History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 37

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 37


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" In the first place, you were delinquent to the Government of $1800 or $1900. Then this almost $9000 missing, I found when you come to settle that you nover could make it good withont sacrificing me and my children, was the reason I consented to the proposal. I did you the justice to believe that if the last sum had not been missing, that you would not have done as you did. But I am miserable ! God grant that my dear children may never fall into the like error that their father has, and their poor unfortunate mother consented to. May the Almighty forgive us both, for I forgive you all you have made me suffer."


On counting the money it was found to embrace a part of the sum which was supposed to have been stolen at Schenectady, and no one was more surprised than Whittle- sey himself, to find that he had been robbed at that place by his own wife.


The fame of this diseovery soon spread, and it was with difficulty that the people were restrained from evineing their joy by the discharge of cannon. In the mean time Mr. Whittlesey had been placed under guard in the room with his wife until further search, and here the most bitter eriminations were exchanged, each charging the other with crime, and the wife upbraiding the husband with cowardice in revealing the secret. The guard being withdrawn for a moment in the confusion that ensued, Mrs. Whittlesey passed from the house to eross the old cemetery on the lot in rear of the site of Trinity Church, where, on passing the grave of her son, Samuel Gilbert, a lad of some fifteen years, she paused, faltered, and fell back, overwhelmed with awful emotions, but a moment after, gathering new energy, she hastened on, rushed over the high bank near the ice-cave, and plunged into the river. Her body was found floating near the Lower Bridge, and efforts were made to restore life, but it was extinet.


The funeral of Mrs. Whittlesey was attended by Rev. Daniel Banks, who preached from the Sixth commandment


as a text, and read the hymn in Watts' collection commen- cing with " Death, 'tis a melancholy day." She was buried in the cemetery back of the Episcopal church, beside her son, and near Colonel Tuttle, whom she was supposed to have poisoned.


Mr. Whittlesey remained in town nearly a year, and then moved to Indiana, where he afterwards became a justice of the peace and a county judge, and by an exemplary life won the respect of the community ; and although the details of this affair followed him, yet the censure of opinion rested upon the wife.


Congress, on the 11th of Jannary, 1821, passed an act directing the Secretary of the Treasury to cancel and sur- render the bond given by Whittlesey, and indorsed by Fair- banks and Keyes, on condition of the latter giving another, payable with interest in two years, for the balance remain- ing unaccounted for,-thus virtually closing up a business arrangement which had been a continued occasion for anx- iety and trouble to them through successive years.


It was at a time in the history of our country when men doing business with the Government were very properly held to a strict accountability for every dollar of the people's money, and they paid the utmost farthing.


In speaking of the Whittlesey matter, within a few years, to the author of the history of Jefferson County, Mr. Fair- banks said :


" Before we executed our plan we had positive evidence of his knowledge of the transaction, and of his guilt ; and, on the strength of that, we did not expect to proceed to extremities further than to frighten him until he informed us where the money was secreted. But his stubbornness held out much longer thau we supposed it would or could. When weput the evidence of his guilt before him in such a plain manner his looks were evidence of it. We informed him that thore was no doubt about it, and I believe that there is not one case in a thousand where evidence was so palpable as in this case. But Lynch Law is a dangerous one, and I would not advise it. But with other guilty parties who have stolen from me aud been detected, I believe I have used more wild and lenient measures. I have probably caught twenty persons pilfering from ine, and I have always made them give me a confession in writing, and then promised them, that as they had relations who would be disgraced by their bad conduct, that I would keep it a profound secret until they committed the crime again, when I would prosecute theu. I found this plan the surest method of reforming them."


VILLAGE INCORPORATION.


The village of Watertown was incorporated April 5, 1816. The act provided for the election of five trustees, who were to possess the powers and immunities usually vested in sim- ilar corporations. These extended to the formation of a fire department, the construction of water-works, regulation of markets, streets, etc. ; the building of hay scales, super- vision of weights and measures, and whatever related to the preservation of health or the suppression of nuisances. Three assessors, a treasurer, collector, and five fire-wardens were to be elected. Fines, not exceeding $25, might be imposed. The annual election was to occur on the first Monday of May, and the trustees were to choose one of their unmber for president, and some proper person for clerk. The president, with the advice of the trustees, was to appoint a company, not exceeding twenty, of firemen, and to enforce, in the name of the trustees, the ordinances and regulations which they might establish. The village


138


HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


of Watertown was constituted one road district, and ex- empted from the jurisdiction of the town commissioners.


On April 7, 1820, an act was passed altering the bounds of the village and amending the charter; and on April 17, 1826, and April 26, 1831, the charter was still further amended. Mareh 22, 1832, the trustees were empowered by an act to borrow a sum, not exceeding $2000, to im- prove the fire department of the village, and supply it with Water to be used in fires, and April 21, 1832, the doings at an election were confirmed. An act was passed April 23, 1835, granting additional powers to the trustees, re- pealing former provisions of the charter, and authorizing the erection of a market. The village charter was amended by an act of April 16, 1852, by which its bounds were in- creascd, the district included direeted to be divided into from five to seven wards. A president, three assessors, a clerk, treasurer, collector, and two poliee constables were to be elected annually, and one trustee to each ward, of which there are five. Elections are held on the first Mon- day of March, and the powers and duties of the trustees were much extended.


The first village election was held at the house of Isaac Lce, in May, 1816, David Bucklin, Esq., presiding, and the following officers were chosen: Timothy Burr, Egbert Ten Eyck, Olney Pearce, Marianus W. Gilbert, and Norris M. Woodruff, trustees ; Reuben Goodale, William Smith, Or- ville Hungerford, assessors ; Micah Sterling, treasurer ; Seth Otis, collector ; Jabez Foster, Samuel Watson, Jr., Rufus Backus, William Fletcher, Joseph Henry, fire wardens.


Following is a list of presidents during the existence of the village : 1816, Timothy Burr; 1817, Isaac Lee; 1818, Orren Stone; 1819, William Smith ; 1820, Egbert Ten Eyck ; 1821, Olney Pearce; 1822, David W. Bucklin ; 1823-24, Orville Hungerford ; 1825-26, Olney Pearce ; 1827-31, Norris M. Woodruff; 1832, Jason Fairbanks ; 1833-35, O. Hungerford; 1836, Jason Fairbanks; 1837- 38, Dyer Huntington ; 1839, David D. Otis ; 1840, George C. Sherman ; 1841, William Wood; 1842-43, William H. Robinson; 1844, Benjamin Cory ; 1845, D. Huntington ; 1846, Orville Brainard ; 1847, Stephen Boon ; 1848, Peter S. Howk ; 1849-50, D. D. Otis; 1851, Joshua Moore; 1852, K. Hannahs ; 1853-54, Joseph Mullin ; 1855, Ran- dolph Barnes ; 1856-58, Henry H. Babeock ; 1859, Am- brose W. Clark ; 1860-63, Henry H. Babcock ; 1864-65, John M. Carpenter; 1866, George A. Bagley ; 1867, Wilbur F. Porter ; 1868, Lysander H. Brown; 1869, Edmund B. Wynn.


The trustees, at their first meeting, divided the village into five wards, to cach of which a fire warden was to be assigned, and each was to be supplied with four ladders. A series of regulations providing against fires and making pro- visions for the several objects named in the charter was also adopted. A fire company was organized May 28, 1817, and at a meeting of frecholders called for the purpose June 10, the sum of $200 was voted for the purchase of a fire- engine. February 6, 1818, $500 was voted to assist in build- ing a bridge near Newel's brewery. May 4, 1818, a com- mittee of three appointed to confer with the supervisors concerning the purchase of a bell for the court-house. Oc- tober 27, 1823, a plan for a cemetery, previously purchased


of H. Masscy, was accepted, and on December 6, 1825, the lots, one rod square cach, were balloted for, each taxable resident being entitled to one share. To non-residents lots might be sold, the proceeds to be applied to the build- ing of a tomb. A hook-and-ladder company was voted to be formed in May, 1826.


At a meeting held November 24, 1831, the inhabitants advised the trustees to purchase a new fire-engine, and the sum of $50 was directed to be drawn out of the village treasury, and presented to Messrs. Barrett and Parker for their prompt and efficient exertions with their new engine at the late fire in the village. A fire company, to be at- tached to the engine belonging to the Jefferson Cotton Mills, was formed August 6, 1832. Dyer Huntington was at the same time appointed chief engineer, and Adriel Ely assistant engineer of the fire department .*


On June 19, 1832, a special meeting of trustces was held to adopt measures to prevent the spread of the Asiatic cholera, which was at that time spreading terror through- out the country. Sobriety, regularity, temperance, and cleanliness were recommended as the most efficient prevent- ives of the discase. One trustee, one fire warden, one phy- sician, and three citizens were appointed in each ward to take efficient measures for enforcing sanitary regulations. A special meeting of citizens convened at Parson's hotel on the next day, and after the reading of several papers from Albany, Ogdensburgh, and Prescott, a " committee of health," consisting of twelve persons, was appointed, and Drs. Trowbridge, Crawe, Wright, Green, Goodale, Sykes, Bagg, and Safford were named as a committee to consult with the health committee. The State aud national legis- latures were petitioned for a law preventing the landing of foreigners, and for powers similar to those given to cities. The surrounding towns and villages were invited to co-op- erate in the adoption of sanitary measures. Three days after the passage of the aet of June 22, for the preserva- tion of the publie health, the following persons, viz .: Ma- rianus W. Gilbert, Levi Beebee, John Sigourney, Orville Hungerford, William Smith, Norris M. Woodruff, and Peleg Burehard, were appointed a board of health, and Dr. I. B. Crawe was elected health officer. On the 3d of May, 1833, the board of health consisted of William Smith, Levi Beebce, P. Burchard, N. M. Woodruff, and John Sigourney. Dr. I. B. Crawe, health officer. On intelli- gence being received from Montreal of the reappearance of the eholera, a special meeting of trustees was ealled, Au- gust 1, 1834, and a new board of health appointed.


In compliance with an act of 1832, and in pursuance of the proclamation of the governor, the trustees of Water- town, June 19, 1849, organized a board of health, to adopt sanitary regulations as preventives of the Asiatic cholera, then ravaging some seetions of the Union.


A census of Watertown, taken in April, 1827, gave 1098 males and 941 females ; a gain of 500 in two years. There were 321 buildings, of which 224 were dwellings; 3 stone churches (Methodist, Universalist, and Presbyterian) ; court-house and jail ; clerk's office ; arsenal ; 1 cotton-fac- tory with 1300 spindles, another (Beebee's) then building;


# See under head "Fire Department."


RES. OF G. BRADFORD, 30 STATE ST, WATERTOWN, N. Y.


RES. OF A. PALMER SMITH , WATERTOWN, N.Y.


AGS DEL


RESIDENCE OF T. A. SMITH , WATERTOWN, N. Y.


139


HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


1 woolen-factory ; 3 paper-mills ; 3 large tanneries ; 3 flour- ing-mills ; 1 furnace ; 1 nail-factory ; 2 machine-shops; 2 fulling-mills ; 3 carding-machines ; 2 distilleries ; 1 ashery ; 2 pail-factories ; 1 sash-factory ; 2 chair-factories ; 1 hat- factory ; 4 wagon-shops; 2 paint-shops; 4 cabinet- and joiner-shops ; 8 blacksmiths ; 4 tailor-shops; 7 shoe-shops; 3 saddle- and harness-shops ; 8 taverns ; 15 dry-good stores; 2 hardware-stores ; 2 hat-stores ; 2 book-stores; 2 leather- stores ; 1 paint-store; 2 druggists ; 2 jewelers ; 2 weekly papers ; 7 public schools ; 6 physicians, and 10 lawyers.


In 1829 an association was formed for boring for water on Factory square, and a hole two and a half inches in di- ameter was drilled to the depth of 127 feet, when water was obtained that rose to the surface, and, having been tubed, has since discharged (except in very dry seasons, when it requires pumping) a copious volume of water, slightly charged with sulphur and iron. The cost of the work was about $800. On Sewall's island a similar well was bored, which at eighty feet discharged water and in- flammable gas ; but upon being sunk further these were both lost.


Black river, within the distance of a mile, passes over four damus, at each of which are numerous establishments, but at none of them is the full amount of water-power used. The facility with which dams can be constructed, and the security that can be given to buildings erected upon them, from the bed of the river being solid rock, gives additional value to these privileges. The four dams were built in 1803, 1805, 1814, and 1835, and none of them have been impaired by the spring floods. The river is crossed by three bridges, of which the lower one was first erected. Soon after the beginning at Factory Village, one was erected there; and one over the cascade, near the ruins of Beebee's factory, in the summer of 1836. This consisted of a single arch of timbers, and was built by Hiram Merrill, for the two towns it connects, at a cost of $764. In the fall of 1853 the present elegant bridge was erected, the old one having decayed so as to render its use unsafe.


The business of the place carly centered around the pub- lie square, especially at its west end, and on Court and- Washington streets ; and in 1815 John Paddock erected a three-story block, which was the first edifice of its size and class in the town. The corner of Washington and Arse- nal streets became, at an early day, the site of a two-story wooden tavern, and was occupied until 1827, when an as- sociation of citizens desiring to have a hotel in the place that should compare with those of the first class in cities, was formed under the name of the Watertown hotel com- pany, having a capital of $20,000. In the same year they erceted the American Hotel, and this establishment con- tinued to be owned by the company until burned in 1849, when the site was sold for $10,000, and the present build- ing of the same name was erected on its site by individual enterprise.


Watertown has been repeatedly devastated by fires, some of which produced a decided check to its prosperity, while others acted beneficially by removing rubbish that would otherwise have disfigured the village for time indefinite, and from which the place recovered with an elastic energy


characteristic of a progressive age and people. On Feb- ruary 7, 1833, a fire occurred which burned the extensive tannery and oil-mill of Mr. J. Fairbanks, the paper-mill and printing-office of Knowlton & Rice, and a morocco- factory and dwelling of Kitts & Carpenter; loss about $30,000. The destruction of Beebee's factory, July 7, 1833, has been above noticed. On December 22, 1841, the Black River woolen-mills, in Factory Village, were burned; also elsewhere mentioned. On March 21, 1848, a fire occurred in an old stone shop, near the Union mills, which spread rapidly to the buildings on the island oppo- site, and to others above, which, with the bridge, were rap- idly consumed ; and two men, named Leonard Wright and Levi Palmer, perished in the flames, having entered a woolen-mill for the purpose of rescuing property. Among the buildings burned were the paper-mill of Knowlton & Rice, the satinet-factory of Mr. Patri lge, occupied by W. Conkey, a row of mechanics' shops on the island, etc. This fire threw many laborers and mechanics out of employment, and was seriously felt by the public. Contributions for the sufferers were raised in the village, and nearly $1100 were distributed among them.


Early in the morning of May 13, 1849, a fire occurred in the rear of the American Hotel, corner of Arsenal and Washington streets, which swept over a considerable por- tion of the business part of the village, and consumed an immense amount of property. The American Hotel, Pad- dock's block, Woodruff's iron block, and all the buildings on both sides of Court street, as far down as the clerk's office, were burned. The Episcopal church, three printing- offices, about thirty extensive stores, the post-office, Black River bank, Wooster Sherman's bank, Henry Keep's bank, town-clerk's office, Young Men's Association, surrogate's office, and many dwelling-houses were in the burnt district. This was by far the most disastrous fire that has occurred in the county, and nothing more fully proves the enterprise of the place than the quickness with which it recovered from the disaster. While the flames were still raging, preparations for rebuilding were made by purchasing mate- rials, and laborers were scen pulling the bricks, still hot, from the smouldering ruins, and laying the foundations of new and larger buildings on the site of the former. The sites of the burnt buildings were, in many instances, sold for a greater sum than the same, with the buildings on them, would har : previously brought. During the ensuing summer the village exhibited an industry among masons and carpenters which had never been equaled, and the ex- ternal appearance of the village has been decidedly improved.


On September 24, 1850, a fire occurred on Sterling street, from which the burning shingles were wafted to the steeple of the Universalist church, and when first noticed had kin- dled a flame not larger than that of a candle ; but before the place could be reached, it had enveloped the spire in flames, beyond hope of arresting it, and the building was consumed. With the utmost exertions of the firemen and citizens of the village, the fire was prevented from extend- ing farther. January 27, 1851, Perkins' Hotel, on the site of the Merchants' Exchange, was burned, with a large block on Washington street, adjacent. The loss was estimated at about $25,000.


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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.


In the autumn of 1862, six different fires occurred, on six successive Friday evenings, and at very near the same hour of the day, all evidently incendiary, which created a great amount of excitement. Among the buildings burned was the old " Sugar-House," on the corner of Massey and Coffeen streets, built by Henry Coffeen. Several dwellings were also fired in various parts of the village, and a por- tion of them consumed. The two fires mentioned in the succeeding paragraphs occurred during the time spoken of.


October 16, 1852, a fire occurred on the opposite, or west, side of Washington street, which consumed all the build- ings south of Paddock's block, viz. : Hungerford's block, Citizen's bank, and Sherman's block. The loss was esti- mated at about $14,000, of which the greater part was insured. Mechanics' Row, below the Union mills, was burned Noveniber 5, 1852; loss about $20,000, of which between $6000 and $7000 were insured. From fifty to sixty mechanics were thrown out of employment; and one young man, Hudson Hadcock, perished in the flames while endeavoring to rescue property.


On the evening of July 23, 1863, a fire broke out in the extensive foundry, car-factory, and machine-shop of Horace W. Woodruff, Esq., on the north bank of the river, oppo- site Beebee's Island, which, with all its contents, was rapidly consumed. About seventy men were thrown out of em- ployment by this calamity, which was felt by great num- bers indirectly concerned in the works, and by the publie generally. On the night of December 11, 1853, a fire consumed the building erected for a tannery, but used as a sash- and butter-tub-factory, on the south side of Beebee's Island, adjoining the bridge, and owned by Messrs. Farn- ham & Button.


Soon after the fire of 1849, Norris M. Woodruff erected the spacious and elegant hotel that adorns the north side of the square, and there arose, simultaneous, from the aslies of the former, a range of buildings, extending down Court street and on Washington street, fronting upon the publie mall, that for architectural beauty have few superiors. Prominent among these are the Paddock buildings, inelud- ing the Arcade, which, from its containing the post-office, telegraph-office, etc., has become a point of much impor- tance. This building extends from Washington to Arcade street, is roofed with glass, and contains, on each side, both on the ground floor and a gallery, a range of stores and offices, the whole of which are airy and well lighted. At all seasons this affords a dry and comfortable promenade, and is a place of much resort.


CITY INCORPORATION.


Watertown was incorporated as a city under an aet passed May 8, 1869. The original charter has been twice amended, to wit, on April 27, 1870, and April 28, 1871. The limits of the village were greatly enlarged upon its erection into a city, and made to include a large area taken from the town of Pamelia, embracing all the built-up por- tions upon the right bank of the river and extensive tracts besides. The total area occupied by the city approximates 6500 aeres, nearly three fourths of which is upon the south side of Black river, and originally constituted a part of Town No. 2, of the " Black River Eleven Towns."


GENERAL APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS.


Watertown, as it is, is a thrifty, enterprising, and pros- perous city, the county-seat of a prosperous county, the leading city of northern New York, a source of pride to her citizens, and a monument of what energy and industry have done for her. Situated in the centre of a fertile and productive region, she possesses important commer- cial advantages, given her by nature, unexcelled any- where. Her people have made diligent use of these, not only enriching themselves thereby, but increasing her strength, adding to her influence, and multiplying her at- tractions. Peopled by an industrious population, many of whom have grown up with her growth and strengthened with her strengtlı, her progress and development bear evi- dences of an industry and a progressive spirit which have made fertile fields of hier forests, trained the rushing waters to do their bidding, overcome all obstacles, taken advantage of every opportunity to increase her stability, made the most of every inducement offered, and established herself and her industries upon a strong and safe foundation. Beautiful in herself by nature, the labors of her citizens have preserved that beauty to her. She is yet young in her progress, but no other city excels her in beautiful loca- tion, handsome streets, bountiful shade, elegant public and private buildings, or hospitable people. Evidences of wealth and strength, industry, energy, and intelligence, everywhere abound, the ready proofs of a healthy and wide-awake com- munity. Her water-power is practically unlimited, her manufactures important, her school system in the front rank, her railway advantages excellent, her banking institu- tions believed to be among the soundest in the State, her commercial industries numerous and active, her business men generally noted for enterprise, and her facilities for extending her influence and increasing her usefulness eom- paratively unlimited.


With these are connected and interwoven a generous social life, a friendly spirit, cordiality, hospitality, excellent newspapers, prosperous churches, and all the elements which make a refined, agreeable, and attractive community. The wisdom of the founders of the city is demonstrated in the prosperity of the present.


POPULATION.


In 1800 there were 119 voters, and in 1801, 134 voters in what was then the town of Watertown, according to the first official " count" ever made of the voting population of the then " far west Black River country." The census re- turns of 1807, the first formal figures obtained, gave the number of legal voters with property qualifications only. The following table will give an idea of the steady growth of the village and city :




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