Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 55

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 55

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Another interesting though not specially historic locality is that com- monly known as Jibbett's Point, in the extreme western part of the town, at the head of the St. Lawrence. It was called after Capt. John Jibbett, of Troy, who in 1799 became the owner of 600 acres of land in the vicinity, but who is not mentioned among the settlers in the town. On January 25, 1827, the United States acquired title to about three aeres of land on Jibbett's Point, and in that year built the light house. The second was built in 1854, and was substantially repaired in 1850. This is a purely agricultural region and contains many excellent farms. It is at the extreme foot of the lake and affords many interesting views both on land and water.

On the old state road leading from Point Putnam to Chaumont, about three miles southeast from the former place, is a farming locality which for many years has been known as the Warren settlement. The first improvement here were begun in 1825, when three brothers, Shepard, James and Asa Warren made a clearing and opened a farm. Soon afterward Edwin Tuttle, Joel Torry and John Howard setttled in the vicinity, and with those who preceded them developed this part of the town and opened it for still further improvements by later comers.

Still further east, and three miles distant from the river, is a locality now known as St. Lawrence, but which was originally called St. Oars' Corners, and later Lawrenceville. Among the settlers here (and in this part of the town) were Jacob St. Oars, Silas Mosier, Eli Wethey, Horatio Humphrey, Hamilton Wallace, Samuel Dillon, Jerome Wethey, Daniel Corse, Charles Cummings, Dyer Pieree and other families whose surnames were Curtis, Wheeler, Campbell and Carpenter. In the course of years a settlement sprung up and was named as has been

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stated, but when James Rogers came and opened a tavern the event was of such importance that the cross roads was named Rogers' Corn- ers. Still later names were Gotham's Corners and Crane's Corners, but in 1818 a post station was established here under the name of Law- renceville, in allusion to a Miss Lawrence, of New York, a large land owner in the locality.

In Cape Vincent, unlike nearly all other towns of the county, early settlement was accomplished and all the institutions and interests were established previous to the time of organization. Indeed, in this town the most interesting events of early history took place while the terri- tory formed a part of Brownville, and the greatest strides in settlement and development were made while the town was a part of Lyme. One of the most exciting periods of history in the town was that of the war of 1812 15, which came upon the scattered inhabitants almost suddenly, causing many of them to temporarily abandon their possessions and seek safety in a more protected locality.' In June, 1812, on the recom- mendation of Gen. Brown, Col. Bellinger and a detachment of troops were sent to defend the St. Lawrence border in the vicinity of Port Putnam. John B. Esselstyn (afterwards Col. Esselstyn) was placed in command of the militia at a later period, and during the war the frontier in this town was defended by a troop of Mohawk county militia, a de- tachment of light artillery and dragoons, and also a body of riffemen, the latter under the command of Capt. Benj. Forsyth. At the time this was considered an important locality, and nearer, perhaps, to Kingston than any other American port. In the absence of the troops a line of sentinels was always maintained, and all precautions were taken to guard against surprise from this quarter.

Any allusion to the line of sentries always recalls one of the humor- ous incidents of the period. As the story goes, a soldier of our army while off duty went over to Wolf island, where he fell in with a young lady named Button. They were married, and in due season returned to this side. The news spread among the troops, and that night a soldier in the line of sentinels broke the stillness of solitude by crying out, "Button, button, who has got the button ?" His comrade next in line answered loudly: "Corporal Dean, " whereupon the cry was at

I Just before war was declared the schooners Niagara and Ontario, well laden with flour and potash, were seized by deputy collector Elijah Fields, who was stationed at Cape Vincent. The captured vessels were taken to Sackets Harbor, where the Niagara was condemned and sold, but the Ontario was released.

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onee taken up and carried along the entire line, fourteen miles in length.

For the maintenance of the troops stationed in the town at various times a barracks was built, which stood at the corner of Broadway and James streets in Cape Vincent village, while on the site of the school house on Murray street was the hospital. Occasionally the village and vicinity were visited by the British,1 and as a result of their incursions the barracks, Henry Ainsworth's store, J. B. & R. M. Esselstyn's store, Major Esselstyn's house (below Port Putnam), several barns, a quan- tity of lumber and two or three small schooners were burned. The Indians also made depredatory incursions, and on one occasion set fire to Dr. Avery Ainsworth's house and barn in the Pleasant valley neigh- borhood. Wilkinson's troops were here for a time, and in cooking messes and providing warmth for their quarters burned a large quan- tity of staves belonging to the Esselstyns. This was a wanton de- struction of property, and was only partially compensated by congress in later years.

During the later months of the war, in the summer of 1813, a man named Draper, who served as " express " between this point and Sack- ets Harbor, learned that a party of Indians were lurking about Wolf island, whereupon he obtained permission to organize a force of volun- teers to dislodge them. This was quickly accomplished, a gunboat under Captain Hawkins taking the troops over to the island. The ex- pedition, however, cost Draper his life, as he carelessly exposed himself within range of the Indians' muskets, and was killed.

Previous to the war lumbering was the chief business of the river border, while the Esselstyns, who have been mentioned, were extensive manufacturers of staves, and perhaps the largest operators in this part of the county. The war temporarily stopped all industries, but when peace was restored business was resumed, and the country back from the river was rapidly taken up and developed. New roads were opened, and the quality and cheapness of the land was such as to draw settlers to the locality. It was about this time that Le Ray induced settle- ments by the French and German elements of population, and nearly

1 On one of these visits, just before the attack on Sackets Harbor, a British gunboat touched at the cape in the night, and a part of the crew, having heard of the presence in the village of three American dragoons, who were stopping here over night, determined to take them, One of the men, named Moore, was an accomplished fencer, and retreating to the corner of the room, he so effectually defended himself against the British attack that he was shot. His com- tades escaped.

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all of those who came and purchased land brought large families to the town. During the fifteen years next following 1820, the population of Lyme increased from 1, 624 to 3,816, and by far the greater portion of this growth was in that part of the town afterward set off to Cape Vin- cent.

The war of 1837- 10, otherwise known as the Patriot war, was another brief period of interest to the inhabitants of the town, and in the early part of 1838 two companies of militia were called ont and stationed at Cape Vincent to prevent the lawless acts which the patriots were charged with committing, and particularly to prevent any force of patriots from invading Canada. In November following the army of patriots designed for the subjugation of Canada was augmented by ten or a dozen recruits from Cape Vincent, who took passage on the steamer United States, or her convoys, and had a part in the affair at Windmill Point. The cause had many sympathizers in this part of the county, and while in this town there was no special interest or demonstration, the mass meeting held in the village December 18, 1838, showed the sentiment of the townsfolk to be largely with the patriots. However, the period passed without injury to local interests, and events soon re- sumed their natural channels. In succeeding years the growth of the town in every direction was almost remarkable. In 1845 it had a population of more than 6,000, and then being the most populous town in the county, the subject of a division of the territory began to be dis- cussed, although four more years passed before the erecting act was passed.

Organisation .- As is stated on another page, Cape Vincent was formed from Lyme, the act being passed by the legislature April 10, 1849. The first town meeting was directed to be held at the home of Jacob Berringer, tavern keeper, on May 15, at which time the following officers were elected :

Supervisor, Frederick A. Folger; town clerk, John W. Little; superintendent of schools, W. H. Webb; justices of the peace, Jacob Barringer, Augustus Aubertinc, Barney W. Payne; assessors, John Lawton, Adam Gray; commissioner of highways, Buell Fuller; overseer of the poor, Francis A. Cross.

From that time to the present, history of Cape Vincent has been a record of growth and progress, and few indeed have been the events which have disturbed the peace and harmony of the inhabitants. In a greater degree perhaps than is found in any other town in the county. Cape Vincent has a mixed population, the descendants of the Ameri-

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cans, the Germans, the French, and lastly of the Irish settlers who made homes in this locality during the early years of the century. But notwithstanding the variety of nationalities so strongly represented, the town has ever been prosperous, the people thrifty, and evidence of comfort prevail in every quarter of the town.

In 1850, one year after the town was set off and organized, the in- habitants numbered 3,044, as shown by the census reports. The subse - quent fluctuations in population are best learned from the same source, as follows: 1855, 3,325; 1860, 3,585; 1865, 3,479; 1870. 3,342; 1815, 3,180; 1880, 3,143; 1890, 3,014; 1892, 2,966. According to the above statement, the greatest population in the town's history was attained in 1860, when the inhabitants numbered 3,585, and when, perhaps, the resources of the region were at the height of their development. The subsequent decrease has been due to the causes which have in like manner reduced the population of towns similarly situated, and not to lack of enterprise and public spirit on the part of the people.

During the period of its history, there have been built up within the limits of the town one incorporated village and three hamlets or trad- ing centers, known respectively as Cape Vincent, Rosiere, St. Law- renee and Millen's Bay (River View post office), the latter the first es- tablished settlement in the town and one of the first in the St. Law- rence river region. The original name of this hamlet was Port Put- nam, and Abijah Putnam was its pioneer and founder, as has been suffi - ciently stated on preceding pages. The locality prospered for a few years, but when Mr. Le Ray determined to establish a village settle- ment at Gravelly Point, his influence prevailed with the people and the site was abandoned about 1811. At various times in the later years a small store has been maintained here, but aside from its early historic associations, its once important lumbering interests, and the several at- tempts to profitably maintain a summer hotel, the hamlet is of little consequences in local annals. The present merchant and postmaster is George White. A union meeting house was built here in 1869-71, at the joint expense of the Protestant and Methodist Episcopalians, and is occupied by them on alternate Sundays. The Methodist services are supplied from St. Lawrence, and the Protestant Episcopal from Cape Vincent.

St. Lawrence is a small hamlet in the extreme eastern portion of the town, in a fertile agricultural region. In this locality Stephen Johnson opened a store about 1825 or '30, but as late as 1835 the settlement had

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not to exceed a half dozen dwellings. As we have stated, the first name of the locality was St. Oars' Corners, but in recognition of the importance of James Rogers' tavern, which was built sometime after 1830, the name was changed to Rogers' Corners. Still later it became Gotham Corners, then Crane's Corners, and Lawrenceville, and when the post office was established the permanent and appropriate name of St. Lawrence was adopted. From that time this has been an established trading center, though its business interests have been confined to one or two stores, a hotel, a cheese factory and one or two small shops. The present merchants are George Donaldson and Theodore Miller. The hotel is kept by M. C. Rogers. The only public buildings are the distriet school and the M. E. church.

The first Methodist class in this part of the town was formed soon after 1840 through the good works of Morris Cornwell and wife, Chris- topher Treadwell and wife and Mrs. Jeremiah Newville. Preaching services were maintained until Aug. 17, 1868, when the Second M. E. church of Cape Vincent was organized at St. Lawrence, and in the next year the meeting house was built. From that time the society has enjoyed a healthful existence, the members numbering about one hundred, including the Methodist worshippers at Miller's Bay and elsewhere in this part of the township. The present pastor is Rev. Hl. L. Hastings.

Rosiere is a hamlet of about 100 inhabitants in the central part of the town, on the line of the Cape Vincent branch of the R. W. & O. railroad. The road was built and completed in the early part of 1852, and a sta- tion was afterward established to accommodate the inhabitants of the St. Lawrence vicinity as well as those in the central part of the town. The hamlet was then built up in the center of the French and German population to whom previous reference has been made. Their farms originally averaged about 25 acres each, and were in part devoted to market gardening, and when Patrick S. Stewart (agent for the Le Ray estate) made his annual visit to Cape Vincent to collect interest, the Frenchman would walk the entire distance to the old Fuller hotel in the village and make their payments. The wives of these sturdy plod . dlers also accompanied their husbands on their journeys, and carried along a tub full of vegetables, which were sold or traded for goods. In this way, by persistent effort, many of these settlers became well- to-do and secured fine large farms. Their descendants, the present occupants of the old farms, are likewise thrifty and energetie, and

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have made profitable use of the lands left them by their ancestors. However, the little village built up for the benefit of this part of the town has not progressed much beyond the condition attained during the first ten years of its history. A saw and grist mill, a hotel and one or two stores have been maintained here nearly all the time; and in addition to them are the district school and Roman Catholic church. The local merchants are Lewis S. Dunlay and Charles Armstrong. The mills are owned by Peter Fraley.

St. Vincent de Paul's church at Rosiere, was founded in 1830 at the French settlement by Mr. Le Ray, who built the large stone edifice at that point and also donated 100 aeres of land. The parish was organ- ized at the same time, and then ineluded twenty families. In the course of time the edifice became unfit for further occupancy, and as the center of population of the parish had changed, in 1879 the present church at Rosiere was erected. It is now under charge of Father Will- iam S. Kelley, of Cape Vincent.

Cape Vincent Village .- Previous to the completion of the railroad from Watertown to Cape Vincent, there had been but little attempt to build up a commercial village with extensive mercantile and mani- facturing interests. When, about 1870-73, the St. Lawrence river and Thousand islands region became famous as a summer resort an effort was made to attract annual visitors to this village, but with little more than indifferent results. The village is pleasantly sitnated and possesses greater natural beauties than many localities farther down the river, yet Cape Vincent happens to be above the Thousand islands proper and just too near the outlet of the lake to reap the annual harvest from tourists and visitors.

If old records and local traditions be correct, in 1815 there were bnt seven dwelling houses on the village site, although Mr. Le Ray had begun to build up the settlement in 1811, and for that purpose had per- suaded the denizens of Port Putnam to abandon their improvements in favor of his more desirable location at Gravelly Point. However, the war had intervened, and what the enemy did not burn, the half-cared for forces of General Wilkinson practically destroyed and wasted. At that time occupancy of the settlement was attended with considerable danger, and a number of the first settlers found safety for their fam- ilies in other localities. So far as we have definite knowledge, among the earliest settlers in this part of Brownville were Holieb Phelps, Richard M. Esselstyn, John Matthews, " Uncle " Nash, Eber Kelsey,

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Dr. Avery Ainsworth, Nathan Lake, and perhaps two or three others, all of whom were here before the outbreak of the war.

The first attempt to improve the village tract was made in 1809 by Eber Kelsey, who came from Turin and cleared a 50 acre tract of land for Mr. Le Ray. He also erected a wharf, a block, a dwelling house and tavern and a large frame barn. In the same year Richard M. Esselstyn built a house and opened a stock of goods for trade, the own- ers being J. B. & R. M. Esselstyn. Dr. Avery Ainsworth came here from Vermont, and began practicing medicine along the river. Eber Kelsey established a ferry to the Canada side, and at that time in the history of the settlement did an extensive business in carrying smug- glers and goods across the border. Previous to this and as early as 1807 Peter Sternberg had secured an exclusive right to maintain a ferry be- tween Carleton island and Long island for ten years, and this, with the Kelsey ferry, was a popular and well patronized avenue of travel pre- vious to the appointment of a customs officer and sending a detachment of troops here to enforce the embargo laws. In 1809 the firm of Es. selstyn & Murray began manufacturing staves from timber bought of Le Ray, and shipped their produet to market down the river. They gave employment to many men, and were the means of bringing several fami- lies to the village. In 1810 local interests were increased by the importa- tion of large quantities of staves from the western part of the state, and it is estimated that 200,000 were brought here in this single year. This led to a new industry, that of building arks for transporting staves and other wares to Montreal. The Esselstyns were engaged in this business in 1811, but in 1812 the embargo act again went into operation and put an end to the traffic. The war soon followed, and the lumber left on hand was mostly burned by Wilkinson's army.

At this time, as we have stated, the village contained hardly more than half a dozen families, and the news of war spread terror through- out the scattered settlements of the town. This point, being nearest Kingston, was deemed of much importance, and Captain Farrar was stationed here with a company of militia to guard the frontier against the enemy and violations of the embargo laws. Later on John B. Es- selstyn, who had been commissioned major, assembled a body of militia and defended the frontier until the arrival of Major Allen's forces. Still later Captain Getman and a company of Mohawk militia were stationed at the village. A few days after war was declared the schoon- ers Niagara and Ontario came from the lake with cargoes of flour and

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potash for Brockville. They were at once seized by deputy collector Elijah Fields, and were taken to Sackets Harbor, as has been mentioned on an earlier page. Indeed, all through the period of the war this was an important point and many interesting incidents occurred in the vicinity, but after the return of peace events resumed their natural channels and Cape Vincent became a civil rather than a military settle- ment.

The Customs District. - On April 18, 1818, a custom house was estab- lished here and a district was organized with this as its seat of business. Previous to this time Cape Vincent was only a port of entry, subordi- nate Sackets Harbor. It is now the chief office of the district, Sackets Harbor having been consolidated with it March 3, 1863. John B. Es- selstyn, the port collector, served in that capacity more than four years before a salary was attached to the office. The business of the station was comparatively small prior to the construction of the railroad, but almost at once afterward it increased to large proportions. In the early seventies the business of the office was at its height (collections fre- quently reached $100,000 per year), but during the last twenty years there has been a gradual falling off in receipts. In 1886 (year ending June 30) the collections amounted to about $50,000. The value of ex- ports for that year was $90,772, and of imports $219,816.36. For the current year ending June 30, 1897, the value of exports was $126, 133, and of imports $266,149. The total number of vessels entered and cleared for foreign ports in 1897 (fiscal year ending June 30) was 2,087; coastwise vessels entered and cleared, 1, 113.

The collectors of the districts have been as follows: John B. Esselstyn, 1818-29; Jerre Carrier, 1829-41: Judah T. Ainsworth, 1841-43; Peleg Burchard, 1843-49; G. S. Sacket, 1849-53; Alfred Fox, 1853-57; Theophilus Peugnet, 1857-61; John W. Ingalls, 1861-65, Wm. Huntington, acting collector a few months; John B. Carpen- ter, 1866 62; David Owen, 1867-71; Sidney Cooper, 1871-79; George W. Warren, 1879 87; 1lorace E. Morse, 1887-91; G. Harrison Smith, 1891-94; Frank N. Potter, Sept. 6, 1894 (the present collector). Charles I. Gardner, upon whom devolves the onerous duties of the office, has been deputy collector at Cape Vincent since June 1, 1867.

The year 1818 was an eventful one in Cape Vincent history, for in addition to the establishment of the customs district, it witnessed the arrival of the colony of French refugees, who formed a small though distinguished element of local population for several years, and whose presence added greatly to the social importance of the place. During their stay Mr. Le Ray was a more frequent visitor than in former years,

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and on each of these occasions joy and hospitality reigned supreme in the almost historie "cup and saucer" residence, and also in the house- hold of every member of the colony. After a few years nearly all re- turned to France, yet a few remained in the town and formed a worthy and progressive element of population.

The early history of the village was largely of a commercial charac- ter, lumbering, stave making and ark building being the chief indus- tries until practically stopped by the war of 1812. In 1820 it was re- vived at Carleton island and again gained something of a foothold on the mainland. But in the meantime a new and still more important industry had been established; that of boat building, which began in 1819 and continued with more or less activity for a period of almost sixty years. However, since 1876 but few vessels other than a tug or an occasional scow has been built in the village or its near vicinity. From an old record we are able to furnish a reasonably complete list of vessels built in the town, but the year of construction cannot be given with any accuracy.

The vessels were the schooners Henry V Le Ray, La Fayette, Ainsworth, Han- nah. O. P. Starkey. L. Goler, Victor, Free Trader, Chief Justice Marshall, Crevolin, John E. Hunt, Napoleon, Merchant, Amelia, Roscoe, Potomac, Montgomery, Troy, Allanwick, Globe, Charles Smith, Algomah, Silas Wright, Port Henry and T. 11. Camp; brigs, Merchant, towa, Patrick Henry; sloops, Elizabeth Goler; propeller, St. Nicholas, and the steamer Walter Horton.

Several builders and firms were engaged in the construction of these vessels at Cape Vincent, but by whom each of these named was built would be difficult to accurately determine at this time. The largest shipyard was near the site of the present Burnham elevator, where the water was sufficiently deep to float the vessels without fear of ground. ing.

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 55

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