The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 140

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 140

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In 1838 the first society was formed in Philadelphia, with William Powell, George Sire, Theodore Cross, Charles R. Sweet and Stephen Post were the first trustees. The same year a church was erected at Poagland, near Antwerp. It was not until 1867 that the Poagland church building was sold, and the members united with the church at "the Settlement." The first preaching was either at the log house of Isaac Hurd or that of Samuel Whiting, for both of these devoted men opened their homes for worship. As a finality, " The Second Methodist Church of Philadelphia" was organized in Philadel- phia in 1843, with Sterling Graves, Richard Crabb, Benjamin Allen and Nelson Chad- wick, trustees. Elijah Smith was the preacher in charge. A church building, standing on the hill near LeRaysville, was purchased and removed to Philadelphia. It was placed upon the Strickland corner, but was removed in 1858 to its present location. The present pastor is Rev. B. D. F. Snyder, and the trustees are Erastus Cross. A. Seeber, William Roberts, T. J. Atcheson, Sidney Avery, Hollis Houghton, William Myers and C. A. Ritter. In 1893 a fine parsonage was erected, costing $2,000. The membership is large, numbering 250, and the society is in a very flourishing condition.

THE BAPTIST CHURCHI .- The most import- ant records of this society have been lost, but through the kindness of some of the older members, we have been able to obtain

some facts. In the year 1840 a Baptist society was organized with 10 members. During that year they met for worship in a barn, then for a few months in the school. house. In 1841 they joined with the Con- gregationalists and erected a Union Church. They held their meetings in this co-partner- ship building until 1868, when they pur- chased the interest of the Congregationalists, thereby becoming sole owners of their church building. The first trustees were E. D Woodward, Elias Roberts, Walter Colton, Jesse Smith and Henry York. The first pastor was Rev. Ashbel Stevens, who served several years.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- This church was organized in 1859 as a Christian Union Church, with James Gregg as pastor. The first church record is that of a meeting of the Friends of Christian Union, held June 28, 1859, at the house of John Wait. There Andrew Miles, John Wait, Lucius J. Smith, Bracket Ackerman, Francis D. York, William S. Nichols and Nathan R. Whitney were elected trustees. At a second society meeting, held two days later, James W. Beers, James B. Cooper and Cyrus Mosher were appointed a building committee, and it was voted to purchase the present church site on Antwerp street at the price of $75. By 1859 a church building worth $2,000 had been erected.

On January 29, 1868, the members of this Christian Union Church, with the aid of Presbyterians, formed a Congregational society, delegates being present at this council from the Congregational churches of West Carthage, Lishon, Richville, Antwerp and Copenhagen. The persons taking the covenant and subscribing to the confession of faith at this re-organization, were Rev. Joseph Newton, the pastor, John Wait, L. J. Smith, Mrs. A. S. Newton, Frances Mur- dock, Sarah M. Smith, Edward Pitcher, Eliza Sprague, Mrs. H. H. York and Mrs. E. A. Scofield. Rev. J. Newton continued his pastorate until 1874.

In 1889 the church building was moved back in the lot, and extensive repairs were made to it. $2,000 was thus expended. The seating capacity of the church is now 250. In 1893 a bell was placed in the tower, and other improvements are now being made to the property. Rev. J. H. Keeling, D. D., is the present pastor. There are now some 65 families in the congregation. The trustees are D. H. Scofield, C. B. Cross and A. R. Bennett.

THE UNION CHURCH OF STERLINGVILLE was erected in 1856, by the citizens of Ster- lingville and vicinity, composed of members of several different denominations. The church cost over $1,800. The first trustees were: George Clark, Caleb Essington and Thomas Delaney. This society has never had a resident pastor, the pulpit having al- ways been filled by pastors from neighboring villages. Rev. Snyder, of Philadelphia, is now the officiating pastor. The church now

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belongs to the Methodists and Disciples. The present trustees are : M. E. Moshier, Calvin Ritter and Joseph Essington.

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH .- The first Catholic society at Sterlingville was organ- ized by the Rev. Michael Gilbride in 1838. A small house of worship was erected, cost- ing less than $500. Mr. James Sterling, who was at that time a very prominent man, donated the site for the church. For 10 years it stood and gave ample accommoda- tion, as the congregation was very small. In 1848 it was consumed by fire, and for six · years following, the Catholics of that vicin- ity were without a church. Occasionally a priest came from some other parish and said mass in some private house. In the mean- time the Catholics were increasing in num- ber, as the blast furnace was in full oper- ation. In 1854 a larger church was erected on the same site. Rev. Michael Clark, of Carthage, was the first priest to hear mass in the new building. This society has never had but one resident pastor, Rev. M. Plun- kett, who served from 1876 to 1878. Previous to this date, clergymen from Watertown and Carthage officiated every third Sunday. Later, the parish priest of Clayton and Ant- werp had charge, now this district belongs to the Evans Mills parish, Rev. Father O'Neil hears mass at Sterlingville every 2d Sunday. The trustees are Richard Swift and C. F. Cain.

THE OLD QUAKER GRAVE YARD.

This ancient burial ground, adjoining which the first Quaker meeting-house was afterwards erected, was commenced in 1807 hy the interments of the victims of the ma- lignant fever of that year. Its first occu- pants were John Merrick and two children of Robert Comfort, but it is not known which of these was the earliest. Five or six persons attended the funerals, and Mr. Oliver Child recollects hearing mention of the circum- stances that a man was sent to chop and clear a place for graves. The Quakers, by a rule of their sect, were forbidden to erect monuments, even of the most modest kind, over the departed, and for nearly a quarter of a century the rule was enforced in this ground, in regard to all, whether Friends or otherwise. The first stone erected here was to the memory of Alanson Mosher, in 1831, after which the prohibition became a nullity. The first sexton, or person having charge of the ground (and of the first meeting-house when built), was Stephen Roberts, and the office descended from him to his son, Elias.

BURIAL GROUND AT PHILADELPHIA VILLAGE.

It became apparent, after 30 years of use, that the Quaker ground would soon be in- adequate to the requirements of Friends and townspeople, and, besides, the antagonism then recently developed in property and school matters had extended even to "God's acre," A town burial piace was needed, and negotiation was made for a spot adioining

the grave yard of the Quakers, and being a part of their meeting-house tract. A deed for this was executed . February 15, 1840, to Miles Strickland, as supervisor of the town, by Joseph A. Child, trustee of the LeRay monthly meeting, and Cadwallader Child, John Townsend and Jason Merrick, "acting trustee of the estate and funds arising from a donation made by James D. LeRay de Chau- mont," etc., conveying forty-five one-hun- dredths of an acre "for the purpose of a pub- lic burial ground, agreeable to the statute in such cases made and provided." The first interment in this was of the wife of Jesse Smith. The area was small, and, after some years, an addition hecame necessary, and was laid out upon the northeasterly side.

THE PHILADELPHIA CEMETERY.

After about 20 years from its laying out the town burying ground seemed to have come to be considered as insufficient or incon- venient and a tract of about four acres was purchased of John H. Comstock, this heing a part of the Thaddeus Scofield farm, and lying on the Sandy Hollow road, westerly from the village about one and a half miles. A committee- was appointed to lay out the cemetery "according to plan, and to sell and deed to purchasers 200 lots, at prices not less than $1.50, nor more than $5 ; and in no case to sell more than two lots to any one person." The cemetery gives general satisfaction. It is now the principal place of interment of the townspeople; and many transfers to it have been made from the old ground in the village.

THE BURIAL GROUND NEAR STERLINGVILLE, Which was commenced and used chiefiy by the inhabitants of that village and the neigh- borhood region, lies just across the river, in the town of LeRay. The ground -- about one acre-was purchased of Aaron Comstock, in 1850. The first interment in it was of Aaron Bristol, in the early part of 1851. James Sterling, the originator of the works which made the village of Sterlingville, was buried here in 1863.

The burials of the Catholics were made in their church yard at Sterlingville; but as this proved wet and unsuitable ground, they are now discontinued, and many transfers have been made to their ground at Carthage.

The inhabitants of a portion of Philadel- phia, adjoining Theresa, use the Chase burial ground, in the latter town,

STERLINGVILLE

Is a hamlet in the southern part of the town of Philadelphia, connected with the outer world by the U. & B. R. Railroad. In the long-ago it was quite a stirring village ; the blast-furnace gave employment to a good many people. Caleb Essington employed several men in the forge, making wrought iron. The heavy-weight James Sterling, from whom the place takes its name, then owned several thousand acres of land, mostly well timbered, and carried on extensive busi-

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

ness in burning coal, and this industry gave work to a small army of men, but now this business is a memory only ; the popula- tion of the village is not over 150.

This village contains, in addition to the furnace, forge and mills already mentioned, the post-office of the same name, one school house, two churches (Union and Catholic), one public house, one general store, one grocery, two blacksmith shops and one car- riage manufactory. Its populaion is estima- ted at 300.

BUSINESS OF STERLINGVILLE.

S. Corbin & Son, general store. Bigarel & Malonc, general store.

M. D. Malone, postmaster. Obed Ritter, station agent.

George Weaver, general blacksmithing.

W. E. Douglass, blacksmithing and re- pairing.

Sterlingville House, H. Ritter, proprietor. M. E. Moshier, carriage repairing.

Joseph Essington, saw-mill.

PHILADELPHIA VILLAGE.

Philadelphia was incoporated a village in 1872. The incorporation was.accepted and ratified at a meeting held at the public-house of J. H. Washburn, January 11, 1872. The first officers elected were: D. H. Scofield, president ; Seth Strickland, Orrin A. Cross and George E. Tucker, trustees, which board appointed Asa E. Macomber clerk and James Barr street commissioner. The present vill- age officers are: C. O. Roberts, president ; W. A. Markwick, treasurer ; W. J. Guthrie, George Overman and the late O. E. Tall- man, trustees. No one has yet been elected to fill his place.

At the time of the incorporation Philadel- phia contained 625 inhabitants. It has now nearly 1,000, and contains, besides the mills and other establishments above mentioned, three churches (Congregational, Baptist and Methodist), one school house, the post-office, telegraph office, railway buildings, twohotels, three gencral stores, two groceries, two drug stores, three physicians, one attorney, one hardware store, one stove and tinware store, one harness and saddlery shop and one watch maker's shop. Two fine iron bridges were built across Indian River in 1876.

BUSINESS OF PHILADELPHIA.

Indian River Chair Company, Limited, manufacturers of chairs.

William Roberts, manufacturer of lumber. D. H. Scofield & Son, dry goods, etc.

G. W. Miller, harness-maker.

H. P. McNeil, stoves and tinware.

J. E. Payne, groceries, books, stationery. H. J. Pollock, shoemaker.

Cynthia Payne, dress-maker. Miss Mary Lovejoy, dressmaker.

B. F. Kent, boots, shoes and jewelery.

W. Z. Barr & Co., groceries and bakery.

Seeber & Groat, manufacturers of doors, sash and blinds.

A. E. Cross, general blacksmithing.

O. F. Grapote, groceries and provisions. S. Grossman, ready-made clothing.

W. J. Linstruth, furniture dealer.

G. L. Olds, publisher of the Budget Monitor.

Thomas Sweeney, flour and feed, custom grinding.

J. C. Graham, physician and surgeon.

D. C. Rodenhurst, physician and surgeon.

H. S. Lanc, physician and surgeon.

Robert Adrian, shoe-making and repairing. Rufus House, ice dealer and drayman.

C. T. Barr, express agent.

E. H. Shurtliff, cigars and tobacco.

P. M. Farnham, jeweler.

W. J. Wait, druggist and grocer.

Melissa Miles, laundry.

Lord & Wilson, flour and feed and custom grinding.

. Guthrie & McNeil, meat market. A. S. Wood, railroad station agent.

William Flath, cheese factory.

J. B. McClennan, blacksmithing. and re pairing.

W. K. Peck, blacksmith and wagon-maker. R. E. Purcell, postmaster.

B. Breslow, photographer.

W. H. Gardner, merchant tailor.

Mrs. W. H. Gardner, milliner.

Miss Carrie Baxter, milliner.

M. E. Aldrich, drugs, groceries, books, etc.

D. C. Aldrich, pianos, organs and musical instruments.

H. W. Fults, hair dressing.

John McFadden, bakery and confectionery.

Hoverman & Neville, livery stable.

Mrs. B. Scofield, dressmaking.

C. C. Neville, groceries, fruits, etc.

A. C. Comstock, hardware.

Bank of Philadelphia, A. C. Comstock, president ; William Roberts, vice-president ; H. O. Gardner, cashier ; W. A. Warwick, assistant cashier.

M. E. Clark, general blacksmithing.

W. H. Sigland, carriage-making, painting. J. A. Faichney, ornamental painter. Eagle Hotel, Francis Wilson, proprietor. Fisher's Hotel, G .- S. Fisher, proprietor. Mrs. E. W. Palmer, boarding house. W. A. Markwick, general insurance. R. C. Smith, insurance agent.

H. C. Gardner, undertaking and funeral director.

Frank Brooks, cheese-box manufacturer.

THE PHILADELPHIA BUDGET-MONITOR, a weekly journal, was established June 22, 1891, by C. R. Stoddard, formerly editor of the Copenhagen Visitor. In April, 1892, Mr. G. L. Olds became editor and proprietor of this journal, and so continues. Previous to coming to Philadelphia, Mr. Olds had been connected with a large publishing com- pany at Denver, Colo. Removing from Den- ver to Gouverneur, St. Lawrence county, New York, he was for several years connec- ted with the Northern Tribune of that place. The Budget-Monitor has improved materially since becoming the property of Mr. Olds.

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PHILADELPHIA.

ORIN E. TALLMAN

WAS born in the town of Orleans, Jefferson county, February 10, 1859, and died in Phila- delphia, Tuesday, January 8, 1895. He was the son of Germain and Mary Tallman. His boyhood days were spent in school and on his father's farm. His education was fur- nished by the common schools, with the addition of a course at a Utica business college. At an early age he learned tele- graphy, and for 11 years was in the employ of the Utiea & Black River Railroad, as station agent at Orleans. While in the em- ploy of the railroad company he began deal- ing in hay and grain. His pleasant ways and strict integrity soon built up an exten- sive trade, and he found it necessary to re- sign his position as station agent and devote his entire time to his private business, which

then extended over several towns. In 1887, an account of the superior shipping faeili- ties afforded, he removed to Philadelphia and continued in the hay business, being, at the time of his death, one of the largest ship- pers in the county.

In October, 1884, he was married to Miss Mary Brightweiser, a most estimable lady of his native town, who survives him. Her parents were Valentine and Catherine Bright- weiser.

Mr. Tallman was held in high esteem be- eause of his many sterling qualities. He possessed that rare and pleasing attribute which made him friends of all with whom he came in contact, and as a result he enjoyed the confidenee of all his fellow citizens in a marked degree. He had held the office of

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

village president, and was one of the trustees at the time of his death ; he was chief of the Philadelphia fire department, and an earnest worker for its welfare.

The funeral was held from his residence in Philadelphia, January 10, and was the largest ever witnessed in that place. The floral tributes were profuse and elaborate. A special train conveyed the funeral party to LaFargeville, where interment took place.

Mr. Tallman was a member of quite a num- ber of orders, and the brothers turned out largely to attend the last sad rites. He was an honored member of the following organiza tions : LaFargeville Lodge, F. & A. M .;

Theresa Chapter, R. A. M .; Watertown Com- mandery, K. T .; Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Media Temple, Watertown; Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, Shiras Grotto, No. 8, of Antwerp; Court Philadelphia, I. O. O. F.

Ever cheerful and happy, his whole life was governed by the rule of "charity for all, malice toward none." Truly he was "God's noblest work, an honest man."

Mr. Tallman left one brother and four sis- ters : Edwin J., Mrs. E. A. Wright, Miss Carrie and Miss Amanda, all of LaFargeville, and Mrs. John Kissel, of Theresa. They are all useful and honored members of society.

FAMILY SKETCHES.

MR. MARTIN E. ALDRICH .- The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Rut- land, Jefferson county, N. Y., March 23, 1837, on the same farm where his father, Lewis Aldrich, was born, and where his grand- father, Leonard Aldrich, settled on coming to this country from Vermont, in the early part of the present century. His mother, Mary Ellis, also came to this county with her pa- rents from Massachusetts early in the century. Several of his ancestors on both his father's and mother's side served in the Revolutionary War. All of his early ancestors emigrated to the United States from England. Martin E. Aldrich was educated at Gouverneur Wes- leyan Seminary, and at Eastman's Commercial College at Rochester, N. Y. He taught school for several years, and gave evidence of excellent training in this line of work. On December 29, 1863, he married Ann E., daughter of Erastus and Betsey (Chadwick) Whitney, who were pioneers in the town of Philadelphia, N. Y. Miss Whitney had been a student at the Gouverneur Wesleyan Semin- ary, and was a young lady of sweet Christian character. In March, 1866, they located in the village of Philadelphia, their present place of residence, on a street bearing their own name. Mr. Aldrich has been from his first settlement in Philadelphia engaged in the mercantile business, in which he has been fairly successful. He has always borne a high reputation as a man of excellent character, and as a citizen he is greatly re- spected. Six sons and four daughters have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich, all having been born in Philadelphia, except- ing Inie E., who first saw the light in the town of Rutland. This daughter graduated from the Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary in 1886, and is now an art student, having studied two years in the National Academy of Design in New York city. Their son, Llewellyn M., graduated in the same class with his sister, and afterwards engaged in business with his father until the fall of 1890, when he accepted a position in the employ of the New York Life Insurance Company, be- ing located at Denver, Colorado. In 1893 he

returned to his uative town, and later opened a music store there. In November, 1894, he located in the Flower Block, in Watertown, having purchased the music business of Mr. George R. Hanford.

OLIVER CHILD, third son of Cadwallader and Elizabeth (Rea) Child, was born in Phila- delphia, N. Y., February 16, 1807. He taught school, and soon after attaining his majority entered the employ of Mr. LeRay, and was surveyor for that gentleman, doing duty for many years in this county and in Lewis county. He also purchased a tract in LeRay and Orleans, which he sold in parcels on his own account. Mr. Child married, July 27, 1830, Edith, daughter of John and Elizabeth Shaw, a native of Philadelphia city, and their children were Elizabeth and Lewis John, both of whom died in childhood, about 1837; Hamilton, born in LeRaysville, March 17, 1836, now a publisher, of Syracuse, N. Y .; Mary Jane (Mrs. Edward J. Stannard), born at Carthage, August 6, 1838, now living near Philadelphia city ; and Lewis John, born August 12, 1840, who enlisted in Co. C, 10th N. Y. H. A., in 1862, and served until his regiment was discharged. He married, in 1867, Lydia M., daughter of John Wait, of Philadelphia, and owns and occupies the homestead farm. After his marriage Oliver Child settled in LeRaysville, where he re- mained until the land office was removed to Carthage, whither he went and lived till about 1841, when he removed to his farm in Philadelphia. His wife, Edith, died while on a visit to her friends in Pennsylvania in 1842, and was buried in Doylestown. About this time Mr. Child was engaged by William H. Harrison, of New York city, to take the agency of his lands in St. Lawrence county, a position which he occupied, with his head- quarters and home at Morley. He married for his second wife Eliza Shepard, a native of Vermont, September 12, 1844. Mr. Child re- signed the agency for Mr. Harrison and re- moved from Morley to Oswego, in 1850, to engage in the forwarding business in company with Charles Shepard, but the business ven- ture not proving profitable, it was abandoned,

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and the same year he removed to his farm in Philadelphia, where he ever after resided, until his death. His widow survived till July 2, 1888, when she died, aged 90 years.

JAMES STERLING .- Few men in Jefferson county have acquired a reputation for pluck and business energy that led to remarkable success, beyond that accorded to James Ster- ling in the days when he was known as "the iron king of Northern New York." He was born in Norwich, Conn., January 25, 1800. His father, Daniel Sterling, married Mary Bradford, a lineal descendant of Governor William Bradford, of Puritanic stock, and in 1802 he moved with his family to the town of Antwerp, then a part of Brownville. The first, or one of the earliest, deeds recorded in Antwerp was to Mary Bradford, and is a part of the John R. Sterling property, situated north of Antwerp, about one mile on the Gouverneur road. The early years of James Sterling were spent upon the farm, and at clearing land in the vicinity of Antwerp. Without the advantages even of a good com- mon school education his mind expanded and demanded a larger field of operations. In 1836 he purchased the Hopestil Foster land, which contained the afterwards and now famous Sterling iron ore mines, from which very many thousand tons of ore have been mined. In 1840 he organized the Philadel- phia Iron Company, and located a blast fur- nace at Sterlingville, which place was named after him. Here the famous cold-blast char- coal pig-iron was made, which for years was known in the market as "Sterling iron." In 1844 Mr. Sterling established the second blast fuarnace at Sterling Burg, about one mile easterly from Antwerp village, and he soon after purchased the furnace property at Wegatchie, in St. Lawrence county. In 1852 he purchased of Isaac K. Lippencott the en- tire village and 4,500 acres of land in Lewis eounty, nearly 11 miles north of Carthage, known as Sterling Bush. His business had grown to be very extensive, his pay roll at his different works embracing the names of as many as 1,000 men. Mr. Sterling's physi- cal stature was in proportion to his great in- telleet. Standing six foot three inches in height, his weight was, at his best, 396 pounds. Of his 11 children seven are still living, namely : Mary B. (Sterling) Clark, so well known in this county as a zealous Christian woman, whose efforts have, among other things, resulted in the establishment of Trinity Chapel at Great Bend, and of the Mission Chapel of the Redeemer at Water- town; A. P. Sterling. James Sterling, Julia Sterling Mills, Antonette (Sterling) McKinly, who with her husband and children are liviug happily at their home in London, England ; Rochester H. Sterling and Joseph Sterling. After many years of active life in this county, where the money he has paid out for labor had helped hundreds of farmers to pay for their lands, James Sterling died at bis resi- dence in Sterlingville, July 23, 1863, at the age of 63 years.

WILLIAM O'HORA was born in Canada in 1847. He came to Jefferson county with his parents when three years of age. He en- listed in the Union army and served two years in the 44th New York Infantry, known as Ellsworth Avengers, and was transferred to the 146th N. Y. Infantry, being discharg- ed with that regiment. He was at the battle of the Wilderness, Petersburg, Weldon Rail- road, Five Forks, Hatcher's Run, Pegram Farm and Appomattox. He was wounded in one of the Wilderness engagements, and was sent to Douglas Hospital, Washington. He was also wounded at Five Forks. He married Ellen Coughlin, who died August 23, 1894, leaving two children. He is at the present time a pension agent. He resides at Sterlingville.

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 140

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