The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 113

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 113

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

turing business of the firm composed of J. B. Flynn and Myres Thompson, who occu- pied the extensive mill and factory at the corner of Mary and Theresa streets, where a rock projects out into the bay, forming a natural dockage, surrounded by water from 6 to 12 feet deep. Messrs. Strough & Brooks proceeded at once to inaugurate a system of improvements, which cost them several thousands of dollars, but which added cor- respondingly to their facilities. Among the improvements have heen the erection of a store-house for dressed lumber, etc., a fine office building, in which is also a hardware and weighing room below, and a large room on the second floor for priming and glazing purposes ; also docks, a coal house, an engine house in which the Electric Light and Power Company have an 80-borse-power boiler and a 60-horse-power engine, which propels the machinery for Strough & Brooks. The factory is furnished with the latest improved machinery for manufacturing sash, doors and blinds, wood turning, and for the turning out of all kinds of joiner goods, furnishing employment to from 20 to 30 skilled work- men. Arthur B. Strough is the efficient book- keeper, and John W. Williams is the archi- tect and supervising foreman on all their job work outside. A large part of their con- tract work is in the erection of buildings planned and drafted by him, and he has demonstrated his ability in all that he has undertaken. George W. Potter is foreman of the factory.

Thousand Island Electric Light and Power Company was organized in 1887 and reorgan- ized in 1888. The new company went into effect January 1, 1889. The plant is at Strough & Brooks' mill. Twenty-eight arc lights and 100 incandescent lights are in use. The capital stock of the company is $15,000. C. A. Ellis is president ; C. E. Rees, secre- tary and Seymour B. Barker, treasurer and general manager.

St. Lawrence River Skiff, Canoe and Steam Launch Company, successors to A. Bain & Co., is located in Clayton village, where an extensive business is done in the manufac- ture of all kinds of small water craft. A specialty is made of skiffs, canoes and steam launches. The fame of the St. Lawrence river skiff is known, not only throughout the United States and Canada, but also in England, Australia and other foreign coun- tries. The boat-building industry of Clay- ton was begun in a desultory way about 20 years ago, by Xavier Colon. His means were limited, and his appliances for skill and economical work were crude, yet his genius was in the right direction, and led to splendid results. As the island population increased, the demand for hoats grew rapidly, until finally several men were employed in their manufacture. At last Dr. A. Bain conceived the idea of uniting the entire boat-building business under one head. In 1873 the first shop was built for Xavier Colon, and the business was prosecuted with much vigor.

In 1887 a company was formed under the firm name .of A. Bain & Co., backed by capital in the hands of wealthy citizens of New York City, which was followed by the erection of the present extensive factory, 50 by 100 in size, three stories high, with a base- ment and an extensive garret, or dormer story. One year after the formation of the company the present comprehensive name was given to it, and the manufacture of steam launches, canoes, and other special forms of boats was undertaken.

The St. Lawrence River Skiff and Steam Launch Company is owned by the well- known sporting-goods firm of A. G. Spald- ing & Bro., of New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. J. G. Fraser is president of the company and general manager. For minute description of these vessels see p. 167.

Ship-building began at Clayton in 1832, hy Smith & Merick, sometimes giving employ- ment to as many as 100 men. From two to four vessels have been built here annually, making a total of from 75 to 100, including most of the splendid steamers of the old On- tario and St. Lawrence Steamboat Company's lines. This business began here at about the time the burthensome tonnage duties upon the lakes (amounting almost to a prohibition) had been removed in part by Hon. Joseph Hawkins, of Henderson, who represented this district in Congress, From this time there existed no limit to the size of the ves- . sels but that of the locks of the Welland Canal.

Johu Oades commenced building for E. G. Merick & Co. and Fowler & Esselstyn in 1841.

Mr. Johnson is the only one now engaged in ship-building at Clayton, Messrs. John Oades and Fowler & Esselstyn having re- moved to Detroit, Mich. During the last few years Mr. Johnson has built several steam yachts.

The large steamers built at Clayton by Messrs. Merick & Fowler, under the direc- tion of Mr. John Oades, were the finest ever seen upon the inland waters of America. These steamers ran between Lewiston and Ogdensburg, in what was called the express line, and was popular and well patronized. The construction of railroads upon both sides of the river, however, drew away the traffic upon which these boats had depended, and after a while they were discontinued and their routes abandoned. The fate of some of them is to the writer unknown. The New York, one of the largest of these boats, a fine side-wheeler, and the Bay State, he thinks, he saw lying in the Potomac, below Wash- ington, in 1863, they being under charter to the government. Their transportation down the rapids of the St. Lawrence must have been a hazardous business, and when once upon the lower river they had a long sea voyage before them, through the Gut of Cansu, almost in sight of Newfoundland, out upon the open ocean to Boston, and so along the coast, exposed to the winds of the dangerous capes of the Delaware.

CLAYTON.

529

THE firm of Folger Bros. are justly re- garded as an important factor in the growing business of the St. Lawrence river, and especially so among the Thousand Islands. We are glad to say that, although they have long been prominently connected with the business growth of Kingston, they are yet Jefferson county boys, born and reared in Cape Vincent. They took to the great river as naturally as ducks do to water, and are successful, pushing business men, showing their capacity in the character of the boats they own, which are all run by picked crews-men who know how to treat the great mass of summer tourists and island

and every energy is required to make it a success, but the splendid service of the New York Central Railroad and the Thousand Island Steamboat Company is rapidly developing the business, which promises to increase rapidly each year-for the season of 1894, a period of great financial depression, has fully demonstrated, by the large crowds of visitors, that these islands are not neglect- ed or overlooked by the American people. They have only to be seen to be appreciated.

The writer saw at one time last season over 1,000 people standing upon the dock at Clayton one afternoon, waiting patiently for their baggage to be transferred to the boats.

THE PALACE STEAMER ST. LAWRENCE,

residents who yearly congregate among these historic and beautiful islands.

Only a few years ago the route among the Thousand Islands was run by a small boat carrying only 20 passengers, now it is one of the finest services on the inland waters of the country, performed by the steamer St. Lawrence, allowed to carry about 900 passen- gers, the Islander, smaller, but very popular, and the steamer Empire State, allowed to carry 1,000 people, besides several small steamers. These boats have a wide reputa- tion for cleanliness and management, and have carried millions of people and never wet a foot nor harmed a hair. The season really consists of only about 40 days' work,

The Islander took a part, and the St. Law- rence the remainder, and in half an hour not a single passenger could be seen. Fully one- half of these people landed at Thousand Island Park, and a large majority of the balance sought Alexandria Bay, where two mammoth hotels, the Crossmon and the Thousand Island House, quickly swallowed them up.

There was one remarkable feature of the season of 1894. There were immense crowds at different times, but the average duration of the stay was quite limited-showing want of capital.

The steamboat service of the Folgers is as good as that upon the Hudson and upon the

530

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Sound, acknowledged to be the best in the world. These steamers are grandly supple- mented by the service upon the New York Central Railroad. Palace cars bring the passenger right to the wharf, and the steamers are "only 20 feet away."

BUSINESS MEN OF CLAYTON VILLAGE.

Clayton has for many years been an im- portant industrial center for the town it be- longs to. Its situation upon the river caused it early to become an important and interest- ing spot, made more so by Jesse Smith, Messrs. Merick & Fowler, John Oades, and by Mr .. A. F. Barker, now a retired banker, but with his mind as bright and as active as at 40. The present business firms are nearly as follows :

First National Bank of Clayton, A. F. Barker, Prest .; Wm. Rees, Vice-Prest .; H. W. Morse, cashier ; A. A. Warner, asst. cash- ier. Capital $50,000. A solid, reliable, ac- commodating bank, well officered, well man- aged.

Exchange Bank, organized under State law. John Johnston, prest .; Jacob Putnam, vice-prest .; R. P. Grant, cashier. Entirely reliable.

Wlliam D. Clark, hardware and groceries, 57 James street. He also deals in paints and oils, tools, etc.

S. E. Howard, staple and fancy groceries, fruits and vegetables.

A. E. Wood, wall-paper, books and station- ery, 87 Water street.

Dewey Brothers, funeral directors.

W. H. Thorpe has a fine store, an excellent stock, and comes from good old Philadelphia, Pa. He deals in watches, silverware, jew- elry, etc., 31 James street. Worthy of con- fidence, as be is an honest man.

H. Roof & Son, tinners and jobbers, 39 James street.

A. G. Holstein, ready-made clothing, hats, caps, etc.

G. E. & J. O. Thibault, dry goods, grocer- ies, boots and shoes.

G. H. McKinley, dry goods, silks, boots and shoes.

D. C. Porter, furniture, groceries, etc. The village undertaker, and an excellent one.

E. A. Burlingame, staple and fancy grocer- ies, crockery, fruits and vegetables.

James Johnson, agent, dry goods, grocer- ies and merchandise.

Hall & Co., groceries, drugs, confectionery, fishing tackle. Put up prescriptions.

H. S. Johnson, master steamer Nightin- gale, running to down-river points. A neat boat.

Columbian Boat Livery, E. C. Rogers, proprietor. Keeps boats to let, builds and repairs boats.

G. M. Hungerford, furnaces and stoves. Plumbing and jobbing.

Strough & Brooks, lumber merchants, con- tractors and builders.

M. A. Roof & Son, staple groceries and provisions.

C. A. Ellis, druggist; compounds prescrip- tions, and keeps fishing tackle, groceries and camp supplies.

W. A. Webster, extensively engaged in lumber, and a large manufacturer of house- building material.

H. L. Barker, general merchandise.

Clayton Marble Works, M. L. Everest, proprietor.

J. Swart, meats, groceries, provisions, con- fectionery, fruits.

John Foley, hoots and shoes.

Simon Breslow, clothing, hats, caps, fur- nishing goods.

H. E. & G. E Morse, attorneys and coun- sellors at law.

E. E. Cuppernall, groceries, provisions, canned goods, fruits, confectionery.

Robert H. Hambley, clothier and gents' furnisher.

E. M. Cook machinist, steam-fitter and plumber.

Wm. W. Hawes, watchmaker.

H. Mount, harness, blankets.

Atwood Bros., robes, miscellaneous hard- ware, Atwood's center-board.

R. E. Dingman, baker.

W. H. Consaul, coal, feed and flour.

E. C. Rogers, boat livery.

S. G. Johnson, ship yard for building and repairing.

Pastime Hotel, Bertrand & Boganschietz.

Walton House, T. M. Esseltyn, (first class). New Windsor Hotel.

Hayes House, T. K. Hayes.

Dewey House, B. J. Bettinger.

Mahar & Fitzgerald, coal dealers.

S. S. Beck, photographer.

Joel Crouch, boat builder and inventor.

W. A. Webster, planing mill.

S. G. Johnson, runs the Alert; makes hourly trips down the river as far as Fine View.

D. E. Smith, fancy goods, confectionery, news and stationery.

Mrs. A. Locklin, milliner.

Joseph F. Graves, groceries, provisions, mill feed.

H. F. Dewey, station agent, R., W. & O. R. R.

Jas. Hayes, agent, shelf and heavy hard- ware, stoves, etc.

Miss E. M. Wood, telegraph operator. A very capable, pleasant, thoughtful lady.

Alexander Manson, merchant tailor.

George Fraser, blacksmith and manufac- turer of stone-cutting tools.

E. B. Collins, dealer in meats.

C. E. Rees, ship-chandler.

There is this to be said about the business of Clayton, as we have hitherto remarked: it is very generally in the hands of reliable, active men, most of whom came up by their own industry and enterprise, and know the value of what they have earned. They are a thrifty set, both gentlemanly and obliging, ready at all times to wait upon customers, and the village trade is gradually growing to larger proportions.

531

CLAYTON.

GEN. WILLIAM H. ANGEL.

WHEN the writer prepared the notice of this distinguished citizen (see p. 107) he was unable to procure a likeness of the General, hut through the courtesy of Mrs. J. D. Johnston, of Clayton, General Angel's niece, we are able to present the picture shown ahove. Our own personal recollections of General Angel are peculiarly pleasant. His first wife, a most charitable, amiable and beautiful Christian lady, was a warm friend of my dear mother, and one of my youthful experiences was in driving them in a harouche from Watertown to Syracuse, where a woman's convention of some kind was to be held, and to which these two progressive women were delegates.

Gen. Angel was a man of fine presence,

always approachable, and though a Whig in politics, was pre-eminently a Democrat in deportment. He was a very amiable man, kind to every one. He was a pioneer of Clayton, but after a long residence there and at Sackets Harhor he finally located in Watertown, his residence being the fine stone dwelling now occupied by Mr. Herring, corner of Washington and Clinton streets. His acquaintance with the farmers was ex- tensive, for he had been in his early life a clerk for that Jesse Smith who founded Smithville, and there purchased whatever the pioneer farmers had to sell. Gen. Angel, Jesse Smith and Joseph Sheldon were the originators of the old Bank of Sackets Har- bor, so long in operation,

532

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

MR. H. E. MORSE.

THE great-grandfather of H. E. Morse, moved from Massachusetts to New Hamp- shire. His fourth son, Joseph, was H. E. Morse's grandfather, and he was born June 8, 1770. This grandfather married Betsey Elizabeth Finley. She was born February 13, 1776. He was a school teacher by profession, but his children were reared

on a farm about seven miles east of South Charlestown, N. H. Of this marriage six children were raised to maturity, three boys and three girls. Hiram Morse, father of H. E., was the oldest child of this family. He was born December 26, 1800. When he arrived at the age of 21 he removed to New York State, worked by the month at farming and other occupations until he and his next younger brother, Samuel D. Morse, bought

a farm on Dry Hill, in the town of Water- town.

About the time of this purchase, he mar- ried, September 23, 1830, Adaline Rogers, the third daughter of Eli and Hannah Rogers, of Watertown. Their family con- sisted of five children, three boys and two girls. H. E. Morse was the first born. His maternal grandfather, Eli Rogers, was born in the town of Watertown, Mass., May 26, 1774. He married Hannah Whitney, July 17, 1798, in Natick, Mass., where she then lived, and where she was born. She was born August 6, 1778. In 1851 her younger brother resided on the homestead farm, the fifth generation of Whitneys who had lived thereon since the settlement of that town.

Samuel D. Morse died September 15, 1884,

533

CLAYTON.

at the age of 82 years. His widow, now living at No. 20 Baker street, Watertown, N. Y., is 85 years of age. Only two children of this marriage are now living, Charles D. Morse, residing at No. 20 Baker street, and Mrs. Mary Burdick, wife of D. W. Burdick, of Ithaca, N. Y.

H. E. Morse's grandfather Rogers and his wife removed to Watertown, and bought the farm, a part of which is now the southerly side of Brookside Cemetery. He was acci- dentally killed, October 26, 1818, by the roll- ing of saw-logs down the river's bank near his saw-mill-the second person dying from accident within what is now the city of Watertown. He left six children ; five girls, the oldest girl 19 years of age, the youngest, the boy, two years old. All these children were brought up to maturity on this farm after the death of their father, under the sole care of their devoted mother. The only sur- viving one of this family is Eli Rogers, a farmer, residing in the town of Alexandria.

Lois W., the oldest, married Jonathan Demming, who formerly owned the farm on which Hon. Willard Ives now resides, in Watertown.

Sally W. married Gen. Archibald Fisher, of Theresa.

Chloe L. married Josiah Strong, a mer- chant now residing near Windsor, Canada.

Esther B. married George Walton, a mer- chant of Sterlingville, son of Azariah Wal- ton, of Alexandria Bay. For a second hus- band she married Andrew Seaman, another Sterlingville merchant.

H. E. Morse, the subject of this sketch, was born August 24, 1831, on Dry Hill, a well known locality in the south part of Watertown. When quite young, his father sold his interest in the Dry Hill farm to his brother Samuel D., and purchased a farm one and a half miles north of the city of Watertown, where he lived until his death in 1864. H. E. Morse's mother died July 25, 1859. His father's farm was one of the nearest to the school-house, and he was kept steadily at school from the time he was six years old until old enough to assist at farm work in the summer season. He then attended the winter terms of school, two terms of "select school," one term with Josiah Miles, and one term at the Jefferson County Institute when he was 16. Before closing this term of school he was licensed to teach in what was called the Miles district, in the town of Watertown. Thereafter, ex- cept while assisting on the farm during the haying and harvesting, for two or three years, he attended the Jefferson County In- stitute, and taught school four and six months each year. At 19 he commenced to study law in the office of Clark & Calvin, at Watertown. He remained in that law office until admitted to practice law, April 23, 1854. He removed to Clayton the following October, where he has ever since resided, except a temporary residence of four years at Cape Vincent.

He received from Henry S. Randall, Super- intendent of Common Schools, a certificate, dated May 12, 1852, authorizing him to teach any district school within the State of New York. He felt proud of this mark of his ability as an instructor of youth-a pro- , fession in importance not exceeded by any, and in which the highest moral and in- tellectual qualifications may be fully and advantageously employed.

In February, 1855, Mr. Morse was elected school superintendent of the town of Clay- ton, which he held until that office was abolished. In the fall of 1869 he was elected school commissioner of the third district of Jefferson county, for the term of three years. He was supervisor of Clayton for the years 1884 and 1885. In . February, 1887, he was appointed by President Cleveland collector of customs for the district of Cape Vincent, and continued in that office until the appoint- ment of his successor, in March, 1881.

Of his brothers and sisters, the two young- est are living : George W. Morse, a farmer, resides at Rices, this county, and Mrs. Imogene Rector, wife of Delos D. Rector, re- sides in San Francisco, California. His brother, Willard Hiram Morse, photo- grapher, was horn July 24, 1833, and died at Bradford, Ill., May 5, 1891, and his sister, Mrs. Mary Jane Folts, died in Stockton, Cal., November 27, 1869.

He was married April 8, 1858, to Mrs. Helen Eddy Estes, the daughter of Aaron Eddy, of Clayton.

Mr. Aaron Eddy came from the State of Vermont with his father, to the town of Potsdam, St. Lawrence county. He married Miss Catherine Smith, of that town, and in 1837 he moved to Clayton village, where he engaged in mercantile and other pursuits, which he carried on successfully with his brother, Luther Eddy, for several years. He died September 7, 1887, in the 80th year of his age. Mrs. Catherine Eddy now resides at her home, in the village of Clayton, and is over 80 years of age. Helen was the second of four children. The oldest, George N., died in 1855, and the third child, Mary, died in 1858. The youngest, Mrs. Amy Baars, resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Helen was born February 1, 1835.

Of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Morse, four are now living: George E., 33 years of age, is in business with his father at Clayton ; Horace W., 31 years old, is cashier of the First National Bank, at Clayton; Florence Alice, 18 years of age, and Claude Henry, 16 years old, are attending the Clay- ton Union Free School, taught by Professor Shaver. Their oldest daughter, Kittie, died December 13, 1879, at the age of 20 years. She came home from the Adams school for a short vacation, was taken sick with typhoid fever, and never recovered. In physical form she was the perfection of health-ener- getic, bright, conscientious, and an agreeable companion for young or old. She had a large circle of acquaintances, and left many

534

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

sincere friends to mourn her loss. To her parents and to her two younger brothers, then 18 and 16 respectively, her loss was indeed irreparable.

Since preparing the above extended sketch of the writer's old-time friend, Mr. H. E. Morse, of Clayton, death has again come into that once happy family, and taken away their idol hoy, Claude H., who had but lately graduated from Prof. Shaver's school with such high promise of usefulness and honor.

He was a young man of superior ability and grace of manner, and had begun to read law in his father's office. But the dread disease that had destroyed the life of his sister, who was universally heloved, fastened itself upon his active body, and he, too, died on Saturday, November 24, 1894. He was born in 1877, so that he was but 17 years of age. His parents and relatives have the sympathy of the whole community, for he was a youth of most winning manners, and had become the favorite of the town.

THE ESSELSTYNS.

THIS important family, so well and favor- ably known at Clayton and upon the river, were the descendents of Richard M. Esselstyn and Charity VanHoosen, who came into Jefferson county in 1800, among the very first settlers of the town of Cape Vincent. Their children were : Delia, (who married R. P. Lee, and they are both de- ceased), Justus, John M., Mary, James, Henry, Christiana, (who married Dr. W. H. Webb, and they are both deceased), and Richard M.

Richard M. Esselstyn, of Clayton, is now the only survivor of this large family. He, as well as all the others, was born in Cape Vincent. He received his early education in the common schools, completing it in the Black River Literary and Religious Institute at Watertown, and in other academies. His first labor toward supporting himself was in a taunery at Cape Vincent, and his first busi- ness venture was in purchasing a tannery at Clayton, which did not prove a success, but that move brought him into the town which has ever since been his home. He then en- tered the employ of Merick, Fowler & Essel- styn, the younger member of which im- portant firm was his brother. His business was to look after the books and accounts of

the vessel building department of the firm, and to do the business which required jour- neys, looking after timber supplies, banking, etc. In this labor he continued for 12 years, and until the firm removed to Detroit. He was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs under Lincoln, and continued through the various Republican administrations, and under Andrew Johnson until '1876. Since that year he has held various offices, among the rest that of Deputy Sheriff. He was, for a short time, an amateur farmer, and has had several other experiences of a business nature. Mr. Esselstyn is a remarkably well-preserved man, bearing his weight of 72 years more like a man of 55 or 60 than like one who has passed the Biblical allotment of time.

In 1846 he married Miss Margaret Reed, daughter of Thos. M. Reed, a merchant of Clayton ; they have had five children, three sons and two daughters, the daughters dying early. One of his sons is in the west, making his home in Duluth. His eldest son is Thomas M., manager of the Izaak Walton House, a most popular hotel at Clayton. Charles, another son, is a sailor, having his home in a western city.

CHARLES A. SHAVER

WAS born in the village of Perch River, N, Y., April 6, 1861. His parents being poor. he commenced work as a farm hand at 12 years of age, working during the summer and attending the district school during winter. When 16 years of age he taught his first term of school, in what is known as the Star District, in the town of Brownville. He managed to save sufficient money from his summer's work and winter's teaching to attend the Potsdam Normal School the fol- lowing spring term. The fall and winter term of this year he taught his home school in the village of Perch River. In 1882 he at- tended the spring and fall terms of school at Ives Seminary, Antwerp, N. Y. In the winter of 1882 he secured the principalship of the

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 113

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