Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 51

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 51

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Of the two land companies owning the territory of the town, the agents of the Chassanis tract, or lands, made the more generous pro- vision for the comfort and convenience of settlers, and proposed among other things to establish two cities, one of which, the "city of Basle," was to be located between Brownville and Dexter, as afterward laid out. Although this plan failed in realization the effect was accom- plished, and the settlers founded villages to suit their own convenience. The proprietary also made reasonable provision for highways and other- wise promptly carried out their promises so far as possible. The result was in the rapid settlement of the land and the consequent development of the resources of the region.

Organisation .- The creating act provided that the first town meeting be held at the house of Samuel and Jacob Brown, which was accordingly assembled but adjourned to the Brownville hotel, March 1, 1803, when these officers were elected :

Jacob Brown, supervisor; Isaac Collins, town clerk; John W. Collins, Richard Smith and Peter Pratt, assessors; John W. Collins, Ozias Preston, Samuel Starr. com'rs of highways; Ozias Preston, Richardson Avery, Henry A. Delemater, Samuel Brown, Benj. Brown, Wmn. Rogers, Abijah Putnam, fence viewers; Samuel Brown, Samuel Starr, overseers of the poor; Samuel Brown, Sanford Langworthy, Caleb J. Bates, Sylvanus Fish, Henry A. Delemater, Frederick Sprague, George Wattle, Ethni Evans, pathmasters; John W. Collins, Henry A. Delemater, Samuel Brown, poundmasters.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

The first reduction in the territory of Brownville was made in 1806, when Le Ray was created and took from the mother town all that part thereof which lay east of the east line of Penet's square, the line being extended from St. Lawrence to Black river. March 6, 1818, Lyme was formed and included the town now so called, a part of Clayton and all of Cape Vincent. In 1819 Pamelia was set off, and in 1821 Orleans and Alexandria were erected, the former wholly and the latter in part from this town. Thus Brownville was reduced to its present limits, and contains 34,378 acres of land.

In connection with this branch of history were some interesting events.1 It was the custom of the settlers to hold town meetings at Brownville, but occasionally the voters met at other places for the ac- commodation of residents in the remote localities. In 1820 the meeting was held at Perch river, and after electing a portion of the officers an adjournment was had to the house of Edward Arnold, on Penet's square, to reassemble the next day. This was done with design to elect a town clerk and some other town officers from that region, bitt the action was so unusual that at the adjourned meeting the residents of the south part of the town came out in force, reconsidered the vote for clerk, and voted another adjournment to the dwelling of Elias Bennett, at Brownville, and elected the remaining officers from the south part of the town. This action, however, was the occasion of much feeling, and the creation of Orleans in the next year was the re- sult. At the same time it was proposed to create three new towns from the territory of Brownville, and to reannex Pamelia, but with the exception of the formation of the towns noted the measure was de- feated.

As now constituted Brownville is one of the most important divisions of the county, and is also one of the most historic in the region. The foundation of its institutions was firmly laid by the best element of pioneership and from that time it has held a position of commanding influence in the affairs of the county. Within the town are the head- waters of the Black river navigation, and while Jacob Brown naturally mistook his hamlet for the highest navigable point on the river, his calculations were not far amiss, and the town benefited by his early endeavors to establish river traffic at the village.

! In 1804 the town paid $15 wolf bounty, and continued to pay in subsequent years, in offers varying from $15 to $25

Fox bounties were paid at from 50 cents to $4.50. In 18OG a bounty of $10 was paid for panthers.

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THE TOWN OF BROWNVILLE.

The natural physical features of Brownville are not unlike those of other towns in the region, the soil being a sandy and clayey loam. The sulphate of barytes has been found in considerable quantities in the l'il- lar Point vicinity, and was formerly worked to some extent for lithic paint. On the west bank of Perch river, a short distance below Lim- erick, the settlers found a cave, extending 150 yards into the bank, and several feet below the surface. The falls at Brownville and Dexter furnish a water power unsurpassed for manufacturing purposes, and the auxiliary waters of Perch river have also been important factors in the same direction. The town also has a water front on Black river, Guffin's and Sherwin's bays, all navigable waters, though but little used from a commercial point of view. These, with the natural bridge over Perch river below Limerick, comprise the distinguishing physical characteristics of the town.

In the early history of the county the Black river had the same relative importance from a commercial standpoint as now, yet in a dif- ferent channel; then the waters were used for both manufacturing and navigation purposes, but now almost wholly for its power privileges. Previous to the war of 1812-15, the chief export product of the region was potashes, and the river was the principal thoroughfare of travel to market. Nearly the whole local population was engaged in this manu- facture, while Brownville was the shipping point for the product. However, during the period of agitation preceding the war, growing out of the attempted enforcement of the embargo laws, the officers of the government were especially vigilant in watching river traffic, hence an " embargo road " was laid out from Brownville to French creek, and from the latter point potashes, whiskey and other marketable products of the region were secretly shipped to Kingston. Gen. Brown, of course, knew of this violation of law, but was too closely in sympathy with the settlers to make an outcry against it. However, river traffic was an important factor in early town life, and as early as 1810 the legislature passed an act to improve navigation at the mouth of the river, and authorized the construction of a system of locks and canals around the rapids and falls, as far as Brownville. On June 5 following the Black river navigation company was organized, including among its stock- holders some of the prominent men of the time, viz:

Jacob Brown, Samuel Brown, jr., Micah Sterling, John Brown, William M. Lord, Judah Williams, Samuel Starr, Joseph Sterling, Wm. Hunter, Richard M. Esselstyn. James Shields, Gershom Tuttle, Thomas S. Converse and Amasa Trowbridge. The

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

commissioners appointed to carry out the objects of the company were Ethel Bron- son, John Brown, William M. Lord and Thomas S. Converse.

A collector of tolls was authorized by an act passed March 8, 1811, and by it from five to fifty cents toll per ton was collected from masters of vessels passing the locks. The locks were built in 1815, but were large enough only for the passage of Durham boats. In 1817 the com- pany advertised that only fifty cents toll would be collected from any boat passing the locks. About 1828 the locks becamed decayed and were replaced with others, built of stone, and larger than the wooden ones. In 182: the company built the steamer " Brownville," to ply be- tween the village and Kingston. Turner & Dodd were interested in the boat, as also were Wm. Lord, Wm. S. Ely, Hoel Lawrence and Edmund Kirby, of Brownville, and still others of Oswego and Ogdens- burgh. However, on the first trip to Ogdensburgh the steamer was burned to the water's edge, but Capt. Dodd towed the hull back to Brownville, rebuilt her and changed the name to "Wm. Avery." River navigation as far as Brownville was continued for a time but the difficulties attending it were so great that it was discontinued and Dex- ter, formerly called Fish island, became the established head of traffic, and continued as such until the Brownville steamboat company was organized.

The Brownville steamboat company was incorporated Aug. 1. 1891, with 5, 000 capital for the purpose of conducting and managing a ferry consisting of one or more boats propelled by steam on Black river be- tween the village of Brownville and the village of Dexter. The per- sons most interested in this commendable enterprise, and who were also directors and incorporators, were Wm. N. Cornell. Chas. E. Out- terson, Marcus J. Wilcox, Chas. O. Haight and John C. Sharlan. The purpose of the company was to build and operate one or more boats on the river between the villages, both for freight and passenger traffic. One boat was put in service, and was run about three years, but with- ont substantial success from a business point of view, for the people of Dexter did not take kindly to the enterprise. The articles of incorpo- ration authorized the company to do business for fifty years, but the concern ceased operations some time during the year 1894.

During the period of the war of 1812-15 the town and village of Brownville were places of constant military operations. Jacob Brown had previously been commissioned colonel of the 108th regiment of militia, but was now promoted brigadier-general and had command of

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THE TOWN OF BROWNVILLE.

operations on the frontier. With the outbreak of the war the settlers became much alarmed for the safety of their families and property, and in the Perch river valley they built two block houses, one at the village and the other where stands the Baptist church. Neither was used for defensive purposes, but the former was ocenpied as a storehouse for grain and the other for religious worship. Many events of minor im- portance occurred in the town during this period, and occasionally a strong federalist or British sympathizer was made to feel the effects of his sentiments, but beyond this there were events of a somewhat Indi- crous character. Among others it is related that when the block houses were built, some, ridiculing the idea of danger, humorously proposed to post themselves on the brow of some of the lime stone ledges tow- ards Catfish creek in the direction of Canada, which would give them the double advantage of a commanding position and an abundance of material for missiles in case of attack. At the village General Brown's militia were frequently assembled, ready for service, for Sackets Harbor was within two hours' march from the place. However, the period passed without more serious effect than the temporary disturbance of local interests, and with peace restored the settlers returned to their neglected farms and an era of prosperity followed. During the next quarter of a century the development of the town's resources was ac- complished, and its population and worth increased rapidly; in proof of which we may have recourse to the census tables and note the growth as there indicated.

In 1802, one year after the county was created, the number of taxable voters in Brownville, as then constituted, was 181, indicating a popula- tion of about 800. In 1810 the inhabitants numbered 1,661; 1820, 3,990; 1830, 2,938 (the town was then reduced to its present area) ; 1840, 3,968; 1850, 4,325; 1860, 3,966: 1820, 3,218; 1880, 2,624; 1890, 3,110; and in 1892, according to unofficial count, 3,151. However, the maximum population of the town within its present limits was attained in 1845, the number then being 1,380, and the decrease of later years has been due to the same causes which have reduced the population in nearly all interior towns in the state, where agrienlture is the chief pur- suit of the people. While Brownville seems to have suffered in this respect, the town has in a great measure been compensated in an in- ercase of manufacturing industries, in which regard it ranks high in the county. Hay, grain, butter and cheese are the staple products of the farm, while limestone for building and commercial purposes abounds

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

in certain localities. The town comprises about 350 farms, averaging in size less perhaps than one hundred acres each. In equalized value of real estate, including village and corporation property, it ranks see- ond to Ellisburgh in the county.

Among the early internal improvements may be noted the first post route, established April 10, 1810, between Utica and Sackets Harbor, passing through Brownville; and another during the same year between Harrisburg and Port Putnam (four miles below Cape Vincent), also passing through the town. The post route from Brownville to Cape Vincent was established April 30, 1816, and that from Watertown to Cornelia (now Clayton), near the mouth of French creek, April 15, 1832. The state road from Rome to Brownville, was built under authority of an act of the legislature, passed March 26, 1803. By an act passed April 12, 1816, Mr. Le Ray was authorized to extend the Cape Vincent turnpike to Brownville. A military road was projected in 1812, to con- nect Plattsburg and Sackets Harbor, passing through this town, but was only partially completed. The line of the road was from the har- bor direct to Brownville village, thence to Pamelia four corners. The government opened the road but it soon afterward passed into the con- trol of the towns through which it run and has since been known as the military road. The Dexter, Brownville and Pamelia plank road was authorized in 1849 and was completed in October of the next year. It was afterward abandoned by the company, and was followed by the Brownville and Watertown road (macadamized), which was for many years managed by Alanson Skinner. He died, the lease expired, and the road was given up to the town. The Cape Vincent branch of the Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburgh railroad was completed in 1852, and passed directly through the villages of Brownville and Limerick; thus replacing in a great measure the old stage routes of former years, but it is doubtful if this more rapid means of travel and traffic has added to local interests. Then Limerick was a village of much note and two or more hotels did a thriving business in the " good old days long gone by." In 1891 Brownville was connected with the county seat by an electric railroad, affording more convenient means of travel but drawing much trade to Watertown which was formerly retained in the town.

During the period of its history there have been built up within the town six villages and hamlets, three of which have become incorporated while others have not passed the hamlet character. Mentioned in the

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order of historie importance they are Brownville, Dexter, Glen Park, Limerick, Perch River and Pillar Point. However, from a business point of view Dexter may be regarded as the rival of Brownville, hav- ing greater population and variety of interests.

The Village of Brownville. This village was founded in 1799, when Jacob Brown and his companions came to the month of Philomel ereek and built a log cabin for the subsequent use of his father and family; and when in 1800 Noah Durrin and Ebenezer Hills built for the pioneer the saw mill, the settlement became the common rendezvous of the region, and even at that early day had an importance equal to the ham- let at Watertown five miles up the river. In 1801 Jacob Brown and his father opened a stock of goods for trade, and also caused a grist mill to be built, one of the first in the region, which was patronized by settlers from all the western part of the county. To accommodate the settlers on the south side Oliver Bartholomew was employed to build a bridge across the river, which was done in 1802. The bridge was ear- ried away on high water in the spring of 1806 but was replaced the next year. Deacon Bartholmew was a prominent figure in early village life here, although his place of settlement was in the neighboring town of Watertown, where he was a pioneer. In the settlement at Brownville he conducted Sabbath worship previous to the formation of any relig- ious society.

In 1802 the hamlet contained four log and six framed houses, but in 1805 the number of dwellings had increased to twenty-five. In the latter year Jeremiah Phelps built a tavern on the site of the hotel built by Mr. Emerson and Henry Caswell in 1820, the latter still standing, in fairly good repair and is still occupied for hotel purposes. This famous hostelry was for a time under the management of a company compris- ing William Lord, Henry Lawrence, William S. Ely, Colonel Edmund Kirby, 1. Shields and John E. Brown. In 1801 John Brown, better known as Judge Brown, bought lands on the south side of the river and built mills. The first dam was built in 1806, retaining a consider- able volume of water and giving the local industries a power privilege equal to any in the county. On February 10, 1802, the Brownville library was formed, with John Brown, John Baxter, Henry Cowley, Isaac Bearse, John Simonds, Stephen Stanley and Thomas Y. How as incorporators and trustees. The purpose of the association was to pro- mote the educational advantages of the community, and while it was the source of much good it was nevertheless of brief duration as a soci-

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

ety and soon passed out of existence; and the same fate overtook a similar organization afterward founded for the same purpose.

Another of the early and useful institutions of the village was the commonly called cotton mill, which had its origin in a company formed February 9, 1814, with a capital of $100,000, and of which the trustees were John Paddock, John Brown, Thomas Loomis, jr., Hoel Lawrence and Thomas J. Whiteside. The factory buildings were erected in the same year, comprising a substantial four-story stone structure, and in 1815 the company began business : but from the outset it proved an un- profitable enterprise and was therefore discontinued. In 1826 John A. Cathcart, Elizur Furman and Charles Smith purchased the property, and in 1831 incorporated the Brownville cotton factory, with a capital of $100,000. The business was thereafter conducted with indifferent success until about 1842, when a new firm comprising William II. Averill, Charles Smith and F. W. Andrews took the plant, enlarged its capacity and furnished employment to nearly 100 hands in manufac- turing cotton sheeting. In 1856 the property again changed owners. and was afterward operated in succession by Carlton & Andrews, L. S. Pratt & Son, Fitzsimmons & Co. and Mumford & Co., but no substan - tial success rewarded the enterprise of any of them. The buildings stood unoccupied for several years, but later on were utilized by the Brownville Box and Paper company. The buildings were thereafter burned, and the Box and Paper company rebuilt on the old foundation. The plant afterwards became the property of the Siouski Paper com- pany. In September, 1892, C. H. Remington and J. M. Gamble took the property formerly operated by the Globe Paper and Fibre company, also the old tenement buildings on the opposite side of the street, and as well the plant of the Siouski Paper company at the north end of the bridge, and began the manufacture of a general line of fine paper and specialties. This is in brief a history of one of the most notable factory buildings in the village, and one which always attracts the at - tention of an observer. Many residents of the village at the present time believe that the row of stone buildings on the street leading to the bridge were erected by the government for barracks, and so used dur- ing the war of 1812-15. This of course is a mistaken belief, as the gov- ernment had no buildings in the village, but the old hospital, built dur- ing the war, stood in the lower part of the village. The row of build- ings referred to were tenement houses built by the cotton company about or soon after 1815.

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THE TOWN OF BROWNVILLE.

Among the other carly industries of the village, all of which were factors in its history, was the foundry and machine shop established by William Lord and Henry Caswell in 1820; the woolen factory built soon afterward by Bradley & Brown, also the machine shop, fax mill, and other buildings which were burned in 1816; the stone furnace building erected by William Lord and Alanson Skinner in 1830, and operated by Lord & Skinner, William Lord & Son (Gilderoy Lord), N. B. Lord & Bros., until it was finally discontinued. There was also the foundry and machine shop, furnace and stove factory established by Alanson Skinner in 1832, and which was in later years run by A. Skin- ner & Son, 11. Skinner & Bros., and Skinner & Riee. This building is now in part used by D. B. Gotham, and in part by the Outterson paper company. In the same connection mention may be made of the Brown- ville carriage works, established in 1828 by Henry Lord, in the build- ing erected for the woolen factory. Then there was the Jefferson lead company, formed June 30, 1838, with Thomas L. Knap, manager, which did business here for several years in the manufacture of lithic paints, but about 1850 it was discontinued. About the same time Thomas L. Knap, who was one of the most enterprising and worthy men of the county for many years, built a large flour mill, also a tan- nery, and a linseed oil mill. After Mr. Knap removed to Pittsburgh (where he died from cholera) several of the industries with which he was connected were abandoned, but the old flour mill survived many years, and passed through the hands of Chas. Il. Bartlett, Bartlett & Patrick, Bartlett & Smith, P. T. Welch and Chas. C. Steele, but is now the pulp mill of the Outterson paper company. On the south side of the river a grist mill was erected many years ago which was carried on among others by L. M. Warren, Byron Cole, Cole, Peck & Spicer and George Frasier. A little below the grist mill on the same side of the river was a carding mill conducted by a Mr. Willis. Both properties were eventually converted into a paper mill and later on became the plant of the Globe Paper and Fiber company.

Of the merchants mention may be made of Major Brown, whose brick building stood (and still stands) at the corner of Basin and Main streets. Hoel Lawrence occupied it after Major Brown dropped out of business, but in later years it has passed through many changes in ownership. William S. Ely built a stone store and was in trade many years where Frazier & Schemerhorn are now in business. In 1850 A. E. Lord began merchandising, and is still so engaged; and to-

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

day stands among the oldest merchants of the county. When he opened his stock of goods the local merchants were John A. Catheart, George P. Bell, Oliver Stevens, Brown & Tillinghast (Tillinghast afterward became superintendent of the N. Y. C. R. R. Co.). Wmn. Lord & Son, James I. Hunt. About this time the cotton mills were in operation ; Thos. L. Knap had a tannery, white lead works, grist mill, oil mill, and was otherwise interested in village enterprises; Edwin Munson had a flour and grist mill, and Skinner Bros. and Wm. Lord & Son each had a foundry ; but of all these several interests one only survives, and that the store conducted by A. E. Lord.

It will be seen from this that Brownville half and three quarters of a century ago was a place of much importance. far more so perhaps than now. It was not surprising, therefore, that the citizens of the village at an early day sought to become incorporated and in a measure set off from the town at large. The corporating act was passed April 5, 1828, and the first village election was held at the house of Sylvester Reed on the 5th of May following, when these officers were chosen :

Thomas Loomis, jr., Hoel Lawrence, George Brown, Peleg Burchard and Tracy S. Knap, trustees; Wm. S. Ely, Asa Whitney and Wm. Lord, assessors; John A. Cathcart, treasurer; James Shields, collector; Levi Torry, constable. On the same day the trustees met and elected Thomas Loomis, jr., president; Peleg Burchard, secretary (clerk): and Ezra B. Dodd, Andrew Strong and Derrick Gibbons, overseers of highways.

In this connection may also be noted the succession of village presidents, viz. : Thomas Loomis, jr., 1828; William S. Ely, 1829; Derrick Gibbons, 1830; 1Ioel Law- rence, 1831; Edmund Kirby, 1832; William Lord, 1833; George Brown, 1834; Arba Strong, 1835, Alanson Skinner, 1:36; J. Hemingway, 1837; Joel Blood, 1838; James Shields, 1839; Thomas Loomis, 1840; William Lord, 1841; Charles K. Loomis, 1842; no record, 1843; John Bradley, 1844; Arba Strong, 1845; M. C. Loomis, 1846; John E. Brown, 1847; Edmund Kirby, 1848; Thomas L. Knap, 1849; C. K. Loomis, 1850; J. B. Kirby, 1851: James J. Hunt, 1852: Jesse Ayers, 1853; James Skinner, 1854; N. B. Lord, 1855-56; Jesse Ayers, 1857; William H. Brown, 1859-61; Charles C. Steele, 1×62; Aaron Brown, 1863; George C. Plumb, 1864-66; Franklin Keenan, 1867; Charles C. Steele, 1868: Alfred Kilborn. 1869; Alvin A. Gibbs, 1870-77; J. W. Wilder, 1×78, E. B. Pratt, 1879-52; Charles E. Codman, 1883-85: R. F. Gates, 1886-8%; A. A. Ostrander, 1859-90: William N. Cornell, 1891; C. E. Outterson, 1892-93; John T. Brennan, 1894; John McCulloch, 1895-97.

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 51

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