The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 38

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 38

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to make the joints somewbat perfect, and the tops cut off about twelve feet from the ground, and sharpened. A gateway through the stockade on Columbia street, led to the rear and guard-house. A sentry- box stood just within the gateway. The cost of the arsenal was $1,940 99. On the completion of the arsenal, the armsand am- munition, etc., heretofore stored at Utica, were brought from there. and additional supplies from Albany were added, together with a large quantity of cannon balls and shells from a foundry at Taberg, Oneida county. From this time forward and dur- ing the war of 1812-14, the supply was con- tinually added to and drawn from, accord- ing to the necessities of the times.

The general appearance and arrangement of the arsenal, up to its sale and final aban- donment, may be described as follows: The ground floor of one room was heavily planked for the storage of a complete bat- tery of artillery and appendages. Along the eastern and southern sides on this floor were piled pyramids of cannon balls and shells. The walls above these were filled with hundreds of knapsacks and canteens, the former made of canvas painted lead color; on the outer flap was painted in white letters the legend in monogram, S. N. Y .; the canteens were of wood, cylindrical in form, composed of hoops and staves, with leather support-straps. On the western wall were suspended some four or five hun- dred pairs of snow shoes: these were dis- carded and left here by Gen. Pike's brigade, after the long and tedious march overland through the northern wilderness to join Dearborn's army at Sackets Harbor, prior to the descent on Little York (now Toronto), in the winter of 1812-13. The ravages of time and mice soon despoiled the snow shoes of the netting and thongs so that they

THE STATE ARMORY AT WATERTOWN.

...

177

HISTORY OF THE OLD STATE ARSENAL.

became worthless. and so remained un- touched or undisturbed for thirty-seven years, or until 1850. On the second floor were stored the muskets; on the four walls and on racks extending from floor to ceil- ing on donble hooks, two by two, with bayonets fixed, were ranged many hun- dreds of muskets, all of one pattern, smooth bore, flint locks of calibre 16 to 18 to the pound. Prominent in the assortment were many old brass mounted relics and trophies of Chippewa and Lundy's Lane; also a few old continentals. On the rafters in the at- tic were hung many sets of cross belts, cartridge boxes and bayonet scabbards; above these were a number of drums, the heads and strainers long since departed by age and neglect. On the drums were painted the State coat of arms and the num- ber of regiment.

By the act of Legislature. April 9, 1850, the old arsenals of the State were ordered to be sold, the sites by private sale and the material by auction, except the artillery, which was sent to headquarters at Albany. Accordingly sales by auction were adver- tised and took place soon after. The arms were quickly sold and were mostly carried off by farmers and boys; the belts, etc., were sold in lump to a shoe dealer, who utilized the material in his business, but disposed of the old brass breast plates to a brass foun- dry. The site and building were purchased by Messrs. O. and E. L. Paddock, who leased the premises for a tobacco factory, for which purpose it was used for several years. Later it was sold to C. A. Holden, who made use of it for storage. Finally the structure alone was disposed of to W. G. Williams, who demolished it for the ex- cellent material it contained, and which now forms a portion of a fine brick cottage on TenEyck street, owned by C. W. Simons. To-day not a stick or stone marks the old site. To those interested, we would say that the lawn on the western side of the prem- ises of Mrs. C. A. Holden, No. 49 Arsenal street, marks the spot, and the fine stable on the rear occupies the site of the old guard-house.

INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES.

Requisitions for the loan of arms were made at various times. At the time of the execu- tion of Evans, for the murder of Rogers and Diamond in 1828, a company of militia was furnished with arms by request of the sheriff, and subsequently, in 1839, arms were loaned to the sheriff of Lewis county, at the execution of McCarthy for the murder of Alford, an attempted rescue being feared, as threats to this effect were freely made; but no outbreak occurred. During the sum- mer of 1832, the Asiatic cholera raged with fatal violence in Canada, and to prevent its importation into our boundaries, strong and rigorous quarantine regnlations were established. Boards of health were organ- ized in every town and every port on Lake

Ontario and the river St. Lawrence. The citizens of Sackets Harbor procured a bat- tery of artillery from Madison barracks, and all the shot and shell in the Watertown arse- nal were sent to the Harbor for the guns to enforce quarantine by force, if necessary, in preventing the entry of vessels or passen- gers during the prevalence of the disease. No occasion for the ammunition, however, was required, although the shot and shell were never returned.

During the Patriot war. in 1838, intense excitement prevailed for many months, owing to the warlike operations on the border. Early in the morning of February 19, 1838, it was discovered that the Water- town arsenal had been forcibly entered during the night 'and a large quantity of arms carried off. It was surmised at once the direction was toward Canada. The keeper, who also held the commission of deputy United States marshal, at once com- menced search with a posse of detectives, and also had handbills printed and spread in all directions, far and wide,

The pursuit, though active, did not effect the capture of the arms at this time, owing to the celerity of the plunderers, for on the same day there arrived at French Creek (Clayton), on sleighs, a considerable amount of arms, munitions and provisions, also, in the collection, some 500 long-handled pikes, being the proceeds of the Watertown arse- nal, and from the arsenals of Batavia and Elizabethtown, which were plundered the same week. These arms were at once car- ried over the boundary to Hickory island, in British waters. Hardly had the patriots reached the island before a stampede took place, and all came back on the run, leaving their arnis behind or throwing them away in the river. The arms that were brought back to the American shore were hidden at French Creek, and were afterward discov- ered and returned. No arrests were made.

For further interesting particulars relat- ing to that episode see article npon the Patriot war in this History.

Many distinguished persons visited the old arsenal at various times. On the occasion of the first annnal exhibition of the Jeffer- son County Agricultural Society, September 29, 1818, many guests from abroad were present, viz .: Governor De Witt Clinton, General Stephen Van Rensselaer, J. Le Ray de Chaumont, Hon. George Parish, Col. Jenkins, Col Hngh Brady and staff of the 2d Infantry, U. S. A., from Madison Bar- racks, accompanied by the military band of the regiment, and others. During the march of the procession a salute was fired by Major Masters at the arsenal. General Macomb, in 1838, and Generals Scott and Worth, in 1840, inspected the arms. The position of the keeper of the arsenal was a sinecure, and the first keepers were un- changed for many years, but later the place was filled by political preferment. During the war the charge was in the quartermas-

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

ter's department. The names of some of the late keepers were Capt. Massey, Major Masters, and later on, Messrs. Fairbanks, Soper, Meigs and Shephard. After the rob- bery in February, '38, a detachment of U. S. regular troops guarded the premises for several months. During the war of 1812-14, for the protection of the arms, and to facili- tate the arming and disbanding of troops,

a military post was established, and bar- racks and stables were built opposite the arsenal, on the site on which now stands the fine brick residence of the late Beman Brockway, No. 56 Arsenal street. Mc- Knight's cavalry troops were on duty as military couriers, carrying dispatches, hunt- ing deserters, etc. This post was abandoned and demolished in 1815. A. J. F.

MRS. JAMES BRINTNALL.

AMONG the large class of modest, humble and refined yet energetic females, who came here to cheer and encourage the hearts of their husbands, and to divide with them the trials and responsibilities of their border life, was the one whose name I have placed at the heading of this article. Her maiden name was Lydia Smith, born in Dracut, Massachusetts, July 29, 1786. Her father, Samuel Smith, died when she was seven years of age, and she went to live with a maternal uncle, Ezekiel Hale, in Haverhill, Massachusetts.

While occupied in Mr. Hale's factory, at the age of 17, she had an introduction to Jonathan Ingalls. Mr. Ingalls wanted a wife, and without much ceremony solicited her hand.

It was in the fall of 1803 when they mar- ried, and in February following they came on together to take possession of their new home.

Mr. Ingalls had previously erected a log shanty on his land, and had kept bachelor's hall while he chopped and cleared a small piece of ground for wheat.

In these early years she did what she could in the way of working flax and wool into clothes for herself and husband, and in enlarging her stock of beds and bedding.

She took it upon herself to do much of the little occasional marketing of butter and eggs, and the procuring of such arti- cles of necessity as had to be purchased at the stores, either at Brownville or in Water- town; and although the roads were rough she was so accustomed to riding on horse- back that she had no difficulty in carrying a pail of butter or eggs over the roughest roads, in her lap, on horseback.

Thus passed the short and happy period until the war of 1812, by which time they had got a large clearing, a good barn and the beginning of a comfortable frame house.

Hitherto she had known only happiness. The scene was about to change, and her sun was about to set in gloom and darkness. The expedition which had resulted in the capture of Little York, in Canada, provoked the enemy to attempt to retaliate by a sys- tematic attack upon Sacket's Harbor, in May, 1813. Mrs. Ingalls saw her hushand and husband's brothers take their hasty leave of home, on horseback, with their implements of war-with a heavy heart

and with a kind of melancholy presenti- ment of harm.

After a while there were alarming reports from the scene of strife, that our forces had been defeated, that the town of Sackets Harbor was in the hands of the enemy, and that a portion of the victorious army, to- gether with the Indians, were in rapid march for Watertown, to destroy the arsenal.

Hastily catching up some things of most value, and turning the cows and calves to- gether, she took her children and a supply of such things as would be most needed, in a little bundle in her hand, and fell into the disordered ranks of the fugitive company.

They had proceeded something like a mile and a half when Elder Libbeus Field overtook them, and having succeeded in allaying their fears by an assurance that the British had retreated, they all faced about and returned .

It was dark that night before any con- firmation of the favorable termination of the battle was had by Mrs. Ingalls in her se- cluded neighborhood. At that time the bro- thers, James and David Ingalls, returned, and reported that they had run away from , the battle before its close, and had, there- fore, not seen her husband. The neighbor- hood soon became a scene of excitement when it was ascertained that Mr. Abraham Graves, who was ensign in the company to which Mr. Ingalls belonged, together with Mr. John Ayers, were among the missing.

Mrs. Ingalls proceeded at once to the Har- bor with her friends, and instituted a sys- tematic search over the field of battle, but all in vain, and she was persuaded to return to her desolate home, with a faint hope that he might after all be a prisoner, even in the hands of the dreaded Indians.

It was the last of July before she got the intelligence by way of a letter from Mr. Graves to his family, that the five persons named. viz: Messrs. Linnell. Cook, Ayres, Ingalls and himself, were taken prisoners by the Indians and given up to the British, who had conveyed them to Quebec, where all but himself were confined on board of a prison ship. He being an officer in the militia, was permitted to remain on shore. He also stated that the persons named were well when he last heard directly from them.

38 1691249.

VIEW IN WATERTOWN.

LOOKING WEST FROM THE WOODRUFF HOLSE.

PICTURE FRANE'S

50 €

THE WATERTOWN CITY OPERA HOUSE. BUILT IN 1886 BY REMINGTON, GATES & Co. COST $75,000.

DENTIST DENTIST

BOOKS & WA!

BOOKS

عالم

WASHINGTON_HALL.

PRESENTED TO THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BY THE LATE JOHN A. SHERMAN.

185

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

In February following, Mrs. Graves got another letter from her husband which gave the intelligence of the death of Mr. Ingalls and Mr. Ayers, from disease induced by cruel suffering and confinement in the hold of a filthy prison ship, and by starva- tion.

In the meantime there was sickness and death in the family at home, and a neces- sity for the most active efforts on her part, in harvesting and securing the crops. David Ingalls was never well a day after his return from the battle at Sackets Har- bor, but continued to decline until August, when he died. Mrs. Ingalls had a severe run of fever, such as was called the "epi-

demic," which raged in all parts of the county. Others of her family were sick at nearly the same time, so that a younger brother of Mr. Ingalls, who had been sent for before David's death, thoughit it most prudent for him to escape the danger by returning at once to his old home, New Hampshire.

She made arrangements the next spring with Mr. Brintnall, who was then a young unmarried man, to rent the farm to him for three years. This arrangement proved perfectly satisfactory to both parties, and resulted in a very agreeable matrimonial connection, by whichi she became at the close of three years, Mrs. James Brintnal.

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

PERHAPS this point in our History is as appropriate as any other in which to intro- duce the city of Watertown, as independent from the town proper. This manner of treating the subject may appear to give the city more prominence upon the printed page than is its due. But Watertown vil- lage, from the very first, was an important business center, geographically almost equi- distant from any of the lines forming the county's boundaries ; and notwithstanding the pretensions of surrounding villages, that frequently challenged Watertown's claims to supremacy-one move having gone so far as to propose two shire towns for holding courts (one at Adams and the other at Theresa)-yet the old town has gone right along increasing in wealth, social status, and in population, until now it is one of the most elegant and wealthy small cities of America. Viewed in any light- as the center of a prosperous county, the center of the wealth and industry of that county, or as the central influence whence have sprung much of the enterprse and learning of the county at large, its history and present status must ever be interesting, and perhaps instructive. It is the common ground on which the people of all the towns may meet upon democratic equality-the very Rialto of the commercial influences which have always centered here, and the Athens of a section which has needed no Acropolis, for the surrounding towns have produced local orators and soldiers whose names will sound in the remoter history as do to us, now upon the stage, the names of Webster and Choate, of Soult, and Murat, and McDonald.

The city of Watertown is finely located on the Black river about seven miles from its junction with Lake Ontario. The river divides the city into two unequal portions, the bulk of the place being on the southern side of the stream. Two large islands, Bee- bee's and Sewall's, besides one smaller one, are encompassed by the various channels within the city limits. Of these Beebee's

contains about five, and Sewall's fifteen acres of land, or rather land and rock, for under- neath the scanty covering of soil lies the for- mation known as the Trenton limestone, composed of three stratifications, individual- ly known as Trenton, Black River and Birds- eye, which comprise a large share of the sur- face or out-cropping strata of the county. The river is spanned by substantial bridges. One of these bridges, upon the suspension plan, was designed and constructed by a local mechanic.

The islands and banks of the river are mostly occupied by the various manufac- tories for over a mile, nearly all of which are very conveniently connected with the tracks of the railway lines which center here. The main body of the town is beau- tifully situated on a broad-spreading plateau, running back to the terraces of limestone which mark the ancient shores of Lake Ontario. The city is remarkably well built, more especially in the line of dwellings, which for number, elegance and confort are not excelled by those of any city in the country.

The place has all the necessary and charac- teristic elements of a large city, including fine, broad streets, good hotels, extensive printing establishments, costly churches, good schools, gas and water-works, a well- ordered fire department, a competent police force, one great rural cemetery and several small ones, excellent bands, a fine opera- house, extensive and imposing business blocks, and heavy manufactories. It is the center of a very extensive trade in nearly all descriptions of merchandise and manu- factured goods, and transacts a very large business in dairy and other agricul- tural productions, as well as in wood-pulp, the capacity of the river, from Carthage to Dexter being placed as high as 200 tons per day.

ADVANTAGES AND ATTRACTIONS.

1. Its unsurpassed and almost unlimited water-power, furnished by Black river,

186

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

which falls nearly 112 feet within the city limits.

2. Its location in the most fertile and pro- ductive portion of Northern New York, and in one of the most thriving and prosperous agricultural counties in the State.

3. It is the virtual center of a railroad systeni which has its outlets at favorable points in the interior of the State, and at the best ports on the "' great lakes of the north."

4. It therefore possesses the advantages of railroad connections, the superintendents expressing and showing a liberal spirit towards all manufacturing enterprises.

5. It is situated in the midst of vast and . valuable mineral deposits, chief among which are inexhaustible beds of the finest iron ore to be found in the United States, many of which are in full and successful operation.

6. Within the limits of the city lie portions of a ridge of limestone miles in extent, which, it has been demonstrated, has no superior as a flux for use in the reduction of iron ore.

7. It has direct railroad communication with the vast coal regions of Northern Pennsylvania, by two connecting railroad lines.

8. It has direct railroad communication with the lumbering interests of adjoining counties, with lake and river ports receiving lumber from the west, and with the great pine and spruce forests of Canada.

9. It is within ten miles of one of the best harbors on the great lakes, with which it is connected by rail, thus affording direct communication by water with the grain, lumber, and mineral industries of the north- west.

10. It is situated in the midst of the most productive tanning interests of the State- Jefferson and adjoining counties being large producers of live stock, and the material for reducing hides to leather.

11. The government of the city is based on strict ideas of economy consistent with safe and sure progress, and the spirit of the people is decidedly in favor of every measure intended to make the rate of taxation low, The officers of the city are pledged to carry out this idea.

12. Statistics show that it is one of the healthiest cities in the Union, subject to no contagious diseases, and free from prevail- ing sickness. The rate of mortality for 1875 was one in seventy.

13. Its public school system has been placed upon a satisfactory foundation, and affords excellent educational facilities.

14. The cost of living is below that in the large cities, estimated to be 25 per cent. less.

15. Its social advantages are numerous, the tone of society healthy, and the morals of the community beyond dispute.

16. Its great wealth, which is generally seeking investments in desirable and well- conducted manufacturing pursuits.

It is 250 miles northwest of New York

city, 147 miles west-northwest of Alhany. 72 miles north of Rome, 90 miles northwest of Utica. 69 miles north of Syracuse, 60 miles northeast of Oswego, 76 miles south of Og- densburg, with all of which cities it has direct and unbroken railroad connection. It is also 10 miles east of Sackets Harbor, one of the finest harbors on Lake Ontario, and 25 miles southeast of Cape Vincent, a fine port on the St. Lawrence river. opposite Kingston, Ontario, and one of the promi- nent outlets of a flourishing Canadian trade. With both the last-named points Watertown has direct railroad connection. It is also connected by rail with Clayton, a thriving village on the St. Lawrence river, opposite Gananogne, which is also an out- let of Canadian trade; and with Morristown, a prosperous village a few miles farther down the river. opposite Brock ville, Ontario, Kingston, Brockville, and Gananoque, with Prescott, opposite Ogdensburg, are impor- tant points on the Grand Trunk Railroad of Canada. Kingston is the terminus of the Kingston and Pembroke Railroad, penetrat- ing a productive lumber country. Brock- ville is the terminus of the Brockville and Ottawa Railroad, and also of the Rideau Canal, both passing though important lum- ber districts. Prescott is the terminus of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Railroad.

The construction of the Carthage and Adirondack Railroad has placed Watertown in daily touch with the Western Adiron- dacks, with its immense lumber growth. as well as its well-known health resorts, while Walter Webb's railroad connecting Remsen with Malone, has opened up to the people of Jefferson county a northern entrance into the Eastern Adirondacks, with its great forests and beautiful lakes, and. indeed into that vast region of virgin forests extending eastward from No. 4 to Lakes Champlain and George.

It will be seen that nothing can be more favorable than the geographical location of Watertown, commercially considered. This is an element of strength which cannot be overlooked by those who regard the question of location with commercial eyes.

The city is situated in the very heart of one of the richest agricultural regions in the State, to which fact is largely due the substantial growth, thrift, enterprise and prosperity that have become a recognized features with those who know its history best. Its prosperity is second to no city of its size in the United States It is, in fact, the leading commercial city of Northern New York.

In 1802, Jonathan Cowan began the erec- tion of a grist-mill at the bridge that crosses to Beebee's Island. The extraordinary water power which this place presented afforded ground for the expectation that it would become the center of a great amount of business. The first deeds were given August 20, 1802, to Elijah Allen, Jotham Ives, David Bent, Ezra Parker, William

REFERENCES CALLED FOR BY THE FOLLOWING PLOT.

No. 1. Jonathan Cowan's saw mill.

2. Cowan's log dwelling honse.

3. Judge Heury Coffeen's log dwelling.

" 4. A frame roof, just covered, designed for a store by Amasa Fox.

5. A small plank house, commenced by Thomas Walt, unfinished.

6. Aaron Keyes' frame dwelling house.

.. 7. Aaron Keyes' cooper shop.

8. Log house occupied by Medad Canfield.

9. Log house occupied by Joel Goodale.

10. Log house built by Zachariah Butterfield, and occupied by Walt.

No. 11. Frame erected by Aaron Bacon -rafters blown off.

" 12. Doctor Isaiah Massey's tavern.

13. A frame, rough-boarded - no tenant.

14 and 15. Two barns.

16. Dwelling house of Hart Massey.

= 17. Wood house occupied by Nathaniel Haven. 18. Mr. Massey's barn.

" 19. Log house and hat shop of Paoli Wells.

20. Isaac Cutler's distillery .

21. Israel Thompson's log dwelling.

22. Village spring. The clump of buildings very nearly represents the present Public Square.

TATE

ROAD TO ISZ

STREETIR

WASHINGTON

COURT

WATERTOWN VILLAGE AS IT APPEARED IN 1804.

SKETCHED BY DYER HUNTINGTON, AND REPRODUCED THROUGH THE COURTESY OF HIS SON, MR. R. E. HUNTINGTON. "(For description, see opposite page.)

189

CITY OF WATERTOWN.

Parker, Joseph Tuttle, and Joseph Moore, but nearly all these settled outside the vil- lage.

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 38

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