Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 29

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York > Part 29

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August 14, 1818, from Copenhagen by Worthville to Lorraine; from La Fargeville by Shantyville (Orleans ! Corners), Parker Settlement, Theresa, Ox Bow to Gouverneur. Sept. 22, 1850, from Pierrepont Manor to Sackets Harbor, via railroad; from Adams Centre to Sackets Harbor; from Evans Mills to Ox Bow; from Lowville by Harrisburgh and Pinckney to Rodman. March 3, 1851, from Great Bend via Evans Mills to French Creek (Clayton).

As late as 1824 or '75 there were four toll roads leading to and from the city of Watertown. One was out on State street, the toll-gate being about a mile from the square; a second toll road was on Washington street, the gate being in the vicinity of Elm street, as now laid out; a third was on the Pamelia road, on Le Ray street, the gate being just north of the Henry D. Converse residence. Mr. Converse owned the road about the time mentioned. The fourth toll road was that leading to Brownville, on which the gate was kept just west of the county house. This thoroughfare was macadamized road, and was owned by Alanson Skinner, All, however, were abandoned as toll roads about 1875.

Early Lake Navigation .- Both the French and English built vessels on Lake Ontario during their contest for supremacy in America, and when in the early years of the present century Great Britain and the United States were for a second time at war, lake navigation played an im- portant part in the struggle. In 1816 an agreement was made between 34

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

the executors of Robert Fulton and Robert R Livingston and Edward P. Livingston, who were the owners of the right of steam navigation in this state, and Charles Smyth, Joseph C. Yates, Thomas C. Duane and David Boyd, by which the latter acquired the sole right to navigate boats and vessels (except war vessels) by steam on Lake Ontario lying within the lines of this state.

On February 6, 1816, a petition was presented by Charles Smyth, David Boyd, Eri Lusher, Abram Van Santvoord and John J. De Graff asking for the act first above mentioned, but the same was not granted. On August 16, Smyth and Lusher became owners of the interest of their asso- ciates, and as partners be- gan the construction of a TARIO 1 11 boat at Sackets Harbor. It was 110 feet long, 24 feet beam, eight feet deep, FIRST STEAMBOAT ON THE GREAT LAKES, 1816. and measured 23; tons. The engine capacity was 21 horse power. This was the steamer Ontario, which was completed and put on the lake in 1817, and was the first steam craft to navigate that body of water.

Then followed another attempt to secure an act of incorporation for the company, in which enterprise Charles Smyth and Eri Lusher were the controlling spirits, but who were associated with Jacob Brown, Melancthon T. Woolsey, Samuel F. Hooker, Hunter Crane and Elisha Camp. The attempt, however, did not succeed, for the monopoly of steam navigation was thought to be contrary to the spirit of the federal constitution, and was so held in February, 1824, after a long and serions litigation. In the mean time the Ontario was run on the lake and river, making weekly trips between Lewiston and Ogdensburgh, but finding the time too short in which to cover the 600 miles of distance, it afterward made a trip every ten days. The boat was run until 1832, when it was broken up at Oswego.

The next steamer was the Frontenac, built at Kingston, and was con- tinued in use until 1832 when she went to pieces in Nutting's Bay, off the Henderson shore. There were on board six hands and 22 passen-

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INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

gers, all of whom were saved and drawn ashore in a three- bushel basket, rigged on a line with a " Dutch harness." Among the other steamboats of about the same period, and all previous to 1834, were the Sophia, Robbins, Black Hawk (afterward Dolphin), Brownville (afterward the William Avery), Charles Carroll (afterward America) and the Paul Pry.

The Ontario and St. Lawrence Steamboat company was incorporated Jan. 28, 1831, and in a measure superseded the old company which owned the Ontario and Martha Ogden. The company did business at Oswego, and built the United States, (launched in Nov. 1831) 112 feet long. 26 feet beam, 10 ft. depth of hold, and cost $56,000. This boat made a record during the Patriot war, carrying the invaders down the river to Windmill Point. She run from Lewiston to Ogdensburgh un- til 1838, and afterward on the lake only until 1813, when she was broken up at Oswego, and her engines were transferred to the Rochester.

Among the later steamboats built for lake and river navigation may be mentioned the following: The Oswego, at Oswego in 1833; the Jack Downing, built at Carthage in 1831, by Paul Boynton and drawn on wheels to Sackets Harbor; the Oneida, 222 tons, built at Oswego in 1836; the Telegraph, 196 tons, built at Dexter in 1836, and finally burned on Lake St. Clair; the Express built at Pultneyville in 1839, and laid up in 1850; the St. Lawrence, 402 tons, enrolled at Oswego in 1839, and went out of service at Clayton in 1850; the George Clinton and the President, both small boats built at Oswego about 1842: the John Marshall, a small steamer which was wrecked off the month of Sandy creek, Oct. 18, 1844, and several others of less consequence.

The Ontario Steamer and Canal Boat company was incorporated about 1842, and did business at Oswego. This company built the Lady of the Lake ( 123 tons), which, after 1852, was run as a ferry boat be tween Cape Vincent and Kingston in connection with the railroad. The Rochester was built at Oswego in 1843. The Niagara was built at Clayton about the same time by the St. Lawrence steamboat company. The Cataract and the Ontario were both built at Clayton in 1842, fol- lowed in 1819 by the Bay State. The Northerner was built at Oswego in the winter of 1819-50. The New York, then the largest steamer on the lake, was built at Clayton in 1851-52, by John Oades, at a cost of about $100,000. In 1848 the two companies last mentioned were con- solidated under the name of the Ontario and St. Lawrence Steamboat company, with a capital of 8750,000, and afterward operated a line of

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

cleven steamers during the boating season. The company continued to operate its lines, which included nearly all lake and river points, until 1858, when the competition of the Grand Trunk railway so seri- ously affected its business that it went into the hands of a receiver, and its property was subsequently sold to the American Steamboat company. In later years other companies' were organized and new steamers re- placed the older ones. In this chapter only a brief allusion has been made to the general subject of lake and river navigation, but the at- tention of the reader is directed to the several town histories for a more detailed narative concerning the local companies and their boats.

Telegraph Lines .- The first telegraph line constructed and put in operation was in 1850, and was known as the O'Reiley Merchants line, operating on the Bain principle. It was constructed along the stage road from Oswego to Pulaski, Adams, Watertown, Theresa and Ogdens- burgh, and in the course of a few years was purchased by the Morse company and operated under its system. In 1853 a telegraph line was established between Watertown and Sackets Harbor.

The Montreal Telegraph company established its line on the south side of the St. Lawrence about 1860, and in 1820 bought out the United States Telegraph company, which in the meantime had gained a foot - hold in the county. The Dominion Telegraph company began busi- ness in the county in 18;2. The Western Union, the Great Northwest- ern of Canada, and the Postal Telegraph and Cable companies are of more recent operation, so far as this locality is concerned, but the exact year of construction in the county is uncertain.

1 The more important of these were the Thousand Island Steamboat company, virtually a Canadian enterprise, which was incorporated May 15, 14, and the Alexandria Bay Steamboat company incorporated October 23, 1-95.

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THE CITY OF WATERTOWN.

CHAPTER XX.

THE CITY OF WATERTOWN-THE SEAT OF JUSTICE OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.'

Township number two of the Black river traet was surveyed by Ben- jamin Wright in 1996, and soon afterwards by Robert MeDowell. Nicholas Low became possessed of the township in a general subdivi- sion of the eleven towns among the owners ( Low, Henderson, Harrison and Hoffman) which was made August 5, 1296, soon after Wright's survey was completed. In 1801 the territory was subdivided by Joseph Crary, under the direction of Silas Stow, the latter being the agent of Low, the proprietor.

Surveyor Wright gave the name Watertown to township No. 2, from the fact that within its boundaries he found what he then regarded as several of the most desirable natural water privileges? in all of northern New York. Under his direction the lands of the township were subdi- vided into lots, by Joseph Crary, as above stated, and on the river bor- der (where the settlement was established, and whereupon in part stands the city) were numbers seven and eight. Of number : the sur- veyor remarked: "This is a very good lot and has excellent mill seats on the river, without expensive dams, and with the greatest safety to

1 In preparing this chapter the writer has availed himself of such published works as are ex. tant, and particularly the reminiscences and recollections of okl settlers; and not in all cases has he exercised the utmost care in using quotation marks. Moreover, much of the data in the chapter was secured from still other nativesand early residents of Watertown than those whose contributions have forced their way into print, and where a conflict of opinion has been en- countered the writer has endeavored to secure a majority version as being the nearest correct. Having thus exhausted every reliable source of information the following narrative is furnished as a reasonably accurate history of the hamlet, village and city.

2 In making his survey and examination it is evident that Benj. Wright did not discover the famous caverns of Black river. Indeed, these wonderful openings were unknown to the earliest settlers. Several of these eaves were found in the eastern part of the present city, opposite Factory square and about where was the little village of Juhelville. They were without special interest, and were formed by water running along the natural seams in the rocks. On the south bank of the river, about under the termination of Jackson street, is the entrance to a cave, which was first explored in the summer of 1838, and is said to have been traced nearly 500 feet. This was known as the "ice cave," from the occurrence of iee during the summer months, which almost obstructed the entrance. From the slow transmission of temperature, the seasons be- come reversed in the cavern.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

the mills." Baker and Munson streets, as now laid out, are about on the south boundary of the lot; Hamlin street, extended north to the river, is on the east line, while just east of Cedar street is the west line.

Lot No. 8 joins No. 7 on the east, and is thus described in Wright's field book: "This is a very good lot, and is well timbered; has fine mill seats, and land of the first quality; some few stone, and some pine timber."

Subsequent events proved the accuracy of Benjamin Wright's survey of and comments concerning the village site as it appeared to him more than a century ago, and on which there was not then so much as a single habitation ; nor have we any present knowledge that the foot of civilized white man had ever previously trod along the banks of Black river to notice the generous provision of nature for the benefit of man. It was this desirable series of natural water privileges that impelled Henry Coffeen, a Vermonter, and Zachariah Butterfield, from New Hampshire, to select this locality as their future place of abode. This was in 1800, but two years previous to that time Eliphalet and Christo- pher Edmunds, both Vermont Yankees, came down the river from the high falls (Lyons Falls) in a boat, and had the misfortune to upset their craft in attempting to pass the upper falls on the village site. The Edmunds brothers were hunters, not settlers, and were in search of a locality that promised an abundance of game. However, the acci- dent at the falls seemed to change their purpose. When the boat cap- sized their game and ammunition disappeared in the water, whereupon they left the region and settled in the south part of the Black river country, Eliphalet Edmunds in Adams, and his brother in Ellisburgh, as afterward created and named.

The next visitors to the village site, according to accepted authori- ties, were Nathaniel and Seyrel Harrington and Joshua Priest (also Vermonters and acquaintances of the Edmunds) who came down the river in 1199 and took up lands on Dry hill, where they were pioneers. Then came Coffeen and Butterfield, both in March, 1800, and made the first improvements and settlement on the village site. It is believed that Mr. Coffeen arrived a few days earlier than his fellow pioneer, but both were soon followed by Jonathan Cowan, Hart and Isaiah Massey and Ezekiel Jewett.

Pioneer Coffeen came from Oneida county, but was a native and former resident of Vermont. llis land was between Coffeen and Court

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THE CITY OF WATERTOWN.

streets and the river, and was improved chiefly for farming purposes; but when this settlement was designated as the new county seat the lands were soon subdivided into building lots. Mr. Coffeen was the most active factor in securing the county buildings and donated the lands upon which the first court house was erected. Ilis first log dwelling stood about on the site of the present Watertown National bank, from which point his lands extended westerly along the river to the top of Folt's hill, where his son, Henry 11. Coffeen, afterward erected a dwelling. As more definitely described, the Coffeen land included (in whole or in part) lots number 2, 3, 13, 21 and 165 in the subdi- vision of great lot number ? of the town tract. Zachariah Butterfield built a log dwelling, acording to reliable authority, on the site of the present Washington hall building. But Mr. Butterfield does not ap- pear to have been so prominent in early village history as many of his fellow pioneers, and recollections of him are meagre. He bought a considerable tract of land between Washington and State streets, and . contributed a part of his purchase to the public square.

Dr. Isaiah and Hart Massey evidently acted jointly in purchasing lands. Their tract began near the present corner of Arsenal street and the square, and extended thenee south and west. The old land office book shows that Hart Massey made a purchase in 1800. His first dwelling stood at about the entrance to the Paddock arcade, but a little later on he built a frame house further south on Washington street, and still later erected a more pretentious brick residence on Massey street, the latter being named for him. Dr. Massey began life in the settlement by erecting, in 1802, a log tavern about on the south line of the American arcade. Ile was a physician, but being the only landlord of the place, was much occupied in looking to the com- fort of his guests, and setting them safely on their journeys in search of places of settlement, for at that time the locality swarmed with prospectors and pioneers. Among the settlers the Masseys were prominent persons and were greatly respected throughout the Black river valley. Both left descendants and the family surname is still represented by some of the best business men of the county.

Jonathan Cowan built a dam across the river (above Mill street) in 1802, and in the next year had his saw mill in operation. He was a practical millwright and miller, and was the unele of Judge Esek Cowan, of Saratoga, the well-known law writer of later years. It is not known just how pioneer Cowan first acquired title, but it was prob-

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

ably by purchase from some owner who did not make a settlement here. He also built a dwelling near the mill, and within a year or two Israel Thornton erected and occupied the second log house in that locality. These structures led to opening a road to the (Cowan's) island,1 and to the mill, substantially on the route of Mill street, although it was not until nearly twenty-five years later that a bridge was built across the river at this point. Mr. Cowan died? near Evans Mills, Nov. 27, 1840. Aside from his milling interests he was not especially promi- nent in early Watertown history; but in after years he attracted some publie attention by an attempt to regain possession of a part of the square, under the claim that he never parted with the title. On the trial it was proved that in certain conveyances he had bounded the lands therein sold in part by the square, which fact, with other specific acts, constituted a publie dedication, and estopped his right to reclaim the land. Ezekiel Jewett owned a large tract of land between State street (a part of the state road) and the river, but he does not appear to have been a prominent factor in early village life. He is recalled, how- ever, as a worthy pioneer and respected citizen.

During the next two or three years, and before Jefferson county was set off from Oneida, a number of new settlers and families were added to the little community on Black river. Among the new arrivals of that period were a number of men who became known in the subsequent history of the village, but for some reason the precise date of their set- ment has never been determined by their descendants, or by earlier chroniclers of Watertown history. In this connection may be recalled the names of John Paddock, Chauncey Calhoun, Isaac Cutler, Philo Johnson, Jessie Doolittle, Joel Goodale, Medad Canfield, Aaron Keyes, J. Waite, William Huntington (died in Watertown, May 11, 184?), John Hathaway, Paoli Wells (hat maker), Seth Bailey, William Smith, Gershom (afterward Colonel) Tuttle, Andrew Edmunds, Eli Rogers, Amasa Fox, Aaron Bacon, John Simmons and perhaps others, whose names are now forgotten, but all of whom were in some manner identi- fied with the early interesting history of the hamlet previous to the designation of Watertown as the county seat. It is a fact that as early

1 This island. now known as Beebee'sisland. formed a part of Jonathan Cowan's purchase, and is said to have been offered by him to Jonathan Baker for $10. The latter offered $5, but being unable to agree the bargain failed .- (Hough. )

" The first death in the village settlement was that of Isaac Thornton, who was crushed be- neath a tree he had cut down. This event took place probably during the summer of 1802. The accident happened on the site where now stands the high school building.

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THE CITY OF WATERTOWN.

as 1802 or '3 the subject of two new counties in northern New York was seriously discussed, but at that time it was assumed that Champion would be the county seat of one of them, hence no special effort was made to secure the designation for Watertown.

The accompanying map of Watertown in 1804 will serve to give the reader something of an idea of the situation of the village at that time, and a careful study of the buildings, roads and names of occupants will furnish a better story of pioncer life than can be described in several pages of history. The map has been prepared expressly for this work, and is taken from an original sketch made by Dyer Huntington. It was more recently in the possession of John G. Sterling, and by him was presented to the city.

In the meantime other incoming settlers had discovered an excellent water power and desirable location for a village in the eastern part of the town, on a branch of Sandy creek, in a locality where lands were less expensive than on the river. The place soon became known as Burr's Mills or Burrville, after Captain John Burr, who settled there with his sons in 1802, and purchased the saw and grist mills which Hart Massey had built the previous year under contract with agent Stow. Soon after- ward Jabez Foster opened a store (in which Orville Hungerford was clerk) and in the same year Rev. Ebenezer Lazelle had a distillery in / operation. With these desirable adjuncts of village life, Burrville was a strong rival with Watertown, and for a time held the advantage, especially as it was about four miles nearer the expected county seat than our little struggling settlement on Black river, which then had no store and only Cowan's mill and Dr. Massey's tavern to attract strangers.

In 1801 the new county project was the uppermost topic to engage the attention of the inhabitants, and at least two general conventions and several informal conferences discussed the matter with great inter- est. During the latter part of the year, the advocates of the two county scheme were in the majority, and the result was an act of the legislature, passed March 28, 1805, creating Lewis and Jefferson coun . ties, followed by the appointment of three non-resident commissioners to locate the site for county buildings in each jurisdiction. This final result destroyed the chance of Champion, whose leading advocates were such strong men as Egbert Ten Eyck and Moss Kent (at least one of whom afterward came to Watertown), and the next question was whether Watertown, Brownville or some place north of the river,

271

Bridde

Isaet Culter's Distillery

Black Hiver

Rapids

Cowan's Island

J. Cowan

CTX

Parael Thornton

Log House built by Judge Coffeen

o Spring

rene

Barn

A Judge Henry Coffeen

Dr Isaiah Massey

frame for a stores

BJ Wait

Barn de

„Aaron Bacon

Bcooper Shop

Aaron Keyes

Her1 Messeg'S

Frame House

Dy Medad Canfield

Hart. Masseyse

Barn

Padi Wells House - Mal Sho

Juel Goodall

MAP OF WATERTOWN IN 1804.

Ull Amasa Fox

would be designated as the county seat. It was then that the influence and diplomacy of Henry Coffeen and his associates showed to advantage and prevailed with the commissioners. Watertown was made the seat

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

275

THE CITY OF WATERTOWN

of justice, and Henry and Amos Coffeen donated and deeded to the county the site whereon the first court house and jail were erected. This special subject is so fully narrated in a preceding chapter that further detail in this place is unnecessary; but in this fortunate desig- nation the future growth and prosperity of Watertown were fully assured, and required only the development of the natural resources offered by the splendid water power of Black river to establish and maintain this as the greatest industrial village and city of northern New York. That this end has been fully attained is known and recog- nized in every business center of the castern and middle Atlantic states, and is taught in almost every school room in the country.

In the meantime, and before the question of the county seat had been fully determined, there was a steady growth in our little settle . ment, and in 1803 Henry Coffeen and Andrew Edmunds built a bridge across the river at the foot of what is now Court street, and over which passed the old state road, which was laid out through the Black river valley in that year. About the same time the settlers on the village site " had it in wind " to follow the invariable New England enstom of laying out their land regularly, and in its central portion establish a " village green," or "public square, " around which business buildings should be erected. Just when this proposition assumed tangible form is not now definitely known, but there appears to have been an under- standing. even from the time of the first settlement, that the present square would be the most suitable location, for previous to the laying out in fact there was hardly more than one or two log buildings on the traet. llenry Coffeen had previously offered to donate a piece of land in front of the court house for this purpose, but as the tract was west of what was then regarded as the central location, the offer was not accepted. Mr. Coffeen did, however, lay out the broad street in front of the court house (originally Madison, now Massey street), but his name is perpetuated in an east and west thoroughfare extending from Court street to the city limits.

It is quite probable that the public square was donated and laid out for its special purpose sometime during the year 1805. The public- spirited owners who contributed to this commendable object were Ilenry Coffeen, Zachariah Butterfield, Jonathan Cowan, Jesse Doolittle, Hart and Isaiah Massey, Aaron Keyes and Medad Canfield; and a por- tion of them, whose lands bordered on Washington street, also donated a strip on the side of that beautiful thoroughfare extending south as far as Academy street.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

One of the earliest public conveniences within the square was the primitive machine for grinding grain. A stump was " hollowed out " in the form of a mortar, and with an implement attached to a "spring pole " the grain was reduced to proper consistency for domestic use. When or by whom this rude implement was constructed is not known, but it was a truly Yankee " contrivance," and served its purpose until a grist mill was put in operation. It stood on the west side of the square, about opposite Dr. Massey's tavern. Another equally in- genious piece of mechanism was the old "weighing-scales," which was erected about in front of the present Harris house. It was used to de- termine the weight of a wagon load of produce, and comprised an up- right post, surmounted with a sweep, much after the style of the old-fashioned well-sweep. At one end of the "sweep" were four chains, which fastened to the wheels of the vehicle; at the other end was suspended the weight. the "fifty sixes" being hung on until the pole balanced. The weights run 56 pounds each, for at that time it required 112 pounds gross to equal 100 pounds net weight. Several of the older residents remember this old apparatus, which stood until platform scales were invented and came into general use.

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 29

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co. Number of Pages: 1368

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368