Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 53

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 53

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).

The mercantile and ordinary business houses are O. M. & G. W. Wood, Clark Bros., and Luther Bros., dealers in general merchandise; G. S. Casler & Son, C. A. Bloom, B. A. Randall and L. E. Foster, grocers; W. Trusdale, baker; G. S. Casler and Mr. Lucas, stoves and tin- ware; J. L. Bass, furniture ; Binninger & Strainge (established by Henry Binninger in 1863), sash, doors, blinds and lumber; William Ross, car- riage maker ; G. W. Hubbs, jeweler and printer ; Reed & Foster, masons' supplies and coal; David Baker, meat market; W. H. Winn, photog- rapher; W. H. Underwood, proprietor of Underwood house, together with the customary small shops and interests found in a well appointed country village.

Dexter lodge, No. 764, I. O. O. F., was instituted December 15, 1896, with 86 members, and is one of the substantial fraternal bodies of the county. The present membership is about 100.

On the Hounsfield side of the river, where now stands the Youngs' mill, Patrick & Fields began milling about 1860. After several years the property was sold to Hill H. Wilson, who run an ashery in connec-

501

THE TOWN OF BROWNVILLE.

tion with his mill. He sold out and went west. Just above this plant is a pulp mill now owned by Hunter & Jones. It was built by them and run in connection with a saw mill on the same water privilege. In fact a saw mill has stood here for many years. Potter & Hammond at one time operated the mill.

Dexter furnished to the embryo army designed and organized for the subjugation of Canada at least six recruits. Among them were Col. John B. Kimball, a shoemaker, and for many years justice of the peace in the town, also David Dafoe and one Gilman. The soldier last mentioned was among the captured patriots of Windmill Point. Ile was tried, convicted and sentenced to Van Dieman's land. He escaped to Australia, and after wandering about the globe for twenty-six years returned to Dexter in 1862. During his absence he made twofortunes, one of which was lost, but the second was saved ; and when he returned home he was in comfortable circumstances. He was reunited with his family, and soon afterward removed to Henderson, where he bought a farm. Ilere he lived the remaining years of his life, and died highly respected in the community.

Limerick .- Various traditions are extant regarding the naming of this hamlet, one of which was to the effect that it was so called from the abundance of lime rock found in the vicinity, and that the present name of Limerick was an abbreviation of it; the other, and the most probable story, was that when the settlement was founded the honor of naming it was accorded to the oldest resident, and he being an Irish - man from Limerick, Ireland (whose name is recalled as Crawford), called it for his native place. However this may have been we cannot determine at this time, but in the early history of the town this was an important region, especially before the construction of the railroad in 1851 2. The hamlet was built upon the line of the highway leading from Watertown to Chaumont bay and Cape Vincent, from which points great quantities of local products were shipped to market at Kingston. Potash and whiskey were the chief productions, and if local tradition be true the settlers had little respect or fear for the restrictions of the embargo laws. On the turnpike which Mr. Le Ray cansed to be built Limerick was the first stopping place after leaving Brownville, and so great was traffie that at least three taverns carried on a successful busi- ness for many years, while the principal product of the region (whiskey) made this an exceedingly lively place. For manufacturing purposes a dam was built across Perch river, and a number of mills were in opera-

502

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

tion at an early day, but on account of the sluggish current of the stream a considerable area was flooded, causing much sickness in the vicinity. So great indeed was the annoyance occasioned by this con- dition that an act of the legislature, passed March 30, 1827, directed John Baxter, Abner Smith and Isaac Moffatt to remove the nuisance; and in March, 1828, the court declared the dam to be a nuisance. Within the last ten years, however, the objectionable character of the river bottom has been removed by the liberal use of blasting powder. The work was begun soon after 1890, and was continued at intervals for about three or four years. The expense, amounting to about $3,200, was paid by interested property owners along the river whose lands were benefited by the work. One of the first industries was a carding mill, built at a now unknown date. Samuel Shelley settled at this place about 1804 and took up a farm of 160 acres where the store and residence of W. H. Everett now stands. He built a grist mill on the east side of the river where a bridge then stood and about thirty rods below the present bridge. This industry was afterward known as "Gillingham's old mill." However, when the dam was declared a nuisance the mill ceased operation and was afterwards moved across the road and utilized as a barn. Pioneer Shelly was a very worthy man and raised a large family. He is said to have been the first man to carry the news to Kingston that peace had been declared after the war of 1812. He was grandfather of the present county clerk, Frank I). Pierce.

About 1836 Jenks and Jonathan Gillingham erected a saw and grist mills below the site of the old carding mill. These mills were after- wards carried on by Jonathan Moffatt and Henry C. Dorchester re- spectively. They were in operation until 1885, when the power became insufficient, after which the buildings remained until the spring of 1897 when they were torn down. After the railroad was put in operation Limerick began to lose prestige as a business hamlet, and gradually subsided into a convenient trading center for an agricultural region. A store and hotel have ever since been maintained here. Frank D. Pierce, the present county clerk, was for several years a merchant of the village, and was succeeded by W. H. Everett & Son. Earlier mer- chants at this place were Levi Smith, Ely Smith, C. P. & N. Gould, S. S. B. Peck, Aaron Hubbell, Reuben and Rufus Day and J. E. Reeves. The hotel is kept by C. O. F. Booth. It was conducted many years by James Smith and was a very popular hostelry in its day. The town clerk's office is also in the village.

503

THE TOWN OF BROWNVILLE.

Perch River.When the settlement in this part of the town was founded the locality was called Moffattville, in allusion to Isaac and Melvin Moffatt. How long the name was maintained is uncertain, but the post-office was designated as Perch River. In a preceding para- graph the names of the pioneers of this part of the town are given, but in addition to them may also be recalled :

Abner Smith, General Britton, Samuel Starr, Chauncey Starr, Enos Scott, Wm. Knox, John Baxter, Roswell and Levi Baxter, Wm. Vandebogart, Benj. Prior, Major Avery, Charles and Sterling Avery, Daniel and David Phelps, David Crouch, Levi Hale (the cooper), Silas F. Spicer, Nicholas Lawyer, John and Walter Cole, Nathaniel Peck, Archibald Sternberg, Seth Calkins, Jonathan Webb, and also Silas, Lewis and William Webb.

These may not have been pioneers or even early settlers, but they were prominent factors in the history of the locality more than half a century ago. The desirable lands here attracted settlers and were rap- idly taken and improved, hence the settlement of Moffatville was a necessity. It was here also that during the war of 1812 15 the settlers built the fort, the same afterward used as a storehouse for grain, but which was torn down about 1837. Isaac Moffatt opened a tavern, and his son Isaac started a store Daniel Allen was a later landlord, while llugh Smith succeeded to the mercantile business. The hotel was burned about 1843, and was not rebuilt, but a store has since been kept open. The later merchants have been Smith & Spicer, Smith & Allen, Smith & Gillett, Michael Quineer, Clark Scott and Lyons Hagan, the latter being now in business, and also the local postmaster. In connec- tion with their store Smith & Spieer for many years ran an extensive potashery. They employed in this business several men who traveled about the country with teams gathering up ashes for which they traded articles of merchandise. The ashes were converted into potash which was in turn shipped to market and thus produced a nice revenue to the proprietors. In an early day Silas F. Spicer had a tannery and shoe store here. The cheese factory was started by Henry Spicer about 20 years ago, and for the last eighteen years has been operated by George Northrup. The public buildings are the district school and the union church.

The Union church at Perch River was built in 1851 by members of the Methodist, Universalist and Lutheran denominations residing in the vicinity and while still owned in common is chiefly used by the Methodists, the other societies being almost extinct. The pulpit is supplied from Depauville.

504

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

In the northeast part of the town, about two miles from Perch river, is what is commonly called the Baptist church neighborhood. In this locality the early settlers also built a fort during the war of 1812, fear- ing an Indian invasion of the town. After the period had passed the settlers met for religious worship in the old building, and here the first Baptist services were held. Indeed the society antedated the building of the fort by four years, having been formed in 1806 (Sept. ? ), and was the first church society of the town. The original members were Richardson Avery, Truman Kilborn, Arad Farr, Oliver Bartholomew, Isaac Cornwell, Persis Towns, Peter Towns, David Little, and Joseph and Rhoda Rhodes. The first pastor was Elder Timothy Pool, suc- ceeded in its early history, by Elders Wilkie, Joshua Morgan, Sardis Little and others. The society was incorporated in 1825 and reorgan- ized in 1833. The stone edifice was erected in 1827. Meetings are not regularly held, and the society does not report to the association.

Pillar Point is a hamlet on the north shore of Black river bay, in the extreme western part of the town, and although in a measure isolated from the other settled localities of Brownville, the inhabitants are by no means backward in any element of domestic life, for the lands here are among the best in the county, and rich and productive to a remark- able degree.

In 1818 the executors of Nicholas Olive conveyed to Bartholmew Hounsfield, Thomas Ludlow Ogden and Samuel F. Hooker the so- called Olive tract, including 4,050 acres of land on Pillar Point, the con- sideration paid for which was $9,112.50. In 1823 the land was parti- tioned between the owners, Hooker taking 1,459 acres in the eastern portion of the tract, running from Black river bay north to the Chassanis line. The land had a very deep soil and was heavily timbered. Hooker built a saw mill near the mouth of Gill creek. where the shore road leaves the present middle road on Pillar Point. This was the only saw mill, so far as is known, ever on the point. All traces of it have long ago disappeared, but for many years the locality was known as llooker's saw mill.

In fact the Pillar Point neighborhood was settled almost as early as the localities farther east, and by a class of pioneers as thrifty and pro- gressive as the county could boast. This, too, is distinctively an agricultural region, although during the early years of the century lumbering, potash making and fishing were staple industries. At one time this locality promised to possess some importance as a boat yard,

505

THE TOWN OF BROWNVILLE.

but other points soon drew away the industry. However, in 1836 Asa Wilcox built the Congress (140 tons) on the point. The hamlet settle- ment is directly north from Sackets Harbor, and distant therefrom one and one-half miles by boat ride across the bay. The village was es- tablished for the convenience of the farmers and fishermen,' and when it became so established a post-office was located here. A store and a hotel were kept here fifty years ago. For many years a ferry has been in operation between Pillar Point and Sackets Harbor, the ferry- man being licensed by the county court. However, as a village of the county Pillar Point is now of little moment, nor do its people aspire to a position of importance in the region. The local institutions comprise the Methodist church, and the district school.

A Baptist society was formed Sept. 22, 1838, with about thirty mem- bers, but the number increased in later years, and afteward decreased until the society was not self-sustaining. It has now ceased to exist. The M. E. church at Pillar Point has been one of the enduring institu- tions of the town. It was organized January 9, 1836, with pioneers John D. Ingerson, Isaac Luther, Lyman Ackerman, Smith Luther and Stephen P. Bracket as the first trustees. A house of worship was built soon afterward, and the society has ever been in active existence though the number of members has been fluctuating. The present number is FI, with six probationers. In the Sunday school are 110 pupils. The church is supplied by Rev. J. W. Barrett.

Glen Park. This recently incorporated village is situated in the southeast corner of the town of Brownville, on the north bank of the river, about half way between the county seat and Brownville village. It owes its existence chiefly to the extensive pulp and paper mills owned by the C. R. Remington & Sons company, although the con struction of the electric railroad was an important factor in its devel . opment.

The special election at which the proposition to incorporate was sub- mitted was held at the paper company's office, Dec. 29, 1893, at which time 14 votes were cast for and two against the measure. The survey of the proposed tract was made by Henry E. Baker, and included . 758 of a square mile of land.

The C. R. Remington & Sons paper company was incorporated Aug

1 Previous to about twenty-five years ago (about isto fishing was a staple industry on Pillar Point. The shores were for years lined with hishermen's shantiesand packing houses, and many thousands of barrels of fish were taken annually. About the title mentioned the industry be- gan to decline and eventually passed out of existence.

500

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

15, 1893, with a capital of $235,000, by Charles R. Remington, Charles H. Remington and Helen M. Remington, for the purpose of operating a pulp and paper mill in the town of Brownville.

The Ontario paper company, whose large and attractive buildings are situated between Glen Park and Brownville, was incorporated orig- inally as the Tilden paper company (July 9, 1887) with a capital stock of $100,000, by J. M. Tilden, D. H. Anderson, Frank A. Hinds, G. W. Knowlton, E. B. Sterling, N. P. Wardwell and S. F. Bagg. In 1888 the company passed into new ownership, and on Oct. 13 of that year, by an order of the Supreme court, the name was changed to the Ontario paper company. The capital stock was also increased to $150,000.

These interests, with two small hotel buildings and one store com - prise the business part of the hamlet, but in 1896 the territory was included in union free school district No. 1 of Brownville, to which reference is made on a preceding page. The village also has a mission church, established by the brotherhood of St. Andrew. of Trinity parish at Watertown. On the south side of the river the street railroad com- pany has laid out and opened an extensive and beautiful park, to which access is had by a substantial bridge across the stream.

Slaughter Hill is the name of a locality between Brownville and Perch river villages, but no industry or public building marks the place. The name was derived from a tragedy enacted there on April 16, 1828, when Henry Evans, in resisting the attempt of Joshua Rogers and Henry Diamond to dispossess him from the house he occu- pied, seized an axe and mortally wounded both of them, and seriously injured a third man who was with them. Evans was arrested, in- dicted and tried for the offense; was found guilty of murder in the first degree, and was sentenced to be hanged on August 22d of that year. The sentence was carried into effect on the gallows erected on the Pamelia side of the river, opposite the court house as then located on Court street. This event was the first of its kind in the county, and the locality in which the tragedy occurred gained and has ever since been called by the name of Slaughter hill.

Thus have we endeavored to trace in a general way the leading events of Brownville history from the time when Jacob Brown first came into the region in 1199. Whoever pursues the narrative will dis- cover that no attempt has been made to refer at length to the lives and deeds of the pioneers, except as they were associated with the civil his- tory of the town. In another department will be found sketches of

507

THE TOWN OF BROWNVILLE.

personal and family life in the town, but before closing this chapter it is proper to recall and mention by name some of the prominent men which the town has produced; men who have been so identified with local interests as to bring them prominently before the publie, and who have in fact been a part of the history of the town and its villages. The foremost man among the pioneers was General Jacob Brown, of whom frequent mention has been made in this chapter. Isaac Luther

FORMER RESIDENCE OF MAJ. - GEN. JACOB BROWN, U.S.A., AT BROWNVILLE.

who was a pioneer on Pillar Point, was the progenitor of a large and thrifty family of descendants, and while in no sense a figure in publie affairs, his life and example were worthy of emulation. Some of his descendants have attained to positions of responsibility and trust. Col. Edmund Kirby was an early and prominent resident of Brownville vil- lage. His wife was Eliza, daughter of General Brown, and the old mansion in which he lived in the village is still one of the attractive landmarks of the place. This was the old house of General Brown, and was occupied by Colonel Kirby after the first occupant had re- moved to Washington. Colonel Kirby carly became prominent in the war of 1812, in which he served as an officer, but he afterward gained distinction in military cireles in other fields, notably in the Black

508

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Hawk, Seminole and Mexican wars, He returned to his home in Brownville in 1848, and in the next year died. George Brown was also a conspicuous figure in early history, he having held the office of justice of the peace for more than 50 years; was postmaster 28 years, and was in the assembly in 1819. The late Lysander H. Brown, of Watertown, was the nephew of "Squire" Brown. The latter died July 8, 1870. The pioneer of the Emerson family came to the town in 1804, and was always known to the settlers as "Grandfather " Emer- son. In his family were three sons, Jonathan, Elijah and Dustin, all of whom raised large families, and whose descendants are still known in the town and county. Col. William Lord came here previous to the war of 1812, from Vermont, and is best remembered as bookkeeper for his uncle, William M. Lord, who kept the old hotel in the village. Ile served during the war, but his greatest prominence came from his con- nection with the old foundry firm of Lord & Skinner, and later Lord & Sons. Two of his sons, Col. N. B. Lord and N. N. Lord, served with honor in the war of 1861-65.

Alanson Skinner came to the village in 1814, returned to his home in New Hampshire, but afterward came again and was identified with local history in many ways; was one of the firm of Lord & Skinner; was state senator in 1850-51, and was one of the directors of the Na- tional Union bank. lle died June 2, 1876. Gen. Thomas Loomis came here from Otsego county, and operated a tannery, a distillery, and also made saleratus for the townsfolk. He died April 24, 1869. Charles K. and M. C. Loomis, both of whom were prominent citizens, were sons of General Loomis. Thomas Y. How was one of the few early settlers who was rich when he came to the town, for he then possessed $10,000 in cash ; but he was hardly a prominent citizen other- wise than enjoying the respect of the entire community. Thomas S. Knap came in 1829 to take charge of the business of his brother, Tracy S. Knap, who also was closely identified with local history, but who was an invalid. Mr. Knap's connection with Brownville interests has been noted on a preceding page.

Thus might the list be continued indefinitely, but space and poliey forbid. However, before leaving this retrospective, mention must be made of such names as:

Judge John Brown. Maj. Samuel Brown, Wm. S. Ely, Hoel Lawrence, Asa Whit- ney, Elizur Fairman, Major Reed, John A. Cathcart, Colonel Bradley, Dr. Bates, Joel Blood, G. Tillinghast and his son James, James Wood, S. Newton Dexter, F. J.

500

THE TOWN OF CAPE VINCENT.

Ilall, James A. Bell, John Baxter, Wm. P. Massey, Frederick Avery, Hazael S. White, Silas, James and Henry Spicer, Alvin A. Gibbs, Arba Strong, Walter Zim- merman and a host of others whose names must be passed for the time, but all of whom were in some manner identified with the best interests and history of the town and the county.

Supervisors .- Jacob Brown. 1803; John W. Collins, 1804-5; Jacob Brown, 1806 2; J. W. Collins, 1808; John Brown, 1809-10; Josiah Farrar, 1811-12; John Brown, 1813; Joseph Clark, 1814; John Brown, 1815; Walter Cole, 1816-17; Geo. Brown, jr., 1818; Hoel Lawrence, 1819-20; Walter Cole, 1821-28; George Brown, 1829-33; Aaron Shew, 1834 35; Walter Cole, 1836 37; Mahlon P. Jackson, 1838; Manson Skinner, 1839 40; Wm. Lord, 1811: A. Skinner, 1842-43; Chas. B. Avery, 1811-45; A. Skinner, 1846; Chas. B. Avery, 1817: Arba Strong, 1848; Cyrus Allen, 1549; Thos. L. Knap, 1850; Cyrus Allen, 1851 ; Samuel Middleton, 1852; C. K. Loomis, 1853; Beriah Allen, 1851-55; James A. Bell, 1856 57: Jesse Ayers, 1858; Henry Spicer, 1859-61; Henry Dorchester, 1862-64; Ezra S. Tallman, 1865-68; Henry Spicer, 1869 ; Alvin A. Gibbs, 1870; Myron 11. Peck, 1871 72: A. A. Gibbs, 1873-74; Walter Zimmerman, 1855. O. M. Wood, 1876-67; Henry Binninger, 1878-80; Walter Zimmerman, 1881; F. D. Pierce, 1882-84; Edward Spicer, 1885 88; Walter Zimmerman, 1889-95; F. W. Spicer, 1896-97; Edward Leonard, 1898-99.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE TOWN OF CAPE VINCENT.

In many respects the history of Cape Vincent is unlike that of any other town of the county, for within its territorial boundaries is one of the most interesting localities from a purely historic point of view to be found in northern New York. Carleton island is the particular lo- cality referred to. There exists evidence tending to show that almost three hundred years ago the daring French explorer Champlain, voy- aged quite near if indeed he did not touch this island when he erossed over the river and invaded the Iroquois country in 1615. In 1684 Marquis de la Barre, governor general of the Canadas, followed nearly the same course when he sailed to the south side of the lake and held a treaty with the Indians at Bay le Famine, in the present town of Ellis- burgh. From historieal accounts of that period there is reason to be- lieve that De la Barre knew of the existence of what we now call Carle- ton island, if indeed he did not actually occupy it for temporary purposes. A few years later, in 1696, Count Frontenac in organizing and execut-

510

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

ing his historic expedition' against the Iroquois in the province of New York certainly became fully conversant with the famous islands at the foot of the lake, for even then they were regarded as points of impor- tance in the warlike events of the period. We have no positive proof that Frontenac occupied Carleton or any other island within the juris- diction of this town, yet there is evidence tending to that conclusion. The island is first definitely mentioned in the Charlevoix letter of 1721 (see an earlier chapter), when that noted Jesuit missionary priest was at Bay le Famine and there wrote a letter to the Duchess de Lesdiguires. He mentioned Carleton island as " Isle aux Chevreuils,"? which has been translated as "Isle of Roe Bucks."

Father Charlevoix visited the island first in 1220, and described it as "a pretty port that can receive large barques." Among the early French explorers it was a favorite stopping place and camping ground, and the practice of utilizing it for this purpose was prolonged through- out the colonial period. In alluding to it a contemporary writer says: But what renders this island of more historical interest than the many other islands of the group are the remains of a strong military work, which was built upon it during the latter part of the last century, crowning the brink of the bluff at the head of the island, overlooking the "pretty port " and commanding the American channel of the great river. This fortification has generally been known as Fort Carleton, but in regard to its origin and date of construction there was much conjecture, and not a little controversy among students of history until the doubt was removed by Major Durham's researches. (See note. ) Until within the last score of years it was supposed that the fort was built by the French between 1:58 and 1760, or during the last French and English struggle for supremacy on this side of the

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 53

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