History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 67

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 67

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ALEXANDRIA BAY.

The site of this village was selected by Cadwallader Child, in 1804, while surveying a road from the Friends' settlement to the St. Lawrence, as an eligible place for a port, and accordingly a reservation of a mile square was made by Mr. Le Ray for a village, which was surveyed out for that purpose by Edmund Tucker about 1818. Mr. Le Ray erected a tavern and warchouse, and for many years a thriving lumber trade was carried on, which continued as long as the supply lasted. This consisted of oak staves and square oak and pine timber. A considerable amount of valuable timber had been stolen from this town in common with the whole front of the State on the St. Lawrence, be- fore there was any one to assert the title of the proprietors. The lower wharf at this place was built by Fuller and Wal- ton in 1832, and the upper one by Walton and Hamblin in 1840. The port has always been a landing-place for the American steamers, and is an important wooding station. In the last two years (1852-53) about 12,000 eords have been sold each ycar. A custom-house was established at this port in 1828, subordinate to the Cape Vineent district, while John B. Esselstyn was in charge of that office. The deputies here have been Hiram Davis, Azariah Walton, John W. Fuller, A. Walton, Edwin Tanner, Martin J. Hutchins, and Ebenezer Campbell, the present incumbent. Mr. Walton held the office for eighteen and a half years, and Mr. Campbell for fourteen ycars. Among the earliest settlers of the village were Jerre Carrier, John W. Fuller, David Hunter (withiu half a mile of the village), Samuel Bingham, all prior to 1820 ; Ira Beckwith, - Tillotson, Henry Westcott, Chauncey Westcott, before 1825 ; Azariah Walton, 1828. The place improved somewhat slowly, there being nothing but the lumber trade to sustain it. That, however, gave the embryo village the appearance of an active and busy settlement, which continued for many years.

The first tavern was erected by Mr. Le Ray, as before stated, in 1818. The old building still remains a landmark of the past, having acquired a venerable antiquity. It is now owned by Chauncey Westeott,-himself the pioneer settler of the place,-and is by him used as a carpeuter- shop and store-house.

The first log house was erected by John W. Fuller, in 1818, and the first frame house by Dr. Jerre Carrier, in 1820. The latter occupied the present site of the St. Law- rence Hotel, of which, in fact, it forms a part.

The first store was erected by Messrs. Jerre Carrier and John W. Fuller, and stood on the Point, occupying the present site of the Centennial Icc-Cream Saloon.

The first school was a primitive log structure, erected in 1821. It stood on the lot now occupied by the Reformed church.

# See History of Alexandria Bay.

269

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The first church edifice was that of the Reformed Prot- estant Dutch church society, erected in 1848, and opened for public religious worship in 1851.

AS A SUMMER RESORT.

For more than a quarter of a century Alexandria Bay has been visited as a summer resort. Its location in the immediate vicinity of the most numerous cluster of the Thousand Isles, and its beautiful situation on the St. Law- rence, constitute the salient characteristics of its popularity. In 1848, Mr. C. Crossmon commeneed keeping hotel at the Bay, and has been continuously and successfully engaged in that business ever since. But it was not until 1872 that the rush to the Bay commenced, although a few persons, some of them men of note, had made it their summer vaca- tion place for years. Among thesc early visitors were Gov- ernor Seward, Martin and John Van Buren, Silas Wright, Frank Blair, Preston King, General Dick Taylor, and Rev. George Bethune. In 1872, President Grant and family, and a party of their friends, accepted an invitation from George W. Pullman, of palace-car notoriety, to visit his island cottage. Some splendid entertainments were given, and the people flocked to the Bay by thousands. This and the event of the sojourn there of the State Editorial Asso- ciation, at which time Messrs. Crossmon & Son prepared an out-door repast for three hundred guests, which was pro- nounced by those present (and editors are generally fair judges of things gastronomic) to have been a capital feast in every particular, brought the place favorably before the public. In 1872-73 the present magnificent " Thousand- Island House" and the equally fine "Crossmon House" were erected and thrown open to the public with becoming éclat. Since this time the popularity of the Bay has be- come a fixed fact, and no watering-place receives a better or more elegant patronage. While everybody concerned have done all in their power to enhance the beauties nature has so lavishly bestowed upon this most lovely spot and its equally glorious surroundings, to Mr. Charles Crossmon is undoubtedly due, in a large measure, the brilliant success that has attended the establishment of a watering-place there.

The islands in the vicinity of the Bay are being rapidly utilized for cottages, and about seventy-five of these charm- ing and cosy temporary habitations have already been erected. Of these islands Wells, also known as Wellesley Island, a part of which lies opposite the Bay, is the most important. It contains upwards of eight thousand acres, is eight miles long and from three to four in width, and is inhabited by a thrifty class of citizens. Here, too, are located the International Camp Ground and Westminster Park, the former nominally under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal church, the latter under the control of the Presbyterian body .* Hart's Island, opposite, and near Alexandria Bay, is the spot where, it is claimed, Thos. Moore wrote his " Canadian Boat Song," which has been sung for half a century in American and Canadian homes.

In a recent publication issued in the interest of the Cross- mon Honse, the sports and pleasures of the place are thus enumerated : " Boating, fishing, hunting, cruising among

the islands in row-boats or steam-yachts, visiting the many points of historical or traditional interest, picnicking in large or small parties, open-air feasting and lounging under the trees near the water's edge, arc terms which sum up the principal sports of the river."

Of piscatorial sports the writer discourses as follows : " Black bass and pickerel, large and gamy, abound in these waters. Many muscallonge are also caught every season, and the lady or gentleman who hooks and secures one of these best of all fresh-water fish becomes the heroine or hero of the day. Occasionally a muscallonge weighs as high as forty pounds, a pickerel as high as twenty pounds, and a bass as high as six or seven pounds."

The village contained, according to the census of Mr. Rottiers, compiled in 1850, 27 dwellings, 30 families, and 164 inhabitants. It now has a population fairly estimated at 500. It contains 3 general stores, of which Carnell Bros., Sisson & Fox, and Wm. J. Woodworth are the proprictors respectively ; 1 grocery-store, kept by J. P. Thomson ; 1 millincry-store, harness-shop, 2 blacksmithies, 1 wagon- shop, steam saw- and plaster-mill, 2 magnificent hotels,-the "Thousand Island House," kept by O. G. Staples, and the " Crossmon House," by Crossmon & Son,-2 churches,- one cach of the Reformed and Methodist Episcopal denom- inations,-a good public school, post-office, and telegraph- office, a line of steamers, plying between Clayton, the ter- minus of the Utica and Black River R. R. and the bay, tri-daily during the season, several boat-houses, pleasure steam-yachts, ice-cream parlors, photograph establishments, and the numerous other essentials to a fashionable and de- servedly popular summer resort.

Sunken Rock light-house, in front of this port, was erected in 1846, but was not used until the following year.

REDWOOD,

a thriving village near the line of Theresa, owes its origin to a glass-factory, established by John S. Foster, who for several years had been engaged in this business, as agent, at Boston, Burlington, Vt., and Redford, Clinton county. In April, 1833, he visited this county, examined several local- ities, and finally selected this, which is on the stream con- necting Mud and Butterfield lakes, the former of which is about 94 feet above the latter, affording a limited water- power, that had several years previous been improved by the erection of a saw- and grist-mill by David Smith, of Adams. Foster contracted with Francis Depau for a tract of about 10,000 acres, as agent, borrowed several thousand dollars of Depau, and the same summer erected the present glass-factory, and on Sept. 30, 1833, the first glass was made. A village was surveyed by Thomas Clark, and named James- ville, but Mr. Foster gave the place the present name, from its similarity to " Redford," his late residence, in hopes of thus being able to compete in the sale of glass with an es- tablishment from which he claimed to have been unjustly discharged. His death, which occurred Jan. 2, 1834, put a stop to operations, and the traet and improvements, ac- cording to the contract, reverted to Depau. The factory was afterwards run by Schmauss & Co., Gerlach & Son, Ingleson, Forbes & Co., H. S. White, and from 1844 by Zeng & Co., from the Clyde glass-factory. This firm at

# See farther on.

270

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

first consisted of Lawrence W. De Zeng, A. Burlingame, and Theodore Hinman. The latter was succeeded by A. Salisbury, and this firm continued operations until July 1, 1853, when a joint-stock company, with $12,000 capital, was formed, entitled the " Redwood Glass-Manufacturing Company." In 1859, W. W. Butterfield beeamne connected with the concern as its president, and remained as such until 1863, in the mean time having purchased all the stock. He subsequently operated the concern alone, until 1874, when he leased it for 3 ycars to a stock company, which made but one blast in ten months, and at the expiration of their lease, in June, 1877, the property again reverted to W. W. Butterfield, its present owner. Owing to the low price of glass, operations have been temporarily suspended.

The present grist-mill was erccted in 1844, by H. S. White and Joseph Butterfield. It has four run of stone, and had originally a 24-feet overshot wheel, which was re- placed in 1870 by a turbine iron wheel.

In 1846 a wool-carding and cloth-dressing factory was built by Wm. Page. It is now temporarily lying idle.

The village now contains 3 general stores, 1 hardware store, 1 boot and shoe store, 2 drug stores, 1 millinery es- tablishment, 2 hotels, a glass-works, a carding-wool and cloth-dressing factory, a sash, door, and blind factory, a cabinet shop, 1 grist- and 1 saw-mill, 2 wagon shops, 4 blacksmithies, a railroad depot, 2 telegraph offices, an ex- press office ; 4 churches, and a good graded school; 3 resi- dent ministers, 3 doctors, 1 lawyer, and 1 dentist, and an estimated population of 700.

(From the Despatch.) REDWOOD.

Hail, hamlet of peace, with your villas so sweet ! Where the blue waters mingle and lave at your feet, An emblem of freedom and union complete ! Proud freemen pay tribute more heartfelt to thee, Than to "beautiful Venice, the pride of the sea." Here nature's best eharms to the vision uuroll, Anl her diamonds and pearls give new worth to the soul As it bathes in the sunlight and heaven's pure air, And exults in relief from the world's busy care; Where nectar distills from the hemlock and pine, Health flows from the vintage of nature's pure wine; More enchanting the forests than orange-tree groves- A fitting abode for the gods an I their loves. Ye beautiful lakes with your isles that adorn, That first greet the eye in the smile of the morn, While the weird shadows dance o'er your silvery sheen, As the breeze lifts the plumes from your turrets of green, Where the light-bounding yacht o'er the waters may glide, Not lashed into danger by ocean's fieree tide ! Where the ealm stillness breaks at the dip of the oar, And the trill of the wave ripples soft to the shore. While anon the soft eadenee is borne on the breeze, That sings from the boughs of the evergreen trees ; And the owl sends refrain as the night shadows fall, And the garrulous loon gives response to the call, While the echoes return Hoo, hoo ! Loo, loo, loo ! As homeward the fisherman guides his exnoe. 'Tis a pieture exquisite of sunlight and shade, And of nature's own painting that never ean fade, Down, down through the ages thy fame shall descend, Aud thy lights and thy shades still in harmony blend, And the children of care, by life's confliet oppressed, Find within thy green borders a haven of rest. When greenwood shall crumble and cities deeline, The star of thy beauty, fair Redwood, shall shine!

E. A. H.

REDWOOD UNION SCHOOL.

In 1859 a union school was formed at Redwood, but owing to the destruction of the records up to 1872, we are unable to furnish as complete a history of it as desirable. The building was erected in 1859, and the first officers werc, Peter Tassay, trustee; Alexander Salisbury, clerk ; Robert Hoffman, collector. The names of those who have served as principals are, James P. Bennett, 1865-66 ; Byron Stotler, 1867-68; Dennis Mahanna, 1869; C. E. Town- send, 1870; Don. A. Watson, 1871-74; Richard Pevin, 1875; P. H. Curran, 1876-77, present incumbent.

The officers for 1877 are, Christopher Ahlis, trustee ; P. H. Curran, elerk ; George H. Smith, collector ; Mrs. A. J. Cole, librarian.

REDWOOD UNION AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

This association was organized in July, 1874, with a capital of $5000. W. W. Butterfield was elected presi- dent; M. C. Jewett, vice-president ; and J. W. Reade, secretary and treasurer. The object of the society is to stimulate exertions in the progress and development of in- telligent agricultural pursuits, the improvement and better- ment of stock, and the general advancement of agricultural interests. The first fair was held in October, 1874, and an exhibition has been held annually since. The association is reported in a prosperous condition.

REDWOOD BURYING-GROUND.

This burying-ground is located just past the line of Alexandria, in the town of Theresa. It was first used for burial purposes about 1830. About twenty-five years ago a few of the citizens of Redwood partially organized and purchased the ground, fenced and laid out into lots, etc. ; since which there has been no organization kept up.

The Catholics have a regular organized cemetery associa- tion of a later datc.

PLESSIS

is a neat village situated midway on the old Alexandria and Theresa plank-road, three miles from Redwood. It derived its name from a place in France. It is familiarly known as Flat Rock, from the prevalence of the Potsdam sand- stone formation in the vieinity, which presents a consider- able surface of naked rock. In 1817, Mr. Le Ray erected a grist-mill on Plessis creek at this place, which, having been purchased by Jason Clark and William Shurtleff, was in 1830 rebuilt.

The first store was opened by Lull and Walton in 1820; but the place inercased very slowly, and ten years after con- tained but four families. Among the earliest settlers there were Jason Clark, William Shurtleff, Wm. Merrill, James Carter, William Tanner, and others.

The first log house was erected by William Merrill, in 1818, and was afterwards by him converted into an inn. Here, in 1826, he was murdered by one John Powell, who was senteneed to fourteen years' imprisonment for the erime. The elder Dr. Trowbridge, of Watertown, attended the vietim, and Mr. James Carter avers that he "did some pretty good trepanning." But Mr. Merrill was beyond

271

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

medical skill. He was a peaccable man, and one of the constituent members of the Presbyterian church at Plessis.

The first frame house was crected by William Tanner, and was used by him as a dwelling and store,-the first in the village. The old building still stands, and is owned by Peter Tassey, Esq., of Redwood, and occupied by his sons.

The first church edifice was the Union building, erected in 1833 by the several denominations then represented in the place.

A tannery was erected near the village on Plessis creek in 1821, by James Carter. A school-house was built in 1826, after the formation of the districts.

The village now contains 3 general, one grocery, and 2 millinery-stores, an undertaker's-shop, 2 wagon-shops, 2 blacksmiths, 1 saw-mill, 2 grist-mills, 1 cooper's-shop, 2 shoe-shops. It has 3 churches,-one cach of the Presby- terian, Methodist Episcopal, and Protestant Methodist denominations,-a public school, a resident physician, bury- ing-ground, 1 resident minister. It is a post village; the first postmaster was Jason Clark ; the present incumbent is Wesley Crandall. The population is estimated at 300. Dr. Amos M. Dunton was an early and prominent medical practitioner of this village. After practicing there many years he removed to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where he died April 24, 1867.

WELLS' ISLAND.

All the islands in the State, between a line drawn at right angles to the river from the village of Morristown, and a meridian drawn through the western point of Grind- stone island, were patented by Elisha Camp February 15, 1823. These islands contained 15,402.9 acres, of which Grindstone island contained 5291,* Wells island 8068, and the others a lesser area. Wells island partly belongs to Orleans and partly to Alexandria. According to the census of Wm. Rottiers, compiled in 1850, it contained 334 inhab- itants, of which 101 were in Alexandria and 233 in Orleans. It now has about 500 inhabitants, of whom many are thrifty German citizens, whose principal business is dairy-farming and the manufacture of odoriferous Limburger cheese. The rock formation is, like most of the One Thousand Isles, prim- itive, and covered with a fertile soil. The chief feature of Wells island now is the " International Camp-Ground," on that part of the island belonging to Orleans, and " West- minster Park Camp-Ground," on that portion in Alexan- dria. For further particulars of these, sec general history of the county.

WESTMINSTER PARK.

This place of resort for the summer months has been inaugurated by the Presbyterians, on the lower end of Wellesley Island, in the St. Lawrence river, in the confines of the town of Alexandria. The association under whose auspices the park is maintained is incorporated under the Act of the Legislature of New York passed in 1853, being chapter 117 of the session laws of that year, and the aets amendatory thereof. The articles of association were dated

in 1875, and filed in the proper offices, of the Secretary of State, and county clerk of Jefferson County, wherein the association is styled " The Westminster Park Association of the Thousand Islands." The capital stock of the asso- ciation was originally fixed at $50,000, divided into shares of one hundred dollars each ; but was subsequently (1877) reduced to $30,000.

The association has purchased five hundred acres on the island, having nearly five miles of water front in the mean- ders of the shore. In addition to this purchase there has also been made another, of Isle Mary, or Picnic Point, of twenty-five acres area, separated from the park by a narrow channel of a few feet in width, to be connected with the park by a bridge, but still to be reserved exclusively for excursion and pienie parties ; thus saving the quiet and privacy of the dwellers of the park from disturbance and inquisitive crowds. The purchase price of the five hun- dred acres was $14,000. The enterprise, though inaugu- rated under the auspices of the Presbyterians and those of like faith, is, notwithstanding, not intended to be strictly denominational. It has received the hearty indorsement of the Presbytery of St. Lawrence, within whose bounds it is located, and of the Synod of Central New York. The capital stock has all been subscribed and paid in, from which the land has been paid for, and a balance of several thousand dollars left, which has been, and is being, ex- pended for the improvement of the park. Over four miles of roads have already been made in the area, and the im- provements are still going forward. Lots are sold upon certain conditions, sanitary and otherwise, and the proceeds applied to still further improvement and adornment of the park. An enthusiastic visitor to the park, during the season of 1877 (a Chicago lady), thus discourses of the scenery of the grounds of the association :

" It was my good fortune, a few days ago, to be invited with some other friends by one of the trustees to make a tour of inspection of the new park. I had been in the midst of the enchanting Thousand Islands for several weeks. I had basked in the beauty of the mag- nifieent St. Lawrence ; I had seen sunrise and sunset, moonlight and starlight, upon its beautiful waters. I had visited many of the green isles that gem its broad bosom, was delighted with all that I saw, and felt that there was not much more for me to see. What, then, was my delight to find that Westminster park held for me a new surprise. Ilore is to be found seenery of every variety, from the most quiet to the most wild and romantie. Our path, as we first entered the grounds, skirted along the edge of a meadow, odorous with the breath of new- mown hay. Then we came to sloping uplands : a turn to the left, a fence to be leaped, and we are in the shadow of a great forest ; an ascending broad path is before us, the interlacing branches of tho trees overhead permit but a golden thread of sunlight hero and there to fall upon the mossy sod at your feet ; the vista which opens before us is most charming, and one of our party at once names this lovely forest aisle ' Cathedral Avenue.' A turn to our right. another broad path, but here the growth of oak, maple, beech, and ash is more dense, and although the sun is still high in the heavens it is twilight here under the shadow of the great trees ; a holy hush seems to per- vade the whole atmosphere, the very birds and insects seem affected by the place, and join in a low, sweet chant of praise.

" Another turn, and we ascend a broad, beautiful wooded hill, said to be the highest point in the park. ( It is here the observatory is to be placed.) It probably rises from a hundred to a hundred and fifty feet above the level of the river. We have reached its smumil ; a lovely view of forest scenery meets our eye on every hand. Still filled with a spirit of deep contentment, and of high and holy aspiration engendered by the scene around us, we name this spot ' Mount Ben- lah.' We deseend n long, sweeping hill on the opposite side from

* An actual enumeration of the lots on the island, from a recent survey, gives it 5530 neres .- (ED.)

272

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

which we came up, lured on by glimpses of sapphiro waters through openings in the trees. At last we come out upon a sloping, sandy beach, and the lovely and placid waters of the 'Lake of the Isles' is lying at our feet, and just opposite, seemingly within a stone's tbrow, is ' Lorne Island,' in the Canadian channel. We rotrace our stops by a circuitous route, our path becomes uneven, rocks jut out on evory hand, the aromatic order of pines is wafted to us on the sum- mor brecze. Again do we bebold glimpses of the blue St. Lawrence through the trees ; we enter a narrow gorge ; massive rocks, piled one upon the otber, tower far above our heads; the chaotic manner in which they are placed, and the gaping fissures between them, which kind mother Nature, with all her sweet art in broider of moss and lichen, has not been quite able to hide, shows that at some time a great upheaval of nature must have taken place here. We sit down on a mossy rock shaded by dark pine-trees to cool, and as we rest ourselves, and admire our romantie surroundings, it seoms as though we are transported to some wild Scottish glen, and we look around to sec the fairies trooping out to meet us. After admiring the ferns, the exquisite mosses and lichens, we resume our tramp ; passing through much more of tbo same sort of wild scenery, we at last came out on a bigh, bold bluff, overlooking the river on the American shore, its side a solid perpendicular rock projecting almost a hundred feot above the water. The view is superb : above the azure sky, with soft, floating, silvery clouds ; boneath the cloar, blue water, 'gemmed by a thousand emerald bowers.' The point we named ' Hungerford Outlook.'

"Passing ou agaiu for some distance, we find ourselves on a high projecting point reaching out into the river. This we named ' Pros- peet Point,' as it gives a magnificont view of the river and Alexan- dria Bay, with the beautiful Thousand Island House just opposite, perched so romantically upon the rocks.

" At last we turn our steps, most reluctantly, to our yaebt, but not until we have determined to become tho owner of a lot in this beau- tiful park, and we would advise all weary denizens of citios to go and do likewise."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 67

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