History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 127

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 127

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Pool, Jr, who had purchased, in the fall of 1817, and moved here with his family in March, 1818, settling on the Antwerp town line, in lot No. 138, on the southerly side of Moon lake. Here he lived until his death, Sept. 26, 1866, at the age of seventy-three years. These were the only inhabitants, excepting perhaps a few persons in the employ of Le Ray, who were in no sense settlers.

In February, 1819, Jesse Doolittle eame from Water- town (where he had loeated as a blacksmith in 1806) and settled on the easterly side of the river, on lot No. 134. With him eamc a family of five children : Alanson, died in 1850 ; Jesse S., still living on the farm; Richard, now in Illinois, and two daughters. He was the first blacksmith in Theresa (the second being Carley Smith, from New Hampshire, who lived and worked at his trade upon the site of the residence of the late John C. Collis). Mr. Doo- little, arriving in February, cleared sufficient land to put in three acres of wheat and one acre of corn the same spring. In the fall of the same year he sowed ten acres of winter wheat. He lived on this farm until his death, July 7, 1836.

There were several others who came during 1819: Na- thaniel Parker, Ebenezer Lull, Mrs. Keeler, Allen Cole, Henry R. Morey, Austin Bates, Augustus Soper, and per- haps a few others. Mr. Lull was from Morris, Otsego county, N. Y. He purchased and built a frame dwelling upon the grounds where is now John Parker's residence, in Theresa village. Mrs. Keeler, a widow, and sister of Anson Cheeseman, built a frame house where Mrs. Coe's brick house now stands. She brought with her two sons and a daughter. Mr. Lull became her boarder until the time of his own marriage. Henry Morey was the first who established as a carpenter and joiner, located his shop on the lot where Nathaniel W. Lull's house now stands, and built the earliest houses at the Falls. Afterwards he built and occupied the present dwelling of George P. Fox. IIe removed to Evans' Mills and died there, but is buried at Theresa village. Allen Cole settled four miles west of the Falls, near the Orleans line. Afterwards he sold to George Snell, and removed to Alexandria, where he died. Augus- tus Soper came from Augusta, Oneida county, and settled on the road to West Theresa, two miles west of the river, now the land of Absalom Zellar. Nathaniel Parker located adjoining Soper. He died in 1854, at the age of 87. Michael V. D. Cook also settled in 1819, two and a half miles northwest of the Falls. Benjamin Allen and Daniel Morgan settled in the same year, both on great lot 136, Job Whitney on lot 135, and - Castleman "squatted" in a log house on Le Ray's 40-aere clearing, above the Falls. Lodowick Salisbury eame about 1820, and located on the Military road, lot 97, the land being the same now owned by Silas West. He built a log house, and opened it as a place of public entertainment, the first of the several inns which sprung up on that road, in Theresa. Mr. Salisbury died April 5, 1846. His sons were, Alexander, the first supervisor of Theresa, and at one time president of the Redwood Glass Company, now living in Illinois; Lodo- wick, Jr., now residing in Theresa; Edward and Joshua, both dead ; and Percival B., now a resident of Ohio. Leonard Boyer also came about that time, and settled with

his large family on lands afterwards of Jacob Ostrander, at the intersection of the Clayton and Military roads. Syl- vester Bodman came in 1820, and settled a mile southeast from the Falls, on lot 133. His widow, Mrs. Relief Bod- man, still lives there, aged 96 years, the oldest person in the town. Nathaniel W. Lull came also in that year, and is now living in the village. Dudley Chapman eame with Bodman and settled near him.

Col. Artemas Baker, the second blacksmith at the Falls, came in during that year. He located his shop where Bullard's store afterwards stood. In the journal of Jesse Doolittle, under date of 1821, is found an entry showing that the latter loaned to Baker the anvil, bellows, vise, shoeing tools, tongs, hammers, and coal, for the prosecution of his trade. He built and occupied the present dwelling of Jason Morrow. In later years he lived for a long time in California. He died in Michigan in September, 1877, but is buried at Theresa. Another of the earliest black- smiths was Nathan Starks, who settled east of the Falls, near Bodman's. Seymour Murray was the first shoemaker, and came in 1821. His dwelling and shop was just north of the present residence of R. C. Collis. He had come from Lowville, and a few years later returned and died there.

The first tailor was Deacon Abraham Morrow, from N. H., about the same time. His shop and residence were first in the house which Mrs. Keeler had occupied, and he is said to have been one of the most industrious men in the town. He afterwards purchased, and lived op- posite the Presbyterian church, on the corner lot, later sold to Rosele C. Collis. He went to California with Col. Baker, returned, and died in Theresa village. It was not long after, 1850, that Zalmon Pool, Sr., and John and Isaac Pool located near Antwerp town-line, on great lot 137.

Archibald Fisher came from N. H. about 1820, and pur- chased lands near the line of Orleans ; the same afterwards being the farm of Nicolas D. Yost. Mr. Fisher afterwards removed to the village, became general of militia, and a citizen of considerable prominence. Samuel Hall, a shoe- maker, eame about 1822. His residence and shop were on land now owned by J. S. Vanderburgh. In 1822 or '23, Azariah Walton came to the Falls, bringing his family and movables, in Barrett's scow, down the Indian river, disem- barking at the head of the rapids. He purchased five acres on the north bank of the river, the tract afterwards owned by Gen. Fisher, and embracing the present sites of Collis' factory and Stockwell's mills. His dwelling stood where Mrs. Yost now lives. He afterwards removed to Alexandria, and was for more than eighteen years deputy collector at the Bay.

The first white child born in the limits of Theresa was Ursula Cole, daughter of Allen Cole, born May 26, 1819, now the widow of Jacob Ostrander. The next birth, and occurring at nearly the same time, was a daughter of Anson Cheeseman. She died while young.

The first marriage was that of Erastus Clark to Kate Underwood. The ceremony was performed at the honse of Jesse Doohttle, in the year 1820. The next was that of Andrew Stone to Hannah, daughter of James Shurtliff, Esq., the ceremony being performed by the father of the bride.

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The first death among these settlers was that of Thompson Doolittle, son of Jesse Doolittle. He died Nov. 18, 1820, at the house of his father, was buried on the farm, and his remains still lie there.

Dr. James Brooks was the first physician. He came in 1852, bought, and built a small frame house upon the lot adjoining Nathaniel W. Lull, now owned by John Parker. He died in 1823, and the house and lot became the property of his son, Thompson Brooks. The successor of Dr. Brooks was Dr. Samuel J. Gaines, a man of good abilities, who, however, remained but a short time, and was in turn suc- ceeded by Dr. John D. Davison, who came from Pamelia to the Falls in 1824, bringing a wife just married. He located his office in an unfinished building, erected by Mr. Stephenson, on the spot where now stands the American House. This building also for a time was his dwelling. He afterwards built a house at the end of a lane, in the rear of Captain Nathaniel Lull's premises. He died Sept. 22, 1865, aged 72 years. His two sons, James and Nathan M., were also physicians, and practiced here, but died eom- paratively young ; the former, Jan. 2, 1854, at the age of 29.

The first grist-mill was commeneed at the Falls by Samuel Case, for Le Ray, in 1820, and completed in 1821. Its site was about the same as that of the present grist-mill at the lower dam. Its height was 4 stories in front and 5 on the river. Noah Ashley, the father of Marcius B. Ashley, was the first miller employed. His family occupied the old "mill-house," Mr. Cheeseman having vacated it to move upon his farm. Mr. Ashley died January 17, 1840, at the age of 63 years. The mill was sold to Percival Bullard in 1823. About 1830 it passed to the ownership of Marcius B. and Stephen Ashley ; after whom it was at different times owned by Salisbury, Kelsey & Co., - Stokes, and George Wilson, during whose term it was burned, in 1852. He rebuilt it, and the firm was Wilson & Humphrey; after them, David Burr, from whom it passed to Charles Pool, and was his property when destroyed by fire in 1859.

The first public-house at the Falls was built in 1819, upon the spot now occupied by the Getman House. It was owned by Le Ray, but opened and kept by Mr. Stephenson, from Lowville. It was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1821 ; the fire occurring, it was said, by the earelessness of a colored girl, who, whether culpable or not, lost her life in the flames. A new publie-house-being the main part of the present Getman House-was built on the same spot, in 1824, by Gen. Archibald Fisher, who long remained its landlord. It was for many years known as " The Brick Tavern," and was the first structure of that material ereeted within the bounds of Theresa. The brieks for the pur- pose were both manufactured and laid by Benjamin Barnes, the first brick-maker and brick-layer at the Falls, and who had then just arrived. His kiln was on the opposite side of the river, in the locality now known as " Brooklyn." The next brick building was the dwelling-house of Nathaniel W. Lull,-still standing on Main street. The bricks for this were also furnished and laid by Mr. Barnes. He became a local preacher of the Methodist denomination, and is represented to have been remarkable for his persuasive powers, rugged eloquenee, and religious fervor. He died in Theresa, March 21, 1864, at the age of 72 years.

The first tannery was that of Jonathan Thompson, at Barnes' creek, northeast of the Falls settlement, on land now of Charles Fairbanks. This was started in 1822, and in the same year another was put in operation by Nathaniel W. Lull, on a small run, near the present railway station. This last continued in operation for about ten years, and was then abandoned. Thompson, after a time, removed his vats and appurtenances, and re-erected them near where the foundry now stands, at the south end of the lower bridge, where he also had a shop for the finishing of his leather. John S. Casler succeeded Thompson in the business at that place. A third tannery was erected by Almond Thwing in the ravine, in the rear of the present American Hotel. He was suc- ceeded in this by his son Charles ; and himself, in partner- ship with Mr. Eddy, about 1860, built another tannery on the river above the Falls, and below Secber's saw- mill,-the same now owned and operated by V. J. Cooper. After- wards, having disposed of his interest in this, he put in operation still another tannery, where Aaron Parkhurst now resides. This was carried on but a short time and abandoned.

A fulling-mill and clothiery-works were put in operation about 1822 by Nathan M. Flower, a clothier by trade, who eame to Theresa Falls from Cherry Valley. These works stood where Collis' woolen-factory now is, and they were destroyed by fire some years later. Mr. Flower stood high in the community, and held various offices, among them that of justice of the peace. He occupied an office on the north side of the street, between Bullard's store and the Presbyterian church. He died of apoplexy, April 4, 1843, aged only forty-seven years. One of his sons has been mayor of Watertown.

EARLIEST STORES AND MERCHANTS.

The first merchant at Theresa was Ebenezer Lull, who, in 1820, built and opened a small store on the corner where Snell's hardware store now is. The clerk he em- ployed was Alexander Salisbury. Soon afterwards, Lull, in partnership with Azariah Walton, entered quite exten- sively into the lumber trade, shipping West India staves and square timber to Montreal by the St. Lawrence river. Their point of shipment was Alexandria Bay, and they also opened another store at Plessis. Their operations, however, did not result in profit. In 1825, Mr. Lull sold the store to Olney Pierce, of Watertown, for Anson Ranney, who afterwards also bought the frame dwelling which Mr. Lull had built where John Parker's residence now stands. Mr. Ranney, being a bachelor, did not at onee occupy the house, and Mr. Lull remained in it until his death, which took place in December, 1827, from disease produced by exposure in running his lumber-rafts on the St. Lawrence. Mr. Ranney afterwards moved the Lull house to the place where it is now occupied by L. Salisbury, and, in the place where it had stood, ereeted a house which has been remodeled into the present residence of Mr. Parker. The stone store at the southeast corner of Main and Commercial streets was built by Ranney about 1832, and he here continued business for many years, having partners at different times, among whom were his former elerk, P. D. Bullard (1840 to 1844), and Silas L. George, after 1844.

BENJAMIN STILL.

BENJAMIN STILL, the son of a British soldier, and the youngest of a family of three children, was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, in 1777. He was reared upon a farm, and was educated in the common schools of that day. In 1802 he married Lydia Kent, of Royalton, Vermont, by which union were born four sons and five daughters, in all nine children, of whom five are still living. Cementha, the eldest daughter, married Jotham Marshall ; the second daughter, Zilpha, mar- ried Alfred Adams; Harriet married Eli H. Phelps; Mary married Edward Cooper, and Elvira, the youngest daughter, married Matthew H. Smith, of Redwood. Early in the year 1804, they came with an ox-team and one cow (all their worldly goods), and settled in the wilderness, six miles north- east of Brownsville, in the town of Pamelia, on what is now known as the military road. For a short time they accepted the hospitalities of their friend, Nathan Cole, who had preceded them and erected a log cabin. Mr. Still soon erected a log cabin for himself, and moved into it before he could procure lumber to make a door, and a bedquilt was substituted therefor, which was sufficient by day, but a glowing fire was required by night to keep wild beasts at bay.

In the fall of 1805 an accidental gun-shot wound disabled his left arm for life. The doctors' bills and attendant expenses amounted to three hundred dollars, covering fully every dollar that he was worth. By his well-disciplined habits of economy, perseverance, and energy, he succeeded in discharging all this indebtedness and paying for his land, which was greatly aided by his amiable wife, who was truly a helpmeet for him.

" Her careful hand kept everything from waste, With cheerful mode each thrifty toil embraced."

In 1824 he sold his farm in l'amelia, and bought two hun-

dred acres in Theresa, which he cleared up and paid for, and held free from encumbrance. This farm is now owned by his son Horatio, and ranks among the first in the county, and has received the first premium at the Jefferson County Agricultural Fair. Also, the dairy butter of Mrs. Still's own make received the first premium.

Mr. Still's integrity won for him the esteem of his fellow- townsmen, and he was repeatedly elected to important town offices. While magistrate, he always advised a settlement rather than a suit. At the declaration of the war of 1812, a log fort was erected on his farm for the protection of the sur- rounding inhabitants from the Indians. Although exempt from military duty, he volunteered at the battle of Sacket's Harbor to rally the demoralized militia to renew the battie.

During his life he was the poor man's friend, not simply to relieve his present need, but to instruct him how by his own legitimate efforts to become a useful and independent citizen. In politics he was originally an old-line Whig, but upon the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks, and always stood firm to its principles, and on his death-bed his great anxiety was for the Union.

In religious faith he was a Methodist; and of Mrs. Still, it can be truly said,

" Her Saviour, dear, through life's meandering path, Was her dear Saviour in the arms of death."

He survived his widow fifteen years, and died in 1865, at the age of eighty-six, and now reposes in the family burying- ground on the farm, by the side of his wife, two sons, and one of his daughters.

" He temp'rate lived, and free from envious pride,

If faults he had, they leaned to virtue's side."

AMERICAN HOUSE

OUVERT

A. CHURCH, PROPRIETOR. THERESA, N. Y.

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The second store in town was opened by John J. Gilbert, in a briek building which he ereeted near the south end of the lower bridge, about 1830. After him it was carried on by De Grasse Salisbury and Benjamin L. Smith, then by A. Salisbury and Morseman, then by John S. Casler, who soon elosed the store and changed the building to a dwell- ing and eurrier's shop. Another store was opened, at an early day, by John Gibbs, near the one last mentioned, in the house now oeeupied by Mr. Hibbard.

The store on the southwest eorner of Main and Commer- cial streets, now Joseph Fayel's, was built about 1837 by A. Salisbury and Ichabod Thompson, who opened trade there in partnership. At one time afterwards the firm was Salisbury, Thompson, Ashley & Davison.

The four briek stores on the east side of Commercial street, extending 90 feet north from Main, and then known as Exehange bloek, were completed in 1845, and occupied as follows : the corner, by P. D. Bullard ; the next (now Yost's bank) by the jewelry-store of William D. Chapman, with offiee of Dr. Davison in second story ; the third by Franklin Parker, with " East and West India goods ;" the fourth by Baker & Salisbury.

The briek block on west side of Commercial street, now partly occupied by F. M. Peck, was ereeted in 1847. It comprised four stores,-one owned by William Townsend, one by Thomas Gale, a third by Miles Myers and others, and the fourth by A. N. Brittan. Mr. Townsend sold his store to Anson Ranney, who removed to it from the stone store. It is of course impraetieable to follow the changes down to the present time ; but in the above we have noticed the first and earlier stores and traders of Theresa village, outside of which there has been no merchandising in the town, exeept that of Warren Parrish and his sueeessor, John Rappole, who some years ago traded in a small way at Rappole's Corners, or West Theresa.

POST-OFFICES-TELEGRAPH.

The establishment of the post-office at Theresa was in the year 1822, upon the creation of the post-route from Champion to Alexandria Bay, by way of Evans' Mills and this village. The first postmaster was Ebenezer Lull. The mail-service was weekly, and performed on horseback by Sidney I. Jones, the first mail-earrier. The office was kept at Lull's store. The second postmaster was Anson Ranney, then Alexander Salisbury, under whom the office was re- moved to the store of Salisbury & Thompson, on the oppo- site corner. The present postmaster is Alvin F. Richardson.

There was formerly a post-office in the southwesterly part of the town, near the line of Le Ray, known as Military Road. This was established before 1840, and has been discontinued many years. The post-office of West Theresa was established in 1848, with Warren Parrish as postmaster. This also has been out of existenee for some years.

Theresa was first placed in eleetrie communication with the outside world in 1850, by the erection of the " Mer- ehants' Line" of telegraph on the stage-road from Oswego to Ogdensburgh, by way of Watertown. The office was first located in the brick block over the store of Silas L. George, and the first operator was J. D. Moak.

PUBLIC-IIOUSES.

In the days when the Military road was a great route of travel, several taverns were opened upon it within the limits of Theresa. The first of these, as has already been mentioned, was that of Lodowick Salisbury. The next which was opened on that road was by Elias Holbrook, of Le Ray, about 1827. It was afterwards kept by Austin Bates and others; the last being a Mr. Hodges, from Utiea, front whom it was usually known as the Hodges' tavern. It stood on the east side of the Military road, near the pres- ent premises of J. P. Douglass. The " Shufta tavern," on the same road, near the line of Le Ray, was built by John L. Farrar, of Pamelia, about 1828. He was not only a publiean, but a farmer and manufacturer of pumps, which business he carried on upon these premises. Several land- lords sueeeeded him, among whom were Austin Bates, Mareius B. Ashley, and P. Shufta, proprietor of the house (no longer an inn) and the farmn belonging to it. The "Red Tavern," the best known of any on the road, was built about 1828, by Henry R. Morey, of Theresa village, at the road-erossing just north of Col. Ball's farm. After Morey, it was kept by Hiram Beeker, Elias Glass, Austin Bates, and others. It is still standing, but in a state of decay. Benjamin Pease also opened a log tavern on the Military road as early as 1825. He had no sueeessor. It was on the Le Ray town-line, now J. Stratton's place. Besides these, there have been two or three publie-liouses in other parts of the town outside of the village. One was opened about 1837, by Daniel Strough, on the La Fargeville road, near the town-line. It was kept by him a few years and then elosed. Warren Parrish also kept a tavern at West Theresa for some years. On the north side of Red lake, a few years siuee, John Graves erceted a house on land purchased of George T. Brown, and this he opened as a summer resort for sportsmen and pleasure-seekers. It is now owned, and kept open in summer for the same pur- pose, by Alanson Cook.

Of the hotels in the village, that now known as the Get- man House is identical with the " Briek Tavern," the erection of which has already been noticed. It has sinee been somewhat enlarged and improved. Among its land- lords, sinee Gen. Fisher, have been Marcius B. Ashley, S. Wilson, J. Davis, John F. Smith, W. E. Bennett, C. C. Chadwiek, B. N. Hanson, Noah Perkins, Niles Terrill, and the present proprietor, Elias Getman.

The American Heuse, commeneed by Stephenson in 1822, after the burning of the first hotel, but remaining unfinished for some years, occupied as an office by Dr. Brooks, and afterwards as a dwelling, was remodeled by Sewell Wilson, who exeavated the sand-bank on which it stood, building under it the present brick basement, and opened it as a publie-house about 1842. Among those who have succeeded him in its management were - Bullard, James Chaumont, B. N. Hanson, Niles Terrill, Stephen Rheiner, - Woodworth, - Eddy, P. Veb- ber, and A. Church, present owner.

SEPARATE TOWN ORGANIZATION.

By an aet of April 15, 1841, Theresa was ereeted a town ; its territory-the same now embraced in its bounda-

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IIISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

ries-being partitioned from Alexandria. The first town- meeting was held at the public-house of Marcius B. Ashley, in Theresa village, and resulted in the clection of the fol- lowing officers, viz .: Town Clerk, Percival D. Bullard ; Justices of the Peace, Abraham Morrow, Michael Servis, Osmyn Caswell; Assessor, Richard Hoover ; Commissioners of Highways, Barney N. Hanson, Jonathan Hakes ; Com- missioner of Common Schools, Stephen Scott; Inspectors of Common Schools, Samuel W. Strough, Ichabod Cronkite; Overseer of Poor, Samuel T. Brooks; Constables, Isaac L. Huntington, Jeremiah R. Hungerford, Albert W. Coven- hoven. Alexander Salisbury, elected supervisor of Alex- andria for that year prior to the partition, held over as supervisor of the new town, under a clause of the act of crection which provided that all persons elected to town offices in Alexandria at the last previous annual meeting should continue to hold those offices, until the expiration of their term, in thic towns in which their residence fell. Some other officers than the supervisor also held over in Theresa under that provision. The list of persons elected to the office of supervisor from the erection of the town until the present time is as follows : Alexander Salisbury, 1841; John D. Davison, 1842-43; Archibald Fisher, 1844 and 1845; Jesse Kelsey, 1846; Zalmnon Pool, Jr., 1847-48; Anson Ranney, 1849, 1850, 1852, '53 and '54; Percival D. Bullard, 1851, 1857, 1863; Franklin Parker, 1855 ; Joseph Fayel, 1856; Nicholas D. Yost, 1858, 1859 ; Joseph Atwell, 1860; Benjamin P. Cheeseman, 1861-62 ; David Bearup, 1864 to 1870, inclusive; Jason C. Morrow, 1871, 1872; George E. Yost, 1873-74; and John Parker in 1875, '76, and 1877.

Theresa having no town-hall, the annual town-meetings have been held at the following houses, viz. : 1841, at M. B. Ashley's ; 1842, '43, '44, '45, and '46, at S. Wilson's ; 1847, at J. Davis' ; 1848-49, at John F. Smith's; 1850, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, at W. E. Bennett's; 1856, 1859, '60, '62, at C. C. Chadwick's ; 1857, at James Chaumont's ; 1858, 1861, 1863, at Barney N. Hanson's ; 1864, 1865, at Noah A. Perkins'; 1866, 1871, at Niles Terrell's ; 1867, at Stephen Rheiner's ; 1868, '69, and '70, at Elias Getman's ; and from 1872 to the present time, in Dresser's hall, all these being in Theresa village.

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History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 127

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