Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 45

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 45

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).

This building was occupied from 1870 to 1882, when, "having been sold for a debt, and the trustees being unable to agree with the pur- chaser for further oceupation upon terms deemed just, the school was removed to a block in the business part of the village, where it re- mained until burned out in the fire of August 28, 1884. Subsequently the academic building was purchased by D. A. Dwight and wife, and was conveyed by perpetual lease to the trustees, subject to certain con- ditions."

The liberal and publie-spirited citizens of Adams have raised by sub- scription for the benefit of this institution during the period of its history, a total of more than $50,000. The name " Adams Collegiate Institute," was restored in a provisional charter granted by the re-

1 In 1450 Captain Mendell began the erection of a large three-story hotel building near the railroad track, but financial reverses overtook him before the work was finished. General Hun- gerford purchased the property at foreclosure sale.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

gents May 29, 1883. On Nov. 16, following, the charter was declared absolite.

The principals in succession, have been as follows: Rev. J. Dunbar Houghton, 1866-68; Albert B. Watkins, 18:1-82; Orlo B. Rhodes, 1×82-94; J. Firman Coar, 1894-95: Salem G. Patterson, 1895-96; H. Erwin Bard. 1896 -.

The present officers and trustees are D. A. Dwight, president; W. D. Arms, vice- president. W. J. Allen, secretary ; T. T. Carter, treasurer ; and the officers and John Sinclair. W. H. H. Taylor, L. E. Pruyne, A. J. Lovelee, G. W. Hannahs, R. D. Gardner, A. W. Ingraham. W. A. Waite, A. K. Hale. S. T. Thompson, Orlo B. Rhodes, A. D. Ripley. H. O. Kenyon. J. J. Stilman, J. M. Hungerford, D. E. Tay lor, S. H. Pitcher. W. H. Nichelson, W. H. Wheeler and H. E. Fox, trustees.

Another of the early institutions, and one which also antedated the village incorporation, was the old Jefferson county bank, which was originally intended to do business at the county seat, but on account of existing rivalries between Watertown and Brownville was located at Adams. A substantial brick building was erected for its use, and from 1811 to 1524 the bank did business here and then removed to Water- town. The bank building was afterwards converted into a dwelling house.

The next attempt to establish a bank in the village was made in 1×45, when Solon D. Hungerford opened a banking house under the name of the Hungerford bank. On September 1, 1853, it was organ- ized as an association with the same name, and with $125,000 capital. The first directors were Solon D. Hungerford, Jeremiah Griswold. Philander Smith, M. R. Patrick, N. M. Wardwell, George Gates, Almanzo Braddon, Roswell Kinney and Samuel Wardwell. In 1865 the institution was resolved into the Hungerford National bank, with with a capital of $125,000. The bank continued business until 1881. when it went into liquidation.

The First National bank of Adams was organized August 26, 1863, with 875,000 capital, and Solon D. Hungerford, president, and R. H. Huntington, cashier. The bank did business in the older Hungerford bank building, and March 17, 1873, was merged into the Deposit Na- tional bank of New York.

In 1812 the Adams bank began business in the Whitney block, with Gilbert & Babcock as proprietors. This was not a bank of issue, and after a time was sold out to Hungerford & Huntington of the First National bank.

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THE TOWN OF ADAMS.

The Adams National bank was organized in 1883, with a capital of $50,000, and with W. A. Waite, president; Harrison Fuller, vice-presi- dent, and George W. Hannahs, cashier. It did a successful business until May 29, 1889, when it was reorganized as the Farmers' National bank (No. 1,061) with $65,000 capital, and with Dr. C. D. Potter, pres- ident; Isaac P. Wodell, vice-president, and G. W. Hannahs, cashier. From that time the history of the bank has been a record of continued success, and it is regarded as one of the safe financial institutions of the the county. Its present officers are Isaac P. Wodell, president; Harri- son Fuller, vice-president; and George W. Hannahs, cashier. Direc- tors, 1. P. Wodell, Harrison Fuller, J. A. D. Snell, C. W. Gates, C. D. Grimshaw, Erwin Pitkin, Geo. M. Wood, Fred Williams, M. D. Swan and N. D. Yost. The bank's surplus is $7,500; and its undivided profit account, $2,500.

The Citizens National bank (No. 4, 103) of Adams was organized Aug. 2, 1889, with a capital of $50,000. Its first officers were George Mather, president; L. F. Caulkins, vice president, and 11. II. Hathway, cashier. This, too, has been an entirely successful institution, and one which has ever enjoyed the confidence of moneyed men throughout the county. It has a present surplus of $10,000, and an undivided profit account of $10,400. Mr. Mather has been the president since the bank was organ- ized. A. S. Thompson succeeded Caulkins as vice-president, and in December, 1895, II Il. Waite succeeded Mr. Ilathway as cashier. The present directors are George Mather, Wm. Mather, N. M. Ward- well, Lucy J. Bullock, W. A. Waite, J. A. Eastman, A. S. Thompson, J. W. Overton, J. J. Mather, F. N. Muzzy, C. HI. Bickford, M. M. Filmore and II. 11. Waite.

After the incorporation of the village, in 1851, and the subsequent organization of its municipal affairs under that action, there appeared to be a general and somewhat rapid local growth in all directions, and during the following ten or more years many of its most prominent in- stitutions were established, as preceding pages will show. At the same time there was a corresponding increase in population and business in- terests, and as early as 1860 Adams was regarded as one of the most pro- gressive outlying villages in the county. It was about this time that John F. Weaver established the tannery business which was so long carried on by his sons. In 1856 a stock company was organized and started a hoe and fork factory. The business afterward passed into the hands of Saunders & Holman, who turned it into a general machine 54

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

shop and so continued it until the property was burned. New shops and new industries replaced the old buildings, and Saunders & Wright afterward carried on business. About the same time, probably in 1855, a large brick malt house was built near the depot by Rufus P. White, who in June, 1877, sold out to W. A. Waite. The business has been continued and is one of the largest enterprises of the village. In the same manner, the old flour mill still survives, as is previously men- tioned, and is now operated by E. J. Seeber & Co. The Adams ma- chine shop and foundry was started about 1863 by Saunders & Holman, and afterward passed through several changes in proprietorship. The property was once burned but was rebuilt. It is now owned by Levi H. Brown (of Watertown) and is operated by T. P. Saunders. The Adams lumber company was established about the same time by Julius Fox, and has also passed through several ownerships, among whom was W. H. Wheeler. The present proprietor is W. L. Pratt. The F. L. Webster canning factory began business in July, 1889. The property is now owned by W. A. Waite & Sons, maltsters. The Kenyon & Thomas company began the manufacture and sale of Hale's household ointment, and household tea, about 1889, and have since built up a business of large proportions.

In strictly mercantile interests Adams is well represented, and while the number of merchants appear to be sufficient for all purposes there is little outward evidence of over-competition. The stores as a rule are large and well stocked, and throughout the village is a pleasant indica- tion of constant business activity. Indeed, in the history of business life in the county, the claim has been made, with much show of truth, that in this village there has been a less proportion of failures than in the majority of similarly situated places. Whatever of truth may be found in this claim the writer cannot say, yet on every hand in Adams are evidences of thrift, enterprise and prosperity not always noticeable in villages of this class, where agriculture is so wholly the pursuit of the inhabitants of surrounding country.

Rising Sun Lodge, No. 124, was organized in 1806, with Robert Merrick, master. Regular meetings were held and a large membership was acquired, when in 18 ?? the lodge was obliged to suspend on account of the anti-masonic troubles of that period. In March, 1851, the lodge was revived with the same name, but changed in number to 234. The officers and charter members were Benj. Wright, master: J. C. Cooper. S. W .; J. Griswold, J. W .; and Dennis Waite and Titus Bassett, mem-

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THE TOWN OF ADAMS.

bers. From that to the present time the lodge has maintained a health - ful existence, and is numbered among the strongest and most influen- tial masonic organizations of the county. The present membership is 107.

Meridian Chapter, No. 86, R. A. M., was chartered in February, 1821, with thirty-one members, and with Joseph Enos, Il. P., and E. H1. Pond, secretary. But the chapter, like the lodge, was forced to succumb and surrender its charter in 1828. No further attempt at a similar organization was made until Feb. 26, 1867, when Adams chap- ter No. 205, was chartered with thirty members. Its first officers were Thos. C. Chittenden, H. P .; C. K. Stone, E. K. ; H. C. Brodie, E. S. The present members number forty-eight, although at one time the number was nearly ninety.

Winona Lodge No. 323, I. O. O. F., was chartered Oct. 18, 1817, and was continued about twenty years and then dissolved. Oriental En- campment, No. 45, I. O. O. F., was organized by the withdrawal of several former members of Montezuma Encampment of Watertown. The year of organization is not now known, but the society did not en- joy a long existence.

The Presbyterian church was organized as the First Congregational church of Adams, in July, 1804, by Rev. Ebenezer Lazelle. The orig- inal members were Joshua Beals, Jacob Kellogg, Abraham and Betsey Griswold, David Comstock and Asenath Cooper. The society was governed by the rules of the Congregational church until 1821, when the Presbyterian form was adopted. The subject of a house of worship was discussed as early as 1811, but an edifice was not begun until 1815, and was finished in 1818. In 1828 the structure was sold to the M. E. society, and on its site was erected the large and more attractive edifice which is still in a fair state of preservation. It was substantially re- paired in 1881, and after the interior had been refurnished the edifice was rededicated Dec. 1, 1881, The membership in the church is now about 180 persons. The present pastor, Rev. J. Rosser Jones, came to Adams in March, 1896. The Sunday school was established in ISIS. The chapel property was purchased in 1850. The present chapel build- ing was erected in 1881. The parsonage property was purchased in 1866.

The First Methodist Episcopal church of Adams was organized in 1828, after which the society purchased and occupied the old house of worship formerly owned by the Presbyterian society. The building

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

was removed to a neighboring lot and was occupied until 1852, when it was destroyed by fire. The present church edifice was erected in 185 ?- 53, and cost $10,000. It was materially repaired in 1875. This church is numerically one of the strongest in the town, the members number- ing: 286, and 14 probationers. The Sunday school has 228 members. The pastor is Rev. John Richards. 1

The Baptist church at Adams village was organized December 16, 1846, although services of this denomination had been held in the vil- lage several years earlier. In 1842 a frame church edifice was erected, at a cost of $3,500. It was dedicated in January, 1848. In 1811 the old building was removed, and in its place the present house of worship was erected, being the only brick church structure in the village. The first regular minister was Rev. Charles Clark. The present member- ship is 178, and the total enrollment in the Sunday school is 192. The present pastor is Rev. R. J. Thompson.

Emanuel church, Protestant Episcopal, of Adams was legally organ- ized February 18, 1849, in pursuance of a public notice read to the mission congregation which had held services in the village for many years previous to the date mentioned. Henry B. Whipple, afterward Episcopal bishop of Minnesota, was lay reader. The erection of a chapel was at once begun, the corner stone being laid Oct. 9, 1849. The edifice was completed June 19, 1850. The first rector was Rev. T. F. Wardwell. The rectory property was purchased in 1845. The present number of communicants is 80. The rector is Rev. English Crooks.

During the period of its history, the town of Adams has furnished Jefferson county with some of its best and strongest men, and it is a conceded fact in the political history of the county that this town has been as frequently represented by its people in high office as any of its civil divisions with the exception of the city of Watertown. The first improvements in Adams were made by pioneers of exceptional mental and physical strength, and from that time the town has been noted in this respect. David Smith who founded the settlement of Adams was a man of energy and determination, and Jesse Smith, the pioneer of Smithville settlement, was much of the same mould. In later years there were the Bakers, the Doxtaters, the Edmunds, the Greenes, the Arms, the Wrights, the Mortons, the Thomases and a host of others equally worthy of mention. Then there was Judge Benjamin Wright, the old surrogate, whose danghter married John H. Whipple. They were the parents of Henry B. Whipple, hereafter mentioned,

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THE TOWN OF ADAMS.

Among the men of intellectual strength who have attained renown in the field of theology may be mentioned Rt. Rev. Henry B. Whipple, Episcopal bishop of Minnesota, and Rt. Rev. W. X. Ninde, bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church, both of whom are natives of this town.

This town was the former residence and place of conversion of the late Rev. Charles G. Finney, who won renown in the ministerial field and was for many years president of Oberlin college. It was also the home of that famous orator, evangelist and divine, the Rev. Jedediah Burchard, for the last ten or fifteen years of his life. He died in Adams and was interred in Rural cemetery. Many are the anecdotes told and quaint illustrations repeated of this famous though eccentric divine who was one of the most forceful preachers of his day and as such won a national reputation.

Other prominent men in Adams history are Samuel N. Bond, Perley D. Stone, Seth Gaylord, Dr. Joshua Beals, Judge Thomas C. Chittenden (elected to congress in 1838 and again in 1840), Daniel Wardwell (elected to congress), Dr. Samuel J. Gaines, Judge Calvin Skinner, Dr. Eli Eastman, Lyman Munson, John C. Cooper, Wm. A. Gilbert, Erastus Ilale, C. C. Case, Henry Keep, Capt. Richard Goodell, M. V. V. Rosa, Dr. Walter Webb, John Cowles, Solon D Hungerford, James M. Cleve- land, De Alton Dwight, T. V. Maxon, O. De Grasse Greene, Thomas P. Saunders. J. L. Greene, Henry O. Kenyon, George W. Hannahs, Thos R. Greene, Justus Eddy, Isaac 1. Hunt, N. M. Wardwell, A. E. Cooley, Harrison Fuller, several representa- tives of the Waite surname, the Mathers and others, all worthy men who have in some manner been factors for good in the history of the town.

Supervisors .- Nicholas Salisbury, 1803-12; Jacob Kellogg, 1813; Nicholas Salis- bury, 1911-17; Eliphalet Edmunds, 181% 20; Wm. Hart, 1821-26; Isaac Baker, 1897- 28; Cyrus Eddy, 1829 30; Chauncey Baker, 1831; Isaac Baker, 1832; Cyrus Eddy. 1833; Wells Benton, 1834; David J. M. Howard, 1835; Isaac Baker, 1856; Sammel Bond, 1837: D. J. M. Howard, 1838; John 11. Whipple, 1839-40; Robert B. Doxtater, 1811; Rufus Herrick, 1812-43; Abram Sheldon, 1841; Joseph L. Greene, 1845-17; Charles Potter, 1818; John C Cooper, 1849-52: Jos L. Greene, 1853; J. C. Cooper, 1854; John II. Whipple, 1855; Justus Eddy, 1456-57; Chas, A. Benjamin, 1858-62; Geo. W. Bond, 1863 61; Chas. A. Benjamin, 1865 67; Royal Fuller, 1868 70, Oscar D. Allen, 1871; Royal Fuller, 1822: O. De Grasse Greene, 1873-80; W. D. Arms, 1881 95; P. Stillman Maxon, 1896-99.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE TOWN OF ALEXANDRIA.

Nearly every town in the county bordering on the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario had at least one important event in connection with the war of 1812-15, and Alexandria was not an exception to this rule. As the story is told in another chapter, on July 14, 1813, a privatecring expedition was fitted out at Sackets Harbor for a cruise among the islands with the hope of cutting off and capturing a detachment of bateaux laden with provisions and supplies which was expected up the river bound for Kingston under convoy of the British gunboat Spitfire. This was about the only adventure of its kind on the river or lake dur- ing the war, and had the full approval and material aid of the com- mandant at the harbor. M. W. Gilbert was the prime spirit of the enterprise, and the results wouldl have been profitable to him and his associates had not the prizes been sunk in the waters of the bay on the return of the privateersmen.

In this expedition were engaged the American schooners Neptune and Fox, the former a private boat commanded by Captain Samuel Dixon, armed with one six-pounder, a swivel gun and manned with 24 determined Yankee volunteers. The Fox was commanded by Capt. Dimock, was likewise armed, and manned with 21 men from the 21st infantry under Lieutenants Perry and Burbank. The privateers left the harbor on July 14, made landings at Cape Vincent and French creek (Clayton), at the latter indulging in a brief review and drill, but soon sailed out among the islands and finally put in at the mouth of Cranberry creek, in Goose bay. Here a strong and guarded position was selected and two small boats were sent out to watch for the British. Thus three days passed, when on the morning of the 18th, at daylight, the bateaux was discovered at Simonds landing making ready to beat up the river, under guard of the Spitfire, but before they got under sail, our daring privateersmen made a hasty landing, attacked them without being discovered and captured fifteen bateaux and several gun- boats without firing a single shot or losing a man.

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THE TOWN OF ALEXANDRIA.

The prizes were taken to Cranberry creek and landed, and at eleven o'clock that morning 69 prisoners were sent off to Sackets Harbor un- der a guard of fifteen men. With the Spitfire there fell into the hands of the captors a twelve pound carronade and a large quantity of mili- tary stores. With the bateaux were taken 270 barrels of pork and 270 bags of pilot bread. To remove all this booty before it was spoiled the Americans sent a call to the settlers of the region, but the only response was from the few militiamen in the vicinity, for the country was almost wholly unsettled at that time. Early on the morning of the 20th a strong British forec with four gunboats, several transports and 250 men appeared in the mouth of the creek, determined to recover the prizes recently captured by the Americans; but this new attacking party was so fiercely opposed by the thirty soldiers who met them at the landing, and twenty others who had taken a strong concealed position, that they were glad to retreat with the loss of two of their boats and several men. At about six o'clock the British sent a flag of truce with a demand of surrender, which was of course refused, and firing was renewed. This, however, was only an expedient of the enemy to gain time to make their retreat and get out of range without more serious loss. After the British had retired, the victorious Americans repaired the damaged boats and made preparations to return to the harbor. In the meantime reinforcements had arrived, and on the 23d the voyage up the river was begun. In passing Tibbet's Point the Earl of Moira gave chase and caused some damage, but did not succeed in recapturing any of the boats or provisions.

This was fought the first and indeed the only real conflict at arms known to the history of this town (then of course a part of Brownville). In earlier days the proprietary had frequent occasion to use forcible measures to drive off the lumber thieves who infested the region ; and still later, during the patriot war, the authorities kept a careful watch over the movements of the hordes of sympathizers who flocked to the border and the islands in the ridiculous attempt to overthrow the British dominion in Canada.

James D. Le Ray, who owned the lands in this part of Brownville and Le Ray, was more careful in looking to his own interests than many of the large proprietors, hence the depredations on his lumber tracts were not so extensive as in some other localities. As early as 1804 this worthy developer had caused a survey of the lands to be made, and Cadwallader Child, who did the work, suggested to Le Ray that the

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

vicinity of Alexandria Bay was an admirable site for a port and settle- ment, consequently a reservation of a mile square of land was made for that purpose, although not until 1818 was it regularly laid out in village lots. The first improvements in the town were made in 1811 by clearing the land and causing grain to be sown for the maintenance of the settlers who might come to the locality. Indeed Mr. Le Ray even sent in settlers to do the work, paid twelve dollars an acre for clearing the land, gave them half the first erop, and also built a log barn for " the job," as it was called. In the same manner he caused a road to be built from the red tavern, in Theresa, as afterward known, to Hammond (at the place first mentioned intersecting another road from Black river to Philadelphia and thenee to Theresa). The Ham- mond and red tavern road was afterward closed, and was not reopened until the construction of the military road, of which it formed a part. These clearings were made and roads built previous to the war of 1812-15, but that period of three years had the effect to delay actual settlement until peace was restored. In 1816 sales of land were begun, the contracts requiring payments to be completed in seven years, the settlers also to build a log house equal to eighteen feet square in size and to clear one twenty-fifth part of the land contracted within one year. The prevailing price per acre was three dollars.

Under the conditions thus imposed, settlement in this town was begun in 1816 and increased rapidly during the next ten years; so rapidly, indeed, that in five years it became necessary to divide the mother towns of Brownville and Le Ray, and create three new juris- dictions from its northern territory. However, during the period men- tioned, there came to the region John Norton, Samuel Young, James Carnagie, William Martin, Moses George, Elijah Root, Leicester Iloadley, Jerry Carrier, John Fuller and perhaps others, all of whom made improvements and are therefore entitled to be mentioned among the pioneers. In connection with the settlement of John Norton was an interesting history. He was a native of England where he studied for the Episcopal ministry. He enlisted in the British army and was sent to Canada on duty, from whence he eame to the states to purchase supplies. He decided to remain, and settled first in Oppenheim, Montgomery (now Fulton) county, where he lived for a time, and about 1816 came to Brownville, settling about three miles below Red- wood. He cleared a farm, the same being now owned by his grand- son, John L. Norton. On this farm the pioneer and his wife died, he

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THE TOWN OF ALEXANDRIA.

aged 102 and she 104 years. Their oldest son, John, attained the age of 103 years.

In 1817 Charles Rundlet came from Vermont and settled in the east- ern part of the town, near Clear lake, but later on removed to the vicinity of Plessis, where he died. John Spalsbury, the pioneer head of a prominent family in the town in later years, came from Sandy Creek in 1819.1 Abraham Newman, an old patriot of the revolution, came from Connecticut in 1820, and died in the town in 1841. There were several other survivors of the revolution among the early settlers here, of whom may be recalled the names of Daniel Wherry, William Carter, Peter Lutz, Ephraim Hogert, Mr. Patton and George Rappole, all earnest, industrions developers who were drawn to the new region from the east with the hope that their condition in life might be im- proved, and that their children and descendants might also build up comfortable homes for themselves and their families in this northern part of the state.

In the same manner also may be recalled the names of Austin Mar- tin. George Patterson, Nathaniel Goodell, Martin T. Morseman, Alex- ander McAllister, Reuben Hinman, Horatio Hubbard, Charles, John and Jabez Beardsley (or Birdsley), Jabez Peoples, Ephraim Marvel, William Merrill, Samuel and Silas Morse, Thomas Stickney, Joseph Huntington, Clark and David Briggs, Solomon Makepeace, Eller Stowe, John D. Davidson, Jason Clark, Azariah Walton, Jarius Rich (the famous hunter of the region), all about the time or soon after the town was set off. Still later settlers, perhaps not pioneers but never- theless identified with the town during the period of its early history, were Andrew Cornwall, Jacob Springer, Abel Bigelow, Joseph Hough- ton, Moses C. Jewett, John Rhodes, Erastus Hardy, Allen Cole and Peter Loucks. There were still others added to this community of settlers in this interesting jurisdiction in later years, many of whom came from the southern towns of the county, some from the cast, and others in fair numbers from Canada, for the report had gone abroad that Alexandria contained unoccupied lands desirable in quality for

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 45

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