Full text of "A history of Lewis County, in the state of New York : from the beginning of its settlement to the present time"

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HISTORY

LEWIS COUNTY,

STATE OF NEW YOKE,

FROM THE

BEGINNING OF ITS SETTLEMENT TO THE
PBESENT TIME.

FRANKLIN B. HOUGH,

AUTHOR OF THE HISTORIES OF ST. LAWRENCE, FRANKLIN, AND JEFFERSON

COUNTIES, AND CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK,

CONNECTICUT, VERMONT, PENNSYLVANIA, MARYLAND,

WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA AND IOWA

HISTORICAL SOCIETIES.

ALBANY:

MUNSELL & ROWLAND, 78 STATE STREET.
1860.

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1860, by
FRANKLIN B. HOUGH,

in the Clerk s Office of the District Court of the United States for the
Northern District of New York.

PREFACE.

An interior county, with no antiquities older than some of its inhabitants
and no traditionary legends, or incidents of border life, beyond the ordinary
privations of a new settlement, appears to offer but slender materials for his
tory. Still there are certain duties which the Present owes to the Future, to
transmit in a permanent form the record of the Past, that the memory of the
olden time, and the names of those who have aided in the formation of so
ciety fall not into oblivion ; and although our annals may be quite void of
those dramatic events which have too often filled the historic page, it is
believed the quiet origin and growth of our community, have presented facts
that will interest the present, and instruct a future age.

In tracing out and connecting the historical items of his native county, the
author has been actuated by an earnest wish to do full and equal justice to
the memory of the pioneers and founders of the several towns, and any
omission or imperfection of statement is due to absence or error of informa
tion. All those interested in preserving facts worthy of record, were invited by
public notice to communicate with the author, and due industry and care have
been bestowed in the verification of our narrative, which may, notwithstand
ing, contain faults that it would have been desirable to avoid. The indulgence
of the public is solicited toward these, and we shall ever consider it a kindness
to have them indicated, with the view to future correction, should opportuni
ties occur. To those who have aided by imparting materials for use in these
pages, we wish to return thus publicly our acknowldgements, and especially
to the following persons : To Vincent Le Ray of Paris, P. Somerville Stewart
of Carthage, Henry E. Pierrepont of Brooklyn, and Charles King of New York
for facts -relating to land titles. To James L. Leonard, Stephen Leonard, Joseph

A. Willard, W. Hudson Stephens, Charles Dayan, A. G. Dayan, Leonard C.
Davenport, N. B. Sylvester, Andrew W. Doig, Edward A. Brown, Wm. L.
Easton, Henry E. Turner, and W. Root Adams, of Lowville ; Apollos Stephens
of Denmark ; David T. Martin, Wm. King, Jas. H. Sheldon and Diodate
Pease, of Martin sburgh ; S. P. Sears of Montague ; Charles G. Riggs, Emory

B. Holden, Dr. C. D, Budd, Orrin Woolworth, Henry Ragan, Elisha Crofoot,

iv Preface.

and Walter D. Yale, of Turin ; Seth Miller, Jonathan C. Collins, James Cro-
foot and Homer Collins, of West Turin ; Ela Merriam, Ezra Miller, Thomas
Baker and W. J. Hall, of Leyden ; R. T. Hough of Lewis ; Seymour Green of
Osceola ; Lyman R. Lyon, Francis Seger, Caleb Lyon of Lyonsdale, and Cyrus
W. Pratt, of Greig ; Nelson J. Beach and Jehiel R. Wetmore of Watson ; Jo-
siah Dewey of Delta ; Clinton L. Merriam of New York ; Wm. Collins of
Cleveland, 0.; Baron S. Doty of Portage city, andM. J. Stow of Fond du Lac,
Wisconsin, and D. P. Mayhew of Ypsilanti, Michigan, for written materials
and facts derived from documents. To Daniel S. Bailey, late editor of the
Lewis County Republican, Henry A. Phillips of the Northern Journal (now
Journal and Republican), Henry Algoever of the Lewis County Banner, and
the editors of the New York Reformer at Watertown, for friendly notices of
the enterprise while in course of preparation, we also wish to return our
thanks. The late Alson Clark of West Turin began publishing, a few years
since, a series of historical articles in the newspaper of that town, all of which
we have examined, and from several of which we have derived facts. His
useful researches were interrupted by an early death. Lewis being the fourth
county which the author has attempted to embody the details of local history,
an opportunity has been offered of learning from dear bought experience, at
least some of the difficulties attending this class of researches. With what
success this labor has been performed on this occasion, the following pages
are an impartial evidence. The steel plates chiefly by J. C. Buttre, of New
York, and the lithographs drawn by C. G. Crehen of New York, and B. F.
Smith, Jr., of Albany, and printed by A. J. Hoffman & Co. of the latter place,
are mostly faithful likenesses, and creditable as works of art. It would have
been gratifying to extend this already unusual amount of illustrations, but of
many worthy pioneers and incumbents of public office, no portraits have
been preserved.

FRANKLIN B. HOUGH.

Albany, April 16, 1860.

^-. - .-. . .

HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.

The rapid settlement of Oneida county on
its northern arid western borders, had
within a few years after its formation
rendered attendance upon its courts
and the transaction of public business
burdensome and expensive. 1 This
led to the discussion of plans for divi
sion, in which the future location of
county buildings became a leading
First county Seal. motive with many of those who were
most active in preparing the way for
changes which must soon necessarily be made.

Eedtield, Champion, Lowville, Martiusburgh, Watertown,
and Brownville, were each regarded by their inhabitants as
entitled to the honor of a court house, and active partizans
were engaged in pressing the claims of each. The hopes of
Champion depended upon the erection of but one county
from Oneida, and in anticipation of this result, several
young and talented lawyers had settled there in their pro
fessions. 2 Silas Stow of Lowville, and Walter Martin of
Martinsburgh, were largely interested in newly settled lands
that would be enhanced in value by the location of a county
seat near them, and each of the places named had its

1 This region of country, originally embraced in Albany county, was in
cluded in Try on, March 12, 1772, changed to Montgomery, April 2, 1784,
included in Herkimer, February 16, 1791, and in Oneida, March 15, 1798.

a Moss Kent (a brother of Chancellor Kent), Henry R. Storrs, and Egbert
Ten Eyck, then resided in Champion.

2 Plans for the Division of Oneida County.

active advocates of relative and prospective importance.
The old settled parts of Oneida county, were far from being
united in their approval of the selection of Rome as a
county seat, and in the sharp personal discussion which oc
curred between Jonas Platt on the one hand, and Thomas
R. Gold on the other, each had appealed to the public.
Active efforts were being made to secure a change, and as the
county was ripening for a division, the bearing of every
measure tending to this end was watched with interest, and
favored or opposed as it affected the prospects of the several
parties.

Jacob Brown, then a young and enterprising land agent,
surveyor and settler at Brownville, and afterwards major
general, had as early as 1797 passed through the Black river
valley to Whitestown, and then and subsequently had asso
ciated witli Jonathan Collins of Turin, Walter Martin of
Martinsburgh, and other prominent settlers, with whom he
continued a friendly acquaintance, and between whom the
plan of two counties from the north part of Oneida was
discussed and agreed upon, if sufficient influence could be
secured to attain it. Brown s manifest object in concilia
ting the southern interest, was to so arrange the boundaries
that the centre of one of the new counties would fall within
his reach; but other influences were at work near each of
these parties, equally intent upon two counties, and quite as
eager to seize upon the prize. It is not probable that Turin
expected to gain the county seat, and it naturally favored
the nearest party, but in Lowville, Stow and others were
confidently relying upon their ability to prove that the
balance of wealth and population centred upon them. The
citizens of Watertown were equally active, and the result
proved that they were a match for Brown in intrigue or
influence if not in both. The northwestern settlers of Oneida
county, under the lead of Nathan Sage of Reclfield, were
indifferent to these schemes except so far as the} 7 interfered
with their favorite plan of a county, having as its natural
boundaries the gulf of Sandy creek on the north, and the
east lines of townships 3, 8 and 13 of the Boylston tract on
the east.

Mr. James Constable, one of the executors of the estate
of his brother William, travelled through Macomb s pur
chase in 1803, 4, 5 and 6, and has left in his diary under date
of Sept, 20, 1804, a notice of these plans i 1

1 This diary is written out with great care from observations made upon
the spot, and abounds in interesting historical details; we shall have frequent
occasion to quote from its pages.

Convention at Denmark. 3

* * " Finding that Mr. Shaler was from home, and
not knowing what situation his people were in, we went to
Squire [Jonathan] Collins, who although he has left off keep
ing tavern, received and entertained us kindly from a very
heavy rain. He gives us some information of the local pro
ceedings about roads, the division of the county and other
intrigues, and with what I have heard from other quarters
it appears that Stow and Martin had made themselves very
obnoxious and they will differ about the division of the
county on their side of it. Each will be supported by
opposite interests, and they will both be defeated by the
management of the proprietors of Kedfield or that of Jacob
Brown of Brownville.

Each of the gentlemen requires a court house near to
himself, and if they are all to be gratified, Oneida must be
divided into five ; but there will be opposition to their wishes
and perhaps to any division of the county, which would be
for the interest of the land owners as the extra expense
would be saved. There will be a contest for the clerkship
as Mr. Martin, Mr. Stow and Mr. Kelley, brother-in-law to
Stow are all candidates. Mr. Stow has declared publicly
he will have it in spite of all opposition, but the people are
most in favor of Mr. Kelley. 1??

To give definite form to these movements a convention
of delegates, mostly chosen at special town meetings was
called to assemble in Denmark village to unite in an appli
cation to the legislature for a division of the county. One
of these delegates 2 has assured us that the majority of those
sent, were instructed to vote for but onsriew county. The
result of their deliberations is best shown by the record of
their secretary which is as follows :

" At a meeting of three delegates from each of the towns of
Brownville, Watertown, Adams, Ellisburgh, Malta, 3 Harrison, 4
Rutland, Champion, Harrisburgh, Lowville, Martinsburgh and
Turin, convened at the house of Freedom Wright in Harris-
burgh, 6 on Tuesday, the 20th day of November, 1804, Jonathan
Collins in the chair; Egbert Ten Eyck, secretary:

On examination it appeared that the following persons were
regularly chosen to represent their respective towns at this

meetin

Jacob Brown, John W. Collins, Benjamin Cole, for Brownvilk;
Tilley Richardson, Henry Coffeen, Solomon Bobbins, Joshua
Beals for Adams; Lymari Ellis, Matthew Boomer, jr., John

1 It will be noticed dhthat Richard Coxe was appointed.

2 William Gotten, then of Rutland. 3 Now Lorraine. * Now Rodman.
5 The present town of Denmark was then included in Harrisburgh.

4 Convention at Denmark.

Thomas, for Ellisburgh; Asa Brown, Clark Allen, William
Hunter, for Malta; William Rice, Cyrus Stone, Simeon Hunt,
for Harrison; Cliff French, Abel Sherman, William Coffeen,
for Rutland; John Durkee, Olney Pearce, Egbert Ten Eyck, for
Champion; Moss Kent, Lewis Graves, Charles Wright, jr., for
Harrisburgh ; Silas Stow, Jonathan Rogers. Charles Davenport,
for Lowvilh; Asa Brayton, Clark McCarty, Chillus Doty, for
Marlinsburgh ; and Jonathan Collins, John Ives, Elijah Wads-
worth, for Turin. 5

The above names being called by the secretary, respectively
answered and took their seats. It was now moved and seconded
that the sense of this meeting be taken whether all the members
mentioned in the above list be admitted to act in this meeting.
Carried in the affirmative, 30 to 6.

Moved and seconded that all questions arising in this meeting
excepting questions of order, be taken by ayes and nays.
Carried unanimously in the affirmative.

Moved and seconded that this county be set off from the
county of Oneida. Carried in the affirmative, 27 to 9.

Moved and seconded that this meeting will adjourn for half
an hour. Carried unanimously, adjourned accordingly.

Met pursuant to adjournment. It was now moved and se
conded that a petition be presented to the legislature of this
state to appoint a disinterested committee to affix our limits for
a new county, and to decide whether we ought to have a whole
or a half shire on the Black river, and affix the spot or spots as
sites for the court house. Carried in the negative, 25 to 11.

Moved and seconded that the southern boundarj 7 of the
counties to be established in the Black river country, begin
on lake Ontario, at the south west corner of Ellisburgh; thence
along the south line of Ellisburgh to the south east corner of
said town; thence along the eastern boundary of Ellisburgh to
the corner of No. 1 and 6 on said boundary; thence along the
line between 1 and 6, 2 and 7, to the corner of 3 and 8; thence
along the line between 7 and 8, 12 and 13 to the line between
Macomb s and Scriba s patent; thence along said bounds to the
county of Herkimer; thence along the western boundaries of
Herkimer and St. Lawrence to the river St. Lawrence; thence
up along said river St. Lawrence to lake Ontario; thence
along the margin of said lake to the place of beginning. Car
ried in the affirmative, 20 to 16.

Moved and seconded that so much of the above resolution as

5 Lej den appears not to have been represented at this meeting, although on
two previous occasions special meetings had been called and delegates chosen
for this purpose. At one of these held December 15, 1803,, Stephen Butler,
Moses O.strander and Joel Jinks had been appointed, andAt the other held
February 3, 1S04, Stephen Butler, Samuel Snow and ^fciard Cox were
chosen to represent this town, at a convention to be helcPIt Champion, on
the first Tuesday of February, of that year.

Petitions to the Legislature. 5

respects the south bounds of the town of Leyden be amended in
such a way as to leave it optional with the* inhabitants of that
town to remain with the county of Oneida or come into the new
county. On this amendment the vote was 18 to 18. It was
then moved and seconded that so much of the above resolution
as respects the south bounds of Leyden be reconsidered, vote
stood 18 to IS. It was now moved and seconded that all the
country included within the boundaries as agreed to by the
above resolution be divided into two counties. The division
line between the two and the sites for the same to be established
by a disinterested committee, to be appointed by the governor
and the council of this state. The men to be appointed,
to live out of, and have no interest in the western district: and
that during five years no expense to be paid by the counties to
be organized as aforesaid, for the erection of public buildings.
Carried in the affirmative, 20 to 16.

Motioned and seconded that a committee be appointed to
draft a petition to the legislature of this state according to the
resolutions of this meeting, and to carry the same into effect
with the proceedings of this meeting. Said committee to con
sist of five and to be chosen from amongst the members attend
ing as delegates, and be chosen by ballot.

The meeting was then adjourned for fifteen minutes in order
that the members might prepare their ballots, on counting
which it appeared that Jonathan Collins, Jacob Brown, Henry
Coffeen, Cliff French and Joseph Beals were chosen. Ordered
that the secretary supply each of the members of the com
mittee with a copy of the proceedings of this meeting. There
being no further business, ordered that the meeting be dis
solved. JONATHAN Comxs, Chairman.

EGBERT TEX EYCK, Secretary."

During the winter of 1S04-5, numerous petitions and
remonstrances were presented to the legislature, having in
view the division of Oneida county, and of several of its
towns. These were referred to the delegation from that
county, then consisting of George Brayton, Joseph Jen
nings. Joseph Kirkland and Benjamin Wright, the latter of
whom, from his intimate knowledge of the county, and
especially of the part embraced in Macomb s purchase, was
eminently fitted for the duty assigned him. He accordingly
on the 4th of March introduced^ bill for the erection of
Jefferson and Lewis counties. Seven days after, it was dis
cussed in a committee of the whole, amended, the blanks
filled and clauses added, chiefly relating to the location of
the county seats and the division of the public moneys.
On the 12th it passed the house, and on the 22d the senate
receiving from the latter a few amendments which were

6 Petitions to the Legislature.

concurred in by the house. The vote upon its passage is
not preserved in the journals of either house, nor are the
amendments of the senate a subject of record. The bill
received the governor s signature on the 28th of March.
As the motives presented to the legislature to induce the
passage of this act, possess permanent interest, we here
insert the petition circulated extensively throughout the dis
trict set off from Oneida. Many copies of it were taken for
use in the several towns, and although its authorship is not
stated, it bears within itself the evidence that it emanated
from the pen of Jacob Brown.

To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of New York, in
Senate and Assembly convened :

We your petitioners, inhabitants of the Black river country,
beg leave to represent, that we humbly apprehend that the time
has arrived when our true interest and the prosperity of the
country in which we are situated, requires a division of the
county of Oneida. On this subject there appears but one senti
ment in our county, and we flatter ourselves that it will be
superfluous to multiply arguments to the legislature, to show
the propriety of a division. We believe that your honorable
body will be led to inquire why we have not presented a request
at an earlier period, for we believe that no instance can be pro
duced of so numerous a body of people, spread over such an
extensive and highly productive country, so remote from the
old settled parts of the county and seat of justice to which
they are attached, without praying for and obtaining relief.
Relying therefore upon our former experience in the justice and
wisdom of your honorable body, we pray the legislature to
divide the county of Oneida by a line * * * [the same
as that which now includes Jefferson and Lewis,] and
we pray the Legislature to divide all the country within the
aforesaid boundaries into two counties, the division line
between the two counties and site in each for the seat of
justice in the same, to be established by a disinterested com
mittee to be appointed by the governor and council of this
state, the men so appointed to live out of, and to have no inter
est in the western district. Having appointed a committee to
wait upon the legislature with this petition, and to make such
further representations to the government as they may deem
best calculated to promote the interest of this county and the
welfare of the state, we shall riot go into a detail of our reasons
on the subject of this petition, but refer your honorable body
to this committee. One subject, however, being of primary
magnitude, and involving as we apprehend the best interest of
this country, we cannot pass in silence. That we are not ignor
ant of the opposition that is premeditated to the town of Ellis-

Petitions to the Legislature. 7

burgh and Malta being connected with the lower county on the
Black river, and that, the opposition to this connection is power
ful and respectable, but we humbly presume that we are not
mistaken in believing that the prime mover and first cause of
this opposition 1 is not fully acquainted with the true interests
and make of this county, and that when he is rightly informed
on this subject he will act consistent with himself, and not
pursue measures so injurious to a respectable portion of his
fellow citizens. The town of Ellisburgh and Malta are sepa
rated from the Kedfield and Camden country by the strong and
intelligent hand of Nature, and our duty constrains us to say
that they can not be thrown into that county (if one should be
organized there) without violating these natural right and
sacrificing the best interest. With the Black river country
they are strongly cemented by natural boundaries and natural
interests, and we flatter ourselves that the legislature will re
sist every exertion and influence so deeply injurious to the
peace and prosperity, and so unfriendly to the interest of the
state as the separation of the towns of Ellisburgh and Malta
from the Black river country, in any arrangement that may be
contemplated for the organization of new counties. Situated
on the confines of the dominions of a powerful empire, we flatter
ourselves that our country is viewed with an eye of particular
solicitude by the government, and fondly cherish the hope
that it will with pleasure pursue such measures as are best
calculated to increase its strength, and advance its prosperity.

We therefore conclude by renewing our solicitation that your
honorable body will at your present session cause two counties
to be organized on the Black river and establish their southern
boundary agreeable to our request, and your petitioners as in
duty bound will ever pray. 2

Black River, Dec. 1804.

1 Referring to Nathan Sage of Redfield.

2 The opposing petition referred to in the above was as follows :

"The petition of the inhabitants of the western part of the county of
Oneida respectfully sheweth, that whereas, a convention of delegates from
the towns on the Black River has been held and the members of that con
vention recommended a division of the county of Oneida, and appointed a
committee to carry their resolutions into effect, and this committee having
drawn a petition directed to the legislature of this state setting forth their
reasons for and praying such division. We beg leave to suggest the pro
priety of a general division for we humbly apprehend that the recent con
troversy in this county respecting a site in it for a seat of justice will appear
to you a sufficient argument to show the propriety of a general and early
division.

We therefore pray the legislature at their present session to divide the
county of Oneida by a line to commence on Lake Ontario, at the northeast
corner of Ellisburgh, and run along the north line of Constable s 13 towns to
the corner of 3 and 4 on said line, thence south between 3 and 4, 8 and 9,
to the north line of No. 13, from thence southeast until the line intersects
the main branch of Fish creek, thence down Fish creek to the Oneida hike
thence along the lake and Oswego river to lake Ontario, theuce along said

8 Act of Organization.

The act erecting the two counties applied to them the
names of the executive heads of the national and state
governments respectively at the time of its passage and
read as follows :

AN ACT to erect part of the County of Qneida into two separate
Counties by the names of Jefferson and Lewis, and for other purposes

Faffed March 28, 1805.

I. T) E / / nacted hy the People of the State of New York,, represented.
*-* in Senate and Assembly, That all that part of the county of Onei-
da, contained within the following bounds, to wit : Beginning at the
fouthweft corner of the town of Ellifburgh, on the eafterly shore of Lake-
Ontario, and running along the foutherly line of faid town ; thence along
the eafterly line thereof to the fouthwest corner of the town of Malta ;
thence along the foutherly line of the faid town of Malta, and continuing
the fame course to the corner of townfhips number two, three, feven
and eight ; thence north, along the eaft line of the town of Malta afore-
faid, to the northeaft corner thereof; thence in a dire6l line to the corner
of the towns of Rutland and Champion ; thence along the line between
the faid town of Champion and the town of Harrifburgh to Black-river;
thence in a direcl line to the bounds of the county of St. Lawrence, to
intersedl the fame at the corner of townfhips numbers feven and eleven,
in great traft number three of Macomb s purchafe ; thence along the
wefterly bounds of the faid county of St. Lawrence to the north bounds
of this ftate ; thence wefterly and southerly, along said bounds, including
all the islands in the river St. Lawrence and in Lake-Ontario in front
thereof and within this ftate, to the place of beginning, mall be and
hereby is erefted into a feparate county, and {hall be called and known
by the name of Jefferfon.

II. And be it further enacted, That all that part of the faid county of

lake to the place of beginning. And we pray that all the tract of country
lying within these boundaries may be established and organized into a sepa
rate county, and a site within the same appointed for a seat of justice at such
place as you in your wisdom may deem best situated to promote the interests
of the people and advance their prosperity. It appears totally superfluous to
make use of many arguments to show the rectitude of the division lines pro
posed, for excepting the line between Ellisburgh and the 6th town in the
Black river country it may with propriety be termed a natural boundary
between Malta and Adams the line is within a short distance of the south
branch of Sandy creek whose course is marked by an impassable gulf for
many miles in length ; on the east side of this county and between it and
Black river the Hue is also marked by a continued chain of swamps, morasses
and gulfs, and should the division line be established within 8 or 10 miles of
those natural boundaries on either side it will require the aid of the legislat
ure at a future period to give that relief to the inhabitants that justice would
demand. We therefore beg leave to refer you to a map of this county and
rest fully assured that you will resist any arguments that may be adduced
to effect a separation of any part of the aforesaid country where the interests
of the people are so essentially connected. We conclude by renewing our
request that your honorable body will, take our case into consideration and
grant us our prayer, and your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray."

J2ct of Organization. 9

Oneida, contained within the following bounds, to wit : Beginning at the
foutheaft corner of the county of Jefferfon aforefaid, thence foutherly on
the wefterly line of the town of Turin, to the fouthweft corner thereof ;
thence eafterly, along the fouth line of faid town, to the foutheaft corner
thereof; thence north fixty-two degrees eaft, along the foutherly line of
the tract of land known by the name of Macomb s purchafe, to the line
of the county of Herkimer ; thence north, along the faid laft mentioned
line, to the bounds of the county of St. Lawrence ; thence along the
fouthwefterly line of the faid kit mentioned county to the line of the
faid county of Jefferfon, and thence along the foutherly and eafterly
bounds thereof to the place of beginning, mail be and hereby is creeled
into a feparate county by the name of Lewis.

III. And be it further enacted, That all that part of townfhip
number nine, which is comprifed within the bounds of the faid county
of Jefferfon, mall be annexed to and become a part of the town of Har-
rifon, in faid county ; and that all that part of the faid townfhip number
nine, comprifed within the bounds of the faid county of Lewis, shall be
annexed to and become a part of the town of Harrifburgh in faid county.

IV. And be it further enacted, That there mail be held in and for
the faid counties of Jefferfon and Lewis, refpectively, a court of common
pleas and general feilions of the peace, and that there mail be two
terms of the faid courts in each of the counties refpectively in every
year, to commence and end as follows, that is to fay : The firft
term of the faid court in the faid county of Jefferfon, mail begin on the
fecond Tuefday of June in every year, and may continue to be held
until the Saturday following inclufive ; and the fecond term of the
faid court in the faid county of Jefferfon, mall begin on the fecond
Tuefday of December, in every year, and may continue to be held
until the Saturday following inclufive ; And that the firft term of the
faid court in the county of Lewis, mall begin on the faid firft Tuefday of
June in every year, and may continue to be held until the Saturday follow
ing inclufive, and the fecond term of the faid court in the faid county of
Lewis, mall begin on the firft Tuefday of December, and may continue
to be held until the Saturday following inclufive ; and the faid courts of
common pleas and general feilions of the peace shall have the fame jurif-
diction, powers and authorities in the fame counties refpeclively, as the
courts of common pleas and general feffions of the peace in the other
counties of this ftate have in their refpective counties ; Provided akvays,
That nothing in this aft contained, mail be conftrued to affect any fuit
or action already commenced or that mall be commenced before the firft
terms to be held in the refpeclive counties of Jefferfon and Lewis, fo as
to work a wrong or prejudice to any of the parties therein, or to affect
any criminal or other proceedings on the part of the people of this ftate,
but all fuch civil and criminal proceedings mail and may be profecuted
to trial, judgment and execution as if this act had not been paffed : And
provided further, That the firft of the faid courts in each of the faid
counties, fhall be held on the fecond Tuefday of December next.

V. And be it further enacted, That three Commiflioners mall be ap
pointed by the council of appointment, who fhall not be refident in the

10 Jlct of Organization.

weftern diftricl of this ftate, or interefted in either of the faid counties of
Jefferfon and Lewis, for the purpofe of defignating the fcites for the court
houfes and gaols of the faid counties refpeclively, and to that end the
faid commiffioners, fhall as foon as may be, previous to the firft day of
Oclober next, repair to the faid counties refpeclively, and after exploring
the fame afcertain and delignate a fit and proper place in each of the faid
counties for creeling the faid buildings; and that until fuch buildings
mail be creeled and further legiflative provifion be made in the premifes,
the faid courts of common pleas and general feffions of the peace mall
be held at fuch place in each of the faid counties neareft and moft con
tiguous to the places defignated as the fcites for faid buildings, as the
faid commiffioners or any two of them mail determine and fix on ; and
the faid commiffioners or any two of them are hereby required as foon
as they have defignated the places for erecting the faid buildings, and
determined on the places for holding the faid courts, to make out and
fign a certificate certifying the places defignated for creeling the buildings,
and the places fixed on for holding the courts in each of the faid counties,
and to tranfmit one of the faid certificates to each of the clerks of the
refpeclive counties who are required to receive and file the fame in their
refpeclive offices ; and that the faid commiffioners fhall be entitled to
receive each the fum of four dollars per day, for the time they may be
neceffarily employed in executing the trufts repofed in them by this acl,
the one moiety thereof to be paid by each of the faid counties.

VI. And be it further enacted, That the freeholders and inhabitants
of the faid counties refpeclively, fhall have and enjoy within the fame
all and every the fame rights, powers and privileges as the freeholders
and inhabitants of any other county in this ftate are by law entitled to
have and enjoy.

VII. And be it further enacted, That it fhall and may be lawful for
all courts and officers of the faid counties of Jefferfon and Lewis refpec-
tively, in all cafes civil and criminal to confine their prifoners in the gaol
or gaols of the county of Oneida until gaols {hall be provided in the
fame counties refpeclively, the said counties paying each the charges of
their own prifoners.

VIII. And be it further enacted, That the diftribution of reprefenta-
tion in the affembly of this ftate, shall be three members in the county
of Oneida, and one in the counties of Jefferfon and Lewis and St. Law
rence, any law to the contrary notwithstanding.

IX. And be it further enacted, That no circuit court, or courts of
oyer and terminer and general gaol delivery, mall be held in either of
the faid counties of Jefferfon and Lewis, until the fame fhall, in the opi
nion of the juftices of the fupreme court, become neceffary.

X. And be it further enacted, That the faid counties of Jefferfon and
Lewis mail be confidered as part of the weftern diftricl of this ftate, and
alfo 35 part of the fifteenth congreffional diftricl, and that as it refpecls
all proceedings under the acl," entitled " An acl relative to diftricl
attornies, the faid counties fhall be annexed to and become part of the
diftricl now compofed of the counties of Herkimer, Otfego, Oneida and
Chenango.

Act of Organization. 11

XL And be it further enacted, That as foon as may be after the firft
Monday of April, in the year one thoufand eight hundred and fix, the
fupervifors of the faid counties of Oneida, Jefferfon and Lewis, on notice
being firft given by the fupervifors of the faid counties of Jefferfon and
Lewis, or either of them for that purpofe, mail meet together by them-
felves, or by committees appointed by their refpeftive boards, and divide
the money unappropriated belonging to the faid county of Oneida,
previous to the divifion thereof, agreeable to the laft county tax lift.

XII. And be it further enacted, That the votes taken at the election
in the faid counties of Jefferfon, Lewis and St. Lawrence mail be re
turned to the clerk of the county of Jefferfon, to be by him eftimated
and difpofed of as is directed by the ftatute regulating elections.

XIII. And be it further enacted, That all that part of the town of
Leyden remaining in the county of Oneida, mail be and remain a fepa-
rate town by the name of Boonfville, and the firft town meeting mail be
held at the houfe of Jofeph Denning, and all the remaining part of the
town of Leyden, which is comprifed within the bounds of the county of
Lewis, mall be and remain a town by th name of Leyden, and the firft
town meeting mail be held at the dwelling houfe of Hezekiah Talcott.

XIV. And be it further enacted, That as foon as may be after the
firft town meeting in each of faid towns, the fupervifors and overfeers of
the poor of the faid towns of Leyden and Boonfville, mail by notice to
be given for that purpofe by the fupervifors thereof, meet together and
apportion the money and poor of faid town of Leyden, previous to the
divifion thereof according to the laft tax lift, and that each of faid towns
mall thereafter refpectively maintain their own poor.

It will be noticed, that as originally bounded, the town of
Pinckney was divided by a line running from the northwest
corner of Montague, to the west angle of Denmark, and that
east of the river the line was direct from the corners of
Champion and Denmark, to St. Lawrence county, passing
just south of Carthage, and including more than a quarter
of the present town of Wilna. The town of Pinckney
was brought entirely within this county upon its organiza
tion in 1808, and the line east of the river has since been
twice amended, as stated in our history of Diana.

A concise notice of the man from whom the county
derives its name, may interest its citizens.

MORGAN LEWIS, of Welch ancestry, a son of Francis
Lewis, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ
ence, was born in New York city, Oct. 16, 1754, graduated
at Princeton College in 1773, and entered the law office of
John Jay. In Jane, 1775, he joined the army before Bos
ton as a volunteer, in a rifle company of which he was
chosen captain in August. In November he was appointed
major of the 2d regiment of which John Jay was colonel,
but as public duties withdrew the latter from the command

12 Notice of Morgan Lewis.

it fell upon Lewis. In June, 1776, he accompanied Gen.
Gates into Canada as chief of his staff, and was soon after
appointed quarter-master-general for the northern depart
ment with the rank of colonel. In 1777 he was appointed
to receive the British troops, surrendered by Burgoyne, and
in 1778 he was sent with Gen. Clinton on an expedition up
the Mohawk against a body of partizan troops under Sir
John Johnson. In 1780 he accompanied Clinton to Crown
Point to intercept the enemy who had made an incursion
upon that frontier. At the close of the war he was appoint
ed colonel-commandant of a volunteer corps, and had the
honor of escorting Gen. Washington at his first inaugura
tion as President.

In 1790 and 1792 he was elected to the assembly, in 1791
appointed attorney-general, and in 1804 elected governor
for a term of three years. In 1810 he was chosen to the
state senate by a larger majority than had ever before been
given, and served four years. He was appointed quarter
master-general of the army of the United States April 3 3
1812, and on the 2d of March, 1813, he was promoted to
the rank of major-genera].

The descent on Niagara in April, 1813, was planned and
conducted solely by General Lewis, as Gen. Dearborn the
senior officer was confined to his tent by indisposition.
After the evacuation of Fort George, Gen. Lewis set off in
pursuit, but when just arrived within sight he was recalled
by a peremptoiy order from Dearborn. The next morning
the latter ordered Generals Chandler and Winder to pursue
the enemy, but upon coming up with them the latter con
sidering their situation desperate, turned upon their pur
suers. In the darkness, both of these officers fell into the
hands of the enemy, and the American troops returned to
Fort George. Late in the fall of 18 13, Gen. Lewis accom
panied Gen. Wilkinson s inglorious expedition down the St.
Lawrence. He continued in the service until disbanded
in June, 1815, when he resumed the practice of his profes
sion. While on the Canada frontier he advanced large sums
from his private means to pay the expenses of exchanged
prisoners, at a time when drafts upon the government would
not be received. His indulgence towards such of his tenants
as had served during the war either as militia or in the
regular army is especially worthy of record. The fol
lowing is a copy of an order sent to his agent for this
purpose :

" Every tenant who has himself, or whose son living with
and working for his father, has served in the course of the

Decision of Commissioners. 13

last war, either in the regular army or militia, is to have a
year s rent remitted for every campaign they have so served
either personally or by substitute. A regular discharge
during a campaign on account of sickness to be considered
as serving a campaign."

A second order directed three years rent to be remitted
to every family who had a near relative killed or maimed
during the war. Gen. Lewis married in 1777 Gertrude,
fourth daughter of Judge Kobert Livingston of Clermont,
Manor of Livingston. This union lasted fifty-four years.
He was a member of the New York Society of the Cincin
nati, and at the time of his death, which occurred in New
York city April 7, 1844, he was president of that body.
The general order issued upon this occasion, after enumerat
ing the prominent events of his life, closes as follows :

" His last appearance in public life was on the 22d of
February, 1832, when at the request of the corporation of
this city he delivered an oration in honor of General Wash
ington at the celebration of the centennial anniversary of
his nativity. * * * His pure life and patriotic disinte
restedness are worthy of all imitation and a bright example
to those who follow him. He has gone down to his grave
in a good old age and the fullness of his honors, and his
memory will ever be cherished and honored as one of the
chosen band who were prompt to respond to the call of their
country in the " time that tried men s souls," and as one of
the chivalrous spirits who we^p found ready to endure the
privations and dangers of the field in our second war of in
dependence. In all the relations of life he discharged his
duties with fidelity and honor. He was a gallant soldier,
an accomplished statesman, a kind parent, a benevolent
man, and a good citizen."

The commissioners appointed under the fifth section of the
act organizing the county, were Matthew Dorr of Chatham,
Columbia county, David Rodgers of Washington county and
John Van Benthuysen of Dutchess Co. The names of the
council of appointment were at that time, John Schenck,
Joshua H. Brett, Stephen Thorn and Jedediah Peck, of whom
Thorn was an intimate personal friend of Walter Martin,
through whose influence the appointments are said to have
been arranged. It has been reported upon very reliable
authority, that the driver of the coach, in which the com
missioners came in from Utica, overheard from their con
versation that the location of the seat of Lewis county was
already decided upon, and that he made an affidavit to that
effect,

14 County Buildings.

Whether the formation of the 26th brigade which imme
diately followed the division of the county, or the appoint
ment of Martin as brigadier-general, or the election of
Stow to the twelfth congress, had any connection with the
division of the county, we may not perhaps decide; popular
tradition has associated these events, but no written evi
dence is known to exist. In 1805-6 the sum of $74 was
paid to Dorr, a like amount to Rogers, and $82 to Van Ben-
thuysen as compensation for their services in locating the
county seat. The county drew $293.54, from Oneida in
1806.

CHAPTER II.

COUNTY BUILDINGS.

The act erecting the county, made no provision for a
court house and jail, beyond the designation of their site,
and the expense of these was left at the request of the Den
mark convention till the end of five years. Mr. Martin had
as early as 1803, began to grub up the stumps for the site of
a court house, but upon being assured of the decision of the
commissioners the measure was not pressed for some years.
At Lowville, active efforts w^re at once made to secure if
possible the location, and a wooden building was erected,
with the design of offering it to the county for a court
house, but failing in their enterprise, the citizens of that
place converted the edifice into an academy.

The first session of the court of common pleas, was held
at the inn of Chillus Doty in Martinsburgh, Dec. 8, 1805 ;
present, Daniel Kelley, Jonathan Collins and Judah Barnes,
judges, and Asa Brayton, assistant justice. This court adopt
ed as the county seal, the design figured at the head of the
first chapter in this volume, proceeded to draft a system of
rules for the regulation of its business, and established the
jail liberties of the county.

The jail liberties, although not peculiar in their day, or
essentially different from those of other counties, will doubt
less be considered by many as a curious illustration of the
absurd legal form and usages of the olden time, and as be
longing to a barbarous period in the history of our penal
code. The limits comprised the site of the court house,
a path two feet wide across the street to the store opposite,

County Buildings. 15

a path eight feet wide along the west side of the street to
the premises of Chillus Doty, afterwards a brick tavern
(including the store, the house, garden and front yard of
Gen. Martin, and the house, garden, barn and shed of Doty) :
a path eight feet wide from the middle of Doty s shed
across to the premises of David Waters, with the house of
Mr. Waters and a space eight feet wide in front and at the
ends, and twenty feet wide in the rear, and a path eight feet
wide northward to, and including the house of John Waters.
These were subsequently extended to other houses, and
finally included nearly every building in or near the village,
from Foot s tannery on the north, to the inn then kept by
John Atwater on the south, with narrow paths between,
and crossing places at distant intervals. These liberties were
duly surveyed and recorded, and the unlucky debtor who
might find himself upon them, would need a sober head and
steady eye to keep himself within the right angles which
the court had so precisely marked out for his footsteps.
An obstacle in the path might stop his course, or an inad
vertent step subject his bail to prosecution and himself to
close confinement. In IS 14 the jail liberties were extended
from A. Foot s tannery to John Smith s hat shop, with a
breadth of twenty-five rods, and since about 1822, they have
embraced a square area of 500 acres around the court house.
The boundaries where they crossed the public roads were
designated by posts painted red, but these have long since
rotted down and nothing indicates their locality. The
county courts were held during nine terms at the house of
Chillus Doty, and during the succeeding eight, at the house
of Ehud Stephens. One term of the court of oyer and
terminer was held by Judge Ambrose Spencer at the
Lowville academy, previous to the erection of the court
house.

In 1809 Gen. Martin undertook to raise means for the
erection of a court house by subscription among his towns
men and those living south, leading off on the list with a
liberal sum himself. The Lowville people were not indif
ferent to the movement and procured the signature of nearly
every taxable inhabitant north of Martinsburgh, to a peti
tion against the final location of the courts on the site
already designated. 1

The petitioners indirectly charged the commissioners
with having acted upon slight and superficial examination,
appealed to the map, for proof that Lowville village was

l A package of these papers lias 682 names for and 474 against a change
of site.

16 County Buildings.

nearer the centre of the county, and to tax lists, 1 military
returns, and opinions of gentlemen who had travelled
through the county and were acquainted with it, as evidence
that more than two-thirds of the population lay north of
the court house site. They stated the want of accommoda
tion in the little village where the site had been located as
compared with the larger village of Lowville, and ask the
legislature to fix by direct act, or appointment of sound and
candid commissioners the county seat in what shall appear
to be the centre of population; closing their memorial with
the sentiment, "that however misrepresentation may suc
ceed, for a time justice and discernment may ultimately be
expected of the legislature."

The remonstrants claimed by the map, that the centre of
the county lay a mile south of the site, and showed by the
tax list, that over $200,000 more of taxable property lay
south of the court house. 2 They denied the assertion that
the southern portion of the county was incapable of tillage,
and proved by affidavits that one principal cause of non-
settlement was because the lands had not been opened for
sale. They stated that nearly $2,000 had been subscribed
in good faith for the erection of a court house as located
by law, and claimed that justice entitled them to a con
tinuance of the site. These memorials led to the introduc
tion of a bill entitled " an act relative to the establishment
of a scite for the courthouse and gaol in the county of Lewis,"
which failed to reach a third reading in the house. It was
introduced by Dr. S. L. Mitchill of New York, as chairman
of the committee to whom the subject was referred.

On the 30th of October, 1810, Gen. Martin engaged for
$1500 to complete the court room like that of Jefferson
county, and the jail like that of Salem, Washington county,
and on the 1st of March, 1811, an act was passed for raising
$1200 by tax in one or two years, and $300 by loan, to
complete the building. The commissioners for building-
were Benjamin Van Vleck, Daniel Kelley and Jonathan
Collins ; and the sheriff was directed to give public notice
by proclamation when the work was finished and accepted.
The first county courts were held in the new building
Jan. 7, 1812, and prisoners who had previously been sent
to Rome, were thenceforth lodged in the new county jail.

1 The assessment rolls of 1809 gave Ley den 137, Turin 167, Martinsburgh
126, Lowville 206, Denmark 169, Harrisburgh 82, and Pinckney 63 taxable
inhabitants. Of these 630 were claimed north of the court house.

* The valuation of 1809 was, Ley den $188,700 ; Turin $297,715.25 ; Mar
tinsburgh $70,921; Lowville $90,257; Denmark $83,556; Harrisburgh
$29,405 ; and Pinckney $27,077.

County Buildings. 17

These premises were nearly the same as those now in use
consisting of a large wooden building, with a court room
and two jury rooms above, and three prison rooms, the
sheriff s office and rooms for the jailor s family on the first
floor. The front jail room has since been fitted up for the
office of the county judge and surrogate, but otherwise there
has been but little change. On account of the exposed sit
uation of the St. Lawrence county jail on the frontiers at
Ogdensburgh, an act was passed April 6, 1814, authorizing
the prisoners of that county to be confined in this. We are
not aware that any were sent hither under this act.

In the fall of 1852, public notice was given of application
for the removal of the county seat to Lowville or New Bre
men, and, in the hope of effecting this change, the citizens
of Lowville proceeded to erect an elegant brick building
for this purpose. The effort failed, and the structure is now
used as a town hall. No serious expectation was perhaps
entertained with regard to the New Bremen application.

The CLERK S OFFICE was kept in the house of Richard Coxe,
the clerk, until the act of 1811, which required it to be kept
within a mile of the court house, after the first day of Oc
tober following. The office was kept in the dwelling of the
clerk or his deputy for the time being, somewhere in the
village of Martinsburgh, until 1822, when Martin erected a
fire proof brick office and rented a part to the county. In
1824 an act was passed requiring the erection of a clerk s
office, but this was not done. In 1847 an association was
formed in Martinsburgh for the purpose of building a clerk s
office, which was finished and leased to the county free of
rent. It has since been in use as the clerk s office.

PAUPERISM. For many of the earlier years, the several
towns of this county supported their own poor by an annual
tax, and paupers were generally kept by those who would
bid the lowest sum for their support. Persons becoming a
public charge before they had gained a residence, were sent
back to the town where they had last resided, or if they
could not be removed were supported at the expense of such
town. In 1817, a committee was appointed in Lowville to
confer with one from Martinsburgh, upon the subject of a
poor house, but nothing resulted. In 1824, the secretary of
state, under a resolution of the preceding session, reported
such statistics of pauperism as could be obtained, and upon
his recommendation an act was passed in 1824, under which
the supervisqrs resolved to erect a poor house in Lewis
county. At that period this county ranked the 46th in the
scale of pauperism and the 51st in taxation, as compared
c

18 County Buildings.

with the rest of the state. Paupers formed one-fifth of one
per cent, of the population, and the poor tax was a fraction
over one cent per $100 of valuation. Several of the towns
had acquired a surplus poor fund.

In the fall of 1825, Jonathan Collins, Charles D. Morse
and Stephen Hart were appointed to purchase a site and
take preliminary steps for the erection of a poor house.
The farm of Maj. David Cobb, a mile west of Lowville vil
lage, was bought for $1,650, and the premises were fitted
up for the county use. The first county superintendents of
the poor, appointed in 1826, were Nathaniel Merriam, Philo
Kockwell, Stephen Leonard, Paul Abbott and Samuel Allen.

The distinction between town and county poor under
the act of 1824, was abolished in 1834, restored in 1842,
abolished in 1845, and finally restored in 1851. Several
towns have, upon each of these occasions, passed reso
lutions at their annual meetings with reference to this
measure. The premises originally fitted up continued
in use until it became necessary, in 1845, to call public
attention to their condition, and to take measures for secur
ing either an extension of accommodation or the erection
of a new building. In 1845, several of the towns passed
resolutions instructing their supervisors to give their atten
tion to the subject ; and a representation of the facts to the
legisJature procured an act passed March 26, 1846, directing
a tax of $1,500 to be levied upon the county for the repair
and extension of the poor house. Miss D. L. Dix (whose
earnest efforts in behalf of the poor and insane have earned
her the appellation of the " crazy angel"), visited our county
poor house in the spring of 1844, and her conversation is
said to have had an influence in calling attention to the
necessity of reform.

A new stone building, forty by sixty feet, and two stories
high, was erected in 1846, and has since been in use, afford
ing comfortable accommodation to such as are reduced to
that dependence which it is designed to relieve. The farm
attached contains 59 -fW acres, valued, with the buildings,
at $3,500, and partly cultivated by the labor of paupers.
The statistics of the institution showed, in 1858, that 30
per cent, were foreigners, and that 54 per cent, were re
duced to poverty by intemperance. The expense of weekly
support was 76 cents, and had, in early years, been half less.

Under an act of April 20, 1818, male felons, convicted in
Lewis county, were sent to the state prison at Auburn.
Since the erection of the Clinton prison, convicts have
usually been sent thither from this county.

Statistics of Pauperism. 19

Statistics of Pauperism as reported annually on the first day of
December, since 1829.

Number

Annual

In Poor House

Changes in Poor

Relieved.

Expense.

at end of year.

House.

02
O&lt;

a
o

O 3

o
o

feW

1830

$388

1831

1467

-I. -/

1832

891

1833

1287

&*J

1834

1615

&\J

1835

1119

3 3

1836

1421

18-37

1955

1838

$1290

1633

1839

1905

2281

, .

1840

2030

2742

, t

1841

1919

2366

1842

. . .

1861

2288

1843

1594

1958

. .

1844

1261

1433

, .

1845

192

1285

1758

, .

1846

122

1762

2632

1847

181

2385

2904

. .

1848

205

2197

2865

1849

210

2002

2692

1850

213

2461

3228

2 2

1851

1782

2503

1852

2461

3351

1853

220

3534

4218

1854

175

128

3907

5354

153

. .

1855

120

5012

11187

. .

1856

198

1478

2297

3| 3

1857

125

4615

5067

1858

126

3564

4126

. .

1859

152

3816

4531

A classification made in 1837, represented Lewis county
as having the least amount of crime in proportion to its
population, of any county in the state : and on many occa
sions the criminal courts have adjourned without having had

20 Land Titles.

any business before them. Up to 1827 but nine persons
were sent from this county to the New York state prison,
and from 1819 to 1834 inclusive but 17 were sent to Au
burn prison from Lewis.

CHAPTER III.

LAND TITLES.

An unfavorable impression as to the value of northern
lands had been acquired from the survey of Totten and
Crossfield s purchase before 1776. This tract, embracing
the central part of the great northern wilderness, still as
wild and inhospitable as when first traversed by surveyors,
was found to become worse towards the north, and the in
ference very naturally followed that the northern border of
the state was not susceptible of tillage.

On old maps this great northern region was variously
named, as Irocoisia, or the land of the Iroquois; Coughsagraga,
or the dismal wilderness ; and the Deer hunting grounds of the
Five Nations. An old map has inscribed across the northern

Eart of New York this sentence : " Through this tract of
ind runs a chain of mountains, which, from lake Cham-
plain on one side, and the river St. Lawrence on the other
side, show their tops always white with snow ; but, al
though this one unfavorable circumstance has hitherto
secured it from the jaws of the harpy land jobbers, yet, no
doubt, it is as fertile as the land on the east side of the lake,
and will in future furnish a comfortable retreat for many
industrious families." A map drawn in 1756, says this
country by reason of mountains, swamps and drowned
lands, is impassable and uninhabitable.

Sauthier s map, published in England in 1777, and sup
posed to represent the latest and most accurate information
then possessed, remarks that " this marshy tract is full of
beavers and otters," and no map of a date earlier than 1795
has any trace of the Black river. The shores of the St.
Lawrence and lake Ontario had long been familiar to voy-
ageurs, but Black river bay was evidently regarded as only
one of several deep indentations of the coast ; and in Morse s
geography of 1796, this river is represented as flowing into
the St. Lawrence at Oswegatchie.

The fertility of lands in the western part of the state had

Land Titles. 21

become known in the course of military expeditions through
them, but no such occasion led to a knowledge of the Black
river valley, 1 and it is highly probable that when a proposi
tion for purchase was submitted to the land commissioners
the offer was regarded as favorable upon any terms condi
tioned to settlement.

The Oneida Indians, sole native owners of our county, by
formal treaty at Fort Stanwix, on the 22d of September,
1788, 2 ceded to the state all their lands, excepting certain
reservations, among which was a tract one half mile wide
on each side of Fish creek, from its source to its mouth,
which, according to Cockburn the surveyor, was retained on
account of the " salmon fisheries."

On the 22d of June, 1791, Alexander Macomb submitted
an application 3 for the purchase of all the lands within cer
tain specified boundaries, including the tract since known
as Macomb s purchase, excepting certain islands in the St.
Lawrence. One-sixth part of the purchase money was to
be paid at the end of one year, and the residue in five equal
annual installments, without interest. The first payment
was to be secured by bond, to the satisfaction of the com
missioners, and if paid within time a patent was to be issued
for a sixth part, and new bonds for the next sixth were to
be issued. If at any time the purchaser chose to anticipate
the payments, a deduction of six per cent, per annum was
allowed. The price offered was eight cents per acre, de- 1
ducting five per cent, for roads, and all lakes of more than
one thousand acres in area. The proposition was accepted,
and the lands were ordered to be surveyed out at the ex
pense of Macomb, 4 under the direction of the surveyor
general.

1 Belletres expedition against the settlement at the German Flatts, in 1755
and that of Leiy, which captured fort Bull, near Rome, in 1757, are supposed
to have passed through this valley. In 1779, Lieutenants McClellan and
Hardenburgh were sent through the interior to Oswegatchie, more with the
view of drawing off the friendly Oneidas and preventing them from being dis
turbed by the expedition against the Indians of the Genesee country, than in
the hopes of effecting much against the enemy. Several musket barrels and
other military relics have been found in Greig on the line of this route, which
may have been lost in these expeditions. Their occurrence has, as usual,
occasioned idle rumors of buried treasure.

2 Given in full in the History of Jefferson Co., p. 39.

3 Given in full in the History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, p. 253.

4 Alexander Macomb was a son of John Macomb, and emigrated from Ire
land in 1742. He resided many years in New York and held a colonial office,
and in 1787-8 91, he was in Assembly. During several years he resided in
Detroit as a fur trader, and in passing to and from Montreal had become ac
quainted with the value of the lands of northern New York. He furnished
five sons to the army in 1812, one of whom was the illustrious General Ma
comb of Pittsburgh memory.

22 Land Titles.

The sale of such enormous tracts of land at a merely nomi
nal price, attracted public notice throughout the state, and
the occasion was not lost by the opponents of the state ad
ministration to charge the land commissioners with the
basest motives of personal gain, and even with treason it
self. On the 20th of April, 1792, Dr. Josiah Pomeroy of
Kinderhook, made oath to his belief from hearsay, that a
company, planned by William Smith, Sir John Johnson and
others, chiefly tories living in Canada, had been formed un
der the auspices of Lord Dorchester as early as 1789, to pur
chase an extensive tract of land upon the St. Lawrence, with
the ultimate design of annexing it to Canada, and that Gov.
George Clinton was privy to their scheme, and interested in
the result. 1 To this absurd charge the governor s friends op
posed a letter of Gen. Schuyler, and the affidavits of Macomb
and McCorrnick, fully denying any direct or indirect interest
of the governor in the purchase. In the Assembly a series of
violent resolutions was offered by Col. Talbot of Montgomery
evidently designed as the basis of an impeachment, but, after
a most searching investigation, that body cleared the commis
sioners of blame and commended their course. 2 Aaron Burr,
then attorney general, was absent at the time of the sale, and
escaped censure at the time, but in his after career he was
directly charged with basely selling his influence to obtain
the grant. The clamor against the governor was raised for
political effect, and had its influence on the next election.

From letters of these negotiators it appears that the im
mense purchase was the fruit of years of preliminary man
agement, and allusions to some great operation as early as
1786 have reference, no doubt, to these events, which ap
pear to have originated with Constable. With a keen eye
to the public interests, the very parties who had secured this
tract, influenced the passage of a law in 1794, fixing the
minimum price of the remaining 2,000.000 acres of the pub
lic lands at six shillings per acre, thereby giving this value
to their own. The unsettled state of the frontiers, and the
refusal of the British to surrender the posts, had a serious
influence upon the first attempt at settlement. The survey
ors were turned back at Oswego from proceeding further,
and the Indians at St. Regis drove oft the first intruders. In
a speech to the Indians in 1794, Lord Dorchester said, that
there was prospect of war impending, and that the warrior s
sword must mark the boundaries of the country. In the

1 Handbills, 1775 to 1802, p. 41, 43. Library of Albany Institute.

2 Assembly Journals. Hammond s Political History of New York, i, 58.
Parton s Life of Burr, 176.

Land Titles. 23

war of 1812-15 it was proposed to render the highlands south
of the St. Lawrence the national boundary, and some such
hope may have led to these embarrassing interruptions in
the surveys.

Alexander Macomb, Daniel McCormick and William
Constable were equally interested in the original contract,
but Macomb became soon involved in an immense specula
tion styled the " Million Bank," in which Isaac Whippo,
Wm. Duer, Walter Livingston and others were concerned,
and a great number of men were pecuniary losers ; Macomb
was lodged in jail April 17, 1792, and even there owed his
life to the strength of his prison walls. This failure inter
rupted a negotiation with the Holland land company, who
afterwards bought in western New York.

The Fish creek reservation was not regarded in this sale,
probably because it was supposed not to extend up into the
tract. In the course of the survey this became a subject of
anxiety, and while some considered that the reservation
would extend up only so far as the salmon went, others
would limit it to the union of the principal branches, and
others only by the sources of its main tributaries. The
proposition was made in 1794, to meet the Orieidas, and re
quest a person to be sent to fix the uppermost limit of the
creek, and see the half mile run out on each side of it.
Upon examining the patent it was found that the state had
undertaken to sell the reservation, and must settle whatever
damages might result to the Indians. In a treaty held
September 15, 1795, the latter engaged to sell all north of a
certain creek falling into Fish creek, on Scriba s purchase,
for an annuity of $3 per hundred acres, to be ascertained
by survey. On the 5th of March, 1802, a provisional agree
ment of sale of this and other parts of reservations was
made, and on the 4th of June of that year it was confirmed
in the presence of John Tayler, U. S. Com r, thus forever
canceling the native title to the lands of Lewis county. ^

Macomb s purchase embraced 3,816,960 acres, from which
deducting five per cent, there remained 3,670,715 acres.
On the 10th of January, 1792, the first payments having
been made, a patent for 1,920,000 acres was issued to Ma
comb, embracing the whole purchase excepting what lies in
St. Lawrence and Franklin counties. The conveyance was
that of a full and unqualified freehold, with no reservation
but those of gold and silver mines, and no condition but the
settlement of one family to every square mile within seven
years. The purchase was subdivided into six great tracts,
of which I, lies in Franklin, II and HI in St. Lawrence, and

24 Land Titles.

IV, includes 450,950 acres, or all of Jefferson and Lewis
counties north of a line near the 44th degree of north lati
tude. The division line between V and VI was never run,
and they have never been recognized in land sales, being
indefinitely regarded as including the remainder of the
tract. In an early map, a line drawn from near the S. W.
corner of the purchase, about N. 16 E. and crossing the
Black river at the northern bend, east of the Watson bridge,
is theoretically given as the line between Nos. V and VI.
Macomb conveyed to William Constable of New York, June
6, 1792, great tracts IV, V and VI, for jESO^OO, 1 and this
conveyance was renewed by Macomb and wife, Oct. 3d of
that year. Constable conveyed, Dec. 17-18, 1792, to Col.
Samuel Ward, 1,281,880 acres, embracing tracts V, VI (ex
cepting 25,000 which had been contracted to P. Colquhoun
and conveyed to Wm. Inman), for100,000. 2 On the 27th
of February following, Ward and wife re-conveyed these
lands to Constable, excepting 685,000 acres which he had
sold. 3 This sale to Ward is understood to have been a trust
conveyance, and the sales made by Ward, to be hereafter
specified, were virtually sales by Constable. We now ar
rive at a point in the chain of title from whence several
lines diverge, and to convey a clear idea of each, they will
be traced separately down to the sales of single towns.
Such changes as occurred within the limits of towns, will
be noticed in connection with their history.

Lewis county comprises two whole and parts of seven
other great tracts, which have been known in land sales by
distinct names. To the townships west of Black river,
separate names were applied by Simeon DeWitt, surveyor
general, in his state maps published in 1802 and 1804. These
tracts, with the numbers and original names were as follows :

BLACK RIVER TRACT (in part), including,
Township 5, Mantua, now Denmark.

do 9, Handel, do Pinckney.

do 10, Platina, do Harrisburgh.

do 11, Lowville, do Lowvillc.
The remainder in Jefferson county, south of Black river.

1 Deeds, Sec. office, xxiv, 300. 2 Deeds, Sec. office, xxxix, 6.

3 Deeds, Sec. office, xxv, 208. In this conveyance it is understood that
Wm. Constable, Col. William Stephens Smith, and Samuel Ward were equally
interested. A balance sheet of the accounts of these three proprietors, brought
down to July 1, 1796, shows an amount of 69,092 2.0, cost and expenses,
and 50,475.10.9 profits, leaving to each one a share of $74,778.57. The
current of this afi air did not always run smooth, and in a letter to Macomb,
dated Oct. 29, 1794, Constable complained that Smith had never disbursed a
sixpence, and was profiting by the labors of others, while Ward was bound
for the bills. Smith died at Lebanon, Madison county, N. Y., June 10, 1816.
He was a member of the 13th and 14th Congresses.

Land Titles. 36

BOYLSTON TRACT (in part), including,
Township 3, Shakespere, now Montague.

do
do
do
do
do

5,
8,
9,
13,

Cornelia,
Porcia,
Hybla,
Penelope,
Rurabel/a,

do
do
do
do
do

Martinsburgh.
do
Osceola.
High Market.
Osceola.

The remainder in Jefferson and Oswego counties.
CONSTABLE S FOUR TOWNS, including,
Township 1, Xenophon, now Lewis.

do 2, Flora, do Lewis, High Market and West

Turin.

do 3, Lucretia, do High Market, Turin and Mar
tinsburgh.

do 4, Pomona, do West Turin and Turin.
INMAN S TRIANGLE, including Leyden and a part of Lewis.
BRANTINGHAM TRACT, in Greig.

BROWN S TRACT (in part). The western border of four town
ships extend into the eastern part of the county, viz :

Part of Township 1, Industry, now Greig and Herkimer co.
do do 2, Enterprise, do do do

do do 3, Perseverance, do Watson, do

do do 4, Unanimity, do do do

The remainder in Herkimer and Hamilton counties.
WATSON S TRACT, including part of Watson. The remainder in
Herkimer county.

CASTORLAND, including parts of Greig and Watson, the whole
of New Bremen and Croghan, and in Jefferson county the parts
adjoining Black river on the north side.

GREAT TRACT NUMBER FOUR, or the Antwerp company s pur
chase, including Diana and a large tract in Jefferson and a
corner in Herkimer counties.

The Black River Tract. Samuel Ward and wife, on the
12th of December, 1792, conveyed to Thomas Boylston of
Boston, 1 for .20,000, all of Macomb s purchase south and
west of Black river, excepting Ionian s triangle. The only
knowledge then had of the course of the river was derived
from Sauthier s map, a copy of which, corrected at the of
fice of the surveyor general, from the latest data in his pos
session, was used in these early sales. Black river was en
tirely omitted on the printed map, and when thus laid out
upon vague information, was represented as flowing in a

i Boylston proved to be a partner of Lane, Son and Fraser of London, who
soon failed for a large amount, and the title was subsequently conveyed by
their assignees. Boylston was related to the wife of Col. Wm. S. Smith, who
is mentioned in connection with Samuel Ward s operations.
D

26 Land Titles.

nearly direct line from the High falls to the lake. The lands
south of the river were sold for 400,000 acres, but upon sur
vey they measured 8 17, 155 acres. To rectify this enormous
error is said to have cost Constable .60,000 sterling. Oil
the 21st of May, 1794, Boylston gave a deed of trust of the
land since known as the Black river tract, to George Lee,
George Irving, and Thomas Latham, assignees of the firm
of Lane, Son and Frazer of London, and they in turn con
veyed to John Johnson Phyn of that place, 1 June 2, 1794,
with whom by sundry assurances in law the title became
vested in fee simple, with all the rights and appurtenances
pertaining thereto. 2 Phyn appointed Constable his attorney
to sell any or all of these lands, April 10, 1795, 3 and the
latter sold, on the 15th of July following, to Nicholas Low,
William Henderson, Richard Harrison and Josiah Ogden
Hoffman, all of New York city, the land between the Black
River and a line running in a course S. 81 E. 3100 chains,
from the mouth of Sandy creek to the river.

In a letter from Win. Henderson to Constable, dated Feb.
6, 1795, the writer stated a difficulty in the lodging of
American stocks as security instead of personal responsi
bility. All the advantage he expected was to be derived
from the credit allowed, and to buy stock and pledge it
would cost more than to advance the money and make full
payment at once. Constable was offered an interest in the
tract if he preferred to become an associate. Mr. Hender
son added : "The room for speedy profit on waste lands in
general above a dollar an acre, I do not, for my part, think
very great ; indeed the sudden rise which they have taken
may be considered in a great degree artificial. You will
say, perhaps, Why then do you purchase ? I reply, be
cause they have been an article in which there is great
speculation, and therefore may answer to sell again."

The proposition of Hamilton for bringing the western
territory into market at a cheap rate, was looked upon as
an alarming indication of ruin by those making this invest
ment.

To give a better idea of these speculations in northern
lands, we will quote from a letter written late in 1798, by
one of the parties concerned, to his agent in London. Af
ter stating that the capital invested might lie unproductive
a few years, but would certajnly return several hundred per-

1 James Phyn married a sister of Constable, and traded at Schenectady
with John Duncan before the revolution. John Johnson Phyn, his son, was
an unmarried man.

2 Deeds, Sec. office, xxiv, 3. 3 Deeds, Sec. office, xxxix, 64.

Land Titles. 27

cent, in the end, he says that in 1786, he received 3000 acres
in Bayard s patent, on the Mohawk, valued at four shillings
the acre, which, in 1796, he brought in to market and sold at
twenty shillings. He then mentions the purchase of the
Boylston tract in 1794, estimated at 400,000 acres, at two
shillings, and adds :

" On my arrival here in 1795, I had it surveyed and explored,
when it appearing that from the course of the river by which
it was bounded, it comprehended double the quantity, or up
wards of 800,000 acres, the purchase being so much larger than
I had contemplated, I was under the necessity of proceeding
immediately to sell a part of the tract. This I found no diffi
culty in doing, as the land was found to be uncommonly good.
Messrs. Nicholas Low and his associates purchased 300,000
acres at 85., or is. Qd. sterling, one-fourth of the money
payable down, the balance in five annual installments, with in
terest, the whole of the land remaining security ou mortgage.
In 1796, I had the whole of the remaining 500,000 acres laid
out in townships of 25 to 30,000 acres, and sold in that and the
succeeding year about 100,000 acres from 65. $d. to 9s. sterling,
receiving J the the money down, and taking mortgage to secure
the balance in five annual payments with interest at 7 per cent,
as is customary. I interested a Mr. Shaler in one-half of two
townships, ou condition of his settling on the tract, and selling
the lands out in small farms of about 200 acres, he to be
charged 9s. per acre for his part, and to have half the profit on
the sales. He accordingly went out and had the lands survey
ed, made a road from fort Stanwix into the midst of it, and
built a saw mill and a grist mill. His accounts last rendered
show the disposal of about 10,000 acres for nearly $40,000, of
which he has paid me all the money received, being $10,000,
and has made an account of expenses for roads buildings, &c., of
about $4,000. He sells alternate lots at $4 the acre, the settle
ment of which will immediately give an additional value to the
intermediate ones, which we mean to reserve."

A deficiency of 24,624 acres being found on the survey
of the Boylston tract, this was supplied from township 2
[Worth], in Jefferson county. On the 15th of April, 1796,
Phyn confirmed this sale. 1 One quarter of the purchase
was paid down and the balance secured by mortgage, which
was paid and canceled June 16, 1804. It had been assigned
to the bank of New York with other accounts of Constable.

The Black river tract was divided by ballot between the
owners on the llth of August, 1796. Low drew 2, 7, and
11, or Watertown, Adams and Lowville, and 1,578 acres of
the surplus tract ; Henderson took 3, 6 and 9, or Rutland,

* Deeds, Seo. office, xxxvii, 214.

28 Land Titles.

Henderson and Pinckney, and 649 acres of the surplus ;
and Harrison and Hoffman together, 1, 4, 5, 8, and 10, or
Houndsfield, Champion, Denmark, Rodman, and Harris-
burgh, and 1283 acres of the surplus. As their guide, in
making this division, Mr. Benjamin Wright who surveyed
the outlines of the towns in April, and May, 1796, reported
with a minute description of soil, timber, and natural advan
tages, the following general summary of his views with
regard to their relative value :

" Numbers 1, 2, 5,6, 7, have very little to choose in point
of quality. 6 is best situated, but 7 is a most excellent
town. 5 would be called best by New England people on
account of the luxuriancy of its soil on Deer creek. 2 is
an exceeding good town, but is not so good as 7. 8 and 9
are very good towns. 10, the north part, is exceeding good.
11, the west part is excellent. 7 has the preference of the
whole for quality and situation together, and 6 for situation
only. 1 is well situated, but I fear has not good mill sites
on it. 8 has excellent mill sites, arid 9 also, but are some
broken. 10 is bad on the south line, and 9 also being cold
and hemlocky."

The prejudice against hemlock timber is historical^ con
nected with the titles, and had an influence upon opinion as
to the value of lands, which experience has not sustained.
The indifferent quality of these lands when first brought
under cultivation, is found due to the large amount of tannin
in the leaves, and as this disappears the capacity of the soil
increases until it may equal the best, other circumstances
being equal.

Boylston s Tract and Constable s Four Towns. On the 10th
of April, 1795, Phyn reconveyed to Constable 105,000 acres
for .10,000, which tract was subdivided into four towns
adjacent to Inman s triangle, and almost reaching the S.
E. corner of the eleven towns of the Black river tract.

On the 1st of April, 1796, Phyn reconveyed to Constable
406,000 acres for $400, this being the residue of the Boyl-
ston tract. This land was subdivided into thirteen towns,
which in common language have been denominated the
" Boylston Tract," although strictly speaking, that tract
included every thing between Black river, the lake, and
Inman s triangle, amounting to 817,155 acres. The sepa
rate numbering of the townships surveyed out from the
lands released in 1795 and 1796, has resulted in some con
fusion as, from 1 to 4, the numbers are duplicated. The
outlines of these towns were mostly surveyed by Wm, Cock-
burn & Son of Poughkeepsie.

Land Titles. 29

The contract with Wright for surveying townships 3, 4,
6, 8, and 9, into lots in 1805, provided that one acre of land
in townships 1 and 10 was to be paid for every mile run.
It appears that the survey of 4, amounted to 152 miles 42
chains ; of No. 6 to 136J m. ; of No. 8 to 154 m. 36 ch. ; of
No. 9 to 110 m. 39 ch. ; and of No. 3 to 161 m. 43 ch. ;
making 715J acres due for the survey of 5 towns.

On the 29th of December, ]795, Constable sold to Nathaniel
Shaler of Middletown, an undivided half of 52,418 acres
being numbers 3 and 4 of Constable s four towns, and made
him his agent for selling the other half. 1

On the 15th of November, 1798, Wm. Constable, on the
eve of his departure for Europe, appointed his brother
James an agent to sell lands, 2 and under this authority the
latter sold most of township 5, or 8000 acres, to Walter Mar
tin on the 18th of June, 1801, receiving $5,400, and a mort
gage for $6,600 due in two equal annual payments.

Upon the death of Wm. Constable, May 22, 1803, John
McYickar, James Constable, and Hezekiah B. Pierrepont,
became the executors of his estate, and in 1819, the latter
by purchase acquired the interests of the several heirs. By
virtue of marriage with a daughter of Mr. -Constable, he
had previously become an owner of a share of the estate.
The remaining heirs were paid about $25,000 each, princi
pally in lands. By this means Edward McVickar became
owner of lands in the west subdivision of No. 5, and in No.
9. The remaining interests in 3 and 4 of Constable s four
towns became the property of William Constable, who set
tled at Constableville, and other members of the family
became interested either in lands or contracts.

In the beginning Wm. C. adopted the plan of deeding
lands and taking mortgages, but this being found expens
ive and troublesome, it was superseded by that of con
tracts, guaranteeing an ample deed upon full payment.
This contract, originally prepared by Alexander Hamilton,
has not been changed. It secures legal interest annually
to the proprietor, requires the purchasers to pay all surveys,
taxes, and assessments, binds them not to abandon the pre
mises, or sell or assign the contract, or cut, or suffer to be
cut for sale, any timber without the consent of the proprie
tor, or commit any waste, actual or permissive, upon the
premises. In case of default, it is optional with the party
of the first part to abide by the contract, or consider it
void, and if the latter, to re-enter and dispose of the pre-

1 Transcribed Deeds, Lewis Clerk s office, p. 155.

2 Deeds, Sec. office, xli, 623 ; Regr s office, N. Y., Ivi, 169.

30 Land Titles.

mises as in case of a tenant holding over without permission.
The inflexible rule of requiring one quarter payment upon
purchase was never relaxed by Constable, but was changed
by his executors.

On the 1st of March, 1817, Judge James McVickar, who
had acquired an interest by marriage with a daughter of
Wm. Constable, conveyed by three several deeds, to George
Davis of Belleville, N. J., 5,224} acres in townships 3 and
4, then Turin, for $14,225. He also on the same day, con
veyed about 3,760 acres to Thomas Alsop, for $11,500, and
on the 1st of January following, for $6,000, an undivided
half of 46 lots in townships 3 and 4, of Constable s towns.
On the 18th of December, Alsop sold for $7,000 to Davis,
portions of his improved lands.

Both Davis and Alsop came to reside at Constableville as
further noticed in our account of West Turin.

David I. Green of New York, became a purchaser under
his brother-in-law Davis, June 16, 1818, and a few days
after, conferred upon him powers of attorney to sell lands.
Green was for many years cashier of the Phcenix bank,
N. Y., and by a long course of exemplary attention to its
business, had secured the confidence of the directors to
such an extent that they at length made but superficial
examinations of his accounts. Soon after the purchase
above noticed, he was found a defaulter to the amount of
about $140,000, and large packages of bills which had for
some time previous been coming through the mails to Capt.
Davis, together with mysterious arrangements for expedit
ing the journey of some traveler, should he need to be for
warded in haste towards Canada, leave little room for doubt
that a part of the stolen money was used in buying these
lands, and that Davis was to some extent, at least, privy to
the crime. Green was also deeply concerned in cotton and
other speculations, which proved failures, and brought to
light his robbery of the bank. He got a few hours start of
the officers of justice, and escaped by way of lake Cham-
plain to Quebec, from whence he sailed to France. In two
or three years some arrangement was made, by which he
could return, and after going to Michigan, he came back to
Davis house near Constableville, and died, Sept. 5, 1826,
aged 45 years.

The Phoenix bank became from this transaction an in
terested party to the title of a portion of the lands previ
ously held by Davis.

On the 25th of July, 1801, Wm. Constable, in part pay
ment of notes and endorsements of the firm of Wm. & Jas.

Land Titles. 31

Constable, and in consideration of $95,704.50, conveyed
townships 1 and 13 on the south border of this county to
John Jones, John McVickar and John Rathbone, in trust
for the owners of the notes. These towns were conveyed
to the trustees above named, July 15, 1802, and proving
more than sufficient after making several conveyances
amounting to 43,704 acres, they reconveyed the balance
to Constable. 1 Of the lands retained to pay the creditors
for whose benefit this arrangement was made, 6,118| acres
in No. 1, and 5,43 1J in No. 13, were deeded to John Jacob
Astor, Jan. 28, 1804 ; 2 and a further quantity of 3232 J acres
was conveyed March 10 of that year. 3 On the 1st of June,
1806, Astor sold the whole of his lands in these two town
ships to Hezekiah B. Pierrepont, for $18,477.50, receiving a
mortgage for a part of the amount, due in five, six and
seven years. 4

The trustees above named on the 28th of Jan., 1804,
deeded 743 acres of township 1, and 10,074 of township 13,
to H. B. Pierrepont.

Inmatfs Triangle was conveyed Feb. 12, 1793, by Wm.
Constable to Wm. Inman, in trust, chiefly for Patrick Col-
quhoun. The history of this transaction will be given in
our account of Leyden.

Brantingham Tract. S. Ward and wife, conveyed Aug. 18,
1793, to the name of Wm. Inman a tract of land supposed
to be 50,000 acres, east of the river, in trust for P. Colqu-
houn, in pursuance of a contract with Constable of Feb. 13
of that year. The price was .5,000 sterling, and it was
the intention of the European owner to offer 10,000 acres
to Capt. Charles Williamson at first cost, and he instructed
Inman to do so. The latter wrote as directed, but added:
" I have no doubt of the propriety of your refusing to acr
cept the share of the 18,000 acres, and I confess I had
little hopes of your doing so, although I am certain it would
have been highly advantageous to you. I can speak my
mind freely to you ; and I do not hesitate to say that Mr.
C. 5 is capable of expressing sentiments he does not, when
they are calculated to serve his own particular purposes ;
and I am authorized to say, his friendship for you was
merely a name, and his boasted attachment and profession

1 In township 1, lots 1 to 19 and part of 20= 4880 acres ; and in 13 lots,
1 to 62, and part of 140= 15,484 acres.

2 Deeds. Lewis county, A., 187.

3 In township 1, 2320 acres and in 13, 912| acres. Deeds, Lewis co.,
A., 190. * Deeds, Lewis county, A., 186.

5 Referring to P. Colquhoun, who had loaded him with kindness.

32 Land Titles.

for me was no better, and people would do well to be on
their guard in their transactions with that gentleman."
Within two months the writer of this letter, offered to buy
these lands himself, stating that Williamson declined to
purchase. The transaction needs neither note nor com
ment. Upon survey by Cockburn in 1794, the tract was
found to measure 74,400 acres. In August, 1793, Brock-
hoist Livingston became a purchaser in trust for himself
and certain alien owners, of whom he alone was allowed to
hold lands. There were two associations formed, for hold
ing the Fellowship location, of 50,000 acres, and the
Surplus lands, of 24,400, the latter of which belonged ex
clusively to B. Livingston and Patrick Colquhoun, high
sheriff of London. In Dec., 1793, a contract was made be
tween 13. L. and Robert Morris, 1 for the 50,000, in behalf of
the latter, and Mr. Nicholson and James Greenleaf; but
this conveyance was never made, and on the 10th of April,
1794, Wm. Inman, acting for another, sold to Thomas
Hopper Brantingham 2 of Phila. for $23,073, the whole
tract. The latter soon after executed three mortgages for
.7,692, 3 and appointed, Aug. 9, 1794, Arthur Breese his
attorney to sell a certain tract of 18,000 acres, 4 but no sales
appear to have been made by this agent. Brantingham
and wife on the 21st of Jan., 1795, sold 10,000, an un
divided part of the tract to Richard W. Underbill of N. Y.,
for ,7000, and other claimants became incidentally inte
rested, 5 but the mortgages being unpaid, two of them were
foreclosed and the lands sold 6 according to statute. The
lands were re-leased to Inman, and were further confirmed
by the assignment of the judgments, upon which a sale was
made Nov. 17, 1796, by the sheriff of Herkimer county to
Inman, 7 in trust. The latter soon after mortgaged the
whole to Thomas Walker, agent of Colquhoun ; and by
sundry conveyances the title became vested in Brockholst
Livingston, Samuel Ogden, James Kerr and Patrick Col
quhoun.

The tract was surveyed into lots by Benjamin Wright in
1806, and the tract was divided Nov. 25, 1815, into four
parts, of which the N. E. and S. W. marked 2, were drawn

1 Deeds, Oneida co., iv, 263. Consideration $30,000.

2 B. was allowed to hold lands in this state by an act of April 9, 1792.
He failed in business in the spring of 1794, and in 1795 was imprisoned for
debt. 3 DeedS) Lewis eo&gt;&gt; 149&gt; 151

: Deeds, Oneida co., ii, 224.

6 Wm. Bird, Joseph Brantingham, Philip Grim and others are named in
connection with this title. 6 April 1, and Sept. 1, 1796.

7 Deeds, Lewis co., 160.

Land Titles. 33

by Kerr and Colquhoun, and the S. E. and N. W., marked
1, by Livingston and Ogden. 1 Lots 253 and 235, including
the High falls, were not included, but remained common
property of the four proprietors.

By an order of chancery dated June 17, 1822. Elisha
Wilcox, Uriel Hooker, and Nathaniel Merriam, were ap
pointed commissioners for making a partition so far as
concerned Ogden and Livingston.

In September, 18 18, Caleb Lyon was appointed sole agent
of John Greig, the agent of Kerr and Colquhoun, and pur
chased about 10,000 acres on his own account. He subse
quently brought Livingston s interest, arid continued in the
agency until his death, when he was succeeded by his son
Lyman R. Lyon, and son-in-law Francis Seger. This agency
continued until about 1851, when L. R. Lyon bought out
the remaining interest of Kerr and Colquhoun, or rather
of Greig who had succeeded them in the title, 2 and a
part of the Ogden interest. About 25,000 acres of the
Brantingham tract are now in the hands of actual settlers.

Brown s Tract. This term strictly applicable to a tract
of 210,000 acres, or 8 townships of land, extending across
Herkimer and including small portions of Lewis and Ham
ilton counties, has come to be applied as a generic term to
the whole northern wilderness.

Samuel Ward arid wife conveyed, November 25, 1794, to
James Greenleaf, a tract of 210,000 acres from the eastern
extremity of great tracts V, VI, and the latter mortgaged
the premises July 29, 1795, to Philip Livingston. This was
foreclosed, and Thomas Cooper, Master in Chancery, united
in a deed to John Brown, a wealthy merchant of Provid
ence, R. L, on the 29th of December, 1798. 3 The tract
was surveyed into towns by Nathaniel Smith in 1796, and
township 2, was surveyed into lots by Cliff French, in 1799.
Townships 3 and 4 were never lotted. There were several
conveyances of this tract riot essential to its chain of title,
of which we have not the exact data. John Julius Anger-
stein, a wealthy London merchant, Henry Newman, Tho.

1 In the S. W. corner 62 lots or 12,804.77 acres. In the N. E. corner 126
lots, 24,647.71 acres. In all 188 lots of 37,452.48 acres. The lands drawn
by Livingston and Ogden were in the S. E. corner 56 lots of 12,179.83 acres;
and in the N. W. 125 lots of 24,753.01 acres making in all 181 lots of
36,932.84 acres.

2 In 1834, 42,298 acres of the Brantingham tract were sold for taxes, the
greater part of which was bid off by Seger and deeded to Greig. We are not
informed of the transactions between Greig and his principals, or the dates of
connection with the titles. Mr. Greig became owner in 1821.

3 Brown named his towns Industry, Enterprise, Perseverance, Unanimity,
Frugality, Sobriety, Economy, and Regularity.
E

34 Land Titles.

and Daniel Greenleaf, Col. Win. S. Smith, Aaron Burr, and
others, were incidentally concerned before Brown s pur
chase. 1 An expensive but ineffectual effort was made by
Brown to plant a settlement upon this tract, and three roads
were opened to it. One of these led from Remsen, another
from Boonville, crossing the Black river a little south of
the county line, and a third from High falls. Mr. Brown
died in 1803, and the land was held by his family until a
few years since, when it was purchased by L. R. Lyon and
others. It is now contracted to the Lake Ontario and Hud
son River R. R. Co.

Watson s Tract In April, 1796, Constable conveyed to
James Watson, by warranty deed, 61,433 acres, comprising
two triangular tracts connected by an isthmus. The first
deed being lost, it was reconveyed May 13, 1798. The out
lines were surveyed in 1794, by Wm. Cockburn. This tract
was originally contracted to the French company, but their
tract having a surplus, this was sold to Watson at two shil
lings the acre. Watson s first agreement Dec. 2, 1793,
included 150,000 acres.

Castorland, The romantic scheme of settlement connected
with this tract and the probable results that would have
ensued, had the location been more favorably chosen, and
the affairs more judiciously managed, give interest to this
title, and justify a somewhat extended notice of the com
pany formed under it.

On the 31st of August, 1792, Wm. Constable, then in
Paris, sold to Peter Chassanis of that city, 630,000 acres of
land south of great tract number IV, and between the Black
river and a line near the 44 N. latitude. 2 From the mis
taken notion of the course of the river before alluded to, it
was estimated that this amount of land lay between these
two boundaries. Chassanis in this purchase, acted as agent
for an association, and the lands were to be by him held in

1 Burr was concerned with. Ward, and afterwards with Smith, in this pur
chase, after the title had been held as security by Angerstein. He became
involved in a contract Sept. 22, 1794, for the purchase at 50,000, which he
found a hard bargain, and the means he took to get released from Constable
showed him the polished scoundrel. He wrote a letter Nov. 6, 1794, refer
ring in an insulting manner to an assumed liability of escheat from alien
title, and the personal obligation of Constable to convey notwithstanding,
and alluded to his ability in influencing legislative action. He professed a
mock sympathy with his correspondent, expressed a nice sense of honor as
to obligation, and ended with a proposition to pay 10,000 less than the
sum agreed upon, or to forfeit 1,000 and be released from the contract.

2 In a deed in Oneida Clerk s office (c. 405) this is called great lot No. V, of
Macomb s purchase. It appears that the French originally contracted 1,255,-
000 acres on all south of No. IV, both sides of the river, but soon relin
quished a part.

Land Titles. 35

trust for Constable until paid for, and disposed of in sec
tions of one hundred acres each, at the rate of eight livres
tournois per acre. 1 The state reservations for roads, &c.,
were stipulated, and a deed for 625,000 acres having been
made out, was delivered to Rene Lambot, as an escrow, to
take effect on the payment of .52,000. Constable bound
himself to procure a perfect title, to be authenticated and
deposited with the consul general of France in Philadel
phia, and Chassanis agreed that the moneys paid to Lam*
bot should be remitted to certain bankers in London, sub
ject to Constable s order, on his presenting the certificate
of Charles Texier, consul, of his having procured a clear
title. If the sales should not amount to .62,750, the balance
was to be paid in six, nine, and twelve months, in bills upon
London. The preemption of great tract No. IV, for one
month, was granted at one shilling sterling per acre.

The purchasers immediately set to work to perfect a
scheme of settlement, and in October, 1792, issued a pam
phlet, 2 embodying the following programme of colonization
under the auspices of a company organized under the laws
of France, by the name of LA COMPAGNIE DE NEW YORK.

Like many transcendental schemes of modern times, it
appeared very beautiful upon paper, and the untried experi
ment promised every advantage which associated capital
and active industry could claim, or the most ardent hope,
promise.

Peculiar circumstances, at that time, favored schemes of
emigration from France. The kingdom had been three
years distracted by a revolution which, for savage atrocity,
has no parallel in history, and the reign of terror had
deluged the royal palaces in blood, and thrown a lurid
gloom over the future. During the negotiation of Con
stable and Chassanis, the fearful insurrection for which
Danton, Murat, Robespierre, and their kindred spirits had
been long preparing the Parisian mob, burst forth ; the
palace of the Tuilleries was surrounded, the faithful attend
ants of the royal family butchered, and the king, himself,
imprisoned. While the scheme we are noticing was pre
paring, the mock trial of the sovereign was going on, and a
few days after it was published, Louis XVI was brought to
the guillotine.

1 Eight livres tournois would equal $1.52 4-10.

2 The official copy annexed to the original contract and certificates (subse
quently cancelled as hereafter to be noticed), was presented to the State
library by the Hon. Wm. C. Pierrepont in 1853, at the suggestion of the au
thor. A fall translation is given in the History of Jefferson County, page 46.

36 Land Titles.

Amid these scenes what law-and-order-loving citizen
could feel safe ! More especially would those who possessed
wealth, or rank, or titles, tremble before this whirlwind of
ruin, and gladly invest their money, and trust their lives in
any scheme which promised a retreat from the dangers
threatened from their fellow men. A wilderness had no
terrors to such, and the perils of sea and foreign climes,
sank into nothing when placed beside the fearful desola
tion around them.

The programme of colonization offered by Chassanis,
after a glowing allusion to the fertility of the domain, the
fine distribution of its waters, its facilities for commerce,
its proximity to older settlements, and the security of its laws,
offered the 600,000 acres for sale in 6000 portions, to as
many associates. To maintain an essential unity of inte
rests, the projectors proposed a division by lot, which should
give each associate at once a clear title to fifty acres, and
leave a like quantity to be divided at the end of seven years,
when the whole domain should have been enhanced in value
by their common improvements.

The price of one share was fixed at 800 livres ($152.38),
upon paying which, the subscriber received the following
receipt :

" The bearer of this certificate has paid the sum of eight hun
dred livres, which renders him the owner of a hundred acres in
six hundred thousand acres which have been sold to us as repre
sentatives of the company of proprietors, according to the pre
sent contract, which requires us to pass the necessary titles of
this portion of the estate in favor of the holder of this certifi
cate, whenever he may wish to receive it in his own name.
The present certificate is for an integral part, and a fraction of
the purchase above mentioned, by virtue of which the bearer is
entitled to all the rights of this association, of which the articles
and rules are fixed by the terms of the agreement annexed to
this common title.

This certificate bears the number . In evidence of which,

it has been signed by myself, countersigned by the commissaries
of the company, and inspected by M. Lambot, notary."

Paris, this of . PIERRE CHASSANIS.

One tenth part of the money received was to be paid to
the commissaries to defray the expense of the concern, such
as the purchase of tools, materials, and provisions, surveys,
roads, and other necessary investments.

The 30,000 acres additional were to be divided as follows :
2,000 acres for a city upon the great river in the interior,
2,000 for a second city upon lake Ontario, 6,000 acres to

Land Titles. 37

poor artisans, to be charged to them after seven years, at
at a rent of twelve sous per acre, and 20,000 acres to be
spent for roads, bridges, and such other purposes as the
society might direct. The two cities were each to be
divided into 14,000 lots, of which 2,000 were reserved for
markets and edifices, such as churches, schools, and other
public establishments, and for poor artisans; and the remain
ing 12,000 lots, in two classes, were to be distributed among
the 6,000 proprietors ; one class immediately, and the other
at the end of seven years, when a final report was to be
made, and those who elected might receive their remaining
shares and withdraw. Those who did not declare this
intention two weeks before the advertised day for division,
were to be deemed to have chosen the continuation and
non-division of the common property.

The affairs of the company were to be managed by three
commissaries living in Paris, and two residing upon the
tract, who were to be chosen by an absolute majority at a
general assembly to be held in Paris, at which each owner
might vote in person or by proxy. Each share up to five,
was entitled to one vote, but no person could have more
than five votes, whatever the number of shares he might
possess. The articles might be modified by a general assem
bly convened for the purpose, by a majority of two-thirds.

The second section of the programme related to govern
ment, and was as follows :

Article 1. Within one month, there shall be held a meeting of
the subscribers, at the rooms of Sieur Chassanis at Paris, No.
20, Rue de la Jussienne, for the election of commissaries.

Art. 2. The commissaries residing in Paris, shall have the
care of proving the certificates with the depository, and of
personally examining each to guard against errors: the notary
shall also compare them as received and paid, after which they
shall be signed by the said Chassanis, to be delivered to the
shareholders. Consequently no certificate shall be issued until
after these inspections and signatures, and the subscribers shall
in the mean time, only receive a provisional receipt of deposit.

Art. 3. To guard against errors in distribution, the certifi
cates shall be registered by their numbers, by Chassanis, upon
their presentation by the holders, in the record kept in his
office, and without this entry, of which notice shall be written
upon the certificate by the said Chassanis, or by the one whom
the commissaries shall appoint for the purpose, no holders of
certificates shall be admitted to the meetings, nor allowed to
take his chance in the selection of his location.

Art. 4. The commissaries chosen for removal to America,
shall be bearers of the instructions and general powers of the

38 Land Titles.

assembly; shall survey the land, fix the location of the two
cities, and there prepare for the company within three months
after their arrival, a report of their examinations and labors,
with a detailed plan of the common property.

Art. 5. The commissaries shall be chosen from among the
holders of certificates.

Art. 6. The commissaries shall decide the location of the
fifty acres to belong at first to each certificate, after which the
holders shall have the right of choice.

Art. 7. The locations shall be marked upon two registers, in
the hands of the commissaries in America, who shall retain one,
and transmit the other annually to the General Assembly in
France.

Art. 8. The titles directed to be delivered to the holders of
certificates who make known their wish, shall contain a declara
tion by Chassanis, that in his general purchase there belongs a
certain portion to as his own, in accordance with a com
mon title, and a social regulation of which he is a part}"; this
declaration shall bear the number of the certificate, which shall
remain attached under pain of forfeiture of the share, even
though the certificate had been previously cancelled, and this
title shall not be completed, till after the registration of the
commissaries to whom it shall be presented.

Art. 9. The commissaries in America, shall be clothed with
similar power by Chassanis, for granting like titles to those
who require it. This power shall be granted after a model of
the declaration, for the purpose of securing uniformity of
registration.

Art. 10. All decisions and acts of the company done in France,
so far as relates to commissaries, have no need of public for
mality when they are legalized by the minister or other public
functionary of the United States in France.

Art. 11. There shall be delivered, upon demand, a duplicate
of title to the holders of certificates, containing a copy of
the original, and in it shall be mentioned that it is a dupli
cate.

It does not appear in what manner public attention in
Paris was invited to this project. The Moniteur of Nov. 29,
1792 (page 1,413), has an article on the extraordinary pro
fits of the potash manufacture at Cooperstown, and from
time to time it notices with commendation, the fine oppor
tunities which the state of New York offered to emigrants,
without specially naming the scheme of Chassanis and his
associates. Other journals appear to indicate an interested
desire to favor the formation in France, of companies of
emigrants for settling upon property bought and held in
common, in the northern states of the American union, and
several French authors published romantic accounts of the

Land Titles. 39

soil, climate, and resources of this country, with plans for
associated settlement. 1

On the 28th of June, 1793, the second of the French
republic, ^at five o clock in the afternoon, the actual holders
of provisional receipts convertable into shares of the Com
pany of New York? met at the rooms of citizen Chassanis, in
the street of Jussienne, section of Mail, in Paris, and pro
ceeded to organize the basis of their society, establish its
rules, and deliberate upon all points relative to its division,
survey, preparation for market and sale.

Before proceeding to this business, Chassanis recounted
the origin of the title, and described its successive changes,
from the Indian purchase to its sale by Constable, as certi
fied by John D. Coxe and Jared Ingersol, on the 19th of
November, 1792, and deposited in the office of the French
consulate in Philadelphia. 3

The prospectus issued in October, had in December (the
period when Constable counted upon a part of the funds
which the sale should have procured), failed to obtain pur
chasers, and Constable directed Col. Ward, his agent, to
withdraw the lands from market Nevertheless, upon the
representation of citizen Chassanis, Col. Ward consented to
the sale in France of 2,000 shares, arid he was assured that
200,000 acres near Black river, and extending to lake Onta
rio, would be reserved to these 2,000 shares. Upon this
basis the provisional receipts had been delivered to the
purchasers, and to meet this new engagement, Constable,
by a contract passed in London on the 12th and 13th of
April, 1793, had, according to all the forms of law, trans
ferred to citizen Chassanis, not only 200,000 acres and 5
p. c. over, for roads and public objects, but also 10,000 acres
to facilitate the bringing into market the 200,000 acres. In
this instrument, Constable was further bound to transmit
to the company the indemnities granted by the state of

1 Of these writers J. E. Bonnet, was perhaps the most zealous. In a work
of two volumes entitled Etats Unis de Vjlmcrique a fin du XVIII* siecle, and
another several years after ; Table.iu des Etats Unis, de V Amcriquc au com
mencement du XIX siecle, he proposed elaborate plans for colonial association.
In the latter, he gives central and northern New York the preference of all
other sections of the union, every circumstance being taken into account.
He was enthusiastic in his admiration of the sugar maple, which he foretold
would yet supply Europe and America with sugar, extinguish African slavery
by superseding the cultivation of the sugar cane, and introduce a new era of
human happiness.

2 Tillier in his Memorial, p. 3, says that 41 shareholders representing 1,808
shares, attended this meeting.

3 This instrument was acknowledged before Clement Bidule, notary, on the
day it was executed.

Company of New York.

New York, in cases of lands covered by water. He also
recognized the payment in full of 25,000 by Chassanis,
for the lands above mentioned. 1 These statements being
examined and found to agree with facts, the assembly hav
ing listened to the report of the provisional commissaries,
and discussed article by article, the project of an associa
tion which they offered, unanimously agreed upon the fol
lowing

CONSTITUTION.

TITLE I. Declaration of the Rights of the Company.
Article 1. Citizen Chassanis declares, that all the
lands and rights by him definitely acquired of Wm.
Constable, by the final contract of the 13th of April
last, have been, for the benefit of the purchasers of
2,000 shares of 800 livres each, amounting to the
total price of the said purchase, which has been
paid to Constable, as appears from the receipt in
serted in the said instrument of sale, and repeated
by him upon the fold of the said contract. Citizen
Chassanis acknowledges, that this payment has
been made from funds received from the sale of
nearly all of the shares, of which it is well to notice,
that one-tenth of the price has been remitted by Constable to the share
holders. Consequently, citizen Chassanis cedes and conveys, so far as need
be, to the said shareholders, all the rights of property or otherwise resulting
from the said contract, to them collectively, consenting that from this time
forth they shall enjoy and dispose of the whole property.

Jlrt. 2. The bearers of receipts controvertable into shares of the said
property, who are here present, stipulate, as well for themselves as for those
absent, that they accept, as far as need be, and collectively, the property
which has been anew declared and ceded by the said citizen Chassanis, with
the original conditions annexed to the cession by the state of New York, by
letters patent hereinafter mentioned, it being well understood that the said
shareholders are not held by these conditions, beyond the proportion of the
land which they have purchased under the name of the said citizen Chassanis,
by the final contract of April 13th last.

Art. 3. Citizen Chassanis has exhibited and placed upon the table, the
documents which establish the original and actual property in the lands and
rights which he has bought, to wit :

1st. A copy, in legal form, of the letters patent of Jan. 12, 1792.
2rf. A copy, also in legal form, of the contract of sale made by Alexander
Macomb to Wm. Constable, dated June 6, 1792.

3d. A copy, in legal form, of the renewal of the said contract of sale by
Alexander Macomb and Jane his wife, dated Oct. 3, 1792.

4th. Certificate delivered by the Secretary of the Consulate General of
France, of the act of deposit of the three above named instruments in the
said office.

5th. The originals of two certificates of a Master in Chancery of New York,
proving that the lands sold are not encumbered by any debt of Alexander
Macomb.

bth. The original contract of sale of Wm. Constable to Pierre Chassanis, of
April 12, 1793, in parchment, with the original pledge of possession.

1th. The original bond of the said Wm. Constable in behalf of P. Chassanis,
of 50,000 sterling, dated April 12, 1793, to be paid in default of ratification
by his wife.

1 Constitution de le Compagnie de New York, pp. 1, 3.

Company of New York. 41

Moreover, a printed copy of the prospectus issued by citizen Chassanis
upon the faith of which the shareholders were led to the purchase of their
shares.

Lastly, a printed copy of the provisional receipts delivered to the pur
chasers of shares, to which is annexed a reduction of title of the sale proposed
by the prospectus.

Art . 4. The Assembly deposits all of these papers in the hands of citizen
Chassanis, and charges him with providing a place of deposit for the archives
of the Company of New York.

TITLE II. Title of the Shareholders as a Society, and Name of their Property
in America.

Article 1 . In adopting as for this, the arrangement implied in the prospectus
above mentioned, the Assembly declares that all the said shareholders, as
well present as absent, are, by the act of their purchase, co-proprietors in
common and of, the lands and rights declared in the first title, and by these
presents are constituted dormant partners under the title of Company of New
York, for the occupation of the said lands and rights, excepting, however, the
exceptions and modifications hereinafter specified.

Art. 2. The lands of the Company of New York shall henceforth be known
under the name of Castor Land. 1

TITLE III. Specification of the Rights which the. Company Enjoys and thos e
which it Does Not.

Art. 1. The ends proposed by the association founded under the preceding
title, are : 1st. To extend more rapidly life and improvement over all the
extent of the lands acquired by the company. Id. To relieve the greater
part of the shareholders who can not consent to a passage beyond seas, from
the embarrassment and expense attending the first settlement of a large por
tion of the lands. 3d. To aid them with regard to the surplus. And 4th, and
lastly. To accelerate in that country the population, which will one day
become its wealth.

It appears indispensable, that in order to more speedily work these happy
results, there should be established over a great part of the purchase that is
to remain undivided and in common, a general and capable administration,
by the union of the common interests, to give value to that portion, and
cause it to realize advantages above what could be derived from the separate
exertions of the shareholders through their several agents.

Art. 2. The portion of the said purchase which shall remain with the
company, and be held undivided by the associated shareholders, to be
enhanced by a general administration, shall be,

1st. 100,000 acres of land, to be taken from the 200,000 acres forming the
principal object of the said purchase.

2d. 20,500 acres, granted as above, to the shareholders by Constable, to
wit: 10,000 for roads, canals and public establishments on account of the
5 acres per 100, and 10,000 to be derived from the indemnity. It is observed
that in the 220,500 acres mentioned, lands covered by water should not be
included, according to the terms of the patent, and the sale of Constable.

3^. The tenth part remitted by Constable as an encouragement to the
shareholders, upon the whole of the 2,000 shares, in the 1st Article of Title I,
amounts to 160,000 livres. This sum is now in the hands of Mr. Lambot,
Notary, subject to the order of the shareholders, and is represented by 80,000
livres in credit paper, and a like sum in 100 shares of 800 livres each, which
alone remain of the 2,000 shares above mentioned, and were left by Constable
to the shareholders, to complete the tenth which he remitted to them, and of
which values the Assembly declares its acceptance on account of the said
remission.

Art. 3. That portion of the said purchase to be owned separately by the

1 Castor, signifies Beaver.

42 Company of New York.

shareholders immediately, shall be divided as soon as may "be, in the manner
specified in the Title IX, and is composed 1st, Of 100,000 acres of land ; and
2rf, Of the land which 2,000 divided lots shall occupy in the plan of the first
city which shall be projected by the Company of Associates.

TITLE IV. Form and Duration of the Society.

Art. 1. The society which has been formed for the possession and enjoy
ment in common of the objects specified in Art. 1 of the preceding title, shall
consist of 2,000 proprietary shares.

Art. 2. The said shares shall be numbered from 1 to 2,000. These shares
instead of being in the form announced in the prespectus, shall be divided
into two coupons. The one shall be called coupon divis, and shall confer the
right to 50 acres in the 100,000 acres divided, and to a divided lot in the
plan of the first city which shall be projected upon the lauds. The other
shall be a stamped coupon indivis, and shall give an interest in a two-thou
sandth part of the objects remaining undivided and in company among the
shareholders ; and the coupons shall bear the same number as the shares.
These coupons shall be drawn in the following form :

Company of New York.

Purchase in the name of Peter Chassanis, of 200,000 acres of land and
dependencies known by the name of Castoiiand, and situated in the state of
New York, Montgomery co., upon the banks of lake Ontario and of Black river.

By deed of April 12, 1793. No. Divided coupon. The bearer by full

payment of the price of a whole share, of which the present coupon forms a
part, is owner by virtue of the said coupon, of divided lot which shall correspond

in division with No. as well in the plan of the first city which shall be

laid out upon the company s land, as in the 2,000 lots of 50 acres each which
shall be formed in the division of the divisible property of 100,000 acres
making a part of the purchase above named, after the manner determined by
the organization of the said company dated June 28, 1793, of which a quad
ruple remains in the archives of the company and another shall be registered
and deposited in the city of New York. Note. This coupon shall be ex
changed for a deed upon delivery of the lot.

GUYOT, CHASSANIS, GUINOT,

Commissary. Director. Commissary.

Inspected according to the act of June 28, 1793.
LAMBOT.

(The second part or undivided coupon is similar, excepting that it gives
the holder a final right to one two-thousandth part of the undivided property
of the company upon its dissolution.)

Art. 3. Agreeable with the prospectus, the coupons forming each share
shall be signed by citizen Chassanis and two commissaries of the company,
and inspected by citizen Lambot, notary at Paris.

Art. 4. The provisional receipts delivered by the said Lambot, notary, who
has been instructed to receive the payment of the said shares, will need to be
exchanged for shares in the above form, which shall bear the same numbers
as the receipts to which they correspond.

Art. 5. This exchange shall be made at the company s office, and when
done, the exchanged receipts shall be canceled and left with the director of
the company, to be sent to the said Lambot as they become worthless by ex
change, and by the discharge of the said Lambot to Constable, shall operate
by the release inserted in the contract of sale aforesaid.

Art. 6. The society, beginning to-day, shall continue twenty-one years
from the 1st of July next, with the privilege of dissolving before the expira
tion of this term, as will be hereafter explained in Title XII.

Art. 1. None shall be regarded as true, members, except the bearers of
coupons indivis of the two thousand shares aforesaid.

Art. 8. The coupon divis of each of the said shares, shall never give the

Company of New York. 43

privilege of the society, except as an action against it, to compel the delivery
to the bearer of the divided lot mentioned in the coupon, in the manner here
inafter explained in title IX.

TITLE V. Government of the Society, a Director and four Commissaries living in
Paris, their Functions and Powers.

Art. 1. The interests of the company shall be managed by a director and
four commissaries living in Paris^ where the government of the society shall
remain fixed.

Art. 2. The director and commissaries, shall always be chosen at a general
meeting of the shareholders, by an absolute majority of votes and viva voce.

Art. 3. They can only be chosen from the company, and a person to be
director or commissary, must be the owner or holder of at least ten entire
shares or of twenty coupons indivis, of which deposit shall be made into the
hands of citizen Lambot, notary, within eight days after their nomination to
the said places, and their powers shall cease if they become the owners of a
less amount than above named.

Art. 4. The director once chosen, shall hold his office during the existence
of the society, without the power of change, unless in a general assembly
called for the purpose, and by a majority of two-thirds.

Art. 5. The commissaries in Paris, shall be renewed seven times in the
course of the society, namely, the first time in three years from the 1st of
July next, and at intervals of three years after, until the complete revolution
of 21 years which the society is to last.

Art. 6. The director shall be charged with the correspondence, and the
preservation of the titles, registerSj papers, and in general with whatever may
enter the archives of the company. He shall convene general assemblies of
the shareholders and those of the commissaries, shall provide a convenient
place for meeting, and preserve the record of general and special meetings.
He shall deliver shares to the bearers of receipts of citizen Lambot. He shall
have a consultive voice in the meetings of commissaries, and a casting vote
when they are equally divided. He shall hold the funds of the society, and
pay and receive money, but he shall make no payment but upon an order
signed by two commissaries. He shall keep or cause to be kept for the com
pany, the necessary registers, namely :

1st. A stock-register, for the verification of shares and their coupons.

2d. A record of correspondence.

3d. A record of deliberations.

4j,h. A register of accounts.

5th. A register which shall show the numbers of coupons indivis, and the
names of the proprietors who might wish to make this known.

Lastly. He shall, conjointly with the commissaries at Paris, pass to the
credit of the shareholders, all titles of property that may fall due, for all of
which acts the company confers upon him the necessary powers.

Art. 8. The commissaries at Paris are charged with deliberating and decid
ing among themselves upon all the affairs and interests of the company, with
following and regulating all the operations in which it may be interested ;
with carrying into effect the decisions of the general assemblies of the com
pany, and with giving, in the name of the company, to the director and
the commissaries in America, the instructions and orders that may be
necessary ; with directing the employment of the funds of the society, and
watching the recovery of sums due to it ; with ordering payments ; with
making purchases to send to America ; with passing conjointly with the
director all declarations of property to the name of the proprietor of shares
or coupons when they fall due ; with signing the coupons of shares, to deli
ver to the shareholders, and with watching the operations of the director and
commissaries in America. They shall audit annually the accounts of the
director, and lastly, submit to the general assemblies all projects they may
deem useful, and for these services the company confers upon them all needed
powers.

Company of JVew York.

Art. 9. The commissaries in Paris shall receive no salary, but in recogni
tion of the care which they may bestow upon the common concerns, there
shall be given them an attendance fee (droit de presence) for each special or
general assembly where they may meet on the affairs of the company. This
fee is fixed at two Jettons of silver, of the weight of 4 to 5 gros. They shall
be made at the expense of the company, under the direction of the commis
saries, who shall decide upon their form and design. 1

Art. 10. The commissaries in Paris, shall meet at least once a month ; their
deliberations shall be held before the director, and shall be determined by a
plurality of individual votes.

Art. 11. All decisions thus made, and signed by three commissaries, or by
two of them and the director in case he shall have had a deliberative voice,
shall have as full and entire force as if they had emanated directly from the
majority of the society, and hence the engagements and decisions which re
sult, shall be binding upon the company.

Art. 12. Nevertheless, the commissaries shall neither make nor authorize
any loan in the name of the company, without having received a special order
at a general assembly of the associates.

Art. 13. The assembly confirms anew the nomination which the share
holders made in their deliberations of the 19th and 20th of the present June,
of citizens Guyot, Maillot, Gruinot and la Chaume, as commissaries of the
company at Paris.

1. These pieces occur in coin cabinets, and have been
erroneously called "Castorland half dollars." A. Jetton
is a piece of metal struck with a device, and distributed
to be kept in commemoration of some event, or to be
used as a counter in games of chance. The one here
noticed was termed a Jetton de presence, or piece " given
in certain societies or cempanies to each of the members
present at a session or meeting." (Die de I Acad.
Francaise.")

This custom has its analogy ie the existing practice of
certain stock companies in New York, in which a half
eagle or a quarter eagle is given to each director present
at each meeting held on the business of the company.
The piece above iigured was doubtless designed to be
given to emigrants and others as a keepsake, and was not
a coin, as it wanted the sanction of law, nor a token, as it
was not to be redeemed. It was engraved by one of the
Duvivier brothers, eminent coin and medal artists of Paris,

who became a shareholder in this company, and drew

500 acres of land. This family was celebrated in this

particular art. Joannes Duvivier, the father, died in 1761.

The design represents on the obverse the head of Cybele,

as indicated by the turreted mural crown. In Classic

Mythology, this goddess personified the earth as inhabited

and cultivated, while Titsea or Tellus, represented the earth

taken in a general sense, Ceres, the fertility of the soil,

and Vesta, the earth as warmed by internal heat. The

laurel wreath is an emblem of victory, and represents

Cybele as conquering the wildness of nature and bring.

ing the earth under the dominion of man. The desisn is

arranged with classic elegance, but shows a palpable

ignorance of the country. Ceres has just tapped a maple

tree, and inserted a faucet for drawing off the eap at will,

and the ^ grain, flowens and foliage appear strangely

brought into the sugar season. The Latin legend reads

on the obverse" French American Colony," and on the Heversc.

reverse it presents a quotation from Virgil, which, with its context, reads as follows :

" Salve magna parens frugum, Saturnia tellus,

Magna virum: * * * " GEOR., ii. 173.

" Hail Saturnian Land, great Parent of Fruits, great Parent of Heroes!" The apostrophe thus
addressed to Italy, was intended to apply to Castorland, a country situated in nearly the same
latitude, and tor aught these Parisians knew to the contrary, equally adapted to the vine and

A gros was 59.02 grains, the actual weight of the piece was 206.25 grains, its fineness about
nine-tenths, and its intrinsic value 50 cents. Dealers value it at about $3, and Riddel, in his
Monograph ot the Silver Dollar, states that he knows of but a single copy. Its history was
entirely blank until noticed in Hickcox s American Coinage, Avhere a fine steel engraving is
given. The figure here inserted, Avas engraved from a fresh copy, received from Mr. V.
Leray, through the favor of P. S. Stewart, Esq., of Carthage.

Company of New York. 45

TITLE VI. The Commissaries in America, their Functions and Powers.

Art. 1. Two commissaries shall regulate the affairs of the company in
America ; this number shall be increased if there be occasion.

Art. 2. The said commissaries shall necessarily be chosen from among the
shareholders : the nomination shall be made in a general assembly of the
company, by an absolute majority and viva voce.

Art. 3. The commissaries in America, shall be required within eight days
after their election, in case of acceptance on their part, to execute a bond of
40,000 livres, in which shall be included at least ten entire shares of the com-
pany of New York, or at most twenty at their original value. These shares
shall be deposited with citizen Lambot, notary, who shall give his private
receipt. The company leaves it to the commissaries at Paris to judge of the
validity of the securities tendered for these bonds.

Art. 4. The mission of the commissaries in America shall be : to verify
and mark the exterior boundaries of the whole tract sold to the shareholders
by the said Constable ; to direct the surveys, divisions and subdivisions of
the said lands ; to see to the formation of the divided lots mentioned in title
IX, that their value may be nearly equal ; to put the divided lots herein
mentioned, in possession of their proprietors in the manner to be specified,
and to give value to that portion of the lands remaining in the society ; and
for this end,

1st. To cause the erection of all mills, shops, stores and cottages that may
be needed.

2d. To cause all cutting and burning of wood, as well as grubbing out and
culture.

3d. To purchase all implements, tools, provisions and animals, necessary
and of indispensable utility.

4th. To sell at a moderate profit to new colonists, who may settle upon the
lands of the society, portions of the tools and provisions which may belong
to the society.

5th. To make all treaties, arrangements, estimates and bargains with sur
veyors, artizans, workmen and day laborers which should be employed for
the labor of the lands and woods.

6th. To arrange all rents and sales, in the advantageous manner for the
society, but only upon the lands which overrun the 100,000 acres remaining
undivided.

7. To fix the conditions and price of leases of farms upon the whole of the
undivided lands. These leases shall nevertheless in no cases exceed the
time of the duration of the society, and shall be drawn according to the usages
of the country, having regard to the progressive increase of the territorial
revenue.

8th. To solicit of the government of New York the opening and mainten
ance, at its expense, of great routes and canals of communication.

9th. To project and cause to be made, special roads from one district or
canton to another. Their mission shall also be to receive the price of sales,
rents and hirings, and to give receipts, and to make, on account of the com
pany, all shipments to France of the commodities harvested on the lands of
the company. In short, they shall carry and administer, with zeal, econo
my and intelligence, all the interests of the society in America

Art. 5. These commissaries shall be under the surveillance of those at
Paris, and shall be held to conform to the mandates and instructions which
shall be given them by the commissaries in Paris, for the exercise of the mi8-
sion confided to them by the preceding article.

Art. 6. The company authorizes the commissaries in Paris, to confer upon
those in America the said powers and all others generally, whatever they may
deem necessary for managing, usefully, the property and afiairs of the com
pany in America.

Art. 7. The said commissaries shall remove directly to New York, and
from thence upon the lands of the company, to reside there and execute the
operations which the company or the commissaries of Paris may indicate.

46 Company of New York.

The expense of tlieir passage to America, and of their removal to the said
lands, shall be borne by the company to the extent of 1,000 livres tonrnois.

Art. 8. The company, besides the advantages hereafter mentioned in title
IX, will allow to the commissaries in America, an annual allowance of $600,
to indemnify for their expense of travelling to the place, and of building a
house and an office.

Art. 9. Independently of this allowance, the company reserves the privilege
of granting to the commissaries, if satisfied with their labors, a commission
upon the benefits which they may confer upon it.

Art. 10. The commissaries in America, shall keep a journal of all their
operations, and shall transmit annually to the director of the company a
duplicate copy of this journal. They shall send at least once in three months
to the director, the state of the labors done during the three months preced
ing, and they shall maintain a frequent correspondence with him.

Art. 11. The said commissaries shall employ upon the spot, a clerk to keep
their writings, and aid in their operations, who shall be allowed a salary half
as great as that of a commissary.

Art. 12. The functions of the commissaries in America, shall continue
until their recall and the revocation of their powers by the commissaries in
Paris, authorized to that efi ect in a general assembly by a majority of the
associates present.

Art. 13. In case the commissaries in America can not agree in opinion,
relative to the objects of their administration, they shall then take upon the
spot an arbitrator to decide between them. He shall be chosen by preference
among the shareholders who may be found in the country.

Art. 14. The assembly confirms anew the nomination which was made
in the session of June 19 the present month of citizens [Simon] Desjardins
and [Peter] Pharoux, as commissaries in America, the first as honorary
only, and the second with the emolument heretofore fixed.

TITLE VII. Of General and Special Assemblies.

Art. 1. Annually on the llth day of January, May and September, or in
case of a holiday on the morrow, there shall be held a general assembly of
the associated shareholders, at which the commissaries in Paris shall render
an account of ail that has been done since the last assembly, and the news
which shall have been received from the commissaries in America concerning
the affairs of the company. General assemblies shall also be convened
whenever the commissaries in Paris may deem necessary.

Art. 2. General Assemblies shall be held in Paris at the house of the di
rector of the company, at the day and hour appointed, and shall be presided
over by one of the commissaries.

Ait. 3. There shall be no business done in a general Assembly, unless the
shareholders present are collectively holders of at least 1000 coupons indivis,
of entire shares, or of 500 only if they are to the number of ten persons,
besides the commissaries, and the shares shall be deposited before the
assembly in the hands of the director, who is to hold the deposit.

Art. 4. To have admission and a voice in the deliberation of the general
assembly, one must be the owner or bearer of five coupons indivis of whole
shares.

Art. 5. The number of votes in the deliberation shall be in the following
proportion to the number of shares : Five shares give one vote, and after
that each ten shares shall give one vote up to 45 only, bat all shares found
in the hands of the same person above 45 shall not be counted, to the end
that no shareholder shall ever have more than five votes.

TITLE VIII. Of the Survey and Division of the Lands.

Art. 1. The survey of the exterior of the domain belonging to the share
holders, shall be made at the expense and under the care of Constable, who
has stipulated this. This survey shall be verified if there be occasion by the
commissaries in America or tlieir agent.

Company of New York. 47

Art. 2. They shall cause an interior survey of the lands after the plan of
instructions which may be given them by the commissaries in Paris.

Art. 3. A duplicate of the results of the survey, shall be sent to Paris, to
the director of the company.

Art. 4. The general survey of the land being finished, the subdivisions
which may be useful and necessary shall be made.

The first shall be the laying out of the public roads ; the second, that of
the 100,000 acres to be divided among the bearers of coupons divis of whole
shares, and their subdivision into 2,000 lots ; the third that of a city in the
most convenient part of the land remaining in common, and the arrangement
of the divided lots in this city ; the fourth and last, shall be the marking out
of lands to be conceded to American families at a moderate price. The sub
divisions shall be made in the above order, unless some great interest of the
company requires otherwise. The other subdivisions shall be made after
wards, after the order shall have been given by the company or its commis
saries in Paris.

TITLE IX. Subdivision of the 100,000 acres belonging to the bearers of coupons
divis, into 2000 lots, and the arrangements which are designed in the first city
projected by the society.

MANNER OF CHOOSING THE LOTS,

Art. 1. The 100,000 acres designed to be owned separately by the bearers
of coupons divis of whole shares, shall only be chosen from [the good and
medium lands, without including any land of no value, that is to say, which
is not susceptible of any cultivation.

Art. 2. The said 100,000 acres shall be divided into several strips, inter
mixed as much as possible with the lands which are to remain in common.

Art. 3. As soon as the several portions of land which are to form the said
100,000 divided acres be determined, there shall be laid out 2,000 lots of 50
acres each, and of very equal value, and these lots shall be numbered from
1 up to 2,000.

Art. 4. The lots on Black river, lake Ontario or other navigable waters,
shall not have more nor a tenth nor less than a twentieth of water front, and
there shall be reserved for the undivided portion one-half of the lands upon
Black river and lake Ontario.

Art. 5. The bearers of coupons divis shall have a right to one-half of the
lands which shall be appropriated by the society to a city, deduction being
made for the parts occupied by streets and public establishments.

Art. 6. This right shall only be exercised in the location of the first city
which shall be marked out by the society, at whatever period this city may
be determined upon.

Art. 7. The divided shareholders shall not have the choice of the portion
of land which shall be reserved in the location of the said city, but shall be
bound to accept whatever portion may be assigned them by the society.

Art. 8. This portion of land shall be divided into 2,000 separate lots, which
shall be scattered through the whole extent of the location of the city, and
adjoining the property that is to remain with the society.

Art. 9. To facilitate the division of the lots above mentioned in^Articles 3
and 8, among those having rights, these lots shall be designated in a state
ment by boundaries, according to the nature of the ground, and there shall
be prepared two maps at the expense of the company. One of the two
originals, duly signed and legalized, shall be sent in the month they are
finished, to the director of the company, at Paris, to be deposited in its
archives, and the duplicate shall remain in the hands of the commissaries of
the society in America.

Art. 10. The division of the lots mentioned in Articles 3 and 8, shall be
made as follows, according to the prospectus : The choice shall be made in
the order of the numbers of the coupons divis of the shares, that is to say. that
preference of choice shall pertain to priority of numbers.

48 Company of New York.

Art. 11. The choice of divided lots will need to be made within three
months after the deposit of the description and plan of division in the arch
ives of the society, and the shareholders shall be advertised to this effect, as
well in the public papers as by letters. Each divided shareholder shall be
held, within these three months to notify the director of the company of the
choice he has made, and note upon the description his signature, the number
of his coupon divis, and the precise lot which he has chosen, in default of
which the choice shall be void.

Art. 12. To facilitate this operation, at the end of the second month, the
commissaries shall cause to be prepared a table of the numbers of the coupons
divis, of which the bearers have not made choice of lots, and in the course of
the third and last month they shall indicate the week in which a determinate
series of shareholders must make choice, or in default lose the opportunity
of selection and be left eventually to the division by lot hereafter mentioned

Art. 13. Those who have not made choice before the end of three months,
or who have not #iven notice in the manner indicated, shall have no further
privilege of choice, and the remaining lots shall then be distributed by lot to
the numbers of the coupons which have not selected lots.

Art. 14. The drawing of the remaining lots shall be done in a general
assembly of the holders of coupons divis, convened for this purpose, and in
the manner that shall be arranged by the commissaries in Paris.

Art. 15. The bearers of coupons divis who share in this drawing shall be
bound to accept the lots drawn, without the power of refusal, and shall note
their signatures and the number of their coupons into several strips, inter
mixed as much as possible with the lands which are to remain in common.

Art. 16. In derogation of Article 6, and those following as above given,
since it is the interest of the society to hasten the population of the tract, to
this end it is deemed proper to offer advantages to the shareholders who may
remove upon the lands to reside and begin improvement. It is agreed that
every bearer or proprietor of coupons divis, upon removal to the tract, may
choose from time to time as the survey progresses, without waiting its com
pletion and the turn of his number, provided that he shall not have more
than ten coupons. The privilege of choosing before his turn shall be restricted
to ten lots, and he shall not have more than 2,000 feet of land along the
Black river, lake Ontario or other navigable waters.

Art. 17. The choice by virtue of the privilege implied in article 16 above
stated, shall be made in the presence of the commissaries in America or their
agent, for this purpose, and on condition that the shareholder, before making
choice, shall engage in writing to inhabit or cause to be inhabited a house
upon the whole of the lots which he may select, and this in the course of the
year following his choice, under pain of an indemnity to the company equal
to the value of one tenth part of the lot chosen.

Art. 18. The commissaries sent to America, shall have the privilege of
choice expressed in the 12th (16th?) article above named, to the same limit
of ten lots, but shall cause to be inhabited at least two houses upon the lands
they may have chosen, under pain of the indemnity named in the preceding
article.

Art. 19. The choice mentioned in the three preceding articles shall not
be made, except in accordance with the plan of division of the 2,000 divided
lots, and a distinction shall be made of the lots chosen upon the map.

Art. 20. The commissaries in America, shall keep statements of the selec
tions made by virtue of articles 16 and 18 above named, and shall pass a
duplicate to France to the director of the company.

Art. 21. Each shareholder who may make choice either in France or Ame
rica, and comply with the formalities heretofore prescribed, shall remit or
cause to be remitted to the commissaries in America or in France, the coupons
representative of the lots of which he may make choice, and the said com
missaries shall pass a declaration of property of the said lots by virtue of
which declaration he shall enjoy, hold and dispose of all the property in the
said divided lots. *

Company of New York. 49

Art. 22. The same shall be observed by those who have submitted to the
drawing by lot, and to them shall be passed by the commissaries the same
declaration of property to the lots which may fall to them.

Art. 23. The coupons surrendered shall be canceled and deposited in the
archives of the company, and notice of this shall be made in the title above
mentioned.

Art, 24. The declarations of property shall be passed in the form required
in the state of New York.

TITLE X. Of the Application of the 160,000 Livres, Derived from the Remission
made by Constable to the Shareholders.

Art. 1. The company entrusts to the commissaries in Paris, the care and
disposal of the funds composing the 160,000 livres in shares and credit-paper
resulting from the remission granted to the society by Constable, and allows
them to sell as many as the wants of the society might require, of the 100
shares forming a part of these funds, at the best price they can obtain, pro
vided it be not less than 1,200 livres per share.

Art. 2. The product of the said shares, with the surplus of the said funds
existing in credit-paper, shall be employed by the said commissaries to the
best advantage they may be able, as well in the purchase of utensils, provi
sions and other expenses necessary for the success of the first labors to be
done upon the estate of the company in the purchase of convertible values in
goods and credit in the funds of the bank of New York, and the wants of the
commissaries in America shall measure these expenses necessary to the put
ting in value and the survey of the lands of the company.

Art. 3. The employment and destination above indicated shall be governed
by circumstances, under the care and orders of the commissaries in Paris.

TITLE XI. Of the End of the Society, and the Division or Disposition of the
Property and Rights which shall then belong to it.

Art. 1. The duration of the society has been fixed as above stated, at 21
years from July 1, 1793, although it may be dissolved before, in the manner
now to be indicated.

Art. 2. Nine months before the end of the seven or fourteen first years of
the term fixed for the life of the society, the commissaries in America shall
send to the administration in Paris, a report of the property and rights then
remaining to the society and the nature of the improvements of which it is
yet susceptible, and in short, their estimate from the best of their knowledge,
calling to their aid, if necessary, the opinion of experts near them.

Art. 3. In the month following the receipt of the report mentioned in the
preceding article, there shall be convoked a general assembly of the associated
shareholders, and they shall deliberate upon the dissolution of the society,
both at the end of the first seven and of the fourteen years. If the dissolution
is not decided by a majority of the holders of two shares, the society shall
continue seven years longer, yielding to effect this, the mode of voting esta
blished by article 2 of title VII.

Art. 4. Six months before the period when the society shall cease, it shall
deliberate in a general assembly, in the manner indicated in Title VII, what
measures shall be taken to liquidate and divide the property and rights which
shall then be found to compose the substance of the society.

TITLE XII. On the Form of the Shares and on the Execution of the Clauses of

the Present Treaty.

Art. 1. It is observed that the present act of the society, as well as the
shares and all other instruments of the society in France, need no further
care for their execution but the public formality of their legalization, which
will be done by the minister or other public functionary of the United States
in France, in the terms of article 10 of the second part of the prospectus
heretofore published, and the assembly repeats, as far as need be, this arrange-

50 Company of New York.

merit, upon the faith of the execution of which the shareholders acquired
their shares and established their society.

Art. 2. All the conditions embraced in the present treaty are essential to
the constitution of the society, and no part of them shall be derogated during
its existence unless by virtue of a deliberation of the general assembly, and
by a majority of two-thirds of the coupons indivis, yielding in this to the mode
of voting mentioned in title VII.

Art. 3. In consequence of the present act, the prospectus under which the
shareholders purchased their shares, shall henceforth be regarded as a simple
record, and as such a copy shall be placed in the archives of the company.

Art. 4. The record ot general and special deliberations of the company,
and its commissaries, shall be signed by at least two of the commissaries in
Paris, and by the director of the company in his character as common man
ager ; provided, with these three signatures, the said documents shall have
as much force as if all the deliberators had signed them.

Art. 5. Collated copies or transcripts of the said records, and of the titles
relative to the said property of the shareholders in America, shall be made
out by at least two commissaries in Paris, and by the director as a further
guaranty. The seal of the society shall also be affixed.

Art. 6. There shall consequently be engraved a special seal for the Com
pany of New York, and the design of the seal shall be determined by the
commissaries in Paris.

Art. 7. All the titles of the property of the company which are not already
registered in New York, shall be registered there under the direction of the
commissaries in America, and if need be, in the name of Peter Chassanis.

Art. 8. The present treaty shall be signed in quadruple ; one shall remain
in the archives of the society, another shall be placed in charge of Citizen
Lambot, Notary, another shall be given to the commissaries who are to go to
America, to be registered and deposited in New York with a public officer,
and the last shall remain in the hands of the commissaries in America.

Done and executed at Paris, at the dwelling of Peter Chassanis above said, the
year 1793, the said 2Sth day of June. 1

Desjardiries and Pharoux, appointed by article 14, title
VI, of the preceding instrument, lost no time in executing
their mission, and leaving France July 7, 1793, arrived in
just two months at New York, with the design of proceed
ing upon the tract to explore its boundaries, and take pos
session in the name of the company. At Albany, they met
one of their countrymen, a political exile, who, although
but twenty-four years of age, had already become known
by his ingenious mechanical constructions, and who has
since justly claimed to rank with Franklin, Brindley, Hers-
chell, and Watt, by the brilliancy of his inventive genius,
and his magnificent monuments of constructive art. This
person was Marc Tsambart Brunei, since celebrated as the
founder of the machine shops of the Royal Navy yard at
Portsmouth, the builder of magnificent rail road structures
in England, arid the engineer of the Thames tunnel. His
son, the late I. K. Brunei, was one of the principal origina
tors of the " Great Eastern" steamship recently built in
England.

1 Printed by FROUW.E, Quai des Augustins No. 39. Cap. quarto, 32 pages.

Company of New York. 51

Brunei was prepared for any adventure, and accepted
with eagerness the offer made him by the commissaries, not
only of receiving him into their company, but of appointing
him their captain on this remote and difficult service. Pha-
roux was an eminent architect of Paris, and an accom
plished engineer, and Desjardines, from what little we learn
of his history, was an enterprising but visionary adventurer.
We may infer that a cordial fellow-feeling arose between
these strangers in a foreign land. They were entirely igno
rant of the tract, except that it lay somewhere between the
Black river and 44 N. lat., but Brunei, who was a proficient
in the use of instruments, was just the man to follow a line
of latitude in the woods.

The three Frenchmen hired four natives of the country,
making a party of seven men. They supplied themselves
with every anticipated want for the journey, including two
tents, arms, ammunition, and surveying instruments, with
such provisions as might be easily carried, depending upon
the forests and the streams for the more delicate and sub
stantial viands. They spent two months in the autumn of
1793 upon this service, and Brunei in after life, often recur
red to the incidents of this journey as affording the happi
est remiuiscenses of his life. Many years after, he was
relating the adventure to Louis Phillippe while king of the
French, and described minutely the precautions which they
had observed in fortifying their camp at night, and employ
ing an Indian escort to attend them. The king pleasantly
remarked that they had traveled in the style of princes. He had
himself been a pilgrim in the American forests with his two
brothers, like him, exiles from France, but unlike these
French explorers, destitute of those little aids to comfort
which had made the journey so agreeable. 1 This began
Brunei s life as an engineer. He appears to have been
favorably impressed with the country, as he became a share
holder, and drew 500 acres of land in lower Castorland.

Early in 1794, Desjardines and Pharoux petitioned for
an act to allow Chassanis to hold lands in New York. They
stated that from the political relations then existing, he was
unable to change his residence, that he was well affected to

1 Memoir of Brunei, by Edouard Frere, read July 5, 1850, before the acade
my of Rouen, and published in the Precis Analitique des Travaux de VAcade-
mie des Sciences, Belles- Lcttrcs et Arts de Rouen, 1849-50, p. 67, Chambers
Edinburgh Journal, XV, 38.

The route of these explorers probably led from the Mohawk across to
Moose river and down that stream to the High falls. Many years since, a
silver spoon marked M. I. B., was found above Lyonsdale, which, doubtless,
once belonged to Brunei.

52 Company of New York.

the freedom and government of the country, and with his
associates was desirous of promoting its welfare. They
also asked for themselves the same benefit, and stated that
they had determined upon permanent residence as the agents
of Chassanis. The petitioners were by an act of March 27,
1794, allowed the privilege asked, but not their principal.

Pharoux was soon after employed to survey a canal route
from the Hudson to lake Champlain, with Brunei, and in
the course of the summer of 1794, began the survey of Cas-
torland.

The extraordinary deviation of the river from its sup
posed course occasioned much complaint, especially since
the river cut up their lands into several detached parcels,
so that they could only pass from one to another by tres
passing upon their neighbors. Desjardines and Pharoux,
in a letter of June 7, 1795, to Constable, insisted that the
lines should be run with reference to the true, and not the
magnetic meridan, and that, any deficiency should be made
up from the south side of the river. They also urged the
speedy execution of release of dower of Mrs. Constable, and
the completion of surveys which he was to have made, con
cluding with the assurance that the equity of their case
could not fail to arrest his attention, and that their quality
as strangers, would give them farther claims to exact just
ice from an upright man. Mr. Constable replied that he
would do every thing consistent with the rights of others,
and cheerfully yield in whatever affected himself only. He
could not alter the course of the river, any more than he
could prevent the British from stopping his surveyors.
Pharoux was drowned soon after with seven of his com
panions, in attempting to cross the Black river near the
Long falls in 1795, and his body was found on an island in
Black River bay. 1 Many years after, Le Ray caused a mar
ble tablet to be prepared to be set into the rock, bearing
this inscription :

" TO THE MEMORY OF
PETER PHAROUX.

THIS ISLAND IS CONSECRATED."

The first survey as finished by Charles C. Brodhead and
assistants in this and subsequent years, was made with re
ference to two cardinal lines at right angles to each other,
from which the lots were reckoned in numbers and ranges.

The line from the High falls, running north to great tract
No. IV. was assumed as the principal cardinal, and an east

1 See History of Jefferson Co., p. 50, for details of this accident.

Company of New York. 53

and west line, crossing this nine miles from the fails was
fixed as a second cardinal. The ranges extended to 19 east,
51 west, 27 north and about 9 south. Except on the margin,
the lots measured 450 acres each, and were subdivided into
nine lots of 50 acres each, which were numbered from 1 to
4,828. Lower Castorland, or Beaverland, west of the Great
bend, measured 964 lots of 40,522.1 acres and upper Castor-
land, 3864 lots of 182.895 acres, making a fraction over
223,417 acres. No part of the tract crossed Black river,
although the principal cardinal crossed the river several
times. The isolated tracts thus left, were numbered from
the south northward, and of these No. 4 was much larger
than all the rest together, including the large triangular
area in the northeast part of this county and the adjacent
part of Jefferson.

In this survey the principal streams were named, but
most of these have since been changed. The following are
the principal ones that can be identified :

Old names. Present names.

Deer Creek. Crystal Creek.

Siren Creek. Blake Creek.

Swan Creek. Indian River.

Pelican Creek. Swiss Creek.

French River. Os wega tehee River.

Linnet Creek. Blake Creek.

The name of Independence creek, Beaver river and
Murmer creek are still retained.

The first settlers found their way upon the tract in June,
1794, cutting their way as they came from fort Stanwix ;
it is generally believed that they mistook the High falls,
for the Long falls, and they settled at the former, upon a
tract scarcely wide enough for a garden, and remote from
the great body of their lands. The death of Pharoux
checked the growth of the colony, and its history during
the first three years is nearly blank. Desjardines acted a
short time as agent.

On the llth of April, 1797, Chassanis appointed Rodolphe
Tiller, " member of the Soevereign Council of Bern," 1 his
agent, with power to superintend surveys and improvements,
form useful establishments, give titles in tracts of 100 or at
most 200 acres to settlers and artisans, receive moneys, and
solicit of the state the opening of roads and canals, and of

l This council consisted of not less than 200, nor more than 299 members.
It had power to make war, peace and alliances, raise moneys and provide for
expenditures. It appointed the Lesser Council.

54 Company of New York.

the general government, the same privileges to French
citizens as were enjoyed by Americans. This privilege
of selling lands was limited to 10,000 acres.

The managers in Paris prescribed minutely from their
maps, the divisions that were to be made, and the roads
that were to be opened, having no reference to the surface,
or the local difficulties that might be encountered. Mr. V.
Le Ray, in writing to the author from Paris, Nov. 16, 1859,
says :

" I would hardly dare state such a fact, if a sample of
this folly was not known in the country, where the traces
of a road once opened, but of course never traveled, were
visible a few years ago in the south part of the tract, which
among other obstacles, was to cross an almost impassable
precipice ; but orders were imperative, and the road was
made on both sides, leaving them to be connected when the
thing became feasible." The road here noticed was known
as the " Old French Road " from the High falls to Beaver
river and thence westward to the St. Lawrence.

Tiller appears to have been in America in the service of
the company the year previous, and was allowed J600 1 per
annum from July 1, 1796, with the privilege of spending
four months in the winter in N. Y. on his own business.
He was to have his expenses paid, the use of four or five
acres for a garden, two horses, two cows, and commissions
on specific objects. The whole tract was reconveyed to
Chassanis by Constable, Feb. 15, 1797, from more accurate
surveys. This deed recited the former misunderstandings,
by which among other things, Chassanis had no use of the
waters of Black river to the centre of the channel, and
stipulated that if upon subdivision it should be found to
overrun, the surplus should be conveyed back.
||i In Feb., 1797, Tillier, in behalf of Chassanis, petitioned
the legislature for a law giving confidence to their title,
stating that the company had expended large sums in sur
veys, roads, and other improvements, and were willing to
do much more, but that they experienced embarrassment in
the doubts that were entertained of the validity of their
title, by reason of the general law of alienism. He expressed
his confidence in the privileges of French citizens as assured
by the treaty of 1778, and hoped the legislature would
remove the doubts which had arisen in such a manner as

1 Increased May 10, to $800 and two rations of food from July 1, 1797. A
few days after his appointment, the company resolved that he should devote
himself entirely to their business, and be allowed 20 p. c. of net proceeds of
Stores, potasheries and saw mills.

Company of New York. 55

in their wisdom might be determined. As a motive, he
intimated that the legislature " might find in the act, grati
fication to its benevolence, by doing good to many unfortu-
tunate persons, who, in embarking in this enterprise, had
expected to find some relief to great misfortunes." He
further asked some provision for authenticating instruments
executed in Paris, to the end that they might be recorded
in this state, as had been done with Great Britain. The
committee reported that the question of alienism belonged
to the federal government, and that the other request was
too important to be settled at that late period of the ses
sion.

Jacob Oboussier was appointed with a salary of $40 per
month, to take charge of the store which was opened near
the High falls in the little village built by the French on
the flat east of the river, in front of Judge Seger s present
residence. The road opened from fort Stanwix, terminated
on the west side below the falls, and the river was crossed
in small boats. A large stock of farming implements, tools,
and goods, was brought on, and about twenty French fami
lies, several of them possessing considerable wealth, libe
rally educated, and accustomed to Parisian society, began
the life of frontier woodsmen among the hemlock forests
east of Black river. The imagination must delineate the
probable results that would have followed the settlement of
great numbers of these people upon the fertile limestone
and slate lands west of the river, and the differences that
would have now appeared in the social aspect of our coun
try, had the first emigrants been followed by crowds of
their countrymen, after the usual custom of New England
emigration.

Settled as they were, nine miles away from a part of their
tract, wide enough for a single farm, history has only to
record the speedy and utter failure of their scheme of colo
nization. Tillier is remembered as a man somewhat ad
vanced in years, fond of display, vain, visionary, and as the
sequel indicated, unworthy of confidence, if not a down
right villian. No sooner was he away from immediate
direction of the company in Paris, than their director began
to meet difficulties, and it is not entirely certain that the
latter was blameless. In November, 1798, Chassanis wrote
to Gouverneur Morris, who had been minister from the
United States, and with whom he ^ was well acquainted,
asking him to accept the supervision of the company s
affairs in America. There were certain items in Tillier s
accounts of which he could not see the aim and object, and

56 Company of New York.

the returns were so mixed up and confused, that he could
riot make out their meaning.

Mr, Morris replied that he would prefer not to undertake
it, as it was difficult to find a proper man for taking Til-
lier s place, and the latter had, perhaps, left an impression
unfavorable to Chassanis, in his first conversation with
Morris, in which he complained that his drafts had been
dishonored, and means of efficient service withheld, adding,
that " if this want of success should reach the ears of his
enemies they would persecute him." In August, 1799,
Morris, however, submitted to the company a plan, in which
a person was to be appointed to take charge of the store,
upon inventory, keep it supplied with goods needed by the
colonists at moderate prices, and each year improve a farm
of 40 acres in the environs of Castorville, on the undivided
lands. A tract which had been sold to a Swiss compan} 7 ",
was to be put in their possession, and efforts were to be
made to get actual settlers upon the lands.

In September, 1799, Morris appointed Richard Coxe for
four years, at $4,000, who immediately came on to make
inquiries, and arrange for more active operations next year.
To give Tillier no pretext for further charges, the company
on the 26th of Feb., 1800, resolved that no expense should
be ordered, or new establishment begun by their agency in
America. On the 7th of April, they formally declared their
rights and powers fully vested in Chassanis, the share
holders being regarded as dormant partners. They appro
priated 9,750 acres to to pay expenses, upon sale at not less
than $3 per acre, vesting in G. Morris, powers of attorney
for selling these lands, and resolved to continue the company
seven years longer.

Although stripped of his agency, Tillier was not deprived
of the power of mischief, and in an advertisement dated
Jan. 8, 1800, and inserted in the Albany papers, he cau
tioned the public " not to trust to the invidious reports of
Gouverneur Morris or Pierre Joulin, or their substitutes
Richard Coxe, Jacob Brown, Patrick Blake, or any other
acting under their authority, derogatory to the powers,
rights, and title of the subscriber as agent for the Company
of New York, in Paris, and James Le Ray, as no sales, acts
or deeds of the said persons, or any others claiming author
ity under them, in regard to the lands of the said company
in the state of New York, or for James Le Ray, as it re
gards the lands known by description [as] No. 4, in Ma-
comb s purchase can be valid, being held as a lien and
security for the act and demand of the subscriber as their

Company of New York. 57

agent, and will be so held until a decision is made of the
suit in chancery, now depending and instituted against the
subscribers by Gouverneur Morris, the assuming agent of
Pierre Chassanis, and Pierre Joulin, the assuming agent of
James Le Ray." 1

Mr, Cox took forcible possession of the store at the falls,
the saw mill at Castorville, on the Beaver river, and the
property generally, in June, 1800, and on the 12th of that
month Morris wrote, advising the erection of another saw
mill, and a grist mill, upon a free lease of 20 or 30 years, to
some one who might engage to build them. He noticed
the flourishing settlement west of the river, and attributed
the difference to the maladministration of Castorland, upon
which immense sums had been squandered or embezzled.
He advised a road from the High falls direct to Ford s set
tlement at the mouth of the Oswegatchie.

In October, 1800, Tillier published French and English
eri ions of a memorial justifying his administration of Cas
torland. He stated that upon his arrival in the United
States, he had undertaken, with the counsels of Alexander
Hamilton, to perfect the titles and procure their record,
and that errors in the first deed from Constable had ren
dered that instrument invalid, and required another based
upon a new survey. He then proceeds with his narrative
as follows: 2

" R. Tillier afterwards directed all his attention to the buildings,
only rough hewed upon the lands of Castorland, not finding any of
those which had been announced to him: no ground being cleared;
no cultivation established in the ideal town of Castor; no practi
cable road; no established communication; only one or two bar
racks honored with the name of houses; a yard sowed rather than
a garden; in a word, nothing which evinced the former settlement
of the pretended establishments, still less the expense which
had been made thereon. What afflicted him most at first was,
the repugnance strongly impressed on the Americans of the
neighboring places, to establish themselves upon the lands of
the company, where they perceived nothing enticing.

l Joulin had been the euro of Chaumont, and refusing to take the consti
tutional oath, was sent off by Le Ray to save his life. Accustomed to the
refinements of Europe, he was little prepared to endure the privations of a
pioneer life, and in the lonely solitudes of the Black river pined for the
comforts of which through his whole life he had never before known the
want. In conversing with Jacob Brown, whom he met when about to com
mence his improvement at Brownville, he said : " Ah ! the French revolu
tion came too soon or too late for me !" Had it come sooner he might have
cast his energies into the struggle, and shared the fortunes of the civil war :
if later, he would not have witnessed its horrors, and felt its disasters

- Taken from the English edition printed at Rome, N. Y., by Thomas
Walker.

58 Company of New York.

11 R. Tillier struggled some time against these obstacles, but
by conciliatory conduct and fair dealing (his situation not per
mitting any liberality, in such cases so necessary), he was able
to procure some workmen, who all seemed desirous to purchase
some lands, which he sold them in small portions, in hopes of
very soon selling a greater quantity, and to unite a certain
number of cultivators which would give a permanent footing
to the new colony. This was the object of his ambition. He
felt the consequence of a progressive increase to the holders of
shares in the Company of New York. R. Tillier was unani
mously elected and named a justice of the peace for the county
of Oneida, which mark of confidence and esteem from the inha
bitants, fortified his hopes of reaping the fruits of all his cares,
and justifying the trust which the company had given him; 1
he rendered an exact statement of all that related to his ma
nagement; his correspondence, journals and accounts, prove his
constant attention to conform himself to the act of the constitu
tion. These different papers show his exertions, and how he
was employed, and the manner in which the sums have been
expended under his administration; and it can not be doubted
that the company were sensible of his zeal and care, as he then
received, as well as at different other times, acknowledgements
of their satisfaction.

" The affairs were in this condition, when the company sent
new French settlers to establish themselves upon the lands of
Castorland. Their presence only occasioned considerable ex
penses without being of any utility, and they occasioned a great
expense upon the land, consuming the provisions, introducing
the spirit of discord and discontent, and finally they went away,
threatening to make their complaints known in France, and to
impeach those who had deceived them at Paris, by sending
them into a desert. Much mildness and moderation were neces
sary to disperse them, but on going from Castorland they made
bitter complaint against the place and persons, by which means
they left traces very disadvantageous to Castorland and those
interested in the said company. That these circumstances took
place at a time when war appeared inevitable between France
and the United States, and the greatest prejudices existing
against the French, have also tended to destroy these rising
settlements, and to injure the concerns of the company very
much.

"At the same time Mr. Blake arrived, calling himself the son-
in-law of Mr. Lambot, one of the company, and particularly
charged with his interests. Coming into the United States
without any resource, R. Tillier received him with kindness,
and in such an hospitable manner that any other person would

1 This " extraordinary trust," was conferred upon him by the council of
appointment, April 12, 1798. It is impossible to tell what office he might
not have been promoted to, had he been appointed or elected !

Company of New York. 59

have thought he merited some acknowledgment. Mr. Blake on
the contrary, became his calumniator, as well in the United
States as in Europe, but it appears the company were not de
ceived by his calumnies; they did justice to Tillier, and they
wrote to him through their director Chassanis, that they were
well satisfied with his services.

" In the mean time one Pierre Joulin, also arrived at New
York, appearing to be secretly charged with the interests of the
company; it is at least presumable, and what we are authorized
to believe from the mystery which has enveloped his conduct.
This man did all he could to conceal it without showing his
powers. He insinuated to Tillier that he desired to see his
accounts, who answered him with a frankness that character
izes him, that he had sent to Paris a faithful copy of all his
accounts; that those of his current expenses were at Castorland,
kept by a secretary who made his residence there, according to
the intention expressed in the act of the constitution; that he
was besides ready to render them all, having no reason to delay
a settlement.

" R. Tillier saw that Mr. Joulin did not treat him with the
same good faith and candor that he used towards the said Jou-
lin. He obtained information indirectly, that he was bound by
close and secret ties with Mr. Blake, and he was convinced of
it by some letters which were sent him from Castorland. Finally
he no longer doubted their employing deceit to divert him of his
administration in the capacity of agent to the company, without
his, however, receiving any direct or indirect advice either from
that company or M. Chassanis, his agent or director at Paris.

" The indignation of an honest man in such a case must be
great, and Tillier can not refrain from expressing his feelings.
It is without doubt right to dispossess an agent when he is not
faithful, but before such a step is taken, some proof should be.
obtained of his bad conduct, and they ought to take suitable
measures that he is reimbursed all the expenses he has been at
for the concern, and that he should be discharged from all the
engagements which he has made by virtue of his powers to
wards the different persons employed, for supplies, wages and
work. To act as they have done toward an honest citizen, who
is invested with a public function, who has held in his country
a place at the Council of Berne, is being deficient of all respect
and good manners. But finally, if they admit that he is irre
proachable in his conduct; that he has managed the affairs of
the company ably and with honor, and that there is nothing but
calumny against him, they must then admit that he has been
treated with great injustice without reason. Their conduct
must nevertheless appear very contemptible to a reflecting and
discerning nation, whose confidence it was the interest of the
company to have cultivated.

"Finally the plot of which these gentlemen were the agents
is unveiled. Gouverneur Morris, late ambassador of the United

60 Company of New York.

States in France, has appeared to be the only bearer of the
powers of the Company of New York, or rather of P. Chassanis.
He has filed in the name of Chassanis, a bill against Tillier, in
the court of chancery of this state, and claims as his property
the 220,500 acres of land, when by the constitution of the com
pany, he has conveyed them in the most formal manner to the
holders of shares. He moreover pretends to annul all the choice
made of divided lots, all the sales to divers settlers by R.
Tillier who has acted only in conformity to, and in virtue of
sufficient powers, and agreeable to the instructions given him;
and this suit having been very generally promulgated, it has
resulted therefrom, there are doubts as well as the validity of
the original bill as the partial sales of the powers and rights
of Chassanis and of the old and new agents.

" These scandalous reports have given rise to every kind of
mistrust and suspicion on the minds of the Americans, dis
gusted the new settlers, and occasioned the land of the company
to be absolutely deserted. Thus the imprudence of Director
Chassanis, has produced the unfortunate effect of ruining the
holders of shares who are the true proprietors, of depreciating
the land and the titles, has caused the new settlements to be
abandoned which will of course go to ruin, and all the expenses
to this time will be useless and lost. It is difficult to conceive
how the Company of New York has been induced to adopt such
a conduct, so contrary to its interests. If from all these mea
sures, there was only one that had any appearance of utility,
it might perhaps be some palliation for the others ; but they
are all equally contrary and destructive to the prosperity and
success of the undertaking.

" The object of R. Tillier in addressing the present observa
tions to the holders of shares, is, 1st to justify himself in their
opinions and prove that his administration has been faithful and
free from reproach. 2d, to exhibit all the operations of the
company, or of the director Chassanis, and to call their attention
to the damages which threaten them, if after having done what
he thinks his duty concerning it, the holders of shares remain
indolent and careless of their interests, they are perfectly their
own masters, but at least they will recollect, when their eyes
are opened, the advice which R. Tillier gave them, and they
can only blame themselves for the losses they may experience.

"The best method, and it may be said the only one to be
convinced whether Tillier s administration has been good and
able, is to examine what he has done, and the means he had for
doing it. When he came to take possession of the lands of
Castorland, every thing was to be done; the land itself was
not ascertained, and there was a deficiency of title to assure
the property. When one considers a man in such a situation,
in a strange country, at a great distance from any inhabited
place, with very small funds, to put in order an immense tract
of laud, the difficulty of success must be evident. But it is very

Company of New York. 61

hard to give an adequate idea to a person who has not been a
witness to a similar undertaking-, of the magnitude and full force
of the obstacles to be surmounted, arid which R. Tillier had to
encounter with. If the holders of shares will carefully examine
his correspondence, his journal and accounts, they will therein
see the use he has made of his time and of his means. If the
interest of Chassanis has induced him to conceal that knowledge
from the holders of shares, it is the interest of Tillier that these
papers should be made public, as they afford unequivocal
proof of his zeal, trouble and attention. They will there see
the pains he took to ascertain the lands, his steps to secure a
valid title, his activity in causing an exact survey to be made,
and to obtain a topographical map, they will there see what he
has done, what he has attempted, the lands which he has settled,
the roads which he has opened, the journeys he has made, the
arrangements which he has entered into with different families
to establish themselves upon his lands, and by these means to
give them a value. They will finally see the prospect of suc
cess which he might naturally flatter himself with, and which
would undoubtedly in time have succeeded, if he had not been
obstructed in his proceedings by the wrong measures of the
director.

" Let them once again ascertain the truth of these facts, and
have recourse to the testimony of the neighbors, consider the
times and means, examine with attention his correspondence
and journal which shew what he has done, and they will be con
vinced that his administration has been able, good and regular.
He does not pretend to say, that no other person would have
acted as well, perhaps even his administration may not be
totally free from faults; for mistakes are almost inevitable in
in every undertaking which requires so many details, in which
the objects are not specifically traced, nor the plans fixed, but
where, on the contrary, he had in fact, to determine on the first
principles of this extensive concern, he can with the utmost
truth declare, that no person could have exerted himself with
more pains and application than he did, and he thinks that it
would not have been found that he was deficient in the neces
sary experience and knowledge to insure the success of the
undertaking, if he had been permitted to wait the event of his
designs.

" His plans were well formed and conceived, and he wanted no
thing to accomplish them but to be aided by the necessary funds
which always came to hand too late, and indeed were under-
sufficient at any time. He was also injured in his plans by the
measures of the director of the company at Paris, who far from
executing what was necessary for such an establishment, took
such steps as were adverse to its success, and who has uniformly
by his actions opposed the views and measures of the agent at
New York. The main object of the undertaking was, to give
a value to the lands of Castorland, for which purpose they

62 Company of New York.

should have cultivated the confidence of the natives of the
country, in order to entice them to settle upon places; they
should have seen on the part of the company a regular and
uniform plan of improving the lands, and to secure the benefit
the property of those who were inclined to become purchasers;
but instead of that how have the Company of New York acted?
Mr. Pharoux the first agent sent, was a well informed and
honest man, and he gained the esteem of the Americans, but he
was ignorant of their language and therefore he could with
difficulty treat with them, ile lost his life by an excess of zeal
and temerity. Mr. Desjardines succeeded him, but he was
also ignorant of the English language, which being joined with
a haughty character, drove the inhabitants from him, although
he expended much of the company s money he did nothing useful
for it. He was replaced by Rodolphe Tillier, who thinks he
understood well the object of the undertaking, and that he
made effort to accomplish it. His being chosen a justice of the
peace, is a sufficient proof that he had gained the confidence of
the inhabitants.

" Some time after, several Frenchmen came to settle upon
the lands, in pursuance to an agreement made with the com
pany at Paris. They had scarcely arrived when disgust, mis
understanding and hatred took place, tranquility was destroyed
and they left the land abusing it. Soon after Mr. Blake, a new
envoy appeared, whose powers are mysteriously concealed ex
cept when he can promote discord and utter calumnies. After
him Pierre Joulin, an ancient priest came, who imitated the
example of his predecessor and loaded Tiller with injustice and
defamation. At length Mr. Governeur Morris, the late American
Ambassador to France arrived, who charged with the powers
of Pierre Chassanis, revokes Tillier the only agent who had
displayed activity and the only one whose zeal and experience
had extricated the establishment from confusion and disorder.
And to aggravate all these changes and imprudencies, a suit is
commenced against Tiller, who offered, and still offers, to render
his accounts, and submit them to arbitrators. Much noise and
clamor is raised and it is rendered more scandalous as it ap
pears to be designed to annul the titles given by Tiller to the
purchasers of lands, although he granted them in virtue of
acknowledged and approved powers; they would thus destroy
those acts which are legal, and dispossess and ruin the pro
prietors.

" This true statement, which faithfully points out the actual
state of things, is sufficient to excite, and accounts for the
astonishment with which the Americans view the capricious,
irresolute arid ridiculous administration of the Company of New
York, which is increased when they compare it with the wise,
enlightened and uniform administration of the Dutch Company
in the vicinity of Castorhind, and to the large concern under
Captain Williamson s charge, not far from thence, of which last

Company of New York. 63

an able writer (Mr. La Rochefoucault-Liancourt) gives so flat
tering an account, in his travels through America. Let the
holders of shares coolly reflect on the consequences resulting
from this multitude of imprudent actions, and they will form
some conception of the great injury which they have sustained
in the minds of the inhabitants of America by such an incon
siderate series of imprudent, false, impolitic and inconsistent
measures. Let them change their plans let them adopt uniform
ones and pursue them let them trust their interests to honest
and well informed men, attached by ties of confidence and
esteem let them give to their agent in America very extensive
powers. It is in vain to imagine a great design and a large
establishment can be governed at a distance without it. The per
son actually on the spot can only attain just ideas on the subject.
In the execution, his experience will enable him immediately to
rectify any mistake that may happen.- Let them renounce the
idea of selling lands in France, because the execution of such
contracts is always attended with some difficulties as to the
places and portions of land to be given, which inconvenience
can not take place when the purchaser sees before he purchases
the proposed property. Let them renounce the idea of selling
their lands half divided and half undivided, because a confusion
results from it which endangers all the operations of the pur
chasers, and that plan so fine in speculation, is in fact very bad
in execution. Let them always provide funds beforehand, that
the managing commissary may be able without delay to accom
plish his plans, and that he may with confidence undertake them
under the certainty of having it in his power to discharge in
time, the engagements which he may enter into. Let them
abstain from making any agreement in France, and from engag
ing people either from France or Switzerland, as they have
done, for the lands of Oastorland can never be cultivated but
by the natives of the country. These will not even settle on
the land, without they have an easy access to an agreeable
abode, and until they are convinced of the authenticity of their
titles to secure them in their possessions.

" In adopting such maxims, the holders of shares may reason
ably hope to reap a profit, and that time will give value and
credit to the lands of Castorland, and that they may see the
settlement flourish and increase to that degree to which the
position of the land justly entitles them to expect. Without
such measures, it may be, that the design of the holders of lands
will totally fail, and ruin be inevitable. They also run another
danger, which R. Tillier thinks he ought to warn them of; they
are exposed to lose their property perhaps it is already out of
their hands. P. Chassanis has given his new powers not as
director and agent of the company, but in his own name. Mr.
G. Morris, who is the bearer of it, has instituted the suit against
Tillier, for the purpose of proving Pierre Chassanis to be
acknowledged as individual proprietor of the 220,500 acres of

64 Company of New York.

land, whilst by the constitution of the company, he has trans
ferred them in the most formal manner to the bearers of shares.
Does not this manner of acting announce on the part of Pierre
Chassanis a desire to dispose of that property as belonging to
himself, to the prejudice of the holders of shares? They will
be ready to believe it, when they learn that Chassanis has
already disposed of 130,000 acres of these same lands in favor
of J. Le Ray, either on a deed of sale, bond or mortgage. These
acts have, "by chance, passed under the eyes of R. Tillier, to
whom they had not an intention of showing them. One of these
contracts of alienation is for 90,000, the second of 22,000, and
the third of 18,000 acres. Let them add 80,000 acres which had
been mortgaged to Carrare & Co., of Lausanne, for what they
have lent to the company. It appears, then, that at this moment
there are 210,000 shares sold or engaged. These are positive
facts which perhaps, may give reason to believe that it is at
length time to look into, and take their concerns into their own
hands, and watch to their own interests, and let them get pos
session again of their property, if it is not yet too late to do it;
for it is clear, that if P. Chassanis appears to be the only pro
prietor of all the lands of Castorlancl, he will have the right of
selling them, and that if these sales are once completed in a
legal manner, it will be in vain for the holders of the shares to
reclaim any portion whatsoever. This danger has appeared to
R. Tillier to be of too high importance to the holders of shares
to leave them ignorant of it. Tillier still owes them the inform
ation of a fact which, in the midst of many others, will give
them an idea of the character of P. Chassauis and Le Ray de
Chaumont, whose interests appear to be joined and confounded
together. Some time before the arrival of P. Joulin, Chassanis
sent a bill of exchange to Tillier for $3,772, to provide for the
expenses of the Company. It was drawn by that Chaumont, on
that same Mr. Joulin. Immediately , after his arrival, Tillier
took the first opportunity to present it to him for acceptance,
but he did nothing therein, Chaumont having previously ordered
him not to pay it. What can be said or thought of such an
action? One may judge of Chassanis administration from his
conduct. R. Tillier will not extend his reflections further. His
object is not at present to throw blame on any particular person;
he therefore confines himself to a statement of facts, and bring
ing them to the view of the holders of the lands, in order to let
them ascertain them, and that they may thereby convince them
selves whether their director in Paris is worthy or not of their
confidence, and whether his connections in the affairs and inter
ests of Chaumont are not injurious to the interests of the com
pany. Tillier s object is fulfilled if he has been enabled to
persuade them that his ac^ministration has been pure and free
from reproach. If he has convinced them of the causes which
the want of success in the undertaking ought to be attributed,
and if he has pointed out to them the means of accomplishing

Company of New York. 65

their purpose better in the future, he does not seek to maintain
himself in their confidence. He is satisfied in knowing that he
has always been worthy of it. He wishes to render his account,
and to discharge himself from a trust which he has executed
with fidelity arid honor; but before he does this, it is just that
he should be reimbursed for his advances, and guaranteed from
all the engagements which he has entered into in the name of
the cornpari} 7 . He should not have been forced to suffer a law
suit, if the new agent had agreed to this fair proposition, which
indeed is only an act of justice and of universal usage in similar
cases."

To this memorial Chassanis published the following
reply :

" Without doubt one who has been charged with the interests
of a company, owes it to himself to justify his conduct; for the
same reason the Company of New York two years ago, in vain
recalled Mr. Tiliier. But instead of justifying his conduct, this
agent feared to expose himself to the light, he opposed difficult
ies, and the course he has taken will only postpone the shame
of his condemnation. Tiliier would wish, in throwing suspicion
upon the direction of citizen Chassanis, to gain the interest of
the shareholders, and thus cover his own disorders by a hypo
critical zeal; but every shareholder knows, that their director
has never written or done anything but in accordance with the
deliberations of the company. It would be important could
Tiliier prove the contrary; but citizen Chassanis defies him to
produce a single fact to impair this assertion.

" The company finding but very little result coming from so
great expenses, and failing to obtain from Tiliier any thing but
vague information, took a decisive part against this agent him
self. It was impossible for the commissaries and director in
Paris to learn exactly the state of things in America, to remedy
seasonably and effectually the abuses which were introduced,
and this led the company to a precautionary measure upon
which depended the fate of Castorland. It authorized its di
rector at its session of May 1, 1798, to confer upon Mr. G-.
Morris, minister plenipotentiary of the United States to the
French government, the powers necessary to investigate, re
form and settle the accounts of Tiliier, acting commissary of
the company in America; to take cognizance of the details of
the administration of Castorland, its actual condition, the ability
and conduct of its chief and subordinate agents employed in its
service, to suspend or discharge those who might have com
promised the interests of the company, or shown themselves
incapable of filling the places they occupied; and lastly, power
in advance, of removing Tiliier in case his functions ought to
cease This appointment was demanded by circumstances,
and although of the highest importance, Tiliier terms it the,

66 Company of New York.

recklessness of director Chassanis , and that by the scandalous scenes
which it occasioned, it had ruined the shareholders. But if it had pro
duced these scandalous scenes, were they not caused by Tillier,
who, under the false pretext of serving the shareholders, had
rejected the deliberations of the company, and ignored the sig
nature of Pierre Chassanis until now recognized?

"InTillier s memorial, there is a grave accusation against
citizen Chassanis, which appears specious, and must be refuted;
for all the rest are only the declamation of a justly suspected
servant, who defends himself with words, but has nothing to
show in his favor. He distinctly charges Chassanis with having
sold or bargained 210,000 acres of land without the consent of
the shareholders. The fact, says he, is positive; and he invites
them (page 17) to take their concerns into their own hands and watch
to their own interests^ and let them get possession again of their pro
perty if it is not already too late to do it. How can Tillier know
this fact without knowing the cause? and knowing the cause,
how can he dare to utter a calumny so easily refuted? Can he
flatter himself that by misconstruing a fact consigned to the
record he can prove his end without challenge? However it
may be, the abuse of trust with which Tillier reproaches citizen
Chassauis, is only an imaginary phantom to tarnish his reputa
tion, and the apprehensions with which he would inspire the
shareholders, have not the slightest foundation. They can regain
their property, or rather they have never been deprived of it,
for in this operation it has been as in all others. It was at a
general assembly held May 14, 1798, that the conveyance of
90,000 acres to Le Ray was decreed. The first article of that
deliberation read as follows:

" Art. 1. The commissaries at Paris and the director, are
authorized to transfer to the name of Mr. Le Ray, citizen of the
United States of America, all their real and personal estate of
the company in the state of New York, in the name of citizen
Chassanis its director. 7

" This conveyance did not dispossess the company of its pro
perty, but it was a measure required by the circumstances,
which had no other end than to consolidate the rights of the
shareholders and their creditors, as evidently appears in the
next article.

" Art. 2. The assembly charges the commissaries and the
director, to take all proper measures to the end that in this
conveyance the rights of the company be preserved, and that
they may be maintained in the enjoyment and improvement of
their actual possessions, according to the mode established by
the act of the society of June 28, 1793.

"As to the 40,000 acres for which the director has given bonds
and mortgages, and which completes the 130,000 acres that
Tillier pretends to have been alienated, it was not a sale, but

Company of New York. 67

siraply a security to a loan ordered by the general assembly of
March 16, H98, and which the director was authorized to exe
cute.

" Nor was this all. Tillier thought he still owed the share
holders information of a fact which will give them an idea of the
character of citizen Chassanis. It is stated in the memorial, that
the director sent a bill of exchange to Tillier to serve the wants
of the company, and that Mr. Le Ray the drawer of the letter,
caused its payment so be suspended. Upon this Tillier ex
claims: What can be said or thought of such an action? One may
judge of Chassanis* administration from his conduct!

" But whom does this transaction compromise? We can see
only its very obvious bearing, and it was exceedingly bad taste
in Tillier to allude to it. It is natural when an agent is charged
with having abused the confidence of a company, that he should
remove the pretext of further censure, and to this the director
will limit himself. Tillier had provoked this by his conduct,
and it saved the company $3,772. It is certain that citizen
Chassanis ought to appear blame-worthy in the eyes of Tillier,
for being knowing to Le Ray s opposition to the payment of
the draft. It is a very bad turn that both have shown him, and
and he can scarcely pardon them. Thus we may regard the
refusal of payment as one of the sources of trouble which ex
cited Tillier to the calumnies which defile his memorial. Had
it not been for this fatal counter-order which deprived Tillier,
for the moment, of his salary, it is to be presumed that the
director would have appeared as showing better management,
and above all, greater justice.

"If Mr. Tillier wished to prove that his administration, as he
says, has been pure, and that it was free from reproach, he has
failed to show the result. It is from the fruit that we judge
the tree. We will render him justice, if, by the establishments
formed and his model accounts, he can show a good employment
of his time and of the funds which he has received. His obsti
nate refusal upon these points, forces upon us the suspicion that
he can not report an honest administration. It is not by telling
us that his affairs have been well administered that he can per
suade us of the fact; it is not by addressing a memorial full of
absurd and calumnious accusations, founded rather upon igno
rance of facts rather than upon facts themselves, that Mr. Tillier
can conciliate our esteem. The only means of justifying his
administration is to render his accounts in a proper manner,
with vouchers of their correctness."

The necessity for transferring the title to an American
citizen, arose from an act of congress, passed July 7, 1798,
by which French citizens were deprived of the privileges
previously enjoyed. The convention, with the French re
public, dated Sept. 30, 1800, gave that nation no privileges

68 Company of New York.

beyond others. Tillier s charges upon settlement as pre
sented in 1803, were infamous, including salary six years,
personal expenses, commissions of various kinds, as well
on lands sold, as lands of which he had been promised the
agency, charges for non-enjoyment of his garden, horses
and cows, for the non-erection of the pot ashery and distil
lery which he had been prevented from building, &c., &c.,
amounting to $23,493.92, besides a heavy charge for the
trouble he had taken in surveys and similar accounts which
have few parallels in our history. The company declared
March 13, 1803, that it had never promised a commission
on land sales.

Chassanis died in Paris Nov. 28, 1803. In June, 1804,
Tillier offered to settle for the Ure farm at lllingworth s, a
tract of 450 acres valued at $3,000, and then offered to
throw off $ 1.000. We are not informed of the final terms
of his settlement or his subsequent history. He is believed
to have gone oft* to the French settlements in Louisania,
where he is said to have held some office under the U. S.
government. Morris never came upon the tract. In the
summer of 1808, he passed through the county on his way
to St. Lawrence county, but made no stop. The amount of
lands sold by Pharoux in Castorland, was 6,266 acres ; by
the company itself 12,149.8 acres, and by Tillier 3,945 i
acres.

In 1800, after contracting a debt of 300,000 livres, the
company could only show one saw mill, eighteen log houses,
and 82 acres of clearing, as the fruit of this enormous ex
pense. There were besides, upon the tract, 11 log houses
and 130 acres cleared, besides what belonged to the com
pany. Several roads had, indeed, been made, but these
were rendered impassable by the first gale of wind, and
from want of population speedily relapsed into the state of
nature.

The name of James Donatianus Le Ray de Chaumont,
has been mentioned in connection with this title. He was
the brother-in-law of Chassanis, and one of the original
share holders of the company. His father s house had been
the home of Dr. Franklin, and of many distinguished Ameri
cans during the revolution, and much of their correspondence
is dated from Passy, the suburban residence of Chaumont.
The elder Le Ray was an ardent friend of the American
cause, and in the hour of need had advanced large sums of
money, to obtain which, the subject, of this notice had visited
America, and become well acquainted with many leading-
persons, and with public affairs generally. He was con-

Company of New York. 69

joined with Morris in the agency of Castorland in 1801, and
subsequently he became principal agent of the French pro
prietors, many of whoso rights he purchased. He early
became one of the four commissaries at Paris, and induced
the company to order the sale of 12,000 acres to an Ameri
can company of which he had the direction. In 1802, the
Company of New York having a debt of 360,000 livres to
meet, sold 17,000 acres in Beaverland at $2 per acre, and
might then have sold the whole at 52 cents per acre, but
the shareholders, true to their character as dormant partners,
continued to slumber in the quiet anticipation of large
dividends ultimately resulting in some mysterious way from
enhancement of value by neighboring improvements, or by
some happy turn of the wheel of fortune. 1

In July, 1814, the term fixed by the company for its ex
istence expired, and a public sale was resolved upon to pay
the debt of 561,766 livres, owed to its Swiss creditors, who,
as no one else offered to become purchasers, bid it in. Le
Ray became the principal American agent of this company
and acquired a large interest in it. In 1824 he was com
pelled to apply for the benefit of the insolvent act, and to
surrender his estates for the relief of his creditors. The
management of affairs passed into the hands of his son, and
settlement has since been continued under the name of Vin
cent Le Ray, for the benefit of himself and certain foreign
proprietors who have retained from the beginning, or who
have since acquired an interest in the lands formerly owned
by the Company of New York. Besides Le Ray, the fol
lowing families now own interests in these land : Lambot,
Desormeaux, De la Chaume, Franque, Moreau, La Tram-
blaye, Weaves, De Loys D Orsens, and Houst, the latter, it
is believed, as trustee of a Swiss company. The Swans-
mill company, formerly owned 3S4 lots or 19,200 acres, but
their interests have been nearly or quite canceled.

The elder Le Ray spent the best years of his life in pro
moting the settlement of his lands in Jefferson and Lewis
counties, and in 1832 returned to France. In 1836, he
made his last visit to the country, spending the summer
there. Upon his return home he continued to reside with
his daughter and two sisters, spending his time partly in

l In 1856, upon the death of the head of an old French family, the heirs
found the title papers of several shares in the Compagnie de New York, au
thenticated by Chassanis and his colleagues, and wrote to the governor of
New York for information as to how to come in possession of the estate,
which they doubtless imagined had accumulated enormously by lapse of
time, allowing even a moderate per cent, of increase.

70 Land Titles.

Paris, and partly in the country, or in traveling. He died
Dec. 31, 1840, aged 80 years. 1 *

Great Tract Number Four. On the 12th of April, 1793,
Constable sold in London, with the consent of Chassanis
who held a preemptive claim, this tract of 450,950 acres
for 300,000 florins ($125,356) to Charles J. Michael De
Wolf of Antwerp. The town of Diana lies wholly in this
tract which also embraces a large portion of Jefferson co.
De Wolf published in Dutch, a plan of settlement under a
company of which he was to be the president. Its affairs
were to be managed by himself and four directors whose
names were to be made known at the proper time. The
capital was fixed at 1,200,000 florins current money, to be
disposed of a follows :

First. 800,000^ for the payment of the 400,000 acres for
which good titles will be given and of which copies will be
kept at the office of the president and all other papers in rela
tion to this negotiation will be kept there also.

Secondly. 400 i OOO J^ will be invested by the said five directors
in such stocks as they may deem advisable for the best interests
of the negotiators, and in case they deem it necessary to send
emigrants there, or to clear some of these lands, or make other
expenses for the improvement of the same, or if they can not
pay the yearly dividends the said directors may sell or use so
much of the said stock as is necessary to cover the expenses.

Thirdly. The interest which may accrue on the said 400,OOO.F
shall be for the benefit of the negotiators.

As it was evident that the negotiations would be bene
ficial to its stockholders, the directors were to issue with
each share of 1,000 guilders each, three coupons as a divi
dend, each of 50 guilders payable in 1794, 1795 and 1796.
The tract was to be surveyed into 400 acre lots.

It was evident that this scheme was only a trap, and as
such it served its end, for De Wolf soon sold for 680,000
florins to a company of large and small capitalists of Ant
werp, who organized the " Antwerp Company." The
several schemes which were devised by these people for
improving their lands belong rather to Jefferson county.

In January, J800, Gouverneur Morris received a trust
deed of half of the tract and on the next day James D.
Le Ray received a like deed for the other half. 2 Morris and

1 A biographical notice and portrait of Le Ray are contained in the History
of Jefferson Co., p. 441, 447.

2 These conveyances were made by James Constable, under powers from
his brother, dated Nov. 16, 1798. Regr s. office, N. Y., Ivi., 169. See Deeds,
OneidaCo., B., 612, E. 307.

Land Titles. 71

Le Ray exchanged releases Aug. 15, 1802, 1 and the former
June 15, 1809, conveyed 326 lots of 143,440 acres to Moss
Kent who conveyed the same to Le Ray June 24, 18 17. 2
The operations of the Antwerp company like those of its
neighbor were a failure, and Le Ray ultimately purchased
the most if not all of the rights of the individual share
holders in Europe. Not the slightest settlement had been
undertaken by the company before Le Ray s connection
with the title.

A large part of Diana, with portions of Jefferson county
adjoining, were conveyed to Joseph Bonaparte, ex-king of
Spain and brother of the illustrious Napoleon, under circum
stances which are thus related by Mr. Vincent Le Ray :

"Mr. Le Ra}^ cle Chaumont was at his estate in Tourraine in
1815, when he heard of Joseph Bonaparte s arrival at Blois.
Ho had known this prince before his great elevation and was
his guest at Morteibntaine when the treaty of Sept. 30, 1800,
between the U. S. and France was signed there, but he had
ceased meeting him afterwards. Seeing however that misfor
tune had assailed the prince, he remembered the man and
hastened to Blois. The prince having invited Mr. L. to dinner,
said suddenly to him: "well, I remember you spoke to me
formerly of your great possession in the United States. If you
have them still, I should like very much to have some in ex
change for a part of that silver 1 have there in those wagons,
and which may be pillaged any moment. Take four or five
hundred thousand francs and give the equivalent in land." Mr.
Le Ray objected that it was impossible to make a bargain
where one party alone knew what he was about. Oh! said
the prince, I know you well and I rely more on your word
than my own judgment. Still Mr. Le Ray would not be satis
fied by this flattering assurance, and a long discussion followed,
which was terminated b3&gt;-the following propositions immediately
assented to by the prince. Mr. L. would receive 400,000 francs
and would give the prince a letter for Mr. L. s son then on the
lands instructing him to convey a certain designated tract, if,
after having visited the country (whither he was then going),
the prince confirmed the transaction, otherwise the money was
to be refunded."

The purchaser, who in the United States assumed the
title of the Count de Survilliers, in closing the bargain, is
understood to have made payment in certain diamonds
brought from Spain, and in real estate. A trust deed with
covenant and warranty, was passed Dec. 21, 1818, to Peter
S. Duponceau, the confidential agent of the count, for

1 Deeds, Jefferson Co., A. 358. Deeds, Oneida Co., X, 464.

2 Deeds, Jefferson Co., K., 279.

72 Land Titles.

150,260 acres, excepting lands not exceeding 32,260 acres,
conveyed or contracted to actual settlers. 1 This was re
corded with a defeasance appended, in which it is declared
a security for $120,000, and it provided for an auction sale
of lands to meet this obligation. The tract conveyed by
this instrument included the greater part of Diana, two
tiers of lots on the S. E. side of Antwerp, the whole of
Wilna and Philadelphia, a small piece south of Black river
at the Great bend, a tract four lots wide and seven long,
from Le Ray, and nine lots from the easterly range in The
resa.

Diamonds having fallen to half their former price, the
fact was made a subject of complaint, and in 1820, the
count agreed to accept 26,840 acres for the nominal sum
of $40,260. These lands lay in the most distant por
tions of No. IV, and Mr. Le Ray, in a letter to one of
the Antwerp company, dated April 9, 1821, complimented
the count upon his taste in selecting a " tract abounding
with picturesque landscapes, whose remote and extensive
forests affording retreat to game, would enable him to
establish a great hunting ground ; qualities of soil, and
fitness for settlers were only secondary considerations.
* * * He regrets, notwithstanding, that thus far, he has
been unable to find among the 26,000 acres of land, a pla
teau of 200 acres to build his house upon, but he intends
keeping up his researches this summer." The attempt of
Joseph Bonaparte to establish himself in Diana, is elsewhere
noticed. By an act of March 31, 1825, he was authorized
to hold lands in this state, without bis promising or expect
ing to become a citizen. In his memorial he alludes to the
liberality of other states, especially Pennsylvania, in allow
ing aliens to hold lands, "and not being of the number of
those who would wish to abandon this land of hospitality,
where the best rights of man prevail, but nevertheless bound
to his own country by ties which misfortune renders more
sacred," he solicited the privilege of holding titles in his
own name. 2

Duponceau executed to Joseph Bonaparte July 31, 1825,
a deed of all the rights he had before held in trust. 3 In
1835, John Lafarge bought for $30,000 the remaining inte
rests of Count Surviliiers in Lewis and Jefferson counties, 4
and attempted more active measures for settling these lands.

l Mortgages, Jefferson Co., A, 626 ; Deeds N, 1.

2 This memorial is preserved in Assembly papers xii, 37, 41, Sec. office,
and is given in full in the Hist, of Jeff. Co., p. 566.

3 Deeds, Jefferson co., N, 181 ; Lewis co., I, 16.
4 Deeds, Jefferson co., U, 2, 43.

Land Titles. 73

The hard reputation he had acquired in the sale of Penet s
square, and the severe measures he had adopted in ejecting
squatters and delinquents, however prejudiced the minds
of settlers to such an extent that but few in this county
ventured to commit themselves to his " tender mercies."
La Farge had been a merchant at Havre, and afterwards re
sided in New Orleans. While in France he purchased the
title to much of Penet s square, and in 1824 came to reside
upon it. In about 1838, he removed to New York, where
he became concerned in extensive pecuniary operations on
his own account, and as agent of Louis Phillippe, who,
while king of the French, invested large amounts of funds
in American stocks. A magnificent hotel on Broadway,
N. Y., was named from its owner, the La Farge house. The
La Farge fire insurance company was also named from him.
He died two or three years since in New York.

On the 3d of June, 1825, William and Gerardus Post, for
$17,000, purchased 11,888 acres (out of which 3,503 acres
were excepted) in the present towns of Wilna and Diana,
portions of which have since been conveyed to T. S. Ham
mond of Carthage. 1

The Swiss company that made the first investment at
Alpina, received July 28, 1846, a conveyance from La Farge
of a tract embracing two ranges of lots in Antwerp, and
122 lots in Diana, 2 and the whole of La Farge s interest has
since been sold in this county. The principal owners of
the unimproved lands of his tract in Diana, are L. Paddock
of Watertown, and David C. Judson of Ogdensburgh.
Their agent is Joseph Pahud 3 of Harris ville.

A considerable part of Diana and the adjoining parts of
Antwerp are still a wilderness, but the demand for lumber
and bark recently created, will before long lead to the
clearing up of these lands.

1 Deeds, Jeflerson co., X, 108; mortgages B. 3, p. 311.

2 Deeds, Jeflerson co., 81, p. 532.

3 Pronounced Pi-u.

74 Croghan.

CHAPTER IV.

HISTORY OF TOWNS.

The county of Lewis upon its organization embraced five
towns, viz : Leyden, Turin, Martinsburgh, Lowville and
Harrisburgh. The present number is seventeen and their
names and dates of erection are as follows :

CROGHA.N, 1841. MARTINSBURGH, 1803.

DENMARK, 1807. MONTAGUE, 1850.

DIANA, 1830. NEW BREMEN,. . 1848.

GREIG, 1828. OSCEOLA, 1844.

HARRISBURGH, . . 1803. PINCKNEY, 1808.

HlGHMARKET, . . 1852. TURIN, 1800.

LEWIS, 1852. WATSON, 1821.

LEYDEN, 1797. WEST TURIN, . . 1830.

LOWVILLE, .... 1800.

CROGHAN.

This town was formed from Watson and Diana, April 5,
1841, and named in honor of George Croghan, whose
military services had then been recently brought to public
notice in the presidential campaign resulting in Harrison s
election. 1 The name of Tippecanoe had been proposed,
and that of New France had been applied to the bill as
passed in the senate, but on its third reading in the lower
house, the present name was substituted. New Bremen
was taken off in part, in 1848. An unsuccessful effort was
made in 1859, to procure a division of this town into two.
The first town meeting was ordered to be held at the house
of John C. Fox, before Willard Barrett, Lodowick Snyder,
and Joseph Hamen.

1 Croghan was a native of Locust Grove near the falls of the Ohio, where he
was born Nov. 15, 1791. His father was Major Wm, Croghan, an Irishman
who had rendered efficient service in the revolution, and his mother was
sister of William Clark, who with Capt. Lewis explored the Missouri country
in 1805-7. In 1810, Croghan graduated at William and Mary s college, and
began the study of law ; but the war soon opened a more inviting field of
enterprise, and in the battle of Tippecanoe, and the sieges of fort Meigs and
fort Stephenson, he won the applause of the Union. He rose from the rank
of captain to that of inspector general ; and in 1825 he received from congress
a gold medal for his brilliant military services. He died at New Orleans,
January 8, 1849. His name was pronounced Craw-an, although that of the
town, is uniformly spoken Cro-gan.

Croghan. 75

Supervisors. 1841, Benj. R. Ellis; 1842-4, Bornt Nellis
1845-50, Darius G. Bent ; 1851-60, Patrick Sweetman.

Clerks. 1841-3, Abraham Fox ; 1844-6, Joseph Hamen ;
1847-8, Joseph Virkler; 1849, Foster L. Cunningham;
1850, Hartwell F. Bent; 1851-4, Joseph Rofinot ; 1855,
Joseph Catillaz ; 1856, J. Rofinot ; 1857-9, Augustus Yalin.

Bounties for the destruction of wild animals have been
voted as follows: For wolves $15 in 1841, $10 in 1845,
and $5 in 1842, 6. For panthers, $10 in 1841, 5, 6, and $5
in 1842. For bears, $5 in 1841. In 1856, the town meet
ings of this town and New Bremen were held in the same
house, the town line passing through near the middle.

In this town, the Company of New York had intended
to lay out a city by the name of Castorville, on the north
side of the Beaver river, half a mile above the head of
navigation, and at the lowest water power on that stream. 1
The details of this plan have been already stated, but it is
believed the city was never surveyed into lots, further than
as a part of the Castorland tract. The reservation amount
ed to 663 acres, and upon it was built about 1798, the first
saw mill east of Black river. From this mill the first lum
ber used by the settlers at Lowville, was obtained. The
mill stood on the site of the upper part of Lefever s tan
nery, but its last vestige had disappeared long before the
modern occupation of this site. Tillier made a clearing at
the head of navigation, on Beaver river, four miles from
its mouth, and a few log huts were erected. The only
access to and from this place, was by river navigation. A
few French emigrants settled on the banks of the Black
river ; among whom were, it is believed, J. T. Devouassoux,
A. Tassart, Louis Frangois de Saint Michel, and perhaps
others. Mr. D. was a retired officer, who owned a good lot
on the river, and had built a log house a few feet from the
water, on a beautiful flat piece of ground, which he hoped
before long to see changed to a smooth verdant lawn. One
day as he was sitting by the door in his morning gown and
slippers, Mr. Le Ray came along, on his way down the
river, to visit his lands. After the usual salutations and a
little general conversation, the visitor asked Mr. D. whether
he was not afraid the water would reach his house in the
spring ? This was a new idea to the old soldier, and he
was asked to explain. "Well," said Mr. L., "this river
does not, by any means, cause such ravages as most rivers

l The steamers Lawrence and Norcross each ascended the stream to this
point, and canal boats are loaded within half a mile of the tannery, on the
lowest fall in Beaver river.

76 Croghan.

do in snowy countries, but it does overflow its banks in
very low grounds. I think I even saw some marks left by
it on some trees near your house, and according to them,
you would have been about two feet under water in your
house next spring !"

At these words our Frenchman felt as perhaps he had
never felt before the enemy. " But," resumed Mr. L., after
giving him time to compose himself, " have you not on your
lot some higher ground ?" " Indeed, sir, I can not say."
" Why, have you not explored your lands before building ?"
" Indeed, no : I thought I could not possibly find a better
spot than the banks of this beautiful river. I like fishing.
Here I am near my field of operations." Mr. L. could not
see without apprehension such apathy and levity, for know
ing well that Mr. D. was not an exception among his coun
trymen, he read in his fate that of many others. He
persuaded Mr. D. to take a little walk upon his lot, and in
a few minutes they found a beautiful building spot on a
rising ground. 1 We are not informed precisely upon which
side of Beaver river this location was, and it may have
been in the town of New Bremen.

Saint Michel arrived in New York in November, 1798,
and undertook the improvement of a tract of 1200 acres,
owned by three daughters of Mr. Lambot, and from them
named Sistersfield. The agreement was made with Patrick
Blake, husband of one of the sisters, and the owner of 200
acres of the tract. The two other sisters were named
Renee Jeane Louise, and Heine Marguerite Lambot. Blake
returned to Europe in 1802. Saint Michel had seen better
days in France, and is believed to have held an office under
Louis XVI., the unfortunate royal victim of the French
revolution. His household affairs were managed by a
daughter who had been tenderly reared at the schools in
Paris, but who applied herself to the duties of her father s
home with a cheerfulness that did much to lighten the
gloom of solitude and lessen the sadness of both. About
1803, as Gouverneur Morris, Nicholas Low and one or two
other landholders, had met at Brownville, Saint Michel
came down with Richard Coxe to see them and enjoy the
luxury of a conversation with some one who could speak
his native language with fluency. The meeting is described
by an eye witness as affording a scene worthy of a painter.
Their visitor was a tall, thin man, with a keen and intelli
gent eye, and a vivacity peculiar to the French character.

1 Related by Vincent Le Ray, Esq., in a letter to the author.

Croghan. 77

The eagerness with which he grasped the hand of the dig
nified Morris, and the satisfaction he evinced, was as
interesting to the spectators as it was gratifying to the
parties. 1 Saint Michel in dress and manners, indicated that
he had been bred in polished society. He was a man of
fervent piety and deep thought. His daughter married
Louis Marselle, and adopted with grace the coarse fare and
rustic accommodations of a new country, without a murmur.
Her father moved to a farm a little south of Deer River
village, where he died. Upon the death of her husband
she married Louis de Zotelle, who, in the summer of 1838.
was supposed to have died ; preparations were made for the
burial, and a premature notice of the death was printed in
the Northern Journal. In a few days he called upon the
editor to request that no notice be again printed unless he
informed in person. He died " in good faith," about 1854,
but in the absence of the authentic notice promised, we are
unable to give the date. Still further down, and just be
yond the border of the county, Jean Baptiste Bossuot, settled
at the present village of Carthage, where he held an
acre of ground under a verbal agreement with Sauvage, its
owner, and kept a ferry and tavern. Other men would
have made an independent fortune out of the opportunities
which his location offered, but the bridge destroyed his
occupation the village of Carthage which sprung up around
" the meagre field of his slothful farming," failed to enrich
its tenant, and he died a few years ago at an advanced age,
leaving a world that was getting along without him !

A few miles from the last, on the north bounds of Castor-
land, lived a man whose name is familiar to the visitors of
Mont Blanc, as that of a family of one of the best guides
to that mountain. Mr. Balmat s descendants still reside in
the town of Fowler, St. Lawrence county. A neighbor of
his, Mr. Garret, a man of good education, would have fared
better had he been brought up on a farm. His eldest son,
James, a youth of bright natural talents, was obliged to seek
service, and while tending ferry at the Long fails, fell under
the notice of Le Ray, who received him into his office, and
found him so very useful that he took him to Europe. While
transacting some business with Joseph Bonaparte, the latter
formed so favorable an impression of the young man, that he
prevailed upon Le Ray to allow him to become his secretary,
and he afterwards appointed him his general land agent. He
subsequently returned to France, and settled near Lyons,

i Related by Mrs. B. Skinner, sister of Maj. Gen. Brown.

78 Croghan.

where he now resides. The three last named settlers located
in what is now Jefferson county.

The little improvents made by the French were soon aban
doned, as the would-be pioneers became disheartened and
moved away to older colonies or returned to France.

There was scarcely a perceptible progress in settlement
during the first twenty-five years after the French removed.
Their clearings grew up with brambles, and their rude
cabins rotted down, leaving but slight traces of their indus
try, and few evidences that this region had been traversed
by civilized man.

* In 1824, Thomas W. Bent, from Watson, took up a farm
on the ridge between the Oswegatchie and Indian rivers,
about fifteen miles from neighbors, at what is still the
frontier clearing in this quarter, and known as Bent s
Settlement. The post office of Indian River is a mile and
a half south of this place.

In 1830, P. Somerville Stewart, now Le Ray s agent at
Carthage, removed to Belfort, on Beaver river ; built a saw
mill and store, brought in settlers, and two or three years
after erected a grist mill. A fire occurred May 30, 1831,
from a fallow, which consumed the only two buildings then
finished. A post office named Monterey, was established
here some years after, but the route has been changed, and
the office discontinued. A large tannery has been recently
built at this place, by Wm. H. Pier.

About 1830, an immigration began from Europe, and has
since continued, mainly through the exertions of agents
employed by Le Ray, and the representations sent home by
those who had taken up land and settled. The first of these
was John Keefer. In the winter of 1848-49, a census taken
in this town and New Bremen, showed 247 European families,
of 1,275 persons, classified as follows :

From France,. . . . 190 families, of 987 persons.
" Germany, . . 46 " 230
" Switzerland, 11 58 "

Their religious belief was found to be :

Catholic, 150 families of 787 persons.

Protestant, 57 297

Muscovite, 39 189

Their residence in America had been, 1 family 21 years :
3, 19 : 5, 18 : 17, 17: 6, 16 : 10, 15: 21, 14: 4, 12, 9, 10 :
16, 9 : 49, 8 : 14, 7 : 6, 6 : 9, 5 : 2, 4 : 6, 3 : 24, 2 : 35, 1 :
and 10 less than 1 year. They owned or occupied 12,413
acres, of which 4,338 were fenced and improved, and 500

Croghan. 79

partly cleared. They owned 59 horses, 388 sheep, 513
swine and 1,256 horned cattle, and their produce the year
previous had been 2,770 bushels of wheat, 4,430 of corn,
7,513 of rye, 3,127 of buckwheat, 10,640 of oats, and 33,339
of potatoes, 1,447 tons of hay, 17,068 pounds of butter ex
clusive of that used in families, and 27,925 pounds of maple
sugar.

From a pamphlet issued in 1858, it appears that there
were then over 500 European families, numbering 3,000
persons, upon Le Ray s lands, the greater part in this town
and New Bremen. They were chiefly from the east of
France, and the adjacent parts of Germany and Switzerland.

In a list of settlers numbering over three hundred names,
the departments of Moselle, Meurthe, Lower Rhine, Upper
Saone and Doubs in France, had furnished 154, Prussia 56,
Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz 4, Hesse
Darmstadt 5, Kur Hessen 14, Holstein and Lauenburg 3,
Bavaria 8, Saxony and Saxe- Weimar 7, Baden 9, Wurtem-
berg 10, and Switzerland 36. In 1849 this town had a
population of 1,168, of whom 646 were Americans and Irish,
and 522 French, German and Swiss.

Mr. Le Ray employs as his sole agent in France, for the
procuring of emigrants, M. Vanderest of Dunkirk, and has
issued several circulars, maps and other publications in
French and German, with the view of calling favorable
notice to his lands. The terms advertised in Europe are,
one-fifth payment at the end of one year after the selection
of lands by the purchasers, and four-fifths in six years in
equal annual installments, with interest. The amount
offered in the two counties is 80,000 acres. M. Vanderest
gives a contract, binding Le Ray to sell a tract of land to
be selected within fifteen days or later after their
arrival in New York, at a price varying from three to six
dollars per acre, according to location, excepting lands
near villages and water falls, and such as have timber con
venient for sawing or manufacture, and engaging the emi
grant to remove within three months to New York, and
from thence, by way of Watertown, to Carthage. This
instrument, drawn up with due formality, includes the
names of all persons, old and young, belonging to the emi
grating company, and is evidently intended to keep those
removing, out of the hands of emigrant runners interested
in other localities, until they may have an opportunity of
visiting the lands and selecting for themselves.

The foreigners settling in this town, are mostly industri
ous, frugal, and disposed to avail themselves of every ad-

80 Croghan.

vantage that their situation affords. 1 Settling together,
they retain in common use their native languages, in their
families and religious meetings, but most of them readily
acquire the English ; while their children attending the
district schools with Americans, speak English without the
slightest foreign accent.

French Settlement (Croghan P. 0.), on Beaver river and
partly in New Bremen, is a scattered village or rather a
vicinage, half a mile long and mostly on the south side of
the river. It has a Catholic and a Methodist church, a
large tannery owned by Blair, Rice & Bros., a grist mill,
two saw mills, two inns, and several mechanic shops.

In 1852, a tannery was built at Beaver faKs, the site of
ancient Castorville. It is now in the hands of W. C. Lefever,
has 80 vats, and produces 16,000 sides of sole leather an
nually. It is designed to extend it sixty feet and increase
its capacity to 25,000. A gang saw mill is built here on the
New Bremen side. Besides these, a small Evangelical
church, and two or three houses ; it has no claims to the
rank of a village. This place was formerly called " Rohr s
Mills."

Upon a street parallel with the river, leading from Beaver
falls to Carthage, is a scattered neighborhood known as the
" Prussian Settlement." It has a post office named "Naum-
burg," and two small chapels.

On the 29th of March, 1843, the house of Jonathan
Aldrich was burned, and his son nine years old perished in
the flames. The remainder of the family were compelled
to walk three-fourths of a mile barefooted in the snow to
their nearest neighbors.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. There are two Roman Catholic
churches in this town. St. Stephen s church was erected
at the French settlement in 1847, and sermons are preached
on alternate Sundays in French and German. Its trustees
were incorporated under the general statute, March 14, 1853,
the first being Nicholas Gaudel, Christopher Milles, and
F. E. Rofinot, Jr. There is also a small Catholic church at
Belfort,

The " German Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Con
gregation " in Croghan, was formed Sept. 15, 1847, and
elected Ernest Schlieder, Christian Rayser, C. Frederick
Bachman, Frederick Wilk, and Weiss Katlen, trustees.

A church styled the Evangelical association, was legally

1 To this there are exceptions. A company of 16 Italians who came over
a year since, have proved entirely unfit to settle a new country, or encounter
the hardships of pioneers.

Denmark. 81

formed Dec. 1, 1854, with August Stoebe, John Holler, and
Jacob Rohr, trustees, and in 1857 erected a plain wood
church at Beaver falls. Another, but smaller church, is
built in the Prussian settlement. They are sometimes
called Methodists, or Albright Methodists.

A society said to have been originally Lutherans, but now
mostly Reformed Protestant Dutch, was formed several
years since in the Prussian settlement, and has erected a
church edifice.

A number of Anabaptist families reside in this and the
adjoining town, and of these there are two classes, one
being usually termed the new, or reformed Anabaptists.
These people have no church edifice, worshiping after the
manner of the primitive Christians, in private houses, and
in all their dealings and social intercourse, are as much as
possible restricted to their own circle.

The First Croghan Methodist Episcopal Church, was
incorporated August 14, 1857, with Wm. G. Dealing, Aley
Thomson, and Jacob House, trustees. A church edifice was
built in 1858 at the French settlement.

DENMARK.

This town was formed from Harrisburgh, April 3, 1807,
with its present limits, comprising township 5 of the Black
River tract, or Mantua, as named by the surveyor general, on
his published maps of 1802, 4. The first town meeting was
ordered to be held at the house of Simeon Dunham, and
the poor and poor moneys were to be divided with Harris-
burgh according to the last tax list. The act took effect
on the first Monday of February following.

The first town officers were, Lewis Graves, 1 supervisor ;
Wm. Derbyshire, cleric; Levi Robbins, Willis Secombe and
Eleazer Sylvester, 2 assessors; John Clark, Wm. Clark and
John Hurd, commissioners ; Stephen Parson and Sueton Fair-
child, poor masters ; Aaron Nash, constable, and Eleazer S.
Sylvester, constable and collector.

Supervisors. 1808, Lewis Graves; 1809, John Canfield;
1810-2, L. Graves; 1813-4, J. Canfield; 1815-6, Samuel

ijfr. Graves was from Greenfield, Saratoga co NY He represented
this county, Jefferson and St. Lawrence in assembly in 1808, and this county
alone in 1810. He was several years judge and supervisor and died May 10
1816, aged 61 years. His widow survived until 1852. A brother named
David also became an. early settler.

2 Mr. Sylvester died February 17, 1835, aged 54 years.

82 Denmark.

Allen; 1 1817-8, Israel Kellogg ; 1819-23, S. Allen ; 1824-
37, John Clark, 1st; 1838-9, Apollos Stephens; 1840-1,
Abner A. Johnson ; 1842-50, Lewis Pierce ; 1851, John H.
Allen ; 1852-3, Albert G. Thompson ; 1854, Lewis Pierce ;
1855-6, Lucian Clark ; 1857-8, L. Pierce ; 1859, Philander
Blodget ; 1860, L. Pierce.

Clerks. 1808, 09, Wrn. Derbyshire; 1810, 11, Willis
Secombe ; 1812, Levi Robbins; 1813, Eleazer S. Sylvester;
1814-19, Asa D. Wright; 1820-4, Absalom Sylvester; 1825,
Apollos Stephens; 1826, A. Sylvester; 1827, Daniel A.
Higley; 1828, A. Sylvester; 1829-33, A. Stephens; 1834,
35, Amos Buck ; 1836, 37, Otis Shaw ; 1838, A. Buck ;
1839, 40, Lewis Pierce ; 1841-3, Charles Loud ; 1844, 45,
John M. Hulbert ; 1846, Sidney Silvester ; 1847, Wm. N.
Angle; 1848, 49, Elon G. Parsons; 1850, C. Loud ; 1851,
W. N. Angle ; 1852, Edward L. Hulbert ; 1853, E. G. Par
sons; 1854, 55, John H. Angle; 1856, E. L. Hulbert; 1857,
Darwin Nash ; 1858, 59, Silas Slater, jr.

In 1810, 11, 12, 13, a fine of $10, was voted for allowing
Canada thistles to go to seed. A bounty of 50 cents was
voted in 1821, for killing foxes, and $10 for panthers in
1828.

As noticed in our chapter upon titles, this town formed a
part of the purchase of Harrison, Hoffman, Low and Hen
derson, and fell to the lot of the two first, as joint owners,
together with townships 8 and 10, or Rodman and Harris-
burgh. On the 1st of May, 1805, Josiah Ogden Hoffman
sold to Tho. L. Ogden his half of these towns, and the
securities upon them in trust, to pay, first, to the bank of
New York his share of debt due the bank as assignee of
Constable ; second, the personal debts of Hoffman to the

1 Dr. Jllle.n was a native of Massachusetts, studied with. Drs. Guiteau of
Trenton, and Willoughby of Newport, settled in practice at Lowville in 1808,
and in April, 1809, became a partner with Dr. Perry. He removed to Copen
hagen in 1811, engaged in trade with David Canfield, and through the war was
concerned in heavy contracts with the navy. The peace which followed brought
ruin to this firm, although they kept on doing some business from about 1820 to
1828. They succeeded in recovering from government, a portion of the
claims which the suspension of contracts occasioned, and while on this busi
ness at Washington, Dr. Allen formed acquaintance of many prominent public
men. He became the agent of Varick, in the rope manufactory at Copen
hagen, and afterwards engaged in farming a little S. E. from the village, and
adjacent to the High falls. He died, June 12, 1849, aged 66 years. Dr. Allen
was ardently attached to the Whig party and once nominated by them to
assembly, but not elected. With literary tastes, polished manners, and uncom
mon conversational powers, he was eminently fitted to please and instruct,
while his prompt reply and keen wit, made him the life of the social gather
ing.

Denmark. 83

Constable estate ; third, a debt due to Abijah Hammond ;
fourth, to Wm. Harrison the sum due on a bond of $9,093.50,
given January 1, 1805 ; and lastly, what remained to Hoff
man. The first and second trusts were executed in the
summer of 1809, and on the 1st of June, Harrison and
Hoffman made a division of contracts, bonds and mortgages.
On the 19th of July, Hoffman and Ogden conveyed the
whole to Harrison, to satisfy his demands in full. The
amount of securities in the three towns thus transferred,
was ISG^OO.SO. 1

The first definite knowledge of this town was ascertained
by Benjamin Wright, who surveyed around it in April,
1796, and recorded in his field book the following:

" This is a most excellent township of land, and is beau
tifully watered with small streams, with a large creek called
Deer creek running through the middle of it. On this
creek is a cataract, 2 about four miles from the mouth, of
about 20 or 30 feet, and very curious mill seats. There are
several large creeks of fine water running through the town,
with mill seats on them. There is an exceeding large inter
vale on Deer creek near the mouth, which is of the richest
kind of land, and will be equal in quality and extent to any
flat in the state of New York. 3 The south line of this town
is of an excellent quality, excepting a swamp near the
Black river, which is timbered with pine, ash, cedar, beech
and soft maple. This township needs no other remarks,
but only to say, that it is the best township in the 300,000
acres, and has every good quality that can be contained in
a township of land : mill seats, excellent timber, finest
quality of soil, excellent water, and pretty good situation.
Area 31,951 acres, strict measure."

The proprietors appointed Abel French of Albany, their
agent, and the latter employed Joseph Crary, in 1798-9, to
subdivide the township into farms. It will be observed,
upon examination of the map, that this survey was made
with reference to a line since adopted as the route of the

1 Hoffman while concerned in these titles, was attorney-general. He was
seven years in assembly, in 1810-13, 14 ; was recorder of New York ; and
at the time of his death, which occurred January 24, 1838, he was associate
judge of the superior court of that city. He was a lawyer of great ability and
strict integrity.

2 Probably King s falls. The High falls appear to have been unknown at
this time.

3 The extent of these flats is about 2,000 acres, and their richness is not
over estimated. They are not ordinarily flowed over their whole extent, but
in the winter of 1856, 57, the flood came up to the foot of the hill, a few
rods below Deer River village. On the 12th of May, 1833, the inundation
was higher than ever before or since known.

84 Denmark.

east road, which was called the Base line ; and that the lot
lines were run nearly parallel, or at right angles to this.
The principal lots were intended to measure seventy chains
on each side, and were sold as right angled, although uni
formly, and no doubt purposely, run at an angle varying 6
from this, thus falling a little short of reputed contents in
every case. It is said that Crary remonstrated at this irre
gularity, but was overruled, and directed to proceed as the
surveys now indicate. 1

The lands of this town were offered to settlers upon terms
that were considered very favorable, varying from two to
three and a half dollars per acre, one-half being required
at purchase. About 1806, Morris S. Miller became agent,
and soon after Isaac W. Bostwick, under whom its settle
ment and conveyance by deed was mostly completed.

The first location of land was made by Abel French, the
agent, at Deer river, and the next by Jesse Blodget, 2 at
Denmark village. The latter became the first settler in
town, and arrived with his family in the spring of 1800.
Joseph Crary, Peter Bent, 3 Solomon Farrell, William and
Daniel Clark, James Bagg, Charles Moseley, Simeon Dun
ham, and others settled in the lower part of the town.
Freedom Wright 4 and his sons Jabez, Douglass and Free
dom, Charles Wright 4 and his sons Charles, Tyrannus A.,
Stephen, Erastus, Chester, Nathan and Matthew, and his son-
in-law Wm. Merriam, 4 Joseph Blodget, 4 his son Calvin, 4 and
son-in-law Shadrach Case, 4 Andrew Mills, 4 Freeman Wil
liams, 4 Darius Sherwin, 4 Levi and Reuben Bobbins, David
Goodenough, John Williams, Nathan Munger and his son
Nathan, Levi Barnes, John Clark, Joseph and Bezaleel I.
Rich, David King, Isaac Munger, Abner Whiting, Robert
Horr, Henry Welch, and perhaps others, in the central and
western part of the town, are believed to have settled in
1801-2, having in most cases come on the first year to select
land and begin improvements, preliminary to the removal
of families. The Wrights were from Winstead, Ct., the
Mungers from Ludlow, Mass., Blodget and Rich from New

1 It is a prevalent belief among the first purchasers, that Mr. French saved
a valuable tract of land to himself, by this arrangement. He represented
Oneida county in assembly in 1799, 1801, 02, 03, and Albany county in
1810. He died in Albany, where he had resided most of his life, on the 17th
of November, 1843, aged 78 years.

2 Mr. B. died January 9, 1848, nearly 84 years of age. His wife, the first
woman who came into town, died August 5, 1844, aged 70 years. The first
male child born in town was Harrison Blodget, their son, in 1801. Mr. B.
erected the large stone hotel in Denmark village in 1824. Harrison Blodget
was member of assembly in 1831.

3 Died, Nov. 30, 1833, aged 56 years. * Men with families.

Denmark. 85

Hampshire, Crary from Vermont, the Robbinses from Saun-
dersfield, Mass., Clark from Barre, Mass., and with scarcely
an exception, all who arrived during the first five years
were from some of the New England states.

The town settled with great rapidity, and in less than
three years, most of it was in the hands of actual settlers. 1

In the winter of 1800-1, it is believed no family but that
of Jesse Blodget, remained in town. The next winter was
remarkably open, and land was plowed in March. This
may have created a highly favorable opinion of the climate
of the new town, although the occurrence was not peculiar
to this section in that year.

That portion of the town south of Deer river, between
Copenhagen and Denmark village, early acquired the name
of Halifax, and prejudices were raised against it, but fifty
years of cultivation have shown that it is equal to any part
of the town.

The first physician who settled at Copenhagen was Dr.
Dunn, but he removed to the Genesee country in 1804, and
in the year following Dr. John Loud settled and remained
till his death, March 3, 1831, at the age of 52.

The first framed house in Denmark village was built by
Freedom Wright, first inn-keeper, and the first in Copenhagen
by Levi Barnes.

In the spring of 1801, the Nathan Mungers (father and son),
millwrights, having had their attention called to the Black
river country, came down the river and followed up the
Deer river to half a mile above the falls where they selected
a site for mills, and in that season finished a saw mill arid
got it in operation. The proprietors to encourage the
enterprise gave them the water privilege from the High
falls up over two miles. In 1803, they got a small grist
mill with one run of burr stones in operation, in time to
grind the first wheat raised in the town as soon as it was in
condition for use. The mill stood directl} 7 below the upper
saw mill in Copenhagen village, and its vicinity gradually
receiving a number of mechanics acquired the name of
Munger s Mills.

The first store was opened at this place by Urial Twitchell
and the first inn on the hill south, was kept by Andrew
Mills. A beaver meadow, now a broad and beautiful inter
vale just above the village, afforded the first hay used in
the settlement.

1 Jonathan Barker, Nathaniel Sylvester, William Root, Uriel and Timothy
Twitchell, Solomon Wedge, John and David Canfield, Ichabod Parsons and
others were early settlers.

86 Denmark.

It so happened that most of those living at this place
were federalists, and as politics then ran, were presumed to
sympathize with British measures. Soon after the arrival
of the news of the bombardment of Copenhagen in Europe,
in 1807, by a British fleet, in time of peace, and under cir
cumstances that were regarded throughout Christendom as
highly disgraceful to the assailants, a political meeting
was held at Munger s Mills, by the Republicans as then
styled. Their business being done, some one proposed to
christen the place Copenhagen, in derision of the party who
were in duty bound to justify the recent outrage in Europe.
The name was at once adopted, and a few years after it
was applied to their post office. The town had previously
been named by the legislature, which rendered the new
name to this village the more appropriate, as the largest
village in town.

About 1807, P. Card, began a cloth manufactory below
Copenhagen, which was continued by himself and sons
many years. The cloth principally made was satinett, but
more recently the business has chiefly been limited to card
ing wool.

In 1806, most of a militia company at Copenhagen
failed to appear at a training, on account of some griev
ance at the change of their captain, and were accordingly
summoned to a court martial to be held at the inn of
Andrew Mills, half a mile south of the village, in January
following. Their numbers inspired confidence in the belief
that the proceedings of the court might be embarrassed or
interrupted, and they agreed upon a course of proceeding,
perhaps natural, under the circumstances of time and pre
vailing customs. Procuring a keg of spirits at a distillery,
they marched to the court, and when called up for trial,
assigned whimsical reasons for delinquency, alleging the
want of decent clothing, short funds, the existence of vari
ous infirmities, and other frivolous causes tending to throw
ridicule upon the court, and rendering it necessary to order
the arrest of the greater number of the party. The prison
ers were confined in the room over that in which the court
martial was held, and finally by their boisterous conduct,
compelled an adjournment without trial.

The offending parties were indicted for riot, and their
trial came off at Doty s tavern in Martinsburgh, but resulted
in acquittal. The rioters had in the meantime prepared a
song, entitled The Keg and the Law, which recited minute
ly the transaction, and when the county court had ad
journed, after the trial, this song was sung in the court

Denmark. 87

room with great force and effect. The presiding judge
is said to have jocosely remarked, that if this had been
sung during the trial, witnesses would have been need
less, as it embodied every fact in the case. One year
after, the anniversary of their acquittal was duly celebrated,
by an address, and the well remembered song was repeated.
It was written by Charles Wright, and a friend has furn
ished us a written copy, as taken down half a century after,
from the memory of one of the party. It is destitute of
rhyme, poetical measure or literary merit, although it
might appear quite different in its appropriate tune, now
forgotten, or so changed as not to be applicable to the sub
ject. A company of silver greys or exempts, was formed
in this town, under Charles Wright, during the war. It
never found occasion for service.

In June, 1815, Henry Waggoner was found dead below
the High falls, in Deer river, under circumstances|that ex
cited suspicions of murder. A coroner s jury was called,
but could not agree, and the body was buried, but the
clamors of the public led to the holding of a second inquest
before a jury of twenty-three persons, summoned from the
central and southern part of the county, of whom twelve
united in a verdict of suicide.

It appeared that Simpson Buck of this town, had been on
terms of improper intimacy with the wife of a son of Mr.
Waggoner, who resided on the Number Three road, south of
Copenhagen. The old man publicly denounced this con
duct, and in a recent suit against Buck, had appeared and
testified against him. It is related that the latter swore
that Waggoner should never appear against him again in
court. When last seen, Mr. W, was going to his work of
hoeing potatoes in a field about a mile south of the falls.
When found, some days after, the body was much decayed,
and showed marks upon the skull as if made with the head
of a hoe. It is said there was also found a trail of blood
for some distance from the bank, and on a tree fence over
which the body was supposed to have been taken. Forty-
two witnesses were sworn by the coroner, and the evidence
taken led to the verdict that the deceased, about the 12th
of June, 1815, " came to the south bank of Deer river,
about one or two rods above the High falls, and then and
there, by accident, or intentionally fell, threw himself into
the said river, and then and there passed over said falls, a
distance of 164 feet, and in so doing bruised and drowned
himself."

Buck soon after went off with the young man s wife, re-

88 Denmark.

sided some years in Peim Yan, and then removed to Michi
gan, where he is said to have perished by violence. At the
time of the event he was very strongly suspected, even be
fore the body was found, and in accordance with a supersti
tion that should rather belong to the days of Salem witch
craft, he was brought and required to touch the dead body, to
ascertain whether blood would flow afresh from the wound !
Upon conversing with many co temporaries of Waggoner,
we find the belief in his murder to be very generally preva
lent, although two or three express doubts whether an old
soldier, who had been living in the place some time before,
and also went off soon after, was not employed to execute
the deed, or to assist in it. There is reason to believe that
the coroner and jury were conscientious, as they certainly
were disinterested in the discharge of their duties.

On the 9th of July, 1832, a board of health, consisting of
the supervisor, overseers of the poor and [justices of the
peace, was appointed in this town, to guard against cholera,
and Dr. Erasmus D. Bartholomew was appointed health
officer.

In December, 1850, Wm. Cratzenberg of this town, was
indicted for the murder of his wife in the spring preceding,
and tried but acquitted. The judge, in charging the jury,
stated that the prisoner had been guilty of great cruelty
and brutality ; but the evidence failed to establish a verdict
of guilt.

About 1820, Allen & Canfield, 1 who had several years
transacted a heavy mercantile and manufacturing business,
failed, and their mill property was subsequently bid in by
Abraham Varick of Utica. 2 Dr. Samuel Allen was ap
pointed agent for the erection of an extensive rope factory,
and the farmers of this and adjoining towns were induced
to engage largely in the culture of flax and hemp, hundreds
of acres of which were raised. In 1832 a rope walk, 575
feet long, w r as erected, and about 1836 machinery was in
troduced for the preparation of hemp. The rotting of
hemp was not found economical by the process employed,
and its culture quickly fell into disuse. The rope works
were burned in the spring of 1843, doubtless by an incen-

1 David Canfield died Dec. 17, 1849, aged 71.

2 Mr. V. was a son of Richard Varick, an eminent citizen of New York. A
fire once occurred near his rope works, when he was in the village, but by
the most active exertions it was subdued before extensive damage was done.
He was not allowed to stand an idle spectator, but was pressed into the line
for passing buckets. When advised to get the works insured without fur
ther risk, he declined, saying, that among such people insurance was need
less.

Denmark. 89

diary, and again built soon after, 400 feet in length, by
Archibald Johnston, and the business has continued more
or less regularly till the present time. Yarick lost a large
sum in this investment.

In 1853, surveys were made with the design of securing
the location of the Rome R. R. to this place. The highest
point on the surveyed route was 611 feet above Felt s mills,
and about 40 above Copenhagen. At that time, a square
mile was surveyed, and preliminary measures adopted to
obtain a village charter. The census taken for this pur
pose, gave on the proposed limits, 610 inhabitants.

The water power at this place and below is valuable for
manufacturing purposes, and may be improved to a much
greater extent than at present. The river is however some
what liable to extremes of flood and drouth, and the bridge
at the village has been several times swept away. The last
time this accident occurred was in the winter of 1842-3.

In 1849, a steam saw mill was erected by Kitts & Broad
way, on the East road near the Lowville line and in 1858,
C. S. Cowles & Co. erected a manufactory of staves, shingle
and heading upon the Black river, at Blodget s landing.

About half a mile below Copenhagen occur the celebrated
High falls on Deer river. The stream has here worn a
broad deep chasm in the Trenton limestone down which
the torrent plunges a nearly vertical slope a distance of
166 feet. The bank on the south side is 225 feet high. On
the north side of the cascade, the rock presents a very
steep inclination, and has been broken away, leaving a
succession of small narrow steps, with occasional projec
tions, along which the adventurous visitor may creep a
considerable distance up the bank, but not without immi
nent danger.

About 1806, Miss Lodema Schermerhorn, in attempting
rashly to climb this perilous steep, had crept over halfway
up before she was aware of the danger, when she found
that descent was impossible, and her only chance for life
depended upon her reaching the top. With cautious and
steady nerve, she continued on, now clinging with one
hand in a crevice of the rock while she found a firm hold
for the other a little higher, she finally gained the summit,
exhausted with fatigue, and overcome by the extraordi
nary nervous excitement which the effort occasioned. A
female associate had followed her lead, and also found it
necessary to go on or perish in the effort. She also reached
the top of the precipice in safety. Some years after,
Thomas Parkman attempted to scale the cliff, and got so
L

90 Denmark.

far up that he could neither advance or recede. His com
panions ran to the nearest house, procured a bed cord, and
drew him to the top.

On the night of Sept. 17, 1853, Win. Ferguson, a British
deserter, working in a foundry, having drank freely the
day previous and retired late, sprang up from sleep, saying
that a man had fallen into the river above the falls, and ran
towards the precipice. A person followed, but before he
could be overtaken, the delirious man had climbed a tree
that overhung the chasm, when the branch on which he
stood broke, and lie fell to the bottom, a distance of 130
feet, striking half way down, and bounding into deep water.
He was instantly killed by the fall.

King s falls, two miles below, form a cascade about 40
feet iii height and are excelled by few localities of the kind
in picturesque" beauty of scenery. They were named in
compliment to Joseph Bonaparte, ex-king of Spain, by whom
they were visited and much admired. The banks of Deer
river from the High falls to Deer river village, present the
finest section of the limestones for the study of geology
that the county affords.

Settlement at Deer river was begun by Abel French, a
few years after his arrival as agent. In 1824, a large stone
mill was built by Richard Myers and A. Wilson. A large
saw mill was built in 1848, and the place has gradually
grown to one of some business, having besides a large grist
mill, two saw mills, a shingle mill and several mechanic
shops, two churches, a store and about thirty dwellings.
The principally traveled road formerly crossed half a mile
above, where there is an oil mill, once a cloth-dressing mill.
This village has at various times borne the name of the mill
owner, as French s Mills, Myer s Mills, &c., but since the
establishment of a post office, it has been known as Deer
River. The name was adopted at a meeting called for the
purpose.

Denmark (P. 0.) is the oldest village in the town, and its
post office was one of the first in the county, having been
established in January, 1804. As a business place it is now
probably the least important. It has a hotel, store, two
churches, and a thinly settled street of nearly a mile in
length.

Almon M. Norton 1 and Amos Buck 2 were many years
prominent merchants in this village. The first merchant

1 Mr. Norton died at Lockport, 111., Nov. 23, 1859, aged 73.

2 Mr. Buck died, July 11, 1855, aeed 60. He was iu assembly in 1825
and 1843.

Denmark. 91

was Jabez Wright, in 1805. Freedom Wright was the first
inn keeper.

The first school in Copenhagen was taught by Tyrannus
A. Wright, and the first school house in town was built
near the inn of Freedom Wright in Denmark village. The
first school commissioners were Lewis Graves, Charles
Wright, jr., and Stephen Parsons, and the first school in
spectors were John Canfield, Israel Kellogg and Charles
Squire. These were chosen in 1813.

In 1829, Charles Brown erected a wooden building in
Denmark village for an academy, and taught with much
success for several years. Since his removal, about 1840,
several others have taught, but the premises have now
fallen into ruin.

The Alexandria library of Denmark was formed, May 6,
1811, by Willis Secombe, Lewis Graves, jr., Charles Squire,
Asa Pierce, Gardner Cottrell, Solomon Wood and Isaac
Horr, trustees. It was dissolved before the introduction of
school libraries.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. The first meetings in town were
held by travelers. On the 9th of July, 1805, the Harris-
burgh Ecclesiastical Society was formed, with Levi Robbins,
Edward Frisbie, John S. Clark, Charles Wright, jr., and
James Buxton, trustees, with the view of erecting a place
of worship. The division of the town having made the
name inapplicable, the Denmark Ecclesiastical Society was
formed in its place, Sept. 21, 1810, with Gershom Sylvester,
Chester Wright, Daniel Babcock, Wm. Root, John Canfield,
John Loud and Freedom Wright, trustees. This was also
unable to erect a church, and in 1815, a third organization,
termed the First Ecclesiastical Society in the town of Den
mark, was formed, having as its trustees, Josiah White, J.
Loud, David Canfield, Lemuel Dickenson, Asa D. Wright
and G. Silvester. Unfortunately for the interests of reli
gion, the Presbyterians of this town employed as a minister,
a man wholly unworthy of confidence, and as the sequel
proved, utterly abandoned in principle. This was Walter
H. Gerry, who was installed in 1815, and at a special ses
sion of the St. Lawrence presbytery, August 19, 1817, was
deposed. The records show that he was " a man of con
siderable native talent, and in his preaching advocated
sound doctrines, but it was found that his credentials were
forged, and that he had never been admitted to church mem
bership. His moral character was also bad, and at length
he abandoned his family and went to South America, where
he became a friar." Before leaving he borrowed as much

92 Denmark.

money as his credit would allow. 1 The Eev. Luman Wil-
cox was ordained and installed, March 16, 1824, and dis
missed in 1826. A Presbyterian society was legally formed
at Copenhagen, January 20, 1824, with Hezekiah Hulbert,
Philo Weed, Wm. Eoot, John Loud, Gideon Smith and
Malachi Van Duzen, trustees. The Denmark first and
second churches remained one till 1827, when they were
separated by the presbytery. The Rev. Wm. Jones, Abel
L. Crandall and others were subsequently employed.

A small wooden church was built at an early day in Den
mark village, and used by several denominations many
years. The present Union church at that place was built in
the fall of 1848. A Universalist church was built in Den
mark about 1830.

The first church in Copenhagen was built by Presbyte
rians and Baptists, on the northwest corner of Main and
Mechanic streets, and was burned Feb. 16, 1832. The
Presbyterians thus deprived of a place of worship, united
with the Methodists and built the church now held by the
Unionists, and occupied it alternately until the present
Methodist church was erected. In the month of July, 1839,
these denominations also united in holding a camp meeting
in a grove half a mile south of the village. A Congrega
tional church was legally formed at Copenhagen, May 3,
1841, with Malachi Van Duzen, Silas Chapin, Allen Kil-
born, jr., Lorenzo Baker, Warren Murray, Gideon Smith,
Nathan Lawton, J. H. Allen and John Newkirk, trustees.
Many of the members of this society and others have formed
a church upon what is termed the Union principle, profess
ing to be kept together by Christian fellowship rather than
creeds. A legal society styled the Church of Christ in
the village of Copenhagen, was formed May 11, 1858, with
Wm. Canfield, Wm. C. Lawton, Ezekiel Collins, Nelson
Munger, Lyman Waters, Stephen Thompson, John D. Loud,
Wm. L. Tompkins and Abel G. Sage, trustees.

The first Baptist ministers in town were Stephen Parsons
and Peleg Card, the latter of whom settled about 1807 in
Copenhagen and engaged in the business of cloth dressing.

1 After he absconded, various rumors of his operations came back, among
which was the sale of a large quantity of water for whiskey. This was done
by placing bladders filled with spirits at the bung, in such a manner that the
proof glass could dip into them. When examined as a candidate for the
ministry, he affected to be terribly in pain from toothache. Once in preach
ing he evinced great emotion without apparent cause, turned pale, trembled
and could scarcely go on with his discourse. When questioned about the
cause, he admitted that the thought had occurred to him, that whilst thus
ministering religious truths to others he might himself be damned !

Denmark. 93

A church was formed from churches in Rutland and Cham
pion in April, 1808, numbering six males and five females.
After losing their interest in the first church by fire, they,
in 1834, built a church since owned by them. In 1835, Eld.
Jacob Knapp, the eccentric revival preacher, held meetings
here. Elders Geo. Lyle, Orrin G. Bobbins, P. Nichols, W.
J. Crane, M. Thrasher, A. S. Curtis, 0. Wilbur and others,
have preached here.

The first Methodist preacher in town is said to have been
Mr. Willis. A society was formed in the west part at an
early day, but not organized as a separate circuit until 1840.
The preachers since assigned to the Copenhagen circuit
have been: 1840, Wm. W. Wood; 1842, Silas Slater,
1843, Harris Kinsley; 1844, David Ferguson; 1845, G.
Hall, B. S. Wright ; 1846, G, Hall, A. S. Wightman ; 1847,
Hiram Shepherd, G. W. Plank ; 1848, H. Shepherd, Silas
C. Kenny; 1849, Alban M. Smith, T. D. Brown ; 1850, A. M.
Smith ; 1851-2, Orman C. Lathrop ; 1853-4, W. W. Hunt ;
1855, L. Clark; 1856-7, R. E. King; 1858-9, L. L. Palmer.

The 2d Soc. of the M. E. Church of Denmark, was formed
Feb. 3, 1841, with Orlando Babcock, Abner Munger, John
Clark, 2d, Stephen Nash and John Whiting, as trustees.
They have a church edifice in Copenhagen.

The Baptist church in Lowville and Denmark, locally
known as the " Line Church," was formed Aug. 25, 1819, a
society having been organized under the statute, as the 1st
Baptist church of L. and D. Feb. 9, of that year, Moses
Waters, Luther Horr, Elijah Clark, Benjamin and Charles
Davenport, Nelson Burrows, Samuel Bassett, Ichabod
Parsons and Jacob Kitts, 2d, being the first trustees.
An edifice was built on the town line on the state road,
in 1819, rebuilt in 1850, and rededicated Jan. 10, 1851.
Its early ministers were elders Stephen Parsons, 1 Elisha
Morgan, John Blodget, Ruel Lathrop and others. In
the anti-masonic troubles of 1828-30, the church was

1 Eld. Parsons was born Sept. 5, 1748, and ordained to the ministry, Jan.
31, 1788. He was an early, zealous and successful missionary in the Black
river settlements, and active in the organization of nearly every Baptist
church in the county. He removed from Middletown to Whitestown towards
the close of the last century, and in 1802 came to Leyden, from whence, af
ter several years, he removed to this town. His sons became heads of families
and most of those of this name, now living in the county, are his descendants
The circumstances of his death were so peculiar that they made a deep and
lasting impression upon the public mind. He had preached on a Sabbath, in
the forenoon, from a favorite text, Psalms, xc., 12, and in the afternoon from
II. Samuel, xix., 34 : " How long have I to live ?" On going to the barn to
feed his horse on the same day, he fell from a scaffold, receiving an injury,
from which he died unconscious, Jan. 7, 1820 within the same week that
this sermon was preached.

94 Diana.

nearly broken up, and some twenty members withdrew at
one time. The Presbyterian church at Denmark village
had become nearly extinct, when one was formed at Deer
river, in 1826, as the second Presbyterian church of Den
mark. It was changed in 1833 to the first Congregational
church of Denmark, and a legal society was formed July 8,
1841, with Lyrnan Graves, Wm. Shelden, L. S. Standing and
Abner A. Johnson, as trustees, A plain stone church had
been previously erected at Deer river by this sect and the
Methodists. In 1859, the Congregationalists of Deer river
erected a neat church edifice, 36 by 63 feet, at a cost of
$3,000.

The Methodist Episcopal society of Deer river was incor
porated April 13, 1852, with Rev. Horace Rogers, Tyran-
nus A. Wright and C. A. Poor, as trustees.

DIANA.

This town was formed from Watson (by request of town
meeting), April 26, 1830, and named in compliment to the
wishes of Joseph Bonaparte, who then owned most of its
wild lands and had begun small improvements. In his
favorite pastime of hunting, he had here found an ample
field for enterprise, and fancying that Diana herself, might
covet this region as her home, by a happy turn of poetic
fancy, he conferred upon it the name of the goddess of
huntsmen. In classic mythology, Diana was reputed the
daughter of Jupiter, from whom she received a bow and
arrows, and a train of sixty nymphs. The poppy was sacred
to her, and her temple at Ephesus was ranked among the
proudest trophies of art. As a huntress she was represented
as tall and nimble, with a light flowing robe, her feet
covered with buskins, armed with a bow and arrows ; and
either alone or followed by her nymphs or a hound. Some
times she rode in a chariot drawn by two white stags, and
as goddess of night, or the moon, she was painted with a
long starred veil, a torch in her hand and a crescent on her
forehead.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Robert
Blanchard, at which Chapman Johnson was elected super
visor; Geo. W. Bingham, clerk; Silas D. Stiles, John Wilbur
and Enoch Cleveland, assessors; Willis Edwards, Caleb
Blanchard and Jesse Palmer, corns, of highways; Daniel
Robert, C. Blanchard and G. W. Bingham, corns, of schools;
E. Cleveland and Mills Sly, poor masters; James Edward, col
lector, and Thos. Brayton, John Wilbur and Norman Stevens,
inspectors of schools.

Diana. 95

Supervisors. 1830-1, Chapman Johnson ; 1832, Thos.
Brayton, jr. ; 1833, C. Johnson ; 1834-5, T. Brayton, jr. ;
1836-9, Caleb Blanchard ; 3840-1, David D. Reamer ; 1842,
John Wilbur ; 1843-9, D. D. Reamer ; 1850, Sherman Blan
chard ; 1851, Eugine Burnand ; 1852-3, Jonathan Aldrich ;
1854, Howard Sterling ; 1855, Horace Clark ; 1856, Wm.
Hunt ; 1857-60, Joseph Pahud.

Clerks. 1830, G. W. Bingham ; 1831-2, John Wilbur;
1833, James G. Lyndes (removed and J. Wilbur appointed
July 11); 1834, Silas D. Stiles; 1835-9, J. Wilbur; 1840-5,
Horace Clark ; 1846, Reuben Tyler ; 1847, Henry Allen,
jr.; 1848-9, R. Tyler ; 1850-3, H. Allen ; 1854, Nathan R.
Carley ; 1855-9, H. Allen.

The south line of the town was fixed between the 19th
and 20th north ranges of Castorland, but in the erection of
Croghan, in 1841, the north line of that tract was made the
south line of the town. The poor and the public money of
Watson were to be divided in the ratio of the last tax list.
While a part of Watson, the north line of this town was
twice changed. On the 10th of April, it was made to run
so as to include about 30 lots now in Wilna, and leave off
several now in Diana, and on the 2d of April, 1813, the
county iine was fixed as it now exists. 1 The Checkered
house and adjoining neighborhood in Wilna, were under
the former arrangement included in Lewis county, and resi
dents in that section could only enjoy the privilege of
voting, by a journey to Leyden, distant about forty miles.

A panther bounty of $5 was voted in 1831-2-5, and of
$10 in 1836 to 42-50-51. A wolf bounty of $5 was voted
in 1835 and of $10 in l832-4-6-7-8-9- 56. Fox bounties
of $1 were voted from 1837 to 1842, inclusive. In 1845,
a special law, allowing $5 on panthers, was asked by this
town of the legislature.

Settlement began on the old St. Lawrence turnpike by
one Doharty, but the first farm improvement was made by
Thomas and Jeremiah Brayton, about 1818. Caleb, Robert
and Sherman, sons of Isaac Blanchard, came about 1824,
and afterwards their brother Daniel. They were originally
from R. L, but then from Wilna, from whence also many of
the other early settlers removed. Geo. W. Bingham, John
Wilbur, Enoch Cleveland and others, settled about 1830, or
a little before.

About 1828, the Count de Survilliers (Joseph Bonaparte),
having acquired the title, first came to explore his lands,

1 These changes are fully described on p. 29 of Jefferson Co. History.

96 Diana.

and spend a few weeks in rural pastimes. He directed a
road to be cut, and went in a stage coach through from the
old turnpike to the lake, which has since been known as
Bonaparte lake. He caused a boat to be taken through the
woods and launched upon this water, and a log house to be
built on an elevation, commanding a fine view of the lake
and its shores.

This sheet of water covers about 1,200 acres, has several
wild rocky islands within it, and is environed by bold rocky
shores, alternating with wooded swamps and intervales,
presenting altogether one of the most picturesque and
quiet woodland scenes which the great forest affords. The
place chosen for the house, was on lot 928, on the most com
manding site that the shores of the lake presented. On
the outlet of the lake at the present village of Alpina, the
count had a clearing of some thirty acres made, and a
framed house erected with ice house, cellars, out houses
and other conveniences, with the view of making this a
summer residence. He also built in 1829, at the Natural
bridge, a large house, still standing.

The count visited his lands four times, upon each occasion
spending a few weeks, and always accompanied by a num
ber of chosen companions, some of whom had witnessed and
shared the sunny fortunes of the ex-king of Naples and of
Spain, the favorite brother of the great Napoleon. Upon
one occasion, in returning from the Natural bridge to Evans s
mills, the cortege halted upon the pine plains, and partook
of a sumptuous feast which had been prepared with great
care, and embraced every delicacy that the country af
forded, displayed upon golden dishes, and served with regal
ceremonies. Liberal in the use of money, and sociable with
all who were brought in business relations with him, he
was of course popular among our citizens, and his annual
return was awaited with interest and remembered with
satisfaction.

He soon, however, sold to La Farge ; the house on the
outlet, still unfinished, rotted down, and the log house on
the lake was some years after burned.

This episode in the life of Joseph Bonaparte has been
made the subject of the following poem by Caleb Lyon of
Lyonsdale. It has been extensively quoted in the news
papers of the day, and presents a favorable specimen of the
style of our Lewis county poet :

Diana. 97

BONAPARTE LAKE.

From the Louisville Journal.

Waters enwound with greenest woods,
And jewelled isles, the gift of Pan,

Unsought, unseen, where Silence broods,
Unwelcoming the feet of man.

Gray clouds in liquid opal burn

Above the jagged hemlock s height,

A sunset sky outpours its urn
In ripples of the rosiest light.

By sinuous shore the baying hound
Tells the stag seeks on silver sands

Diana s mirror; here is found

One of Endyrnion s haunted lands.

The lilies on thy glowing breast

Loll languidly in crowns of gold,
Were pure Evangels speaking rest

Unto an Exile s heart of old.

Brother of him whose charmed sword

Clove or created kingdoms fair,
Whose faith in him was as the word

Writ in the Memlook s scimiter.

Here he forgot La Granja s glades,

Escurial 7 s dark and gloomy dome,
And sweet Sorrento s deathless shades,

In his far off secluded home.

The hunter loved his pleasant smile,
The backwoodsman his quiet speech,

And the fisher s cares would he beguile
With ever kindly deeds for each.

He lived for others not in vain,

His well kept memory still is dear

Once King of Naples and of Spain,
The friend of Bernardin St. Pierre.

In 1832, Fannel and Jomaine, 1 French capitalists of some
experience in the iron business, began the erection of a
blast furnace on Indian river, at a place which they named
Louisburgh. As built by them, the furnace was thirty-
three feet square at the base, of the kind technically termed
a quarter furnace and intended for a cold blast. They

1 Of the latter name there were two or three brothers. They were directly
from Porto Rico. One of them afterwards died of cholera in Canada.
M

98 Diana.

got the furnace in operation in 1833, but their European
experience did them more harm than good, and after run
ning two or three short blasts upon bog ore, their capital
was expended, and their property, including about five
thousand acres of land, was sold.

Isaac K. Lippencott, Joseph M. Morgan and David D.
Reamer 1 became purchasers in 1836, and continued the busi
ness with better success, about ten years. They rebuilt the
furnace, twenty-eight feet square, (seven and a half feet in
side measure), introduced the hot blast in 1839, and for
some time made stoves and other castings, by dipping
directly from the furnace. The establishment had been
founded upon the expectation of finding ores in the vici
nity, but this failing, a supply was drawn from the Kearney
mine in Gouverneur, and elsewhere in St. Lawrence county.
The yield was generally three tons per day, and towards the
end, much of it found a market in Rochester.

In 1850 the premises were bought by James Sterling who
procured a change in the name of the post office, to Sler-
lingbush, and resumed the manufacture. He paid $ 10,000
for the premises and spent about $13,000 in rebuilding.
Several blasts have been run since this change, but the work
is now suspended. 2 The village consists of but little else
than the furnace and its dependencies. The Sterling-
bush and North Wilna plank road, built in 1853, con
nects this place by plank with the R. R. at Antwerp, and
the iron mines, between Antwerp and Somerville.

In 1833, Foskit Harris 3 of Champion, under a promise of
two acres of land and a waterfall on the Oswegatchie, with
other inducements, from Judge Boyer, agent of Bonaparte,
hired several men, and on the 25th of September of that
year, pushed three miles beyond settlement, and began the
erection of mills at the present village of Harrisville. A
saw mill was built the first season, and a grist mill with one
run of stones in 1835, several mechanics came in, roads

iMr. Reamer died at Watertown, Aug. 12, 1858. He was sole manager at
Louisburgh, the other associates being non-residents. In 1848 he was
elected from this county to assembly, and soon after removed to Watertown,
where he became an unsuccessful merchant. He was afterwards a clerk in
the R. R. freight office.

2 The cost of drawing ore from the Kearney mine, in Gouverneur, averaged
$2.25, besides $1.75 for the ore delivered on the bank. It yields readily 50
per cent in the large way, although, theoretically, it should produce more.
Most of the ore used by Sterling was drawn from his mine in Antwerp.

3 Son of Asa Harris, who removed from Newport, N. Y., to Champion, the
second year of its settlement. Mr. Harris died at Harrisville, Dec. 17, 1842,
aged about 56 years. Mr. La Farge presented fifty acres of land to his
widow.

Diana. 99

were opened, lands cleared, and the place appeared destined
to become a central business point. Several families were
from Le Ray and towns adjacent ; but no sooner was it
known that Mr. La Farge had become the owner of the
lands in this section, than they resolved to quit the place.
The reputation of La Farge was exceedingly bad among the
settlers on Penet square and elsewhere, and cases of marked
severity had created so bitter a prejudice, that no induce
ment, not even that of a free gift at his hand, could induce
them to remain. Thus deserted, the place retained little
besides a name, until about four years since, when Joseph
Pahud, a Swiss gentleman (who had become concerned in
the Alpina works, towards the last of the Swiss company s
operations), came to reside at this place. Under his aus
pices, a grist mill of superior finish was erected in 1858,
and a saw mill, with double saws, in 1859. Inducements
were offered, which led, in 1859, to the building of a chair
factory, a sash, door and blind shop, and several buildings
in the village. In May of that year, Messrs. Beach and
Dodge 1 began an extensive tannery on the east side of the
river, half a mile below the village, and in the midst of a
forest. It is 288 feet long, has 160 vats, and is intended to
turn out about 40,000 sides of sole leather annually. A
new saw mill has been got in operation a mile above, and
other manufactories are in progress. The village as yet,
embraces, besides the above, only an inn, two stores, and
about fifteen houses. It is half a mile from the St. Law
rence co. line, and by the nearest practicable route, thirteen
miles from Keene s station, on the Potsdam and Watertown
R. R., to which place a common or plank road, will, proba
bly, before long, be laid out. The Oswegatchie was de
clared a public highway, by act of April 13, 1854, as far up
as the junction of the middle and west branches.

Eugine Burnand, a Swiss, about 1844, purchased 48,513
acres from La Farge, embracing two ranges of lots in Ant
werp, and 122 lots in Diana, and returned to Switzerland
to find purchasers to settle upon his tract. While traveling
upon the lake Neufchatel he met Louis Suchard, the pro
prietor of the steamer upon which they then were, and in
conversation got him much interested in the chances of spec
ulation, which his tract afforded, especially when he learned
that iron ores occurred in this region and that forests of
wood were abundant. Selecting, at random, a lot upon the
map, (No. 920), he paid for it, and took a deed upon the

i Samuel Henry Beach of Catskill, and Robert Wm. Dodge of Gouverneur,
son of the Hon. Edwin Dodge.

100 Diana.

spot. 1 Suchard came over in 1845, and after two days
spent in personal exploration and conversation with settlers^
this ardent and credulous adventurer returned and in the
winter following, organized a company with a capital of
300,000 francs, for the purchase of the tract, and erection
of an iron furnace. 2

Charles Favarger was sent over to conduct operations,
receiving a salary at first, and promised eventually an in
terest in the enterprise. He selected a site on the lot 886,
on the outlet of Bonaparte lake, and began the erection of
a furnace, giving the location the name of Jilpina. Mr. F.
was not a practical iron master, but the furnace which he
erected was of superior construction, and after an expend
iture greatly exceeding the estimates, it was got in opera
tion in the spring of 1848, at a cost of $20,000. The local
supply of ore proved insufficient 3 and it was obtained from
the Kearney and other mines in St. Lawrence co. After
running two blasts with hot air, making from two to five
tons per day, the company failed. By F. s contract Avith
Burnand, he was to have a deed of 1000 acres whenever he
had paid $1000, and under this arrangement 17,000 acres
had been conveyed at the time of the assignment.

Frederick de Freudenrich, to secure his own interests and
those of his nephew, the Count de Portalis, in this Swiss
company, bought the property of the assignee, and by care
ful management secured both without loss. The stock
remaining at the furnace was worked up by Sterling, under
an agreement with Freudenrich.

The furnace and its dependencies, with a large tract of
land, passed into the hands of Z. H. Benton of Ox Bow,
Jeff, co., who, on the 6th of June, with his associates, or
ganized the St. Regis Mining Co. with $1,000,000 capital,
in shares of $10 each. The parties named in the articles
were Thomas Morton, John Stanton, Lyman W. Gilbert,
"Wm. Hickok and Albert G. Allen, and they stipulated the
right to work mines in various towns of St. Lawrence, Jef
ferson and Lewis counties. It is needless to add that this
scheme proved a failure, and that certain parties lost
heavily by the speculation. We are not able to follow the

1 This lot afterwards proved to be chiefly swamp and lake. Burnand, when
this was found, made a satisfactory change of other lands.

2 The company consisted of about twenty persons, and its capital was af
terwards doubled.

3 A few hundred tons of ore were obtained on the lands of the company and
proved of good quality. About 1000 tons of iron were made under Favar
ger. Some poor sandy bog ores, obtained from the vicinity, were used as
flux only.

Greig. 101

intricate management of this affair, or to state further,
than that there is a prospect of a continuance of operations
at the furnace. One blast has been run by Benton, two by
Emmet, and one by Pahud, since the above company was
formed. About 1853, Loveland Paddock of Watertown,
and D. C. Judson of Ogdensburgh, became the owners of
about 30,000 acres in this town, to secure certain interests
growing out of the Alpina management, and are now the
owners of most of the wild lands in great tract number 4.
Their agent is Mr. Pahud of Harrisville.

There are four post offices in this town : Harrisville,
Diana, Diana Centre and Sterlingbush.

In 1852, Prince Sulkowski of Belitz, a political exile from
Polish Austria, became a resident of Harrisville. His uncle
had been a general under Napoleon, arid fell in the battle
of the Pyramids. The subject of this notice, in the revo
lutions of 1848, became obnoxious to the government, but
managed to reach America with his family, and to secure a
small stipend from a once large estate. He removed to this
section from the opportunities it offered in the pursuit of
his favorite diversion, that of hunting, and perhaps from
the number of families who could speak his native language.
In 1856 he removed to Dayanville, and he has recently been
restored to his hereditary titles and estates. About two
years since some attention was called to this person from a
report that he was to marry the infamous Lola Montez ;
but the story, originating from parties in Europe who were
interested in preventing his restoration to the royal favor,
was easily refuted and had none of its intended effect.

There are at present no church edifices in Diana, except
ing an Irish Catholic chapel at Sterlingbush, begun in the
fall of 1858 and still unfinished. The Methodists organized
a class about 1830, and have since held meetings, more or
less regularly, in, school houses. The Seventh Day Bap
tists organized a church of 11 members in 1846.

GREIG.

This town was formed from Watson under the name of
Brantiiigham, 1 March 1, 1828, and changed to its present
name, Feb. 20, 1832. It is named from John Greig, who
was born in Moffat, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, August 6, 1779.

1 Named from Thomas Hopper Brantingham of Phila., in whom the title
of a large portion was, for a short time, vested. He is understood to have
been an unsuccessful merchant. The letters of cotemporaries, allude to him
as unworthy of trust and destitute of honor.

102 Greig.

His father was a lawyer, the factor of the earl of Hopeton,
and a landholder, who ranked among the better class of
Scotch farmers. He was educated in his native parish and
at the high school in Edinburgh, and at the age of eighteen
emigrated to America with John Johnstone, a Scotch gen
tleman who had previously been concerned in Mr. William
son s settlements in western New York. After spending a
short time in New York and Albany he went to Canan-
daigua in April, 1800, and became a law student at the
office of Nathaniel W. Howell. In 1804 he was admitted to
the bar, and becoming a partner with Judge Howell, con
tinued in the practice of his profession until the death of
the latter in 1820. In 1806, upon the death of Mr. John-
stone, he succeeded him as the agent of the Hornby and
Colquhoun estate, and continued in that relation till his
death. He was relieved of a portion of the duties of this
trust, at his own request^ in August, 1852, by the appointment
of William Jeffrey as associate agent. In 1820 he became
president of the Ontario bank, and held this office until the
expiration of its charter in 1856. In 1841 he was elected
to Congress, but resigned at the end of the first session, and
during several of his later years he was one of the ma
nagers of the Western house of refuge In 1825 he was
chosen a regent of the university, arid in 1851 he became vice
chancellor of that board. He held many years the office
of president of the Ontario county agricultural society, and
was one of the founders and corporators of the Ontario
female seminary. His death occurred at Canandaigua,
April 9, 1858.

Through a long and active life, he discharged the duties en
trusted to him with an industry, method and success, which
earned him the implicit confidence of his employers, while
his indulgent kindness towards those who settled under
him, is remembered with gratitude by hundreds of the
pioneer families. Of his private life, the village paper,
in an obituary notice, remarks :

" Mr. Greig, though sometimes drawn from home by
necessary business relations and interests, was eminently
domestic in his habits and predilections. His chosen en
joyment was found in the indulgence, amidst the treasures
of his select and ample library, of a refined literary taste
in the cultivation and adornment of the grounds about his
stately mansion in the society of a numerous circle of per
sonal friends, and in the dispensation of a generous and
tasteful, though unostentatious hospitality. Almost to the
close of his life, nearly every stranger of distinction that

Greig. 103

visited the place, found a welcome and a home at his hos
pitable dwelling. Indeed, our beautiful village, owes much
of its reputation abroad, for social courtesy and refinement,
and for a frank and liberal hospitality, to him and his ge
nerous hearted and worthy lady."

The first town meeting in this town was held at the house
of Dr. Simon Goodell, at which Mr. Goodell was chosen
supervisor; Joshua Harris, clerk; Jedediah Plumb, George
Pinney and Henry Harris, assessors; Gilbert Ford and Ezbon
Pringle, overseers of poor; Johannes Saut, Simeon N. Garratt
and Otis Munn, corns, of highways; Henry Harris, collector:
Henry Harris and Daniel T. Seares, constables-, Wm. Parkes,
Jedediah S. Plumb and John R. Myers, commis. of schools; S.
Goodell, E. Pringle and G. Pinney, school inspectors; John
Fisher, D. T. Sears and Milo Clark, fence viewers; John W.
Southwick, Chancy Carroll and Judah Barnes, pound mas
ters.

Supervisors. 1828, Simon Goodell ; 1829-33. Joshua Har
ris; !834-6,Wm. Dominick; 1837-9, Aaron Perkins ; 1840-3,
Francis Seger ; 1844, Wm. Dominick ; 1845, John I. Domi
nick ; 1846, Dean S. Howard; 1847-8, David Higby;
1849-50, LymanR. Lyon; 1851, Aaron Perkins; 1852, J.
I. Dominick ; 1853-4, Adam Deitz ; 1855-6, Thomas
Rogers ; 1857-9, Henry S. Shedd ; 1860, Francis Seger.

Clerks. 1828, Joshua Harris; 1829-33, Henry Harris;
1834, Joseph Atkins ; 1835, Geo. W. Sharpe ; 1836-8, Adam
Deitz ; 1839-40, H. Harris; 1841-4, J. Harris; 1845-7, A.
Deitz; 1848-9, H. Harris ; 1850, Aaron Perkins; 1851,
Adam Shell ; 1852, Asa Beals ; 1853-4, Chauncey Munson ;
1855-6, Seymour Benedict ; 1857-8, James Springsteed, jr.;
1859, Emmet Harris.

This town has since 1832 voted money annually for the
support of ferries across Black river, upon the condition
that town s people should go free. The towns of Martins-
burgh and Turin have, during several years, united in the
support of these ferries. The first bridge from this town
to the west side was the Davis bridge, first built in 1820
by Caleb Lyon, and since twice rebuilt by the towns. It is
two miles above the High falls. Port Leyden bridge was
first built in 1823, by the towns. A bridge from the point
between Moose and Black river to the west side, was built
by C. Lyon in 1824, and lasted three or four years. A
bridge was built opposite Turin village in 1824-5 by the
towns but did not last long, and the travel has since been
supplied by a ferry. A bridge was first built over the High

104 Greig. ,

falls in 1836, and rebuilt in 1842. 1 In 1849 a new bridge
was built at the junction of Moose and Black river, so as to
accommodate both sides of Moose river. 2

A bridge at Tiffany s landing was built in 1846 3 by this
town and Martinsburgh, and maintained until it was cut
awa}?" by the state authorities in 1854, as obstructing the
navigation. A ferry had existed, several years before at
this place, and has supplied the place of a bridge since the
removal of the latter. Two bridges have been authorized
to be built at the expense of the state, between the falls
and Watson bridge, and the decision of their location will
have probably been made before this volume is in the hands
of readers. Concerning the upper one of these, there has
been an active controversy between those advocating its
location at the steamboat dock at Lyon s falls, and those who
wish to have it constructed opposite Turin village, at or
near the present ferry. A bridge has been recently built
across the Black river, one mile below the Oneida county
line at Hulbert s saw mill.

The first location by actual settlers was made just below
the High falls in 1794, by the French, and their colony re
ceived from time to time accessions in number but not in
strength. It may be questioned whether any number of
tradesmen, jewelers and barbers from Paris could form a
flourishing establishment in this wild wooded country, with
out a long previous course of misspent labor and fruitless
expense ; for of what avail is industry when applied, as it
was here, from dawn till twilight, in clearing land with a
pruning hook? or of what use was money, but to purchase
provisions and other necessaries of life, which could be ob
tained much cheaper in cities. These tender exotics from
sunny France soon found the privations of the northern
wilderness beyond their capacity of endurance and quickly
began to drop off and return to New York, from whence
numbers went back to their native country, wiser and
poorer from the bitter lessons which experience had
taught.

A romantic account of this settlement, under date of
Sept. 9, 1800, appears in the appendix of an anonymous

1 Act of April 12, 1842, allowing the question of tax upon West Turin, for
this object, to be submitted to a town vote.

2 The town of Grreig was authorized by the supervisors Nov. 15, 1849, to
borrow 81,000 for this purpose, which was done.

3 Act of May 12, 1846* allowing $400 to be taxed on Greig, and $300 upon
Martinsburgh.

Greig. 105

work published in Paris in 1801, from which we here
offer several extracts i 1

An event, as unfortunate as unexpected, has much hindered the
prosperity of this colony. The death of a young man of much
talent, whom the Castorland company had sent from Paris, to
render a wild and hitherto unknown country fit to favor the re
union of a new born society, to divide the lands, open roads,
begin the first labors, built bridges and mills, and invent
machines, where man is so rare. A victim of his zeal, in taking
the level of a bend of the river, he perished in trying to cross
above the great falls. His comrades so unfortunate as not to be
able to assist him, have collected the details of this disastrous
event in a paper, which I have been unable to read without
emotion and which I send.

Our rivers abound in fish, and our brooks in trout. I have
seen two men take 72 in a day. Of all the colonies of beavers,
which inhabited this country and raised so many dams, only a
few scattering families remain. We have destroyed these com
munities, images of happiness, in whose midst reigned the
most perfect order, peace and wisdom, foresight and industry.
Wolves, more cunning and warlike than the former, live at our
expense, and as yet escape our deadly lead. It is the same
with the original elk. It is only seen in this part of the state,
and our hunters will soon make it disappear, for you know, that
wherever man establishes himself, this tyrant must reign alone.
Among the birds we have the pheasant, drumming partridge,
wild pigeon, different kinds of ducks, geese, and wild turkey,
&c. Our chief place, situated on the banks of the pretty Bea
ver river, and from thence so appropriately named Castormlle,
begins to grow. It is still only, as you may justly think, but
a cluster of primitive dwellings, but still it contains several
families of mechanics, of which new colonies have so frequent
need. Several stores, situated in favorable places, begin to
have business. The Canadians, on the right bank of the river,
come thither to buy the goods which they need, as well as
sugar and rum, which, from the duties being less at our ports
than at Quebec, are cheaper with us than with them. The
vicinity of these French settlements are very useful to us, in
many respects. Cattle are cheaper than with us, as well as
manual labor. Such are the causes of communication between
the inhabitants of the two sides, that it is impossible for the
English government to prevent it. * * * Among our
families we have some, who, driven from their country by fear
and tyranny, have sought in this an asylum of peace and

iThe article is translated in full, in the Hist, of Jefferson Co., p. 5255.
The work is in three volumes, and purported to be from a manuscript cast
ashore on the coast of Denmark, from the wreck of the ship Morning Star.
The authority of this letter is unknown, but that of the work is known to
be J. Hector Saint John de Cre&gt;ecceur.

106 Greig.

liberty, rather than wealth, and at least of security and sweet
repose. One of these, established on the banks of Rose creek,
came from St. Domingo, where he owned a considerable plan
tation, and has evinced a degree of perseverance, worthy of
admiration. One of the proprietors 1 has a daughter as in
teresting by her figure as by her industry, who adds at the same
time to the economy of the household, the charms or rather the
happiness of their life. Another yet is an officer, of cultivated
mind, sprightly and original ; who, born in the burning climate
of India, finds his health here strengthened. He superintends
the clearing of a tract of 1200 acres, which two sisters, French
ladies, have entrusted to him, and to which he has given the
name of Sister s Grove. He has already cleared more than 100
acres, erected a durable house, and enclosed a garden in which
he labors with an assiduity, truly edifying. He has two Cana
dians, whose ancestors were originally from the same province
with himself. Far from his country, the most trifling events
become at times a cause of fellow feeling, of which those who
have never felt it, can have no idea. As for cattle, those raised
that only bring $9 a pair, at the end of the year, are worth $70
when they are four years old. Fat cattle, which commonly
weigh 700 to 900 Ibs., sell at the rate of $5 per hundred. Of
swine, living almost always in the woods, the settler can have
as many as he can fatten in the fall. It should not be omitted
to give them from time to time an ear of corn each, to attach
them to the clearing, and prevent them from becoming wild, for
then there is no mastering their wills, for they pining for their
wandering life will not fatten on whatever is given them. But
ter is as dear with us as in old settled countries, and sells for a
shilling a pound. * * * I have placed your habitation not
far from the great falls, but far enough distant not to be incom
moded by the noise, or rather uproar which they make in falling
three different stages. The picturesque view of the chain of
rocks over which the waters plunge, their tumultuous commo
tion, the natural meadows in the vicinity, the noble forests
which bound the horizon, the establishments on the opposite
bank, the passage of travelers who arrive at the ferry I have
formed, all contribute to render the location very interesting,
and it will become more so when cultivation, industry and time,
shall have embellished this district, still so rustic and wild, and
so far from resembling the groves of Thessalia. The house is
solid and commodious, and the garden and farm yards well en
closed.

I have placed a French family over the store and am well
pleased with them. I think, however, they will return to
France, where the new government has at length banished in
justice, violence and crime, and replaced them by the reign of
reason, clemency and law. The fishery of the great lake (On-

1 St. Michel, noticed in our account of Croghan.

Greig. 107

tario) in which I am concerned, furnishes me an abundance of
shad, 1 salmon and herring, and more than I want. What more
can I say ? I want nothing but hands. You who live in a
country where there are so many useless hands and whose la
bors are so little productive there, why don t you send us some
hundreds of those men ? The void they would occasion would
be imperceptible; here they would fill spaces that need to be
animated and enlivened by their presence. What conquest
would they not achieve in ten years ! and what a difference in
their lot ! Soon they would become freeholders and respecta
ble heads of families. The other day a young Frenchman, my
neighbor, seven miles distant, and established some years upon
the bank of the river, said to me: " If it is happy to enjoy
repose, the fruit of one s labors and ease after having escaped
the perils of the revolution, how much more so to have a
partner of these enjoyments ? I am expecting a friend, a
brother; it is one of those blessings which nature alone can
bestow. What pleasure shall I not enjoy in pointing out to
him the traces of my first labors and in making him count the
successive epochs of their progress and the stages of my pros
perity, but above all to prove to him that his memory has been
ever present to me. The objects which surround me I will tell
him are witnesses to the truth of this: this hill upon the right,
covered with sombre pines, is designated upon my map under
the name of Hippolites Absence, the creek which traverses my
meadow under that of Brothers Creek, the old oak which I have
left standing at the forks of the two roads, one of which leads
to my house and the other to the river, Union Oak, the place of
my house Blooming Slope. Soon he will arrive from St. Domingo,
where Toussarit L Ouverture has allowed him to collect some
wreck of our fortune."

The reminiscences of the French colony in this town
have been made the subject of the following poem, written
by Caleb Lyon of Lyonsdale, entitled

LEWIS COUNTY IN THE OLDEN TIME.

From the Evening Post-

In the lands of vines and olives, over three score years ago,
Where the Bourbon Rulers perished in unutterable woe,
Plans matured for emigration sanctioned were with revel gay,
In saloons of la belle Paris, by the friends of Chassanais.

On an hundred thousand acres, never trod by feet of men,

He had mapped out farms and vineyards, roads o er precipice and glen,

And, like scenes of an enchanter, rose a city wondrous fair,

With its colleges, its churches, and its castles in the air.

l White Fish.

108 Grag.

Then was struck a classic medal by this visionary band :
Cybele was on the silver, and beneath was Castorland ;
The reverse a tree of maple, yielding forth its precious store,
Salve magna parens frugum was the legend that it bore.

O er the Atlantic, up the Hudson, up the Mohawk s dreary wild,
With his flock came Bishop Joulin, ever gentle as a child ;
Kind words of his dispelled their sorrows and their trials by

the way,
As the darkness of the morning fades before the god of day.

By la Riviere de la Famine, ocean-tired and travel-sore,
They up-reared a rustic altar, tapestried with mosses o er ;
Crucifix they set upon it where the oak tree s shadows fell
Lightly o er the lighted tapers, mid the sweet Te Deum s swell.

Never Dominus Vobiscum, falling upon human ears,
Made so many heart-strings quiver, filled so many eyes with tears.
The Good Shepherd gave his blessing even red men gathered there,
Felt the sacrifice of Jesus in his first thanksgiving prayer.

After toils and many troubles, self-exile for many years,

Long delays and sad misfortunes, men s regrets and women s tears,

Unfulfill d the brilliant outset, broken as a chain of sand,

Were the golden expectations by Grande Rapides promised land.

Few among this generation little care how lived or died
Those who fled from Revolution, spirits true and spirits tried ;
Or of loves and lives all ended, orbs of hope forever set
These the poet and historian can not let the world forget.

AmoDg the ruins of the French houses at the Falls, there
have been found brick of a peculiar form and a light yellow
color. If these were made in the locality, the source from
whence they obtained the clay is well worth inquiry. If
they were brought hither from a distance, the circumstance
has scarcely less interest, especially since stone, well adapted
for building, could be procured abundantly near the spot,
and must have been noticed by the first explorers, had they
been in the least degree observant.

The earliest criminal trial relating to this region, oc
curred in 1795, in the Herkimer court, at which D

C of Litchfield, was tried for stealing $1000 from a

Frenchman at the Falls, and sent to state prison. In 1799,
a white man came in at the High falls from towards lake
Champlain, stating that a negro in his company had died
some miles back on the Beaver rfver road. From his having
some property of the other, suspicions were raised that he
had murdered him, and upon search the body was found
at some distance from where it was reported, but so de
cayed that nothing could be ascertained. The fellow tra
veler was arrested, but released from want of evidence
against him, and it was thought that the negro had arisen

Greig. 109

from where he had been left, and come on some distance
before lying down to die.

The first permanent settlement in this town was begun in
1819, under the agency of Caleb Lyon, 1 although improve
ments had been made by John H. Dickinson, several bro-

1 Caleb Lyon was of Scottish ancestry, who removed to Hertfordshire, Eng.,
during the troubles of the Covenanters, and from thence to New England about
1680. He was a son of a captain in the Revolution. His grandmother was
a daughter of Judge Sherburne of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and
his mother was Margaret Hodges of the Island of Jamaica.

The name Caleb has been applied to the youngest son in this family through
many generations. He was born at East Windsor, Ct., in 1761, and removed
when a child to Greenfield, Mass. He entered at Harvard college, but did not
graduate, and removed, about 1800, to western New York, where he settled
as an agent in what is now Walworth, Wayne county. He was for several
years engaged, in the winter months, in the manufacture of salt at Salina.
He removed in 1810 to the mouth of Pour Mile creek, now North Penfield,
Monroe county, where he laid out a village, projected a harbor and formed
a settlement, but the enterprise not succeeding, he removed to what is known
as Carthage landing, on the Genesee. below Rochester. He there pur
chased 1000 acres, erected buildings, and in 1816 sold to several associates.
Having been for some time an agent of the Ptiltney estate, and thus brought
to the acquaintance of Mr. Greig, he undertook, in 1819, the agency of the
Brantingham tract, in which that gentleman was concerned. In 1823 he set
tled at Lyonsdale, where he built a bridge in 1829, and a grist mill in 1830-1.
There were but one or two settlers in town when he came on as agent. He was
elected to the assembly of 1824, and took an earnest interest in the construc
tion of the Black River canal, but died before it was assumed as a state work.
He was found dead in the woods, about a mile from the Davis Bridge, Sept.
15, 1835, having probably been stricken by apoplexy. Mr. Lyon was a fre
quent contributor to agricultural journals, especially to Fessenden s New Eng
land Farmer. His temperament was ardent and poetic, and his plans of
business were pursued with an energy that allowed no common difficulty to
prevent their accomplishment. He was the friend and correspondent of De
Witt Clinton, and an enthusiastic friend of the great public improvements,
brought forward under his administration. Mr. L. married Mary, daughter
of Maj. Jean Pierre Du Pont, nephew and aid of Montcalm, last French com
mandant at Quebec.

his two sons, Lyman R. Lyon was born in what is now Walworth,
Wayne county, in 1806, and was educated under the Rev. John Sherman, at
Trenton, and at the Lowville academy. From 1830 to 1835 he was deputy
clerk in assembly, and during several years after was employed upon gov
ernment contracts, in dredging the channels of western rivers and harbors.
He was several years cashier and president of the Lewis county bank, and in
1859 was in assembly. He is at present the most extensive resident land
proprietor in the county, and is largely concerned in business affairs. He re
sides in this town, near the river, and a short distance below the falls.

Caleb Lyon of Lyonsdale, widely known as a poet, lecturer, traveler and
politician, was born in this town about 1821. He was educated at Norwich,
Vt., and in Montreal, and at an early age became known in this county as
a lecturer, while his poems and essays rendered his name familiar in literary
circles throughout the country. He was commissioned as consul to Shanghai,
China, Feb. 15, 1847, but entrusted the office to a deputy, and in 1848 he
removed to California, where, after some months spent in the mines, he was
chosen one of the secretaries of the constitutional convention. One of the
first duties of this body was the adoption of a state seal, and the design of
fered by Mr. L. wa* adopted Sept. 2, 1849. He was paid $1000 for the design
and seal (Journal of Convention, p. 304, 323). In 1850 he was elected to

110 Greig.

thers named Chase and others. At the present day much
the largest part of the town is a forest, affording for many
years to come, immense resources for the manufacture of
lumber 1 and articles of wood 2 and bark for tanning leather. 3
Its water power, especially along the course of Moose
river, is of great amount, and as yet mostly unimproved. 4

assembly. He resigned April 26, 1851, to run against Skinner for the senate.
While in the legislature he took an active part in favor of free schools, the
completion of the canals and other public measures, and upon final adjourn
ment was presented a silver tea service by his friends. In the fall of 1852 he
was elected to the 33d congress. Soon after the expiration of his term he
visited Europe and extended his travels to Turkey, Egypt and Palestine,
from whence he returned with many souvenirs of foreign lands. While at
Constantinople he addressed a letter June 28, 1853, to Com. Ingraham of the
U. S. corvette St. Louis, highly approving the measures of Mr. Brown, in the
case of the exile Martin Koszta, which excited much interest in this country
and led to a sharp diplomatic correspondence (Executive Docs., vol. 11, No.
91, p. 19, 1st sess. 33d Cong.). In 1858 Mr. Lyon was defeated at the con
gressional election. In each instance that he has appeared before the public
as a candidate he has been self-nominated and has always canvassed the dis
trict, holding frequent meetings by appointment and discussing the public
issues of the day with his views of the policy which should be pursued with
regard to them. The degree of LL. D. was conferred upon Mr. Lyon by
Norwich University, the college where he graduated, in 1851. He is also an
honorary or corresponding member of several state historical societies. Mr.
Lyon is a popular lecturer upon subjects relating to history and the fine arts,
as well as upon Egypt, the Holy Land, Italy and southern Russia, and his
manner of delivery is animated, earnest and often eloquent. During Mr.
Lyon s congressional term, he enjoyed the friendship of Thomas H. Benton
and other eminent statesmen. He is a good classical and somewhat of an
oriental scholar.

1 Marshal Shedd, jr., and Henry S. Shedd, have a gang saw mill on Moose
river, a mile from its mouth. A gang saw mill was put up about 1854, on
Otter creek, by Richard Carter, upon the tract purchased by Governor Sey
mour, and there are numerous other lumber mills of less extent in town.

2 A match box and match factory have been in operation on Otter creek
since the fall of 1855. There is an extremely thick growth of pines, soft
maple, birch and ash, upon a level tract extending along the creek from half
a mile above its mouth, five or six miles up, and from one to three miles ffom
its bank. The pines are small and doubtless of second growth. An old map
has a record that this district was burnt over by hunters about the time of
the revolution. Running fires have at different times caused great destruc
tion of timber, especially in July, 1849, when the woods, near Port Ley den,
were ravaged by the flames.

3 In 1850, Cyrus W. Pratt, son of Ezra Pratt, of Greene county, built a large
tannery on Fish creek, three miles below the High Falls. Mr. Wm. Wil
liams of Troy, erected another the same year on Crystaline creek, one mile
from the former. This, after several changes of ownership, in the fall of 1856,
also passed into the hands of Mr. Pratt, and both have since been run by
him. They are capable of tanning 50,000 sides of sole leather annually, and
would require 5000 cords of bark. Mr. P. was in our county the pioneer in
this business which has come to form an important element of its manufac
turing industry.

4 Besides a saw mill and grist mill at Lyonsdale, the only manufactory on
this river is a paper mill, built in 1848 by Ager and Lane, and now owned
by the Ager brothers. It turns out of wrapping, book and, news paper, about
500 pounds daily.

Greig. Ill

The point at the junction of the two rivers has been sur
veyed into village lots, and mapped, but is still woodland,
with no building but the forest church. It is owned by the
five daughters of the late Caleb Lyon.

No settlement has been attempted upon Brown s tract
within this county. The proprietor endeavored to establish
settlers in Herkimer county about 1795, but failed entirely.
In 1812, Charles Herreshoff, a son-iri-law of Brown, formed
a project of establishing a sheep farm on what he called
The Manor, made a clearing and got on a flock of sheep,
but this also failed. He afterwards built a forge and
attempted to open a mine, and after spending all the money
he could draw from the family completed this failure also,
by suicide, Dec. 19, 1819. The soil of Greig is, in most
parts, a light sandy loam. Many years since, Dr. S. Goodell
undertook to dig a well in coarse gravel, alternating with
hard fine sand. The latter often indicated water, but failed
to afford it in quantities, and. the shaft was sunk 116 feet
before reaching a full supply. A neighbor, the next year,
in digging a post hole, found durable water; and a well
twelve feet deep, not twelve rods from the deep well, gave
an abundant supply.

There is no village in this town. The three offices of
Greig, Lyonsdale and Brantingham, are supplied by a side
route from Turin village.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. A Presbyterian church was formed
in 1825, and joined the Presbytery, Feb., 1826. No legal
society was formed by this sect until Aug. 29, 1854, when
the " Trustees of the Forest church, in connection with the
Presbytery of Watertown," were incorporated by their own
act, the first set being D. G. Binney, E. Schoolcraft, Heze-
kiah Abbey, 1 Edmund Holcomb, Lyman R. Lyon, Henry S.
Shedd and Cyrus W. Pratt. A neat gothic church was built
of wood in the forest, on the point near the junction of
Black and Moose rivers soon after, at a cost of about $3,000,
including a bell worth $200. Of this sum, the Rev. Thomas
Brainerd, of Phila., formerly of Leyden, raised $700 abroad.

A Free Will Baptist church was formed in this town Nov.
30, 1844, but never built a place of worship.

The Union Society of Greig, was incorporated Aug.
2, 1856, with Alex r Hess, Waitstill Cleaveland and Adam
Shell, trustees.

The Church and Society of North Greig, was formed
Jan. 26, 1859, and Cyrus W. Pratt, Richard Carter, Win. L.

1 Dea. Abbey was born in Windham, Ct., Jan. 31, 1786; settled in Greig
in 1825, and died in this town March 5, 1858.

112 Harrisburgh.

Phillips, Wm. Hillman, Caleb Brown, Wellington Brown,
A. F. Cole, Simeon Crandall and Stephen Burdick were
chosen first trustees. Neither of these have erected
church edifices.

HARRISBURGH.

This town was formed from Lowville, Champion and
Mexico, Feb. 22, 1803, embracing townships 5 and 10 of the
Black river tract. By an act of March 24, 1804, number 9
or Handel was annexed to this town from Mexico. Denmark
was taken off in 1807, and Pinckney in 1808, leaving it with
its present limits, comprising township No. 10, or Platina,
of the tract above named. The first town meeting was
appointed at the house of Jesse Blodget, and adjourned to
Freedom Wright s, in Denmark village, where Lewis Graves
was chosen supervisor; Jabez Wright, clerk; David Graves
and Solomon Buck, assessors; Andrew Mills, Francis Saun-
ders and Jesse Blodget, commissioners of highways; Charles
Wright and Freedom Wright, overseers of the poor ; Nathan
Munger, Jr., constable and collector ; and Charles Mosely and
Andrew Mills,jre7*ce viewers.

Supervisors. 1803-7, Lewis Graves ; 1808-13, John Bush;
1814-15, Ashbel Humphrey; 1 1816, Geo. A. Stoddard; 2
1817-21, A. Humphrey; 1822-25, Simeon Stoddard; 1826,
A. Humphrey ; 1827, Amos Buck, Jr. ; 1828, S. Stoddard ;
1829-30, A. Humphrey; 1831, S. Stoddard; 1832-3, Wm.
C. Todd; 1834-7, Elias Gallup; 1838-9, Henry Humphrey ;
1840, Julius A. White; 1841-2, H. Humphrey; 1843-7,
Horatio N. Bush ; 1848, Bester B. Safford ; 3 1849-50, John
M. Paris; 1851, H. Humphrey; 1852-4, J. M. Paris;
185560, John Chickering.

Clerks. 1803-5, Charles Wright, Jr. ; 1806, Andrew
Mills; 1807, C.Wright, Jr. ; 1808, John G. White ; 1809-15,
Sanford Safford; 4 1816, Simeon Stoddard ; 1817-19, S. Saf
ford ; 1820, Palmer Hodge; 1821, S. Safford; 1822-24,
Amos Buck, Jr. ; 1825-6, S. Safford (May 6, Wm. Allen) ;
1827-30, Wm. Allen ; 1831-3, Elias Gallup ; 1834-50, B. B.
Safford; 1851, Rufus Scott; 1852-5, E. Gallup; 1856-9,
John Young.

From 1836 to 1846, the bounties authorized by special
statute in this county were voted in this town for the killing

1 Born June 20, 1771 ; died September 9, 1855.

2 Died Jan. 11, 1844, in his 72d year. He removed from Westfield, Mass.,
March, 1802. His wife died Dec. 6, 1847, aged 75 years.
3 Died March 30, 1852, aged 55 years.
* Died April 21, 1826, aged 53 years.

Harrisburgh. 113

of wolves. In 1846, J 47 and 48, a $5 bounty was voted for
bears.

B. Wright, in surveying the boundaries of this town, in
the spring of 1796, made the following memoranda :

" The north line of this town is, in general, an excellent
soil, timbered with basswood, maple, elm, beech, birch,
butternut. There is one small cedar swamp near the 5 mile
stake on this line. The country is level in general, and
very finely watered. A large creek crosses this line near
the one and J mile stake, which makes a N. E. direction, on
which there is a fine country. The E line is excellent and
very finely watered. There is some near the S. E. corner
which is rather indifferent, but very little ; the timber is
maple, bass, elm, beech, birch, butternut and hemlock. On
the South line there is middling country, some considerable
swamp and some beaver meadow, on which excellent hay
may be cut. Along the W line there is a good country of
land. Some small gulfs along it which are made by the
streams and a considerable gulf where the Deer creek
crosses the line. The timber, in general, is maple, beech,
bass, ash, birch, elm and some butternut and hemlock.
Towards the South part, the land is swampy and timber
sprucy." Measures 24,992 acres.

This town was subdivided into 49 lots by Joseph Crary
of Denmark. It was named in honor of Kichard Harrison
of New York, former proprietor of the town. Mr. Harrison
was of Welsh origin and a prominent lawyer. In 1788-9,
he was in assembly, and from Feb. 15, 1798 to Aug. 1801,
recorder of that city. He died Dec. 6, 1829, aged 81 years.
After the death of Hamilton he became counsel for Consta
ble and Pierrepont in their landed transactions.

The transfers of title in this town have been related in
our account of Denmark. Settlement was mostly made
under the agency of I. W. Bostwick of Lowville. The first
improvements were made about 1802, along the line of the
West road, which crosses the N. E. corner of the town,
and among the first settlers on this road were Wait Stod-
dard, John Bush, Ashbel Humphrey, Joseph Richards, 1 Jared
Knapp, 2 Sylvanus Mead, 3 Palmer Hodge and John Lewis.

In 1806, Silas Greene, Thomas and Ebenezer Kellogg.
John Snell, Mark Petrie, John F. Snell and Jacob Walrod,
with families named Lamberton and Weston, settled on

iFrom Cummington, Mass.; settled in 1803; died Feb., 1813, aged 58
years. David R. settled in 1804, and died in this town in 1845. They were
descendants of Joseph Richards, of Abington, Mass.

2 Col. Knapp died at Copenhagen, March 29, 1854, aged 73 years.

3 Died Aug. 15, 1848, aged 61 years.

114 High Market.

what is since known as the State road, across the south
border of this town. Several of these were Germans from
the Mohawk valley, and from them the settlement acquired
the name of Dutch Hill, by which this region is still
known. They have all since removed, and their places are
held by others.

In 1821, Jacob Hadcock, and soon after, Michael Parish,
Peter Picket, Henry Cramer, Jacob Biddleman, Thomas
and Gilbert Merrills, settled on the river road above Copen
hagen.

A pompous advertisement was issued in Jan., 1849, an
nouncing the beginning of a village on Watson creek, in the
south part of this town, to be named California. The
affair ended as it began in nothing.

Schools were first legally formed under the statute in
1814, when John Bush, John Lewis 1 and Micah Humphrey
were chosen first school commissioners, and David Richards,
Hart Humphrey, Nathan Look, Jr., Charles Loomis and
Seth Hanchet, inspectors.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. A Free Communion Baptist church
was formed in this town July 16, 1822, by a council
appointed from Lowville, Martinsburgh arid Turin, and
subsequently a regular Baptist church was formed and a
church edifice erected on the West road. In 1847, this
first edifice was removed and a new one, 34 by 44 feet,
erected on its site. It was built by Philo Hadcock, at a
cost of $945, and is owned in equal shares by the two
Baptist organizations.

St. Patrick s church (R. C.), was erected a few years
since in the west part of the town, and is attended from
Carthage.

HIGH MARKET.

This town was formed from West Turin by the super
visors, November 11, 1852, by the same act that organized
the town of Lewis. The first town meeting was directed
to be held at the house of Schuyler C. Thompson.

Supervisors. 1853, S. C. Thompson ; 1854-5, Michael H.
Coyle ; 1856-8, Michael Walsh ; 1859-60, Charles Plum-
mer.

Clerks. 1853, Lynville M. Beals; 1854, Wm. Dolphine ;
1855, G. R. Thompson ; 1856, L. M. Beals ; 1857, Charles
P. Felshaw ; 1858-9, William Rowlands.

This town embraces township 9, or Penelope, 2 of the

1 This settler was from Westfield, Mass. Silas Bush died Jan. 21, 1829.
2 Penelope was the wife of Ulysses, king of Ithaca.

High Market. 115

Boylston tract, with 35 lots of township 2 or Flora 1 and 64
lots of township 3 or Lucretia? of Constable s Four Towns,
its present name was borrowed from that of its post office,
established in March, 1849, but since discontinued. It was
invented by S. C. Thompson to distinguish this place from
every other ^ and in this view it was entirely successsful. The
Irish settlers wished to have the town named Sligo, and
usage had long before applied to an undefined region,
west of Constableville, the nondescript name of Kiabia, by
which it is still, to some extent, known.

Township 2, of which nearly half lies in this town, was
subdivided by Benjamin Wright in 1797, and measures
26,266| acres. The bearings and distances of its outlines
are as follows :

N. W. side, N. 37 30 E. 412 ch. 48 Iks.
N. E. N. 52 30 W. 632 50

S. E. S. 37 30 W. 412 48

S. W. S. 52 30 E. 63 23

At the second town meeting, the owner of the premises,
at which, by adjournment, the voters were to meet, refused
to open his house. The majority of the voters, who were
Irish, and not accustomed to the usages proper in such a
case, were quite at a loss to know how to proceed, and came
near losing their organization by failure to elect town
officers. Just before sunset, they however organized in the
street, as near the place of meeting as practicable, and ad
journed to some convenient place the next day. With the
advice of a lawyer they went through with their meeting,
and have since retained the management of town affairs.
In 1858 the town voted, with but one dissenting voice, tc
petition for re-annexation to West Turin, but without suc
cess. In 1857 they purchased for $200 a store for a town
house.

Settlement was begun about 18 14, by Alfred Hovey and
Liberty Fairchild, and in 18 15, John Felshaw, 3 became the
third settler. Ebenezer Thompson 4 and others subsequently
located in town.

Upon the suspension of the public works in 1842, great
numbers of Irish families removed to this town, and took
up small tracts of land. The census of 1855 shows that
320 persons (about one-fourth) were natives of Ireland.

1 Flora was the Roman goddess of flowers.

2 Lucretia was a noble Roman lady.

3 Died June 24, 1857, aged 82 years. He settled in the county in 1813.

4 Mr. T. removed from Rockingham, Vt., in 1821, and died June 6, 1843,
aged 69 years. He was the father of S. C. Thompson, Esq., of Constable
ville.

116 Lewis.

These, with their children, born in America, would form
over half of the present population of the town. There
are also a few French or Germans.

A large part of this town is still a wilderness, including
almost the whole of township 9, near the west part of
which Fish creek flows southward across the town.

The highest point of land in the county is said to occur
on lot 50, township 3. Streams flow from this lot in several
different directions, and in a clear day distant glimpses of
the hills in Madison county, as well as more than half of the
distant eastern horizon, are seen. There are at present
neither village, church, store nor grist mill in town.

LEWIS.

This town was formed from Leyden and West Turin by
the supervisors, Nov. 11, 1852. The first town meeting
was ordered to be held at the house of Orlando S. Kenyon.
Its name was derived from that of the county.

Supervisors, 1853, Orson Jenks ; 1854-5, Charles Pease ;
1856, 0. Jenks ; 1857, Hiram Jenks ; 1858, Jonathan A.
Pease ; 1859, 60, 0. Jenks.

Clerks. 1853-4, David Crofoot; 1855, Orson Jenks;
1856-7, Daniel H. Buell ; 1858, 0. Jenks ; 1859, William
Gray ; i860, Jay Pease.

This town embraces very nearly that part of Inman s
triangle, known as the " New Survey," the whole of town
ship No. 1, or Xenophon, and three rows of lots from the S.
W. side of No. 2, or Flora, of Constable s Four Towns. The
principal settlements are in the eastern part, and its drain
age is southward, by the head waters of the Mohawk and by
Fish creek, and south westward by Salmon river. The soil
is well adapted to grazing and the coarser grains, but fruits
and corn have not been extensively or successfully cul
tivated. Its soil is inclined to clay, and in places is a
gravelly loam, or covered with flat stone derived from the
underlying slate rock.

That part of this town taken from Leyden, was sold to
settlers by Storrs and Stow. Township 1 was surveyed
into lots by Benjamin Wright in 1797, and its outlines were
run in 1795, as follows :

N. W. line : N. 37, 30 E. 520 chains, 3 links.
N. E. do S. 52, 30 E. 631 do 62 do
S. E. do S. 37, 30 W. 339 do 07 do
S. W. do N. 6S,50 W. 559 do 20 do
The latter is the patent line, and was surveyed in 1794.

Lewis. 117

Practically 3 further W. are allowed to the magnetic me
ridian to make present surveys coincide with the original
field notes. Township 1, measures 27,105 acres, and the
whole of Tp. 2, 26,266f acres. The connection of John
Jacob Astor, with the titles of this town has been noticed
on page 31. Lots 1 to 19 and half of 20, in township 1,
were conveyed by Pierrepont to Charles Ingersol of Phila
delphia, agent of Consequa, a China merchant, in payment
of a debt of $12,000 which the captain of a vessel owned
by Mr. P., had incurred. John G. Costar, afterwards be
came agent, and paid the taxes many years from a fund pro
vided for that purpose. They were finally sold for taxes
and are now chiefly owned by the Costar heirs. Fifteen
lots, 1 owned by Judge Wm. Jay of Bedford, by virtue of a
marriage, were sold in 1840, to K. T. Hough, with certain
conditions of opening roads and forming settlements. Jas.
S. T. Stranahan of Brooklyn, the Lawrence heirs and John
E. Hinman of Utica, are owners of considerable tracts of
wild lands in this town.

Settlement was began at West Leyden (now included in
the town of Lewis), in the summer of 1798, by two families
named Newel and Ingraham, who came by way of Whites-
town and fort Stanwix, and located, the former on the
farm of George Olney, and the latter on that of Amos B.
Billing, adjacent to the east line of this town. Fish then
abounded in the streams, and game in the forests, affording
partial support, with no care but the taking, and incidents
were not wanting to diversify the life of the first pioneers
of this lonely spot. On one occasion, as the wives of the
two first settlers were returning on foot from fort Stanwix
(Rome), they saw a bear on a tree near where Jenk s
tavern now stands. One of the women took her station at
the foot of the tree, club in hand, to keep bruin from
escaping, while the other hastened home a distance of two
miles, procured a gun, returned and shot the bear. 2 These
families remained about two years and went off.

Col. John Barnes came in 1799, and brought potatoes
for planting on his back from Whitestown. A saw mill was
built in the winter following, near the present mill of Ashael
Fox, by Joel Jenks, 3 Medad Dewey, John and Cornelius
Putnam 4 who came on with their families, Maj. Alpheus

1 Numbers 26, 27, 32, 41, 50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 58, 61, 64, 65, 68, 69.

2 Related by Josiah Dewey of Delta, N. Y., who has furnished ample notes
upon the early history of this town.

3 Mr. Jenks was from R. I., and held the first appointment as magistrate
He died, February 9, 1838j aged 77.

4 From Somers, Ct.

118 Lewis.

Pease, 1 took up four or five lots in 1801, and built the first
grist mill, one or two years after, a little above the Mohawk
bridge, in the present village of West Leyden. Nathan
Pelton 2 and Wm. Jenks, from Stafford, Ct., Stephen Hunt, 3

Graham, McGlashan, Levi Tiffany, 4 Winthrop

Felshaw, and perhaps others, settled within four years after.
Most of the lands first taken up, were sold at $5 per acre.
Samuel Kent and Jeremiah Barnes, were early teachers,
and the first school was taught at the house of Joel Jenks.
The first death that occurred in town, was that of a child
in the family of some travelers, but the first adult person
that died in town, was Mrs. Calvin Billings, a sister of
Stephen Hunt, in the spring of 1810, about twelve years
after the beginning of the settlement.

The first road to Constableville was cut in 1803, by Mr.
Shaler, but the first direct road was not opened until 1816,
by commissioners appointed for the purpose. This became
the line of the Canal turnpike, and still later of a plank
road, which in its turn has been abandoned to the public,
and is now maintained by the towns through which it
passes.

An occurrence happened in November, 1804, which
caused much alarm in this settlement, and might have led
to a most melancholy result. Joseph Belknap, Cornelius
Putman, jr., and Josiah Dewey, jr., set out from the former
Dewey tavern stand, westward, on a deer hunt. The snow
was about ten inches deep, and they found tracks of deer
plenty, but no game. They had no compass, the day was
cloudy, and towards night they attempted to return, and as
their track was crooked, they concluded to take a direct
line for home. After traveling some distance, they came
around to the same place, a second and a third time. They
were evidently lost, and no longer trusting to their own
estimate of direction, they concluded to follow down a
stream of water which they took to be the Mohawk, which
would of course lead them home. They passed a number
of beaver meadows, and were frequently obliged to wade
the freezing stream, and at other times were forced to
wade down its channel instead of climbing its steep rocky
banks. They tried to kindle a fire but failed, and finally
kept on traveling till daylight, when they came to a foot-

1 Mr. Pease died April 8, 1816, aged 54 years.

2 Died June 7, 1856, aged 92 years.

3 Died June 14, 1853, aged 79 years.

4 Prom Somers, Ct.

Lewis. 119

path, which in two or three miles, led out into a settlement
which proved to be in the town of Western, twenty miles
by the nearest traveled road from home. They had fol
lowed down the Point-of-Rock stream, to near its junction
with Fish creek. The half starved wanderers having fed,
pushed on over a miry road, and reached home at midnight,
when they found the country had been rallied, and a dozen
men had gone into the woods in search of the lost.

About 1831 ten German families settled in this town, and
these have been followed by others, until the population of
foreign birth equals half, and with their children, born in
this country, considerably more than half of the whole
population of the town. Of these Europeans, 376 were
reported by the state census of 1855 as Germans, 171
French and 21 Swiss. They are divided between the Catho
lic, Lutheran and Reformed Protestant Dutch denomina
tions, in the relative order here named, and although they
use their native languages at home, are mostly able to speak
English with more or less facility, and the rising generation
will learn to use it fluently. These foreigners are mostly an
industrious, hardy and frugal people, obedient to the laws,
and a large number of them naturalized citizens. The
European settlement in this town was preceded by that in
West Turin.

In 1841 a bridge was built over Fish creek, and a road
opened from Lee, near the line of the old road of 1805,
noticed in our account of Osceola. It led only to the line
of township 13. The first deeds to actual settlers in this
part of the town, were issued in May, 1840, amounting to
1,746 J acres, for $3,194.60. The bridge was swept off in
the winter of 1842-3, and soon rebuilt, and in 1843 a mill
was built by Mr. Herron.

Several branches of lumbering have been followed in this
town, for which it appears to afford special facilities.
About 1840, the manufacture of oars from white ash was
begun and continued some seven years. The quantity is
estimated at about 500,000 feet per annum, during that
period, and the principal market was Boston. Whaling
oars were sold in sets of seven, of which two were 14, two
15, two 16, and one 18 feet long. The price ranged about
6 cts. per foot, linear measure.

Of birdseye maple, Lewis county has, during twenty
years, produced about 100,000 feet (board measure) annu
ally, mostly from this town, and the greater part sent off by
Richardson T. Hough. Of this quantity, nine-tenths seeks
an European market by way of New York. This accidental

120 Lewis.

variety of the sugar maple is found somewhat common upon
the range of highlands, extending from this town to Adams.
It is estimated that two-thirds of all the timber of this
variety, used in the world has, during the last twenty years,
come from Lewis county: the market price depends upon the
fashions of the day, with regard to styles of furniture, and
prices range from $60 to $80 per M. ft., board measure, A
mill for cutting veneers was formerly established, four
miles west of West Leyden, but was burned in 1845. Of
hoops, for oyster kegs, this town and Ava, in Oneida co.,
adjoining, produce about 4,000,000, averaging $2 per M.,
shaved and delivered, on the rail road. They are mostly
used at Fairhaven and Cheshire, Ct. They are made of
black ash and bought in a rough state by a few dealers who
shave and forward them to market. Considerable quantities
of hard-wood lumber, chiefly maple and birch, for flooring,
turning, &c., are sent from this town.

West Leyden is the only post office in this town. The
village of this name is located upon the Mohawk, here a
moderately sized mill stream, and has a few shops, two
saw mills, a grist mill, two inns, two churches and 170
inhabitants.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. Meetings were first held in 1804,
by Justus Billings, a Presbyterian, 1 at the house of John Put
nam. A Congregational church was formed in the summer
of 1806, consisting of Josiah Dewey, 2 Justus Billings, Cor
nelius Putnam, Solomon Washburn and their wives, Maj.
Alpheus Pease, Widow Horton, Cyrus Brooks and a Mr.
Wood and their wives, of whom the last four lived a mile
east of Ava Corners, and the others in this town. This
church erected a house of worship a mile north of West
Leyden, many years after, and in February, 1826, it joined
the Watertown Presbytery. The church has become nearly
or quite extinct.

A. Baptist church was formed May, 1829, with 14 mem
bers. Elders Marshall, Ashley and Salmon were present at
the organization. A legal society was formed Sept. 9, 1837,
with Winthrop Felshaw, Jonathan A. S. Pease and Nathan
iel Wadsworth, trustees, and a small plain church edifice

has been erected. The Revs. Burdick, Wm. Rice, R.

Z. Williams, R. W. Chafa, D. D. Barnes and others, have
preached here.

IDied July 31, 1847, aged 80 years.

^ Died Jan. 14, 1838, aged 80 years. Mr. D. was one of the first deacons
of this church.

Ley den. 121

The United German Lutheran and Reformed Congrega
tion of West Leyden, was formed Aug. 16, 1847, with
Frederick Meyer, Frederick Schopper and Geo. Fries, trus
tees. It was formed of the German Lutheran and Reformed
churches, and their new meeting house was to be called
the Church of St. Paul. It was to remain a German house
of worship, so long as the number of members of the
congregation speaking the German language, was more than
two. A law suit has occurred between the two sects, in
which the Lutherans have gained the case, but the other
party have designed to appeal. The Reformed Protestant
Dutch church of West Leyden was formed Sept. 12, 1856,
under the authority of the Cayuga classis, with John
Boehrer, minister, Philip Riibel and Fred k Meyer. Elders
Fred k Schaffer and Valentine Glesmann, deacons. Another
united German Protestant, Lutheran and Reformed Congre
gation was formed Dec. 7, I8c8, with Peter Wolf, Jacob
Roser, Peter Kautser, George Trieps and Heinrich Roser,
trustees.

LEYDEN.

This town was formed from Steuben, 1 March 10, 1797,
embracing besides Inman s Triangle, all of Lewis and Jef
ferson counties lying east and north of Black river. By
the erection of Brownville in 1802, Boonville in 1805,
Watson in 1821 and Lewis in 1852, it has been trimmed
down to its present limits. It derived its name from the
settlement made by Gerret Boon in Boonville, under the
auspices of the Holland Land Company, whose members
chiefly resided in Leyden, in Holland. In the division of
the town, upon the erection of Lewis co., the old name was
retained by a section to which it was not strictly applicable
in order that Boon s name might be perpetuated in the
christening of Boonville.

At the first town meeting held at the house of Andrew
Edmonds (Boonville), April 4, 1797, Andrew Edmonds
was chosen supervisor, John Stormes clerk, Asa Brayton,
Jacob Rogers and Phineas Southwell assessors, Jared Top
ping and Levi Hillman constables and collectors, Bela Hubbard
aiuf Luke Fisher poor masters, Asa Lord, Reuben King and
Elisha Rand all com rs of highways, Sheldon Johnson, Eliphalet
Edmonds, Amasa King and Archelius Kingsbury,road masters,

l Whitestown was formed March 7, 1788, embracing the whole of the state
west of German Flats. Steuben and Mexico were formed April 10, 1792, emr
bracing all of this county and a vast area north, south and west.
P

122 Ley den.

Lilly Fisher, Asahel Hough and Timothy Burges, fence
viewers, Charles Otis and Joshua Preston, pound masters.

Supervisors. 1797-8, Andrew Edmonds; 1799, Phineas
Southwell; 1800, Asa Brayton ; 1801, P. Southwell ; 1802,
A. Brayton ; 1803, Silas Southwell ; 1804, John Dewey j 1
1805, Peter Schuyler ; 1805 (Apr. 18), Lewis Smith ; 2 1806-7,
L. Smith ; 1808-10, James Hawley ; 1811, J. Dewey ; 1812-
16, Nathaniel Merriam ; 3 1817, John Fish ; 1818-23, Stephen
Spencer; 4 1824-30, Michael Brooks; 5 1831, Amos Miller ; 6
1832-3, Ezra Miller ; 1834-6, Isaac Parsons ; 1837-8, Allen
Auger ; 7 1839-42, Joseph Burnham ; 1843-4, Alfred Day ; 8
1845-8, Thomas Baker ; 1849, Aaron Parsons ; 1850, T.
Baker ; 1851, J. Burnham ; 1852-3, T. Baker ; 1854-6, Wm.
J. Hall ; 1857-8, Wm. J. Olmstead ; 1859, Samuel Northum ;
1860, David Algur.

Clerks. 1797-1803, John Stormes : 1804, Aaron Willard;
1805-7, Stephen Butler; 1808-9, David Higby; 1810,
Benjamin Starr; 1811-2, Augustus Chapman; 1813, D.
Higby; 1814-7, Stephen Spencer; 1818-9, Martin Hart;
1820-2, Allen Auger ; 1823, Samuel Northum, jr.; 1824-5,
Parsons Talcott ; 1826-33, A. Auger; 1834-9; Thomas
Baker; 1840-2, Lewis S. Auger; 1843-8, E. R. Johnson ;
1849, Alfred Day; 1850-4, E. R. Johnson; 1855, David
Algur ; 1856-8, James M. Malcom ; 1859, Chester J. Munn.

The supervisors of Herkimer co. in 1797, allowed &lt;17.-
11.2 school money to this town, then a part of that county.
A special town meeting was held June 17, 1797, to appoint
school commissioners, and Luke Fisher, Eliashab Adams
and Jacob Rogers, were chosen. This is the only money
received in this region from the state school grants of 1795.

iBorn at Westfield, Jan. 20, 1754, served in the revolution, removed to
Leyden in the spring of 1802, and died, Dec. 31, 1821.

2 Dea. Smith died May 21, 1841, aged 89 years. He was a soldier in the
revolution.

3 Nathaniel Merriam was born in Wallingford, Ct., June 3, 1769, and in
1800 removed to Leyden and settled on a place partly new and the re
mainder first taken up by Asahel Hough. He continued to reside at this
place until 1838, during many years as an inn-keeper when ho removed to
Indiana, but in 1846 he returned to this town. He died Aug. 19, 1847. In
1811, and 1820, he served in Assembly, and in 1815 he was appointed a
county judge. He was widely known as an enterprising and public spirited
citizen. His son Gen. Ela Merriam is elsewhere noticed. This family name
occurs among the founders of Meriden, Ct., and has been till the present
time a common and prominent one in that town.

4 Died, Sept. 24, 1851, aged 72 years.

5 Died, Feb. 1, 1841, aed 57 years.

6 Died, Oct. 2, 1840, aged 64 years.

7 Died, Oct. 6, 1839, aged 64 years.

8 Died, Nov. 17, 1849, aged 47 years.

Leyden. 123

In 1800, a special town meeting was held, for choosing per
sons to be appointed justices by the state council, and an
other, March 19, 1803, to choose two persons to a county
convention, to nominate candidates for assembly. The
delegates were Nathaniel Merriam and Samuel Snow. They
were paid by the town, and present the only instance we
have known, in which delegates were thus authorized and
paid.

In 1801, John Storms, Lewis Smith and Eber L. Kelsey
were appointed to petition for a division of the town. On
the 10th of Jan., 1802, and Nov. 14, 1804, other attempts
at division were voted. By the latter, it was proposed to
divide the town (as was done the next year, on the erection
of Lewis co.), the south part to retain the name of Leyden
and the triangle and part east of the river Storrsburgh. On
the 3d of Feb., 1804, Stephen Butler, Samuel Snow and
Richard Coxe, were chosen delegates to a convention to
be held at Champion, Feb. 1st, to take measures for securing
the division of Oneida co. On the 18th of Sept., 1802, Asa
Lord, Job Fisk and Asa Brayton were delegated to attend
a meeting at Lowville, to consult about procuring a road
from Albany to Johnstown, and thence to the Black river
and down to its mouth. This was the beginning of a
movement that secured an appropriation for the state road
through the valley.

In 1799, an unique resolution was passed to the effect,
that if sleds of less than four feet track were found on the
highway more than four miles from home, their owners
were liable to a fine of $1, one half to go to the informant,
and the remainder to the poor.

Bounties for the destruction of noxious animals have
been voted as follows : For wolves, $10 in 1801, 3, 4, 6,
10, 11. For henhawks, 6 cts. in 1815; and for chip-squir
rels 2 cts. in 1806-7, if killed within one month after May
20.

This town is comprised within Inman s triangle, and in
cludes the whole of that tract excepting the acute angle
taken off in the erection of Lewis in 1852, This was in
some early documents erroneously named " Storr s Patent,"
and its south line running N. 68 E.. is supposed to have been
the earliest one surveyed in the county. The eastern part
comprising its principal area, was surveyed into 126 lots
by Wm. and Jas. Cockburn of Poughkeepsie, and the
western angle into 28 lots, by Broughton White. The
latter is called the "New Survey" and with the exception
of the first five lots is now included in the town of Lewis.

124 Leyden.

On the 5th of June, 1792, Patrick Colquhoun, high sheriff
of London, purchased from his friend Win. Constable this
tract of 25,OUO acres, at one shilling sterling per acre, and
from his friendship to William Inman, interested him in a
share of 4000 acres at the original cost ; and as the purcha
ser was an alien, and therefore incapable of holding lands in
America, he caused the whole to be conveyed in the name
of Inman, in trust, and made him agent for the sale and
settlement of the tract. 1 A few of the early settlers in this
town received their titles directly from Inman, among
whom were Ebenezer Coe, Wm. Bingham, Jared Topping,
Thomas Brayton and Asa Lord. 2

Late in 1793 Mr. Inman returned to England, and through
his representations, Mr. Colquhoun was induced to under
take the purchase of what is now known as the Branting-
ham tract, of which he was entrusted the agency. He sold
most of the 25,000 acre tract in February. 1794, and in the
sequel his principals found reason to sincerely regret their
connection with him. It would be unpleasant to specify
details, and it is sufficient to know that Mr. Inman is not

1 Wm. Inman was allowed to hold lands in this state by an act of March
27, 1794 He was a native of Somersetshire, Eng., and in early life was a
clerk of Lord Pultney. He first sailed to America, March 13, 1792, and ar
rived in June. He soon after was entrusted with the interests of certain
Europeans, prominent among whom was Patrick Colquhoun, and took up
his residence in Whitestown, not far from the present lunatic asylum, in
Utica. He was many years resident in Oneida county, and became exten
sively concerned in land speculations in and near Utica, where he was
engaged in a brewery. He was afterwards a merchant in New York, where
he met with heavy reverses. About 1825 he came to Leyden, where he died
Feb. 14, 1843, aged 81 years. His wife Sarah died in Leyden, July 24,
1829, aged 56 years. Their sons were William, John, Henry and Charles.

William Inman, the eldest son, resided formerly in Leyden, entered the
navy Jan. 1, 1812, and became a commander May 24, 1838. He is at present
(1860) in the African fleet.

John Inman was educated to the law, but turned his attention to literature,
was connected with the N. Y. Mirror, and soon after, with Col. Stone,
engaged as editor of the Commercial Advertiser, of which, in 1847 he became
principal editor. He conducted for some time the Columbian Magazine, and
died at New York, Aug. 30, 1850, aged 47 years.

Henry Inman early evinced a great talent for painting, and at the age of 15,
painted his father s portrait, which is still preserved. He became one of the
most eminent of historical and portrait painters, and died at New York, Jan.,
1846, aged 45 years. He never resided in this county, but was an occasional
visitor.

Charles Inman, a cabinet maker, died in Cincinnati.

2 Topping received a deed of 139 acres, lot 60, Oct. 28, 1795, for 128.
Brayton s deed of 100^ acres, was dated July 2, 1797. Coe s deed for lot 88,
1524 acres, is dated June 12, 1795, and was given by Arthur Breese, attorney
for Inman (Oneida Deeds, iii., 39). Others were less fortunate, and some
were required to make second payment by a transfer of the titles by Inmau,
"before their deeds were made out or their payments completed.

Leyden. 125

one of those to whom the town owes a grateful recollec
tion.

The purchasers were Lemuel Storrs and Joshua Stow 1 of
Middletown, Ct., with whom Thomas arid Abel Lyman of
Durham, Ct., and Silas Stow, held a small interest ; and
sales were made by these, as joint proprietors, a few years.
Inman reserved a few lots. 2 After the division of the joint
estate, Ezra Miller became an agent of Stow. Henry
Champion, S. W. Dana, Zenas Parsons of Springfield, Mass., 3
and others subsequently owned portions of the town before
actual settlement.

Great lot No. 7, upon Black river, containing 620 acres,
was reserved for a town plot, and the first road traced from
from fort Stanwix, led obliquely down to the river at this
place, but it was never laid out or traveled. The water
power of this point was supposed to offer a chance for
important manufactories. Storrs and Stow owed a large
sum to the Connnecticut school fund, and an act was passed
for receiving lands in this town for security. C. C. Brod-
head of Utica, was appointed appraiser, and the price set
upon them, being considered too high, they long remained
unsold, and finally proved a heavy loss to the fund for
which they were pledged. In 1835 an act was passed by
that state, providing for the conveyance of lands in this
state, and they have since been sold.

Settlement was first made in this town and county by
William Topping, 4 who emigrated from Meriden, Ct., early
in 1794, with an ox team and his household, consisting of
his wife, a son aged seven years, and a girl aged five years.
They were two weeks in reaching Whitestown, and turning
northward into the wilderness, pursued their course through
tangled underbrush and around fallen logs, to the far off
tract where they hoped to find a home. The wife assisted
in driving the team, while the husband went on before,
with axe in hand, to clear the way. After laying by one
day to nurse a sick child, they at length reached lot 60 and

1 Storrs died in Middletown city, and Stow died in Middlefield, about five
miles from Middletown, Oct. 9, 1842, aged 81. He was many years post
master at Middletown, and had been chief judge of the Middlesex county
county court, state senator, &c.

2 Among these were lots 3, 4, 5 and 6, sold to John I. Glover of New York ;
78, 79, sold to Hugh White of Whitestown ; 91, 92, sold to David Lyman
of Middletown, and perhaps others.

3 Mr. Parsons owned lots 104, 105, 112, 113, 119, which were sold by Jona
than Collins. He is said to have been killed by the Indians upon the Ohio
river.

4 Win. Topping died Sept. 17, 1840, aged 76 years.

126 Leyden.

selected a spot for shelter. They arrived late in April, and
built a bark shanty by the side of a large log, with poles
for the sides and a blanket for the door.

This pioneer home was on the east road, a little N. E.
of Sugar river, where the road rises from the river flat, on
land now owned by Robert Harvey and P. Owens. His
neighbors to the south were many miles distant, and none
were nearer than Canada to the north. Jared, his brother,
came on in June to assist in building a log hut, and the first
cabin was hardly finished when Win. Dustin, Asa Lord, 1
Bela Butterfield and others, came to settle in town. It is
believed no families wintered here in 17945, besides Top
ping and Butterfield. 2

In 1795, Allen Augur, and families named Olmstead,
Adams, Bingham, Hinman, Miller and perhaps others came,
and in 1796, David Brainerd Miller, Peter W. Aldrich, Eber
Kelsey, Brainerd Coe and others. A road warrant dated
May 23, 1797, has upon it the following names of tax payers
in Dist. No. 5, viz : Asa Lord, Ezra E. C. Rice, Bela Hub-
bard, Wm. Topping, Rodolphe Tillier, Jonathan Board man,
David B. Miller, 3 David Miller, 4 Calvin Miller, Jared Top
ping, Ezra Rice, Asahel Hough, 5 Chandler Otis, Amos
Miller, Brainerd Coe, Eben Wheeler, Asa Brayton, Elisha
Randall, Paul Green, John Worden, Daniel Topping, John
Barns, Ephraim Town, Joseph Buttolf, Jonathan Wheeler,
Asher Holdridge, Edmund Newell, Jerden Ingham, Moses
Warren, Thomas Stone, Eiiasheb Adams, Lemuel Storrs,
Nathaniel Dustin, Abel Lyman, Peter W. Aldrich, Samuel
Douglass, 6 John Allen, and 54 others in what is now Boon-
ville.

The first birth in town was that of Jonathan, son of Wm.
Topping, who died, aged 30 years. The birth occurred in
June 1796.

The first death of an adult person in town was that of

!Mr. Lord was born in Franklin, Ct., Oct. 6, 1767. He arrived here im
mediately after Topping, and built the first log house in the county, on Ley-
den hill. He was brother of Thomas and Rufus L. Lord of New York, Eleazer
Lord of Piermont, and Grurdon Lord of Leyden. He went to St. Lawrence
county and was drowned April 9, 1818, with five others, at Madrid, N. Y.,
while attempting to cross his mill pond.

2 Mr. B. sold to the Talcotts and removed about six years after.
3 Died, March 19, 1833, aged 82 years.
4 Died, Feb. 8, 1859, aged 84 years.
5 Sold to N. Merriam, and removed to Martinsburgh.
6 Died Feb. 6, 1856, aged 83 years.

Leyden. 127

Calvin, son of David B. Miller, March 23, 1797, at the age

of 21 years. 1

A man named Brayton was accidentally killed by a tree
early in 1797 or 8. This was the first fatal accident known
to have occurred in the county.

The first saw mill in the county was built in 1795, at
Talcottville, by Bela Butterfield, a few rods below the
present grist mill, but it went off in the next spring flood.
In 1798, he sold to the Talcott families 2 from Middletown,
Ct., who became prominent settlers in town, but adopted a
policy adverse to the building up of a village at the point
where natural advantages greatly favored. It is said they
refused to sell village lots to mechanics, and retained the
water power on Sugar river, although parties offered to
invest liberally in manufactures. Bela Hubbard, husband
of Stow s sister, removed in 1795, but did not long remain
in town. The first framed building after the saw mill, was
a barn built by David B. Miller in April, 1798 ; and the
next, a house by Lemuel Storrs, the same year. The latter
is still standing and is the oldest in the country. In 1803,
the Talcotts built the second grist mill in town. The pre
sent stone mill at Talcottville, was built about 1832-3.
The river has here a fall of nearly 100 feet within a quarter
of a mile.

Many of the early settlers of Leyden were from Haddam,
Middlefield and Middletown, 3 Ct. An advertisement in
the "Western Centinel" of Whitesboro, dated 1797, and
signed by Lemuel Storrs, records the fact that there were
at that time 40 actual settlers upon Inman s triangle, and
the official records of the earlier years show an unusually
large number of voters, and of course of men having sufficient
property to entitle them to this privilege, many of the
pioneers were able to pay down for their lands, and have

1 This historical fact is recorded on his tomb stone in the old Leyden hill
cemetery as follows :

" Of all the adults which in this yard do lie
I was the first eternity to try."

2 Hezekiah Talcott, father of the families of this name who settled in this
town, died, March 16, 1813. His children were : Phebe, b. 1766, m. David

Hall, d. Jan. 1826 : Sally, b. 1768, m. 1st. Joel Coe, 2d Parsons, d.

March 20, 185- : Elisha, b. 1770, was killed May, 1807 : Daniel, b. 1772, d.
June 3, 1847 : Joel, b. 1774, d. April 16, 1813, of the prevailing epidemic :
Jesse, b. 1775, d. Jan. 15, 1846 : Johnson, b. Sept. 6, 1778, d. Feb. 17, 1850 :
Parsons, b 1780, d. Jan. 16, 1849 ; and Lucy, b. 1782, m. Ithamer Whetmore,
d. March, 1852. Elisha and Daniel were men with families when they
settled.

3 The families of Merwiu, Nortlium, Algur, Thomas, Cone, &c., were from
Haddam, those of Coe, Talcott, Brainerd, Smith, Stimson, Starr, &c., from
Middlefield.

128 Leyden.

a surplus to enable them to begin settlement free from debt.
In 1799, the number of senatorial voters was 57, and in
1800 it was 79, including of course the territory now known
as Boonville. In 1798 the number of persons liable to serve
as jurors was 14, in 1802, 61, and in 1805, 64.

In the winter of 1799-1800, a funeral service was held at
Talcottville upon receiving news of the death of Washing
ton. We are not informed who delivered the oration, but
think it probable that Stephen Butler might have been
designated. He was at about this time a teacher in town,
and in former years had been one of Washington s life
guard. He removed to Ohio many years after.

The first grist mill in this town, and the second one in
the county, was built on the Black river, at Port Leyden,
in 1799, and got in operation the next year, by Peter W.
Aldrich and Eber Kelsey, millwrights, 1 from Killingworth,
Ct. They came on to explore in the fall of 1796, selected a
site and purchased two lots, extending from the river to
near Leyden hill. In the spring of 1797 they removed
their families, and during this season put up a frame for a
saw mill which was swept off by the next spring flood and
lodged on the rocks below. In 1798 the frame was again
set up, and the saw mill got in operation, and in 1800 the
first rude grist mill was prepared to relieve the early set
tlers from long tedious jjourneys to Whitestown in the dry
season, and to Coustableville at the more favored periods
of the year. When first got in operation this mill was but
partly enclosed, and its bolt was turned for some time by
hand. It stood west of the river, a little below the present
bridge. Aldrich sold his share to Jonathan Collins, Oct.
25, 1802. The saw mill was burned in Feb., 1802, but
rebuilt by K. & C., and both mills were afterwards burned.

In the fall of 1805 a huge bear was seen on the farm now
owned by Jas. S. Jackson, but escaped. Depredations were
committed the next night, and Capt, Jonathan Edwards set
out in pursuit. He found the enemy on N. Merriam s farm,
fired at him without effect, and followed on, till in preparing
for a second shot, the bear turned upon the hunter and got
within two or three rods of him when the latter hastily
fired his half loaded gun and wounded him. Calls for help
brought persons to his assistance, and the beast was killed
with an axe. It was judged to weigh 500 pounds and had

IMr. Aldricli removed to Utica, and afterwards to Ogdensburgh, where he
died July 11, 1811. He built the first bridges at Potsdam, Waddington and
Ogdensburgh.

Mr. Kelsey died at Cape Vincent, Aug. 18, 1839, aged 76 years.

Leyden. 129

done much mischief to the settlers. Trout abounded in the
streams when first known, and deer were numerous. They
used to go east in November and December to winter
beyond the Black river, and return as soon as the snow was
gone in the spring. Many hundreds used to pass lot 68
before it was cleared. On lot No. 58 was a small strip of
land called the Point, just above the junction of Moose
creek and Sugar river, where there was a beaten path.

The first store in town was kept by Benj. J. Starr, 1 at
Talcottville. Jotham Snow was the first physician in Ley-
den, and Manly Wellman the next. The latter removed to
Lowville and afterwards to the Genesee country.

Silas Southwell taught the first school in town. The first
school organization under the act of 1813, was effected at a
special town meeting, held Dec. 27, in that year, at which
Thomas Wolcott, David B. Miller and Winthrop Felshaw
were appointed school commissioners, and Nathan Pelton,
Samuel Kent, Israel Douglass, jr., 2 Amos Miller, Allen
Auger and Benj. Starr, inspectors. The first school house
in town was built in 1802, at Leyden Hill.

The Leyden Union Library was formed Dec. 24, 1821,
with Johnson Talcott, John Fish, Ela Merriam, Parsons
Talcott, Allen Auger, Joseph Stimson, Ezra Miller and
Thomas Wolcott, trustees. It acquired about 300 volumes
and was dissolved two or three years after the introduction
of school libraries.

An unsuccessful application was made to the regents of
the universit)* March 29, 1826, for the incorporation of an
academy at Talcottville, but a sufficient sum had not been
raised by the applicants to obtain an incorporation.

On the 22d of March, 1836, Gen. Ela Merriam bought of
Eber L. Kelsey an undivided half of 50 acres, lot 17, em
bracing the water power at Port Leyden and Rock Island,
about 60 rods below. On the same day he bought of Daniel
Sears his farm on lot 16, adjoining Kelsey s, and immedi
ately sold three-fourths of his interest to Francis Seger,
Lyman R. Lyon and Jesse Talcott. The place was surveyed
out into village lots by Eleazer Spencer in 1838-9, and the
place previously called Kelsey s Mills was named POET
LEYDEN.

1 Mr. S. removed to Rome and kept an inn on the site of the American
hotel. He died on a visit to Cleveland.

2 Mr. D. came to this town Feb., 1805, was two or three years in trade with
one Higley, failed, and for several years after was engaged in the manufacture
of potash, which, for some time, was the chief article of cash produce in the
country. Israel Douglass, sen., died March 28, 1818, aged 75, and I. D., jr. ?
March 22, 1855, aged 85 years.

130 Leyden.

Mrs. Pamelia J. Munn has since purchased the interest of
Talcott. A tannery was run at this place many years by
Cornwell Woolworth, who had bought the other half of
Kelsey s interest, and in the fall of 1855 the Snyder
brothers purchased this tannery, greatly enlarged it and it
is now one of the largest establishments of the kind in
northern New York. It contains 162 vats, uses 3,800 cords
of bark, and produces 40,000 sides of sole leather annually.
The village is situated directly upon the Black river canal,
and had, until the diversion of the waters of the river into
the Erie canal, an abundant supply of water power. Unless
the natural volume of the stream can be restored by the
construction of reservoirs, the water privilege at this point,
as at others above the High falls, will be materially injured.

A short distance below the village, the channel of Black
river is contracted to less than twenty feet in width, and
the torrent rushes through the gorge with immense force.
Several pot-holes have been worn in the gneiss rock to a
great depth. Rock Island, at this place, is a rugged bluff,
surrounded by water only during floods and easily acces
sible at other times. Its scenery is highly picturesque and
as yet mostly undisturbed by the hand of man. In the map
of a survey made before settlement, this narrow gorge is
named Hellgate. The rock has been partially excavated
west of the island, to afford hydraulic privileges, but the cut
ting off of the supply by the canals has prevented the com
pletion of this work.

On the Black river, about a mile from Oneida county
line, is a mill for the manufacture of lumber, staves, broom
handles and other turned work. It stands near the canal,
and a few years since was started from its foundations and
much injured by a break in the canal directly opposite.

Another highly picturesque locality occurs in this town
on Sugar river, about a quarter of a mile above the canal,
and below its junction with Moose creek. The river here
tumbles down a hundred feet or more through a gorge
worn in the limestone, which presents a succession of steps,
having a general slope of about 45. The banks on either
side, above and below, are nearly vertical, and from 100 to
200 feet in height. Below the falls, the gorge spreads out
into a beautiful vale of some thirty rods in width and 4 forty
in length, covered with a dense growth, chiefly of ever
green timber, far above which the massive walls extend on
either side. Several very deep pot-holes, worn by peb
bles occur above the falls. About a quarter of a mile
below, the whole of the river in the summer disappears in

Leyden. 131

the fissures worn by the current, and about fifty rods below,
again appears at the surface. The river road passes over
this natural bridge thus formed. Near this place and in the
same strata are caves which have been explored some 200
or 300 feet in different directions. They are simply natural
fissures worn in the formation known to geologists as the
Black river limestone. This rock is very soluble, and
streams almost uniformly find an underground passage when
their course lays across it.

-A murder occurred in the northeast corner of this town
on the morning of May 4, 1855, under these circumstances :
A quarrel arose between two Irish women, near Lyons
falls, growing out of the pawning of a pair of flat-irons.
One of the parties, who kept a low grog shop, hired Thos.
Rutledge and Michael Cavanaugh, two drunken sots, to
whip James Cooper, the husband of her opponent. The
hirelings assailed Cooper s cabin, pelted it with stones and
broke his windows. He resolved to seek the protection of
the law, but observing the superstition of his countrymen
that " when the cock crows all danger is over," he awaited
this signal, and a little after three o clock, started for Port
Leyden, was watched, pursued and killed with clubs, as he
fell exhausted with running, at the door of Mr. Philo Post.
Rutledge fled, and was doubtless concealed for some time
among the Irish in High Market. Rewards were offered by
the sheriff and the governor, but he was never arrested.
Cavanaugh was indicted May 16, tried June 26, when the
jury did not agree, and again before Judge Allen, Aug. 14,
15, when he was convicted of murder and sentenced to be
hung Oct. 5. The convict was respited by the governor
till Nov. 9, 1855, and subsequently his sentence was com
muted to imprisonment for life in Clinton prison. An
attempt was made by a low class of politicians to bring dis
credit upon the governor for this exercise of executive
clemency, and on the night of Nov. 9, Governor Clark was
hung and burnt in effigy. The governor wrote a lengthy
letter in answer to one addressed to him, in which he stated
in detail, the grounds upon which the commutation was
granted.

There are two post offices in this town. Leyden post
office was formerly kept at the village known as Leyden
Hill, but in 1836 it was transferred _to Talcottville on the
Sugar river, two miles south, where it has been since kept.
Leyden Hill was formerly a place of some business, but is
now only a farming vicinage. Talcottville has but little
claims to the title of a village, having only an inn, store,

132 Leyden.

church, a few houses and a partially improved water
power. Port Leyden post office is at the village of that
name on the Black river and the canal.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. The Baptist church of Leyden is
the oldest church in this town, arid the oldest of this sect
north of Oneida county, in the state, having been formed
at the house of Thomas Brayton, April 22, 1803, by four
males and one female. Eld. John Clark, their first minister,
was ordained Oct. 4, 1804, by Eld. Jesse Hartwell of New
Marlborough, Mass., Eld. Timothy Pool of Champion,
Philips Chandler, Maltby, Wm. H. Stevens, Jeduthan, Zac-
cheus, and John Higby, and Russell Way. In this year the
church received an accession of 28 males and 31 females
from a revival of religion that occurred. Elds. Thomas
Davis, Thos. Morgan, Chandler Hartshorn, Riley B. Ashley,
R. Z. Williams, H. Nichols, Henry W. Chafa, Clement
Haven, V. R. Waters, J. Lawrence, Reuben Sawyer and
others, have preached here.

On the 4th of July, 1820, a subscription was drawn up to
procure the means for erecting a church, 35 by 40 feet,
which was successful. The edifice was built in 1821 at a
cost of $1,660, and on the 17th of Jan., 1825, a society was
legally formed, having Dr. Samuel Bass, Daniel Talcott,
Samuel Douglass, Jesse Miller, Isaac L. Hitchcock and
Nathan Coe, first trustees. The church edifice at Leyden
Hill was repaired in 1856. Several years since a plot of
ground, was purchased adjacent to this church by indivi
duals as a burial place, and the title was conveyed to its
trustees.

The Presbyterian church of Leyden was formed Nov. 6,
1803, by the Rev. Ira Hart, and consisted of six males and
eight females. The first pastor was the Rev. Jeduthan
Higby, who was ordained Sept. 10, 1810, and preached
three years. The second pastor was the Rev. Reuel Kim-
ball who was installed May 14, 1817, and dismissed for the
want of support in 1826. The Rev. J. Murdock and others
were afterwards employed, and Mr Kimball was re-engaged
at a later period. 1 The Rev, Evan Evans was employed
from June 3, 1838, to Aug. 12, 1843, and one year after the
Rev. Augustus L. Chapin began to preach. Others have
been engaged for short periods, but for several years no
stated services have been held, and the church now num
bers (1859) but two males and about a dozen females. The
Presbyterian Church of Leyden was built in 1821, and the

1 The Rev. R. Kimball died Oct. 1, 1847, aged 67 years.

Lowville. 133

First Presbyterian Society of Leyden was formed under the
statute, Jan. 3, 1826, with Abner Porter, Calvin B. Gay and
Wm. Parks, trustees. It was changed to Congregational
Jan. 4, 1836. Revivals occurred in 1824 and 1831, and
protracted meetings have been held by Burchard, Crandall
and Knapp.

In 1825, an effort was made to erect a Union church at
Talcottville, but without success. The First Universalist
Society in Leyden was formed June 4, 1831, with Otis
Munn, James Brooks, Joseph Burnham, Eliphalet Sears,
Armstrong Malcom, Alfred Day and Ezra Miller, first
trustees. A church was erected 1 and the society has kept
up its organization, although for several years it has not,
until within the last year, held regular meetings.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Leyden was
formed March 12, 1832, with Halsey Miller, Levi Hubbard
and John Utley as trustees. A church edifice was erected
at Talcottville, but this having much decayed, has been
removed, and an arrangement recently made by which the
Universalist church has been thoroughly repaired and is
now owned by the two sects, but chiefly occupied by the
Methodists.

An Old School Baptist Church was formed May 22, 1834,
in the shed of the Leyden church, consisting of five males.
A few days after four females united, and Dec. 17, 1837,
the church was dissolved, and united with this sect in
Turin.

A church was erected at Port Leyden and dedicated Dec.
6, 1853. It has been used by the Congregationalists and
others, arid the title of its property has been, or is now, in
suit. A Congregational church was legally organized at
Port Leyden, May 2, 1859, with Alanson Merwin, Daniel
Scrafford and Sylvester Stiinson, trustees.

The Calvinistic Methodist church of Port Leyden was
formed March 9, 1855, with Rev. Edward Reese, Pierce
Owens, David Roberts, Richard Roberts, Evan Evans and
John Hughes, trustees. It has not now a place of worship
and the members attend at Collinsville.

LOWVILLE.

This town was formed from Mexico, Oswego county,
March 14, 1800, embracing, besides its present limits, that
part of Denmark, south of Deer river, which was taken off

1 Joshua Stow, former proprietor of lands in this town, gave $50. He died
about 1840.

134 Lowville.

in the formation of Harrisburgh in 1803. Redfield, Water-
town, Turin and other towns were formed by the same act.
It embraces No. 11 of the eleven towns, and is the only one
of that number that retains the name given by the surveyor
general. At an earlier date it was known as Number
Eleven, and a few legal writings drawn here are dated in
Mexico. The first town meeting was ordered to be held at
the house of Silas Stow, at which the following town offi
cers were chosen : Daniel Kelley, supervisor-, Moses Coffeen,
clerk; Charles Davenport, Jonathan Rogers and Benjamin
Hillman, assessors; Ehud Stephens, constable and collector; Billa
Davenport and Aaron Cole, overseers of the poor; Isaac Perry,
James Bailey and Benjamin Hillman, commis. of highways;
Ehud Stephens, David Cobb, Asa Newton, Daniel Porter and
and Zadoc Bush, path masters; Jonathan Rogers and Elisha
Stevens, pound masters and fence viewers, and Adam Wilcox,
Benj. Hillman, Jonathan Rogers, Daniel Kelley, Asa Newton
and John Bush, a committee to select convenient places for
burial.

Supervisors. 1800-4, Daniel Kelley ; 1805, Silas Stow ; x
1806-7, Wm. Darrow ; 1808, D. Kelley ; 1809-10, Benjamin
Hillman ; 1811-3, Ela Collins ; 1814, Solomon King ; 1815,

B. Hillman; 1816-7, Heman Stickney ; 1818-22, Benjamin
Davenport; 1823, Chester Buck; 2 1824-6, Charles D.
Morse; 1827, E.Collins; 1828, B. Davenport ; 1829-31, E.
Collins ; ]832-3, C. Buck; 1834, Daniel T. Buck ; 1835-41,

C. Buck; 1842, John Buck; 1843, Curtis G. Lane; 1844,
C. Buck; 1845-6, C. G. Lane; 1847, Phineas Leonard;
1848-52, C. G. Lane; 1853, Jess Brown; 1854-5, C. G.
Lane ; 1856-7, Joseph A. Willard ; 1858-60, C. G. Lane.

Clerks. 1800, Moses Coffeen; 1801-5, Wm. Darrow;
1806, Daniel Gould ; 1807, Daniel Kelley ; 1808-9, Wm.
Darrow; 1810-6, Robert McDowell; 1817-8, Charles D.
Morse; 1819-23, Charles Bay an ; 1824, Russell Parish ;
1825, Andrew W. Doig ; 1826, Palmer Townsend ; 1827-34,
Orrin Wilbur; 1835-8, Wm. L. Easton; 1839, Ambrose W.
Clark; 1840-1, Edwin Jarvis ; 1842-4, Wm. Thompson;
1845-6, A. W. Clark ; 1847, Francis B. Morse ; 1848, Wm.
A. Chase ; 1849-51, F. B. Morse ; 1852-4, Geo. S. Case ;
1855, Francis N. Willard; 1856-8, Loren M. Brown;
1859-60, Marcellus J. Murray.

*At a special town meeting, held one month after, Solomon King was
chosen supervisor.

2 Mr. Buck came from Lanesboro in 1811. He represented the county in
Assembly in 1822 and 1840, and took an active part in public affairs. Supe
rior breeds of sheep were first introduced into the county by him. He died
July 3, 1847, at his residence on the west road, aged 58 years.

Lowville. 135

Notes from the Town Records. In 1809, 1810, 1812 and
1814, fines were voted for allowing Canada thistles to go to
seed.

In 1817 Stephen Leonard and Heman Stickney were ap
pointed a committee to confer with a committee from Mar-
tinsbnrgh about building a poor house. It will be noticed
that this was about ten years before one was built.

In 1830 it was proposed to build a town house, and $300
were voted. In 1832 are solution was passed to apply for a
law allowing $500 to be raised for a town house. Wm.
Shull, Isaac Bailey, John Stevens, Stephen Leonard and
Chester Buck were appointed to superintend the building.
A petition was presented in Assembly March 15, and
referred to Messrs. Doig, Skinner and Moulton, but no fur
ther legislative action appears upon the journals.

At a special meeting, July 7, 1832, the town voted $100,
besides the $150 previously raised, to build a draw in the
Black river bridge, to allow the steamboat then building at
Carthage, to pass. The town of Watson also aided in this
improvement.

In 1833, voted $150 for the Illingworth bridge, if enough
to finish it be raised by other means.

In 1836, resolutions were passed asking for a law to tax
the town $500 annually for five years, to aid in rebuilding
the academy. This will be further noticed in our account
of that institution. A committee, consisting of Chester
Buck, Charles Bush, Luke Wilder, George D. Ruggles and
Benjamin Davenport, was appointed under these reso
lutions.

In 1843, the town protested against the tax in this town,
for the Carthage and lake Champlain road, and the next
year against a county tax for the Tiffany bridge, or a new
clerk s office.

In 1851, voted to borrow $1,950 from the state treasurer,
under resolution of Nov., 1850, to aid in building Black
river bridges.

This town, with Adams and Watertown, fell to the share
of Nicholas Low, in the division between the four proprie
tors of the Black river tract, Aug. 5, 1796.

Nicholas Low, the fifth son of Cornelius Low, and Marga-
rette, his wife, was born near New Brunswick, on the Raritan,
N. J., March 30, 1739. Of his boyhood we have no trace, but
it may be assumed from the position and easy circumstances
of his parents, as well as from his character in after life,
that he received careful training. He entered at an early
day upon the career of a merchant, in the city of New

136 Loiwille.

York, where his eldest brother Isaac had made himself con
spicuous. Both brothers, at the commencement of the
dispute between Great Britain and her colonies, embraced
the American cause. Isaac Low, in 1774, was chosen by
the city a member of the committee of public safety, and
also one of the delegates of the continental congress of that
year, having for colleagues, John Jay, John Alsop, James
Duane and Philip Livingston, but as the quarrel became
embittered, Isaac Low adhered to his allegiance to the
crown, while Nicholas cast his lot in with his countrymen, 1
and when the British troops entered New York he aban
doned it and only returned after the peace. He then
resumed business there as a merchant, enjoying the confi
dence and friendship of the most eminent men of the
nation Washington, Jay, Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris,
Rufus King, the Livingstons and others.

Mr. Low was alive to all the great political questions
which agitated his countrymen, and taking such part as he
deemed obligatory upon every good citizen, was ever averse
to political life, and office he never sought. He was never
theless sought out by his fellow citizens on occasions of
moment. He was a member of the convention that adopted
the federal constitution, and in 1788 and 1789 was in
assembly. His political sentiments were then of the federal
party, as inaugurated under the auspices of Washington,
but he was of too independent mind and habits, ever to be
a mere partizan.

Late in life, Mr. Low married Alice Fleming, widow of

S Fleming, and by her he had three children, Cornelius,

Nicholas and Henrietta, of whom the last only survives.
In 1796, he made the purchase of the Black river tract with
others, as we have elsewhere related. He had inherited
from his father a considerable amount of landed estate at
Ballston, which town in the early part of this century be
came a place of much summer resort by reason of its medi
cinal springs, and Mr. Low built there for the accomodation
of this travel a large hotel known as Sans-Souci.

When the embargo of 1807 and war of 1812. cut us off
from the supply of manufactured goods usually received
from England, Mr. Low conceived the project of a great
manufactory of cotton at Ballston, and accordingly with his
accustomed energy and decision of character, went to work
at the enterprise, investing very large sums himself, and

l Isaac Low withdrew to England in 1783, having been attainted and
banished by an act of the legislature in 1779. He died in that country in
1791

Lowville. 137

inducing friends to do likewise. For the brief period
of the war, the undertaking was remarkably successful, but
with peace came ruin to home manufactures, and those at
Ballston did not escape the common lot. The capital in
vested was almost a total loss, and Mr. Low soon after sold
all his properly at Ballston, of which as a watering place
moreover the glories had been eclipsed by the neighboring
Saratoga Springs.

With declining years Mr. Low withdrew from business,
occupied himself mainly with the care of his estate, and in
the society of his family and of attached friends, exempt
until within the last year or two of his life, to a remarkable
degree, from bodily suffering, though with eyesight and hear
ing somewhat impaired, yet with mind unclouded, he passed
serenely on to death, November 15, 1826, being then in his
83d year.

In personal character, Mr. Low was distinguished for
sterling qualities. With a clear head, great self-reliance
and independence, much observation and knowledge of
men and affairs, he combined a high sense of honor, the
most scrupulous integrity, and the most exact justice and
truth. His yea was always yea, and his nay nay, whatever
might betide. He was a consistent member of the Episcopal
church, and for many years a warden of Grace church in
the city of New York. In personal appearance he was of
compact and robust frame, with a full head, broad forehead,
clear steady blue eyes, fine complexion and an expression
indicative at once of great kindness and great firmness. His
manner was courteous and polished, yet very direct. He
was the very type of an independent, upright, honest gentle
man.

Mr. Low was accustomed to visit the town annually upon
business during many years. His son Cornelius was ap
pointed in 1818, agent with Mr. Bostwick, and remained at
Lowville a law partner with him until the death of his
father. He died June 30, 1849, aged 54 years. Nicholas
Low the second son, died in New York in the fall of J859,
and his only sister, married the Hon. Charles King, now
president of Columbia college in the city of New York.

On the 20th of April, 1798, Low deeded to Silas Stow,
for $8,000, a tract of 4,168 acres in the central part of the
town, excepting 168 acres in a square in the N. W. corner. 1
This tract has from this cause been known as Stow s

i Deeds, Oneida Co., vii., 259.
R

138 Loioville.

Square, and may be classed among the best farming lands
of the county.

Number Eleven was surveyed around its border in May,
1796, by Benjamin Wright, who reported that " this town
is very good, especially in the south part, the soil excel
lent, and timber, bass, maple, beech, birch, ash, elm and
butternut and some few hemlock. Along the river there is
a fine intervale in many places, which has very fine soil,
and is exceedingly handsome." He also notices the swamp
along the river and a medicinal spring in the north part,
"which may perhaps be of some considerable importance
when properly examined." The area reported in this
survey was 24,453 acres, and in another made by him in
subdividing the town into lots the next year as 24,615 acres.
Wright s survey of 1797, divided the town into 40 lots of
from 154 to 693 acres. It was further surveyed by John
Frees in 1802, J. D. Hammond in 1804, Eobert McDowell 1
in 1808, and by others. The swamp near the river extend
ing into Denmark (3,329 acres), was surveyed into 41 lots,
of from 72 to 120 acres by McDowell in 1808.

A reminiscence of this town extends back to the revolu
tion, and is supported by very good verbal testimony, to
the effect, that a party of tories and Indians having cap
tured a Mrs. Roseburgh and her little boy Henry, in the
Mohawk settlements, conducted them through the woods
to the High falls. They had here left concealed a birch
canoe, in which the} 7 came down the^ river with their
prisoners till on arriving at a place above Smith s land
ing, they left the river and came up to some flat rocks
near the present east road and encamped. They had at
this place made caches of corn, and here they spent the
night. They proceeded on the next day to the Long falls,
and from thence to Carleton island in the St. Lawrence,
where Mrs. R. a few weeks after added one to the number of
the captives. Henry was adopted by the Indians, but some
time after was stolen away by his relatives. The child
born in captivity, afterwards married in this county. 2

Mr. Low having confirmed the title and caused the sur
vey of this town, appointed Silas Stow, a young man

1 Mr. McDowell was an Irishman of good education and social manners.
He removed from Lowville to Waddington, St. Lawrence co., where by the
failure of D. A. Ogden, he was deprived of a farm, which had been mostly
paid for in surveying. He afterwards taught school many years in Madrid
and Ogden sburgh.

2 She was Mrs. Peter Van Atter. Jacob Van Atter was an ensign in the
battle of Oriskany, and an early settler. His wife died, aged 100 years.

Lowville. 139

twenty^four years of age, who had previously been em
ployed in the settlement of Leyden, as his agent, and 1797
the lands were opened for sale. A strong tide of emigra
tion was then setting from New England, and the central
and western parts of this state were being explored by small
parties in quest of new homes. One of these companies
from Westfield, Mass., consisting of Enoch Lee, Russell
Pond, Ehud Stephens 1 and Jonathan Rogers, was returning
from a tour to the Genesee country, where it was found
sickly. At Whitesboro they met Mr. Charles C. Brodhead,
who had but recently been employed in surveying lands on
the Biack river. He turned their attention to that region,
and crossing the Mohawk, set them on a line of marked
trees that led to the future homes of three of their number.
Mr. Stow, 2 the agent, was then stopping in Leyden, but
spent much of his time upon number 11, and from him

lEhud Stephens was a grandson of Thomas Stevens, who was born Dec.,
1692, emigrated to America, and died at or near Newgate, Ct, March 20, 1752.
His sons were born as follows: Thomas, Nov. 20, 1723, (d. Oct. 17, 1783) ;
Solomon, Feb. 17, 1725 ; Jonathan, March 15, 1734 (died in childhood), and
Rufus, Feb. 17, 1740, who accompanied his son to Lowville and died June
26, 1816. The children of Rufus Stephens were,

Ehud, b. Feb. 17, 1771, d. at Copenhagen Aug. 21, 1852. His son Apollos
has been many years a merchant at Copenhagen. W. Hudson Stephens, son
of Apollos, is a lawyer at Lowville. Harvey Stephens, son of Ehud, was a
merchant at Martinsburgh and an agent of the Pierrepont estate. His family
reside at that place.

Truman, b. Oct. 20, 1782, resides in Lowville. Settled in June, 1802.

Ira, b. Nov. 29, 1777, d. at Lowville June 21, 1852. Settled in 1801.

Rufus, b. Nov. 20, 1779, resides in Lowville. Settled in June, 1802 and

Apollos, who died in infancy. His daughters were,

Ruth, married Levi Adams of Martinsburgh.

Electa, married Preserved Finch of Turin.

Paulina, married Heman Stickney of Lowville, and afterwards of Turin.

Each of the above named, except Jonathan (son of Thomas) and Apollos,
became heads of families, and their descendants are numerous.

Ehud Stephens married Mercy, a daughter of Jonathan Rogers of Branford,
Ct., who became the mother of the first white children born in Lowville and
Martinsburgh. She was born in Sept. 28, 1769, and died May 31, 1849. Mr.
Stephens was appointed sheriff in 1808 and 1820, holding the office, in all,
about three years.

2 Silas Stow was bora in Middlefield, Ct., Dec. 21, 1773, and was the
youngest of a family of eight children. His three older brothers, Elihu, Obed
and Joshua, were all in the revolution, and his father, a zealous patriot, ren
dered all the material aid that could be spared from his farm, and from prin
ciple, received continental money at par for everything he had to sell for the
army. He was a farmer in very moderate circumstances. His wife was a woman
of remarkable energy and devotion to the interests of her family. Mr. Stow
was often heard to speak of her with tenderness and respect, and to her were
her children largely indebted for whatever distinction they afterwards acquired.
He received only a common school education, and his further acquirements
were due to his mother s c ire and his own enthusiasm. He studied law at
Middletown, but before settling in practice, became concerned in the agency
of Leyden, and 1797 was appointed by Low agent for his towns on the Black

140 Lowville.

Stephens took the first contract in this town. June 2, 1797,
for lot 38, at $3 per acre. Rogers, Pond, 1 Daniel Kelley,
Moses Waters, and perhaps others, selected land during the
summer and fall of 1797, began slight clearings and put
up one or two rude shanties, a little south of the lower
mill, for the families that were to come on in the following
year.

Early in 1798 the first families of this town left their
homes in Westfield, Mass., and by slow stages, found their
way to the last clearing in Turin. At the High Falls they
borrowed a pit saw of the French settlers, and with the aid
of such tools as they had, undertook to build a boat of suf
ficient size to transport their families and goods to their
destination. This craft was finished in about two weeks,
and ready to launch as soon as the river opened. It was
flat-bottomed, about 25 feet long by 7 wide, and might have
had a capacity of two tons. It was probably the first ves
sel larger than a log canoe that had floated on Black river,
and may have been regarded by its non-professional boat
builders, as a model of its kind.

The ice broke up on the river on the 8th of April, and
on the 10th, they launched their boat, loaded it with farm
ing utensils, bedding, grain and provisions until its sides
were scarcely two inches above the water, placed upon it
their families, and cast off upon the swolen river, on an un
tried and somewhat perilous voyage. The passengers upon

river tract. He came on \vith the first settlers, and on the 26th of July, 1801,
he married Mary Ruggles of Boston, a sister of Gen. Geo. D. Ruggles, for
merly of this town. He was appointed a judge of Oneida county, Jan. 28,
1801, and was elected to the twelfth congress (1811-13) from the tenth dis
trict, by the Federal party. Following the principles they advocated, he
spoke and voted against the declaration of war with Great Britain. In
1814-15 he held the office of sheriff, and from 1815 to 1823, that of first
judge of Lewis county. Although educated to the law, he never practiced
at the bar, but was regarded as a sound and judicious lawyer, and a man of
great native talent. He was succeeded in the agency by Miller, in 1802, and an
unfortunate land purchase in Malta (Lorraine) resulted in a pecuniary disaster
from which he never recovered. He died January 19, 1827, at the house of
Lemuel Wood, aged 54 years. He left three sons, all natives of this town, of
whom Alexander W. Stow died at Milwaukie, Sept. 14, 1854, chief justice of
Wisconsin. He resided many years in Rochester, from whence, in 1841, he
removed to the state which conferred upon him its highest judicial trust.
Marcellus K. Stow resides at Fond-du-Lac, Wisconsin, where he is engaged
in merchandise. Horatio J. Stow was educated to the law and resided many
years at Buffalo, where he held the office of recorder. In 1846 he was elected
to the constitutional convention, and in 1S57, to the State Senate, in which
office he died, at Clifton Springs, Feb. 19, 1859. During several of his later
years, he had resided at Lewiston and was extensively engaged in farming.
He was a man of brilliant talent and much influence.

!Mr. P. never became a settler in town. This location was bought by one
Washburu.

Ldwville. 141

this trial trip, were Jonathan Rogers, 1 and his children
Bela, Polly and Isaac ; Ehud Stephens, his wife Mercy, and
children Clarissa, Apollos and Harvey; Jesse Wilcox, Phile
mon Hoadley, Zebulon Rogers and Elijah and Justus
Woolworth. 2

The craft was towed into the stream by some Frenchmen
but was soon caught in a current that drew it slowly around
towards the falls, against the best effort that those assisting
could make, when to save themselves, they cast off the line
and rowed toward their own side of the river. Four of
the men seized their oars, and by hard rowing got within
reach of the bottom, when B. Rogers and J. Woolworth,
jumped out and swam ashore with a rope, by which the
craft was towed down below the eddy, and then rowed
across to the French houses opposite. A part of the load
was here taken off, and they again started a little after
noon. Running down upon the swolen current they arrived
just before sunset, at the end of their voyage, as far up the
Lowville creek as they could push the boat, and not far
from the residence of the late Luke Wilder.

The day was delightfully serene, and they were borne
rapidly and pleasantly along, with no effort except to keep
their craft in the middle of the stream and no danger but
from overhanging trees, by one of which, Clarrissa Stephens
was swept off the boat, but soon rescued. They landed
upon a tree that had fallen across the creek and prevented
further progress, but were yet half a mile distant from the
shanty where they were to spend the night. B. Rogers
and J. Woolworth started with a gun to look up the spot,
and after some time lost in finding a marked line, the rest
followed on with such burdens as they could conveniently
carry, and which would be most needed for present comfort.
Meanwhile it grew dark, and the travelers could no longer
see their route, but those who had gone on before, had

1 Jonathan Rogers, was A son of Jonathan, who was born Dec. 12, 1715,
and died at Westfield March, 1805. His family consisted of,

Eli, b. Nov. 14, 1740, settled in Martinsbnrgh in 1802, where he died.

Lydia, b. June 1, 1747, niaried Frisbie.

Mary, b. Feb. 22, 1753, m. Philemon Hoadley of Turin.

Jonathan, b. March 11, 1756, m. Mercy Rogers.

Abigal, b. Nov. 9, 1758, m. Samuel Banks.

Mercy, m. Ehud Stephens.

Capt. J. Rogers, died in Lowville, April 16, 1841. He was by trade a
blacksmith, but in this town chiefly devoted himself to inn keeping and
afterwards to farming. He was an exemplary member of the Presbyterian
church, and in the various relations of life was highly useful and generally
esteemed.

2 As related by Jesse Wilcox, August, 1859.

142 Lowville.

kindled a pile of dry brush and logs, and by the sound of a
horn, and the gleain of the cheerful fire, they were led to
the rude but welcome shelter. A hearty supper was eaten
with relish, and such as were entitled to hospitalities of
the roof slept under it, while the rest made a couch of hem
lock boughs, and lay down upon it.

Their provisions and furniture were backed up the next
day. They had left a number of cattle in Turin to browse
in the woods, but finding the spring farther advanced here,
and the leeks and wild plants up fresh arid green, while the
snow still lay in the woods near the falls, some of the num
ber returned in two or three days, and drove their stock
down through the woods to Lowville. Two or three trips
of the boat, brought the balance of their goods, when the
craft was lent and kept running a long time after in trans
porting the family and goods of other settlers in this and
the following seasons. Hoadley and the Woolworths had
settled in Turin, whither they returned. Wilcox began
clearing in June, upon the place he has ever since owned
on Stow s square. Mrs. J. Rogers came on the next week,
and during the summer quite a number of families found
their way into town, took up land, and began improve
ments. 1

The usual landing place of those who came by water,
was at Hulbert s afterwards Spafford s landing, at the spot
where the road from Lowville to Watson, first strikes the
river. 2

The land books of Mr. Low, show that the following per
sons took up farms in this town during the first four years
of its settlement :

1 An early incident is related upon good authority, as having been
observed with wonder. Rogers brought on a pair of fowls the first season,
old Logan and his mate, and in due course of time, a tender brood of chickens
claimed a parent s care. The hen was killed by a hawk, when, with half
reasoning instinct, Logan, perhaps thinking these the last of his race, assumed
the nurse s care, clucked the half- orphan young around him, fed, guarded
and sheltered them with the tenderness of a mother, and reared them to
maturity.

2 Col. John Spaffbrd, from whom this landing was named, was a native of
Ct. and one of the first settlers of Tinmouth, Vt. During the revolution he
took an active part at the head of a company of militia. At the taking of
Ticonderoga in 1775, under Allen and Arnold, he assisted with his company,
and was directed to join Col. Warner, in his attempt upon Crown Point.
He reached that important place before the latter, and received himself the
sword of the acting commandant, which remained with his family at the time
of his death. He died, March 24, 1823, at the age of 71 years. His son
Horatio Gates Spafford was author of the first gazetteer of New York. Black
River Gazette.

Lowville. 143

In 1798, James Bailey, 1 Jehoida and Nathan Page, Hul-
bert and Cooley, Wm. Darrow, 2 and Moses Coffeen. 3

In 1799, Adam F. and Jacob Snell, Benjamin Hillraan,
Jacob Eblie, 4 James Craig, John Shull, 5 Jeremy Rogers,
John Bush, Daniel Porter, Geo. Bradford, Zadock Bush,
Asa Newton, James Parsons, Richard Livingston, 6 Zeboim
Carter, 7 Noah Durrin, 8 Ebenezer Hill, Samuel Van Atta,
James and Garret Boshart, 9 Wm. and Benjamin Ford, John
Kitts, Hooper Boohall, Philes and Kitts, Fisk and Searl,
and James Cadwell.

In 1800, Reuben Putney, Luther Washburn, Aaron
Coles, David Cobb, Nathaniel Durham, Pardon Lanpher 10
and Francis Murphy.

In 1801, Joseph Newton, Ben] . Rice, Jesse Benjamin,
Elijah Parks, Z. Plank, E. Newton, David Rice, David Wil
bur, 11 Jabez Puffer, Samuel and John Bailey, Joseph Pur-
rinton, Nathan Rowlee, Hezekiah Wheeler, Levi Bickford,
Joseph Malby, Eliphaz Searle, Calvin Merrill, A. D, Wil
liams, Benj. Davenport, Daniel Porter, A. and A. Sigourney,
Mather Bosworth, 12 Loomis J. Danks, Edward Shepherd,
Zuriel Waterman, Amasa Hitchcock, Ozen Bush, Simeon
Babcock, Thadeus Smith, Elijah Baldwin, Jonathan Hut-
chinson, Erastus Hoskins, Robert Barnett, 13 Jesse Hitch-

1 From Lebanon, Ct., and father of Daniel S. Bailey. He settled on Stow s
square, and was an early innkeeper. Dr. Ira Adams afterwards owned his
place.

2 Dr. Darrow from Hebron, N. Y., was the first physician in the north part
of the county, and settled on Stow s square. He was in assembly in 1832,
and died, Jan, 8, 1815, aged 44 years.

3 Bought on the East road. Sold in 1804, and bought 300 acres on the
west road from whence he removed to Jefferson co. His brothers Henry,
David and William, were pioneers in that county.

4 Died, Dec. 15, 1857, aged 82 years.

5 Died, March 27, 1827, aged 82 years. 6p rO m Johnstown.
? From Westfield, Mass. He served as colonel in the war of 1812-15, and
died in this town April 22, 1853, aged 81 years.

8 The Rev. Noah Durrin, died, Jan. 21, 1853, aged 78 years. He was by
trade a millwright.

9 G. Boshart, died, May 4, 1845, aged 76 years. He removed from the
Mohawk settlements with several German families among whom were Shull,
Eblie, Snell, Herring, Van Atta, &c., and settled on the hillside, a little
north of Lowville village. His smooth, ample and neatly fenced fields, were
long the model for whoever might be emulous of success in farming.

10 Mr. L. removed from Westerly, R. I., in 1797, to Whitestown, and in
March, 1800, came to Lowville, where he died Feb. 27, 1827, aged 82 years.
The road on which he settled, between the Number Three and West Roads,
is still often called from him Lanpher street.

11 From Worthington, Mass. Died Dec. 27, 1829, aged 60.

12 From Westmoreland. Died May 17, 1850, aged 84 years. Constant Bos-
worth died June 21, 1826, aged 80 years.

13 Died Aug. 13, 1828, aged 67 years.

144

Lowville.

oock 1 , Kent and Bull, John Delap, Nathaniel Prentice and
Lewis Gosard.

The first deed to actual settlers was issued April 12, 178,
to Daniel Kelley for lot 37, of 250 acres for $650, on the
same day that the deed of Stow s square was given. As an
interesting subject for comparison the following list of
deeds given during the years 1800-1-2, is given :

Name.

Date.

John Schull, June 30, 1800.

Benjamin Hillman, July 1, do

Wm. Darrow, Aug. 20, do .

Jonathan Rogers, April 20, 1801.

James Bailey, do do

John Bush, do do ,

Ebenezer Hill, do do ,

Adam F. Snell, do do ,

Jacob Snell, do do ,

Elijah Baldwin, Aug. 20, 1802 .

Samuel Van Atta, do do .

Noah Durrin,
Ehud Stephens, . . .
HOOD-;. Boo nail. . .
Mather Bosworth,. .
Z uriel Waterman. .

do
do
do
do
do

Lot. Acres.
18 150
38 300

412$
101
79
101
100
100
127|
129
10U
239
259

Price.

8450.00
1,029.00
266.37
1,238.25
345.10
237.00
353.50
325.00
300.00
381.75
387.00
332.50
690.00
971.25
628.12
984.37

In 1803 the following persons received deeds : Zadock
Bush, 103J, David Porter, 104, Simeon Babcock, 154J, Silas
Weller, 51, Joseph Newton, 102, and Jesse Hitchcock, 50.

Mr. Stow hired a small piece, cut off and a shanty built
in 1797, and a log house, opposite the bridge, at the lower
mill, in 1798. In the summer and fall of 1802 he built a
mansion, still standing and familiar to many of our readers,
on a beautifully chosen spot, a short distance south of Low
ville village, and now owned by Charles D. Morse.

Daniel Kelley 2 built a saw mill in 1798 on the south side of

From Lanesboro, Mass. Died May 25, 1853, aged 73 years.

2 Daniel Kelley was born in Norwich, Ct., Nov. 27, 1755, married Jemima
Stow, a sister of Judge Stow of Middletown, June 28, 1787, and removed
from Middletown in 1798 to Lowville. He was appointed first county judge,
and in the fall of 1814 removed to Cleveland, 0., where he held the offices
of post master and county treasurer. He died Aug. 7, 1831, in his 76th year.
His wife was born Dec. 23, 1763, and died Sept. 14, 1815. She evinced in a
strong degree, the mental vigor and the enterprise which belong to the Stow
family, and for many years was an intelligent nurse and skillful midwife in
Lowville, freely bestowing her time and services upon the sick.

Datus Kelley is a wealthy proprietor upon Kelley s Island, lake Erie.
Alfred Kelley died at Columbus, O., Dec. 2, 1859, aged 70 years. He settled
in the profession of the law at Cleveland in 1810, was twenty-two years in the
Ohio legislature, was the author of its canal and railroad laws and influential
in the public councils to a degree never surpassed in that state. He was
acting canal commissioner while the canals were building and afterwards was
president of three important railroads at the same time. Irad and Thomas

Lowville. 145

the creek, in Lowville village, just below the present bridge,
and his first log hut built the same year, stood against a
huge boulder, adjacent and directly opposite the bridge, as
now built. A grist mill was raised the next year, with the
aid of settlers summoned from all the country around, and
got in operation Sept. 22, 1799. Its stones were dressed
from a boulder of gneiss rock by James Parker, the well
known mill-stone maker of Watertown, and the gearing
was done by Noah Durrin and Ebenezer Hill, millwrights.
It is noted by Mr. Stow that this mill, on the 24th of Octo
ber, about a month after its completion, had ground two
bushels of wheat well, in seventeen minutes. Previous to
this, milling had been obtained at Whitestown and some
times in Turin, the boys being generally detailed for this
service. A day was usually consumed in going to Turin
and returning, and the sun never went down on their way
home, if the young pioneers could prevent it by a forced
march through the obscure bridle path. The lower mill in
Lowville was built by Stow about 18 10. In 1803 or 1804,
John and Ozem Bush built a saw mill on Sulphur Spring
creek, near the Number Three Road, which they sold to
Solomon King, who erected the first grist mill at that place.
Mr. Kelley s mills, the erection of an inn by Jonathan
Rogers, and a store by Fortunatus Eager, 1 determined the
location of Lowville village, which sprung up mostly on
the farm of Rogers, who cleared the site of its native
growth of timber.

The first framed building in the village, was the house of
Capt. Rogers, and the second was Eager s store. The
second inn was built about 1805 by Preserved Finch in the
upper part of the village, and was kept by Daniel Gould,
and afterwards by M. W. Welles. 2

M. Kelley resides at Cleveland, where they are prominent citizens. The latter
is president of the Merchants Bank, and has been for several years in the
Ohio Legislature. We find the following incident of his life in the diary of
an early settler: May 20, 1799. "At Kelley s, his child Thomas fell
into his saw mill pond, and lay there as near as we could judge, at least a
quarter of an hour. Every appearance of life and heat was gone. After
much pains we restored him to life. He lay floating on the pond."

1 Mr. Eager was from Lunenburg, Vt., and came the second or third year
of the settlement. After trading about three years, he became a partner of
Wm. Card, and for several years he carried on the manufacture of potash
quite extensively, thus aiding the settlers to means for paying for their lands.
He went to Canada, near Brockville, in 1809, where he died. Mr. Card died
at Greenbush.

2 Major Melancthon Woolscy Welles was born in Stamford, Ct., Dec. 6, 1770,
was some years a merchant at Albany, and removed from Lanesboro, Mass.,
in 1807. In 1809 he came to Lowville where he resided till his death, Feb.

146 Lowville.

The first birth in town was that of Harriet, daughter of
Ehud Stephens, and afterwards wife of Dr. James M. Sturde-
vant, which occurred Feb. 24, 1799. The first male born in
town was Samuel, son of Jonathan Rogers, June 21, 1800.

The first death is believed to have been that of a child of
one Cooley, but the first of an adult, was that of Aaron
Hovey, a young unmarried man from Johnstown. He had
taken up a lot on the east road, but was then at work clear
ing land in the upper part of the village, near the present
residence of Wm. Root Adams. He was thoughtless and
profane, and a little before, upon receiving some slight
injury, had intimated that he would soon have a settlement
with his maker. He went out on a sabbath morning to
cut down a tree, foolishly placing a round stone in the
notch, as an experiment, to roll off the trunk from the stump.
He was struck and killed by the tree, and was, it is believed,
the first person buried in the old grave yard, then a lonely
spot in the woods upon the east road below the village.

A few straggling families of St. Regis Indians, occasion
ally stopped a short time to hunt in the vicinity of the
early settlers. One of these savages named " Captain Joe,"
had brutally whipped his squaw one evening in a drunken
fit. She escaped to Capt. Rogers house for protection, and
was sent up a ladder into the garret by Mrs. Rogers, who
had then no other company but two of her children. The
ladder was scarcely taken down and hid, before Joe came
reeling along in quest of his victim, and was the first time
deceived and sent away. He soon, however, returned with
a torch, following a little dog, who was good on the track,
and by snuffing and barking soon convinced his master that
the object of his pursuit was in the garret. The Indian
sprang up and caught hold of a beam, when the woman and
her children seized him by his legs and brought him pros
trate to the ground. They held him until the neighbors
could be rallied by a conch-shell to their aid, and Joe was
deprived of further power to injure until sober and peni
tent.

On another occasion, a camp of some twenty Indians, on
the spot now occupied by Morris Moore, became boisterous
from drink, and a party came to Rogers house, at which

27, 1857, aged 86 years. Mr. Welles was a son of the Rev. Noah Welles, and
a descendant of Thomas Welles, whose son was governer of Connecticut in
1655. He was related to the late Commodore Woolsey of Utica, and well
known to the citizens of the county. From near the time of his removal to
about 1830, he kept an inn at Lowville village. His dwelling was built at
the time when it was hoped that the old academic building might become a
court house.

Lowville. 147

no man was present but Eli Kellogg his son-in-law. The
Indians were extremely drunk and boisterous, when upon
refusing to leave, they were knocked down with a club by
the man, and dragged out by the women.

In these primitive times, wheeled vehicles were little
known, and had they been owned, could hardly have been
used without roads. If a party was to go on a visit to some
distant cabin, a rude sled drawn by oxen, and cushioned
with a few bundles of straw, afforded a slow, but safe and
easy mode of conveyance, nor was the guest less welcome
to the coarse fare and rustic hospitality of the bark roofed
hovel. Distinctions founded upon the possession of a few
more of the conveniences of life than one s neighbors were
unknown, and the privations of the present, were relieved
by bright anticipations of the future.

In the second summer of the settlement, Capt. Rogers
went to the salt springs, now Syracuse, for salt, of which
he procured a load, and brought it to near Dexter by water
from whence it was drawn to Lowville on a dray made of a
crotched limb of a tree. Fish and game were easily pro
cured, and about 1805, two men from Lowville went over
to Crystal creek, caught each a hundred pounds of fish and
returned the same day. Sixteen years after, an enormous
moose was shot in this town, by a lad twelve years of age.
His skin was prepared, and exhibited more than thirty
years in the Albany museum.

The road as first opened, about 1799, to Turin, was through
what was termed the " eleven mile woods." The first road
northward was the east road, which was probably run out the
same year. In September, Stow hired Joseph Crary to
survey out a line to township 3 (Rutland), which has ever
since been known as the " Number Three road." John Bush,

Peter Swinburne and Weller were first settlers on this

road. The west road was laid out about 1801 or 1802.

Th street leading from Lowville to New Boston, was
settled west of the west road, about 1805-6, by Roswell
Waterman, Nathaniel Bement, Malachi Putnam, Sacket and
Alvin Dodge, and about a dozen others in Harrisburgh. It
is said that at the time of the war, there were about seventy
men on this street in the two towns liable to military duty,
but not a single family of these first settlers now resides
there. The state road from Lowville to Henderson Harbor
was afterwards located on this road.

The first settlement upon Stow s square, was begun in the
fall of 1797, by Moses Waters, 1 who came on with a back

, Feb. 5, 1852, aged 81 years.

148 Loiwille.

load of pro visions, and stayed while this lasted, cutting off a
small clearing. Jesse and Iloswell Wilcox, 1 Charles and
Billa Davenport, 2 Dr. Wm. Darrow, Daniel Porter, Joel and
Wm. Bates, Isaac Perry, 3 Jacob Apley, Fortunatus and
Mayhew Bassett, James Bailey and Absalom Williams, were
among the first settlers of Stow s square. A store, church,
inn and post office, subsequently gave the settlement upon
the state road within this tract some claims to the appella
tion of a village, but the loss of all these excepting the
church (which is falling into ruin), has occasioned the
locality to be regarded as only a thickly settled farming
neighborhood.

Mr. Stow was succeeded in the agency by Morris S.
Miller, 4 about 1802, and the latter by Isaac W. Bostwick in

1 These were brothers, sons of Adam and Esther Wilcox. Their "brother
Elisha, b. Oct. 2, 1768, died in Leyden, and their sister Rebecca, b. Sept.
1770, married Moses Waters. This wedding was the first that occurred in
Lowville. Jesse, b. June 8, 1774, resides at Stow Square. Iloswell, b. Jan.
22, 1778, died, Oct. 1, 1851. These families were from Killingworth, Ct.

2 The Davenports of this town, are descendants of Thomas D., who settled
at Dorchester about 1640, and dipd, Nov. 9, 1685. His third son, Jonathan
(born, March 6, 1658, and died, Dec. 1. 1680), had seven sons, the youngest
of whom named Benjamin, was the father of the emigrants named in the
text. He was born Oct. 6, 1698, and died about 1785, at Spencertown, N.
Y. His family consisted of four sons and three daughters, viz :

Samuel who died in Sheffield, Ct.

Hannah, who married House.

Billa, who settled in this town, and had two sons and four daughters.
John the eldest son, settled in Delaware co., and gave name to the town of
Davenport ; he died, wealthy. Billa settled in this town.

Charles, born April 15, 1751, married Elizabeth Taylor in 1778, and died,
Dec. 12, 1812. His children were, Benjamin, born Nov. 15, 1778, died in
Turin, Feb. 19, 1860; Ira, b., May 9, 1787, died, May 19, 1819. Sally,

b. Nov. 7, 1782, died . Betsey, b. Nov. 17, 1791. Charles, b. Oct. 23,

1784, m. May, 1814, to Anna Cole, died July 28, 1855 ; his portrait is given
in this volume. Alexander, b. Oct. 25, 1780, d. Jan. 20, 1851. Roxanna, b.
Aug. 3, 1796, m. Rev. J. Blodget. Ashley, b. Feb. 11, 1794, removed to
Copenhagen in 1825 and has since resided there ; he has held the offices of
sheriff and senator. John B., b. Feb. 18, 1798, died in Indiana in 1819.

Jonathan, married a Culver.

Sally, married a Clark.

Zerphiah, married a Bliss.

3 Capt. Perry, originally from R. I., had removed from Hancock, Mass., to
Granville, N. Y., and thence to Palmerstown, Westmoreland and Lowville.
He settled here in June, 1799, having the year previous located land. One
of his daughters married Fortunatus Eager, the first merchant; another a
Buell ; another Isaac W. Bostwick. He had served in the revolution, and
was related to Commodore Perry. His death occurred Nov. 19, 1840, at the
age of 81 years.

4 Morris S. Miller, had been the private secretary of Gov. Jay, and married
a Miss Bleecker of Albany. He removed from Lowville to Utica, where he
resided till his death, Nov. 16, 1824, aged 44 years. He was a member of
the 13th congress, and held the office of first judge of Oneida Co., from 1810
till his death. He was a gentleman of fine manners and extensive acquire
ments, but his brief residence in this section scarcely allowed him to become
generally known to our citizens.

Lowvilh. 149

1806. The latter remained in this station till near the end
of his life. 1

1 Isaac Welton Bostwick, a son of Andrew Bostwick, was born in Watertown,
Ct., March 6, 1776, and in early childhood removed with his parents to New
York city, but in two or three years returned to his native place. After
attending several years a school taught by Mr. Punderson, he removed with
the family to Roxbury, and in a school taught by the Rev. Mr. Canfield,
prepared for the high school at Williamstown. After two or three years
attendance at the latter, he undertook his own support by teaching, at first in
a public school in South East, and afterwards as a private tutor in the family
of Mr. Livingston of Poughkeepsie.

He here became acquainted with a brother of Judge Platt of Whitestown,
who induced him to remove in 1797 to Oneida co., where he entered the
office of Platt & Breese, and in 1801, he was admitted to the bar of the
supreme court, having for a short time previous served as deputy county
clerk under Mr. Platt. In 1804, he removed to Turin, and began the practice
of the law, residing two years in the family of Judge Collins, and in 1806, he
came to Lowville the scene of his future career, with no resource but his
profession and a steady reliance upon his own energy. He became Low s
agent in Lowville, Harrison s in Harrisburgh and Denmark, and Pierrepont s
in Martinsburgh in which he earned the implicit confidence of his employers.
A notice of Mr. B. occurs in the diary of James Constable under date of
Aug. 7, 1806, which indicates the impression made at that period upon
Messrs. Constable and Pierrepont.

"During the last evening and this morning, we had much conversation
with Mr. Bostwick, the agent of Messrs. Low and Harrison in this quarter.
He appeared to be a very intelligent, well informed and active young man,
and very suitable for an agent. He showed us the instruments used for Mr.
Low, which we thought well of, and should at once adopt, but our rule
hitherto invariable of requiring part of the payment down, is not contem
plated, and we therefore reserve our determination."

These landholders on their return, Aug. 23d, from the St. Lawrence
country, further remark i " Renewed our conversation with Mr. Bostwick,
respecting the agency of town No. 4, which he now showed as well as form
erly a great desire to undertake, but the commission which we proposed, of
2 p. c. on sales, and 2 p. c. for collecting and remitting he thought too low,
and during the day it appeared as if he would give it up, stating that it was
a lower rate than had yet been given in the country, and would be no object
to him. Our answer was, that if the rate was lower, the produce would be
greater, as a considerable part of the town would soon sell at $6 per acre, and
4.j p. c. on that price would be much better than 5 or 7 at $3, at which most
of the preceding agents had sold, but he did not agree, tho he could not
reply to such reasoning. He spoke at large of the labors and difficulty in
such business, a subject so familiar to us, that we soon convinced him the
commission was a full compensation. The subject dropped for the day with
out coming to an agreement.

24th. Next morning early we prepared a letter to him, in which the com
mission was the same as verbally, and after a very few words he declared
himself perfectly satisfied, and that he would exert himself to the utmost for
our interests. We enjoined upon him as one of his first measures, to acquire
a personal knowledge of each lot in town, which he promised to do ; and
recommended him to be mild and conciliatory with the settlers, as they
were apt to be apprehensive of an agent of the legal profession. He had
before disclaimed all idea of making money as a lawyer, through his situation
as an agent, and said he had so expressed himself to Mr. Low and Mr.
Harrison when they employed him ; and to prove his aversion to harrassing
settlers, he told us several anecdotes of his having on his own account,
bought in their property at low prices, and delivered it to them. We pro
posed to him to accompany us to the township which he accordingly did,

150 Lowville.

The village of Lowville early became a prominent point
in the county, from its academy, the spirited efforts of its
merchants, 1 and the location of several influential citizens

and we introduced him to such of the settlers as were there, being nearly the
whole, informing them that he had full powers as agent, that the price of $7,
for lots on the road, and those of the first quality in that quarter of the town,
and $6 for the remainder ; the credit 5 years for the first payment, interest
on the whole to be paid in one year, one quarter of the principal with the
interest in 2 years, the same in 3 years, the same in 4 years, and the same in
5. They appeared to be well satisfied, and we left them."

We have extended this quotation for the double purpose of embracing the
facts, and of showing the business habits of the parties. He continued
Pierrepont s agent until 1834, for No. 4, and part of No. 5. Mr. Bostwick s
subsequent life, vindicated the sincerity of the intentions, thus early declared,
of mildness towards settlers, and his uniformly kind and conciliatory man
ners, have endeared his memory to multitudes in the towns of Lowville,
Harrisburgh, Denmark, Adams, and Watertown, which were mostly sold and
settled under his agency.

Although he continued the practice of law many years, his land agencies oc
cupied a large part of his time, and after having been in partnership at different
times with Ela Collins, Samuel A. Talcott, Cornelius Low and Russell Parish,
he finally withdrew from the profession altogether, and devoted his entire
care to his own ample estate, and his land agencies.

He was appointed surrogate upon the organization of the county, and held
this office ten years. On the 29th of Sept., 1812, he was married to Miss
Hannah Perry, daughter of Capt. Isaac Perry, a pioneer settler. This accom
plished partner of his life and solace of his declining years, still resides at his
elegant seat in Lowville.

Mr. B., was several years president of the Lewis Co. Bank, and first pre
sident of the bank of Lowville. Having held the office of trustee of the
Lowville academy many years, he was elected their president in 1840, and
continued in that station till his death, ever taking a deep interest in its wel
fare, and finally leaving to its library, a munificent addition to its literary
treasures. The was an active and consistent member of the Presbyterian
society and church, liberal in all matters of public improvement, prompt,
energetic and efficient in business, and of integrity without stain and above
reproach. He died at Lowville, Jan. 3, 1857, at the advanced age of 81 years,
universally respected for his great moral worth.

Mr. Bostwick resigned the agency of the Low estate in 1854, and was suc
ceeded by Russell Parish, who lived but a few months after. It then was
given to Nathaniel B. Sylvester of Lowville, who still holds it. Mr. Bostwick
stated frequently with great satisfaction, that he had remitted to the pro
prietor more than five times the amount of the original purchase money, and
that Ije left contracts exceeding the said original sum. This is to be re
marked alike to the credit of proprietor, agents and settlers, that in the large
amount of business transactions between them, no occasion arose for an appeal
to the courts of law.

1 Subsequent to the settlement of Eager and Card, already noticed, James
H. and Stephen Leonard came to reside in the village, and during many
years conducted an extensive business.

The Leonard families of this town emigrated from West Springfield, Mass.,
and are descendants of John Leonard, who settled in Springfield in 1639.
Abel and Josiah, probably sons of John, settled on the west side of the river
in 1660, and died in 1688 and 1690. James and Henry Leonard, sons of
Thomas and supposed to be related to these, removed from England before
1642, and built the first forge in America at Taunton, Mass., in 1652. (Mass.
Hist. Coll., /., series iii., 170).

The descendants of the latter were remarkable for a kind of hereditary at
tachment to the iron business, which led to the remark that " where you can

Lowville. 151

within the first fifteen years of its settlement. This early
prestige has been maintained, and while Lowville village is

find iron works there you will find a Leonard." The name is somewhat
common in New England, and in 1826, 28 had graduated in the colleges of
that section, of whom 12 were of Harvard.

The first emigrants of this name to the Black river country were sons of
Elias and Phineas, sons of Moses Leonard. The sons of Elias Leonard were
James H., Rodney, Loren and Francis Leonard, and those of Phineas Leonard
were Stephen, Chauncey, Phineas and Reuben.

James Haroey Leonard was born at West Springfield, Sept. 22, 1780, and first
visited Lowville in 1804 with Stephen Leonard. They came on horseback
from Skaneateles where they had been employed as clerks, with the intention
of settling and crossed from Rome to Talcott s. The roads were so rough and
the settlements so rude that they began to have serious doubts about finding
a place that offered inducements, but as they reached the brow of the hill
overlooking Lowville, the neat newly painted mansion of Judge Stow, and
the thrifty settlement beyond, gave a cheerful aspect to the spot and deter
mined their future course. They were on their way to Chaumont, but
did not get nearer that place than Brownville, and returned through Red -
field. J. H. Leonard began business in Lowville, Sept., 1804, and in Jan.,
1805, was joined by Stephen Leonard. Before this they had leased four
acres, at what is now the city of Auburn, for 100 years, at $4 per acre, and
J. H. L. had leased 50 acres at $5 for 30 years. The latter lease failed from
a refusal of Hardenburgh, the proprietor, to execute the papers, and the for
mer was sold for $150 before a payment was made. J. H. Leonard continued
in the firm of J. H. & S. Leonard just a quarter of a century and remained
in business here till his removal in 1839, except one or two years at Skane
ateles. This firm became widely known throughout northern New York. It
supplied rations to the troops passing through the country, and in embargo
times were largely engaged with business connections in Canada. They held
during the war a contract for supplying 40,000 gallons of whiskey for the
navy, and owned one-half of a like contract of Allen & Canfield, making
60,000 gallons at 1 per gallon, to be delivered at Sackett s Harbor. A
change in the movements of the fleet, occasioned a transfer to New York
where most of it was finally delivered.

Mr. J. H. Leonard was public spirited and benevolent, and was always
among the foremost in every measure of public utility. He was an original
trustee of the academy and an elder in the Presbyterian church until his
removal from the county in 1839. He was also post master at Lowville many
years. He became deeply interested in the culture of the mulberry for silk
after his removal, and died at Syracuse March 14, 1845. His remains were
interred at Lowville. Mr. L., in May, 1805, married Mary, sister of Russell
Parish, and his widow still survives. His brother Rodney died in West Mar-
tinsburgh, Aug. 13, 1852, and brother Loren in Lowville. Francis Leonard, the
youngest brother, resides in Brooklyn. Cornelius P. Leonard, cashier, and
James L. Leonard, president of the bank of Lowville, and Francis K. Leonard
of Harrisburgh, are sons of James H. Leonard.

Stephen Leonard settled in Lowville early in 1805, and has since, with the
exception of a short interval, been engaged in mercantile business. As one
of the firm of J. H. & S. Leonard, he was largely concerned in the manufac
ture of spirits, potash, &c., in milling, and in the trade in live stock, inci
dent to the former. The first distillery in Lowville was begun by this firm
in the fall of 1804, and the last one in the county, which had belonged to
them, was burned Feb. 16, 1842. He has been many years a trustee of the
academy, was an original trustee of the Presbyterian society of the village
and from the first, with the exception of one year, has been treasurer of the
Lewis county bible society. He marrried a daughter of Gen. W. Martin of
Martinsburgh.

Chauncey Leonard, brother of Stephen L., died in Pennsylvania. Phineas,
another brother, resides in Denmark, and Reuben died in Brantford, U. C.

152 Lowville.

the only one in town, it is the largest in the county, afford
ing to the man of business or of leisure, one of the most
eligible places of residence in northern New York. 1

1 Of those who settled within this period in Lowville village, we may, with
great justice enumerate, in addition to those already noticed, the following :

Samuel Austin Talcott was born in Hartford, Ct., in 1790, graduated at
Williams college in 1809, studied law, in part, with Thomas R. Gold, and
came to Lowville in 1812 where he entered into a law partnership with
Bostwick, and remained three or four years. He then removed to Utica, and
his politics becoming favorable to the then republican party, he was ap
pointed Feb. 12, 1821, to the office of attorney general, which he held eight
years. He died in New York March 19, 1836, the admiration and sorrow of
his friends. Few men in our country have evinced more brilliant talents, a
clearer perception of the great principles of law, or a more powerful and con
vincing eloquence than Mr. Talcott. His career was an impressive warning
to those who apprehend no peril from the wine cup.

Ela Collins was born at Meriden, Ct., Feb. 14th, 1786, and died at Low
ville, N. Y., Nov. 23d, 1848. His parents were Gen. Oliver Collins and Lois
Cowles. His father served seven years in the revolutionary war as an officer in
the Massachusetts troops. Soon after the close of the war he removed to Oneida
county, N. Y., and purchased a fine farm, near New Hartford, upon which he
resided until his death, Aug. 14, 1838. At the beginning of the last war with
Great Britain he held the commission of brigadier general and commanded
during the war, the militia of Oneida, Jefferson and Lewis counties. He
succeeded Gen. Jacob Brown in the command of Sacketts Harbor, which
position he retained till near the close of the war. Bla Collins was educated at
the Clinton academy. He read law in the office of Gold & Sill, at Whitesboro,
and commenced law practice at Lowville in 1807. He married Maria Clinton,
daughter of the Kev. Isaac Clinton, July llth, 1811. They had eleven child
ren. On the 15th of March, 1815, he was appointed district attorney for the
district composed of Lewis, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, which office
he held several years, until the districts were reduced to single counties. He
was then appointed to the same office for Lewis county, successively, until
1840, when he resigned, having held the office for 25 years. He was elected
in 1814 a member of the assembly, and was in the legislature when peace was
proclaimed. He was a member of theN. Y. Constitutional Convention of 3821.
In 1822 he was elected from the double district of Lewis, Jefferson, St. Law
rence and Oswego, as a member of the 18th congress. He was secretary of
the last congressional caucus for the nomination of president, when William
H. Crawford was nominated. He was for many years a trustee of the Low
ville academy.

As a lawyer Mr. Collins attained a high position. He was an excellent and
successful advocate and criminal prosecutor. His manner of presenting a
c^se to & jury was clear, forcible and admirably fair. His speeches were
always sensible, candid and to the point. And he had rare ability in present
ing the questions at issue, in stating the facts, and in argument upon them .
His integrity Was unsullied, and his manners were simple, cordial and unaf
fected, fti politics he was a republican of the school of Jefferson. For seve
ral years he voted the local anti-masonic ticket. He was highly respected
and popular throughout the section of the state where he was known. His
sons are, William Collins, who studied law with his father, was appointed
district attorney of Lewis county in 1845, and held two years, when
he was elected to the 30th congress. He now resides in Cleveland, 0.
Francis Collins, another son, entered West Point academy, as cadet in 1841,
became second lieutenant in the 4th artillery July 1, 1845, and first lieutenant
by brevet, " for gallant and meritorious conduct in the battles of Contreras
and Cherubusco " on the 27th of August, 1847. In the former of these he

Lowville. 153

The first trial for a capital crime in the county, was that
of Rachel, a servant of I. W. Bostwick, for setting; fire to her
master s house, and was held before Judge Platt, about
1821. The accused was about eighteen years old, and of
bad temper, but as the damage had been slight, the public
sympathy in her behalf was strong. The sentiment of that
day had not favored commutations or pardons, and execu-

was wounded. He became first lieutenant, Sept., 1847, and resigned Dec. 11,
1850. He is now a lawyer at Columbus, O. Isaac C. Collins, youngest son
of Ela, graduated at Yale college and resides at Cincinnati, 0., where ho holds
the office of judge of the district and circuit court.

Russell Parish was bom in Branford, Ct., Oct. 27, 1789, and graduated at
Yale college in 1813, in the same class with Professor Fisher, who was Iflfst
in the Albion, Profs. Olmstead, Douglass and Mitchell, and Judges Badger,
Longstreet and Kane, and other distinguished persons. He was employed
in November of the same year as principal of the Lowville academy, and in
1814 he began the study of law with Mr. Bostwick. In due time he was
admitted to the bar, and he spent the remainder of his life in Lowville,
chiefly in the practice of his profession in which he was regarded as learned,
judicious and able. In 1846 he represented the county in the convention for
revising the constitution. He died Feb. 21, 1855, and the trustees of the
academy and members of the bar testified their respect for his character by
calling meetings to express their sympathy with his family and by attending
his funeral in a body.

Charles Dayan was born July 16, 1792, at Amsterdam, N. Y., and is a son
of Charles D., an Austrian emigrant, who died in 1793, leaving him an infant
in charge of his widowed mother, in very indigent circumstances. He
remained with Zaccariah Peterson till fourteen years of age, and went to
Elliott s mills in Amsterdam, from whence, in August, 1809, he came to
Lowville. After working at chopping, and upon Heman Stickney s oil mill
(now Gen. Willard s factory), he began going to school at the academy. He
was then entirely ignorant of the rudiments of learning and was placed at
first in a class of small children, but by great industry and the aid of
a Mr. Obits, an old friend of his father, in Germany, he made such rapid
progress that in a few months he was able to engage a school in Rutland. He
taught four winters in the same district at a monthly price of twenty bushels
of wheat, which he sold at $2 per bushel. He entered Bostwick s law office
in 1816, and in 1819 was admitted to practice.

From this time, till within a few years, he has been actively engaged in his
profession at Lowville, except when withdrawn by the duties of the public
offices to which he has been elected, having been at different times in part
nership with Edmund Henry, Hiram Carpenter, Russell Parish and Ziba
Knox. In 1820 Mr. Dayan was appointed by Le Ray and the Brown family,
an agent for settling certain lands east of the river, and he continued agent of
the former until 1833. In 1826 he was elected to the state senate to serve
out the unexpired term of two years, occasioned by the resignation of Geo.
Brayton, and in the extra session, convened in the fall of 1828, to adopt the
revised statutes, he was elected Oct. 7, president pro. tern, of the senate. As
the office of governor was then filled by Pitcher, elected as lieutenant gover
nor, Mr. Dayan became charged with the duties of the latter office. He
presided over the senate until its adjournment Dec. 10th, and was virtually
lieutenant governor till Jan. 1, 1829

On the 26th of Jan., 1829, he became a candidate for comptroller against
Silas Wright, Jr., in the legislative republican caucus, in which Wright
received 58, Dayari 26, G. B. Baldwin 12, N. Pitcher 4 and G. Sudani, 1 vote.
Mr. Dayan was "elected to the 22d congress (1831-3) from the 20th district,

154 Lowville.

tion must have unavoidably followed conviction. The
defense was conducted by Micah Sterling and Russell
Parish, and as the trial commenced, the, latter evinced an
elastic buoyancy of spirit which appeared to be unwarranted
by the occasion, until it appeared upon the reading of the
indictment a second time, that the prosecuting attorney
had accidently omitted the word " inhabited " before

and in 1835 and 1836 was elected to the assembly upon the canal issue. Mr.
Francis Seger was then in the senate, and to these two gentlemen are we
largely indebted for the passage of the act for constructing the Black river
canal, a work, which, after more than twenty years of delay, we at length en
joy. On the 14th of March, 1840, Dayan was appointed district attorney for
Lewis county, and held this office five years, discharging its duties with his
accustomed discretion and ability.

Ziba Knox, for several years a law partner of Dayan, is a native of Ver
mont. He came to Lowville about 1817, acquired his profession, and has
since resided at this place, employed in legal practice and as a magistrate.

Vivaldi R. Martin, a native of Saratoga county, settled in Martinsburgh as
a lawyer from whence he removed to Lowville. He died Aug. 8, 1850,
aged 31 years. His brief career was brilliant and honorable. Possessing
talents of a high order, fine oratorical powers and a thorough education, he
would have adorned the highest station of public trust had his life been
spared to the full term of human life.

Dr. David Perry was born in Princeton, Mass., Sept. 13, 1775, studied
medicine with Dr. Westel Willoughby of Newport, N. Y., and settled in
Denmark in Aug., 180G. In Sept., 1808, he married Miss Nancy Hulburt of
Holland Patent, who died Nov., 1812. In April, 1809, he settled in Low
ville (the first two years in company with Dr. Samuel Allen) and continued
in the practice of medicine until November, 1858, when, in consequence of
a paralytic attack, he was deprived of further means of usefulness in the
profession in which he had been eminently successful. He now resides in
Rutland in feeble health and borne down by the infirmities of age,

He has evinced a great fondness for rural pursuits, and in the intervals of
an extensive practice, has found time to devote much attention to his
orchard and garden, which were celebrated for the extent and variety of
their productions and the precise order in which every thing was kept. His
orchard contained about seventy varieties of fruit.

Dr. Perry has been greatly respected by his professional brethren for the
soundness of his judgment and the acuteness of his perception with regard
to disease, and they have uniformly regarded his diagnosis and treatment as
eminently governed by a clear mind and an intelligent understanding.

Andrew W. Doig, a native of Washington county, is a son of Andrew
Doig, who was born in Perthshire, Scotland, Feb. 29, 1776, removed to Low
ville in 1809, and died March 11, 1854. He was many years a teacher and
surveyor. A. W. Doig was elected county clerk in 1825 for one term. He
was in assembly in 1832 and held the oflice of surrogate from 1835 to 1840.
He was elected by the democratic party to the 26th and 27th congresses (1839
to 1843) while Lewis was united with Herkimer as the 16th district. In
1849 he joined the general exodus to California, and a few years after
returned to Lowville where he has since resided.

James and John Doig are sons of Andrew Doig. The former is ticket
agent in the rail road office at Boonville, and the latter a druggist at Low
ville.

Joseph A. Northrup from Vermont, settled at an early period as a tanner
and conducted this business and that of harness making many years. He
was, we believe, the pioneer in these pursuits in this town.

C //a-

Lowville. 155

" dwelling, 1 and that the trial had reached such a stage
that amendment was not admissable. The prisoner upon
learning that she would not be hung, from abject terror
evinced the most extravagant joy, which met with a sympa
thizing response in the hearts of many present. She was
subsequently tried for arson of lower degree, and died in
state prison.

Iii December, 1828, a vein of galena, calcite, fluor spar
and sulphuret of iron, was discovered on the south branch
of the creek, about half a mile above Lowville village,
which soon became widely celebrated as a silver mine. A.
company was formed, and a small smelting house was erected
near the spot, but we are not informed that large dividends
were made, or that the stock ever found its way to the
Wall street market. This locality is worthy of especial
notice by mineralogists, from the beautiful crystalized
specimens of green fluor spar which it has produced. The
late Luke Wilder, 1 explored the vein for this mineral with
great success.

A health committee consisting of Russell Parish with
Doctors David Perry, Sylvester Miller, 2 Seth Adams 3 and
Josiah Rathbun was appointed June 21, 1832 upon the
approach of cholera. They enjoined temperance, cleanli
ness and care in diet as preventive measures, and advised
a course of treatment in case of an attack. The Angel of
Death was by the beneficient hand of Providence withheld
from our county during this fearful visitation, which never
theless struck a dread upon the community, which could
scarcely have been surpassed had the pestilence been pre
sent. On the day the health committee above named was
appointed, an act was passed authorizing official action by
the town officers, under which Ela Collins, Charles Bush,
Orrin Wilbur, Amasa Dodge, Jr., and Roswell Wilcox were
appointed, June 29th, a board of health, and Dr. Seth

l Mr. Wilder, died, March 31, 1851, aged 60 years. His zealous researches
into the mineralogical resources of northern New York, entitle him to the
remembrance of the scientific, while his mild and amiable character have
endeared his memory to a wide circle of friends. He was an active member
of the Methodist chuch.

2 Dr. Miller, son of Seth Miller one of the first settlers at Constableville,
settled in Lowville in 1817, having graduated with the first class in Fairfield,
Jan. 30, 1816. He was appointed sheriff in 1821, and from 1823 to 1835, was
surrogate. He was called from bed in the night, July 28, 1838, to visit the
sick, and mistaking a door in his own house, fell headlong down the cellar
stairs. His skull was fractured, and after lingering two days unconscious, he
died. He was president of the Lewis co. medical soc. at the time of his death.

3 Dr. Adams, settled in the practice of his profession at Lowville in the
spring of 1826, and has since resided there. His son Charles D. Adams is a
lawyer at Lowville.

156 Lowville.

Adams, health officer. On the 30th a committee was em
powered to visit the Denmark frontier, to take measures to
prevent infected persons from entering the county, the
town was divided into four districts arid committees ap
pointed in each.

Lowville village. This is the only incorporated village in
the county. Notice of the application was published Feb.
26, 1849, and about one square mile was surveyed by N. B.
Sylvester. The legal forms were not complied with until
July 10, 1854, when the vote upon the adoption of a village
charter, was 109 for, and 33 against the measure. The
first trustees were Joseph A. Willard, 1 N. B. Sylvester, A.
G. Dayan, S. B. Batchellor, and Geo. W. Fowler. No
election was held in 1857, and to remedy this, an act was
procured, Feb. 27, 1858, confirming all the privileges of
the corporation, directing the annual elections to be held
on the first Tuesday of March, and allowing $800 to be
raised for a fire engine and fixtures as by vote of Aug. 6,

1857. The trustees elected in 1860, were John Doig, John
O Donnell, Rutson Rea, Geo. W. Stephens and Henry E.
Turner.

The first fire company was formed at this place July 24,
1829, at which Stephen Leonard was chosen captain, Palmer
Townsend, 1st lieut., and S. W. Taylor, 2d lieut. A well was
to be sunk in a central part of the village, and in case of an
alarm of fire, the captain was to station himself at the head
of the company, the 1st lieut. was to form the lines for pass
ing buckets, and the 2d lieut. to act as fire warden in rescu
ing property. Five buckets were kept in readiness for im
mediate use. A small fire engine named the Eagle was
purchased, and afforded the only precaution against fires
during many years. The burning of Safford s hotel, March
11, 1851, led to the call of a meeting to provide a better
one. No efficient action was had until August, 1858, when
a new fire engine named Rescue No. 2, was purchased at a
cost of $800. The company to which it is entrusted, num
bers (Oct. 1859) thirty eight men.

An independent Union Fire co., was formed June 30,

1858, under E. C. Potter as captain, and an engine and hose
cart were purchased by him for its use.

1 Gen. Willard, was born at Hubbardton, Vt., April 26, 1803, and is a son
of Francis Willard. He removed to Lowville upon becoming of age, having
previously learned tbe trade of a clothier. He has since been engaged as a
manufacturer at Lowville, and in 1858-9, he represented Jefferson and Lewis
counties in the senate. Murphy s Biographical Sketches of Legislature, 1859,
p. 112.

yft"-

*& . ; * C?

Lowville.

157

There is organized in the village a section of light artil
lery, under Lieut. Moses M. Smith. They have a 6 pounder
and a 24 pound howitzer, both of bronze, and are armed
with musketoons and sword bayonets.

A Saxhorn band was formed in the fall of 1857, and con
sists of ten men.

The Union band formed in this village about 1826, was
the first that was organized in the county, and maintained
existence several years.

The village of Lowville reported in 1855, a population
of 908, and must now number nearly 1200. It is much the
most prominent business point in the county, and enjoys a
large amount of trade with the country around, especially
to the east and west. It is situated in a valley environed
on all sides but the east with hills, and is about one hun
dred feet above Black river, and two miles from it.

The Bank of Lowville, is among
the earliest formed under the
general banking law of April 18,
1838. A public meeting was
held at Lowville, Oct. 18, 1838,
pursuant to a call signed by \Vm.
L. Easton, Leonard Harding,
Merrit M. Norton, Stephen Leon
ard, John Buck, John Stevens,
L. S. Standring, Joseph A. North
rop, H. N. Bush, I. W. Bost-
wick, Andrew W. Doig, Russell
Parish, Charles Dayan, Daniel T.
Buck, Chester Buck, W.W. Smith,

and Calvin Lewis ; the plan was discussed and approved,
and Ela Collins, R. Parish, A. W. Doig. W. L. Easton and
I. W. Bostwick were appointed to examine the statute and
report at a future meeting the probable success of the en
terprise.

Articles of association were drawn up, proposing a capital
stock of $100,000, in shares of $50 each, with a privilege of
increasing to $500,000, and a duration till Nov. 1st, 230J,
and on the 27th of October, I. W. Bostwick, C. Dayan, A.
W. Doig, W. L. Easton, Chester Buck, Timothy Mills and
R. Parish were appointed to receive subscriptions from the
26th of November till Jan. 1, unless the whole amount were
sooner taken. On the first two days $37,000 were sub
scribed, and on the 8th of December the sum had amounted
to $78,000. The whole amount was completed Dec. 18, the
books were closed, the articles filed that day in the office of

158 Lowville.

the county clerk, and on the 26th in the secretary s office at
Albany. The first directors chosen, Dec. 24, were I. W.
Bostwick, C. Dayan, A. W. Doig, W. L. Easton, M. M. Nor
ton, L. S. Standring, L. Harding, C. Buck, T. Mills, Har
rison Blodget, John H. Allen, Seth Miller and Thomas
Baker. Isaac W. Bostwick was chosen president, A. W. Doig,
vice president, Kent Jarvis, cashier (pro tern.), and Dayan
and Parish, attorneys. Preliminary arrangements were
completed, and the bank commenced operations on the first
day of July, 1839. The bank has from the beginning occu
pied rooms in a block of buildings, erected for stores and
offices, in the summer of 1837, in the centre of the vil
lage.

The officers elected by the directors have been as follows,
with the dates of their several appointments :

Presidents :

Isaac W. Bostwick Dec. 24, 1838, to March 19, 1845.

William L. Easton April 19, 1855.

James L. Leonard Sept. 19, 1857.

Vice Presidents :

Andrew W. Doig Dec. 24, 1838.

Charles Dayan Dec. 20, 1839.

Andrew W." Doig Dec. 18, 1843.

Charles Dayan Dec. 30, 1845.

Andrew W. Doig Jan. 8, 1847.

Charles Dayan Dec. 18, 1847.

William L. Easton March 18, 1851.

James L. Leonard April 19, 1855, to Sept. 19, 1857.

John Stevens Dec. 18, 1857.

Cashiers :

Kent Jarvis (acting) Dec. 24, 1838, to April 1, 1839.

Samuel H. Norton Jan. 21, 1839, to take effect April 1, 39.

William L. Easton March 31, 1840.

James L. Leonard Feb. 16, 1846, to take effect April 1, 46.

Francis N. Willard l .... Mr h 28, 1851, to take effect Apr. 1, 1851.

Cornelius P. Leonard June 16, 1856.

Tellers

James L. Leonard June 19, 1841, to April 1, 1846.

Francis N. Willard Aug. 25, 1847, to April 1, 1851.

Leonard Standring April 16, 1853, to Nov. 1, 1855.

Directors (January 1, 1860). James L. Leonard, John
Stevens, Jared House, Joseph A. Willard, Moses M. Smith,
Stephen Brigham, Cornelius P. Leonard, John Doig, Carlos
P. Scovil, Hiram S. Lanpher, Charles M. Stephens. Rutson
Rea and Charles H. Curtis.

iDied June 9, 1856. He was a son of Gen. Joseph A. Willard of Low
ville.

Lowville.

159

The statistics of this bank as reported on the 2d of July,
1839, and near the 1st of January, annually since, have been
as follows, as shown by the official reports, required by law
to be made to the department at Albany.

Years.

Discounts.

1839

1840 $49,119

1841 54.483

1842 68,254

1843 59,235

1844 77,060

1845 80,384

1846 87,662

1847 93,025

1848 102,940

1849 76,359

1850 83,698

1851 73,968

1852 102,486

1853 102,527

1854 125,403

1855 85,126

1856 81,370

1857 132,386

1858 101,038

1859 106,288

1860 116,197

Bills rec d from
Comptroller &
Sup c of Hank
Department.

$15,000

45,000

53,000

58,870

54,600

51,000

50,300

60,000

66,000

77,900

84,650

101,900

96,750

100,685

115,000

119,266

125,337

107,050

114,500

68,200

70,850

92,650

Circulation.

$570

41,520

50,663

46,500

51,436

49,891

49,291

59,213

65,312

75,938

82,781

101,234

95,129

97,112

110,249

115,209

111,802

104,390

108,131

57,643

67,560

84,811

Deposits.
$913
11,169
20,642
23,148
15,341
22,758
17,780
59,574
33.475
28J049
27,312
33,625
32,797
50,693
50.661
55,748
52,154
57,985
70,984
48,050
68,238
107,737

The capital was reported July 2, 1839, as $27,855. On
the 6th of January, 1840, it w"as $100,411; on the 4th of
Jan., 1841, $101,950, and since Jan 1, 1842, $102,450.

During the commercial crisis of 1857 this bank, with
assets much above its liabilities, was forced, like most of the
other banks in the state, to yield momentarily to the emer
gencies of the day. On the 10th of Oct., 1857, an injunc
tion was granted upon the request of its president, and on
the 27th of that month this was removed upon application
of its president and John Stevens. A meeting of citizens
was called at Lowville on the 13th of October, and resolu
tions were passed expressing confidence in the condition of
the bank, and an agreement to receive its bills at par as
usual. The comparative condition of the bank on the 29th
of August (about the time when the panic began), and Oct.
10, was as follows :

Circulation. Deposits. Difcounts.

Aug. 22, 1857 $111,034 $54,898 $131,914

Oct 10, 1857 69,166 41,029 117,447

$41,868

$13,869

$14,467

16u Lowville.

From the comparison above given it appears that while
the bank had redeemed over 37-J per cent, of its circulation
and paid over 25 per cent, of its deposits, it had reduced
its discounts less than 11 per cent. The bank did not com
mence a sirgle suit against its customers during the crisis,
as its officers knew their entire inability to pay at that
time. With the exception of about $600 (which may yet
be collected) it lost no debts from discounts during that
period. These statements sufficiently indicate the ability
with which the bank was managed during that critical
period. Its history through the whole term of its exist
ence has been marked by no event of public interest, and
its affairs have been conducted with a steady regard to
equity and honor, and the advancement of the interests
of its proprietors by promotion of the business of the
county.

Two banks, owned by James L. Leonard, an individual
banker, have existed for short periods at Lowville, but their
bills scarcely became familiar to our citizens before their
affairs were wound up. These banks were as follows :

The Valley Bank filed notice and certificate of residence
in the department, May 7, 1851. Securities Jan. 1, 1852,
$60,290 ; circulation, $60,287. Removed to Boonville, Feb.
6, 1852, by Ela N. Merriam, who had purchased it, and from
thence to Ogdensburgh, where it was closed up.

Bank of the People filed notice and certificate of residence
May 11, 1852, the circulation to be secured by public stocks.
Securities, January 1, 1853, $51,000; circulation, 50,480.
Filed notice of intention to wind up the bank, Sept. 22,
1853, and bond for redemption of bills, Oct. 24, 1856, when
its business was closed.

These are the only banks that have been formed under the
general statute, although a large business in the sale of
drafts and similar banking transactions, has been conducted
by Wm. McCulloch, Esq., of Lowville, during several years,
and by others to a less extent, in other sections of the
county.

The banks of Watertown and of Utica, afforded the only
facilities for the transaction of business in this county,
from its settlement, until 1834, when the Lewis County
Bank was got into operation at Martinsburgh.

Early in the year 1852 sealed proposals were solicited
by advertisement for building a court house in Lowville
village, with the design of securing, if possible, the re
moval of the county seat there from Martinsburgh, a

Lowmlle.

161

Town Hall and Trinity Church.

measure which from the
beginning has been the
favorite theme of the
citizens of this town. The
building was begun upon
voluntary subscription, and
in 1855 the town voted
$500 towards this object,
upon express condition
that the building be free
for town purposes, and
that the money be not
paid until enough were
raised to complete it. In
1856 $100 were voted for
an iron fence, and in 1858 $325 to pay Hiram S. Lanpher a
balance due on the building account. This last appropria
tion was confirmed by act of April 15, 1858. The edifice
was put up in 1852 and finished in 1855 at a cost of less
than $6000. The building is of brick with an Ionic portico
in front, and is used for town meetings, lectures and other
public purposes, with the express provision that it shall be
conveyed to the county whenever it may be wanted for the
county court house.

The Lowville Franklin society, a library association, was
formed in the village, Sept. 20, 1808, having as its first
trustees, Isaac Clinton, Manly Wellman, Robert McDowell,
Paul Abbot and Ela Collins. Their collection of books
some thirty or forty years afterwards was deposited in the
Academy library.

The Franklin library of Stow s square, was formed March
28, 1816, with Moses Waters, Constant Bosworth, Beriah
Nickelson, Charles Sigourney and Allen Briggs, trustees.
The first number of associates was 33, and they began with
over $100 subscriptions. After many years this library
was, it is believed, divided among its shareholders.

The first school was taught in this town by Miss Hannah
Smith, sister of Mrs. Elijah Baldwin of Martinsburgh, in a
little log school house near the lower mill. Samuel Slocum
taught in 1804, and was one of the earliest male teachers in
town. The first public provision for schools was made in
March, 1813, under the general school act then newly passed.
Amasa Dodge, Robert McDowell, and Moses Waters, were
appointed first commissioners, and these, with Isaac Clinton,
Wm. Sacket, Benj. Hillman, Benj. Davenport, Chester Buck,
and Daniel Kelley, inspectors ; $70 were voted to schools the

162 Louwille.

first year ; and in 1815,456 scholars were reported as attend
ing school, between the ages of 5 and 15. In 1842, the town
passed a resolution inviting the resident clergy to visit the
schools.

A fine brick school house was finished in the north part
of Lowville village in September, 1854, by Morris D. Moore

builder and architect.

Lowville Jlcademy. An effort
was made in the summer of 1805,
by the citizens of Lowville to
secure the county seat. A sub
scription was drawn up for a
building that might serve as a
seal. meeting house or any other pub

lic purpose, as also for an academy and though not ex
pressed, there is not much doubt but that it was designed
to offer it for a court house. One term of the court of
Oyer and Terminer was held at this place, before the com
pletion of the public buildings at Martinsburgh, at which
Judge Ambrose Spencer of the Supreme court presided.
The decision of the non-resident commission was, however,
sustained, or rather, the attempts made to reverse it were
defeated, and the people of Lowville wisely determined to
devote the premises to academic uses. The edifice was of
wood, 38 by 52 feet, two stories high, and stood on the site of
the present stone church in Lowville village, at the head of
its principal street. The proposed cost was $2000, in shares
of $25, and the five persons highest on the list were to form
a building committee. Subscriptions in produce or other
articles than cash were to be used or sold to the best
advantage, and the committee were to report to the sub
scribers at the end of one year. The site was given by Silas
Stow, Jan. 9, 1807, and the building when finished was
used many years for public worship. 1 A charter was applied
for March 4, 1808, and granted March 21, 1808, in the
words following :

1 The first shareholders were N. Low, 10 shares; S. Stow, 6; Jonathan
Rogers and D. Kelley, each 4 ; J. H. and S. Leonard, Daniel Gould, Asa
Newton, Ira Stephens, David Cofieen, Luke Winchell, Rufus Stephens, Wm.
Card, Jr., Garret Boshart, each 2 ; and Ezekiel Thrall, Gad Lane, Fortunatus
Bassett, Fortunatus Eager, Daniel Williams, Jonathan Bush, David Cobb,
John Spafford, Isaac Perry, Christopher P. Bennett, Thaddeus Smith, Eben-
ezer Hill, Elijah Wool worth, Morris S. Miller, Joseph Newton, Billa Daven
port, Abner Rice, Ziba Cowen, Calvin Merrill, John Shull, Samuel Van Atta,
Jacob Boshart, Adam F. Snell, Charles Davenport and Elisha Stephens, each
one share. These were soon increased by Isaac W. Bostwick, Wellman &
Foot, Asa Bray ton, John Smith, Benjamin Hillman, Jonathan Ball, Reuben
Chase, Charles Newcomb, Robert Nickels, Ozem Bush, Galen Richmond, Joel
Mix, Francis Murphy and David Hillman.

Plan of the Attic Story of the Lowville Academy, as built in 1825.

Plan of the Principal Story of the Lowville Academy, as built in 1825.

Lowville. 163

CHARTER OP LOWVILLE ACADEMY.

The Regents of the University of the state of New York,
To all to whom these presents shall or may come, greet
ing:

Whereas. Nicholas Low, by his attorney Isaac W. Bost-
wick, Silas Stow, by his attorney Isaac W. Bostwick, Daniel
Kelley, James H., and Stephen Leonard, Isaac W. Bostwick,
Christopher P. Bennett, David Cobb, Manly Wellman,
Jonathan Rogers, Joseph A. Northrup, Elijah Buck, Anson
Foot, William Wallis, James Cadwell, Zebina Lane, William
Card, Jr., Jonathan Bush, Robert McDowell, Asa Newton,
Isaac Clinton, Thaddeus Smith, Paul Abbot, Hosea Lane
and Rufus Stephens, by an instrument under their hands in
writing and seals bearing date the fourth day of March, in
the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, after stating
that they had contributed more than one half in value of
the real and personal property and estate, collected and
appropriated for the use and benefit of the academy erected
at the town of Lowville, in the county of Lewis, did make
application to us the said Regents, that the said academy
might be incorporated and become subject to the visitation
of us and our successors, and that Jonathan Rogers, Daniel
Kelley, James H. Leonard, Isaac W. Bostwick, William
Card, Jr., Benjamin Hillman, John Duffy, Jonathan Collins,
James Murdock, Lewis Graves, Moss Kent, Lemuel Dickin
son and Manly Wellman, might be trustees of the said
academy by the name of Lowville Academy. Know ye,
that we the said Regents, having inquired into the allega
tions contained in the instrument aforesaid, and found the
same to be true, and that a proper building for said academy
hath been erected, and finished, and paid for, and that funds
have been obtained and well secured producing an annual
nett income of at least one hundred dollars, and conceiving
the said academy calculated for the promotion of literature.
Do by these presents, pursuant to the statutes in such cases
made and provided, signify our approbation of the incorpo
ration of the said Jonathan Rogers, Daniel Kelley, James
H. Leonard, Isaac W. Bostwick, William Card, Jr., Benja
min Hillman, John Duffy, Jonathan Collins, James Mur
dock, Lewis Graves, Moss Kent, Lemuel Dickinson and
Manly Wellman, by the name of The Trustees of Lowville
Academy, being the name mentioned in and by said request
in writing on condition that the principal or estate produc
ing the said income shall never be diminished or otherwise
appropriated, and that the said income shall be applied

164 Lowville.

only to the maintenance or salaries of the professors or
tutors of the academy.

In testimony whereof we caused our common
r -j seal, to be hereunto affixed, the twenty-first day
of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eight.

DANIEL D. TOMPKINS, Chancellor.
By command of the Chancellor,

FR. BLOODGOOD, Secretary. 1

In 1807 the Rev. Isaac Clinton was induced to remove
from Southwick, Mass., and began a classical school in the
academic building before the charter was procured. He
was employed as the first principal, and (with the exception
of one year, beginning in November, 1813), continued in
this office till 1817, at the same time serving as pastor of
the Presbyterian church. 2

Russell Parish acted as principal one year in 1813-4, and
in 1817 Stephen W. Taylor 3 was employed. He entered

1 Recorded in Secretary s Office, deeds, vol. 37, page 1.

2 The Rev. Isaac Clinton was born at West Milford, near Bridgeport, Ct.,
Jan. 21, 1759. He was a cousin of DeWitt Clinton. He graduated at Yale
college in 1786, and was distinguished in his class for his acquirements in
mathematics and the languages. Whilst a student in college, upon an
emergency, he volunteered, with other students, as a private in the Connec
ticut militia, and was engaged in one or more battles.

He studied divinity with Rev. Joseph Bellamy of Bethelehem, Ct. In
1788 he was ordained as pastor of a Presbyterian church, at Southwick,
Mass. He married Charity Wells at New Stratford, (now Huntingdon), Ct.,
in 1787. They had six children, of whom five died at Southwick the same
week, from an epidemic, and three were dead in the house at the same time.
The only remaining child was Maria, who married Ela Collins at Lowville.
Two sons, subsequently born, died at Lowville. He wrote and published,
while at Southwick, a work on Infant Baptism, of which a second edi
tion was issued. He preached at Southwick twenty years, and removed in
1807 to Lowville, N. Y. In 1808 he built the house on the beautiful eleva
tion immediately west of the Presbyterian church, where he resided until
his death. In 1808 he was installed minister of the Presbyterian church at
Lowville, and continued for ten years. In 1807 he was employed as princi
pal of the Lowville academy, and was so engaged nine years (with one year
interval), when he was succeeded by S. W. Taylor. He was president of the
board of academy trustees for many years, and until his death. When in
his eightieth year he completed and published a book entitled Household
Baptism. It is a standard work of extraordinary merit, and is in use as a
text book in many of the theological seminaries of the country. He owned
and cultivated about two hundred acres of laud at Lowville, and he was
especially devoted to the cultivation of apples and other fruit. Lewis county
is much indebted to him for the introduction and distribution of many of its
best varieties of apples. He was a handsome man and dressed through his
life in the colonial style of his youth, viz : a low-crowned broad brimmed
beaver hat, black broadcloth coat, with wide and long skirts, velvet breeches
and silver knee buckles, high top boots or shoes, and silk stockings. He
died at Lowville, March 18th, 1840, aged 82 years.

3 Stephen William Taylor, son of Timothy Taylor, graduated at Hamilton

Lowville. 165

upon his duties with zeal, and the institution soon gained a
patronage which appeared to warrant the erection of new
buildings. A contract was made with Mr. Taylor to con
duct the school for twenty years, and a plan drawn by
Philip Hooker of Albany, under the eye of the principal,
was approved late in 1824. The arrangement as applied to
academic buildings, was patented by S. W. Taylor and J.
W. Martin, April 16, 1825, and consisted in placing the
pupils in small separate apartments, open on one side, so
that every one, both on the main floor and in the gallery
was under the eye of the teacher at his stand, while no one
could see any other of the students. The building was
erected on a site of four acres purchased from Ela Collins,
paid for by Mr. Low and given for academic purposes to the
trustees. It was a twelve sided brick edifice two stories
high, abo\4e a high stone basement, and was surmounted by an
attic story of wood and. tin covered dome, from the centre of
which arose a cupola for the bell. Around the attic was a
promenade, whose deck floor formed the roof of the outer
portion of the main building. An immense twelve sided
column in the centre supported the attic and roof. The build
ing was 70 feet in diameter between its parallel walls, arid cost
$8,200. It was dedicated Jan. 12, 1826, but it soon proved
defective ; its walls required support by shoring, and in
1836 it was taken down. Mr. Taylor became sensitive upon
the failure of his enterprise, which, aside from defective
walls was found objectionable on account of echoes, diffi
culty in warming uniformly, and especially from the unwil
lingness of students to submit to the vigilance to which they
were constantly subjected. He resigned in 1831 and was
succeeded by Eliam E. Barney and Cyrus M. Fay, of whom
the former remained two and the latter four years. 1
Henry Maltby was appointed in Aug., 1834, and remained

College in 1817, settled soon after at Lowville, and after his resignation as prin
cipal in 1831, continued to teach a family school in the village a short time, and
about a year and a half at the Lanpher place, on the West Road, now West Low
ville post office. He was then employed as preceptor of the grammar school,
and afterwards professor of mathematics and natural philosophy in Hamilton
academy. He was one of the founders and first president of the Lewisburgh
University, Pa. He returned to Hamilton in 1850, accepted the office of president
and Bleecker professor of natural and moral philosophy in Madison university,
and continued in this office till his death, Jan. 7, 1856, aged 55 years. His
father removed to this town after himself, and died Dec. 8, 1857, aged 90

l Both of these graduated at Union College in 1831. Mr. Barney was a
native of Jefferson county and now resides at Dayton, 0. Mr. Fay was from
Montgomery county, went from Lowville to Buffalo, where he taught 16
years, and in 1848 went to California by the overland route. Returning
unsuccessful he sickened at Granada and died at San Juan, Nicaragua, Dec.
12, 1850, in his 45th year.

166 Lowville.

till the close of 1835. The academy was rebuilt nearly on
its old site by James H. Leonard and dedicated Dec. 1,
1836. The school was opened by Henry Bannister 1 , who
was succeeded by Brastus Wentworth 2 in Oct., 1837, Harri
son Miller 3 in 1838, David P. Yeomans 4 and David P. May-
hew 5 in 1839, and by Wm. Root Adams, 6 the present incum
bent, in June, 1852. The semi-centennal anniversary of
this academy was celebrated July 21, 22, 1858, the proceed
ings of which, published by the home committee, afford
many details of its history, for which we have not space in
this volume. The number of students that have gone forth
from this institution is supposed to exceed 3000. The
citizens of Lewis county owe it as a duty to themselves to
extend its facilities, so as to meet the increasing demands
which the general growth of the county will create. It is
the only institution of the kind in the county.

This academy has been designated by the regents for the
instruction of common school teachers. It has a valuable
library and an excellent collection of apparatus, minerals,
&c. In its cabinet is a sword that once belonged to Gen.
Pike, and was presented by him to Gen. Brady on the eve
of his departure on the fatal expedition against Little York.
Gen. Brady afterwards resided in Lowville and presented
this memento to Charles D. Morse, who has placed it among
other historical relics in the cabinet of the academy.

1 Mr. B. was born in Conway, Mass., in 1812, graduated at the Wesleyan
university in 1836, went from Lowville to Auburn seminary, was two years
principal of Fairfield academy and went thence to Cazenovia where he
remained professor and principal till July, 1856. He is now a professor in the
Garrett biblical institute, at Evanston, near Chicago, 111.

2 Mr. W. was a native of Norwich, Ct., graduated at the Wesleyan univer
sity in 1837, and went from Lowville to Grouverneur. In four years he went
to the Troy conference seminary, and about 1845 was appointed president
of McKendree college, 111. In 1849 he became professor of natural science
in Dickinson s college, Carlisle, Pa., and in 1854 was sent by the Methodist
Episcopal board of missions to Fuh Chan, China.

a Mr. M., a native of Champion, was several years at Watertown, after
leaving Lowville, and died at Carthage, Sept. 23, 1843, aged 31 years.

4 Mr. Y. graduated at Williams college in 1837, was afterwards professor of
chemistry in Lafayette college, Easton, Pa., and a physician in Canada.

5 Mr. M., a native of Spencertown, N. Y., graduated at Union college, in
1838. In 1841 he became sole principal of this academy upon the removal of
Yeomans. While here he fitted up a chemical laboratory in the academy
and procured the addition of important facilities for education. The academy
prospered beyond precedent under his management. He removed to Water-
town, and in 1853 to Ohio. He is now connected with the Agricultural
college at Yypsilauti, Mich.

6 Mr. A. is a native of Lowville and a son of Dr. Ira Adams. He graduated
at Union college in 1851, and was several years an assistant teacher in this
academy. He has proved himself an efficient, faithful and successful instruc
tor.

Lowville. 167

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. On the 29th of November, 1799, a
Mr. Cinney, preached in No. 11, and from time to time
other traveling preachers visited the settlement, among
whom were Hassenclever, Joseph Willis, and Lorenzo
Dow. The latter passed through to Canada in Sept., 1802,
and preached at Noah Durrin s house near the landing.
Judge Kelley was an occasional exhorter of the Free Will
Baptist sect, and held stated meetings in the absence of
regular preaching. His meetings were held as early as
1798, and frequently at Stow s square. He was accustomed
to take a text, and conduct the service methodically.
Judge Stow was an Episcopalian, and is said to have some
times read the service to his neighbors upon the sabbath.

On the 3d of December, 1803, the Rev. Ira Hart, a mis
sionary from Connecticut, organized a Congregational church
at Stow s square, consisting of Mather Bosworth, Benj.
Hillman, David Wilbur, Philip Shaw, and their wives,
David Scott, Rebecca Waters, Esther Wilcox, Sarah Bates,
Abigal Sexton, Lydia Bonnet and Sally Richmond. Bos-
worth and Wilbur served as deacons till their deaths in
1850 and 1829 respectively. It belonged to the B. R.
association until 1819, when it united with St. Lawrence
Presbytery upon the Plan of Union. The 1st Presb.
soc. of Lowville, was formed at Stow s square Dec. 8,
1818, with Levi Brownson, Bela Buell and Thaxter Reed
trustees; and in 1819, a church edifice was built by Ezra
Brainerd. The society was assisted by the United Domestic
and the Western missionary societies.

The ministers who have preached here more or less, were
Messrs Lazel, J. Murdock, Royal Phelps, Nathaniel Dutton,
Jas. Ells, Wm. Yale, I. Clinton (March, 1808 to Feb., 1816),
Daniel Nash (Nov., 1816 till Nov., 1822), Adam W. Platt
(June, 1823 till Sept., 1823), Phineas Camp (May, 1824 till
July, 1828), Abel L. Crandall (Jan., 1829 till Jan., 1832),
Lewis A. VVickes (May, 1832 till May, 1836), Henry Jones
(June, 1836, till Dec., 1837), David Dickinson (1838), W.
W. Wolcott (Oct., 1840 till Oct., 1842), Charles Bowles
(June, 1843 till May, 1846), Calvin Yale (July, 1846 till
Feb., 1847). In 1833 the church numbered 160 members.
A sabbath school was begun in 1820 and continued every
summer since. It is claimed as the oldest in the county.
Revivals occurred here in 1816-7, 1822-3, 1828-9 and
1832, at which about 500 are supposed to have been con
verted, nearly half in the second one. Meetings were dis
continued in 1847, and the church is falling into ruin.

The Lowville Cong. soc. was formed Sept. 7, 1805, and

168 Lowville.

was the earliest legal society in town. Its trustees resided
chiefly at Stow s square, and effected nothing. The 1st
Cong. soc. of Lowville, was organized Sept. 18, 1807, with
six trustees, of whom three were to reside in the village and
three upon the Square. The first named were B. Hillman,
J. H. Leonard, 1. W. Bostwick, Jas. Stephens, Jonathan
Patten and Wm. Darrow. The plan of a church between
the two places was tried and failed, and although reincor-
porated Dec. 8, 1808, this organization was given up. A
church formed in 1807, invited the Rev. Isaac Clinton to
become their pastor, Oct. 13, 1807, and continued to worship
in the old academy building until it was burned. On the
22d of Nov., 1820, the Lowville Presb. soc. was formed
having Chester Buck, Daniel Williams, Lemuel Wood, Ela
Collins, Melancton W. Welles and Stephen Leonard first
trustees. The old academy was purchased May 1, 1826 for
$390, and arrangements were made for the erection of a
church upon its site, when a fire Dec. 26, 1827, consumed
the building.

A new wooden edifice, 44 by 64 feet, was dedicated Jan.
15, 1829, and burned Jan. 3, 1830. It had cost $3,500, and
was built by Ezra Brainerd. The present stone church at
the head of Main street, was built upon the site, and after
the plan of the former in 1831, and dedicated Sept. 1, of
that year. The church proper, was formed July 11, 1822.
Mr. Clinton was succeeded by D. Nash as above from 1816
to 1821. His successors were : David Kimball (Oct., 1821
till Oct., 1830), Jas. D. Pickand 1 (Jan., 1831, till July, 1833),
Austin Putnam (Aug., 1833 till Aug., 1834), Dexter Clary
(Sept., 1834 till March, 1835), Thomas L. Conklin (Oct.,
1835 till May, 1836), Rufus R. Doming (Aug., 1836 till Aug.,

1837), Bellamy (Dec. 1837 till March, 1838), A. L.

Bloodgood (Dec., 1838, till April, 1839), Moses Chase (Dec.,

1839 till ), R. M. Davis (May, 1840 till Nov., 1840),

Geo. P. Tyler (Dec., 1840 till Sept., 1853), N. Bosworth
(Oct., 1853 till Aug., 1857), Wm. H. Lockwood (Nov., 1857
till the present).

A session room was built in 1853, and a parsonage pre
viously.

About 1801, two ministers attended Mr. Kelly s meeting
and requested the privilege of explaining the creed of the
Methodist Episcopal church. This led to the organization
of a church, and about 1805, the first house was erected in

1 Mr. Pickand was from Phila. He was eccentric and peculiar in his man
ners, and removed west, where he run a strange career at Akron, 0., as a
Second advent preacher.

Lowville. 169

this town expressly for religious worship. It stood west
of the village, near the house of Jesse Hitchcock, and con
tinued in use until 1822. At a quarterly conference held
June 1, 1822, at Martinsburgh, Daniel Tiffany, Abner
Clapp, Henry Curtis, Francis McCarty, Abel S. Rice, Wm.
R. Allen, Luke Wilder, Rodney Leonard and Russell Hills
were appointed to ascertain when the people in Lowville
might safely attempt to build a church at the village. The
decision was favorable, and a society was formed under the
statute, July 25, 1822, with R. Hills, L. Wilder, D. Tiffany,
H. Curtis, Levi Weed, Elias Wood, A. S. Rice, R. Bassett and
R. Leonard, trustees. The present brick church was built in
1823, and the parsonage about 1838. The Lowville circuit
(first reported separate in 1832), has had the following minis
ters stationed : 1832, Benj. Phillips, Schuyler Hoes ; 1833,
Luther Lee; 1834, L. Lee, J.L. Hunt; 1835, Isaac Stone; 1836,
E. B. Fuller, F. Hawkins ; 1837, Elisha Wheeler ; 1838, E.
Smith, John Thompson ; 1839, E. Smith, John Thomas ;
1840, James W. Ninde ; 1841, Squire Chase; 1 1842-3, Jas.
Erwin ; 1844, Harvey E. Chapin ; 1845, Wm. Wyatt, R.
Lyle ; 1846, W. Wyatt, J. S. Bingham ; 1847-8, Geo. Sawyer ;
1849-50, Lorenzo D. Stebbins ; 1851-2, M. D. Gillet ; 1853-
4, J. F. Dayan ; 1855-6, W. W. Hunt ; 1857-8, 2 D. Symonds;
1859, J. L. Hunt.

The Lowville Baptist church was formed from the Line
Church, Sept. 8, 1824, to include all south of Moses
Waters , inclusive. Eld. M. E. Cook, moderator, Palmer
Townsend, clerk; seven united by letter and one by profes
sion. A society was legally formed Oct. 6, 1824, with
Moses Waters, Richard Livingston and Calvin Batchiller,
first trustees. On the 18th of December they resolved to
build a church of wood, 40 by 50 feet, which was done in
1825. It was thoroughly repaired in 1852, and a parsonage
was purchased at about that time.

The clergy have been : John Blodget (Dec. 1, 1825, till
March 4, 1832), Geo. Lyle (March 11, 1832, till March 1],
1833), Charles Clark 3 (March 14, 1833, till Oct. 20, 1835),

1 Mr. C., went twice to Liberia as a missionary. He died at Syracuse,
July 26, 1843, aged 41 years, and was buried at Houseville.

2 Mr. S. remained only a part of the second year.

3 The Rev. Charles Clark was a son of Elijah Clark of Denmark, where he
was born Dec. 29, 1805. He joined the church at 19, studied at the Lowville
academy and read theology with Elds. Warner and Blodget, and was ordained
at Boonville, Sept., 1830. He preached at that place two years, at Martins-
burgh one, and at Lowville three. While here he labored in an extensive
revival at Copenhagen, He afterwards preached at Watertown, Adams and
Rome with efficiency. For 24 years he was absent from the sanctuary but a

170 Lowville.

Orrin Wilbur (March 20, 1835, till June 28, 1840), Harvey
Silliman (Oct. 1, 1840, till Aug. 28, 1842), Geo. Lyle (Nov.
20, 1842, till March 1, 1845), Charles Graves (March 7,
1845, till Feb. 10, 1849), Lyman Hutchinson (April 7,
1849, till Feb. 1, 1850), Daniel D. Reed (Feb. 9, 1850, till
Feb. 7, 1852), Conant Sawyer (Jan. 7, 1853, till May 31,
1856), Wm. Garrett (Sept. 14, 1856, till Sept. 19, 1858),
James M. Ferris (March 1, 1859, till the present).

A Free Communion Baptist church was formed Oct. 12,
1816, and Amasa Dodge 1 was ordained April 4, 1818. This
sect never owned a house of worship in this town and has
long since become extinct.

An Evangelical Luthera nsociety was legally formed Oct.
6, 1827, with Geo. D. Buggies, Peter Lowks, John Guther-
mute and Marks Petrie, trustees. It never erected a house
of worship or became permanently established.

The Friends held meetings at private houses soon after
the war. They were set off from the Le Ray monthly
meeting, Jan. 3, 1826, and Lee was set off from Lowville
soon after. A house was bought for meetings in 1819, and
afterwards exchanged for the present site south of the
creek, of which they received a deed Feb. 10, 1825. Their
meeting house was built that year. These belong to the
Orthodox class of Friends. The Hicksites held meetings
for a short time in this town.

An Old School Baptist church was organized about 1834
in the north part of the town, but was given up a few years
after.

Bishop Hobart visited Lowville in August, 1818, -con
firmed several persons and reported the prospects for the
speedy formation of an Episcopal church as auspicious.
The Rev. J. M. Rogers of Turin occasionally officiated here,
but after his removal to Utica, services were only occasion
ally performed by clergymen who chanced to be passing
through.

Trinity church, Lowville, was legally organized Sept. 24,
1838, with Kent Jarvis 2 and Geo. Lyman, wardens, Leonard
Harding, L. S. Standring, Albert Strickland, Geo. D. Rug-
single Sabbath. He died at Rome, N. Y., Oct. 16, 1852, and was buried at
Lowville.

!Eld. Dodge came to Lowville in 1806, and died on the West Road, Aug.
13, 1850, aged 82 years. He was remarkable for his loud, boisterous preach
ing.

2 Mr. Jarvis came to reside at Lowville in July, 1828, and remained until
Feb. 1840, when he removed to Massillon, 0., where he now resides. He
was a merchant and took a leading interest in public affairs.

Martinsburgh. 171

gles, Henry Butler, Samuel Wood, Ambrose W. Clark and
Merrit M. Norton, vestrymen. The Rev. Edward A. Renouf
became the first rector.

An edifice was built in 1846 and consecrated in Novem
ber of that year. A tower and bell were added in 1853 at a
total cost of about $2000. A rectory was built in 1857.

MARTINSBURGH.

This town was formed from Turin,Feb. 22, 1803, in accord-
dance with a vote of that town, and originally embraced
townships four and five of the Boylston tract, or Cornelia
and Portia, 1 as designated on the surveyor general s maps
of 1802-4. The act took effect on the first day of March
following, and directed the first town meeting to be held at
the house of Ehud Stephens. Harrisburgh and Ellisburgh
were created towns by the same act.

By a law passed April 2, 1819, that portion of Turin,
north of a line passing nearly east and west, through the
point of intersection of the state and west roads, was an
nexed to this town. 2 It has been stated that this measure
was effected against the wishes of Turin, by Levi Adams,
then in the senate, and a few settlers east of Martinsburgh
village, who found their residence in Turin equivalent to a
deprival of their civil rights, on account of their distance
from elections. The latter town consented to a change that
should fix the line on Whetstone creek, but upon receiving
notice of the proposed alteration, called a special meeting,
voted against the division with but one dissenting voice,
and appointed a committee to petition against it.

The early records of town meetings in this town appear
to be lost. In 1806 the town officers were, Walter Martin,
supervisor; Levi Adams, clerk; Ehud Stephens, Asa Brayton
Orrin Moore, assessors; Truman Stephens, collector; Ehud
Stephens and Elijah Baldwin, overseers of poor; John McCol-
lister, Oliver Allis and A very P. Stoddarcl, commis. highways;
Truman Stephens and Bradford Arthur, constables.

Supervisors. 1805, Asa Brayton ; 1806-8, Walter Martin;
1809-10, Chillus Doty; 1811-4, Levi Adams; 1815, C.

1 The latter lias been sometimes erroneously written Persia. These names
were derived from Roman ladies, conspicuous in classic history. They never
received a local application among the settlers, and are perhaps nowhere
found as geographical names, except upon the maps quoted, and on the
statutes.

2 The line was directed to be run from the point where the line of lots, 151,
152, township 3, touched the river, to the place where the line, between the
farms of Oliver Bush and Edward Johnson joined on the state road, and on
the same course to the east line of township five.

172 Martinsburgh.

Doty; 1816-7, Bradford Arthur; 1818-22, Baron S. Doty ;
1823, B. Arthur ; 1824, Barnabas Yale ; 1825-9, B. Arthur ;
1830-2, Asahel Hough; 1833-5, David Miller; 1836-8,
Noah N. Harger; 1839, A. Hough; 1840, David Griffis ;
1841, Harvey Stephens ; 1842, Henry McCarty ; 1843, Mor
gan Harger; 1844, Edwin S. Cadwell ; 1845, H. Stephens j 1

1846, Eleazer Alger ; 1847-51, Diodate Pease; 1852-3,
Avery Babcock ; 1854, D. Pease ; 1855, Horatio Shumway ;
1856-60, Edwin Pitcher.

Town Clerks. 1803 and 1806, Levi Adams ; (in 1804-5-
7-8-9-10, the record not found); 1811-13, Enoch Thomp
son ; 1814, Edward Bancroft ; 1815-26, E. Thompson; 1827,
John B. Hill ; 1828-30, Walter Martin, jr.; 1831-3, Charles
L. Martin; 1834-5, W. Martin, jr.; 1836-7, Elijah L.
Thompson ; 1838-40, Lewis G. Yan Slyke ; 1841, William
King; 1842, John E. Jones; 1843, C. L. Martin; 1844,
David Griffis ; 1845, Jas. M. Sturtevant ; 1846, Wm. King ;

1847, Daniel A. Smith ; 1849-51, Henry W. King ; 1852,
Edwin S. Cadwell ; 1853, Alonzo J. Buxton ; 1854, John
M. Michael ; 1855, John S. Hill ; 1856-60, E. S. Cadwell.

Among the town records of Martinsburgh are noticed in
1809, 12 and 15, a vote imposing a fine of $4 for allowing
Canada thistles to go to seed ; the money, when recovered,
to be applied towards the support of the poor.

In 1823 it was voted that the collection of taxes should
be made by the person who would bid to do it at the least
price. The support of certain town paupers was put up at
auction in like manner in 1820, and this practice has pre
cedent in the usages of other towns in the county.

This town was named from the proprietor, under whom
settlement was made.

Walter Martin, a son of Capt. Adam Martin, was born in
Sturbridge, Mass., Dec. 15, 1764, and in 1787 removed to
Salem, N. Y., where he married a step daughter of Gen.
John Williams, and became extensively engaged in busi
ness. An uncle, named Moses Martin, was one of the first
settlers of Salem, and great numbers, from his native town,
removed to that place. One of his sisters married Judge
Asa Fitch, and another Andrew Freeman of Salem. Silas
Conkey and Chillus Doty married two other sisters, and
removed with him to the Black river country.

While living in Salem, Mr. Martin narrowly escaped death
from an accident which he could never, in after life, relate
without emotion. He owned a grist mill, in which it was

!Died April 7, 1845, and Harvey Eastern elected April 19.

Martinsburgh. 173

found necessary to cut away the ice on a winter s morning,
before it could be started. While engaged at this work,
the miller, without knowing the danger, let water upon the
wheel which began to revolve with Martin in it, and con
tinued to do so until it was stopped by his body. A leg was
broken and he was dreadfully bruised by being thrown re
peatedly from axle to circumference, as the wheel revolved.

Early in 1801 Mr. Martin came up into the Black river
country, and after spending a short time atLowville, explor
ing the lands south, he went to New York in June of that
year, and bought of James Constable 8,000 acres of land,
including the east subdivision of township five of the
Boylston tract. The incidents of his settlement are related
in these pages. A few years after his arrival, he again
escaped death by the slightest chance. He had gone to a
place near the West Road, which was frequented by deer,
and climbed a wild cherry tree, for a better opportunity of
shooting his game as it passed in the evening. A settler
who was also out hunting, came near the place, and seeing
a dark, living object in the tree, mistook it for a bear after
cherries, and taking deliberate aim was on the point of
firing, when Martin discovered his danger, and by giving a
timely warning, escaped instant death. It would be diffi
cult to decide which party felt most grateful for this happy
escape from a dreadful casualty.

Mr. Martin held successively the offices of assistant jus
tice of the Oneida court, loan commissioner, state road
commissioner and state senator. Before the erection of
Lewis county he held the rank of lieutenant colonel, and
soon after was promoted to that of brigadier general, in
which capacity he served a short time on the frontier in
1814. He was appointed post master upon the establish
ment of a post office, Jan. 19, 1804. His successors have
been John W. Martin, May 23, 1831 ; William King, May 6,
1845 ; David T. Martin, June 14, 1849 ; Daniel S. Bailey,
Aug. 24, 1853, and James H. Sheldon, Sept. 27, 1854.

In whatever promoted the interests of the town or county
Gen. Martin felt a lively interest, and when a measure of
public utility wanted the means for its accomplishment, he
generally contrived to find them, and it appeared to be a
governing maxim of his life, that when a thing was to be
done it must be, if not by one way, by another. He \vas
never backward in aiding to the full extent of his share,
however large it might be, in any public enterprise. For
some years after his first arrival, he evinced a partiality for
a kind of investment which can never be overdone, as

174 Martinsburgh.

regards convenience to the inhabitants of a new settlement,
although it may be without profit to the projector. This
was the erection of saw mills, of which he owned several
in Martinsburgh and Turin, upon which the country around
depended for their supply of the essential elements of a
comfortable house or a commodious barn. Gen. Martin died
at his residence in Martinsburgh village, Dec. 10, 1834.
His father was born Aug. 27, 1739, removed with him to
Martinsburgh, where he died Aug. 9, 1818, aged seventy-
nine. He had been an officer in the French and revolu
tionary wars and was a member of assembly from Wash
ington county in 1787. His wife died in this town Dec. 2 3
1820. 1

A tract of 8,000 acres, supposed to include the east
subdivision of township five of the Boylston tract, was
deeded to Walter Martin of Salem, N. Y., June 17, 1801, for
$12,000. 2 As early as Jan. 20, 1796, Shaler of Turin, was
endeavoring to purchase No. 5, which would then have
sold for more than it brought in 1801. At that time Con
stable refused to sell less than the whole tract of 14,820
acres, and in June, 1798, gave John Stephen a refusal for
four months, at twelve shillings per acre. It will be re
membered that the political changes in Europe had checked
emigration, and that the decline of prices in wild lands was
general throughout the country. Just at this time, the
land companies in the western states were opening their
domains to settlers upon very favorable terms, the hostile
Indian tribes in that region had been brought to terms of
peace; and the tide of New England emigration, although
still strong, was diverted to the broad plains and fertile
valleys of the western country. .

The purchase of this town was made from James, agent
of William Constable, and the tract was familiarly known
among the first settlers as The Triangle. Upon its being
afterwards found that it fell short of 8,000 acres, 703 acres,

1 The three daughters of Gen. M. were married as follows : Jane, to Ste
phen Leonard of Lowville ; Abigail to Philo Rockwell, and Susannah to Dr.
John Safford, both of this town. Walter Martin, the oldest son, resides in
Marshall, Michigan. Adam Martin, the second son, died May 1826, aged 30
years. John Williams Martin, the third son, was elected to assembly in
1827, became first president of the Lewis county bank, and from 1843 to
1843, was first county judge. He resides in New York. Charles L. Martin,
the first of the family born in this town, was for several years cashier of the
Lewis county bank, and county treasurer. He is now connected with the
bank of North America in New York city. Morgan Lewis Martin has resided
many years at Green Bay. David Thomas Martin (named from his uncle,
formerly state treasurer,) has always resided in this town, and has been for
several years a magistrate.

2 Oneida Deeds, viii, 506.

Martinsburgh. 175

or parts of lots 2, 4, 15, 17 and 41, in the west subdivision
of the same township, were conveyed to supply the de
ficiency, May 26, 1806. The tract was surveyed the first

summer of the purchase, by Montgomery into sixty

lots. Township 4, was surveyed into 111 lots by Benjamin
Wright in 1805, and belonged to the Pierrepont family,
until sold for settlement. Mr. Martin immediately came
on with a company of men, to make a clearing and erect a
saw mill. He was accompanied by Elijah Baldwin 1 of
Salem and wife, who came on to cook for the laborers, and
was during the first season the only woman in town. As
soon as surveyed, the land was opened for sale in farms at
$5 per acre, and with such rapidity was it taken up, that
in less than a month, almost the whole of it was under
contract to persons intending to settle. The purchasers
contracted to clear four acres and erect a house within two
years. Numerous small clearings were begun in various
parts of the tract, especially along the intended roads, and
rude log cabins were put up to be ready for the families
that were to arrive the next spring. The first clearing was
made by Martin, west of the present mill, and before winter
he had built a log house and a sawmill. His millwright
was David Waters, from Johnstown, who with his brother
John became pioneer settlers. 2

Mr. Martin arrived with his family March 4, 1802, and
during this season, many families came on for permanent
settlement. Among those who arrived the first and second
years, were Mrs. Richard Arthur and sons, 3 Ehud Stephens,
Levi Adams, 4 John and Orrin Moore, 5 Chillus Doty, 6 Silas

!Mr. Baldwin died at Houseville, Feb. 6, 1857, aged 84 years.
2 David Waters died in town, March 25, 1843, aged 67. John Waters
died, Feb. 20, 1843.

3 Richard Arthur had died in Westfield in 1790, aged 40, leaving eleven
children, most of whom became heads of large families in this town. The
sons were named Bradford, Levi, Richard, Russell, Joseph and Elisha. Four
of the sisters married early settlers, and the whole family took up large farms
on the State road north of Martinsburgh village, the most of which are still
owned by their families. Mrs. Arthur died in 1815. Bradford came in 1803,
and held for several years the offices of supervisor, coroner, &c. He died,
September 9, 1855.

4 From Westfield, settled in this town March, 1802, elected to the state sen
ate in 1819, and served one term, and in 1820 was chosen one of the council
of appointment. He was often elected to town offices, and in 1815-18 was
sheriff. He died June 18, 1831, aged 68. He resided on the east road near
the line of Lowville.

5 Orrin Moore died in 1827. The death of John Moore is noticed on page 182.
G Mr. Doty married a sister of Gen. Martin, was many years an innkeeper,

and died in town, October 16, 1824. He was sheriff in 1805-8, and 1811-14; in
assembly in 1814-16-17, and a surrogate in 1815-23. He was appointed
assessor under the law imposing a direct tax by congress, and was several

176 Martinsburgh.

Conkey, 1 Wm. Miller, 2 John Atwater, 3 Joseph Sheldon, 4
Jotharn Strickland, Elisha and Daniel Tiffany, 5 Nathan Che
ney, 6 Justus Sacket, 7 Eli Kellogg, Stephen Root, 8 Roswell
Miner, Daniel Ashley, 9 Ephraim Luce, Stephen Searl, Dr.
Danforth Shumway, Enoch and Theron Thompson, 10 John
McCollister, 11 and others on Martin s triangle. The first set
tler near West Martinsburgh was Asahel Hough, who
removed from Leyden in the spring of 1802. His neigh
bors along the west road within the next three years, were
Lobdell Wood, Arba Jones, James Coates. Samuel Gowdy, 12
David and Chester Shumway, 13 Clark McCarty, Asa Bray-
ton, Wm. Jonas and Watson Henry, Nathaniel Babcock and
Truman Stevens. The first settler on township 4 was Na
thaniel Alexander, in July, 1805. 14

In the south part of the town, included in Shaler s tract,
and annexed in 1819, the first settlers were Reuben Pitcher 15

years a county judge. Mrs. Sarali Doty was born April 19, 1767, died Sep
tember 11, 1843, aged 77. James D. Doty their son, removed west at an
early period, settled in Wisconsin, and was appointed governor of that terri
tory in March, 1841. Baron S. Doty, another son, settled in Ogdensburgh,
and represented St. Lawrence county in Assembly in 1826, 27. He now re
sides at Portage city, Wisconsin.

I Married a sister of Gen. Martin, and died in this town April 16, 1813, aged 54.
His wife Zuriah, was born May 19, 1763, and died October 16, 1849, aged 86.

2 Father of Dr. David, and Wm. Miller of Martinsburgh.

3 Mr. A. returned -to Westfield a few years after. He was the first distiller
in the county, and kept an inn half a mile south of the village, which in
1808 he sold to Enoch Lee. The latter died June 17, 1834, aged 77. His
sons Winthrop, Charles, Enoch, Shepherd and Williams became heads of
families in this town, but several have since removed.

4 Died in Antwerp, May 16, 1844, aged 70. He was the father of the late
Ira Sheldon of this town.

5 The Tiffanies were from Montgomery, Mass., and come in 1803. They
joined the first Methodist Episcopal Class formed in this circuit.

6 Removed to Ontario county, and died at Richmond, N. Y., about 1826.

7 Died February 28, 1831, aged 52 years. He was from Westfield.

8 From Westfield. Died August 28, 1857.

9 Died June 18, 1816, aged 67 years. He was the father of Stephen, Daniel,
Otis, Cyrus, and the Rev. Riley B. Ashley, all formerly of this town.

10 E. T. died March 3, 1845, aged 61. He held many years the office of
loan commissioner, and kept an inn at the brick tavern in Martinsburgh.

II About 1818, McCollister, in fulfillment of a fortune teller s prediction sold,
went to Buffalo, kept tavern a while, and then removed to the far west to be
come the wealthy owner of a township which the hag had promised him.
While ascending the Illinois river with two or three other families the party
sickened, numbers died, including McCollister, and the survivors were
scarcely able to bury the dead on the bank of the river. With great suffering
the party at length reached its destination, penniless and wretched.

i^Died April 19, 1840, aged SO years.

13 From Belchertown, Mass. David died December 5, 1849, aged 74 years.

14 From Chester, Mass. He died February 14, 1829. He had sons, Nathan
iel and Gaius.

15 A descendant from Andrew Pitcher, who emigrated from England and set
tled in Dorchester, Mass., in 1630. Reuben Pitcher died February 15, 1844,
aged 81. His sons David, Daniel, Reuben, Moses, Philander and Almond, be-

Martinsburgh. 177

and Eli Rogers, 1 from Westfield, who settled in 1802. Like
many other families who came on in the spring of that year,
they were delayed until late in February, by the want of
snow. The company in which they came had twelve or
fourteen ox teams, and were fourteen days upon the road
from Westfield. At Albany the Hudson was broken up,
and they were obliged to go up to Half Moon point, now
Waterford, to cross, where the ice, although a foot under
water was considered safe.

The first blacksmith who settled in town was John Peebles,
who removed from Salem in 1804. He was the ancestor of
all of the name now living in town. The first birth in town
was that of Jane, 2 daughter of Ehud Stephens. Mr. Martin
brought on the remainder of a store of goods which he had
owned in Salem, to accommodate his settlers until a regu
lar merchant could be established. A grist mill was got in
operation in 1802 or 1803, but as Lowville and Turin had
been some years settled, the people of this town were re
lieved from much of the hardship arising from long journeys
to mill. The water power wherever considered available,
was reserved by Martin in his sale of lands.

In James Constable s diary, under date of September 13,
1803, we find the following notice of this town :

" Travelled on to Mr. Martin s. We had a rain some part of
the day, which we were glad of, as it was much wanted in the
country. Mr. Martin was not at home, and we went to look at
his mills and other improvements. He has a good country
grist mill well finished, and a common saw mill, but the creek
is dry as is the case throughout the country. There is also a
potash work at which they were busy. His house is of logs,
the same as first erected, as he has not had time for a frame
building 1 . His father lives in a similar one very near. There
are several neighbors about him on his land. The cultivation
is not very forward, but considering the time he has been here,
for he only made the purchase in June, 1801, the improvements
do him very great credit. Mrs. Martin being uncertain when he
might return home, and it growing late, we took our leave,
dined at Capt. Clapp s and returned to Shaler s in the evening."

came heads of families, and excepting the last, settled mostly on adjacent
farms along the west road, in the southern part of the town. Of his three
daughters, Martha married Dr. Horatio Gr. Hough and is still living; Roxana
married Stephen Ashley, and Dema married Paul B. Yale. Moses Pitcher was
drowned in Black river bay, December 3, 1846, and Philander in the Black
river, near Independence creek, September 15, 1847.

1 Mr. Rogers died April 12, 1849, aged 80. He had a large family, most of whom
settled in town, but of whom none now remain, having died or removed.

2 Born February 20, 1802. The second birth was that of Charles Baldwin,
and the third that of Charles L. Martin.

178 Martinsburgh.

The first framed house in town was built by Amos Barnes,
in 1805, a mile and a quarter south of the village. It is
now owned by Charles S. Lee.

The first regular merchants were Philo Eockwell and
Dan forth Shu m way, about 1806. The former, in 1816, went
to Aurora, N. Y., but soon returned and renewed trade Avith
Dr. John Safford. 1 Mr. Kockwell continued a merchant in
this town until 1829, when he removed to Utica, and in 1832
became the first victim of the cholera at that place. 2

The first inn was kept by Chillus Doty, a brother-in-law
of Martin, in a log house a few rods west of the brick
tavern, where the first county courts were held, and the first
town business transacted. Business centered in the north
part of the village in early years, and upon its transfer to a
more southern locality, this portion long wore an aspect of
decay until several of its buildings rotted down or were
removed.

The western sub-division of township number 5 was set
tled under Benjamin Wright of Rome, and much of town
ship 4 by I. W. Bostwick of Lowville, agents of H. B.
Pierrepont of Brooklyn, the proprietor. James Constable,
one of the executors of his brother s estate, remarks in his
journal of Sept. 10, 1804, of the settlement of this portion :

" Passed on from Lowville through the northeast quarter of
number four, which is very good, to Capt. McCarty s, on our
part of number five, distance three miles. He was from home
but we found another of the settlers, Ehud Stephens, who with
five or six other men whom we saw, have completed a street of
nearly a mile long, of very fine farms in less than two years,
and it is quite an animating sight to see them. McCarty,
Stephens, and two or three others have paid in full and got their
deeds. The rest have paid generally as the money became due,
they are all valuable men. The country we are now in, exceeds
any part we have seen in the whole journey, and it has the ad
vantage of being well watered. Proceeded on a couple of miles
to Squire Martin s, the whole well cleared and cultivated. He
is engaged in building a stone house, nearly fifty feet square,
after the model of Sir William Johnson s. The walls are up,

1 Dr. Safford came from Salem about 1807, married a daughter of Gen.
Martin and continued many years in practice. He removed to Watertown
about 1826 and died at that place.

2 Mr. Rockwellw&s from Hadley, N. Y., and married Abigal, daughter of
Gen. W. Martin. At Utica he engaged in the hardware trade, in the firm of
Rockwell & Sanger, and upon the approach of the cholera he was appointed
upon a sanitary committee, and doubtless exposed himself to noxious exha
lations in the discharge of this patriotic duty. He had made arrangements to
leave for this town upon the first appearance of the cholera, but was stricken
and died Aug. 13, 1832.

Martinsburgh. 179

the roof nearly finished and he expects to complete at least a
part of it for the ensuing winter."

The original model of Martin s house, in good preserva
tion and but little changed from the plan designed by its
projector, is still standing in the town of Amsterdam, three
miles west of the village, and adjacent to the N. Y. Central
railroad. It has borne for more than a century, the name of
fort Johnson, and in the old French war was fortified against
a sudden surprise by the enemy. Mr. Martin had spent a
night at this house some years before, and was so well
pleased with its arrangement that he sent his builder, David
Waters, down to take its plan and dimensions. The struct
ure in Martinsburgh was begun in 1803 and finished in 1805,
and is said to have been throughout, in size, style and finish,
as far as possible, a faithful copy of Sir William s dwelling.
To this day, there is scarcely a residence in the county that
has exceeded this in cost, and certainly there is none that
excels it in conspicuous site or substantial construction.
Early in 1804 Martin was negotiating for the purchase of
township four, but failed to conclude a bargain.

The first school-house in town, was built about 1804, on
the brow of the hill south of the village, and on the west
side of the state