Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 79

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 79

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In 1530 the inhabitants numbered 1,167; 1935. 1,616; 1440, 1.888; 1845, 1,942; 1850, 1,915: 1855, 1.743; 1860, 1, 790; 1865, 1,715: 1870, 1.679; 1875, 1.751: 1880, 1,750; 1890, 1.662: 1892, 1,648.

From this it may be seen that the growth of the town in all branches of its history and interests has been steady, healthful and per- manent, and that the maximum was reached in 1860. This gradual growth was in a measure due to the development of a certain special industry, and one which for a time brought a full measure of prosperity to all interests. As an iron producing town Philadelphia began to at. tract attention about 1836, but the presence of iron ores was known long before that time. As early as 1816 the Parish forge was started at Sterlingburgh, and the industries which followed led to the opera- tion of the mines of the town. In the extreme northern portion, on lots numbers 543 and 544, iron ores were found in abundance, and on

THE TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

the farms of Almon Fuller and Abiel Shurtleff operations began. The ore was taken to Sterlingville and there made into iron and its products, and was also taken to Antwerp, Redwood and Carthage, where furnaces and forges were in operation. However, from this discovery and pro- duction no immediate benefit accrued to the town except the royalty of fifty cents per ton which producers paid to farmers owning the ore producing lands, until the erection of the iron works at Sterlingville. The ores were not rich in quality and were used chiefly in combination with others. The beds were worked with greater or less perseverance by various proprietors until about 1880 when they were closed. In 1807 the mines were sold to the Sterlingville iron company, of Syracuse, to which place the ores were chiefly shipped as long as the business was continued.

In 1836 a furnace was built on Black creck, in the south part of the town, for the purpose of working ores produced in Antwerp. James Sterling was the founder of the enterprise and put his works in opera. tion in June, 1832; and from that time until his death he was in some manner connected with the industry in the town. He died in 1863. Ile was the direct cause and means of building up the little hamlet called for him Sterlingville, and was withal, one of the foremost men of the town in his time.

While ores from Antwerp were used almost wholly for a time, the Sterling furnace soon began taking ore from lots 543 and 544. The business started well, and on August 31, 1832, the Sterling iron com- pany was incorporated, having a capital of $20,000. The incorporators were James Sterling, Orville Hungerford, George Walton, Caleb Essing- ton and George C. Sherman This company did an extensive and prof- itable business for about three years, and at the end of the first year gave a complimentary dinner to its employees and others connected with the industry. However, in 1840 the company ceased operations and dissolved, and was succeeded in the same year (on May 19) by the Philadelphia iron company, also incorporated, comprising Ephraim Taylor, Frederick Van Ostrand, George Dickerson, William Skinner and John Gates. Under this management the furnace was rebuilt, but subsequent operations were not specially profitable to the company, which soon afterward passed out of existence.

The next proprietor was Samuel G. Sterling, brother to the founder, the latter also having an active interest in the business. They con- tinned the furnace for several years, but with indifferent success. The

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

buildings were burned in 1849, but were rebuilt in 1851. A. P. Sterling, formerly of Antwerp, next succeeded, and conducted the business from 1859 to 1869 and then sold to the Jefferson iron company, an Antwerp concern and owners of furnaces in other localities. The enterprise at Sterlingville was abandoned about 1880, and now exists only in history and ruins. In 1839, just before the Philadelphia iron company was formed, Caleb Essington, formerly of the Sterlingville iron company, built a forge at this hamlet and conducted it for several years in the manufacture of refined iron. This business was continued about twenty years.

The history of these industries is substantially the history of Sterling- ville during the period of their operation, for the hamlet was founded with them and suffered seriously when they ceased operations A saw mill was built on the village site as early as 1824 by Hamblin & Cro- foot for Edmund Tucker, but was probably owned by Joseph Bonaparte, who lived in Wilna, near Natural Bridge, and was something of a character in the early history of that region. James Sterling also built a saw mill at the village in 1836. The grist mill was started several years later, but now all these old industries are gone and only an idle saw mill serves to remind us of a once busy community and of pros- perons times now passed.

Sterlingville was made a post-office in 1839, with George Walton as postmaster. In 1840 Rufus Hatch opened a public house, but in the next year the long known Sterlingville house was opened by Frederick Van Ostrand, one of the furnace company. Indeed, almost the entire business of the hamlet was controlled by the company operating the furnace and forge. In 1850 the interests comprised the furnace and forge, two taverns, two stores, two saw mills, several small shops, a district school, Catholic church, and about 300 inhabitants. The Union meeting house was built in 1856. Beyond this condition the village has not materially progressed. During the period of operation of the fur- nace and forge, and other industries, it was a place of busy activity, and all its institutions and interests appeared to be well and permanently established, but when operations ceased the laboring element was com- pelled to seek other places of employment and business was confined to the patronage drawn from the surrounding agricultural region. This has been the condition of things for more than twenty-five years, yet Sterlingville is a pleasant little hamlet, and is peopled with an indus- trious and thrifty class of residents. At this time the business interests

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THE TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

comprise the general stores owned by C. B. Corbin & Co. and Bigarel & Malone, and the unused saw mill. The public buildings are the dis- triet school, the union meeting house and the Catholic church.

Sterlingville became a Catholic mission in 1837, and in 1839 a house of worship was built just outside the hamlet proper, on a lot donated by John La Farge. At that time Rev. Michael Gilbride was priest in charge. In 1849 the edifice was burned, but was replaced in 1851 with a larger structure. In 1885 the building was removed to the village. It is still an out mission from Evans' Mills, under the care of Rev. A. L. Dufrasne.

The union meeting house was erected in 1856 by contributions from the generously disposed people of the locality, and at a cost of about $1,800. During its history the building has been occupied by worship- ers of the Methodist Episcopal, Protestant Episcopal, Universalist, Baptist and Disciple denomination, none of which was sufficiently strong to maintain a church or support a separate pastor. The Metho- dists are the strongest denomination in this part of the town, gradually and constantly growing in numbers and influence. The believers in the Disciple christian teachings began holding meetings soon after 1815 and about five years later had effected an informal organization. The society was formed in 1864, the original members numbering 22 per- sons, but did not progress much beyond this condition in later years. Meetings were held in the union building at Sterlingville as long as the organization was maintained. No regular services of this denomina- tion have been held for more than fifteen years.

Among the old localities not now known to the town, except in local annals, is that once called Whitney's corners, so named for one of the prominent families living on the old plank road between Evans' Mills and Ox Bow. A post-office was established here in 1850, Cary Z. Eddy being postmaster. After one year he was succeeded by William M. Whitney, who held the office until it was discontinued in 1856 Dur- ing the stage days this locality enjoyed some prominence, but when the railroad became the established means of travel it seemed to lose all its former importance. The same may also be said of the locality known as Pogeland, in the east part of the town, on the old plank road leading from Sterlingville to Antwerp. A post-office was estab- lished here in 1852, with Daniel Smith as postmaster. The office was soon abolished, then restored, but permanently discontinued in 1855. The last postmaster was Theodore Cross.

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These post hamlets had no special importance in the history of the town, and were only the natural results of laying out the turnpikes along which they were established. After the construction of the first railroad through the town their necessity was gone and they were discontinued. The first railroad constructed into the town was the old Potsdam & Watertown, which was opened for traffic June 2, 1855. This road gave the village of Philadelphia a special prominence in this part of the county, and also had a beneficial effect upon all other inter- ests in the town at large. This was followed by the Utica & Black river railroad, which was completed to Philadelphia village February 2. 1822. The Black river and Morristown railroad, an extension of the last mentioned road, though built by another company, was opened in the fall of 1843, as also was the Clayton and Theresa road, thus, with the united lines, giving the town a special prominence and peculiar im - portance in the north part of the county. The benefits of these several roads have been apparent, and while they have not made it a manufac- turing town, all agricultural interests have been benefited in the ready means of shipment of products to market. Outside of the principal village of Philadelphia the town has been almost purely an agricultural region since the iron works were discontinued. The soil produces well in all staples, while cattle and stock raising and dairying are leading pursuits. Butter and cheese have been produced with profitable results for many years. In connection with the latter several factories have been maintained in the town for many years. They are located to ac- commodate the milk producers of their region. The factories now in operation are known as the Spring factory, owned by George A. Fuller and located in the northwest part of the town, below the old Shurtleff ore beds; the Wilson factory (E. Wilson, owner), located at Whitney's Corners; the Philadelphia village factory, William Flat, proprietor; the Jersey factory, owned by Bradley Sterling, situated two miles east of the village. The town also has two good limburger cheese facto- ries, one of which is owned by George Gebler, on the Galloway road, and the other by John E. Strickland, and located at Strickland's Cor- ners.

Philadelphia Village .-- The village of Philadelphia, originally known as Quaker Settlement, dates its history from the time when Cadwallader Child and his party of surveyors built a log cabin about on the site of the present Philadelphia grist mill. Of course it was a part of the plan of the Quaker community to found a settlement, and James Le Ray

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THE TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

also had that end in view when he made the donation of the lot to the company. In 1805 Thomas and John Townsend built the dam and the mills, and in the same year Robert Comfort opened his dwelling as a house of public entertainment, being succeeded by Joseph Bolton. In 1809 John Strickland purchased and continued the mills and was other- wise a prominent factor in the early history of the settlement. In 1810 the first meeting house was erected, and in the building a sehool was kept for seventeen years.

In 1812 the interests of the settlement comprised only the mills and the meeting house, but about this time Samuel Case opened a stock of goods and began trading. Beyond this condition of growth and pros- perity there was no material advancement for many years. In 1824 the mills and store were still in operation, the meeting house still stood and served for worship and school. Then there were about fifty-five families on the center lot, which comprised the settlement.

In 1828 the persons living here and engaged in business were Edmund Tucker and Mr. Strickland, owners of the grist mill; Platt Homan, miller; Samuel C. Frey and Cyrus Dodge, innkeepers; Harvey Hamblin, W. Mosher and John Cross, shoe. makers; James Cromwell, cabinetmaker; Robert Gray, son-in-law to Mr. Strickland, storekeeper on the corner now of Antwerp and Main streets (successor to Samuel Case); Seth Otis, storekeeper; Dr. Almon Pitcher, physician ; Horace Ball, carding, fulling and cloth mill; and also Stephen Roberts, Orrin Cloyse, John Root, Elijah Comstock, Edmund Hall and Justin Gibbs, each of whom was engaged in some honest calling, for this settlement of staid and sturdy Quakers was no place for idlers. At a little later period William Comstock took the cloth mill, and was in turn suc- ceeded by Milo Shattuck and one Houghton. Robert Gray also had a distillery, the only industry of its kind ever in the town, but the period of its operation was not long.

About this time the Quakers who constituted the principal element of population at the settlement, became much disturbed on account of the teachings of Elias Hicks, and the agitation of the period finally terminated in the division of their community, with some feeling on both sides. Of course during the time there could not be any health- ful growth or advancement in any direction. Indeed, a contrary con- dition prevailed, and the settlement lost some of its former inhabitants. Soon afterward followed the anti-rent disturbances, which continued with considerable bitterness from 1835 to 1844, and in a measure in- volved the whole town, even to some of the Quakers. Samuel Rogers, who with John F. Latimer and Jesse Smith, were the committee to represent the anti-renters in resisting payments, was himself a Quaker, and still others took part in the events of the time. However, as is

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

mentioned in preceding pages, the period passed without more serious results than warm discussions and little open resistance to rent collec- tors, after which events resumed their natural channels. In the mean- time the settlement enjoyed no substantial growth or prosperity, and it was not until after the construction of the first railroad in 1855 that the hamlet took the semblance of a village.

In 1856, when Daniel H. Scofield came to Philadelphia, there was but one mercantile store in the place. W. W. Merrick & Co. (Mr. Sisson being the partner) were in trade where Gardner's store now stands. The building was afterward burned. Holmes & Scofield began business in that year in a building on the present bakery site. They were the leading and in fact about the only merchants of prom- inence for many years, and while the railroad was in many ways of benefit to local interests, the importance of Philadelphia on the old stage route was lost. For nearly thirty years after this, although dur- ing the time various interests were established and passed through the usual changes in business life, there was no remarkable increase in any direction, and not until about 1866 did prosperity in fact come, although in the mean time village incorporation was effected.

On January 16, 1872, a special election of the inhabitants was held for the purpose of determining the question of incorporation. The pro- ceeding was conducted by Loren Fuller, supervisor, and C. E. Gould, town clerk. The whole number of votes cast was 96, of which 23 were for and 23 against the proposition. The survey of the proposed tract was made Dec. 4, 18:1, and included 640 acres of land. The first elec- tion of village officers was held March 4, 1872, and resulted as follows: President, Daniel H. Scofield; trustees, Seth Strickland, Orrin A. Cross and George A. Tucker: clerk, Asa E. Macomber; street commissioner, James Barr.

At that time the village contained 625 inhabitants. The present number, according to careful estimate, is 1,200. It will be seen from this that the population during the twenty-five years of its municipal history has nearly doubled, due in a great measure to the prominence the village has gained as a railroad center, and also to the starting of several important manufacturing enterprises. In 1886 Daniel H. Sco. field built the large brick building at the corner of Main and Antwerp streets, and in the same year on the opposite corner C. W. Hall built the Eagle hotel, on the site where a public house has been maintained from the earliest settlement, and where not less than twenty-five land-

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William Roberto

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THE TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

lords have provided comfort to the traveling public. The present Eagle hotel is known as one of the largest country houses in the north part of the county. In the same year (1886) about 25 new dwellings were built in the village.

The William Roberts lumber mills had been built in 1882, and cm- ployed about 70 men. The old flour mills had been in operation since 1805, employing several men. Other industries which contributed to this fortunate condition, though some of them in 1886 were not in act- ive operation, were the Aldrich saw mill, which Hamblen & Crofoot built originally in 1826; Farnham's tannery, built in 1842 by James Short; Potter's cabinet works, which succeeded Milo Shattuck's cloth mill, and several other interests of perhaps less note.

The Bank of Philadelphia filed articles of association and incorpora- tion February 7, 1888, and commeneed business March 1 st thereafter. The capital was $25,000, and nearly every business man in the town subscribed to the stock. The first officers were Daniel 11. Scofield, president; William Roberts, vice president, and H. O. Gardner, cashier. On March 3, 1893, Andrew C. Comstock succeeded Mr. Scofield as president ; and on August 2, 1897, William A Markwick became cashier in place of Mr. Gardner. The bank was something of an experiment in the village but was deemed necessary to local interests. It has done a safe, conservative business, and is regarded as one of the sound financial institutions of the county. The deposits average about $50, 000, and the surplus and undivided profit account is more than $5,000.

The Indian river chair company (limited) was incorporated in 1890, by Wm. Roberts, D. H. Scofield, A. C. Comstock, M. E. Aldrich and I. C. Mosher, and with a capital of $15,000 (subsequently increased to $30,000). The first officers were Wm. Roberts, prest. ; D. H. Scofield, vice-prest. ; I. C. Mosher, treas., and H. O. Gardner, sec'y. The com- pany took the old saw mill property and remodeled it into a large factory building and began the manufacture of reed chairs, furniture, fancy rockers, and cobbler's, saddle seat and upholstered chairs, employ- ing 75 men. In January, 1894, Win. Roberts became president, G. W. Roberts, vice president and treasurer, and C. O. Roberts, secretary and general manager. An extensive business was done by the company, and when the outlook was most promising, on September 30, 1897, the works were entirely destroyed by fire. Thus the village lost one of its best and largest industries.

The present mercantile and manufacturing interests of the village

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

are almost equal in number and importance to those of any previous period of its history, and far greater than when the incorporation was effected. The saw and planing mills owned by William Roberts are among the best surviving industries, which, with his grist mill make the proprietor one of the largest employers of labor in the village.

The other interests are about as follows Seeber & Groat, sash, door and blind factory; Wilson Bros., proprietors of the Philadelphia flour miils; Wm. Flath, cheese factory; D. H. Scofield & Son, general store; A. C. Comstock, hardware; C. C. Neville, grocer; W. J. Guthrie, meat market; M. E. Aldrich. drugs; Webb Garchier, clothing; James Neville, livery; H. P. McNiel, hardware; G. W. Fuller, harness shop; John Payne, grocer; B. F. Kent, boots and shoes and jewelry; O. F. Grap- potte, groceries; W. J. Linstrath, furniture; C. W. Griffin, general store; R. Adrian, shoe shop; W. J. Wait, drugs and groceries; E. Cooper, meat market; W. K. Peck. blacksmith; Francis Wilson, proprietor Eagle hotel; Geo. Fisher, proprietor Fisher's hotel.

The educational history of the village may also be briefly recalled. In 1810 Anna Comstock kept a little school in a part of the dwelling owned by John Strickland, the property purchased by him from Thomas Townsend. This was the first school in the town. Miss Comstock afterward taught school in the old Quaker meeting house built in 1810, which was continued until 1826. In 1822, the year after the town was created, commissioners John Strickland, jr., David Mosher and James Bones divided the territory into four districts and made provision for a school in each. The center lot was included in district number three. In 1825 a serious discussion arose among the factions regarding the school on this lot, the chief parties to the controversy being the Hick- sites and orthodox Quakers, the latter siding with the settlers on the lot who were not Quakers. Charges of unfairness and misappropria tion of funds were made, and also the claim that the Hicksites refused attendance to children not of their creed. A warm discussion followed, but in 1837 another school house was built, and stood on a lot donated by John F. Latimer. This school was supported at the public expense. In 1851 the Quakers built a school house just south of the R. W. & O. track (as afterward built), where school was taught several years. In 1869 the district purchased the old meeting house lot, sold three acres and retained two acres for school purposes. The meeting house was occupied for a time, but as the school population increased a large build- ing was erected, and is still in use although it has been occasionally re- paired and remodeled.

In 1893 the Philadelphia union free school district was organized,

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THE TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

and in 1891 the school came under the supervision of the state regents. when the greatest improvements to the system were made. The school is now maintained at an annual expense of about $2,400. The attend- ance averages from 175 to 200 pupils. Since the fall of 1894 the school has been in charge of J. G. Peck. The board of education comprises W. A. Markwick (pres. ), Robert Adrian, W. C. Holmes (sec. ) and Wm. Guthrie.

In the same connection it is also proper to mention the old Philadel- phia library, formed Sept. 13, 1831, and indirectly associated with the educational institutions of the village. The trustees and active promo- ters of this commendable enterprise were Edmund Tucker, Alvah Mur- dock, Henry W. Marshall, Joel Haworth, John E. Latimer, Samuel Rogers, Azel Danforth, Weeden Mosher, and John R. Taylor. For some cause the enterprise was not specially successful, and was soon dissolved, the library passing into the hands of Mr. Latimer.

The Philadelphia water works system was established in 1896. For all previous time in the history of both settlement and village the in- habitants were obliged to depend on the sometimes impure waters of Indian river or Black creek, or the shallow wells in the locality. A complete and reliable water supply at last became a necessity, there- fore in the year mentioned the village electors voted to bond to the ex- tent of $30,000 for construction purposes. A reservoir was built on the plains, four miles from the village, and main pipes were extended thence to the village and throughout its principal streets. There are now about seven or eight miles of main pipe, from four to eight inches in diameter, thirty-two fire hydrants, and about 150 taps. The system is in charge of a commission comprising William Roberts, president ; Isaac C. Mosher, secretary, superintendent and manager, and A. C. Comstock.

Philadelphia lodge No. 690, I. O. O. F., was instituted Feb. 11, 1894, with 26 charter members, and from that time has grown to a present membership of 15. The past grands have been as follows: D. C. Rodenhurst, L. M. Aldrich, W. A. Markwick, George A. Fuller (two terms), G. F. Olds and A. W. Danforth.

The religious history of the village is also interesting, yet of the several denominations which have in the past had an organization and place of worship but three remain at this time. The Quakers were a peculiar people and worshiped according to the primitive and strict ideas which have always marked their sect. They were earnest, sin-

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

cere and devoted followers of Christianity as understood by them, and their lives and example had an influence for good throughout the town until they became divided on doctrinal questions. Their meeting house on the center lot was built in 1810 (one authority says 1809) and was used both for meetings and for school purposes until 182%, and after- ward for school alone. In this year a second meeting house was built under the direction of John Strickland, jr., Edmund Tucker, John Townsend and Cadwallader Child, and cost $800. In the next year the division in the society took place, and while both factions assembled in the same house for worship, the meetings were held separately. From this time the influence and strength of the Quakers began to de- cline, and as a religious society they passed out of existence between the years 1850 and 1860. In 1869 the meeting house was sold to the school district.

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 79

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