USA > New York > Jefferson County > Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York > Part 49
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Antwerp Village .- On the site where now stands a prosperous village of one thousand inhabitants, General Morris, the proprietor, in 1805 employed Samuel Hubbard to build a dam across Indian river, and in the next year Silas Ward began the erection of a saw mill. Sometime during these early years the settlement took the name of Indian River, and thus was founded a village which has endured to the present time. Ward also built a small frame house on the site of the Proctor house, which Gershom Mattoon opened as a tavern. Later landlords of the old hostelry were Jeduthan Kingsbury, William Fletcher and Francis McAllaster. In 1807 John Jenison became agent for the Morris pro- prietary, and was continued in that capacity under David Parish, who purchased from Morris. He established a land office at the settlement, the building being in the south part of the village, nearly opposite the George D. MeAllaster residence. Jenison was succeeded by Silvius Hoard, and the latter by William McAllaster, under whom the pro- prietary was closed. These agents were of course active in disposing of the lands, but at the same time they gave some attention to building up the hamlet. In 1808 Dr. Samuel Randall, the first physician of the town, came and began his career, and in the next year was appointed the first postmaster of the village. The office was kept in his house, about opposite the Congregational church. In 1810 Ezra Church built a grist mill (using grinding stones of the old Parker quarry), for Mr. Parish, and while this old industry was owned by Parish until 1839, it was more commonly known as the Church mill. About 1812 Church also built a carding and cloth mill at the south end of the dam (where the Bethel planing mills afterward stood), and was its proprietor until 1828, when Ezra and Thomas Wait succeeded him. Afterwards new buildings were erected and the cloth mills were an industry of the vil- lage until about the time of the war of 1861-65. The Waits, Milo Shattuck, Reuben Wilmot, Elijah Fulton and the Church brothers were connected with their operation.
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The first tannery was built about 1819, by Isaac L. Hitchcock, but was sold to Luther Conklin in 1815. The building was burned many years ago. Near the tannery stood the distillery built about 1820 by Emmons & Bissell. Both of these industries stood nearly opposite the head of Depot street. The first village merchant was Zebulon 1. Cooper, who opened the "yellow store" in 1810. The second store was opened by Dr. Randall, and the third by Orrin Bush, both before 1815. At this time the owners of these interests lived in the village, and they, with the Frenchman, Bordeau (who kept a boarding house) and Major John Howe, together with the employees of the mills, com- prised about all there was of the hamlet. The old fort or blockhouse, built in 1812, stood opposite Foster's hotel of later years, but it was never used for defensive purposes, therefore was torn down. Near the hotel site the first school house was built in 1813, on the north side of Main street, but in 1816 a new school building was erected in a more suitable locality on the hill. In 1816-17 proprietor Parish generously built a large brick meeting house for the free occupancy of all denomi- nations. It was placed in charge of a committee comprising Major llowe, Silvius Hoard and Dr. Randall. This is said to have been the second church edifice in the county, and was the first brick structure in Antwerp. It is now the Catholic church edifice.
Thus were established the infant institutions of the village, upon which later generations have built and enlarged. Of the early struct- ures few indeed now remain except the old Catholic and Congregational church edifices, the brick school house and perhaps some of the old dwellings, but of all the old occupants none now survive. It is not assumed that in this brief sketch there has been recalled the names of all the factors, or even all the old time buildings in Antwerp village history, for such a record would be well-nigh impossible at this late day. However, some of the more prominent of the intermediate in- terests may be recalled, in order that our narrative may be as complete as possible.
During the years 1841-42, Isaiah Bailey built what has long been known as the Augsbury grist mill. It stood on the site of the old Church mill, the property having passed to Bailey from Pratt & Taylor, in 1839. It was burned two years later. Bailey sold about 1850 to Stebbins & Tomlinson, and they to Morgan Augsburg, in 1868. In 1884 it became known as the Antwerp roller flouring mill, when roller process machinery replaced the old stones. This mill is now operated
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by W. S. & Frank A. Augsbury, sons of Morgan, who, with their abun- dant power, pump the village supply of water to the stand-pipe, and also operate the machinery which supplies the corporation with electric lights.
Edward Metcalf's planing mill was another of the old industries, and stood below the grist mill. It was burned and not rebuilt. The Isaac Westcott & Son cheese box factory stood near the Westcott mill, but that, too, is now gone. There were also the old Monroe saw mills, on the site of the still older Morris mill built in 1806. This power was long used for saw mill purposes and by many proprietors before it was abandoned. Bethel's planing mill and the logan foundry were built on the site where Ezra Church started the cloth mill about 1812. Both these industries survive. The foundry was started about 1852 by Joseph Newton, and was sold to D. & W. Hogan in 1873. The Crosby tannery, for many years an important local industry, but which now stands idle, was built by Josiah Drake and David MeAllaster about 1834. Among its many later proprietors were Lewis and James Hamb- lin, Fuller & Martin, James White, Mr. Snell and others previous to the ownership of G. N. Crosby & Co. Under the latter a business failure occurred and operation ceased.
One of the early and commendable institutions of the village was the Antwerp Delphic library, established March 13, 1832, through the ef- forts of Charles B. Hoard, William McAllaster, R. N. Randall, Samuel Gaines and Levi Miller, who were also its first trustees. The library was the source of much good in the early history of the village, but after the district school libraries were established its usefulness became impaired and the society dissolved.
The Bank of Antwerp has been one of the permanent and successful business enterprises of the village. It was established in 1872, by C. M. Coolidge. John D. Ellis became owner in 1824 and has since man. aged its affairs. Throughout the period of its existence Albert Hoyt has filled the position of cashier.
Incorporation .- In 1853, when all the resources of the town were being developed and operated to almost their fullest extent, the inhabitants of the village petitioned the court of sessions of the county for an order of incorporation The special election required to determine the ques- tion was held at Stowell & Taylor's hotel on July 30, and the proposi- tion was carried by a vote of fifty three for and three against the meas- ure. The first survey included 660 acres of land, but a re-survey made
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by Henry L. Scott in 1815 gave the village an area of 661. 15 acres. The first village officers (elected Aug. 27, 1853) were Jonas S. Conkey, Solomon J. Childs and Edward L. Proctor, trustees; Publius D. Foster, village clerk. Mr. Conkey was chosen president of the board. In Oc. tober following, William D. Carpenter and George W. Brown were also elected trustees, thus increasing the number to five. In 1871, under the provisions of the general act of 1820, the village was reincorporated, with enlarged municipal powers.
As then established, Antwerp was an enterprising and attractive village of about 1,000 inhabitants, having resources as great as those of any similar municipality in the county, and men with means, energy and public spirit to successfully and safely conduet its business and internal affairs. However, twenty-five years have witnessed many changes in local history, and of the old structures and institutions of early days few now remain. At least twice during its history the vil- lage has been visited with serious conflagrations, and by other occa- sional fires many of the okl buildings have been destroyed. Yet, among them all the most destructive fire was that of February 3, 1889, by which many valuable properties were burned, causing a loss of about $50,000. At that time the fire department was a wholly informal or- ganization, and the means for extinguishing fires was limited to the hose and pumping system owned by the tannery proprietors.
The village fire department was regularly organized in 1895, in pur- suance of a resolution passed by the trustees in September of that year. It comprises a hose company and a hook and ladder company, each well equipped with sufficient apparatus. The department was incor- porated December 5, 1895.
The organization of the fire department was in a measure the ontgrowth of the water supply system, established and put in operation in 1891. To accomplish this end the village bonded to the amount of $19,000, while the plant complete cost $20,000. A large stand pipe was erceted in an elevated part of the village, and from it main pipes were laid through the principal streets. Water is taken from Indian river, and pumped from the Augsbury mill to the stand-pipe, and thence dis- tributed. The system is controlled by a commission comprising Roy H. Bent (pres.), G. W. Ilall (secy.), J. D. Radigan and W. R. Smith. Supt., James Quackenbush.
The Antwerp village hall, a commodious and attractive brick and stone building, was erected at the public expense during the years 1896- 92. It cost $20,000, bonds being issued for $15, 000.
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The soldiers' monument, a beautiful granite structure, was erected in 1893, and attests the public spiritedness and generosity of the people of the village.
The Ives Seminary is one of the most notable and praiseworthy insti- tutions of the village and town, and one which during the period of its history has been an instrument for good. It had its inception in the Antwerp liberal literary institute created under provisional charter, February 1, 1856. The charter was soon afterward extended to Febru- ary 1, 1860, and in that year, the conditions having been fulfilled, was made absolute.
The first trustees were John H. Conklin, Jonas S. Conkey, Charles B. Pond, Wm. Gill, Publius D. Foster, Ira Beaman, A. P. Sterling, Luther H. Bailey, Horace W. Seymour, A. H. McAllaster, E. G. Taylor, Almon Buell, Alvin Coolidge, Hiram B. Keene, Thomas Taite. James White, Solomon J. Childs and Chandler D. Waite.
The erection of institute buildings in Antwerp village was begun in 1857, but was not completed until 1861, the dedication ceremony taking place May 9. The cost of the entire property (site and build- ings) was $13,000, of which $7,000 was raised by general cash subscrip- tion, and $3,000 by town bonds, leaving a debt of $3,000, a charge against the institution. This amount the state loaned (and afterward donated) to the trustees. The institution was opened for pupils May 20, 1861, J. M. Manning, principal, and two assistants. During the year, 120 pupils were received. The school was prudently managed, yet for some cause the tuition money failed to pay the expenses. In 1863, the management, being somewhat discouraged, offered the insti- stution to the state for a Normal school, but nothing was done. Again, in 1865, it was proposed to resolve the institute into a graded school, but this was not done. In 1868 the property was offered to the Pro- testant Episcopal society, but the conditions of the offer were not accepted. About this time, however, Rev. L. Clark, on behalf of the Black River Methodist Episcopal conference, submitted a proposition to the board of trustees under which the institution should pass into control of that society. At a meeting held July 25, 1868, the trustees accepted the offer, and at the next session of the legislature the Black river conference seminary, with its accompanying management, super- seded the old institution.
The new officiary at once set about to place the seminary on a secure basis, and to establish a denominational school equal to any of its kind in this part of the state. In 1870-72, at an expense of $16,000 the
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boarding hall was erected, and in 1843 an effort was made to create a fund of $30,000 to pay debts and establish an interest bearing reserve. This attempt was substantially successful, though more than five years passed before the fund was secured. Of the amount Williard Ives, of Watertown, generously contributed $8,000, and in recognition of his unselfish liberality on April 21, 1824, the name of the institution was changed to Ives seminary. In his will, Mr. Ives also made a substan- tial bequest to the institution, but the validity of the instrument was questioned, and a contest followed which has not yet been determined.
The principals of the seminary with period of service of each, have been as fol- lows: J.M. Manning, ISGI 66; Rev. J. Winslow, 1866-68; Rev. G. G. Dains. 1868-69; E. C. Bruce, 1869-71; S. M. Coon, 1821-72; J. R. Gordon, 1872-73; G. G. Dams, 18GB-15; M. A. Veeder, 1875-28; G. G. Dains, 1878 80; C. E. Hawkins, 1880-85 ; J. E. Ensign, 1885-86; J. D. Stay, 1886-87; E. M. Wheeler, 1887-91; S. C. Kimm, 1891 93; F. E. Arthur, 1893 97; Erwin HI. Schuyler, 1897 -.
The presidents of the board of trustees have been Jonas A. Conkey. 1855-57; John P. Ellis, 1857-61; J. 11. Conklin, IS61-62; Almon Buell, 1862-67; G. S. Sawens, 1867 70; Rev. J. S. Dewey, 1870-73; Rev. 1. S. Bingham, 1873-74: Willard Ives, 1874 96; Rev. J. B. Hammond, 1896 -.
The present trustees are J. B. Hammond, president. L. S. Rogers, vice-president ; G. W. Hall, treasurer; and W. D. Marsh. T. D. Hall, G. 11. Wood, C. E. Hawkins, O. J. Bishop, S. O. Barnes, C. W. Brooks, C. M. Smith and C. C. Townsend. Sec- retary of the board, Rev. W. H. Kanoff.
In the history of the village the Ives seminary has been an impor- tant factor for more than forty years. Its patronage has been drawn from the northern part of the state and largely from this and surround- ing towns. In more recent years the boarding and ladies' hall has been used by the public school officials of the district. Indeed the presence of the seminary and the advantages offered by its course of study has in a measure retarded other educational interests in the vil- lage, and this department of municipal life has not kept even step with growth in other directions. There has not been a village school more advanced than the district system, but the welfare of the youth has not been in any sense neglected. The old brick school house on the hill is still in use. In the village schools five competent teachers are annually employed. The present trustees are G. W. Hall, William Carpenter and Mrs. Alexander Copley.
In writing of the institutions of Antwerp, a brief reference to the old burial ground is appropriate. The first cemetery plat was the old grounds on the hillside, in the northeast part of the village, but when it was first laid out for burial purposes is not definitely known. The
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land was donated by David Parish. Among the earliest burials here were those of Richard McAllaster and his wife, the latter January 23, and he February 11, 1813. Hillside cemetery, the present " silent city " of the village dead was laid out in 1859, by the Antwerp rural cemetery association (incorporated).
Queen of Sheba lodge, F. & A. M., the first fraternal body of the town was instituted at Antwerp soon after 1820, but during the anti- masonic period suspended, and was not revived; nor were its records preserved so far as now known. Antwerp lodge, No. 226, F. & A. M. was instituted in 1842, and has since maintained a healthful existence. The present members number 139 master masons, Fred Dixon Hall, master; J. H. Faichney, secretary.
Tuscarora lodge, No. 250, I. O. O. F., was organized in the village about 1846, but was dissolved in the course of the next twenty years. It was followed by Antwerp lodge, No. 4?", a healthful organization having seventy-five members. J. A. Faichney, grand, Fred Hoiller. secretary.
Notwithstanding the fact that during the last score of years there have been several business reverses which operated against general in- terests of the locality, the village has ever been progressive and enjoyed a steady growth. Serious fires have destroyed much valuable property. vet generally the old structures were replaced with others more sub- stantial and modern in appearance. Progress appears to have been the watchword of the people, and its results are seen on almost every hand. All business interests are well represented, and there is little evidence of over competition. The mercantile buildings are large and well stocked, and all the staples and many of the luxuries of domestic life are easily secured. The village stores draw trade from one of the best agricultural regions of the county, and while there may be a notice- able lack in number of manufacturing enterprises, those in operation afford employment to the laboring classes. In addition to the interests of the past noted on preceding pages, a mention may here be made of the Antwerp chair company whose large factory building now stands unoccupied. The company was incorporated May 12, 1894, with $20,- 000 capital, and its stock was taken by almost every business man in the locality. Its period of operation was short, and business misfor- tunes resulted in a receivership. The F. X. Beanmont cheese factory, one of the largest in the county. was started in 1889, and receives milk from nearly all the farms within a radius of five miles. Incidental to
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it is the milk sugar factory of Hayne & Whittaker, started in 1891, a novel industry, producing sugar from the whey of the cheese factory.
The other manufacturing interests of the village are the Hogan Brothers' foundry, J. G. Bethel's sash, door and blind works, the Angs- bury roller flour mill, the electric light plant, the small repair shops and works usnal to all villages, while in the near vicinity are the ex- tensive Copley mills and the Paddock excelsior factory.
The First Congregational church of Antwerp was organized in July, 1819, by Rev. Isaac Clinton, a Presbyterian, then principal of old Low- ville academy. It appears that a majority of the inhabitants who con- stituted the original society were New England Congregationalists, and preferred to be governed by the rules of the church, but as Mr. Clinton was a strict Presbyterian, the society established was hardly in accord- ance with the actual forms of either church. It was agreed that the minister employed should be of either faith, as chance suggested. The constituent members were William Randall, Percival Hawley, Edward Foster, Elijah Hoyt, Hosea Hough, Mrs. Hawley, Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Eaton and Polly Copeland. However, a Presbyterian form of govern- ment was maintained generally until June 3, 1851, when the members voted to adopt Congregational rules, thus terminating a period of strife which at one time threatened disruption to the society. During this time the pulpit was irregularly supplied, and the society was excluded from the meeting house by Mr. Parish on account of dissensions. In 1831 a small frame church edifice was begun by Japhet Chapin, and in 1852 the second edifice, commonly mentioned as the "old Congrega- tional church," was erected at a cost of $6,000. The present edifice, the beautiful stone building, was erected in 1826, and cost $20,000. The society celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary December 28, 1891. The First Congregational church, as commonly known, is one of the strongest and most influential religious bodies in northern Jefferson county. Its present membership is 116 persons. Pastor, Rev. Duncan McGregor.
The Antwerp village Baptist society was organized in 1821, and in- cluded among its members David Coolidge, Jerome Woodbury, Eli Whitford and wife, Walter Colton, Obadiah Chamberlain and Richard Huntley. The early meetings were held in the old school house on the hill, but afterward the society purchased the old " Jubilee " building, erected by Dr. Randall for a dwelling, which they fitted up as a meet - ing house. In 1813 a church edifice was erected on the hill, the same
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which was occupied by the Methodist Protestant society. The Baptist society dissolved about 1865.
St. Michael's Roman Catholic church at Antwerp was founded in 1819 as a mission, and in that year purchased the old meeting house built in 1816 by David Parish. St. Michael's parish includes all the Catholic families in the central part of the town. The priest in charge is Rev. O. L. Beadle.
St. Paul's church (Episcopal) of Antwerp, was established in 1866, although regular services were held in the village for ten or more years previous to that time. The first rector was the Rev. J. Winslow. The church edifice was built in 1871-72, and cost $5,500. St. Paul's has now 56 communicants. The rector is Rev. Joseph H. Brown ; wardens, A. L. Hilton and Charles Ilocker.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Antwerp was organized in July, 1863, with about 20 members, under the pastoral charge of Rev. Darius Simmons. A brick house of worship was completed and dedicated in January, 1872, but was burned January 5, 1877. A second brick edifice was built on the same site, and was dedicated December 4, 1827. This society, numerically, is the strongest in the town, numbering 160 mem- bers and 10 probationers. The pastor is W. H. Kanoff.
The Antwerp Methodist Protestant society, to which reference has been made, has no present abiding place in the village. However, in 1868 three classes of this denomination were formed in the town, one at Hall's corners, another in the Hoard neighborhood, and the third at Rockwell creek, all being under charge of Rev. T. D. White. In 1826 the Itall and Hoard classes united, and for ten or more years held meetings in the old Baptist meeting house in the village. The remain- ing members of this church in the town now hold meetings in the school house at Nauvoo.
Or Bow .- In 1803 Peter Vrooman came from Johnstown and opened a small log tavern in the south part of what is now the village traet, on the line of the old Oswegatchie road. Pioneer Vrooman's selection for a site was fortunate, as the physical features of the surrounding region made this a natural center. Soon after this beginning Gen. Morris made his vast purchase of land from the Antwerp company, and a re- port was circulated to the effect that he proposed to erect a dwelling for his own occupancy. This, however, was never done, although the proprietor did build a log house at the place. Soon after this the vil- lage site was sold as a part of the 18,000 acre tract purchased by Silvius
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Hoard, and in 1817 it formed a part of the Cooper traet, bought by Abraham Cooper, who was the founder in fact of the settlement. Ile came here in 1812 and opened the "yellow store " on the main village street, but in the next year built the stone store building which after- ward became the Methodist meeting house. In this year Dr. Abner Benton, the first physician, came to the settlement. About 1820 Mr. Cooper also built a combined meeting and school house, which he gave for the public use for ten years, but in 1830 sold it to the Presbyterian society. Mr. Cooper also built a tavern, more pretentious than that kept by pioneer Vrooman, and made Solomon Loomis its landlord. Later proprietors of this famous hostelry were Lucas Gillet, John Pierce, Enos Brainard, Chas. S. Grem, George W. Wheeler, John Dodge and Ransom Howe.
In 1819 Ox Bow was made a post-office, Dr. Benton (postmaster) keeping the office in Cooper's store. It was afterward removed to the King & Gillett store, opened in 1825 by Rufus II. King and John J. Gillett, Cooper's former clerks. The village green or square was do- nated to the public by Mr. Cooper. The great drawback, however, to the village location was the lack of sufficient water power for either saw or grist mills, therefore it never attained any special importance among the settled localities of the county. The first saw mill of the vicinity was that built at Vrooman's lake by Roswell Payne in 1850. This has always been regarded as a local industry. The only other im- portant industry of the hamlet is the Spraker cheese factory.
From the earliest settlement several stores have been maintained at Ox Bow, together with the shops and other adjuncts of rural villages. There has been nothing in the history of the place to attract business other than being a convenient trading center in a productive agricul- tural region. The present interests comprise the Payne steam saw mill, the Spraker cheese factory, Clark's and Culbutson's general stores, Wm. Risdell's grocery (he also being postmaster), Cooper's hardware store, Felt's drug store, and Cory's hotel. The public buildings com- prise the district school and the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal churches. The old cemetery at Ox Bow was laid out and donated to the publie by Mr. Cooper in 1822, in which year his father, John Cooper, was buried there. The new cemetery was laid out in ISTI, on lands purchased by Ira Hinsdale.
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