The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 37

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

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The Isles are green, so richly green With leaf of birch and pine, The lordly oak and forest queen Their graceful limbs entwine, The slender cattails, brown and tall, Nod us a welcome near ; No sound save gurgling ripples fall Upon the tranced ear.

The fisher's hut beside the shore Seems sleeping with the tide ; No shadows through the open door Across the threshold glide. With dreamy drift we slowly steal, Heedless of passing time ; We hear the ripples on our keel, Singing their low sweet rhyme.

That low sweet music echoes yet, Those islands green and fair, That summer day we tie'er forget, Its halmy, blissful air. Relentless time has swept us down Life's ocean broad and deep, But later fortune's smile or frown Ne'er bids that memory sleep.

168 2

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

HON. ELDRIDGE G. MERICK.

It is fortunate for our History that we are able to present to our readers from an en- tirely reliable source, a very circumstantial and accurate record of the life of one of Jefferson county's most widely known, dis- tinguished and able citizens, who rose from small beginnings to the very first rank in busi- ness and in citizenship. Indeed, the writer remembers no man in Jefferson county that was superior to Mr. Merick. There were two or three, Hon. Orville Hungerford, Hon. C. B. Hoard, and perhaps Gen. Wm. H. Angel, who stood as high in probity and faithfulness to friends and to society, and were as patri- otic and high minded as Mr. Merick, but he had no "superior " in his adopted county, nor in Northern New York.

He was the fifth child in a family of nine children, six boys and three girls, and was born March 6, 1802, in Colchester, Delaware county, N. Y., from which place he moved with the family to Sherburne, Chenango county, at the age of about four years. The section to which the family removed was almost an unbroken wilderness, with few in- habitants and no schools or opportunity for obtaining an education. The principal amuse- ment for a boy of his age, was picking up the brush and burning it, preparing the land for crops. The first school he attended was at the age of nine. The school held for only four months. At the end of the four months he was able to read a newspaper fairly well. He continued at home, himself and brother, carrying on the farm, until eleven, at which time he went to live with a man named Clark. That family had no children, and Eldridge was treated as their own child. Mr. Clark had a small farm on the Chenango river, which this boy carried on principally, with occasionally a little help from the owner. His business, after getting through with the work of the farm in the fall, was to chop and put up ten cords of wood before going to

school the first year, increasing it five cords each year until he got 25 cords, which was all that was needed for the family. Eldridge attended the country school from three to four months each winter, until 17 years of age, and then he commenced teaching. When Mr. Clark went to St. Lawrence county in 1820, young Merick went with him, remain- ing there until 21 years of age.

Arriving at majority, the people with whom he lived not being in a situation to do any- thing for him, he found it necessary to shift for himself. His first effort was a contract for building a stone wall at Russell, St. Law-

rence county, after which he went to Water- town, Jefferson county, working there for several months, and delivered the material for the old stone Presbyterian Church; thence to Sackets Harbor to work for Festus Clark, a brother of his former employer. as clerk in a small store. Remaining there for a short time, he went to Depauville, in the same capacity, with Stephen Johnson, who had a country store, and was also engaged in the lumber business for the Quebec market.

He remained with Mr. Johnson two years, superintending his lumber business largely, and while there became acquainted with Mr. Jesse Smith, who had been furnishing Mr. Johnson with means to carry on his lumber business. Mr. Johnson was unfortunate in business and failed at the end of two years, and was sold out by the sheriff, which sale was attended by Mr. Smith as a creditor, and knowing it threw young Merick out of em- ployment, he offered him a situation, which was gladly accepted. This was about 1826. Mr. Smith was doing a very large mercantile and manufacturing business for those times. After being with him for a little over a year, he sent Mr. Merick with a store of goods to Perch River, and the following summer sent him to Quebec to look after his lumbering interests, and in the fall of the same year offered him a partnership and an interest in the business, which was accepted, and so young Merick became the manager. The business developed into a pretty large one, de- voted principally to lumber designed for the Quebec market, and also the building and running of vessels. The timber and staves, which were the principal business, were ob- tained about the head of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, extending into Lake Huron, and were transported by vessels across the lakes to Clayton, on the St. Lawrence, and there made into rafts for transportation to Quebec. Of these rafts there were several made up every year, amounting (according to their size) to $40,000 or $50,000 each. These rafts had to be made very strong to run the rapids of the river, seven or eight in number. Each stick of oak timber was tied up with large oak-wisps, forming what was called a dram; and from 10 to 20 or 30 drams in a raft. The rafts were propelled by a number of small sails, but usually went but little faster than the current. At the rapids a pilot and extra men were taken to conduct the raft through the rapids; a pilot for each dram or section, the raft being divided into several sections for running the rapids. Sometimes a

HON. ELDRIDGE G. MERICK, OF CLAYTON.

ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF THAT TOWN, AND ONCE THE LARGEST VESSEL OWNER ON THE UPPER RIVER.

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

large raft required from 200 to 300 men. Frequently they would get broken up in the rapids and run ashore, attended with con- siderable loss and expense in saving the pieces. Arriving at Quebec, they were usually sold on from two to six months' time, but the per- centage of loss by bad debts was very small. Better facilities were needed for transporting this square oak timber, and a ship-yard was established at Clayton. After Mr. Smith re- moved to Ohio, Mr. Merick continued the timber trade, adding forwarding and grain business, associating with him Messrs. Fow- ler and Esselstyn.

The business in the winter was arranging and superintending the shipments, selecting the timber in the country, and getting it for- warded for shipping, and in building vessels, of which the firm generally had one or more on the stocks. They built, with one or two exceptions, all the steamboats forming the justly celebrated line on Lake Ontario and the River St. Lawrence, on the American side.

The " Reindeer " fleet, which at one time numbered 14 vessels, were built at his Clay- ton yard; also three steamers of the Ontario Navigation Company, all of them having his careful supervision.

With D. N. Barney & Co., he built, about 1844, the steamer Empire, to run between Buffalo and Chicago. Her increased tonnage and decks attracted much attention, with many prophecies of failure, but she proved a success and was the vanguard of the fine fleets of lake transports.

When the Grand Trunk Railroad was built, however, following up the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, the competition ruined the business of these passenger steamers. The line ceased to be remunerative, and the boats were sold, some to go to Montreal; one went to Charleston, S. C., and afterwards was en- gaged in the rebel service iu the war of the rebellion.

He had previously established a house in Cleveland, one in Oswego and one in Buffalo, the object being to furnish business for the vessels on the lakes. Each additional facility only showed the necessity of still further facilities. The firm decided to build a large flouring mill in Oswego, which had the largest capacity of any mill in the country at that time, turning out from 1,000 to 1,200 barrels a day, and having 13 runs of stone.

He was interested in railroad building in Ohio, but it was before the days of floating bonds and watering stocks, but not of incom- petent, reckless superintendents. The enter- prise was a failure. But through their rail- road enterprise the firm was enabled not only to control the wheat over the road and to market by vessels, but for the mill at Oswego. During the war, or at the close, the mill was making very large profits, from $1 to $2 a barrel, but unfortunately it took fire and burned down, with a large stock of grain and flour on hand. The loss was pretty well pro- tected by insurance, but the profit which they would have made if the mill had not burned

down, could not have been provided for. The actual loss was nearly $150,000.

Perhaps his first and greatest financial loss was through the failure of a large commission house (Suydam, Sage & Co.) in New York, in 1850. But that loss brought generous and prompt proffers of aid from business men in Watertown, Kingston and Quebec, which were long after most gratefully remembered. The great financial disasters of 1857 and 1873 also brought misfortune to him, as well as to many others. He was greatly helped in all these reverses by the confidence that his creditors had in his ability and strict integrity, steadily refusing compromises when offered. He paid dollar for dollar, though often at great sacrifice of property. For many years Mr. Merick was president of the Sackets Har- bor Bank, relinquishing the position on leav- ing Jefferson county.

For many years he found Clayton was too much at one side for the prompt and success- ful management and oversight of his varied interests. He was strongly attached to the people of Jefferson county and the beautiful St. Lawrence, and it was with many regrets that he left his old friends and pleasant home, with all the associations of youth and man- hood, to make a home, in 1859, at the more central point, Detroit, Here he took an honored position among the business men of the city, many of whom sought advice from him, glad to profit by his large experience. In addition to other business, he bought an interest in the Detroit Dry Dock Company for the firm of Merick, Esselstyn & Co. John Owen, Gordon Campbell aud Merick, Fowler & Esselstyn each owned one-third of the Dry Dock stock-the total stock being $300,000.

Mr. John Fowler, a partner of the firm of Merick, Fowler & Esselstyn, died in May, 1879. The surviving partners purchased his interest in the business, and continued under the name of Merick, Esselstyn & Co.

After the failure of 1873, Mr. Merick was too old a man to again do business with his old confidence and success.

In 1829 Mr. Merick married Miss Jane C. Fowler. She died in 1881, leaving four sur- viving children-all of whom have proven useful and honored members of society.

Mrs. Cyrus McCormick, who was Mr. Mer- ick's niece, was the daughter of Melzar Fow- ler, born at Brownville, N. Y., and survives her distinguished husband, who was that C. H. McCormick, so long the leader in manu- facturing reapers for the harvest field, whose machines have gone into all lands. He was the one to introduce that inestimably valuable machine into England, as is so well spoken of on page 41 of this History.

Mr. Merick was very early interested in the temperance movement. It had been the cus- tom to put whisky among the necessary stores for every raft and vessel. He very soon realized the injury it was doing, made liquor a contraband article, supplied tea and coffee instead, and made it his personal duty to visit cabin and forecastle, to confiscate and

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

throw overboard any spirits smuggled on board.

The sailors who manned his vessels came from the adjacent farms and villages. Young men, beginning as cabin boys, or before the mast, were frequently advanced as they proved worthy and capable to be mates, cap- tains and shareholders, and all looked up to him as to a personal friend and father.

One who had sailed for him 35 years wrote: "The accounts for these years aggregated more than half a million of dollars, but never an error to the value of a cent in his books, never a sour look or unkind word. I was always treated more as an equal than as a ser- vant." Another who served him 40 years said: " I have received from him nothing but kindness. When in need of aid or coun- sel his generous heart always responded to my wants. In prosperity and adversity, sun- shine and storm, he was always true to prin- ciple, and true to himself as a man, ever fol- lowing the Golden Rule."

Mr. Merick had no political aspirations, be- yond wishing to do the best possible for his own township, of which he was several times supervison. He was a strong Whig, and gave money, time and influence to promote the interests of that party. Twice he was nominated to Congress, and ran ahead of his ticket; once both parties wished to unite upon him as their candidate, but his business interests would not permit him to accept the nomination. He was also one of the Electoral College, voting for President William H. Harrison.

The title of judge was given him when he was appointed associate judge of Jefferson county, but he felt that it rightfully belonged only to a man of legal training and ability.

The Patriot War of 1837-38 caused much trouble and anxiety all along the border, and brought together many of the best men of Northern New York and Canada to council together and take such measures as would in- sure peace.

One of the Canadian members of that com- mittee of arbitration wrote: " How much the high character and the confidence inspired by your father in Canada, assisted in allaying the irritation which existed on both sides of the line. To him many misguided men owe their deliverance from extreme peril. I well remember the effect upon my own mind, not a little exasperated at the time, by his explan- ations as to the sincere, but mistaken views which induced many good and worthy people to engage in or extend aid to what they sup- posed to be a movement in assisting the oppressed."

Mr. Merick, deploring his own inability to obtain a collegiate education, was ready to aid young men with such aspirations. The success of many business men was owing to the counsel and substantial aid he gave. Academies, colleges, churches, public and private charities were cheerfully aided by him as " the Lord prospered him."

His noble, courtly bearing, his unassuming manner, his thoughtfulness, tenderness and

benevolence, his faithfulness and integrity make a rich legacy to children and children's children.

It had always been his thought that a busi- ness man should keep at work till the end of life. In the winter of 1887-88, realizing from his advanced years that his strength was fast failing, he decided to sell the remaining ves- sels of the fleet. Friday, February 10, 1888, the contract was made for selling the last one. Saturday, February 11, the papers were to be signed. He tarried a little in the morning, perhaps not quite as well as usual, after a somewhat restless night-his mind no doubt busy with reminiscences of the past, and sad- dened by the change of affairs. The mail brought news from absent loved one. While talking with his daughter, sitting beside him, of the good tidings received, his head drop- ped, one sigh was given, "the silver cord was loosed," "the golden bowl was broken." -he had gone from his work to his rest and his reward.

Thus passed away, after an honorable and a useful life, one of the most widely-known and justly-honored of our older citizens, who came to man's estate in Jefferson, and spent the flower of his life there. His death occur- red at Detroit, February 11, 1888, in his 86th year.

Mr. Merrick and wife reared a family of four children. They were:

MARIA D., wife of Isaac L. Lyon, a native of Ogdensburg, N. Y. They reside at Red- lands, Cal.

ERMINA G. MERICK, wife of E. J. Car- rington, of Fulton, N. Y. They reside at Detroit, Mich.

MELZAR F. MERICK, died March 28, 1893. His wife was Mary Whittlesey, of Danbury, Conn.

JEANNIE C., wife of G. N. Chaffee, of De- troit, Mich., which is their home.

Mr. Merick was in many respects a pecu- liarly able man, and should be spoken of apart from his many business enterprises. Judgment was the leading quality of his mind. To strangers he appeared reserved, the result of his native modesty, and not the outgrowth of any feeling of superiority or of self-elation. His soul was too great and his judgment too solid for any such folly as that. He was eminently democratic, simple in his manners and his tastes, as have been all the really great men the writer has encountered. Mr. Merick was not a sharer in the command of armies, nor is it probable that he ever knew what it was to be thrilled by a bugle call or beat of drum; yet he intensely appreciated the struggle endured by the Union armies, whose perils he would surely have shared had he been of suitable age. He was a patriot in the highest sense of that term. Amidst all the duties of his exacting business, he was a consistent Christian; the travelling Methodist minister always found a welcome at his fire- side, both from him and his amiable wife, a fact the writer has heard the late Rev. Gard- ner Baker speak of with grateful tears. Mr.

COLONEL GEORGE W. FLOWER. EX-MAYOR OF WATERTOWN. CAPTAIN OF Co. C., 35TH N. Y. VOL. INFANTRY, 1861-1863.

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BIOGRAPHIES.

Merick's unostentations and democratic ways made him life-long friends, for his manner invited confidence, and confidence in him meant safety. Children and dogs never shunned his society, for they intui- tively perceived his gentleness under his greatness. Viewed in any light, as a man of affairs, the possessor and dispenser of large wealth, as the unostentatious but ever vigilant citizen of a free country, or as the sincere Christian, he possessed so many ex- cellencies that he fell but little short of

earthly perfection. He left a memory in Jefferson county that remains peculiary sweet, and entirely untarnished. And it is fitting to hold up such character to the ad- miration of the youth who come after him. as an evidence that the age in which he lived was not altogether one of greed and money-getting, but was adorned now and then by souls as grand as can be found in the records of any people. And so Eldridge G. Merick passes into history as one of the very ablest and best of his time.

COL. GEORGE W. FLOWER.

AMONG all the bright and enthusiastic young men who were the first to enter the Union army from Jefferson county, not one had a more engaging individuality than Col. George W. Flower. Certainly no one left a more prosperous environment nor a more attractive home to peril life and every human ambition by becoming an active par- ticipant in a war that 'promised only death or decrepitude. Setting aside his business, his young wife and his little children, he went to work in raising a company from among his neighbors and the companions of his boyhood. These readily recognized his qualities for leadership, and no other name was ever mentioned save his to take the captaincy of that fine body of young fel- lows who afterwards became Company "C" of the 35th N. Y. Vol. Infantry. The history of that company is written in that of the regiment which it helped to consti- tute, and is fully set forth in the proper place in this history.' Col. Flower shared all its perils, its intervals of wearisome in- action at Falls Church and Falmouth; and such delays chafed and annoyed him more than serious service, for he was a man of active mind and body, and found in labor and activity the comfort that sluggards find in ease and personal comfort.

At Antietam he received a blow from an exploding shell, which disabled him, and while home on leave he resolved to resign from his comniand in order to enter upon a more vigorous and engrossing pursuit of business. The reasons for this course were obvious to him, and well understood by his nearest friends. He had then served nearly two years. He began as a captain, and he was yet a captain. He had seen other men, his inferiors in ability. in moral worth, in previous business condition, and in social standing, rise above him in rank, and as his own regiment had acceptable men in its field officers, promotion there was unlikely. His ambition was unsatisfied, for he had every quality that made the good soldier, the cour- ageous commander. He resigned his cap- taincy and left the regiment, bearing with him the sincere respect and affectionate re- gard of all his comrades.

Before dismissing Colonel Flower from

consideration as a military man, one of his most intimate daily companions in the field esteems it a great pleasure and a duty to bear testimony to his unfaltering courage, his fortitude under unexpected reverses and his unfailing regard for the well-being of his men. He had a feeling heart, a high sense of soldierly honor, and an undying faith that in the end all would come out right. Whether in the imminent turmoil and intense excitement of battle, under great personal danger, or borne down by long marches, sometimes in mud and rain amidst endless fa- tigue, he was always clear headed, patient, exemplary. We shared together, in many a bivouac, the same blankets, and divided often the last crust-but his hopeful soul ever overlooked the present discomfort to find pleasure in the hopeful future. Such a man in a regiment is a great comfort, for the fault-finder and the prophet of evil are ever present in an army, discouraging every one with their dreary pessimism.

It is not necessary to allnde to his business career from the time of his resignation up to the time when he came to Watertown to reside. He was measurably successful.

In 1865, Captain Flower became a citizen of Watertown, and was so well known and so popular that he was elected the first mayor under the city charter. His demo- cratic ways made him popular with all classes, in that particular being much like his distinguished brother, the governor. His business interests after a while drew him much away from Watertown, though there was always his family home after his removal thither. He built railroads and works of internal improvement in several localities, being at one time contractor for building the great retaining dam which holds back the water supply of New York city.

Mr. Flower's business career marked him as a very intelligent and able man. No en- terprise, however great, seemed to appall him, for he had a faith that may be called sublime. When absent on one of his ex- peditions, looking after his business, he contracted a serions cold, which developed into acute pneumonia. and he died at the Union Square Hotel in New York city, May

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

4, 1881, lamented by all who were so fortu- nate as to know him. He left a widow, who has continued to reside in Watertown since his death, and a son, Fredk. S. Flower, of Flower & Co., 52 Broadway, New York city, and a daughter, May E., wife of J. S. Robinson, now residing in that city.

By the death of Mrs. Cadwell, her two young daughters were left in charge of Col. Flower and his wife for rearing and educa- tion. They became conspicuous members of society, and their gratitude to their friend is manifested in the beautiful memorial chapel at Brookside, erected to his memory a lasting memorial.

In passing upon the life of such a man as Colonel Flower, the biographer only brings out the leading and dominating traits of his character. But he possessed other traits which showed the thoroughness of the early training he received at his mother's fireside.

He was a lovable man, as shown in his re- spect and enduring affection for his parents; by his quick response in sympathy and ma- terial aid for any one in distress, especially for those whom he knew in his youth. His affectionate attention to his wife and child- ren and to the young wards who were placed in his charge, marked him as a man of fine sensibilities, possessing a high sense of personal responsibility. Though not one who vaunted of his religious belief, all who knew him well understood that the pious teachings of his mother were not lost upon him, and his kindred feel no doubt as to his status in that world he has entered upon. In its shadowy Valhalla he will meet other heroes whom heknew beyond the Potomac, and with them he calmly awaits the coming of those other noble patriots who yet linger in their pilgrimage, some of them impatient to depart. J. A. H.

HISTORY OF THE OLD STATE ARSENAL.

THE following interesting paper was pre- pared by A. J. Fairbanks, Esq., and read before the Jefferson County Historical So- ciety :

Prior to the construction of the Water- town arsenal the nearest depot available was at Utica. In 1808, Gov. Daniel D. Tompkins notified by letter Capt. Noadiah Hubbard, of Champion, that 500 stand of arms, 350 sets of accontrements and 7,500 rounds of ammunition, etc., had been for some time stored at Utica, awaiting some place of deposit, and their destination was, by an act of March 27, 1808, changed to Watertown. The selection and purchase of the site and the supervision of the building of the Watertown arsenal, were entrusted to Mr. Hart Massey, who at that time held the position of collector of customs for the district of Sackets Harbor. A site was se- lected on the south side of Columbia street (now Arsenal street), near its intersection with Madison street (now Massey street), in the present 3d ward. This portion of the town at that time was but recently cleared of the forest, and there were but few dwell- ings in the vicinity. The west line of Madi- son street bordered on a dense forest extend- ing to Black River bay, with but few clear- ings or roads. During the year 1809 the arsenal was erected and completed. The structure was of brick with cut stone trim- mings. Size 40x60 feet, two stories in height, with high attic. On the eastern slope of the roof was a platform on which was mounted two six-pounders, unlimbered, standing muzzle to muzzle. Strong iron bars protected the lower windows, and two tall masts supported lightning rods. In the rear was a one-story guard-house of wood. The whole premises were enclosed by a strong stockade, constructed of cedar posts set into the ground, with two sides hewed,

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 37

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