The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 121

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 121

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The successive supervisors have been as follows: 1806-10, Jesse Hopkins; 1811, Jas. Henderson, Jr .; 1812, Asa Smith; 1813, Mark Hopkins; 1814-15, Asa Smith; 1816, Mark Hopkins; 1817, John S. Porter; 1818, Noah Tubbs; 1819, Asa Smith; 1820-24, Noah Tubbs; 1825-26, Caleb Harris; 1827, Jona- than Bullard; 1828-31, Caleb Harris; 1832, Peter N. Cushman; 1833-34, Caleb Harris; 1835- 37, Peter N. Cushman ; 1838-40, David Monta- gue; 1841, George Jeffers; 1842-43, John Carpenter ; 1844, Joseph A. Montague ; 1845, William McNeil; 1846-51, Henry Green, Jr .; 1852, Washington Bullard; 1853-55, Henry Green, Jr. [For years from 1855 to 1894, see p. 337 to 344.]

The present officers of the town of Hender- son are Adelbert A. Scott, supervisor ; Arthur M. Kilby, town clerk; Orlin F. Buell, James M. White, Fred Lane, Fred R. Babcock, justices of the peace; Albert W. Hungerford, commissioner of highways; M. H. Clark, collector; T. N. Lane, Rodney E. Howland, Robert W. Brodie, assessors.

This town fell to the share of William Henderson, of New York, one of the four who bought the 11 towns of Constable, and from bim it derived its name. He was accustomed to spend a part of each summer here for several years, and remained inter- ested in the town till his death.

The shore of Henderson, along the lake, is irregular, being largely indented by Hender- son Bay, Ray's Bay, the bay at the mouth of Stony creek, Gravelly Bay, Boomer's Bay and several smaller bays, forming points and promontories, some of which are from 50 to 100 feet in height, of solid lime rock, and standing as silent wardens of the blue waters of Lake Ontario. More than half the bound- ary is formed by the waters of Henderson Bay and Lake Ontario. Big and Little Stony creeks flow through the town, the former furnishing water-power for numerous mills and manufactories. Several are now located on its banks, principally in Hender- son village. At its mouth is a harbor of easy access, and at one time it was hoped the government would establish a port here. Several vessels and barges were built at a ship-yard which was located immediately below the bridge crossing Big Stony creek, near its mouth. In 1808 the first one was built, and was capable of carrying a consider- able cargo of grain. It was afterward used in the lake trade.

The area of the town is 23,501 acres, which is surveyed into lots in 1801, by Ben- jamin Wright, of Rome. The surface of the town is much diversified. The south- western portion is low, but little elevated above the surface of the lake, and very fer- tile. Forming a ridge in its rear, and extend- ing around to Henderson Bay, is the ancient lake-beach; rocky, and for some distance covered by a very thin soil. At Henderson Bay the shores are higher and more abrupt, rising in some places almost perpendicularly from 50 to 75 feet. A rolling territory stretches off to the south and east until the

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bluffs of Big Stony creek are reached. This stream has cut a deep channel through the limestone rock, and aside from its interest to the geologist, it presents many picturesque and attractive features. East of Henderson village there is a basin of about 300 acres with marshy edges, which is filled with water, and is known as Henderson Pond. The principal feeder and outlet of this pond is Big Stony creek; rising from this hasin still towards the east, and on a higher plane, is another lake or pond, somewhat larger in size, called Six-Town pond.

In other portions of the town there appear evidences of ponds, which are now dry ; the most of them are the work of beavers in forming dams. Big Stony creek has cut quite a deep channel from Henderson pond to the lake, leaving abrupt banks from 40 to 70 feet high. Running from Henderson Bay to the mouth of Sandy creek, in almost a straight line, there is a channel which is now but little elevated above the water, showing evidence of having been covered by the lake, thus making the westerly portion of the town at one time an island. Little Stony creek has also cut a deep channel through the lime rock from Six- Town pond to the lake, other than the lake shore, and following the channel of these creeks the surface of the town is nearly level.

Among the historical relics of Henderson may be noted the old French fortification on Six-Town point. This was established in 1756, more as a post of observation than as a place of military occupation and defense; al- though it no doubt protected to a certain ex- tent the old portage from the head of Hen- derson Bay to Stony Creek, by which the stormy, and to canoes, dangerous passage around Stony Point was avoided, as parties entering into or passing out from Henderson Bay would be completely under its guns. The fortification was a square, bastioned at each corner, with a block-house in the center. It is evident that the outworks were also built of upright timbers, stockade fashion, and that guns were mounted in the bastions. At the time the writer first saw it, some 18 years ago, there was yet a trace of the ditch and the bastions, although the place was covered with a growth of young timber, principally oak, with perhaps a few hickory trees. A measurement along the ditch showed only 48 feet on each side between the bas- tions ; so that the greatest extent of the stockade did not exceed 70 feet square. This fort was built in May, 1756, and is therefore 22 years older than Fort Haldimand, on Carleton Island. The reader will remember the surrender by George Washington, then a young Virginia Colonel, of "Fort Neces- sity," in Pennsylvania, to a French officer, in 1754. That officer was Sieur de Villiers, who, only two years later, with 500 men built the fortification on Six-Town point. Capt. de Villiers was a distinguished officer in the French marine service, and had ac- companied Montcalm to Frontenac (Kings-

ton), whence he was sent to establish this post, by means of which he did much to an- noy the English, pillaging their munitions of war, and obliging them to use great precau- tion in provisioning the forts at Oswego. The reader will also remember that Montcalm cap- tured Oswego on the 17th of August, 1756, which post he made no attempt to retain, but fell back to Frontenac, and thence to Montreal. It is highly probable that the fortification on Six-Town point was evacuated at the same time; as it is evident that if Montcalm did not think Oswego of sufficient importance to garrison and hold, he would hardly leave a garrison at a mere post of ob- servation, built especially as an auxiliary to the conquest of the main point. What gives further color to the evacuation of this post at the same time with Oswego, is the fact that two years later Col. Bradstreet not only re-occupied Oswego, but captured Fort Frontenac and returned to Oswego. . There is nothing in the history of that affair refer- ring to any fort on Six-Town point, nor any- where else between Oswego and Frontenac ; and it is not at all likely that Col. Bradstreet would have left so important a post unnoticed, had it been occupied at that time. Then, too, we find mention of Capt. de Villiers, in the operations of the French on Lake Cham- plain in 1757; so that it may be safely in- ferred that the place was evacuated on the retreat of the French from Oswego. At all events, it is an interesting historical spot, and worthy of notice.

On Stony Point, the extreme western pro- jection of Henderson, is a light-house, built in 1837. The lake-shore, from the mouth of Stony Creek northward and eastward is rocky, and free from bays of any kind be- tween there and Henderson Bay. When a steady west gale is blowing, the effect of the rolling waves and dashing breakers is most picturesque. In the other direction from Stony Creek the shore consists of almost bar- ren hills of sand, in the rear of which lie in many places extensive marshes. The wide, sandy beach is beaten hard by the waters in the ebb and flow of centuries, and a drive along it affords much enjoyment. In clear weather the south shore is visible in a low, dim outline, appearing of nearly the same color as the water, and many of its choicest beauties of shore scenery are to be found in Henderson.

The town was surveyed into lots in 1801, by Benjamin Wright, of Rome; the plan of sub-division being into lots and quarters. In 1805, lot No. 20, near the present village of Henderson Harbor, was surveyed into 20 lots, or four ranges of 10 lots each, for the pur- pose of a village.

The settlements in the town of Henderson began under the agency of Asher Miller, of Rutland, about 1802, the land-books showing that Thomas Clark, Samuel Stuart, Philip Crumett, John Stafford and Peter Cramer, had taken up lands in this town, to the ex- tent of 1,195 acres. Moses Barret, William

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Petty, Daniel Spencer, Captain John Bishop and sons, Alvin, Luther, Asa and Sylvester, Jedediah and James McCumber, Samuel Hubbard, Elijah Williams, Levi Scofield, William Johnson, David Bronson, John and Marvel Danley, Andrew Dalrymple, Lumam Peck, Jonathan Crapo, George W. Clark, Thomas Drury, Anthony Sprague, Daniel Forbes, Emory Osgood, and many others settled within two or three years from the opening of settlement, coming from New England.

On Henderson Bay, three miles cast of the village of Henderson Harbor, a Scotch set- tlement was founded in 1803-7 by John and Duncan Drummond, Charles and Peter Bar- rie, Duncan Campbell, Thomas Bell, James Crouse, Daniel Scott, and James McCraull, from Perthshire in Scotland. A store was opened by C. Barrie in 1823, in this settle- ment, and kept several year. Abel Shepard located in the same settlement in 1806.

A paper showing the names of those who were living in town in 1809, reads as follows : A. Jones, R. Fesel, Jeremiah Harris, Horace Hatch, Samuel McNitt, Amos Hart, Samuel Hardy, Benj. Hammond, Samuel Jones, Daniel McNeil, Martin Morseman, Appleton Skinner, A. and I. Smith, S. Foster, W. Waring, Wm. White, Daniel Pierce, John B. Carpen- ter, Luther S. Kullinger, Lodowick Salis- bury, T. Hunsden, E. White and Thomas Bull. Dr. Isaac Bronson became owner of a large tract in 1807, which was sold and settled by a separate agency. Abel French succeeded Miller a few months in the agency, and April 8, 1805, an agreement was made between Wm. Henderson and Jesse Hopkins, by which the latter became the agent of this town and Pinckney, and continued in the em- ployment of Mr. Henderson many years. A pamphlet published by Mr. Hopkins in 1823, affords some interesting data relative to the early history of the town.

In 1803-4 but 10 families wintered in town. In May, 1806, there were 70 families, gener- ally middle-aged and young people with small property, but industrious and con- tented, although many were quite poor, who had exhausted their means and were destitute of provisions. A contract was made soon after for clearing 22 acres of land at the Har- bor, which the proprietor had hoped to establish as a commercial port, and caused to be surveyed into a village plot, to which he gave the name of Naples. The bay was named the Bay of Naples, and high expecta- tions were founded upon the future great- ness of the town. On the declaration of war, Sackets Harbor was selected as the great naval station of the lake, and both Mr. Hen- derson and his agent were, it is said, averse to having any military or naval operations undertaken at this place. In consequence it lost the opportunity, which, with judicious management and decided natural advantages, it might have secured.

Mr. Hopkins built a house and opened a land office near the town of Naples, which he

had laid out, the provisions being brought from Kingston, and the lumber from Ellis- burgh and Sackets Harbor. In 1807 a small store was opened, and an unsuccessful at- tempt made to bring business to the place. Among other measures Mr. Henderson pro- cured the passage of a law for the opening of a State road from Lowville to Henderson Harbor, which was laid out from Lowville into Pinckney, but never completed. He also, in 1809, caused a dam and saw-mill to be built on Stony creek, near the head of navi- gation, but the former gave way and the en- terprise resulted in a total loss. In the next season the dam was re-built and a mill erected at great expense. In 1811 a negotia- tion was held with Gen. Matoon, of Massachu- setts, for the sale of the township, but failed on account of the prospects of war. In 1812 Mr. Hopkins erected a large- sized school house at the Harbor, which was to serve also as a place for religious meetings. He also commenced the building of vessels at this place, the first of which was a schooner of 20 tons. Several large clear- ings were made on account of Henderson the year previous. Other vessels were built, and the place began to present the appearance of considerable business. Mr. Hopkins con- tinued in the agency until 1822, engaged in a series of speculations, some of which were successful, when he was superceded in the agency, and his improvements taken to apply on his liabilities.

About 1817 Samuel Nutting came from Columbus, Chenango county, N. Y., to Hen- derson. He was accompanied by his wife and one child. His brother arrived at nearly the same time. The Nuttings were the first permanent settlers in that part of the town, and for some years the only ones. Samuel Nutting purchased his place from his brother- in-law, Stephen Reed. Reed originally took up considerable land in the neighborhood, but sold it all to the Nuttings. Charles Car- ter, a brother-in-law of the Nuttiugs, located on a place half a mile west of Samuel Nutting's. These farms are all near the lake shore, and are among the most fertile in the town. In 1810 a man named Hill had settled on Stony Point, near Rag's Bay, and is remembered from the fact that just previ- ous to the battle of Stony creek he was seized by a British squad of soldiers and compelled to pilot the British expedition into the mouth of Stony creek.

The first actual settler was a trapper named David Bronson, who also set out the first orchard, the second being planted by Christian Salisbury. He built a log house on low land, about the center of town. In high water his house was flooded and he was obliged to move. Consequently he took up his abode farther east, on what is now known as "Bishop street," and finally located in the western part of town, on the land owned by Leonard Seaton. It was on this place he set out his orchard. Abraham Wilkinson, of Saratoga county, N. Y., settled in Jefferson

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county, in 1805, locating on Stony Island. Mrs. Silas Wilkinson's father, Paul Strick- ney, settled in the town of Adams about 1800, coming from Litchfield, Oneida county.

Jesse Hopkins, fourth son of Joseph Hop- kins, in 1805 became Mr. Henderson's agent for this town. He was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, May 20, 1766. His father was a prominent citizen. For 30 years he held the office of judge of probate, and died while in the discharge of his official duties. At the age of 17, Jesse Hopkins, on the visit of Generals Washington and LaFayette to his father's house, pleased the latter so well that he was made his aide during a series of mili- tary operations in that quarter. His youth prevented him from enlisting in the army, and his love of country from accepting the invitation of La Fayette to visit France and engage in a lucrative pursuit. In 1805 he was appointed an agent for Henderson.

Joseph Hawkins, a native of Connecticut, settled in Henderson about 1810, where he continued to reside until his death. He took a prominent part in the business of this section of the county, and after the war, became somewhat extensively engaged in the commerce of the lakes. In 1828 he was elected to Congress. Mr. Hopkins held for several years the office of county judge. He died in Henderson, April 20, 1822, aged 50. His friends, E. Camp and E. G. Merick, placed over his grave a tablet with the following inscription : The navigation of our lakes was relieved from grevious custom- house fees by his zealous efforts as Member of Congress in 1830.

Amasa Hungerford, from Bennington county, Vt., settled in 1810, at the locality now known as Hungerford's Corners, south- east of Henderson Bay. The present frame dwelling was erected by Amasa Hungerford in 1817, and remains in nearly its original shape. Mr. Hawkins was uncle to the mother of the celebrated poet, John G. Saxe. The Hungerford farm has several times, in the days of the first Jefferson fairs, taken the first premium as being the finest farm in the county.

Sylvester Finney, of Warren, Litchfield county, Conn., removed to Oneida county, N. Y., about 1794, when mostly a wilder- ness. Of his later removal to Henderson, his son, Rev. Charles G. Finney, the great Congregational revivalist, speaks as follows in his autobiography : "In the neighborhood of my father's residence we had just erected a meeting-house and settled a minister, when my father was induced to move again into the wilderness skirting the southern shore of Lake Ontario, a little south of Sackets Har- bor. Here again I lived for several years, enjoying no better religious privileges than I had in Oneida county." In 1812 Charles G. Finney left here and went to Connecticut, and from thence to New Jersey, locating near New York city, and engaging in school- teaching. In 1818 he returned to Jefferson county, and entered at an Adams law office

as a student. During his stay here he was converted, and began his Christian labors. He afterwards made himself famous as a re- vivalist in the United States and England, and for a long time was pastor of the First church at Oberlin, Ohio, and lecturer in the seminary at that place. He was born at Warren, Litchfield county, Conn., August 29, 1802, and died at Oberlin, Ohio, August 16, 1885, having nearly completed his 83d year. The old Sylvester Finney farm is a mile south of Henderson village. One of Sylvester Finney's sons, Zenas, owned a farm near the upper point of Henderson harbor. Another son, George W. Finney, became widely noted for his lectures on the subject of temperance. He died in California.

THE VILLAGE OF HENDERSON HARBOR

Occupies the site of the village of Naples, previously mentioned, and was surveyed by Benjamin Wright in 1805, and laid out in lots. The road running through Henderson Harbor was laid out April 15, 1806; Anthony Sprague and Merriel Danby, commissioners. In 1812 this road was called the State road, being the road leading from Fort Ontario, Oswego, to Sackets Harbor. At this time Henderson Harbor became a point of con- siderable commercial importance, a postoffice being established here in 1812. Ship-build- ing was, until lately, carried on to a con- siderable extent; the first ship having been built by William W. Warner, in 1813, and named Henderson, afterward pressed into service of the United States as a vessel of war, and finally burned to prevent the British from capturing her. In 1814 another was built named the Lily, and many others since. A tannery and shoe shop were located here in 1812 by Samuel Cole. He sold his business to Mr. Dye and retired to a farm near the village in 1817.

When Naples was laid out, a lot of four acres was reserved for a public square, and donated to the village by Mr. Henderson. On this lot a frame school-house was built by Jesse Hopkins in 1812. The first school was probably taught here in 1813. The first school in the town of Henderson was kept in a log school house, south of Henderson vil- lage, in the winter of 1808-09. The teacher was Alfred Forbes.

Before the school-house was built at Henderson Harbor, Dr. Elias Skinner, the first physician who settled in town, conduct- ed school in one end of his dwelling. He is remembered by those who attended as a "brisk wielder of the birch and rule," and had his switches graded in length to reach either a long or short distance, and no pupil was safe from their tender touches. John Blanchard taught in the school-house in the winter of 1817-18, and a man named Ban- croft, either just before or after Mr. Blanch- ard.

Capt. William Warner commanded the Henderson, and died at Henderson Harbor in 1817. His son, Capt. John S. Warner,

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began sailing in 1817, and led the life of a sailor until 1861-a period of 40 years. In 1850 he purchased the Frontier House, then a private dwelling, and in 1861 repaired it thoroughly and opened it as a hotel, with the present name. He carried it on until 1876, when he rented it to Capt. Ed- ward White. When the Warners first located here (1813), a hotel was kept by Hinckley Stevens, who probably built it. It stood on the site of the present Frontier House, and was kept by Stevens and others until about 1830. While the old hotel was running, a second one was built by a man named Chandler. It was opened in the fall of 1826, and stood on the west side of the road, on the corner south of the present Frontier House. These hotels were all frame buildings. Chandler's was burned about 1863.

The village of Henderson has a picturesque location on the eastern shore of the bay, and in the summer presents quite a lively ap- pearance on account of the large number of pleasure-seekers at that season, and nowhere could they find better facilities for enjoy- ment. Here are all the requirements for fishing and boating, together with the many natural beauties to entrance the eye.

Henderson Bay is a beautiful sheet of water extending from Henderson Harbor in a north- easterly direction to Horse Island, and bounded on the north and west by Snake and Gull Islands and Six-Town point. It is about eight miles long and three miles wide, and is nearly land-locked, having two outlets that are deep enough to float any boat that sails the lakes-one entrance being between the end of the point and Gull Island; the other between Snake Island and Horse Island. The water between Gull Island and Snake Island was a shoal not longer than 100 years ago, and covered with heavy timber. This bay is subdivided into other bays known as Shep- hard's Bay, White's Bay and Snow-shoe Bay, and is the safest harbor on the whole chain of lakes. When Mr. Henderson pur- chased the town he named the bay after him- self, calling it Henderson Bay. Around this beautiful bay are dotted here and there parks, cottages, summer boarding houses, hotels, etc. As a summer resort it is increas- ing in popularity, many people from nearly every State in the Union spend a portion of the summer there, where they find fine fishing, good accommodations, fine boat liveries and pleasant society and a hospitable class of people. Improvements in the line of parks have been made by outside parties in a great measure. Highland Park is located on the shore of the bay, on a rise of land, and was established in 1880 by W. D. Arms, R. M. Jones and M. D. Manville, of Adams. It is pleasantly located, overlooking the water, and with its pleasant drives and shady avenues is an attractive summer resort. Many fine cottages have been built, with a system of water works, a fine steamboat dock, boat houses and a large dining hall.

Many families spend the heated term at this fine resort. Paradise Park is located just north of Highland Park, and elevated about 40 feet above the water level It affords a fine view of Sackets Harbor. This park was established in 1880 by H. W. Millard, and is now owned by the Watertown Land and Improvement Co. It has a hotel, some handsome cottages, steam-boat dock, good barns and luxuriant shade.

Snow Shoe Park was also established in 1880, by Wm. McConnell, then of Sandy Creek, now of Pierrepont Manor. This park is beautifully located on Snow Shoe Bay, and has a commanding view of the foot of the lake and Henderson Bay. It is laid out in drives, and comprises many artistic cottages, a dock, boat houses, and has a large patron- age during the summer months.

There are many summer boarding houses, and among the first to open was George H. Warner, proprietor of the Warner House. E. Tyler opened the Tyler House about 1874, and also built the first boat livery, after which the Gill House, H. H. Gill proprietor ; Bassett House, A. D. Bassett, proprietor; the Frontier, J. H. Lovelee, proprietor ; Almont House, A. J. Sprague, proprietor ; Wagoner House, A. F. Wagoner, proprietor ; Stevens House, Prince Stevens, proprietor ; Brooklyn House, Dr. Rounds, of New York city, pro- prietor ; the Ilion House, Adelaide Johnson, proprietor ; the Johnson House and others, smaller, but more private boarding places.

The permanent business places of the vil- lage of Henderson Harbor are as follows: The Frontier House, established in 1850 by Capt. John S. Warner; The Wagoner House, built by A. F. Wagoner ; three large steam- boat docks, with large ware houses thereon; one large planing mill, built in 1893 by Geo. W. Walton; one school house, located in 1812, being the third built for a school house, one of the three having been burned; two general merchandise stores, one post-office which was established January 1, 1890; two coal yards and one store, carrying a stock of flour, feed, water lime, salt etc., owned by W. C. Davis. It has also several summer boarding houses. It is pleasantly located on the easterly side of Henderson Bay, and is visited during the heated term by many visitors from abroad, Prominent amongst the cottages at the parks stands one built on the east side of the bay in 1894, by ex-Secretary of State Judge Foster, which is a very commodious and beautiful structure. . Also on the west side of the bay stands a beautiful cottage, built (and occupied in the summer) by Professor Henri Appi, of Rochester. The bay, with its good anchor- age and depth of water, becomes a point of commercial interest, while its wooded head- lands and fine shores and good fishing render it a fine summer resort.

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 121

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