Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 9

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 9

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Notwithstanding the fact that during the last French and Indian war the region now called Jefferson county became fairly known to the

SETTLEMENT OF TOWNS.

English troops and to the American colonists, and regardless of the fact that during the revolution this region was the scene of many inter- esting events, and also the route frequently chosen by the soldiery in passing to and from the Canadas, there appears to have been no per- manent white settlement within its borders previous to the spring of 1794, when Noadiah Hubbard first came to township No. 4 of the Black river tract, then known as Howard but later as Champion, and prepared the way for future settlement. In the same year, if local record and tradition be true, Lyman and Marvel Ellis visited the town called Ellisburgh with a view to settlement. Lyman Ellis then pre- pared a piece of land, sowed it with wheat, and harvested the crop in 1798.

Judge Noadiah Hubbard, in his reminiscences of early life in the county, said: "Not one tree had been cut here for the purpose of making a settlement, nor was there a white man settled in what is now the county of Jefferson when I came here. I was the first white settler in the county. I remained here through the summer, and until Octo- ber, engaged in making a clearing. We then returned to Stenben, where my family was, to spend the winter."

Whether Noahiah Hubbard or Lyman Ellis was the first white settler in the county is a question which the present writer is unable to settle, but it is surprising that a country so well known as this in the year 1800 should have less than 1,200 inhabitants within its borders, or within territory then comprising the towns of Mexico and Leyden, which ul- timately formed this county. The jurisdiction was created in 1805, at which time the towns comprising it were estimated to contain about 1,500 inhabitants. However, let us turn briefly to the towns compris- ing the county at the time it was created, and note the names of the pioneers in each. During the revolution, and perhaps earlier, Carlton island was occupied by whites, British soldiers, but that possession was temporary and for the purpose of holding the island within the British dominion. Later, in 1286, Matthew Watson and William Guilland purchased the land warrant earned and held by William Richardson, of the American army, and located their claim on the island; but the commissioners of the land office were in doubt whether the island was within U. S. territory, hence sanctioned the location only on condition that the warrant should be void if the island should be found within British jurisdiction. True, Carlton island fell on the U. S. side of the boundary, and the patentees held under sure title, but whether they

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

occupied their land and improved it previous to 1800 is a question of much doubt.

The town of Adams, originally Aleppo, township No. }, Black river tract, was surveyed in 1796 by Benjamin Wright, and in 1799 Nicholas Salisbury and several companions visited the region in quest of a place for settlement. Soon afterward Mr. Salisbury made a purchase of land in the town, but no permanent settlement until the spring of 1800. In the meantime other prospective settlers had made purchases, but his was the pioneer effort in actual occupation. More than forty lots were sold previous to 1805, and the town in 180; contained 163 legal voters.

In Brownville, one of the county's most historic and substantial divisions, the lands were about equally divided by the south line of great lot number four of the Macomb purchase; therefore settlement and improvement was divided between the proprietors under the Ant- werp company and Rodolph Tillier, agent for the sale of lands on the Chassanis tract. He induced Jacob Brown to make an investment in lands on his tract, which resulted in a purchase, and in 1299 this worthy pioneer came to the town with a portion of his family and made the first improvement near the mouth of Philomel creck, on Black river, where was afterward built up the village of Brownville. In 1800 the pioneer erected a saw mill, and in 1801 a grist mill, both at the mouth of the creek. A bridge across the river was built in 1802, and a dam in 1806. Jacob Brown built the first house in the county north of Black river. Other pioneers in the town were George Brown, Samuel Brown (father to Jacob) and his family, John W. Collins, Richardson Avery, Nathan Parish and Horace Mather. In 180: the town had 181 legal voters, with property qualifications.

Champion, originally Howard, township No. 4, of the Black river tract, was settled in 1497-98 by Noadiah Hubbard. In 1199 Joel Mix came with his family, and also John and Thomas Ward, Ephraim Chamberlain. Samuel and David Starr, Jotham Mitchell, Salmon Ward, and Bela Hubbard, all of whom were young men without families. In 1807 this town had 182 legal voters.

Ellisburgh, as has been mentioned, was first settled by Lyman Ellis in 1796, but soon afterward, during the same year, Caleb Ellis came. and also a company of men engaged by the pioneer to build a saw and grist mill on Sandy creek, and a dam across the stream. Caleb Ellis's family. Robert Fulton. Elijah Richardson, Hezekiah Pierce, Chauncey

SETTLEMENT OF TOWNS.

Smith, William Root, Vial Salisbury, Isaac Waddle, Abram Wileox and two men named Thornton came to the town in the spring of 1398

Lorraine, originally Malta, but later Atticus, township No. 1, of the Boylston tract, was settled in 1802 by pioneers James McKee and Elijah Fox, the latter a single man. Other carly settlers, who came during the following winter were Comfort Staneliff, Benjamin Gates, John Alger, Seth Cutler and a Mr. Balcom. The first saw mill was built by Mr. Frost, and the first grist mill by Mr. Cutler, both in 1804, and located on Sandy creek. In 1807 Lorraine had 161 legally quali fied voters.

Rodman, originally Orpheus, township No. 8, of the Black river tract, was settled in 1801, under the direction of Silas Stow, acting as agent for proprietors Harrison and Hoffman. The pioneers were An- son and Ebenezer Moody, Jonathan, Noah and Aaron Davis, Benjamin Thomas, William Rice, and Simeon Hunt, followed in 1802 by Timothy Greenly and Thomas White. William Rice built the first saw mill in 1801, and the first grist mill in 1806. This town was settled rapidly, and in 180; contained 236 legal voters.

Rutland, originally Milan, township No. 3, of the Black river tract, was settled under the management of Asher Miller, agent for proprie- tor William Henderson. Miller himself was the pioneer, having come to the town in 1799 and opened a road from the river to a point near the center; and in the same year he induced a settlement by Levi But- terfield, Perley Keyes, Amos Stebbins, William Keyes, David and Goldsmith Coffeen, Raphael Porter, Israel Wright, Jonathan and Clark Boss, James Killiam, Jeptha King, Charles Kelsey, Warren Foster, John Dole, Gardner Cleveland and John Cotes. Agent Miller appears to have been very active in making sales of land, as in 180; he had about fifty families in the town, with a total number of inhabitants of 236, equal to Rodman, and with that town standing first in the county. David Coffeen, who was afterward identified with carly events in Champion, built the first grist mill in Rutland in 1801, and the first saw mill in 1802. Levi Butterfield was the first tavern keeper, and Jacob Williams opened the first store.

Watertown within its present limits embraces original township No. 2 of the Black river tract, or Leghorn, as then known. When created it ineluded Nos. 1, 2 and 3 of the tract mentioned. The town was first surveyed in 1996 by Benjamin Wright, and afterward by Robert McDowell. It was subdivided in 1801 by Joseph Crary for Silas Stow

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

as agent for Nicholas Low, the proprietor. Settlement, however, was begun by Henry Coffeen, Jonathan Cowan, Ilart and Isaac Massey and Zachariah Butterfield, some of whom purchased lands in 1799 and came to the town in the next year, locating on the site where now stands the city.' Oliver Bartholomew came during the same year and settled down the river about two and a half miles. These were the only families in the town during that year, although many prospective purchasers visited the locality, and some of them made contracts with the agents.

The remaining towns of the county were of later formation, and were subdivisions of towns already mentioned, with the single exception of Wilna, which was formed from Le Ray and Leyden in 1813, and comprised lands from both the Chassanis traet and great lot No. 4 of the Macomb purchase. As the story is told at length in the history of the town, settlement in Wilna was begun on the site of Carthage by Henry Boutin, one of the French company, with intention to found a village; and while that work was soon accomplished, few of the French settlers were concerned in it, and the honor in fact fell to the sturdy American pioneers. Hounsfield (originally Hesoid, township No. 1, Black river tract), was a subdivision of Watertown, and Henderson (No. 6 of the Black river tract) of Ellisburgh, both set off in 1806, while Worth, the territory of which was used as compensation or " boot " lands, was formed from Lorraine in 1848. The first perma- nent settlement in Hounsfield was made in 1800 by Amos Fox, who also made the first improvements, but within the next two years at least thirty families had come in through the energetic action of Augustus Sacket, founder of the village now known as Sackets Harbor, and indeed one of the most prominent men of the county in his time. Hen- derson began to settle in 1801, Thomas Clark, Samuel Stewart, Philip Crumett, John Stafford and Peter Cramer being the pioneers. In Worth the first settlers were Asaph Case and Leonard Bullock, who came in 1802, forty-six years before the town was set off from Lor- raine.

In the same manner a brief reference may be made to the towns

This has always been accredited history, yet Mi. Brockway's narrative says that in 1798 Eliphalet Edmunds and brother came from Vermont and descended Black river in a boat; that when at the site of the subsequent village they had the misfortune to upset their craft, and thus lust their effects in the river. They then went to the south part of the county, and were followed tu this locality in 1599, or the next year, by Nathaniel and Seyrel Harrington and Joshua Priest, all of whom settled on " Dry Hill."

SETTLEMENT OF TOWNS.

north of the south line of great lot No. 3 of the Macomb tract. In this part of the county Brownville was the mother of towns, and originally included the entire region north of the line within the county, except a part of Wilna, which was taken from the territory adjoining on the cast. Therefore General Brown was not only the pioneer of the town named after him within its present limits, but also of all that region of country which lay north of the south line of the great lot. For a time he was the sole occupant, with those who settled with him, of a terri- tory larger than many of the present counties of the state.

The first division of Brownville was made in 1806, when Le Ray was created, and included all the town now so called, together with Ant- werp, Philadelphia and Theresa, and parts of Alexandria and Wilna. Settlement in Le Ray was begun in 1802 by a company under Benja- min Brown, under the Le Ray proprietary. Among the pioneers were Dyer Rhodes, Gershom and John Matoon, Joseph Child and sons, Thomas Ward, William Cooper and Benjamin Kirkbride. In 1807 Le Ray contained 153 legal voters. Antwerp was formed from Le Ray in 1810. The first settler was William Lee, who came in 1803, under the direction of Lewis R. Morris, then the proprietor. Mills were erected at Antwerp village in 1806-7, for Morris, by John Jennison.

Wilna was formed from Le Ray and Leyden in 1813, but its settle- ment was begun on the Chassanis tract side of the line. Alexandria and Philadelphia were formed in 1821, the former from Le Ray and Brownville, and the latter from Le Ray. Improvements in Alexandria were not begun until about 1811, when Mr. Le Ray made a clearing at the center, thus hoping to attract settlers to the locality, but owing to the uncertainties of the war actual settlement was delayed. This town, however, had an interesting history during the war, for an account of which see the following chapter and also the chapter relating to the town itself. A portion of Wells island and also many smaller islands form a part of Alexandria. In Philadelphia the first settlers were " Friends" from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, who came in 1804, among the first being Cadwallader Child, Mordecai Taylor and Samuel Evans. Robert Comfort kept the first tavern, Samuel Case the first store, and Thomas and John Townsend built the first saw mill. Theresa was set off from Alex- andria in 1841, and was named in allusion to a daughter of Mr. Le Ray. Settlement in the town was begun about 1810, under the direct man- agement of Le Ray, who caused land to be cleared and a saw mill built on Indian river, near the high falls (now Theresa). Among the early

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

settlers may be recalled the names of James Shurtleff, Anson and Jere- miah Cheeseman, Sylvester Rodman, M. B. Ashley, Azariah Walton, Col. Bull, Abram Morrow, Joseph Miller, Archibald Fisher, James Lake, Ebenezer and N. W. Lull and J. D. Davidson.

Lyme was the second town formed directly from Brownville, and was created in 1818. A part of Clayton was set off in 1833, and all of Cape Vineent in 1849. In Lyme settlement was begun in 1801 under Jonas Smith and Henry A. Delamater, agents for James Le Ray. The pio- neers were Richard M. Esseltyn, T. Wheeler, Peter Pratt, and Jonas, David and Timothy Soper. Within the jurisdiction of Cape Vincent is included Grenadier, Fox and Carlton islands, the last mentioned of which has been noted in this chapter. Settlement on the mainland was begun in 1801 by Captain Abijah Putnam, at a point two miles below Cape Vincent village.

Clayton was formed from Lyme and Orleans in 1833, taking from the latter two-fifths of Penet's square. The pioneer was one Bartlett (the christian name being unknown), who was stationed there by the land agents to maintain a ferry between Bartlett's point and Gananoque, but after about a year the settler burned his buildings and left the local- ity. The proprietors also made other attempts to found a settlement, but failure appeared to attend each effort, and it was not until several years afterward that the region became permanently occupied. This, however, is historic territory and further mention properly belongs to the chapter relating to the town. Grindstone and several smaller isl- ands are within the jurisdiction of Clayton.

Pamelia, named by General Brown in honor of his wife, was formed from Brownville in 1819, and was first settled in 1199 by two men named Boshart and Kitts, whose stay was brief, and was followed by settlement of a more permanent character by Thomas Makepeace and Mr. Havens in 1804 and 1805. The town comprised two parts of three traets, l'enet's square, great lot No. 4, and the Chassanis tract; but the portion taken from Penet's square was not annexed to the town until 1829.

Orleans was also formed wholly from Brownville in 1821. A part of its territory was annexed to Pamelia in 1829, and the whole of Clayton was taken off in 1833. The town comprised three-fifths of Penet's square, and was originally settled by squatters, who occupied the land without color of title; which fact becoming generally known, induced other settlement of the same character until the region was well filled

POPULATION.

with families of the poorer class. This, together with the fact that there was a question as to the validity of the titles from Penet, delayed permanent settlement for several years. In 1817 settlers under ap- proved title began coming in, for the lands were good and sold at reasonable prices. Roderic C. Frazier, Peter Pratt, Dr. Reubin Andrus and Samuel and Daniel Ellis are mentioned among the first permanent settlers. A portion of Wells island is within this town.

'This brief synopsis of organization and pioneer events in the several towns is but an introduction of subjects which are treated at much greater length in subsequent chapters, and is here made for the pur- pose of preserving chronology. llowever, as tending to show the growth and development of the county and its towns, both in early and later years, recourse may be had to the federal and state eensus reports, from which is taken the aggregate number of inhabitants at the begin- ning of each half decade.

In 1802, with eleven towns in the county, the population was 1,983; IS10, 15,143; 1814, 18,564; 1820, 33,882; 1825, 41,941; 1830, 48, 125; 1835, 53,498; 1840, 60,549; 1845, 61,999; 1850, 68,442; 1855, 65,420; 1860, 69,825; 1865. 66,448; 1820, 65,415; 1825, 65,334; 1880, 66,103; 1885, no count; 1890, 68,806; 1892, according to unofficial count, 70,358.

It will be seen from this that the development of the county, from first to last, has been gradual, steady and constant. True, there have been times in which was shown a decrease in the number of inhabitants, nevertheless growth in every direction has been continuous, and it is doubtful if ever in the history of the county at large, under normal influences, has there been a more prosperous condition than at the present time. However, it is not within the province of our work to discuss conditions, nor to account for depressed periods. A glance at the extracts from the census reports shows that the greatest population was attained in 1892, assuming the count of that year to have been correct, while at any previous time the population was at its maximum in 1860.

When the county was created by the legislature its territory com- prised eight towns, but in 1813 the boundaries of all the counties of the state were defined with much greater care than when first erected. Under the act of that year the new bounds established for this county were as follows:

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Beginning at the southwest corner of the township of Minos , Ellisburgh), on the easterly shore of Lake Ontario, running thence along the southerly bounds of the said township, to the southeast corner thereof, thence northerly along the easterly bounds thereof, to the southwest corner of the township of Atticus ( Lorraine); thence easterly along the south bounds of the townships of Atticus and Fenelon (Worth), to the southeast corner of the said township of Fenelon; thence northerly along the east bounds of the township of Fenelon to the northeast corner thereof; thence westerly along the north bounds thereof, to the southeast coruer of the town- ship of Orpheus (Rodman); thence northerly along the east bounds of the township of Orpheus to the south bounds of the township of Milan (Rutland); thence south- easterly along the southerly bounds of the township of Milan to the southwest corner of the township of Howard (Champion); thence northeasterly along the southeasterly bounds of the township of Howard, to the easterly corner thereof, on the Black river : thence in a direct line to the southwest corner of the lot in the eleventh west- ern, and the twenty-first northern ranges in the subdivisions of great lot number five of Macomb's purchase ; thence east on the line between the twentieth and twenty- first northern ranges of lots to the southwestern corner of the lot in the tenth west- ern, and twenty-first northern ranges of lots, thence north on the line between the tenth and eleventh western ranges to the south line of great lot number four, ol Macomb's purchase ; thence easterly along the said line to the corner of lots SOS and $09, of the subdivisions of said great lot number four : thence along the line of uum- bers SON and 809, to lot $57; thence along the line of numbers -57 and $59 to the southeast corner of lot 557; thence northeasterly between lots numbers $5; and $59 to the northeast corner of lot 851 ; thence westerly along the line of lots numbers 851 and $50 to the southwest corner of lot $50; thence northeasterly along the lots to the boundary of the county of St. Lawrence, at the northeast corner of lot $34; thence northwesterly along the westerly bounds of the county of St. Lawrence to the north bounds of this state, thence westerly and southerly along the said north bounds of this state to a point west from the place of beginning.

During the same session of the legislature, another act defined the boundaries of towns in all the counties; in this county as follows:

Adams .- All that part of the said county of Jefferson known and distinguished by township number seven in Macomb's purchase, and called Aleppo on the surveyor- general's map, shall be and continue a town by the name of Adams.

Antwerp .- All that part of the said county of Jefferson bounded as follows. Be- ginning at the most easterly corner of lot number 14> of the subdivision of great lot number four of Macomb's purchase, on the line between the counties of St. Law- rence and Jefferson ; thence southwesterly on the line between lots 148 and 149. and the same course continued to the most easterly corner of lot 134; thence easterly on the line between lots 162 and 103 and the same course continued to the bounds of the county, and then northerly and westerly along the same to the place of begin- ning, shall be and continue a town by the name of Antwerp.

Brownville .- And that all that part of the said county of Jefferson bounded east- erly by the east line of a tract of land known and distinguished by the name of Penet's square, and the said line extended south to the Black river and north to the bounds of the county; southerly by the Black river and a line run west from its

BOUNDARIES OF TOWNS.

mouth to the bounds of the county, and westerly, northerly and northwesterly by the bounds of the county, together with the waters and islands west thereof within said county, shall be and continue a town by the name of Brownville.

Champion .- And that all that part of the said county of Jefferson known and dis tinguished by township number four, in the tract of land aforesaid, and called How- ard on the surveyor-general's map, shall be and continue a town by the name of Champion,

Ellisburgh -And that all that part of the county of Jefferson contained within the township in Macomb's purchase, distinguished on the map of this state made by the surveyor-general by the name of Minos, together with the water and islands west thereof to the bounds of the county, shall be and continue a town by the name of Ellisburgh.

Henderson .- And that all that part of the said county of Jefferson contained within township number six in Macomb's purchase, and called Henderson on the sur- veyor-general's map, and the same extended west to the bounds of the county, shall be and continue a town by the name of Henderson.

Hlounsfield .- And that all that part of the said county of Jefferson known and distinguished by township number one, and called Hesiod on the surveyor-general's map, in a traet of land belonging to Henry Champion and others together with the waters and islands west thereof within said county, shall be and continue a town by the name of Hounsfield.

Le Ray .- And that all that part of the said county of Jefferson bounded southerly by the Black river ; westerly by Brownville; casterly by the town of Antwerp and the east bounds of the county; northwesterly, northerly and northeasterly by Ant- werp and the bounds of the county, shall be and continue a town by the name of Le Ray.

Lorraine .- And that all that part of the said county of Jefferson known and dis- tinguished by .townships number one and two in Macomb's purchase, and called Atticus and Fenelon on the surveyor general's map, shall be and continue a town by the name of Lorraine.

Rodman .- And that all that part of the said county of Jefferson known and dis- tinguished by township number eight in Macomb's purchase, and called Orpheus on the surveyor-general's map, shall be and continue a town by the name of Rodman.

Rutland .- And that all that part of the said county of Jefferson known and dis- tinguished by township number three, in a tract of land belonging to Henry Cham- pion and others, and called Milan on the surveyor-general's map, shall be and con- tinue a town by the name of Rutland.

Watertown .- And that all that part of the said county of Jefferson known and distinguished by township number two of a tract of land belonging to Henry Cham- pion and others, and called Leghorn on the surveyor-general's map, shall be and continne a town by the name of Watertown.

W'ilna .- That from and after the first day of January next all the tract included between the bounds mentioned in the first enacting clause of this bill and the bound- aries between the counties of Lewis and Jefferson on the east side of the Black river, as the same existed previous to the passing of this law, together with all that part of the town of Le Ray bounded southerly by the Black river, easterly and northerly by the above mentioned line and the town of Antwerp, and westerly by a line be-

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 9

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