The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 47

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 47

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It seems that when the Trinity church property, which fronted the old burying ground, was sold and the new Trinity erected, the graveyard became very soon neglected, and in a measure open to the public. The fence doubtless became gradually obliterated, and the graves that were unprotected by iron railing at last were left wholly without defence. The city officials, not heeding the law which would cause a re- version of the property if used for any other pur- pose than a " public burying ground," entered upon possession, and began to use the sacred place for storage purposes, and that abuse has been continued until this day. The place is now a wood-yard, a stor- age place for stone and tools, and the dumping ground for street and stable offal. The city has built a public vault there for temporary use in winter when Brookside is inaccessible; the grounds have been levelled, the graves obliterated and the legend- ary grave stones takeo away and used in building, or otherwise destroyed.

What makes this wholesale desecration more piti- ful is the fact that the graves of the old and powerful Sherman family, around the place of sepulchre of whose ancestors there is an iron fence, have beeu re- spected-but the poor and defenceless have been ploughed under and their graves obliterated.

Il·is hard to understand how such an abuse of a public trust could have been tolerated amongst an intelligent and Christian people such as are those of the city of Watertown. Those " heroes of discovery " who founded Watertown were anxious to protect their dead, as is evidenced by the terms of their grant. It is a painful subject, rendered more annoy- ing when we reflect that even savage tribes revere and hold sacred for all time the places where their dead are buried.

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

SOME INTERESTING REMINISCENCES RELATING TO WATERTOWN, PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE.

Watertown has ever been fortunate in having among her citizens not a few who could write intelligently and concisely upon any subject they handled. Nor were these writers by any means confined to the news- paper editors - indeed, having been one of these for many years, I am free to admit that the newspaper people were only a fair average of the writing capacity of the more educated men of the town. In early days George A. Benedict, who had no connection with any newspaper here, was an agreeable and forcible writer, and when he settled at Cleveland, O., became one of the ablest edi- tors in that State. George C. Sherman, the eminent lawyer, was a good writer, and so was Thos. C. Chittenden, but they were too busy to write much. James F. Starbuck, coming down to the forties, was an excep- tionally able writer - and one of the most aggravating criticisms I could hear upon my own editorial productions, would he to have some friend remark : " John, that was a pretty good article in your last paper. Did Starbuck write that?" This was in reality a compliment, though not intended as such, and filled me with anger and dis- gust. James R. Sweeney was a good writer, and would have excelled as a news- paper man -- for he had the Irish apprecia- tion of wit and humor, and could say smart things himself. Luther J. Dorwin was and is a forcible writer. I will not speak of Hon. Lysander H. Brown in this connec- tion, for he was long a newspaper editor. By far the most interesting articles prepared for the local press have been those written by Solon and Marcellus Massey, both pro- ducts of the early schools of Watertown, and both " to the manor born."

Samuel and George R. Fairbanks wrote often and well for the village papers.

William Ruger was a lawyer in Water- town for many years; was State senator one term, a man of remarkable modesty. His commanding presence easily obtained the respect of all with whom he came in contact. Like many others of the particu- larly bright and able men who have risen to prominence in Jefferson county, he began life in Watertown as a school teacher. Mar- cellns Massey wrote that he was the best teacher of his day, having a private school, for our grand system of common schools was not then fully developed. Mr. Ruger also served as postmaster of Watertown. He was the author of several school books published hy Knowlton & Rice, among the rest a grammar and an arithmetic: this last having a great run, and was probably one of the best primary mathematical works ever printed.

Alvin Hunt, for many years a newspaper editor, was quite a writer, though he had none of the advantages of an early educa-

tion, and was in many respects unfitted for newspaper work. He was an intense and bigoted partisan. hesitating at nothing that would aid the Democrats or disconcert the Whigs, and, aside from its political lean- ings, printed a newspaper of very little im - portance. He was a fair man, boarded his office boys, and they had no occasion to complain of unkindness. Considering the length of time he was a newspaper editor, and the opportunities he had for leaving a name for ability to impress himself upon the public mind through his newspaper, he left the least enduring memory of any of his contemporaries. He was for several years the mail route agent between Rome and Cape Vincent, though he had previously sold his interest in his paper to Mr. J. W. Tamblin.

Mr. Tamblin was for a long time a resi- dent of LeRay, coming to Watertown about 1845. He was twice State senator - a man of peculiarly turgid mind, apparently un- able to discriminate between small affairs and large ones. As a writer he was even below mediocrity, but he was a good citizen and amiable man -one of those who by accident sometimes find themselves placed in positions they fill but poorly, yet condon- ing for any lack of adaptability by an ami- ability that was perennial. He was one of those who illuminated by his opaqueness the last days of the old Jeffersonian.

Mrs. Gladys May Gillette, born in Salis- bury, Vt., a former resident of Watertown, is regarded as a versatile and industrious writer. Her style is descriptive, in which she excels, as is well illustrated in her piquant and telling articles relating to New York city gatherings of club people. She was one of the reception committee for the Actors' Fund Fair held two years ago, when $150,000 was raised to aid poor actors and their dependent families. As a newspaper "hack " she may be ranked 3d class.

Among the present well known but im- perfectly understood residents of Water- town we have made the acquaintance of Mr. D. S. Marvin, a gentleman whose eccen- tricities detract much from the reputation he honestly deserves. He lias a superior cabinet of curios, is possessed of much geo- logical, archaeological and literary ability; is a devoted botanist and is delighted with practical horticulture, yet his abilities are discounted by eccentricity of manner. Such men need the attrition which inter- course with others can only give in render- ing men adapted to social life. A really great man may so seclude himself as to leave no impression upon his contempora- ries or the world in which he lives, and to which he surely owes fealty and some slight service.

Among the unique characters of Water- town, perhaps none was more prominent in his characteristics than Dr. Reuben Goodale, after whom Goodale's lane is named, be- cause it led from Franklin street to Sterling,

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Wutt

Erected after the great fire of 1849. Abandoned after the new Trinity Church was dedicated.

OLD TRINITY CHURCH, COURT STREET, WATERTOWN.

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

terminating near the Doctor's residence. He was a triumphant, ever hopeful and emphatic Whig, the devoted admirer of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster, ever ready to give a reason for the faith that was in liim - a man universally respected for his professional skill and the integrity of his character. He reared a large family. His brother Joseph was the village druggist, father of L. J. Goodale, of Carthage, and of Judge Augustus Goodale, of Watertown. Joseph was also a Whig, formerly a Feder- alist, a man of learning and ability.

An own brother of Thurlow Weed is re- membered by the author as at one time a journeyman in the employ of Knowlton & Rice, in their book-bindery. He bore a marked resemblance to his more distin- guished and really able brother.

Luther G. Hoyt, a dry goods merchant on Court street in 1833-36, was a charater worthy of remembrance. He was a man of fair mind, very congenial; an honest, con- scientious citizen, for many years justice of the peace - a place he filled most acceptably, for every one had faith in his integrity and judicial fairness. He passed away uni- versally regretted, leaving to this day his widow, who is an accurate and interesting historian.

Among the many prominent men whom the writer knew in Watertown, from 1833 to 1865, none was more interesting than Wil- liam Smith. He was an unique character, because he knew so much and could do so much. He could lay brick or stone, or mix and carry mortar, or he could do the work of an hydraulic engineer; he could draw and make models and patterns; he could run a lathe in a machine shop, and make nearly any complicated machine that was needed in those early times. When Mr. Beebee came on to build his great cotton factory, now only a memory, he gave over all his plans to Mr. Smith, went away, and never saw the work until the building was ready to receive its machinery. Some of the walls of that building had to be undermined be- fore they would fall even after the building was burned in 1833. We have not the space in which to do justice to Mr. Smith. He was a helpful man in many ways. His workmen stayed with hin for long periods, which showed him to be a just man. His manners were mild, his temper agreeable, his modesty and self reliance remarkable. Viewed in any light, he was a strong char- acter - a man to lean upon in any hour of trouble. Those who knew him best loved him most. To the writer he always ap- peared one of the most wonderful men he ever met, fit to be a companion with Web- ster and Clay, whom he knew well during the three winters he spent in Washington.

Mr. Smith came from Nova Scotia, whither his parents had removed at the beginning of the Revolution, they having remained loyal to King George. At that time our subject must have been a mere youtlı. His

only daughter married Mr. Samuel Fair- banks; one of his sons is still living in Watertown, an honored citizen, and an- other son is a distinguished civil engineer, long a resident of Florida.

The oldest cemetery in Watertown is that one in the rear of where once stood Trinity church, a cut of which church is shown in this history, as well as cuts and a descrip- tion of the noble structure of that society on Benedict street, largely the gift of two gen- erous and public spirited citizens, Anson Ranney Flower, of New York city, and Gor- ernor Roswell Pettibone Flower. Mrs. Whittlesey ran across that burying plot when she started for the river to drown herself. I think her remains rest there with her child. In connection with the article upon Cemeteries in Watertown, will be found a notice of the corporation's desecra- tion of these grounds.

Adriel Ely was another man of marked individuality in Watertown. He was a merchant, United States pension agent, and a manufacturer of potash -- his old "ash- ery " standing on the north side of Factory street, close to the bank of the river. For many of his late years of merchandising he occupied the stone building lately demol- ished for the new bank building, in the sec- ond story of which James F. Starbuck, Luther J. Dorwin, Lotus Ingalls and John A. Haddock were law students in 1841-43, with the distinguished firm of Lansing & Sherman.

Clark Rice, junior member of the firm of Knowlton & Rice, among other evidences of ability was a practical printer. He and his partner, George W. Knowlton, came to Watertown from Vermont in 1824, and promised to open a bookstore in 1825. They began in the Fairbanks block on Court street, in a space now represented by the Atlantic Tea Company. This firm was a thoroughly reliable one from the outset, for it rested upon the basis of integrity. At first they merely sold books, but soon became publish- ers. Their printing establishment was origi- nally on Washington street, and to that lo- cality their bookstore was also removed, the printing office being transferred to the build- ing in front of their later paper mill, which building is yet standing. and is now used as a storehouse by Knowlton Bros. In that building. the author set type many months. Although entirely unlike in their make-up, the most agreeable relations existed between these partners, each having his distinct branch of the business to attend to. Mr. Knowlton was heard to say, after he had retired from business, that while the opera- tions of his partner sometimes kept him in hot water, he owed much of his success to Mr. Rice, who never lost a chance to make a strike, for his disposition was adventurous, his desires progressive. He was largely in- strumental in building the railroad to Rome. While many others, who possessed more means, were slow in subscribing to stock,

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Mr. Rice was prompt and decided, and de- prived himself of needed rest and sleep to push forward that enterprise. To him, and to Orville Hungerford and Col. Wm. Lord, William Smith, Norris M. Woodruff, and the late William Dewey, the road most likely owes its existence. Mr. Rice, in his later years, manifested a genuine affection for the business of his youth, and set type in the Times office for a long time before his death. It was to him that Samuel Haddock came, after his two elder sons had become apprentices to the " art preservative of arts," and with a piece of chalk on a clean-swept space in his blacksmith shop, demonstrated by rough drawings how a printing press could be made that would print upon a con- tinuous web of paper. Mr. Rice pondered over it, but finally pronounced the scheme impracticable and of little value if practi- cable. That was probably the first concep- tion of such a machine, the results of which, in hands of men of wealth and requisite mechanical skill, are difficult to even com- prehend - for it has been the means of cheapening literature and diffusing knowl- edge beyond man's earliest hopes. This Samuel Haddock was the father of that Rev. Dr. Haddock who was murdered by the liquor dealers at Sioux City, Iowa, and the man who learned Latin and Greek at his blacksmith forge. The writer well remem- bers being called up from his sleep many a time by his father, who insisted upon hear- ing his son's Latin lesson before he himself slept. Yet he was a mechanic, working at $1.75 per day, and keeping at the Institute four or five children for several years.

At Factory Square there were two very in. teresting characters, whose memory should not lapse into oblivion, Nathaniel Wiley and John Sigourney. Mr. Wiley came into the Black River country among the early ones, from New Hampshire, in which State he was born in 1796. He was the first worker in iron in Watertown who possessed a shop of his own-his large stone building, with his sign upon it, being a prominent feature, and stood just below where the fine factory building of Nill & Jess now looms up so grandly. Mr. Wiley was an excellent prac- tical mechanic, working at the lathe him- self, and aiding his apprentices in learning all the intricacies of that business. With the primitive tools of that period he turned out as good work as is now done, though not as quickly, as the patent shapers, drills and planers now in use take hold of solid iron and handle it as if it were soft wood. Mr. Wiley lived to a good old age, respected by every one. When the writer purchased the cotton factory and began to overhaul the old mill and make cloth, the advice and assist- ance of Mr. Wiley are gratefully remem- bered. He died in 1866 full of years and of honors. One of his daughters is Mrs. An- drew Fairbanks, now living and well. Mrs. Harriet Wiley, wife of Nathaniel Wiley, was born August 24th 1800, in Western New

York, and died at Watertown, July 27, 1866, aged 66 years.

John Sigourney was of New England parentage, and came to Watertown at an early day. His first public recognition was when he was made superintendent of the old Watertown Cotton Factory, long since destroyed, a part of its foundation being overlapped by the eastern wall of Nill & Jess' large building. Mr. Sigourney re- mained with that mill for many years, and is best remembered in connection with it. He was an intense Democrat, despising a Federalist as something entirely unworthy of notice. He reared one son, John M., who is remembered by the writer as a playmate; he was a fine scholar, though very retiring and modest. The elder Sigourney died Feb. 8, 1872, and John departed June 13, 1883. Both father and son were well known to the writer, were much respected and are held in kind remembrance.

The numerous Sigourney family, so promi- nent in Watertown for many years, are all related to Miss Lydia H. Sigourney, the dis- tinguished New England poet and authoress, long since deceased.

Henry D. Sewall, an elegant and educated gentleman of the old school, came to Water- town in the thirties, and became interested in manufacturing various textile fabrics. He was a pushing, progressive man, much beyond his contemporaries in learning. Un- fortunately the remoteness from the leading commercial centers of the country much more than counter-balanced the advantages of Black river water power, and in time the ruinous competition of more favored locali- ties drove all these textile works into bank- ruptcy. Mr. Sewall's ventures were no ex- ception, and his investment in Watertown proved unremunerative. The late E. Q. Sewall, of Bagley & Sewall, was his youngest son. Their former residence on Sewall's island, now the office of the Remingtons, was well sustained by a liberal hospitality, and the family were popular and beloved. Dr. Charles Goodale married one of Mr. Sewall's daughters. and Mr. T. H. Camp the other. Mr. Sewall and his wife were buried in the old burying ground at foot of Arsenal street.

Marcellus Massey thus alludes to the First Presbyterian Church, built in 1821. The reader will mark the honest pride and feel- ing manifested in the last paragraph of this description :

I cannot remember so much about the services as of the extreme frigid temperature which it seems always prevailed during those terrible long sermons, customary at that time. But for my mother's sheet- iron foot-stove, in which wood was burned, and that in the vestibule into which the outer doors opened. there was no other means of warming or trying to warm the house, and that was a complete failure.

The smoke-pipes passed into and through the body of the church, dropping from the joints a water dark as ink on the heads of those who passed along the aisles. This was remedied by attaching tiu vesselsso as to catch the falling shower. The pulpit was perched high up against the wall, between the entrance doors with a flight of stairs on either side leading up to it'

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CITY OF WATERTOWN.

The pews were square, and so high that lads of my size could scarcely see over. The seats for the sing- ers in the gallery were my envy on account of the wider range for observation which they afforded. There were In two corners of the gallery, boxes or pews intended for and used by the few colored per- sons who wished to attend. The leader of the choir was Isaac Lee, and, after him, Jahez Foster, hoth of whom used the old fashioned wooden pitch-pipe. I cannot forget the exciting and almost angry conflict that took place when the question was discussed of endeavoring to improve the musical part of the ser- vice by the introduction of certain instruments in the choir. The singers were nearly all in favor of it, with whom the younger part of the congregation were in sympathy, while some aesthetic elder people in the church, with New England proclivities, took very decided and ultra views on the question; going so far as to declare if that which was proposed was carried out, they and their families could not attend services of that character. On the other hand, among the younger and more progressive members of the choir and congregation there was manifested an equal de- termination that if no changes were made in respect to the singing services, those who liked the present method could share it all among themselves. To this, as in all great wars, there must in some way and at some time come an end. And, as usual, compro- mises were offered and accepted, thus ending the conflict and peace reigned again.

The compromise, as I remember. was simply cast ing out the wicked " fiddle " desired hy some, and re- taining its greater prototype, the bass viol. All other things save the Introduction of new tune books for the choir remained as before. No other disturbing element entered into this church to prevent its growth and prosperity till a later period in the days of Fin- ney, Burchard and the like, in regard to the forms and methods of conducting religious meetings when almost as fierce a controversy took place, but thanks to its couservatism, this church passed through with- out its foundations being in any material sense dis- turbed, aod so from that day to this the old " First Church " has stood firm as the rock upon which its original walls were fouuded. It was the church of my parents in the days of my youth, as well as that of nearly all of my kindred, and I helieve it to be true that in all the years since the society was first formed iu Watertown the name of one of my immedi- ate family has never been absent from the roll of its officers. in the line of their descent.

Frederick W. Eames was an interesting and important character. He was born at Kalamazoo, Mich., in November, 1843, and was educated under refining influences. He served in the Union army, volunteering among the very first who went from his native town; was commissioned a lieuten- ant and served until the close of the war. His mechanical capacity found one of its developments in the Eames vacuum brake, a devise for railroad cars, which has been adopted by many roads, and is patented in many European countries and in the United States. He erected a large manufactory upon Beebee's island, in Watertown, and formed a company to manufacture the brake. It is deeply regretted that he met his death while attempting to carry out by force what the law would have given him as a right. He was shot while attempting to enter his own premises, but his murderer was acquitted upon the plea of self-defense.

James Potts, familiarly known as "Jimmy" Potts, was a well-known and somewhat unique character in Watertown in former times. His first appearance on the arena here was in this wise: In the year 1838 he, with others, was brought and com- mitted to the jail here for complicity in the

burning of the steamer Sir Robert Peel. After "Jimmy's " liberation from jail, he opened a small tailor shop, which, not prov- ing a success, he took a position as salesman with N. W. Streeter & Son, clothing deal- ers, which position he filled satisfactorily some nine or ten years. The firm finally established him in the same trade in Sterl- ing, Ill. This was ahout 1865. He con- tinued the business for the firm for five or six years, when lie went into business on his own account, and continued until age compelled his retirement. He died at the ripe old age of 92. When the Streeters set up Potts, at Sterling, they took an insurance on his life for $5,000, as collateral security for $1,200, paying the yearly dues until the aggregate was $10,500, "Jimmy " surviving too long to make the investment profitable.

A little joke used to be related, to the ef- fect that a customer coming to the store of Streeter & Son, and finding the senior part- ner in, inquired of him where his father was, having mistaken "Jimmy " for the head of the firm.

The old cotton factory, which stood on the spot now occupied by Nill & Jess' manufacturing building, was in its day no unimportant institution in training the boys ot the neighborhood to habits of industry and application. And from it graduated several boys who afterwards rose to posi- tions of eminence and honor. Among such boys was one who obtained an army repu- tation, known as General Patrick, who died in 1888. Young Patrick, through the agency of influential friends, was admitted to the West Point Military Academy. After graduating and serving with distinction in the Mexican war, he served in the Union army.

The late Joseph Mullin also for a time was as usefully employed in the humble occupation of a factory boy, in the same institution, as he was, in later life, in repre- senting his constituents in Congress, and in deciding legal contests in the courts.

Otis L. Wheelock was another of the fac- tory boys. His contributions to the adorn- ment of the town of his early home was afterwards supplemented in Chicago by far larger triumphs in the same profession. This has been especially conspicuous in many fine examples of church architecture. Dr. A. R. Thomas, for more than forty years an honored resident of Philadelphia, Pa., was another of these factory boys. [See pp. 13 and 93.]

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 47

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