Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 51

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 51
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 51

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).

Harvey D. Smith, whose name has been mentioned, settled in the town in 1824, and until his death, in 1864, was conspicuous in all good works. In that year (1824) the first post-office was officially established on the 3d of August, Moses Rowley, postmaster.

In the earlier years most of the mail had been received from the Black River country by whatever agency the people could make use of

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

and deposited with Haile Coffeen for distribution. About 1816 Dr. Richard Townsend performed the duties of postmaster, though not an appointee of the government, and so continued to do until the regular appointment. Dr. Townsend made an office of his table drawer, which was subsequently removed by Mr. Rowley to his store. His successor was Edwin Dodge, from about 1830 to 1849. Mr. Dodge came to Gouverneur as the agent of the Morris estate, and by his liberal and forbearing policy exerted a strong influence upon the upbuilding of the place. He died in 1877. Chauncey Dodge succeeded him as post- master, and was followed by Charles Anthony, William H. Bowne, S. S. Van Duzee, George B. Winslow, Horace G. Reynolds, Wm. R. Dodge and A. C. Gates.

The deep interest that has uniformly been evinced in Gouverneur in educational affairs found early expression in efforts to establish an academical school. Agitation of the subject began in 1826, when a one-story brick school house was in process of erection. It was pro- posed to add another story for a school of higher grades, funds for the purpose to be raised by subscription. In pursuance of the plan $640 were raised and divided into fifty-four shares, the shareholders to con- stitute an association which should use the upper half of the building and control the school. The name of " The Gouverneur Union Acad- emy " was adopted, and its affairs placed under control of three trustees to be elected annually. The school was opened in 1827 with a Mr. Ruger as principal. On the 5th of April, 1828, this academy was in- corporated as "The Gouverneur High School," with John Spencer, Aaron Rowley, David Barrell, Harvey D. Smith, Josiah Waid, Alba Smith, Almond Z. Madison, Joel Keyes and Robert Conant as the first Board of Trustees. The authorized capital stock was $20,000, divided into 2,000 equal shares. In the fall of 1828 the charge of the school was assumed by Isaac Green, who was to receive as remuneration all the proceeds of tuitions, and was granted the use of the school room free during the first term.

The school was admitted to the benefits of the Regents of the Univer- sity in 1829, and in the following year the necessity for additional room was met by raising $2,755 and the beginning in September of a new building on a lot secured from James Averill; this lot constituted the

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THE TOWN OF GOUVERNEUR.

easterly end of what is now the public park. The fund mentioned being insufficient for the purpose, the stockholders in the upper story of the old building conveyed their shares to the trustees of the High School, under agreement that the latter should sell the property, donate the proceeds to the erection of the new building, and give the stock- holders an equal amount of stock authorized by the act of 1828. Ar- rangement was made with Joseph Hopkins, a graduate of Hamilton College, who had taught in Potsdam, to take charge of this school, re- ceiving as remuneration all the tuition money in addition to that received from the Regents.

The building was of brick, two stories high and was ready for occu- pancy in April, 1834, when the school was opened with Joseph Hop- kins as principal, assisted by A. Z. Madison and Mary A. Hopkins. In March, 1836, Mr. Hopkins resigned and under arrangements with the Black River Conference the school was taken under the charge of the Methodist Episcopal church. The principal features of the agree- ment under which this change was made were that the Methodists were prohibited from procuring sufficient of the stock, exclusive of 100 shares which were properly transferred to them, to give them entire control of the institution ; and that if the Methodists should fail to maintain the school ( by which failure they would forfeit the said transferred stock ) then the institution should be returned to the former proprietors free of all encumbrance. On March 29, 1837, 103 shares were transferred to John Loveys, William C. Mason, Jesse T. Peck, C. W. Leet and Reu- ben Reynolds, ministers acting for the conference. The first principal under the new regime was Rev. Jesse T. Peck. On the night of Janu- ary 1, 1839, the building and all of its contents were burned. In this trying emergency rooms were fitted up in the upper story of the old school building and occupied. Of the $2,300 insurance, $1,800 were lost; the remainder, with about $2,600 in subscriptions, a large part of which was not yet due, constituted the resources of the institution, while there was an indebtedness of about $4,000. A loan of $2,000 was obtained from the State, to be repaid through a tax in four years, which, with additional subscriptions, enabled the authorities to rebuild. A lot fronting 225 feet on what is now Main street, and 182 feet on what is now Grove street, was purchased of Wolcott Griffin, May 6,

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

1839, and there a substantial stone building was erected at a cost of $5,500. On the 25th of April, 1840, the name of the institution was changed by act of Legislature to "Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary" and so remained. By an act of 1851, an appropriation of $2,000 was made by the State, which relieved the seminary of all incumbrances. The institution remained in charge of the Methodists, enjoying a high degree of prosperity, until 1869, when they transferred their support to a school at Antwerp. The town citizens thereupon held a meeting at which a vote was passed to issue bonds to the amount of $20,000 to insure the continuance of the seminary in Gouverneur. The law author- izing these bonds passed April 23, 1869, and it also authorized an in- crease of the capital stock to $50,000. Of the principal of the bonds, $4,000 were used in repairing the buildings and other improvements. The stockholders' meeting of September 6, 1869, developed considera- ble friction. Rev. L. Clark, for the conference, offered a vote on the 103 shares transferred to them in 1837, which votes were rejected. He also offered to vote on 300 other shares, which votes were finally re- ceived. The supervisor of the town voted on 2,000 shares, under the strenuous opposition of Mr. Clark. This effectually disposed of secta- rian influence in the seminary. and the following trustees were elected : Hon. Edwin Dodge, Isaac Starbuck, Hezekiah S. Randall, Stephen B. Van Duzee, Griswold E. Burt, William A. Paul, George M. Gleason, Edward H. Neary and Francis M. Holbrook.

West Side School Building .- The rapid increase in population on the " West Side " in 1888, owing to the development of the marble busi- ness, had so far outrun the capacity of the school facilities, that it was decided, after a fiercely fought fight, to erect a new and more commo- dious school building.

Great opposition was made by the extremely conservative portion of the population, but the indomitable energy and dogged perseverance of John McCarty triumphed over all opposition, and in 1889, under his personal supervision, a splendid building was erected at a cost of $8,300. The structure is of wood, two stories high, has a floor area of 3,300 feet, eight class rooms, and can conveniently seat 360 pupils. It is furnished with modern seats and all other needful paraphernalia in keeping with the progress of the age, and is warmed by three furnaces, which are

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THE TOWN OF GOUVERNEUR.

located in the basement. A fine bell was donated by the workmen who constructed the edifice, which is an honor to the town, and a fitting monument to the enterprise and dauntless pluck of John McCarty, to whom it owes its existence.

It will be proper to close our account of educational affairs in Gouverneur in this connection. In 1873 the old brick school house, corner of Church and John streets (erected in 1826) was purchased by Dr. McFalls, who fitted it for a dwelling. A lot had already been purchased on Gordon street, where, in 1870, a new and more com- modious school building was erected, to which several additions have been made at various times, as necessity demanded. Early in the year 1880 agitation was begun for a change in the school system to a Union Free School. While the old seminary had many friends who deplored the necessity of seeing it lose its identity, they still realized that it had lost much of its prestige and usefulness through competition in larger places, and acquiesced in the general movement for a change.

A meeting was called in March, 1887, to consider the establishment of a Union Free School in the village and the uniting of Districts Nos. I and 2. The majority voting in favor of the project was large, and the meeting proceeded to the appointment of a board of nine trustees, as follows : H. Sudds, J. B. Johnson, L. M. Lee, J. W. Ormiston, J. La- berdee, B. L. Barney, John McCarty, A. S. Whitney, and F. H. Hor- ton. The school opened in the following autumn and has continued with gratifying success. . A new school building was erected on Depot street in 1890.

The Gouverneur Union Library was incorporated in 1815, and through contributions of money and books from private collections at home and abroad, a valuable library was soon secured. The trustees were Rockwell Barnes, Israel Porter, Aaron Atwood, Richard Kim- ball, Benjamin Brown, Timothy Sheldon, Pardon Babcock, and Joseph Smith, all of whom served at one time or another. The library was eventually transferred to the High School and then to Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary, where it was burned with that institution on the Ist of January, 1839, after being a means of untold good.

On November 19, 1885, the Ladies' Reading Room Association was organized, with a president, five vice-presidents (one of the latter from

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

each religious denomination in the village), a secretary, treasurer, librarian, and executive committee. The library of the association has now nearly a thousand volumes, which, with the current literature kept constantly in the rooms, render it a popular and beneficial resort. The early success of the reading-room was greatly promoted by the action of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (organized 1884) in turn- ing over to it a considerable accumulation of books, etc.

Sewers and Street Lighting .- There were no sewers in Gouverneur until the year 1876, since which date they have been extended in sev- eral of the principal streets. Extensive improvements in this direction have been made since 1886, until now the village is thoroughly drained and the streets are in excellent condition. In the year just mentioned. also, was established the fountain in the park, which was paid for by a dollar subscription.

The American Illuminating and Power Company was formed with a capital of $20,000, and the electric plant erected in the summer of 1887. The first officers were : E. D. Barry, president ; W. F. Sudds, vice-presi- dent ; V. P. Abbott, treasurer; C. Arthur Parker, secretary. Power was obtained from the Gouverneur Machine Company, and the village voted to adopt the lights of the company for three years. They gave satisfaction and have continued in use, while many firms and individuals have adopted them in places of business and residences.

Water Works and Fire Department .- In the year 1868 the Gouver- neur Water Works Company was incorporated with a capital of $20,- 000, the incorporators being Charles Anthony, Augustus E. Norton, Edwin Dodge, Peter Van Buren, Stephen B. Van Duzee, Lyman Litchfield and Charles E. Clark. In the same year the company erected the works on the "Holly " system on one of the islands, driven by water power. Since the establishing of the works several changes have been made. A stand pipe has been erected above the dan and a steam engine put in to drive the works at low water. Suf- ficient pressure is now obtained to force water from the various hydrants to the top of the highest buildings. The facilities for extinguishing fires in the village were inadequate for many years, and the people were taught several salutary lessons upon the economy of having all necessary apparatus for the purpose. Gouverneur Hose Company No.

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THE TOWN OF GOUVERNEUR.

I was organized by Act of Legislature April 29, 1868. It was well equipped with carriage, hose, hooks, ladders, etc. Early in the year 1880, a fine La France steam fire engine was purchased, which has since on several occasions saved a vast amount of valuable property when threatened by fire. The fire department of the village now con- sists of the engine above mentioned and two hose carts and equipments. The public hydrants are the chief reliance in case of fire.

Conflagrations and Rebuilding .- On January 15, 1875, a block of five wooden buildings, three stories high, on Main street, was burned with their valuable contents, and the old Catholic church. The burned district was promptly covered with handsome brick structures ; and it may be added that in the same year the old brick stores on the corner of Church and William streets, built by Thomas Thompson and Rock- well Barnes about 1833, were removed to make room for the Union Hall Block, which owes its existence to S. B. Van Duzee and Willett Bowne. It supplied the long felt want of a public hall for various pur- poses. It was burned, as explained a little further on. The second destructive fire in the village occurred in the evening of May 1, 1877, when seven stores on Main street, where Van Namee's Block was erected, were burned, with a loss of $60,000. The site was promptly and handsomely rebuilt Again, on the morning of October 7, 1877, fire broke out in the rear of the Union Hall Block, which was nearly destroyed ; but some of the walls were used in rebuilding. These severe calamities had the usual effect in impelling the citizens to make better preparations to combat the devouring element. In 1878 a sub- stantial brick building was erected on Clinton street, where a lot had been purchased. It has a stone basement which is used as a lock-up, while the remainder of the building is for the fire apparatus.

Manufactures .- Aside from the mills which have been described, there has never been extensive manufacturing in Gouverneur, until the development of the great marble and talc industries of recent years, which are described further on. Joel Keyes had a shop with trip ham- mer, in 1827, on the site of the Van Duzee Manufacturing Company's plant, where he made tools, etc. It was burned about 1848 and the site passed to Asa Hunt, from whom Mr. Van Duzee purchased it and built the furniture manufactory. The latter was burned in 1881 and the

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

present factory put up ; at the same time the business was placed in control of a stock company with $50,000 capital. Mr. Van Duzee was president, Lewis Eckman, vice president, and C. A. Van Duzee, super - intendent. Mr. S B. Van Duzee died in April, 1893, but the business continues.

On the site adjoining the above factory Capt. Rockwell Barnes had a saw mill and wood working shop about 1829. It passed to Milton Barney who carried on the manufacture of chairs until about 1840 when the works burned. The shops were rebuilt and passed through several hands, finally to Richard Grinnell, who continued the manufacture of sash, doors, etc., for some years, when the establishment was again burned.

A foundry and machine shop started about 1850 was carried on suc- cessively by O. S. Hill, Fox & Rich, Litchfield & Moore, Litchfield & Corbin and finally by J. S. & A. Corbin. The business was subsquently given up and the property passed to the St. Lawrence Manufacturing Company, with other additional real estate, which company began the manufacture of wagons. This business was also subsequently abandoned.

A large tannery was built on the west side of the river about 1841 by H. Schermerhorn, which was burned, rebuilt and purchased by Newell Havens in 1851. F. Freeman and Charles E. Clark also owned it, and about 1865 it was again burned. Mr. Clark rebuilt it and sold it to William P. Herring & Co. It again burned and was rebuilt by that firm, who did a large business for some years, but finally abandoned it. Allen and Thomas Goodrich also carried on tanning on the west side of the river in early years, and another was operated by Benjamin H. Smith in the north part of the village as early as 1828.

The Gouverneur Machine Company was organized for the prosecution of general machine work and the manufacture of quarry mill machinery. The works are in a building formerly used in similar business by a firm composed of Starbuck & McCarthy and B. L. Barney, on the west side. On the 20th of December, 1886, the Gouverneur Machine Company was organized by B. L. Barney, Newton Aldrich, Isaac Starbuck, Charles Anthony, Frank Starbuck, J. B. Johnson, W. P. Stacy, W. H. Hill and Joseph Laberdee, to carry on the same business on a more

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THE TOWN OF GOUVERNEUR.

extensive scale. The capital stock is $25,000 and the officers are as follows : President, John McCarty; treasurer, Frank Starbuck ; secre- tary and manager, J. B. Johnson.

Gouverneur Banks .- The earliest demand for banking facilities in Gouverneur was supplied by the late Charles Anthony, who organized the private banking firm of Charles Anthony & Co., on the Ist of Octo- ber, 1860. The proprietors were Charles Anthony, James G. Averill and William J. Averill. Henry Sudds was made cashier of the institu- tion. The direct successor of this bank was the present Bank of Gou- verneur which was organized in July, 1879, with capital of $50,000 ; this has twice been increased, first to $80,000 and then to $100,000. The first officers were Charles Anthony, president; William J. Averill, vice- president ; Henry Sudds, cashier. There has been no change excepting that Newton Aldrich succeeded Mr. Anthony as president, when the latter died in May, 1892. The bank has a surplus of about $31,500.

In 1874 the banking firm of A. Godard & Co, was formed consisting of Abel Godard and Hiram Herring ; A. J. Holbrook was made cashier. The institution closed up its affairs in 1880, G. M. Gleason having in the meantime purchased the interests of both Mr. Godard and Mr. Her- ring. The present First National Bank of Gouverneur was then organ- ized in the spring of 1881, with a capital of $55,000, which still remains the same. The officers were G. M. Gleason, president ; Newton Al- drich, vice-president ; F. M. Burdick has since been substituted as vice- president. The surplus of the bank is $13, 500.

Hotels .- The first tavern in Governeur has already been mentioned, and for many years it was the only one in the place. What was formerly known as " The Brick Hotel " was on Main street near the east end of the bridge, and a portion of it was built by John Brown, the early mer- chant, in 1818, for his residence. It was purchased in 1822 by Dr. John Spencer, who enlarged the building and opened it as a public house. It was kept for this purpose by various proprietors until 1848. The Spencer House was in the east part of the village, was built in 1828-29, and kept by Dr. Spencer fourteen years, and subsequently by his son, Col. J. M. Spencer, and was burned several years ago. The Van Buren House was built by Peter Van Buren immediately after the burn-

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

ing of his brick hotel. He was a popular landlord and the house con - tinued under his management until 1869, the year before his death. He was succeeded by his son, J. B. Van Buren. The house burned in Janu- ary, 1893, in the night, the guests barely escaping with their lives. The Fuller House, on the northwest corner of Main and Park streets, was built by C. T. Fuller and opened in 1876, by Daniel Peck, who is still the proprietor, the name of the hotel being the Peck House.

Following is a list of supervisors of this town, with their years of ser- vices : Richard Townsend, 1811 to 1814; John Brown, 1815 to 1819; Israel Porter, 1820 21 ; Aaron Atwood, 1822 to and including 1826; Harvey D. Smith, 1827 to 1834 inclusive, also in 1837; Almond Z. Madison, 1836 and 1838; William E. Sterling, 1839, '40, '41 and '43 ; Peter Van Buren, 1842, '44 45 ; George S. Winslow, 1846 to 1849; Charles Anthony, 1850, '51, '52 ; Milton Barney, in 1853, '57, '58, '59; O. G. Barnum, 1855; Charles S. Cone, 1856; John Pooler, jr., 1860 to 1865 inclusive ; Robert Ormiston, 1865 to 1871 inclusive ; Newton Aldrich, 1872, '78-79 ; George M. Gleason, 1880-81 ; A. K. Jepson, 1882 ; Amasa Corbin, jr., 1882 to 1892; Newton Aldrich, 1892 to 1894.

Natural Dam .-- This is a small hamlet a little more than a mile below Gouverneur on the right bank of the Oswegatchie, and takes its name from a rock which nature has thrown across the river at that point, forming a dam which with the fall affords an excellent water power. Here the proprietor, Gouverneur Morris, had put up the first mills in the town, which were long known by his name. A massive stone house was also erected here for the use of his agent. After the disappear- ance of the first mills and about the year 1838, Capt. Rockwell Barnes purchased the site and adjoining land and erected a saw mill, dwelling, etc. The property subsequently passed to F. M. Beardslee and by him was sold in 1866 to Weston, Dean & Aldrich, who in the following year began the erection of the extensive mills which they have ever since operated. The mills now embrace machinery for manufacturing all kinds of lumber, shingles, planing mills, lath and picket machinery, etc. The company own immense tracts of timber lands and have cleared thousands of acres, while the large number of employees in the mills and the several interests drawn thither by the industry have made

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THE TOWN OF GOUVERNEUR.

the little village a busy place. There are three stores kept respectively by John A. Lalone, William Laberdee and Ambrose Laquier. The firm of Weston, Dean & Aldrich is composed of Abijah Weston, Orison Dean and Newton Aldrich. A post-office is located here and E. J. Loveless is postmaster.

One of the earliest mills for the manufacture of talc was situated about half a mile below the lumber mills, which was established in 1876, the proprietors being D. Minthorn, B. P. Sharp, Thomas Girvan and A. C. Smith. The works had previously been used in grinding mineral paint.

At a small settlement, known as the " Little Bow Corners," the first settler was Benjamin Smith, who located there in 1806, with his three sons. His brothers, Rufus and Stephen, also settled near there in 1807. Mr. Smith built a saw mill on a creek, which was operated until worn out. Moses Rowley kept a store and had an ashery here before 1820, and another store was kept by R. K. Smith. In early years there were persons who looked upon this settlement as a possible rival for Gouverneur and the site of the coming village.

What has been known as " Olds' Mills" is in the northwest part of the town, where Aaron Carrington settled about 1825 and built a saw mill, which was burned ten years later while owned by Hiram Drake. Asa Hunt rebuilt the mill, and it passed through possession of R. K. Smith, Stephen Johnson, Jason Smith (during whose ownership it was called " Smith's Mills "), William Sudds, and finally to Benjamin Olds. A tannery was operated here for a time in early years.

GOUVERNEUR QUARRY INDUSTRIES.

The town of Gouverneur is blest with many natural resources, and one which stands near the head of the long list is variously known to the outside trade as " Gouverneur," " St. Lawrence," and " Whitney marble."

This beautiful stone, though so recently utilized, has already gained an almost nationwide reputation both for monumental and building purposes. It is a very hard and heavy marble, of close and even text- ure, and susceptible of a high polish. It has a rich, dark-blue color, is finely mottled, and by reason of its marked crystalline structure pre-

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HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.

sents, when finished as a building material, an unusually clean and sparkling appearance. Both as rough ashler and when polished this marble is known as "live stone," in contradistinction to most of the dark American marbles which are generally of a dull or dead color. Its close texture prevents the absorption of moisture and thus protects it from disintegration from the effects of frost. The absence of an ap- preciable amount of iron guards against the appearance of rust ; because of its peculiar structure it does not absorb dirt or become streaked or stained, and each recurring rain washes it fresh and clean.

Having successfully stood the severe and searching tests that all building material must undergo before acceptance by the United States authorities, this marble now stands on an enviable equality with granite and the various other durable stones used in the construction of Gov- ernment works or in the erection of public buildings.

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Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York, Part 51

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