History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 109

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 109

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Christopher Poor removed to New York State about the year 1800. On the 7th of July, 1803, was united in mar-

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

riage with Mary Parkinson, by whom he had twelve chil- dren, namely, Peter, Margaret, Betsy, Polly, Aaron, Moses, Hannah, Christopher S., Asa, Matthew, Andrew, and Nancy J .; of these there are six living, all in Jefferson County except Jane, now the wife of S. L. Mott, of Mar- tinsburg, Lewis eounty. In 1807, Mr. Poor removed to Rutland Hollow, where he resided at the breaking out of the War of 1812. He was one day plowing in the field, when a call was made for soldiers, and he unhitehed one of his horses and, Putnam-like, rode to Sacket's Harbor, where he entered the service. On his return he removed down the river and erected a saw-mill about half a mile from Felts' Mills. In 1829 he removed to the village of Black River, and there built the first bridge aeross the main stream. He also erceted the first frame house on the Le Ray side of the river, and with others built the first dam on the north side of the island. He was prominently iden- tified with all publie enterprises. He was a kind-hearted, genial man, of unblemished honor and unswerving integrity. After a long and useful life he died at the residence of his son Feb. 11, 1854, aged seventy-four years. His estimable wife survived him until September 12, 1866, when she too departed this life, to join him in the eternal hereafter, being upwards of eighty years of age.

MATTHEW POOR was the sixth son and tenth child of the above gentleman, and was born in the town of Rutland April 11, 1822. He removed to the village of Black River with his father when seven years old, and lived with and assisted him in his business as long as the old gentleman was capable of working, and then assumed entire control of the business. June 19, 1844, he married Miss Jane P. Veber, daughter of Perin Veber, a respectable pioneer of Rutland. They have had born to them three children, namely, Perin V., George A., and Mary L. Mr. Poor embarked in the mercantile business at Black River in the fall of 1866, which he still earries on in connection with his elder son. He also manages the old homestead farm of 150 aeres, assisted in this by his younger son. In politics Mr. Poor is a Republican ; his father before him having been a Whig. Like his worthy parent, he is a straightfor- ward, honest man, and a good eitizen.

D. H. SCOTT

was born in Rutland, Sept. 23, 1828, and was reared a mechanie, and in early life, and for a period of upwards of twenty years, was employed by the firm of David Dexter & Son, one of the oldest ehair-manufacturing firms in the State. Mr. Scott has been twice married, and by his first wife, Lodema Snow, of Watertown, he had two children, Byron N. and Nellie E. Byron is engaged in business with his father in the manufacture of packing-boxes. He was married, in 1877, to Miss Sarah Waite, a daughter of Doetor Waite, of Gouverneur. The factory of Messrs. Seott & Son is located on the left bank of Black river, in the town of Le Ray. They have been sueeessfully engaged in the business for about seven years. An illustration of their works ean be seen elsewhere in this history.

A. F. MARSHALL

was the first son of Henry C. Marshall, who emigrated from Herkimer county about the year 1822, and settled at Great Bend, on Black river, in the town of Champion. He was a mereliant and hotel-keeper until his death in 1839. At that time A. F. was only fourteen years old, and being thus thrown upon his own resources at so early an age, re- quired a good deal of enterprise to make a successful career. At the age of twenty-four he was joined in wedlock with Mariah, a daughter of O. B. Judd. This union resulted in three children,-namely, Ida. J., B. Jay, and H. E.,-of whom but one, the youngest, survives. He lives with his brother at Rochester, New York. In 1866, Mr. Marshall sustained the loss of his excellent wife, and was again mar- ried, this time to Hattie Webb, by whom he has had four children, as follows : Jessie W., Eugene L., Ona H., and Jay H., all living. Mr. Marshall has been engaged in business at Black river for the past twenty-seven years as a mechanic and inventor. On the 5th of September, 1871, he procured a patent on his invention for bending-machines, and has since been granted patents for further improvements on the same. It is a very ingenious deviee, and is considered by competent judges to be the best in use. Mr. Marshall de- votes most of his time to the manufacture of these machines, which have a world-wide reputation. He is a gentleman of rare mechanical skill, and possesses an amount of inventive talent not often met with in one whose early advantages were so unpropitious. He is withal a capital business man, whose reputation is based upon principles of integrity and individual rectitude.

RANDALL BARNES

is the son of Asa Barnes, who emigrated to this country in 1833. The year following his father's arrival Randall came, and settled in Le Ray. He worked four years in the fae- tory of his native town, in Oneida county, and by economy and thrift saved enough to purchase a farm, upon which he made his future home. He has been twice married ; his first wife was Mary Ann Woodruff, and his second wife Eliza Cox. He has now retired from active business life, and lives at the village of Evans' Mills, enjoying the fruits of years of industrious and prudent management of his in- terests. In polities he is a strong Republican, and in 1840 was the only man in his town who voted for J. G. Barney, the temperanee candidate for the presidency. Harvey Barnes, his second son, now resides on the old homestead, about three miles from Evans' Mills. He was born in Le Ray, August 1, 1846, and remained at home with his father until he was twenty-two years of age, assisting on the farm. On the 3d of December, 1868, he married Louisa, second daughter of Barney and Mary Steinhelber, both of German descent. They have had one son, Frederiek W., born Oct. 2, 1869. He has, since his marriage, carried on the old farm, with the exception of two years, one year spent in the manufacture of cheese at Ogdensburgh, and one year as turnkey in the Jefferson County jail. He filled this posi- tion with general satisfaction. On another page ean be seen an illustration of the old homestead, and portraits of his honored parents.

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

W. S. WILCOX,

second son of Hial Wilcox, was born in Canada, and settled in Rutland in 1849. At the age of twenty-cight he was united in marriage with Eveline Crane, of Rutland. To them have been born four children,-namely, Charles, Maria, Fred., and Chester,-all residing at home except Charles, who is living at Theresa, where he is working at his trade, that of a cabinet-maker. Mr. Wilcox has been in active business, as a manufacturer of furniture and un- dertaking, for the past twenty-seven years, and by close at- tention to business, strict integrity, and honorable and fair dealing, has won the confidence and sceured the patronage of his fellow-townsmen and others. An illustration of his cabinet warerooms and factory can be scen elsewhere in this work.

PHINEAS HARDY

was born in the town of Dublin, Cheshire Co., N. H., Jan. 23, 1795. He was the son of Thomas Hardy, who was born in the town of Hollis, N. H., in the month of June, 1756. He married a Miss Lucy Colburn, a native of New Hampshire, and of English descent. He was one of the early settlers, and may justly be considered among the early pioneers of the town of Dublin, having settled there in the year 1782. He served his country in the dark days and struggles of the Revolution, having served three years as a non-commissioned officer under General Stark's command, and participated in the memorable battles of Bunker Hill, Bennington, and Trenton.

To Thomas Hardy and Luey Colburn were born ninc children, six sons and three daughters, of whom but three survive,-Phineas and two daughters: Lucy, who married Amos Sargent, and Elizabeth, wife of Silas Knowlton.

Phineas resided with his father until the age of nineteen, working upon the farm during the summer and gleaning from their limited schools in winter that knowledge that was to carry him through life's journey. Thus, at the age of nineteen, thrown upon his own resources with a limited education and a capital of two years' time, which his father had given him, he concluded to go west to seek his fortune in the wilds of Jefferson Co., N. Y., which at this date, 1814, was considered the far west. Unaided and alone he wended his way to the now thriving city of Watertown, where he hired out as a farm-laborer and served four years. With the earnings of the four years of toil and labor in company with his brother he purchased a farm of 112 acres in the town of Rutland, upon which his nephew, Charles C. Hardy, now resides. Being desirous of dissolving this part- nership, and entering upon another more pleasant and profit- able, he sold out to his brother, aud on the 24th day of

March, 1822, entered in partnership by marrying Sarah Howland, of Rutland township, a daughter of Richmond Howland. She was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., April 1, 1797. The result of this partnership was the birth of five children, viz., David, Elias, Mariah, Luey, and Phineas ; all of whom are now living except Luey, who died at the early age of eight years and five months.

Soon after his marriage he engaged in the milling busi- ness on the Black river, about one mile below the village bear- ing the same name. After one year he purchased a farın of 50 acres in the town of Rutland, where he lived nine years, and then removing to Lorraine township, purchased a tract of 200 aeres. Remaining here but one year, he sold out at a fair advance, and moved to the town of Le Ray and purchased the farm known as the County-house farm, containing 157 acres, to which he added 76 acres more by purchase. Upou this farm he devoted thirty-two years of life to toil and labor.

In politics Mr. Hardy is a stanch Republican, and in early life belonged to the old Whig party, and during the thirty-two years spent in the town of Le Ray he has had the confidence and csteem of all who knew him by his honorable dealing, strict integrity, and untiring energy. He has been called to fill various town and county offices during his stay in the town. He was elected one of the county superintendents of the poor for Jefferson County ; served his town three terms of four years each as justice of the peace; three years as assessor ; two years as overseer of the poor ; and served the government four years as post- master at Sanford's Corners. He was also the first to cn- gage in the manufacture of cheese, which has become so popular throughout the county as its chief product. Phineas Hardy through public and private life has manifested great interest in all matters connected with the cause of education and religious interests, having been an active member iu the cause of Christianity since 1833; his wife soon after fol- lowing in his footsteps. They are now both members of the Stone Street church, in the city of Watertown, a finc eity that they have lived to witness grow up out of the once trackless wilderness. Some twelve years since Mr. Hardy retired from active business life, and has purchased himself a neat and comfortable home in the village of Black River, a sketch of which will be found in this work under their portraits.

Phineas Hardy has already passed the allotted time of threescore years and ten, and in his eighty-third year pos- sesses mueh of the youthful vigor of life, and his wife is still spared to smooth his journey down the hill of life. They celebrated their golden wedding in 1872, and are both held in high esteem by the community in which they reside.

LORRAINE.

ERECTED originally as Malta from Mexico, by an act passed March 24, 1804, this town received its present name on account of there being another Malta in the State, in Saratoga county, April 6, 1808. When first incorporated, it included besides its present limits the town of Worth, or townships 1 and 2 of the Boylston tract. This relation was preserved until Worth was set off in 1848. The Boylston tract was a part of the Macomb purchase, a full account of which appears in the general history of Jefferson County, and was conveyed by William Constable to Samuel Ward, Dee. 18, 1792, who two days later sold it to Thomas Boyls- ton, of Boston, for $20,000. The town is about six miles square, and has for its southern boundary Oswego county ; on its north, east, and west are the towns of Adams, Rod- man, Worth, and Ellisburg, in the order named from the northwest.

The surface of Lorraine is elevated, and very much broken by hills and gorges. The soil is underlaid by shales so finely developed that the term Lorraine shales has been . applied to the formation. The layers of this rock are alter- nately soft and hard, so that they yield with great facility to the disintegrating agencies of frost, atmospheric action, and running water of the streams which traverse the town. Deep and immense gulfs or channels have been worn wherever these means of natural drainage exist. These ehasms are in most places impassable, and have caused the town much inconvenience and great expense in the location of roads and the building of bridges, while some of them are invested with tragic interest. Numerous accidents have happened to persons who have attempted to cross some of the deeper ones, and the loss of animals from falling over the steep and treacherous banks is frequently reported. Yet these gulfs afford attractions, in their ever-changing beauty and quiet grandeur, that will repay the labor of a visit.

All the streams of the town have romantie gorges, but the gulf on the south branch of Sandy creek is particularly impressive, and will convey a fair idea of the nature and proportions of the many others in the town. "Its depth varies from one to two hundred feet, and its breadth from four to ten rods. The bottom, and in many place the sides, are overgrown with timber, and the stream wanders alter- nately from right to left, affording, wherever it washes the base, a cliff nearly vertieal and of imposing grandeur. As the visitor follows the sinuous channel which the stream through a long lapse of ages has quietly wrought deep into the bowels of the earth, the scenery constantly changes, affording an endless succession of beauties. Were it not for the gentle murmur of the brook and the occasional trick- ling of the tiny stream down the mossy precipice to break

the stillness of the scene, the beautiful stanza of Beattie would be admirably appropriate :*

" Thy shades, thy silence now be mine, Thy charms my only theme, My 'haunt the hollow cliff, whose pine Waves o'er the gloomy stream, Whence the scared owl, with pinions gray, Breaks from the rustling boughs, And down the lone vale sails away, To more profound repose."

The south branch of the Big Sandy creek traverses the northern part of the town, having a western course, and with its tributaries affords good drainage and some water- power, although the steepness of their banks generally pre- vents this from being fully utilized. In the central and southern portions of the town are Hull and Decr creeks, streams of moderate size, and flowing in a northwesterly direction ; while farther south are large brooks whose water- power has been more or less improved. The soil generally is fertile, but is better adapted to grazing than the culture of the small grains. In the northwest corner of the town the surface is nearly level, and here and along Sandy ereek are some productive farms, on which mixed industry pre- vails.

EARLY LAND INTERESTS AND SETTLEMENTS.

Lorraine was settled under the agency of Benjamin Wright and some others. The unsettled interests were for a long time controlled by the Hon. Wm. C. Pierrepont, of Pierrepont Manor. As early as Sept. 6, 1806, there were 128 settlers in the town, who had either titles for their land or long terms in which to pay for them. The practice of issuing certifieates prevailed, and there was a tendency to speculation in these papers which was strongly reprobated by the original owners, who desired actual settlement. From a journal kept by James Constable, bearing date August 10, 1805, we learn his views upon this matter :

"Town No. 1 is settling very fast, and, indeed, all that part watered by Sandy creek has a name that brings settlers in great numbers. The practice of giving certificates to the people, and allowing them a certain time after exploring to go for their familes before they take contracts for their lots, has been productive of speculation, and must not be continued. A Mr. Salisbury, who had formerly taken a con- tract, sold it to another, and bought, or procured, one of these certifi- eates, came to us, apparently to ask iudulgence as to the time of pay- ment, but really with a view to ascertain what our intentions were in respect to such instruments ; when we explained to him that they were given to assist the first real settlers, and by no means to be transfer- able to second or third parties, as that led to speculation upon the persons who ought to have indulgence, not to the speculators, who profited to the disadvantage of both the proprietors and actual settlers.

# Dr. Ilough.

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

We, of course, would oppose all such attempts, and as he has seen fit to change his situation from holding a contract under us to speculating in certificates, which he must know were intended ouly as an accom- modation to the first parties, we could not treat with him, sinec tho indulgence intended for them could not be transferred. Upon con- versation with Mr. Wright, we found that the certificates had already occasioned some mischief, and we discovered from others that some of the holders of them had caused it to be believed that all the best part of tho town was taken up, so that new-comers were obliged to apply to them or go to some other town. Mr. Wright had no books or accounts here, but supposed that one-half of the town was sold, either by contraet or by conditional agreement, and would average $3, though the sales were begun, and a good deal sold, at $2. The lowest prieo was now $3, and it might at once be raised to $4 for the whole, from the great immigration to this quarter. He gave it as his opinion that it would not be for our interest to hurry sales, as this town would speedily settle, and the price might be raised."

The first settlement in this town was made in November, 1802, by James McKee and Elijah Fox, who were brothers- in-law, and the latter unmarried. They were natives of Vermont, but did not come from there directly. They erected a log house on a fifty-acre lot, on the State road south of the present village of Lorraine. Here they passed the winter, and Fox, having sold his interest in the first lot to McKee, returned to what is now Oneida county and married, coming back in the spring to improve a tract of land he had purchased, and which is now the Fox liome- stead. Here he soon after built a house, a portion of the frame of which yet remains in the residence of Geo. A. Fox, a son of Elijah, who was born here in 1814, and who has since that time lived continuously under the old roof-tree. Elijah Fox died in 1862, after a life of great usefulness. Of his family of ten children, George A. is the only survivor. McKee lived in Lorraine a number of years, rearing a large family, with whom he removed to Canada.

In the winter and spring of 1803 a number of families, natives of New England, but who had lived in Herkimer county for some years, came and settled along the State road from Rome to Brownville, in the neighborhood of McKee and Fox. Among the best known of these were Comfort Staneliff, Seth Cutler, Benjamin Gates, and John Alger. The latter built a house on the site of Lorraine, in the summer of 1803, which was the first building in that locality. Some of these removed after a few years' resi- dence in the town. Several months later the same year, 1803, Clark Allen, a native of Connecticut, took up his abode in the northwestern part of the town on Sandy creek. Here he lived until his death in 1855, the father of five. sons and two daughters, one of whom, Elisha, now occupies the old homestead. Alexander, another son, is also a citi- zen of the town. Clark Allen, or General Allen, as he was generally called, from his service in the war of 1812, was a man of more than ordinary ability, and distinguished him- self in the service of his adopted town, holding the office of supervisor for nearly twenty years.

A year later the Lanfears, William and Isaac, came to Lorraine from Columbia county. The latter reared a large family, of which Lafayette, well known in the town, is a representative. The consort of Isaac Lanfear, now nearly a hundred years old, also resides in Lorraine. The Browns, Asa and Aaron, but not related to each other, were added to the settlers about this time. The former served as the

first supervisor, but removed from the town several years after. Aaron Brown was a native of Connecticut, but had come to Lorraine, from Washington county, a single man, and soon after married Miss Betsey Burbee, who had come to the town as a school-teacher. With her he lived more than sixty years, having three sons, Moses, Levi H., and Henry M., who became well known in Jefferson County. Aaron Brown died in May, 1870, leaving Mrs. Brown still alive, having passed her fourscore years. Moses Brown, who became a prominent citizen, died in 1853. A son, Philo M., is yet a resident of the town.

The tide of immigration along the old State road was now so great, and the settlers so numerous, that a list of names only of some of those coming to Lorraine prior to 1808-10 can be given in the limited space allotted to this history. William Hosford, Ormond Butler, William Hunter, Asa Sweet, John Griswold, Calvin Clifford, James Perry, Elna- than Doane, Ebenezer Brown, Ozias Barton, Michael Ris- ley, Thomas Stancliff, Allen ITills, Oliver Miller, Henry Voners, David Steadman, Nathan Gould, Charles Thomson, Hubbard Randal, John Cowles, Isaac Weston, Abner Baker, Timothy Heath, George Sampson, John Brewer, Joseph Studley, and William Adams. Most of these made sub- stantial improvements, and identified themselves perman- ently with the town by clearing farms and building mills. One of the first frame barns was erected by Isaac Lanfear, the work being done by Rufus Larkins, perhaps in 1814. This still remains as built, with the exception of having been once re-shingled.

PIONEER TAVERNS.

The first to offer entertainment to the traveler and land- hunter were McKee and Fox, in 1802, although they did it more as a matter of accommodation than from a desire to engage in the business. John Alger was the first to open a regular inn, in a house which stood on the site sub- sequently used for hotel purposes, in the village, at the forks of the roads. He began about 1803, and continued a number of years. A short time after, Michael Risley and Allen Pitkin, brothers-in-law, started a tavern on the old State road, at the place now occupied by A. Caulkins, which they conducted a few years.

Dr. Isaac Weston built a public-house, below Alger's, about 1807. For those times it was a large structure, being two full stories high. It was a popular place, and many parties and dances were held there, where mirth pre- vailed and enjoyment was unrestrained. The doctor him- self was of an eccentric turn of mind and of discursive habits, so that his place was much frequented by those who delighted in his oddities. It is further remembered that some of the rollicking youngsters frequently taxed the old gentleman's good nature to excess by making him the sub- jeet of cruel practical jokes. The building, painted red, stood many years after the doctor had removed to Water- town, and was demolished, in 1850, by Daniel Caulking.

Another old-time tavern was kept, about 1816, by David Webb, on the State road, two and a half miles south of the village. The place fell into poor repute, and Webb himself fell into the fire of his hearth, burning himself so severely that he lost some of his limbs.

440

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

At the crossing on Sandy creek, Elisha Allen, Sr., kept a place for nearly forty years, where man and beast found cheer, comfort, and rest. A sign, made of pine boards, with the words, " ALLEN'S INN," was long a familiar landmark in that section.

MILLS AND FACTORIES.

A Mr. Frost was the first to erect a saw-mill in Lorraine. About 1804 he built a dam across Sandy creck at Allen- dale, and put up a small mill, but a freshet carried both away before he had realized anything from his labors. Not having a title to his land, he could not sell the property for several years, and as he was unable to rebuild, nothing more was done here until 1810, when Mabb and Aldrich crected a mill which soon after became the property of Clark Allen. It was destroyed by fire during the war which soon followed, but was rebuilt by Gen. Allen, and operated by him until about 1820, when he sold the pro- perty to Jared and Asa Gleason. In a few years they built a grist-mill on the same spot,-a two-story frame, with two run of stone,-which was a great accommodation for the settlers. The mill has been repaired since then, but, in most respects, remains unchanged. The saw-mill was not used lately, and was taken away in 1876. Lafayette Caulkins is the present owner of the property.

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History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 109

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