History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 101

Author: Durant, Samuel W; Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 862

USA > New York > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 101

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).

" Sacket's Harbor Lodge, No. 135, F. & A. M.," held its first meeting May 12, 1828, with the following officers : Samuel Lyon, W. M .; John S. Hall, S. W .; Chester C. Simonds, J. W .; Elijah Field, Treas .; Isaae Van Vleck, See. Owing to some difficulty the charter was surrendered in the fall of 1858, and nothing further was done until March, 1860. From the 2d of that month until the fol- lowing June the lodge was worked under a dispensation from the Grand Master, and during the latter month re- ceived a charter under the name of " Hounsfield Lodge, No. 495," and was known as such until June, 1861, when, through a petition, the old name of "Sacket's Harbor Lodge, No. 135," was again granted them, and this name it has since retained. . At the reorganization in 1860 there were twenty charter members. The membership Sept. 11, 1877, was something over one hundred, and the following were the officers : James Boyd, W. M. ; Richard Wash- burn, S. W .; Alexander Gamble, J. W .; Jolin Walling, Treas .; George E. Butterfield, See. The lodge occupies the room in the old " Union Hotel."

ODD-FELLOWS.

" Wampanoag Lodge, No. 311, I. O. O. F.," was formed at Sacket's Harbor, in September, 1847. At present there is no lodge of this order in the village.

SONS OF TEMPERANCE.

" Rising Sun Divis'on, No. 210," was established at

# Records of lodge, which are preserved to November 4, 1807.

404

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Saeket's Harbor probably in 1851, and ceased in December, 1852. It is related of ex-President Grant that when he was stationed at Madison Barracks, from 1849 to 1852, he became a member of this institution, and during his stay was honored with offices until he reached the highest it afforded. Mainly through his efforts was it kept in a flourishing condition, and after his departure it was allowed to become disorganized, and was finally discontinued.

A FIRE COMPANY

was organized immediately after the War of 1812, with a small membership. It was simply a " bucket brigade," and although endeavors were made to procure an engine, all attempts failed for many years. The following adver- tisement, inserted in the Sacket's Ilarbor Gazette, Nov. 18, 1817, shows the method by which the citizens kept prepared for fires :

"The Fire Wardens having reported to the Board of Trustees of this Village that a number of persons have neglected to furnish themselves with Fire-Buckets, Therefore, Resolved, that all such delinquents who do not procure the number of buckets required by the By-Laws of this Village previous to the 22d instant, and report to the Fire War- dens, or show satisfactory cause to the Board of Trustees, at their meeting on that day at the school- house, why the same have not been provided, shall be prosecuted without delay.

"By order of the Board of Trustees,

"J. BUTTERFIELD, President."

The village lias suffered severely on several occasions from fires, the two noted as follows being the most exten- sive :

"On May 23, 1838, a paper-mill of Col. Camp, at the Harbor, was burned, with a loss of from $7000 to $10,000. It had been in oper- ation about a year.

" A destructive fire occurred at Saeket's Harbor on the morning of Aug. 21, 1843, originating in a warehouse on the wharf, as was sup- posed from the einders of the steamer ' St. Lawrence,' and, spreading rapidly, consumed nine buildings on the north side of Main street, and eight upon the south side. Passing up Bayard street, it eon- sumed several barns and dwellings, and from the violence of the wind the flakes of burning materials were wafted to the cupola of the Pres- byterian church, which was burned. Upon the alley or street in the rear of Main street a number of buildings and much property was burned, The whole number of buildings consumed was about forty ; the loss over $35,000. Hlad this fire occurred in the night-time, from its rapidity and violence, a loss of life could have searcely been avoided. An ineffectual suit was instituted against the steamboat company.">

It is stated that had the village possessed a good fire-en- gine when the last-named fire occurred, much of the prop- crty that was burned might have been saved. Experience and loss of property seemed to be needed, however, before the necessary steps were taken towards furnishing an engine. At any rate, after this fire a hand-engine, manufactured in Boston, Mass., was proeured through the instrumentality of Edmund M. Luff, then the principal member of the fire company. Several persons had, previous to this time, at- tempted to build an engine for the town, but had signally failed. The one they purchased is still owned by the eom- pany, and is in good repair.

The membership of the company in September, 1877, was about 45, and its officers were as follows : James Boyd, foreman ; E. E. Riekerson, assistant foreman ; Al- fred H. Stone, captain of hose ; James H. Wilson, assistant

captain ; John Scroxton, engineer ; Charles Lane, secretary. One hosc-cart is owned by thiem, together with two hundred feet of old and three hundred and fifty feet of new hose, the latter purchased in the summer of 1877.

Among the men who have been prominently identified with the social and business interests of Sacket's Harbor is Daniel Mccullough, who located here in 1826. He was from the State of Massachusetts, and on coming to New York located at first in Martinsburg, Lewis county, where he learned the wagon-making and blacksmitli's trades. On arriving in Sacket's Harbor he purchased a shop on Main street, and commenced work. He built a pair of four-horse coaches, which were, perhaps, the very first manufactured north of Utica in the State. During the frontier troubles of 1838 he was constantly with the troops, then commanded by Colonel (afterwards General) W. J. Worth, who, he says, was a fine soldier and a courteous gentleman. Jonah Wood- ruff, of Watertown, of sleeping-ear manufacturing fame, worked at one time in McCulloch's shop at Sacket's Har- bor. Mr. McCulloch has retired from active business, owing to age and infirmity.

George Camp, a native of Glastonbury, Connecticut, and later a resident of Utiea, Oneida county, New York, lo- cated in Saeket's Harbor in the winter of 1815-16. He was a printer and a druggist, and engaged in both profes- sions during his life in the village. Subsequent to 1821 he removed to Lowville, Lewis county, and, in company with an Englishman, purchased what is now the township of Watson, for speculative purposes. The Englishman proved to be a sporting chiaraeter, and a man of unscrupu- lous motives, rendering him an unfit person with whom to engage in business, and in consequence Mr. Camp disposed of his share in the property as soon as possible, and returned to Sacket's Harbor, where he established himself in the drug business. He died in 1850, at which time his son, Walter B. Camp, was associated with him, and the estab- lishment has since continued the business, the present firm- name being Camp & Co. Beside Walter B. Camp there are two other sons, Talcott and George. The former re- moved to Watertown in 1858, and established the drug house now run under the firm-name of Camp & Massey. He is also at present president of the Jefferson County bank, at Watertown. George Camp, Jr., went to Georgia previous to the War of the Rebellion, and engaged exten- sively in the manufacture of cotton. His factories were lo- cated at Roswell, thirteen miles from Marietta, and were entirely destroyed in July, 1864, by General Garrard's cav- alry, of Sherman's victorious army, on its memorable At- lanta campaign. Mr. Camp had, with admirable fore- sight, formed an opinion that the southern arms could not be successful, and instead of placing his money in Confed- erate bonds, as he was strongly importuned to do, invested it in land in the neighborhood of Atlanta, and these lands have brought him a competency since the war. The mills are rebuilt, and in operation, although Mr. Camp does not have immediate supervision of them.

NEWSPAPERS.

As before stated, George Camp. was a printer by profes- sion, and Mareh 18, 1817, he issued the first number of a

# Hough.

405

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

newspaper called the Sueket's Harbor Gazette. It was a twenty-column folio sheet, Federal in politics, and issued at the rate of two dollars per annum. March 17, 1818, the name was changed to the Sacket's Harbor Gazette and Ad- vertiser, and the publieation continued by Mr. Camp until 1820, when he sold out to Matthew M. Cole, Elisha Camp, and others, who changed its name February 9, 1821, to the Jefferson Republican, under which name it was continued a year or more, when its publication was suspended. In the spring of 1824 the Freeman's Advocate, in size the same as the first papers, and of kindred polities, was issued by Truman W. Hascall. Its publication was discontinued in December, 1828. The Courier and the Sacket's Harbor Courier, with one or two others, were afterwards published by J. Howe. On the 7th of September, 1837, Edward H. Purdy began the publication of The Jefferson County Whig, which was succeeded October 10, 1838, by the Sueket's Harbor Journal, edited by D. M. Burnham, a prominent lawyer of the place, and now engaged in the practice of his profession in Chicago, Illinois, and published by Edmund M. Luff. Burnham was a native of Adams. Mr. Luff conducted this paper, C. Woodward being the printer, from April 17, 1839, till the spring of 1841, and in the summer and fall of 1840 published a small campaign paper, called The Harrisonian. The press was at this time, and for sev- eral years previous, owned by a company of citizens of the village. The Journal was enlarged and improved in the spring of 1841 by Joel Greene, who at that time became the proprietor. At the end of his second year as pub- lisher he sold his interest to Calvin Greene, who in the same year (1843) discontinued the paper.

Joel Greene had, in the spring of 1843, purchased of Herman S. Noble the Watertown Register, and having pre- viously opened an office for the publication of the Black River Journal, began publishing the latter at Sacket's Har- bor and Watertown, at which latter place the printing was done, the press having been removed there. This paper was also Whig in polities. A. W. Clark became proprictor of the establishment in 1846, and the publication of the Northern State Journal commenced. Until March 20, 1848, no paper was thereafter published at Sacket's Har- bor, but at that date O. H. Harris issued the first number of the Saeket's Harbor Observer. This was a twenty-eight- column folio paper, Whig in politics, and was published until 1852, when it was changed to the Jefferson Farmer, a neutral paper, and the publication continued for some time longer. According to information furnished in the village, the last paper published was called the Sacket's Harbor Observer, and wound up its existence in 1862 or '63. All these papers were published in the same office.

Among the merchants who, in 1817, advertised in the Gazette were the following: Josiah Bacon, Jr., whisky and hides ; Hooker & Crane, dry goods, groceries, cte. ; Sacket's Harbor Apothecary Store ; S. Johnson & Co., general store; Elisha Burchard, general store ; Thomas Davis, merchant tailor.

A few extracts in the way of advertisements will not be out of place, as relies of a period beyond the recollection of most of those now living, and a number of them are here- with given :

March 25, 1817. " 2 or 3 Post-Riders will find good encouragement by circulating the Sacket's Harbor Gazette."

Sume date. " The Steamboat Ontario, elegantly fitted up for Pas- sengers, and capable of carrying two thousand Barrels, will com- mence her operations on the opening of the season. She will start from Sacket's Harbor on Monday morning in every week, proceeding to Oswego, Sodus Bay, Genesee River, and Niagara, touching at all these plaecs, and Cape Viueent on her return, and completing her route at Ogdensburgh, on the river St. Lawrence. Cabin passengers will pay,

" From Sacket's Harbor to Oswego .. $3.00

66 Oswego to Sodus. 2.00

Sodus to Genesee River 2.00

Genesee River to Niagara .. 5.00

Sacket's Harbor to Niagara

10.00

1.75

to Cape Vincent to Ogdensburgh

5.00

" A reasonable allowance will at all times be made for Steerage- Passengers. Freight will be taken on board, and carefully delivered, at the customary rates. Francis Mallaby, Esq., of the United States Navy, an experienced seaman, and a gentleman eminently qualified to fulfill the duties of his station, has been appointed to command the boat, and until the selection of proper agents at the several Points, will deeide all questions relating to freight and passage.

" March 17, 1817."

Several paekct boats sailed between Sacket's Harbor and Kingston, among them the Triumph, Captain Daniel Read, the Commodore Perry, Captain J. G. Parker, and the Rambler, Geo. R. Cheney, master, as advertised in May, 1817.

The average inhabitant of Sacket's Harbor " in those days" was without a knowledge of the properties of what is now a common summer beverage,-soda-water ; and until the pro- prietor of the " Sacket's Harbor Apothecary Store" saw fit to experiment in its manufacture, and enlighten the people as to its excellence as a cooling drink, they remained in blissful ignorance of the joys to be derived from draughts of what has been recently facctiously denominated " sweetened wind." Here is an advertisement which appeared in the Gazette, July 15, 1817 :

" Soda Water, manufactured upon correct chemical principles, equal to any in the United States, now ready for delivery at the Sacket's Harbor Apothecary Store, sign of the Golden Mortar, oppo- site the Gazette office, Main Street."

The experiment was undoubtedly successful, as the adver- tisement runs through the season, and also appears in the issue of subsequent years.

In May, 1817, Mr. John MeMenamy announced that he had opened a select school at Major Pickering's, for young ladies and gentlemen.

During the summer of 1817, a venturesome individual appeared in the village, announcing himself as an artist, and publishing the following advertisement :

" LIKENESSES .- Taken at various prices, from 25 eents to 15 dollars, at a room over the Grocery Store of Mr. L. White.

" Mr. Wentworth solicits patronage, and, for the short time that he remains in Sacket's Ilarbor, will, if requested, call on any ladies or gentlemen, where their own or family likenesses are wauted, iu Pro- file, Miniature, or Portraits.

"July 8, 1817."

From the following notice it would seem that the citizens of the village needed a gentle reminder occasionally that there was more dirt in the streets than was conducive to the general health of the place, and a broad hint that they needed cleaning and repairing at once :

406

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

" The citizens of the Village of Sacket's IIarbor are requested to turn out on Wednesday, the 30th inst., at 8 o'clock, A.M., to repair and cleanse the streets in the village ; as many as ean are requested to furnish suitable utensils-teams, plows, and serapers will be wanted. When an appeal is made to the public spirit and liberality of the Citizens of this Village, it is expected that every man will do his duty.

" July 28, 1817."

President Monroe, soon after his induetion into office, undertook a tour through the northern seetion of the Union, to observe the condition of the frontier, and make such arrangements for its military security as might be dcemed necessary. Having reached Ogdensburgh on the 1st of August, 1817, he was met by Major-General Brown, and attended to Rossie and Antwerp, where he was met by Mr. Le Ray, and conducted to Le Raysville. On the 3d he was waited upon by the committee of arrangements, and escorted thenee by three troops of horse, under Captains Loomis, Fairbanks, and White, to the house of Isaae Lee, in Watertown, where he received a coneise though flattering address from the citizens. He then proceeded to Brown- ville, and on the 4th to Sacket's Harbor. The following account of the proceedings on the oecason of his visit is taken from the Sacket's Harbor Gazette of August 5, 1817 :

" Upon his arrival at the bridge, being the bounds of the village, he was salnted with nineteen guns from the Sacket's Harbor Volunteer Artillery. The bridge was elegantly fitted up with nineteen trimmphal arehes, on which were inscribed the names of the several Presidents, the first areh being surmounted by a living American eagle. Upon passing the bridge the President was introduced by the chairman of the committee to a number of veteran officers and soldiers of the Rev- olution, who presented him the following address :"

"' It is with pleasure that we, a few of the survivors of the Revolution, re- s'ding in this part of the country, welcome the arrival of the chief magistrate of the Union. It is with increased satisfaction that we recognize in him one of the number engaged with us in the arduous struggle of establishing the independence of our country. We have lived, sir, to see the fruits of our toils and struggles amply realized in the happiness and prosperity of our country ; and, sir, we have the fullest confidence that, under your administration, they will be handed down to our posterity unimpaired. Like your inmortal prede- erssor, the illustrious Washington, may yon be honored by the present and future generations, and finally receive the rich reward with him in realms above.'

"The President received the veterans with great cordiality, and expressed much satisfaction at witnessing among them some to whom he was personally known 'in times that tried men's souls.'

" Upon his arrival at the village a national salute was fired from Fort Pike. The procession opened to the right and left. IIe then passed through, dismounting at the civie arch in front of the Man- sion House, to which he was eondneted by Captain King, chief mar- shal of the day, between two lines of children strewing flowers in his path.

" Upon the President's arrival at the Mansion House stoop, perched above an awning formed hy the national flag, an eagle was observed to flap his wings.

" The following address was then made to him hy the chairman of the committee :

"'SACKET'S HARBOR, Ang. 4, 1817.

"' To Ihs EXCELLENCY, JAMES MONROE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: "' Honored Sir,-The committee appointed in behalf of their fellow-citizens would congratulate the President of the United States upon his arrival at this place. It is with pleasure unfeigned and nualloyed that all descriptions of men behold among them, for the first time, the chief magistrate of the Union.

"' They look upon it as a pledge that their interests will not be forgotten, as the sitnation of this section of the country will be personally known to him on whom the American people have placed their highest confidence and bestowed their greatest honors.

"' And that, although situated on the frontiers, remote from the centre of government, they hope to live in the recollection of him whose happiness it is to preside over its high and exalted destinies.

"' It is gratifying to learn that the object of your arduons tonr is to ascer- tain whatever will contribute to the interest, improvement, or defense of the country. It therefore becomes our duty to express the solicitnde of our con- stituents as it regards their peculiar situation. Twice have they been placed on the very verge of rnin by successive attacks in the late war. Hlad works of defense been erected in commanding situations, snch attempts would probably never have been made,-at all events would have been repulsed with greater certainty and less expense of blood. And it will still be observable that addi- tional fortifieations would be requisite to render effectual a resistance against superior numbers. Yon fields, which have been dyed with the blood of Colonels Backus and Mills, ean attest how much works of defense have there been needed !

"'We trust the period is far distant when hostilities (if ever) shall again occur; bat, as this may not be the fact, prudential reasons would seem to indi- cate the utility of a great military road in the most proper direction for nuiting the resources of the country with this chief military and naval depot of the northern frontier.

"' The extensive public, and the increasing amount of private, property, to- gether with a personal anxiety, we trust will be accepted as an apology for specifying that which doubtless has already occurred to your observation. These are subjects of minor importance, yet interesting to our fellow-citizens, which we hope will attract the notice and not be deemed nuworthy the con- sideration of the Executive of this free and enlightened republic.

"' We cannot conclude without expressing onr conviction that he who has for nearly half a crutury devoted his services to his country will render his tonr as eminently useful as it has been gratifying to the American people. We deem it a happiness to embrace this opportunity of personally expressing onr highest regard for your private character and publie worth.'

"' E. CAMP, "'J. BUTTERFIELD, ""'F. WHITE.'

" To which the President, amid a large concourse of citizens, made a reply, to the following purport :

"'That he could not express the feelings that were excited by the respect and attention paid him on his entrance into this place; that, in pursuing the objects of his tour, Sacket's Harbor naturally had claims to his attention ; that he had been much gratified in passing through a country prosperons and fertile, containing a population numerous, happy, and brave; that he saw in the people an attachment to their government, and did not consider the marks of attention exhibited as rendered him personally, but as honoring the institu- tions of our country ; and that he rejoiced to witness such unanimity of his fellow-citizens, viewing it as a presage of their future happiness and glory ; and concluded by ol serving that he was apprised of the importance of this place as a military and naval position, that it had received considerable atten- tion from the government, and would continue to do so to the full extent that its security and consequence required.'

" The President, having heen introduced to the officers of the navy by Commodore Woolsey, and to the marshal of the day, proceeded to review the troops, who made a most splendid and military appear- anee. Ile then viewed the 120-gun ship that was left unfinished at the conclusion of the war. The superb ranges of stone barracks next attracted his attention.

" In the evening the village was illuminated, skyrockets and fire- works exhibited. It may well be said to have been a period of gen- eral rejoicing and festivity, and will form an era in the memnry of those present that will ever be recollected with pleasure.

"The President will embark this afternoon on the United States brig Joues, commanded by Cominodore Woolsey, for Niagara. We understand that Major-General Brown and his suite will accompany him as far as Detroit."

It is said that on the President's departure, Bill John- ston, then proprietor of the " Mansion House," and after- wards notorious in the " Patriot War," presented him a bill of $150 for the night's lodging of himself and two companions. This showed the principles of the man, and was but a foreshadowing of his piratical manœuvring which occurred afterwards on the St. Lawrence and among the Thousand Islands.

PROMINENT PHYSICIANS.

The first regular physician who located in the village was Dr. William Baker, who, as has been stated, settled here in 1803. Dr. Benjamin Farley, a fine physician, settled previous to the war. Another prominent phy-

# The address was delivered by Major Cherry, a Revolutionary veteran, the President's companion in arms and superior officer.

407

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

sician was Dr. James Starkweather, who came probably soon after the War of 1812. He was the founder of the Sacket's Harbor Union Library, and, besides being a physi- cian of note, was among the foremost in promoting the prosperity of the village. In the first issue of the Sicket's Ilarbor Gazette the following advertisement appears :

"Physic and Surgery .- Doet. R. B. Hayes respectfully informs the citizens of Sacket's Harbor and the publie in general, that he has removed to that village, where he will make the science of Medicine and Surgery his only pursuit. All calls in the various branches of his profession, left at the store of Seymour and Hayes, will be attended with promptness and pleasure."

Among the celebrities who have resided in the village was one who gained a world-wide reputation for his discov- eries and inventions, -DR. SAMUEL GUTHRIE. This gen- tleman settled here after the War of 1812, his residence being near the present iron bridge across Mill creek, on the Watertown road. In 1831 he discovered the article known as chloroform, at about the same time with Soubeiran, in France, and Liebig, in Germany. "Guthrie obtained in a pure state the substance now called chloroform; but he erroneously supposed his product to be the well-known oily liquid of the Dutch chemists, which it greatly resembles, and for the preparation of which he believed he had fallen on a cheap and easy process. Under this impression he called the substance, in his communications, chloric ether, one of the names by which the ' Dutch liquid,' or lichlo- ride of ethylen, is designated. He was induced to make the preparation from noticing, in Professor Silliman's ' Elements of Chemistry,' a reference to the Dutch liquid as a grateful diffusible stimulant, when properly diluted with alcohol and water. In relation to the anticipated importance of chloro- form, Mr. Daniel B. Smith, of this city, held the following language in July, 1832 : 'The action of this ether on the living system is interesting, and may hereafter render it an object of importance in commerce. Its flavor is delicious, and its intoxicating qualities equal to or surpassing those of alcohol. It is a strong diffusible stimulus, similar to the hydrated ether, but more grateful to the taste.' (Journ. of the Philad. Coll. of Pharm., iv. 118.)"*

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 101

Author: Durant, Samuel W; Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 862

Author: Durant, Samuel W; Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 862