Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 87

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 87

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

836

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

later history of the county some of tliese sons were important factors, while others of them gained prominence in other fields. Joseph Sheldon afterward became interested in village property in Watertown, where he was a leading citizen for several years. He died in 185%. The old Sheldon homestead, which was built about 1809, is still standing.

Capt. Tilley Richardson, an old revolutionary soldier, removed origi- nally from Worcester county to Litchfield, Mass .. about 1790, and from the latter place to Watertown in 1802. He settled on the now known Jacob Stears farm, on the road leading to Rodman. His family fol- lowed the next year, and all his later life was spent on the same farm. He died in 1:52. He raised to maturity a large family of children, nearly all of whom removed to Illinois. Jonathan E. Miles brought a peck of apple seeds, and is credited with having grown from them the first orchard in the town. They were planted on the farm whereon John Bliven settled, and on which Solon B. Tolman now lives. Pioneer Miles built a house on the side of the hill on the east side of Sandy creek, on the road running to Rodman. From that time the locality was known as Miles' Hill. The old house still stands, and is owned by Albert J. Lawton. He was also something of an astronomer and could readily compute the time and duration of eclipses. Miles son, Josiah, was a school teacher, and the author of Miles spelling book. Another son, Fabius, was a more noted teacher, and was instrumental in assembling all the teachers of the region in a formal meeting, some- thing after the manner of teachers' institutes of later years. This is said to have been the first meeting of the kind ever held. Patrick Agan was an Irishman and a hardworking, industrious and successful settler. Patrick H. Agan, of Syracuse, so prominently known in legal and po- litical circles, was a son of this worthy pioneer.

In addition to those whose names have thus been recalled, the south part of the town contained (using John Sheldon's own words) an un- profitable lot of Mohawk Dutch, nearly all of whom subsequently re- moved to Ohio. Another prominent settler, though not perhaps a pioneer, was Ebenezer Tolman, who came from New Hampshire about 1510, having traded his mills in the east for a farm in this town. His wife was Hopeful Randolph, by whom he had ten children. Mr. Tol- man was aged 90 years at the time of his death.

In another department of this work further allusion is made to this family, and also to the other older families of the town and the county. For the purpose, however, of preserving the names of as many as pos-

837

THE TOWN OF WATERTOWN.

sible of the early settlers of Watertown, the appended list is herewith furnished By a fortunate coincidence the writer found in the posses- sion of Charles Richardson (son of Capt. Tilley Richardson) the assess- ment roll of the town for the year 1809, the second discovery of the kind in the county. The roll of course shows the name of each resident tax payer, with the valnation of real and personal property. From this roll the following names are taken, viz:

" Assessment roll of the real and personal estate in the town of Watertown in the county of Jefferson, made the 7th day of June, in the year of our Lord, 1809, by Powell Hall, Seth Otis, John Adams, assessors for the said town" (the figures follow- ing each name indicates valuation of real property). Benj. Allen, 532; Ambrose Adams, 110; John Adams, 130; Septimus G. Adams, 276; Robert Adams, 116; John Ayers, 10; Andrew Basinger, 274; Israel Ballard, jr., 388; Tillson Barrows, jr., 726; Zachariah Butterfield, 450; Cyrus Butterfield, 98; James Bard, 230; John Blevin, 302; Horatio Burr, 781; John Bruce, 80; Calvin Brown, 316; Oliver Bartholmew, 300; Thomas Butterfield, 323; Aaron Brown, 691; James Brown, 140; Moses Brown, 208; Jonathan Baker, 415; Daniel Brainerd, 126; Caleb Burnham, 196; John Bab- cock. 131; Nathaniel Burnham, 126: Alfred Burrows, 50; Josiah Bloss, 190; John Bryant, 20; Amos Benediet, 315; Christopher Biddlecom, 236; Joseph S. Bloss, 100; Joseph Bixby, 50; Benj. Bull, 192; Samuel Bosworth, 160; Daniel Bates, 40; Will- iam Barrett. 116; Almon Bannister, 60; Henry Coffeen, 15-13; Nathan Coffeen, 182; llenry 11. Coffeen, 248; Wm. P. Crandall, 610; Alfred Cummings, 116; Isaac Churchill, 112; Asahel Churchill, 112; Asahel Churchill, jr., 114; Salmon Churchill, 103; Joseph Clark, 600; Clark & Bailey (mill) 320; Chauncey Calhoon, 329; Jonathan Cowan, 1123; Isaae Crawford, 198; Edmund Chase, 86; Thomas M. Converse, 616; Ezra Cooper, 216; Medad Canfield, 20; John Collins, 265; Peter Cameron, 311; Wm. Coffeen, 20; Mrs. Dresser, 178; Jesse Doolittle, 230; Ebenezer Dayton, 72; Thomas Dayton, 106; Jesse Dodge, 210; Thomas Delano, 650; llenry Delano, 206; Luther Deming, 318; Doris Doty, 280; Duffy & MeCunnifee, 100; Eli Day, 326: Jonas Everett, 300; John Edmonston, 225; Elias Everett, 300; M. Folts, 212; Ebenezer Fish, 56; Abraham Fisk, 520; Jabez Foster, 737; Elijah Field, 376; Jonathan Fisk, 66; Samuel Fellows, 421; Wm. Fellows, 400; Thaddeus Field, 80; Arunah Fulling- ton, 96; Philip Field, 12; Jason Fairbanks, 10; Hiram Fellows, 146; Joel Goodell, 328; Benj. Green, 183; Charles Galloway, 176; James Glass, 251; Henry Gotham, 206; Amos Gill, jr., personal, 40; Wm. Gillespie, 50; John Gotham, 96; Stephen Gifford. 122; Corlis Ifinds, 290; Powell Hall, 650; Amasa Herrick, 382; Oliver Ilarpur, 300; Timothy Hungerford, 1176; Anson Hungerford, 440; Erastus Haskin, 108; James Hoar, 162; Nathaniel Havens, 195; Wm. Hancock, 220; John Harper, 214: William Huntington (founder and pioneer of the locality known as Huntington- ville) 673; Wm. Huntington, jr., 271; Silas Holt, 225; Dyer Huntington (son of Will- iam and father of Richard H.) 94; James Hanna, 142; Wm. Hooper, 94; Richard Hooper, 80; Charles Harvey, 116; John Hathaway, 25; Johnson Howk, 10; Henry Hopkins, 200; James Ingalls, 181; Jonathan Ingalls, 126; Erastus Ives, 306; Titus lves, 380. Jotham Ives, 175; Henry Jewett, 390; Ezekiel Jewett, 815; Nathan Jewett, 330; Abraham Jewett, 600; (the Jewetts lived on Sandy Creek); Nathan Jones, 10,

838

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Samuel C. Kanady, 260; Aaron Keyes, 100; Samuel Knapp, 380; Samuel Knapp, jr., 126; George Kingsbury, 120; William Lampson. 356; John Losee, 188; John Losee, jr., 318; Francis Lammon, 520; Peter Lawrence, 200; Samuel Lamb, 468; David Mills, 154; Sylvester Morris, 150; Jonathan E. Miles, 180; James Mann, 200; Elna- than Mattison. 378; Asaph Mather, 178; Hart Massey, 901; Isaiah Massey, 490; James Mayo, 100; Varannus Moore, 472; John Morey, 10; Wm. Nichols, 260; Hosea Norton, 42; Timothy Nash, 56; Seth Otis, 285; Thomas Potter, 212; Seth Peek, 330; John Pattison, 145; Sarah Perry, 144; Jonathan Potter, 120; Benj. Pool, 196; Sam- uel P. Parker, 234; John Parcels, 173; Solomon Palmer, 294; James Parker, 816; John Prentiss, 114; Richard Potter, 350; John Paddock, 1230; Paddock & Smith, 150; Samuel Phippen, 312; Richard Phillips (personal) 50; Lebbeus Payne, 45; Tilley Richardson, 620; Josiah Richardson, 180; Russell Richardson, 340; Bennett Rice, 130; Jason Rice, 120; James Rogers, 300; Eli Rogers, 216; Aaron Rhodes, 226; Oliver Rowe, 154; Beloved Rhodes, 186; Thomas Randall, 66; James B. Robbins, 10; John Runyan, 108; Joseph Sodey, 112; John Sykes, 278; Rufus Spencer, 451; William Sheldon, 370; Joseph Savage, 238; Joseph Sheldon, 359; Daniel Stanley. 288; Elias Sawyer, 128; Thomas Sawyer, 292; Ozni Stowell, 178; Job Sawyer, 196; Abel S. Scott, 110; Abel Scott, 222; Simeon Skeeles, 56; Daniel Staplin, 270; Friend Street, 102; John Simmons, 68; Moses Smedley. 100; Anthony Sigourney, 596; Jonas Smith, 290; Frederick and Phineas Smith, 55; Caleb Smith, 30; Frances Smiler, 226; Nehemiah Thornton, 88; Jethro Taylor, 90; Egbert Ten Eyek, 280; Oliver Taylor, 95; Ezekiel Thrall, 100; David Talcott, 116; John Thompson, 118; Amasa Trow- bridge, 90; Joshua Town, 90; Wm. Tryon, 100; Joseph Wadleigh (Wadley), 816; Thomas Wadley, 140; John Wadley, 140; (the Wadleys lived near Riee's Corners); Josiah Wright, 130; John Wait, 202; Thomas Wilson, 262; Palmer Westcott, 275; James Wilson 338; Isaac Wilson, 508; David Wiswell, 220; Samuel Whittlesey, 350; Oliver White, 98; Job Whitney, 230; Smith Waters, 200; Woodruff, 20; Sam- uel Waters, 330; Thomas Watt, 40; Cornelius Waters, 108; Cyrenus Woodworth, 586; Samuel Winslow, 292; Jacob Wheeler, 202; Benj. Woodruff, 346; Jonah Wood- ruff, 405; Hazen Webster, 70; Luke Wood, 372; Philip Wilson, 160; Paoli Wells, 20; Gardner White, 150; William Wood, 150; Lyman Wilson, 80.

Thus is brought to notice the name of every resident taxable inhab- itant in Watertown in 1809, when the assessment roll was made. At that time the village had not been separated from the town, even for purposes of local government, nor was such action accomplished until several years afterward. From what has been stated it must be seen that the agents were very active in the sale of low lands after the mort- gage on the town had been paid. Such, indeed, was the case, and no town in the region showed a more rapid and healthful growth than this. True, in 1805 the county was created, and the flourishing little village on Black river was designated as its seat of justice. This was the great- est stimulus to later growth and prosperity in the whole town, for all the country has ever been benefited by the village and city and their constantly increasing commercial interests. There was no completc

839

THE TOWN OF WATERTOWN.

separation of the town and village until the latter was incorporated as as a city under the laws of 1869, and thereby more than 9,000 of the town's population was surrendered to the new creation.

In 1807 the town contained 231 inhabitants having the requisite property qualifica- tions, in which respect it ranked third in the county. In 1810, at the first census enumeration after the county was created, the number of inhabitants in Watertown was 1,811, from which time the subsequent changes are best shown by extracts from the census reports, as follows: 1814, 2, 458; 1820, 2, 876; 1825, 3, 416; 1830. 1, 768; 1835. -1,269; 18-40, 5,027; 18-15, 5, 432; 1850, 7,201 ; 1855, 7,557; 1860, 7,567; 1865, 8,191; 1870, 1,373; 1875, 1,279; 1880, 1,264, 1890, 1,215; 1892, 1,083.

Thus it is seen that with the single exception of Pamelia, Watertown has less population than any town in the county, and also that during the last twenty-five years the number of inhabitants has been gradually decreasing, while in the city there has been more than corresponding increase. During this period there has been shown a strong tendency on the part of farmers in the town to remove to the city, for the double purpose of affording their children the advantages of a good education and the hope of more profitable employment for the farmer himself. The result has been that in many cases the old home farm is occupied by a tenant, or the buildings stand unoccupied. In either case the re- sult is disastrous, and the old homestead on which the pioneer of the family labored and struggled for the welfare of his children in later years is ofttimes found in a dilapidated condition. Fortunately, how- ever, this is the exception rather than the rule, and Watertown to-day can show some of the largest and best farms in the county.

From first to last the history of the town at large has been unevent- ful, and neither record nor tradition furnishes us with many noteworthy incidents of pioncer life in the region. Through Solon Massey's rem- iniscences, " A Link in the Chain," we have an account of the loss of young James Parker, a son of Captain Parker, the lad having been sent out on an errand to procure a quantity of hemlock gum from the woods and also a supply of provision from the store in the village. The boy was given a silver dollar with which to make the purchase, and an axe to secure the gum. After dinner the youth went toward the village as far as the big woods at the foot of Folt's hill (now called Ives' or Coffeen hill), where he struck the axe in a tree, loosening a chip, be hind which he placed the dollar for safe keeping. He then wandered around in search of gum, giving no heed to his whereabouts, and the result was he became lost to all surroundings; and the greater his

840

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

efforts to find the axe and money the more he became confused. Night came on, and the boy not having returned home, his parents were much alarmed for his safety. The village was visited and disclosed the fact that the boy had not been there nor had the purchase been made. The neighborhood was at once aroused, and with the earnestness which always characterized such occasions in pioneer days, a large company of men set out in search of the lost youth; and they did not turn back or delay until the lost was found and returned to his home.

Folt's hill was something of a historic locality and the scene of sev- eral incidents during early times. In this locality in the fall of 1801 a settler named Dayton accidentally shot his brother while cleaning his gun preparatory to a general squirrel hunt in which all the settlers were to join. As soon as the accident occurred Dayton set off at the top of his speed to the village, where he secured the services of Dr. Isaiah Massey; and the latter, acting quickly, reached the cabin in time to dress the wound and save the life of the injured man.

Through the same reliable source of information we also have the wolf story of pioneer times, in which one Knowlton was the hero. He had been assisting Jotham Ives, who resided near Folts' settlement, in the customary fall employment of killing hogs, and having finished his day's work was given two hog "plucks " (heart and liver) in addition to his pay. Knowlton lived near the present residence of Titns J. Brintnall. Darkness had come on and he was nearly a mile from home, with no road and only a line of marked trees. Rather than hazard an attack by wolves, which were known to be frequently about at night, Mr. Ives offered him a lodging in his own house, but the settler had no fear and set out upon his journey. His clothing was somewhat spotted with blood, and this the wolves scented before he had made half the distance through the woods. Then began a race for life, in which Knowlton was almost home before the hungry animals overtook him, and he only saved himself by throwing them one of his plucks, which they stopped to devour while he made good his escape into the house.

Organisation .- This town was created in anticipation of future settle- ment rather than for the accommodation of settlers then within its bor. ders. Through the influence of Nicholas Low, Henry Champion and others, on March, 18, 1800, the legislature passed an act erecting two new towns in this part of Oneida county. These were Champion and Watertown, the aggregate population of which at that time was proba- bly less than 200 inhabitants. The effective portion of the act relating to this town was as follows:

841

THE TOWN OF WATERTOWN.

" And all that part of the said county of Oneida known and distinguished by (as) townships Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in a tract of land belonging to Henry Champion and others, which said townships are bounded northerly by the Black river, westerly by llungry Bay (Black river bay), and southerly by townships Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9. and easterly by township No. 4, all in the same tract, shall be and continue a town by the name of Watertown."

As then constituted the new town comprised all that is now Rutland and Hounsfield in addition to its present territory, and as well that of the city. Rutland was taken off April 1, 1802, and Hounsfield, Febru- ary 17, 1806. The interesting events of town organization, such as first officers elected and the proceedings relating to local government, cannot be given in this connection on account of the destruction of the records by fire many years ago. Indeed, the supervisors previous to 1805 are now unknown. From all indications, however, the early civil history of Watertown was not unlike that of other towns in this region, except that here was an additional interest which centered around the county seat, and also the spirited rivalry between that settlement and the flourishing hamlet of Burrville, on the upper waters of Sandy creek. For a time it seemed as if Burrville possessed the greater im- portance, but when Watertown became a county seat it soon out- stripped its rival, and eventually became the most important industrial city in northern New York. Its history is made the subject of a special chapter in this work, to which the attention of the reader is di- rected.

Burrville .- It is quite evident that proprietor Low and agent Stow had it in their mind to establish the principal village in the eastern part of township No. 2, where was found an available water power on Sandy creek which was equal for all practical purposes to the greater power on the river, and which could be diverted for manufacturing purposes at far less expense. Moreover, saw and grist mills at this place, with a tavern and store, would draw greater patronage than the river region. Therefore, in June, 1801, Stow made a contract with Hart Massey, by which the latter agreed to build, during that season, a saw and corn (grist) mill on his own land, the agent on his part agreeing to furnish all necessary machinery and stock the mills for operation. The work was done as agreed, but in 1802 the property was sold to Capt. John Burr, who with several sons located at the place, and through their united efforts made it the most important trading and milling point in the region. Soon afterward Jabez Foster opened a large store, and em- ployed Orville Hungerford in the capacity of clerk, but when Water. 106

842

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

town became the county seat the stock of goods, proprietor and clerk all removed to that place. In the meantime other industries had sprung up at Burr's Mills, as the place was then known. William Lampson opened a blacksmith shop, and soon afterward added an axe factory and trip-hammer, carrying on a large business in making edged tools. In some manner, and under several ownerships, this industry was maintained here until about the time of the war of 1861-65. About 1806 James Mann built a tannery, but later on sold out to Deacon Theophilus Redfield (one of the substantial old settlers), who employed six or eight men in the tan-house and about as many more in shoemak- ing. Among the old early interests were a carding machine and cloth- dressing works, but the names of their founders are now unknown. A hotel was also opened, and about its first landlord, if not in fact its founder, was Septimus G. Adams. Other important interests of the time were Converse's ashery and Rev. Ebenezer Lazelle's distillery. Dr. Crafts P. Kimball was the first physician, locating at the Mills pre- vious to the war of 1812, and was a prominent figure in the locality un- til his death in 1873.

In the course of time of all these old industries which once made Burrville a busy trading center not one survives, and only the beautiful cascade from which power was taken, the old and frequently repaired tavern and the Congregational church give present indication of a once important industrial village. With the growth and constantly increas- ing importance of Watertown there was a corresponding loss in Burr- ville, until at last it became hardly more than a convenient trading point in a purely farming region. About 1825 Capt Sampson built a blast furnace at the top of the falls, but after a few years its operation ceased. Deacon Redfield removed his tannery to Watertown, and other local industries were abandoned. In its present condition Burr- ville is a quiet little hamlet of perhaps a dozen houses, a district school and Congregational church.

On June 8, 1803, Rev. Ebenezer Lazelle organized a Congregational society at a meeting held in Caleb Burnham's barn, at Burrville. There were fifteen constituent members, and Gershom Tuttle and William Fellows were the first deacons. Meetings were held in convenient places, and preaching services were frequently conducted by mission- aries from New England, and also by Revs. Nathaniel Dutton (Cham- pion) and B. Tyler. In 1811 the Watertown society was formed and took several members from the Burrville church. On Oct. 25, 1815,

843

THE TOWN OF WATERTOWN.

Rev. Daniel Banks was installed pastor of the church, and the organ- ization was preserved until January, 1821, when a Presbyterian form of government was adopted. At that time the elders were Wm. Brown, James Stone, Theophilus Redfield, J. Van Nest, John Sawyer, Hart Massey, William Huntington, Asa Norton and Amasa Herrick. The deacons were Ilart Massey and Theophilus Redfield. In later years the church prospered for a time and then gradually lost its strength and influence until it was finally dissolved. It was a mother of churches, however, and from it sprung a Congregational church in 1830 (which is now extinct) a part of the second Presbyterian church of Watertown (in 1831) and the present Congregotional church of Burrville, in 1831.

On October 14, 1833, the Burrville society was formed by Congrega- tional, Universalist and Methodist members who lived in the cast part of the town, and for the express purpose of building a meeting house. Dr. Kimball, George M. Jenks and Elnathan Lucas were the trustees, under whose direction a house of worship was erected during the fol- lowing year. The building was afterward occupied by each denomina- tion, in alternation, but finally it passed into the hands of the Congre- gationalists, the other societies having ceased to exist in the vicinity.

The Burrville Congregational church, as now existing, was organized Feb. 14, 1834, by Rev. David Spear, who was its first pastor, and then comprised 13 members from the former Presbyterian church, 3 from the Congregational church in Rutland, and one from the Congregational church at Smithville. This society has survived all the changes and vicissitudes of intervening years, although its members are now few and the society not self-sustaining. The present pastor is Rev. John Kincaid.

The other hamlet localities of the town are quite small and of little consequence in local history. Field's settlement adjoins Hounsfield, and was named after pioneer Elijah Field, of whom previous men- tion is made. Watertown Centre is a name frequently applied to a little settlement near the geographical center of the town, the chief in- stitutions of which at the present time are the beautiful Brookside and St. Patrick's cemeteries. Rice's is a station and post-office on the line of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg railroad, in the southwest part of the town, and was so called in allusion to one of the prominent fami- lies of that locality. Previous to the construction of the railroad the place was commonly known as Rice's Corners. Ihuntingtonville is a hamlet about half a mile west of the city limits, and is pleasantly situ-

814

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

ated on the river, opposite two islands. At one time this locality promised to become an important manufacturing center, but circum- stanees drew the industries further down the river. East Watertown is a hamlet about a mile east of the eity, but other than its cheese factory interest it has no special prominence in town history. The old Grove hotel was once a popular hostelry in this part of the town.

Supervisors .- (The town records previous to 1805 are destroyed). Corlis Hinds, 1805-08: Tilley Richardson, 1809-10; Wm. Smith, 1811; Egbert Ten Eyck, 1812-19; Titus Ives, 1820-26; Jabez Foster, 1827; Titus Ives, 1828; Daniel Lee, 1829; Henry Il. Coffeen, 1830-34; Orville Hungerford, 1835-37; Joel Woodworth, 1838-40; Orville Hungerford, 1841-42; John Winslow, 1843-45; Orville V. Brainard, 1846-47; George C' Sherman, 1848; Adriel Ely, 1849; Kilborn Hannahs, 1850; Orville Hungerford, 1851; Robert Lansing, 1852: David D. Otis, 1853-54; Adriel Ely, 1855; Willard Ives. 1856; Levi H. Brown, 1857; Henry H. Babcock, 1858; Ambrose W. Clark, 1859 60; David W. Baldwin, 1861; H. H. Babcock, 1862; Edward S. Lansing, 1863-64; George A. Bagley, 1865-68; Wilbur F. Porter, 1869; John Winslow, elected at special town meeting, 1869; Charles Richardson, 1870-75; Henry S. Barbour, 1876-72; John M. Felt, 1828-80; L. T. Sawyer, 1881-84; J. Stears, jr., 1885-86; B. W. Gifford, 1887- 90; Frank M Parker, 1891-95; Milo L. Cleveland, 1896-97; Dwight L. Bailey, 1898- 99.

CHAPTER XLI.

THE TOWN OF WILNA.

Previous to 1813 the territory now comprising Wilna formed a part of the older towns of Le Ray and Leyden, and it also formed a part of the vast tracts, amounting almost to principalities, known, respectively, as great lot No. 4 of the Macomb purchase and the Chassanis tract. The line separating these traets crosses the town east and west, south of the central portion. In the year mentioned, on April 2, the legis- lature passed an aet defining with accuracy the boundary lines between counties in the state, and by this aet Jefferson county acquired a con- siderable body of land formerly a part of Lewis county, which was created a separate civil division of the former and named Wilna, but why so named neither record or tradition furnishes any reliable infor- mation. However, it has been said that the name was derived from and applied in allusion to Wilna, in Russia.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 87

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