Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 59

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 59

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

From this it is seen that there has been little change in the population of the town during the last twenty-five years, indicating that all inter- ests during this time have been substantial and permanent. Indeed, except in the changes in character of occupancy on the islands, and in some of the business interests in the principal village of the town, Clayton is to-day much as it was a quarter of a century ago; and while the population is perhaps four hundred less than the maximum, the (lecrease has been due to the natural causes of periodical depressions, and has been less in proportion than in many other towns of the county The lands now produce as abundantly as ever, if properly cared for, and the mixed character of productions makes agricultural pursuits both agreeable and profitable. The many fine farm buildings and proper- ties attest this fact, and also show that Clayton has been and still is a progressive town. Having thus treated of the town at large it is proper that some brief special mention be made of the villages and hamlets of the jurisdiction, as they, too, have been factors in local prosperity and growth.

Clayton Village .- When in October, 1813, General Brown's militia forces were rendezvoused near the mouth of French creek, and were there attacked by the British, there were no evidences of a village other than the abandoned buildings occupied the year previous by Noadiah Hubbard and Richard Cummings in carrying on their lumber opera- tions under their contract with James Le Ray. The proprietor had given these pioneers permission to cut lumber from the lands in this vicinity on payment to him of $35 per thousand feet for squared yellow pine; $50 for white oak, and $8 per thousand for white and yellow spar timber. Under the agreement a vast business was done here during the year 1812, and this was then the most busy place on the river. How- ever, in this year the war began, and Captain Hubbard was called back to Champion to take command of his company of militia. The lumber was made into a raft and floated down as far as Louisville, where it was seized and detained, and the investment to the contractors resulted in a loss. Soon after the war had closed, Mr. Le Ray with his accustomed energy caused a portion of the land in this vicinity to be laid out in a village plat, and from the fact that he was so much engaged with like enterprises in more fully settled localities, this worthy developer did not offer the lots for sale until after 1822. Therefore when William 11. Angel came to the place in 1819 and opened a store and also began lumbering on an extensive scale, he was compelled to locate a short

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THE TOWN OF CLAYTON.

distance above the village site as afterward established. In the mean- time Colonel Camp conceived the idea of laying ont a village plat on Washington island, as then called, and in 1824 began the construction of a bridge from the mainland. This new plan would have been detri- mental to the Le Ray interests so that proprietor at once put his vil- lage site on the market and named it Cornelia. It soon had three stores, a tavern, post office and several other buildings for dwelling purposes. The lands were first offered for sale in 1822, and the post office was established in 1823. The name Cornelia was maintained until 1831 and then changed to Clayton ; so called in honor of John M. Clayton, U. S. senator from Delaware. Two years afterward the town was set off and took the name given the village.

In 1820 Martin Herrick and Stephen Wetherbee came to the settle- ment, where Mr. Herrick built the first log house in 1821. The first framed house was built in 1824 by Col. James Smith, a customs officer. Iliram Davis kept the first tavern, and in 1825 the place had sufficient population to warrant the erection of a small stone school house. Among the other factors in early life in the settlement were James F. and R. G. Angel, John Rector, Chauncey Pierce, Aaron and Luther Eddy, Dr. Amos Ellis, Henry Elliott, Daniel Porter, William Stephen, John Johnston and Perry Caswell, many of whom and whose works in the early history of the village will be remembered by the older resi- dents of the present time. The first regular village survey was made in 1824, and the second in 1833. Among the early lumbermen of the vicinity, several of whom made this place the center of operations, were Smith & Angel, Martin Herrick, Smith & Herrick and E. G. Merrick & Co., while still later operators were Fowler & Esselstyn and Thomas Rees, thus bringing the succession to a comparatively recent date. These were of course important industries for their time, yet the village did not gain special prominence previous to about 1832. when ship building began to attract attention on this part of the river. However, between the years 1830 and 1835 the growth in all directions was rapid, healthful and permanent. The residents saw this, felt a just pride in the progress of the period, and in the spring of 1835 ap- pointed a committee comprising E. C. Bancroft, A. O. Blair, E. G. Merrick, J. A. Brewster and T. M. Meade to prepare a census of the village and its industries, and also to publish a historical sketch of the locality for the benefit of all interests.

According to the report prepared and made public by this commit-

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

tec, the village in 1829 contained but nine buildings of all kinds, but in 1835, says the account :

"We now number 13 dwelling houses, 6 stores, 3 groceries, 3 taverns, 1 steam furnace, capable of melting four tons of iron per day, 1 machine shop, 1 ship smith's shop, 1 blacksmith's shop, 3 shoe shops, 2 tailor shops, 1 chair shop, 2 cabinet shops, 1 butchier shop, 1 bakery, a school house, and within one mile of the village, 3 saw mills. . . . Every branch of business as well as mechanical pursuits which we have enumerated, appears to be in successful operation, rendering to the operatives a liberal remuneration for their instruments and labor. We next come to the business transactions of the place, which are by no means inconsiderable. During the last year the actual amount of capital invested in this business. at a low estimate, is found to be $475,000. The exports to foreign markets from this port amount the last year to $275,000. The aggregate amount of merchandise and other commodities sold at this place the past year, amounts to $100,000. The tonnage of vessels (inde- pendent of the different steamboats which have entered and discharged their cargoes at this port during the year) amounts to 60,000 tons. In 1834 there were owned in this port seven schooners, one brig and one steamboat, making an aggregate of 1,000 tons. Within four years there has been built at the ship yard in this place, up to the present year, 6 schooners of about 100 tons each, 1 canal boat and 1 steamboat, and there are now being built five schooners, at an average cost of $4,300 each, making an expenditure of about $70,000 for ship building alone."

From the beginnings indicated in the report, Clayton village has grown to its present condition and size, although during the past ten years the last remaining industry of early days has disappeared, and where once were busy hundreds of mechanics engaged in ship carpen- try and construction, not one is so employed. Only an occasional St. Lawrence boat is placed in the water as the result of local handicraft, and that by some industrious riverman whose summer season is a har- vest and whose winters are devoted to skiff building in a small way.

The great industry of ship building in Clayton began in 1830 and continued for half a century the chief business of the village. The firm of Smith & Merrick founded the industry, and at times gave em- ployment to more than an hundred men, building from three to five or six vessels each year, and about an hundred during the course of their business career. The first boats were the Jesse Smith and Horatio Gates, both built in 1830, the work being begun by Captain Pickering and completed by George S. Weeks. The latter also built for the firm the steamer Black Hawk and the schooners Franklin, Jefferson, Mor- giana, Willetts, Monroe, Gazelle, Madison, Lucinda, Cleopatra, West- ern, Chesapeake, Robert Wood, E. G. Merrick, Sylph and several others, besides the early steamer Swan.

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THE TOWN OF CLAYTON.

Another early and prominent builder was John Oades, who began operations here in 1811, under contracts with the old firms of E. G. Merrick & Co. and Fowler & Essylstyn, for whom, and under other contracts, he built in the neighborhood of an hundred boats, both sail- ing vessels and steamers. His boats were among the best and largest on the river, the last of which, the well-known St. Lawrence, is fre- quently referred to as "the palace steamer." In the same connection may be mentioned Thomas Rees, Harrison Parsons, John Cantwell, Simon G. Johnston and A. Bain and Co., all of whom were later and noted boat builders operating at Clayton, and whose industries brought population to the village and a fair measure of success to all other inter- ests. After the removal of Fowler & Esselstyn and John Oades to De- troit as a more extensive field of operation, Simon G. Johnston suc ceeded to the industry at Clayton, and from that time on has been the acknowledged authority on all subjects pertaining to the river and its navigation. Johnson's last boat was the Nightingale, built in 1894 He was by far the best known of the later boat builders, and put on the river some of the staunchest smaller boats navigating its waters. llow- ever, soon after 1820 the ship building industry at Clayton began to de- cline, although not until within the last five years have such operations entirely ceased. In 1887 the firm of A. Bain & Co. was formed and carried on business a few years, building during that time the pretty Jessie Bain and other small craft, chiefly skiffs and canoes. This firm was followed by the St. Lawrence river skiff, canoe and steam launch company. This industry was continued until about 1895 and then re . moved to Ogdensburgh.

From this narrative it is seen that ship building was the chief indus- try of the village for many years. Such, indeed, was the case, and all other interests were of minor importance, yet enough was done in all directions to build up an enterprising village of about 800 inhab- itants in 1850 The people were not entirely engaged in this industry, and lumbering was then carried on to a large extent, and other busi- ness and mercantile interests were well represented. About this time Clayton had become an important and established trading center, draw- ing patronage from all the surrounding agricultural region, as well as from the people engaged in local enterprises. However, on June 6, 1856, in the midst of this period of prosperity, the village was visited with a serious fire, which swept away almost the entire mercantile por- tion. This disaster cost thousands of dollars in actual and improtected

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

losses, but with commendable zeal the burned structures were replaced with others more attractive and substantial, and a new Clayton was built up on the site of the old; new interests succeeded those of former years, and once re-established, success followed every earnest endeavor in business life.

During the years which had passed, lumbering enterprises had strip- ped mainland and island alike of their forest growths, thus opening farms of fertility, but in the meantime the natural beauties of the Thousand islands began to attract attention from the outside world, and Clayton, from its favorable location at the head of the Thousand island system, sprang into prominence as the entrepot of the region. The owners of the islands, hoping to encourage the resorting movement, sold some of them for mere nominal consideration, but on condition that a summer cottage be built for occupancy during the pleasure sea- son. In this way the attractions of the region soon spread throughout the land, with final result in a residence, generally large and expen- sive, on almost every habitable island, with Clayton the chief point of entrance.

Among the islands within the town which have been specially im- proved and adorned (in several instances with almost palatial mansions), may be mentioned Calumet and Governor's islands, the property of Charles G. Emery, of New York, on which approximatelely $200,000 have been expended ; also Boscobel, owned by Gardner L. Hopkins, of Kansas; Basswood, owned by Thomas A. Gillespie, of Pittsburg, l'a .. whose yacht alone cost more than $35,000; Club island, owned by a celebrated actress; Morgan's and Leavitt's mansions on Grindstone island, while also within the limits of the town are Whiskey and Terry's island, both beautifully improved with buildings and land decorations.

These costly houses and attractions have of course brought many visitors to the village, and the Walton and Hubbard houses were rebuilt and enlarged for the accommodation of such guests. Stephen D.

Johnston began hotel keeping here in 1849, and in later years was one of the first landlords to make a special feature of the entertainment of summer visitors, in this respect being the cotemporary of Mr. Cross- mon, at Alexandria Bay, who opened his famous resort in its present porportions in 18:2. This pleasing condition of village life naturally suggested to the inhabitants the propriety of incorporation.

At a special election held at Johnston's hotel in Clayton on April 17, 1562, the question of incorporation was submitted to the inhabitants of

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THE TOWN OF CLAYTON.

the territory proposed to be included within the village limits. On that occasion the proceedings were conducted under the supervision of Richard M. Esselstyn, supervisor, and W. F. Johnson, town clerk. That the electors were in favor of the proposition was evidenced in the fact that of the 192 votes cast 140 were for the measure, and only 51 against. As surveyed at the time the village contained 2.083 square miles of land, including ten acres of Washington island.

The first election of village officers was held May 3, 1871, at the Walton house, and resulted as follows:

Elijah MeCarn, president; Wilham Hawes, S. G. Johnston and S. D. Johnston, trustees; Stephen Hale, treasurer; C. 11. Ross, clerk; Charles Marshall, collector ; Robert G. Angel, street commissioner.

The succession of village presidents has been as follows: Ehjah McCarn, 1522; llorace E. Morse, 1873; James Johnson, 1874; Richard M. Esselstyn, 1865-76, James Hayes, 1877; William Rees. 1878; Thomas Rees, 1879-80; Albert Brooker, 1881 83; John 11. Graves, 1854; William II. Rees, 1885-86: George II. Strongh, 1887; William 11. Rees. 1888-89; A. E. Wood, 1890-92; George II. Mckinley, 1893; Joseph 1I. Bra- bant, 1594; Charles E Rees, 1895; John E. Liddy, 1896 97.

The educational system of the village antedates incorporation by almost twenty years, although it was not perfected in its present form until 1888. The first step in the direction of a better school than the then existing system offered was taken in 1855, when it was proposed to consolidate the two town districts which the village in part included, but the measure was defeated by a narrow majority. In the next year ( April 29), the supervisor, Luke E. Frame, the town clerk, James John- son, and the town superintendent, I. E. Morse, effected the consolida- tion, and school district No. S was created. The first trustees were Alden F. Barker, Robert G. Angel and George C. Dean. It was then proposed to raise $3,000 by tax for the erection of a suitable school building, but the disastrous fire of that year was so injurious to all interests that the matter was delayed for nearly ten years, and not until 1865 was the sum voted. The trustees deemed this an insufficient amount, and in 1866 it was increased to $5,000. Complications followed this action with appeals to the state department of public instruction, while considerable feeling was engendered in the district. The matter was finally settled, the former action was rescinded, and on March ?. 1861, the sum of $5,000 was unanimously voted for a new building. In that year the structure was built on the public square under the super- vision of a special committee comprising Thomas Rees, Joseph Thi- bault and. Asa E. Porter, and cost $5,282.58.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

From that time Clayton has maintained one of the best public schools in any outlying town in Jefferson county, and one which reflects credit both on its founders and its management. In 1888 the people of the district again sought to still further increase the efficiency of the insti- tution, and therefore incorporated a union free school district and aca- demic school. The first board of education comprised James Johnson (president), F. L. Hall, W. D). Clark, George H. Mckinley, George E. Thibault, John E. Williams, John W. Williams, M. W. Atwood and Joseph F. Graves, the personnel of which has ever since remained the same, except that Mr. Graves was succeeded by Charles E. Rees. From this it will be seen that the management of the school has always received the indorsement of the taxpayers, and there has been no desire to supersede any member of the board. As years have passed repairs and additions have been made to the buildings, and the stand- ing of the institution has ever been maintained and advanced in accord- ance with improved methods of instruction, and as its result to day Clayton possesses one of the best academic schools in Jefferson county. Twelve teachers are employed, and about 550 pupils are in attendance. The annual expense of the school averages about $4,600. The present officers of the board are James Johnson, president; S. H. Johnson, clerk, and II. W. Morse, treasurer; principal of the school, II. D. Hall.

Previous to about 1890 the village fire department was an entirely informal affair, and that notwithstanding the serious results of the conflagration of 1856. In the year first mentioned the village built the fire engine house and hall. The fire department apparatus consists of two good steamers (one a Silsby and the other a La France engine), a hook and ladder and a hose company. St. Lawrence hose company No. 1 was organized June 23, 1890. Rescue hook and ladder company was incorporated May 4, 1886. Exempt fire protection company, No. 1, of Clayton, was incorporporated April 28, 1897. The depart- ment is well officered and managed, and is in excellent condition to battle against any fire to which the village may be subject.

These comprise the public properties of the village, but in addition are the churches, societies and business and mercantile interests which contribute to this interesting municipality. The village now contains about 2,000 inhabitants. The certain prominence which Clayton has gained as a summer resort has made necessary the erection of several large and well equipped hotels for the accommodation of guests and tourists who prefer the mainland to the islands as a place of temporary

P. Grant

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THE TOWN OF CLAYTON.

abode. These public houses which are of considerable importance are the Isaac Walton (commonly called the Walton), the Hubbard, the New Windsor, the Pastime and the Dewey. The claim is made, how- ever, that the success which is merited in the village in this direction can only be attained in the creetion of an exceedingly large hotel, one which fairly rivals those at Alexandria Bay and the other famous re- sorts.

All mereatile business interests in the village are well represented yet there is no appearance of over-competition. After the removal of the ship building interests there has been nothing in the way of manu- factures except the planing mills of Strough & Brooks and W. A Webster. A few persons are employed during the winter in the con- struction of skiffs.

The Exchange bank of Clayton was organized and began business Oct. 1, 1876, as a private financial enterprise of Robert P. Grant and A. F. Barker. The original capital employed was about $8,000, and the business was something of an experiment. Mr. Grant was the active man of the firm, through whose management from the outset the venture proved successful. In 1884 the bank was organized under the state laws, with $40,000 capital. The first president was John Johnson, succeeded in December, 1896 by Jacob Putnam, the former vice-president. L. S. Strough was then elected vice-president. The first and present cashier is Robert P. Grant, who, throughout the period of the bank's history has been its managing officer; and the gratifying success which marked the career of the institution is in a great measure due to his business sagacity and capacity. The bank in December, 1892, had a surplus and undivided profit account of more than $23,000. The deposit account approximated $150,000. During the latter part of that year the bank went into voluntary liquidation and resolved into a banking enterprise of a somewhat different char- acter.

The National Exchange bank of Clayton was organized and began business January 1, 1898, succeeding the Exchange bank. Its capital stock is $50,000, and its shareholders number 112 persons, residents of Clayton and its immediate vicinity. The officers are Jacob Putnam, president ; Lucien B. Strough, vice-president ; Robert P. Grant, cashier. The directors are the officers above mentioned and W. D. Clark, G. Il. MeKinley, W. II. Lingenfelter, John Foley, Robert D. Grant and A. L. Williams.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

The First National bank of Clayton was the outgrowth of the Citizen bank, which was organized in December, 1884, as a private concern, and with William Rees, president, and A. F. Barker, cashier. On Oc- tober 4, 1881, a reorganization was effected under the national banking act, resulting in a new bank with a capital of $50,000. The first direct- ors were Alden F. Barker, Wm. Rees, Chas, A. Ellis, George II. Strough, James J. Belden, Chas. G. Emery, W. F. Ford and Russell B. Biddlecomb. The officers were A. F. Barker, president; Wm. Rees, vice-president, and H. W. Morse, cashier. Throughout the period of its history the First National bank has been a successful institution, and one which holds the confidence of business men in the state. The present surplus is $16,000, and the undivided profit account $6,315. The present directors are A. F. Barker, Win. Rees, C. A. Ellis, F. L. llall, G. H. Marshall, Jerome Snell, H. E. Morse, George V. S. Camp and II. S. Barker.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Clayton dates back in its history to the year 1834, when a class was formed with Pliny Caswell as leader. After that frequent meetings were held in convenient places, but not until 1840 was the society regularly organized, the members then not exceeding twenty-five persons. In the same year a house of worship was erected, the same now occupied by the society, though in 1881, and again in 1888, the edifice was materially rebuilt and enlarged. The society has been a progressive body since its organization, and numbers many of the leading families of the village and vicinity. The present members number 138, with 108 pupils in the Sunday school. The church property is valued at 89,000. The pastor is Rev. A. C. Dan- forth.

The First Baptist church of Clayton was organized in 1843, although during the previous two years meetings of this denomination were held in the village as a branch of the mother church at La Fargeville. There were seventeen original members. Early meetings were held in the stone school house and other convenient places until, in connee- tion with the Methodists, a meeting house was erected. In 1847 the society sold its interest in the joint building and erected a new edifice on the site of the present church. It was dedicated September 15, 1841. In 1881 the building was substantially repaired, but in this work nearly the entire old structure was preserved. The church property is valned at $5,500. This, too, is one of the strong. religious. societies of the village, the present members numbering 125, with large congregations

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THE TOWN OF CLAYTON.

attending services. In the Sunday school are 97 enrolled members. The pastor of the church is Rev. H. J. Baldwin.

St. Mary's church (Roman Catholic) of Clayton was organized as a parish in 1842 under the pastoral care of Rev. Francis Guth, but several years previous to that time masses had been said in the village by mis- sionary priests sent into this vicinity. The first edifice was a plain frame building, erected in 1812, and was replaced with the present church in 1885, the latter one of the largest and most attractive struct- ures of its kind in the northern part of the county. It was completed and dedicated in 1889. Its cost was $25, 000. The parish includes 255 Catholic families, or about 1, 100 persons. The present priest is Rev. Father P. S. Garand, who came to Clayton in 1895.

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 59

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