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 87
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THE BANK OF CLAYTON.
This institution was established by A. F. Barker and R. P. Grant, October 1, 1876; the former gentleman oeeu- pies the position of president, the latter that of cashier. It is a bank of deposit and discount, and does a general bank- ing business. It sells drafts on New York and Watertown, and is noted for the promptitude with which it makes eol- leetions. Financially, the concern is sound, being good for one hundred eents on the dollar every time.
THE CLAYTON CORNET BAND.
This excellent musical organization was formed in Au- gust, 1874, under the able instruetion of H. M. Lewis, of Watertown. The first officers elected were, Thomas B. Bell, president; S. H. Johnson, secretary and treasurer ; Ernest Walt, leader ; James Couch, II. E. Gates, and C. A. Ellis, finance committee ; W. O. Bennett, M. Vande- walker, and J. B. Flynn, executive committee. The amouut of $249 was subscribed by the citizens, which, with a small amount advaneed by the band, bought the first set of instruments.
In 1875 the members equipped themselves with a neat and tasty uniform, at a cost of $500. In 1876 they pur- chased an entire new set of instruments, made by the Bos- ton Musical Institute Manufactory, which cost about $600. They have expended about $2000 since their organization, all of which they have paid with their own earnings, and
without financial assistance from the citizens. The band- room is located in the hall of the Potter block, which they have leased for five years, and they have one of the finest practicing rooms in the county.
The band at present numbers fifteen picees, and consists of the following members, namely : Ernest Walt, E-flat clarionet ; J. B. Flynn, first E-flat cornet ; Richard Dris- coll, second E-flat cornet ; Milo Walt, first B-flat cornet; John Thibault, second B-flat cornet; S. J. McCarn, first E-flat alto; C. A. Ellis, second E-flat alto; E. J. Harlow, first B-flat tenor ; H. Potter, second B-flat tenor; C. W. Sumner, B-flat baritone ; S. H. Johnson, basso trombone ; W. O. Bennett, E-flat tuba ; Truman Perigo, side drum ; A. R. Brooker, basso drum ; Carl Wilson, cymbals.
The Clayton band is an institution of which the citizens are justly proud. The members have manifested a com- mendable desire to become proficient in their respective parts, and by unusual diligenee and persevering energy have acquired an enviable reputation among the best bands in the State. To the strange reader this may seem pecu- liarly the language of culogy, but, having heard them both practice and play, we speak whereof we know.
THE CLAYTON RURAL CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
was formed in 1855, for purposes explained in the sub- joined extraet from the records, and by those whose names are appended thereto :
" We the undersigned, for the purpose of securing suitablo lands, and holding them to be used exclusively for a cemetery or place for the burial of the dead, and the better to protect, improve, and em- bellish such cemetery grounds, do form ourselves into an association under and according to an act entitled ' An aet authorizing the incor- poration of rural eemctery associations,' passed April 27, 1847, and aets since passed amendatory thereto. (Signed) L. A. HOLT, THOMAS REES, V. A. BENJAMIN, HENRY ESSELSTYN, DANIEL PORTER, XERA BATES, PERRY CASWELL, JOHN CARY, S. W. VINCENT, JOHN OADES, AMOS ELLIS, JOHN RECTOR, ABNER REEVES, W. SMITH, A. R. CALVIN."
The first trustees were James F. Angel, Henry Essel- styn, V. A. Benjamin, Luther Eddy, A. R. Calvin, Thomas Rees, John Cary, A. M. Brush, and John W. Fowler. James F. Angel was chosen president ; A. R. Calvin, viec- president ; Henry Esselstyn, treasurer ; and V. A. Benja- min, secretary. The present trustees are R. M. Esselstyn, Thomas Rees, Dr. Amos Ellis, James Johnson, Luther Eddy, S. G. Johnston, R. G. Angel, A. F. Barker, and Dr. A. Bain. D. C. Porter is sceretary and warden. The total number of interments up to September 20, 1877, was 402. The grounds are neatly laid out and very tastefully kept.
LODGE NO. 296, F. AND A. M.,
was organized February 7, 1853, with the following officers : James Green, W. M .; J. D. Augsbury, S. W .; O. W. Cushman, J. W .; T. M. Reade, Treasurer ; L. J. Riec, Secretary. The lodge has worked continuously sinee its organization, and now has a membership of 90. The pres- ent officers are II. E. Morse, W. M. ; Wm. H. Rees, S. W. ; D. L. Larkins, J. W .; Perry Caswell, Treasurer; T. G. Rees, Secretary.
THE TEMPERANCE REFORM CLUB
of Clayton was organized April 18, 1877. Its first officers were Dr. HI. A. Mellmoyl, President; R. M. Esselstyn,
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
First Vice-President ; Albert Brooker, Second Viee-Presi- dent ; C. E. Gillett, Third Vice-President ; W. P. Hawes, Secretary ; C. H. Esselstyn, Assistant Secretary ; W. W. Ames, Treasurer ; and Rev. A. W. Cady, Chaplain. The present officers are R. M. Esselstyn, President ; H. A. Mc- Ilmoyl, First Vice-President; H. Elliott, Second Vice- President ; P. Caswell, Third Vice-President ; John F. Ames, Secretary ; W. W. Ames, Treasurer ; Rev. A. W. Cady, Chaplain. The club now has a membership of 175. Its operations have been attended with very gratifying re- sults, and much future usefulness may be reasonably antici- pated.
DEPAUVILLE
is pleasantly situated on Chaumont river, at the head of boat navigation, and six miles above Chaumont bay. It received its name in honor of Francis Depau, an importing merchant and capitalist of New York, who purchased fif- teen lots in Penet's Square. This place at first bore the name of Catfish Falls, by which it is still occasionally called. The ereek above the place is still called Catfish ereek ; hence the original name of the village. The first improvement was begun by Simon and Jared White, wlio came on as trespassers to get out lumber, but, being warned off by the agent, left a large amount of hewn timber, that rotted on the ground. From this place they removed to Three-Mile Point, on Chaumont bay, where, after a short sojourn, they started in May, 1817, for the west in an open boat. The party consisted of the brothers, their mother, wives, and children,-eleven in all,-and had arrived in Hounsfield, a mile or two beyond Sacket's Harbor, where they put up for the night. After leaving this place they were never seen alive. There were many dissolute soldiers and sailors lounging about the neighborhood. Their boat was found robbed of household goods, several hundred dol- lars which had been in the possession of the men were gone, and their bodies exhibited unmistakable marks of violence. The children were found drowned, but the bodies of the women were never found. These cireuinstances warranted the belief of robbery and murder ; but, although the exeite- ment was intense and general, nothing occurred to settle suspicion upon any party sufficient to warrant an arrest.
In 1816, Nathaniel Norton, Jr.,* who had previously been a merchant at Russia, New York, eanie as agent of C. II. and E. Wilkes, owners of 12,000 aeres on Penet's Square and adjoining Depauville. Soon after, David and Nathaniel Holbrook came to the place with their father, and under a contract of Alexander Le Ray, the agent of Depau, erected a rude apology for a saw- and grist-mill, but upon failure of payment the premises were sold, in 1824, to Stephen Johnson and Peter Martin, who had located as merchants and lumbermen. At this time there were but two or three log houses and the rude mills above referred to.
THE FIRST HOUSE
was built by John Smith (the original John Smith, at least of this loeality), who came in from Massachusetts in 1818. Nathaniel Norton had previously erected a shanty,
a very primitive affair, which he covered with basswood " troughs," and which was generally in excellent keeping with its owner. The first store was kept by Peter B. Beadle, agent or clerk for Stephen Johnson, who sent in a small and miscellaneous stock of goods and a few barrels of whisky. Peter Martin was also an early merchant. The first mills were those erected by David and Nathaniel Hol- brook. In 1824, Stephen Johnson built the stone mills, which were destroyed by fire in 1851. The present mills were erected in 1852 by John W. Ingalls and William Huntington, each of whom had married a daughter of Ste- phen Johnson. The first tavern was kept by one Win- throp in 1820. It stood within a few rods of the present hotel. In this building the first school was taught in 1820. The first church edifice was that crected by the Episcopal Methodists as early as 1825. It stood in the rear of the present stone school-house, and has long since gone to decay.
Among the early settlers of the village might be men- tioned Schuyler Osborn, Erastus Wright, Dr. William and Mrs. Clarissa Frame, Luke E. Frame, M.D., John M. Mount (father of John and Hiram), Gaylord Enost (father of Mrs. Wm. Baxter), Addison Manville, John Norton (son of Nathaniel Norton, Jr.), Amos Otis (father of Levi C. Otis), Leonard Vincent, Deacon Charles L. Linnell (father of George D. Linnell), Hezekiah and L. K. Patchen, Jonathan Hall (father of Foster V. Hall), Squire Spencer, John O. Spencer, and others.
The growth and progress of Depauville have been steady. The village now contains three general stores, of which Byron Fox, Ferry & Lowe, and Cady & William MeDonald are the respective proprietors. It has one tailor- and two shoe-shops and three millinery-stores, one grist- and one saw-mill, three blacksmithies and wagon-shops, a cheese-fac- tory, post-office, two churches (Methodist Episcopal and Baptist),¿ and a well-managed public school. It has one resident physician and two ministers of the gospel, two justices (Alfred Fox and E. J. Seeber, Esquires), and a population estimated at 400.
LODGE NO. 688, F. AND A. M.
This lodge was organized in March, 1868, with Arehi- bald Sternburgh, W. M .; J. A. Diefendorf, S. W .; Wm. Baxter, J. W .; John Howell, Secretary ; Wm. J. Lowe, Treasurer; W. F. Johnson, S. D .; S. W. Frame, J. D .; H. Mount, Tyler.
The present offieers are S. W. Frame, W. M .; John J. Wilson, S. W. ; Thomas Levis, J. W. ; E. J. Seeber, Seere- tary ; H. Heyl, S. D. ; S. C. Otis, J. D .; Byron Fox, Treas- urer. The present number of members is 50. The society own the hall they meet in. Dr. Luke E. Frame has been one of the trustees ever since the organization of the lodge, and has done muell towards seeuring the hall and paying for the same. Had it not been for his endeavors in this direction, it is doubtful whether the society would have a place of its own to meet in to-day.
# See incident under head of " Early Settlement," ante.
+ See under head of "Early Settlement," ante.
į See under head of " Religious."
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
GRINDSTONE ISLAND
was first settled in 1802, by Amariah Howe. Among other early settlers were Daniel Gross, Lewis Jones, Anthony Lince, Samuel Johnson, William Wells, and others. The principal employment of these parties was rafting The first adult death in the town of Clayton (to which Grindstone island belongs) occurred here in 1804. It was that of Mrs. Olive Howe, who was interred on the island. The geologi- cal formation of the island is mostly granite ; and an exten- sive quarry is about to be put in operation by a Montreal company. This granite is susceptible to high polish, and is second only to Scotch granite, which it very much re- sembles in variety of color and fineness of quality. The island has an area of 5530 acres, and a population, accord- ing to the last census, of 350. It contains some good farms ; has a school and other evidences of thrift and pros- perity.
RELIGIOUS.
The religious history of the town of Clayton, owing to the loss or destruction of the early records of several of the societies, is difficult to procure. The subjoined historical sketches of the various churches, however, may be depended on as generally accurate, as much inquiry and diligent search among ancient authorities have been instituted. The churches of the past that now have no existence, or those removed to some other locality, can be briefly mentioned here.
A Methodist society was organized in the south part of the town, December 20, 1833, with Silas F. Spicer, Amos Reynolds, Willis Howard, James H. Fuller, and Amos Sillett, trustees. A house of worship was erected, and after many years' service as such was converted into a barn, now on the Seeber farm, and the society removed to Perch river.
In 1835 a Congregational church was formed of men- bers residing in this town and Orleans, by the Rev. Marcus Smith, of Watertown. This is no more, having long since disbanded.
In 1838 a Union church was built of stone at Depau- ville, and was owned conjointly by the Baptists, Universal- ists, and Congregationalists. It is now owned exclusively by the Free-Will Baptist Society.
THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH OF DEPAUVILLE
was formed March 20, 1820, by Elder Amasa Dodge, of Lowville, consisting at first of fourteen members. He was succeeded by Elders Russel Way, Jacob Overocker, Wel- come Pigley, S. B. Padding, Samuel Hart, Ansel Griffith, N. H. Abbey, J. J. Allen, B. H. Damon, J. S. Staples, W. S. Fowler, W. Joy, J. B. Collins, and W. H. Merriman, the present pastor. A society was organized August 26, 1841, with Nahum D. Williams, Phineas A. Osborn, and Helon Norton, trustees; and in December, 1848, it was reorganized. In 1834 a Union church was built, of stone, at a cost of $2200, of which amount Mr. Depau donated $500. At present the Free-Will Baptist society have the use of the building one-half of the time, the Universalists . one-quarter, and the regular Baptists and Congregationalists the remainder ; at least, such are the terms of the deed. The present deacons of the Free-Will Baptist church are
P. A. Osborn and Isaac Norton ; the trustees of the Union church, David Norton, F. V. Ilall, P. A. Osborn, John O. Spencer, and L. E. Frame, M.D.
THE M. E. CHURCHI OF DEPAUVILLE.
A Methodist class was organized at Depauville as carly as 1821; and we find it mentioned as one of the twenty- three appointments in the old Black River district, and within the Genesee Annual Conference, in 1822. Meetings were at first held in private dwellings, and in the old frame school-house, until about 1823, when a house of worship was built on the lot in the rear of the present stone school- house. The society was formed November 25, 1834, with Martin Spicer, Abel F. Low, Caleb Closson, Wareham P. Case, and Timothy O'Connor, trustees. The present church edifice was erected in 1852, and dedicated by Rev. A. J. Phelps the same year. The dedicatory prayer was offered by Rev. Gardner Baker, a pioneer in the Methodist min- istry, who but recently passed away: it was an impressive petition for the divine blessing on the undertaking. The dedication of the church occurred near the close of the pastorate of Rev. Josiah Zimmerman. The structure is of wood, and will comfortably seat about 300 persons; it is valued at $5000. The society also has a parsonage.
The succession of pastors from 1848 to the present has been B. F. Brown, Josiah Zimmerman, Moses Lyon, D. W. Roney, HI. O. Tilden, Royal Houghton, Chamberlain Phelps, A. F. Wheeler, Moses Lyon (second time), G. D. Greenleaf, W. B. Joice, D. Fulford, J. H. Lamb, S. W. Worn, Anson Cheeseman, and S. F. Danforth, the present incumbent. The present trustees of the church are John IIowell, John Halliday, Eli J. Seeber, Esq., Erastus Wright, and Amos Otis. The membership, as reported in the " Minutes of Conference of 1877," is-probationers, 9; full members, 144; numbers of teachers in the Sunday-school, 25; scholars, 88.
A class was organized at Plessis, in the town of Alex- andria, in 1840, and placed in the Depauville charge. The society was formed in 1860. The statistics of this society are included in the above.
THE THIRD M. E. CHURCH OF CLAYTON.
Religious meetings according to the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal church were held in private dwellings and the school-house in Clayton village as early as 1834; and the following year a small class was formed, of which Perry Caswell was appointed class-leader. It was not until 1840, however, that the society was regularly organized. Among the early members were Jane C. Merrick, J. N. Fowler and wife, Perry Caswell and wife, Fairfield Har- ford, Uri Raymond and wife, Susan Ingerson, Edward Kel- logg, John Wilson, Anson Fowler and wife, and others. The first trustees were E. C. Merrick, John N. Fowler, Perry Caswell, John Wilson, Fairfield Harford, Wood- bridge C. George, and Adonijah Brush.
At first Clayton was part of a circuit, and had preaching one-half day every alternate week. The Rev. H. F. Stan- ton was one of the earliest preachers. The church edifice was erected in 1840; it is built of wood, with a spiral tower, and is capable of seating about 350 persons. Its
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
value is $3000 ; parsonage, $2500; making a total value of church property, $5500. The present trustees are Perry Caswell, James Hayes, Alanson P. Rogers, Benjamin Kent, James W. Thompson, James Johnson, and Simcon G. Johnston. The incumbent pastor is Rev. E. S. Cheese- man ; membership, 114. A Sunday-school was organized about cotemporary with the church, with Mrs. William H. Angel and Mrs. E. J. Merrick as superintendent and assist- ant. The present number of teachers is 20; scholars, 160 ; Superintendent, J. W. Thompson. The church and Sunday-school are reported in a prosperous condition.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF CLAYTON
Was organized October 6, 1840, with D. D. Calvin, Henry Hurlburt, Henry Walt, E. Bushnell, and A. R. Calvin, trustees. It consisted of seventeen persons, most of whom were formerly members of the La Fargeville Baptist church. The subjoined is a list of the constituent members : James D. Gloyd, Lueinda Gloyd, Henry Walt, Edward Burchel, Frances R. Burchel, Abiatha Joy, Almira Shela, Hela Car- penter, Olive Carpenter, Sarah Smith, Cyrus Noyes, Lyman Fox, Mrs. L. Fox, Mrs. D. D. Calvin, John Cook, Henry Hurlburt, and Mrs. C. Noyes. Cyrus Noyes was the first deacon. Upon the same day with the formation of the church, E. G. Blount, of Clayton, was ordained pastor. For one year or more the church met once in two weeks, for worship, in the old stone school-house. Elder Blount's ministrations were blessed to the growth of the little church, and about fifty were converted during the first year of its existence. The church, in connection with the Methodists, built the present edifice owned and occupied by the latter society. Here they worshiped till the summer of 1847, when the Baptists sold their share in the above-mentioned building to the Methodists, and purchased the present site and creeted the edifice now known as the Baptist church. It was built during the summer of 1847, is of wood, size 52 by 40, and has a seating capacity of 400 persons ; cost, $2000. It was dedicated to the service of God, Septem- ber 15, 1847, the Rev. Lorenzo Rice preaching the dediea- tory sermon from Psalm xxvii. 6. Elder Blount continued his labors with the church for twelve years, and it numbered at the elose of his pastorate 118 persons. G. W. Divoll succeeded him, and remained with the church until August, 1862. Reverends H. E. Beal, E. M. Buyrn, J. W. Henry, and a second term of Elder E. J. Blount were the succes- sive pastors until 1876. In May of that year, A. W. Cady, of Hamilton Theological Seminary, became the pas- tor of the church. He was ordained July 20, 1876, and is the present ineumbent. The church has been much re- duced by removals ; its present membership is 63. The trustces are J. D. Gloyd, W. A. Dye, J. M. Bennett, Wm. H. Consaul, and A. Kendall, Jr. A flourishing Sunday- school is connected with the church, which numbers 80 scholars. Its officers are J. M. Bennett, superintendent ; L. E. Bennett, assistant superintendent ; T. J. Rees, secre- tary ; and Rev. A. W. Cady, treasurer.
CHRIST PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH
of Clayton was organized on the 10th of August, 1868, with the Rev. Henry R. Lockwood, now of St. Paul's,
Syracuse, as rector. A meeting for the purpose of per- fecting the permanent organization of the parish was held in the Good Templars' hall, on the above date, at which the following persons were present : John Johnston, Lyman E. Phillips, Charles M. Marshall, F. M. Brush, A. M. Brush, and George W. Seymour. At this meeting were elected John Johnston and Lyman E. Phillips, church wardens; Luther Eddy, C. M. Marshall, F. M. Brush, A. F. Barker, and Thomas Rees, vestrymen. On March 1, 1869, plans for a church building, donated by T. W. Rich- ards, architect, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were ac- cepted; and on June 27 of the same year the vestry ordered the preparing of the lot for the construction of the church, and on August 23 the building was begun. Mean- while the work of construction progressed as rapidly as means would allow. Many valuable donations were made, by residents and others, of building-materials, black walnut for furniture and trimmings and chancel-furniture, and memorial windows. The building was occupied as finished, October 1, 1876. It is a handsome brick edifiee, of Gothic architecture, and has a seating capacity for about 250. The vestry own an eligible site for a parsonage, contiguous to the church.
The rectors of the church have been the Reverends H. R. Lockwood, J. O. Drumm, Alexander Rogers, and Charles Seymour, A.M., the present incumbent, who ac- eepted the call to the rectorship February 16, 1876. The present (1877) wardens are O. W. Smith and A. Bain ; vestrymen, Richard M. Esselstyn, Thomas Rees, Lewis Elliott, S. Decatur Johnston, and Luther Eddy. The pres- ent membership is 60 families ; 56 communicants.
The Sunday-school was formed in 1867, by Miss Flor- cnec Benjamin, in a private dwelling, with four scholars. The present number of scholars is 40 ; teachers, 8; super- intendent, the rector.
LA FARGEVILLE MISSION (EPISCOPAL).
This mission is placed under the charge of the rector of Christ church, Clayton, and has by this means for several ycars past obtained public ministrations. Services are held in the M. E. church building. An appropriate site for a church edifice has been secured, exeavations for a founda- tion been made, plans for a neat building adopted, and part of the materials furnished. It is anticipated that the structure will be begun and finished within a year. The mission has 18 communicants.
THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
of Clayton and Orleans was formed March 11, 1841, with Henry Haas, Valentine Baldtuff, and Nicholas Lehr, trus- tees. The society now has a neat house of worship on the road between Depauville and La Fargeville.
THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION
of Clayton was organized December 21, 1841, with about fifty members. The first trustees were Valentine Dorr, Andrew Baltz, and John Haller. The first pastor was Rev. Ch. Hummel ; the present incumbent is Rev. H. Horn. The church has at present (1877) a membership of 76; number of teachers and scholars in the Sunday-
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
school, 40; Superintendent, Frank Viekers. Present trus- tees, Frank Viekers, Michael Lehr, and John Haller. The church and Sunday-sehool are both reported prosperous.
ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
at Clayton was organized in 1842, with the Rev. Francis Guth as pastor. Occasional services were held by mission- aries in private dwellings and in the school-house some years prior to the regular organization of the church. Among the early members were Patrick Cantwell and family, Thomas Brennan and family, Thomas Delaney and family, Joseph Thibault, and others. The church building was erected the same year. It is of wood, worth about $3000, and will seat about 350 persons. There is also a parsonage adjoining the eliurch, which is worth probably $2000. A new church edifiee is to be erected during the ensuing year (1878).
The pastors since the elose of Father Guth's labors with the church have been Reverends Michael Guth (brother of the first pastor), Luke Harney, James J. Sherry, Paul Sannach, Michael Craven, Louis Arrens, M. J. Brown, and James J. Sherry, the present incumbent. The officers of the church are the Right Rev. Edgar P. Wadhaus, Very Rev. James Mackey, Rev. James J. Sherry, Christopher Downs, and Hugh Hamel, trustees ; Thomas Dowdell, clerk ; George Thibeault, treasurer. The ehureh numbers 800 communicants; Sunday-school, 60 scholars and 36 teachers. Both church and school reported prosperous.
PHYSICIANS.
Dr. Amos Ellis has been in the practice of his profession as a physician of the regular school for forty-two years in Clayton. He is a native of Jefferson County, having been born in Brownville, January 9, 1810. He received his medical education at Fairfield, and subsequently studied with Walter Welch, M.D., at Adams, and began practicing in 1833. He is a member of the Jefferson County Medi- cal Society.
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