History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 80

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 80

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Twenty-two years ago five propellers connected the Cape Vincent and Rome railroad with the Michigan Central at Detroit, by means of which immense quantities of freight were transported to and from this port. The magnificent Ontario steamers " Bay State" and " New York" touched here every day in their trip between Ogdensburgh and Lew- istown ; and the ferry line to Kingston brought the town

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

into direct communication with another steamboat route, which extended to all the principal landings on the Cana- dian side of the lake.

TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS.

Publie meetings in behalf of temperanee were held long before there was a formal organization. In 1849 or 1850 the Sons of Temperanee established two divisions,-one at St. Lawrence, ealled the Pine Grove, No. 280, and another at Cape Vineent, ealled the Meridian Star, No. 546. The first had a list of nineteen eharter members; the Meridian Star also had a good starting.

The Independent Order of Good Templars was instituted on August 24, 1866. The regular meetings have been sus- pended, but the charter still remains in the hands of the society. It is nearly ten years sinee any publie liquor-shop has been kept at St. Lawrence.

On March 26, 1877, the " Temperanee Reform Club" was organized, and its sueeess is said to have made it the banner club of Jefferson County. The organization has been greatly assisted by the " Ladies' Temperanee Aid So- eiety," which was formed in the April following. Like any border town, Cape Vineent is liable to eatch some of the drift-wood of the community, but it has never wanted stanch temperanee elements of life.

SCHOOLS.

Sehools have been in existenee from the settlement of the town. Before 1820, F. R. Hasler, a man of education and a friend to learning, with children to educate, projected a normal school, but failed to see it established. At the present time there are sixteen school districts in the town- ship, one of which is on Grenadier island, and another on Carlton island. The school in Cape Vineent village is graded, and comprises three departments. Seleet schools have been carried on by private individuals. Literary so- eieties have given zest to debates and reading. As libraries have an educational influenee, the Union library, organized on August 24, 1824, should not be forgotten. It was of much value for many years, but finally discontinued. The first trustees were Gideon S. Sacket, John B. Esselstyn, Daniel Smith, Stockwell Osgood, Philip George, Zebulon Converse, and Roswell T. Lee.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES.

The first religious serviees were conducted by Mr. Richard M. Esselstyn in his own house. The meetings were held each Sabbath, when the Episcopal service and a sermon were read by him, followed by an extempore prayer from Deacon Kindall, who was a Baptist. Previous to 1820 missionaries came into the settlement, and the names of a Mr. Avery and a Mr. Flint are still remembered. There is still preserved the original draft of a paper stating that the first Sabbath-school was started on July 30, 1820, with J. B. Esselstyn and Buel Fuller as managers, R. M. Esselstyn superintendent, and Mr. Ellis teacher. There is also the draft of the first constitution that formed the " Auxiliary Female Missionary Society of Cape Vin- eent." This organization was before that of any church, and not far from the date of starting the first town Bible

Society. The names of the members, signed by their own hand, as the old paper indieates, from which the following list was made, were as follows: Charity Esselstyn, Jane Forsyth, Hannah Ainsworth, Sally T. Rogers, Delia Essels- tyn, Cynthia Rogers, Clarissa Esselstyn, Lydia W. Brewster, Hannah P. Esselstyn, Mrs. Corchran, Rebecea Johnson, Abigail Smith, Luey Kelsey, Tryphena Buekley, Sally Fuller, Jemima Merreitt, Lydia Lake, Lucinda Chapman, Jane Pator, Lois Hubbard, Mary Hubbard, Laura C. Kelsey, Sarah S. Kelsey, Emily Hibbard, Phebe Green.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Presbyterian church began its formal existenee on March 2, 1823, at the house of Oliver Lyneh. Rev. Noah M. Wells, of Brownville, moderated the meeting, and prob- ably drew up the confession of faith and the covenant which were then adopted. The following eight persons eonsti- tuted the original membership: Oliver Lynch, Abraham Morrow, Matilda Lynch, Jane Forsyth, Mary Forsyth, Cynthia Rogers, Hezekiah H. Smith, and Amarillis Mills. At this meeting Jedediah Mills was received on profession, and Oliver Lyneh and Abraham Morrow were ehosen elders and deaeons. On the 25th of the next June the ehureh was received into the presbytery of St. Lawrence; the same day Charles G. Finney, who became the eminent revivalist, was taken under its eare as a candidate for the gospel ministry. In 1824 a large mecting of this eeele- siastical body was held in our village. The first serviees were begun in a school-house that stood near the old ceme- tery ; afterwards in a hatter's shop on Broadway; then in the ball-room of the Rathbun house; next in a wheel- wright-shop ; and later still, in the upper room of a store at the foot of James street, that was burned many years ago. On the 13th of February, 1832, the " First Presby- terian Society" was organized, with Simon Howard, Henry Ainsworth, Michael Myers, R. T. Lee, and James Buckley as trustees. The ehureh building was commeneed the same year, $400 and the lot having been given by Mr. Le Ray towards the projeet. It was occupied the next year by the use of temporary seats, and continued in an unfinished state till about 1840, when the inside was completed.

Rev. Jedediah Burehard was the first minister, who eame in 1824, and during the two years of his ministry inereased the membership to more than fifty persons. There were large aecessions in 1850. In 1852, the year when the bell was purchased, the church numbered 135 members.

The wheelwright-shop, where the early serviees were held, was without much underpinning, and stood two or three feet above the ground. One Sabbath, while Mr. Burchard was preaching very carnestly on the willingness of doing whatever God calls upon us to do, he was greatly annoyed by half a dozen pigs that grunted and rooted around beneath the shop floor. Neither did it please the congregation. Suddenly grace and patience gave way, when Mr. Burchard stopped short in his diseourse and ealled out, " Rudolph Shepherd, drive out those hogs."

The pastors of the Presbyterian chureh have been as follows : Jedediah Burchard, 1824-25 ; services for several years after depended upon uneertain finances ; David Smith and Lucius Foote were here before 1830; Revs. Chittenden,

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Robins, and Leonard preached before 1839; T. C. Hill, 1840 ; H. H. Morgan, 1842; Hugh Carlisle, 1845; F. J. Jackson, 1849; A. Crocker, Jr., 1854; George Richie, 1856; Samuel L. Merrell, 1857. Rev. S. L. Merrell re- signed his charge of the Presbyterian church in June, 1861, and entered the 35th Infantry as chaplain. He served his full term of enlistinent. H. H. Hill, 1863; J. B. Preston, 1865; E. H. Pratt, January, 1871. The present pastor, M. E. Grant, commenced his labors in 1877. The present elders are R. T. Lee, Austin Rogers, James Howard, and Edgar Vincent ; the first two are also deacons. The trustees are Willard Ainsworth, W. O. Horton, William Grant, James Howard, and Edgar Vincent. The Sabbath-school is in a flourishing condition.

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

As already indicated, the first religious services were Episcopalian, and conducted by Richard Esselstyn. These services were continued with more or less frequency, some- times at Cape Vincent, and sometimes at Millen's Bay, till St. John's parish was organized, January 25, 1841, while Rev. John Noble was rector. John B. Esselstyn and Nel- son B. Williams were then chosen wardens; and Nelson Potter, Otis P. Starkey, Robert Bartlett, Calvin Pool, Ju- dah T. Ainsworth, Robert Moore, Rice Parish, and Wm. Esselstyn, vestrymen. The lot upon which the church building stands was the gift of Mr. Starkey, and contained an acre of land. The first interment in the parish ceme- tery was the body of Jonathan Howland, who died the same year of the organization, at the age of sixty years. The building was creeted in 1841, and consecrated on the second day of June, 1842, with the approbation of Bishop De Lancey. A neat parsonage was built not long after the church edifice. At the present time, and this has been the ease for several years past, the rector of St. John's parish holds preaching services, every other Sabbath after- noon, at Millen's Bay. There is a good building at the Bay, which was completed in 1872 by the union efforts of the Episcopalians and the Methodists of that place. The Methodist class there is connected with the charge of St. Lawrence, and has a regular service on alternate Sabbaths.

The clergymen of St. John's parish have been N. Wat- kins, 1841 ; Samuel H. Norton, 1846 ; Richard S. Adams, 1850; John Abercrombie, 1852 ; Edward Moyses, 1855; Edward Kennedy, 1857; A. M. Lewis, 1860; W. H. Lord, 1864; N. F. Whiting, D.D., 1865; J. B. Linn, 1869. The present rector is Rev. G. G. Perrine; W. M. Johnson and E. C. Kelsey, wardens; Judah T. Ainsworth, E. K. Burnham, C. C. Brown, G. A. Ainsworth, L. O. Woodruff, John Armstrong, J. A. Scobel, and G. R. Star- key, vestrymen.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

The first society of this order was formed by Elder Jason McKee, who was then living near Stone Mills, in tlic town of Orleans. It was in the fall of 1833. Shep- herd Warren and wife, Edwin Tuttle and wife, Joel Torrey and wife, Simeon Adams and wife, William Torrey, F. O. Torrey, and Addison Howard constituted the first members. Shepherd Warren and Joel Torrey were the first deacons,

and Simeon Adams the first clerk, which position he gave up in 1839, and was succeeded by F. O. Torrey. Up to 1840 the names on its record-book had numbered one hun- dred and forty-one persons. Its pastors have been as fol- lows, giving the year when they commenced their labors : Elder Jason McKee, 1833; G. S. Warren, 1835; Lyman Smith, 1843, who served two years, and was chosen a sec- ond time in 1850; between 1856 and 1860 Joseph Star- key, Jason McKee, and Elder Green were employed ; Geo. R. Torrey was the last pastor.

In 1850 the church numbered fifty members, but no services have been held for many months, nor is there rea- son to suppose they will be revived. The society never had a church building, and the places of meeting have been at Warren Settlement, Burnt Rock, French Settle- ment, Fox Creck, North Shore, St. Lawrence, Livingstone school-house, and Grindstone island, where the present organization exists. This denomination was the pioneer church in all the above-named places, except North Shore. Elder G. R. Torrey started the first permanent Sabbath- school in Warren Settlement, in the summer of 1850. One was organized in that neighborhood in 1833, but after six or eiglit weeks it failed. Mr. Torrey's school continued until 1863, and was conducted by himself, each year in- creasing in interest, with the exception of one, and given up in 1864, during the time of the civil war. The school was strictly a union effort, and during the Rebellion scarcely any other religious meeting was held in the Warren Settle- ment.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.

Although the Methodist church was organized several years after those already named, yet it was this denomina- tion which maintained the first stated preaching. A class was formed not far from 1820, and the first conference ap- pointment was that of Seth Green, in 1827. From 1827 to the present time preaching has been given directly in accordance with the plans of the conference, or else under the management of the presiding elders. During the early history of the field, which embraced the northern territory of Jefferson County, the quarterly meetings were very largely attended by people who lived many miles away from the place of gathering. The church in the village of Cape Vincent was legally organized on October 14, 1851, under the ministry of Rev. William Jones, and with a member- ship of fifty-five persons, twelve of whom were probationers. The names of the original trustees were William King, George Akerline, William Esselstyn, Philetus Judd, Asa S. Jones, John Hollenbeek, and John Nims. It is stated that the property of the society, twenty-five years ago, con- sisted of a good cooking-stove, with its necessary pipe and furniture. Sabbath services were held in the stone school- building on Point street, until the erection of the church in 1855. In 1854 a Methodist Sunday-school was organ- ized with thirty scholars, and this was after the school es- tablished on the North Shore. The parsonage belonging to this society was completed two years ago, a portion of the present house having been purchased for that purpose previous to 1874. Until 1876 the church received aid from the missionary society, but it is now self-supporting.

The Methodist preachers at Cape Vincent have been

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Revs. Sodon, Erckanbrack, Goodrich, White, Dyton, and Williams, who were here before 1827, as occasional supplies. Seth Young, 1827; Elisha Dewey, 1828; H. Shepherd and F. H. Stanton, 1830; R. Everdale, 1833; F. H. Stanton, 1834 ; H. Shepherd and J. Irvine, 1835 ; Enoch Barnes and A. E. Munson, 1836 ; Orra Squires, 1837-38; William Tripp, 1839-40 ; Benjamin Phillips, 1841-42 ; S. Slater, 1843; L. Dikins and G. W. Plank, 1845; J. R. Lewis and T. B. Brown, 1846; T. B. Brown, 1849; Wm. Jones, 1851; J. B. Van Petten, 1853; A. J. Church, 1854; O. Holmes, 1855; G. M. Pierce, 1856; J. F. Dayan, 1858-church dedicated, 1859; A. T. Copeland, 1860 ; E. E. Kellogg, 1861; A. N. Damon, 1863; J. B. Mccullough, 1866; G. P. Kenny, 1868; C. E. Dorr, 1870; A. M. Fradenburgh, 1871; O. P. Pitcher,* 1874. The present pastor is N. M. Caton ; class-Icader, William Essel- styn; trustees, W. W. Shelley, Norman Ross, J. B. Essel- styn, E. D. Hilts, Philip Marks, William Lanfear, and William Wheelock.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. LAWRENCE.

The first Methodist class was formed with Morris Corn- well and wife, Christopher Treadwell and wife, and Mrs. Jeremiah Newville, as the original members. This class was organized later than 1840 and continued till August 17, 1868, when the "Second Methodist Episcopal church of the town of Cape Vincent" was begun, and the following trustces elected : Samuel Dillen, Edward R. Farr, Alonzo Walrath, for three years ; Albert E. Rice and Alanson Abby, for two years; and Samuel Swartwout and Russel Wright for one year. The house of worship was erected in the summer of 1869, and dedicated the following De- cember. Previous to the organization of the church, St. Lawrence was only a preaching station. The largest revival, probably, ever known in the vicinity blessed the congrega- tion during the winter of 1874 and 1875, and very large accessions were made to the membership. The preachers have been D. W. Aylesworth, 1868-70; C. Manson, 1871; S. F. Kenyon, 1872; William Merrifield, 1873-74. The present pastor is W. P. Hall, who began his labors in 1875.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHIES.

It is a matter of regret that records concerning thesc churches are not at hand for the purpose of a historical narrative. The church building at Cape Vincent was dedi- cated in June, 1858, with Bishop McCloskey officiating. The church building at French Settlement was given by Mr. Le Ray to the society, which now contemplates a re- moval to Rosiere. The present structure has been pro- nounced unsafe for use, and a new house of worship will doubtless be constructed within the coming year.

MORMONS.

Two noteworthy visits were made to this town by Mormon elders, in 1833 and about 1848. They assumed to work miracles,-heal the sick by miraculous power ; and Patton

and Parish, who were the first visitors, claimed the ability "to interpret any language that man could speak." Crosby and Brown, who followed these, fifteen years later, attempted all manner of wonderful works except to raise the dead. The raising of a dead man they prudently never attempted. Sometimes they would baptize, and always by immersion, in the night. To give a weird character to the performance, one of the young converts was baptized in a large well. Meetings were held at St. Lawrence and Wilson Settlement, and during 1833 in Cape Vincent. In some instances whole familics went over to Mormonism, and all grew merry as a marriage-bell,-for the more marriage the better,-till challenges were issued for a public debate with any one who believed they had no right to as many wives as Abraham, or as much divine power as Paul. It happened in 1833 that Rev. William Moore, but a short time in this country from Ireland, was supplying the pulpit of the Presbyterian church. Hc belonged to the Methodist denomination. At one of their Mormon meetings Patton boldly advocated his supernatural gift of tongues, and challenged any person in the house to dispute the claim or the doctrines of the Mormon religion. Mr. Moore quietly arose in his seat and accepted the challenge. The time of the debate was at once arranged, and when the evening came the house was crowded at an early hour. Mr. Moore had agreed to speak first, and began with these words from the Bible: "O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to per- vert the right ways of the Lord ?" (Acts xiii. 10.) He spoke about an hour, showed the difference between the miracles of the Scriptures and those of these Mormon advocates, and closed by calling attention to Patton's claim, publicly and audaciously made, that he could interpret any language under the sun. Then turning to Patton he repeated the Apostles' Creed in genuine Irish, and told him to interpret the same. But not a word conld he get from him or the other Mormon. They were sick. The congregation and Mr. Moore waited towards half an hour, but not one word was heard in reply. Persons in the congregation arose and addressed them, and a listener said that the Mormon preacher finally told Mr. Patton that he dare not under- take to speak those Irish words, for if he did it would crack his jaws. They left town soon after.

Crosby and Brown, at St. Lawrence, about 1848, came to an end equally uncomfortable. This was done by a sermon from a Baptist minister, still living in this county. They invited Elder Blount to preach on the promise of Christ to give miraculous power to his followers, and to show why it might not be fulfilled in their case. He finally accepted the invitation. At the appointed time all the neighborhood were present.

Brown and Crosby had very earnestly declared that they had cured a sick child by prayer and the laying on of hands ; but Elder Blount inquired how it happened that the boy finally died, if he was healed by them ? These two sorcerers had also stated, and their followers confirmed their state- ment, that they frequently removed distressing headaches by divine influences ; but the elder asked why it was, then, that they secretly gave a rousing emetic ? Perhaps they intended to throw the headache out of the mouth. The

# Mr. Pitcher was engaged during the Rebellion as a missionary among the soldiers, under the auspices of the Christian Commission of the Young Men's Christian Association, of Washington, D. C.

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Apostle James speaks of anointing the sick with oil and praying over them. The Mormons declared that they had done that very thing in the case of rheumatie individuals with instantaneous effeet ; but the Baptist minister, who had slyly been instructed in the details of the anointing, proved to the audience that they nearly skinned the baek of one poor fellow by rubbing it with turpentine and then applying a hot shovel. This kind of debating soon checked the religious wickedness and nonsense, and the next spring Crosby and Brown, with a few adhierents, went back to Nauvoo.

CEMETERIES.

The first cemetery was on the farm of John B. Esselstyn (the Hasler farm), of which there is now no trace. The graves have been plowed over. In 1820 there were not twenty-five graves in the village cemetery. It is now nearly full, which is also true of the burial-grounds at Warren Settlement. On the 13th of September, 1875, a stock company was formed under the title of the Riverside Cemetery Association, with the following stockholders : F. A. Cross, Gilbert Robbins, John Robbins, Willard Ains- worth, Philip Marks, Levi Anthony, I. T. Cross, George and William Grant, Norman Ross, Charles P. Morrison, John Buckley, William Anthony, and William Esselstyn.

William Esselstyn, Francis A. Cross, Willard Ainsworth, Norman Ross, Gilbert Robbins, and Levi Anthony were chosen trustees. The grounds are about half a mile below the limits of the corporation, and are beautiful for situation.

VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.

Cape Vincent is beautifully situated on the shore of the St. Lawrence river, about two miles below Lake Ontario. The streets are at right angles with each other, those of the north and south running down to the water's edge.

The line of hills in the rear of the village commands a fine view of the river and the lake, with the shores of Wolf island, twenty miles in length, on the Canadian side.

Three miles to the northeast are dimly scen the weird chimneys of the old fort on Carlton island. The sunsets are gorgeous beyond description, and well does it deserve the name of being one of the pleasantest summer resorts on the St. Lawrence river. The Rathbun House is fitted up expressly for summer visitors, being closed in the winter. There is no bar at this house. The St. Lawrence Hotel has likewise been full; both are under the same manage- ment. In this connection should be mentioned two large camping associations that annually spend the summer on their spacious grounds at the head of Carlton island ; both are organized, and the ladies as well as the gentlemen do some good fishing. In 1852, and for three or four years after the completion of the railroad, there was every pros- pect of a wonderful growth and business for Cape Vineent, but those great expectations were not fully realized. The vil- lage was incorporated on the 14th of April, 1853, with a population of 1218.

Jere. Carrier, Judah T. Ainsworth, James L. Folger, Theophilus Peugnet, and L. H. Ainsworth were the first trustees. The presidents of the village since that date have been as follows : Jere. Carrier, 1854; John II. Rose- boom, 1855; Otis P. Starkey, 1856 ; Zebulon Converse,

1857; Calvin Fletcher, 1858; Alfred Fox, 1859 ; Gideon S. Sackett, 1860; Charles Smith, 1861-63; A. F. Smith, 1865; John H. Roseboom, 1866; Sidney Ainsworth, 1867; John B. Grapotte, 1868; Charles Smith, 1869 ; Levi Anthony, 1870; G. W. Warren, 1871-72; John H. Roseboom, 1873 ; W. M. Johnson, 1874; John B. Gra- potte, 1875-76. The officers of the village at the present time are E. K. Burnham, president ; John F. Brunot, Philip Marks, and J. Albert Scobell, trustees. Since 1860 M. E. Lee has served the village as elerk and attorney. The postmasters have been, R. M. Esselstyn, till his death in 1822 ; Henry Ainsworth, for a period not known ; John Duvillard, 1841-45 ; Otis P. Starkey, 1845-49 ; Augustus Ainsworth, 1849-53 ; Jacob Beringer, 1853-61 ; Zebulon Converse, 1861-65. John Moore is the present postmaster, and began his duties in 1865. The lawyers of the village are M. E. Lee and Ezra D. Hilts. The physicians are Martin Braun, Thomas Masson, O. S. Smith, H. N. Bush- nell, and Philip Cole.

St. Lawrence is a village of considerable local business, a little back from the railroad. The station is Rosiere. It has a temperanee hotel, church, shops, and is in a good farming region. The postmasters of this village have been, Dyer E. Pierce, 1848-56 ; G. W. Fairman, 1857 ; N. P. Tuttle ; D. E. Pierce, re-appointed, 1859-65 ; W. John- son, 1865; Truman Rice, September 1, 1865-67 ; W. H. Gaige, 1867 ; Samuel Dillen, 1868; A. P. Ladd, August 12, 1868-72 ; G. A. Swartwout, 1872-74. The present postmaster is H. W. Reed, who was appointed in January, 1874. The physicians at St. Lawrence are G. Mason MeCombs, who is a graduate of Bellevue Hospital medical college, New York city, D. E. Pierce, and M. B. Ladd.

Rosiere is the name which was given to the first station on the railroad out from Cape Vincent. It is now but a hamlet, with a handful of buildings and a store. The par- sonage of tlie Roman Catholic priest is here, and the ques- tion of building the new church at this place is being very seriously agitated. It is likely to grow.

Millen's Bay is pleasantly situated on the river, about six miles below Cape Vincent, and was named after one of the early settlers. It is also attracting attention as a sum- mer resort. There is a Union church building, a hotel, shops, and a few dwellings. The post-office was discon- tinued a few years ago, -- a transaction which has not been any source of gratification to the people in this vicinity.

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History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 80

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