History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 56

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 56
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 56

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).

VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.

The principal village in the town is KEESEVILLE, named after the Keese family, who were among the early settlers and principal proprietors. It lies on both sides of the Great Ausable River, partly in Clinton and partly in Essex County, and being one corporate body, it has been deemed advisable to consider it as though situated entirely in the former county. It is distant five miles from the lake, and has a population of nearly 3000 persons. The two sections of the village are connected by three bridges,-a stone bridge, near the lower dam, erected in 1856, having a single span of 110 feet, a model of beauty and durability ; an iron bridge, just above the upper dam, erected in 1878; and a small foot-bridge between the two.

The soil upon which the village is built, and that of the surrounding country, is a yellowish light sand, and is not very well adapted for cultivation. The village is distinct- ively a manufacturing settlement, and to the fine water- power which it enjoys it is largely owing for whatever of material prosperity it has enjoyed. Here are the works of the Ausable Horse-Nail Company, one of the largest manu- factories of its kind in the country, the furniture-manufac- tory of Rufus Prescott, a large foundry, mechanic-shops, planing- and grist-mills, and other branches of mechanical and industrial development. Besides these, there are six churches,-a Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, and Roman Catholic (Irish) on the Essex side, and a Congregational and French Catholic church on the Clinton side; an excel- lent high school, good hotel, a bank, a newspaper, three cemeteries, a large number of fine stores, and a great many residences, some of them of the latest style of architecture and finish. The streets are regularly laid out, and lined with handsome shade-trees. The inhabitants are cultivated, intelligent, and industrious, and a good moral tone pervades society. It also boasts of excellent physicians and lawyers.

Stage-lines run from Keeseville to Port Kent, on the lake-shiorc, and from Keeseville to Ausable Forks, by way of Clintonville.

KEESEVILLE VILLAGE was incorporated under the gen- eral laws in May, 1878, and the first election for the choice of village officers was held on the 18th day of June follow- ing. The officers chosen were : President, Daniel Dodge ; Trustees, Heman O. Matthews, Rufus Prescott, and Willis Mould ; Collector, Charles M. Hopkins ; Treasurer, George Adgate.

On June 27, 1878, Edmund K. Baber was appointed clerk of the village.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The village fire department was organized on July 31, 1878. Henry M. Mould was appointed Chief Engineer, W. G. Pope, First Assistant Engineer, and George H. Smith Second Assistant Engineer. Hose and hook-and- ladder companies were organized at the same time, the former with 17 members, and the latter with 15 members. The officers of the hosc company subsequently chosen were: Foreman, W. H. Beckwith ; First Assistant Engi- neer, H. F. Gaines ; Second Assistant Engineer, J. D. Cord ; Secretary, N. L. Nollette ; Treasurer, H. R. Moon.

On April 29, 1875, an act of the Legislature was passed " to furnish pure and wholesome water to the inhabitants thereof." The board of water commissioners was organ- ized with Heman O. Matthews as President, and Rufus Prescott as Secretary and Treasurer.

The second annual election of the village was held on March 18, 1879, and resulted in the choice of the follow- ing officers : Charles F. Tabor, President ; Willis Mould, Rufus Prescott, and Heman O. Matthews, Trustees ; George Adgate, Treasurer; William T. Ames, Collector. Edmund K. Baber was reappointed clerk.

On June 23, 1879, owing to the death of Mr. Adgate, George H. Cleaves was appointed treasurer of the village.

THE ESSEX COUNTY BANK

was erected in 1832, and was established under the old State laws, with a capital of $100,000.

Judge Fisk, Oliver and Richard Keese, were prominent in its organization. The former was the first president, and Andrew Thompson was cashier. It failed to prove a paying venture and was given up in 1862. Silas Arnold was its last president, and Samuel Ames cashier.

THE KEESEVILLE NATIONAL BANK

was organized in the fall of 1870 with its present capital, $100,000. The directors at the time of organization were Nelson Kingsland, Edmund Kingsland, Richard Hoag, Willis Mould, Winslow C. Watson, Jr., Daniel Dodge, and Samuel Ames. The building now occupied by the bank was erected soon after its organization. The present board of directors are Edmund Kingsland, Dr. H. O. Tallmadge, Willis Mould, Edmund K. Baber, James R. Romeyn, Daniel Dodge, and George H. Cleaves. The officers are, President, Edmund Kingsland; Vice-President, Willis Mould; Cashier, George H. Cleaves; Assistant Cashier, Edmund K. Baber.

The condition of the bank on July 26, 1879, was as follows : circulation, $90,000; deposits, $86,726.99 ; bonds deposited for circulation, $100,000 ; bills discounted, $119,-

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TOWN OF AUSABLE.

000; amount due from agents, $19,600; cash on hand, $5786.40; United States bonds, $27,600; town bonds, $4100.

MASONIC.

Ausable River Lodge, No. 149, A. F. and A. M., was organized in March, 1849. The present officers are, W. M., G. C. Wilkinson ; S. W., D. B. Hayes ; J. W., Dr. W. G. Pope ; Secretary, H. M. Mould ; Treasurer, Willis Mould ; S. D., Dr. C. B. Barber; J. D., M. A. Thomas; Tyler, Peter Lang.

THE KEESEVILLE MINERAL SPRING,

within the confines of the village, was discovered in 1824. It is chalybeate in character, brackish in taste, and contains a large weight of mineral matter in solution. It is owned by John Wills, and neatly covered by a pavilion.

The post-office at Keeseville was established in 1816. The first postmaster was Oliver Keese, who kept the office in the store of Fisk & Keese, and filled the position for many years.

The principal incumbents of the office since have been Gordon T. Thomas, Arthur C. Nelson, Oliver Peabody, Carlisle D. Beaumont, Melchior S. Hoffnagle, George Ad- gate, Joseph Reynolds, and Ira Smith. The present post- master is Henry Stevens.

THE PRESS.

The Keeseville Herald was established in 1825, by F. P. Allen, and soon after passed into the hands of Anson H. Allen, by whom its publication was continued, with a few interruptions, until 1841.

The Keeseville Argus, edited by Adonijah Emmons, was begun about 1831, and continued five or six years.

The Essex County Republican was started the first week in September, 1839, by W. Lansing. In 1843 it went into the hands of John C. Osburn. Subsequently Milliken & Morgan became proprietors, then Morgan ; after him came Gen. Tarbell, and in 1854, James Dickinson; the same year Joseph W. Reynolds, who ran it successfully into war times, and after his death Hon. N. C. Boynton took it and published it till November, 1867, when the office was de- stroyed by fire. Jan. 1, 1868, Mr. Lansing returned from Plattsburgh, and has issued the paper, in an enlarged form, to this present time, adding largely to its popularity by giving weekly from five to seven columns to the local news of the county. It was a consistent Whig paper to the end of that organization, and since 1857 earnestly Re- publican. The Republican has never failed to advocate protection to the material interests of the county by means of a judicious tariff on certain classes of foreign articles and production. 1

The Ausable River Gazette was started at Keescville about 1847, by D. Truair, and its publication continued five or six years.

The Old Settler was commenced at Keeseville by A. H. Allen in 1849, and was published for a number of years, when it was removed to Saratoga Springs.

The Northern Gazette was established at Keeseville in 1851, and continued several years.

The Northern Standard was started at Keeseville in

1854, by W. Lansing, and its publication continued six years.

The latest addition to the family of newspapers is The Keeseville News, neutral in politics, published by the Keeseville Publishing Company. The first number was issued Aug. 2, 1879.

CLINTONVILLE is a village situated on the Great Ausable River, in the western part of the town. It is the site of the Peru Steel and Iron Company's Works, and has been a point of some importance. In former times trade and manufacture here were very brisk, and the village was pros- perous. It was regularly incorporated on April 11, 1825, but the municipal organization is not now kept up. Since the failure of the Peru Steel and Iron Company, the blight- ing hand of financial paralysis has left a painful impress upon its once beautiful and thriving appearance. But little life now remains there. The two churches-Methodist and Catholic-testify to the poverty of the people. A single store administers to their temporal necessities. The manu- facturing company, in the hands of a receiver, is doing but little. The chief evidence of life, and the principal interest in the village, is the Mountain View House, run by the en- terprising McCormick Brothers. The water-power at this point is excellent, and it is to be hoped that some measure of prosperity will return to the place.

The post-office at Clintonville was established about the time of the establishment of the Peru Stech and Iron Com- pany. Some of the postmasters at that point have been - Brockway and Stephen McComber. The present in- cumbent is Mortimer McComber, who has held it, with his brother, a good many years.

NEW SWEDEN is a hamlet situated on the Great Ausable River, a few miles west of Clintonville. It was formerly an active, enterprising, and prosperous manufacturing vil- lage, but has fallen into a decline. The freshet of 1856, added to the failure of the manufacturing firm of McLean & Fitzgerald, swept away all vestige of its former prosperity and enterprise, and to-day it is numbered almost with the things that were.

A short distance beyond New Sweden, and at what may be considered the western extremity of the town, is Au- SABLE, the southern terminus of the Ausable branch of the New York and Canada Railroad.

FERRONA is the very appropriate name bestowed upon a sınall mining hamlet, located in the northwest part of the town, on the Ausable Braneh Railroad. It is the site of important mining operations.

BIRMINGHAM, at the head of Ausable Chasm, in the southeast part of the town, is a small manufacturing village situated on both sides of the Great Ausable River, and lying partly in Clinton and partly in Essex County. It is the site of important nail-works, a paper-mill, starch-factory, and sash-factory, all on the Essex side, and contains one store. The Lake View House, already referred to, is lo- cated at this point. The water-power is unsurpassed. The falls at this point have a perpendicular descent of seventy feet, and are very beautiful.

The post-office at Birmingham was established two or three years ago. Joshua Appleyard is the first postmaster.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

THE UNION is a hamlet on the line of Peru, and the site of an early and important Quaker settlement, from which went forth much of the genius, enterprise, and public spirit that served to develop the rich resources of the coun- try around, and to utilize the rare mechanical advantages of its rivers and streams. Two ancient Quaker meeting- houses mark the site of the former prosperous village, and by their modest appearance bear witness to the simple reli- gious habits of their builders and owners.

CHAPTER XL V. AUSABLE-(Continued).

Schools - Keeseville Academy - Religious - Keeseville Churches- Baptist-Presbyterian-Methodist-Episcopal-Roman Catholic- Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, Clintonville-Burial-Places -Freshet of 1856-Conflagrations-Industrial Pursuits-Arnold Iron Mine-Peru Steel and Iron Company-New Sweden-Keese- ville-Ausable Horse-Nail Company-Prescott's Furniture Estab- lishment - Birmingham - Adgate's Paper-Mill - Ausable Chasm Horse-Nail Works-Military History-Soldiers, 1861-65.

SCHOOLS.

THE first school of any importance in the town was at " The Union," by Benjamin Earl. Benjamin Sherman was a prominent teacher for a good while in the same locality. Chauncey Stoddard was also an early teacher there.

The first school of note at the village of Keeseville stood on the hill, and occupied the site of the present school- house near the old cemetery. It was taught at quite an early date by Ira D. Knowles. Here many of the old boys of the present gencration received their first educational impulses.

KEESEVILLE ACADEMY.

This institution was originally incorporated by virtue of an act of the Legislature, passed May 4, 1835. The trus- tees named in the act were John Whitcomb, Richard Keese, Richard H. Peabody, George A. Simmons, Andrew Thompson, Reuben Jones, Ralph P. Allen, Joseph Lapham, and Henry F. Granger. Josiah Fisk and Martin Pope were also prominent in the organization and establishment of the academy.

The institution was established under the auspices of a stock concern, and the original stockholders, together with the number of shares each held, were: (those marked with a star are dead) Caleb D. Barton,* 6; Oliver Keese* (2d), 12; Elias A. Hurlburt,* 5; A. Thompson,* 5; H. F. Granger,* 3; Josiah Fisk,* 6; William H. Safford,* 1; John Mattocks,* 5; W. W. Kingsland, 2; Henry Pres- cott, 1; Horace Matthew, 1; G. T. Thomas,* 1; Henry Green, 1; William J. Whaling, 3; E. & J. D. Kingsland, 6; T. A. Tomlinson,* 3; James McGuire,* 1; J. Nelson McComber, 2; Goulding* & Peabody, 2; J. W. Stearns, 1; Peter Keese,* G; Nehemiah Harkness,* 1; Charles M. Watson,* 1; Justinia Holden,* 1; Anderson Keese, 2; James Hinds, 1; Jesse Potter,* 1 ; R. E. Keese, 1; J. W. Haggard,* 1; Major Powers,* 2; Stephen F. Spencer,* 1; Morris J. Whitney,* 1; W. C. Watson, 1; Charles F. Tabor, 1; F. L. Seely, 1; Silas Arnold,* 8; R. H. Pea-

body,* 4; Samuel C. Beach,* 1; A. Pollard, 1; A. S. Arthur,* 1; J. Appleyard & Co., 1; Asa Sawyer,* 1; Myron Ticknor,* 1; George Adgate,* 1; Allen Comstock, 1; John Whitcomb,* 1; William Stranahan,* 1; Nelson Kingsland, 1 ; Lathrop Pope, 1 ; Jonathan Davis, 1 ; Mum- ford Bissell, 1; Alvin Hayes,* 1; Ahaz Hayes,* 1; Mrs. Beach,* 1; John Fitzgerald,* 1; Richard Keese, 4; A. Weston, 1; F. C. Putnam, 1.

The sessions of the academy were originally held in what was known as the " old academy building," that stood on the site of the present one. A new academy building of brick, 40 by 60 feet, was crccted in 1845, and is the onc now in use. The report of the academy to the State Regents of that year was : Value of academy lot and build- ings, $3500; library, 219 volumes, $290.73; philosophical apparatus, $412.25 ; other property, $400 ; value of whole, $4602.98; whole number of students, Jan. 31, 1845, 105.

On June 13, 1870, the use of the property of the acad- emy was transferred by the trustees to the Union Free School for ten years, which now occupies the building.

The first principal of the academy was Jonathan Lamb, who, though possessed of some oddities, was a successful instructor. Other teachers of note have been Messrs. Smith, Gregory, Gilbert Thayer, W. F. Bascom, Seaton, Armock, Lewis, Wm. H. Landon, and E. F. Bullard. The present principal of the Free School is W. M. Phelps. The school is in a prosperous condition, with an average attendance of 100 scholars and 4 teachers.

The report of the school to the State Regents, made Aug. 28, 1878, is as follows : Value of lot and building, $3600; library, $250; philosophical apparatus, $400; value of all property, $4550; number of scholars, 138; average daily attendance, 36.9.

The school is under the supervision of a special com- mittee of three of the members of the board. Of the trus- tees, Edmund K. Baber is President ; Martin Finch, Vice- President; Edmund Kingsland, Treasurer; Frank M. Hop- kins, Secretary.

The district system prevails throughout the town, which comprises a number of excellent schools presided over by competent teachers.

RELIGIOUS.

THE KEESEVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH.

For the history of the Baptist Church of Keeseville, from its origin to 1851, we are indebted to the following interesting narrative extracted from the manuscript of Rev. J. W. Eaton's historical discourse, delivered Nov. 9, 1851, on the occasion of the last public service held at the old white meeting-house on the hill :

" In giving a history of the Baptist Church in Keese- ville, I am obliged to depend for information concerning the first thirteen years of its existence on the testimony of living witnesses, of whom there are very few remaining. It has no records extending farther back than March, 1804. As blank-books at the time of the church's organization were rare and costly, and money scarce, it is probable the minutes of its doings at that early day were committed to fragmentary slips of paper, which have been destroyed. This is much to be regretted, and, but for the event in

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Providenee which has led ine at this juncture to undertake this service, the loss would have been irreparable. To Mr. Joshua Wells,* who is almost ninety years of age, and who, though of the Methodist denomination, was present at the organization of this church; and to Mr. William Finch, who will be seventy-five years old next June, and who has been a member fifty-eight years, I am mainly in- debted for a knowledge of its unwritten annals.

" In 1787, Mr. Isaac Fineh, from Washington, Dutchess Co., N. Y., who with his wife was a member of the Bap- tist Church in Dover, under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Gano, visited this region on an exploring expedition. He sailed from Whitehall in a small sloop, and disembarked at Peru Landing; at that time the country was an alinost un- broken wilderness. There were only six inhabitants in the town, viz. : Robert Cochran and Nathaniel Mallory on the lake-shore, Moses Diekson, Jabez Allen, John and Lott Ellmore, between the two rivers, and Edward Everett and John Stanton at The Union. Having concluded to settle in this place, Mr. Finch returned in the following year with his family, among whom was his son William, then a lad of twelve years old. It was a season of great scarcity. Having located on a spot about one mile west of Peru Landing, a part of which is now used as a burying-ground, he immediately commenced holding prayer-meetings. He shortly after succeeded in indueing the Rev. Solomon Brown, of Granville, Washington Co., to remove to Peru. " The Church of 1791 .- The church was constituted about 1791, in a log house, then occupied by Uriah Palmer, on the farm now owned by Joshua Reynolds. Its con- stituent members were Edward Everett and wife, Kinner Newcomb, Robert Cochran, Stephen Reynolds, Lueretia Reynolds, Sarah Palmer, Noble Averill, Polly Averill, John Cochran, Isaac Finch, Abigail Finch, John Finch, Sarah Finch, Simeon Barber, Catherine Barber, and Uriah Pal- mer, in all 10 males and 7 females, some of whom resided in Plattsburgh and elsewhere. Noble Averill was chosen elerk. At that time, Mr. Brown was the only minister, and this was the only church of any denomination in this region. Their articles of faith and practice, a copy of which is still extant, are very full, thorough, and evangel- ieal. Two items are worthy of a special notice, inasmuch as the one shows they regarded it as their duty to supply the wants of the destitute among them, and the other, that they were at that early day thoroughly anti-slavery in spirit. The 15th article reads thus :

"' We believe it is not only the duty of the church cheerfully to support the gospel, but the indispensable duty thereof likewise to lay by in store for the maintenance of the poor. Whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of Christ in him ? Wherefore we believe we ought to look out men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost, and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.'

" The 18th artiele reads thus :

"' We believe, to steal, buy, or sell any of our fellow-creatures as slaves is contrary to reason, justice, and nature; to the principles of good law and government; to the whole doctrine of the gospel and the revealed will of God, which enforee upon us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and to do unto all men as we would that they should do unto us; to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.'

" One of their number, John Cochran, is commended as an example worthy of imitation for his regularity in at- tending meeting, having rode to the place of worship every Sabbath, unless prevented by bad weather, until his death, which occurred when he was ninety years old.

"Soon after the settlement of Mr. Brown, they bought 50 acres of land (now owned by Mr. Rider), cleared it, built a log house on it containing two rooms, then the best tenement in the vicinity, and presented it to their pastor. He had a large frame, excellent mental abilities, and a good education for the times. According to the usages of the day he kept school ; though having a weak voice, he was an effective speaker. Under his preaching there was a revival of religion. In fulfillment to the promise made to those who love God and keep his commandments, as a re- ward for Mr. Finch's fidelity, all his children, both sons and daughters, with their partners in life, became Chris- tians ; and all but one, Mrs. Robert Anson, now living, ninety years of age, joined the church.

" Mr. Daniel Chapman, a son-in-law, a strong athletic man, over six feet high, having provided himself with a club, declared, as he went to the water's side, he would knock Mr. Brown down the moment he touched his wife to baptize her. But his heart failed him. He was seen by those who watched him to turn aside into a field, move along apparently in a thoughtful mood, fall upon the ground like Saul of Tarsus, rise and go to the river, where he re- lated his experience and publiely professed the name of Christ in the way of his appointment. After two years, Mr. Brown sold his farm, and removed to Jay.

" Their next pastor was the Rev. Parker Reynolds, who came from Granville, Washington Co., to Peru when about forty years of age. He was six feet high. In early life he was thin and spare, but when more advanced he became portly. He possessed excellent natural abilities, and, though self-taught, had a good education for that day. He was accustomed to say he never went to school but one fore- noon, and because the master punished him he would attend no more. He was warm-hearted, generous, noble- minded, and decidedly pious. Like his predecessor, he kept school, and was a first-rate teacher. If he had any fault it was as diseiplinarian. However great the virtues of the fathers, the children need restraint. He was or- dained in the house then occupied by Mr. David Trish,- now inhabited by Mr. Moon,-at Moon's Corners. He was deficient in business talents. The church were obliged to manage his worldly concerns for him. He was an old-fash- ioned, experimental preacher. Though lacking in system, his sermons were evangelical. Under his ministry there was a powerful revival of religion. He was one of those pioneers whose labors, eminently adapted to the state of things then existing, were exceedingly serviccable, and should be held in high estimation. In two years he re- moved to Jonesburgh. In 1818 he again became pastor of

# Jeshua Wolls died in 1855, aged ninety-four yoars. Ile had ton children, and they are all dead. The sons were Joshua, Asa, George, Henry, William, Theodorus, and Lucius. The daughters, Emma married Thomas Burgess; Phebo married a Heywood, of New Hampshire; Lovinna married Bronson Merritt .- En.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the church, which office he sustained three years. In 1826 he removed to a place at or near Canton, where he died.

" For the first twenty-six years of their existence as a church they met in different places,-sometimes in Peru and sometimes in Chesterfield, sometimes in one and some- times in another part of these towns,-as most conveniently accommodated the members. At one time they regularly assembled at Peru village, at another at Uriah Palmer's, at another at Robert Anson's, at another at the block-house. From the beginning of 1818 they met in the school-house at Adgate's Falls, now Birmingham, until July, 1823, when they began to assemble in the school-house in Keeseville. From their organization to 1824, even when destitute of a pastor, they regularly maintained divine worship. When not supplied by traveling ministers who itinerated through this region, they conducted the exercises themselves. So important was the performance of this duty deemed that it was embodied in one of their articles of faith. Shortly after their constitution we find an entry in their records to this effect, that two or three brethren be appointed to take the lead of divine worship, provided no other brother steps forward for this purpose, not meaning thereby to shut the door against the improvement of any gift in the church.

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 56

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