History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 95

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 95
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 95

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).

A man by the name of Johnson settled on lot No. 18. He had four sons, John, James, Robert, and William. Johnson Mountain takes its name from this Johnson.

Among the early settlers were A. Putnam, E. Smith, Ebenezer Kimball, and George Justin, from Washington County.

Mr. Putnam was called "Put," being a nephew of Israel Putnam, known to fame, and was about as tough a customer to contend with as his honored uncle.

Their mission here was rafting lumber to Elsinore and Cadyville, which business they were acquainted with on the Hudson River. In this way lumbermen depended to ship their lumber from 1825 to 1845, and the amount of lum- ber thus shipped was immense.

On one of Mr. Kimball's trips down the river in com- pany with Ebin Washburn, a young man of eighteen years, young Washburn took it into his head to dive into the river. Mr. Kimball tried to dissuade him from doing so, but suddenly a plunge was heard-he was a good swimmer, and it was a matter of surprise that the young man did not come up. On making search, Washburn was found on the river's bottom, insensible from a severe blow and wound on the head, caused by his striking on a stone. After much labor Mr. Kimball succeeded in bringing him to life, and after a good deal of labor was successful in taking the raft on cribs to Elsinore, when the assistance of Dr. Nelson was obtained, who pronounced the injuries fatal, that his neck was broken ; and he died on the following day.

Daniel Dustin moved into Redford in 1832.

Col. Lyman Manley cleared up his farm, and was the first to begin lumbering in the winter season.

Archclaus and Aaron Putnam settled on the land now owned by Abram Lobdell, and made lime and potash. They were succeeded in this business by John and Wil- liam Frazier, who settled on the tract now occupied by G. W. Bruce.

The late George Parsons came to this town in the year 1824, bringing an invalid wife and five children .*

Philip Signor moved into town from Peru ; he bought the farm owned by Col. Manley; his occupation was farm- ing until 1845, when he, with James Hull, built the Hollow Forge and ran it a few years, when it came into the posses- sion of the late Moss K. Platt."

EARLY SCHOOLS.

Dr. Haynes states that the first school in this town was taught by Royal Spalding. Dr. French makes the same statement in his " Gazetteer" (1860). There seems to be a diversity of opinion in this matter, as the Plattsburgh Re- publican says, " The first school in the town was kept by John Hopper, son of Lambert Hopper (mentioned pre- viously), in Ezekiel Pearce's house, and Royal Spalding was the second school-master."

The first organized school district was near Lewis Lyons' ; the second at Saranac Hollow, then known as the Devil's Half-Acre.

* See biography.

354

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

PIONEER TAVERNS.

The first hotel opened was by Russel Case in a log house, afterwards occupied by James and Lawrence Pinkman.

Another house, located on Varnum Brook, lately occu- pied by the Curtis family, was used for entertaining trav- elers.

But of the first was the hotel kept by J. Hopper, now owned and occupied by January Bresett. The west end of the house and chimney bore this inscription, " J. Hopper, 1809."

THE FIRST MILLS.

For several years the nearest grist-mill was Scribner's mill, on Salmon Brook, in West Plattsburgh, where the upper reservoir of the Plattsburgh water-works is now lo- eated, but in 1806, Isaiah Ferris built a saw- and grist-mill on the brook which ran through the settlement.

Roswell Wait built the first saw-mill at the Hollow.

John Frazier built a saw-mill on the Varnum Brook. Caleb Marshall built the first dam at Redford.

THE FIRST MARRIAGE AND BIRTH.

The first marriage was that of Cornelius Hopper to So- phia Case, in 1806. The first wale child born was Maj. Smith, May 9, 1804, and the first female child born was Fanny Lyon, in 1805, now Widow Curtis.

THE FIRST DEATHI.

The first death in the town was probably that of a man by the name of Skeels, an assistant of Capt. Samuel Stone, a surveyor and agent for the township. They started on their way through the woods to go to Malone, and were caught in a severe snow-storm on the 8th day of October, 1802, when a few miles from the settlement. The snow fell a foot deep, and it eame on very cold ; the men got be- wildered, and Skeels was frozen to death in the woods, where he was buried. Capt. Stone was so badly frozen that he was unable to walk, but managed to crawl back to the nearest house on his hands and knees, and was cared for as well as possible, but subsequently died of his injuries. The first death of a settler was that of John D. Fiske, the second town agent, who was killed by the falling of a tree, June 21, 1805.

In the early days access to Saranac was over almost im- passable roads and through a dense wilderness.

The first team that went through from Saranac to Briar Hill, now Alder Brook, was an ox-team driven by Henry Bartlett. The route through to the Hopkinton turnpike was located by Ira Vaughn and son, Ira B. Vaughn, now of Redford, in 1830.

PHYSICIANS.

The first resident physician was Dr. Work. Prior to that time Dr. Isaac Patchin, late of Schuyler Falls (then of Plattsburgh), was the physician. Dr. Work was suc- ceeded by Dr. Corbin, followed by Dr. Orville Terry.

The principal exports from town down to 1830 were maple-sugar, potash, square timber, and boat-masts, which were taken to Quebec by rafts.

About the time of the war of 1812 potash was taken over the route known as the smugglers' road, which was opened through by Abraham Lobdell's to Chateaugay.

THE GREAT FRESHET.

In 1830 the greatest freshet witnessed since the settle- ment of this town occurred, which swept the river nearly clean, from its source to its mouth, of forges, mills, and bridges. For three days and three nights it rained con- stantly, and the river's banks were overflowed to a great distance.

During the height of the freshet the late Andrew Hull undertook to eross on the bridge, which moved off with him on it, and he was obliged to swim a mile before he reached the shore, in an exhausted condition.

A barn, containing half a dozen shecp, was carried down the stream a mile and a half, and landed on the flats below with sheep and barn safe and sound. Many other inci- dents might be given of the freshet.

THE CANAL OF 1824.

The following interesting history is taken from the Platts- burgh Republican :

" At the same sessiou of the Legislature which created the town of Saranae, a move was made towards the con- struction of a canal through this new town, connecting the waters of Lake Champlain at the mouth of the Saranac River with the St. Lawrence River at Ogdensburgh. On the 19th of March the Canal Committee in the Assembly, on the memorial for surveying a canal from Ogdensburgh to Lake Champlain, made a report in which the fact was eu- larged upon that the British Parliament had, about 1821, - passed an act imposing discriminating duties upon articles of export, by which the St. Lawrence River was virtually closed as an avenue of commercial intercourse with this country. The advantages were also duly set forth of an opening of canal navigation between Lake Champlain and a point on the St. Lawrence above that where Canada held possession of both banks. The route recommended by this report was ' from Plattsburgh along the Saranac to the level of its still water, which, from authentic information, ascer- tained to be seven hundred and ten feet above the level of Lake Champlain, thence pursuing that river to the junction of its branches, then follow the north branch to its source.' The committee state that 'in the last-mentioned distance the Saranac has but one single fall of thirty feet, and that the said north branch is a sluggish stream throughout its whole course, which is about twenty miles to the lake from which it flows,' through a flat alder meadow. 'This will make the source of the north branch of the Saranac seven hundred and forty feet above the level of Lake Champlain, and this is stated to the committee to be the highest land to be passed on the proposed route from Plattsburgh to Og- densburgh ;' and furthermore, ' that the east branch of the St. Regis flows from a lake only about one-eighth of a mile from that which gives rise to the north branch of the Sara- nac,' and that there was plenty of water all along the route to feed the canal. The whole distance from Plattsburgh to Ogdensburgh by this proposed canal route is stated by the committee to be only about one hundred miles, and the level of the St. Lawrence at Ogdensburgh one hundred and forty feet above the level of Lake Champlain at Plattsburgh.

" Through this proposed canal it was calculated that a vast. amount of commerce would certainly flow, and the friends

PHOTO. BY HOWARC & CO

JOHN HUSE.

RESIDENCE OF JOHN HUSE, REDFORD, SARANAC, CLINTON CO., N. Y.

PHOTO BY HOWARD &

THOMAS WARD.

The ancestors of Thomas Ward were English; his paternal grandfather was a soldier in the British army in Canada.

The records do not show when he came to Clinton County; but the father of Thomas, whose name was John, and who died Sept. 10, 1859, was born in the town of Peru.

John Ward was reared a farmer, which occupation he followed through life. He was married to Mehitable Doty, second daughter of Peter Doty, of Peru. Their children were Lucy, Thomas, Phebe, Sarah, Mary Ann, John, William, and Almeda.

Thomas Ward was born Aug. 16, 1835, in Peru. When very young his father removed to the town of

Saranac, and settled on land now owned by Thomas, to which the latter has made large additions by purchase.

December 31, 1863, he was married to Fanny Haynes, fourth daughter of Samuel Haynes, of Saranac. Their children are Lester W., William E., Mary Ann, Nellie L., Bertha May, and Ruth E.

Thomas Ward's opportunities for an education were limited to those afforded by the district school, and even these he was not permitted to enjoy to the fullest extent, being often required to remain at home to help his father on the farm.

He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Saranac, to the support of which he liberally con- tributes.

355

TOWN OF SARANAC.

of the Caughnawaga ship-canal will do well to heed these sage conclusions of our law-makers of over half a century ago, who were in dead earnest, as is indicated by the fact that at the same session a bill passed both branches of the Legislature, appropriating $1500 to the survey of the pro- posed route.

" The effect of the agitation of this important measure upon the minds of the inhabitants of the new town of Saranac, by which it was hoped to bring the vast products of the great northwest up the St. Regis, across the summit past Paul Smith's, and down the Saranac Valley, may be imagined. Doubtless high hopes were entertained of the advantages of a great highway running through a section so rich in undeveloped resources in the way of mines, lum- ber, and water-powers. The old dream of a canal is past and nearly forgotten, but a far better prospect, already partly realized, now appears in the not distant future, of rail- way communication with the outside world, which will not be obstructed with fetters of ice during five-twelfths of the time, but will remain open all the year round."

LYON MOUNTAIN.

On an old map the name of the highest elevation of land in Clinton County is put down as "Lyon Mountain." Whether this designation is owing to a certain mental con- fusion on the part of the author of that map, caused by a blending of the sound of the name with a fancied resem- blance of the outline of the mountain, especially when viewed from the eastward, to the form of a couchant lion,- not a very difficult resemblance to trace, by the way,-is perhaps a secret which will never be revealed. But what- ever the reason may have been, the name on that map is in- correctly spelled, for Lyon Mountain was so called after one of the first settlers in the town of Saranac, whose name was Nathaniel Lyon (mentioned on a previous page), an uncle, it is said, of Gen. Nathaniel Lyon, one of the bravest of American soldiers, who served through the Florida and Mexican wars, and was finally shot dead at the head of a regiment whose coloncl had fallen, in the battle of Wilson's Creek, Mo., in August, 1861.

INCIDENTS, ETC.

To fully realize what the earlier settlers had to contend with we have only to consider the many and varied diffi- culties they had to surmount.

There were the usual dangers from, wild beasts that prowled nightly around the sheep-folds, and even boldly making their various raids by the light of day. An aged gentleman related in our presence the following incident a few years since : " A teamster had been to mill with a yoke of oxen. After passing Wood's Mills, on his return, he head a long and doleful howl from the adjacent forest ; soon came another from the opposite thicket; the two joined in concert until joined by a third. The man had no weapon of defense but a whip. Ile further armed himself with a elub and awaited events with some anxiety, walking behind his load occasionally to keep warm. The oxen could not be hurried, and it was fast growing dark. The wolves came boldly on, but being somewhat intimidated by the courageous teamster, who hallooed, swinging his whip and

club, threatening them so valiantly that they shrank back. Still they followed on, calling on their absent comrades to assist them. These three skulking, starving brutes kept him close company as far as Buck's Corners, where they became discouraged and left him, to his great relief."

Often a catamount was seen, and occasionally brought down by the hunters. More often bears made havoc with pigs, calves, gardens, and cornfields. Deer came down and destroyed whole fields of grain. Various smaller depreda- tions kept the chicken-coop and hen-roost in constant alarm. But still the march of progress went on. The brave settlers did not become discouraged. They knew that the perils, the privations, and dangers they were daily experiencing were only a part and parcel of pioneer lifc, and they will- ingly mnet the emergencies to get for themselves homes.

Samuel Collins relates that for a succession of years he lost cow after cow, which he earned by the sweat of his brow, till he had lost nine cows; supposed to have been killed and devoured by the wild beasts of the forest. On one occasion, during the great freshet above adverted to, get- ting short of provisions, he shouldered his empty bag to go to Plattsburgh for meal. On arriving at Mr. Huntley's, on Beckwith Street, Mr. Huntley let him have two bushels of corn, which, directly after appeasing his own hunger, he shouldered and started for home, and did not stop till having passed over two miles ; but on thinking of his family at home re-shouldered his bag and did not stop again till he entered his own door, having carried his load five miles, stopping but a few moments to rest but once.

At another time, a woman left alone with her little chil- dren, in the evening hearing a slight scratch or noise at the window, looked around, and to her terror saw a large bear looking steadily at them as they sat by the fire.

Children looking up stray cattle often came upon bears, and heard the frightful howling of wolves. Not many years sinee a lynx was met in pretty close quarters by one of Mr. True's sons, who was out in search of missing sheep.

As a change, we are reminded of a story of a deacon of the earlier days, who one Sunday morning was shaving near a window by a glass, when his attention was attracted by a large buck entering his garden, but the worthy deacon kept on shaving; when his wife entering the room, and .seeing the deer, asked her husband if he was not going to bring him down, as he was sent of the Lord at an oppor- tune moment for them. The deacon (on this temptation) took down his musket and fired, but the buck threw up his flag and bid them good-by. "There," exelaimed the worthy deacon, "I knew that it was only the temptation of the devil."

THE IRON INTERESTS.

The development, progress, and prosperity of Clinton County has depended principally on its iron and Inumber interests, and has been commensurate with the protection which has been extended to the two branches of industry by our general government.

The tariff acts of 1824 and 1828 gave considerable im- petus to the iron business, and the high protective tariff of 18.42 was followed by the springing into existence of a multitude of iron maunfactories through Essex and Clinton

356

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Counties. We are of the opinion that fully half of the forges that have been operated in these two counties date their birth between 1842 and 1846. But the low tariff of 1846, and the policy of free trade which succeeded, had its ruinous effects, and inaugurated that cra of gradual busi- ness depression which culminated in the crash of 1857, carrying down a host of our most promising business men. The little forges which dotted our streams were mostly silenced, and many have fallen into decay. But the remains of old dams and bulkheads do not tell the saddest story. The history of many a forge which has survived the wreck, and remains a monument of former enterprise, would unfold a painful record of business failures, assignments and bank- ruptcy. All honor to the men, who, with iron nerve and indomitable will, have acted as pioneers in the iron business.

But the events of 1860 and 1861 put an entirely new phase on this branch of manufacture. The policy of pro- tection which then prevailed, and the demand for increased duties for revenue purposes, doubled up the price of iron. And the heavy duties which we must impose for revenue for years to come, coupled with the scarcity of coal in Eng- land, give the iron prospects a degree of permanency which they never before enjoyed.

Saranac Hollow .- The first forge in the town of Sara- nac was built in 1826, at Saranac Hollow, then known as " The Devil's Half-Acre." Judging from its probable appearance at that time, there may have been some appro- priateness in the name ; for it must have seemed surprising that any human being should think of locating a forge there. It was in the midst of a vast wilderness. Above it there was only a foot-path, below it, where the plank- road now runs, was an untraversed swamp. The road from Cadyville followed the ridge of hills a mile or two west of the river, and terminated at the top of a high bluff overlooking the settlement at the Hollow. Here the goods, wares, merchandise, liquors, etc., " broke bulk," and were transferred to a " bunk," made of the crotch of a tree in the form of a drag, and drawn down the hill by oxen. Enterprising men from the Hollow then predicted that the time would come when there would be a regular wagon-road right up the river through the swamps; and like Fulton, the inventor of steam navigation, these enthusiasts were laughed to scorn. No iron ore was then known to exist in the town of Saranac. The nearest deposit known was the Arnold ore-bed. From this bed, over Burnt Hill, a dis- tance of fourteen miles, and a horrid road at that, the ore was drawn. The iron was mostly carried to Keeseville, eightcen miles distant.

The gentlemen who embarked in this hazardous under- taking were Messrs. Hull, Hopper & Baker. Samuel Hull was a brother of the lamented Andrew Hull, who died in Saranac. He owned a store in Plattsburgh. The appear- ance of this rude forge whose hammer broke the solemn stillness of the wilderness, and the magnificent structure now located on nearly the same spot and owned by Messrs. Bowen & Signor, fitly illustrates the rise and progress of the iron interests of our country.

But a history of many reverses and hard contested strug- gles in the iron business intervene these points. In 1830 the forge was swept away by the great freshet. After the

freshet it was rebuilt by J. Bradshaw, and it was subse- quently in the hands of Mr. Whallon, of Kceseville, super- intended by Mr. Bullen, of Black Brook. About 1836 it went into the control of Forbes & Davis, succeeded by Z. Baker. For a number of years previous to 1845, under the discouraging condition of the iron business, it got badly run down, and we believe laid idle considerable of the time. In 1845 it came into possession of P. W. Signor, of Platts- burgh, and a Mr. Hunt, and under the firm-name of Signor & Hunt they built a new forge and made other improve- ments. In 1847 the establishment was purchased by M. K. Platt. In 1849, D. C. Boynton, of Plattsburgh, became a partner of Mr. Platt, removed to Saranac, and for nine succeeding years superintended the business. In 1858, S. F. Vilas bought the works. He leased it to Hull & Jack- son for a year ; then it laid idle to 1863. It was hired by Bowen & Williams from 1863 to 1867, then by Bowen & Signor to 1873, when it was purchased by them.

The dissolution of copartnership between Bowen & Wil- liams at that date seems to been a signal for a grand tear- ing down, overhauling, and rebuilding, and a systematizing of their business.

The copartnership between S. P. Bowen and James H. Signor, son of P. W. Signor, of Plattsburgh, was formed in 1871, and embraces a forge at Saranac Hollow and at Russia, and the Tremblay ore-bed. Their business centre is at Saranac Hollow, where they do an extensive trade in addition to their iron business. The new building for a store and office was built by Bowen & Williams in 1868. It is a fine brick structure, 40 by 55 feet, and three stories high. They leased the old forge until the spring of 1874, when they purchased it, and at once proceeded to tear down and rebuild. In the short space of five weeks, as complete, convenient, substantial, and handsome a forge was erected as can be found in the world. Forges are not noted for their beauty ; but this is certainly good-looking. It is well proportioned, being high and airy. Its superior ventilation renders it very comfortable. It is painted brown, fire-proof, and the roof is of sheet-iron, and covered with a prepara- tion known as paraffine varnish, which prevents the iron from corroding. Of course the forge has all the modern improvements, including one of Hartwell & Myers' 11,000- pound cast-iron hammers. It is provided with six fires (with room for two more), and turns out the remarkably large yield of 35 tons per week. The best quality of slab iron, used principally for boiler-flues, water- and gas-pipes, and steam-boilers, on account of its toughness, is manufac- tured at this forge, and brings the highest price in the market for slab-iron. The Tremblay ore is used. They have a large blacksmith-shop of four fires, and make all their own forge tools, tweers, etc., and do a large custom- work.

The rolling-mill owned by Bowen & Signor was erected in 1878, and is a model of perfection and convenience. The building is one hundred and fifty feet long, eighty- five feet wide, and fifty-seven feet high. The mill has two trams, which are capable of doing a great variety of work. The large or bloom tram consists of a set of three rolls, 16 inches in diameter, and will reduce 6-inch blooms to 1-inch. They are provided with grooves for flattening iron inte

BOWEN AND SIGNOR'S IRON WORKS, SARANAC, NEW YORK.

RESIDENCE OF WALTER F. DAVIDSON, CLAYBURGH, CLINTON CO., N. Y.

WALTER F. DAVIDSON.

In the year 1825, John Davidson emigrated from South Shields, England, to Boston, Mass., bringing with him his family, consisting of his wife and eight children, namely, Franklin, John, Andrew, William, James H., Mary, Sarah, and Jane. The father and all his sons, except one, were glass- makers ; the exception being James H., who was an engraver. The family remained at Boston and at Providence, R. I., until 1832, when they removed to Redford, Clinton Co., N. Y., where crown glass was then being extensively manufactured.

Andrew Davidson, the third son of John, and the father of "the gentleman to whom this biographical sketch has special

charge at Port Hudson, June 14, 1863, was the only injury he received during his three years' honorable service.

In the spring of 1865 he resumed work as a wheelwright im Redford; but in the following September entered the employ of Hon. Andrew Williams and Hon. S. P. Bowen, at Clay- burgh, as clerk. In July, 1867, he removed to Williamsburgh, in the employ of the same gentlemen as book-keeper, and agent in charge of their store at that place. He remained there until May, 1871, when he returned to Clayburgh, and took full charge of the extensive iron business of Messrs. Bowen and Williams at that place. About that time Mr. Williams be-

( PHOTOS. BY HOWARD & CO PLATTSBURGH.)

MRS. W. F. DAVIDSON.

W. F. DAVIDSON .

reference, married Ellen, daughter of John Quigley. He died April 21, 1856, leaving a widow and two children, viz. : Walter F. and Louisa, now the wife of Cornelius T. Gunn.

John Quigley, father of Mrs. Davidson, emigrated from Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland, in 1833, with his wife and four children,-Ellen, Ann, Bridget, and John,-and settled in Redford, where he labored many years in one branch of glass manufacture.

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History of Clinton and Franklin Counties, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 95

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