History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 72

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 72

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" Beginning by including the whole of Abraham Cooper, Esqr's. tract of land, and lot No. 581, and all that part of lots Nos. 626-27- 28 not included in district No. 3."

On September 18, 1821, these districts werc subdivided, forming additional districts numbered six to twelve inclu- sive.

In 1819 or 1820, Abraham Cooper built at Ox Bow a good brick building, the use of which he gave to the public for school purposes ; and not long after the citizens of Ant- werp village erected, on the hill near Mr. Parrish's church, a brick school-house which was fine and commodious for that tinie, but which (being still in use) has become sadly inadequate to the requirements of the present day.

Since 1821, the districts have been subdivided from time to time until their number has reached twenty-five, which is also the number of schools in Antwerp at the present time. Of the school buildings-with the exception of the fine stone edifice at Ox Bow village-it can hardly be said with truth that any among them are creditable to the town. The teachers employed are chiefly females, the schools being wholly under their charge during the summer terms, and in many of the districts during the winter also. The school in district No. 1 (Antwerp village) employs two teachers. The salaries paid to females vary in amount from one dollar and seventy-five cents to three dollars per week (with board) in the outlying districts, while as high as eight dollars per week, without board, is paid in the villages. The salaries of male teachers range from twenty-six dollars to sixty-five dollars per month. The highest remuneration is received by teachers in Antwerp and Ox Bow villages.

The total number of pupils for whom public school money is drawn by the town of Antwerp is 1076; the av- erage aggregate daily attendance of pupils at the schools in the town last year was 365 6 6 5. To00. In the apportionment of school funds for the year ending September 30, 1877, the town received ---

For teachers' wages, according to number of children $696.88

District quotas ..

average attendance 573.06

1168.40

Library money . 35.43

Total amount received by town $2473.77

ORE-BEDS.

Iron ore, of the kind known as red hematite, has been found at many points in the town, and beds have been worked here for more than forty years; the most extensive and successful of these operations having been prosecuted at the Sterling mine, some three miles north by east from Antwerp village. The presence of ore at this point was discovered in the year 1836,-it being upon a spot of hard ground in a swamp which formed a part of the farm of Hopestill Foster, in the sale of which the mineral rights had been reserved to the proprietor, David Parrish. He, however,-in view of the fact that, during the preceding twenty years, attempts at the mining of ore in the town had frequently been made, and had uniformly failed of pe- cuniary success,-thought very lightly of this new discov- ery, and readily consented to sell his interest in it for $200

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

to James Sterling, from whom the mine took the name by which it has since been known. It was opened in the fall of 1836, and during the succeeding winter two thousand tons were taken out and carried to the Sterlingville furnace, which Mr. Sterling had commenced to build in 1836, and which has since that time been mainly supplied by the rich ores from the Sterling mine.

A few years since, upon the occasion of a visit to the mine, made by Professor H. S. Osborn, of Miami Uni- versity, he predicted that before reaching a depth of one hundred and fifty feet from the surface the vein would pro- duce magnetic ore. This prediction of the professor has been fully verified, and now, at a depth of about one hun- dred and forty feet, the miners are working an apparently inexhaustible bed of magnetie ore.

These beds have proved to be of immense value. Since the ownership of James Sterling, they have passed through various hands, and are now the property of the Jefferson Iron Company.

The "White ore-bed"-so called from its location on the farm of G. E. White, a short distance south from the Sterling mine-was opened by Mr. Parrish in 1848; but the ore proved of inferior quality, being impregnated with sulphur, and the bed was not profitable.

The " Ward" bed was opened on the farm of Nathan W. Ward in 1852, and produced considerable quantities of ore, which were taken to Wegatchie for reduction.

The " Dixon mine" was opened on the farm of Charles White, under lease from Parrish, by A. P. Sterling, of Ant- werp, and Edgar Peckham, of Rome, at the time of their erection of the forge on Indian river, above Sterlingburgh, in 1870. The mineral rights in this, and also in the Ward farm, were soon after sold to George Paddock & Co., of Watertown, under whose proprietorship a railway was built, about one and a quarter miles in length, from the track of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburgh railroad to the Dixon mine. In 1876 the interests of Paddock & Co. were sold by the sheriff to A. F. Barker, and have now become the property of the Jefferson Iron Company, who purpose extending their railway to the Sterling mine.

The Keene ore-beds, situated near Keene's Station of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburgh railroad, and but a few rods from the county line, were opened about 1838,-the discovery of the presence of ore at that place having been made by Colonel Hiram B. Keene while plowing for winter wheat. Colonel Keene sold the right to mine upon his farm to Caleb Essington, of Sterlingville, and Mr. Munson, of Utiea. The vein was traeed to an adjoining farm, of which Mr. Parrish had reserved the mineral right, and here a mine was opened by Mr. Fuller, of Fullerville, St. Law- renee county. These ore-beds are now owned by the Rossie Iron-Mining Company, and are connected by railway track with the main line to Watertown.

A few years ago all the reserved mineral rights in Ant- werp, which were still owned by the Parrish estate, were sold to Ario Pardee, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and under his direction an ore-bed was opened near the farm of An- drew Kinney, a short distance north of the Sterling mine; but this enterprise did not prove successful, and it is no longer worked.

STONE QUARRIES.

The business of quarrying stone was commeneed nearly three-quarters of a century ago, -- the first opening being made in 1805 or 1806 by David Coffeen and James Parker. This was located on the State road, between Lee's tavern and the Ox Bow, and was known as the " Parker ledge." From it were taken the stones used in the old Church mill at Antwerp village. The manufacture of mill-stones was a specialty at this ledge, but the production was not great, amounting to but about $10,000 in over twenty years' work from the time of opening. Quarries have since been opened at various places in the town,-among those at present in operation being those of Render Brothers, two miles north of Antwerp, and one on the farm of Jasper Rob- inson, one inile farther south. There are also several others less extensive. The Antwerp stone -- known as the Potsdam sandstone-is an excellent building material. It may be seen in many structures in the vicinity; notably the Semi- nary buildings and the Congregational church at Antwerp.

AGRICULTURE.

Although in some portions of the town the face of the coun- try presents a rough and somewhat forbidding aspect to the eye of the uninitiated stranger, Antwerp takes a high agrieul- tural rank among the towns of Jefferson County. The soil is strong, not liable to become parched in seasons of drought, and excellently adapted to grazing purposes, producing abundantly of the nutritious grasses, even among the ribs of the ledges. In the days of the early settlements great concern was felt on account of the prevalence of the Canada thistle ; and, so long ago as 1825, the following strong in- ducement was offered to any who might devise practical means for its destruction :

" And it is further ordained and declared, by the authority afore- said, that if any person or persons, not exceeding four in number, being inhabitants of the said town of Antwerp, shall devise, discover, or perecive any ecitain and sure plan, method or device for effectually destroying and eradicating the Canada thistle from the land, such per- sons shall each be entitled to receive from the said town the sum of ten dollars."

Strong as was the ineentive of the ten dollars bounty, the " method or device" was never discovered. To-day the farmers hardly consider the thistle as a nuisance, and by some it is regarded as excellent food for cattle, when prop- erly treated.

Chief attention is given to stock and to the manufacture of cheese and butter, the product of six thousand milch cows being devoted to that purpose in Antwerp at the present time. Butter is made wholly by hand process ; cheese is also still made by hand to some extent, but the greater part is produced by the factories. Of these there are now in operation in Antwerp, as follows :

Bent & Harris' cheese-factory, in the village of Antwerp, manufactures the milk of seven hundred cows; has some- times had twelve hundred cows. The Hall's Corners cheese-factory, also carried on by Bent & Harris, four hun- dred cows. The Cook's Creek cheese-fuetory, by A. S. La Fave, located on the Ox Bow road, three miles north of Antwerp village, takes the product of six hundred cows. The Dixon factory, by Robert Dixon, on the Carthage

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

road, two miles south of Antwerp village, manufactures Limburger cheese. Number of cows not known.

PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

" Indian River Grange, No. 19," located in Antwerp, was chartered by the National Grange, and organized No- vember 4, 1873. Master, Samuel Hopper; Overseer, James Gill; Secretary, Clark Weston ; Treasurer, William Render ; Lecturer, S. G. Wiggins; Steward, J. D. Wait ; Chaplain, J. H. Aldrich ; Gate-keeper, Eugene Miller. The number of charter members was twenty-three. The present membership is one hundred. The officers for 1877 are S. G. Wiggins, Worthy Master ; J. S. Woodward, Over- scer; F. A. Stalbert, Leeturer; Duane Snell, Steward; James H. Aldrich, Chaplain ; Cyrus Mason, Treasurer ; Mrs. A. L. Fuller, Secretary ; A. L. Fuller, Gate-keeper; Miss L. Miller, Ceres ; Mrs. Hiram Powell, Pomona; Mrs. B. F. Kitts, Flora ; Miss Nellie Dixon, Stewardess ; Mrs. S. G. Wiggins, Organist. Executive Committee, L. A. Bacon, A. J. Woodward, A. B. Hopper, Cyrus Mason, William Adderley, James H. Aldrich. Purchasing Agent, Charles Race. Grange meets at hall on Main street, Antwerp village.

THE ANTWERP UNION AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,

a stock company, incorporated under the general law, was organized in 1870, and held its first fair in September, 1871. The fair-grounds of the society are upon a fine ele- vated location, a half mile south of Antwerp village, on the Carthage road. They embrace a tract of twenty-two acres, -a part of the Harry Baldwin farm,-purchased from D. W. Baldwin in the spring of 1871, and were graded and inclosed during the following summer. The buildings comprise agricultural, floral, and mechanics' halls, and the usual stalls for horses and cattle. Running water, in plen- tiful supply, has been introduced by means of pipes. There is also a half-mile race-track for trials of specd.

The following gentlemen are at present officers of the society : Colonel H. B. Keene, president ; W. N. Johnson, secretary ; L. H. Bailey, treasurer; George P. Coolidge, superintendent.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physician to locate in Antwerp was Dr. Samuel Randall, who came there about 1812. He was admitted to membership in the Jefferson County medical society in 1817, and died November 21, 1831, at the age of forty- seven years.

Dr. Ralph Rogers came here about 1820, and removed to Watertown, where he died. Dr. Hiram ( Alva ?) Mur- dock came about 1822, and removed to Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county. Dr. Caleb Preston came about 1825, and after a time removed to Galway, New York. Dr. Samuel J. Gaines came about 1828, and removed to Sacket's Harbor. Dr. Wm. H. Wiser came about the same time as Dr. Gaines, and removed to New Hartford, New York.

Dr. Chambers came from Canada about 1833, but after a short stay returned there again. All of the above, ex- cept the last named, were members of the medical society of the county.

Dr. Walter Dewey came to the place in 1834-35, and had

an extensive practice, which continued till his death, De- cember 4, 1845, at the age of thirty-four years. He was also a member of the medieal society, being admitted in 1838.

Dr. J. S. Conkey located here in 1842, and practiced extensively for several years, and removed to Canton, St. Lawrence county. Dr. R. R. Sherman located in 1848. Dr. Ira H. Abell located in the town in 1853, and still continues in practice. He is a very popular and highly- esteemed physician, and well skilled in his profession.

Dr. E. G. Derby commenced the practice of his profes- sion about 1847, in Antwerp. He practiced subsequently at Pamelia Four Corners, in 1848, in Brownville, 1852, in company with Dr. Grafton one year, and at Evans' Mills, ten years. He then entered the United States army as surgeon, and remained so engaged two years, and then re- turned to Antwerp, where he has sinee practiced and re- sided He is a most excellent nurse, and of a genial and happy nature, that makes him a favorite with all who know him.

Dr. Wm. Robinson commenced his practice in the town in 1852, and subsequently removed to Cedar Falls, Iowa. Dr. John Muyr came to Antwerp about 1870, had a limited practice, and removed to Carthage, where he still resides. Dr. E. G. Seymour commenced practicing here in or about 1865, and is still a resident of the place. All of the five last-named physicians are members of the Jefferson County medical society, except Dr. Robinson, and have gained good reputations for skill and ability in their profession. Dr. G. H. Wood, a homeopathic physician, came to the place in 1877, and is a young man of fair promise in the profession of medicine.

For courtesies and assistance extended to the historian in his collection of faets relating to the history of Antwerp, the thanks of the publishers are due to the Reverends J. H. Crum, IIugh Bailey, C. H. Guile, and Robert K. An- drews; to Messrs. Elijah Fulton, L. H. Bailey, Japhet Chapin, Benjamin Cook, Henry Welsh, Edward L. Proctor, John C. Trolan, J. W. Van Slyke, Albert Hoyt, Stephen Conklin, George D. McAllaster, A. P. Sterling, S. G. Wig- gins, and Nicholas J. Cooper ; Colonel H. B. Keene, and Professor M. A. Veeder.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

COLONEL HIRAM B. KEENE.

Of all the pioneers and worthy citizens of Jefferson County none deserves a better mention upon the pages of our county history than Colonel Hiram B. Keene. He was born in Pompey, Onondaga county, New York, June 17, 1810. His parents, Job and Naney Keene, reared thirteen children to industry and frugality, and all of them except two became heads of families.

The colonel is one of that large family, and was reared to know the value of time and money. His early advan- tages for an education were of the most limited character,

PHOTO BY L.S WELLER-

yours in a Hurry HiramB. Theme

yours truly Betsey Keene

N.J.COOPER.

PHOTOS. BY L. S. WELLER, ANTWERP - N. Y. -

MRS. N.J.COOPER.

RESIDENCE of N. J. COOPER, OX BOW. NEW YORK.

ABR'M COOPER.

(L.S. WELLER, PHOTOGRAPHER )

MRS. HARRIET COOPER.

ABRAHAM COOPER

was the son of John Cooper, and was born at Southampton, Long Island, on the 18th day of June, 1781, where some of the family settled as early as 1640. About 1795, Abra- ham accompanied his father's family to Utica. He received but a limited common school education, having been obliged to leave study, and assist his father in the business of haul- ing goods from the boats to the stores, etc. This was severe labor for the young man, but being naturally of an industrious temperament, he succeeded finely in his new vocation. While thus engaged he went with his team a trip to the Genesee Country, as it was called in 1796. There was but one house (a log one) in what is now the city of Auburn. On his return he stopped at Salina for a load of salt. There was an old man therc with three ket- tles, boiling salt, which comprised the nucleus of the now celebrated " Salt Point" salt-works.

It was not long before young Abraham Cooper had made for himself a reputation for industry, faithfulness, and capability, which induced the offer of a place in the store of Mr. Byron Johnson, father of A. B. Johnson, for many years president of the Ontario Branch Bank, of Utica. Herc he won for himself a name for business ability and

personal rectitude which endured throughout his business career. At the age of twenty-one, by the advice of his patron and old employer, he commenced business for himself at Trenton, New York. It was on the 14th of June, 1810, that, with the stock of goods furnished mostly by Mr. Johnson on credit, he opened his store in that little ham- let. While thus engaged in a large and successful mercan- tile business in Trenton, he purchased a large farm, which he cultivated with success. In 1818 he removed to the present site of Ox Bow, in the town of Antwerp, where he opened a store and land-office, having previously pur- chased a large tract of land in that vicinity .*

Mr. Cooper was characterized by a kindly and generous disposition, sterling integrity, and great enterprise. After a long and eminently useful life, he died February 7, 1861. He had seven children, whom he lived to sec settled in life and useful members of society. Their names are Abrabanı, Emeline C., Howell, George, Nicole J., John J., Elias F .; of these, all survive but Howell, who died July 24, 1870. (See portraits, etc.)

* See history of Ox Bow, in the history proper of Antwerp.

TO, BY L.SWELL.C.P.

LAWRENCE WESTON.

BY L. S. WELLER.

MRS. JANE WESTON.

RESIDENCE OF CLARK WESTON, ANTWERP, N. Y.

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

as he had attended but fifteen months of school prior to his being married, and after that nine months more. At the age of twelve, February, 1822, the colonel, in company with his parents and family, emigrated to Jefferson County, and settled in the town of Antwerp. He continued to work for his parents on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, and during all this time he never had worn a pair of boots of any kind, and his father never paid out but one shilling for him to attend shows of any kind. He was married to Miss Betsy Doud, of Rupert, Bennington county, Vermont, January 17, 1831. She was born September 4, 1806. At the time of their marriage the colonel owed for most of his wedding-suit, and had but two dollars in money, one of which he gave to the minister who married them, and the other dollar he divided equally with his wife; thus he commenced his married life with really less than nothing.

Mr. Keene possesses a vast amount of energy, which he has ably applied to the making of a happy home. In the spring of 1832, Colonel Keene purchased fifty aeres of land at six dollars an acre, for which he ran in debt. At the end of two years this was paid for, and then he purchased twenty-five aeres more at fourteen dollars per acre ; this in- cludes his present home. After two years this was also paid for. During this time he discovered an iron ore-bed, known now as Keene Ore-Bed. He was plowing for winter wheat, and the point of his plow struck the ore. He sold his interest in said bed for nine hundred and twenty dollars, but only received six hundred dollars.

Colonel Keene has kept on adding from time to time to his once small farm, till to-day he is the owner of fifteen hundred aeres of land, and he has made all this by farm- ing, without speculation. He has built nearly all the build- ings on his large farmn. He has paid from six to fifty dollars an acre for his land. He has generally been en- gaged in the dairy business, and, since 1865, he has kept about one hundred eows; and for the last three years he has had about one hundred and fifty cows, which have netted him about twenty dollars a head.

During all this time he has enjoyed the confidenee of his townsmen, and has held various offices of trust and honor. He has been an assessor for twenty-four years, road com- missioner for some time, justice of the peace for eight years, supervisor for three years, and for five years he was con- neeted with the Old Watertown and Potsdam railroad, first as an agent for two years, then a director for three years. Not only did Colonel Keene give his time in the interest of this road, but gave in money eight thousand five hundred and sixty-four dollars, besides fourteen acres of land as right of way. He also built what is known as Keene Station.

Colonel Keene aeted in the capacity of captain in the Eighty-fourth Regiment of State militia, and was then chosen colonel of the same, which position he held for several years. He has enjoyed the confidence of his towns- men to an unusual degree, being referred to in matters of dispute between neighbors, and was always able to bring them to a satisfactory agreement.

For the last five years, save one, he has been president of the Antwerp Union Agricultural Society, which position

he still holds. The colonel has always been a very liberal man in the support of schools and churches. In politics he was at first a Whig, but when the Republican party was organized he joined it.

In the history of Colonel Keene one ean readily sce what can be accomplished by industry and frugality, com- bined with good calculation. Would that Jefferson County had many more such men.

A large double-page view of his place, and portraits of himself and wife, may be seen elsewhere in this work.

CALEB G. HALL.

The subject of this sketch is the son of Havens and Amy Hall, and was born at Exeter, Rhode Island, September 10, 1813. In 1820 he removed, in company with his parents, to Antwerp, Jefferson County, New York. He remained with his parents till he was twenty-five years of age. Ou the 29th of November, 1838, he married Miss Catherine Jane Lewis, of Antwerp. She was born February 11, 1819, at Petersburg, Rensselaer county, New York, and settled in Antwerp with her parents when but nine months of agc. As a result of said marriage, six children have been born, five of whom still live. Soon after marriage Mr. Hall and wife located in Newlet, on a farm now owned by George Hicks, lived there for twenty-six years, and in 1865 settled on their present farm, known as the " Lewis farm." In polities Mr. Hall is a Republican. He is one of the pro- gressive farmers of his town.

E. A. CARPENTER,

son of Thomas and Ann C., was born in Antwerp, Jeffer- son County, New York, June 25, 1828. Ilis father was a native of Florida, Montgomery county, New York, and was born September 30, 1796, and followed farming for a living. He married Miss Ann Wright, of De Wainesburg, Mont- gomery county, November 13, 1819. Twelve children were born to them, six of whom still live. In March, 1820, he emigrated to Antwerp, and settled on the farm now owned by his son, E. A. Mr. Carpenter and wife were members of the Protestant Methodist church. He died October 31, 1873. His widow still lives on the old farm with her son E. A.

Mr. E. A. Carpenter remained at home until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he purchased the farm now owned by Charles Render, and built all the buildings on the same. He remained there some fourteen years, sok out, and then bought the "old home," on which he built all the fine buildings, and they are among the best farm- buildings in the town. He married Miss Polly Ingalls, of Le Ray, March 9, 1852. She was born September 13, 1830. Four children born. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Antwerp, and he is one of the most liberal supporters of the same. In politics a Republican.

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

MR. L. A. BACON.

MRS. L. A. BACON.

L. A. BACON.

Among the estecmed citizens whose names grace the pages of this history may be mentioned the subject of this sketch. His father was a native of Massachusetts, and was born in April, 1783. Was a carpenter and joiner, and assisted in building the first farm building ever built in Watertown. He married Miss Lucy Morton, about 1805, by whom he had ten children. She was born in Massa- chusetts, in 1787. While a young man Mr. Bacon cmi- grated to Lowville, Lewis county. About 1821 he settled in Antwerp, on the farm now owned by Smith Fuller. After coming to Antwerp Mr. B. did not follow his trade, but farmed it. In 1827 he settled on the farm now owned by his son, Leonard A. He died in 1859, and his wife in August, 1860. They were members of the Baptist church. In politics he was a Democrat until the organization of the Republican party.

Leonard A. Bacon was born in Antwerp, Jefferson County, New York, April 13, 1826. His advantages for

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History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 72

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