USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people : a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 61
USA > New York > St Lawrence County > Our county and its people: a memorial record of St. Lawrence County, New York > Part 61
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124
During the winter and spring following the ice had injured the dam materially, when more money was called for, which was readily sub- scribed. The company commenced, under the direction of Mr. Sterlin,
83
658
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
to repair the dam soon after low water in the early part of the summer, when pumping was resumed, which proceeded at first slowly, owing to leaks in the dam. This soon being repaired, the water was lowered suf- ficiently one Sunday that a search produced a small rusty anchor and a tiller, but before any other articles were reached a break occurred and filled the basin with water. This find renewed the faith of the stock- holders, when Sterlin called for more money to make up for the losses incurred, which was paid in and the leak repaired The stockholders now being desperately in earnest to push the work to completion, in- formed Mr. Sterlin that the dam was not to be tampered with, when the pumps were put to work, and shortly after the bottom of the creek ap- peared in sight of the watchful eyes of the members present. With fierce earnestness several jumped into the mud nearly up to their waist with crobars and shovels, thoroughly probing the bottom of the hole, but found only mud. The boys got a few dimes for pumping, the stock- holders had a few pumps on hand, but Mr. Sterlin had several thousand dollars, when he suddenly left for other parts.
From the time which we have considered down to the War of the Re- bellion the settlers of Hammond pursued their various avocations in peace and with a fair degree of prosperity. Upon the breaking out of that historic struggle the citizens of the town took prompt and efficient steps to not only to send out in support of the Union her full quota of volunteers, but, in common with other towns of the county, raised the necessary funds to pay the liberal bounties very generally provided for at intervals during the war. The town furnished to the armies of the Union 162 men, of whom nine were wounded and seventeen died of disease contracted in the service.
The first school in the town, it is believed, was taught in the Scotch settlement in the winter of 1819-20. The town is now divided into thirteen school districts, and a comfortable school-house is found in each.
In recent years a very large and prosperous quarrying business has been developed in this town. It was begun in 1874 by H. A. Foster. There are now five quarries being operated which employ 250 men and turn out twenty car loads of stone per day. The firms engaged in this business are H. A. Foster, John Finegan, at Hammond ; Fowler & Lug-
659
THE TOWN OF HAMMOND.
don, at South Hammond ; the Smithers Quarry, operated by Mr. Fos- ter ; and the Finnegan Quarry at Buck Ledge. The stone thus ob- tained is a building sandstone of excellent quality, also for paving streets, flagging walks, etc., for which there is an increasing demand.
The agricultural interests in this town, like those of most other towns in the county, have changed in recent years from grain growing to dairy- ing. There are several successful cheese factories, the product of which is shipped from Chippewa Bay and by rail.
Following is a list of the supervisors of the town from its formation to the present time, with their dates of service :
1827-28, Sylvester Butrick; 1829-31, Roswell Ryan ; 1832, Allen Cook; 1833, Orrin Brown; 1834-35, Loren Bailey; 1836-37, George C. Daniels; 1838, Orrin Brown; 1839-40, Enoch Taylor; 1841, Ebenezer .N. Demick; 1842, Orville E. Wightman; 1843, E. N. Demick ; 1844-47, William H. Wright; 1848-49. Henry Zoller ; 1850, Sidney S. Wait : 1851, Josiah Zoller; 1852-53, Abel P. Morse; 1854, Sidney S. Wait; 1855-62, Jonas Moyer ; 1863-64, Henry Fowler ; 1865-66, Jonas Moyer; 1867-69, Anthony W. Sigourney ; 1870-71, Jonas Moyer; 1872-78, James S. More; 1879-88, William Rod- ger, 2d ; 1889-92, Samuel W. Tilton; 1893-94, G. L. Phillips.
Hammond Village .- The settlement at this point has been described and was known in former years to some extent as " Hammond Corners." It is a station on what was formerly the Black River and Morristown Railroad, now leased to the New York Central. There is no manufact- uring in the place, but it is and always has been a trading center for most of the eastern part of the town. The following persons are in trade there now : D. E. Wilson, drugs ; A. McGruer and W. E. Forrester & Son, dry goods ; John T. Roger, clothing ; E. J. Murphy and R. S. Woodside, boots and shoes ; W. R. Wilson and I. Franklin, groceries ; J. Frank Wilson, jewelry ; W. T. Stiles and Evens Brothers, hardware and farm implements. William Soper came from the town of Theresa, and in 1889 built a steam saw mill and grist mill, which he is now suc- cessfully operating.
There have been public houses in Hammond for many years. One of the older hotels was the Taylor House, built about 1839 by M. G. Phyle, and was discontinued in the fall of 1892. The Franklin House was finished in October, 1884, and is now conducted by F. Franklin. The postmaster at Hammond is Benjamin Franklin.
660
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
North Hammond is a small hamlet in the northeastern part of the town. S. W. Tilton carries on a general store and is postmaster.
Chippewa is a small hamlet on the bay and near the mouth of the creek of the same name. Allen & Denner have a general store there, and Alexander Allen is postmaster.
A post-office is also located at Oak Point, with W. C. Brooks in the office.
A post- office was established at South Hammond in 1833 with Jona- than King as postmaster. A hotel was erected in 1848 and discontinued in 1860. The postmaster at present is D. D. Moyer.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
Early in the summer of 1827 the Rev. Hiram Johnson organized a Congregational church with twelve members. The society was under the pastoral care of Rev. Joseph Taylor, who served them a few years, when the church was placed under the care of the St. Lawrence Pres- bytery through the sickness of the pastor. Soon after they united with the Union Society (Presbyterian), which was formed a few months later, claiming to be second cousins, hence were called for a number of years after the Congregational-Presbyterian Society. Services were held in school-houses for several years.
A Union Presbyterian Society was formed and incorporated Decem- ber 14, 1827, with Luther Lanphear, James Hill, and Walter Willson, trustees. They united a few years later with the Congregational body, retaining the Presbyterian form, which was lost by a reorganization that took place August 1, 1831, under Rev. James Sanford, with eighteen members, and united with the Ogdensburg Presbytery. They built a house of worship in 1838 of stone. In 1871 the old building was torn down and replaced with the present wood structure, costing $8,000. They have been under the pastoral care of Revs. James Roger, John McGregor, James Gardiner, H. B. Swift, and Andrew Milne, and is now under Rev. D. A. Ferguson, who has served faithfully eighteen years past. The society erected a parsonage at a cost of $3,000 some years since, and is now in a prosperous condition.
The first Methodist Episcopal church of Hammond was organized September 29, 1832. There had been Methodist services held in the
661
THE TOWN OF EDWARDS.
town long before that. A small building for worship was erected on the military road about half a mile from Hammond village in 1835. This was taken down in 1873 and the present edifice built at a cost of $7,000. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Phelps.
A Free Will Baptist church was formed in this town in April, 1843, but no regular permanent organization was effected and no church was ever built.
Trinity church of Rossie and Hammond was incorporated Decem- ber 16, 1846, with Henry W. Chapman, William Laidlaw, S. Ophir, William Welch, Robert Morris, John Burrows, and James Hill, vestry- men. The society was in existence for some years, but never built a church.
The Universalist church was organized by Rev. J. S. Lee in October, 1870, and the present building at Hammond Corners was erected in the same year ; it cost $3,200. The first pastor was Rev. D. R. Libbey, who was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Johns. At the present time there is a service held once in two weeks by Mrs. D. L. R. Libbey. The mem- bership is a little over fifty.
CHAPTER XLII.
.
THE TOWN OF EDWARDS-ORGANIZED IN 1827.
This was the twenty-second town erected by an act of the Legisla- ture passed April 27, 1827. It was formerly under the jurisdiction of Fowler, and at first comprised townships No. 8 and 4, or Edwards and Fitz Williams, now Hermon. The first town meeting was held at the house of William Martis, in the spring of 1827, and the following offi- cers were elected : Orra Shead, supervisor ; John C. Hale, clerk ; J. C. Hale, Asa Brayton, jr., William Teall, assessors; Roswell Lillie, Araba Collisier, Peleg Haile, commissioners of highways; J. C. Haile, Asa Phelps, Wilkes Richardson, commissioners of schools ; Warren Streeter, Guy Earl, overseers of poor; J. C. Haile, George Allen, William Teall, inspectors of schools.
662
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
The township of Fitz Williams was taken off in erecting Depeau (now Hermon), and by an act of the board of supervisors, passed Novem- ber 17, 1852, all that part of the town of Hermon situated at the north- east corner, known as the end of the east third of township 4, of great tract No. 3 of Macomb's purchase, being subdivision lots No. 32 to 37, according to Ashman's old survey, was annexed to the town of Ed- wards ; the board of supervisors now having the right (since 1849) to set off or change the town boundaries.
The main branch of the Oswegatchie flows in a general northwest direction across the town and through the villages of South Edwards and Edwards. In the southern part are Bonner, Beaver, Mud and Clear Lakes, whose waters flow into the Oswegatchie, and Cedar Lake which extends across the line into Hermon. Along the river and the branches of Elm Creek the surface is rolling or hilly, but elsewhere it is rugged and broken, especially in the northwestern part. The township was patented to McCormick in March, 1795, and surveyed by Reuben Ash - man of Russsll. McCormick transferred it to Joseph Pitcairn about 1816, and he upon his death, about 1844, bequeathed his interest to Alexander Brodie. The town received its name from Edward McCor- mick, a brother of Daniel McCormick, the proprietor to whom the original township was assigned in the division.
Before the settlement of this town the turnpike from Russell had been laid out through it, a fact which hastened settlement. The original course of the turnpike was across the west branch of the Oswegatchie about three-fourths of a mile below the site of Fullerville, thence tak- ing a northeasterly course, across the island and the two channels of the river at the site of Edwards village.
The section of the road in Edwards was built by Enos Chapman, who begun it in 1810 and finished it in 1812. In January of the last named year Asa Brayton brought his family into the town and made the first settlement on the south side of the turnpike near where it crosses the creek, about midway between the branches of the Oswegatchie. Dur- ing that season Guy Earl, Samuel Jones, John Britton, Joseph M. Bon- ner, Elijah Jones, three men named Johnson and probably a few others came into the town and built log houses. One of them was a Mr. Par- tridge, who was killed in 1813 by a falling timber, causing the first
663
THE TOWN OF EDWARDS.
death in the town among the settlers. The first birth was that of John B. Brayton, son of Asa Brayton ; John B. lived in the town many years.
In 1813 Ora Shead came in from Russell and in that and the next year completed the first grist mill; it stood on the east bank of the river where the turnpike crossed. Five years later he built a saw mill just below on the site of the Rushton mills.
About 1816 Phineas Attwater became Mr. Pitcairn's agent for the sale of lands in this section, and was succeeded in 1819 by George Allen, who came in at that time and located at Shead's mills. In 1818 and 1819 the town received as settlers a number of Scotch immigrants, who located chiefly in the northern and northeastern parts. Among them were James Grieve, Robert Watson, John Whitehead, Alexander Noble, William Andrew, Alexander Kerr, James Wilson, Alexander Laidlaw, William Cleland and Robert Brown. Several of these and their descendants were long residents of the town.
Aside from those above noted, the settlements for several years were made mostly along the river and the line of the turnpike.
The mill building on the east side of the river that was operated at one period as a planing mill, sash and door factory, was built for a grist mill by Mr. Rushton, but was superseded by the present one of greater capacity.
A tannery was formerly carried on by Gilbert & Co. on the west side of the river opposite the island, but it is now out of use. It was built in 1864 by Gilbert & Carr; was operated by them until 1871, when Rice & Emery of Boston leased it and carried on the business until 1874, since which date it has been closed.
Succeeding the merchants mentioned are the following who have stores of various kinds in the village : S. B. Raymond, W. Grant & Son, Charles Davis, Charles Brown, James D. Tait, W. N. J. Stevens, Eugene Cook, C. B. Watson, Charles Stevenson, Henry Webb, George Pagett and Mrs. William J. McFarren. Cyrus Watson is postmaster.
South Edwards .- This is a small village near the southeastern cor- ner of the town, upon the Oswegatchie River. The first settler at this point was Job Winslow, who explored the locality in 1823, and settled there in 1824. He was impressed with the value of the immense water power, and soon after bringing in his family, he built a saw mill, and in
664
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
the following year a grist mill, thus creating the nucleus of a village. These mills were afterwards owned by several persons, among them be- ing John Austin, Pasco Whitford, a Mr. Woodbury, Almeron Thomas, and Spaulding & Pratt, and were burned about 1850. The mill was rebuilt in a better manner by Chester Van Ornum, and again burned about 1875. A new grist mill was subsequently built and carried on by G. & E. Lumley and others, and a saw mill, which was run by Jon- athan Hendricks ; but both have been closed for some years, and there is now no mill at the place.
The first merchant at South Edwards was Elijah Shaw, who settled there in 1825 with his brother Noah. The former became one of the most prominent citizens, and the hamlet was locally known for years as " Shawville." Mr. Shaw engaged with a Mr. Sears in the manufacture of potash and had other various interests. Mr. Sears purchased his partner's interest in the potash business, and Mr. Shaw retired to a farm north of the village. Sears afterwards removed to Canton. The mer- chants of the place now are Ira Hammond and John Lumley, and the latter is postmaster, the office having been established in September, 1828, with James C. Haile as postmaster.
A carding mill was built here in early years by Ingraham Winslow ; but the business ultimately died out and the building burned after the machinery had been removed. A hotel was built by Mr. Woodbury and continued some years ; at the present time there is no public house in the place.
In 1871 Dickinson & Lawrence, from Franklin county, built and be- gan operating a starch factory, using potatoes. The business was con- tinued about ten years.
Besides these villages there are several hamlets or settlements that have had distinctive names and small business interests.
" Freemansburg," on the main river four miles below Edwards, re- ceived its name from Capt. Alfred Freeman, who built a furnace there in 1830. Ore was brought to it from the Little York bed, and bog ores from this town. In 1843 a forge was added to the plant ; but the busi- ness was continued only a few years, when it went the way of all the iron industries of the county. Mr. Freeman also kept a store there. The furnace was burned in 1847.
665
THE TOWN OF EDWARDS.
The so-called " Scotch Settlement," or " Scotland," has already been mentioned, and was the scene of a thrifty people's labors. Many . descendants of the hardy Scotch settlers still live in the town and vicin- ity
There have been also the "Creek Settlement," about two and a half miles southeast of Edwards village, and the " Pond Settlement " in the southeast part of the town ; but they are only farming neighborhoods .
at the present time.
Following is a list of the supervisors of the town to the present time :
1827-28, 1830, '31, '32, '33, Orra Shead; 1829 Wm. Teall; 1834-35, Hubbard Good- rich; 1836 to 1840, inclusive, John C. Haile ; 1841-42 and 1850, J. B. Pickit; 1843, '44, '45, and 1848, Ingraham Winslow ; 1846-47, James Noble; 1849 and 1851, Elijah Shaw ; 1852, Horace Barnes; 1853-54, Mark W. Spaulding; 1855, '56, '57, '60 and '68, Joseph Brodie ; 1858-59, 1869, and 1870, George Smith; 1861-62, Thomas Todd; 1863, '64, '65, Henry Rushton; 1866-67, L. M. Gardiner; 1871 to 1880, inclusive, Cornelius Carter; 1881-84, Henry Webb; 1885-87, William Grant; 1887-94, Ira C. Miles.
The town of Edwards was not even inhabited by a single settler at the commencement of the War of 1812. Yet it has a landmark that started in that period (an evergreen grove), which is now highly prized by the descendants of the pioneers. During that war the frontier along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario was blockaded by the British. Therefore munitions of war were sent overland by the way of Platts- burg and the old route of Oswego River to Ogdensburg and Sackett's Harbor.
The writer's father, who related many incidents of the war, was a sol- dier at the time, stationed near Plattsburg, where he became familiar with what transpired on these routes. The route passed through the town of Edwards, thence by way of Carthage on to the harbor. Each soldier, apart from his accoutrements, had a certain weight to carry, and when heavy articles were to be hauled or carried, a squad of soldiers were assigned to the duty. Their march was slow, yet resting places and camps were located at short intervals. This route was so frequently used that roads were cut through the woods by the soldiers before the close of the war.
It has been said that ropes or cables designed for the war vessel Superior, then in process of building at the harbor, were carried overland
84
666
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
by the soldiers from Plattsburg. While this may be true to a certain extent, the big cable, measuring twenty-two inches in circumference, weighing 9,600 pounds, was carried from Oswego River sixteen miles overland to the harbor on the shoulders of about 200 soldiers, arriving on the 10th of June, 1814.
These camping places, especially the one in Edwards, which is three and a half miles southwest from the village, on the farm now owned by Freeman Sprague, was located in a belt of hard wood growth, and no evergreen growing in that vicinity. During the camping period from one to two acres had been cut and most of the timber burned. This place being unmolested, grew up with pine brushes, and became the thick grove alluded to. The man that cleared this farm, finding such a beautiful grove of pine standing in the midst of hard wood, cleared away the timber on the outside and left them growing. The plot con- tains about one and a half acres, and the pine trees are straight and stand so close together that it is with difficulty a person can pass be- tween them. Many of them are from twelve to eighteen inches in diameter and from fifty to seventy-five feet high. There can be no doubt as to this grove standing on the camping ground of the soldiers of the War of 1812. Mr. Asa Brayton, the first one who came there in January of 1812, settled near this place. Mr. Edgar Brayton, a grand- son of Asa, now living in Edwards, relates the following which was ob- tained from his grandfather. Said, that this was where the soldiers camped in passing back and forth. Also, when they were returning to Plattsburg after completing the road stopped here. The officers, how- ever, were entertained by him, and that his grandmother baked bread all that night for the soldiers. Their horses during the night eat up a stack of wheat, for which he got pay. He also related the following story. Mr. Brayton had a boy working for him some fourteen years old, who stole a belt, sword and pistol which an officer had hung on a peg before retiring, and hid them in a hollow stump. In the morning the whole posse turned out and had a long search before finding them. This grove will become more and more valuable as time passes, espe- cially to every patriot who gazes on this historic spot.
The War of the Rebellion, the reader is referred to Chapter XV.
667
THE TOWN OF EDWARDS.
Edwards Village .- The building of Shead's grist mill in 1814 de- termined the location of a village in this town; and tne site was a promising one, both on account of the turnpike and the excellent water power at that point. As usual in such cases, a store soon followed the erection of the mill, and a little later the building of the saw mill and the establishment of Allen's land office there hastened the little settle- ment. The first store was kept by Mr. Shead, who was also the first postmaster, the office being established January 4, 1828.
William Martin, an enterprising pioneer, opened the second store, the first hotel, and built a distillery. J. B. Pickit was the next mer- chant, and the second public house was opened and kept in an excellent manner by Nathan Hunt on the island. The house was afterward kept by J. B. Pickit, Horace Barnes, W. A. Livingston, S. M. Farmer, Earl & Allen and others, but was finally closed. The island was the scene of much of the business of the place for many years, but the space was too limited, and the industries gradually removed to the mainland.
The present grist mill on the island is operated by Butler & Miles. The hotel, built about twenty years ago, is the Rushton House, and is kept by David Noble. The entire mill property on the old site, includ- ing the grist mill, saw mill, shingle mill, etc., was built by Henry Rushton, and is now a part of his estate. The Woodcock Brothers carry on a steam grist and saw mill.
Within a few recent years the talc industry in St. Lawrence county has become a very important factor in its production of wealth. The development of this industry has had its principal headquarters at Gov- erneur and is quite extensively described in the preceding history of that town ; but the territory whence the crude product is derived is of considerable extent and reaches into the town of Edwards and vicinity. The settlement which has been mentioned as " Freemansburg " is now called Talcville, and in that vicinity the wonderful product is found in large quantities. The Freeman Brothers have carried on a mercantile business here. In 1893 a railroad was opened from Gouverneur to Edwards, its chief object being the transportation of the talc to the line of the main road. For further details of this great industry the reader is referred to the Gouverneur and Fowler histories herein.
668
HISTORY OF ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The Methodists were perhaps the first to hold services in this town, which were by Rev. Elijah Morgan in 1819. Their first class, consist- ting of five persons, was formed by Rev. Ezra Healey of the "Creek Settlement " in 1823. Their first preacher was Rev. E. Morgan, who was succeeded by Rev. Hiram May in 1825. Their early meetings were held in school-houses, barns and dwellings. The records of the church were destroyed by the burning of the parsonage in 1852. Since the erection of a union church in 1850, the services have been held there, until about 1880, when the society built a small church, which at the present time is occupied by Rev. Mr. Burns. Meetings were held occasionally in South Edwards in No. 4 school house.
The Baptist society organized a church in 1822 by the assistance of Elder Stephens. Among the members were Aaron, Silas and William Pratt and their wives. Their services at first were held in school-houses and dwellings until the erection of the union house in 1850, when they occupied the house their allotted time, every fourth Sabbath. Services were also held at South Edwards.
A union church was built in Edwards village by the Baptists and Congregationalists, and the building was erected in 1850. Other de- nominations contributed to it to some extent, and it was open to all denominations. The church is now used wholly by the Baptists. Their present pastor is Rev. Mark Styan.
The many Scotch settlers in the town brought with them a strong Presbyterian element, and a society was organized called. "The First Congregational Church and Society in Edwards," composed of Pres- byterians and Congregationalists. From 1830 to 1837 the society was prosperous, but in the course of the next twenty years the organization disappeared.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.