Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 36

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 36
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 36

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387

THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE.

The Congregational Organization .- The first church organized in town of this denomination was in the old historic court house, in Septem- ber, 1834, by Rev. James B. Taylor of Madrid. Deacon Salmon Smith, Morgan L. Eastman (since minister) and three others were the male mem- bers. Rev. Joab Seeley supplied the pulpit for some time. The Rev. H. Foot held a protracted meeting which greatly strengthened and increased their membership. In 1836 T. L. Conklin, D. D., served them as pastor about six months, and many united with the church. After he left, no regular Sunday services were held, but the Sabbath school was continued and mid-week prayer meetings. In the spring of 1837, Mr. S C. Fields, one of the church workers and Sunday school superin- tendent, went west ; Mr. Seeley went to Vermont, and several others left town, and the Sabbath school was turned over to the Presbyterians and the church went down.

A second Congregational church was organized at Heuvelton, Sep- tember 26, 1842, by Rev. L. A. Weeks, assisted by B. B. Parsons, their first pastor. G. T. Howard and four others were elected trustees. A frame church was built in 1844, at a cost of $1,200. The church flour- ished during the time Rev. Mr. Parson's stayed with them, but after he left it soon declined and finally changed to Presbyterian in April, 1859, after being supplied a few years by that body.

The third Congregational organization was effected in the Second ward of Ogdensburg May 2, 1882, by Rev. James S. Ainsley. The society was incorporated under the name of " The First Congregational Society of Ogdensburg," with Gates Curtis, Charles G. Idler and Charles Adams, trustees. The church proper was formed on May 22, with eight males and thirty- five females. A lot was purchased and the corner stone of the structure laid by the F. and A. Masons on August 24, 1882. The building was erected, the chapel finished and the first services held in new quarters on December 31 following. Previous to this date services were held in the Presbyterian mission rooms. The structure was com- pleted the following year and dedicated August 28, 1884. The cost of the church, furnishing and lot was $14,000. The membership now is about 175. A. G. Roger is pastor.

Notre Dame des Victoires Church, or the French Catholic Organiza- tion .- Previous to the Lenten season of 1858, the French people had no

388

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

regular services held in their language in this place. During the rebel- lion in Canada in 1837-38, a large number of the " habitans " (about 200 families ) came over to Ogdensburg. Being unacquainted with the English language and finding no congenial place to worship on the Lord's day, they wandered about " like lost sheep." In 1848 Mr. E. B. Allen donated them a lot near the lime kiln. A quantity of stone and lumber was delivered and work commenced on a frame church, when Bishop McCloskey came here and forbade them to build, which command they meekly obeyed. In 1851 the Bishop of Quebec sent a priest to Ogdensburg to do missionary work among the French people. Father Mackey threatened him and drove him back to Canada.

The French people would not go to the Irish Catholic Church and therefore pleaded with the bishop of Montreal to send them a French priest. In the spring of 1858 Father La Mercier, an elderly man just over from France, came to Ogdensburg and applied to Father Mackey for the use of his church, when not occupied, but failed to secure it. Eagle Hall was engaged and mass was said there about five Sabbaths. A society was formed and the trustees were elected as follows : Chas. Marceau, Louis Cardinal, Moise Paquett, and Adolphus Cardinal. The Mansion property was purchased, and the house was used to celebrate mass in. The church edifice was commenced that summer and inclosed in the following year, when rough seats were made to use for the time being ; they having exhausted their means, the work of completion rested for several years. Father La Mercier died in December, 1863, and was buried under the church. In 1890 the church was completed, with arched ceilings, new seats, stained glass windows, and the whole interior beautifully decorated in the latest style, at a cost, including an organ, of about $20,000. The parochial school building recently erect- ed, cost $9,000, making the total value of the church property $29,- 000. Father La Rose is their rector, and has some 500 families under his care.

Israelite Organization .- This remarkable people, sojourning in Og- densburg, formed a religious society in the year of "A. W. Eleel 5625," or in August, 1865. They were incorporated September following, under the name of "Anshe Zophon." They have three trustees, Nathan Frank having been one from the first, Their object, apart from religious

389

THE TOWN OF OSWEGATCHIE.

worship, is to perpetuate and cherish the religious faith of their fore- fathers, by keeping sacred the seventh day of the week, and the stated feasts. They have a " Sacred Scroll," obtained in New York, at an ex- pense of $150, which is a continuous sheet of parchment written in Hebrew characters, from right to left, and contains the book of the law, or the five books of Moses. They do not employ a "Rabbi," but have a person, termed in the Hebrew, " Chason," who is competent to read and explain the Scroll. He also kills and dresses for their people, certain animals in their peculiar manner, for food, and inspects meat be- fore it is used as such, when purchased from Gentiles. They are not allowed to transact business or read the " Scroll " unless there be a a quorum present, which is ten males not less than thirteen years of age. Women and children are not numbered on certain occasions, but may hold prayer meetings, and all may take part. They meet on Saturday in their synagogue in the Averell block, about forty to fifty, who are strict observers of the Mosaic law.

Universalist Organization .- Meetings of this denomination have been held occasionally in Ogdensburg for the past fifty years, either in the old Court House, the old academy or Lyceum Hall. Dr. D. K. Lee preached here in 1862, and Rev. Mr. Fisk and others in 1868-69, held regular services and had a fine Sunday school organized, which was kept up for some time. In January, 1868, a society was formed under the name of the " Church of the Messiah." The trustees were Henry Rodee, W. C. Alden, and three others. They selected a lot on State street, and had $6,050.00 pledged as a building fund. The con- ditions were, to engage either a Universalist or a Unitarian preacher. The house, when not occupied, was to be open to any denomination, or for scientific lectures. After a couple of years, no action having been tak- en, the society went down, and has not since been revived.

A Universalist society was formed at Heuvelton, April 16, 1842, with forty members, by the assistance of Mr. Josephus Briggs, their pastor. The society purchased the Van Heuvel church, put it in good repair and built a row of sheds on the lot. The society survived only a few years, when it ceased to meet, and finally sold the house to the Catholics in 1881.

390

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Seventh Day Adventists, represented by Elder C. B. Reynolds and Elder Buel Whitney. They held meetings at Ogdensburg in a large tent in the summer of 1879. A Sunday school was formed, with James Hardie superintendent. A number of conversions followed, who were baptized by immersion in the St. Lawrence River. On the approach of cold weather the meetings were given up and the society went down.

Salvation Army .- A corps of this body of believers came to Og- densburg and commenced to bombard satan's kingdom on the evening of July 2, 1891. Ensign S. A. Farver and Captain George Elliot and wife and several officers and cadets from Prescott, made their first "sortie " from their barracks in the second ward, as far out as the town hall, drawing an immense crowd, which returned to their quarters, fill- ing them to overflowing. They do not claim to be a new sect or church, but simply an army of missionary workers, who are· endeavor- ing to rescue their fellow beings from drunkenness and vice. They rent rooms, take up collections in their meetings and at the door of their barracks, and live and pay rent on what they get in this way. Their officers are changed about every three months. Their influence for good is gaining daily.

The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in Ogdens- burg, December 6, 1869, with J. W. Holbrook, president. It was re- organized and incorporated January 19, 1877, with six trustees. It also had fifteen directors, a president, vice-president, a general secre- tary, and an advisory board. The membership in 1886 was about two hundred.

A branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organ- ized in Ogdensburg February 5, 1884, with Mrs. E. H. Bridges presi- dent and Mrs. J. S Ainslie secretary. They meet in the council room every Friday at 3 o'clock P. M. Their meetings have been continued ever since with considerable interest, and have proved profitable to the cause of temperance.

391

THE TOWN OF MADRID.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE TOWN OF MADRID -- ORGANIZED IN 1802.

T HIS was the third town erected by an act of the Legislature passed March 3, 1802. It embraced the original township No. 4, lying on the St. Lawrence; also was to hold jurisdiction over the territory (Potsdam) lying in the rear.

The first town meeting, according to tradition, was held in the open air, about the Ist of April, near the village of Madrid, the presiding officer seated on a pine stump, when the following persons were elected : Joseph Edsall, supervisor ; Jacob Redington, clerk; Cyrus Abernethy, Reuben Field, Alex. Brush, Henry Erwin, assessors; Henry Erwin, constable and collector ; Jonathan Tuttle, Solomon Linsley, overseers of the poor ; John Sharp, Isaac Bartholomew, Ephraim S. Raymond, commissioners of highways; Asa Freeman, Jonathan Allen, Cyrus Abernethy, fence viewers; Edward Lawrence, pound-keeper ; Jona- than Allen, Alexander Brush, Thomas Rutherford, Oliver Linsley, Solomon Linsley, overseers of highways. The town was formerly bounded, northerly by the River St. Lawrence, westerly by the. town of Lisbon, southerly by the township of Potsdam, and easterly by the township of Louisville. The surface of the town is comparatively level, or sufficiently rolling to ensure drainage. The town is watered by the St. Lawrence, numerous brooks, springs, and Grass River, which flows diagonally across the southerly part of the town, on which are falls at the village of Madrid sufficient to afford a fair power for manufacturing purposes. The soil on the low lands is loam, with more or less gravel or sand on the higher parts. The forest growth of timber was good, such as pine, hemlock, maple, beech and birch on the high lands, white oak on the marl slopes, and black ash, cedar and pine on the low grounds. The only valuable mineral thus far discovered is bog iron ore, which was found in small quantities on Grass River, about two miles below Madrid village. It was used in the forge or furnace at

392

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

Waddington in 1835, for a few years only, which produced good cast iron.

The first permanent settlement within the boundaries of the pres- ent town of Madrid (it having been divided in 1859, see history of Waddington) was made in 1801 by Silas Abernethy, who took up his home on the west side of the Grass River, about two miles below the site of Madrid village. His brother, Ezekiel, came with him and made his home on the site of the present village. The descendants of these pioneers subsequently became prominent citizens. Solomon Lindsley also settled on the site of the village in 1801 and Ephraim S. Raymond in the Abernethy neighborhood. Jesse Goss located at the site of the village at about the same time.

Judge Joseph Edsall was the agent for the sale of lands of David A. and Thomas L. Ogden in this town, and the land was sold at the first from two to three dollars an acre.

The effect of Mr. Ford's advertising the advantages to be obtained by settlers coming to St. Lawrence county raised the cry in the Green Mountain State: "Westward Ho !" when many of Vermont's bravest sons and loveliest daughters were induced to break away from the ties of old associates that they might make for themselves homes in a far less rugged land. St. Lawrence county, but more especially Madrid, was largely settled at first by Vermonters. Among the first to emigrate was Samuel Allen, who, with his wife and little son, George R., also his father Joseph, cousin to Ethan Allen of Revolutionary fame, in company with Joseph Newton, Daniel Akin, William Powers, William Lockwood, John Speers, Daniel Myres, Samuel Lytle, John Akin, William Sprowles, John Farewell, Joseph Powers, and with their fan- ilies, started out with ox teams and sleds. Their route lay down Lake Champlain, thence to the St. Lawrence, where they crossed to the north side, thence up along the river and recrossed the St. Lawrence near the site of the Red Mills in Lisbon, arriving in the last days of Feb- ruary, 1797. Here the families soon became scattered through the northern parts of the townships. Samuel Allen, however, located below the Red Mills, and in 1801 sold out his improvements and moved to Madrid, where he settled on a piece of land between Buck's Bridge and Columbia village. The place at the time was occupied by Asa Lord

393

THE TOWN OF MADRID.

and Mr. Hepburn. In 1810 Mr. Allen sold out and took up a piece of wood land six miles east of Columbia village, where he lived and died at the ripe age of ninety years. His son, George B. Allen, when a lad of eighteen years, enlisted in the war of 1812, under a call for troops to protect the frontier. He was enrolled at Madrid by John Blanchard on July 15, 1812, into a company under the command of Captain Castle, with headquarters at Waddington. He was in the brush with the British at the Red Mills, the details of which will be found in the history of Lisbon. The company was known as the "Floodwood," that is, a company of men each dressed in his own homespun suit or according to his own fancy, with no regular arms. He was in the bat- tle at Ogdensburg, and when the American troops retreated he, with others, being in citizen's clothes, was ordered to remain and look after the wounded and scattered arms. He was taken prisoner three times that day and taken before the commanding officer, who, finding that he was not taken under arms, and having no evidence that he was a United States soldier, was discharged. The last time he was taken to the bar- racks he found them all drunk, when he managed to escape to Lisbon, and on the way collected several guns, when he took them to Heuvelton and turned them over to the quartermaster, who was there with a squad of soldiers. The next day they broke camp and started for Sackett's Harbor, and while there he enlisted in the cavalry service and was sent to Fort George. One day while out on picket duty he saw a small dog cross in front of him. He knew that meant Indians and Indians meant business, and that he or the Indian would get a sudden call to visit the happy hunting-ground. That instant he caught sight of a feather, then a head moving slowly out from behind a tree. A quick motion on his part decided the question as to who should be called, when Mr. Allen remained to tell the tale, but the Indian has been a good Indian ever since. Mr. Allen was in the battle of Lundy's Lane, Fort George, Queenstown Heights, Fort Erie, Oswego, and many skirmishes leading up to these battles. On return of peace his company was sent down from Lewiston to Fort Covington, where they were discharged.

In the fall of 1815 Mr. Allen married Mary Sullivan, who died in June, 1829. In 1831 he married Susan Pamelton, who also died a number

394

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

of years later, when finally he made his home with his nephew, E. J. Cady. He drew a pension of eight dollars per month, which was insuf- ficient to keep him, when General N. M. Curtis, M.C., secured the pass- age of a bill to grant him a special pension of twenty-five dollars per month. He was one hundred years old this 12th of January, 1894, now awaiting the roll call and orders to report to "headquarters above."

Among the settlers who came in 1802 were Samuel Chipman and Joseph Freeman. In the following year Seth Roberts and a Mr. Clark built a saw mill on the river at the site of Madrid village. This fact is established by a record of December 3, 1803, which described the lay- ing out of a road, beginning in the highway northerly of " La Grasse " River, about fifteen chains from " Roberts & Clark Mill," and thence southerly to the Potsdam line. Two other roads were laid out in the same year, one running northeasterly to the Louisville line and the other beginning at E. S. Raymond's place and running thence northerly " to the center of the Big Road."

Other early settlers who deserve mention are Dan Simonds, grand- father of the late George E. Simonds. He came in on horseback in the fall of 1803, with his son, from New England to St. Regis, crossed the St. Lawrence, rode up the Canada side, recrossed to what is now Waddington, and then lined his track through the woods till he found a site that pleased him about two miles northwest of Madrid village. In a bark hut which they immediately put up the son suffered through an attack of measles ; but during the four weeks while they remained there they cut down about two acres of timber and built a log house. In the following March they brought in the remainder of the family.

Seth Cogswell, father of the venerable Enos L. Cogswell, came in 1805 and built a house near where his son afterward resided, and then returned to Vermont. In March, 1806, he came again with his hired man, accompanied by his daughter Laura, only twelve years old, who rode on horse-back, crossing the rivers on the ice, and kept house for her father during the summer. In the spring of 1807 the remainder of the family came in.

As early as 1803 Seth Roberts built a grist mill, and the settlement took the name of "Roberts's Mill." It was also called by some " Grass

395

THE TOWN OF MADRID.

River Falls," but previous to the War of 1812 was changed to " Colum- bia Village." The first tavern there was kept by Gould Fancher ; this was undoubtedly the first public house in the town. Nathan Smith afterwards kept the house, which stood on the site of the present McCall's Hotel. A little store was opened there in the early days by Jarah Meach. The first school in the town was probably taught at the little village by Dollie Fields. The first couple married in the town were Ezekiel Abernethy and Wealthy, daughter of Solomon Lindsley, who were united in 1803. Their son, Jared, was born in 1804, and was probably the first child born in that part of the town.

In 1808-9 a distillery was built by Ely and Nathaniel Hamblin on the river below the mill; it was used until about 1830.

By April, 1807, there were 116 voters in the town, if not more, and by 1812, 208 votes were cast for assemblymen. Down to that year the following were among the settlers in what is now Madrid: Joseph Erwin, Nathan Smith, Seth Gates, Daniel Green, John Montgomery, Daniel Wright, John, Ira and Alanson Hawley, Samuel Robertson, Daniel C. Haskell, William Wright, Caleb Butterfield, Capt. John Doran, M. C. Murray, David Brooks, Jeremiah Boynton, Levi Lock- wood, Stephen Smith, William Lockwood, Roderick E. Hepburn, Sirene Woodbridge, Solomon Stone, Daniel Whitney, Richard Blood, Solomon Grey, Windsor Goulding, Asahel Stone, Levi Bristol, Asa Low, Valentine Lovely, Canfield Averill, and Joseph Orcutt. Henry Richardson came in 1810, and was justice of the peace about forty-five years. Dr. Robert McChesney began practice at the village in 1810.

The inhabitants of this town suffered much anxiety on account of their unprotected frontier. A company called the South Madrid Militia was frequently summoned, and took part in several skirmishes along the St. Lawrence, and also guarded public stores kept in the mill at the village. The officers were : captain, Jesse Goss; lieutenant, Richard Blood ; ensign, Daniel Richards. In the summer of 1813 a lot of goods, public and private, were captured on a British ship and stored at the village. In the following winter a squad of British soldiers came out and retook a part of the goods and carried them away.

In the summer of 1814 a lot of cattle which had been purchased in the town by secret agents of the British, were captured by the Ameri-

396

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

cans as they were about to cross at Massena Point. The cattle were scattered among the farmers to be kept until needed. Later in the season a detachment of British soldiers, accompanied by one of the spies, made a raid through one of the river towns, gathering up these government cattle. There is, however, evidence in existence that feel- ings of friendliness were maintained between the British soldiers and the private citizens of the town, whose property was generally re- spected.

A Mr. Thomas came into Madrid and settled in the southerly part of the town, in the spring of 1813, with his wife and young son, John. He remained there a few years, then engaged to Mr. Isaac Ogden to go to his island as gardener. While there a daughter was born, the first white child born on the island. She eventually became the wife of Alfred Goss, of Madrid woolen mill fame, who afterwards went West and became a millionaire. The son, John Thomas, was in the Windmill battle in 1838 ; sent to Van Dieman's Land, and after nine years of menial service was pardoned, and returned to Madrid. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixth New York Volunteer Infantry; went through the campaign safely, and was honorably discharged at the close of his enlistment. He applied for a pension after he became too feeble to labor, and received one year's pension in arrears, $72.00, which, he said, was the largest sum of money he ever had at one time. He died May 12, 1892, at the age of eighty years.

After the war, immigration, which had been somewhat checked, re- sumed its activity. Among the incomers were many of the industrious Scotchmen who made their permanent homes in the town.

The celebrated cold season of 1816 caused the usual amount of dis- tress among the people of the town. Scarcity of money and high price of provisions caused the people to largely use venison, which was easily obtained.

One of the chief sources of raising money was the sale of potash, which was made in considerable quantities. A little cash was also ob- tained by drawing cedar logs on to the ice of Grass River in the winter, and floating them to Montreal in the spring floods. This kind of work led in the winter of 1817-18 to one of the saddest calamities that ever happened in this vicinity. When the ice went out of the river in April,

397

THE TOWN OF MADRID.

1818, many logs that had been drawn upon it lodged against the island, just above the bridge at the village. The bridge stood on its present site, but the dam was farther up, one section crossing the main branch at the head of the island and the other crossing a smaller branch farther down. On the 9th of April two canoe-loads of men went out to loosen these obstructed logs. After loosening most of the logs at the head of the island, Mr. Lord and the men with him attempted to run their boat broadside to the current across to the southeastern shore. But the rapid torrent was too much for them, and the frail craft was swept over the dam. Striking one of the piers of the bridge, the canoe split nearly in twain, when Daggett, Read and Seavey were thrown out, the other four still clinging to the canoe. The other boat was promptly unloaded of all its crew excepting Mr. Hawley and Mr. Rickerson, who steered their canoe to shoot over the dam, in the hope of saving their com- panions. Of the three first thrown out, Read and Daggett were over- come by the icy flood and drowned; Mr. Seavey reached shallower water and escaped. Meantime the second boat with its two oarsmen dashed on after the other four, Asa Lord, Abraham and Joseph Loomis, and Ezra Bigelow, who had clung to the boat. Strange as it may seem, and in spite of all efforts, the whole four were overcome by the cold flood and drowned. Within a few days all the bodies were re- covered.

Within the next twelve or fifteen years great improvements were made throughout the town. Many of the farmers had paid, or partly paid, for their homesteads ; frame barns and later frame or stone houses took the place of the earlier rude buildings, and prosperity reigned.

The Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Road, which runs for about five and a half miles through the southern part of the town, crossing Grass River nearly a mile above the village, has proved a great benefit to the people. A depot was established west of the village and near the Madrid Springs, where settlement became active and gradually ex- tended until the locality has become substantially a part of the village proper. The springs alluded to were not discovered and made known to the public until just after the War of the Rebellion. Their waters are strongly impregnated with iron and other ingredients, and are said to be beneficial in many human ailments. A hotel is kept at the

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 36

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