Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 12

Author: Curtis, Gates
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1328

USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 12
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 12

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).

The mineral and organic matter in the St. Lawrence water does not materially change from one season to another, owing to its even and abundant flow throughout the year. But in small streams like the Os- wegatchie, affected so easily by droughts or freshets, the mineral and organic matter then contain changes somewhat in proportion to the flow of water in the stream ; therefore no two tests of the water, if taken at different seasons, either at high or low depths, would be exactly alike. The test of the two samples of water before alluded to satisfied the commissioners that it was needless expense to extend the suction pipes of the water works up the river to obtain more wholesome water. Therefore a meeting of the citizens was called to take action upon a proposition to erect an apparatus at the water works for the purpose of properly aerating and filtering the water, at which meeting the proposi- tion failed to receive the endorsement of a majority of the citizens and tax-payers. The necessity to filter or otherwise to purify the water used in the city for drinking and culinary purposes is growing more ap- parent year by year. The lead pipes first used (at the erection of the water works) for conveying the water supply, have become so much corroded by the action of the water as to make them unfit for conduits, and their further use dangerous to the public health, from the fact that they will become a source of lead poisoning. The acid reaction which renders water capable of dissolving lead may be due to the chemical products of the bacteria which are often found in water ; therefore, it is essential that some process should be adopted to destroy the germs of poison, should such be found to exist in our water supply, as the good health of a community depends largely upon the water it uses.

Soil and Timber .- The soil of St. Lawrence county is considerably varied in its quality of fertility. The soils of a district are said to re- semble and partake to a certain extent of the nature of the rocks over which they lie, as the disintegrated and decomposed particles, together

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ERECTION OF THE COUNTY.

with the vegetable and animal remains, form the soil. Yet the debris of the different beds of rock are more or less mixed together by the action of the water in the denuding the surface at one part and carry ing it in greater or smaller quantities to another. Thus the fertility of the soil on the higher grounds from which the earthly particles are washed, is found to be very different from that of the valleys to which these particles are carried. Therefore, in a district of sandstone the soil is usually sandy, and in one of limestone, slate, or shale, it is more or less calcareous and clayey, which may be designated from their compo- sition as clays, loams, sandy, gravel, chalks or peats. From the great elevation of the southeastern part of the county, the action of the water in coursing its way down to the St. Lawrence has materially enriched the soil of the river towns to such an extent, that with proper tillage, good crops of grass and grain may be relied upon. The numerous swamps and low grounds which were shunned by the early settlers as worthless, have been drained and converted into arable lands, produc- ing heavy crops of both grain and grass. The stony ridges and rocky ledges are utilized to good advantage for grazing, producing sweet and nutritious grasses on which animals so wonderfully thrive. St. Law- rence county's butter and cheese have gained considerable notoriety in the markets of the world for their peculiarly good flavor.

At an early day most of the country was covered with valuable tin- bet, such as white and black oak, rock elm, pine, cedar, hemlock and spruce ; also rock maple, soft maple, basswood, white and black ash, bastard and water elm, and various other kinds of wood that usually grow in our northern latitude.

County Officers Appointed .- The county being thus established as de- scribed at the beginning of this chapter, Nathan Ford was appointed judge, John Tibbitts, jr., and Stillman Foot associate justices, and Louis Hasbrouck, county clerk. Mr. Hasbrouck kept the clerk's office in his house situated on the diamond square, which he bought for a guinea, and the first record made in the books is dated May 29, 1802. The first court held in the county, and presided over by the above named officers, was convened on the first Tuesday in June, 1802, in the old barracks.1

i It was said of Mr. Ford that a worthless fellow was brought before him for some trifling of- fence, and after hearing the complaint the judge banished him off the face of God's earth. The

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

The first board of supervisors of St. Lawrence county convened in the old barracks on the second Monday of November, 1802, and con- sisted of Alexander C. Turner, of the town of Lisbon and its territory in the rear ; Nathan Ford, from the town of Oswegatchie, comprising the territory on its rear and on the west of it; Joseph Edsall, from the town of Madrid and the township of Potsdam ; and Mathew Perkins, from the town of Massena and the townships or territories of Hopkinton and Brasher, embracing the whole of great tracts 2 and 3 of Macomb's purchase. The board of supervisors, consisting of four members, met annually and transacted the business of the county for three successive years, when in 1805 the towns of Hopkinton and Canton were erected and sent a superviser to attend the session. In the year following three more more towns were added to the list. Since then, towns have been erected from time to time, as will be seen by referring to the chapter on towns, until the number now reaches thirty-one, yet there is sufficient territory in the Adirondack region for several more when settled.

County Clerk's Office Building .- An act passed by the Legislature February 12, 1813, authorized the board of supervisors to raise a tax not to exceed $900, for the purpose of erecting a fire proof clerk's of- fice. Owing to jealousies in regard to the public buildings being located in Ogdensburg, the supervisors delayed to pass a resolution to raise money for the erection of the clerk's office until October, 1821, when the sum of $500, was raised for that purpose, and Louis Has- brouck, David C. Judson and Bishop Perkins were appointed a com- mittee to erect the building. In pursuance of the foregoing resolution, a stone building was erected on the corner of Ford and Green streets, in Ogdensburg.

The First National Celebration .- The first Fourth of July celebration in Odgensburg, if not in the county, was in 1802, at the old barracks. A large number of settlers came in from the various neighborhoods and a large party of both sexes came from Canada and joined in the festivities. John King, father of the late Hon. Preston King, who was in the employ of Mr. Ogden and Mr. Ford, delivered the oration, and Mr. Ford provided dinner for all present. The cannon used on that

man looked up at the judge imploringly and asked where he should go. The answer came, "To Canada, G-d d-n you."

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occasion was taken from the French gun-boat which was scuttled and sunk by them on their evacuation of the Fort la Presentation, August 25, 1760. The wreck lay in a cove in front of the fort where now the Rome freight house stands. On building the Ogdensburg, Watertown and Rome Railroad Dock, the wreck was enclosed by the wharf and the freight house built over it. The boys thought that the celebration would be rather tame with no noise, and having learned from a French- man, Antoine St. Martin,1 who was one of the men on the gun-boat when she was scuttled, that there were several cannon on her deck at the time, with this knowledge the boys gathered log chains and pre - pared to fish out a gun. Black Dick, Mr. Ford's slave, volunteered to dive and search the deck. He did so and the bow gun was found and successfully raised. The gun, a nine pounder, was cleaned, the fuse hole drilled out, and the cannon being hastily mounted on an ox cart by the use of chains, the national salute was fired. The gun was christened Long Tom, and was used in the village for a number of years on all occasions of celebrations. It is not probable that the thought entered negro Dick's brain when he was grappling this cannon beneath the "'bright and sparkling waters of the Oswegatchie "2 that it or a similar one would be used some sixty years later in celebrating the emancipation of his race from bondage. Two six pounders were also taken from the wreck ; one was christened " Black Dick" in honor of this hero, and the other " Black Sue." One of these guns (as report says) was burst at Lighthouse Point in the fall of 1807, when a party was firing a salute in honor of Jefferson's Embargo Act. The other cannon was placed in the fort, and was captured with some ten other pieces and taken to Prescott when the British took Ogdensburg on February 22, 1813.

I Antoine St. Martin was a soldier in the French army at the time of the surrender of the post, La Galette, to the English in 1760 .. He resided in Ogdensburg from that date until his death, March 4, 1849, when he was upwards of one hundred years of age. In his later days he became a great favorite with the people and amused them by relating incidents and scenes which he passed through in his younger days. These narratives supplied the subject for a romance written and published at Potsdam by C. Boynton. His longevity seems to have been to him as much a cause of solicitude as it was to others a wonder, and he would at times weep and lament that " God had forgotten him." With him perished the last survivor of the French period in our history.

2 A term sarcastically used by R. W. Judson at a citizens' meeting in the fall of 1868, when dis- cussing the quality of the two waters, St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie, one of which was to be used for city purposes.

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

After the county had been established and the use of the old bar- racks for county purposes accepted for the time being, Mr. Ford wrote Mr. Ogden that he was not altogether satisfied lest some something might turn up and the county seat be removed into the interior. At the convening of the grand jury he stated that he brought forward his proposition respecting the court-house, and should have got through it tolerably well, but Turner Tibbets and Mr. Foot, who lived in Can- ton, seemed to think it best to have it put off. Mr. Ford continued :

This is of too much importance to be omitted a moment. If we can preserve har- mony in the county, it will be the better way; but it is reduced to a certainty that we are to be opposed ; I am determined to take the field and we will try our strength. This letter and our determination ought to be kept a profound secret, and let us pursue the same friendship which they affect towards us. You must let me hear as early as possible, for the Board of Supervisors must meet shortly, to fix about the jail, and this cannot be done for less than £100. It will be poor policy to tax the county to raise that additional sum, for a thing that ultimately will be lost, and at this particular time I do not think it practicable for the county to pay it, for wheat and flour have no mar- ket at Montreal, and people have nothing that will bring money. The policy of the county ought to be the strictest economy, making the taxes as light as possible, for nothing scares people like taxes, particularly in a new country. Upon mature delibera- tion I have concluded to make the following proposition, and if the county thinks proper to accept the offer, I would set about the preparation for building the court- house and jail, and before this time next year I would have a room for the court and also one jail-room fitted, and the whole should be finished as soon as possible, and not repair the barracks.

Proposition .- That every person shall sign in wheat as many bushels as they think proper, to be delivered at our mill, one-third in February each year for three years thereafter, the house to be set upon the east side of the Oswegatchie River [the lot where the post-office now stands]. Ogden and Ford will subscribe £1,000, take the wheat subscriptions upon themselves, and go on to finish the building at once.

The opposition to this offer came from the men at Canton only. On the 18th of September, 1802, Mr. Ford wrote Mr. Ogden that he had got all the worst places "cross-wayed." Continuing, he said, "To convince you I have effected something like a road, a wagon from the Mohawk River came through to Ogdensburg with me. Also I have finished a substantial bridge over the east branch [now Heuvelton] ; there are few as good in any other of the older counties. During the season vigorous efforts have been made to collect materials for the court- house. Immigration this year has generally been less than for several years past, and this is imputed to the sudden fall in the price of pro-

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ERECTION OF THE COUNTY.

duce, in consequence of the peace policy." Mr. Ford, ever on the alert to advance the interests of Ogdensburg, worked every card to make Oswegatchie the shire town, and thus he had paved the way by build- ing bridges and roads leading out to the various settlements and by the building of a suitable court-house and jail. In a recent letter to Mr. Ogden, he stated that he brought in three masons from Troy to work on the court-house, and hoped to see the chimneys above the roof within a few days, and it was his intention to hold the November term in the new house.

H.J.O ENG

SYR 4

FIRST COURT HOUSE.

On November 17, 1804, Mr. Ford again wrote Mr. Ogden and said that he had the pleasure, to inform him that he had so far completed the house by finishing the court-room that the court was held in it ; also he had finished one of the cells in the jail, and everything was comfortable and secure. The people who assembled from different parts of the county expressed much satisfaction in finding themselves in possession of so much accommodation. " It has been a pretty tough job," he said, " to get along with, for it has interfered very much with our business, but I hope the effect will be to put an end to

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

any court-house disputes in the county. I have had the certificates regularly filed in the proper office, and it now becomes the court-house and jail of the county. The property and the prisoners have been transferred to the new building."

There was no county clerk's office provided for, but Mr. Louis Has- brouck built himself a residence the same year on the triangular lot which Mr. Ford had sold him for a guinea, and kept the records at his home for several years afterwards.

M. TO ENE CO STR. NY.

HASBROUCK'S HOUSE AND BARN.

In closing up the business of this remarkable year of 1804, Mr. Ford said :

I intend laying aside all further considerations in the way of building except to build a house for myself, until we find sufficient ore to warrant the erection of a furnace. However, I shall build me a stone dwelling-house, as I cannot consent to live in those old barracks much longer.

The State Road .- The subject of a road to the Mohawk was never lost sight of until accomplished. A law was passed by the Legislature April 9, 1804, authorizing a lottery for the purpose of raising $22,000, with ten per cent. in addition for expenses, to construct a road from Troy to Greenwich, and from or near the head of the Long Falls on Black River (Carthage) to the mills of Nathan Ford at Oswegatchie. The road was to be six rods wide, and Nathan Ford, Alexander J. Tur- ner and Joseph Edsall were appointed commissioners for making it, at a salary of $1.50 per day. The summer of 1805 was devoted to the location and opening of the road, and on the 26th of October Judge Ford wrote Mr. Ogden :

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ERECTION OF THE COUNTY.

I have just returned from laying out the State road between Ogdensburg and Car- thage, and I am happy to tell you that we have great alterations [from the old road] for the better, besides shortening the distance. The difficulty I find in forming a plan for expending our lottery money to the best advantage, makes me wish for some abler head than mine to consult with.

The commission decided to employ a foreman and thirty good men, to be paid by the month, all to be under the direction of the commis- sioners. David Seymour, of Springfield, Vt., father of G. N. Seymour of Ogdensburg, was engaged as foreman, and began the work on the 25th of May, 1809, which was finished in the following fall.

There were living in the village of Ogdensburg in 1804 only four families, as follows : Mr. Slosson, on the corner where the Gilbert block now stands; Dr. Davis (first physician to locate in Ogdensburg), on the ground now covered by E. B. Allen's residence; George Davis, who kept the American Hotel, and a Mr. Chapin on State street near the Ripley House. There were no stores in town except the one kept by Mr. Ford in the old barracks, but occasionally the settlers had the opportunity of shopping on the Durham boats from Utica, in which goods were occasionally displayed for sale. Doubtless there were sev- eral families living on the west side of the river, which was not at that time counted as a part of the village ; but the fact that a large force of men was employed in that year on the court house, tannery, distillery and in the mills, evidently shows that most of them were single men or had families elsewhere, to whom they returned at the close of the season.

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XI.

WAR OF 1812 TO 1815.

Causes of the War-Mr. Ford's Letter upon the Prospect-Militia Called Out to Enforce the Embargo Act -- Events of the War at Ogdensburg -- A Zealous Sentinel --- Bombardment of the British in 1812 -- Sacking of the Village in 1813 -- General Wilk- inson's Expedition.

T HE trouble that led to the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britian, had been brewing for several years. It was said that through one of the financial transactions of Mr. David Parish, who was a prominent character in developing the resources of St. Law- rence county in its early days, was one of the alleged causes, which are as follows: Mr. Parish resided in Hamburgh, Germany, and was edu- cated as a banker. His financial operations in connection with other capitalists were on the most extensive scale. They entered into an agreement with the French government, then in the hands of Bonaparte, to transfer a large amount of credit to Europe from the Spanish col- onies in Mexico. The war between France and England, and the re- striction upon commerce then existing, rendered the navigation of the Atlantic with valuable cargoes extremely perilous, from their liability to capture by British cruisers, which swarmed in every sea. The only practicable way of transferring to Europe an equivalent for the specie, which had been intercepted by blockade in the ports of the Spanish colonies, was to procure its shipment to maritime cities in the United States, where it could be invested in colonial produce, which could be shipped to neutral ports in Europe, under the American flag, which in certain cases was allowed by the arrogant British government to pur- sue a commerce with Europe. The causes were then being developed, which soon ripened into an open war between the United States and Great Britain, which principally grew out of the arbitrary assumption of the latter government. While engaged in carrying these measures into effect Mr. Parish resided in Philadelphia, and his business brought

James J. Ban 1

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WAR OF 1812 TO 1815.

him in frequent contact with the financial men of that place, among whom were Gouverneur Morris and the Ogden families, who were con- nected by marriage, and several others who were interested in the pur- chase and settlement of lands in the northern part of the State of New York, where he made large purchases of lands.

The troubles, which had been brewing for several years, created dis- trust and retarded emigration. Mr. Ford wrote Mr. Ogden as early as August, 1807 :

The sound of war has palsied the sale of land. This unhappy affair will very materially affect our prospects in the money line. Much pains is taken by some people upon the other side of the river to inspire a belief that the Indians will be employed by the British government, and their numbers are intensely magnified. This constant theme of fear, originating with the women, puts the d-1 in some men, and some among them are becoming as old-womanish as the women themselves. These men I abuse for cowardice, and the women's fears I soothe, but I fear all my exertions will be in vain, for it is incredible what frightful stories are going upon this subject. I yet hope the whirlwind may pass by without material injury.

Later on Mr. Ford writes :

I am sorry to say the sound of war has had the effect to palsy immigration, and if one can judge from the acts of the administration, the chances are much in favor of war measures, though I presume Jefferson does not calculate to fight himself. I hope and trust there will yet be found good sense and moral honesty enough in the people of America to avert the impending storm.

Should this unpleasant bustle blow over this winter, I presume we may calculate the ensuing summer will bring to the country many valuable settlers, who are laying back for no better cause than to see the fate of the present commotion. The people in the country have very much got over their first fright about war, and I hope, should it come, they will have spunk enough to stand their ground and manfully defend their property. The d -- 1 of it is, we have neither guns or ammunition to do with. I sup- pose, upon a proper representation to Jefferson he might be induced to send up one of his gun boats; it might as well travel our new roads as plow through the sandy corn- fields of Georgia. I should like to know a little beforehand how the guillotine [politi- cal it may be presumed] is likely to work. That is a machine much more likely to travel than Jefferson gun-boats, and my opinion is, the Democrats will never rest until they erect a few of that kind of shaving mills.

The embargo act, passed by Congress, December 22, 1807, greatly affected the prosperity of Ogdensburg, by stopping the commerce which had sprung up between this place and Montreal, and in no de- partment was it felt more keenly than in the social and religious circles, and it was rather difficult for every one to keep the spirit of the act.

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

In order to enforce more strictly non intercourse with Canada, two companies of a brigade that was formed in St. Lawrence, Lewis and Jefferson counties, were sent here under Captains Cherry and Ander- son early in the season of 1809. They were said to be the worst set of men ever enlisted, being needlessly officious in searching persons cross- ing the river, which led to jealousies that almost ripened into hostility with the citizens. The inhabitants organized a night watch to protect their gardens and hen roosts. When the facts in regard to their action became known at headquarters, the soldiers were ordered to be with- drawn. This so pleased the citizens that preparations were made by them to celebrate the event. This came to the knowledge of the troops, and an attempt was made the night before they were to leave to seize the old French cannon belonging to the village, which was to have been fired on their departure, and throw it from the bridge into the Oswe- gatchie River. The timely discovery of this fact and the arrest of the persons by the Cititzens' Guard saved the cannon. On their departure the next day the soldiers were followed by the people with the dis- cordant sounds of hooting, tin horns, cow bells and firing "Long Tom."

In anticipation of war Congress called for 10,000 volunteers. In the latter part of May a company under Captain D. Hawkins came to Og- densburg, and were temporarily quartered in the court house, and Colonel Stone with a regiment was quartered below the village.

On the 19th of June, 1812, President Madison issued a proclamation of war against Great Britain.

Looking backward at the condition of our country at that time, it seems to have been inadequate to cope with so powerful an enemy. The census of 1810 showed the population to be 7,240,000 in the sev- enteen States and a few territories. The dominant party at the time (Democratic) having to contend with a strong minority (Federalists) who were opposed to the war, became unpopular ; yet vigorous prep- arations were made by Congress and the several States to raise troops and munitions of war. A national loan of $1 1,000,000 was authorized to begin with. Great Britain was already prepared for the conflict. Her European armies were immense and thoroughly equipped. The Brit- ish navy amounted to no less than 1,036 vessels. Of these there were 254

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 12

Author: Curtis, Gates Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1328

Author: Curtis, Gates
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1328