The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 94

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 94

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Forty years ago, when Dr. Hough said Ant- werp contained vast quantities of marble of a coarse texture, but suited for many purposes of architecture, not a foot of marhle had then been taken out of the now many Gouverneur quarries. It extends in the same range into Antwerp in large quantities, and is believed to be of equal value with the Gouverneur stone. The only effort to test it ever made was by Myron H. Bent, in 1892, upon the

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old Hinsdale farm, between Antwerp and Ox-Bow, which upon the surface shows even a second grade stone. Potsdam sandstone has been quarried upon the Keene farm, in- dications of copper have been found, and lead exists upon the Wilbur farm on the Ox- Bow road, while tale and asbestos are said to be found in many places.

At this writing (1894), iron is thought to exist in an unexpected form-in clay. About two months ago a barrel of two kinds of clay was shipped to Chicago by David H. Rogers and O. G. Devendorf, to be tested for brick. The samples of brick received are of very dark red, which, made by a dry pressure process, are practically impervious to water. Their weight, density and color, suggest the presence of iron in the clay, and the matter will be thoroughly investigated, and a large brick and tile industry is possible. The average life of the best brick is about 60 years, and the Catholic Church in Antwerp, built of brick made near by, has been stand- ing 78 years, and is now in good condition, which indicates the clay is of superior value for brick.

THE CHAIR COMPANY.

The movement which culminated in the organization of this company, originated in the early part of the present year. The stock, $20,000, was all subscribed in this town, and the Antwerp Chair Manufacturing Company organized. This result is largely due to the efforts of Mr. Ira C. Hinsdale, who was one of three to take $1,000 each of the stock. The others were A. L. Hilton and the Bank of Antwerp. The directors of the company are: A. L. Hilton, President ; D. C. Hinsdale, Vice-President ; H. O, Gardner, Secretary and General Manager; John D. Ellis, Treasurer; G. W. Hall, E. B. Perley and George Alton.

It is proposed to manufacture chairs especially, but everything in the line of wood-working goods is permitted.

THE F. X. BAUMERT & CO. CHEESE FACTORY.

Antwerp is the seat of a large agricultural area. Farmers within a radius of five to six miles draw their milk both winter and sum- mer to the Baumert & Co. factory. In the height of the season, 60,000 pounds of milk are manufactured daily-the product of about 3,000 cows. The factory is equipped with the latest improved machinery. Seven brands of cheese are made, and both whey and cream butter. Nothing is wasted; the refuse of the finished product of all kinds furnishes the raw material for another, until the greasy matter is all thrashed out of it, when the remainder, called whey, is piped over to the sugar of milk factory. There the sweetening properties are extracted, and the refuse is drawn away.

OLD HOTELS.

On the Carthage road, between the village and Fargo's present hotel, were three taverns of the early days. Although they cannot be

claimed by the town of Antwerp, yet they are familiar to old inhabitants. Sanford and Sylvius Lewis each kept one. The "Old Checkered House" has left an enduring memory, though now demolished. It was painted in squares, like a checker-board, and was situated near the present Fargo's.

At Barber's Corners, on the Philadelphia road, may still be seen an old wood-colored frame building, which served as a tavern 50 years ago.

Steele's Corners, near Spragueville, also had its tavern, which was a great place for dancing. It was finally burned down. On the Russell turnpike is yet standing an old building, once a tavern, kept by one Hazle- ton.

REMINISCENCES OF EARLY DAYS BY MRS.

NANCY MC ALLASTER.

The historian of Antwerp is fortunate in being able to avail himself of the wonderful memory of Mrs. Naney MeAllaster, wife of the late William McAllaster, who is now living in Antwerp with her only son, George, at the age of nearly 90 years. There is probably no one in this town whose memory extends over so wide a range of years, for, with the exception of a little over a year, her entire life has been spent in Antwerp. She is able to draw a realistic picture of those days when the village was called Indian River, and can readily recall nearly every event of any importance from the War of 1812 to the present time.

Mrs. McAllaster was born in Windsor township, Vermont, in 1805, and came with her father, Oliver Stowell, to Antwerp in March, 1806. They first went into a bark shanty opposite the fair grounds, to remain until a cabin could be erected upon a per- manent location. It had a bark roof and a floor made of logs split in two. There were no windows, and no chimney, only a hole cut in one side for the smoke to escape. The wolves would be attracted and would sur- round it in droves. This chimney-hole serv- ed another purpose. The inmates would crawl upinto it carefully and fire at the hungry animals, who would generally get away un- harmed, being as keen in scenting danger as in scenting meat. Mr. Stowell and his family remained here several weeks, until he built a log house upon the Martin farm, a short distance ahove. Mrs. McAllaster spent her childhood days there, and she re- members well the manner in which they travelled to town-by marked trees, a dis- tance of only a mile. She also remembers getting lost when three years old, with her mother, in going after the cows one after- noon. The cows wanted to follow the right path, but her mother thought it was the wrong one, and they were not found until long into the night, when the neighbors all came out and blew their tin horns.

Mrs. McAllaster walked, when only six or seven years old, to a district school near the present site of S. G. Wiggins' house, and had

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for playmates James Sterling and his big brothers. The boys were generally a hilari- ous set, and she was so afraid of them that she would go out and sit in the snow to eat her dinner, rather than be near them.

Mrs. McAllaster was only seven years old when the War of 1812 commenced, but she can recall its stirring times and the thrilling scenes, which existed largely in fear and imagination. She remembers how every one was frightened at first, and the block-house erected as a fort, and particularly one amus- ing incident in connection with the war-the Indian scare-when every one expected to get scalped. The Indians were very trouble- some during the war. She says one grand scare originated in this way : One Sunday morning an old Methodist minister came along and stopped at Elliott Lynde's house and at Lemuel Hubbard's, and told a most harrowing story-that the Indians were coming, that Ogdensburg was already in ashes, and that all would soon be scalped or massacred, and that all must prepare to die. Lynde and Hubbard at once started out to warn every one, and stopped at Mr. Stowell's. Mrs. McAllaster remembers how pale her father turned at the news. Every one left home at once and flew into town, resolved to die together. She says that Lewis Bishop, a lad of 14 or 15, came along and went ahead of the children with a long pole with which to fight the Indians and protect bis charge. The women were all gathered in the little tavern, and the men formed all around it to fight as long as they could, and to carry out the protection plank in their marriage "plat- form." During the night no one pretended to goto bed, and when they heard a gun fired the women screamed and fainted. The alarm was caused by a white dog, owned by Jennison, the landlord, which happened to run behind a stump near by, and thinking that it was an Indian seeking to hide, some one bad fired at it. The dog was unharmed as well as the frantic inhabitants. Thus the night passed, the men taking turns at the watch, in breathless expectation that their scalps would soon adorn some wigwam of the noble red man, as trophies of a great white massacre. The next day they learned to their great relief that the scare was a canard. The ludicrous features were many, and afforded amusement for a long time. John C. Foster's father and family joined in the flight, leaving the breakfast table and a short-cake standing upon the stove, and taking only a bed and a few provisions. When they returned, they found their cow all tangled up in the cord in the bed, and their short-cake burned up. Another family took their cow along to have plenty of milk, and tied a feather bed on its back, and the first mud-hole the cow came to she lay down in it and rolled to her heart's content. Daniel Sterling' wife was about the only one who remained at her post, not in the least dis- turbed by the alarm. A number of neigh- bors, on their way to town, drove their cows

along and left them at Sterling's, and Mrs. Sterling afterwards boasted of the "big cheese " she made that day. She said she piled her children against the door, "Jim " at the head, so as to let the Indians get him first.

Mrs. McAllaster was 17 years old when the "brick church " was dedicated, which she readily recalls, and especially the many times afterward when she shivered there in the cold, no fire being allowed in the build- ing by Parish, and a can of coals to take along was a luxury only within the reach of a few. The old church must have been the scene of many stirring events.

Times have indeed changed since Mrs. Mc- Allaster was young, and nothing more so than in the use of liquor. In those days when good pure whisky cost only 18 cents a gallon, it was kept in the house and regarded as essential as tea, and it was not good breed- ing unless you first offered your guest, whether minister or layman, a glass. Every- one drank then, but rarely became intoxi- cated. At "bees" whisky flowed like water, and buildings went up as if by magic. Occasionally its use was abused, notably at a "bee" getting out ice on the river one winter, where " blackstrap " was on tap, and a citizen's only son was induced to drink enough of it to kill bim. At dances it was also the prevailing beverage. Mr. Scott, father of J. 'R. Welch's mother, gave a dance one night in bis log house near Holden's, and getting out of whisky towards morning, lots were cast to see who should go to town for a new supply. It was a bitter cold night and the liquor froze in the jug on the way, which suggests that "watering" was not unknown in those days, when whisky was only 18 cents a gallon.

It may not be generally known that the mother of the assassin of President Garfield, Guiteau, was born in this town, from one of its best and most prominent families, his mother a beautiful and good woman. She was Jane Howe, daughter of Major John Howe, and is well remembered by Mrs. McAllaster to have been a charming girl. The elder Guiteau was considered a crazy kind of a fellow, and her parents and friends were greatly shocked at their marriage. The assassin certainly inherited bis diabolical traits from the paternal side. The assassin, Guiteau, was here when a child visiting with his mother, who died many years ago.

THE VILLAGE INCORPORATION.

Antwerp became an incorporated village on July 30, 1853. The charter covers a rec- tangular tract of 660 acres. The first meet- ing for election of officers under the incor- poration was held on August 27, following, and the village commenced business with Publius D. Foster, clerk ; Jonas S. Conkey, Solomon J. Childs and Edward L. Proctor, trustees; the board electing Mr. Conkey president. On October 4th following, two

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additional trustees were elected, who were William D. Carpenter and George N. Brown. The village was re-incorporated in 1871, with enlarged powers under the general act of 1870. The officers for the present year are: trustees, C. L. Burhans (president), A. P. Rogers, Daniel J. Alton and Cyrus Mason; clerk, John C. Trolan. The village records were destroyed in the fire of 1889, and therefore the names of former presidents cannot be given. Among them have been E. L. Proctor, Elijah Fulton and Eugene Copley.

STERLINGBURGH.

This is the local name given to a small collection of houses, now mostly old, about one mile east of Antwerp village, on the south bank of Indian river, and the name was given in honor of James Sterling, who conducted for several years extensive manu- facturing operations there.

The first settlement was made in Decem- ber, 1816, when preparations were begun, under direction of William Parish, for the erection of a forge on Indian river. A road, dam and house were also built soon after, but the forge was not profitable, and after two or three years was discontinued. A distillery at this place was erected and superintended by William McAllaster, as Parish's agent. Hough says that it " afford- ed a home market for grain and cattle, which enabled farmers to pay for their land mueh sooner than would otherwise have been possible."

Mr. Parish built a grist-mill here in 1834, near the distillery, taking the water from the dam built for the forge, both of which were sold in 1846 to James Sterling, and a furnace erected by him, at first fitted for hot blast, but since 1849 run with the cold blast. The ore from the Sterling mine in this town supplied it, exeept what was needed for mixing, and was hauled four miles at 50 cents per ton. Castings were not made at the furnace, but a foundry was operated by other parties near by. A plas- ter mill was also once operated at this place.

Sterlingburgh was purchased in 1859 by Alexander Copley, together with several thousand acres of timber land along the river. The grist-mill, built in 1834 by Parish, was operated by Copley and his sons until it was burned down in 1880. A large mill was thereupon erected at a cost of $16,000. The saw-mill was put up by McKnight & Law, a little farther up the river, before Mr. Copley came, which has grown to be one of the largest industries of the town, sawing annually three million feet cut from private land, and employing from 20 to 30 men. A new mill, with tim- bers of Georgia pine, is being erected the present year.

Another forge, one mile above "the 'Burg," was built in 1870 by A. P. Sterling, son of James Sterling, and another, upon the site of an old saw-mill, formerly owned by

George A. Hoard, at a cost of $20,000, and employing 100 men.

On the site of the old forge an industry of much benefit to Antwerp has been es- tablished by Frank S. Paddock, of Water- town, under the management of J. G. Wal- ton Wiggins. In 1885 he purchased the site from A. & E. Copley, and erected an ex- celsior (wood-fibre) mill. Fire destroyed it in 1890, and again in the present year, but it is now being rebuilt at an expense of about $2,000. This has furnished a market annually for about 2,000 cords of poplar and spruce timber.

The relies of past energy and enterprise are as numerous about the 'Burg as are the objects of present active industry.

THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT.

PROBABLY no more artistic work of its kind than the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monu- ment exists north of Watertown. It is one of which any city or town may well be proud. The monument bears this inscrip- tion :

ERECTED 1893, BY THE CITIZENS OF ANTWERP, N. Y., IN MEMORY OF THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS OF 1861-1865.

The work is a fitting tribute to the soldiers who went from this town, whose services it chiefly commemorates, although it is erected in memory of all soldiers. The town of Ant- werp was one of the first in the county to respond to President Lincoln's call for troops, and during the war it contributed over 400 brave boys, out of a total popula- tion of only about 3,000, or nearly one soldier to every seven persons. That the town is still patriotic, and that it remembers these services and sacrifices, is evidenced by this beautiful monument, which stands at the corner of Main street and Madison avenue, upon a lofty position, commanding a pleasing view of the surrounding country, while the top figure is visible for a long dis- tance. If the color-bearer were animate he could see the Adirondack peaks and the St. Lawrence. The monument itself is 40 feet high, and stands upon an elevation 20 feet above the street. It is of Barre granite, the main shaft being solid The base is 11 feet 10 inches by 10 feet, and its total weight is about 75 tons. The color-bearer stands in an inclining position, looking towards the rising sun, with left arm clasped around the flag and with the right upon the sword, in an attitude of defense. The soldier at "parade rest," faces the north, while the sailor scans the horizon with his glass, looking towards the south. The figures are of heroic size and are works of real merit. The monument stands in a little park of about an acre and a quarter, which has appropri- ately been named " Monument Park." From an unsightly pile of rocks, the spot has been transformed into a beauty spot, with hand- some terraces, while marble steps and easy

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curving walks of white spar lead up to the monument itself.

The movement which culminated in this · beautiful work had its inception with "Oliver McAllaster Post," G. A. R., 10 years before its completion. The first funds were raised by a fair under its auspices, in February, 1883, which realized about $1,400. The old Baptist church was donated by

THE SOLDIER'S MONUMENT.

Luther H. Bailey and William Kellogg, which added $400 to the fund. Subscrip- tions were received from Col. Hiram B. Keene, of Gouverneur, formerly of this town, of $500, and $100 each from Hon. George D. McAllaster, Hon. E. B. Bulkley, Hon. John D. Ellis and De Witt Copley. The fund reached about $3,000, at which point it

seemed to stay, while $5,000 was desired. Finally, in 1892, the contract was awarded to Carrick Brothers, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., at $3,000.

The lot cost $600, and was purchased by subscriptions. The grading of the grounds, under the supervision of Myron H. Bent, cost about $1,000 more. Many farmers eon- tributed generously toward the improve- ments, in labor with teams.

The monument was dedicated August 24, 1894, in the presence of 7,000 or 8,000 people from all parts of Northern New York, including 1,000 veterans from the G. A. R. posts at Carthage, Lowville, and other points. The dedicatory address was deliver- ed by Secretary of State John Palmer, and was an eloquent tribute to the heroes of 1861-65, and to the patriotism of Antwerp. Col. Albert D. Shaw, of Watertown, Hon. Isaac L. Hunt, of Adams, Judge Henry E. Turner, of Lowville, and others, delivered stirring addresses. Hon. John D. Ellis pre- sided. The occasion was a memorable one in the history of Antwerp.

IN preachers, physicians and lawyers, Antwerp has been favored by the presence of very many able and conseientious men, "their names remembered or forgotten." It has been the fashion among writers of history during these later years, to single out pro- fessional men for more extended notice than the equally able men who occupy less public positions in society. The writer has not been able, after mature thought and careful consideration, to find any valid reason for singling out the professions for special men- tion. To do so seems to us invidious, and, excepting the soldiers, we have not given lists of such except as they become identified with discussions of local history. To say that a man demands a place in history from the bare fact that he gets his living by a pro- fession instead of a trade, appears to us a foolish assertion. But the names of the soldiers who went from all the communities of Jefferson county to help preserve the union of these United States, they should be printed in letters of gold, and blazoned upon imperishable granite. Those who are now living in the town of Antwerp, as near as we can now learn, are as follows :

Ahi Mosher, James S. Dwyre, Peter Shampine, Fletcher N. Odbert, Peter Wer- ney, George E. Fuller, Luke Marsh, Brayton F. Kinne, Thomas T. Ballard, Charles Hunt, Ethan Allen Wait, William Yerden, Charles E. Wright, Thomas Scurrah, Martin L. Willard, Ezra Hicks, J. D. Snell, John C. Trolan, James N. Simmonds, Albert A. Porter, Ira C. Hinsdale, Robert A. Hall, James Render, Stephen L. Hall, John Stan- ley, E. J. Burchell, Calvin J. Ripley, John B. Hall, John M. Butler, William Rattican, William S. Risdale, Eugene Miller, Philan- der Burton, Taylor Smith, George Rattican, James Risdale, William Hogan, Morton T. Bacon, John I. Bacon, Reuben C. Wright,

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David Backus, Richard Render, Levi North, Wilbur Goodnough, J. Spencer Woodward, John C, Gates, Jacob S. Cole, Lorenzo D. Burtis, Benjamin F. Butler, Amos Streeter, John G. Bethel, Horace Tooley, William Wythe, John Stanley.

ANTWERP LODGE, No. 226, F. & A. M .- April 25, 1850, the lodge had its meeting for organization, when the following officers officiated : William Skinner, W. M .; Ezra Skipp, S. W .; J. B. Carpenter, J. W .; Clewly Copeland, Treasurer ; William Strong, Secretary ; Levi Miller. S. D .; S. D. Whit- ing, J. D .; Levi Miller, Tyler. The follow- ing have been Masters of the lodge since its organization : William Skinner, Levi Miller, H. H. Miller, A. Hoyt, T. S. Jackson, Joseph Newtou, S. H. Kirkland, A. Mc- Gregor, James A. Aldrich, George N. Cros- by, S. D. Hunt, A. G. Wait, H. D. Hatha- way, W. E. A. Faichney, G. H. Wood, John G. Bethel, Elmer G. Burtis.

THE BUSINESS HOUSES

Of the village are briefly as follows : Bau- mert fancy cheese factory, employing from 25 to 30 hands ; mentioned elsewhere.

The Jefferson Iron Company, Edward B. Bulkley, President; office, corner Main and Depot streets. At present not working their mines.

The Antwerp Chair Manufacturing Com- pany, building now practically completed; mentioned under a separate head.

The Antwerp Mills of Morgan Augsbury, with a daily capacity of 80 harrels.

The Proctor House and the Foster House, and a boarding house kept by Laton Bentley, opposite the former.

Hayne & Whitaker's sugar-of-milk factory, next to the Baumert factory ; established by this firm, who came from Unionville, Dela- ware county.

J. T. Bethel's sash, door and blind factory ; established by present owner. Employing from two to five men.

Hogan Bros.' foundry, purchased in 1873 from J. L. Newton, who established it about 1857.

William Munro's saw-mill, doing princi- pally custom sawing.

Ira C. Hinsdale, dry goods, who came from Ox-Bow to Antwerp in 1885, and located in the Johnson block. The same business was previously conducted here, first by William N. Johnson, H. W. Ellis, James H. Lounsbery, Chapin & Banister, Sisson & Fox.

William T. Bentley, dry goods, (adminis- trators), in the south end of the Syndicate block. Established in the present location 1889; first located in store now occupied by A. Beaman, in 1887.

F. S. Howe & Co., dry goods, in the King store, built by A. M. King in 1865, and conducted by him with the post office until 1891.

Miss A. Beaman, dry goods and millinery, in the White block, opposite Congregational

Church; established in present location in 1889. For many years previous, this firm name was Miss A. Wight & Co., originally established in 1857 by Mrs. S. W. Somes, becoming A. Wight in 1866, who occupied the store where Perley's store now stands.

Alonzo Chapin, clothing, in Chapin block, established in 1848. This is the oldest business block in town, and was built in 1844 by Lester Fowler and Lansing Drake.

E. B. Perley, drugs, in Perley block. Mr. Perley came from Vermont in 1868, and commenced business under the firm name of Williams & Perley, in 1871, one door above present location.

Fred Y. Spears, Arthur L. Lynde-Spears & Lynde ; drugs and general merchandise, in Syndicate block.

Wait & Moore, hardware, established in 1862 in present store.

C. P. McAllaster, hardware, in Bailey block ; established in 1886. Firm was Mc- Allaster Brothers until about a year ago.

R. A. Hogan, gents' furnishing goods, established 1894.

W. R. Smith, groceries ; established 1861.

Jacob Winkler, boots and shoes, in White block, established in 1879.

E. C. Burchell, groceries, Miller block, erected by Josis Miller and John H. Conk- lin in 1867.

C. Marsh, boots and shoes, established in present location, opposite Foster House, in 1889.

John B. Marsh, jeweler, first established in Burtis block in 1873; moved to Coolidge block in 1874.

A. M. Parlow, tailor, established 1893.

D. J. Alton, groceries and meats, Syndi- cate block ; first established as Alton Bros. C. L. Dillenbeck, dry goods, Syndicate block.

Gates & Alton, groceries and meats, in basement south end Chapin block; estab- lished in 1891.

C. W. Hall & Co., furniture, next to W. R. Smith's, established in 1871.

Geo. Snell, bottling works, opened in 1894.

J. R. Richner, steam laundry, rear of Proctor House.

Mrs. A. E. Marsh, telegraph and telephone office, Chapin block.

C. W. Moffett & Co., boots, shocs and harness store, established in Chapin block in 1884.

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 94

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