Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 38

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 38
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 38

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 War of 1812 interested the inhabitants of Massena deeply on ac- count of operations that occurred near its bounds. Early in the sum- mer of 1812 an American Durham boat on its way up from Montreal was stopped at Mille Roche, a guard placed on board and ordered to proceed to Cornwall. The British officer being unfamiliar with the river channel gave the pilotage of the boat to its former commander and crew, who steered it across the foot of Barnhart's Island, and before the guard realized the situation the boat was moored to the American shore. A militia training was just then in progress at Massena village and a messenger was dispatched thither for help. The result was that the guards were marched as prisoners to the village, and afterwards paroled. It was considered a smart Yankee trick. It was in the same summer also, that the inhabitants of the village thought to protect themselves from possible assault by surrounding a tract of the land with a stockade. This consisted of timbers more than twelve feet long set in the ground close together. Strife about where the line of pickets should run caused abandonment of the work, after a good deal of effort had been expended. During the months of July and August of that year a barrack was built near the center of the town, north of the Grass River, at the expense of the government. It was a frame building

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THE TOWN OF MASSENA.

about 100 feet long and was occupied by the militia of the county under command of Colonel Fancher, of Madrid, for about three months. Part of the force of 250 or 300 men returned home at the close of that period, and the remainder went to Ogdensburg. In September, 1813, a company of about 300 militia of the county of Stormont, Canada, under Major Anderson, crossed the river in the night, burned this bar- rack and took several prisoners, who were subsequently released. They also destroyed several Durham boats which had been sunk in the river and were partly exposed by low water. Other events of the war occurring in this vicinity are chronicled in other pages.

One of the most important roads in the town was the old Plattsburg highway ; others were those from Ogdensburg to Massena, and from the latter place to Russell, via Potsdam. These latter were located by a commission appointed for the purpose in April, 1816. In 1832 the second bridge was built across the Grass River at the Center, which was soon afterwards swept away. In 1862 $4,000 were appropriated and a covered bridge was built. This was destroyed, and in 1872-73 the present handsome iron bridge was erected at a cost of nearly $10,000. In 1863 $4,000 were raised by tax for a bridge across the Raquette River, and on October 27, 1877, $8,000 were voted to bridge that stream at Massena Springs.

Plank Roads .- See page 168.

Steps were taken in 1856 to build a town hall, and $800 were appro- priated for the purpose. A commodious brick structure was erected in the village, which is still in use after having been several times im- proved. In 1875 the town also built a house of detention in the village.

In the War of the Rebellion (See Chapter XV, page 196) this town acted a patriotic part, and sent its several quotas to the support of the Union, as detailed in an earlier chapter.

The island belonging to this town, called by the French Isle au Long Saut, is about five miles long and of irregular width and shape. It contains about 2,000 acres, and all subject to cultivation, a portion being timbered. The island was not sold with others to the Ogdens in 1823, but was reserved by the State for its possible military importance. Under a statute which took effect May 5, 1832, the lands were sold by

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

the surveyor-general. Among the early settlers on the island were John, Michael and William Cline, John and Thomas Delaney, the latter living there now, and also Stephen Miller, John Hutchins, and Dennis McCarthy. Philip Kaiser and E. Atwater now have farms there.

Massena has always provided excellent facilities for educating her children. The town is divided into thirteen districts, in each of which is a good school house, besides those on the islands. The Massena Union Free school will be described further on.

Following is a list of the supervisors of the town from the beginning, with the dates of their service :

1802, Amos Lay ; 1808-9, John Wilson; 1810-II, Thomas Stead- man ; 1812, Calvin Hubbard ; 1813-17, Willard Seaton ; 1818-19, John E. Perkins; 1820-21, John Stone, jr .; 1822-24, John B. An- drews; 1825-26, Chester Gurney ; 1827-28, Lemuel Haskell ; 1829- 30, Ira Goodridge ; 1831, John B. Andrews; 1832-33, L. Haskell ; 1834-37, Ira Goodridge ; 1838-39, John B. Judd ; 1840-41, Benjamin Phillips ; 1842-44, John B. Andrews; 1845, E. D. Ransom ; 1846, Allen B. Phillips ; 1847, E. D. Ransom ; 1848-49, Allen B. Phillips ; 1850, Willson Bridges ; 1851-52, J. B. Andrews ; 1855-60, Guy B. Andrews ; 1861-62, Luke Carlton ; 1863-64, Guy B. Andrews ; 1865- 66, H. S. Ransom ; 1867-68, Joseph E. Clary ; 1869-72, Henry B. White ; 1873-75, John O. Bridges ; 1876-79, Henry B. White ; 1880- 81, Daniel Tracy ; 1882-87, Michael H. Flaherty ; 1888-90, Fred P. Kirkbridge ; 1891-93, Michael H. Flaherty.

Massena Center .- After Hopkinton was taken from the territory, but more especially after the town being reduced to its present size, the tendency was to make a settlement near the center of the town, which led a few of the inhabitants of Massena to gather and build at what became Massena Center. Its location is on the north side of Grass River, at the head of its still waters, where Durham boats brought in goods and carried away the products of the soil. There is no water power at that point. Among those who early located there were Nathaniel Kezar, Arad Smith, P. Smith, Ephraim Hyde, Samuel Dana, Thomas Dodge, Israel Rickard, Ira Goodrich ; and in that vicinity were Peabody Kinney, Willard Seaton, Hiram Anderson ; and later came in Hiram Fish, Moses Russell, and others who became prominent

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THE TOWN OF MASSENA.

in the town. Many of these have descendants living in this section. Ephraim Hyde opened a public house on his farm at an early day, as did Samson Wheeler in the hamlet about 1835 ; the latter had also a wagon shop, and Israel Rickard was a wheelwright. The post-office was established in 1851, with Augustus Wheeler as postmaster. The present official is Chloe Atwood. The present handsome school house was erected in 1871, and the school has always been a prosperous one. Union Hall, a convenient building for public meetings, was in 1872 converted to its purpose from the Baptist parsonage. There has been very little mercantile business at this place.

Raquette River .- This is a post-office and hamlet on that river about six miles below Massena Springs. The first settlement was made at this point by Willard Seaton, who built a saw mill about 1804, which was carried away in a freshet before it was finished. About 1830 A. Ransom made another attempt to build a mill, but it was abandoned. Settlers who came in after Seaton were the Chase, Earle, Payne, Tucker, Young, Hitchcock and Smith families. In 1827 Capt. Wilson Brydges opened a public house, which he continued for about twenty-five years. The present postmaster is A. L. Freego. Aside from one small store there is no business now carried on. Other settlers along up the river towards the Springs were Herman Reed, R. Messenger, and the families named Judd, Colburn, Wells, and David Kellogg, Thomas Flaherty, Jacob Gould, Stephen Reed, Jewett Bowers, Wm. Nightingale, John Polley and others.

Massena Springs-Is situated on the north shore of the Raquette River, about one mile southeast of Massena village. The St Regis Indians discovered these springs to the government party sent out to survey the ten townships in the summer of 1785. They described them as water coming out of the ground that smelled bad, where the moose, the deer, and the sick Indian came to lick the water. Game of all kinds at an early day were very plentiful in the vicinity of these springs at all seasons of the year, being attracted to the spot, no doubt, on account of the saline qualities of the water. The analysis of the water, showing its constituents, together with other waters, will be found on page 124. The white people began to use the waters of these springs at an early day, and Spafford, in 1813, mentions them as pos-

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

sessing a reputation for the cure of cutaneous complaints, and that invalids came hither from long distances to partake of these waters. In 1822 Capt. John Polley built the first structures for public accom- modation. Six years later the old and well known Harrowgate House was erected by Ruel Taylor for Parsons Taylor. Numerous private dwellings soon followed, and the springs were improved by curbing and a pavilion, also hot and cold shower baths erected. In 1848 Benjamin Phillips became proprietor of the springs, and erected what was long known as the United States Hotel, and which was very popular. This was burned in 1871, and on its site was erected the splendid Hatfield House, at a cost of $75,000. Besides this the Harrowgate House is now kept by W. R. Stearns, who also has charge of the waters of the springs. In addition to these houses the Wheeler is kept by Alonzo Riley, a well conducted and popular house. There are two stores at the Springs, and through the growth of the place and of Massena vil- lage the two have become substantially one. While the popularity and reputation of these waters has not, perhaps, declined, there has in very recent years been a less number of visitors to the place than formerly ; a fact which is creditable almost wholly to the strong opposition at various summer resorts, such as the Thousand Islands, in the Adiron- dacks, and elsewhere.

Massena Village .- This is now one of the most beautiful and active of the smaller villages of the county. It is situated on both banks of the Grass River, principally on the south side, and now extends nearly to the Springs, with which it is connected by a fine drive. About the first settlement made at this point was by Calvin Hubbard and Stephen Reed, who built a dam and a saw mill in 1803. Some of the other pioneers were Benjamin Phillips, U. H. Orvis, J. B. Andrews, J. Clark, L. E. Waterbury, W. S. Paddock, H. A. Campbell, M. P. Crowley, John Stone, Royal Polley, and E. F. Taylor. The mill privilege here is far superior to the one below, which gave the place early importance ; this, together with the growing popularity of the medicinal springs, laid the foundations for a village that soon sapped the interest and destroyed the growth of the one at the center. In the year 1831 about thirty- five acres on the village site was surveyed and laid out into seventy-one lots, bordering on the streets, and a period of active building began.

413

THE TOWN OF MASSENA.

Since that time the growth of the place has been quite regular. A custom-house was established here in early years and is still maintained, but the business is not large. In 1808 Hubbard & Reed built the first grist mill, a small one with a single run of rock stone. This was pur- chased in 1810 by James McDowell, who was the owner of the lower mills. He transferred the property to U. H. Orvis in 1828, and two years later he built a stone mill with three run of stones; this was sub- sequently changed into a woolen mill, and in 1848 Mr Orvis built the present grist mill, owned by A. Babcock, and placed in it four run of stones. The old woolen mill has been demolished. The lower mill property passed to L. Haskell, who greatly improved it, and under his management, and others of his family, became widely known. A large stone structure was built many years ago for a starch factory, which has been fitted up with wood-working machinery and is now operated by H. W. Clark. There was formerly a tannery carried on here, but it long since was abandoned. There is a butter tub factory and the usual number of shops of various kinds. A saw mill is operated by the Massena Mill Company.

The mercantile business of Massena was first represented by Benja- min Phillips, U. H. Orvis, J. Clark, and J. B. Andrews, who were in prosperous trade here many years, and many of them succeeded by their sons or friends. J. O. Bridges is now one of the oldest successful merchants in the place. There are now about a dozen stores, covering nearly all ordinary lines of business, and the village has an air of de- cided prosperity. The recent extension of the R. W. & O. railroad to connect with others leading to Montreal, passing on the easterly side of Raquette River, has been of great benefit to the merchants and others of Massena.

As early as 1810 a large three story house was erected here for a hotel, which was kept by John Stone and others. H. A. Campbell built another house, which was long and popularly known as "The Eagle Hotel." It was destroyed by fire in 1864, and H. B. White erected the present one, which is called "White's Hotel," an imposing brick structure, which has enjoyed extended popularity both as a boarding-house and for the accommodation of travelers. In 1876 the Allen House, an- other brick hotel, was built by A. A. Allen.

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

The post-office was established here September 19 1811, with Cal- vin Hubbard as postmaster. The present official is John S. McFadden. In 1870 the office was made a money order office. A private banking- house has been carried on here a number of years by Geo. E. Britton.

The Northern Observer, a bright weekly newspaper, was established in December, 1891, by L. C. Sutton and G. W. Church ; it was then a four-column quarto. In May, 1892, Mr. Sutton purchased the interest of Mr. Church and continued the business alone until December I of the same year, when he took in George A. Miller as partner. New presses and material were purchased and the paper enlarged to an eight-column folio, its present size. The circulation is now 1, 000, and has a steady growth.

Under the General School Laws, districts Nos. 2, 11 and 16 were united April 11, 1866, into a Union Free School, and the following were chosen as a Board of Education : H. F. Crooks, J. O. Bridges, W. H. Paddock, E. Whitney, J. L. Hyde, F. P. Balch, Cephas Night- ingale, H. S. Ransom, and L. E. Waterbury. A tract of three acres of land, beautifully situated, was secured for a school building, and a commodious and handsome three story brick structure erected in 1868, at a cost of $14,000. The school opened in 1869, with Thomas Kin- ney as principal. Within the past five years two other brick school buildings have been added, and the town now takes the front rank for its educational facilities. Following are the names of the present Board of Education : Allen Babcock, Dr. M. J. Stearns, Dr. S. W. Dodge, James Rankin, Samuel S. Danforth, Henry H. Warring, James Kirk- bridge, Frank E. Bailey and Louis S. De Rosia.

Massena was one of the first towns visited by missionaries. In the spring of 1806 the Rev. Amos Pettengill and Boyd Phelps held religious meetings at the Center and other places; also made arrangements to have services held occasionally thereafter.

The First Congregational Society of Massena Center, and the oldest religious organization in the town, was organized February 15, 1819,. by Rev. Ambrose Porter, of Dartmouth College. Among the twelve members were Peabody Kinney, Rufus Goodale, James G. Steadman, Jacob Chase, Abigail Barber, Sally Kinney and Dorothy Smith. A church was erected in 1836 by joint contributions of several denomi-

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THE TOWN OF MASSENA.

nations, at a cost of $2,000, principally by the Congregationalists, Baptists and Adventists. The Congregational society was incorporated August 6, 1825, with John E. Perkins, Benjamin Phillips, Charles Gurney, James G. Steadman and U. H. Orvis, trustees. The church continued with varied success until 1883, when it voted to disband, and the members united with the second church at the village. They still retain their interest in the old church edifice, where services are occa- sionally held. The Baptists held meetings for a time in this church, but their interest finally centered at the village, which see. The Ad . ventists discontinued their meetings long ago.

The Second Congregational Church was formed at the village Sep- tember 4, 1833, with thirty-three members. The early meetings were held in the school house, but in 1843-4 the commodious brick church was built, at a cost of $3,000. In 1868 it was thoroughly repaired, at a cost of $2,000. A parsonage costing $3,000 was erected in 1878. The church is in a flourishing condition, the membership being about 100, and Rev. S. A. Worden is pastor.

While the Baptist church in Massena was not regularly organized until September 20, 1843, meetings had been held since 1825 or earlier. About the year 1827 U. H. Orvis built a frame house in the village for religious meetings, which was used by the Baptists for many years. At the date of formal organization there were twenty-one members. Within a few years thereafter several Baptist congregations had been gathered in other parts of the town, with similar faith, and a union was effected February 22, 1850, to which agreement thirty-six names were affixed. On the 8th of March of that year Earle Stone and Peter Ormsby were chosen deacons. Services were then held for a time alternately at the village and at the Center, being essentially one church with two places of worship. The present village church was erected in 1859. In 1875 a parsonage was built, and the property is now worth more than $10,000. Rev. Arthur Holmes is the pastor, and the mem- bership is about 150.

Methodist Society .- In Massena the Methodists were as early on the ground as 1830, and held services in school houses and private homes. Classes were formed at the village and at Raquette River. In 1843 these formed a part of the Louisville and Massena circuit. Five years

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

later Massena became a separate circuit, the class at the village having thirty-four members, and the one at Raquette twenty-three. These still constitute the circuit, the Raquette River church being served most of the time from the village. A brick chapel was begun in the village in 1848, which was used twenty years and then sold to the Episcopal society. In 1869 the present commodious brick edifice was built, and the property with the parsonage is now worth about $15,000. The membership at the two points is about 200, and Rev. Matthew D. Sill is pastor.

St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church .- This church was formed in 1838, by Father John McNulty, and consisted of twenty families. In the same year a frame church was built, which was subsequently en- larged. In 1873 steps were taken for the erection of a new church. An acre of ground was purchased near Massena Springs and the found- ation laid in that year. The beautiful structure was finished and dedi- cated July 27, 1875, as " The Church of the Sacred Heart." There are now about 500 communicants, under Father Nolan.

The Christian Advent Church .- A church of this faith was estab- lished in the town, under the preaching of missionaries, but it was not until 1868 that much interest was created. At that time Elder S. J. Mathewson came to town and held a protracted meeting, during which time thirty persons were converted. A church was organized with Royal Polley and James Danforth, deacons. Services were held peri- odically here and at the Center by evangelists. It was finally decided to erect a church at the village, which was accomplished in 1874, at a cost of $3,600. A year later the parsonage was built, at a cost of $1,400. The present pastor is Rev. George Stearns ; the membership, however, is small.

St. John's Episcopal Church .- Services were occasionally held in town by visiting clergymen several years ago, but it was not until June 21, 1868, that an effort was made to establish the work of the church, when Rev. J. F. Winkley, of Norfolk, began holding services in the town hall, where the first communion was held and the members organized into a parish September 13, 1869, as " The Church of the Great Shepherd," with Harvey H. Chittenden and Henry T. Clark, wardens; George A. Snaith, H. F. Crook, J. E. Clary, J. O. Bridges,

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THE TOWN OF HOPKINTON.

Joseph Harrison and William N. Gibson, vestrymen. The certificate of incorporation was dated September 15, 1868. Rev. J. F. Winkley was selected as their first rector, and about a year later the parish was admitted to the Albany Diocese. September 28, 1871, the name was changed to "The Wardens and Vestrymen of St. John's Church of Massena." The handsome church was erected in 1878-9, at a cost of over $5,000. The present rector is Rev. C. E. Mackenzie.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE TOWN OF HOPKINTON -- ORGANIZED IN 1805.

H HOPKINTON, the fifth town erected by an Act of the Legislature passed March 2, 1805. It comprised a very large territory bor- dering on Franklin county, and was taken from the southerly portion of Massena and included Islington, Catharineville, and so much of Chester- field as had been annexed to Massena. Parishville, Lawrence and Colton were taken from it later on. At the first town meeting, held at the house of Eliakim Seeley, March 4, 1806, the following officers were elected : Supervisor, Roswell Hopkins; clerk, Henry Mclaughlin ; assessors, Amasa Blanchard, Joseph Armstrong, Reuben Post ; overseers of poor, A. Blanchard, Seth Abbott ; constable and collector, Abraham Sheldon ; commissioners of highways, A. Sheldon, R. Post, H. Mclaughlin ; fence viewers, Eli Squire, Oliver Sheldon; pound keeper, Oliver Sheldon. The town was settled by Roswell Hopkins (from whom it was named), who came in May, 1802, from Vermont. He had bought a part of Islington, and was accompanied by Samuel Goodale, B. W. Hopkins (son of Roswell), Jared Dewey, Eliphalet Branch, and Joel Goodale. They were guided most of the way by blazed trees (see Chapter IX). In March, 1803, Judge Hopkins, Abraham Sheldon, Eli and Ashbel Squire moved their families to the town, who came on foot and on horses' backs part of the way. In that year Mr. Hopkins built the first grist mill on Lyd Brook, near the site of Hopkinton village. Other

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

settlers, who came in during 1804 and 1805, were Thomas Remington, Gaius Sheldon, Reuben Post, Eliakim Seeley, Henry Mclaughlin, Thaddeus Mclaughlin, Horace Train, Jasper Armstrong and Seth Abbott. In 1807 the town contained forty-eight voters, according to the qualifications required. Dr. Stephen Langworthy was the first physician, and Dr. Gideon Sprague, who came in 1811, the second. In 1824 Isaac R. Hopkins built a saw mill on the St. Regis River, about one mill north of Hopkinton village, and when the mill was raised it was christened " Fort Jackson," a name which the settlement still bears. The early settlers at this point were Noah Post, F. Kellogg, John Witherill, F. Davis, R. Lawrence, C. Sheldon, Samuel Crook, and others. A woolen factory was established here and operated by vari- ous persons, and replaced by a grist mill, built about 1855, by Francis Davis. This was burned and the present mill erected by F. W. Davis, and now operated by him. The saw mill is operated by M. L. Clifford. A starch factory has been in operation about twenty years. A shingle mill was built by George Wells in 1870 and a butter tub factory by Samuel Cook in 1873, both of which are in operation. Kellogg & Wright, the first merchants of account, opened a store in 1847. In 1872 Mr. Kellogg built a block and there the post- office was established in 1873, with Frank Kellogg postmaster. Miller & Ober and M. L. Clifford have stores at present. A. E. Ober is postmaster.

The little village of Hopkinton is on Lyd Brook, a little south of the St. Regis River. There Roswell Hopkins built the first grist mill in 1803 ; the mill near this site is now run by Benjamin Collins. A tan - nery was established here early, and in recent years changed to a but- ter factory, now operated by R. J. Sanford. There were at one time three starch factories in the town besides the one before mentioned. A carding mill was formerly operated by Truman H. Lyman. Shingles were largely manufactured at one time, but most of this has been given up. B. W. Hopkins was the first merchant. V. A. Chittenden was in trade in 1857, and is now postmaster. J. H. Chittenden is now the only merchant. Cornelius Murphy is the landlord and was preceded for many years by Thomas L. Howe.

A large section of St. Lawrence county, embracing parts of the towns of Pitcairn, Russell, Fine, Clifton, Clare, Colton, and Hopkinton, is still

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THE TOWN OF HOPKINTON.

a wilderness, large tracts of which are now almost in their primeval state. This section of country, approximating thirty miles in either direction in extent, is locally known as the " South Woods," and is a part of the great wilderness of Nothern New York, which has for many years been the ideal resort for the lover of the beautiful and grand solitudes of nature, as well as for the sportsman and the artist. It has also been, and still is, in far too great a measure, the field of spoils for the lumberman. Its fame has been spread from one end of this country to another by the written and spoken eloquence of hundreds of enthusiasts, and its wilderness depths are annually invaded by sports- men, artists, lovers of nature, and invalids in quest of health, from all quarters of the country. This section of the wilderness embraced in St. Lawrence county, while not so grand and majestic in its mountain- ous aspects as other parts of the great region, still includes some of the most beautiful and picturesque scenery in the Eastern States. Here in the untrodden solitudes are numberless of the purest lakes and ponds ; innumerable streams that wind and tumble among the rugged fastnesses or peacefully flow along level woodlands ; quiet forest depths haunted by the wild deer and birds of curious and melodious voice ; and battlements of rock and mountain-all contributing to complete some of nature's most entrancing handiwork.

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 38

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