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 66
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LUMAN ARMS
was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, August 30, 179G. He removed with his father, Lemuel Arms, to the State of New York, in October, 1804, and made a permanent settle- ment on the farm now owned by Elisha Rogers, in the town of Adams, where the subject of this sketch resided for many years. Luman Arms married Caroline Arms, by whom he had six children, namely, Louisa, Julia, Emily, William D., Henry, and Caroline, and also one still-born. His wife died on November 30, 1836. On the 8th of July, 1836, he was married to Elizabeth C. Pierce, to whom four children were born. Of these, Harrison, Foster M., and Gertrude still survive, Stephen M. dying young.
Mr. Arms has voted at fifty-nine general elections, first for the Whig, and subsequently for the Republican party.
In 1827 he erected the hotel now known as the Talcott House, in which he kept tavern for four years. He always took an active part in educational matters, and liberally supported enterprises of all sorts conducive to the publie good. He was for many years a builder, and erected a school-house and other public and private buildings. He now resides in the village, and having been a temperate man he enjoys good health, and although now past eighty- one years, he can read without glasses, and is generally active and robust. He is generally considered as an honest man and an intelligent and worthy eitizen. (See portrait.)
JOHN C. COOPER.
A complete history of the town of Adams, or even the county of Jefferson, eannot be written without assigning a prominent plaee therein to John Cowles Cooper. In the best sense he was public-spirited. His elear views, prac- tical good sense, and energy made him a leader in all those enterprises of a public nature affecting the community or involving the affairs of the church with which he was con- nected. He lived seventy-six years, and full fifty-five of these were spent in active business pursuits. Until his last sickness, preceding his death but a few weeks, he never ceased from labor. The habit of idleness he despised, and his example illustrated the spirit of industry by which he was animated.
Seventy-six years backwards from 1877, the year of his death, carries us to the period of the pioneer settlement of Adams, when the surrounding county was covered with primeval forests, with oceasional openings where some sturdy settler had laid the foundations of a humble home and established the conditions which made possible a life of manly independence.
The boyhood of John C: Cooper had such surroundings, and he grew to manhood with the rising and prosperous community in which his days were spent. His father, Miles Cooper, came to Adams at early day in 1803, from Durham, Connecticut, where he was born, and where his ancestors had lived before him.
Miles Cooper erected a log house on what is now Church street, directly opposite John C. Cooper's late residence, and afterwards on the same ground erected the first frame build- ing in Adams. John C. Cooper's mother's name was
MRS. DANIEL FOX.
DANIEL FOX, SR.
DANIEL FOX, JR.
SAMUEL. FOX .
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Aseneth Cowles, and she was also from Durham, where she was married to Miles. John was the fourth child in a family of nine children. His unele Abner, elder brother of his father, was a sea-captain, and was taken prisoner by the British in the Revolutionary War. George, another brother of Miles, was also a sea-captain. John was about fourteen years old at the time of the battle of Sandy Creek, and on that memorable day in the history of our county his eager ears heard the heavy cannonade, and with the fleetness of the forest deer he hastened (running without stopping) to the scene of the conflict.
John C. enjoyed such advantages of education as a new country afforded, which were necessarily limited. He had so much vitality and physical vigor that out-door employ- ment best suited his tastes, and his boyhood days were spent in the severe work of clearing up a new farm. He had ambition, and not a little of the adventurous spirit. At the age of twenty years, he and his cousin, Manus Cowles, cach shouldering a knapsack and gun, on foot performed the long and weary journey to the bank of the Mississippi. Almost the entire distance was through an unbroken wilder- ness, save occasional intervals of lake, river, and prairie.
In 1823 he purchased a farm in the valley of the Sandy ereek, about a mile and a half from the village of Adams, adjoining the farm of his father. The following year, September 15, 1824, he was married to Elvira Fox, daugli- ter of the late Daniel Fox, a centenarian of the same town, -John C.'s farm lying between that of his father and that of his father-in-law. His wife survives him, and in her now centres the tender love of their children. Her noble, womanly qualities endear her to a large circle of relatives and acquaintances. Of this marriage there were nine children, namely, Charlotte, Elvira, Geraldine, Melissa, Levi, Adelaide, Helena, Adelbert, and Dealton. Of these, Charlotte, Elvira, and Helena died in infancy. Adelbert met an untimely death, at the age of thirteen, by the accidental discharge of a gun. Dealton, at the age of eighteen, filled with the spirit of patriotism that was prominently characteristic of his father, enlisted as a volunteer in the 10th Regiment of Artillery. He was made a sergeant on the organization of his company, and in a few months thereafter, by reason of his soldierly qualities, was promoted to be 2d lieutenant.
While undergoing the severe hardships and exposures of the service in the trenches in front of Petersburg, Virginia, in the summer of 1864, he contracted typhoid fever, and died at Chesapeake hospital, Fortress Monroe, in August of that year. In the death of each of these bright and most promising sons the father was occasioned a great sorrow that he carried with him to the end of his days. Of the other children, Geraldine is the wife of General Bradley Winslow, of Watertown ; Melissa is the wife of W. S. Gilbert, Esq., of Watertown; Adelaide is the wife of Jean R. Stebbens, Esq., of Little Falls.
John Cooper was a successful farmer, and brought his farm into a high state of cultivation. For several years he devoted himself to sheep culture, raising wool and slaughtering sheep for the Kingston market,-hauling the carcasses of the sheep to Kingston in the winter.
In all the business enterprises in which he engaged he was singularly successful. There was but one drawback to
his finaneial success, and that was his generous and sympa- thizing nature could not resist the appeals of others for aid in a financial way. In consequence of becoming surety upon the obligations of different persons he suffered heavy losses.
In 1831 he eonneeted himself with the Methodist Epis- eopal church in Adams, although his religious training had been under Presbyterian influence, his mother being a de- voted adherent of that denomination, and was one of the six persons (two only being females) who were organized as the Presbyterian church in Adams in 1804. He was an earnest, practical, and consistent Christian, devoted and con- stant always,-contributing liberally to the support of re- ligion and the denomination with which he was identified. No act of his ever brought a stain upon the faith he had embraced. For a time after his conversion he was a teacher and superintendent of a Sunday-school.
His publie spirit had an illustration in the zeal in which he engaged in the great enterprise of constructing the Watertown and Rome railroad, undertaken about the year 1846. He labored almost incessantly. for several years in the prosecution of this work, and was for a number of years a director of the company. He had at length the satisfae- tion of seeing the fruits of his labors in the completed road (and the counties through which it was constructed) in the enjoyment of the manifold benefits it conferred.
With his partner, Philander Smith, he was engaged for a number of years in the introduction and sale, in this northern section of the State, of Wood's mower and reaper. The business proved successful and remunerative.
In 1853 the Agricultural Insurance Company was or- ganized. Two years later Mr. Cooper became a director and was made its president. These positions he continued to occupy until his death. During his connection with the company it had, as it continues to have, an extraordinary prosperity, which it is not too much to say was largely attributed to his sagaeity and prudent counsels. In his early manhood he was connected with the militia, and held a commission as ensign from Governor De Witt Clinton, bearing date Sept. 6, 1825 ; was promoted and comunissioned lieutenant April 28, 1827.
In politics he was a Whig. On the dissolution of that party he transferred his allegiance to the Republican organization. While a Whig his party was in a minority in the town of Adams, but such was his popularity that he was elected supervisor in 1849, and for three years success- ively thereafter.
As a husband and father he was most kind and consid- erate, manifesting always a tender regard for his wife and children,-his mind dwelling much upon the means by which to contribute to their comfort and happiness. He favored heartily the organization of the Thousand Island Park Association, purchased a lot on the grounds of the Association, and has left a substantial monument in the beautiful iron cottage known as "The Cooper Cottage," which he erceted on his lot for the use of his family.
The life of John C. Cooper was well spent. He was the wise counselor ; he was faithful in the discharge of many confidential trusts ; the promoter of harmony and kindly feelings among neighbors; the steadfast friend ; prompt with ready sympathy always to alleviate the distress of
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
others. In the varied relations he sustained to his church and to the community at large no dishonor ever tarnished his good name. His death occurred January 26, 1877, after a short but painful illness, his sufferings alleviated so far as possible by the loving ministrations of wife and children. For six weeks preceding that event he was conscious that he could not recover, and calmly made all necessary dispo- sition of his worldly affairs, tenderly solicitous for the welfare of those soon to be left without the benefit of his eare and protection. In the contemplation of the great ehange awaiting him he was cheerful and hopeful,-his hope resting not on his own good deeds, but alone upon the merits of his Redeemer, whom he had learned to trust in every hour of need. And in the final hour it was most strikingly demonstrated that
" The chamber where the good man meets his fate Is privileged above the common walks of virtuous life, Quite on the verge of Heaven."
THOMAS R. GREENE
was born at Berlin, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Jan. 12, 1801. At the age of twelve he was left an orphan, and from that time forward had his own way to make in the world. His principal occupation through life was that of a farmer. In 1822 he married Polly Whitford, whom he survived many years. He was a second time married, Dec. 27, 1858, to Mrs. Delia O. Wright, who survives him, and who has caused to be inserted in our work a portrait of Mr. Greene and an illustration of his last earthly home. He died May 6, 1873, universally respected and esteemed as an upright and honorable man, a good, practical business man, and a worthy citizen. He was several times elected to offices both in the town of Rodman, whither he removed in 1835, and in Adams, where he made his home in 1865. He was a brother of Joseph L. Greene, of Adams vil- lage.
ALEXANDRIA.
THE first improvement in this town was made about 1811 by Le Ray, who eaused a elearing to be made at Alexandria Centre, to afford facilities to the first settlers, by supplying them with grain until it could be raised by themselves. He paid twelve dollars per acre with the ashes and half the first crop for these jobs, and built a log barn. In 1811 the proprietors made the Morris and Ham- mond road, extending from Hammond village to the Red tavern, near Theresa, where it intersected another road from the river to Philadelphia. The former was cleared four rods wide, bridged and seeded with grass, but had be- come nearly closed up, when it was reopened as a part of the Military Road in 1820-23. The surface of the town is generally rough and rocky, but that portion underlaid by sandstone is level, with a thin elayey and sandy soil. It may be pertinent here to add that the Potsdam sandstone substratum generally prevents a level surfaec, but more liable to upheavals, and is covered with soil entirely brought from other formations, and various in quality with the sourees from which it has been derived. Where not cov- ercd with drift, as occurs near Plessis (formerly called Flat Rock from this circumstance), it is a barren rock, which, although exposed from time immemorial to the action of the elements, still preserves the traces of deluvial abra- sion. This rock never presents a fertile slope into the val- leys, but is bordered with abrupt precipices, at the foot of which oftentimes are piled huge masses that have tumbled from the face of the ledge. On the other hand, where the surface is underlaid with a stratum of gneiss, as occurs in various parts of the town, the surface is almost invariably rough, with outeroppings of rocky formations.
ALEXANDRIA IN THE WAR OF 1812.
In Alexandria occurred an engagement during the war of 1812-15 which imparts considerable historie importance to the town. And we may add, en passant, that the British were met with that courage and intrepid gallantry that characterized the Revolutionary struggle about forty years before. Also that, near half a century subsequent to the oeeurrenee of the event about to be recorded, the descend- ants of those old heroes maintained the honor their fore- fathers fought to uphold. We quote from " Hough's His- tory of Jefferson County :"
" On the 14th of July, 1813, the ' Neptune' and the Fox,' the former a private armed boat, under Captain Samuel Dixon, mounted with one six-pounder and one swivel, and manned by twenty-four volunteers; and the latter a public armed boat, under Captain Dimoek, with a detachment of twenty-one men from the 21st Regiment of Infantry, under Lieutenants Burbank and Perry, sailed from Sacket's Harbor with lettres de marque from the deputy eolleetor of the distriet, for a cruise in the St. Law- rence. This privateering expedition was fitted out by M. W. Gilbert and others, and had for its objeet the eutting off of a detachment of the enemy's boats that were expected up the river laden with stores. After touching at Cape Vineent and French Creek (Clayton), among the Thousand Islands, where they landed for muster and review ; and the morning being delightfully pleasant, they employed them- selves in drying and putting in complete order their arms and ammunition and cleaning out their boats, while a small boat of each was sent out for intelligence, which returned without gaining any news. At nine A.M. they hauled from
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
the shore, manned a guard-boat to prevent surprise, and sent Lieut. Hawkins to Ogdensburgh for intelligence; and at five P.M. the next day Messrs. Baldwin and Campbell arrived with news. At nine they left Cranberry ereek, and at four A.M. on the 18th saw a brigade of British bateaux, convoyed by his Majesty's gun-boat, the 'Spitfire,' lying at Simmonds' Landing, preparing to sail for Kingston. Upon this they pushed in for shore, and so completely surprised them that very few of the enemy escaped. The fifteen bateaux and the gun-boats were at onee seized, without a shot being fired on either side.
" Previous to the attack, Licut. Perry of the Ninth and Sergeant James, of Forsyth's company, with twenty- seven volunteers, were landed to cut off retreat. At nine A.M. the fleet landed in Cranberry ereck, in Alexandria, and at eleven, sixty-nine prisoners were sent off to the harbor under guard of fifteen men of the 21st, in charge of Lieut. Burbank. The 'Spitfire' was armed with a twelve-pound carronade, and carried fourteen men, with a large quantity of military stores. The bateaux had 270 barrels of pork, and 270 bags of pilot bread, which was landed on the 20th, to prevent spoiling, and a request to the neighboring inhabitants for assistance was sent out, which brought a few militia, who, however, mostly left the same night. At sunrise on the 21st, the enemy to the num- ber of 250, with four gun-boats and one or two transports, were discovered in the ereek ; these were met by thirty men, and attacked while landing ; twenty more being stationed in different places to prevent their approach. A eannonade eommeneed and was kept up some time ; two of the enemy's boats were so injured from our fire that most of their erews were compelled to leave them, and to eut flags from the shore to stop the shot-holes. At 6 A.M. the enemy retired to their boats, and sent a flag with the demand of surrender to save the effusion of blood, which was instantly rejected, and the firing recommeneed. It appeared that this was only an expedient to gain time, as the enemy hastily re- treated, carrying their dead and wounded. Their loss must have been considerable, from the quantity of blood seen where they embarked. Our loss was three killed and wounded. After the action trees were felled across the road and creek to prevent a new attaek, and on the afternoon of the next day, reinforcements arrived ; the boats which had been scuttled were repaired, and on the 23d they left for Saeket's Harbor, where they arrived on the 27th. While passing Tibbet's Point they encountered the ' Earl of Moira,' were pursued and hit several times by her shot, but not captured. The gunboat and several bateaux were sunk without consulting Captains Dimick and Dixon, and the owners ultimately lost most that was gained by the expe- dition."
After the eessation of hostilities between the British and Americans, and tranquillity had become in a measure re- stored, the lands now embraced were put upon the market, and permanent settlers began to come in. The first contraets were made payable in seven years, and required the settlers within one year to build a house equal to a log house 18 feet square, and to clear one-twenty-fifth part of the land con- tracted in a farmer-like manner. Prices began at three dollars per acre, and after 1820 mineral reservations were
inserted in contracts and deeds. Among the early purchasers and settlers were James Carnagie, Samuel Young, William Martin, Moses George, Leicester Hoadly, Elijah Root, John W. Fuller, Jerry Carrier, and others.
Among other early settlers might be mentioned the fol- lowing (see also in the sketches of the villages) : Charles Rundlet, the oldest living pioneer in the town, in point of settlement, at least, came in from Vermont in 1817, and settled near Clear Lake. He afterwards moved to his present farm, near Plessis.
John Spaulsbury, father of Franeis, William, and John Spaulsbury, and other members of the family came from Sandy Creek, Oswego county, in 1819, and settled on the place upon which Francis and his son reside.
Austin Martin, Nathaniel Goodell, Martin T. Morseman, George Patterson, Reuben Hinman, Alexander Me Allister, Horatio Hubbard, Jabez, Charles, and John Birdsley, Ephraim Marvel, Jabez Peoples, Silas Morse, Samuel Morse, Joseph Huntington, Thomas Stickney, David and Clark Briggs, Solomon Makepeace, Elder Stowe, Jason Clark, John D. Davidson, Abraham Newman (father of A. D. Newman), William Carter, Daniel Wherry, Peter Lutz, Patten, Ephraim Hogert, George Rappole. The last seven named were soldiers in the War of 1776.
Abraham Newman, the only one of the old Revolutionary patriots who has any direet descendant residing in the town, was born in Stafford, Connecticut. He entered the Ameri- ean army in 1776, and served three years. He settled in Otsego county, New York, in 1789; eame to Alexandria, Jefferson County, in 1820, where he died June 19, 1841, aged eighty-two.
INCIDENTS.
In 1819, Jairus Rich, the hunter, had an encounter with a panther. It occurred near Hyde Lake, about three miles from Plessis. He had set his traps for wolves, and had arrived within a few rods of one of them when he ob- served a panther spring up and run with a trap to one of his hind legs. He fired but missed the mark, and his game made off into the thicket, when he returned to a house, nearly a mile distant, procured a small dog, and having again repaired to the place and stationed himself where he eould start the entrapped animal, he observed the head of a panther emerge from the bushes about five rods distant, upon which he fired and killed him instantly. He soon found that this was not the one in the trap, and a heavy shower of rain coming on, he found it difficult to reload his rifle, which he at length sueeceded in doing. The dog meanwhile had engaged the other panther, upon which he fired and wounded, and finding that he could not load again, on account of the rain, he threw down his piece, and, seizing his hatchet, sprang upon him, when there ensued a fearful struggle, in which finally the beast got nuder with one of the man's hands in his mouth, the hatchet was lost, but with the other hand he drew from his pocket a knife, opened it with his teeth, and finally succeeded in entting the throat of the ferocious animal. The hunter was badly torn, but made out to erawl to the nearest honse, where, after many weeks, he recovered, but carried the scars of the conflict with him to the grave.
The following is related of the same individual :
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
The bounties for the destruction of wild animals werc then so great that the indueements for gain led to many in- genious methods for securing the rewards. Rich having on one occasion trailed a she wolf to her den and killed her, he found in her cave ten young whelps, but too small to be en- titled to the bounty. He therefore built a pen in the forest and fed them daily upon wild meats which he obtained in hunting until they were grown. He became strongly at- tached to one of them, which would follow him like a dog, but the temptation of the bounty was too strong to resist, and he slew his favorite pet to gain the premium.
Another incident was where a hunter, in order to obtain a reward for his secret, professed to know of a salt spring, to which he was induced to conduct a certain person, and in which he had previously buried a bag of salt. The water having been duly "analyzed" by measuring, evaporating, and weighing, a purchase of nearly 800 acres was made, without the knowledge of the spring by the landholder ; nor was the trick discovered before the bargain had been made.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
This town was erected from Brownville and Le Ray, April 3, 1821, by the same act that formed Philadelphia and Orleans, the first town-meeting being held at the house of Wm. Merrill. By the first act its limits included Theresa. An act of Feb. 6, 1840, restored to the town of Orleans a small part that had been annexed to the latter.
The town derives its name from Alexander, a son of J. D. Le Ray, who obtained a colonel's commission in the Texan revolution, and fell in a duel in 1836. It is the most northern town in the county, and lies opposite the Thousand Islands, which here present the most delightful scenery .*
The early records of the town are lost, hence it is im- possible to get an accurate list of the first town officers. The first Supervisor was James Shurtliff; Clerk, Nathaniel Goodell ; Assessor, Ashley Tanner : Inspectors of Election, Allen Cole and Joel Porter.
The Supervisors from 1829 to 1877 have been as follows, namely : 1829-32, John D. Davidson; 1833-35, Jason Clark ; 1836, J. D. Davidson; 1837, Jason Clark ; 1838, John W. Fuller; 1839-40, Michael Lewis; 1841, Alex- ander Salisbury (at a special meeting in May, Jason Clark) ; 1842, Jason Clark ; 1843-49, Harvey D. Parker; 1850, George W. Clark ; 1851, Moses C. Jewett ; 1852, H. D. Parker; 1853-54, Andrew Cornwall; 1855-57, Jason Clark ; 1858, Wm. W. Butterfield; 1859, Jason Clark ; 1860, Andrew Cornwall ; 1861, Wm. W. Butterfield; 1862 -65, Andrew Cornwall ; 1866, Wm. W. Butterfield ; 1867, Ebenezer Campbell; 1868, Joseph E. McAllister; 1869, Ebenezer Campbell ; 1870-72, Wm. M. Thomson ; 1873 -74, Newton Rand; 1875-77, Alfred A. Holmes, the present incumbent.
The officers elected at the annual town-mecting in 1877 were: Supervisor, Alfred A. Holmes; Clerk, John I. Everson ; Justices of the Peace, Ralph Gurnee, Wm. M. Thomson, Silas G. Norton, Peter Tassey ; Assessor, John B. George; Auditors, Benjamin Fox, James E. Overocker,
Erastus Bailey ; Inspeetors of Election, District No. 1, La Fayette Steele, Almon H. Houghton, Henry Bailey ; In- spectors of Election, District No. 2, Prescott D. Patch, D. Snell, John H. Cline; Inspectors of Election, District No. 3, Henry Halford, H. K. White, Ellis G. White; Con- stables, Abram Weller, Liberty S. Simpson, John H. Crabbe, Hiram Hart, Orvis Spalsbury ; Game Constable, Alfred Swan; Commissioner of Excise, Jolin Schultz.
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