History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 86

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 86

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At the first town-meeting the following were elected :

Hubbell Fox, supervisor ; B. F. Faxton, clerk ; Gurdon Caswell and Stephen Martin, justices of the peace ; Jesse Noyes, Abram Burdick, Bariah Carpenter, Jr., assessors ; Caleb Closson, James Barney, overseers of the poor ; Samuel P. Payne, Lloyd B. Farrar, and Elkanah Corlin, com- missioners of highways ; Alfred Fox, John Consard, Jr., and Joseph Mason, commissioners of common schools ; Josiah Farrar, David Baker, and B. F. Faxton, inspectors of common schools ; Erastus Warner, collector; Erastus Monroe, T. Haskill, Sydney Spencer, and Eldridge G. Tilton, constables.

SUPERVISORS.

Hubbell Fox, 1833-34; Edward C. Bancroft, 1835; Eldridge G. Merrick, 1836-38; Henry D. Van Camp, 1839; E. G. Merrick, 1840-41; Woodbridge C. George, 1842; Alfred Fox, 1843-44; E. G. Merrick, 1845; Al- fred Fox, 1846; Erastus Warner, 1847 ; James Phimb, 1848; Alfred Fox, 1842-52; Alfred Fox, 1853 -; Luke E. Frame, elected at a special town-meeting to fill vacancy ;

Luke E. Frame, 1854-58; John W. Ingalls, 1859-61; Elijah McCarn, 1862-64; James Johnson, 1865-66 ; John Johnston, 1867-71; Richard M. Esselstyn, 1872; John Johnston, 1873-76; Richard M. Esselstyn, 1877.

The present town-officers are R. M. Esselstyn, super- visor ; Richard Terry, clerk ; Michael Cantwell, Alfred Fox, Richard M. Esselstyn, Eli J. Gceber, justices of the peace ; Levi C. Otis, assessor ; Thomas Walt, collector ; G. A. Diefendorf, Jacob Putnam, Perry Caswell, town auditors ; Enos G. Otis, Lewis Lingenfelter, Stephen Butts, Sr., commissioners of highways ; Sullivan Smith, Lewis W. Eddy, Sidney McCarn, constables; Abram W. Hollenback, game constable ; Elijah McCarn, excise com- missioner ; George Haas, Jr., Amasa E. Dodge, Francis Forbes, inspectors of election district No. 1; Horatio N. Estes, Seeber McCarn, Solon HI. Johnson, inspectors of election district No. 2.

The first improvements of a general character were made in and around the villages : hence we now proceed with the history of those in this town.

CLAYTON VILLAGE.

The past history of Clayton village has much of interest connected with it. Being situated on the St. Lawrence river, at the mouth of French creek, it was the scene of a brief conflict during the calamitous times of 1812-15. Late in October, 1813, a detachment of the American forces under General Brown, who commanded the advanced guard of General Wilkinson's expedition, were ordered to rendezvous near the head of French creek. On the even- ing of the 1st of November (1813) the enemy, having observed the concentration of the American forces at French ereek, attacked General Brown about sunset with two brigs, two schooners, and several boats laden with in- fantry. The encampment of General Brown was a short distance up the creek, and he had caused a battery of three eighteen-pounders to be erected on Bartlett's Point, a short distance above, which, from its elevation, gave it a superior- ity over that of the enemy. This battery was under the command of Captain McPherson, of the light artillery, and was served with such effeet that the assailants soon dropped down the current beyond its reach. The next morning the attack was renewed, without success, and one of the brigs was with difficulty towed off by the squadron. The loss of the Americans was two killed and four wounded ; that of the enemy, much more.

The British brigs were armed with thirty-two-pounders, for several balls of that weight have been plowed up within a short distance of the scene of the engagement,-notably one now in the possession of Dr. Ellis, which was unearthed a few years since by George Cupperall on the Kline farm, which is now within the corporate limits of the village. From the location of these balls, the fact is self-evident that the British must have fired much too high to do the American encampment any serious injury. Immediately after the above engagement General Wilkinson's disastrous expedi- tion down the river occurred. The inglorious issue of this and other events on the northern frontier excited the mur- murs of the nation, and Generals Hampton and Wilkinson were arraigned before courts-martial, the latter being re-

346

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

moved from command and succceded by General Izard. Al- most half a decade elapsed after the close of the war before the village assumed the shape of a permanent settlement. The place was formerly called " Cornelia," the post-office having been so named in 1823. In 1831 the name was changed to Clayton, which it has since retained. In the primitive patent of Penet the creek and bay is named Weteringhra Guentere, and on an ancient map is named " Dumas creek." It has very generally been known as French creek, but has almost lost that appellation. The first permanent settlement made within the present limits of the village was by Gen- eral William H. Angel, in 1819. He commenced the lumber business, and to facilitate the same opened the

FIRST STORE

in the place, the same year. He brought a few thousand bricks from Sacket's Harbor, and built a small structure, which he covered with boards. His stock consisted of a miscellaneous assortment of raftsmen's provisions, among which whisky was a staple article, all of which articles he traded almost exclusively for lumber.

In 1820, Martin Herrick and Stephen Wetherbee came in, and the year following Mr. Merrick brought on his family, which then consisted of his wife and two daughters, Lucy, now the wife of Dr. Amos A. Ellis, and Eliza, who died in 1823. Mr. Herrick is accredited with the honor of having erected the first log house in the village, in 1821. It occupied the present site of the raft-yard of Thomas Rces. Colonel James Smith, a custom-house officer, built the first frame house, in 1824. It was originally 20 by 28 fcet, and still stands, being occupied by Dr. Ellis and family, although improvements and additions have been made to it so that it has almost lost its primitive identity. The first tavern was commenced by a transient character (whose name is forgotten), and completed by Hiram Davis prior to 1820. The first school-house erected in the village was a small stone building, in 1825, in which school was taught the same year. The first church was that crected by the Epis- copal Methodists in 1840.

Among the early settlers of Clayton village might be mentioned John Rector, James F. Angel, R. G. Angel, Chauncey Pierce, Mrs. Thomas M. Readc, Aaron and Lu- ther Eddy, Dr. Amos Ellis, Mrs. Louisa C. Cary, Henry Elliott (father of William), Daniel Porter, William John- ston, Stephen D. Johnston, Perry Caswell, John Johnston, and others.

The village was surveyed by Clark W. Candic, in 1824, and re-surveyed by Oliver Child in 1833. Its progress has been steady, and its prosperity based principally upon its eligibility as a ship-building centre, and its peculiar facilities for trade with points on the lake and river. The village has always been a place of interest, not only with regard to the natural beauty of its surroundings, but also from the fact of the enterprise and business ability of the mercantile portion of its inhabitants. An interesting article, prepared by Messrs. E. C. Bancroft, A. O. Blair, E. G. Merrick, J. A. Brewster, and T. M. Reade, a committee appointed to prepare a census and collect some historical data and statis- tics of the village of Clayton (French creck), the result of whose labors was published in the Watertown Eagle, under

date of March 20, 1835, from which we quote the follow- ing :

" Less than ten years ago, the ground where now stands our village was without a single house, and was, we are informed by one of our first settlers, an almost impenetrable marsh. Now, 93 buildings (most of which are two stories high, well finished and painted) are situ- ated on the same ground, and occupied by 73 families, making a total population of 426, which gives to it, at least, the appearance of a thriving and business little village ; and we may, without detracting from the merits of our neighboring villages, say that not one in the county can show greater improvements, in the same period of time, than our own. Although we have dated the period of the commence- ment of our village ten years back, yet we should observe that, al- though it began to settle about that time, it did not assume any ap- pearance of a village until the years 1829-30, and although business to a very considerable amount was transacted prior to that time in and about the bay of French Creek, yet we may say, and say truly, that our village has attained its present size within a period of five years; at which time we have ascertained that not more than 30 in- habitants resided here. This being the case, then our population, in that time, has increased near tenfold, and that increase we believe (although we have not the means at hand to aseertain that fact) to be equal, if not greater, than the western villages in this State, iu the same space of time, when their rapid growth was considered very extraordinary."

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

The first industrial operations at Clayton of any magni- tude were commenced shortly before the war. February 3, 1812, a contract was executed between Le Ray and Richard Cummings, a Canadian, Noadiah Hubbard, of Champion, allowing the latter to take from certain lots in the vicin- ity of French Creek as much timber for rafting as they might desire, by paying $35 per thousand feet for squared yellow-pine timber, $50 per thousand feet for white oak, and $80 per thousand fect for white- and yellow-pine spars. A large number of laborers and several teams were employed by the first party to the contract during the spring ; and early in the season 12,000 to 15,000 feet of pine, 1000 feet of white oak, and 21 masts were ready for market, besides a large quantity got out and left in the woods. Captain Hubbard was drafted with his company of minute- men. The raft was, however, got as far down as Louisville, when it was seized and detained, and subsequently proved a total loss, at least to its American owner.

The lumber business has continued among the most im- portant commercial and industrial features of Clayton from that time to the present. Those who have been principally engaged in this branch of trade are Smith & Angel, Martin Herrick, Smith & Merrick, E. G. Merrick & Co., Merrick, Fowler & Esselstyn, and Thomas Rees. The following statistics show the amount of business transacted by Mr. Rees for the season of 1877 : Oak and pine timber handled at Clayton and Port Metcalf by Thomas Rees, 1,600,000 cubic feet, which if reduced to board measure is almost 19,200,000 feet. In addition to the above, Mr. Rees handled 234,000 standard pipe staves, and 200,000 West India puncheon staves. The above employed the cargoes of one hundred and fifteen vessels, averaging about five hundred tons to a cargo. Mr. Rces employs directly, at Clayton and Port Metcalf, during the season, fromn fifty to one hundred and fifty men.

THE SHIP-BUILDING INTEREST.

Ship-building began at Clayton in 1832 by Smith &

RESIDENCE OF THOMAS REES , CLAYTON, N. Y.

RESIDENCE OF A. F. BARKER, CLAYTON, N. Y.

CAP. M. HALPIN'S BLOCK, CLAYTON, N.Y.

CHRIST CHURCH, CLAYTON, N.Y.

John Johnston

RESIDENCE OF CAPTAIN S.G. JOHNSTON, CLAYTON, N.Y.

347

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Merrick, and has sinee been continued, sometimes giving employment to as many as a hundred men. From two to four vessels have been built here annually, making a total of from seventy-five to one hundred, including most of the splendid steamers of the old Ontario and St. Lawrence Steamboat Company's lines. This business began here at about the time the burdensome tonnage duties upon the lakes, amounting almost to a prohibition, had been removed in part by the Hon. Joseph Hawkins, of Henderson, who represented this district in Congress. From this time there existed no limit to the size of the vessels but that of the loeks of the Welland eanal. The first vessels built here were the Jesse Smith and Horatio Gates, commeneed by Captain Piekering and completed by George S. Weeks, for Smith & Merrick, in 1830. G. S. Weeks continued building for the same firm, and built the steamer Black Hawk, and the schooners Franklin, Jefferson, Morgiana Willetts, Monroe, Gazelle, Madison, Lucinda, Cleopatra, Western, Chesa- peake, Robert Wood, E. G. Merrick, Sylph, and others, besides the steamer Swan.

John Oades commeneed building for E. G. Merriek & Co. and Fowler & Esselstyn in 1841, and built the schooners St. Lawrence, Jolin Oades, D. N. Barney, Superior, In- vincible, New York, Quebec, America, Flying Cloud, Sov- creign of the Lakes, Northern Light, White Cloud, North- erner, Sky Lark, Republic, Clayton, Amelia, Adriatic, Northern Belle, Dashing Wave, Monticello, Adirondack, Radiant, Clayton Belle, M. F. Merrick, Montana, Port- lund, Kearsarge, and others, and the steamers Niagara, Cataract, Ontario, Bay State, New York, Jenny Lind, British Empire, British Queen, Midge, and Widgeon.

Thomas Rees built the schooner Mountaineer, Harrison Persons the schooner Marshfield, and A. F. Barker the sehooner Hobolcen. Simon G. Johnston began building for Fowler & Esselstyn in 1854, and built the schooners Grey- hound, Eagle Wing, Watchful, Mediator, Senator, Snow Bird, Brooklyn, Montpelier, Montcalm, Montgomery, Mont- morency, Mont Blanc, Irene, L. B. Stone, Scud, William . Home, Hattie Johnson, Henry Falger, and Black Diamond. He also built the steamers T. S. Faxton, H. S. Johnston, and Island Belle.

The aggregate tonnage of these vessels and steamers is about 40,000 tons, and the cost about $2,000,000. Mr. Johnston is the only one now extensively engaged in ship- building at Clayton, Messrs. John Oades and Fowler & Esselstyn having removed to Detroit, Michigan, where they still eontinue their old business with equal sueeess as when at Clayton. To seeure the privileges of a coasting trade with Canada, which are granted to vessels built on British soil only, a ship-yard was established several years ago by Fowler & Esselstyn at the foot of Wolf (or Grand) Island, in Canada, and four or five miles above this port.

THE GREAT FIRE.

June 6, 1856, Clayton was visited by quite a destructive eonflagration, which greatly retarded its business develop- ment. The fire started in a building that stood on the present site of the band-stand, next to A. F. Barker's briek bloek, and burned through to Thomas Rees' warehouse. The fire started in the clothing store of L. D. Davidson.

The sufferers were L. D. Davidson, elothing store; E. L. Hawes, shoe shop; John Johnston, dwelling and store ; Amos Ellis, M.D., drug store ; Hale & Dean, general store ; Perry Caswell, boots and shoes ; William Delaney, elothing store ; John Keating, clothing ; R. G. Angel & Co., gen- eral store ; and one other building, the occupant of which could not be ascertained. The total loss was about $25,000 ; on which was an insurance of only $6000.

The business facilities of Clayton are unsurpassed by any other village of like population in the State ; and the abundance, cheapness, and quality of its domestie market make it desirable as a place of residence. Its delightful location, in close proximity to the Thousand Islands, on the St. Lawrence, and the reputation of the magnificent scenery surrounding the village on every hand, draw multi- tudes of tourists and visitors, who pronounce a summer stay at Clayton the height of enjoyment and repose. Here, within sight, are many of the beautiful isles forming that most wondrous of all arehipelagos. It is justly celebrated as affording the very best of piseatorial sports, and is among the best trolling grounds for musealonge, black bass, and pickerel on this continent. The salubrity of the air, the health-inspiring lake and river breezes, conspire to make it. a desirable place to pass the summer months. The eonve- nienee with which the village is reached, either by rail or water, is also a feature in its general popularity. Clayton is the terminus of the Utiea & Black River railroad ; while the elegant steamer "Faxton," Captain Holt commanding, makes tri-daily trips to Cape Vineent during the entire season, there connecting with all trains on the Rome, Water- town & Ogdensburgh railroad.

The well-deserved reputation of the Clayton hotels is also a worthy auxiliary to the comfort and enjoyment of those visiting this beautiful resort. Pre-eminent among the old established hotels is the

WALTON HOUSE,

which maintains an enviable position among watering-place houses of entertainment for good management, an admirable cuisine, and agreeable accommodations. Mr. S. D. John- ston, the proprietor, has had a long experience in the business, and an extended residenee in this vicinity renders him capable of understanding the peculiar requirements of his guests, and his affable disposition and courtesy make him a popular host. Nor is the

HUBBARD HOUSE

behind its neighbor in all of these requisite qualities ; and, on the whole, it is a matter of congratulation alike to the citizens and the pleasure-seekers to have two sueli admirable hotels at their disposal.

As an evidence of the moral and material progress of the place we may mention that it has four churches,-denomi- nationally classified Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Prot- estant Episcopal, and Roman Catholic ;* a well-managed graded school, and an ably-edited weekly newspaper ; a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and a Temperance Reform Club.

# Sce undler head of " Religious."

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

THE BUSINESS INTERESTS

embrace three dry-goods stores, of which S. H. Johnson, George Mckinley & Co., and H. S. Barker are the propri- etors respectively. There are two clothing stores, five general stores, of which those of D. C. Porter, H. C. Rees, and W. W. Angel are the most extensive. There are two drug stores, of which . that of Amos Ellis, M.D., is in all its appointments equal to those usually found in the larger cities. The building is as spacious, the stock of goods as fine and varied as those found in any similar establishment in the State. The other drug store is kept by E. D. Burton in Captain M. Halpin's imposing new stone block, -the most magnificent and substantial structure in this part of the country. There are one boot and shoe store, that of Perry Caswell (a merchant of nearly forty years' experience in the village), two jewelry stores, and the usual number of other business establishments and mechanical shops. There are a grist-mill, foundry, saw-mill, two planing- mills, and other industrial interests ; a ship-yard, operated by S. G. Johnston ; the extensive rafting and lumber-for- warding establishment of Thomas Rees; the private banking house of Barker & Grant; and other minor interests too numerous to mention. It has four resident ministers ; three physicians, of whom Dr. A. Ellis is the oldest practitioner; two lawyers; one dentist; and one photographer. The industry and energy of the inhabitants have done what they could to vie with the munificent lavish- ments of nature which the place enjoys ; all and everything, in short, of man's handiwork betoken the activity and inge- nuity of a tasteful, industrious, and enterprising class of people.

VILLAGE INCORPORATION.

Clayton was incorporated April 17, 1872, by a vote of the citizens, as provided in an act passed by the State legis- lature, April 20, 1870. The vote stood 140 for, and 51 against, the assumption of corporate honors. The first elec- tion for village officers was held at the Walton House, May 8, 1872, at which the following were elected : Elijah Mc- Carn, president ; S. G. Johnston, William Hawes, and S. D. Johnston, trustees ; Stephen Hill, treasurer ; Charles M. Marshall, collector ; and C. H. Ross was appointed clerk.

Presidents .- 1873, H. E. Morse; 1874, James John- son ; 1875-76, R. M. Esselstyn; 1877, James Hayes, present incumbent.

The present officers are : Trustees, S. H. Wilbur, Hial Cook, and Seeber McCarn ; Treasurer, B. Heldt ; Collector, Xura Bates ; Clerk, A. E. Wood; Police Constables, A. D. Hayes and S. W. Eddy.

CLAYTON DEPARTMENTAL SCHOOL.

In 1855, in what now comprises the village of Clayton, were two school districts, numbered eight and twenty-two, divided by James street. During that year there was a joint school-meeting of the inhabitants of these districts, to determine whether they should be organized under what was then known as the Union free-school law. Two or three votes only were lacking to make the necessary two- thirds majority to decide the question affirmatively. On April 29, 1856, an order was made, signed by Luke E.

Frame, supervisor, James Johnson, town-clerk, and H. E. Morse, town-superintendent, consolidating these school districts, the consolidated district being then named and since known as school district number eight, of the town of Clayton. The town-superintendent appointed the first school-meeting to be held on May 21, 1856. At that meeting Alden F. Barker, Robert G. Angel, and George C. Dean were elected trustees; V. A. Benjamin, clerk ; James F. Angel, collector ; and P. Caswell, librarian. At an adjourned meeting held on the 28th of the same nionth, a resolution was passed to raise $3000 by tax on the district, for the purpose of building a school-house. Owing to a destructive fire the following month, which con- sumed the principal business part of the village, the tax was not levied. For ten years thereafter the schools were continued in the two old school-houses, which furnished poor and inadequate accommodations to the pupils. From two to four private schools were supported in the district ; the inhabitants gave very little attention to common-school matters, and the annual meetings were sparsely attended.

At the annual school-meeting in 1865 there were three legal voters present, and the sum of $3000 was voted to be raised for building a new school-house. The trustees, deening the amount insufficient, did not levy the tax. At the next annual school-meeting, held October 9, 1866, there were seven or eight persons present, and a resolution was passed to raise the sum of $5000 for a new school-building. H. E. Morse and George N. Gould were the acting trustees at this time, and they decided to levy the tax. They were petitioned to call a special meeting to reconsider the vote of the annual meeting ; the request was denied, and an appeal was brought to the superintendent of public instruction, who dismissed the appeal. At a special meeting held in January, 1867, there was a large attendance, and the res- olution raising the tax voted at the annual meeting was re- scinded. By reason of the vote of the annual meeting, the decision of the trustees, the appeal therefrom, and the action of the special meeting, the necessity and propriety of building a new school-house had been fully discussed in the district ; and at a special meeting held on March 7, 1867, called at the request of a large portion of the inhabitants, a resolution to raise the sum of $5000 for a new school- building was passed unanimously. The tax was levied, and a brick building, forty-five feet square, two stories high, arranged for four departments, was furnished and ready for the teachers in November, 1867. The school-grounds join the public square on the northeast. The school-building cost $5782.58. H. E. Morse, George N. Gould, and Simon G. Johnston were the trustees ; and Thomas Rees, Joseph Thibault, Asa E. Porter, were the building committee during the erection of the building. The first teachers were Rev. B. E. Whipple, principal ; Miss Laura Everest, 2d dept. ; Miss N. M. Stevenson, 3d dept .; Miss Cornelia Eddy, 4th dept.

The principals from the organization to the present have been B. E. Whipple, M. P. Littlefield, M. Campbell, Jolın Felt, E. D. Abbey, Frank H. Peck, M. E. Doolittle, and George N. Strough, the present incumbent. For the last two years a fifth department has been necessary, and a sixth could be profitably employed. The present teachers

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

are George N. Strough, principal ; Miss Mary J. Rees, 2d dept .; Miss Rettie Morse, 3d dept. ; Miss Anna Locklin, 4th dept. ; Miss Anna Marshall, 5th dept.

THE POST-OFFICE

was established under the name of Cornelia in 1821, and General William H. Angel was appointed the first post- master. The present incumbent is O. W. Smith. The business of the office for the year ending October 1, 1877, is represented by the subjoined statistics : Number of money orders issued, 690; amount, $8000. Number of money orders paid, 540; amount, $5050. Number of registered letters received, 150; number forwarded, 200. Amount received for postage and box-rents, $1200.

THE CLAYTON INDEPENDENT.

The first edition of this paper was issued on Thursday, November 14, 1872, by Messrs. J. R. Beden and Win. D. Clark, under the firmi-name of Clark & Beden. January 2, 1873, Mr. Beden retired and R. F. Clark entered the concern. The publication of the paper was continued by Clark & Clark up to October 1, 1874, when the latter re- tired, and the former remained alone until he sold out to Wm. H. Recs, October 7, 1875. Mr. Rees continued the publication until March 9, 1876, when the present pub- lisher, W. W. Ames, purchased the office. The original size of the paper was 36 by 40, but during the proprietor- ship of Mr. Rees it was changed to 24 by 36, and restored to its former and present size by Mr. Ames in March, 1876. The Independent is an ably-edited and live family weekly, and enjoys, as it deserves, a liberal patronage. As its title implies, it is independent in all things.

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History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 86

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