The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 105

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098

USA > New York > Jefferson County > The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894 > Part 105

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THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Was not organized until October 14, 1851, under the ministry of Rev. William Jones, with a membership of 55 persons The names of the original trustees were : William King, George Akerline, William Esselstyn, Phile- tus Judd, Asa S. Jones, John Hollenbeck and John Nims. Notwithstanding this so- ciety was so late in organizing, it was the Methodist denomination which maintained the first stated preaching. A class was formed about the year 1820, and in 1827 the first Conference appointee appeared in the

person of Elder Seth Green. Services were held in the stone school-house on Point street until the erection of a church edifice in 1855, which was first built at the head of Essl- styn street, but finally removed farther down on the same street, opposite the parsonage. In 1892 the building was repaired at a cost of nearly $1,000, and is now a well arranged house of worship. The Sabbath school has 10 teachers, with an attendance of 100 schol- ars. Charles E. Lane is superintendent. The Epworth League, with H. R. Smith as presi- dent, numbers 50 members, and the Junior League, Mrs. E. S. Cheeseman, superintend- ant, has 20 members. Mrs. Cheeseman is also president of the Ladies' Aid Society.

KING'S DAUGHTERS .- This a strictly unde- nominational society for benevolent work. It was organized in 1889, and has now 25 members. Miss Etta Wolover is president and Miss Josie Saunders secretary. Its mem- bership is gathered among the best young ladies of Cape Vincent, and it is doing a really good work. It should be heartily sup- ported by all classes. Those who can con- tribute in any way to the aid of the needy cannot do a wiser thing than to entrust their gifts to this society, whose members are at much pains to search out the deserving poor.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES .- The first Catholic edifice was built in the French Settlement. The corner-stone was laid with imposing ceremonies, in 1832. On that oc- casion the French settlers, most of whom, if not all, had been soldiers under Napoleon I., assembled, dressed in full uniform, finding their way from distant points by means of blazed trees, determined that for once a bishop should be received here as was the cus- tom in France. The basement of the church was already completed and appropriately decorated ; the uniformed and armed veterans were drawn up in line, and upon the ap- proach of the Bishop and Mr. LeRay, who was the donor of the church and grounds, arms were presented and the ceremonies pro- ceeded, closing amid volleys of musketry and general rejoicing.

A circular was issued for the settlers by Mr. LeRay, in February, 1832, and signed by Hugo Aubertine, of Blonde Fontaine, France ; Toussaint Laurent, Simon Cornair, Nicolas Cornair, Fierre Barthelemy, Nicolas Co- caigne, Jean Blanche, Nicolas Jacques, Fran- cois Chapron, all of Rosierie; Nicolas Cha- fron and Jean Billery, of Aubercy ; Claude Barbien, of Pigeret; Marcel Aubrey, of Sembry ; Jacques Mentry and Pierre Brunot. soliciting aid for the church fund.

The church building stood near the old cemetery to the east in the French Settle- ment, and in the rear of it LeRay had a land office. The celebrant of the first mass in the new church was Father Simon, who was served by a boy named Geaugien. Father Simon attended the mission but one year, and then, at long intervals, priests from Kingston officiated. This first church was also presented by Mr. LeRay with 100 acres

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

of land. The present structure was built in 1879, at the Rosiere railway station. It is a tasteful structure, capable of seating about 800 persons. Rev. Wm. S. Kelley, who also officiates at Cape Vincent, is the pastor. During his incumbency Father Kelley has won the respect of all, both Protestants and Catholics. The parish consists of about 100 families, while the Sunday sehool has 15 teachers and 150 pupils.

St. Vincent de Paul's Church, in the village of Cape Vincent, was organized in 1850, by Father Ancet, a French missionary, and a building was started by him the same year. He was succeeded in 1851 by Father Louis Lepic, who completed the work. The church was dedicated by Father McCloskey, in 1858. During the pastorate of Father Sherry, from 1877 to 1883, besides building the new church at Rosiere, he made some notable improvements in the church at Cape Vincent, especially the stained glass windows and the erection of a magnificent altar, the latter being in great part the gift of the Peugnet family, who are always generous. It was in 1880, also during Father Sherry's pastorate, that Mr. John B. Grapotte, a prominent merchant of Cape Vincent, con- ceived the plan of appealing to all, Protest- ants and Catholics alike, for funds to pur- chase a bell. Heading a subscription liberally and presenting it in person, it is needless to say that he was successful; for the sweet tones of the bell are in themselves a de- monstration of the fact. The bell is suitably engraved with an inscription from the 98th Psalm, "With Trumpet," etc .; an engraved plate briefly sets forth the above facts as to the subscription. Extensive improvements in the way of decoration and otherwise, are due to the taste and energy of Father Kelley. The church has a Sunday school of nearly 100 scholars. Its societies are the Rosary, Sodality, and the Guardian Angel Society.

OLD HOUSES.

Cape Vincent has yet some historical old houses built by the early French settlers, but none more imposing, perhaps, than the one now the property of Mrs. Beaufort, which was built by M. LeRay Chanmont, about 1816. This old chatelet and its grounds are among the finest in the village, notwithstand- ing its ancient style of architecture. Its massive walls, though plain, at once attract attention. Its interior arrangement and finish are both convenient and realistic, well suited in every way for that elegant hospitality for which its owner was famed, and which has not suffered at the hands of his successors.

A quaint house is that of Mr. Bruce Ains- worth's, which was the property of Count Augustus Du Fort, who was a midshipman under Commodore Perry and participated in the battle of Lake Erie, which was fought near Put-in-Bay, September 10, 1813. The large drawing-room is the principal attrac- tion ; it is a room about 20 feet square. The ceiling is cross-beamed, so that it is divided

into 25 or 30 panels, each of which is filled with a choice oil painting. Here are elegant portraits, one of Napoleon I., one of Commo- dore Perry, one of George Washington, one of LaFayette, coats of arms, Marshals of France, Presidents of the United States, alle- gorical pictures, etc., all done in a very high style of art and producing an unique and pleasing effect. Some of the paintings are very valuable, and all are worth seeing. There are many other old French houses worth noticing, but our limits forbid.

ELEVATOR

The first elevator in Cape Vincent was built in 1853, by the Rome & Cape Vincent Railroad Company. In 1863 it was burned, with 36,000 bushels of grain. A fire-proof building was erected in July, 1864, and cov- ered entirely with corrugated iron plates and supplied with all the necessary machinery for elevating and cleaning grain, which is opera- ted by steam through a long line of shafting from an engine several hundred feet distant. The bins are heavily cribbed with plank, and, including floor-room, have a capacity of 150,000 bushels. Formerly, from 700,000 to 800,000 bushels were handled yearly, but now less than half the amount is handled. E. K. Burnham, Esq., is the present pro- prietor.

CAVES.

There are several caves in the town of Cape Vincent, occurring in the limestone forma- tion, one of which is interesting. Its en- trance is at a point about a quarter of a mile above the stone bridge which crosses Millen's bay. The opening, which is so low that the explorer must creep on hands and knees to enter it, is just at the side of a rivulet that flows down the high bank, breaking into numerous cascades, and adding largely to the already picturesque spot. Having passed through the difficult entrance, the visitor finds himself in a spacious room some 20 or 30 feet square, and as many feet high. It is no doubt owing to the hardness of the Birds- eye limestone in which the cavern is situated, that no stalactitic formations are pendant from the ceilings, as is the case in the great Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, and those in the vicinity of Cumberland Gap, Ky., where the limestone is much softer and more easily disintegrated by the action of water; however, in this case the ceiling or roof of the cavern is incrusted with a deposit of dazzling white- ness, which glitters in the light, making the interior very beautiful. The floor of the room is covered with dry sand for the most part of the year, though during some es- pecially wet seasons, the cave is an outlet for considerable surface drainage. A very crooked passage leads back from the main chamber first entered, to an extent of several rods, forming in its angles numerous nooks and recesses, which might be easily converted into almost undiscoverable hiding places, and finally comes to the surface through a rift in the covering rock. That this cave was a hid-

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CAPE VINCENT.

ing place for scouts during the War of the Revolution, there is little doubt. In fact, let- ters written by scouts sent from Fort Stanwix to watch the enemy on Carleton Island, then busily engaged in the construction of Fort Haldimand, speak of a "cave where they rested in security, and by going only a few steps from which they had a complete view of the island." That it was at one time a hiding place for "Bill " Johnston, whose fame extended far and wide in the "thirties," is a fact easily substantiated. Be that as it may, it is well worth a visit a visit from the curious. It is said, too, by those who ought to know, that when the cellar of the old stone hotel at Riverside was excavated, a cave was opened, which extended an unknown dis- tance inland ; but on building the cellar wall it was closed. There is another cave on the farm of Mr. Christie Irving, below Riverside, having its entrance in the lime- stone bluff some distance back from the shore of the river. This is not as extensive as the one above described, though of sufficient capacity to form a respectable hid- ing place in case of need. There is also a so-called cave on Carleton Island ; but what- ever may have been its extent in former times, it is now nothing more than a natural sewer for the drainage of quite a large tract of land, and is, in consequence, no doubt, pretty well filled up. In many places along its course, daylight is let into it through large crevices in the rock, while at its inland opening where it comes to the surface, the farmer has dumped loads of stone into it. The probability is that, though fully half a mile long, it is nothing more than a huge crevice in the limestone rock, which may in places widen out into cavities of greater or less extent.

THE LUMBER INDUSTRY.

Cape Vincent, from its earliest settlement until now, has been much interested in lum- bering, first as a producer, but in later years as a consumer and shipper. The late Frank A. Cross was once a large lumber dealer here, and later Mr. L. C. Kelsey handled large amounts of lumber, timber and shingles. There were others also engaged in the lum- ber trade, but space forbids us to enter into details. At present, Mr. J. Albert Scobell represents that interest, as well as others of importance, especially being a large dealer in produce. He has been in business bere about 28 years. In 1882 he erected a substantial grain house, to which a switch extends from the R., W. & O. Railroad main track, and from which his shipments of grain, butter, timothy and clover seeds aggregate a large amount yearly ; and, in addition, his transac- tions in baled hay are large. His lumber business reaches 1,500,000 feet yearly, and in addition he handles from 55,000 to 75,000 cedar posts, and 150 car loads of shingles per year. A re-sawing, planing and matching mill fits his lumber for immediate use as ordered. His business extends through-

out the central part of the State. Most of his stock comes from the great lumber cen- ters of Canada.

It is said that some of the white-oak timber shipped from the lower end of Carleton Isl- land, cut along back of the St. Lawrence river road, in what is now the town of Cape Vincent, entered into the English ships com- posing a part of Nelson's fleet at Trafalgar. This seems to be a well authenticated historic fact, as the oak, grown in this section, was of peculiar value in shipbuilding. But, whether this be true or not, the imaginative student of history delights to believe that the cra he describes is deficient in nothing good or grand.

THE GRANGE.

Cape Vincent Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry No. 549, is one of the flourishing societies of the order in Jefferson county. It now numbers 125 members, with a likeli- hood of a large increase during the coming year. That it has done much since its for- mation a few years since, to inculcate its principles, and thereby elevate and instruct its members, need not be told here. Its good effects are apparent on every hand; and the Grange hall should be the resort- and in time it will be-of every progressive farmer in the land. The principal officers for the year are: Master, Edgar J. Vincent ; Secretary, Fred McQuain; Treasurer, Fred Rheinbeck.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES

According to a handbill, kindly shown us by John B. Grapotte, Esq., the first "An- nual Cattle Fair" of the first Cape Vincent Agricultural Society, was held on Thursday, September 25, 1851. The officers of the. society were: William Ainsworth, Presi- dent; Jacob Van Ostrand, Vice-President ; Simon Howard, 2d Vice-President; Robert C. Bartlett, Recording Secretary ; L. H. Ainsworth, Corresponding Secretary ; and S. W. Ainsworth, Treasurer. The general committee were : R. T. Lee, S. L. Kelsey A. F. McWayne, Thomas Tarbell and Robert Moore. Room Committee: Charles Smith, F. A. Cross and Matthew Morrison. The following announcement is made: "All persons, other than members of the Society, and their families, with badges, will be charged six and a quarter cents admittance."

This society was but short-lived, and held but one, or at the most two annual exhibi- tions. The present Agricultural Society was organized in 1883, with A. B. Cleveland, President ; E. L. Beaufort, 1st Vice-Presi- dent ; J. B. Grapotte, 2d Vice-President ; L. G. Kelsey, Secretary, and L. O. Woodruff Treasurer. Suitable grounds were purchased and fenced, buildings erected, a fine trotting track graded, and everything prepared to hold exhibitions, which have ever since been continued with varying success, the last one being very successful. The present officers are: Philetus Judd, President ; Fred A. Bur- dick, Secretary ; Charles B. Wood, Treasurer.

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

SEED HOUSES.

Of these there are two; the Cleveland Seed Company and the Cape Vincent Seed Com- pany. The first seed house was started in 1879, by Artie B. Cleveland, of Adams, Jefferson county, N. Y., whose father, Hon. J. M. Cleveland, was the pioneer of the busi- ness of growing peas and beans in Northern New York-having begun the business in Adams in 1851. Experience long ago demon- strated the fact that certain localities pro- duce perfect seeds : that is to say, seeds fully matured, and reliable as to germinating qualities, so that they are valuable for seed. Certain portions of the country bordering on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence river, both in Canada and the United States, have been found to be suitable for such growths, especially peas, beans and some other varie- ties in the way of small garden seeds. Be- coming aware of this fact, Mr. Cleveland located his business at Cape Vincent, and commenced the growing of peas on a large scale, by furnishing seeds to farmers and contracting to pay large prices for the crops. It is needless to say that the business was a success from the outset. A large building was erected, suitable power and machinery put in, only to be followed with an additional building having a greater capacity, additional machinery, and yet that was not enough. More land was acquired and other buildings erected; docks were built and branches established at Sackets Harbor, Kingston, Colborne and Picton, Ont., and finally a stock company was formed, with head- quarters in New York, in whose hands the business still remains. Mr. Cleveland having retired. The present company have enlarg- ed their plant in Picton, Ont., until it rivals the original in Cape Vincent. In Cape Vin- cent, the growing of small seeds is rapidly gaining in importance.

Anything like a full description of the de- tails of the business carried on here, with the most improved methods, processes and machinery, some of the latter invented in the building, and especially the preparation of "split peas " for the grocery trade-than which no firm produces a superior article- would, of itself, fill a book; and so we must be content with but a few lines more. The company employs a large number of hands at all times, and during the picking season, when the peas are all carefully hand-picked, rendering them absolutely clean and free from imperfect grains, a large number of women and girls are employed, aggregating in all 200 or more people.

The output of this house yearly is 150,000 bushels of peas, 15,000 to 20,000 bushels of garden beans, 2,000 to 3,000 bushels of sweet corn, besides garden seeds of all kinds, and a stock of 25,000 bushels of peas and beans held in reserve each year for seed. The company cultivates large gardens, and devotes much time to developing new and better varieties of seed, with great success. The members of the company resident in

Cape Vincent, are: S. M. Pease, Manager; and Robert S. Fowler, Treasurer. Other members of the company reside in New York.

The next venture in the seed-growing line was started by Howard & Underhill, who organized a company and erected a large building on Broadway, opposite the R., W. & O. R. R. station, from which a side track leads to the house. The first company failed, and the business went into other hands. The writer has been unable to pro- cure any data whatever from the local management, but the following are under- stood to be the officers of the company : C. V. Sidell, New York, President; E. N. Jackson, New York, Treasurer and General Manager; Macomb Grey, Esq., of Cape Vincent, superintendent of the seed-growing department; D. A. Anderson, of Cape Vin- cent, local manager. The business seems to be successfully carried on, though to what extent the writer is unable to ascertain.

BUSINESS HOUSES.

Henry Zimmerman, dealer in furniture.

Cape Vincent Seed Company, Limited, growers of peas and beans.

Union House, H. T. Frisbie, proprietor.

Miss Minnie Davis, millinery and fancy goods.

G. W. Warren, dealer in groceries, boots, shoes, crockery, books, stationery.

Horton & Shaffer, groceries, boots and shoes.

Frank N. Potter, collector of port of Cape Vincent.

Thomas Holland, baker and confectioner.

M. S. Cornair, groceries and provisions.

Arniel Brothers, diamonds, watches, jewel- ry and silverware.

W. C. Wills, Cape Vincent boat livery, also manufacturer of St. Lawrence river boats.

William Anthony, groceries, boots and shoes.

Eliza Williams, laundry.

Abner Millen, meat market.

Lloyd O. Woodruff, druggist, dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, crockery.

E. C. Kelsey, insurance in first-class com- panies; life, fire, accident, plate glass, marine.

Bank of Cape Vincent, E. K. Burnham, president ; S. S. Block, cashier.

The Cleveland Seed Company, manufactu- rers of Cleveland's New Process Split Peas.

Mann & Company, dealers in tested garden seeds.

L. G. Kelsey, dealer in drugs, medicines, groceries, crockery, toilet articles, etc.

Fred Stowell, attorney at law.

John H. Grapotte, dealer in drugs and medicines, groceries, cigars, tobacco, ladies' fine shoes.

Lake Ontario Fish Company, Limited, wholesale dealers in fresh, salt and frozen fish,

R. J. J. Newman, groceries, books, news- papers, stationery, etc.

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CAPE VINCENT.

Henry G. Dawson, M. D., physician and surgeon.

J. L. Dunning, postmaster.

James Augustus, harness-maker.

H. N. Bushnell, M. D., physician and sur- geon.

Dr. George A. Potter, surgeon dentist.

August Charles, blacksmith and carriage maker.

W. G. Northam, undertaker, of 40 Arsenal street, Watertown, has a branch store.

Burdick & Armstrong, general merchants. John F. Constance, ready-made clothing, hats, caps, etc.

C. W. Londraville, barber, undertaker and embalmer, and dealer in undertakers' sup- plies.

Joseph C. Gregor, dealer in family grocer- ies, tobacco, cigars, confectionery, fishing tackle, fancy goods, notions, etc.

Dr. S. W. Gordon, surgeon dentist.

Watertown Dry Goods Store, Henry John- son, manager.

Fitzgerald & Dunning, dealers in fresh, salt and smoked meats, groceries, vegetables and fruit.

E. K. Burnham, president Bank of Cape Vincent, grain elevator and coal dealer.

Parker Bros., general merchandise.

Levi Rousseau, livery and sale stable. Christopher Clark, livery stable.

P. Reed & Son, coopers.

Henry Potter, M. D., physician and sur- geon.

R. A. Davis, real estate.

S. S. Black, insurance.

Joseph Peo, boat livery and builder.

Henry Glenn, painter, wall paper ware-

house.

Thomas Masson, M. D., physician and sur- geon.

Adam Van Leuven, veterinary surgeon.

Mrs. Van Leuven, millinery.

M. E. Lee, counselor and attorney at law.

Peter Garloch, dealer in boots and shoes.

Henry Earl & Co., wagon and carriage making and blacksmithing.

J. H. Kelley & Son, blacksmiths.

Stratford & Co., blacksmithing.

C. P. Morrison, meat market.

S. Vincent, shoemaker.

Cape Vincent Hotel, - Hyde, proprietor.

Andrew Gareis, bottling works.

Miss Kate Walsh, millinery.

P. Walsh, tailor.

C. B. Wood, printer and publisher.

FREDERICK A. FOLGER.

FREDERICK A. FOLGER was born in Nan- tucket, in 1809, and at the age of 14, came with his father, Captain Matthew Folger, to Cape Vincent. But little is to be ascertained concerning his boyhood days from childhood up to 14 years of age; but from the fact that his father was a "sea captain," and that in those days the whole trade was the absorb- ing business of Nantucket, it is more than likely that Captain Matthew Folger was one of those adventurous spirits who helped to make the American whale fishermen known in every quarter of the globe; and to establish his fame on the highest pinnacle, for adventurous daring, supreme courage in time of danger, and for a power of endurance unequaled; to which may be added a degree of intelligence not usual to those of other nations.

Be this as it may, the young Frederick possessed many, if not all of these traits to a degree that goes far to fully establish much that enthusiastic devotees of heredity claim for it. At the time of his arrival at the village of Cape Vineent, it was just fairly re- covering from the enervating effects of the War of 1812-15, and beginning to show some indications that it might in a few years become a prosperous town. Its educational advantages were not great, but such as they were, they were fully improved by this lad, who early showed signs of a natural aptitude for the acquirement of knowledge, far above the average; and in fact, throughout his whole life he gave evidence of a great love for intellectual pursuits, especially along the

line of poetical composition-as some fugi- tive pieces from his facile pen, which are yet in existence, will abundantly prove. In those days, however, writing poetry was not an available method of winning wealth nor anything else, beyond a mere local renown ; and so the young man took up more profit- able employment. With true "down East " instincts, he was a born speculator ; that is to say, he had the instincts of trade. he was quick to see in which direction an opening lay, or in what occupation he was most likely to realize the greatest profit with the quickest returns; and so, when he was ready to assume the responsibility of engag- ing in business for himself, he began the slaughtering of beeves for market. At this time it was a profitable trade, and the young man made a success of the business. In .view of his parentage, and what must have been his childhood associations in Nantucket, that Mecca of seamen, it would have been strange if the young Frederick had not him- self had something to do with ships and shipping. Accordingly, at one time we find him in command of a small sloop, trading be- tween Cape Vincent and Gananoque, at which port the farmers found their best wheat market, because of the flouring mills which were erected there at an early date.

Connected with this trade, Captain Hinck- ley, of Cape Vincent, now a very old gentle- man, relates, with great glee, a story about Mr. Folger. Captain Hinckley was also engaged at the same time in trading between the same places, and on one occasion when returning

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 105

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823- Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company Number of Pages: 1098

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098