Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 56

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 56

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Half a century or more ago the main business part of the village was near where is now the Davis coal office, but at that time had begun to work toward the main street. In a preceding paragraph mention has been made of the earliest merchants, hence their names need no repe- tition here. Among the old firms doing business was Esselstyn & Ainsworth, who were succeeded by Ainsworth & Lee (Roswell T. Lee, father to Morris E. Lee). After Mr. Ainsworth's death John B. Essel- styn became a partner with Mr. Lee in an extensive business in lum- ber, staves, potash, and also as general merchants. O. P. Starkey was a prominent early business man, and was village postmaster. His 67

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

store was about where the bank and Grappotte store now stand. His son-in-law, L. S. Hammond, was Starkey's clerk and afterward partner, but eventually started a bank. The first and principal village hotel was also down near the coal office location, and was kept by Mr. Cross, father to ex sheriff Francis A. Cross. Mr. Tabor was another early hotel keeper. Above Starkey's store was a hat factory of Othniel Edwards, and near the factory there flowed down from the hill a con - siderable stream. On Main street it was crossed by a small bridge, but lower down and across Morris E. Lee's and the old Rathbun hotel lots the creek formed a pond several acres in extent. This was a favorite skating ground in winter, but the low lands are now filled in and on the site are several comfortable residences.

Such was the situation and those whose names have been recalled were the business men of Cape Vincent more than half a century ago. It cannot be claimed that the list is complete for at this late day that would be quite impossible. Among the later factors in business life here were John Dwillard, of the firm of Dwillard & Bartlett, also Henry Crevolin, Francis A. Cross, Theophilus Peugnet, Coleman Ifinckley, Michael Meyers, Cross Hinckley and others. The old grist mill stood on the site of Sacket's boat house, on a piece of land deeded by Le Ray to Charles Wilson, who erected the mill. The property passed through several ownerships and finally the building was burned.

Where now stands the United States fish hatchery, Antoine Dwillard built a four-story stone grist mill, one of the most complete structures of its kind in the county. It proved too expensive to be profitable, hence was sold to Bartlett & Dwillard, and was converted into a shingle and planing mill. It at last came into possession of George Grant who, in 1895, sold the property to the government for a fish hatchery.

Soon after the railroad was completed a grain elevator was built. E. K. Burnham was employed in the building as clerk, and in 1864, after the building was burned, he erected the large elevator building which still stands. Mr. Burnham is still proprietor of the business, and is also the owner of a grist muill. Much of the grain used in the large flouring mills at Watertown passes through the Burnham elevator at Cape Vincent.

The oldest present business men of the village are G. W. Warren and Lloyd O. Woodruff, both of whom have seen all of two-score mercantile proprietors come and depart with the natural course of events during the long period of their operations here. They have also seen Cape

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THE TOWN OF CAPE VINCENT.

Vincent when its importance as a place of business was far greater than at the present time, yet it is doubtful if at any time there were more representatives of separate interests than now. Recalling briefly the business houses as they now exist mention may be made of the general stores of G. W. Warren, L. O. Woodruff, C. W. Horton, Parker Bros., Burdick & Armstrong and Wm. Anthony; the grocery stores of Jos. C. Gregor, H. S. Spafford, J. II. Grappotte, D. L. Fitzgerald and R. J. J. Newman; the clothing store of J. F. Constance; J. B. Roseboom's and D. J. McDermott's hardware stores, together with the usual number of other interests, all of which combine to make this a thriving and pros- perous municipality.

The village is supplied with three hotels, known as the New St. Lawrence, the Union house, and one other in course of erection and not named. The mention of hotel interests in Cape Vincent suggests the former St. Lawrence hotel, which was built in 1884 at a cost of about $60,000 and was one of the large hostelries of the river region. The hotel stood at the corner of Broadway and Market streets. It was built by H. J. Crevolin, and was run by him a few years after which it went into the hands of an incorporated company. The property was burned a few years ago, but before its destruction the name of the hotel was changed from St. Lawrence to Algonquin. The Cape Vincent and St. Lawrence hotel company, which for a time owned the hotel, was incorporated Jan. 26, 1886.

Another interest of considerable importance in local circles is the growth of market garden seeds. For many years it had been known that this section of the county was especially adapted to the growth of seeds of various kinds, but not until within the last fifteen years has this been made a distinet industry of the locality. The A. B. Cleve- land Seed company, which was established originally by Artie B. Cleve- land, was incorporated January 29, 1885, and secured for a house the Cross & Hinckley warehouse on the dock. The incorporators were Artie B. Cleveland, Henry T. Hopkins, James M. Cleveland, Richard H. Huntington and Joseph Mullin. The present manager of the com- pany is Seth M. Pease. The Cape Vincent Seed company, whose large warehouse stands in a conspicuous location opposite the railroad station, was incorporated July 16, 1890, with $20,000 capital. The incorporat- ors were C. V. Sidell, J. C. Sidell, J. F. Shelly, Chas. D. Ingersoll, James H. Howard and E. N. Jackson. The object of the company was the "growth and marketing of peas, beans and seeds for the seed

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

trade." Mann & Co. are also producers of fancy flower seeds, and have succeeded in building up a considerable business.

The Bank of Cape Vincent was incorporated July 6, 1885, with $25, 000 capital, and with Erastus K. Burnham, president, and Francis A. Cross, cashier. From that time the bank has enjoyed a healthful existence, and has a present surplus of $12,000. The present officers are E. K. Burnham, president, and S. S. Block, cashier. The directors comprise the officers mentioned and George V. S. Camp. As has been incident- ally noted on an earlier page the first banker was Otis P. Starkey, who was succeeded by Lazarus S. Hammond, and was conducted by him as L. S. Hammond's bank. The latter was forced to suspend during the panic of 1843, from which time until the Bank of Cape Vincent was organized the village was without a financial institution of that char- acter.

Cape Vincent lodge, No. 344, F. & A. M., was instituted July 10, 1822, by Isaac Lee.

The charter was granted upon the petition of John B. and Richard M. Esselstyn, Elnathan Judd, Zebulon Converse, Elisha Johnson, Henry Ainsworth, James Buck- ley, Andrew Estes, Wm. Palmer, John Nash, Count Real, Joseph Cross, S. P. She]- don, Samuel Doxsee. Willis Merritt and D. W. Slocum.

In 1836, during the anti-masonic period, the lodge was compelled to suspend, and when revived in 1853 many of the jewels and properties of the old organization were found to have been preserved. The mas- ters of the old lodge were as follows: J. B. Esselstyn, 1822; Zebulon Converse, 1823-24; Philip P. Gaige, 1825; D. W. Slocum, 1826; G. S. Sackett, 1827; L. Converse, 1828-29; C. Wright, 1830-31.

The lodge was revived July 28, 1853, under the old name, but with the number changed to 293. From that time its history has been con- tinuous and prosperous. Its present membership is sixty-eight. The past masters since 1853 have been as follows:

Zebulon Converse, 1853-58; A. J. Smith, 1859-61; Zebulon Converse, 1862-63; David B. Owens, 1864-65; Sidney Bickford, 1866-67; Henry A. House, 1868-72; Geo. R. Starkey, 1873-74; Lloyd O. Woodruff, 1875-76; Geo. R. Starkey, 1877; J. Albert Scobell, 1878; L. G. Kelsey, 1879; L. R. Dezengremel, 1880; Thomas Masson, 1881; 1. C. Marks, 1882-83; Lloyd O. Woodruff, 1884-86; Thomas Masson, 1887; L. C. Marks, 1888-90; L. O. Woodruff, 1891-96; Charles B. Wood, 1897-98.

Rising Virtue chapter, No. 96, R. A. M., was chartered February 3, 1825, and the officers were installed by M. E. II. P. Isaac Lee. The chapter continued work until 1830 and then suspended until July 3,

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THE TOWN OF CAPE VINCENT.

1851, when the charter was restored. It has since maintained a health . ful existence, and at this time numbers about forty active members.

Village Incorporation. In the spring of 1853 the first steps were taken toward securing the incorporation of the village. A preliminary survey of the proposed boundaries was made, and within them was found a population of 1, 218 persons. On June 11 an application was made to the court of sessions upon the petition of Jerre Carrier, Sammel Forsyth and Laban H. Ainsworth, and in due time the order was granted by Judge Wm. C. Thompson. On July 8 a special election was held and the proposition to incorporate was carried by a vote of So for and 2 against.

The first village officers were Jere Carrier. Theophilus Peugnet, Judah T. Ains- worth, James L. Folger and Laban II. Ainsworth, trustees; Wm. R. Saunders. clerk ; Ward E. Ingall, Calvin Wright and Chas. Smith, assessors; Russell Frary. treasurer, and John L. Gardner, collector. On February 28, 1871, at a special clee- tion the electors voted to reincorporate under the provisions of the laws of 1870, and on the 23d of March (1871) regular by-laws and ordinances for the village govern- ment were adopted. Since that time three trustees have been elected.

The village presidents have been as follows: ' Judah T. Ainsworth, 1853; Jerre Carrier, 1854; John H. Roseboom, 1855; Otis P. Starkey, 1856; Zebulon Converse, 1801 61; A. F. Smith, 1865; J. Il Roseboom, 1866; Sidney W. Ainsworth, 1865; John B. Grappotte, 1868; Chas. Smith, 1869; Levi Anthony, 1870; G. W. Warren, 1871 42: J. II. Roseboom, 1953; W. N. Johnson, 18H1; J. B. Grappotte, 1575, no record, 1876-75; Philip Marks, 1879; J. A. Scobell, 1880; Frank Dezengremel, 1891 ; A. B. Cleveland, 1882: L. T. Kelsey, 1883 87; S. B. Hance, 1888 89; Warren Casler, 1890; Henry Peo, 1891; D. 1 .. Fitzgerald, 1892 93; Henry Peo, 1891; Willard Ains- worth, 1895; llenry Peo, 1896; E. K. Burnham, 1897. In 1860 Morris E. Lee was appointed village clerk, and served in that capacity (except for one or two years) un- til 1894.

The fire department is one of the interesting branches of local gov- ernment, and while it was not formally organized prior to 1884, it has been in existence nearly forty years, and in many respects is one of the most efficient fire-fighting bodies in the county. Early in 1859 the sub- ject of providing apparatus to extinguish fires was discussed, and it was then voted to purchase buckets. Soon afterward the old chemical en- gine was purchased. It is still in use by the village, and is perhaps the most effective piece of apparatus owned by the village, yet wholly crude both in design and construction. The department comprises Hose companies Nos. 1 and 2, Engine companies 1 and 2, and Rescue hook and ladder company. In 1884 Cape Vincent was visited with a most

1 Owing to incomplete records the full succession of presidents cannot be secured.

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serious and sweeping fire, and immediately thereafter the department was placed on its present basis. The headquarters was built in 1866, at a cost of $4,500, and underneath the structure is a water storage tank with a capacity of 2,200 barrels. The fire apparatus is kept on the ground floor, and above is a good entertainment hall and village lockup.

The educational history of the village is also interesting and may be briefly stated. As early as August 14, 1824, a union library was formed, the purpose of which was to place before the inhabitants educational literary matter not accessible to the people at large. The leading spirits of the society were Gideon S. Sackett, John B. Esselstyn, Daniel Smith, Stockwell Osgood, Philip P. Gaige, Zebulon Converse and Ros- well T. Lee. The library was maintained several years and was then abandoned, but the beneficial effect was permanent. A good school has ever since been supported in the village, and was a part of the sys- tem of the town at large until about 1870, when it was made a three department graded school. The building was erected about 1879. In October, 1895, a union free school district was established, thus ele- vating the local school to a standing equal to that of any village in the county. The first board of education comprised W. A. Casler, J. R. Kilbourn and W. J. Grant. The members of the present board are W. J. Grant, president ; William A. Casler and Dr. E. M. Crabb. The en- rollment of the district is 289 pupils, for whose instruction a principal and six assistant teachers are employed. The maintenance expense is about $4,000 annually.

The village also has an interesting ecclesiastical history, dating back to the early years of the country when religious services were held at Richard M. Esselstyn's house. He read the Episcopal service, while Deacon Kindall, a devout Baptist, followed and assisted with an ex- tempore prayer. A Sunday school was established in July, 1820, under the direction of J. B. Esselstyn, Buel Fuller, R. M. Esselstyn and Mr. Ellis. For the proper religious training of the people there was also organized, previous to any church society, an " Auxiliary Female Mis- sionary Society," whose membership included the wives of nearly all the leading men of the vicinity.

The First Presbyterian society of Cape Vincent was formally organ- ized under that name, February 13, 1832, although the informal society dates back to March 2, 1823, when Oliver and Matilda Lynch, Abraham Morrow, Jane and Mary Forsyth, Cynthia Rogers, Hezekiah H. Smith,

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THE TOWN OF CAPE VINCENT.

Jedediah and Amarillis Mills constituted the original membership from which the church developed. Rev. Jedediah Burchard was the first minister, and began his labors in 1824, in a wheelwright shop, there be- ing no house of worship. The meeting house was begun in 1832, on a lot given the society by Mr. Le Ray, and was finally completed in 1840. It is a large and comfortable building, and is kept in good repair. The church membership numbers about 75 persons. The present pastor, Rev. George H. Marsh, came to the church in July, 1877, succeeding Rev. Alfred Fitzpatrick.

St. John's church (Episcopal) was organized January 25, 1841, al- though services of the church were held in the village at a much earlier date. A lot was donated by Otis P. Starkey, and in the same year (1841) the church edifice was erected. It was consecrated in June, 1842. The neat parsonage was built soon afterward. The first rector was Rev. N. Watkins. St. John's now has 34 communicants, and a Sunday school of 22 pupils. The present rector is Rev. Samuel W. Strowger. The wardens are Erastus K. Burnham and J. Albert Scobell.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized at Cape Vincent vil- lage October 14, 1851, yet Methodism in the locality dates back to about 1820 or '21, when a class was formed. Preaching was afterward regn- larly held by the various "circuit riders" until the organization was perfected as above mentioned. There were 55 constituent members, and in subsequent years the number has increased to about 100. The house of worship was built in 1853, and cost $2,000. The structure has been frequently repaired and yet presents a comfortable appearance. The present pastor is Rev. E. S. Cheeseman.

St. Vincent de Paul's church (Catholic) of Cape Vincent village was organized as a parish in 1850, by the priest in charge of the older . church in the central part of the town, and was in a manner the off- shoot from that as the mother society. The church edifice, a substan- tial stone structure, was built in 1850. The present priest in charge is Rev. William S. Kelley, who also officiates at Rosiere.

A society of the Disciples of Christ formerly had an abiding place in the village, and was organized in the fall of 1833 by Elder Jason McKee. In the membership was included several of the substantial families of the vicinity, among whom may be recalled Shepard Warren, Edwin Tuttle, Joel Torrey, Simeon Adams (and their wives), William and F. O. Torrey and Addison Howard. The society never had a meeting house, and after an existence of about twenty-five years was dissolved between 1856 and 1860.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Supervisors .- - Frederick A. Folger, 1849; Robert C. Bartlett. 1850-51; Charles Smith, 1852; Otis P. Starkey, 1853-54; Calvin Fletcher, 1855-56; William Estes, 1857; Charles Smith, 1858-61; William D). Fuller, 1862-63; William Van Nostrand, 1864; George F. Bartlett, 1865; John H. Roseboom, 1866; George F. Bartlett, 1867- 68; Henry A. House, 1869; Ilugh MeCandie, 1870-71 ; Henry A. House, 1872; Lloyd O. Woodruff, 1873-81; J. A. Seobell, 1882-88; D). L. Fitzgerald, 1889-91; L. Gideon Kelsey, 1892-95; Lloyd O. Woodruff, 1896-97; Fred Stowell, 1898-99.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THIE TOWN OF CHAMPION.

In the spring of 1796 Benjamin Wright made a general topographical and outline survey of the vast tract of land commonly mentioned in the early history of northern New York as the "Eleven Towns;" and in his field book description of town No. 1, now called Champion, orig- inally Howard, the worthy explorer said the region had "no steep ascents or descents of consequence;" that it had several good streams and excellent mill seats, and that the country was timbered with maple, beech, bass, ash, elm, butternut, and some pine and hemlock; that the township had exceedingly good soil, and while he had not " traversed the interior part " all appearances indicated a region of rare fertility. Subsequent events proved the accuracy of Mr. Wright's description, and a century of development has placed Champion among the best agricultural towns of the county ; a standing early gained and faithfully maintained.

Township No. 4 of the Black river tract, as otherwise called, was sold by the proprietary to Gen. Henry Champion, of Colchester, and Col. Lemuel Storrs, of Middletown, Conn., and under their ownership settlement was begun in 1798, although during the preceding year Noadiah Hubbard, the pioneer, visited the region in company with Col. Storrs and Silas Stow (afterward Judge Stow), and made an examina- tion of the land for the purpose of future settlement. Between them an agreement was made by which Judge Hubbard became the owner of a considerable tract of land in the town, and also became the agent for the sale of other tracts, but Colonel Storrs failed to keep faith with his promises, and as the result the pioneer was for a time holding under

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THE TOWN OF CHAMPION,

uncertain title, and was only quieted and confirmed in his possessions after much anxiety and expense.

The story of Judge Hubbard's trials, hardships and ultimate success in making a permanent home in this then vast uninhabited region was originally written by the pioneer himself, and first made publie in Dr. Ilough's valuable historical record, and all later chronielers of county history have copied more or less from that work until the narrative, however interesting, is now a well worn tale; hence in the present volume the writer is content with the brief statement that on July 1, 1798, pioneer Hubbard, Salmon Ward and David Starr, with fifteen head of cattle, left Stenben and started up the French road toward High Falls on their journey to this town. After several days of hard- ships and sufferings, traveling both by land and water, driving the cat- tle before them, the party at last arrived at Long Falls, or what is now West Carthage, where they met surveyor Wright and his men. They then cast about for a desirable location, and soon Mr. Hubbard selected the land near the center of the town, where he afterward lived many years, one of the foremost men of the county in his time, highly re- spected by the people, honored with some of the best offices in their gift, and in all respects worthy indeed to be called, as he in fact was, one of the first permanent settlers in Jefferson county, and one whose residence therein antedated the creation of the county by almost seven years.

After spending the summer in constructing buildings, clearing land and planting crops, the party returned home in the fall by way of Long Falls, thence to Lowville and on up the river to Steuben, driving back the cattle with them. In the following spring, 1599, the pioneer sent two men to the town to make maple sugar and prepare for his arrival, but during the process of sap boiling, while the men were absent, the cabin took fire and was burned. They also found that during the win - ter the Indians had stolen all the utensils from the cabin and the pota- toes which were buried in the earth for the season's planting and use. However, Mr. Ilubbard soon arrived at the settlement, and in the same spring also came Joel Mix and family, John and Thomas Ward, Ephraim Chamberlain, Samnel and David Starr, Salmon Ward, Jotham Mitchell, David Miller and Bela Hubbard. In the same year Henry Boutin made a settlement on the site of Carthage village. It was during this summer that Col. Storrs met with business reverses, which event nearly cost Mr. Hubbard and some other of the settlers their improvements

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

and property, and also delayed further settlement during that season. However, a compromise was effected and in the fall of 1799 Mr. Hub- bard's family came to the town. During the next few years settlement increased rapidly, among the arrivals of the period being that of Eg- bert Ten Eyck (afterward Judge Ten Eyck), Olney Pearce and wife, Wolcott Hubbell and wife, Moss Kent (afterward judge of the common pleas), Henry R. Storrs (afterward a lawyer of much prominence), Doctors Baudry, Durkee and Farley, and others whose names have been lost with passing years, and were not recalled by the pioneer in his reminiscences.

Indeed, it is a fact of history that about the beginning of the present century a new county organization was suggested for this part of the state, and the opinion became current, and based on good foundation, that Champion was to be designated the shire town, hence the some- what unusual influx of lawyers and physicians, as well as settlers in other avocations in life, all imbued with a common spirit of enterprise and a desire to be first in a new field. However, the new county scheme was delayed several years, and when finally consummated the seat of justice was designated elsewhere than in Champion, hence the removal of several prominent personages from the town about that time. But notwithstanding that, the population of Champion continued to increase, the lands were rapidly cleared, the little hamlet in the center of the town was permanently established, a school was opened, and religious services were regularly held after about 1804, and espe- cially after Deacon Jonathan Carter and Rev. Nathaniel Dutton came into the settlement. The latter was a missionary worker from the east and lived in Champion until his death in September, 1852. He founded and was for many years pastor of the Congregational church at the village of Champion.

In his reminiscences of early life in Champion Judge Hubbard gave to later generations a valuable record of events, and by it we learn that among the pioneers of that old town were men of unusual strength of body, mind and character; men who were an honor to any jurisdic- tion and whose descendants have ever been proud to honor and pre- serve their memory. That they should found a town and village and establish a church within the brief space of six years from the time settlement began is a thing not common to the history of the region. hence these were events of importance in the annals of Champion. As early as 1800 the inhabitants met and resolved to build a school house,

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THE TOWN OF CHAMPION.

16 × 20 feet in size, to be erected on the hill near the settlement and on the road between Noadiah Ilubbard's and Daniel Coffeen's dwell- ings. On the " square " the school house was built in 1806, and in the mean time, under the influence of Nathaniel Dutton and Jonathan Car- ter, a Congregational society was formed in 1805.

However, the settlers who have been mentioned in preceding para- graphs were not alone the pioneers of the town, although they were the only persons mentioned in Judge Hubbard's narrative. Having fortunate access to an old and time worn record, the present writer is able to furnish a resonably accurate list of the more prominent heads of families in the town previous to the war of 1812-15; but in explana- tion it may be said that some of the names noted therein were sons of pioneer parents, and came into prominence on attaining their majority. Therefore, in addition to the names already mentioned, we may recall these other early settlers:

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 56

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