History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 87

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 87
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 87

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When Mr. Carter took up his residence at this point the country was new and wild, less than twenty acres being cleared. He at onee took up the task of improving the locality, and much of its present attractive appearance is due to his industry, energy, and business enterprise. A sketch of his own handsome residence, one of the chief at- tractions of Ellenburgh Depot, appears in this work. Mr. Carter now conduets the leading store in the place, and is extensively engaged in the manufacture of shingles in a large mill which stands near the railroad depot. He has also furnished a great deal of wood and large quantities of ties to the railroad company, and he owns a great deal of real estate in the locality.

In religious convictions Mr. Carter is a Methodist, a church in which he was reared, and of which he has ever proven a staunch supporter. He is a leading and prominent member of the church at Ellenburgh Depot, contributed liberally to the fund for the erection of the church edifice, and is an earnest Sunday-school worker. He has also been an active and energetie promoter of the cause of temperance in the town, and was one of the chief founders of a lodge of Good Templars that formerly existed in the town, and which was the means of doing much permanent good therein.

Until the dissolution of the old Whig party Mr. Carter was identified with that politieal body. Later he passed naturally into the Republican party, was a firm supporter of the war, and held a high place in the couneils of his party, his name having been frequently urged for the Legislative nomination from Clinton County. He has held a large number of minor offices, was highway commissioner of Ellenburgh in 1854, and justice of tlie peaee in 1856 or 1857, an office which he has held, more or less, ever since. He has been postmaster at Ellenburgh Depot sinee 1859, with the exception of a brief interregnum of six weeks, during the change of base in the Johnson administration, when he acted for James Roach, who failed to qualify, and Mr. Carter was reappointed. He was supervisor of Ellen- burgh in 1877 and 1878, and deputy internal revenue assessor for two years.

July 13, 1852, Mr. Carter was united in marriage to Delia A., daughter of Levi Marshall, of Plattsburgh, who is still his excellent helpmeet. Three children were born to the union, only one of whom is now living. The home of Mr. Carter is very pleasant, and many have reason to remember with pleasure the warm and generous hospitality that is there dispensed.

324

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

H. H. RUST, M.D.

The family of Dr. Rust for a considerable period before his birth had been settled on a fine farm situated on the old Military Turnpike in the western part of Chateaugay, Franklin Co., to which place Deacon Obed Rust and his wife, Susannah,-the doctor's paternal grandparents,-had removed from Connecticut (stopping at Wells, Vt., for one year) about the time of our last war with Great Britain. Here they lived with their seven children (five boys and two girls) in comfortable circumstances for many years. Hiram, the father of the subject of the present sketch, was the eldest of the five brothers, William, Aloney, Robert, and Jordan. Susan, who married the late Dr. Paddock, of Chateaugay, was two years his senior, and Matilda, who married William Derby, of Chateaugay, was about two years his junior. The family record prior to the time of Deacon Rust's emigration from Connecticut is rather im- perfect. Dr. Rust long ago determined to trace the exact origin of the family, but as yet has been unable to obtain information that is fully satisfactory. The name at present is an uncommon onc, but seventy years ago it was one that occurred frequently in Coventry, Conn., and it is believed that all in that place by that name were of the same blood, and that two brothers of the name were emigrants from England in early colonial times. Some of the family werc ship-owners and sea-captains. The famous optical instru- ment manufacturer, Clarence Rust, of London, England, claims relationship with the brothers Rust, who own exten- sive salt-works in Michigan, and who are descendants of one of the ancient families of Coventry. Dr. Rust's father received a good common-school education, and was a superior mathematician. At the age of twenty-five he married Miss Mary Hall, of West Chateaugay. He was an excellent house architect and builder, and in the winter of 1837 re- moved with his wife to Huntingdon, Canada, where he rented and occupied the place well known as the Rose farm, where the father of Sir John Rose has resided for the last forty years, and where the subject of this sketch was born April 21, 1837. Dr. Rust in early life was intimately acquainted with the present Sir John Rose, and with the family of Col. Reid, with whose sons and daughters he studied at the common school at Athelstan, about a mile from the Rose farm, whither his family removed during the second year of their residence in Canada. At seven years of age he removed with his parents to Burke, N. Y., but never lived there long at a time. At the age of nine he was sent back to the school at Athelstan with his next younger brother, Benjamin. From eleven to fourteen years of age he attended in an irregular way the district school at North Burke. During a part of his fifteenth year he and his brother Benjamin were taught grammar and math- ematics at home by Mr. Henri Stewart, a graduate of Ox- ford College, England. In his sixteenth and seventeenth years he attended school at the Huntingdon Academy. His studies were always of a desultory character. He read gen- eral literature extensively from his twelfth to his twenty- fourth year, at which time (1861) he enlisted in the vol- unteer service of the United States, and went with his regiment to Virginia. In 1863, broken in health, he re- ceived an honorable discharge from the army, and went to

Boston, Mass., where he located as an army recruiting agent. Here he commenced the study of medicine, at first without a preceptor, but afterwards he was directed in some of his reading by a regular practitioner, and attended a part of a course of lectures. After about four years of disconnected study of medicine, and two years' study and experience as an optician, he returned to Burke. From this place he re- moved, in the spring of 1872, to Ellenburgh Depot, and opened an office at Comer's Corners. Hc had given par- ticular attention to the study of forensic medicine, and had already commenced to write a work on medical jurispru- dence. At this place he was at once a successful practi- tioner, and his practice became such that he was obliged for a time to discontinue the work of writing. In October, 1872, he married Mrs. Estella C. Sheldon, a daughter of Leander Dunham, formerly of Beekmantown, N. Y., now of Princeton, Minn. Circumstances had compelled him to defer attending medical lectures after his return to New York State until 1874-75, when he attended two courses, and received his degrec from the medical department of the University of Vermont. His love of books kecps him in their company during the most of his leisure time. He is never idle, and loves best of all to indulge in writing for the press.

Accompanying this brief sketch may be seen fine sec- tional views of Dr. Rust's beautiful residence, planned by himself and his wife, whose tastes in such matters are always very similar to his own.

Dr. Rust has two living brothers, Stanley William, of Burke, N. Y., and Daniel Anthony, of San Francisco, Cal. He has one living sister, Mrs. Henry Garlick, of Middle- bury, Vt., with whom his mother, Mrs. Mary Brigham, resides. His father died in his forty-seventh year,-about twenty-five years ago. His brothers, Benjamin and John, are dead. They were younger than himself, and older than his living sister and brothers. Three sisters died in infancy. Benjamin was a tradesman, and John was a manufacturing and merchant jeweler. Dr. Rust has but one living child, -a son named Benjamin Stanley.

EBEN McPHERSON.

James McPherson, father of the subject of this sketch, came from Scotland about the year 1821. He was a car- penter and joiner by trade, and located in the present town of Belmont, near the Chateaugay line. There he worked at his trade, and soon after married Hannah, daughter of Eben Sargent, also a resident of Belmont. He had two children, Eben and Esther, the wife of Edward White, of West Belmont. James McPherson died about 1826, and his wife in 1833.

Eben McPherson, the subject of this sketch, was born March 4, 1823, and after the death of his parents resided with his uncle, Thomas Sargent, of Ellenburgh. Here he passed his early life, working hard on his uncle's farm, in that then wild section of the country. At that time his uncle's house stood alone in that part of the town. Fishing and hunting constituted the principal occupation of the inhabitants. As for education, all that he obtained was what he picked up by chance at home.

325

TOWN OF ELLENBURGH.

Mr. McPherson was married to Florinda, daughter of Isaiah Robinson, of Swanton Centre, Vt., Dec. 27, 1841, and then first started out for himself. He erected a log hut near the site of his present residence, and com- menced clearing land. He also kept travelers, and had the first public-house in the southwest part of the town. He erected his present house as a hotel in 1860, and for many years made hotel-keeping the principal business of

LIT :: F

Photo. by Fay & Goodell, Malone.

EBEN MCPHERSON.

his life. It became a place of popular resort, and for many years was the only one of importanee on the lower Cha- teaugay Lake. At a later period, as the country became more open, and tourists went farther into the woods, Mr. McPherson gave up hotel-keeping, and now devotes him- self to farming an excellent farm of two hundred and twelve acres. His farm originally comprised three hundred and twenty acres, but he gave one hundred and eight to his sons. All of this land Mr. McPherson earned by hard work and much self-denial. Without a dollar when he started, he has accumulated a handsome property. Part of his land lies in the town of Belmont.

In political faith he has ever been a member of the Democratic party, but has filled only the ordinary town offices.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. McPherson have been Geo. L., born Oct. 22, 1842; Martha M., born June 12, 1846; Henry W., born March 4, 1852; Almond E., born Oct. 8, 1854 ; and Edwin I., born April 8, 1859. All of these children are still living, several of them near the old home- stead. Martlia M. is the wife of Augustus McCoy, of Lewis Co., N. Y.

LYMAN SHELDON.

The subject of this sketch was the second of the six children of Joch Sheldon, who removed from Wilton, Mass., to Ludlow, Vt., carly in the last century, and there located. At a later period he resided at South Reading, Vt., and still later removed to Nebraska, where he died. He was an

active and energetic man, and carly in life was compelled to assume heavy burdens, which he sustained with success. He owned large tracts of land in and around Ellenburgh, N. Y., and for a time carried on the milling business there.

Lyman Sheldon was born at Ludlow, Vt. His earlier years were passed in assisting his father, and in attendance upon the district schools of his day. Upon reaching man- hood he went to California, where his brother (Lawson) had preceded him a few years, and engaged in digging gold. His efforts met with success, and after two years he returned to the East with his savings, which were considerable.

He shortly became the owner of about five hundred acres of land at Ellenburgh Depot, N. Y., to which he soon after added four hundred more. His three farms were only separated by the highway and the Ogdensburgh and Lake Champlain Railroad. He took up his residence at this point, and for many years was one of the leading citi- zens of the town, having a reputation for integrity of pur- pose, energy of character, and public-spiritedness second to none in the town. He was one of the principal founders of the Free-Will Baptist Church of Ellenburgh and West Mooers, contributed the land on which the church stands, and was a useful and honored member through life. He also donated the land lying immediately south of the church for a cemetery, known as Sheldon Hill Ceinetery. The freight station at Dannemora crossing was first named " Sheldon Crossing," in honor of Mr. Sheldon, who owned the land at this place on the west side of the State road leading to Dannemora ; but, after the Vermont Central Railroad Company leased the Ogdensburgh and Lake Cham- plain Railroad, the name was changed to that of Dannemora, on account of there being a station known as Sheldon Cross- ing on the Vermont Central line in Vermont.

Nov. 25, 1858, Mr. Sheldon was united in marriage to Miss Estella C. Dunham, of Altona, N. Y. This lady still resides at Ellenburgh Depot, N. Y., and is the wife of Dr. H. H. Rust. Lyman Sheldon died Jan. 20, 1872, greatly lamented by the community in which he had passed so many years of his active life, and to whose material growth and development he had contributed so much. He was the favored son of his father, early intrusted with the care and management of his business affairs at Ellenburgli, and whose confidence he gained, together with that of the community, for his business tact and ability.

JOHN HAUGHRAN.

Among the representative men of Clinton County, many of whom have worked their way up from lowly conditions to positions of honor, profit, and trust, none perhaps are more worthy of special mention than the subject of this sketelı.

John, his father, came to this country from the south of Ireland, about the year 1834, being then a young man. He located at Chazy village, where he followed the trade of a tailor until his death, which occurred in March, 1867, at about the age of fifty-six years. His wife was Jane, dangh- ter of John Fenn, of the north of Ireland, whom he mar- ried in this country. She died in the summer of 1858.

The only child of John and Jane Haughran bears his

326

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

father's name, and was born July 27, 1838, in Chazy village. His earlier years were passed at home in attend- ance upon the district schools, and at work on different farms in the vicinity. For a period of three months he also worked at the tailor's tradc. Not having a liking for the " goose" and the needle, at the age of seventeen he entered the store of L. F. Merrihew, of Chazy village, as a clerk. In this position he remained nine years, acquiring much valuable information, and manifesting a special apti- tude for trade. At the close of this period Mr. Haughran formed a copartnership with Napoleon Trombley, and, under the firm-name of Haughran & Trombley, carried on the general merchandise business in the "old stone store" at Chazy for two years.

In the fall of 1867 Mr. Haughran removed to the town of Ellenburgh, N. Y., formed a partnership with D. S. Kinsley, of Chazy, and commenced trade in the store where he now is, at Ellenburgh Centre. The firm of Haughran & Kinsley carried on business about ten months, when Mr. Haughran bought out the interest of Mr. Kinsley, and conducted the business alone until October, 1874, when the firm of Haughran & Kinsley was again formed. Mr. Kinsley had, in the mean time, been in trade alone in Ellenburgh. The new firm purchased the Cressey prop- erty, consisting of the grist-mill, saw-mill, Mr. Haughran's present dwelling-house, and several tenements on the other side of the river. This business arrangement continued until the death of Mr. Kinsley, which occurred in June, 1877, when the whole property fell to Mr. Haughran by purchase, and has since remained his individual property. Besides carrying on this extensive business, Mr. Haughran has had a large hay-press in operation since the fall of 1873, deals largely in hay, lumber, shingles, and other commodities, and owns other real estate. He is recognized as one of the most active and influential men of the town, and his name is a synonym of honor, integrity, and up- rightness.

In political affiliations Mr. Haughran is a Republican, though he has never been a seeker after office. In 1865 he was collector of the town of Chazy, and was supervisor of Ellenburgh in 1872, 1873, and 1879.

He has been twice married. His first wife was Helen, daughter of Robert L. Lengfield, of Chazy, to whom he was united Dec. 8, 1864. She died Jan. 16, 1869. Two children were born to this union,-one, a boy, died in infancy, the other was Nellie E., an interesting little girl, who resides with her father. The second and present wife of Mr. Haughran was Katy, daughter of Michael Gordon, an influential citizen of Ellenburgh. The union was con- summated June 22, 1871.

JOHN B. SABRE.

Joseph Sabre, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came from France to St. Antonois, Canada, at an early day, and passed his life there. He had four children,-John, Joseph, Peter, and Mary.

. Joseph, the second son, located at Collar's Manor, Can- ada, and engaged in farming. At this place he spent the remainder of his days, and died in September, 1852. His

wife was Mary, daughter of Jules G. Goubère, of Naper- ville, Canada. This lady is still living, and resides at Al- burgh, Vt., with her son, William S. Sabre. Out of a large family of children six are now living,-Gilbert, who resides at Providence, R. I, and deals in hay, grain, and produce ; John B., the special subject of these notes; Peter, who resides at Alburgh, Vt., and is a farmer; G. W., who is also a dealer in hay, grain, and produce at Providence, R.

LITTLE

Photo. by Howard & Miller, Plattsburgh.

JOHN B. SABRE.

I .; William, who is a farmer at Alburgh, Vt. ; and Jose- phine, who resides with William.

John B. Sabre was born at Collar's Manor, Canada, Oct. 13, 1848. The lives of few men, over whose heads so few years have passed, exhibit so many changing expe- riences, or manifest to such an extent the elements that, in spite of adverse circumstances, go to make a successful man. His early life was passed in farming, and the only education that he ever received was that which he gave himself. In the year 1861 he removed with the other members of his family to Alburgh, Vt .; and the year fol- lowing, although only fourteen years of age, he enlisted in the 9th Vermont Infantry, for a term of three years, as a bugler. After a service of six months he was taken pris- oner at Col. Miles' surrender at Harper's Ferry, Va., and was paroled and sent to Chicago, Ill., the surrender being a conditional one. He remained in Chicago for the winter, and being discharged in the spring returned to his Vermont home.

In the fall of 1864 he re-enlisted in the Union service,- this time in the 2d New York Veteran Cavalry, as bugler. He served a year and a half in this regiment, and was dis- charged at the close of the war. During this period he saw much active service and had many trying adventures. He was with Gen. Banks, in 1864, at Red River; was present at the taking of Mobile, Ala., Montgomery, and other places, and was in a large number of sharp skir- mishes. He was one of a body of three hundred men who were separated from the main command, and dispatched to

327

TOWN OF MOOERS.

eut up the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, one hundred miles away. Crossing Leaf River, Pearl River, and Black Creek, this insignifieant, yet valorous, body of troops boldly attacked an army of five thousand of the enemy, eapturing their wagon-train and taking many prisoners. Aseertaining from these the strength of the enemy, they wheeled around, and by forced marehes returned in safety to the main body, then on their way to West Paseagoula Bay. This was only one of the many stirring scenes through which Mr. Sabre passed while in the army.

After the elose of the war he engaged in trade in Provi- dence, R. I., in the dry-goods and groeery business for one year. He then passed four years in gold-mining in Cali- fornia, and, returning to Alburgh, Vt., engaged in buying and selling hay. In the fall of 1873 he located in the town of Ellenburgh, N. Y., where he still remains, com- manding a wide influenee, and being highly respected for his frank and manly ways and the uprightness of his dealings. He engages largely in the purchase and shipment of hay, grain, and produce, and by his energy and activity has be- come one of the largest dealers in this branch in that seetion of the State, and has conferred a lasting benefit upon the town in which he lives. In political faith he is a Repub- lican, though no offiee-seeker, and subordinating politieal affairs to business enterprise.

On Dee. 7, 1873, Mr. Sabre was united in marriage to Mary, daughter of Joseph Monty, and a descendant of one of the first settlers of that town, after whom Monty's Bay was named.

CHAPTER LIX.

MOOERS.

Geographical and Descriptive-Natural Features-Early Settlement -Taverns-Stores-Physicians-Lawyers-Highways - Railroads -Men of Prominence-Civil Organization-First Town-Meeting -Town Officers-Statistics.

GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

THIS town is the iniddle of the tier of three towns that form the northern border of Clinton County. Its northern boundary is Canada ; its southern the towns of Chazy and Altona, Clinton County. Champlain forms the eastern boundary, and the towns of Ellenburgh and Clinton, in the latter county, the western boundary. It comprises 83 square miles, and has a population, according to the eensus of 1875, of 4537.

NATURAL FEATURES.

The surface of the town is quite level, with a slight in- elination to the northeast. It is entirely underlaid by Potsdam sandstone, and is covered with a light, sandy soil. In the south part of the town, about two miles west of Wood's Falls, near the junetion of a small brook with the north branch of the Great .Chazy River, is a large bed of fine white sand, which is used in the local railroad-shops in the process of repairing rails, and large quantities of which are shipped away for the manufacture of glass.

The principal streams in the town are the Great Chazy

and English Rivers. The latter rises near the eentre of the west line of the town, and flows easterly to near the eentre of the town, when it turns north into Canada. It affords a large number of fine water-privileges. There are two branches of the Great Chazy River. The North Braneh rises in the southwest corner, and, following the southern line of the town for several miles, takes a northeasterly eourse, and, joining the South Braneh, which comes up from Altona almost straight, forms the Great Chazy River, which flows easterly and southeasterly through the re- mainder of the town. The fine water-privileges of these streams have been much utilized in the various manufae- turing enterprises of the town. Several smaller streams of some consequenee, mainly tributary to these rivers, are to be found in the town.

Along the north border of the town are several small swamps. Upon the Canada line, in the northwest eorner of the town, is a remarkable chasm in the roeks, which could have been produced by no existing physical agencies. It is situated on the southern slope of Covey Hill, in Can- ada, and is known as " the Gulf." This is 16 rods wide and 300 feet deep. At its bottom is a pond of water said to be 150 feet deep. The walls are of sandstone and per- pendieular.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement of the town was made in the year 1796. Prior to that time the town was one vast wilder- ness, its virgin quietude alone broken by the wild eries of the numerous animals that infested its forests, its rieh soil alone trodden by the stealthy savage as he wended his way through the mazy shadows of the wood in search of game, or in pursuit of the pleasures resulting from the praetiee of his relentless warfare with his brother red man.

Those who first dared the dangers of the enterprise and relinquished the enjoyments of eivilized life, the sweet memories and associations of home, to enter this wilderness country, were mainly from the States of Vermont, Massa- chusetts, and Connectieut. They came in search of new homes, of good land, and to utilize the superior meehanieal advantages which the streamns of the town afforded.

The first of these pioneers was Joshua C. Bosworth, who came out in 1796, and settled on the "flats," near the Shedden mills, at Mooers village. Here he erected a log cabin, and was joined soon after by his brother, Iehabod T. Bosworth.

George and Daniel Perry came in soon after, about 1800, from Washington County. Daniel Perry located near the present residenee of Silas Brooks. He left town quite ab- ruptly afterwards, leaving his father and mother, and went West, and was never afterwards heard from.

George Perry, who was no relation to Daniel, located at first about two miles west of Mooers village, but subse- quently established himself at Perry's Mills, where he was a prominent man for many years. He carried on a saw- mill, grist-mill, and engaged in cloth-making at that point for many years. A daughter, Harriet, is the wife of James Fitch. Another daughter, Lucinda, married E. P. Francis, who died in 1865. She resides at Mooers Forks. A daughter, Alta, married Bernard Leonard, of Rouse's Point, and resides there.

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 87

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