History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 77

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 77
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 77

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 post-offiee at this point was established about 1819. The mail used to be carried in on horseback. One of the first postmasters was Wm. Lawrenee. Asa Styles held the position for many years. A. G. H. Wood is the present postmaster.

Northern Light Lodge, No. 505, F. and A. M., at West Chazy, was organized July 20, 1860, under dispen- sation ; chartered June 19, 1861. The charter members were Joel W. Eaton, Orson Hedding, Samuel A. Hodgdon, Wm. H. Manning, Silas Aldridge, Alman M. Witherell.

The first officers were Joel W. Eaton, W. M. ; O. Hed- ding, S. W. ; Samuel A. Hodgdon, J. W. ; John MeFad- den, Treas. ; M. Chamberlain, Sec .; O. K. Wood, S. D .; W. H. Manning, J. D .; A. M. Witherell, Tyler.

The past masters have been as follows : John W. Eaton, one term ; O. Hedding, three terms ; S. A. Hodgdon, two terms ; O. K. Wood, one term; I. P. Chamberlain, two terms ; A. G. II. Wood, five terms ; Geo. II. Pringle, three terms; W. S. Honsmyer, three terms.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The present officers are as follows : Wm. S. Honsinger, W. M. ; Wm. W. Wright, S. W. ; Silas R. Doty, J. W .; A. B. Wood, Treas .; A. F. Brando, Sec. ; Geo. K. Prin- gle, Chaplain ; C. E. Doty, S. D .; H. McFadden, J. D .; E. McFadden, S. M. S. ; C. L. Robinson, J. M. S. ; J. J. Brown, F. H. Angell, Trustees ; Samuel Woodrow, F. N. Randall, Finance Com. ; Alfonzo McFadden, Tyler.

The total number initiated from the date of organization to Nov. 20, 1879, was 117 ; demitted, dicd, and stricken from roll, 59 ; total membership, Dec. 1, 1879, 58.

SCIOTA VILLAGE is situated in the northwest corner of the town, on Corbeau Brook. It contains a French Cath- olic church, a store and post-office, and is the site of the business enterprises of the Sciota Manufacturing Company.

INGRAHAM, sometimes called Samson's Brick Tavern, or Monty's Bay, is a point of some interest as the camping- ground of the main body of the British army the night before the advance on Plattsburgh ; also the encampment of the famous Muron's Swiss Regiment, stationed there in advance of the main British army. It is located about eight miles north of Plattsburgh, on the dircet road to East Chazy village, and contains a store, hotel, and a few dwelling-houses and mechanic-shops. The origin of the post-office here is of some interest.

Mr. Ovid Phelps, in about the year 1864, with others living in the vicinity of the Brick Tavern, werc desirous of having a post-office established in their locality. As a pre- liminary step, Mr. Phelps called on A. G. Carver, then publisher of the Clinton County Whig, to advise as to the best course to be pursued to accomplish the object. As Mr. Phelps was a Whig, as well as many others who were, in the event of success, to be patrons of the office, and as there was a post-office at West Chazy, only about three miles distant, it was thought proper to use a considerable caution to avoid opposition from the citizens of West Chazy, and a little innocent strategy to produce a good im- pression upon the then existing Pierce administration. Carver suggested that a petition be drawn up, to be signed by all favorable to the project, and that the name of " In- graham" be inserted as the name of the proposed office. As a reason for suggesting this name, it is only necessary to refer to a bit of history which will be remembered by many who were conversant with the events of those times. It was in substance as follows :

In July, 1853, after the Hungarian rebellion against Austria, Martin Koszta, a Hungarian refugee, while at Smyrna, on the Mediterranean, was seized by the Austrian consul-general and taken on board an Austrian vessel as a rebel refugee. As Koszta had taken measures to become a citizen of the United States, and had papers with him to verify the fact, Capt. Ingraham, then in command of a United States war vessel lying in the port of Smyrna, de- manded the deliverance of Koszta to him, and on refusal made ready his vessel for action, and threatened to fire upon the Austrian vessel if he was not delivered up in a given time. He was finally surrendered and given into the hands of the French consul, to await negotiations between Aus- tria and the United States. The action of Capt. Ingraham was highly applauded in the United States, and Congress voted him a beautiful sword as a token of their approval.

This movement on the part of Capt. Ingraham was claimed by the Democratic party as having added greatly to the popularity of Mr. Pierce's administration, as it probably did.

It was under these favorable circumstances that a pe- tition was forwarded to the Postmaster-General for the establishment of a post-office at the before-named place, which was favorably considered, and in a very brief period " Ingraham" became publicly known as one of the post- offices of this county, and Mr. John Vaughan its first deputy- postmaster.

CHAZY LANDING, situated on Lake Champlain, in the north part of the town, is the oldest settlement in the town, and a brisk business was formerly transacted here, it being the port of entry for the entire locality. Its commercial glory has now departed, and the ancient cemetery, the un- used store-houses, and a few substantial families now con- stitute the place.

SUCKERTOWN is a hamlet situated about a mile and a half northeast of Chazy village, and derives its name from the large quantities of fish of that description that have been caught there.

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-TEACHERS.

Chazy from its earliest history was always noted for its excellent schools. The teachers were generally either gradu- ates or students of some of the Eastern colleges. Among the number were Alexander H. Prescott, who taught school somewhere about the year 1812, previous to his taking up his residence in Plattsburgh as a teacher in the old academy ; Amasa C. Moore, late of Plattsburgh ; Jed. Sawyer, eldest brother of Miss Minerva Sawyer, of Plattsburgh; Mr. Paine, of Middlebury College; Charles C. Severance, of Burlington College ; Hon. Bela Edgerton, brother of Mrs. Capt. Septa Fillmore; Robert L. Crook, of Middlebury College ; and others.

On April 17, 1813, the town was divided into six school districts, by Elisha Morgan, Nathan Carver, and John Horton, commissioners. A seventh district was added a few days later.

The commissioners' certificate of apportionment, recorded April 4, 1879, shows that there are 17 districts in the town, and the number of children in attendance between five and thirteen years of age is 1104, with an average daily attend- ance of 400.567.

RELIGIOUS.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, CHAZY VILLAGE.

The first sermon delivered in the town by a Methodist minister was preached by the Rev. Joseph Mitchell, then stationed on Pittsfield circuit, Vermont, during the year 1801. It was preached by invitation in the house of Mr. Brunson, who then lived opposite the orchard now owned by Alexander North. Upon this occasion, as indeed was the practice for some time, the scattered inhabitants were ap- prised of the service by a boy, who was dispatched upon horseback for the purpose.

At some period of the year 1802, Bishop Hedding, then a young man and junior preacher upon Fletcher circuit, passed through the town and delivered the second Method-

Photo. by W. A. Bigelow, Plattsburgh.

HORACE SLOSSON.

Horaee Slosson, son of William and Susannah Slosson, was born on South Hero Island, Vt., March 13, 1802. William Slosson was the son of Eleazer and Luey Slosson, and was born in Middlebury, Vt., Nov. 25, 1773, being the first white ehild born there, and died in Chazy Oet. 1, 1852.

He removed with his parents to Bennington, Vt., during the Revolutionary war, and thenee to South Hero Island, where he married, April 15, 1797, Susannah Stark, a relative of Gen. Stark of Revo- lutionary fame. Of this union four children were born, namely, Anson, Lydia, Horace, and James,- all of whom are now dead, except Horaee.

He was a farmer by oceupation. He settled in Chazy, on the State road, two and one-half miles south of the village, ou the farm now owned by his son Horaee. He held some minor town offices. Mr. and Mrs. Slosson were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Slosson died April 4, 1829, and Mr. Slosson married the widow, Sally Baxter, September, 1829. She was burned to death, Oct. 10, 1863, while living with her son-in-law, C. Merrihew, in the town of Plattsburgh.

Horaee Slosson settled in Chazy with his parents in March, 1807, when but five years of age. He has always been a successful farmer. Sept. 17, 1828, he was united in marriage with Irena W., daughter of Benoni Ladd. She was born Jan. 9, 1811, in Chazy. Her father was a native of Connecticut, and was one of the pioneers of Chazy. Of this marriage seven children were born, namely, George C., Henry L., William Emmett (deceased), James W., Myron H., Lydia S., and Benoni H. Mrs. Slosson was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was a good wife and mother. She died Aug. 20, 1858, and was buried in the beautiful cemetery just south of their home. Mr. Slosson married Mrs. Lonisa Fox Dee. 20, 1858. She was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She died July 24, 1874.

Mr. Slosson is a Democrat. He has been assessor one term. He is now well advanced in years, hale and hearty, and is living with his youngest son on the home farm.

Benoni H. was born Jan. 2, 1853, in Chazy. He married Jennie Pardy, of Plattsburgh, Jan. 27, 1875.

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TOWN OF CHAZY.

ist sermon. During the year 1803 it does not appear that any minister of that denomination visited the town.

The proper origin of the Methodist Church in Chazy dates from the year 1804, and the movement derived its impetus from the conversion of some seven or eight families, who resided on Dean's patent, at a revival on Grand Isle, the year previous. At the conference of 1804, Rev. Messrs. Henry Ryan and Dexter Bates were appointed to the Plattsburgh eireuit. This coming to the knowledge of some of the inhabitants of the patent, then on a visit to Grand Isle, they made arrangements for seeuring a call from the eireuit preachers while on their route north ward.

Among those who were chiefly instrumental in proeuring Methodist preaching at this date was the Rev. John Vaug- han, then a young, married man. Learning that the travel- ing preacher was on his way to their settlement, he set out with one of his neighbors, by the name of Peter Ash, towards the main road. Each of them being furnished with an axe, they proceeded to eut a narrow path from their dwellings to the main road. They then stripped the bark off a tree and wrote upon it the words, " Bro. Ryan is re- quested to turn in here," making an index also to direet him. In a short time Mr. Bates, the eolleague of Ryan, came along, and seeing the writing complied with the request.

Finding a few souls hungering for religious life, he told Mr. Vaughan that if he would get as many souls to come out to meeting as there were in Noah's ark, he would preach to them. Nine were present. After the sermon the preacher organized a class and left an appointment for a future time. From this date is reckoned the origin of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Chazy. Among those who constituted the first class were John Vaughan and wife, Peter Ash and wife, Michael Hoggell and wife, Josiah Jones and wife, William Slosson and wife, Benjamin Starks and wife.

Until the year 1818" the charge at Chazy was a part of the Plattsburgh eireuit, and was ministercd to by the preachers belonging thereto. In that year it was made a separate charge, ineluding Beekmantown, West Chazy, Champlain, Mooers, Rouse's Point, and East Chazy, and Rev. A. Dunbar was placed in charge. The erection of a church edifice for the use of the church was commenced in the year 1816, by Alexander Scott, and finished during the next year, at a cost, including sheds, of over $7000.

The first organization of the Methodist society was on Oet. 14, 1818, when the following trustees were chosen : Alexander Scott, Thomas Cooper, William Churchill, first elass ; Solomon Fisk, David Hatch, and Willard Hyde, second class ; and Stillman Buekman, Thomas Dickinson, and James Bowdet, third elass. Upon November 26th, of the same year, the stone church and property connected with it, which had been ereeted by Alexander Scott, was made over by him to these trustees, to be held in trust by them and their successors for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The ministers who then came along in turn were as fol- lows: 1819, Cyprian H. Gridly ; 1820-21, Buell Good- sell ; 1822-23, Seymour Landon, Elijah Crane, William Todd; 1824, James Quinlan, William Todd ; 1825, James

Quinlan, Asa Bushnell, Jr. ; 1826, Roswell Kelly, Orville Kimpton ; 1827, Roswell Kelly, Charles P. Clark ; 1828, Daniel Brayton, Charles P. Clark ; 1829, Daniel Brayton, James R. Goodrich ; 1830, Hiram Mecker, Alexander Herlin, J. R. Goodrich ; 1831, Hiram Meeker, Cyrus Meeker ; 1832, E. Goss, M. H. Stewart, J. W. B. Wood; 1833, Louis Potter. This year Chazy became a separate station. 1834, Jacob Leonard; 1835-36, L. A. Sand- ford ; 1837, Barnes M. Hall; 1838, J. F. Craig; 1839-40, W. M. Chipp; 1841-42, J. W. Belknap ; 1843-44, R. T. Wade; 1845, Hiram Dunn ; 1846-47, Thomas Dodg- son ; 1848-49, Myron White; 1850, William Ford ; 1851, Hiram Blanchard; 1852-53, William Tiffany. During this year the parsonage was built. 1854-55, M. F. Cutler. The church was destroyed by fire on Dee. 21, 1855. The ereetion of a new church was immediately begun; it was completed in 1856, at a cost of $3600, and formally dedi- eated Jan. 22, 1857. 1856-57, M. Van Auken was the stationed minister. The pastors of the church since that time have been Rev. Messrs. T. A. Griffin, J. L. Cook, Joseph Cope, S. Gardiner, C. C. Gilbert, N. B. Wood (1870-72), M. White, and Joel Martin. The present pas- tor (1879) is Rev. George H. Robbins, who began his labors the present year. The meeting-house dedicated in 1857 is still in use, but has undergone considerable altera- tion and repair. Its steeple contains the only church bell in town, put there at an expense of $350. The church is in a good condition, and has a membership of 83. Size of Sabbath-school, 100; Superintendent, H. C. Fisk. The church officers are: Stewards, H. C. Fisk, C. H. Diekin- son, S. Cross, James Darby, Frank Buekman, R. H. Buek- man, O. P. Moore, F. J. Lengfield, Henry Slawson ; Trus- tees, H. K. Buekinan, C. H. Diekinson, H. C. Fisk, William Chisholm, Charles M. Hay, H. J. Hinman, Merritt B. Wilson, William S. Aldridge, Silas Cross; Chairman of Board, H. C. Fisk ; H. K. Buekman, Treasurer; C. H. Diekinson, Clerk ; Class-Leaders, H. C. Fisk, John Leng- field, F. J. Lengfield, Mrs. Henry Saxe.

'Church property prior to the repair of house of worship : parsonage, $1500 ; church edifiee, $6000. Connected with the charge are four outside stations : Saxe's Landing, where worship is held in the school-house; Ingraham, in school- house ; Waters Distriet, sehool-house ; Hay Distriet, sehool- house. The membership as given, and the size of Sabbath- school, ineludes all these charges. The superintendent of the school at the landing is Mrs. IIenry Saxe; at Ingra - ham, F. J. Lengfield; Waters Distriet, Maria Loomis ; Hay Distriet, Philip Stoughton.

CONGREGATIONAL-CHAZY VILLAGE.

This church was organized in 1805. The first meetings of the society were held until 1818 in private houses. During the summer of that year the first house of worship, a wooden structure, was erected on the site of the present one at a cost of about $5000. The present edifice was re- modeled and rebuilt in 1876, the frame of the old building being in use still.

The ministers of the church have been : 1805-7, Stephen Kinsley, stated supply ; 1807-32, Joel Byington, pastor ; 1832-33, A. D. Brinkerhoff, stated supply; 1834-40, C.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

C. Stevens, stated supply ; 1840-44, S. R. Woodruff, stated supply ; 1845-46, M. Chase, stated supply ; 1847-51, E. S. Barnes, pastor ; 1851-57, A. D. Brinkerhoff, stated sup- pły ; 1858-60, S. H. Williams, stated supply ; 1860-64, Z. M. P. Luther ; 1864-68, occasional supplies ; 1868-71, P. J. Abbott, stated supply ; 1871-72, A. Hemmenway, stated supply; 1872-74, occasional supplies; 1874-78, Cyrus Offer, pastor. Rev. Peter J. H. Myers, the pres- ent pastor, commenced his labors as supply in January, 1878.

The church united with the Champlain Presbytery in 1833. The deacons of the church have been Calvin Ran- som, Roswell Ransom, Joel Wells, Stephen Hawley, David Douglass, Harry Graves, H. W. N. Ransom, George Sev- erance, John C. Dunning, Jonas C. Gilbert, Augustus Ran- som, the last three being still in office.

The present membership of the church is 70; size of Sabbath-school, 90; library, 100 volumes ; superintendent, Joel H. Kinsley.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH-WEST CHAZY.

Methodist worship occurred at West Chazy prior to the war of 1812, and sessions were held in barns, school-houses, and at the residence of Philip Stoughton's father.

The war of 1812 put an end to the meetings for a time, but after its close they were resumed.

Asa Styles was prominent in the early days of Methodism in that locality, and Amasa Wood, William Hedding, Icha- bod Dawson, Ebenezer Atwood, Nathaniel Flower, Dr. Dan- iel Dodge, William Lawrence, and others were early movers in those days.

The first meeting-house was erected as early as 1819, on land given by William Atwood and wife. It was a plain wooden building, with common benches for seats,-the same that are in the bascnient of the present house. This house was used, with occasional repairs, until 1847, when the present brick edifice was erected.

The charge at first was connected with that at East Chazy, where the minister resided, preaching at West Chazy in the afternoon. Subsequently it was joined to the Beekmantown circuit, where the pastor resided.

Among the early preachers at West Chazy were Joel Squires, - Spicer, Stephen Styles, Louman A. Sand- ford, Elder Ferguson, Elder Weaver, Elder Stratton, Elder Mitchell, and Elder Brumley.

The first resident pastor (local preacher) was John Vaughan, who officiated before the war of 1812, and was a local preacher. Elder Doanc was also an early preacher. Also Newton B. Wood, John Pegg, - Farr, and Charles Hagar. Soon after the erection of the present house of worship, in 1847, the charge was made a separate station, and O. J. Squires (a cousin of Joel Squires) was appointed to the charge.

The pastors of the church since 1855 have been O. J. Squires, 1855; J. D. White, 1856; C. C. Gilbert, 1857- 58; J. W. Eaton, 1859-60 ; C. L. Hagar, 1861-62 ; A. J. Day, 1863-64 ; J. S. Mott, 1865-66 ; E. Turner, 1867- 68; A. Hall, 1869-70; M. A. Wicker, 1871; G. H. Rob- bins, 1872-73; C. H. Richmond, 1874-76; J. Cope, 1877-79.

Rev. Joseph Cope, the present pastor of the church, com- menced his labors in 1877. His immediate predecessors were Rev. Messrs. C. H. Richmond and George H. Rob- bins.

The present membership of the church is 100; size of Sabbath-school, 75; superintendent, Victor A. Wood. The officers of the church are : Trustees, Henry J. Carlton, V. A. Wood, Luther L. Wheeler; Stewards, Amasa B. Wood, O. K. Wood, H. J. Carlton, P. C. Stoughton, Lemuel Brown, and Hiram Clark.

West Beekmantown is connected with the charge.

The Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church, West Chazy, is an outgrowth of the old First Protestant Methodist Church of Chazy, which was organized at West Chazy about 1825.

In 1843 the present Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church was organized, the reason of the change being based on questions of slavery and church government.

Among those who were foremost in these movements were William Lawrence, Esck Angell, Peter Vandervoort, Simeon Doty, Cornelius and Hyman Hodges, Myron Hodges, William Moore, Henry G. Smith, and Ransom Witherill.

Among the early preachers were - Sterriker, Cyrus Prindle, - Brumley, - Goodenough. At the time of the change, in 1843, Hiram McKee was pastor. Some of the pastors since that time have been Lyman Prindle, John Croker (who also preached for the Protestant Church), Lewis Partridge, Rev. Messrs. Bailey, Lowcry, Hawkins, Fields, Foster, May, Quay, Benton, Tifft, Webster, Drake, Hand, Trumbull, and others. Lyman Prindle is the pres- ent pastor.

The first meeting-house was erected in 1840, and is still used by the society. A new church building is now in course of erection.

The membership is small ; the Sabbath-school is in a fair condition ; superintendent, Nathan Arnold.

Trustees, Nathan Arnold, Artemas Bassctt, William Douglass, Ransom Witherill, William Atwood; Stewards, William Douglass, Artemas Bassett, Dexter Wright ; Charles Larrabee, Secretary.

ST. LUKE'S (EPISCOPAL) CHURCH, CHAZY.

This parish was organized April 21, 1857, Rev. Joseph W. McIlvaine being Rector, D. Finley, Wm. Whyte, Wardens, and R. C. North, J. Goss, P. E. North, Willard Little, Fred. Vaughan, H. G. Saxe, A. A. North, Levi Goss, Vestrymen.

The parish was incorporated July 6, 1859, but prior to that time occasional services were held by Rev. O. H. Sta- ples and Joseph Coit, D.D. The corner-stone of the new church edifice was laid July 13, 1859. Bishop Potter made his first visitation Aug. 17, 1865. On July 22, 1869, Rev. George L. Neide was elected rector. In Fcb- ruary, 1870, Rev. G. C. Pennell was appointed missionary in charge, and was elected rector Oct. 13, 1870. In Sep- tember, 1874, the corporation was dissolved, and in July of the following year the property became vested in the diocesan board of missions. On Dec. 31, 1877, Rev. G. C. Pennell resigned, and the work was taken up on Aug.

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TOWN OF CHAZY.

21, 1878, by Rev. Irving McElroy, of Rouse's Point, who has charge of the mission in 1879. The number of fam- ilies in the parish is 11 ; of communicants, 13.

At Sciota is a French Catholic church, which has been built for a number of years. It is included in the Coopers- ville parish, in the town of Champlain.

BURIAL-PLACES.

The oldest cemetery in town is that at Chazy Landing. Here are interred some of the first settlers of the town. The first person buried there was Prudence Douglass, grand- mother of Henry Gregory.

Next in order of age comes the old cemetery at Chazy village. In the older portion of this the graves are many of them sunken and overgrown with weeds and bushes, and many old stones are to be seen there. The newer portion contains many attractive monuments and tomb- stones, and is neatly laid out in lots and walks. A walk through this cemetery discloses many inscriptions, of which the following are samples :

"Sacred to the memory of Col. Septa Fillmore, who died Nov. 16, 1823, aged 49 years."

" Alexander Scott. Died at Brooklin, N. Y., August 28, 1847, Aged 73 years. This tribute of respect was erected by the first M. E. Church of Chazy, N. Y."

"Solomon Fisk, Died March 23, 1859, Ae. 72 Yrs."

"Ira Fisk, died Apr. 4, 1852, Ae. 73 Y'rs."

" In memory of Dr. John Horton, who died July 27, 1814, aged 39 years and 3 months.

"In testimony of that respect and esteem which is due to departed worth, this monument is raised hy his affectionate partner, Zeriah Horton."

" Elisha Ransom, died Aug. 10th, 1836. Ae. 83 years."

" In memory of John M. Grant, Esq., who died 28th May, 1816, aged 43 years. Left a wife & 9 children."

" Jonathan Douglass, died Jan. 29, 1868, ÆE. 83 yrs."

" Dr. Miles Stevenson, Born Aug. 24, 1794, Died Jan. 29, 1859."

" Nathaniel Richardson, died Sept. 1, 1874, Æ. 81 years."

" Ebenezer Sherman, died Oct. 4, 1867, ÆE. 85."

" Louis, daughter of Lieut. Samuel Bayley, died Feb. 12, 1813."

" Asa Stevens, died Feb. 2, 1852, Æ. 93 years."

" Ebenezer Douglass, Born in Newfairfield, Conn., March 13, 1772, Died in Chazy, Dec. 14, 1857."

"James Harvey Mccullough, Co. M, 9th N. Y. Vol. Cav. Died of Starvation at Andersonville, March 3, 1866, Æ. 32 Ys. 6 Ms. & 15 Ds."

The old cemetery at West Chazy village was probably laid out next, and its tombstones contain dates running back nearly to the beginning of the century. A more modern cemetery at West Chazy has received much atten- tion from the inhabitants of that section of the town, and presents an attractive appearance.

An old cemetery is also in use at Ingraham.

WOLF-HUNTING.

From about the year 1825 to 1830 wolves committed great depredations upon the sheep about Chazy village. Notice was given throughout the town and neighboring towns, and the people assembled with guns, pitchforks, and such weapons as could be effectually used. The woods where the wolves were found were and are situated east of the James Willson placc, on Sciota Ridge.

The woods were completely surrounded by a line of men. At the word " march" they moved slowly. If anything

occurred to break the hine the word was passed around to " halt." When things were again in condition, the word was passed around again to " march" as before. In this way a perfect line was kept. When the wolves began to hear the sound of voices in every direction, they began to move and press upon the line at different points. When coming near it was that the sound of firearms was heard corresponding with the speed of the animals. At two suc- cessful hunts on two successive weeks eight wolves were killed, four in each week. By carcless shooting at one of these hunts, Mr. Holland Goss had the corner of his shirt-collar shot off. At another, when the men were too close to shoot, Mr. Charles Bugbee drew a wolf out from under a log by the hind legs, and the animal was pum- meled to death with clubs.

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 77

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