USA > New York > Lewis County > History of Lewis County, New York; with...biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 16
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Of helps in the way of books there were then only the Testament and the New England Primmer, and the exer- cises consisted chiefly in memorizing and reciting portions of the Scripture.
The succession of Sunday School Su- perintendents in Martinsburgh, has been Barnabas Yale, Philemon Hoadley,* Charles L. Martin, Ezra Botsford, and George W. Locklin.
Sunday Schools were first begun in Lowville by Fenner Bosworth in 1820, and from about the same year in Turin by Barnabas Yale. After conducting them two or three years, Mr Yale was succeeded by Nathaniel Hart, Elder Alva Seymour-from 1852 to 1869 by D. D. Foot, and since then by Dewey Hol- den, the present incumbent.
THE LEWIS COUNTY SABBATH SCHOOL UNION.
This was formed in 1825, and held an- nual meetings about five years. It be- came auxiliary to the American Sunday School Union. The first anniversary gathering of Sunday School pupils was at Lowville July 2, 1829, at which 550 scholars were present. The ser- vices were unusually impressive from the funeral of Anna Shepherd, a child of twelve years of age, which was held upon the occasion. In 1830, 400 met at Martinsburgh, and similar gatherings have been held occasionally since that period.
THE LEWIS COUNTY SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
The Association was formed in 1870, consisting of members of various Prot- estant denominations, and having for its object the promotion of the Sun- day School interests of the county by means of meetings, discussions, essays, the collection of statistics, and other measures. It holds semi-an- nual meetings. At a meeting held at Port Leyden, December 7, 1882, sec- retaries were appointed in the several towns, with the view of organizing aux- iliary societies.
CHAPTER XII.
OTHER SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS.
TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
THE first society of this kind in the county,* was formed at Copenha- gen, in February, 1825, and consisted of twelve members. It grew out of prose- cutions for the sale of ardent spirits with- out a license, under an act passed Feb- ruary 18, 1820, requiring poor-masters to recover certain fines for the benefit of the poor. These suits were instituted by Levi Robbins, poor-master, and al- though judgment was got, the town would release the parties convicted, by a vote of town meeting. The discus- sions which these measures raised, led to the formation of a society, consisting of Norman Guiteau, Levi Robbins, William C. Lawton, David Goodenough, Dr. John Loud, Austin H. Robbins, Harris Bronson, Edward S. Robbins, William Keen, J. Stoddard, and two others not remembered by our informant.
* Mr. Hoadley was a farmer living in the eastern part of the town, near the present Martinsburgh R. R. sta- tion. He removed to New Haven. Conn., and was af- terwards the Superintendent of a State Reform School. He was a brother of Lyman Hoadley, formerly of Col- Jinsville.
* Turin may incidentally claim an earlier attempt at reform with regard to intemperance. At a town meel- ing held in 182t, it voted that no license should be granted (unless the applicant should first produce a certificate of the town sealer. that his measures had been compared and found correct.)
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HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
A town society was formed in Turin, July, 1827 ; in Lowville in February, 1828; in West Leyden in January, 1829; and in Martinsburgh in October, 1830. Societies were also formed in Stow's Square, Leyden and Greig. The first temperance tavern in the State, so far as we are informed, was opened by Douglas Wright, of Denmark, in 1817, and continued two years. The first merchants who discontinued the sale of liquors, were Fowler & Woolworth, of Turin, in April, 1829, and their trade fell off one-third in consequence.
A county temperance society was formed at Martinsburgh, September 15, 1828, and became auxiliary to the State temperance society, upon the formation of the latter. This county society in a few years fell into neglect .* The Wash- ingtonian temperance movement began in 1843. A society styled the Washing- ton Association of Lewis was formed July 15, 1843, and at the close of that year 5,000 members belonged to it in Lewis county. Anniversary meetings were held June 25, 1844, and July 8, 1845, and the interest continued until the vote upon the license question, in 1846 and 1847, divided public sentiment.t A "Carson League " was formed at the county seat, July 13, 1854; capital $100,000, in shares of $5, of which 25 cents were required to be paid. It is believed a few prosecutions were begun,
* In 1830, there were ten town societies, and 677 members ; in 1831, there were nine town societies, and 1,237 members ; in 1832, there were thirteen town societies, and 2, 118 members.
t At the special election held in 1846, upon the ques- tion of "License" or "No License," the towns of Croghan, Diana, Greig, Leyden, Turin, Watson and West Turin gave majorities favoring licenses, and the rest against license, the total vote in the county being 1, 173 for, and 1,348 against licenses, In 1847, the towns that voted for license were Lowville, Martins- burgh, Turin and West Turin. The town of Denmark still voted for no license, and from the other towns we have no returns. The sum of votes for license in the towns mentioned was 1,026, and that against was 791. Viewed from this lapse of time, no one can look upon that phase of legislation upon the temperance question but as a failure.
but a decision of the Court of Appeals terminated its existence.
The Black River Annual Conference of the M. E. Church at Lowville, De- cember, 1826, voted to use its influence to prevent the use of ardent spirits in their society, and in 1832, passed strong resolutions, in which the use, manufac- ture or sale of liquors was declared strongly derogatory to Christian char- acter and a fit subject of discipline.
Temperance lecturers through the country have been frequent ; among which were Rev. D. C. Axtel, in Octo- ber, 1829; Samuel Chipman in 1833, and in November, 1845 ; L. A. Crandall, in 1839; Caleb Lyon, of Lyonsdale, in the spring of 1842 ; J. P. Coffin, in Decem- ber, 1842, and Thomas N. Johnson, in September, 1844. Since then, there has seldom a year passed without morc or less being done in this line, and in recent years a Sabbath temperance meeting has been held in Lowville village very regu- larly, at which persons from the various Protestant churches have attended, and their clergy have assisted.
Various forms of associations tending to the promotion of temperance have been at different times under discussion, the general effect of which has been to lessen the extent of the evil in a very marked degree. We may add, that liv- ing examples have always been and are now found, to which reference may be made, in showing the degradation and shame to which men of ability may re- duce themselves, by habitual drunken- ness.
In the discussion of the temperance question, the Hon. John O'Donnell, of Lowville, has acquired a general notori- ety throughout the State. Mrs. M. B. O'Donnell is also widely known in this country and abroad, as an able advocate of temperance reform.
Sons of Temperance .- Eleven lodges of this order have existed in this county,
.
109
SOCIETIES.
all of which are extinct. They were formed between 1844 and 1850, the first at Copenhagen, and the last at Lowville, viz :-
Copenhagen Lodge No. 45 ; Consta- bleville, No. 46; Collinsville, No. 63; Port Leyden, No. 64; Cedar Grove (Deer River), No. 65; West Martins- burgh, No. 170; New Bremen, No. 206; Houseville, No. 217; Dayspring (Mar- tinsburgh), No. 218; Turin, No. 219; and Lowville, No. 267. Eight of these reported January, 1852, a total of 228 contributing members.
Daughters of Temperance .- A society of twelve members of this order, named "Hope of the Fallen Union," was organ- ized in Martinsburgh, January 9, 1851, by Mrs. J. A. Granger, of Champion. It was of ephemeral duration.
Good Templars .- This order was insti- tuted at Martinsburgh in June, and at Deer River in July, 1854, and at various places since. It had great popularity for a few years, and is still kept up in several places, but we believe the inter- est which they excited has greatly de- clined. There are lodges at present in Belfort and Lowville.
Hope, of Lowville .- There are also in Lowville, Juvenile Templars.
Temple of Honor .- Copenhagen.
Rechabites .- A tent at Constableville and one at Lowville, and we believe at some other places.
THE LEWIS COUNTY ANTI-SLAVERY SO- CIETY.
This society was formed August, 1835, auxiliary to the American Anti-Slavery Society, and re-organized Jan. 10, 1837, em- bracing at first members of both of the great political parties, and of all relig- ious creeds. It was soon after merged in a political party which in 1846, numbered 5 per cent. of all the votes cast for gover- nor. At no other election has their vote been so high.
The party that grew out of this move- ment never numbered more than a dozen or so in any town in the county ; but they were steadfast in their faith, and kept up an organization until about 1848, when they joined with the "Free Soil Democrats," when the latter, in 1854, be- came merged with the " Republican Party " of the present day. They almost invariably gave their adherence to that party.
The "Colonization" movement was scarcely recognized in this county as one that deserved support. One or two colored families in Denmark, however, emigrated to Africa, and we believe all soon perished from fever.
SOCIETY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF USE-
FUL KNOWLEDGE.
Under this name an association was formed in this county April 26, 1843, and continued till Sept. 2, 1848. It con- sisted at one time of about forty young men, mostly students, and was designed for mutual improvement by the reading of original papers, debates, &c.
Among the proprietors of this concern were F. B. Hough, Jas. S. Bradish, Wal- ter D. Yale, Samuel W. Johnson, (now of Yale College,) N. B. Sylvester, and many more. The germs of ideas, then discussed, have in some instances ripened into fruit ; in other cases they left no trace. Nevertheless the intentions were commendable, and although of short duration, and little known, either then or since, it deserves a transient notice, as worthy of a place in memory.
MASONIC ASSOCIATIONS.
A Mark lodge was formed at Martins- burgh, about 1810, at the house of Adon- iram Foot, and afterwards removed to
IIO
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
Denmark. It was merged in chapters about 1824.
A Master's lodge was formed at a very early day at the house of Jonathan Col- lins, in Turin. It was the first in the county.
Jefferson Lodge, No. 64, was formed in the winter of 1806-'07, in Martinsburgh, with Chillus Doty, Master ; Wm. Derby- shire, S. W .; Solomon Rathbone, J. W. It was removed to Lowville, and held for some time in the house of Ira Stephens, from whence it has returned to Martins- burgh. Before its removal it was held at the house of Chillus Doty and A. Foot, and after its return at the house of David Waters. Its charter was surren- dered June 3, 1831.
Orient Lodge was formed in Denmark about 1810, with Jonathan Barker, M., Sueton Fairchild, S. W., and - Van Vleck, J. W. A new charter was granted September 6, 1851, No. 238; and it has been removed from Denmark village to Copenhagen.
Lowville Lodge, No. 134, was chartered June 13, 1848, and has since been sus- tained.
Turin Lodge, No. 184, was chartered December 3, 1850.
Port Leyden Lodge, No. 669.
CHAPTER OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS .- There is one Chapter in the county, lo- cated at Lowville, (No. 223). It was in- corporated in 1866, to enable it to hold real estate, as noticed in our account of that town.
ODD FELLOWS' LODGES.
In 1866, six lodges of the I. O. O. F., had been formed, and four then contin- ued in this county, as follows :-
Lewis Lodge, No. 92. Constableville. Meetings Saturdays.
Copenhagen Lodge, No. 190. Copenha- gen. Meetings Saturdays.
Cynosure Lodge, No. 215. Turin. (Char- ter surrendered).
Adelphia Lodge, No. 308. Lowville. (Charter surrendered).
Central Lodge, No. 367. Martinsburgh. (Charter surrendered).
Juris Lodge, No. 417. Port Leyden, and afterwards near Lyons Falls, in Greig. (Charter surrendered).
A few "Daughters of Rebekah " were admitted to the Juris Lodge, in 1853, or 1854, but no others are, it is believed, re- ported.
THE LEWIS COUNTY MUTUAL INSUR- ANCE COMPANY.
A company under this name was in- corporated February 27, 1837, and Ela Collins, Isaac W. Bostwick, Stephen Leonard, Andrew W. Doig, Jared House, Merrit M. Norton, John W. Martin, Car- los P. Scovil, Enoch Thompson, Isaac W. Bush, Asa L. Sheldon, Ashley Dav- enport, Abraham Miller, John Whittle- sey, and Ela Merriam, were appointed Directors. The Directors elected John Whittlesey President of the company, but the organization was never complet- ed, and no policies were issued.
There was probably some difficulty in locating the office. There was no want of ability on the part of the officers des- ignated, and had there been a concerted effort there can now be seen no reason why the project could not have succeeded unless perhaps in the opposition raised through the influence of agents of other companies. At that period, the Mutual Insurance companies organized in Montgomery, Saratoga, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and other counties, were oper- ating largely throughout the county, and a large part of the buildings on farms and in villages were under this form of insur- ance.
III
THE NEWSPAPER PRESS.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE NEWSPAPER PRESS - POPULAR MOVEMENTS.
HE BLACK RIVER GAZETTE, the first newspaper printed north of the Mo- hawk valley within the State, was begun at Martinsburgh, March 10, 1807, by Jas. B. Robbins, and continued a year. It was Republican in politics, and chiefly under the patronage of General Martin. The press was then removed to Water- town and used in printing the first paper in Jefferson county. While at Martins- burgh, this paper was 19 by 21 inches in size, with four columns to the page, and the type was of the old style with the long "s." Ephraim Luce was post-rider.
The Lewis County Sentinel was begun at Martinsburgh, October 12, 1824, by Charles Nichols, and published one year, at $2.00 by post or $1.75 if taken at the office. The size was 19 by 22 inches, four columns to the page. Neutral in politics.
The Martinsburgh Sentinel and Lewis County Advertiser, was first issued Octo- ber 13, 1829, by James Ketchum Averill. Terms $2.00 to village and mail sub- scribers, $1.75 if taken at the office, and $1.50 in clubs of ten or more. If not paid till the end of the year, $2.50. It was a small sheet, with five columns to the page, and ended in February, 1830. Democratic in politics. Mr. Averill was afterwards long connected with the press in the northeastern part of the State.
The Lewis County Gazette was begun in Lowville, in the spring of 1821, by Lewis G. Hoffman, and was continued nearly two years, when its publisher re- moved to Black Rock. He afterwards resided in Waterford, and then in Al- bany, where he was for many years en- gaged in business as a real estate agent. This paper was 18 by 24 inches, with
four columns to the page, and was issued weekly, at $2.50 per annum. In politics it was " Bucktail."
The Black River Gazette was begun by William L. Easton, at Lowville, October 19, 1825, and published until December I, 1830, by him, when Joseph M. Farr became publisher and continued it until 1833. It began of the same size as the Lewis County Sentinel, upon the same press that had been used by that paper, but the second year was enlarged by one column to the page, and in the sec- ond volume, till No. 33, H. L. and W. L. Easton were associated. It was issued at $2.00 per annum, and professed to be impartial and independent in politics. The nominations of both parties were kept standing in its columns previous to elections, and it was open to discussion on any subject of public interest until 1832, when it adopted the anti-masonic nominations, and advocated the election of William Wirt to the Presidency. Mr. Easton became a joint publisher again October 10, 1832, and continued such till the end. He afterwards became en- gaged in merchandise and banking, hav- ing given up the business of a printer altogether.
The Lewis Democrat was begun by Le Grand Byington, March 25, 1834, and was published one year. It supported the Whig party, and advocated Seward's claims as candidate for Governor. Its size and terms were the same as that of the Black River Gazette, the press and type of which were employed upon this paper. Its editor subsequently figured in the Ohio Legislature, and afterwards resided in Iowa City.
The Lewis County Republican was begun at Martinsburgh, by James Wheeler," May 18, 1830, as the organ of the Democratic party in the county- the type and press being the same that
* Mr. Wheeler removed to Meadville, Pa., and we believe died there. He was by trade a harness maker.
II2
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
had been used by Mr. Averill. On the 12th of September, 1836, it was trans- ferred to Daniel S. Bailey, who con- tinued to publish it until united with the Northern Journal, January 1, 1860. It was issued from a wooden Ramage press, until Mr. Bailey procured a new iron press, and in January, 1853, a steam power press was procured. In the spring of 1845, it was removed to Low- ville, and a few years after returned to Martinsburgh. During the campaign of 1848, it supported the "Hunker " portion of the Democratic party ; in 1852, it supported Pierce; and in 1854, it became Republican. Being thus brought upon the same political plat- form with the Northern Journal, the pro- prietor of the latter purchased Mr. Bailey's interest, and January 4th, the first number of the Journal and Repub- lican was issued.
Few country newspapers have been conducted with more discretion and ability than this, during the long period it was in the hands of Mr. Bailey. We were indebted to the early files of this paper for many valuable facts in the first edition of this work.
Mr. Bailey, after closing his connec- tion which he had so long sustained with this paper, removed to Warren, Pa., and afterwards to Ellington, Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he engaged in merchandise. He died there, January 6, 1880, at the age of eighty years. His father, James Bailey, was among the early settlers upon Stow's Square, in Lowville, where he spent his early life, before his removal to Martinsburgh.
The Lewis County Democrat, the first paper printed at Turin, was begun by Horace R. Lahe, September 22, 1846, with new type and press bought for its use, partly by the aid of a local subscrip- tion, but chiefly by Clement Whitaker, Homer Collins and Jonathan C. Collins, who advanced money with the agree-
ment that Lahe should purchase at the end of a year. This was accordingly done.
It supported the Radical or " Barn- burner" branch of the Democratic party, and in the campaign of 1848, was strongly Free Soil in politics. Terms, $1.50. In January, 1850, it was removed to Martinsburgh, where a few numbers only were published, and soon after to Boonville, where its press and material were afterwards used. Mr. Lahe was for some years a journeyman printer at Lowville, where he raised a company for the 14th New York Volunteers. He served as captain in that regiment through the term of his engagement, and was afterwards employed several years in the Government printing office at Washington.
The Lewis County Banner was begun at Lowville, September 8, 1856, as the organ of the Democratic party, and advocate of Buchanan for the Presi- dency. It was conducted the first year by N. B. Sylvester, subsequently by E. A. Teall and Almond Barnes, and begin- ning September 1, 1858, by Henry Allgæver. The latter sold to DeWitt C. Finch, and on the 11th of April, 1867, it passed into the hands of Manville & Phelps, by whom it is now published.
The Northern Journal, was commenced at Lowville, by Ambrose W. Clark,* from Otsego county, February 22, 1838, at $2.00 per annum. At the end of the eighth volume, 1846, Edwin R. Colston + became its publisher, and in November, 1847, the paper appeared under the name of C. W. Haven as editor. Jason C. Easton, became owner, March 9, 1848, and November 16, 1848, William Oland Bourne of New York followed as pub- lisher, until January 1, 1850. After ap-
* Afterwards publisher of the Northern New York Journal at Watertown, and Member of Congress.
+ Mr. Colston died in Brooklyn, October II, 1857, aged 33 years. He was for several years a reporter for the New York Tribune after leaving Lowville.
113
THE PRESS OF LEWIS COUNTY.
pearing a few months under the names of Wm. X. Ninde, printer, and V. R. Martin, editor, Mr. Easton resumed the paper and in the spring of 1853, became associated with Homer C. Hunt, under the name of Easton & Hunt, and continu- ed to the close of Volume XVI. Cordial Storrs, Jr., became proprietor December 28, 1853, and having conducted the paper two years, was followed January 2, 1856, by Geo. W. Fowler. On the 27th of Oc- tober, 1858, Henry A. Phillips, became publisher. This paper was established as the organ of the Whig party in the county, and in 1854, it became Republi- can. It has uniformly supported the nominees of this party, except in 1858, when it substituted the name of Mr. Lyon for Congress as an independent candidate, in opposition to the nominee of the Republican party. Late in 1859, Mr. Phillips purchased the Lewis County Republican, and January 4, 1860, the first two were issued under the title of
The Journal and Republican, at Low- ville, Mr. Bailey remaining for a time associate editor. The paper was sold January 1, 1864, to Smiley & Hazen, and upon the removal of the latter to Nebras- ka, the former became sole owner. In July, 1868, Smiley sold to Phillips, the former owner, and on the Ist of January, 1870, Smiley became again owner. He remained proprietor until his death, April 9, 1878,* and in May of that year, Phillips again purchased the paper, and has since published it.
The Lowville Times was started as a new establishment by John O'Donnell, July 4, 1876, and was conducted by him till the fall of 1882, when it passed into the hands of Warren R. Fitch, the pres- ent publisher. Soon after it began, The Farmers' Journal, from Carthage, was consolidated with it, and issued separate-
ly for a few months. It had been published at Carthage, as a Grange paper, until purchased by Mr. O'Donnell. He also at about the same time bought the Watchword at Ilion, and continued it about three years, when it was sold to Light & Rechard, of Utica. It has been since discontinued. In 1881, Mr. O'Donnell began a monthly periodical under the name of the Farmers' Work- man's Journal," (16 pages quarto in cov- ers,) which was made up chiefly of editorial articles from the Lowville Times, and had scarcely any local circulation, but was printed in large editions for the promotion of the interests which it professed to advocate.
The Dollar Weekly, Northern Blade, was begun at Constableville, August, 1854, by Fairchild & Bealls. It was changed from small folio to quarto at the end of the first year, and Fairchild became sole publisher in July, 1855. The third vol- ume became folio. In February, 1856, Galusha P. Eames became publisher, and in September of that year, J. S. Kibbes' name appeared as editor. While in Eames' possession the paper was en- larged to 24 by 30 inches.
On the 23d of April, 1857, William R. Merrill and Edwin R. Cook became publishers and changed its name to
The News Register, and in the spring of 1858, removed the office to Carthage and began the publication of the Carthage Standard.
The Hawk Eye, a juvenile four page quarto sheet, supposed to have been printed at Lowville, appeared at Consta- bleville a few weeks in the fall of 1855. To oppose this
The Young American was printed at the Blade office a few weeks. It was some- what larger, but scarcely more respecta- ble than its pigmy opponent.
The Boys' Journal was begun at Mar- tinsburgh July, 1868, by the Mereness brothers, and continued as a monthly,
* Amos V. Smiley died at St. Augustine, Florida. His remains were brought back to Lowville for inter- ment.
114
HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.
but somewhat irregularly as to form, two or three years.
The Copenhagen Independent was com- menced by Edgar D. Bates in the spring of 1880, (about May roth,) and in July, 1881, it was changed to the Lewis County Independent, by which name it is now known. The present editor is Charles M. Redfield.
The Port Leyden Register was begun July, 1867, by the Rev. James E. N. Backus, a Seventh-Day Baptist minis- ter. Upon his removal to DeRuyter, he was succeeded by A. T. Goodenough. After his removal it was continued for a time by Dexter Orvis, and finally discon- tinued.
The Turin Gazette was commenced March 17, 1881, and is published weekly by John R. Beden; edition 800; sub- scription price $1.50 a year. Neutral in politics.
POPULAR MOVEMENTS.
To the student of local history there is nothing more common than to find at times a prevailing interest amounting to enthusiasm throughout the whole community upon subjects that at other times would be passed unnoticed. The political excitements that periodically dis- turb the social system, are very apt to recur with greater energy at intervals of four years. The temperance move- ment, under its various forms, and other questions that have at different periods come up, had their fever-heat, and their decline. It is seldom that history has recorded such an energy of spirit as was displayed in the course of the late war, and especially in the early period, and in the crisis when everything seemed to hang upon uncertainties, and to de- mand promptness and vigor in meeting the emergencies that were upon us. Without specially noticing here the more obvious examples already pre-
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