Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 35

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 35
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 35

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).

Flouring Mills .- Grinding grain was the next largest business industry carried on by the use of the water power. The Ford mill, built in 1797, was sold to Harvey Thomas in 1840, who sold it to Wm. Furness in 1850; it then passed to Doty & Phillips in 1864, then to C. Lyon & Phillips. S. Day purchased the mill in the spring of 1877. The mill was burned in the spring of 1878, and rebuilt the same year of stone. A set of Curtis Turbines was put in, and a new class of machinery with burr stones ; also a new set of rollers. In May, 1883, N. M. Curtis took possession of the mill and ran it to January, when it was sold to J. W. Colnan, who operated the mill up to the time of his death, 1893. This mill has the exclusive right of custom grinding.

The Oswegatchie mill was built in 1836, and was destroyed by fire in April, 1863. Mr. Foot purchased the power and commenced to rebuild in 1864, and after his death, in 1865, the property was purchased by Messrs. Rodee, Lynde and Nichols. The mill was burned in June, 1882, and has not been rebuilt.

The Iroquois mills and an elevator were built by Geo. Parker in 1863. At his death the mill was leased to Brown, Bill & Co. in the spring of 1873. In 1883 the mill was sold to Rodee, Bill & Co., who overhauled

2. Proctor

377

THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE.

the same and fitted it up with the new roller process and all the modern improvements necessary for a first-class mill. They attached a steam engine capable of driving the mill independent of water, but use steam only to help out in time of a drouth. The capacity of the mill is 500 barrels per day. This and the custom mill are the only ones that have been in use since 1885. At one time, between 1850 and '60, there were several flour mills in the place. A conical mill situated at the Jones saw mill; one in the boiler shop of John Glass; The Empire, built by W. C. Brown ; one in the Babcock pump factory ; one in a wood building back of Burt's tannery, and one built by H. Thomas, since burned and rebuilt in stone by W. E. Furness. This mill was sold to S. Brown in 1882, and was fitted up with all modern improvements, also with a steam engine to help in low water. The capacity was 250 barrels per day. Mr. Brown failed in 1886, since which time the mill has been idle.

Foundries and Machine Shops .- The G. Curtis Foundry and Machine shop, situated on Lake street, was built and run as a foundry by J. C. Lewis in 1835 ; afterwards by Chapin Bros .; later by W. C. Alden, who attached a machine shop, when it came into possession of the present owner in the spring of 1867.

John Glass established a machine shop on the west side of the canal about 1860, where he did general steamboat repairing. In 1872 he moved his shop to the stone building on Lake street.

Chaney & Allen established a foundry and machine shop near the Rome depot, about the year 1830, where they built and repaired engines, and made a general line of castings. The works were driven by steam. In 1880 the building was burned, when Mr. Allen, being then the sole proprietor, purchased a lot on the west side of the canal and erected a stone foundry. At his death Patrick Hackett leased the plant, and has since operated the foundry. Shortly after the Allen foundry burned the plant was purchased by a company, and an iron ore paint mill erected, driven by steam.

Nash Brothers started a machine shop in John Hannan's planing mill in 1888, where they do a general line of machine work, but make a specialty of steamboat engine repairing and building, and the erection of steam heating apparatus.

378

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

There are two tanneries in the city, one of which was built in 1828 by Erastus Vilas and is now run and owned by a nephew, Erastus Vilas. The other was established by F. N. Burt some years later. Their principal work is morocco tanning. It is now run by two of his sons, Lyman and Frederick Burt.

H. D. Northrup and his brother established a stave and barrel fac- tory in 1861. After his brother's death in 1867, H. D. has carried on the business alone. The shops were burned in the summer of 1890, and rebuilt on a more modern plan.

A steam dye works was established in the fall of 1877 by Fred S McGuire. He added a woolen mill in 1880. In 1886 the mill was burned. About two years later a company was organized and started a woolen mill, which continued for a short time, when Mr. McGuire and David Lyon came into possession of the property and have since con- tinued to operate it, making a fine quality of yarn and coarse cloths.

A carpet cleaning machine and dye works was established by Benja- min Musgrave in 1885 on Crescent street.

A sash, door and blind factory was established by S. G. Pope on Lake street in 1851. It is driven by both water and steam.

H. I. Proctor added to his saw mill establishment a sash, door and blind factory on Mill street in 1889. Hannan & Co. added a sash, door and blind factory to their steam planing mill in 1890 on Water street.

A pump factory was put in operation by A. A. Babcock in 1873 in the old stone flouring mill on King street, which has been operated ever since. A portion of the building was converted in the summer of 1893 into a silverware factory, operated by a company of which Bell Brothers are the principal managers. They manufacture a full line of silverware.

The O. E. Martin hub factory was erected about 1887 on the basin and is driven by both water and steam and turned out a large quantity of wagon hubs yearly. It is now run by a company.

There are now in the city two architects, ten contractors, one hun - dred and fifty carpenters, forty-five stone and brick masons, ten dry goods merchants, forty two groceries, ten small dealers, ten barber shops, eight shoe dealers, ten cobblers, three boiler makers, one book bindery, one brass foundry and plating works, six carriage and repair

Henry Rode

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THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE.

shops, seven cigar manufacturers, six men's clothing stores, six coal dealers, two cold storage, seven dentists, two farmer's sheds, three florists, three furniture dealers, four hardware dealers, eight stove and hardware dealers, two harness shops, ten hotels, six jewelers, eight ladies' fancy and furnishing goods, two laundries, six livery, sale and boarding stables, two locksmiths, one marble and granite works, fifteen meat markets, six music teachers, six merchant tailors, six paint shops and paper hangers, four plumbing, steam and gas fitters, three sewing machine dealers, four undertakers, seven wood yards, and four toys and fancy goods.

CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS.

The account of the French missionary post at La Galette from 1749 to 1760, connected with the military affairs of that time, has been given in another part of this work. The English possession of the place from 1760 to 1796 had no religious organization further than what comes under a chaplain's duty at a military station. After Nathan Ford took possession of the old barracks religious services were occasionally held there by missionaries or traveling preachers of various denominations. As the neighborhood increased, there was a desire on the part of those who were religiously inclined, to form an organization for worship On October 5, 1805, a society was formed under the name of the First Church and Congregation of Christ. Nathan Ford, John Lyon, Aaron Welton, Louis Hasbrouck, and Thomas J. Davies were elected trustees.

The next important move was to select and settle a clergyman, and as the Lisbon people had settled a Presbyterian clergyman, some of the people of Ogdensburg were anxious to have one also. As the court- house was a suitable place to meet in, Mr. Ogden proposed to send them an Episcopal clergyman, having already sent on prayer books for their use. He proposed to have two lots laid out, one near the court- house to be held for a parsonage; the other to be conveyed in fee simple to " the first clergyman who shall reside in town, and perform Episcopal duties therein, for the term of ten years." A farm to be laid out in the vicinity of the town as a parsonage, to be conveyed for the use of the church; also a convenient lot in town whereon to build a church, and for a burying ground. This was rather an unwelcome duty

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

to impose upon Mr. Ford, who was inclined to the Presbyterian side, while some of the trustees were well pleased with Mr. Ogden's offer. The story is related as authentic, that Mr. Ford was so annoyed at this turn of affairs, having previously decided to establish a Presbyterian clergyman, that he declared he would go to h- for one rather than be disappointed. Mr. Ford, however, considered the matter and wrote Mr. Ogden a long and plausible letter, setting forth in substance, that he feared their interest in increasing the settlement would be materially effected if they endeavored to carry out his wishes at present, because the immigration to this country had been largely Presbyterian. He stated that the moment a measure should be pursued which had the shadow of appearance of directing the religious opinions of the people (no matter how pure the motive might be) jealousies would be excited and uneasiness created. " The question arises whether it will not be better to let our people follow their own prejudices and please them- selves in their religious pursuits. I have tried to compromise my ideas upon this subject in as concise a manner as possible, and shall conclude them by observing that, circumstanced as we are, to let the organization (as we intended it should be) remain undenominational, and have the people to act for themselves in selecting a clergyman."

Heretofore the people had been supplied occasionally by mis- sionaries. The Rev. Mr. Younglove, a Presbyterian, who had been a tutor in Schenectady College, was up on a visit that fall and preached to them about six weeks. His manner so pleased the people that Mr. Ford united with others in extending to him a call, with a view of re- ceiving in the future the benefit of Mr. Younglove's assistance in found- ing an academy. He came on the next year in February, 1806, and preached very acceptably, but remained a few months only.

During the following year (1807) there were no meetings in the village, excepting one day by two young men, sent out by the Mis- sionary Society of Massachusetts, who were up to assist in the cere- monies of constituting the Congregational Church at Madrid. The Rev. E. S. Bordey, Congregational missionary from the east, oc- casionally held services in the court-house for the society, but during the War of 1812-15 no meetings were held in the place.

381

THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE.

Denominational feelings and regrets would occasionally crop out, which was evident that a break in the society would sooner or later come.

Baptist Organization .-- At length a few believers of the Baptist de- nomination in Ogdensburg and up Black Lake, organized under the name of " The Oswegatchie Baptist Church," on June 30, 1809, with six male and three female members. Having no clergyman of their denomination, the Rev E. S. Bordey, Congregational missionary, as- sisted them, and acted as moderator. He also preached for them oc- casionally, holding meetings in school houses in the village and up Black Lake. During a period of nearly seven years, including the war period, or from December 10, 1810, to July 12, 1817, no services were held by the Baptists, after which Rev. Jonathan Payne labored with them a number of years. In 1827 Rev. Nathan Colver was called as pastor, and held services in the court-house, when they reorganized and changed their name to the " First Baptist Church of Ogdensburg." They erected a stone church on a lot donated by Mr. Parish, and laid the corner stone July 5, 1830, and dedicated the building the second Tuesday of August, 1833. Elder Kingsford preached the dedicatory sermon. Within a few years the church building was enlarged. In 1871 the church was rebuilt, a fine steeple added, the inside decorated and refurnished. A few years later a portion of the wood work was burned, which was rebuilt without a steeple. To day the society is in a prosperous condition. The Rev. Albert M. Prentice is pastor.

Presbyterian Organization -- In the fall of 1817 Rev. Royal Phelps and Judge Fine called a meeting of the members of the "First Society and Congregation of Christ," with a view of organizing them into a Presbyterian church, as no regular pastor had presided over that body for some time. The society then numbered about thirty professing Christians of various denominational proclivities. After duly consider- ing the proposition, they decided to remain as they were. About two years after, the Presbyterian element in the old society, with those who lately came to the village, erected a plain wooden chapel, which Mr. Ford called a " gospel born," on the north corner of the block opposite the town hall. On the 8th of December, 1819, they met in their house and organized the "First Presbyterian Church of Oswegatchie,"

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

with nine male and nine female members. Rev. Barnabus Bruin of- ficiated in the organization and became their first pastor. In the spring of 1824, the society commenced to build a stone church on the present site. The corner stone was laid by St. Lawrence Lodge, F. & A. M., June II following, and the building was completed the next year. In 1847 the church was enlarged. Rev. L. M. Miller was called in Feb- ruary, 1837, but on account of a drunken driver upsetting his carriage and breaking his leg, he did not enter upon his labors until the 12th of May following. The young preacher drew the people to such an ex- tent that more room was required to accommodate the growing con- gregation. The question of building a second church, or enlarging the present one, was a long while under consideration. A plan, however, was started in 1856, to build a church in the second ward. A lot was secured by donation and $3,600 pledged, but through the influence of a few who preferred a strong central organization, the project failed. The enlargement of the old church was decided upon, and in 1866 it was virtually rebuilt and made considerably larger at great expense. In 1887 the inside was thoroughly repaired, rearranged and decorated. On January 13, 1890, the steeple was damaged, the tower walls cracked, and a chimney fell through the parsonage roof, caused by a wind storm. In the spring the damage was repaired, the organ moved, new windows cut in the wall back of the pulpit, and all the windows reset with cathedral stained glass, and the doors made to swing outward. Dr. Miller is still pastor of the church, hale and hearty, and will have completed his forty- third year of pastorate in February, 1894. The society is large and prosperous.

The Second Presbyterian Church of Oswegatchie was organized in 1823, in the " Alger " school house, District No. 9, with twenty - three members, by Rev. James McAuley. In 1826 the following named persons were elected trustees : John I. Doren, William Ander- son, Alexander Jamieson, Jacob Eyseman and John Lammond. The first settled pastor was Rev. James Rodger, who came that same year. In 1836 a frame church was built at a cost of $1,100. In 1854 the church was enlarged. In 1881 the present stone church was built with a tower, basement and Sunday school room, at a cost of $9,000. Rev. Alfred Logan is the present pastor.

I Merrie Miller.

383

THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE.

The Third Presbyterian Church, situated at Heuvelton, was organized out of the Congregational body of that place, after being supplied a few years by the St. Lawrence Presbytery, on April 5, 1859. They wor- shiped in the old Congregational Church until the present edifice was erected in 1879, which was dedicated on December 30 of the same year. Rev. Mr. Robertson was their pastor at the time, and was also very active in building the church. The mixed manner in which the accounts were kept of the expenditures in the erection of the edifice, caused dissatisfaction and turmoil that destroyed the usefulness of the society for several years thereafter. Its membership is only about forty at the present time.

Episcopal Organization .- After the Baptists and Presbyterians with- drew from the old society in 1805 the remaining members began to look for religious homes of their choice. The Rev. Daniel Nash came into the county in 1816, and held services in Ogdensburg. His report states that he was the first Episcopal missionary that came into the county. The next was the Rev. Amos G. Baldwin, in June, 1818, who held services in the old court house occasionally ; and on the 23d day of May, 1820, a society was formed with fifteen members, who called the Rev. Lawson Carter as their first rector. A lot was donated by Mr. Parish, and the corner stone laid by the rector on the 10th of August, 1821. The following spring, May 23, 1822, the society was incorpo- rated, with Thos. J. Davies and Isaac Plumb as wardens; Geo. Parish, Louis Hasbrouck, David Ford, D. C. Judson, Andrew McCollum, Junius Walton, Richard W. Colfax and Sylvester Gilbert, vestrymen. Ths corporate name is "The Rector, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of St. John's Church of Ogdensburg." The church was completed and opened for worship in October, 1823. A stone rectory was commenced adjoining the church in 1825. The church was enlarged, the tower carried up, and all thoroughly repaired in 1843, making the seating capacity about six hundred. In the spring of 1870 the old church and rectory were removed and the present church edifice commenced. The church was completed and dedicated by the Bishop of Albany on the 27th of July, 1871, at a cost of $75,000. A stone chapel, in the same style of architecture, was built in the rear of the church in 1875, at a cost of $12,000. The seating capacity of the church is 1,000, and that

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

of the chapel 300. The society purchased the present brick rectory, No. 54 Caroline street, and furnished it at a cost of $12,000. The society at first was largely composed of influential business men, and has since greatly increased, both in wealth and influence, and is noted for its charitable acts in looking after the poor. Rev. J. D. Morrison has been rector of the church since 1875.

The First Methodist Episcopal Organization was commenced at Ogdensburg in the summer of 1822 by Joseph Brooks, a shoemaker and an exhorter. He gathered a little flock of zealous people in private houses and formed a class, whose spiritual wants were soon after cared for by an itinerant preacher, who made the circuit of St. Lawrence and part of Jefferson county, on horseback, in from four to six weeks. The community was as prejudiced in those days against this new method of worship as are the people of to-day against the Salvation Army. The following incidents are given as a reminder of the sentiment expressed in rowdyism of that day. At an evening meeting, held in a private house by Mr. Brooks, a Mrs. Connor was present and took part. Her husband, a Roman Catholic (and being in liquor), rushed into the room with a club, and crying out with vulgar oaths, threatened to drive them out. Mrs. Connor made her escape by the back door. Mr. Connor was disarmed, and finally prevailed upon to leave the house He went home, locked his wife and children out, and went to bed in a stupefied condition, smoking his pipe. Before morning the house took fire and he perished in the flames At another time, when a prayer meeting was being held in the school house (on the lot where Mrs. H. R. James's house now stands), and while on their knees during a season of prayer, Miss Margaret McDowell (sister of the late Mrs. Henry Plumb), being one of the number, her betrothed, Samuel Brady, with Levi Gil- bert and two others, rushed into the meeting and by force undertook to carry her away. The men present rushed to Miss McDowell's assistance, and forced the ruffians to leave without the girl. In the melee Gilbert lost the skirt of his swallow-tail coat. On February 21, 1825, the church was duly organized, with eighteen male and several female mem- bers, by the assistance and under the care of Rev. Gardiner Baker. The following brethren were elected trustees : Ichabod Arnold, Joseph Arnold, Joseph Cole, David Chapin and Joseph Brooks. Mr. Parish

385

THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE.

donated a lot, and the society built a small wooden chapel that year thereon, situated on the corner of Montgomery and Caroline streets, which served them twenty-five years. In the winter of 1841-2 the pastor, Rev. J. Sawyer, assisted by the Congregational evangelist, Rev. Mr. Wicks, held a protracted meeting, which resulted in one of the largest revivals that ever came to Ogdensburg. Again, in 1847-8, under the pastor, P. D. Gorrie, assisted by Rev. Gorham Cross, a Congrega- tional minister, held a protracted meeting, where a large number were added to the church. In 1850 the present brick veneered church was erected ; in 1866 it was thoroughly overhauled and refurnished. In 1880 the basement was enlarged and fitted up for conference meetings and Sabbath school. In 1887 a commodious parsonage was built adjoining the church. In the great wind-storm of January 13, 1890, a portion of the church roof was carried away, and the west gable end fell inward, passed through the ceiling and the floor, carrying the pulpit and chancel to the basement. The accident virtually caused a reconstruction and refurnishing of the church at a large expense. It is now one of the most pleasant churches in the city. Rev. M. W. Chase is now pastor over the large and thriving church.

A second M. E. Church was organized at Heuvelton in 1820, with twenty members, in a school-house, by Rev. Wm. W. Rundall, who was their first pastor. The society was incorporated September 14, 1843, with Nathan Giffin, Isaac Gray and Amos Hulett, trustees, and erected. a small wooden church in the same year. In 1870 the present church was built at a cost of $10,000. The first Sabbath school was organized in 1832.

A third M. E. Church of Oswegatchie was organized in the stone school-house, about five miles above Ogdensburg, on the Black River road, in 1832, by Rev. Joel Emms, its first pastor. In 1841 the fol- lowing named were elected trustees: Benjamin Nichols, Uriah Van Waters, Ransom Lovejoy, Hiram Young, Amasa Pierce and James Russell. In 1842 a church was built at a cost of $1,000. In 1878 the church was rebuilt with a tower and furnished with a bell. The church and parsonage cost $3,500. Rev. Mr. Williams is now pastor.

A fourth M. E. Church was organized in the summer of 1869 by Rev. W. C. Lent, in the second ward of Ogdensburg, in the old Presbyterian

386

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

mission house, with fifteen members, mostly women. An attempt was made to build a church, but for lack of funds it was delayed, and at a meeting of the conference the following year, no appropriations being made to sustain the mission, the society disbanded.

Irish Catholic Organization .- In the summer of 1828, Bishop Du- boice sent Father James Salmon to Ogdensburg to look after and guard the faith of the Catholic settlers. He found some twenty-five families with whom he labored for a few years, occasionally saying mass in private families. With the assistance of the Magones, McCarthys and others, he cleared the trees from the lot where the cathedral now stands, and commenced a small stone church before he left. Father Folio succeeded him about the year 1835, and completed the church soon after. Father James Mackey came to the parish in 1841. His popularity soon drew a congregation which was too large for the church to accommodate, and he commenced the foundation for the present edifice, the corner-stone of which was laid by Bishop Mc Closkey ( since Cardinal) in 1852. Bishop Wadhams was appointed to preside over the See in February, 1872, was consecrated at Albany May 5, and came to Ogdensburg on the 16th following. His presence gave dignity and influence to the church, and greatly stimulated its growth and prosperity. The name of the church was changed to the " Cathedral," and the building was remodeled on the inside in 1887, by carrying an arched ceiling well up into the roof, by new sittings and the chancel rearranged with a " Baldachin " over the bishop's seat. The walls, windows and ceilings are decorated with scriptural scenes, making it one of the most pleasant church edifices in the dio- cese. The church lot has been enlarged and a substantial stone rectory was erected in 1890 on the lot, which is surrounded by a fine lawn. The valuation of the church and school property is $150,000. The congregation averages from 12,000 to 15,000. Rev. Joseph H. Con- roy is their present pastor.

The Catholic church at Heuvelton was purchased from the Universal- ists in 1881 for $1,000. The repairs and changes cost $500. The trustees are John Corcoran, Lawrence Berry and Arthur Kelley. Their first supply was Rev. J. Murphey. Supplies are sent from Ogdensburg every three weeks. Their congregation, including children, is about eighty.

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 35

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