USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 33
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 33
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The skeleton of this man passed into the possession of Dr. S. N. Sherman and remained with him during his practice, and is now in the possession of Dr. B. F. Sherman of this city.
myself, ' Ah, mon Dieu, no!' I pull out de bottle from my pocket, and take one big, big drink-put bottle back in pocket, and pick up axe. Den I strike-strike-and kill him woman and baby and boy, easy."
357
THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE.
William Kirby was indicted for throwing John Hughes off the bridge over the Oswegatchie River, at Ogdensburg, on December 26, 1822, when he was drowned. Kirby was tried at Ogdensburg August 23, 1833, and sentenced to be hanged on Thursday, November 6, following. He, for some reason, was never hanged. Van Van Dyke was hanged at Canton, December 21, 1877, for shooting Mary Bartholo- mew, whom he had recently married. She was one of the several orphans, placed out to earn her living. She first was placed at Mr. Dailie's, afterward with Mrs. Claffey, on the ridge about four miles south of Ogdensburg. Several persons were said to have been impli- cated in her ruin, and got Van Dyke to marry her. He had tried several times to get rid of her, before committing the rash act, in the month of August previous.
Public Buildings .-- The town of Oswegatchie, having no suitable place of its own to assemble for business purposes agreeable to the wishes of its citizens, the Legislature, on April 20, 1858, empowered the Board of Supervisors of St. Lawrence county, to allow the town of Oswegatchie to borrow money on its bonds, not to exceed the sum of $10,000, to be used in the erection of a suitable building for the use of the town and the village of Ogdensburg. The commissioners named to issue the bonds and superintend the work, were Smith Stilwell, John Pickens, and Alden Vilas, who were only to issue bonds to the amount of $5,000 the first year, the balance to be issued whenever they required the money. The building was to contain a room for the public meetings of the inhabitants of the town or village, a room for the trustees of the village, and one for the board of education ; a police court room, a number of lockups, together with rooms for a keeper and his family, with other rooms and appurtenant buildings necessary or proper for said purposes. The corner lot on Franklin and Washing- ton streets was purchased of George Parish in exchange for engine lot, No. 3. The edifice was a plain, large brick building, two stories and a basement in height, and cost, exclusive of furnishing, painting, etc., $8,778. The furniture and other expenses aggregated about $1,000.
This building was sold to the school board in 1878, and an opera house and town hall combined erected, for the use of the town and city of Ogdensburg, on the corner of Ford and Caroline streets. The
358
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
foundation of the new structure was laid in the fall of 1879, and the walls built up and the roof put on in 1880. At the right of the door a gray limestone slab is set in the wall with this inscription on its sur- face : "Oswegatchie Town Hall, 1880." On the left side of the front entrance is placed in the wall, the stone slab which Louis Hasbrouck secured from the ruins of the chapel that was erected by Father Piquet, near the old French fort. The inscription cut on its face is in Latin as follows :
IN NOMINE X DEI OMNIPOTENTIS HUIC HABITATIONI INITIA DEDIT FRANS. PICQUET, 1749.
Translated into English, reads as follows : Francis Picquet laid the foundation of this habitation, in the name of the Almighty God, in I749.
The walls are laid in broken ashlar, of blue limestone, trimmed with Potsdam red sandstone. The divisions of the building are as. follows : The front doors open into a wide hall, which leads back into the opera house. The first room on the right is the mayor's office, the second the council rooms, and the third the commissioners' and clerk's office. On the left; first, the police office, a small cross hall, and the recorder's office. At the rear end of the entrance hall, on either side, are stairs leading to a hallway above and from it is an entrance into the town hall; also to the first balcony of the opera house, and stairs from the hall leading up to the third balcony.
The stage of the opera house is on the opposite end from the en- trance. The seats are on a circle in amphitheatre form descending to the stage, with two boxed seats on either side. In the basement be- neath the opera seats, are placed apparatus for steam heating. The lock-up is beneath the recorder's room and composed of several cells of solid brick walls and iron doors.
On the opposite side beneath the council rooms are apartments fitted up for the janitor and his family. A fine bell, the gift of Mr. L. Hoard, was placed in the tower in 1890, which is only rung on certain occa- sions, but gives forth its sweet music every passing hour, in obedience to the new town clock which the citizens of Ogdensburg placed there to mark the progress of time.
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N. A. Smith.
853
THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE.
The cost of this structure was $110,000, which was raised by bond- ing the town, with the exception of $10.000, paid by the city alone.
Custom House and Post-office .- Up to about the year IS;o, the Ogdensburg office of the collector of customs, and the post-office, were kept in private buildings leased for the purpose About the year 1850 the United States government purchased from D. C. Judson the block on State street where then stood the old bullding formerly used as the county court house, but had for a number of years been used as a public hall and theatre. The building was removed, but no steps were taken by the government to erect a custom house, owing, in a measure, to the trouble then brewing in regard to the slavery question, and the civil war that followed. Soon after the close of the war an appropria- tion was made by Congress for the erection of a custom house and post-office on the lot purchased. In the summer of 1866 the founda- tion of the present building was commenced. It is three stories high and 121 by 3; feet in dimensions. The basement is of blue cu: lime- stone, resting upon a concrete foundation, four feet wide and six feet deep, with about three feet deep laid of the same material. over the entire foundation or basement floor. The outside walls are cut Berea sandstone from Ohio. The roof is hip shape, and is covered with slate, supported by iron rafters, and surmounted by an iron framed dome thirty feet in diameter and fifty feet in height. finished with an observatory above which commands a fine view of the surrounding country. The lower floor is occupied by the post-office, custom de- partment, pension office, or revenue department. In the second story are the United States court rooms and necessary offices. The rooms in the third story are used mostly for storage purposes. The base- ment is principally used as a bonded warehouse; also containing the steam apparatus for heating the building. The interior is finished with ash, and the furniture of black walnut. The hall floors are laid with sandstone tiling, and the office floors are of white spruce. The stair- frames are of iron, and the steps of Ohio stone. The park in front, facing the Oswegatchie river, is enclosed by an iron fence, and the wide space around the building is flagged with Potsdam sandstone. The entire cost of the structure, including grounds and furniture, etc., has been about $265,000.
360
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Supervisors of the Town-Nathan Ford, from 1802 to 1814 ; Louis Hasbrouck, from 1814 to 1823 ; Sylvester Gilbert, from 1823 to 1828; Washington Ford, from 1828 to 1829; Jacob Arnold, from 1829 to 1830; Baron S. Doty, from 1830 to 1832 ; Preston King, from 1832 to 1834; Joseph W. Smith, from 1834 to 1835; Royal Vilas, from 1835 to 1836; Baron S. Doty, from 1836 to 1838; George W. Shepard, from 1838 to 1845 ; George M. Foster, from 1845 to 1856; N. Sackrider, from 1856 to 1857; George M. Foster, from 1857 to 1860 ; Ela N. Merriam, from 1860 to 1862; William J. Averill, from 1862 to 1864; Seth G. Pope, from 1864 to 1867; William J. Averill, from 1867 to 1869; Samuel H. Palmer, from 1869 to 1874 ; H. Rodee, from 1874 to 1875; C. B. Herriman, from 1875 to 1877; Harvey J. Jones, from 1877 to 1880; J. Chandler Hough- ton, from 1880 to 1881; Daniel Magone, from 1881 to 1882 ; Charles L. Lum, from 1882 to 1883; S. H. Palmer, from 1883 to 1889; James C. Birge, from 1889 to 1890; George W. Hurlburt, from 1890 to 1894.
Presidents and Trustees of the Village of Ogdensburg .-- 1817, Louis Hasbrouck, pres't; Jos- eph W. Smith, Charles Hill, John Scott. 1818, Louis Hasbrouck, pres .; Palmer Cleveland, Charles D. Raymond, John Tibbits. 1819, Palmer Cleveland, pres't; Charles D. Ray- mond, Erastus Vilas, Joseph York. 1820, James Averell, 3d, pres't; Levi Gilbert, Wol- cott Hubbell, Amos Bacon. 1821, Wolcott Hubbell, pres't; David C. Judson, Amos Bacon, Bishop Perkins. 1822, Brinsley Hunton, pres't; Abel Heminway, Harvey Church, John Eaton. 1823, Louis Hasbrouck, pres't; Joseph Rosseel, Charles D. Ray- mond, Ira Shed. 1824, Louis Hasbrouck, pres't ; Joseph Rosseel, Charles D. Raymond, Ira Shed. 1825, Joseph Rosseel, pres't ; William Bacon, Anthony C. Brown, David C. Judson. 1826, George Guest, pres't ; Richard Freeman, David C. Judson, Baron S. Doty, Charles D. Raymond. 1827, Anthony C. Brown, pres't; Henry Lum, William Bacon, William A. Campfield, James G. Hopkins. 1828, Charles Hill, pres't; Joseph Rosseel, Erastus Vilas, Charles D. Raymond, Joseph W. Smith. 1829, Charles Hill, pres't; Baron S. Doty, Elijah B. Allen, Peter C. Oakley, John Elliott. 1830, Charles Hill, pres't, David C. Judson, Preston King, John Elliott, Harvey Thomas. 1831, Charles Hill, pres't; David C. Judson, Preston King, John Elliott, Harvey Thomas. 1832, James G. Hopkins, pres't; Charles Hill, Lincoln Morris, Jacob Arnold, William B. Spelman. 1883, James G. Hopkins, pres't; Royal Vilas, Lincoln Morris, Egbert N. Fairchild, Preston King. 1834, James G. Hopkins, pres't ; Joseph Rosseel, Egbert N. Fair child, John Clark, Preston King. 1835, Sylvester Gilbert, pres't ; David C. Jud- son, George W. Shepard, Moses S. Platt, Michael S. Daniels. 1836, Sylvester Gilbert, pres't ; Moses S. Platt, Michael S. Daniels, William H. Marshall, James W. Lytle. 1837, Erastus Vilas, pres't ; John G. Gilbert, Amos Bacon, Henry D. Laughlin, William Melhinch. 1838, Charles Hill, pres't; John Clark, Henry D. Laughlin, Amos Bacon, Socrates N. Sherman. 1839 (votes, 255), Amos Bacon, pres't ; Collins A. Burnham, Edwin Clark, William E. Guest, Allen Chaney. 1840, George W. Shepard, pres't ; Allen Chaney, Joshua L. Warner, William H. Marshall, John Barber. 1841, David Crichton, pres't ; William H. Marshall, William Bacon, Thomas Bacon, David Burdett. 1842, David Crichton, pres't; James G. Wilson, Charles Shepard, Thomas Birkby, Nathan S. Pitkin. Map of the village, by W. J. Gillett, adopted and placed on file in the county clerk's office. 1843, Amos Bacon, pres't; Elijah White, Joseph Hutchin-
Tavid f. Lyons
361
THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE.
son, jr., George M. Foster, Edwin Clark. 1844, James G. Hopkins, pres't ; Henry T. Bacon, Alden Vilas, William Jones, Amaziah B. James. 1845, James G. Hopkins, pres't; Amaziah B. James, Alden Vilas, William Jones, Henry T. Bacon. 1846, Amaziah B. James, pres't; Harvey Thomas, Jeremiah Baldwin, Amasa W. Woolley, George D V. Seymour. 1847, Cornelius Stillman, pres't; David C. Judson, James G. Averell, George N. Seymour, Royal Vilas. 1848, Egbert N. Fairchild, pres't; James G. Hopkins, Charles Shepard, William E. Guest, William Jones. 1849, Stillman Foote, pres't; David Crichton, Albert Chismore, Benjamin Whitney, Elijah White. 1850, William Bacon, pres't ; David Crichton, Amasa W. Woolley, Nehemiah Whitney, Silvester Gilbert. 1851 (four months), Wm. Jones, pres't; Egbert N. Fairchild, Jeremiah Baldwin, Amaziah B. James, Collins A. Burnham ; 1851 (new charter), William C. Brown, pres't; Edwin Clark, Elijah B. Allen, Henry S. Humphry, for 1st ward; Allen Chaney, Henry Rockwell, William Furness, for 2d ward ; Nathan S. Pitkin, Albert Tyler, Luke Baldwin, for 3d ward. 1852 (votes, 571), Wm. C. Brown, pres't; John Austin, David Field, John F. Rosseel, Ralzaman Haskell, William C. Alden, Daniel D. T. Carr, Nathaniel Taggert, Nathaniel Lewis, Luke Baldwin. 1853 (votes, 400), John F. Rosseel, pres't; George D. V. Seymour, Jacob H. Guest, David M. Chapin, Wm. Furness, Alonzo E. Alden, Allen Chaney, Philander Robbins, Wm. Jones, Ira Wheelock. 1854 (votes, 441), John F. Rosseel, pres't; John Barber, Smith Stillwell, jr., George M. Foster, Ozro S. Cummings, F. N. Burt, William Furness, Norman Sackrider, Wm. Jones, George P. Ryon. 1855 (votes, 446), Thomas Bacon, pres't; Egbert N. Fairchild, Silvester Gilbert, Wm. C. Brown, Elisha Sanderson, Franklin N. Burt, Patrick V. Lankton, Cyrus Vilas, Wm. H. Young, J. A. Stevens. 1856 (votes, 606), Silvester Gilbert, pres't ; Walter B. Allen, Heman F. Millard, Royal Vilas, Franklin N. Burt, James D. Raymond, Erastus Vilas, 2d, Patrick V. Lankton, John Allendorph, Roswell S. Ryon. 1857 (votes, 631), Silvester Gilbert, pres't ; Walter B. Allen, Heman F. Millard, Ela N. Merriam, Franklin N. Burt, James D. Raymond, Allen Chaney, Patrick V. Lankton, Jno. Allendorph, Albert Chismore. 1858, Seth G. Pope, pres't; George Morris, Charles P. Egert, Geo. Parker, John G. McDonald, Ozro S. Cummings, Jas. M. Ives, Alric M. Herriman, Luke Baldwin, Joseph Thompson. 1859, Seth G. Pope, pres't; George Morris, Charles P. Egert, Jacob Henry Guest, Benjamin L. Jones, William C. Alden, Daniel D. T. Carr, Alric M. Herriman, Louis D. Hoard, Joseph Thompson. 1860, Alric M. Herriman, pres't ; William C. Brown, Jacob H. Guest, George Witherhead, Benjamin L. Jones, Wm. C. Alden, Charles S. Burt, Carlos Slocum, George New Meyer, Joseph Thompson. 1861, Alric M. Herriman, pres't ; Wm. C. Brown, George Witherhead, Jacob H. Guest, Benja- min L. Jones, Wm. C. Alden, Patrick Golden, Carlos Slocum, Joseph Thompson, Geo. New Meyer. 1862, David C. Judson, pres't ; George Parker, Thomas Bacon, Ela N. Merriam, Amos S. Partridge, Patrick Golden, Hiram Chatterton, Joseph Thompson, Henry W. Ferguson, Alric M. Herriman. 1863, David C. Judson, pres't ; Edwin M. Holbrook, John W. Hastings, James M. Chamberlain, James L. Ives, Thos. Mullin, Harvey L. Jones, James H. Morgan, Joseph Thompson, William Armstrong. 1864, Chas. G. Myers, pres't; Calvin W. Gibbs, Nathaniel H. Lytle, Chas. I. Baldwin, Harrison C. Pearson, Harvey L. Jones, Walter B. Allen, Henry F. Church, Carlos Slocum, Reuben M. Barnes. 1865, Calvin W. Gibbs, pres't ; J. Henry Guest, Nathaniel H. Lytle, George D.
46
362
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Seymour, Erastus Vilas, 2d, Patrick H. Delaney, Francis N. Burt, De Witt C. Brown, George R. Bell, James H. Morgan. 1866, De Witt C. Brown, pres't ; Jacob Henry Guest, Nathaniel H. Lytle, Henry T. Bacon, Patrick H. Delaney, Erastus Vilas, 2d, Patrick Golden. George R. Bell, William L. Proctor, Allen B. Phillips. 1867, DeWitt C. Brown, pres't; Nathaniel H. Lytle, Arthur Callaghan, Charles I. Baldwin, James A. Mack, Galen W. Pearson, Merchant J. Ives, William L. Proctor, Wm. Arnistrong, William H. Young.
City Officers .- 1868, William C. Brown, mayor; Charles I. Baldwin, Walter B. Allen, Henry Rodee, aldermen 1st ward; Benjamin L. Jones, Galen W. Pearsons, Patrick Hackett, aldermen 2d ward ; Carlisle B. Herriman, Urias Pearson, Chester Waterman (until July), Wm. L. Proctor (after July), aldermen 3d ward ; Calvin W. Gibbs, supervisor 1st ward; William C. Alden, supervisor 2d ward ; Zina B. Bridges, supervisor 3d ward. 1869, William C. Brown, mayor; Charles G. Myers, William H. Daniels, William J. Averell, aldermen 1st ward; Patrick Hackett, Gates Curtis, John G. McDonald, aldermen 2d ward; Carlisle B. Herriman, William L. Proctor, George W. Smith, aldermen 3d ward ; Calvin W. Gibbs, supervisor 1st ward; Wm. C. Alden, supervisor 2d ward ; Zina B. Bridges, supervisor 3d ward. 1870, Z. B. Bridges, mayor ; W. H. Daniels, J. Baker, W. B. Allen, aldermen 1st ward; George W. Mack, Charles M. Adams, Patrick Hackett, aldermen 2d ward; William L. Proctor, William A. Newell, Timothy Larkin, aldermen 3d ward ; Delos McCurdy, recorder; C. W. Gibbs, W. C. Allen, James Armstrong, supervi- sors. 1871, W. L. Proctor, mayor ; John Barber, C. P. Goodno, C. S. Phillips, aldermen 1st ward ; George W. Mack, John C. McVean, Thos. Whalen, aldermen 2d ward; W. A. Newell, M. C. Loomis, Benj. Tilley, aldermen 3d ward; E. White, recorder; C. W. Gibbs, W. C. Allen, James Armstrong, supervisors. 1872, William L. Proctor, mayor ; Ela N. Merriam, Stephen H. Higbee, L. Hasbrouck, jr., aldermen 1st ward ; William C. Alden, John Glass, Lyman D. Burt, aldermen 2d ward ; Wm. A. Newell, Benjamin Tilley, Thomas N. Derby, aldermen 3d ward ; Calvin W. Gibbs, George W. Mack, James Armstrong, supervisors. 1873, under enactment of the Legislature the council of 1872 held over. 1874, W. L. Proctor, mayor; Ela N. Merriam, Charles G. Egert, Wm. Wheeler, W. C. Alden, James Hall, Patrick Hackett, John Austin, S. G. Pope, George B. Oswell, Francis R. Houlihan, Henry W.Ferguson, Michael T.Power, aldermen; Elijah White, recorder ; John W. Stone, Harvey L. Jones, C. H. Butrick, Francis Kiah, supervisor :. 1875, John F. Rosseel, mayor ; E. White, recorder ; W. H. Daniels, C. G. Egert, J. W. Hastings, James Hall, Henry Lovejoy, Patrick Hackett, John Austin, C. H. Butrick, A. B. Chapin, F. R. Houlihan, H. W. Ferguson, M. T. Power, aldermen; J. W. Stone, Charles Lyon, James Armstrong, W. D. Britton, supervisors. 1876, James Armstrong, mayor; E. White, re- corder ; Luke D. Ralph, Arnold E. Smith, John W. Hastings, Henry Lovejoy, John W. Piercy, Patrick Hackett, Charles H. Butrick, S. W. Day, C. P. Geer, H. W. Ferguson, F. R. Houlihan, Adolphus Daily, aldermen ; J. Y. Chapin, H. L. Jones, S. F. Palmer, jr., J. T. Cunningham, supervisors. 1877, James Armstrong, mayor ; Elijah White, recorder ; L. D. Ralph, Joseph Gilbert, J. W. Hastings, John W. Piercy, Duncan C. Turner, Alex. A. Valley, George Foster, S. W. Day, George R. Bell, John Pray, Ed. P. McElligott, Michael T. Power, aldermen ; (Mr. Gilbert resigned and Wm. Wheeler was elected in his place). J. Y. Chapin, C. Marceau, S. E. Palmer, jr., H. S. Lighthall, supervisors. 1878, Geo. A. Eddy, mayor ; E. White, recorder ; Amos Wells, E. N. Merriam, J. W. Hastings, Chas.
عدسـ
363
THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE.
M. Adams, Edward Merry, Sanford S. Sturtevant, Stillman Foote, M. S. Lee, S. W. Day, Francis R. Houlihan, W. D. Britton, Robert Wright, aldermen ; Chas. G. Egert, Christo- pher Marceau, John Austin, William Quillinan, supervisors. 1879, J. W. Parker, mayor ; D. E. Southwick, J. W. Hastings, G. A. Schellenger, C. Marceau, Ed. Merry, James Mc- Guire, S. Foote, George Hall, John Hannan, Joseph Sackett, Isaac Fadden, Robert Wright, aldermen. 1880, J. W Parker, mayor ; H. T. Bacon, John Donnelly, L. D. Ralph, L. Hasbrouck, jr., J. Jillson, R. Pickup, George Hall, A. M. Herriman, W. M. Baird, Adolphus Daily, D. Henderson, Isaac Fadden, aldermen. 1881, E. J. Chapin, mayor ; L. D. Ralph, J. H. Brownlow, John Glass, John Q. Adams, John F. Seely, A. N. Partridge, Wm. Appleyard, John Gourley, aldermen. 1882, E. J. Chapin, mayor; L. D. Ralph, II. B. Howard, John Glass, John Adams, John F. Seely, J. P. Johnston, William Appleyard, John Gourley, aldermen. 1883, W. J. Averell, mayor ; H. B. Howard, J. W. Hastings, John Glass, Nathaniel Wells, J. P. Johnson, David H. Bowen, Jolin Gourley, and D. B. Wilcox, aldermen. Supervisors, first ward, William Peters ; second ward, Alfred D. Bowen; third ward, Arnold E. Smith; fourth ward, Peter Kiah. R. B. Lowry, recorder. 1884, W. L. Proctor, mayor ; H. B. Howard, J. W. Hastings (died in office), James Chatterton, Nathaniel Wells, J. H. Johnston, David H. Bowen, Albert H. Hancock, D. B. Wilcox, aldermen. 1885, Charles Lyon, mayor ; H. B. Howard, D. E. Southwick, Nathaniel Wells, James Chatterton, D. H. Bowen, J. P. Johnston, A. H. Hancock, James P. Cunningham, aldermen. 1886, Wm. L. Proctor, mayor ; James A. Mack, recorder; E. D. Southwick, Geo. Hall, N. Wells, D. H. Bowen, Frank Owen, James Cunningham, aldermen; Levi Gadbaw, Enos McBane, F. R. Houlihan, Chas. G. Idler, supervisors. 1887, George Hall, mayor ; Geo. E. Van Kennan, recorder ; Geo. D. Seymour, John Donnelly, Jas. A. Patterson, John B. Tyo, Frank Owen, James G. Westbrook, Dennis Lynch, Joseph Bergeron, aldermen ; Levi Gadbaw, Enos McBane, B. O. Hathway Chas. G. Idler, supervisors. 1888, Geo. Hall, mayor ; Geo. E. Van Kennan, recorder ; John Donnelly, R. H. Houston, John B. Tyo, Jas. A. Patterson, James G. Westbrook, Frank Owen. Joseph Bergeron, Dennis Lynch, alder- men ; Levi Gadbaw, Alza Richards, E. H. Atwater, Geo. Ashwood, supervisors. 1889, Edgar A. Newell, mayor; G. S. Dorwin, recorder; Geo. Hall, L. D. Ralph, J. T. Patterson, Edward Merry, Frank Owen, Geo. Brash, Dennis Lynch, Albert Hancock aldermen; Geo. E. Morris, H. G. Chandler, O. F. Partridge, F. R. Houlihan, N. W. Howard, supervisors. 1890, Edgar A. Newell, mayor ; G. S. Dorwin, recorder; L. D. Ralph, James H. Lytle, Edward Merry, W. G. Moore, Geo. Brash, S. H. Miller, Albert H. Hancock, John J. Kelly, aldermen ; C. A. Merriman, H. G. Chandler, S. H. Palmer, Chas. Frasier, supervisors, 1891, John Hannan, mayor ; Geo. E. Van Kennan, recorder ; James H. Lytle, H. F. James, W. G. Moore, James A. Maguire, H. S. Miller, Thos. Sprett, John J. Kelly, Joseph Bergeron, aldermen ; Geo. F. Darrow, G. C. Idler, James Ives, D. Lynch, supervisors. 1892, Chas. H. McClair, mayor; Geo. E. Van Kennan, recorder ; H. F. James, Geo. Hall, James A Maguire, E. N. Burt, Thomas Spratt, D. O. Mc- Rostie, Joseph Bergeron, John Kelly, aldermen; Geo. F. Darrow, Chas. G. Idler, O. F. Partridge, John Frasier, supervisors. 1893, Edgar A. Newell, mayor; Jas. A. Martin, recorder; H. F. James, Fred A. Davis, E. N. Burt, Thos. Whalen, D. O. McRostie. Joseph Donahue, John J. Kelly, James Hunter, aldermen; Levi Gadbaw, Chas. G. Idler, O. F. Partridge, John Earl, supervisors ; H. L. Jones, city clerk.
364
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
The city of Ogdensburg was incorporated by an act of the Legislature passed April 27, 1868. The boundary was not changed, but each ward elected its three aldermen independent of each other. The mayor and recorder were elected at large by the citizens.
The charter was amended on May 2, 1873, and the council held over. Thereafter the aldermen, three from each ward, were elected by the entire city, doing away with ward rites or distinction. Another ward was erected from the third, making all the territory below, or northerly portion of Patterson street the fourth ward.
In 1881 the charter was again amended, allowing only two aldermen to each ward and to hold office two years, one to be elected each year thereafter.
In the spring of 1893 the charter was again amended and a por- tion of the officers were held over. The term of the offices of mayor and recorder were lengthened to two years. The election to take place only every alternate year, when the mayor, recorder and one alderman from each ward will be elected. A Board of Public Works was established by the act, consisting of four, who are to hold office four years each ; one to be appointed each year by the Common Council and to serve without compensation. The board have full control of the streets and sewers, doing away with the office of street commissioner.
City Water Works on the Holly system were erected at the south end of the dam in the summer of 1869, at an expense of $135,000. Water mains were laid mostly of cement pipe, through the principal streets of Ogdensburg the first year, and several fire hydrants set. The pumps are driven by a turbine for domestic purposes, and two extra ones are held in reserve for fire purposes, together with a large steam engine that can readily be coupled in case of drought or accident. In 1893 there were nearly twenty miles of mains, 106 fire hydrants and I 18 gates.
The Water Power on the Oswegatchie at this point was first utilized by Father Piquet, he having obtained a perpetual lease from the French authorities at Quebec and built a dam and saw mill in 1751.
One writer claimed the mill and dam was erected by Capt Vernuil Lorimier, he having obtained a lease or deed from the Indians. The English made no claim to the property, but only utilized the power to
365
THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE.
manufacture lumber. Samuel Ogden obtained a right to the water power by the purchase of the land from the State of New York, and also by a quit claim deed from Mrs. Lorimier. David Parish be- came the owner of the water power on the southerly end of the dam, by purchase of the village plat in 1808. Nathan Ford became seized in fee simple of the balance of the power, and conveyed a portion of the same to Thomas Dinney in 1828. In the fall of 1835, the balance of the power owned by the Ford estate was sold to Smith Stilwell, H. Thomas, B. S. Doty, E. N. Fairchilds and I. G. Hopkins. Two lots, with power, were then sold ; one for a distillery and one for a tannery, and each re- stricted with certain conditions. A company was then formed under the name of " The Ogdensburg Water-Power Company." The power, exclusive of the two runs mentioned, was then divided into 100 runs in two classes-twenty-five in the first and seventy- five in the second. The water-power plant was also divided into four sections, as follows: Sec- tion A included all the lots lying north of Lake street, between Main street and the river, up to E. B. Allen's lot No. 3. Section B included all the lots lying south of Main street to Rensselaer avenue, and between Lake and Canal streets. Section C lies between Lake street and the Oswegatchie River, and includes all the lots between Canal street on a straight line to the river, and the Cold Spring. Section D comprises all the lots lying between the Oswegatchie River from the bridge up to a line with Canal street, and to Lake street, and thence to the bridge. The company sold thirty-two runs of water, only binding the parties to keep the wall or dam opposite their premises in repair. No provision having been made for the rebuilding or repair of the dam and walls when required, therefore, on February 1, 1842, an agreement was made dividing the balance of the runs ( sixty-eight ) between them- selves, by a partition deed, and binding each other and their successors to bear an equal proportion of the expense to rebuild and keep the same in repair. As a compensation for this burden, each power had the right of a surplus run, to be used only when the water flowed one foot deep or more over the dam.
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