History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 91

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 91

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

138

1849

205.89

447.00

1850

169.72

180.00

1851

196.40

253.00

120

1852

164.28

703.00

188

Total

$3427.10

$11,738.59

About 1850 a considerable amount of scientific apparatus was purchased for the use of the school, and a few valuable additions were made to the library. The school term for 1853 closed with an exhibition in the old stone church, where the Baptist church now stands, the proceeds of which amounted to $38.64, and the expenditures to $22. Of the net proceeds, $6 were given to the Baptist so- ciety, for the use of the house, and $10 were added to the library fund. This exhibition was the first of a series which were continued for many years, and which produced an income of several hundred dollars.

J. W. Bishop, one of the students of this institution, subsequently became an engineer on the Grand Trunk railway of Canada, and in later years eventually removed to the west. During the War of the Rebellion he served in the Union army, and rose to the rank of brigadier-general. A. Moffatt, another student, engaged for a time in teaching in Louisiana, and afterwards engaged in mercantile busi- ness. He now resides in the city of Troy. Among other prominent students, L. J. Bigelow adopted the profession of the law, and also edited a paper in Watertown, where he subsequently died in the midst of his usefulness; D. V. Dean is now a professor in the medical college of St. Louis, Mo .; and J. M. Zethmayer died in Antwerp while engaged in teaching.

The following is a list of teachers employed in 1856 : Rev. J. Dunbar Houghton, A.M., principal ; Rev. J. W. Whitfield, teacher of painting and drawing; N. W. Buel, M.D., physiology and auatomy ; Miss Lois M. Searles, pre- ceptress ; Mrs. E. A. Houghton, music ; Miss Amelia Brig- ham, ornamental. During the summer of 1856 the facilities of the school were increased by the ercction of a new build- ing at a cost of about four thousand dollars. During the fall term of 1857, A. J. Brown, A.M., and wife were added to the corps of teachers. In the winter of 1858-59, Mr. W. T. Wright was teacher of mathematics. In the summer vacation of this year Professor Houghton advanced $1000 for the purpose of finishing the third story of the building.

On the 30th of June, 1859, there was a gathering of the alumni at the academy. In the fall of this year the faculty was increased by the addition of John P. Buckley, A.B., professor of Greek and Latin; George Foy, assistant in English. Very many of the students and some of the officers entered the army. For a time during the early years of the war it seemed as if the school must be broken up; but by strenuous exertions it was kept going, and sur- vived the troublous times.

In 1861 the name was changed to " Belleville Union Academy." Mr. Foy, who had entered the army, was killed on picket duty in 1861, and his remains were brought

* Written in 1853; for additional names see farther on.

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

home for burial. Major Barney and Mr. Buckley, with others, fell at the second battle of Bull Run, in August, 1862. Major B.'s remains were brought home, and three thousand people attended his funeral. In the autumn of 1863, Mr. Pieree and wife resigned their positions as teachers. In the winter of 1863-34 the academy was pre- sented with a beautiful silk flag by James E. Green. At the close of the academie year ending July, 1864, Prof. Houghton, who had been in charge of the school for thirteen years, resigned his position. During his administration the library had nearly doubled in the number of its volumes, and additions to the value of three hundred dollars had been made to the scientific apparatus.

The following statistical statement shows the number of scholars and receipts in money for each year, from 1852 to 1863, inclusive :

Years.

Whole number of students.

Literature scholars.

Received from

From

regents.

tuitions.

1852

118

$164.00

$703.00

1853

208

169.00.

918.00

1854

253

118

207.00

931.00

1855

287

195.00

2987.00

1856

275

143

273.00

9916.00

1857

190

143

273.00

777.00

1858

205

158

289.32

1334.00

1859

209

173

335.00

1358.00

1860

227

189

357.00

1423.00

1861

236

174

312.00

1448.00

1862

236

172

303.00

1600.00

1863

209

146

275.00

1408.00

1864

219

No report.

1865

187

153

299.00

2108.00

1866

342

257

782.00

5525.00

1867

280

137

497.00

4552.00

1868

100

86.00

824.00

1869

No report.

.....

1870.

130

294.00

1871

....

147

132.00

1789.00

1873

135

96.60

1386.00

The latest report (date not given) shows 170 students, with no statisties. The principals sueeeeding Rev. J. Dunbar Houghton have been, Rev. Benjamin D. Gifford, A.B .; Rev. Buel A. Smith (since dead) ; E. H. Hillier ; R. L. Thatcher, A.M .; Willard A. Grant, A.M .; and Henry Caron, A.M .*

INCORPORATION OF VILLAGE, ETC.

Belleville was incorporated in 1860, and the following corporation officers eleeted May 29 of that year : Trustecs, De Alton Dwight, Alcander Dickinson, Daniel Hall, Abner M. Durfee, Calvin Littlefield; Clerk, Arthur J. Brown ; Assessors, William R. Pennell, Collins F. Armsbury, Henry F. Overton ; Treasurer, James E. Green ; Collector, Cyrus N. Rowe ; Pound-master, Patterson W. Stevens. At this election 52 votes were cast. From the by-laws of the corporation the following extract is made, as showing one of the most important features of the government of the place :

" Section 5. No cattle, horses, sheep, or swine shall be permitted to run at large within the limits of said corporation ; and all persons owning or possessing any cattle, horses, sheep or swine, found run- ning at large in any of tho streets of said corporation, shall forfeit and pay for each such offense the sum of one dollar for the use of said corporation, and may be prosecuted therefor before any court having jurisdiction thereof."

The officers elected for 1877 are as follows : Trustees, Horatio Evans, Chester Wright, J. H. Carpenter, H. H. Harris, A. M. Durfee ; Assessors, E. Jennings, T. B. Kin- ney, S. P. Gillett ; Clerk, W. B. Doane ; Treasurer, N. C. Houghton ; Collector, W. B. Wright; Fire wardens, B. Barney, Levi Johnson, Stephen Vogel; Pound-master, I. L. Dillenbeck ; Street Commissioners, Horatio Evans, Wellington Martin, H. H. Harris.

Belleville is located principally on the north bank of the north branch of Big Sandy ereek, although the corporation ineludes a considerable territory on the south side of the stream.

The Sacket's Harbor and Ellisburg railway passed through the village, and during its continuanee brought much busi- ness to the place, but since it has been taken up the town is left to depend on its loeal manufactures and the reputation of its excellent academy, with the trade from the sur- rounding country. It is located in the midst of a fine agricultural region, and is the most important village in the town. Sandy creek has here a broad, rocky channel, and affords power for considerable manufacturing exeept in a dry season.

THE ELLISBURG AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

was organized March 8, 1849, the first officers being Alvah Bull, president; Mason Salisbury, A. G. Earl, vice-presi- dents ; William T. Searles, recording seeretary ; Samuel Hackley, corresponding secretary ; Green Packer, James Brodie, A. F. Wood, M. Stearns, M. S. Wood, T. Shepard, executive committee.

At its first organization, it was designed to apply to the town of Ellisburg only, and was instituted and sus- tained by a number of spirited agriculturists who were de- sirous of promoting a competition in the rearing of stock and the details of farm husbandry in general, but who found it difficult to attend the fairs of the county society, or to excite through them that loeal interest and emulatiou so desirable to attain.

Comparatively, but few had attended the fairs at Water- town, and the benefits of association scarcely extended to the more remote sections of the county. The first fairs of the society were held as follows : at Ellis village in 1849 and 1850, at Belleville in 1851, at Ellis village in 1852, and at Belleville in 1853.

By a resolution of January 8, 1853, the citizens of Adams and Henderson were allowed to compete for pre- miums, but all meetings were to be held in Ellisburg; and March 10, 1853, an eligible lot, partly in a cleared field and partly in an open wood, was leased from William T. Searls for ten years, the first six years being free of rent, on condition that the premises should be inclosed in a high board fence, and the remaining four to be paid at the rate of ten dollars per annum. The subjects for premiums em- brace the various classes of domestic animals, agricultural implements, the produce of the field, the orchard, the dairy, and the garden, household manufactures and miscellaneous articles; and the money with which these varions pre- mimms are paid is derived from the annual contributions of members.

# This account and accompanying statisties are very imperfeet, but are the best we could obtain .- [ HISTORIAN.]

117.00

900.00

1872

365

366

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

SOCIETIES.

" Collins Lodge, No. 168,* I. O. O. F.," was the first lodge established here by a secret order, and is now in a flourishing condition. It was instituted February 4, 1852. The officers for 1877 are as follows : N. G., C. Ellis ; V. G., J. S. Miller; Secretary, J. H. Carpenter; Treasurer, A. Brimmer.

" Rising Light Lodge, No. 637, F. and A. M.," was in- stituted Feb. 20, 1867, with the following officers : W. M., William Jenkins ; S. W., D. H. Cole; J. W., Bestow Dexter ; Sec., Fred. Edwards; Treas., C: Littlefield ; S. D., A. W. Kilby ; J. D., H. Cooper; Tyler, S. Vogel. This lodge has a fair membership. The officers for 1877 are as follows : W. M., H. H. Williams; S. W., L. Muzzy ; J. W., R. Hall ; S. D., Charles Fulton ; J. D., A. A. Scott ; Sec., J. H. Carpenter ; Treas., A. M. Durfee ; Tyler, A. L. Williams.

" Belleville Grange, No. 5, P. of H.," was organized in the fall of 1873, and, as its number indicates, was one of the first formed in the State. It occupies a hall on the second floor of the brick block built in 1873 by James E. Green, and is one of the most important granges in the county.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH

was the first to effect an organization in town. Before the formation of the present church of this order at Belleville, a few persons had been gathered by Elders Colwell and Littlefield, and adopted a covenant and articles of faith, with which Elder L. and some others were dissatisfied, and which a council of brethren from neighboring churches decided to be contrary to the faith of the Baptist church. They were accordingly disbanded, and Elder L. having died, there was for some time no ministry of this order. About 1807, Joshua Freeman, then a young man, and one who has since been prominently connected with churches of this order in the county, feeling that something should be done towards reviving a church, with another young man, named Amos Noyes, commenced holding meetings at Belleville. In this they had the cordial sympathies and aid of many, among others of Deacon Edward Barney. The previous covenant was modified to suit their views of gospel truth, and signed by eleven persons, who were soon joined by others, and Aug. 22, 1807, a council called for the purpose gave them the right hand of fellowship as a regular Baptist church. They enjoyed only occasional preaching till 1810, when Martin E. Cook, a licentiate, was called to the care of the church. He was afterwards ordained, and continued to labor in the ministry, with great acceptance, during twenty-four years. Since then the following ministers have served as pastors at different periods : Daniel D. Reed, Abner Webb, Joel H. Green, A. Webb (2d time), John F. Bishop, David McFarland, A. Cleghorn, who stayed about seven years ; G. W. Devoll, six years ; F. E. Osborne, three years; Elder Ford, as a supply for one season ; - Ames, L. E. Spafford, and the present pastor, P. D. Root.

The membership in June, 1877, was 139. A Sabbath- school has been kept np since soon after the organization of

the church, and is at present in a flourishing condition. It possesses a library of 208 volumes.

In 1819 a union meeting-house was erected at Belleville, costing about $3300, but the society never perfected its organization, which led to litigation. In March, 1829, the building was burned. A Baptist society had been formed Dec. 4, 1821, with Matthew Green, Benjamin Barney, and John Barney (2d), trustees. In 1831 the present Baptist church at this place was built, at a cost of about $2400.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY

in the town of Ellisburg was formed Aug. 28, 1820, and elected Nathan Barden, Isaac Burr, Wm. T. Fisk, Amos Hudson, Liberty Bates, and Royce March trustees. In 1830 it was reorganized, and the same year erected, in Belleville, a meeting-house, at a cost of about $500. A church organization was formed at the house of Nathan Barden Dec. 18, 1829, by the Rev. Jedediah Burchard, of five males and six females, and on Feb. 11, 1830, it united with the Watertown presbytery. The successors of Mr. Burchard have been - Spencer, J. Burchard (2d time), O. Parker, C. B. Pond, C. W. Baker, S. Cole, J. A. Can- field, Ingersoll, J. Carlisle, J. Burchard, and others. In 1853 the society erected a fine frame church, at a cost, be- sides the lot, of $2800. This was afterwards sold to the Methodists, and is now used by them, the Presbyterian society having been disorganized, and no meetings have been held by the latter since they sold their building.

THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY in Belleville was formed May 5, 1841, having Edward Boomer, Elias Dickinson, Thomas Ellis, Edward B. Hawes, Jesse Hubbard, Riley Chamberlain, Hall W. Baxter, Nelson Boomer, and John R. Hawes trustees. A church was built near the Wardwell Settlement, and afterwards removed to Belleville. This building has since been sold to the Catholics, and the Methodists purchased the church built by the Presbyterians. The parsonage belonging to the society, formerly used as a private dwelling, was taken in trade for the old church. The present pastor is Rev. O. C. Cole. The membership in October, 1877, was about one hundred and fifty. A Sabbath-school is supported, with a membership of one hundred, including teachers, and a library of about two hundred volumes.

ST. JOHN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

This organization held meetings first in 1875, in the old Methodist church, which they had repaired. These meet- ings were conducted by Rev. Father Hogan, of Watertown, to whose parish the church belongs. His assistant, Rev. Father Ryan, attends at present, holding meetings once a month. The membership in October, 1877, was thirteen, not including several who live at some distance from the church, and are not accounted as regular members.

MANNSVILLE.

This village is located on Mannsville, or Skinner, creek, two miles south of Pierrepont Manor, on the line of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburgh railway. The first settlement was made here by David I. Andrus, as agent for

# Given in another account as No. 421.

367

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Samuel Wardwell, of Rhode Island, who had made exten- sive purchases here and elsewhere in town. The improve- ment by Andrus was slight, and the place only began to increase in 1822, when Daniel Wardwell eame on and took charge of the purchase made several years previous by his father, and in 1823 he began the erection of a cotton-factory, which stood a short distance below the present village, and was fitted for 600 spindles. Soon after, Major H. B. Mann purchased half of the factory, which had been two or three years in operation when it was burned, Feb. 16, 1827. The loss was estimated at $10,000, and the factory was never rebuilt. The present name was adopted on the establishment of a post-office in honor of Newton Mann, father (?) of Major H. B. Mann,* who was among the earliest settlers here. The first mails were carried in old- fashioned saddle-bags, on a man's shoulders, eoming via Salina village, a small cluster of houses near the site of the present eity of Syracuse. After regular mail-routes were established mails were carried on horseback when it became possible to travel in that way. The present postmaster at Mannsville is William Wardwell. William Earl, now living at the village, recolleets when but three newspapers were received in the town of Ellisburg, and these were sent to settlers by friends at their old homes. One was taken at Ellis village, one at Belleville, and the other at Woodville.

William Earl, now of Mannsville, is a son of James Earl, who settled near Pierrepont Manor, in 1811, with his wife and a large family of children. James Earl was too far advanced in years to serve in the War of 1812, but his patriotism was equal to any emergency, and he turned out on every oeeasion of alarm. Two of his sons, William and Caleb, belonged to the militia of the town, and were called out on several occasions, being present at the battle of Sacket's Harbor, May 29, 1813. James Earl died at the age of 93 years. In 1837, William Earl removed to Mannsville. He was first on the site of the village, " be- fore a stick was cut," and has witnessed its development from a forest to a hamlet, and from a hamlet to a prosper- ous village, within the period sinee he came here a boy.

The first settler was David I. Andrus, already mentioned, who built a saw-mill on the ereek where the present grist- mill of Young & Bettinger stands. In 1811 enough lumber had not yet been sawed to roof it, but it was run- ning at that time. The mill afterwards passed into the hands of the Woodards, who operated it many years. Its ma- chinery was run by an old-fashioned " flutter-wheel," which was capable of earrying a stream of water from five to seven feet in width and six inches in thickness, yet the stream was so constant that the heavy and ponderous wheel need never be stopped for lack of water to turn it. At present, owing to a system of ditehing the land and the removal of the tiniber from the face of the country, the creek is much diminished in size, and the volume of water is so small that at times it is difficult to run even a small wheel.

The first dwelling in the village was the present " Jeffer- son House," erected by David I. Andrus, for his own use, out of lumber sawed at the mill. Andrus occupied it

some time, and the first man who used it for the purposes of a tavern was probably Joseph C. Wood, who was its tenant in the capacity of a landlord for a space of time not recollected. William Earl helped raise this building, and in 1837 purchased it of a man named Jackson, who was carrying it on at the time. Mr. Earl refitted and repaired it, and kept his inn to the general satisfaction of the public for about fifteen years. The present proprietor is Don C. Bishop, who has expended about fifteen hundred dollars in adding to and repairing it. The building is frame, and the only hotel the village has ever possessed.

SCHOOLS.

As soon as the increasing needs of the village demanded some place at which their children might receive the rudi- ments of an education, a frame school-house was built on the site of the present school building, and the voice of the " master" was heard in the village, and his opinions consid- ered as important by the villagers on all subjects. The date of the building of this temple of learning has passed from the memory of the " oldest inhabitant," but many are living who spent the time they could spare for study be- neath its roof; and when the building was removed it was realized that a landmark of the past had gone front among them, and its walls would echo no more to the recitation of the pupil or the " swish" of the master's rod.

The grist-mill is of recent origin, having been erected by J. D. Finster in 1863 or '64. It is a frame building, con- taining two run of stone, and the business is principally custom, with some merchant work. It is now operated by Messrs. Young & Bettinger.

The saw- and planing-mill was built in 1870, by Messrs. Finster & Woodard. The manufactures are hard and soft wood lumber, doors, sash, blinds, mouldings, general house- building material, cheese-boxes, ete. The average number of hands employed is seven. Present proprietor, O. J. Woodard.

John Woodard, from Brattleboro', Vermont, was one of a family of seven children who located near Mannsville, in 1812, with their father, Captain - Woodard, a veteran, probably, of the Revolution. Capt. W. first lived a mile west from Mannsville, and afterwards purchased a farm near Ellis village, and was prominent among the set- tłers of the town. He held for many years the office of justiec of the peace. He met his death by the sad aceident of falling from a load of hay and breaking his neck, the fall being eaused by the sudden start of the oxen which were drawing the load. John Woodard, at an early date, owned land on the site of the village of Mannsville. He died about 1857, at the age of 68 years. He had served during the War of 1812, and received a pension from government for his services. Asa Brown, also from Ver- mont, came at the same time the Woodards settled, and located west of Mannsville, on the farm now owned by Corydon Brown. Asa Brown is said to have been the strongest man who ever settled in this part of the country, and many stories are related testifying to his amazing strength. It is said that whenever his services were en- gaged at a " raising" he would easily lift and place heavy logs until the walls were too high for him to reach.

* Newton Mann died in Mannsville, and Major H. B. Mann in Whitesboro', and none of the family now reside at the village.

368

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

The first tannery in the village was started by Daniel Goddard about 1826, at which time he settled herc, coming from Smithville, in Adams. He was originally from Massa- chusetts. The building which he purchased and converted into a tannery had previously been a distillery, and was built possibly by Major H. B. Mann, from whom Mr. Goddard bought. Mr. G. operated the tannery until 1847, when he was taken sick. He died in 1848, aged 55 years. Mrs. Goddard is yet residing in the village. Her father, William Withington, a native of New Hampshire, located in Oswego county, N. Y., in 1818. In 1849, J. J. Bald- win, from Sandy Creek, Oswego county, came to Manns- ville and engaged in the tanning business, which he has followed most of the time since, having two tanneries burned since he located here. He is now carrying on the manufacture of wagons and carriages.

William M. Wardwell, the present postmaster at Manns- ville, is a grandson of Samuel Wardwell, who has been previously mentioned in connection with the early settle- ment of the town. A son of the latter, Samuel Wardwell, came to the town of Ellisburg in May, 1829, and lived for five years in what is known as the " Wardwell Settlement." In 1836 he removed to Mannsville. Daniel Wardwell settled in town in 1811-12, and afterwards located at Mannsville. At this writing (October, 1877) he is re- siding at Rome, Oneida county, and is the oldest practicing lawyer in the State. He practiced while in Jefferson County, was a member of the Assembly previous to 1830, and twice represented this district in Congress. He built the first store in Mannsville, the building being the front part of the store now occupied by the post-office and G. A. Huggins' hardware store. This establishment contained a small general stock, such as was usually kept in country stores of the time.

In the fall of 1877 Mannsville contained a post-office, one saw- and planing-mill, two grist-mills, four blacksmith- shops, two wagon-shops, one tannery, nine stores, one har- ness-shop, one 2-story framc school-house, five churches, one dentist, one lodge of Odd-Fellows, one grange of Patrons of Husbandry, one cheese-factory, two lawyers, and three physicians, of whom the oldest in practice here is Dr. G. C. Hibbard, the others being Drs. A. T. Jacobs and S. L. Merrill.

SOCIETIES.

" Mannsville Lodge, No. 175, I. O. O. F.," was instituted in 1853, with a small membership. The early records of this lodge have been burned, and it is impossible to par- ticularize as to names and offices of original members. The present membership is about eighty, with officers as follows : N. G., L. Beman ; V. G., O. H. Balch ; Sec., A. M. Brown. A fine lodge-room is fitted up in the third story of the Blandon block, and the society is flourishing.

" Mannsville Grange, No. 16, P. of H.," was chartered Jan. 26, 1874, with thirty members. The first meeting was held Nov. 6, 1873. The first regular officers were installed Jan. 5, 1874, and were as follows : Master, O. S. Potter; Steward, Ira Balch ; Chaplain, C. Lumm; Sec., Wm. G. Hitchcock ; Treas., E. O. Grenell.

The present membership (October, 1877) is about 60.

The grange has a tasty hall fitted up over the blacksmith- shop of O. H. Balch. The grange was incorporated Sept. 25, 1877, and E. Frank Sias elected Purchasing Agent. The present officers are : Master, O. S. Potter; Overseer, Luther B. James ; Sec., Wm. G. Hitchcock ; Treas., Wm. Beebe; Steward, Ira Balch ; Financial Sec., E. F. Sias ; Lecturer, Wm. H. H. Sias; Chap., N. V. Webb; Organist, Mrs. Dr. G. C. Hibbard; Assistant Steward, Fred James ; Lady Asst. Steward, Miss Alice Wormer; Gate-keeper, J. C. Davis; Ceres, Mrs. W. H. H. Sias; Pomona, Mrs. Ira Balch ; Flora, Mrs. Wm. Balch.

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History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 91

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