History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 116

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 116

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William McGinnis settled in the southwest part of the town in 1815. He was then thirty years of age, with a wife and four children, yet he is still surviving, a resident of the same locality, at the venerable age of ninety-one years, though not appearing to be much over seventy. He thinks there were thirty or forty families in the present town of Pamclia when he came.

Among those who located there before 1819 were the following, most of whom came after the war, though a few may have been there before: Elijah Wright, William Waf- ful, John Wafful, Russel Weaver, Benjamin Still, John Stewart, Captain Joseph Mayo, - Nichols, John Stew- art, Joel Nims, James Wright, Isaae C. Pettit, Daniel Pet- tit, Osman Banister, Nehemiah Van Nest, John N. Gunn, Gardner, Conrad Wafful, Benjamin Pease, William Sixbury, John Sixbury, Isaac Sixbury, Elias Wager, - Combs, Charles Brown, Thomas Goodrich, and Abram Spalsbury.

Soon after the war Aaron Dresser opened a tavern at Pamelia Four Corners, being the first in town. In 1816, John N. Gunn began keeping a small store in the western part of the town, north of the centre, being also the first establishment of its kind within the present territory of Pamelia. It was kept open only five or six years. School- houses were also erected in various parts of the town,-one at Pamelia Four Corners, one in the Augsbury neighbor- hood, one in the Brown neighborhood, and one near Elias Wager's, somewhat east and south of the centre of the town.

THE FIRST SAW-MILL

was built just after the war, on Philomel ereek, at the cross- ing of the Clayton road, by - Abbey, father of the Abbey brothers, who were noted as printers in the early days. The mill has long sinee passed away, and the ereek itself is sadly diminished in volume.

The increase of population and the consequent clearing away of the forest speedily drove away the wild game, and thenceforth it was only occasionally that a deer strayed into Pamelia from the woods still farther north. Pigeons, how- ever, were for a few years numerous almost beyond conception. They had a great roosting-place near Perch river, whenee they used to go forth every morning and return at night,

* Thomas Brown, then twenty-one years old, moved from the ter- ritory of Brownville into that of Pamelia in 1812. He survived until about a year ago. His was the first frame house in that part of the traet now forming Pamelia.

RESIDENCE OF M. GOULDING , PAMELIA. ( FOUR CORNERS ) JEFFERSON CO., N. Y.

JONATHAN TOWNSEND.

TRUMAN B. TOWNSEND

MRS. TRUMAN B. TOWNSEND.

GROVE COTTAGE, RESIDENCE OF TRUMAN B. TOWNSEND, PAMELIA ,JEFFERSON CO., N. Y.

465

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

spreading over the surrounding country in elouds so thiek as to shut out the sky for ten minutes at a time. Mr. Daniel Augsbury relates that his oldest brother killed forty with one raking shot as they sat in line upon a fence. Immense numbers of them were killed for their feathers. Mr. Elijah Ainsworth had a small net in which by sucees- sive hauls he frequently caught over twelve hundred in a single day. No stool-pigeon was necessary ; there were places where they were in the habit of alighting, and a net spread there was sure to capture them.

Joel Nims settled in the Thomas Brown neighborhood in 1818, buying the " betterments," as improvements were then commonly called, of William Wafful. His son Allen, then five years old, now resides in North Watertown, and we are indebted to him for many facts relative to the town and people in the pioneer days. There was a considerable increase in population that year, and theneeforth the num- bers were too great to permit us to give the names of individual settlers uncouneeted with anything of a publie nature.

Log houses were still almost universal, but in 1818 a large number of frawie barns were built, giving the country quite a civilized appearance, and the people began to think they were far enough advanced to have a town by them- selves. Petitions were accordingly sent to the legislature, and on the 12th of April, 1819, an aet was passed forming the town of Pamelia. This name was derived from that of the wife of Jacob Brown, of Brownville, theu a major- general in the United States army, and the foremost man in all this part of the country. It is worthy of note that this lady, although she had reached middle age when her name was thus conferred upon the town of Pamelia, is still living, having attained the age of nearly a century.

THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING

was held at "the school-house near Elias Wager's," in the spring of 1820, when the following town officers were elected : Supervisor, John Stewart; clerk, Henry Gotham ; assessors, Russel Weaver, Benjamin Still, and Simeon Woodruff; overseers of the poor, Simeon Woodruff and Benjamin Still ; commissioners of highways, Alfred Comins, Simeon Woodruff, and Benjamin Still; collector, Horace Mather ; commissioners of sehools, Osman Banister, Nehe- miah Van Nest, and Joseph Mayo; inspectors of schools, Amos Eames, William Usher, Russel Weaver, John N. Gunn, Baker Massey, and Charles Brown ; constables, Jaeob J. Greene, Benjamin Pease, and Horace Mather.

The southern boundary of the new town was the centre of Black river; the northern was the south line of Penet Square. The eastern boundary began on the river at the intersection of the cast line of range Twenty-seven, west of tlie Chassanis Traet, running north along that line to the south bounds of that traet, and thenee onward in prolonga- tion of that line to the southeast corner of Penet Square; the whole distance being a trifle over eight miles. The western boundary of the town ran north from the river along the west line of range Thirty-one, and thenee in a similar prolongation to Penet Square; the entire length being about six and two-thirds miles. The width of the new town was about four and a fourth miles. It will be

seen that its limits were the same then as now, except that a small traet was afterwards added on the north and a still smaller one taken off on the south.

The same year of the formation of the town (1819) the " Military road" was built through to Plattsburg by the United States government. The labor was performed by successive detachments of soldiers sent out fromn Sacket's Harbor. One of these detachments was commanded by a young lieutenant known to fame forty years later as Major- General Edwin V. Sumner.

By this time people began to find themselves in a posi- tion to replace their old log houses by something better. A few frame ones were erected, and in 1821, Simeon Woodruff built a substantial stone house, the date being engraved on the stone over the door, where it is still plainly to be seen. This was nearly, if not quite, the first stone house in town. About the same time, however, Mr. Thomas Goodrich built another, and a little later Abramn M. Harger erected the stone hotel at Pamuelia Four Corners. Still later, Captain Mayo built the stone hotel in the southwestern part of the town, now occupied by Mr. John Seovill.

Stone was so abundant that a building of that material was almost as cheap as one of wood. Between stone and frame the log houses were rapidly superseded, and by 1830 they had mostly disappeared, at least on the main roads.

Another improvement of considerable note in its day was the " Pamelia Farmers' Scientifie Library," which was in- corporated April 1, 1822, having for its first trustees Johu Stewart, Russel Weaver, Joel Nims, Simeon Woodruff, Ansel Mills, Thomas Goodrich, and William Cole. There were about sixty shares, each costing two dollars and a half. Each man eould draw books to the amount of his invest- ment. Every three months all books were required to be returned, and a new draw was made. If two or more per- sons desired the same book they had to bid for the privi- lege of drawing it. The library was always kept at Simeon Woodruff's, and sometimes quite a spirited scene ensued when two or three farmer boys in pursuit of knowledge were struggling for a drink at the same fountain.

" How much for this book ?" would be the inquiry of Li- brarian Woodruff.

" I bid five cents," would probably be the reply of some youthful son of Pamelia, for the financial condition of the people was not such as to gratify any extravaganee.

" Eight eents," would be the response of a rival. " Ten eents."

" A shilling."

These were high notches, and unless the volume was in great request, or the spirit of rivalry was very strong, it was " knocked down" on reaching the latter bid. Some- tiques, however, fifteen cents was bid, and in a few extraor- dinary eases the enormous sum of twenty cents was reached. Good, solid mental food, too, was afforded by the little li- brary,-Volney's Ruins, the works of Josephus, and Stewart's Intellectual Philosophy being a portion of its eontents. But ere long district school libraries begau to be formed, some of the stockholders moved to more distant lo- calities, the interest fell off, and about 1830 the Pamelia Farmers' Scientifie Library was, by mutual consent, divided among its owners.

466

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

By an act passed April 1, 1824, a small part of Penet Square, east of Perch lake, was taken from Orleans and annexed to Pamelia. It was from one to two miles wide east and west, and three miles north and south, making the total length of Pamelia a little over eleven miles. The same act directed the name of the town to be changed to " Lean- der" after the first of the following March, but this clause was repealed before it went into effect.

There is little to record in the quiet life of a farming community after the hardships and dangers of pioneer life are passed. A few mills and factories were erected on Black river, opposite Watertown, where a small village gradually grew up, but this having lately been united to that city, its history is necessarily given in the chapters devoted to the city. Within the present town the forest receded still more before the farmer's axe. In even the backwoods the log houses were superseded by frame or stone ones. It was soon ascertained that the soil was admirably adapted to the production of grass, and stock-raising and dairying consequently became the principal business of the inhabitants.

POST-OFFICES

were established both at Pamelia (in the present city dis- trict) and Pamelia Four Corners, as early as 1830. In 1831 the postmaster at the latter place was S. Comstock. In 1837 it was Abram M. Harger. In 1840 the popula- tion of the town (including the present city district) had risen to two thousand one hundred and four. The county poor-house was erected in this town, on the north bank of Black river, just below the present city line, in 1834. A full description of the various buildings erected there is given in the general history of the county.

It was not until 1847 that there was any separate religious organization in the town, in which year a Methodist Epis- copal class was organized at Pamelia Four Corners. The next year a house of worship was erected at the Corners by that denomination, and another about two miles southwest, by the Universalists, Protestant Methodists, and " Christian Order."

The Potsdam and Watertown railroad was finished in 1850, running for about two miles through the south- east corner of the present town of Pamelia. It after- wards became a part of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdens- burgh road. In April, 1852, the Cape Vincent branch of the latter road was completed, of which about a mile and a quarter is in the southwest corner of Pamelia.

In 1850 the population of the town, as then constituted, was 2204, and in 1860 it was 2554. In the war for the Union, Pamelia played her part as zealously as any of her stronger sisters, as will be seen by the many names of her gallant sons to be found in the military record of the county.

On the 8th of May, 1869, the city of Watertown was incorporated, including within its borders about 700 acres of the territory of Pamelia, over 1200 of its population, and all its principal business establishments. This re- duced the population of Pamelia so that in 1870 it was only 1292. In 1875, according to the State census, it was 1055.

Considering the especial adaptability of the town to dairy- ing, it was a matter of course that, on the introduction of cheese-factories into the country, they should soon become numerous in Pamelia. But what distinguishes this from the large majority of cheese-making localities is the extent to which it is devoted to the manufacture of " Limburger" cheese. The milk of two thousand cows is used for the production of this peculiar article of diet, and a few years since there were no less than eleven Limburger cheese-fae- tories in town. There are now two or three less. This cheese, made by merely drawing off the whey, letting the eurd dry in moulds about the size of a brick, and curing it by repeatedly rubbing salt on the outside, finds ready mar- ket wherever Germans reside, and great quantities of it are shipped from Pamelia to New York, Philadelphia, and other large cities. When the traveler in that town meets a wagon headed towards Watertown, laden with wooden boxes from which comes a powerful odor (very fragrant to those who like it), then he may know that another load of Pamelia's favorite product is on its way to gladden the hearts of our Teutonic fellow-citizens.

There is also an English cheese-factory at Pamelia Four Corners, using the milk of about four hundred cows. This lit- tle village, the only one in the town, contains one small store, two wagon-shops, two blacksmith-shops, two shoe-shops, one cooper-shop, one harness-shop, a post-office, and about twenty- five houses. It is eight miles from Watertown, about four from the northern extremity of Pamelia, and adjoins the line of Le Ray, two or three of the easternmost houses being in the latter town.

Although the most of Pamelia is used as meadow- or pas- ture-land, yet small quantities of wheat, barley, oats, eorn, and potatoes are raised every year, and there are numerous orchards of apple-trees in the town. Other fruit is not found adapted to the soil and climate. Butter and cheese, however, are usually remunerative products, and good build- ings on almost every farm, many of them of stone, denote the existence of a prosperous community.

SUPERVISORS AND TOWN OFFICERS.

The following is a list of the supervisors of Pamelia from its organization to the present time, with the years of their service : John Stewart, 1820 to 1826, inclusive; Russel Weaver, 1827 and '28; Gustavus A. Foster, 1829 and '30; Bernard Bagley, 1831 to '35, inclusive; Chillingsworth Colwell, 1836; Bernard Bagley, 1837 to '41, inclusive ; William Wilson, 1842; Henderson Hawk, 1843, '44, and '45; Josiah Bonney, Jr., 1846 and '47 ; Bernard Bagley, 1848 and '49 ; Abram M. Harger, 1850; Chas. D. Wright, 1851 and '52; Josiah Bonney, 1853; Isaac McGinnis, 1854 to '57, inclusive; Charles W. Burdick, 1858 and '59; James Jones, 1860; C. W. Burdick, 1861, '62, and '63; Elliott Makepeace, 1864; C. W. Burdick, 1865, '66, and '67 ; Dexter W. Haven, 1868 to '72, inclusive; Jason T. Millard, 1873; Justus B. Leavitt, 1874, '75, and "76; George Henry Countryman, 1877.

The present officers of the town are as follows: Super- visor, George Henry Countryman ; Town Clerk, George M. Haven; Justices of the Peace, Truman B. Townsend, William C. Gould, and Lorenzo Rogers; Commissioner of

- J. L. PARRISH .-

- JOHN PARRISH. -

- MRS. J. L. PARRISH.

RESIDENCE OF J. L. PARRISH , PAMELIA , JEFFERSON CO., N.Y.

FARM RESIDENCE AND CHEESE FACTORY OF A. P. BALTZ , PAMELIA , JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK ,

E. A. SUMNER, DEL.

467

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Highways, Reuben H. Fuller ; Assessors, Geo. A. Fenner, Jerome Howland, and Peter Nellis ; Collector, Danicl Fox ; Auditors, Dexter W. Haven, William II. Miller, and Seth P. Cole; Constables, Alonzo Hose, Jacob E. Folts, and Benjamin Sixbury.

THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF PAMELIA.

As before stated, a Methodist class was organized at Pa- melia Four Corners on Feb. 28, 1847. It consisted of seven members, among whom were Curtis Goulding, Rachel Goulding, Asa Barnes, and Betsey Barnes. The class was at first connected in a circuit with another at Evans' Mills, in the town of Le Ray, but in 1849 it was organized into a separate church with the title given above. In Feb., 1848, a society was organized for the purpose of erecting and maintaining a house of worship, the first trustees being Jas. Jones, Charles G. Harger, Orvis Goulding, Curtis Gould- ing, Asa Barnes, Daniel Gould, Joseph Countryman, Abram Augsbury, and Jacob Harwick. In 1848 a church edifice was erceted at Pamelia Four Corners, at a cost of sixteen hundred dollars.

The following have been the pastors, with their terms of service, so far as given by the church record : O. C. Cole, 1848; Hiram Woodruff, 1849; W. W. Hunt, 1850; H. O. Tilden, 1851-52; T. B. Brown, 1853; Samuel Papple, 1854 (died in December) ; S. Slater, 1855; William Tripp, -; G. C. Wood, -; Lewis Whitcomb, 1861 (died in December) ; Ross C. Houghton (the celebrated traveler in Asia), 1862; J. H. Burnett, 1863; G. W. Calkins, 1864 (after six months' service enlisted in the Union army); William Empey, 1865 and '66; S. M. Warn, 1867; J. Turney, 1868; G. W. Gibson, 1869 and '70; Lester Brown, 1871, '72, and '73; D. D. Parker, 1874, '75, and '76; Charles G. Matteson, 1877.

The present stewards of the church are Madison Gould- ing, Orrin Barnes, Brayton Brown, D. H. Nellis, A. Wal- rath, A. Bowman, A. Vandewalker, H. Gould, and A. F. Gould. The present trustees are David Bass, A. F. Gould, O. Barnes, B. Brown, M. Goulding, G. W. Slack, and Elias Countryman.

The little class of seven members in 1847 has increased, by a steady and healthy growth, to a church of sixty-six members, in full communion, and twenty probationers. There is also a flourishing Sabbath-school of about seventy- five members, of which Dr. William Burdiek is superin- tendent.

TIIE UNION CHURCH SOCIETY.

This society was organized November 16, 1847, with Reuben Lock, Jacob HI. Zoller, and Peter M. Salisbury as trustees. Each of these gentlemen represented one of the three denominations which united for the purpose of erect- ing a house of worship,-the Protestant Methodists, the Universalists, and the Christian Order. A convenient church edifice was erected in 1848, on the Military road, two miles southwest of Pamelia Four Corners. At first all the denominations named held meetings in the new church. Rev. J. HI. Stewart, a prominent Universalist minister of Watertown, preached there for several years.

The increase of the Methodist church at Pamelia Four Corners, however, drew away the attendants at the Union meeting-house, the frequency of the services diminished, and when the Protestant Methodists built an edifice of their own near Perch lake the services at the Union house entirely stopped. It remained unoceupied for sev- eral years, but in 1874 a few members of the Christian Order procured the services of Rev. George Warren, who preached there once a fortnight for one year. Since then Rev. James Hayes has held services at similar intervals. The present trustees are Martin Armstrong, G. H. Country- man, and Peter Busler.

THE PROTESTANT METHODIST CHURCHI.

For thirty-five or forty years there has been a small class of Protestant Methodists in this town. It was connected with Perch Lake circuit, the greater portion of whose members reside in Le Ray. Among the carly preachers were N. R. Swift, Simon B. Loomis, Michael Prindle, and Lorenzo Wheeler. In 1867 a neat and pleasant church edifice was erceted about two miles and a half north of Pamelia Four Corners. Rev. Philip Swift was the pastor of the Perch Lake circuit at that time, and continued so until 1870. The pastors since then have been George Ellis, in 1871 ; N. R. Cook, in 1872; Michael Prindle, in 1873; , in 1874; George Ellis, in 1875, and J. T. Willard in 1876 and 1877. The class is still small, and Peter Busler is the only steward in Pamelia. The present trustees are Peter Nellis, Peter Busler, and IIiram Walts.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

EBENEZER WILLIAMS.

The Williams family is of Welsh deseent, the great- grandfather, Jonathan W. Williams, having emigrated from Wales many years ago. The subject of this sketch is the youngest son of Ebenezer Williams, Peter O. being the elder. He was born at Manlius, Onondaga Co., N. Y., May 5, 1823. He received a good common-school educa- tion. In 1831 his father settled on the farm upon which he now resides, in the town of Pamelia. An illustration of the old homestead can be seen elsewhere in this work. Ile married Miss Harriet M., daughter of Fabius and Catha- rine Lawton. This union was blessed with four children, namely, Ebenezer F., who died in infancy ; Hattie C., born May 16, 1857 ; Stedman, born Dec. 11, 1862; and George O., April 5, 1867.

Mr. Williams is a Republican. He is a good, practical farmer; a man of good, sound judgment, great industry, and indomitable energy. By his upright and honorable character he has made many friends, and is very generally respected wherever known.

468

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

ALITTLE

HENRY COUNTRYMAN.

MRS. HENRY COUNTRYMAN.

HENRY AND ELIZABETH COUNTRYMAN.

Henry Countryman was born in the town of Danube, Herkimer Co., N. Y., March 7, 1797. He was the third child and first son in the family of George and Rahena Countryman, which consisted of four boys and seven girls. The Countryman family have always been firm believers in the adage, "The rolling stone gathers no moss," and two generations had lived and died in Herkimer previous to the time our subject came to Jefferson County,-in 1823. George and Rahena were noble specimens of "ye olde folke," and the first and last lessons taught their children werc honesty, economy, and integrity. Rahena was sister of the Hon. Robt. Spraker, who was at one time president of the New York Central railroad. Henry remained a member of his father's family, contributing his earnings to its maintenance, until May, 1823, when he came to Jeffer- son County, in the mean time receiving a limited common- school education, and learning the trade of carriage-making, which he followed during his entire life. Hc came to this county in indigent circumstances, being compelled to borrow. cooking utensils for the use of his family. He purchased one and three-fourths acres of land at Pamelia Four Cor- ners, where he first located ; and from this small beginning, by industry, energy, and careful, judicious management, he was able to give his children the advantages denied himself, and amassed a large property, --- being the possessor, at his death, of 600 acres of land. He was not only a successful business man, but a kind father, an indulgent husband, and highly esteemed by all who knew him. He died, June 16, 1875, of asthma.

On Oct. 19, 1819, Mr. Countryman was united in mar- riage to Elizabeth Walrath, of his native town. Mrs. Countryman was an excellent helpmeet, devotedly attached to her husband and children, and was all that is expressed in the terms amiable and intelligent. She passed to a

higher existence, deeply lamented. Mr. and Mrs. Country- man were blessed with a family of five boys and four girls, who were early taught the same lessons which had so largely contributed to their parents' success in life, and which has done much towards giving the children the honorable positions they enjoy in business and society. Alexander, the eldest, was born in Herkimer county, July 9, 1820, and came to this county with his parents when three years of age. IIe has always resided at Pamelia Four Corners. He is associated with his brother, Geo. H., in the business of carriage-making, and is also one of the prominent farmers of the town. He married Miss Catherine Smith, daughter of Selah and Catherine Smith, one of the old families of Pamelia. He has three children. Catherine was born March 22, 1823, is the wife of Samuel Zuller, of Pamelia; Geo. H. was born Jan. 1, 1826, and is connected with his brother, Alexander, in the business of carriage- making, and, like him, is also a large and successful farmer. He is the present supervisor of the town. He married Louisa, daughter of Ansel and Betsey Mills, who were among the first settlers of the town. She died in 1858, and he married Miss Olive Eddy. Louisa was born Nov. 13, 1829, and is the wife of Abram Zuller, a promi- nent farmer of St. Lawrence county. Ludentia was born Sept. 22, 1831. Lucy E. was born Aug. 21, 1831, and is the wife of Joseph Baum, a prominent merchant of Pots- dam, N. Y. Amos B. was born April 3, 1838, and is in company with his brother-in-law, Joseph Baum. Wilson H. was born Aug. 15, 1840, and is one of the wide-awake farmers of the town. Oscar was born Sept. 7, 1843,-de- ceased. Thus concludes the history and genealogy of one of the old and respectable families of the town of Pamelia , and from such sources the people of to-day are indebted for what is of worth in the early history of this county.

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History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 116

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