Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 39

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 39
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 39

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).

In the extreme southeast corner of the county in the town of Hop- kinton is found about half of Tupper Lake (see page III), which ex- tends into Franklin county. In the southern part of Clifton is Cran- berry Lake (now used as a reservoir), a splendid sheet of water, whose vicinity has been made a popular resort, where several hostelries have been established for the accommodation of summer guests. Massawiepe Lake, in the southern part of Hopkinton, is the source of the south branch of Grass River, while the Oswegatchie River flows through Cranberry Lake. Farther north in Hopkinton is a lake whose waters flow into the romantic Raquette River. This latter stream, having its sources far down in Hamilton county, flows in a northwesterly direction across the region in question, receiving on its way the waters of scores of beautiful ponds and woodland streams ; and the Oswegatchie takes a similar course across the more western part of the region in the towns of Clifton, Colton, Fine and Pitcairn. To the northward of the Os-

420

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

wegatchie are the three branches of the Grass River, also flowing in a northwest direction, in the towns of Colton, Clifton, Pierrepont and Rus- sell. The rivers, lakes and ponds are more minutely described in Chapter X of this work. The principal mountainous elevations are Moosehead, Matumbla, Graves and Silver Lake mountains in Hopkin- ton ; Bear, Cat and Wolf mountains in Colton. Further details of this remarkable section are shown on the map or plan accompanying this work and given in the sketches of the towns embraced within its boundaries in succeeding pages.

The pioneers of Hopkinton suffered the usual hardships and privations incident to all the venturesome of that period (see Chapter IX). Pre- vious to the erection of the first grist mill the settlers were obliged to go through the woods, either on foot or horseback, to the Long Saut, a mill on the Canada shore. The first birth of a white child in town was in December, 1803. in the family of Mr. Shelden. In 1807 there had been twenty- six births in the town up to May of that year. The first death which occurred was that of an infant, in 1807. For the first twenty years the town records show that wild beasts of prey were quite troublesome to the settlers, and bounties of from $I to $15 were offered for wolves, panthers, bears and foxes, also $1 per hundred for mice. The various bounties offered made it an object for hunters to lay in wait for such game. Mr. Thomas Meacham kept a record of the game he captured, as follows : wolves, 214; panthers, 77 ; bears, 210 ; deer, 2,550. His traps were always out, and one day the game caught in his traps, and with what he shot, the bounties amounted to $185. In the War of 1812-15 the government had stored about three hundred barrels of flour in the barn of Judge Hopkins, on the passage of a de- tachment of the army through Hopkinton, on their way from French Mills to Sackett's Harbor ; also had distributed several dozen muskets among the villagers for safe keeping. Judge Hopkins and others ad- vised the commander of the detachment to carry the stores farther west to a place of greater safety, and offered their services to remove them, and take their pay in flour, but no one appeared to feel themselves authorized to order the removal. A party of British soldiers com- manded by Major De Hering and Lieut. Carlton made an incursion to Malone, and had arrived at French Mills on the last day of February,

421

THE TOWN OF HOPKINTON.

1814, and there learned from their guide, a citizen spy, of the govern- ment stores left at Hopkinton. The officer and about thirty British soldiers left French Mills in sleighs that evening, proceeded by the way of Moira, and arrived at Hopkinton, a distance of twenty seven miles, before the inhabitants were up the next morning. They placed a sentinel at the door of every house and proceeded to search for arms, and succeeded in obtaining about twenty. It is said that several muskets were saved by being hastily laid in beds which were occupied by them but a few moments previous, and thus eluded the search of the enemy. The British took about half of the flour, or all they had conveyance for, and began to destroy what remained, but being dis- suaded by the inhabitants, they distributed the same among the citizens. During their short stay they conducted themselves with strict propriety, and respected private property of every kind.

At an early day a commendable interest was manifested in the loca- tion and improvement of roads and bridges. In 1810 an appropriation of $500 was voted to be given to the St. Lawrence Turnpike Company on condition that the road be located on a certain route. In 1811 the Legislature was petitioned to tax the town to aid the Northwest Bay road ; also to authorize a lottery whereby the sum of $10,000 might be raised to repair roads. In 1827 the Port Kent road was located at Hopkinton. The road districts have been increased to thirty, and the principal highways of the town are now in a fair condition. The prin- cipal cemetery in town is located a little way out and north from the village of Hopkinton. In May, 1811, the town voted a sum of $200 to improve the lot, which is now kept in good condition.

The pioneer settlers showed their interest in their country by enlist- ing as soldiers in the War of 1812. That same interest was shown in the prosecution of the Civil War. At a special town meeting held December 15, 1863, a vote to levy a tax of $65,000 was passed, and the town clerk was authorized to issue certificates of $300 for each vol- unteer required from the town.

Hopkinton has made a good record in the matter of schools. In 1814 a committee, consisting of B. A. Hopkins, A. Blanchard and S. Eastman, was appointed to form school districts and make recom- mendations. In 1819 three times the amount of school money granted

422

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

by the State was raised by a direct tax. There are fifteen school houses in town, one of brick, at Fort Jackson, cost $2,500. It has a mansard roof, surmounted by a cupola containing a 300 lb. bell ; a stone house, which was the old church abandoned by the Congregationalists and Baptists. It was refitted in 1841 by a tax levied on the town for $250, and now used for school purposes. There are about thirty teachers employed during the school year, at an expense of upwards of $2,000, and about 600 scholars attend the schools.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

A Congregational Church was formed at Hopkinton by the assistance of the missionary, Rev. John W. Church, with eleven members, July 6, 1808. They were incorporated September 3, 1814, with Amos Blanchard, Reuben Post and Isaac R. Hopkins, trustees. Rev. H. S. Johnson was their first pastor. In 1815 the society united with the Baptists and outsiders in building a stone church, which was also used for town purposes. In 1827 the society abandoned the stone church, and erected a wooden edifice at a cost of $2,800. It was repaired and refitted in 1873.

Baptist Society .- A few people of this faith were gathered for religious services occasionally by Elder Rowley at an early date, but the organ- ization of a church was not effected until February 17, 1818, when Abijah Chandler, Jonah Sanford, Sylvanus C. Kersey and Samuel Eastman were elected trustees. In July, 1830, the name of the church was changed to Hopkinton and Lawrence church, at which time they held their meetings alternately at Hopkinton and Nicholville. On August 5, 1843, the word Hopkinton was dropped, and they have been since permanently located at Nicholville.

A Catholic Church, " The Holy Cross," built of wood, 36 x 60 feet, in 1877, was begun July 4 of that year, which has been finished and occupied ever since.

A Methodist Society was formed in Hopkinton December 30, 1839, but became a separate charge and located at Fort Jackson in May, 1845, having built a fine stone church the year previous, costing $3,000. Rev. Josiah Arnold was their first pastor,

423

THE TOWN OF CANTON.

Free-will Baptist .- A church of this denomination was organized at Fort Jackson in 1844, with sixteen members. In 1847 they erected a commodious church and dedicated the same January 2, 1848. Elder John Sweat was their first pastor, who remained with them fourteen years. The house has been kept in good repair, and a parsonage has been built, which, together with the church, is valued at $4,000.

Following is a list of supervisors, with years of their service :

1806, R. Hopkins ; 1807, B. W. Hopkins; 1808, Henry Mclaughlin ; 1809, R. Hop- kins; 1810, B. W. Hopkins ; 1811-19, Isaac R. Hopkins; 1820-22, Thaddeus Laughlin ; 1823-26, Jonah Sanford : 1827-29, Isaac R. Hopkins ; 1830-32, Joseph Durfey ; 1833, I. R. Hopkins; 1834-35, T. Laughlin; 1836, Phineas Durfey; 1837, Eliakim Seeley ; 1838, T. Laughlin ; 1839, I. R. Hopkins; 1840-41, Clark S. Chittenden; 1842-44, Elias Post ; 1845, Gideon Sprague; 1846-47, Clark S. Chittenden ; 1848-49, E. Post; 1850- 51, C. S. Chittenden ; 1852-53, Joseph B. Durfey ; 1854, Clark S. Chittenden ; 1855, Roswell Hopkins; 1856-57, F. P. Sprague; 1858-59, Caleb Wright; 1860-61, David F. Henderson ; 1862-63, George S. Wright; 1864, E. R. Sheldon ; 1865-66, David F. Henderson ; 1867-68, Frank Kellogg; 1869-73, Jonah Sanford; 1874-75, David F. Henderson ; 1876-85, Jonah Sanford ; 1886-87, J. S. Kellogg ; 1888-93, K. S. Chit- tenden.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE TOWN OF CANTON -- ORGANIZED IN 1805.

C ANTON, the sixth town organized, formerly under the jurisdiction of Lisbon, was created by an Act of the Legislature passed March 28, 1805, and the first town meeting was held at the house of Stillman Foote on the 4th of March, 1806. Stillman Foote was chosen moder- ator at that meeting, and the following officers were elected : Supervisor, Stillman Foote ; town clerk, James Parkill ; assessors, William Perry, Thomas D. Olin, George Foote ; constable and collector, Mason Foote ; overseers of the poor, Daniel Walker and John Farwell ; commissioners of highways, Medad Moody, Amos Smith and Moses Leonard ; over- seers of highways, Hubbard Clark, Walter Clark, Festus Tracy, Solomon Walker, James Parkill, Uri Barber, John Hopkins, Zadock Clark, Titus Sikes and George Foote ; fence viewers, Peter Brown, William Lemon,

424

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

and Jonathan Day; pound masters, Stillman Foote and Peter R. Leonard. Stillman Foote, magistrate.

Canton was one of the original ten townships, is about ten miles square and lies directly in rear of Lisbon. Macomb was the original purchaser of the territory from the State, who transferred it to Edgar ; Edgar to A. Vonfeister ; he to Stephen Van Rensselaer, J. O. Hoffman, Richard Harrison, etc.

The town was surveyed by Amos Lay, assisted by Reuben Sher- wood and Joseph Edsall, in the summer of 1799. Others also aided in the work, bringing the supplies by boat up the Oswegatchie, through the natural canal and up the Grass River to the falls or site of Canton village.

The surveying party's frequent visit to Canada during the summer, and their conversation with the people there as to the valuable farming lands in Canton, led to the formation of a company of about thirty per- sons with a view to settle there. The company started out with an ample supply of provisions to traverse the tract in various directions, and all went well for a time; but when the different squads, finding a beautiful and fertile section, and each resolved to secure it for their set- tlement without the knowledge of the others, then it was that trouble arose that broke up the original association.

The first land taken up in the township was by Festus Tracey, formerly of Vermont, in 1799. The farm is now owned by a descend - ant. In 1800 Daniel Harrington, a native of Connecticut, took up a tract of land on the east side of Grass River, built a shanty and cleared a small piece of land, sowed it to fall wheat and raked it in with a hand rake. The patch was on or near where the Agricultural Society's grounds are now located. Stillman Foote, from Middlebury, Vt., came to town in the summer of 1800 and purchased a mile square, on which the village of Canton now stands. He purchased the title and wheat crop of Mr. Harrington for a horse, saddle and bridle. Mr. Foote harvested sixty bushels of wheat, notwithstanding the immense number of squirrels of that year, after which he returned to his home. In March, 1801, Mr. Foote left his home in Vermont for his new settle- ment with two teams laden with furniture and provisions. Warm weather approaching he was forced to leave part of his supplies at Willsborough,

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THE TOWN OF CANTON.

on Lake Champlain, which were subsequently brought with irons for a mill, by Lake Champlain, the St. Lawrence, and through the town of Lisbon. Daniel W. Church, who had been engaged as a millwright, followed by water, accompanied by Lebbeus Johnson and his sons, John Flannegan, Thomas Marvin, and one or two others. Mr. Church kept a diary of his journey, which was one of many perplexities and hardships, and concludes thus: " Reach Canton with seventeen blisters on my hand, occasioned by rowing and pulling the bateau along." He found Mr. Foote and his father, with others to the number of twelve, all occupying one shanty, for they had been compelled to leave every article of convenience not absolutely required at Cornwall, and come through on horseback, there being no road that would admit the pass- age of a team. The entire week following was consumed in getting the teams in. The first clearing was made on the west side of the river, near the stream and just below the site of the bridge. Work was be- gun on the frame of a saw mill, which was sadly interrupted by sick- ness. On the 2d of May Mr. Church was attacked by intermittent fever, and about the same time the elder Mr. Foote was taken with what proved to be small-pox. Five of the party had previously been inoculated, and the other six were at once operated upon. Mr. Foote bore the terrible disease with fortitude, but with the appearance of the secondary fever he died on the 10th of May, doubtless the first death in the town. He was buried wrapped in the hammock on which he died, the bark of an elm tree serving as a coffin. Stillman Foote had fallen a few days previous and broken a rib, which prevented him from rendering any assistance, and about this time the symptoms of the disease began to appear on those who had been inoculated. There was no medical aid nearer than Johnstown in Canada, and even this could not be reached on account of the swollen streams. Hard times for poor Stillman, who had to lay his own father in his winding-sheet ! 13th. Rode out to Lisbon with extreme difficulty. I cannot sit on a horse. Ride barebacked. Got wet with rain through and through. From Canton to Lisbon settlement is fifteen miles without the least opening ; very little road, and very many swamps and mireholes. 14th. Go to Dr. Adams' and back on foot, fourteen miles. Half an hour

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

before I set out, while the fever was on, I could not walk across the house. 25th. So far recovered as to ride to Canton."

The mill being partly finished that season, the party returned to Ver- mont to spend the winter. In the spring of 1802 Mr. Foote returned with his family, consisting of his wife, two sons and a daughter, and they began their wilderness life in a corner of the saw mill. During the summer a single run of rock stones, driven by a tub wheel, were put into operation in a part of the mill, Mr. Church having returned to do the work, This was the only grist mill in the town until after the War of 1812.

During the year 1802 a number of settlers came into the town, among whom were Peter R. and Moses Leonard, the former of whom kept a public- house several years near the site of the new cemetery ; Thomas D. Olin, who located on the road through what became known as Olin Settlement; Chester Dewey, Lebbeus Johnson and his five sons, James Parkill, the first clerk of the town; Daniel and Nathan Walker, the latter settling on what is now the county poor farm; Thomas Kings- bury, who settled on what has been known as the Judd farm. Most or all of these were from Vermont. Jacob Conkey also came in 1802, and Asa Conkey, who came with his father in April of the same year ; he lived in the town seventy-one years, and served in the War of 1812. Other early settlers were Joseph and William Ames, Walter Clark, Dan Judd, the first miller in the Foote mill ; Thomas H. Conkey, Joshua Conkey, Festus Tracy, who was one of the original surveying party ; Peter Brown, John Farwell (came in [805), Jeduthun Farwell, Harvey Knox, Ebenezer Sanderson, father of Nelson, Salmon Ward Squires, father of William O .; Abdiel H. Tracy, Anson Parker, Henry Mead, who lived to the age of ninety. two; Peter Langdon, who came 1807 and opened the first store in Canton, and died in 1867, at the age of ninety-one years ; Benjamin and John Rose, Jesse Barnes, who came in 1810; Amos Smith, Hubbard Clark, William Perry, who came in 1805 and passed a useful life in the town ; John Hopkins, who came in 1803 and settled on the river opposite the poor farm; S. G. May, Eaton Ray, Thomas Fenton, and Reuben Wilson, who located in the Morley section ; William Hollenbeck, William Foster, Nathan Clark, David Olin, Luther L. Page, and the Hill, Hutchinson, Paine and

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THE TOWN OF CANTON.

Robinson families. On the river road between Morley and Canton settled the families of James Lankton, J. Wiley, Ira Butler, E. Corey, Jeremiah Day ; and Amos Jones, who settled on the Potsdam road. Others were Heber Sykes, Moses Sanderson, Lemuel Jenison, Jon - athan Day, Solomon Walker, who came in 1808, and Lyman Tupper in 1811. Aaron Barrows came in 1816, and was father of Parlin, Prosper and Aaron Barrows. Ebenezer Sanderson came about 1814 and settled about three miles from the village of Canton. Matthew Wallace came in 1821. Very many of them came from Vermont, a State which has sent out from her borders almost innumerable sons who have attained to worthy station in professional or industrial life. Others who have figured prominently in the history of Canton will be mentioned further on in the account of the various industries and in the personal sketches in another department of this work. The first birth in this town was that of a daughter of L. Johnson in 1803.

The early town records contain the usual account of proceedings for the primitive government, which need not be detailed here, except as they are in some instances worthy of preservation for their quaintness. In 1810 it was " voted that a fine of $12 be imposed on all jugglers, mountebanks, and wire-dancers." It would be interesting to know what it was that led to the adoption of that vote. In the same year fifty dollars were raised for securing the rights and privileges of fish, and S. Foote, D. Campbell and N. Walker were appointed a committee for the purpose. This action related to the Grasse River, and in 1815 C. Wilson, F. Tracy and William Richardson were appointed a com- mittee to make the river navigable for fish. The measure was carried out under legislative action, and was followed by further action for a similar end in April, 1824, when the river was made a public highway from its mouth to the high falls in Canton, the construction of dams being allowed on condition that sluices be provided for the passage of fish. Neglect of this condition, or the setting of nets or weirs, was punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars. In the following year (1825) the town appointed Minot Jenison and Thomas D. Olin to in- vestigate the condition of dams on the river and prosecute all violators of the law.

428

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

At the first town meeting the town was divided into ten road districts with an overseer in each district, as before named. These districts were subsequently subdivided, and the work of improving the high- ways, as is always the case in a newly-settled country, demanded much attention from the authorities and the people. Several State roads were early surveyed, and the Parishville Turnpike Company located its route through this town about the year 1815 ; this company sur- rendered its charter in 1827.

In the year 1835 steps were taken which resulted in the founding of the Canton Academy, an institution which flourished for many years, of which a full account is given a little further on. In 1845 the project of erecting a town hall was agitated, and on the 21st of April, 1846, the supervisors of the county were directed by Act of Legislature to levy a tax on the town of $333.35 annually for three years, to be paid to Ben- jamin Squire and Cyrus Abernethy, as commissioners in trust, with power to erect the building. A plain frame structure was built nearly opposite the court house. This building was used until 1877, after hav- ing been frequently repaired. On the 2d of May, 1877, a special meet- ing was held to act upon the project of erecting a new town hall. W. H. Sawyer, M. D. Packard and C. N. Conkey, as a committee from the annual meeting, reported in favor of a new structure costing $20,000, to be paid in four annual installments, and that the bonds of the town be issued for that amount. The report was approved by the electors and L. W. Russell, W. H. Kimball and Worth Chamberlain were ap- pointed to carry out the undertaking.

Plank roads, see page 167. Railroads, see page 174.

In aid of the great struggle for the maintenance of the Union in 1861-66, the town of Canton performed her part nobly. Through the liberality and energy of those who were charged with the task of filling the various quotas of volunteers, and the patriotism of the people, the several calls were promptly responded to and the required enlistments secured without resort to a draft, with one exception. At a special meeting August 23, 1862, a tax of $4,200 was voted for bounty pur- poses, $50 to be paid to each volunteer, on condition that sufficient enlistments were made to fill the quota; otherwise the tax should be for only sufficient to make the payment of $50 to each actual volunteer.

429

THE TOWN OF CANTON.

The Legislature was petitioned to legalize this action. Ebenezer Miner, M. D. Packard, L. E. B. Winslow, Albert Langdon, William Perry, jr., Cornelius Van Waters. T. L. Harrison, Algernon Robinson and Bing- ham A. Sykes were appointed a committee to procure .these funds and disburse them. On the 12th of December of the same year a special meeting of electors was held, at which the supervisor and town clerk were authorized to issue interest-bearing certificates of $300 each, to be granted by an auditing committee, to an amount not exceeding $18,000, to be given to such volunteers as should be necessary to fill the quota. William H. Sawyer, Joseph Barnes and A. S. Robinson were appointed a committee to audit accounts, and served in that capacity during the war The last special meeting held was on Feb- ruary 23, 1864, when a bounty of $400 per volunteer was authorized, subject to the foregoing conditions. These liberal bounties, with the sums paid by the general government and the State, sufficed to inspire enlistments. At the annual meeting in 1865 the sum of $6,000 was voted to be paid to such volunteers of the town who had been in service and had not received the $300 bounty.

The history of the town from the date of the incorporation of the village of Canton in 1845 to the present time is largely embraced in that of the several villages, as hereafter detailed. Outside of those villages it may be said that the town is one of the most productive in the county, especially in butter and cheese. In this direction the farming community has been quick to adopt advanced practices, and with the best of results. With the beginning of the introduction of cheese and butter making in factories, these establishments sprang up in various parts of the town, and were successfully and profitably operated. In the year 1877 there were eleven factories in the town, while some others that were situated over the line in other towns drew a portion of their supplies from Canton. While the agricultural com- munity may be said to have suffered to some extent, in common with other localities, from the general decline in land values, the Canton farmers are among the more progressive and prosperous of the county.

The population of this town since 1810 will be found on page 223 ; of the village, on page 224.

The supervisors of Canton since the formation of the town have been as follows :

430

HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

1806, Stillman Foote; 1807-08, Daniel Walker ; 1809-12, Daniel Campbell; 1813-22, Daniel Walker; 1823-24, Thomas D. Olin; 1825-27, Jeduthun Farwell'; 1828-30, James Parkill; 1831-33, Silas Baldwir, jr .; 1834-35, John Heaton; 1836-40, Lemuel Buck ; 1841-42, Henry Barber ; 1843-44, Richard N. Harrison ; 1845-46, Henry Barber ; 1847-48, Cyrus Abernathy ; 1849, William F. Cahoon; 1850-52, Hiram F. Johnson ; 1853-54, Thomas V. Russell; 1855-56, Charles H. Allen; 1857-58, George Robinson ; 1859-61, Jeremiah Traver; 1862-66, Milton D. Packard; 1867-70, Horace W. Hale; 1871, Charles N. Conkey ; 1872-75, M. D. Packard ; 1876-77. Leslie W. Russell; 1878- 86, William H. Kimball; 1887, Charles N. Conkey ; 1888, A. B. Hepburn; 1889, Wiil- iam H. Kimball ; 1890-93, Ledyard P. Hale.

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 39

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