Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 76

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 76

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The first town meeting was held as the act provided at the house occupied by llervey Boutwell, but as to what was done on that occasion we have not the means to determine, as the records were burned in an

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THE TOWN OF ORLEANS.

unfortunate fire which destroyed Moulton's store in 1825. It is known, however, that all town officers were elected, but the special provisions for local government made in this squatter community might be espe- cially interesting to the reader of this chapter. All the previous events of history in the town had been unusual and unlike those of other towns. However it cannot be inferred from this that Orleans has not been a progressive town, as history proves to the contrary. Many of the first settlers came for temporary purposes, erected rude habitations, and apparently sought to strip the land of its forest growth for imme- diate profit rather than for permanent occupancy and the development of its resources for later generations. Those of the settlers who re- mained and took title from Le Farge made their beginning in a different way and in the usual manner of clearing the land and opening farms; and after the temporary occupants had gone their places were soon filled by a more desirable class of settlers, to whom the quality of the land had become known through reports previously spread. In the meantime, in 1824, Mr. La Farge eame and opened an office and set about the sale and development of his lands. One of his first steps was to ereet a school house, followed by the La Farge mansion, one of the most pretentious buildings in this part of the county, also a stone house opposite the mansion, and all near the settlement then called "Log Mills," but afterward La Fargeville.

The history of growth and development in the town was uneventful after the question of titles was settled. This was purely an agricultural region, equally productive with any in the county, which standing the town has maintained to the present time.

The population was greatest in 1825 but the evictions of the next five years re- duced it by more than 400, the number of inhabitants in 1830 being only 3, 10t, and 2,0tt in 1835; but in the meantime Clayton had been set off and took from Orleans more than 1,000 of her population. Since that time the changes as shown by the census reports have been as follows: 1840, 3,001; 1815, 3,047; 1850, 3,165; 1855, 2,806; 1860, 2,934; 1865, 2,791; 1870, 2,445; 1875, 2,305; 1880, 2,318; 1890, 2,196; 1892, 2,259.

One of the most notable events in connection with the early history of Orleans was the plundering and burning of the British steamer Sir Robert Peel, on the night of May 29-30, 1838, during the progress of the so-called patriot war. On that occasion the Peel was on her way up the river on a regular trip from Prescott to Toronto, having on board nine- teen passengers and a cargo of freight. At midnight the boat reached

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

McDonald's wharf,' on the south side of Wells island, and tied up for the purpose of taking on wood. The crew were thus engaged when a company of twenty-two men, all disguised as Indians, rushed on board and took possession of the boat, drove off the hands and compelled the passengers to go ashore, many of them not half clad, and without their baggage. The vessel was robbed of whatever was of value to the captors, who then cut the lines and let her drift out into the river where she was set on fire and burned. The hull floated down the river and sunk in about 70 feet of water abreast of the islands now owned by Margaret Parker. This dastardly act was committed by a party of alleged patriots commanded by the notorious " Bill" Johnson, one of the so called heroes of the war, but who in later years was appointed keeper of the Rock island light, not far from the scene of his former exploits. The patriot cause found many sympathizers in Orleans, who gave expression to their sentiments at a public meeting held at La Fargeville, Dec. 31, 1838, just after the trial by British court martial of the captured and condemned patriots. The story of the period is so fully told in one of the early chapters of this work, that not more than a passing mention is necessary in this place.

One of the most interesting localities within the limits of the town is Wells island (sometimes called Wellesley island), where public enter- prise has built up one of the most noted resorts in all the famous Thousand island region. In the extreme southwest corner of the island is a point of land which was designated on Capt. Owen's British chart of 1818 as " Talavera head," but it was not until about 18:3 that the locality began to attract attention other than being known to possess beautiful surroundings and excellent grazing and agricultural lands. The island, with all others in the vicinity, was patented to Elisha Camp, February 15, 1823, and contained 8,068 acres of land. In 1845 it was sold by Yates & McIntyre, Camp's grantees, to Azariah Walton and Chesterfield Pearson, the latter interest, however, soon afterward pass- ing to Walton ; and in 1853 the title to the island was vested in Walton and Andrew Cornwall. It was then covered with an extensive forest growth of the finest quality of timber, much of which was hard wood. These proprietors cut, sold and shipped vast quantities of this wood and timber, and after being stripped the land was sold for almost nom-

1 This was afterward known as Peel dock, and a few years ago was rebuilt for the accommo- lation of islanders and summer visitors. It is in front of the property now owned by Henry J. Munn.

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inal price to whoever would purchase and build a cottage or make some other substantial improvement,

The Thousand island camp meeting association, to whom chiefly be- longs the credit for having developed and brought into prominence the southwestern part of the island, was incorporated in December, 1871. The idea of forming an association for camp meeting purposes on the island was first suggested by Rev. J. F. Dayan, a prominent clergy- man of the Methodist Episcopal church. His ideas were carried out to a great extent, and through them was established one of the most noted institutions of its special kind in the whole country, although after about ten years of successful operation the association lost its original character as a denominational body. As surveyed in 1875 the grounds proper comprised about 800 acres of land, on which the associ- ation caused to be erected from time to time large and attractive build- ings both for meeting and dwelling purposes. The tract is con- veniently laid out into lots, which which are disposed of by lease for 99 years, but not in any case since the formation of the successor com- pany has the title in fee simple been passed to purchasers or lessees.

The Thousand island park association was virtually the older body, but changed in name under authority of the legislature by an act passed Jan. 18, 1829 The business, affairs and property of the associ- ation was thereafter controlled in much the same manner as before until about 1885, when the capital was increased from $15, 000 to $50,- 000, and the stock was sold to many persons who were not connected with the Methodist church. Then the association began to lose its de- nominational character, but its usefulness and standing have not been in any manner impaired by the change. The new management wrought many and wonderful changes in the park and its surroundings, and have indeed built up a summer village with a population approxi-

mating 5,000. In all about 600 lots are under lease, with a like num- ber of cottages. The splendid large hotel with a capacity for 300 guests was built in 1891, and cost $50,000. Many subsequent buildings have been erected, notably the tabernacle and the chapel, the store, market, milk depot, drug store, association office, the New England dining hall, together with various other structures, all involving the association in the expenditure of vast sums of money. In 1897 was built the school house for the state department of public instruction, which is to be used each year as a teachers' training school under state control. The village, for such it is in fact, has a perfect system of 92

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

sewers and sanitary regulations, water supply, electric lighting, a fire department, and as well every adjunct of a completely appointed municipality, and far better than the majority of them in this state.

The trustees for the present year are George P. Folts, Forest G. Weeks, Warren R. Fitch, Dr. A. W. Goodale, James P. Lewis, Walter Brown, George C. Sawyer, Martin Lefever and Byron M. Britton. The officers are George P. Folts, president ; George C. Sawyer, first vice-president; J. B. Lewis, second vice-president; Dr. A. W. Goodale, secretary; W. R. Fitch, treasurer. Rev. William Searles is the man- ager of the tabernacle.

Grand View park was surveyed and laid out in 1885, and is situated at the northwestern extremity of Wells island, on the point of land called on the Owen chart as " Oporto Head." The development of this place as a resort began with the cottage built by Hamilton Child in 1886; but the cottage then erected changed into a hotel, while numer- ous other improvements were soon afterward made. In the same man- ner, though through widely different influences and conditions, there have been established in the town on the mainland several villages and hamlets, each with reference to the convenience of the inhabitants rather than for purposes of pleasure during the summer season.

La Fargeville, the principal village, is situate in the central part of Orleans, on the site where Reuben Andrus settled in 1816 and built a log saw mill. From this the place became known as Log Mills and retained that name until about 1823, when it was changed to La Farge- ville, on the occasion of the Fourth of July celebration. Dr. Andrus' log dwelling stood on the site of the Orleans house of later years. However, the business and trading center of the inhabitants during these early years was less than two miles south of the mills, at the place called Rixford's Corners in allusion to Sabin Rixford who settled there in 1812. In the next year Mr. Moulton opened a store at the corners, but the building was burned in 1825, and the town records were also destroyed in the fire. A distillery and an ashery were in operation here previous to 1820. In that year a store and tavern were opened at the mills village, and in the course of the next five years business began to eenter here. Frederick Tyler and Woodbridge C. George were about the first merchants, and Alvah Goodwin the first tavern keeper. Moses Darby, Peter Cook, Dr. Darwin Cushman and Charles Cummins were also early residents (the last mentioned building the hotel so long known as the Cushman house). A school house was built and a church society organized in 1821.

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THE TOWN OF ORLEANS.

Thus was the village founded previous to the arrival of John La Farge in 1823. He at once took an active interest in the welfare of the settlement and was perhaps its most important personage during the period of his residence in the county. In many respects he was unpop. ular with the settlers who did not take kindly to the enforced payment for the lands they occupied, and were quite inclined to rebel against

THE LA FARGE MANSION.

his authority. Mr. La Farge caused a land office to be erected soon after his arrival, and a substantial grist mill in 1825; the latter proving one of the most enduring landmarks of the village, while the old land office became the Orleans house of more recent years. The proprietor built the ever-known La Farge mansion, also a large stone house on the opposite side of the highway, and as well other buildings which were conspicuous structures in the early history of the town. The first church edifice was built in 183%.

From this time the growth of the village was constant but not rapid.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

In 1850 it contained about 50 dwellings, 61 families and a little more than 300 inhabitants ; also two mills, a like number of stores, and the cus- tomary shops found in all country villages. At this time the people of the vicinity, following an almost established custom of the period, be- gan discussing the advisability of an academic school for a more ad- vanced education than was offered under the district system. Public meetings were held and an informal academy was opened and taught by Burton M. Townsend with such gratifying results that during the summer of 1851 a two-story frame building, 50x70 feet in size, was be- gun and partially completed, when the structure was blown to the ground by a fierce gale on July 15. It was rebuilt, however, during the year and after serving its period of usefulness as an academy was occupied by the Methodist society for religious worship. On February 3, 1851, the Orleans Academy, as the institution was known, was char- tered, and it could have been entitled to share in the public literature fund had the incorporators freed the school from its indebtedness; but as the trustees were unable to raise the necessary amount, they never reported, and did not so share. The academy was maintained with vary- ing success for a few years, but with no profit whatever to its founders, and the property was sold on execution. The M. E. society subse- quently purchased the property, overhauled and repaired it, and con- verted it into a church and parsonage, and it is now used and occupied by them. The persons most prominently interested in this landable, though unprofitable enterprise, were Rev. Lewis T. Ford, Loren Bush- nell, John N. Rollins, Rev. Elisha Sawyer, John Tallman, Hiram Dewey, Brainard Everett, John Foot, Hiram Mitchell, Eldridge G. Merrick, Luther Lamson, Edgar W. Bedell, Daniel Richardson, David J. Dewey, Hiram P. Dillenback, John Hill, Henry Irvin, Russell B. Biddlecom, Nathan Elmer, Ashley Tanner, James Green, Rufus Smith, Rev. P. Brown and David Joy. The school was discontinued in 1853.

In 1838 the La Farge mansion and farm was purchased by Bishop Dubois, for a Roman Catholic Seminary, and a school opened under the name of St. Vincent de Paul. It was opened under the care of Rev. Francis Gooth, and was devoted mainly to instructing candidates for the priethood. The institution was too remote from the commer- cial centers for the best result, and after running about two and a half years it was removed to Fordham, near New York, and afterwards be- came the noted St. John's College. The mansion and farm subse-

THE TOWN OF ORLEANS.

quently became the property of Archbishop Hughes, whose brother conducted it solely as a farm.

Among the old substantial merchants of the village may be recalled the names of Horace Biddlecom, Luther Lamson, Edgar W. Bedell, Loren Bushnell and D. J. Dewey. Russell B. Biddlecom, Samuel W. Strough and Horace Dewey were also prominently connected with local vil- lage enterprises, and were among the foremost business men of the town. Any history of La Fargeville without at least a passing men- tion of their names would indeed be imperfect.

Beyond the condition indicated in preceding paragraphs, La Farge- ville progressed but little during the quarter of a century following 1850, except as one business interest succeeded another. However, in 1873 the Clayton and Theresa railroad was constructed through the village, and across the north part of the town, and almost at once the whole region was benefited by increasing interests. The village stands in a favorable position in the center of one of the most fertile agricul- tural districts of the county, and is one of the best and largest shipping points in all northern New York. The firm of Strough Bros. (B. J. &- L. S. Strough), are perhaps the most extensive dealers and shippers in the whole region, purchasing for cash everything the farmers can pro- duce, thus guaranteeing a safe and ready market at home without the uncertainities of business associations with unknown commission mer- chants. E. J. Tallman is also an extensive dealer in agricultural prod- uee. The other principal business interests of the village are the stores of A. B. Beardsley, who has been a general merchant here for more than thirty years; Dan Delaney, about twenty years, and also the firms of Wright & Snell and W. J. Heyl & Co., all proprietors of well stocked general stores. W. 11. Walrath has a good grocery and hard- ware stock ; B. W. Dickinson, groceries; Charles B. Hill, groceries and meats; H. W. Gabler, boots and shoes and jewelry; Gillett & Miller, grocers; F. N. Hoyt, furniture and undertaking; J. Lebovsky, cloth- ing; Walter Loneks, coal and lumber; A. M. Putnam, coal dealer, to- gether with the other shops and adjunets of country village life. The village also has two good hotels, the Orleans house, the building orig- inally erceted by John La Farge, and now under landlord R. W. Gates; and the Viethor, a more recent enterprise by Hans Waldemar Hanson, and managed by George Hubbard & Son, proprietors.

Stone Mills lodge, No. 121, F. & A. M., was organized under a dis- pensation from the grand master, dated January 23, 1850, and with J.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

C. Young, master. The lodge was granted a charter June 21, 1850, and Mr. Young as master, James Green, senior warden, and Allen Dean, junior warden, The lodge was an institution of and met regu- larly at Stone Mills until 1862, when on March 18th it was removed to La Fargeville. On May 2? of that year the name was changed to La Fargeville lodge, the old number being retained. The present mem- bership is 45. The succession of masters has been as follows:

J. C. Young, 1850-51; Thomas Lee, 1852-53; Daniel Smith, 1854; David Van Camp, 1855; Daniel Smith, 1856-57; Frederick Lawyer, 1858; Archibald Sternberg, 1859; Daniel Smith, 1860; Fred'k Lawyer, 1861; J. Johnston, 1862; A. Sternberg, 1863-65; Wm. Rogers, 1866; Nelson Goodrich, 1867; Byron J. Strough, 1868-74; Timothy I. Flansburgh, 1875; Byron J. Strough, 1876-89; Walter Loucks, 1890-92; Charles II. Ford, 1893-97.

The First Baptist church of La Fargeville (the present organization) is the outgrowth of the society formed Sept. 9, 1821, by Elders Sardis, Brewster and Osgood. The original members were 18, of whom the male portion were Thos. Evans, Warren Wilson, Benj. Ward, Thos. Barrett, Reuben Hungerford, Benj. Farmer, l'hineas Osborn, Nathan Elmer and Daniel C. Hawley. On June 11, 1836, the church body was organized, and in 1840 a house of worship was built. It still stands, though frequently repaired during its existence. The society has ex- perienced many vicissitudes, at times being without a pastor. The pulpit is now supplied from Clayton by Rev. H. J. Baldwin.

A Presbyterian society was formed in Feb., 1823, by Rev. Wm. Bliss, and on April 29, 1839, the organization was made complete. A church edifice was erected in 1840, but the next ten years witnessed many changes in the history of the society. In 1854 a Union society super- seded the Presbyterian and took from it many of its members. The Union society also ceased to exist about 1861.

Methodism in Orleans dates back in its history to about the time the town was formed, when a class was organized and informal services were held in private dwellings About ten years later a society organi- zation was effected but no regular place of worship was provided until about 1855, when the academy building was leased (subsequently pur- chased) and was thereafter occupied as a house of worship. The build- ing was substantially remodeled in 1873. The church has ever been progressive, and now numbers 78 members, and 31 probationers. The pastor is Rev. J. P. Dunham.

St. Paul's church, Protestant Episcopal, of La Fargeville, was organ-

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THE TOWN OF ORLEANS.

ized in January, 1868, by the Rev. H. R. Lockwood, then having ten communicants. The early services were held, previous to the erection of the church edifice, in the Methodist Protestant meeting house. The church now has 53 communicating members, and is under the rector- ship of Rev. Earl H. Kenyon, of Clayton. The wardens are W. F. Ford and E. C. Cummins.

The First Methodist Protestant church of La Fargeville was organ- ized in May, 1869, with 22 members, chiefly from the M. E. society, but who believed in church government independent of the bishop's control. The society occupied the old Presbyterian church edifice un- der the pastoral care of Rev. Philip Swift, and acquired title to the property by purchase in 1822. The parsonage was erected in 1875. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Becker.

St. John's church, Roman Catholic, at La Fargeville, was founded in 1846, soon after the Catholic school at that place was opened. The edifice is a neat frame structure in the south part of the village. The parish is an out-mission from Evans' Mills.

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, which stands about one and one half miles west of Rixford's corners, on lot number 45, was organ- ized by Henry Haas, V. Baltuff and N. Lehr, in 1841. The house of worship was built the same year, and cost $1,500. The present mem- bers number about fifty persons. Until within five years this society has supported a resident pastor. It is now supplied from Redwood.

Stone Mills is a small hamlet in the southern central part of Penet's square, and in the locality where the first squatters settled, beginning in 1806 and continuing until the lands were fairly well occupied. Roderick Frasier appears to have been the pioneer in this direction, followed soon afterward by Peter Pratt, and still later by Merchant and Benajah Carter, Robert Bruner, Samuel and David Ellis and others of still later date. This was about the only locality on the square in which the settlers felt the effects of the war of 1812; and here it was in 1813 that a young deserter from the army at Sackets Harbor was mor- tally shot, though at the time he was under suspicion as a British spy from Canada.

The original name of the settlement was Collins' Mills, from the fact that J. B. Collins was one of the builders (Peter Pratt being the other) of a grist mill in 1820. The building was of stone, and the name Stone Mills was soon afterward applied and continued. At a little later

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

period one De Rham, a settler, laid out an acre tract of land on which in 1831 a commodious meeting house was erected, followed in 1838 by a stone school house. Therefore the name Stone Mills was appropri- ately given. However, beyond the condition of hamlet life thus early established there has been little growth, except as one generation has succeeded another. The place is conveniently located about three miles west of Perch lake, and is surrounded by an excellent agricultural region. One or two stores have been in continuous operation, which, with a good patrons' cheese factory, a few small shops, a post-office, district school, two churches and about 50 inhabitants, comprise the village at the present time. The merchants now in business here are W. B. Erwin & Son and Willard F. Baxter.

The Evangelical Lutheran church at Stone Mills is a part of the church system of that denomination which has had an existence in this part of the county for more than half a century. In 1838 the synod of the church sent a missionary worker, Henry L. Dox, into this locality, he selecting Perch River as a point of operation. He was an earnest, ardent worker and organizer, and within four years had formed churches at Perch River, Stone Mills and Orleans Four Corners. In 1840 the societies first mentioned were united and constituted one church at Stone Mills. The house of worship was built in 1841. In 1852 the Perch River members withdrew and separately organized, leaving the local society only 66 members, from which number there has been little material change during later years, but in usefulness and good work the society has ever grown.

The Methodist Protestant church at Stone Mills, which usually forms a joint charge with La Fargeville, the latter being in fact an off-shoot from the former, was organized on Christmas day, 1866, by Rev. Philip Swift. The house of worship was built in 1870. Each society main- tains a large and successful Sunday school.

Omar was originally known as Mudge's Mills, and so called from the saw and grist mills which Wm. and Treat Mudge built on Mullet creek in 1821 However, the place attracted no attention, other than from the convenience of the mills to the settlers, until about 1840, when a post-office was established here under the name of Omar. The first postmaster was Timothy R. Stackhouse. In 1841 Truesdell & Stack- house opened a store, and also had an ashery in operation, and about this time Samuel N. Stackhouse and Samuel P. Newton replaced the old Mudge saw mill with one more substantial. Indeed, saw mills

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THE TOWN OF ORLEANS.

were plenty in the locality about this time, but lost much of their use- fulness with the disappearance of the forests; yet there is still some good standing timber in this part of the town. From the time indicated, Omar has been a hamlet of some note in Orleans, and a store, post-office and good school have been the interests of that place. The M. E. church was also built in 1841, by Truesdell & Stackhouse, the mer- chants, and Samuel Newton and Samuel N. Stackhouse. Indeed the names of William Tanner, an early settler, William and Treat Mudge, Ralph Gurnee, Timothy R. and Samuel N. Stackhouse, Otis N. Brit- ton, John W. Collins and Samuel P. Newton have been closely asso- ciated with the history of the origin, growth and development of this hamlet and its vicinity. The present merchants are W. N. Gould and E. J. Gardner & Co. The Methodist church referred to was built in 1811, and has since been one of the institutions of the locality. It does not support a resident pastor but is supplied from La Fargeville.

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 76

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