braver man never trod the deck of a ship."

Lieut. Springer, late of the United States army, was designated by the president of the day to erect the monu- ment at the head of the grave of Sailing-Master Rogers Carter, United States navy, and proceeded to discharge that duty.

A benediction was then pronounced by Rev. Mr. Wither- spoon, and the procession returned to Fouquet's Hotel, where the committee of arrangements, the invited guests, and the Military Association partook of an excellent dinner, got up in Fouquet's best style.

Among the sentiments offered on this occasion was the following, by Gen. Skinner :

" Brig .- Gen. Wool, United States army,-the hero of Beekmantown as well as Queenstown,-

"' His laurels are green, though his locks are gray.'"

Gen. Wool, with much feeling, responded to this senti- ment as follows :

" Mr. PRESIDENT,-I rise with a heart overflowing with gratitude to respond to the sentiment just given by my friend at the other end of the table. I find it impossible, however, filled as I am with emotion, to make a speech or give utterance to my feelings in a manner worthy of the occasion. Were it otherwise, I could say but little that has not already been said. I might speak of the campaigns of 1812 and 1813, which closed with the most gloomy fore- bodings. I might also speak of the campaigns of 1814, when the mantle of darkness was cast off, and a blaze of light shone forth along the frontier from Fort Erie to Platts- burgh, and finally closed, with a brilliancy seldom equaled, on the plains of New Orleans. But these periods have already been noticed and described in the most eloquent and stirring language. Therefore little remains for me to add, could I give utterance to my feelings, but to express my warmest thanks for the kind partiality with which you have been pleased to allude to my services. I would, how- ever, remark that although at one period of the war dark-

183

TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH.

ness and despondency appeared to pervade our beloved country, there was one bright spot exempt from the general gloom. It was here in this place, Plattsburgh, that the patriotic inhabitants never wavered or quailed before the legions of Great Britain. They stood by their country in the darkest hour, and never failed to checr and comfort the war-worn soldier and to receive him with open arms, whether he returned victorious or was driven back by the force of circunstances. Who that was at Plattsburgh in 1812, 1813, and 1814 does not remember with delight Mooers, Smith, Sailly, Delord, Bailey, Palmer, and Ransom, all patriotie citizens and devoted friends of their country in war as well as in peace, but who now rest in the mansions of eternal bliss? With these few remarks, Mr. President, I would offer this sentiment,-

" The Citizens of Plattsburgh and the Military Associa- tion of Clinton County,-This day attests their magna- nimity and greatness of soul, by the homage paid to the illustrious dead who fell fighting the battles of their country."

PLATTSBURGH IN 1813.

Plattsburgh is thus described by H. Gates Spafford in 1813 : " Plattsburgh, a post-township, the capital of Clin- ton County, 160 miles north of Albany. Bounded north by Chazy and Mooers, east by Lake Champlain or the State of Vermont, south by Peru, west by Franklin County. It is well watered by Saranac River, which runs eastward to Lake Champlain, and by several small branches that sup- ply abundance of mill-seats. The east of this town, along the lake, is very level, and the west part either hilly or mountainous. The land is under pretty good cultivation, and it is by far the most populous town in the county.

" In 1810 the whole population was 3112, when there were 224 electors. The inhabitants are principally farm- ers of domestic and peaceful habits. Their household manufactures supply their common and much of their fine elothing. A road through Plattsburgh by Elizabethtown and Essex County, and Caldwell, of Washington County, opens a nearer way of travel to Canada than that on the east side of Lake Champlain by many miles, and this will soon be the principal route from Albany. From Platts- burgh there is also a road that curves northwest across the northern end of Franklin to St. Lawrence, Lewis, and Jefferson Counties. Cumberland Head is a peninsula that forms Cumberland Bay, of Lake Champlain, into which the Saranae empties at the village of Plattsburgh. From this village the land rises gently to the west, and presents an elegant display of rural seenery. The soil of the level part is a strong productive loam about equally divided between arable and grass lands.

" Plattsburgh village is handsomely laid out at the mouth of Saranae River, and contains about 70 houses and stores, a Presbyterian church, and several mills, besides the court- house and prison for the county. It is a place of very con- siderable business. The United States barracks are 4 miles above the village, on the Saranac. They were crected in 1812.

" Plattsburgh is situated in 44° 42' N. lat., and 35' E. longitude from New York. Distant from that city 330 miles on the present traveling route; 43 miles from St.

John's, in Lower Canada, by water ; 63 from Montreal, and 223 from Quebec. It is also 111 miles N. of Whitehall, at the head of Lake Champlain."

BARRACKS.

On the lake shore, about one mile south of the village, extensive barracks are located, belonging to the United States government. These buildings were commenced in 1838, and originally enclosed a space of 600 feet square. Troops were stationed here until 1846, when they were sent to Mexico. Additions to the original building have sub- sequently been made, and at present there are 40 soldiers stationed at this point, under command of Capt. Louis Smith.

SOCIETIES.

MASONIC.

Clinton Lodge, F. and A. M., was chartered originally on the 3d day of December, 1806, by " the Most Worship- ful the Hon. De Witt Clinton, Grand Master ; Right Wor- shipful Martin Hoffman, Esq., Deputy Grand Master; the Right Worshipful James Woods, Esq., Senior Grand War- den ; Right Worshipful the Hon. Philip S. Van Rensse- laer, Esq., Junior Grand Warden." The charter was granted to " Brother Melancton Smith, to be first Master ; our Worthy Brother Henry De Lord, to be Senior Warden ; and our Worthy Brother George Marsh, to be Junior War- den." This charter is signed by John Wells, Grand Scc- retary of the State of New York, and sealed with the Grand Lodge seal. The impression of the seal is taken in red sealing-wax and encased in a small tin box, which is fastened to the sheep-skin, or parchment upon which the charter is written and printed, by means of a blue rib- bon, now much worn and faded. This charter is now in possession of Brother George N. Webb, of this village, and is among the very few charters of that date now in exist- ence. The order flourished and prospered in this village until the Morgan excitement, when the lodge ceased to meet, shortly after which it surrendered its charter. After this excitement had passed the lodge was reorganized, and in 1849, on the 8th day of December, a new charter was issued under the same name, but under a different number, that of No. 155, as follows : Hon. John D. Willard, Grand Master ; William H. Melnor, Deputy Grand Master ; Era S. Barnum, Senior Grand Warden ; Gen. Nelson Randall, Ju- nior Grand Warden ; to St. John B. L. Skinner, Master ; Samuel Emery, Senior Warden ; George W. Webster, Ju- nior Warden. This second charter was signed by R. R. Boyed, Grand Secretary. From the time of the granting of the second charter the order has grown and prospered, and is now in a most healthy and flourishing condition. In 1847 a devastating fire swept over the village, destroying all the principal business places, in which all the records of the Masonic fraternity were destroyed, and the writer is forced to rely upon the memory of the oldest members of the fraternity for the material of this sketch.

The present officers of the lodge are Walter Gilbert, M .; George W. Hornick, S. W. ; H. B. Woodruff, J. W .; Alfred Guibord, Treas. ; C. A. Barber, Sec. ; J. D. Wil- kinson, S. D. ; - Calkins, J. D. ; J. A. Forkey, Tyler.

184

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The regular communications of the lodge arc cvery first and third Tuesday of each month.

Commandery of Knights Templar .- About 1826 or 1827 a commandery of Knights Templar was organized in Plattsburgh and chartered. Hon. William J. Haile is said to have been the first Eminent Commander. Among its membership at that time are the names of Gen. St. John B. L. Skinner, Charles S. Mooers, William H. Mor- gan, David Hair, Hon. Winslow C. Watson, Thomas A. Tomlinson, Hiram Carter, and Jeremiah S. Scribner. All but two, Hon. W. C. Watson and Hiram Carter, are now deceased. The late Chancellor Walworth was made a Knight Templar by this commandery. The meetings were held in the third story of the old Plattsburgh Bank building, which was burned with all the paraphernalia of the encampment. The regalia of the Knights at this time consisted of a small triangular apron and sash,-both of black velvet,-orna- mented with appropriate symbols. The sword was a com- mon straight sword, in an iron scabbard, and fastened about the waist with a leather belt. This commandery continued to work, holding regular conclaves once every two or four weeks, for a number of years, when its members became scattered, and finally the encampment went out of exist- ence.

On the 11th day of October, 1871, the Grand Com- mandery of Knights Templar of the State of New York, which met at the city of Albany, granted a charter author- izing the establishment of a second commandery at Platts- burgh, to be "distinguished by the name and style or title of De Soto Commandery, No. 49," and designated Ben- jamin M. Beckwith to be the first Eminent Commander ; Henry P. Gregory, to be the first Generalissimo; and Robert Bailey to be the first Captain-General. This commandery is now in good working order, with a mem- bership of some 50 or 60 members. Its regular conclaves are held the first and fourth Mondays of each month. Its present officers are William J. McCaffrey, Eminent Commander ; William E. Smith, Generalissimo; Ransom R. Grant, Captain-General ; H. H. Sherman, Prelate; Dc Witt H. Vantine, Treasurer; Walter S. Guibord, Sec .; C. A. Barber, Senior Warden ; F. F. Hathaway, Warden ; Standard-Bearer, L. D. Lorkin; Sword-Bearer, R. N. Pike; Captain of the Guard, J. A. Forkey ; Guards, W. L. Germain, Robert Meyer, and J. D. Hoak ; Trustecs, Hon. S. P. Bowen, G. L. Clark, Esq., and L. D. Larkin.

Plattsburgh Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was chartered by the Grand Chapter of the State of New York at the annual convocation in the city of Albany, Feb. 6, 1851. The charter named William Swetland as the first High Priest ; William F. Haile, first King; St. John B. L. Skinner, first Scribe. The chapter, like the other Masonic bodies of this town, had all its records and papers destroyed by fire, so that much valuable information concerning it is lost.

The stated convocations of the chapter are the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The present officers are : Most Excellent High Priest, William J. McCaffrey ; Excellent King, Dr. G. D. Dunham ; Excellent Scribe, Dr. J. H. Smith ; Companions A. Guibord, Treas .; D. H. Vantine, Sec. ; J. D. Wilkinson, Capt. of the Host ; H. H.

Sherman, Principal Sojourner ; W. S. Guibord, Royal Arch Captain ; R. N. Pike, Master 3d Veil ; G. D. Heath, Master 2d Veil; T. Emmet Armstrong, Master 1st Veil; J. A. Forkey, Sentinel.

A Council of Royal and Select Masters was chartered, and held meetings for some years in connection with the chapter, but for want of interest it declined, and finally was suffered to expire.

KNIGHTS OF HONOR.

Adirondack Lodge, No. 1633, K. of H., was instituted May 29, 1879, by D. J. Auckmoody, District Deputy Past Dictator of the State of New York. This order is organ- ized purely for charitable and benevolent purposes, combin- ing a benefit life insurance fund with a fraternal brotherhood. Adirondack Lodge started with 40 charter members, among whom are some of the best business men of the village, and has been steadily increasing its membership since its first meeting.

The following are the officers for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1879 : D., William E. Smith; V. D., Albert Stern ; A. D., W. J. McCaffrey ; R., H. H. Story ; F. R., G. W. Watson ; T., E. Nusbaum ; Guide, G. E. Hutchin- son ; C., E. Spear ; G., L. Kahner ; S., S. Beekman ; P. D., H. W. Cane; Medical Examiner, D. S. Kellogg, M.D.

GOOD TEMPLARS.

Plattsburgh Lodge, No. 504, I. O. of G. T., was organ- ized Jan. 20, 1868. After a prosperous career of over ten years, during which time much permanent good was accom- plished, the lodge disbanded on the 13th day of March, 1878, to allow the male members to take part in the Platts- burgh Temperance League, an open organization then forming.

THE WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION

was organized in 1874. The present president is Mrs. J. D. Woodward. This is an effective organization, and wields a powerful influence in the temperance cause.

YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION.

The movement which resulted in the organization of the Young Men's Association began in the early part of the year 1865, and the first public meeting, at which steps were taken towards effecting an organization, was held in Blake Hall, Feb. 20, 1865, and the first election was held on the 27th of the same month.

The following is a list of the presidents of the associa- tion from its organization to the present time: 1865-69, Hon. Peter S. Palmer; 1870-71, J. W. Lynde; 1872, G. F. Bixby ; 1873-74, J. B. Gilmore; 1875-76, J. M. Wever; 1877-79, J. B. Hagerty.

BUSINESS INTERESTS.

The present (1879) business interests of Plattsburgh are as follows :

Insurance agents : Hagerty & McCaffrey, C. Halsey, Charles H. Moore, Martin H. O'Brien, H. Walworth, Platt & Winters, F. F. Hathaway.

Real estate agents : Charles H. Moore.

Photo, by Bigelow, Plattsburgh.

JEROME B. BAILEY, son of Justus and Amerilus Bailey, was born in Ticonderoga, Essex Co., N. Y., Feb. 20, 1805. His grandfather, Elijah Bailey, was of English origin, and was born in Massachusetts ; and was one of the earliest pioneers of Essex County, and by occupation a farmer.

Justus Bailey was a natural mechanic, and for a great many years was engaged as blacksmith, mill- wright and wheelwright, and for many years a dealer in iron and lumber.

Jerome Bailey enjoyed such advantages for an edu- cation as the common schools of his day afforded. He inherited the natural characteristics of his honored father, and early showed an ingenious turn of mind. He became an expert mechanic. After his majority he commenced- for himself as a wheelwright in his native county, and followed it for a number of years. In 1829 he settled at Clintonville, Clinton Co., N. Y., and was engaged by the Peru Iron Company as general superintendent of manufacture of iron. He continued in the employ of that company until 1834, when he was employed by the Ausable Iron Com- pany to build their rolling-mills and nail-factory.

In 1836 he returned to Clintonville, and was employed as assistant manager by the Peru Iron Company.

In 1840 he became manager, and held his position till 1851. In the latter year he settled in Platts- burgh, and formed a copartnership with Loring Ellis. They built a planing-mill, and followed dressing lumber in connection with the general lum- ber business until 1857, when he sold his interest to

his partner, Mr. Ellis, and went to Pilot Knob, Mo., as manager of the Pilot Knob Iron Company, where he remained till 1861. He returned to Plattsburgh, and in 1862 was appointed deputy internal revenue collector, and held the same position for two years. He resigned his official position and went to Moriah, Essex Co., N. Y., and built a blast-furnace for Messrs. Witherbee & Fletcher, and had charge of the same for four years. He then went to Shelby, Ala., to rebuild the Shelby blast-furnace for the Shelby Iron Company, and remained eighteen months. He was then eniployed by the Spathic Iron Company, Vermont, as superintendent of their blast-furnace, and remained about a year. He then went to Red Mountain, Ala., as superintendent of the Red Moun- tain Iron Company, in the rebuilding of their fur- naces. He was then employed by the Tecumseh Iron Company, at Tecumseh, Ala., to build a furnace for them.

On the 27th of November, 1827, he was married to Dorothy Fisk, by whom two children were borne, both of whom are. dead. They have an adopted daughter, Josephine, who married C. B. Wing. In politics Mr. Bailey is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Plattsburgh, having united at Clintonville.

Mr. Bailey has been enabled by his ingenuity to introduce many important improvements in the nian- ufacture of iron. He is liberal to the church, and charitable to the poor. He is honored and respected by all who know him. He has been an honest, up- right, and industrious man.

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 48

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