The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 93

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 93

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In the town of Antwerp, there is a range of ore deposits owned by the Jefferson Iron Company. They are, beginning at the south- west, Colburn, Ward, Dickson, White and Old Sterling mines. The Dickson mine was first opened in 1858. It is 150 feet deep, and worked wholly as an underground mine. The White mine is a small pit on the White farm, between the Dickson and Old Sterling. The Old Sterling mine is one mile northeast of the Dickson mine, and three miles from Antwerp. First opened by George Parish in 1836, and it has been in operation ever since. For years it was in the possession of the Sterling family, who used the ore in their furnace, and refused to sell any of it. In 1869 it became the property of the Jeffer- son Iron Company. The open pit at the northeast is 115 feet deep, and approximately 500 by 175 feet. The underground work- ings are south and southwest of it, and the ore has been followed for a distance of 900 feet, and to a depth of 185 feet. This de- posit lies between the gneissic rocks on the southeast, 400 feet distant, and the sandstone (Potsdam) on the west side of the mine, but no walls have as yet been reached in the mine. A serpentine rock oceurs with the ore apparently without any order in its rela- tion to it. The ore varies from a speeular ore of metallic lustre and steel-gray shade of color to amorphous, compact masses of deep red. The crushed powder answers well as a paint, and stains deeply all with which it comes in contact. The chemieal composi- tion is shown by the following analysis:

430

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

Sesquioxide of iron.

17.52

Oxide of manganese

0,07

Alumina.

1,12

Lime _

2.49

Magnesia

1,07

Phosphoric acid

0.263

Sulphur

0.08

Silicie

9.80

Water

0.68

Metallic iron

.55,66

Phosphorus

.0.115

The ore stands up well, and, by leaving pillars with arched roof in the galleries and drifts, no timbering is necessary. There is comparatively little water in the mine. The serpentine is not so firm as the orc, and is full of slickenslide surfaces. Small mine cars are used on the narrow guage tramways in the mine drifts. A skip track runs to the bottom of the open pit. A branch railroad three miles long connects this mine and the Dickson with the main line of the R., W. & O. Railroad, near Antwerp, although in a due east course the latter is less than a mile away.

The Dickson and Old Sterling ores are sold to furnaces on the Hudson river, and in Eastern Pennsylvania, and some in Ohio. The ease with which the Old Sterling ore is smelted, being almost self-fluxing, creates a demand for it in mixtures with other more refractory ores, and even where the freights make it expensive. The total output of these mines is estimated at 750,000 tons.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN.

Antwerp was formed from LeRay by an act of April 5, 1810, to take effect on the first of January following, and the limits were the same as they are to-day. The same act annexed a part of Lewis county to Jefferson, and it was directed that the first town meeting should be held "at the house of Francis McAllaster, occupied by William Fletcher, inn-keeper, in said town," on the 5th of March following. The name " Ant- werp" was given in honor of the Antwerp Company, of Belgium. Daniel Sterling was chosen moderator, and the following were the first town officers : Supervisor, Danicl Heald; Clerk, Samucl Randall; Assessors, John Jennison, Zopher Holden and Silas Ward; Commissioners of Highways, Francis McAllaster, Oliver Stowell and Elkanah Pattridge; Overseers of the Poor, William Fletcher and John C. Foster; Overscers of Highways, Daniel Sterling, Jeduthan Kings- ley, Salmon White, Matthew Brooks and Samuel Hendrix ; Constable and Collector, Elkanah Pattridge.

The highways were of the first importance then, as shown in the number of highway commissioners and overseers. It may seem more strange that in the civilization of nearly a century, the subject of highways is again forcing itself to the front. Early in the year 1805, a road was opened from Philadelphia to Antwerp and OxBow, and the following ycar to Gouverneur, which had begun to be settled. The work of road-making was

pushed forward from year to year until finally in 1849 a plank road was built from Philadelphia to Antwerp and OxBow, and also from Philadelphia to OxBow. Antwerp and Carthage were also thus connected.

The town of Antwerp seems to have been three-fourths of a century ahead of the rest of the State in the matter of registration of births and deaths, which is now universal. In 1813 a town resolution was passed making this excellent requirement, which was continued for many years. In 1825 it was voted that the town meeting should annually thereafter be held alternately at Indian River, as the village was then called, and at Ox Bow, but for 50 years they have been held at Antwerp altogether.

THE WAR OF 1812.

The inhabitants of Antwerp appear to have been as thoroughly frightened as the remainder of the country, by the news of the War of 1812. As soon as word was re- ceived of the war, measures of self-protec- tion were adopted by building a block-house, which stood in the street opposite the present site of the Foster House. It was a short time of anxiety, but the terror which the news of war first occasioned soon sub- sided, and the unfinished fort was demolished.

THE VILLAGE OF ANTWERP. ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT.

THE father and founder of this village is Gen. Lewis R. Morris, and it would not have been singular if the settlement had been named Morristown or Parishville, after the next proprietor. On December 23, 1804, General Morris had purchased a tract of 49,280 acres, within the present boundaries of the town, which was more than two- thirds of its entire area, and included the site of the present village. For many years the little village had no more dignified name than Indian River.

The original settlement was probably due to the crossing of the State road over the river, which afforded good water-power, and naturally became the centre of business. The first improvement was the construction of a dam in 1805, by General Morris, under the supervision of Lemuel Hubbard, and in the following year, 1806, a saw-mill for Morris was built by Silas Ward, which . was the first building erected.

Antwerp village is therefore 88 years old as a settlement. In the same year, as soon as the mill could turn out the lumber, a small frame house was put upon the present site of the Proctor House, and opened as an inn, with Gershom Matoon as its landlord. James Constable refers to the town in his' diary under date of August 8, 1806.

The land office building was probably the next, with John Jennison as local agent. Dr. Hough says the first grist mill was built under the direction of Jennison, about 1807, on the site of the present " old red shop" of

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ANTWERP.

J. G. Bethel. The Jennison mill must have been torn down or converted into a clothing mill, for a clothing mill was built there by Church about 1812, which he carried on for 16 years, when Thomas and Ezra Wait be- came proprietors. They demolished it after a time and built a new building upon the same site, the present "red shop." It was operated as a clothing mill until near 1856, when its machinery was taken out and re- moved to Wegatchie, St. Lawrence county. Some years ago there was a hot contest over the subject of moving the building out of the highway to its present location, at an expense of several hundred dollars, and the villagers carried their point.

Ezra Church was a man of great enter- prise and ingenuity, a skilled bridge-builder and mill-wright. He secured the single run of stone for the old mill where Augsbury's now stands, from the Parker ledge, and built the mill on a contract to purchase it from Parish, but the title always remained with the latter until 1839, when it became the property of Isaiah Bailey. In 1868 it was purchased by Morgan Augsbury, the present owner, who equipped it in 1887 with six sets of Hungarian rolls, and it has become a somewhat extensive industry, shipping flour to the surrounding towns.

Dr. Samuel Randall came to Indian River in 1808, and was the first physician of the town of Antwerp, and also the first post- master in 1809, with the office in his house, which positiion he retained for many years. It seems probable that he also built the first frame house in the village, very near the present location of the Congregational Church. The village was first commenced on the south side of the river, where the land is level, while on the north it is rough, and it would seem singular that it did not continue to grow in that direction. In the spring of 1811, the only buildings on the north side were Church's grist-mill, the inn first kept by Matoon, a building kept for a boarding house by a Frenchman named Bordeau, near the present Coolidge block, the " yellow store " of Zebulon H. Cooper, where the Chapin block now stands, which was the first store in 1810; the house and postoffice of Dr. Randall, to which he added a stock of goods in 1812, including drugs; and farther north the house of Major John Howe. A third store was opened by Orrin E. Bush.

A tannery became the next industry of the town in 1812, opposite the head of Rail- road street, on the land now owned by Stephen Conklin's family. Luther Conklin purchased this property in 1815, but removed here a year later. Some time after that he de- molished the old tannery building and erected another upon its site, which disap- peared by fire long since.

Henry Weleh, grandfather of J. R. Welch, was the first wagon worker, about 1820, and his old shop is still standing next to the present shop of his grandson, one of

the best remembered buildings in the town. The present double-arch stone bridge was built in 1880 at a cost of $6,000, and is an enduring monument to the builders. It was erected after fiercest opposition, and now gives universal satisfaction.

· THE GREAT FIRE OF 1889.

Antwerp, like Theresa and Carthage, has suffered from disastrous conflagrations. A very great fire broke out on the night of February 3, 1889, but it spread to be a bless- ing in disguise, for it has been the means of adding several handsome brick blocks to the village. It soon swept into ashes over $50,- 000 worth of property, with an insurance of about $31,009. The only means available for fighting fire were a pump and about 200 feet of hose owned by the tannery, but it did not reach all of the burning buildings. Watertown was telephoned to for help about two hours after the fire had started. An engine and hose cart were brought by special train about 3.30 a. m., but the engine froze up and soon broke a cog-wheel and was rendered useless. Their hose being attached to the tannery pump, saved the town.

The fire was disastrous, but from its ruins have risen better buildings and the appear- ance of a more progressive business town.

SCHOOLS.

For nearly 45 years Antwerp has been the seat of learning for a large territory, acquir- ing this reputation through the foundation of the Antwerp Liberal Literary Institute. The educational facilities were first consider- ed in 1813, when a school was commenced in a small building on the east side of Main street, near the present post office, which was the first educational institution in both village and town. The first principal of this temple of learning was Lodowick Miner, who came from the Royal Grant, in Herkimer. He was succeeded by Jacob Miller, and he by Benjamin Cook. Cook and Miner were respectively the first and second teachers of the second school house in the town, on the Ox-Bow road, on a knoll near the spring, just north of John Wilbur's residence. These sehools were not free, but were supported by the subscriptions of the pupils. The second school-house of Ant- werp village is still standing and in good condition, being used as a dwelling. Being a school house, it naturally stood out prominent, and was the cause of a recent liti- gation, the courts deeiding that the yard was in the street, and the walk was straightened, or rather it was straightened first, which caused the litigation.

The third school-house in the village was the old brick one, built and given by Mr. Parish in 1816, and used up to 1879, when the present frame building was erected on the same site. The first division of the town into school districts was made on March 12, 1814, by John Howe, John C. Foster and Oliver Stowell, the town school com-

432

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

missioners, who divided the town into dis- tricts.

Ives Seminary, located in Antwerp village, is an outgrowth of two previously existing educational enterprises-the Antwerp Liberal Literary Institute and the Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary. The last named insti- tution was incorporated April 5, 1828, and was successfully conducted as a grammar school until 1837, when it was placed under the patronage of the Black River Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and be- came their Conference Seminary, with Rev. Jesse T. Peek as principal. It remained under the patronage of this church until 1869, when, as the buildings and facilities had become inadequate to the needs of the institution, it was transferred to Antwerp. The Antwerp Liberal Literary Institute furnished the beginning of the educational facilities, buildings, etc., which are now in use by the Ives Seminary. The Institute received a provisional charter in 1856, which was afterwards extended to February 1, 1860, and in 1861 it was made absolute. The ereetion of a stone building, three stories in height, 105 feet long and 50 feet wide, was commeneed during the summer of 1857, but was not finished until May 9, 1861, at which date it was dedicated. The value of build- ings, grounds, library and apparatus at that time was $13,000. Of this sum about $7,000 had been raised by subscription, and $3,000 by bonding the town, leaving an indebted- ness of $3,000, which amount was loaned to the Institution by the State, and subse- quently made a free gift. The Institute was opened May 20, 1861, with J. M. Man- ning and two assistants in charge. During the following year three teachers were added, and the number of students was about 120. In 1863 it was proposed to trans- fer the property to the State for use as a Normal School, but this was not accom- plished. In 1865 an unsuccessful attempt was made to change the Institute to a graded school. In 1868 a proposition was made to lease the property to the Protestant Episcopal Society, but the parties interested could not agree on conditions. About this time the Black River Conference leased the buildings, and the Legislature changed the name of the Institute to " Black River Con- ference Seminary." In 1870 the erection of a boarding and ladies' hall, of stone, 72x43 feet and four stories high, was commenced. It was finished two years afterwards and cost $16,000. In 1873 it was resolved by the trustees to place the institution forever be- yond the possibility of failure by raising a fund of at least $30,000. Hon. Willard Ives, of Watertown, immediately headed the sub- scription list with $8,000, and two years later the Conference had succeeded in raising about $26,000. The entire wealth of the in- stitution, including buildings, etc., is more than $50,000. April 21, 1874, the name was changed to "Ives Seminary," at the sugges- tion of Dr. E. O. Haven, and at about the

same time an arrangement was made where- by the Seminary was adopted as Gymnasium C, of Syracuse University, students gradu- ating from it being admitted there without further re-examination. The school is in a prosperous condition, sustained by the following faculty : Rev. F. E. Arthur, A. M., Principal ; Ellen A. Corse, A. M., Pre- ceptress ; Merrill J. Blanden, A. B., Jennie A. Williams, Mima Munro.

There have been many private schools in Antwerp, but one in particular deserves mention, that of Miss Ruth G. Abell, who for 17 years conducted a successfu. seleet school, and her pupils, who have now reached manhood and womanhood, will always hold her in grateful memory. Miss Abell is still living in town, enjoying the fruits of a life spent in good works.

CHURCHES.

The progress of religion during the first years of Antwerp's history was not very en- eouraging. The old Catholic Church, now in use on the hill, the second built in Jeffer- son county, was erected and given by Mr. Parish to the people of Antwerp as a house of worship, to be used by all denominations. For about 10 years it was thus used, but Mr. Parish excluded the . Congregationalists because they would not have a minister who was able to suit all classes, and stormy times followed, well remembered to-day by many old inhabitants.

The old brick church was ereeted hy David Parish, in 1816, at a cost of $9,692.26. The building to-day is well preserved, and is good for another eentury. It was dedi- cated in 1819, and was sold in 1849 to the Catholics for $600. In 1816 the town appointed a committee, consisting of John Howe, Sylvius Hoard and Samuel Randall to take charge of the church. Mr. Parish would never allow a fire in the church, for some peculiar reason, and people were eom- pelled to take with them cans of coals, or shiver, and generally both. Since the Catholics have occupied the church a steeple and a hell have been added.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Is the oldest church organization in town. It was formed in July, 1819, by Rev. Isaac Clinton, then principal of the Lowville Academy. The original members were William Randall, Percival Hawley, Edward Foster, Hosea Hough, Mrs. Hawley, Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Frances Eaton and Mrs. Polly Copeland.

There was a previous agreement to employ either a Presbyterian or a Congregational minister, according to convenience, and to allow him to outline the policy of the organization. Mr. Clinton was a Presby- terian, and naturally took and maintained that form of church government, until 1838, when much controversy relating to doctrine arose in the church, and continued for a number of years.

ANTWERP.

433

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ANTWERP.

In June, 1854, a vote was unanimously passed by both males and females to adopt the Congregational form of government, and the long strife was apparently ended. In 1852,. 20 years after the erection of its first church edifice, the second house of worship was constructed, necessitated by the progress and growth of the church. It has long been known as the "old Congregational Church," and cost about $6,000. This edifice was also used for about 20 years, when it was sold to John D. Ellis for $1,800. For many years it was known as Ellis Hall, and in the present year was leased by the owner to the Citizens' Band, and is now known as the Citizens' Opera House. The elegant church edifice now occupied cost over $20,000, aside from the lot, parsonage and sheds, which cost about $6,000 more. This is a handsome stone structure, of Gothic style, the stone being sandstone from the Render quarries in this town.

The first religious revival was in the summer of 1824, under Rev. Charles T. Fin-

ney, when 41 converts were added to the church. The pastorate of Rev. Jesse H. Jones, from January 1, 1865, to May 2, 1869, was characterized by great energy, ability and success. He infused new life into the church, and $1,000 was expended in repair- ing the edifice, and $1,300 in a parsonage, and the Congregational organization for the first time adopted a manual of church order and polity, and a new covenant drawn up. This may be designated as the "reconstruc- tion period." Rev. J. A. Canfield was called, and when he resigned, May 31, 1874, the church was never so prosperous, spiritually and financially, 51 members having been added by profession. It was due largely to Mr. Canfield's efforts that the new church was built. He is now living in Antwerp at an advanced age, universally respected for a life fruitful in good works. The church was 75 years old in July last, and during that time has had 26 ministers and a total membership of nearly a thousand.

John Horace Crum was probably the most

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THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

eloquent divine the church ever enjoyed, and his charge was exceedingly productive in converts. His fame was wide-spread, and travelling men made it a point to spend Sun- day in Antwerp in order to hear him. Under his pastorate 81 members joined in one day. One of the most prominent members of the old Congregational Church for a long series of years, was Jeremy Stimson, father of Mrs. J. R. Sweeney, of Watertown, and of Mrs. Benjamin Fuller, of Antwerp. He was a regular attendant, and brought his family with him, and thus perpetuated an influence for good that is gratefully remembered.

For a brief notice of the 75th anniversary of this church see p. 440.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This denomination is the third in age, but dates back no further than July, 1863. Rev. D. Symonds, then pastor at Sprague's Corners, established an appointment for worship here Sunday evenings, and William Barrett was the leader of a small class. The Wiggins block was used, then the Baptist Church until 1872. It was due mainly to the efforts of the pastor, Rev. E. E. Kel- logg, that their handsome brick residence was reared, at a cost of about $20,000, but it remained only a short time. It was swept away by fire on the morning of January 5, 1877, but the ashes were hardly cold before another was started on the same spot. The subscription was so satisfactory that the debt of $2,000 above the insurance was soon discharged. The new building was larger, 82x45 feet, of brick, handsome and com- modious, standing upon a high elevation adjoining Ives Seminary. Rev. W. H. Kan- off (1894), is the present pastor. The membership is 160, and the Sunday-school numbers 164.

ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

There were no Episcopal services in Ant- werp until 1866, when Rev. J. Winslow held missionary services, and he may be really called the father of the denomination here, although Rev. Robert Harwood held the first Episcopal service in Antwerp in 1855, and administered the first baptism to Annis Elizabeth Sterling Hall, on September 6, 1855. Bishop Coxe was the first bishop to visit Antwerp in 1866, when Mr. Winslow presented a class for confirmation. Services were first held in the Seminary chapel, then in the Foster House, then in an upper room in the Wiggins block, and next in Mrs. Gill's house, until the church was built. The corner-stone was laid on September 7, 1871, by Rev. Dr. Babcock, assisted by the rector, Rev. H. V. Gardiner. It was the result of the latter's efforts, and cost $4,500. The church was consecrated October 8, 1872, by Right Rev. F. D. Huntington. Rev. J. H. Brown is the present rector.

HILLSIDE CEMETERY.

It is, as its name designates, upon a hill- side, and is a most beautiful spot for the last

home of man. The grounds are tastefully laid out and ornamented. The land was purchased of Clewly Copeland in 1859, con- sisting of seven and a half acres at $75 per acre. The Antwerp Rural Cemetery Associ- ation was organized in the same year, with John H. Conklin, President; Elijah Fulton, Vice-President ; J. S. Conkey, Secretary ; G. S. Sawens, Treasurer. The sale of lots has been at an average price of 10 cents per square foot, but this has created a reserve fund in the treasury.

A fine stone vault was erected at the entrance in 1882, at a cost of $800, and many other improvements have been made. In the old cemetery, adjoining, the older pioneers sleep the sleep of the just.

The Foster burial-ground, near the Andrew Kinne farm, was started as early as 1810, and there are in addition the following others: Beaman burying-ground, two miles from Antwerp; a grave-yard at Sprague's Cor- ners ; the Bemis ground, three miles from Ox-Bow; Vrooman Hill, from the farm of Peter Vrooman, the early settler, and the two cemeteries at Ox-Bow.

MINERAL WEALTH.

When Dr. Hough said, in 1854, that Ant- werp stood unrivalled for mineral wealth in the county, he did not approach the realm of prophecy, for he added that its minerals were chiefly interesting to the man of science-without practical value. Since he made that statement the earth has yielded up over a million tons of ore of the richest quality, and a beginning only has been made iu its vast capacity. Although specular iron ore had been mined in Rossie since 1812, the first successful attempt in Antwerp was not made until 1836, on an island in the midst of a swamp, on the farm of Hopestill Foster, which is now the Sterling mine, the mineral reserve having been sold by Mr. Parish for $200, to James Sterling.

In 1837 ore was found upon the farm of Col. Hiram B. Keene, near the county line, at Keene's station, which led to the extensive mines in that locality.

Antwerp possesses stone of many kinds, whose commercial value is yet practically to become known, although David Coffeen and James Parker, in 1805, quarried over 100 pairs of mill-stones at $100 per pair, from a ledge of gneiss on the old State road, between Mr. Cook's place and Ox-Bow. The present Congregational Church is built of sandstone from the Render quarry, and it has been quarried in several other places.

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 93

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