The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 107

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 107

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PETER GARLOCH is a son of Peter Garloch, deceased, a native of Germany, who came to Cape Vincent in 1856. Mr. Garloch is a prosperous boot and shoe merchant, of Cape Vincent. He married Miss Nellie Ewings, of Kemptville, Ont., and they have a family of interesting children.

ADAM I. CRATSENBURG is a son of John A. and grandson of Adam Cratsenburg, a soldier of the Revolution. He was born in Johnstown, N. Y .; April 6, 1817, and came to Cape Vincent as keeper of Tibbett's Point light, in 1866. He married Miss Mary Grems, of Minden, Montgomery county, N. Y., by whom he had 11 children. Mr. Crats- enburg served two years in Company I, 35th N. Y. Infantry, and re-enlisted in Company M, 15th N. Y. Heavy Artillery. He was in the battles of Rappahannock Station, Cold Harbor, Spottsylvania, Fredericksburg, Wil- derness, Antietam and South Mountain. On the 2nd of June, 1864, he was wounded, lost an arm, was captured and confined in Libby Prison two months and 11 days. He was honorably discharged January 20, 1865.

RICHARD A. DAVIS is the son of Henry S. Davis, deceased. He was born in Mont- gomery county, and in 1873 came to Cape Vincent, where he now resides. He married Miss Lydia Brook, of Belleville, Ont., by whom he has four children. Mr. Davis was a sergeant in Company H, 11th U. S. Infan- try during the late rebellion. He took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania, in front of Petersburg and before Richmond, in one of which he was wounded. At the close of hostilities he was for some time in charge of one of the supply stations in Richmond. He now deals in real estate in Cape Vincent, makes collections, and is a successful practitioner in the Justice's Court.

CHRISTOPHER CLARK is a son of John D. Clark, deceased. He is a native of Cape Vincent, and the proprietor of a livery stable, besides carrying on a large teaming business. He married Miss Arzelia Brougham, by whom

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CAPE VINCENT.

he has several children. He served during the late war in Co. M, 10th N. Y. H. A. for three years and was honorably discharged. He was wounded at Fort Richmond, and at the time of Lee's surrender, he was a wound- dresser in the hospital at Washington.

E. CARLOS KELSEY is a son of Eli Kelsey, who settled in Cape Vincent in 1808. Carlos was born in Cape Vincent, and educated in the district schools. He married Miss Anna M. Preston, daughter of Rev. J. B. Preston, a prominent Presbyterian clergyman. They have three children: Louis Preston, Laura A., and Mary M. Louis P. is a book-keeper for the Detroit Stove Works. Miss Laura A., is an accomplished young lady, a graduate of the Oxford (O.) Female College ; Miss Mary M., has partially completed her studies in a celebrated school for young ladies in Detroit. Mr. Kelsey has for many years done a large business in both fire and life insurance. The author is indebted to him for valuable infor- mation.

FREDERICK G. SHAFER is a son of William Shafer, a native of Nida, Germany, who came to this country in 1831, locating on a farm in Cape Vincent. Frederick G. was raised on a farm, and received his education in the common schools; he became one of Cape Vincent's prominent and successful farmers. He married Miss Frank Frazell, and they have two daughters, Nettie and Elsie, the former recently married. Mr. Shafer has lately gone into general merchan- dizing, and bids fair to be a success in his new line of business.

ELISHA WARREN, from Massachussetts, came to Houndsfield, where he located on a farm among the early settlers of the town, and there remained until his death. He married Lydia Potter, of Houndsfield, and, of his eight children, Rensselaer removed to Hen- derson, where he died at the age of 39 years. He married Charlotte, daughter of Doctor David and Hannah (Sherwood) Dickerson, of Redfield, Oswego Co., N. Y., and their chil- dren were Glorian C., Marion A., Lafayette M., Oscar M., Antoinette A. and George W. The latter, who was born in Houndsfield, came to Cape Vincent in May, 1852, at the age of 51, engaging in the mercantile trade, which he continued for over 20 years. He married Mary A. Forsyth, of Cape Vincent, daughter of John W. and Sarah (Rogers) Forsyth, and their children are Charlotte M., Sarah C., George R. and Jennie A. He was elected and served as Town Clerk three years, having the support of both political parties ; was commissioned in 1867 by Governor Fen- ton Adjutant of 36th Regiment National Guard, State of New York, with rank of First Lieutenant. In 1873 he engaged in the lum- her trade in Canada, which was continued for four years ; after which he became connected with the United States customs service as Inspector of Bonded Merchandise for two years, and was then appointed by President Hayes Collector of Customs for the District of Cape Vincent, N. Y., for four years from

March, 1879. He was re-appointed by Presi- dent Arthur for another term of four years, which he served in full, the last two years being under President Cleveland. He then re-engaged in his former occupation, and is now doing a successful business in general merchandise in the village of Cape Vincent. During the Rebellion Mr. Warren was chair- man of the War Committee of town of Cape Vincent, for the purpose of securing volun- teers and supplying wants of soldiers' fami- lies that might be in need.

ABNER ROGERS, a native of West Spring- field, died at Cape Vincent, N. Y., in 1875, in his 79th year. He moved to that place (then Gravelly Point), with his father's fam- ily in 1809, and remained until 1813. During the first year of the War of 1812, he was a member of an independent rifle company, and did good service at Sackets Harbor and other points on the frontier. At the end of that year he returned to his old home, and apprenticing himself to his "Uncle Hosea" Bliss, he learned the blacksmith trade, then married Laura Wolcott, and managed a shop for himself, in which he labored until 1835, when, with his family, which had been in- creased by three boys, he again moved to Cape Vincent, where he took up a tract of land at the foot of Lake Ontario, which was then a primitive forest, and by dint of an in- dustry that never tired and a constitution of iron, chopped, cleared, built, fenced, cultivated and beautified it, so that he obtained a com- petency and a delightful home. He is men- tioned in the West Springfield centennial proceedings as "the famous drummer and blacksmith who went to the Black River country in Northern New York." For many years he attended the "general trainings" and Fourth of July celebrations, always taking a place in the band with his drum. On these occasions, even after he had reached his three- score-and-ten, his step was wonderfully elas- tic, and his eye burned with the fire of youth. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and died, as he lived, a good man. His son, Augustus, occupies the old home in Cape Vincent.

JOHN H. NIMS was born at Fort Ann, N. Y., and in 1823 came to Cape Vincent. He married Abigail, daughter of William and Sally (Boutwell) Brown, of Orleans, and his children are Frances E., Annette L., Sarah S., William A. and Charles W. He married for his second wife Miss Almira Robinson, of Cape Vincent. He has resided at his present location on road 54 for 31 years.

GEORGE LANIGER was born in Cape Vin- cent, where he married Jane, daughter of John B. and Margaret (Coenaire) Brunot, by whom he has two children, George B. and Eva A., and is a farmer on road 14, corner 19, in this town.

WILLIAM MAJO was born in St. Jacobs, Canada, and in 1825 came to this town. He married Mary Butler, and their children are Bruce, Albert C., William M., Natilla L. and Mary F., and he is a farmer on Carleton

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Island, where he has resided 35 years. Albert C. Majo married Mary E. Parsons, of Mus- kegon, Mich., where he now resides. He has three children.

JOHN ARMSTRONG, horn in this town, mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of William and Hannah (Moore) Stowell, by whom he had five children, viz: William, Annie, Robert, Brayton and Charles He is now a farmer on road 49, where he has resided 18 years. He has the confidence of his townsmen, and has held the office of assessor for six years. His son Charles is a general merchant at Cape Vincent village, of the firm of Burdic & Armstrong.

FRANK WILEY, born in Cape Vincent, mar- ried first, Mary, daughter of Edward Ellens, who hore him four children. viz : Josie, May, Gertie and Ernst. By his second wife, Martha, daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Lawyer) Shell, he has one daughter, Flora, and they reside on the farm where he was born. Peter Wiley, a farmer, married Mary, daughter of Peter and Mary (Aran) Zimmerman, of this town, and their children are Frances, Eddie, Fred, Ella and Albert,

URIEL M. BURNETT was born in Gouver- neur, and in 1839, at the age of 17 years, lo- cated in this town on road 4, where he now resides. He married Almira, daughter of George and Mary (Gordinier) Simmons, of Fredericksburg, Canada, and they have three children, viz: Anna A., Theodore W. and Clarence E. He served in the late war in Co. M, 10th New York Heavy Artillery, was disabled, and is now a pensioner.

LOUIS R. DEZENGREMEL was born in this town. He married Esther, daughter of John B. and Rose (Cocagne) Grapotte, by whom he has three children, viz: Marion C., Es- telle R. and Alfred L. He resides on the homestead farm. Frank Dezengremel, son of Francis P., married Harriet J., daughter of Joseph and Cornelia (Calvin) Crevolin, and their children are: Edna M. and Ray- mond F. He is a retired merchant at Cape Vincent, where he resides on the homestead. Charles Dezengremel, son of Francis P., married Clarissa A., daughter of Charles A. and Genevieve (Brauch) Gosier, and their children are Charles E., Sadie G. and Walter E. and Wallace (twins). He is a farmer.

PETER FRALEY was born in this town, married Julia, daughter of Christopher and Mary (Barberry) Adams, and their children are George J. W., Malinda C., Frank, Mell- ford P., Christopher E., Ella N. and Mary B. He is a farmer and miller, and has re- sided on the homestead farm for 22 years. Mrs. Fraley's father, Christopher Adams, a native of Germany, came to this town in 1845. His nine children were Peter H., Christopher, Julia (Mrs. Fraley), Mary Ann, Margaret, Katie, Mary B., George and Eliza- beth.

BRAINARD RICE married Electa A., daugh- ter of Philetus and Eliza (Holcomb) Judd, their children are Albert E., Charles O. and Jessie A. They reside on the homestead farm.

ANDREW F. McWAYNE was born in Houndsfield in 1820. He married Lorina C., daughter of Daniel T. and Catharine (Ding- man) Patterson, and his children are: Ella A., Fred E., Kittie C. and Carrie. He has lived nearly 50 years on road 54. His daughter Kittie C., married Clarence E., a son of James and Mary Wiggins, of Lyme.

ALLEN WILSON was born in LeRay, came to Cape Vincent in 1856, and still resides here. He married Emily I., daughter of Othniel and Louie (Hubbard) Spinning, of this town, and is now a retired farmer.

GEORGE SAUNDERS came from England to Cape Vincent with his parents. He married, first, Mary A. Tarrant, and they had three children : William H., Marian E. and Oscar. He married, second, Georgie, daughter of James and Adelia (Fuller) Folger, of Cape Vincent, by whom he has four children, viz : Minnie G., Hiram B., Clara C. and G. Blake. He is now a farmer in this town, where he has resided 21 years. Joseph Saunders was born in England, and came to Cape Vincent with his father. He married Harriet A., daughter of John A. and Clarissa (Hollen- beck) Vincent of this town, by whom he had three children, viz: William and Cora, de- ceased, and Josephine. He is a resident of Cape Vincent, and has been a lake captain for over 20 years.

JAMES H. TUFT was born in Canada, and came to Cape Vincent in 1871. He mar- ried Maria T., daughter of Nicholas and Jane (Servet) Saillet, of this town, and their chil- dren are: Annie L., Jennie E., LaFayette E. and Jane T. James H. Tuft enlisted in Company A, 8th Ohio Infantry, for three years, or during the war, was honorably dis- charged, and is now a farmer in this town.

THOMAS W. S. MASSON was born in St. Andrews, Scotland, located in Canada in 1827, where he now resides. He married Margaret Greig, who hore him seven chil- dren. viz: James, Sarah, Ellen, William, Norman, Stewart and Thomas. The latter, was born in Seymour, Northumberland county, Canada, and came to Cape Vincent in 1875, where he has been since located as a physician and surgeon. He graduated from Queen's University, at Kingston, Canada, in 1872. He married Mary, daughter of Jere- miah Selter, of Lyme, and they have one son, Jeremiah S. Dr. Masson is a very suc- cessful practitioner.

DANIEL FITZGERALD was born in Lewis county, and in 1878 removed to Cape Vin- cent, where he died in 1885, aged 56 years. He married Alice, daughter of John and Mary (Hayes) Kanaley, who bore him seven children, viz : John, Michael, William, Mor- ris, Mary, Eugene and Daniel L. The latter was born in Clayton, and in 1877 removed to this town, where he now resides. He mar- ried Sophia, daughter of Patrick and Mary (Furlong) Walsh, of Cape Vincent, and they have three children. Mr. Fitzgerald has served as supervisor of Cape Vincent, and also president of the village.

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R. W. & O. R. R .- SUGAR RIVER BRIDGE, -LOCKS ON BLACK RIVER CANAL.

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CHAMPION.

This town, embracing Township No. 4 of the 11 towns, was formed from Mexico by an act of March 14, 1800, including all that part of the present town of Denmark, north of Deer river. It received its name from Gen. Henry Champion, of Colchester, Connecticut, who was one of the early proprietors of this town, and also very extensively interested in lands in Ohio, and in the western part of this State.

It is the central town on the south-east border of the county. Its surface is broken and hilly. The most elevated portion is the hill in the south angle, known as "Cham- pion Peak," which is 1,700 feet above tide water. From its summit the land descends in a series of broken terraces to Black River. These terraces are undoubtedly the result of glacial action in the earliest times, followed by erosive waterways, whose action can now be plainly traced to the bank of the river. The soil is generally a clay loam, but near the river in some places it is sandy. The north part was more level. Taken as a whole, the town of Champion is a wonder- fully productive, and has always been a prosperous town. In dividing the 11 towns, this, then known as Howard, fell to the share of Harrison & Hoffman, and by them was sold to Gen. Henry Champion.

The supervisors elected previous to 1854, are as follows: 1800-14. Noadiah Hubbard ; 1815, Wilkes Richardson; 1816-17, Stowell Warner; 1818-20, N. Hubbard; 1821, Eseck Lewis; 1822-26, N. Hubbard; 1827, Samuel Dean. At a special town meeting in Octo- ber, Eseck Lewis was chosen to fill a vaeancy ; 1828-29, Henry D. Cadwell; 1830- 33, Otis Loomis; 1834-38, Richard Hurlburt ; 1839-40, David Smith; 1841-43, John Pool, Jr .; 1844, E. Lewis; 1845, James C. Lynde ; 1846, David Smith; 1847, John Pool. Jr .; 1848, William VanHosen ; 1849, D. Smith; 1850, William VanHosen; 1851-53, Benajah A. Lewis. The names from 1854 to the present date (1894), are given on pages 337 to 344.

The town officers elected at the first town meeting, April 1, 1800, were Noadiah Hub- hard, supervisor; Eli Church, clerk; Tim- othy Pool, David Coffeen and William Had- sell, assessors; Ephraim Chamberlain, con- stable and collector ; John Ward and Reuben Rockwood, overseers of the poor; Solomon Ward, Amaziah Parker and Elihu Jones, commissioners of highways; David Coffeen, William Crowell, Timothy Pool and Moses Goodrich, overseers of highways; Levi Barnes, fence viewer ; Bela Hubbard, pound- master.

The following is a record of the first school meeting in town, as it occurs on the records in the town clerk's office :

CHAMPION, October 23, 1800 .- At a regular meet- ing of the inhabitants of the town aforesaid, it was resolved that there shall be a house erected near a spring, on the road running from Noadiah Hubbard's

to Dauiel Coffeen's in sald town; and likewise re- solved, that said house shall be bullt with logs, 16 feet one way, and 20 feet the other way. Also, re- solved by said meeting, that Daniel Coffeen and Noadiah Hubbard shall act as trustees of said school.

Attest, ELI CHURCH, Town Clerk.

Champion was surveyed by Moses and Ben- jamin Wright in 1797, the former subdivid- ing, and the latter surveying around it; the area, according to M. Wright, was 26,703 acres, and by B. Wright 25,708 acres. It was subdivided into lots of 500 acres each.

This town was among the first in which actual settlements were begun in the county. The following advertisement appeared in the Western Sentinel, June 7, 1797:

LAND FOR SALE-Lying on Black river, in the county of Herkimer, and State of New York. Forty lots of land laid out into farms. containing from 100 to 240 acres each. On Inman's Patent. so called, in this township. there is about 40 actual settlers. and a good grist-mill within one mile and (illegible * * * ) on said land. This land is of an excellent soil and the situation convenient and pleasing for settlers. The subscriber will remain on the land the most of the ensuing summer and fall. Terms of payment will be made to accommodate purchasers. Also township No. 4. lying on and adjoining Black river, about 30 miles from Boon's Mills; this township is of an excellent soil; 20 actual settlers will be on this township this summer. For terms, please to apply to the subscriber, who will reside on Inmau's Patent, or to Captain Noadiah Hubbard, of Steuben, who is making a settlement on said township No. 4.

Also for sale, a township of land lying on Black river, near Lake Ontario. These townships are all laid out in lots, and will be sold by large or small quantities, to suit purchasers, and the title indis- putable. Also 10 lots of land to be leased on first tract.

May 10, 1797. LEMUEL STORRS.

Settlement was commenced in this town by Noadiah Hubbard, in 1797. He was afterwards a county judge, and proved him- self an unusually able and successful man. (See his extended sketch on p. 511). He raised a family that have proven themselves worthy of their ancestry. His son, Hon. Frederick W. Hubbard, was a judge of the Supreme Court, and three of his daughters were married to able and distinguished lawyers in Watertown.

We think it a proper place to introduce some remarks by the Judge's talented daughter, Miss Parnell Hubbard, who is now an honored resident of Watertown. Her father wrote for Mr. Hough an able article, relating more particularly to his own ex- perience as a farmer in that early time. Her reminiscences relate more especially to the domestic life of that era, a subject which she handles with a graceful pen. Among other things she says :

"One mile south of the village of Cham- pion, lies the lovely sheet of water called Pleasant Lake ; the resort of romantic youths and maidens in early days. It had formerly a finely-wooded background of hills, and the lake, fed almost entirely by springs, is very deep and transparently pure. It is small in extent, but larger than many of the far- famed English lakes, and quite as beautiful.

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Nearer the village was a deep gulf, through which a considerable stream of water flowed in early days, forming mill-sites at different points. We had to cross this gulf by means of a high timber bridge, in going to and from school. In the intricacies and nooks of this gulf, we children passed many enjoyable hours. On this stream, and nearly one mile apart, were two beaver meadows and the re- mains of beaver dams. These were favorite places of resort in childhood. In the winter, when a sudden thaw caused them to over- flow, and a sudden fall of temperature would cover them with ice, they formed fine skat- ing ponds for the boys and fine sliding places for the girls. The upper meadow was lovely in my young days, and a favorite resort, though it was the stillest and most solemn place I ever knew. No cathedral of the old world I have since visited, with "solemn aisles long drawn out" ever im- pressed me with the solemnity of this place, God's own temple. One felt alone here with his Creator, and afraid to break the stillness. Now and then would come the hoarse voice of a bull-frog, startling one like a voice from the dead. The meadow was a perfect level, covered with dense greensward, and all around the outer margin were immense pine trees, venerable from age, hranches thick, seemingly impenetrable, low, nearly sweep- ing the ground. The rustling of the leaves in the wind, the fragrance of the air, all com- bined to produce the effect above described. I should not have dared express a profane thought there, if such a one had entered my mind. Alone with God ! was always my feeling.

" When it was expected that Champion would become the county seat, a number of professional gentlemen came there and built offices, portions of which are still stand- ing, forming the nucleus of larger buildings. Among these men of note, I will mention : Henry R. Storrs, afterward a noted lawyer in the State, Judge Moss Kent, a brother of the chancellor, Judge Egbert TenEyck, father-in-law of the late Judge Mullin, and others. I have no means of learning when these men left Champion, for it was before my day or recollection. Judge Kent, whom we all regarded as a very dear friend, used to come back occasionally, and we were delighted to see and visit with him. He was engaged matrimonially to Miss Cooper, a sister of Fenimore Cooper, the novelist. She lost her life by being thrown from her horse. He (Judge Kent) lived and died a bachelor. He led a benevolent life, assisting many young people, particularly the daughters of poor clergymen, in obtaining an education. Lucretia Maria Davidson, the poetess, was a protege of his. When Judge Kent left Champion, he placed his miscellaneous library in the home of a friend for safe keep- ing, viz : with the late Mrs. A. Lathrop, the grandmother of George Lathrop, the author, who married the daughter of Hawthorne. It remained there a number of years.

The young people of the present day can scarcely imagine the difficulties of heating and lighting houses 50 years ago in country places. The only light to be depended upon was the tallow candle, generally a home- made one, and happy were they who could afford to burn even one all the time, and two was an extravagance not often to be indulged in. Wax candles were used on extraordinary occasions. After a time the sperm-oil lamp came into use; then we had the burning fluid. It gave a clearer, brighter light than the tallow candle, but was exceedingly dan- gerous, explosions sometimes occurring, mak- ing sad work and depositing an astonishing amount of lampblack, to the dismay of the housekeeper, if nothing worse occurred. Then came the lard lamp; this gave a beauti- ful light, but it required an immense amount of lard of the best quality, and more than most could afford. Before this we had the astral lamp, which was thought to be the grand disideratum, but it proved very troublesome, and, unless used constantly, was sure to fail when most wanted, and this was soon discarded. After a while kerosene oil was introduced, very crude at first, and the color of coffee, but gradually refined and purified as we now see it. The present gen- eration here advanced to gas and electricity for lighting. Have we attained the summit, or is there something brighter to anticipate ? Who can tell? As for heating, we had the old-fashioned fire-place. If the house was of considerable size, there would be a chim- ney in the center, and the rooms around would each have its fire-place, above and be- low. But then we dared not keep fire in them constantly, for each wood fire required watching, else the falling brands would set fire to the house. Consequently no more fires were kept than absolutely necessary. People generally slept in cold rooms. When guests came, if put in beds with linen sheets, the warming-pan, filled with coals, was re- sorted to, making the bed comfortable. The wood fire was beautiful to look at, but troublesome to keep. Wood was so plentiful as to be of no account, and it would be piled up to the crane. Imagine, if you can, what it was to do the family cooking by a huge wood fire. Not one modern conven- ience. It is appalling to look back. But then the cooking was most excellent. It makes one's mouth water to think of it. Such roasted pigs, goslings and turkeys, done to perfection before the fire in the huge tin oven. Think of the amount of work neces- sary to keep the utensels clean. I have in my mind one notable housekeeper, whose copper tea and coffee kettles were daily scoured so bright that a face could be re- flected in them, only to be burned black the first time they were set on the crane over the huge wood fire. Every house had a brick oven, in which the weekly baking was done, but most had also a bake-kettle, heated by coals from the fire (placed underneath), and coals piled on the top of the lid. In these

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 107

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