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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 i1

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 delegates2 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 boundarj7 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 opposition1 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 33
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<

a
o

£J

O 3

§""

r-±

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

'38

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

'96

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 application3 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), for«£100,000.2 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 Brantingham2 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 sold6 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>> 149> 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 those
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 J6001 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. 400iOOO 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>-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 Pahud3 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 Wright4 and his sons Jabez, Douglass and Free
dom, Charles Wright4 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, wras 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. Norton1 and Amos Buck2 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,

Escurial7s 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.
Reamer1 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 Harris3 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
Dodge1 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 insufficient3 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 18463 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 i1

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. 52—55.
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>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 proprietors1 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.

0£ 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
lumber1 and articles of wood2 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;
1855—60, 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, J47 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 Lewis1 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 Flora1 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 Thompson4 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.

2Lucretia 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
Putnam4 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
Pelton2 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 j1
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 <£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, a»ed 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.

2Topping 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 Stow1 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 1794—5, 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.
5Sold 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 families2 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.

1Mr. 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 and4 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 erected1 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 McDowell1
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

1Mr. 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 Stephens1 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 Lanpher10
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. 6prOm 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.

oock1, Kent and Bull, John Delap, Nathaniel Prentice and
Lewis Gosard.

The first deed to actual settlers was issued April 12, 17£8,
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 Kelley2 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.

3Capt. 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 Adams3 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

lMr. 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. Taylor3 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 Bannister1, who
was succeeded by Brastus Wentworth2 in Oct., 1837, Harri
son Miller3 in 1838, David P. Yeomans4 and David P. May-
hew5 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. Pickand1 (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 Clark3 (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 Dodge1 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 Jarvis2 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 j1

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. 23
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 Baldwin1 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 Pitcher15

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
building1. 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 road. Erastus Barns was the first teacher.
No legal action was taken until the annual town meeting in
1814, when the recent act of the legislature was approved,
and double the sum received from the state was raised by
tax. The first commissioners were Chester Shumway, Horatio
G. Hough,1 and Orrin Moore, and the first inspectors, Barna-

1 Dr. Horatio Gates Hough,
son of Thomas Hough, and
the fifth in descent from an
English emigrant, was born
in Meriden, Ct., Januarys,
1778, and at the age of
three years, removed with
his parents to Southwick,

Mass. When sixteen years old he entered the office of Dr. Coit of that place,
and in four years was admitted to practice medicine. His classical studies
were pursued with the Rev. Isaac Clinton, pastor of the church of which his
father was an active member, and a warm personal friendship continued
between preceptor and pupil through life.

In 1798, the newly licensed physician received as his only patrimony a
horse, saddle, bridle, and a few dollars worth of medicine, made a tour into
Maine with the view of settlement, but not finding an attractive location
returned and joined the current of emigration then setting towards the Black
river country. He came to Constableville and settled as the first physician
in the county, taking up a small farm, afterwards owned by Willard Allen,
and laboring in the intervals of his professional employment. In the fall of
1803 he married Martha, daughter of Reuben Pitcher, and early in 1805
removed to Martinsburgh and settled on a farm, a mile and a quarter south

180 Martinsburgh.

bas Tale,1 John McCollister, Asahel Hough, Levi Adams,
Noah N. Harger and Ephraim Luce. The town was soon
after divided into five districts, and for many years the sum
voted for school purposes was $124.10 annually. The usual
amount was afterwards equal to the sum received from the
state.

The first settlers of this town, coming chiefly from Salem,
N. Y., and Westfield, Mass, or places adjacent, divided off
into two parties, between which a certain degree of rivalry,
and to some extent of jealousy, existed several years, audits
existence was evinced in a wish to control business affairs
and town offices. Gen. Martin might have been regarded
as the leader of one of these, and Judge Bancroft,1 an early

of the village, where he resided till his death, which occurred from an organic
disease of the heart, Sept. 3, 1830.

He was an original member, and at his death, president of the county me
dical society, and on many occasions he read at its meetings essays upon
professional and scientific subjects, which evinced a strong attachment to
philosophical studies, and much proficiency in them. In an obituary notice,
written by his friend Dr. Sylvester Miller, the hardships of the pioneer phy
sician are thus graphically described :

" How often has he been seen traveling on foot with his saddle bags on
his shoulders, making his way through the woods by the aid of marked
trees, to some distant log house, the abode of sickness and distress ! There
has he been seen almost exhausted by fatigue, and suffering from want of
sleep and food, reaching forth his hand to restore the sick, and by his cheerful
voice pouring consolation into the minds of the afflicted family. He was an
obliging neighbor, a kind husband and an affectionate father. In his death
literature has lost a friend, and the world a valuable citizen." — Black River
Gazette, Sept. 15, 1830.

Dr. H. Gr. Hough left two sons and three daughters. The older son,
Horatio Hough, resides upon the homestead in this town. The younger son
is the author of this volume.

1 Barnabas Yale, son of Amasa Yale, was born in Rupert, Vt., April 9, 1784,
and removed when a child to Salem, N. Y., where his father died, leaving
him and two younger children to the care of a poor but industrious mother.
He attended the Salem academy two years, and then entered the law office of
Mr. Blanchard, where he remained two and a half years. After removing
with the family to Schenectady, Amsterdam, Johnstown, Minden and Little
Falls, he was, in February, 1807, admitted to practice, and settled in Martins-
burgh. He continued a member of the Lewis county bar about twenty-five
years, when he settled on a farm, and in 1836 removed to St. Lawrence co.
He died October 11, 1854, at the residence of his sou Lloyd C., in Norfolk,
N. Y. While living in Martinsburgh, he held many years the office of justice
of the peace, and in 1820, was appointed surrogate. He was an active mem
ber of the Presbyterian church, and took a leading part in the various reform
movements of his day. In 1825, he offered his name as an independent can
didate for the office of county clerk, and came within 24 votes of election.
His brother Paul Baxter Yale, resides near Houseville.

2 Edward Bancroft removed from Westfield 1816, engaged as a merchant,
built a grist mill and distillery, was concerned in the manufacture of potash
on a somewhat extensive scale, and held the offices of county clerk and first
judge. Having proved unsuccessful in business, removed in 1832 to Detroit,
and after another crisis in his affairs, he removed to St. Clair county, Mich.,
where he died April, 1842.

Martinsburgh. 18 1

merchant, of the other. It was not observable after the
removal of the latter in 1832.

In the month of April, 1807, an unusual fall of snow
followed by warm sunny weather, occasioned a flood in all
the streams of this region, more destructive than ever
before or since, witnessed. The mill of Gen. Martin, which
stood a few yards above the present one, was undermined
and launched into the stream, when it floated down and
finally lodged and partly went to pieces at the state road
bridge. Mr. Faxton Dean, father of Samuel Dean1 the
miller, lodged in a small room in the upper part of the mill,
and although advised of possible danger from the flood,
remained there on the night that the mill was swept away.
His cries were heard by the people on the bank, who
followed with lanterns the floating building and its inmate,
but were entirely unable to render the slightest aid. His
body was found among flood-wood some weeks after,
and was the first one buried in the old grave yard a mile
south of the village. Martin's mill was rebuilt soon after,
and in 1822, the present gristmill, a little below the old one
was erected. In Jan., 1826, E. Bancroft completed a rival
mill, supplied by springs and a small tributary of Martin's
creek, a little southwest of the other mill. After being
used about ten years, the latter was changed to a manufac
tory of cotton batting, wicking and wadding. It has since
fallen into ruin. In 1833, a building was erected west of
village as a woolen factory, but the intention was never
fully realized. A starch factory was fitted up in 1847, in a
building erected for a tannery, but after the first season it
was never used. In the spring of 1844, a company was
formed under the style of the Lewis Co. Manufacturing Co.,
with a proposed capital of $25,000, but the plan was
abondoned before it had matured.

A paper mill was built by Gen. Martin in 1807, on the
creek, about a mile south east of the village, upon the east
road, and got in operation by John Clark & Co., in the fall
of that year. Daniel Gould was afterwards in company
with Clark. The mill never had any machinery beyond an
engine for grinding the pulp, and although kept more or
less employed, till about 1832, it never proved a source of
much profit to those concerned. In the earlier years writ
ing paper was made, but at a later day only wrapping and
wall papers.

A poetical advertisement, a parody of one of Dibdin's

Dean was from Westfield. He removed to Ohio, and died at Brock-
port, April 8, 1840, aged 85.

182 Martinsburgh.

songs, which appeared in the Black River Gazette, Nov. 9,
1807, is here inserted, for the double purpose of represent
ing the character of the type used in that newspaper, and
the poetical talents of J. Clark & Co.

Sweet Ladies, pray be not offended,

Nor mind the jeft of fneering wags ;
No harm believe us, is intended,

When humbly we requeft your Rags.

The fcraps, which you reject, unfit

To clothe the tenant of a hovel,
May fhine in fentiment and wit,

And help to make a charming novel.

The cap exalted thoughts will raife,

The ruffle in defcription flourish ;
Whilft on the glowing work we gaze

The thought will love excite and nourifh.

Each beau in ftudy will engage,

His fancy doubtlefs will be warmer,
When writing on the milk-white page,

Which once, perhaps, adorn'd his charmer.

Though foreigners, may fneer and vapor,

We no longer forc'd their books to buy,
Our gentle Belles will furnifh paper,

Our fighing Beau will wit fupply.

Forty-five years afterwards, the principal of this firm was
a homeless wanderer, seeking to be employed at a fee of a
few shillings, to indicate veins of water and points for dig
ging wells, by the pretended traction of a hazel rod.

Capt. John Moore was accidentally shot by Russell Ar
thur, early on the morning of June 3, 1811. It was on the
day of a military muster, and some of his men had come
as was the custom, to salute him, by firing guns ; when,
just as he was crossing the threshold, a ball passed through
his neck, which proved speedily fatal. This painful inci
dent cast a gloom over the neighborhood, and was scarcely
less afflictive to the unhappy author of the accident and his
friends, than to the family of the deceased. Mr. Moore
resided on the State road, about midway between the vil
lages of Lowville and Martinsburgh. Otis Ashley, jr., a
lad, was killed at a military training, in the village of Mar
tinsburgh, July 4, 1831, by a ball from a rifle, reflected
from a stone, at which the weapon was fired, without the
owner's knowing that it was charged with any thing but
powder.

The scheme of S. Whittlesey and wife of Watertown, to
rob the government of $30,000, due the drafted militia of
this and adjoining counties, the year after the war, is among

Martinsburgh. 183

the most remarkable incidents of crime upon record. Hav
ing concealed the money at home, he traveled carelessly on
horseback as far as Trenton, where he announced that he
had been robbed, and offered, with well dissembled anxiety,
an immense reward for the thief. The sequel, ending in the
extortion of the secret, under threats of a terrible death,
the suicide of the wife and the disgrace of her husband, are
familiar to many of our readers.1 On his way to Trenton,
W. spent a night at the inn of Chillus Doty in this town,
where he was cautioned to be more watchful over his trea
sure. A few days after the discovery of the money, he was
seen to leave Watertown on horseback late in the afternoon,
and to return the next morning, with his beast jaded and
weary, as if he had traveled a long journey without resting.
The late Dr. Trowbridge (who related to us the incident,
and who, at that time, was almost the only one of W.'s late
friends who would harbor him Tinder their roofs,) insisted
upon his telling the errand, when he had length reluctantly
admitted, that he had on his former journey, concealed
abgut the premises of Mr. Doty a quantity of marked bills
with the intention of finding them under a search warrant,
and thus implicating an innocent man. The plot having
been defeated he had gone to recover the money, creeping,
at the death of night upon the premises on an errand of
guilt, which practiced villainy would have shunned by day
light. Several marked bills were found on the premises of
Joseph Sheldon, who kept an inn on the site of the resi
dence of Warren Salmon in Martinsburgh, and were
returned to their owners in Watertown. The honorable
character of these persons would have ensured them against
public suspicion, had the money been found concealed upon
their premises.

As Miss Mary Ann Waters, a young lady about twenty
years of age, engaged in teaching school in the east part of
the town, was returning home on horseback, June 20, 1829,
her horse was startled and stopped by a tree falling across
the road in front, and directly after another tree fell upon
and killed both the horse and its rider.

In the fall of 1828 a thin vein of galena disseminated in
calcareous spar, was discovered a short distance north of
the village of Martinsburgh, near the brow of the hill, and
hopes were excited which further exploration did not jus
tify. In the spring of 1838, as Levi Edwards, in the service
of Richard Arthur, was plowing in a field about a mile

1 This event, derived from those who were intimately concerned, is detailed
in the History of Jefferson county ', p. 262.

184 Martinsburgh.

northwest of the village, the point of his plow broke off a
bright shining ore, which proved to be galena. This led to
an examination, and as the rock lay near the surface, the
vein was easily uncovered and presented truly an attrac
tive spectacle. The ore from four to ten inches wide stood
like a wall several inches above the surface of the rock, and
run in a course about N. 80° W. a distance of over twenty
rods, and so readily was it obtained that two men in two
days threw out over four thousand pounds. Trenches dug
across the direction of this vein disclosed others nearly
parallel, and the prospect of mineral wealth for a time
seemed never fairer. The right of mining was purchased
by Thomas L. Conklin1 for $700, and a company at first of
twelve, but afterwards of a hundred shares was formed.

A building, formerly a fulling mill, adjacent to the bridge
south of the village was fitted up for smelting the ore, and
got in operation in June, 1838, and several tons of the metal
were reduced. Meanwhile the cost of mining rapidly in
creased as the excavations were sunk below the surface,
while the yield of ore diminished, and after considerable
expenditure during the first year and part of the next the
work was abandoned, with heavy loss to all concerned.

In 1853, the mineral right of this locality was purchased
on speculation by parties in New York, and a company was
legally formed for working the mines. The Lewis County
Lead Co., is not " known by its works" in the county, and
there is no present prospect of any further enterprise of the
kind being attempted.2

A serio-comic incident occurred in the western part of
this town in the summer of 1836, occasioned by a search
after a child lost in the woods. The little wanderer was
soon found and restored to its parents, but on counting up
after their return it was discovered that a middle aged man
named C. N. K., and a lad about 18 years of age in his com
pany were missing. This happened on Thursday, but Fri
day came and passed without any tidings of the lost. On

lMr. Conklin was from Rensselaerville, N. Y., was admitted to the Lewis
county bar about 1824, and for some time was actively engaged in his profes
sion. In 1831, he entered the ministry and removed to Carbondale, Pa., but
soon after returned. After the failure of his lead speculation he mostly
withdrew from business, and died July 1, 1851, at the age of 55, having
mostly secluded himself from society during several years. He was acknow
ledged by all to be an effective and elegant public speaker, enthusiastic in
in whatever he engaged, eccentric in his theories, but withal, the possessor
of considerable talent. He studied his profession with Simeon Ford of Her-
kimer county.

2 This company filed its articles Feb. 4, 1854. Capital $200,000 in shares of
$2, each, limit fifty years.

Martinsburgh. 185

Saturday the report spread generally, and towards the close
of that day a public meeting was called, and it was agreed
that in case they did not appear by morning, the town bell
should be rung at sunrise, as a signal for the inhabitants to
rally and engage in a careful search in the woods. The bell
was accordingly rung on Sabbath morning, and hundreds
of men assembled at the appointed place, agreed upon their
signals, formed into a line, and began their search in the
forest. About ten o'clock, the signal for "found" was
passed along the line, and each hastened to the spot to
learn in what condition the lost had been found, and by
what casualty they had been detained. The estrays were
found in an open beaver meadow, on the head waters of one
of the streams, but two or three miles from inhabitants, and
almost within hearing of the town bell. The weather had
been bright and clear, and the sluggish stream after a few
windings in the wood emerged into the clearings. When
asked why they did not follow out some one of the hay roads,
for winter use, which led into the meadow, Mr. K., with
great naivete and perfect sincerity, replied, that they had
found a plenty of paths leading into the meadow, but none that
led out.

At the Oneida circuit of Sept., 1844, a suit brought by
Abel Fuller, of this town, against Alanson Tyler, of Lowville
to recover money alleged to have been paid, disclosed the
existence of a combination of swindlers in this and adjoining
towns, who had in various ways, for several months pre
vious, been operating to obtain money by fraud. In the case
mentioned, perjury was freely offered as evidence, and it
subsequently appeared, that numerous schemes of extortion
had been planned, and means the most unscrupulous ar
ranged to secure their execution. This club received the
name of " the forty thieves." It is said to have met by
night in private places, and to have enjoined secresy and
fidelity by the most solemn oaths, but the result of the trial
in Utica, by removing the leaders to state prison, put an
effectual end to their operations.

A distressing accident occurred Sept. 3, 1852, at the Ma
ple Ridge in this town. As a daughter of Timothy Canaan,
aged 9 years, was in a field in which the embers of log
heaps were still burning, her dress caught fire, and before
she could be relieved was literally burned alive.

The town of Martinsburgh has three post offices. Mar
tinsburgh (P. 0.) village is built upon a bold terrace of
Trenton limestone which here rises to a greater elevation
than at any other point in the town if not in the county.

186 Martinsburgh.

In 1855 it reported a population of 210. It has besides the
court house and jail, four churches, an inn, four stores, the
usual variety of mechanics and on its southern border a
limited water power. The scenery, which the surrounding
country affords, especially towards the east, is much finer
than that of any other village in the county. The most
disastrous fire which ever occurred in the county, broke
out in this village, on the morning of Feb. 5, 1859, destroy
ing the only hotel,1 four stores, and all the offices, sheds,
barns and buildings attached. The fire occured during
court week, and the hotel was filled with guests, who were
aroused from sleep, and several of them narrowly escaped
with life.

West Martinsburgh (P. 0.) three miles north west, on the
west road, is rather a thickly settled street, with two church
es, an inn, store and a few mechanic shops. As a farming
region this vicinity is one of the finest in the county.

Glensdale (P. 0.) is a hamlet of about a dozen houses, a
mill, store, church and a few shops, in the east part of the
town, where Whetstone creek falls over the last terrace of
limestone before reaching the river. The post-office at this
place was established in March 1855, with S. D. Mason,
P.M.

The Lewis County Bank, was incorporated April 20, 1833,
and located at Martiusburgh, with a limit of thirty years,
and a capital of $100,000. The commissioners for opening
subscriptions and distributing stock, were, Geo. D. Huggles,
John W. Martin, Andrew W. Doig, Wm. D. Shaler, Ashley
Davenport, John Whittlesey, Ela Merriam, Stephen Leonard
and Ozias Wilcox.

In the petition to the legislature which procured this
act, the annual surplus products of the county are stated as :
cattle $40,000, horses and mules $35,000, flour and wheat
$50,000, pot and pearl ashes, $25,000, pork and hogs,
$25,000, and whiskey $15,000. It was stated that 75,000
pounds of wool were sent annually, and that hemp, iron,
and lumber, formed a large and increasing subject of ex
portation. It was estimated that the merchants purchased
$200,000 worth of goods annually, and that the products of
agriculture and opportunities, for manufactures which our
hydraulic privileges offered would be largely benefited and
encouraged by a bank at the county seat. It will be no-

1 This was originally built in 1807 for Gen. Martin, and afterwards much
extended. At the time of the fire it was kept by T. Atwood. The hotel
premises are about to be rebuilt by Edwin Pitcher, with the aid of a subscrip
tion of $2000 from townsmen.

Martinsburgh. 187

ticed that no allusion is made to that great feature of pro
ductive industry, the dairying interest, which has conferred
wealth and reputation upon Lewis county, as this resource
was entirely unknown, and did not begin to develop itself
until about two years after. A few years before, a merchant
in Lowville who had advertised for three hundred pounds of
butter, payable in goods at ten cents the pound, was con
sidered an adventurer, in a county which now produces
over 2,000,000 pounds of butter, and much greater amount
of cheese.1

The profits upon banking capital had for many years
been great, and the prices upon bank stock had been much
above par. The franchises implied in a charter were diffi
cult to obtain, and it is not surprising that multitudes
should seek this investment, or that an immense subscrip
tion should have been offered beyond what could be taken.
The charter limited the amount which one person might
take at fifty shares, or $2,500, and left the commissioners
the invidious task of deciding who should be favored in the
assignation of stock. The total amount offered, is said to
have been about $1,200,000, which would necessarily leave
eleven in twelve on the disappointed list. As an unavoid
able result, many were free to charge upon the commissioners
the most selfish and ungenerous motives. Each of their
number took the amount limited by law.

A bank building was erected in Martinsburgh, adjacent
to the court house in 1833, and the bank was opened for
business in December of that year, affording the only bank
ing facilities in the county until after the passage of the
general banking law of 1838. While the Bank of Lowville
was in course of organization, an unsuccessful effort was
made to increase the capital of this bank to twice the sum
named in the charter. On the 3d of May, 1842, the bills of
this bank were rejected by the Commercial bank of Albany,
and on the same day an injunction was served upon its
officers. Mr. Forbes, one of the bank commissioners, had
been for some days investigating its affairs and deemed the
measure necessary as large assets were not available for
use. The bank was allowed to resume business Jan. 3,
1843, and public confidence had not been entirely restored
so as to allow its bills to circulate freely at a distance, when
a second injunction was served in 1845, and business was
again resumed in September, 1846, with the capital reduced
one half. It went on until November, 1854, when it finally
failed, beyond prospect of recovery.

1 Black River Gazette, Sept. 18, 1827.

188

Martinsburgh.

This bank paid 10 per cent dividend upon its stock until
1842, and a single dividend upon its preferred stock after
its first suspension. Frederick Hollister of Utica in 1845,
bought a large interest, and for time held a controlling
amount of stock.

The following is a list of presidents and cashiers of this
bank :

Presidents.

John W. Martin, 1833

Isaac W. Bostwick, 1843

Lyman R. Lyon, 1844

Isaac W. Bostwick, 1845

Lyman R. Lyon, 1846

Cashiers.

Andrew W. Doig, 1833

Charles L. Martin, 1834

Lyman R. Lyon, 1842

S. D. Hungerford, 1844

Andrew W. Doig, 1845

Ela N. Merriam, 1846

F. W. Grannis, 1852

Statistics as reported annually near the beginning of each
year :

Years.
1834,
1835,
1836,
1837,
1838,
1839,
1840,

Loans
and
Discounts.

$116,610
211,484
245,315

245,882
196,890
238,108
236,896

Circulation.
$86,242
129,525
192,656
172,538
147,066
139,679
128,555

Total
Resources.

$259,116
349,607
355,300
311,123
308,519
329,461

Years.
1845,
1846,

1847,
1848,
1849,
1850,
1851,

Loans
and
Discounts.

. 119,038
. 136,787
. 147,165
. 166,057

Circulation.

97,097
97,117
101,824
128,807
117,912
149,997
149,988

Total
Resources.

248,407
223,227
255,649
276,898

1841,

1842

228,248
204 763

137,754

97,422

321,180

274,878

1852,
1853,

48,981
99,987

-LO^-^j

1843

162 710

72,864

257J232

1854!

149^995

1844',

114)366

72J452

229,239

The Martinsburgh Library was formed at the house
of John Atwater, Feb. 10, 1807, and Nathan Cheney, John
Atwater, John McCollister, David Shumway, Truman Ste
phens, Enoch Bush and Horatio G. Hough, were chosen its
first trustees. A good selection of about two hundred vol
umes was made, and the library was continued till the
spring of 1835, when it was broken up and distributed
among its remaining shareholders. Asa L. Sheldon, was
for many of the later years the librarian.

A wooden building two stories high and furnished with a
small cupola, was built in the village in 1828, for an academic
school and probably with the ultimate design of obtain
ing an incorporation. The expense was defrayed by sub
scription, and the property was to be managed by trustees
elected by the contributors. The first Trustees were Rev.
David Kimball, John B. Hill, David Waters, Edward Ban
croft, Philo Rockwell and Enoch Thompson. It was opened
as a young ladies' seminary by Miss M. S. Williams, June 15,

Martinsburgh. 189

1829, and a few years after was used as an infant school.
Calvin B. Gay, the Rev. Calvin Yale and others have taught
at different times and scarcely a winter has passed without
a select or other school being taught. Since 1854 it has
been used as a district school house.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. — The first church edifice in the
state north of the Mohawk, was erected in Martinsburgh,
in 1806, chiefly through the aid of Gen. Martin, who de
frayed the principal share of the cost, and sold out pews to
families as opportunities offerred. The first Presbyterian
society of Martinsburgh, was formed Dec. 9, 1810, the ori
ginal trustees being Walter Martin, Levi Adams, 'John
McCollister, Chillus Doty, Chester Shumway, Nathan Cheney,
Elizur Stephens, Ephraim Luce and Barnabas Yale. The
society began with forty-seven members. The edifice was
painted by subscription, and furnished by Gen. Martin with
a bell in 1827 in return for the compliment of naming the
town after him. It was thoroughly repaired in 1832, fur
nished with an organ in 1838, again repaired in 1853, and
burned by lightning, on the morning of Aug. 1, 1854.

The first bell weighed alone about 800 Ibs. and cost $400.
It was broken in the fire, and the old metal exchanged in
part for the present one, which weighs (with the yoke)
1556 Ibs. and cost $450. Both were from Meneeley's found
ry in West Troy. The site of the church was not deeded
to the society until 1818. A new church edifice was erected
in 1858 on the site of the former, at a cost of $3000, and
dedicated in November of that year. A parsonage belong
ing to the society, was burned, Oct. 15, 1849.

The first religious meetings were held by missionaries,
in private houses, and afterwards in the school house on
the brow of the hill south of the village. The Rev. Mr.
Clinton of Lowville, and others preached occasionally in the
meeting house, but none were regularly hired until about
1809, when the Rev. Elijah Norton, an old man from Litch-
field, N. Y.3 was hired a few months.2

The Rev. Aaron Jordan Booge from Gal way, N. Y.,
having preached a few times, was invited to become the
stated supply of the society, Feb. 19, 1810, for a term of
four years, from the first of November, proceeding. That
he might be "free from worldly cares and avocations," the
trustees promised to pay $250 per annum in quarterly in-

2 He had been a prisoner with the Indians in the Revolution, and is remem
bered as a man zealous in his labors, but somewhat intolerant towards other
sects, especially the Methodists. It so happened that an only daughter be
came an earnest believer in the creed of these people, and chose to leave the
paternal roof, rather than relinquish her religious faith.

190 Martinsburgh.

stallments. He accepted, but stooping to meddle in politics
was silenced. While endeavoring to retrieve his position, he
yielded in an evil hour, to a besetting sin.1 The Rev. Mr.
Mandeville was next employed a short time, when the Eev.
James Murdock was installed first pastor Feb. 11, 1812, and
remained about seven years.2 The Rev. David Kimball ac
cepted a call Dec. 6, 1821, and was ordained pastor of this
church and that of Lowville village, June 24, 1822. He
continued in this relation until Oct. 19, 1830, when he was
dismissed at his own request.3 After employing one Fisk,
a few months, the Rev. Leicester A. Sawyer was engaged, and
on the 12th of Oct., 1832, he was installed.4 He remained
about three years and was succeeded by the Revs. Loring,
Bushnell, and Joel Osborn in 1835-6, and by the Rev.
Calvin Yale, as pastor from 1837 to Feb. 11, 1841.5 The
Rev. Erastus S. Barnes6 was pastor from Sept. 13, 1841, to
to Aug. 24, 1846. His successors have been, the Rev. Her
bert W. Morris, from March 8, 1848, to Feb. 1, 1850 ; Rev.
Joseph Rosecrans, stated supply from 1850 to March 8,
1852; Rev. Revilo J. Cone, (do.) from July, 1852 to Feb.
20, 1854 ; Rev. Samuel L. Merrill from June, 1854 to June,
1857. The Rev. R. A. Wheelock of Deer River has been
employed on alternate sabbaths since April, 1859.

This church, originally Congregational, was changed to
Presbyterian, Jan. 9, 1812. In the fall of 1830, and winter
following, a remarkable revival occurred, and a larger num-

1 Having rode to Turin on the 4th of July, he was seen walking home on
the 5th with his garments covered with mud and his saddle on his shoulder.
He enlisted as a chaplain in the army June 16, 1813, and was disbanded
April 14, 1818.

^Mr. M. was a native of Saybrook, Ct., graduated at Yale College in 1774,
in the same class with Mr. Booge ; came to Lewis county March, 1805,
preached some time in Turin and Constableville. From Martinsburgh he
went to Gkmverneur, and in 1839 to Crown Point, where he died at his son's
residence, Jan. 14, 1841, aged 86 years.

3 Mr. K. was torn in Hopkintown, N. H., March 18, 1791, learned the prin
ter's trade at Concord, fitted for college at Phillip's Academy, Andover, gra
duated at Yale in 1818, and directly after entered the Theological Seminary at
Andover. In 1821 he came to this town, and in January, 1831, removed to
Plainfield, Mass. He publishes a newspaper at Hanover, N. H., at the pre
sent time.

4 Mr. S. was a native of Burrville, Jefferson county ; graduated at Hamilton
College in 1828, and began his ministry here. He lias since become known
as an author, and has published a new translation of the New Testament.

5 Mr. Yale was from Kingsboro, N. Y. He graduated at Union College in
1812. Since the dissolution of his pastoral relation with this church, he has
preached at Lowville, Watertown, Brownville, and other places, but now re
sides in this town.

6 Mr. B. was from Gouverneur. He graduated at Amherst College. From,
this place he went to Chazy, but has since resided in this county and Oneida
several years.

Martinsburgh. 191

bers were added to the church, than at any similar period
before or since. A sabbath school has begun in 1821, in
connection with this church, and held at first at private
houses, in different parts of the town. Over a thousand
have been connected with it first and last, as teachers or
scholars, Mr. Ezra Botsford has been many years its super
intendent.

Methodist meetings were among the earliest held in town,
and stated preaching was had by appointment many years
before a legal organization was effected, The M. E. church
in this town was made a separate circuit from Lowville in
1840, since which the circuit preachers have been: 1840-1,
Jas. Erwin; 1842, J. E. Downing; 1843, Lorenzo D. Steb-
bins ; 1844-5, Allen 0. Wightman ; J846, Hiram Shepard ;
1847-8, H. 0. Tilden; 1849-50, Benj. S.Wright; 1851-2,
Eleazer Whipple ; 1853, W. B. Joyce ; 1854-5, R. E. King ;
1856-7, L. L. Palmer ; 1858, G. W. Elwood, S. B. Shepard ;
1859, M. H. Church, A. T. Copeland.

The First Meth. Ep. Ch. of Martinsburgh, was legally
formed Sept. 4, 1831, with Abner Clapp, Elijah Baldwin,
Sedgwick Coates, Burrage Hough, John C. Hough, Arnold
Clapp and Samuel Gordon, Jr., trustees. A stone church
was built in 1832, on the brow of the hill east of the state
road and on the south border of the village, and dedicated
in Jan., 1833. After being used a dozen or fifteen years it
fell into decay, and upon the erection of churches in other
parts of the town it was discontinued, sold and takendown.
A Meth. Ep. church was built adjacent to the clerk's office
in Martinsburgh village in the summer of 1857.

The West Martinsburgh soc. of the M. E. Ch., was formed
Jan. 30, 1840, with Lobdell Wood, Moses Talmadge, Giles
Easton, Henry McCarty, Norman Gowdy, Henry Miner,
Henry Curtis, Noah N. Harger, and Moses M. Smith,
trustees. In the summer of that year their present church
was erected, and about 1846 was furnished with a bell.

The 2d M. E. ch. and soc. of West Martinsburgh was
was formed Sept. 8, 1840, with D. Seymour, Joseph Brown
and Wm. Peebles, trustees. A small church edifice was
erected on Chapel hill, so called, west of the village

A second Advent society in West Martinsburgh village,
erected a house of worship in 1851, but meetings have not
been regularly continued.

A Baptist church was formed at the school house a mile
and a half south of the village, on the 27th of June 1818,
under the advice of Eld. Stephen Parsons. It at first con
sisted of seven members, and worshiped in the school house

192 Martinsburgh.

until the erection of a church in 1825. In 1840, it removed
to the village where its meetings have since been held. The
first settled minister was Eld. Samuel Marshall, who was
ordained Mar. 13, 1822. Elders Martin Salmon, Riley B.
Ashley, L. S. Baker, Charles Graves, John B. Ambler,
0. Wilbur and others, were afterwards employed.

A Free Communion Baptist Church was formed by a
council of delegates from Russia, Lowville and Turin,
convened at Martinsburgh Oct. 17, 18 18. It continued in
existence until about 1840, when by death, removal, and
union with other churches it had become so reduced in
number, that but four females attended its last covenant
meeting. Elder Russell Way, of Turin, was the minister
under whom this church was chiefly formed and continued.
The sect is considered as extinct in this town.

The Martinsburgh United Baptist Society, was formed
Nov. 6, 1824, with Daniel Pitcher, Enoch C. Johnson, Nor
man Griffis, Jonathan Searle and Daniel Ashley, Jr., as
trustees. In 1825 it erected a church edifice one and a half
miles south of the village, which continued to be used on
alternate Sabbaths by the two Baptist churches about fifteen
years, when it gradually fell into decay, until, at length,
every vestige has disappeared. The Martinsburgh Baptist
society, was formed Sept. 30, 1839, with Levi Bronson, John
Waters, Shepard Lee, Samuel Miner, James M. Sturdevant,
and David Griffis, trustees. In the year following, a new
church was erected in Martinsburgh village, and the congre
gation worshiping in the former edifice removed thither.

A church was built at Glensdale in 1853, by the joint ef
forts of the Protestant and Episcopal Methodists, and dedi
cated Jan. 4, 1854. The society owning this was legally
formed April 25, 1854, under the name of the People's
Church, Jerrard Stiles, Wm. Glasgow, Alfred Arthur,
Walter Hubbard, and Wm. Olivers, first trustees.

A number of persons known as Unionists, professing
to be held together by no creed or covenant but such as the
scriptural belief and the conscience of every member might
dictate and approve, associated in 1857, under the Rev. Ste
phen P. Taft in Martinsburgh village, and on the 12th of
April, 1858, organized themselves into a corporation, styled
<c The Trustees of the Church of Martinsburgh," of which
Charles Peebles, Horatio Hough, Lewis A. Pitcher, Warren
A. Peebles, Diodate Pease, Perry S. Hough, Martin Sheldon,
Mithra J. Reed and Charles E. Peebles were first trustees.
In the summer of that year, they erected a small but neat
Gothic chapel for worship on the eastern border of the
village.

Montague. 193

MONTAGUE.

This town was formed from West Turin by the Board of
Supervisors, November 14, 1850, embracing Township 3, or
Shakespere, of the Boylston Tract. The first town meeting
was directed to be held at the school house near Roswell
Parmenter's.

Supervisors. — 1851-3, Wheaton Burington ; 1854-60, Jo
seph M. Gardner.

Clerks.— 1851, Stephen A. Green ; 1852-3, Elias Sears ;
1854, Leonard G. Savage ; 1855, Alfred Green ; 1856, Al-
sonC. Rounds; 1857-8, George D. Moffatt; 1859, Bildad
Woodward, jr.

A bounty of $3 was voted for the destruction of bears,
in 1854.

This town was subdivided into 117 lots by Benjamin
Wright in 1805. The courses and distances of its bounda
ries are as follows:

W. side, north, 533 ch., 15 Iks. (1795
N. " S.81° E. 551 " 25 " (1805
E. « south, 550 " 36 « (1795
S. " N.80°W. 554 « (1795

The lines of 1795 were run by Medad Mitchel

This town was named from Miss Mary Montague Pierre-
pont, a daughter of Hezekiah B. Pierrepont former owner
of this town and of large tracts in this and adjoining coun
ties. This lady presented a set of record books to the
town in consideration of the compliment. She died in
Brooklyn in January, 1853.

The first agent charged with the care of this town, was
Dr. Samuel Allen of Denmark, who effected nothing. In
1838, Mr. Henry E. Pierrepont, went with Allen upon the
tract, and left arrangements for opening a road from New
Boston in Pinckney, southward across this town, but noth
ing was done, until 1844, when Harvey Stephens of Mar-
tinsburgh, then agent, got a road opened. He died the
next year, and in August, 1845, Diodate Pease, of Martins-
burgh, was appointed agent, and has since continued in
efficient service. This town remained the undivided prop
erty of the Pierrepont family until 1853; when the east half
excepting the parts previously conveyed, fell to the share
of Joseph J. Bicknell, and the west half to James M. Miner,
both of whom had married daughters of Hezekiah B. Pierre
pont.

The first settler was Solomon Holden, who in the fall of
1846, moved into the town with his family, and wintered in
a shanty on the land of Foster P. Newton. There was no

194 New Bremen.

other family in town during this winter. The first land
was taken up by Newton, May 30, 1846, but he never resided
in town. Lands were also booked to several others in
the year 1846, but they never were known as settlers.
Alonzo Garnsey purchased May 10, 1847, and resided a
year or two at Gardner's Corners. Joseph M. Gardner be
came the first merchant, and from him the settlement known
as Gardner's Corners was named. A saw mill was raised
by S. P. Sears, in the fall of 1847, and finished in July 1848.

Samuel P. Sears, Calvin Rawson, G. Savage, Peter Dur
ham, Oliver Stafford, S. A. Green, Win, D. Bucklin, Isaiah
Burr, Alonzo Garnsey, and Zebulon Marcellus were among
the first settlers in this town.

In September, 1848, when Mr. Pierrepont visited the town,
4000 acres were contracted, and 600 deeded. In 1850,
13,000 acres were sold, 40 miles of road were laid out, and
a saw mill was in course of erection on Deer river. There
were then 100 inhabitants upon the town. Montague P. 0.
was established about 1856. Most of the settlers were from
St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties. The town is about
two-thirds taken up by actual settlers. The first death of
an adult person was that of Caleb Green, Jan. 23, 1854.

The first framed school house was built in 1850. There
are now seven school districts in this town, the first teachers
in which were as follows :

Dist. No. 1, Jane Johnson ; No. 2, Sarah Kramer ; No. 3,
Sarah Hart ; No. 4, Mary Ann Ten Eyck ; No. 5, Anna H.
Bent ; No. 6, Mrs. Terrill ; No. 7, Ellen Terrill.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. — Two Methodist societies were
formed in 1851, and one in 1857. A Baptist society was
formed in 1854, but none of these have yet erected a house
of worship.

NEW BREMEN.

This town was formed from Watson and Croghan, March
31, 1848, with its present boundaries. The first town meet
ing was held at the house of Charles G. Loomis. Its name
was probably applied to render it attractive to European
emigrants.

Supervisors.— 1848-50, Bornt Nellis ; 1851, David Cleve
land; 1852-4, B. Nellis ; 3855, Roswell Birigham ; 1856-7,
B. Nellis; 1858, R. Bingham ; 1859-60, Jerome Kilts.

Clerks.— 1849-50, Squire H. Snell ; 1851-8, Jerome Kilts ;
1859, Nicholas Gaudel.

Panther and wolf bounties of $5 were voted in 1848.
The population of this town when erected, was 1345, of

New Bremen. 195

whom 1030 were from Watson and 315 from Croghan.
Of the whole number 753 were Europeans.

Settlement began under title derived from the New
York Company by Jacob Oboussier, clerk to Tillier, resi
dent agent of the French proprietors. His improvement
was made about a third of a mile below the present Illing-
worth bridge, on the banks of Black river. Oboussier went
off about the beginning of this century, leaving some of his
property in the hands of Samuel lllingworth,1 and was
never again heard from. He is supposed to have been
drowned in the Ohio river, on a journey to the French set
tlements in Louisiana. The title to his tract was contested
by Le Ray, as representative of the French proprietors,
upon the ground that Tillier had exceeded his powers in
selling more than fifty acres in one tract, and the courts
sustained the prosecution by setting aside the claims of
Gilchrist, who had acquired the title.

lllingworth remained many years the only inhabitant
within the town. His location on the river bank rendered
this a convenient crossing place by persons on hunting and
fishing expeditious into the forest, and a point familiar to
all who passed up or down the river, as was more frequently
done when the country was new, and the roads in wet sea
sons nearly impassable. No effort was made to bring these
lands into market until 1821, when Charles Dayau of Low-
ville was appointed agent by James D. and Vincent Le Ray,
for the sale and settlement of some twelve thousand acres,
east of the cardinal line, and afterwards of other lands, to
the west.

The village of Dayanville was so named by Le Ray, in
compliment to this agent. It was surveyed in the fall of
1824 by Jason Clark of Plessis, who, in commencing, found
it necessary to trace one of the lines from the river. The
party had reached Crystal creek just at sunset, and were
preparing to cross the stream and encamp on the opposite
bank for the night, when they were startled by the howl of
a pack of wolves in their rear. There is something pecu
liarly dismal in the cry of this animal, especially when heard
by night, and the idea of sleeping in this lonely place was
especially unpleasant to some of the younger members of
the party, who could not be prevailed upon by any argu
ment to remain. They accordingly returned to the settle
ments on the river, and resumed their labors the next
morning.

1 Mr. I. was an Englishman. He died May 4, 1847, aged 86 years.

196 New Bremen.

This village is situated on Crystal creek, about one and a
half miles from Black river, in the midst of a very level
region of light learning soil, which extends south into Watson
and with but moderate undulations, north eastward to the
Beaver river. Improvements began about 1826, and one of
the first erections was a saw mill. A rake factory was built
about 1840 and run several years, and a grist mill in 1847.
The first merchant in the village was Samuel Stevens.
About 1853 a building, 40 by 100 feet, was erected for a
machine shop, in anticipation of the completion of the
Sackets Harbor and Saratoga rail road, the route of which
passes near, and the work on which had been commenced.
The premises remained idle until 1859 when an addition of
40 by 150 feet was made to it for the purpose of a tannery.
The firm conducting this business is S. Branaugh & Co.,
who have fixtures sufficient to tan from 35,000 to 40,000
sides of sole leather annually. Half a mile below are a saw
mill, shingle machine, sash shop, cheese box factory and a
small manufactory of cotton batting. The village has a
methodist church, a large school house of two stories, and
about thirty dwellings. The post office was changed in
May, 1848, from Dayanville to New Bremen.

At Beaver falls, on the north border of the town, is the
gang saw mill and a manufactory of lath and shingles of
Prince & Co., formerly known as Rohr's mills.

A small part of the village of French Settlement is in
this town. A lager beer brewery has been built two miles
above Dayanville on the same stream, and a potato distil
lery in the north part, near Beaver river. This is, we
believe, the only distillery in the county.

The bridge, near Illingworth's place, was built by Thos.
Puffer about 1833, and a bridge has since been maintained
at this place. The supervisors, Nov. 15, 1850, authorized
the town of New Bremen to borrow $1,400, to be repaid by
nine equal annual installments, to aid in rebuilding this
bridge. The town of Lowville was allowed to borrow $975
for a like purpose, and the state constructed the abutment
on the east side, the pier next adjacent and the draw
between them. The other two piers, the west abutment
and the superstructure, were built at the expense of the
two towns.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. — The Methodists had held meetings
in this town several years before a church was erected. The
large school house in Dayanville had been built with refer
ence to use as a house of worship, but difficulties were
interposed by a claim of rent, and on the 19th of Feb.,

Osceola. 197

1849, a legal society was formed as the First Methodist
Episcopal church of New Bremen, David A. Stewart, Grif
fith Meredith, Peter Van Atter, Win. Holmes, Egbert
Arthur, John Wakefield, Frederick Ford, Simeon Dinslow,
and Alexander Y. Stewart were chosen first trustees, and a
church edifice was completed and dedicated Sept. 20, 1849,
at a cost of $1,206. A camp meeting, held in August, 1848,
near the village, by appointment of the B. R. Conference,
contributed to strengthen this society. The preachers
stationed here have been, 1849-50, 0. C. Lathrop ; 1851, L.
L. Adkins ; 1852, Benj. Brundidge ; 1853-4, T. D. Sleeper ;
1855-6, T. G. Whitney ; 1857, B. E. Whipple ; 1858-9, 0.
Holmes.

A Lutheran and a Catholic church were built about 1850,
the former on the road to the French Settlement, and the
latter on a road leading east from Dayanville.

OSCEOLA.

This town was formed from West Turin, Feb. 28, 1844, in
accordance with a vote of that town, embracing townships
8, or Rurabella, and 13, or Hybla,1 of the Boylston Tract.
The name was applied at the request of a young lady in
New York,2 in memory of the celebrated Seminole chief,
whose career forms an important item in the history of
Florida. This warrior was a half breed and was first known
by his father's name Powell but received the title of As-se-o-
la (as pronounced in the original dialect), because he could
drink a greater quantity than others of a drink of this name
taken preparatory to the fast and feast of the green-corn
dance. He arose to the rank of chief by the force of his
native talent, and began and continued the bloody wars
which for years wasted the southern frontiers. The supe
rior numbers and discipline of our troops having turned the
war against the savages, Osceola with a train of seventy
followers, came into the camp of Gen. Jessup in October,
1837. They were detained and sent prisoners to fort Moul-
trie, near Charleston, where he languished and died in the
January following. His detention has been severely cen
sured, but facts seem to indicate that his intention was to
capture the place and release some prisoners had he found
it practicable, but if not, to return and continue the war.

1 Hybly was a town in Sicily. Rurabella is a hog-latin term for "fine
country."

-Miss Jay, now Mrs. Henry E. Pierrepont of Brooklyn. She presented a
set of blank record books to the town for the name.

198 Osceola.

The Indians had been told, that when willing to remove, they
should be received and protected, and they were made to
understand, that they could not return when they once came
in. Osceola's party under these circumstances could claim
no alternative but removal.

Some of the settlers proposed to call the town Greenfield,
in compliment to the resident agent, but upon suggestion of
the present name, it was approved at a public meeting called
for the occasion.

Supervisors. — 1844—8, Seymour Green ; 1849, John Mars-
den ; 1850-2, S. Green ; 1853, J. Marsden ; 1854-6, S. Green ;
1857, Henry E. Griffin; 1858, Anthony Rowell; 1859, J.
Marsden ; 1860, Wm. Rowell.

.Clerks.— 1844, John Roberts; 1845-6, Roswell A. Hub-
bard ; 1847, Washington Shorey ; 1848, R. A. Hubbard ;
1849-50, David Dunn; 1851-2, James Roberts; 1853-4,
James Mitchell ; 1855, Jairus Rowe; 1856, Henry E. Griffin ;
1857, Henry J. Baker ; 1858, John Gibbs ; 1859, John Bain.

The survey of the outlines of township 13, were made as
follows :

W. line North, 687 ch., 65 Iks. (1795). M. Mitchell.
N. " S. 80° E. 764" 19" (1795). "
E. " S. 30° W. (1795). W. Cockburn.

S. W. (Patent line), N. 68° 50' W. (1794).

Area 37,041 1-2 acres by Wright's survey. Length of
lines, 204 miles, 70 Iks. Cost of survey, .£204 17s. 6d.

It was subdivided by Benjamin Wright in 1795, into 151
lots, and re-surveyed in 1839. The note book of Moses
Wright, an assistant who was running a line in this town
ship in 1797, has the following entry which sets forth some
of the hardships of a land surveyor :

" This 9th day of October, it being Monday, had the
pleasure of running all day in the coldest rain I ever was
sensible of. The rain that fell the day before yesterday,
last night and to-day, raised the -brooks and creeks over
their banks, and what gave me the worst feeling is, that the
hard, pinching hand of Poverty, seven days ago took all the
rum." In another place the weary and rumless engineer
records : " Lots 112, 113 : 30 chains up the highest hill that
ever was. 5,000,000,000 feet high." Had he stopped seven
cyphers short, he might have represented with exaggera
tion, the rise from the flats of Salmon river to the high lands
which border it, but his hand once started on the cyphers,
he let it run !

Township 8 was subdivided into 111 lots, by B. Wright
in 1805, and contains 28,4 19 fjio acres. While surveying in
this region in 1795, Mr. Wright remarked, that the beavers

Osceola. 199

were building a dam on the north branch of Salmon river,
that would flow 400 acres of land.

In December, 1795, a negotiation was pending for the
purchase of township 13 by John Bernard of Rome, who
proposed to form a company for this object. The price
then proposed was two dollars per acre, payable by install
ments in four years, with interest from April 20, 1797. The
bargain was not closed from the inability of Bernard to find
associates.

In 1805 a road was cut out from Fish creek across town
ship No. 1 (now Lewis), and 13 and S in this town, to the
line of 7, with the design of intersecting the state road
in Redfield, but the north end and the portion south of the
Macomb purchase were never cut out, and the route soon
relapsed into the state of nature. It entered township 13,
on lot 137, and in township 8 crossed lots 96, 85, 84, 73, 62,
61 and 50. In the fall of 1805 James Constable and Hez.
B. Pierrepont, two of the executors of the estate of Wm.
Constable, crossed these towns by this road, and the journal
of the former will be read with interest.

" Sept. 7. After breakfast set off from Fairservice's (in
Western) towards Fish creek, the first two miles passable
for teams, but the rest of the distance to the creek not cut
out at all, but it is easy ground and not heavily timbered,
and the people promised to do it this fall without fail
Forded the creek, and on the other side our road begins.
The ascent from the creek very well done, and the cutting
appears to be according to agreement, although the clearing
out of the timber is occasionally neglected. The soil of the
whole of No. 1 is very indifferent, the timber mostly hem
lock except sometimes beech or a hard mossy birch, the face
of the country uneven and ridgy though not much stony.
I fear it will not settle speedily. The southeasterly part of
No, 13 not much better, though we have occasionally some
better timber, ash, bass, &c. As we advance to the Salmon
river we find better land fit for settlers ; some good swales
and very little hemlock. Forded the river, it being here a
small stream, and there being some grass for our horses we
stopped to bait them and ourselves. A fire being soon
kindled each man cut his slice of pork, toasted or fried it,
and we made a hearty meal. The brandy brought with us
and the water made a good drink. Passed on, the 'land im
proving till we came to the 13 and 14 mile tree, to a good
spring and a brook where there was a good hut of the road
makers, and although we might have gone two or three
miles further before dark, yet Fairservice being doubtful

200 Osceola.

whether we should meet such good accommodations, it was
determined to remain here for the night. Another cause
was, that we got some hay for the horses. We made our
fire, cooked our pork and made our meal with an excellent
appetite. Our horses were not neglected.

Sept. 9. After sleeping pretty soundly till daylight, the
weather seemed likely to turn to rain, and we resolved to
proceed on through the road so far as to insure our getting
to Redfield in the course of the day, as the provisions would
not hold out longer. Went on to the ]8 mile tree, and at
another hut prepared and ate our breakfast of pork and
bread, with brandy and water for tea. I found these articles
less palitable at this meal than the others, however the pork
improved (?) very mildly. We went down the road some
miles further, leaving No. 13 and going on to No. 8, and
found the latter very good land, such as settlers will not re
fuse. The road is equal to roads as new as it is. The
weather looked threatening, and to be sure of reaching
Eedfield in good time, we took a course southwest to strike
the state road, and coming to a good stream which was at
first supposed to be Salmon river (it is certainly a branch of
it), as it affofded some grass for our horses we thought it
a proper place to halt and refresh. Accordingly dinner was
provided as usual ; we ate heartily, and finished the last of
our brandy. We had now to pass through the woods, the
south part of No. 7 and north part of Redfield, which was
very difficult to ourselves and dangerous to our horses, from
the swamps and heavy fallen trees covered with under
brush. We struck one of the main branches of the river,
but the brush and fallen logs prevented us from keeping the
bank, and the high ground was a hemlock ridge which oc
casioned us much trouble, but after a good deal of fatigue
we came to the state road about two miles from Ingraham's,
when it began to rain and we were nearly wet through be
fore we got there. The rain did not continue long, and we
set out for Johnson's tavern in Redfield, half a mile beyond
Butler's, where we arrived early in the evening a good deal
tired with this day's journey. It is a better house than
Butler's, and we were well provided for in supper and
sleeping.

Sept. 9. Mr. Pierrepont having occasion to see a man
who lived off the road respecting his lands in No. 13, set off
very early intending to follow us on to Rome, but having
found the man near, he came and joined us at breakfast, and
we all set off together. They are working upon the road
and improving it much. The causeways are mostly new

Osceola. 201

laid and covered three inches with sand or other earth, so
that the travelling on them is equal to any part. Stopped
at Lyman's, 11 miles, and at Waring's near Fish creek, but
we decided to eat the last dinner cooked by ourselves in the
woods at the creek and went there, having bought some
brandy on the way. . The weather was very hot, but after
kindling a fire and bathing in the creek, we ate with as good
an appetite as ever. After dinner we paid and discharged
Fairservice, and set off for Rome, intending to see the new
causeway lately finished near that town, but the road not
being cut through, we had difficulty to get to it. We suc
ceeded, and it was worth the pains. The length is two
miles, of equal sized logs 18 feet long and covered with
earth, so that the travelling is excellent. Arrived at Rome
late in the evening. Not liking the thought of White's
beds we slept in the hay-loft, and made out pretty well."

Portions of townships 1 and 13 were sold by Wm. Con
stable, July 25, 1801, to John Jones, John McVickar and
John Rathbone of New York, in payment of notes and
endorsements of Wm. and Jas. Constable, to the amount of
$95,704.50. Lynde Catlin received a conveyance, Jan. 28,
1804, of the whole or a greater part.1 At the time settlement
begun about two-thirds of No. 13 were owned by the

Pierrepont family, and the remainder by G. Lynch,

Goddard, Bush, J. W. Taylor, J. Lawrence,

Gentil, Stewart, Jefferson Insurance Co., Pratt,

G. Smith, Lyndes, S. Stevens, J. and E. McVickar, L.

Catlin, Bishop Moore and Wm. Constable, together amount
ing to 51 scattered lots.

Township 8 was divided among the Pierrepont heirs Jan.
1, 1853, as follows : To Wm. C. P. lots 17 to 19 ; 28 to 31 ;
39 to 44; 50 to 86 ; 92, 93, W. part of 94, 95, 96, 110 and
111. To Maria T. Bicknell, 87 to 91; 97 to 109; Sey
mour Green, agent. To E. G. Miner, ], 2, 6, 7, part of
3 and 8 ; D. Pease, agent. To M. C. Perry, (in trust) parts of
of 4, 5 and 8 ; 9 to 16 ; 20 to 27 ; 32 to 38 ; 43 to 49 ; D.
Pease, agent. A few settlers have located upon the ex
treme N. W. corner, but the remainder of that township is
still a wilderness. One Saunders was the first settler in this
part of the town.

The first persons who came into this town were Jabez
Green, Christopher Divine and Harvey Potter, who located
on lot 138 about 1822, without title, but did not remain.
Samuel W. Nash also located soon after, a little above, but
not permanently. In 1826 one Clark burnt off a windfall, a

1 Deeds Lewis county, A, 53.
Z

202 Osceola.

mile south of Salmon river, and planted corn, which yielded
abundantly, but was claimed and entirely harvested by bears.
This wind-fall was the track of a tornado that had passed
across the town three years before, and the fire, when applied,
ran through it with tremendous energy, sending up columns
of flame and smoke, which were observed to an immense
distance, the former by its reflections upon the clouds at
night, and the latter by its dense sombre masses by day.

The first agent of the Pierrepont estate in this town was
James S. T. Stranahan of Brooklyn, but then of Florence.
Settlement was delayed by various causes, among which
was the failure of the proprietors of scattered lots, to unite
in an agency for the opening of roads and other improve
ments necessary for bringing the town into market. In
July, 1839, Seymour Green was appointed Pierrepont's agent
in No. 13, with power to sell lands at $1.50 cash, or $2 on
a credit of four years. A road was marked out from Flor
ence village northward, nearly across the township, and
reports favorable to the tract gaining currency in the sur
rounding country, the landless rushed forward to secure a
homestead with such avidity, that between the first of Sep
tember and Christmas, nearly 18,000 acres were sold under
contract with the intention of settlement. The north part
of Redfield (No. 7 or Greenboro) was opened under the same
agency, and in the above period 1000 acres were contracted
upon that township. In May, 1840, the proprietor, in six
days, issued 68 contracts and 22 deeds, and received $4,000
in cash. The lands sold amounted to 11,996 acres, and the
price to $25,219.35. The following winter was unusually
severe, and in 1842 half the lands sold had reverted. As there
were no town officers accessible for laying out roads, what
ever was done in this line, devolved upon Mr. Pierrepont. the
owners of scattered lots being generally indifferent as to these
improvements. In 1843, there were 250 inhabitants, two
school houses and 60 children. In 1848 1,600 acres were
under contract, and 5,491 acres were deeded. In 1850
there were 400 inhabitants in town. The settlers were
mostly from the older towns around. Several families came
from the factories at Oriskany, and some from the public
works upon the suspension of 1842. The northern part of
No. 13 is called Vermont Settlement, from the original
locality of the, settlers. The first family that actually
settled with title, on township 13, was that of Robert Rus
sell, on lot 139, in December, 1839. They wintered here
alone, and in the spring were joined by Ira and Thomas
Hulbert and others. Roswell A. Hubbard, Wm. G. Smith,

Pinckney. 203

Lyman Wellman, David Shorey, Silas A. Fox, Henry J.
Baker, Anthony Rowell and others, were also early settlers.
Mr. Green,1 the agent, settled in 1842, and at the first town
meeting in 1844 there were 37 voters. The first birth was
that of Russell Chase, the first marriage that of Captain
Edward Humaston and Jane Smith, and the first death that
of Agnes Russell, a child, eight years of age. The first
school was taught in 1844 by Jerusha Wetmore, and the
first two framed school houses were built in that year.
The town has now five framed and one log school houses,
and two joint districts, of which the school houses are in
Redfield. A road, authorized by law in 1859, has been laid
out by S. Green and D. Pease from the Vermont Settle
ment to Martinsburgh, a distance of about twelve miles
from one clearing to the other, and about 23 miles from the
court house to Osceola village. At present the distance
around is about 70 miles by the nearest public thoroughfare
and over 50 b}7 the nearest passable road.

The principal business point in town is at Osceola vil
lage and post office, or as it is usually called The River,
situated in the deep narrow intervale of Salmon river, five
miles from Florence and thirteen from the W. and R. R. R.
station at Camden. It has three inns, a store, school house,
saw mill, large tannery and about a dozen dwellings. The
first saw mill in town was built by Wm. Roberts in 1841.
A tannery, 200 feet long, was erected on the south bank of
Salmon river in 1859, by Cowles, Sliter & Co., for the
manufacture of sole leather, chiefly from Spanish hides.

An Independent (Congregational) religious society was
formed in 1850, but there is no church edifice.

PINCKNEY.

This town embracing township No. 9, or Handel, was
annexed from Mexico to Harrisburgh, Mar. 24, 1804, divided
in the erection of the county in 1805, the eastern part
being retained by Harrisburgh, and the western attached
to Harrison [Rodman] ; and finally erected into a separate
town Feb. 12, 1808, with its present limits. It was named
by the legislature, doubtless in honor of one or all of the
three illustrious citizens of South Carolina of this name.

!Mr. Gr. is a native of Washington county, and when he received the agen
cy was living in Oneida county. A political opponent many years since, ap
plied to him in derision the title of the " Osceola chief," which has been
accepted among his Mends, and by which he is widely known. As super
visor, assemblyman and local magistrate, he has taken an active part in public
a ffairs .

204 Pinckney.

Gen. Thomas Pinckney, his brother Charles C. or William,
were alike worthy of the honor.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Stephen
Hart, but as the early records were burned in 1826, our
knowledge of the earlier town officers is derived from other
sources.

Supervisors.— 1808-9, Ethan Green; 1810-4, Stephen Hart ;
1815, Augustus T. Wright; 1816, S. Hart; 1817, G. Waite;
1818-20,8. Hart; 1821, James Hunt; 1822-3, E. Green ;
1824-6, S. Hart; 1827-8, J. Hunt ; 1829, Benjamin Jeffers ;
1830-1, S. Hart; 1832-4, J. Hunt; 1835, Tyrannus A.
Wright,1 J. Hunt ; 1836-7, John Spencer ; 1838-43, John
Lucas : 1844, Joseph Boynton, Jr. ; 1845-8, John Newkirk ;
1849, Jehiel H. Hall; 1850, J. Lucas; 1851-3, Hamilton
Cobleigh ; 1854-5, Gilbert E. Woolworth ; 1856-7, Phineas
Wool worth ; 1858-9, Samuel H. Tolles ; 1860, John Paris.

Clerks.— 1826-8, James Armstrong ;x 1829-30, John
Spencer; 1831, J. Armstrong; 1832-5, J. Spencer; 1836-43,
J. Armstrong ; 1844-6, Lewis M. Burtch ; 1847-8, Jehiel H.
Hall; 1849, John Lucas; 1850-5, Samuel H. Tolles; 1856-9,
Blodgett Stoddard.

In 1826, 31, 2, 5, a bounty of $10, in 1838, of $15, and
in 1834 of $5, was offered for wolves. In 1841, a bounty of
$5, and in 1845, of $10, was voted for the killing of bears.
In 1834, crow bounties of one shilling if killed in May and
June, and 50 cents for foxes within the year, were voted at
town meetings.

This town fell to the share of Wm. Henderson, who em
ployed Abel French, and afterward Jesse Hopkins and
others as agents. Henderson died about 1824, and Wm.
Denning, his brother-in-law, subsequently became princi
pally concerned in the title, and under the Denning family
most of the town has been sold. But small remnants now
remain in the hands of the former proprietors. From B.
Wright's field book of survey around the town in the spring
of 1796, we derive the first estimate of its value which was
as follows :

" This town is a pretty good one and is extraordinarily well
watered with large and small streams. There is a pretty large
creek towards the S. E. part of the town known by the name of
Deer creek on which probably there are fine mill seats, although
I have seen none. A large gulf where the Deer creek crosses
the east line of the town. Along the north line of this town
there is some very fine land. The soil in general is good and

1 Made ineligible by ordination. Hunt was elected November 6, 1835.
2Mr. A. died December 7, 1853, aged 74 years.

Pinckney. 205

well watered. There is some gulfs on the branches of Big Sandy
which are rather bad. The timber is maple, beech, basswood,
ash, birch, elm and hemlock. Along the E. line is very fine
soil for about half the distance, from the N. E. to the S. E. corner.
The soil is not so good but rather more cold. Some hemlock
interspersed in some places with spruce, &c. Along the south
line the land is rather cold, some excellent spots but some
swampy and bad. The timber is maple, beech, birch, ash,
hemlock, bass and some elm, &c. ; along the west line there is
a very fair country except that it is cut to pieces with small
streams which form gulfs."

The outlines of this town lie 9° from the principal cardi
nals, and its area is 25,045 acres. Tbe first survey gave
its N. line 506 chains, its E. 490, its S. 508, and its W. 498.
The whole town is elevated from 400 to 800 feet above the
level region around Copenhagen, and from many places
the blue hills east of Black river, and the waters of lake
Ontario with the vessels upon them, may both be seen.
The horizon in a serene day, is more clear and bright than
in the plains below, as we find in elevated regions, and a
perceptible difference is observed in its climate. Haying
comes on an average about a week later than in the adjacent
town of Denmark, and snows have been observed over six
feet deep on a level in the woods. The winter of 1854-5,
was remarkable for the depth of snow on this town. Drouth
is however, seldom noticed, and the soil is .finely adapted
to grass and coarse grains, and since the introduction of
dairying, the inhabitants have rapidly acquired the means
of comfortable support, and a steady increase in wealth.

The streams flow east, west and north from this town,
which is entirely underlaid by the Hudson river shales.
Weak sulphur springs are common, and were formerly
frequented by deer. Game was abundant in early times,
especially deer, bears and wolves, the latter of which often
proved destructive. Trout were common in the streams
when the town was first settled.

Usage has sanctioned the use of the preposition on, when
speaking of residence or the occurrence of events in this
town, as for example a man is said to live on Pinckney.
This application is by no means peculiar to this town,
although perhaps more generally used than in the neighbor
ing towns of Jefferson co. The early land holders adopted
the custom of speaking of such and such persons, as living
on their towns, as we speak of tenants on a farm. Hence
living o?i Pinckney or being on the town, does not imply all
that would be understood elsewhere. Although there are

206 Pinckney.

over 1000 persons on the town, but a very small number are
paupers.

Settlement began on this town about 1803, Samuel and
Joseph Clear, located in the S. W. part, but soon went off.
In 1804, Ethan Russell and J. Greene from R. L, and one
or two years after, John Lucas, Levi and Elisha Barnes,
Stephen Hart,1 James Armstrong,1 James Hart,1 Phineas
Woolworth,2 Joel Webb, Silas Slater, and several Stoddard
families became settlers. The first birth was in the family
of James Hunt or John Stoddard, and an early death if not
the first, was that of Mrs. Elisha Moody. The first school
was taught by Miss Gould, before the war.

There are three post offices on this town. Pinckney P.
0., at Boyntou's corners, Cronks Corners P. 0., and Barnes''
Corners. The latter is the only locality in town that has
pretensions to the name of a village. It is situated on Gulf
creek, a branch of Sandy Creek, and has two churches, a
steam saw mill, a saw mill using water power, a small
tannery, a few mechanic shops, two stores, an inn, and a
dozen houses. The village is quite recent and considerably
scattered.

The stream a little below descends into a ravine worn in
the slate rock, which presents scenery of some interest.
From a swell of land a short distance west, there is pre
sented an extensive view of the lake, and a wide expanse
of country north and west.

New Boston is a neighborhood on the Deer river, where it
is crossed by the Lowville and Henderson state road. The
first improvement was made here by David Canfield, who
acting as agent of Henderson, made an extensive clearing
and built a bridge and saw mill. About eighty acres of
wheat were sowed the first season, which yielded bounti
fully, but the death of Henderson and other causes prevented
the extension of these improvements. Dr. S. Allen was
associated in this enterprise and the locality probably re-
ceiveded its name from them. The state road although
opened through soon after 1816, fell into disuse, until quite
recently. It is now well settled and considerably travelled.

A large part of the business of this town tends to Water-
town, and the remainder to Copenhagen.

A small social library was formed on this town at an

iFrom Stillwater, N. Y.

2 Mr. W. was brother of Levi, and uncle of Elijah, Justus and Reuben Wool-
worth, who settled in Turin. He removed from Grayville, Mass, in 1806,
and had six sons and three daughters, several of whom became heads of
families in this town.

Turin. 207

early period, and at one time numbered about two hundred
volumes. It was broken up, and the books distributed
several years before the introduction of school district
libraries.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. — The First Methodist Episcopal
Society of the town of Pinckney, was formed Aug. 8, 1831,
with Tyrannus A. Wright, Stephen Hart, Rufus Stoddard,
Timothy Wool worth arid Barney Spalding as trustees. A
framed meeting house was erected near Boynton's corners,
and is still in use. It was the first, and until recently, the
only church edifice in town. The first religious meetings
on this town, were held by traveling preachers of this sect.
A small Baptist church was built at Barnes' Corners, in
1854, and a Methodist church in the year following. New
Boston Mission, of the M. E. Ch. was formed in 1851, sup
plied at the discretion of the presiding elder, except in 1854,
when J. Hall was assigned to this place. A Roman Catho
lic church was begun on the State road, about one and a
half miles west from New Boston, in 1856, but it is not yet
completed for use.

TURIN.

This town was formed from Mexico, (now in Oswego Co.),
March 14, 1800, including all of the present county of Lewis,
west of the river, between Inman's triangle and the south
lines of Lowville, Harrisville and Pinckney.1 It was named
from the capital of the kingdom of Sardinia, in Italy, pro
bably upon the suggestion of Nathaniel Shaler, agent and
proprietor, under whom the town was settled. Martins-
burgh, or townships 4 and 5 of the Boylston Tract was
taken off in 1803, another part annexed to that town in 1819,-
and West Turin was taken off in 1830, reducing it down to its
present limits. The statute ordered the first town meeting
to be held at the house of Jonathan Collins, at which Jona
than Collins was chosen supervisor, Samuel Hall, clerk, John
Ives, Zaccheus Higby and Philemon Hoadley, assessors, Seth
Miller and John Salmon, overseers of the poor, Nathan Coe,
Wm. Rice and Levi Hough, commissioners of highways,
Elijah Wadsworth, constable and collector, Lemuel Scovil,
Gershom Birdseye, Edward Johnson, Levi Benedict, Abner
Rice and Heman Merwin, overseers of highways, Aaron Par
sons, pound master, Ichabod Parsons, John Salmon,2 and
Elisha Crofootj4/ence viewers.

1Redlleld, Watertown, Lowville and other towns were formed by the same
act.
2 Died July 26, 1813, aged 56. He lived on the east road.

208 Turin.

Supervisors. — 1800, Jonathan Collins; 1801, John Ives ;
1802-4, Eleazer House ; 1805, J. Collins ; 1806, E. House ;
1807-8, J. Collins; 1809, J. Ives; 1810, J. Collins ; 1811,
Hamlet Scranton ; 1812, Ebenezer Baldwin ; 1813, J. Ives ;
1814, Levi Hart ;x 1815, Oliver Bush (Deuel Goff,2 Sept. 26,
1815); 1816, D. Goff; 1817, E. Baldwin ; 1818-9, J. Collins;
1820, Walter Dewey;3 1821-2, James McVickar ; 1823,
Leonard House ; 1824-9, J. McVickar ; 1830-5, Eli Rogers,
Jr.; 1836-9, Royal D. Dewey ;4 1840-4, Leonard H. Huma-
son ; 1845-6, Pardon C. Case ; 1847-9, Joseph House ;
1850-2, Winfield S. Whitaker ; 1853-4, Judah Barnes; 1855,
J. House ; 1856, Charles G. Riggs ; 1857-60, Emory B.
Holden.

Clerks.— 1800-3, Samuel Hall; 1804-17, Levi Collins;
1818-9, Ebenezer Baldwin; 1820-42, Amos Higby, Jr.; 1843,
Henry Paige; 1844, Orrin Woolworth ; 1845, Harrison
Barnes ; 1846-7, 0. Woolworth ; 1848, Horace R. Lahe ;
1849, Charles D. Budd; 1850, Charles G. Riggs; 1851, Walter
B. Foster ; 1852, Albert H. Litchfield ; 1853-5, Harrison J.
Thayer ; 1856-7, Henry A. House ; 1858-9, John 0. Davis ;
i860, Arthur Pond,

If there has been anything that distinguishes the civil
history of this town from all others, it is the unusual number
of special town meetings that were held during the earlier
years. At the first town meeting Jonathan Collins, Phile
mon Hoadley, John Salmon, John Ives, Zaccheus Higby,
Seth Miller and Judah Barnes were appointed a committee
to report a place for future town meetings. They reported
the next year, that on the first Monday of May preceding,
they had set a stake on the lot of Ebenezer Allen, as the
.most convenient point for this purpose. This locality was
near the old Episcopal church north of Constableville.

1 Judge Levi Hart was an early and prominent settler, and in 1838 repre
sented the county in assembly. He was many years a judge of the county
court. He died June 30, 1834, aged 61 years.

2 Judge Goff was a pioneer settler. He died at Houseville, Sej>tember 8,
1852, aged 68 years.

3 Dr. Walter Dewey was the first physician who settled within the present
limits of Turin. He was a son of John Dewey of Ley den, and was born in
Westfield, Mass., August 20, 1785. He built the first house in Turin village
in 1803, and in two or three years removed to Collinsville, where he died
February 28, 1821. He was skillful in his profession and generally esteemed.

4 Dr. Royal Dwight Dewey, a cousin of the above, and son of Aaron Dewey,
was born at Westfield October 3, 1791, and removed with his father to Frank
lin, Delaware county, N. Y., where he lived till 1809. He studied medicine
with Walter Dewey, at Collinsville, attended lectures at New York and Fair-
field, was licensed July 13. 1812, and after practicing in company with his
preceptor until 181G, settled at Turin village. He died November 13, 1839.
He was appointed a justice of the peace and post master in 1818, and held
both offices several years.

Turin. 209

In 1802 the town voted to petition for two men for mag
istrates, and that Judah Barnes and Samuel Hall be the two
men.

A call signed by 15 freemen led to a town meeting, Sept.
25, 1802, at which Walter Martin, Eleazer House and Wm.
Bice were appointed to consult with delegates from other
towns, as to whether there should be two half shires, if a
county is set off. On the 25th of Oct. 1802, Jonathan Col
lins was chosen a delegate to prepare, circulate and forward
a petition for a turnpike road from Whitestown down the
Black river. In December of that year the town decided
not to send a delegate to the legislature with the petition
above named, and agreed upon the erection of a new town
on the north which was done at the next session.

In December, 1803, Jonathan Collins, John Ives and Ezra
Clapp were chosen delegates to a meeting at Denmark, in
January, 1804, to discuss plans for a division of Oneida
county. In February another meeting was called in Cham
pion, for a like purpose, and J. Collins, E. Clapp and Z.
Bush were sent as delegates from this town.

The location of the state road in this town between Hal-
liday's tavern and Dan Taylor's, now A. R. Lee's resi
dence, excited the most active opposition of conflicting in
terests, and led to several town meetings, at one of which
the town clerk was directed not to record the road, and the
town voted to indemnify the clerk and road commissioners
in any suit that might be brought in consequence of said
road not being recorded. They resolved : '' that this meet
ing views with indignation and concern, the shameful and
improper conduct of the commissioners in laying and estab
lishing the state road through Turin, in which they have
neither consulted the interests of the inhabitants generally
nor the town of Turin in particular."

The present village of Turin has since been built upon
the proscribed section, and more than a mile of the new
road led over a causeway through swamps, which were not
brought under cultivation until many years after. A line
of well cultivated farms, owned by substantial farmers, had
before this been established along the east and west roads,
and the location of the commissioners between them was
very naturally regarded as hostile to almost every resident
interest in town. Their opposition however was unavailing
and the new section of road was soon found to offer a more
central and convenient point of business than had before
been found in the town.

210 Turin.

The same year it was voted to remove all foreigners from
the town, unless they gave bonds with two sureties to in
demnify the town against all charges during their natural
lives ; to apply to all who had not gained residence.

In 1812 a fine of $10, and in 1816, of $5, was voted for
allowing Canada thistles to go to seed.

The division which gave a part of this town to Martins-
burgh in 1819 excited active hostilit}T. A special meeting
was called, and Geo. Davis, John Ives, Levi Hart, Oliver
Bush and Eleazer Baldwin were appointed a committee to
to draw up a petition to the legislature to regain the lost
territory.

In 1823, a committee, consisting of Levi Hart, Heman
Stickney and Leonard House, was appointed to circulate a
subscription for a town house at the Four Corners, and
another, consisting of Jonathan Collins, James McYickar
and James Miller, 2d, for a like purpose, the location to be
near the Episcopal church, north of Constableville. In
May a special meeting received the reports of these
committees, and decided in favor of the former, which
united the plan of a town house and church. This resulted
in the union meeting house hereafter noticed. In 1824 the
wish of the voters upon a division of the town were tested
by a vote which gave 40 for, and 200 against, the measure.

In 1836 a bounty of $5 was offered for wolves ; the only
instance in which this town has offered these premiums.

Turin embraces parts of townships 3 and 4, or Pomona1
and Lucretia? of Constable's Four Towns. They were sur
veyed by Benjamin Wright in 1795, and by a deed executed
Dec. 29, 1795, Wm. Constable conveyed to Nathaniel Shaler
an undivided half of these towns at $2 per acre, and made
him his attorney for selling the remainder in farms of 100
or 200 acres, for which he was to have half the profits over
the price above named,3

Settlement was begun upon No. 4, at the village of Con
stableville in 1796, as will be more fully mentioned in our
history of West Turin. As Mr. Shaler's mills, house and
agency was located there, we have only to notice in this con
nection the settlement of that portion now embraced in
this town. The early purchasers paid $4 to $4.75 per acre,
and in 1803 new lands were held as high as $17 per acre in
favorite localities. The first improvements were made on

1 Pomona was the goddess of fruits.

2Lucretia was the wife of Tarquinias Collatings, and associated with Roman
history.
3 The profits of this speculation are mentioned page 27.

Turin. 211

township 4, or the more eastern of the two, about 1797, by
emigrants from Meriden and Middletowu, Ct., who were
joined in one or two years by quite a number from West-
field and towns adjacent in Massachusetts, among whom
during the first three years were Edward Johnson,1 Zac-
cheus and Amos Higby,2 Elijah, Justus and Reuben Wool-
worth,3 Thomas Kilham,4 Levi and Stephen Hart,5 Giles
Foster,6 Zaccheus Bush7 and sons, Oliver, Walter, Edward,
Henry, Enoch and Charles, John Salmon, John Wilkin
son,8 Winthrop and Gideon Shepard,9 Judah Barnes,10

1 Edward Johnson removed at an early day to Martinsburgh, near Whetstone
creek. He died March 11, 1851, aged 92. He emigrated from Middletown,
Conn., to Whitestown, N. Y., when about 30 years of age. He was a soldier
of the revolution and a citizen highly esteemed.

2 Amos Higby died at Holland patent, June 14, 1848, aged 95 years. He
removed thither in*1843. Zaccheus Higby died February 13, 1816, aged 82
years.

3 Levi Woolworth, uncle to the others, came in 1806 and died October, 1835.
He was from Suffield, Conn. Elijah came in 1797, removed to Allegany
county, in 1819, and died in 1828. Justus came in 1797. Opened the first
inn at Turin village, September 1809, and died October 31, 1845, aged 71
years. Reuben came in 1800, and is still living. Orrin, George, Paris,
Cornwell, Edward and Edwin, are sons of Justus Woolworth.

4 Thomas Kilham was bom March 23, 1752, and died April 25, 1825, from
an opiate given in over dose by a drunken physician. His wife Mary died
March 18, 1845, aged 93. Their sons, were John, who resides near Copenhagen,
James and Thomas, who are dead, Heman, who died October 14, 1847, at his
residence two miles north of Turin village, Solomon, who resides in Turin,
and Samuel, who lias been many years inspector in the government armory,
at Harper's Ferry, Va.

5 Stephen Hart died August 12, 1857, aged 90 years. He was from Wal-
lingford, Conn.

6 Giles Foster, died January 1, 1844, aged 87 years. His sons Sylvester,
Isaac, Lyman, Chauncey and Johnson, and several daughters, became heads
of families and mostly settled in town.

7 Major Z. Bush died at Houseville, of cancer, November 21, 1811. Major
Oliver Bush settled on the state road near the north line of the town. Served
as major in the war of 1812-15, and died April 10, 1844, of the prevailing
epidemic, aged 75 years. He was highly respected, and in every sense a
useful citizen. Walter Bush died March 2, 1841, aged 66 years. Henry Bush
died at Houseville, July 23, 1837. Enoch Bush, died August 28, 1849, aged
82 years. Charles Bush resided in Lowville, where he died February 21, 1852.

8 Mr. Wilkinson came to Turin in 1798, and died in this town January 23,
1857, aged 89 years. When he settled his was the last house northward
until we reached Lowville.

9 Captain W. Shepard died September 24, 1854, aged 82, and his brother,
Major Gideon Shepard died December 12, 1850, aged 81. Both served in the
war of 1812-15. They were sons of the Rev. Charles Shepard of Westfield,
and nephews of Gren. William Shepard, an officer of the revolution, and after
wards prominent in the suppression of Shay's rebellion in 1787. He died at
Westfield, November 11, 1817. George Shepard, son of Winthrop, was sheriff
of Lewis county, from 1846 to 1849. He died at Champion, May 1, 1853, on
his way home from Kingston, and was buried in Turin with Masonic cere
monies.

10 Judah Barnes was a son of Amos Barnes, who came on afterwards. These
men built the first saw mill in the present town of Turin, in 1798. Judah

212 Turin.

Dan. Taylor,1 Consider Williston,2 Jonathan Bush,3 Thomas
Ragan,4 Levi Benedict,5 Beekman Sabin, Geo. and Thomas
Hoskins,6 Elias Sage, Benjamin Dowel7 and others. The
Johnson and Higby families were from Middletown, Ct.,
the Bush, Woolworth, Shepard and Kilham families from
Meriden, Ct., and Salmon, Wilkinson, Ragan, Benedict and
Sabin, from Pawling, Dutchess county, N. Y.

Settlement upon township No. 3 was delayed until Oct,
1798 when Eleazer House, 8Ezra Clapp,9 Winthrop Shepard,
David Kendall, 10 Alexander Cooley, and others, purchased
on the east road opposite Houseville, in March, 1799; they re
turned and worked through the season. Mr. House built a
saw mill, put up the frame of a house and barn, and in March

1800, moved on his family. He resided on the east road
till 1808, when he moved to the place since known as House
ville. He kept an inn from his first removal till near the
time of his death. He was active in opposing Clapp and
others in the location of the state road, on the route finally
chosen, and labored hard to secure a business point at his
mill. A grist mill was built in 1816, and another many
years after by his son, Leonard House. The latter stood on
the present site of V. R. Waters' mill, and was built Feb. 10,
1851. An incident occurred near Houseville in the summer
of 1808, which is worth preserving, as belonging to the
primitive days of settlement. The country abounded in
wild animals, especially wolves, bears and deer, and the
former became so bold as to carry off on one occasion a
sheep from the field of Mr. Clapp, by daylight, although

Barnes was a judge in the county court several years, and in 1808 '9, "was in
assembly. He died February 23, 1821, aged 67.

1 Settled on the Williston place, near Turin village. He died in this town
October 1, 1813, aged 57.

2 Settled on the place now owned by Winfield S. Whitaker, and afterwards
on that of Warren H. Kentner. He died September 20, 1851.

3 Died July 3, 1825, aged 80 years.

4 Died May 13, 1820, aged 63 years. 5 Died June 11, 1833.

6 George Hoskins died August 22, 1848, aged 66 years. He settled about

1801. Thomas died west.

7 Died January 6, 1852.

8 Eleazer House was born at Grlastonbury, Conn., September 20, 1759 ; mar
ried December 25, 1782, to Miss Moseley, and held the first appointment of
coroner north of Utica. He died January 30, 1833, and his wife survived
only till March. His sons Jared, Joseph and Leonard are well known and
prominent citizens of the county. Jared settled at Lowville, where he was
many years an inn-keeper. He still resides at that place. An&on House, a
lawyer, resides in Rochester.

9 Ezra Clapp was born May 28, 1760, at Westfield. Married February 22,
1781, to Grace Mather. Settled on the farm now owned by Wm. Thompson,
where he kept an inn 30 years. He died in Westfield, Mass, June 17, 1838.
Horace Clapp, Esq., of this town, is a son of Ezra Clapp.

10 From Suffield, Conn. He died April 22, 1847, aged 69 years.

Turin. 213

Mrs. C. endeavored to frighten away the beast. Upon the
date mentioned, Mr. CJapp found a large black wolf in a
trap, half a mile west of the house, and with his neighbor's
help, beat him with clubs until he was thought to be dead.
He then took the wolf before him on horseback, and brought
him to his barn, but as he evinced signs of life on the way,
it was thought safe to secure him by a chain around the
neck, the trap remaining upon his leg. Half an hour after
the wolf was as active as ever, and the settlers upon learn
ing the circumstance, assembled from far and near to in
dulge in savage sport with the chained enemy of their flocks.
Many large dogs were provoked to attack him separately,
but one snap from his powerful jaws sent them howling
from the barn, nor could they be induced to approach a
second time. Having wearied themselves with this bru
tal amusement, his captors at length ended his life by a rifle
shot.

About 1812, several teamsters stopping at House's tavern,
noticed wolf tracks about, and the party followed until they
found the animal concealed under a log. He was killed by
one of them with a hemlock knot, within a quarter of a mile
of Houseville.

Deer were accustomed to cross over from the hills on the
west to the forests east of the river, at the point known as
Proven's Hill, at the gate-house of the Turin plank road, and
also at a point half a mile south of Turin village. They
would begin to appear late in the evening, and in the course
of the night, hundreds would cross. On one occasion Mr.
Clapp built a yard enclosed with a high tree fence on three
sides, the fourth being a steep descent, and in one night
forty deer were caught in this enclosure. As late as 1830,
numbers of deer were shot at Proven's Hill. The last wolf
hunt in this town, occurred in the swamp adjacent this place
in the summer of 1836, when three or four of these animals
were traced thither, but although many persons surrounded
the woods, they mostly escaped.

An anecdote is told of a citizen of this town, who took a
number of cattle to sell at Ogdensburgh soon after the war.
Upon learning that the Canadians would pay a higher price,
he crossed over to make a bargain. He asked a shilling
per pound for beef, but could only get an offer for ten pence,
and after wrangling a long time, he at length accepted.
Upon being paid he was pleasantly surprised at receiving a
much greater sum than was expected, for while he had been
talking in New York currency, his purchaser was dealing in
sterling money.

214 / Turin.

The first mill in Turin, was a stump mortar, made by
Christopher Clobridge l in 1797, in the eastern border of
the town, on the farm now owned by Nathan W. Douglass.
To this the first settlers were accustomed to resort, when
Shaler's mill at Constableville was not running. The first
grist mill in the present town of Turin was built by Giles
Foster, at the present site of Cadwell Dewey's mill, on the
east road. It was once burnt. A somewhat extensive wool
en cloth manufactory was established by Cadwell Dewey,
a short distance below, which has been in active operation
nearly a quarter of a century.

There are two villages and post offices in Turin. Turin
Village, formerly known as Turin Four Corners, is a place
of about 500 inhabitants, three churches, and limited facili
ties for manufactures.2 It has six stores of various kinds,
and is a place of considerable business for the country
around.

The Turin Brass Band at this place was formed June 1,
1859, and numbers thirteen men.

Houseville has a church, an inn, a store, and about 100
inhabitants.

Schools were first established about 1801. The first meas
ure taken for the visitation of schools was in 1807, when in
the entire absence of law upon the subject, the town ap
pointed the Rev. James Murdock, Elder Stephen Parsons,
Deacon Timothy Hill, David Kendall, Ebenezer Baldwin
and Richard Cone a committee to inspect schools.

Late in 1813 a special town meeting was called to organ
ize schools under the law. The town was divided into eight
districts. Oliver Bush, Levi Collins and Seth Miller, sen.,
were chosen school commissioners, and on the 1st of Decem
ber the justices appointed Judah Barnes, Wm. Constable,
Deuel Goff, Willard Allen, John Hooker and Dr. Walter
Dewey first school inspectors.

The Turin Social Library was formed under the act of
June 14, 1814, although a subscription had been started
April 20 previous. In 1839 its prosperity ceased with the
formation of school libraries, and in the fall of 1849 it was
dissolved, and its books, about 600 in number, were divided
among the proprietors. The first trustees were Levi Hart,

!Mr. C. was a Hessian, and had been in the British service in the revolu
tion. He died May 8, 1844, aged 98. His son Adam, also a pioneer, died
Nov. 2, 1849.

2 The first steam engine set up in the county was at the tannery of Ethan
Perry in this village.

Turin. 215

Ebenezer Baldwin, Dr. Walter Dewey, Henry Graves,1
Deuel Goff, John P. Kentner2 and Martin Hart. During
most of its existence it was kept with scrupulous care by
Amos Higby, jr.3

Probably the earliest literary association in the county
was formed in this town July 28, 1809, as a debating club.
Their preamble read as follows : " For the promotion of
literature, benefit of society, and advancement of useful
knowledge in Turin, we the undersigned do form ourselves
into a society with the title of The Columbian Society, and
knowing that no society can flourish without well regulated
laws and strict rules, we do all and each of us bind ourselves
in penalty, declared in the following laws, to obey them in
every particular, and further to promote the institution as
lies in our power." The constitution was signed by Martin
Hart, John Hooker, Levi Collins, Homer Collins, Urial
Hooker, Chester Hoadley, Walter Dewey and Cordial Storrs.

We are not informed of the subsequent history of this
" Institution," nor were the debates reported in any journal
that we have seen. The first question discussed probably
settled for all time the doubt as to " Which has been the most
beneficial to society ? the discovery and use of metals, or
the labor and use of animals."

On the 30th of April, 1839, the Turin academy was incor
porated but it was never organized. The trustees named in
the act were Emory B. Holden, Geo. J. Fowler, Nathaniel
Hart, Selden Ives, Leonard H. Humason, Orrin Woolworth,
Charles G. Riggs, Cadwell Dewey, Albert A. White, Ozias
Wilcox and Enoch Lee.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. The first meetings were held by
missionaries about 1800. A Congregational church was
formed by the Rev. John Taylor of Deerfield, Mass., Sept.
19, 1802, while on a missionary tour. The first male mem
bers were Amos and Judah Barnes, Joshua Rockwell, John
and Levi Ives, Timothy Underwood, Eliphalet Hubbard,
Timothy Johnson, Heman Merwin, Seth Miller, David
Pitcher, Timothy Hill, Reuben Pain, Samuel Smith, Jedu-
than Higby, jr., Philemon Hoadley, George Palmer and
Robert Lewis. About 40 females also united. The church

1 Mr, Graves was the first merchant in Turin village.

2 Mr. Kentner was one of the pioneers. He died November 11, 1836, aged
86 years.

3 Mr. Higby was many years town clerk, and resigned when he could no
longer hold by unanimous election, as he had previously done. He was a
man of exemplary life, eccentric in some respects, but still deserving and
enjoying the fullest confidence of the public. He was of the Unitarian faith,
and published two editions of a small book explaining his peculiar views of
scripture. He died February 17, 1857, aged 63 years.

216 Turin.

approved, March 8, 1808, of the articles adopted by the
Black river association, and June 25, 1824, it joined the St.
Lawrence Presbytery. It again became Congregational
March 7, 1831. It joined the Watertown Presbytery, Oct.
5, 1852, and has since remained Presbyterian. The Revs.
James Murdock, Reuel Kimball and John Iveson were em
ployed between 1806 and 1830. In July 1841, the Rev. Na
thaniel Hurd was installed as first pastor. The Rev. James
Morton was employed in 1849, and the Rev. Win. H. Adams
in 1854, for one year. The Rev. Charles B. Pond the pre
sent minister, was employed in 1857. This church owned
an interest in the union church, but in 1842, built a church
on the north border of the village which cost $ 1500, and
was dedicated Nov. 24 of that year. In 1859 it was extend
ed 20 feet in the rear at a cost of $600.

Major John Ives, by will, dated Nov. 16, 1827, gave $300
to this church, of which two-thirds were to lie until it
amounted to $1000. It has now reached that sum, and $70
are received annually from this fund towards defraying the
pastor's salary.

The Methodists held meetings at an early day, and Tu
rin, circuit was formed in 1812, but given up three years
after having been attended by Reuben Farley and Chandley
Lambert. The 1st M. E. church of Turin was organized
Oct. 5, 1818, with Jonathan Bush, Winthrop Weller, Orange
Hill, Francis Crane, Stephen Hart and Charles Weller first
trustees. They built a church in 1819 on the east road 3
miles N. of Turin village, which continued many years in
use. In 1841 the plan of a new church at House ville was
discussed, and in 1842 it was erected by Elisha Wood, build
er. The 2nd society of the M. E. church, of Turin, was
formed May 20, 1833, from the former, having Ozias Wilcox,
Sylvester Hart, Heman Stickney, Deuel Goff, Leonard H.
Humason, and Sylvester Foster trustees. A stone church,
45 by 65 feet, was built in Turin village in 1834, at a cost
of $3,500. It was extended 20 feet in the rear and rear
ranged in 1859, and rededicated Oct. 20 of that year.

The Black river circuit, originally embracing the whole
country north of the Mohawk, was gradually reduced down
to the Turin church, by the formation of other circuits. It
was changed July 13, 1844, to the Turin circuit. The
preachers assigned have been : 1833, C. Northrup, F. H.
Stanton; 1834-5, Elijah Smith; 1836, R. Houghton, J.
Downing; 1837, R. Houghton, C. II. Austin, W. Cummings;
1838, Isaac Puffer, E. Whipple ; 1839, Darius Mason; 1840-
1, John Roper, John Thomas ; 1842, M. H. Gaylord, S. F.

Turin. 217

Fenton ; 1843, S. F. Fenton, Reuben Reynolds ; 1844-5,
Jesse Penfield; 1846-7, Geo. C. Woodruff; 1848, R. M.
Barber ; 1849, A. S. Wightman ; 1850-1, Royal Houghton ;
1852, D. M. Rogers; 1853-4, E. Smith; 1855, T. D. Sleeper;
1856-7, Isaac Hall ; 1858-9, Cyrus Philips.

The Baptists formed a church at an early period, the
major part of whose members became Free Communion,
June 3, 1812, and kept up an organization about 30 years.
Jeduthan and Zaccheus Higby, Abner Mitchel, Elijah
Wadsworth, Tho. Hoskins, Ebenezer Baldwin, Lydia and
Sarah Scovil, and Elizabeth Lane, formed its first members.
A Baptist ch. was formed April 12, 1812, by the minor part
of the former church, under Stephen Parsons. It agreed to
unite with a Ley den ch., Dec. 20, 1816. The associated
Baptist church was dissolved Jan. 17, 1818, having got
reduced to 8 members. The Revs. Calvin Phileo, Simeon
Hersey, Riley B. Ashley, Calvin Horr and others have been
employed.

The Turin and West Turin Bap. soc. (old school) was
formed March 22, 1842, with Newton Clark, Benham Webb ;
Jason and Edwin Payne and Horace C. Ragan, trustees ;
and the next year built a church in Turin village. This
sect was formed here in the fall of 1843, under the Rev.
Martin Salmon.1

The Welsh Cong. ch. at Turin was formed Nov. 5, 1843,
by Rev. S. A. Williams of Deerfield, N. Y. It has increased
from 9 to 37 members. D. E. Prichard, pastor, Robert
Williams and John 0. Jones, deacons. They built a church
in 1847, on the hill west of the village, and they have a
branch that worships in the Baptist church in the village.
The legal society has formed May 1, 1848, with John L.
Roberts, David W. Roberts, Robert Williams, Win. Roberts,
jr., and D. E. Prichard trustees. A Calvinistic M. E. ch.
was formed July 23, 1848, and have a small church. In
both of these Welsh churches, worship is held in the Welsh
language.

As early as 1807, a religious soc. was formed to build a
union church in Turin, but it failed. Its trustees were :
Eleazer House, Oliver Bush, Richard Coxe, Timothy Hill,
Judah Barnes and Seth Miller. A subscription was opened
Nov. 23, 1823, for a union church and town house. It was

1 The Rev. Martin Salmon was born in Pauling, Dutchess county. Came
when a child to this town , and was many years a preacher in the Baptist
churches of this region. He died September 13, 1847, aged 53 years. The
0. S. Baptists in this town have sometimes been called from him " Sahnon-
ites."

218 Watson.

incorporated under the general statute, Sept. 27, 1826, as
the Turin Union society, with Levi Hart, Henian Stickney,
Amos Higby, jr., Royal D. Dewey and Leonard House,
trustees, and a house was built at a cost of $2,350. It was
used alternately many years by the two Baptist and the
Presbyterian churches, and as a town house. In 1846, it
was changed to a school house. A bell was purchased in
1847, at a cost of $300, and first placed upon the union
church, but it has been removed to a tower erected on a
small lot opposite, belonging to the town. The latter
premises afford a convenient place for keeping the town
hearse.

WATSON.

This town was formed from Ley den, March 30, 1821, em
bracing all of Lewis county east of Black river. The first
town meeting was held at the house of John Beach,1 at
which Caleb Lyon was chosen supervisor; John Beach, clerk;
Ozem Bush, Phineas Cole, and Joseph 0. Mott, assessors; C.
Lyon, Thomas Puffer, and 0. Bush, commissioners of highways;
Samuel Smith and P. Cole, overseers of the poor; J. 0. Mott
and Daniel B. Baker, constables; S. Smith, collector; C. Lyon,
J. Beach, and P. Cole, commissioners of common schools; C.
Lyon, John Bush, and P. Cole, inspectors of schools; and 0.
Bush, T. Puffer and David Chase, fence viewers.

In this list we find the names of persons who lived in
parts of the town remote from each other, and the same
name several times repeated. The latter was occasioned by
the small number of persons who possessed freeholds suffi
cient to allow them to hold office. This inconvenience led

l John Beach from Litchfield, Ct., settled in this town in 1814, and was the
father of Nelson J. Beach, Esq. He died May 15, 1845, aged 75 years.

Nelson J. Beach came to this town when a lad with his father's family, and
was many years a land surveyor in this region. In 1846 he represented the
county in assembly, and in 1847 in the senate, but the constitution of 1846
coming into operation, his term in the senate was cut short to one year. In
1847 he was elected a canal commissioner, being one of the first three elected
to that office, and in the classification of terms he drew that of two years. On
the llth of January, 1850, he was appointed a canal appraiser, and held
about three years. He was subsequently employed in the engineering de
partment of the Hudson River rail road, and at a later period was appointed
to the trust of closing up the business of the Rome rail road, projected
through this county. After several years residence at Rome, he has now
returned to his seat on the banks of the Black river in this town. Mr. Beach
is a man of acknowledged ability, zealous and energetic in whatever he un
dertakes, and well informed upon all subjects relating to public aifairs. In
regard to the question of the Black river improvement, in which his influ
ence and official position have given his views importance, he has been the
steady advocate of the construction of piers for narrowing and deepening the
channel, and opposed to the plan of dams and locks.

Watson. 219

to an act passed Feb. 6, 1824, authorizing white males, of
legal age in this town to hold office, if they had contracts for
land worth $150. There were, when the town was organ
ized, 44 families, and 481 acres of improved land: 115 head
of cattle, 18 horses and 107 sheep within its borders.1

Supervisors. — 1821-22, Caleb Lyon; 1823, Joseph 0. Mott;
1824-27, Ozem Bush;2 1828, Simon Goodell (May, 1828, 0.
Bush); 1829,0. Bush; 1830, Stephen P. Hamilton ; 1831-34,
Nelson J. Beach; 1835-36, Nathan Lewis; 1837-38, N.
J. Beach; 1839-44, Ralph Beach; 1845, N. J. Beach;
1846, Jonathan Perry; 1848-51, R. Beach; 1852, Peter
Kirley ; 1853, Jehiel R. Wetmore ; 1854, Daniel S. Andrews;
1855, Charles Chase; 1856-58, Chester Ray; 1859-60, P.
Kirley.

Clerks.— 1821-22, John Beach ; 1823-4, Otis Munn ;
1825-26, J. Beach ; 1827, Archibald Benjamin; 1828, Joshua
Harris (May, 1828, A. Benjamin) ; 1829-32, A. Benjamin,
1833, Charles Loornis ; 1834-38, Anson Ormsby ; 1839-43,
Peter Munn ; 1844, Thomas Kirley; 1845, John W. Merrile ;
1846, P. Munn: 1847, T. Kirley; 1848, Squire H. Snell ;
(May, 1848, Peter Kirley); 1849-51, P. Kirley; 1852-55,
Isaac C. Brown ; 1856, Albert M. Gillet ; 1857-58, James
Gannon ; 1859, Isaac H. Brown.

In no town in the county have so large bounties been
paid for the destruction of wild animals as this. The
records show a vote of $5 in 1827, 28, 32 ; $10 in 1825, 6,
8, 9, 30, 1, 63 7, 8, 41, 2, 52 to 59, arid $15 in 1835 for
wolves ; of $5 in 1828 to 36, 1842-6, and $10 in 1839, 40,
1, 57, 8, for panthers ; of $2 in 1833 to 8, and 5 in 1841, 2,
for bears ; of 50 cents in 1833, 5, 6, for foxes, and of 50
cents in 1833, 5, for crows killed between May 15 and June
15. Whether the relief thus obtained from the ravages of
these animals, or the knowledge that a large portion of the
bounty was raised by tax upon wild lands, was a governing
motive in these votes of town meeting we may not perhaps
be allowed to decide.

Watson was named from James T. Watson, the proprietor
of a tract of 61,433 acres lying in this town and in Herki-
mer co. James Watson, the first owner under Constable,
was a native of Litchfield, Ct., and a wealthy merchant in
N. Y. during and subsequent to the Revolution. He held a

iThe census of 1825 gave 121 families, 357 males, 338 females; 89 liable
to military duty, 128 electors, 4 aliens and 4 colored. There were 1437 acres
improved, 529 neat cattle, 55 horses, 460 sheep, and 307 swine.

2 Contested by S. Groodell in 1826-7, as hereinafter stated. Mr. Bush was a
pioneer settler of the countv, and died in this town March 20, 1845, aged 70
years.

220 Watson.

captain's commission in the war, served the State in several
important offices, and died in 1808 or 9. His only son James
Talcott Watson, made the first attempt to settle these lands,
and for many years was accustomed to spend his summers
in the county. He was a man of fine education and affable
manners, and in early life was a partner in the house of
Thomas L. Smith & Co., East India merchants, in which
capacity he made a voyage to China. The death of a Miss
Livingston, with whom he was engaged to be married, in
duced a mental aberration which continued through life,
being more aggravated in certain seasons of the year, while
at others it was scarcely perceptible. In after life the image
of the loved and the lost often came back to his memory,
like the sunbeam from a broken mirror, and in his waking
reveries he was heard to speak of her as present in the
spirit, and a confidant of his inmost thoughts.

In his business transactions, Mr. Watson often evinced a
caprice which was sometimes amusing, and always inno
cent. This was, by most persons, humored, as tending to
prevent any unpleasant result, which opposition might at
such times have upon him. In the summer of 1838 he un
dertook to cultivate an immense garden, chiefly of culinary
vegetables, upon his farm in Watson, beginning at a season,
when, under the most favorable conditions, nothing could
come to maturity, and insisting that he would be satisfied if
the seeds only sprouted, as this would prove the capacity of
his land.

In his social intercourse Mr. Watson often evinced, in a
high degree, many noble and manly qualities. With a lively
fancy and ready command of language, he had the power of
rendering himself eminently agreeable, while many of those
who settled upon his tract, will bear witness that he pos
sessed a kind and generous heart. But there were moments
when the darkest melancholy settled upon him, utterly
beyond relief from human sympathy, and in one of these he
ended his own life. He committed suicide with a razor, in
New York, Jan. 29, 1839, at the age of 50 years. His estate
was divided among 39 first cousins on his father's side and
5 on his mother's, and some of these shares were still farther
subdivided among numerous families. The sixty thousand
acres, when divided, gave to a cousin's share over 1,600
acres, but some parcels amounted to but 33 acres. Much
of these lands have since been sold for taxes.

The Watson tract formed two triangular areas, connected
by a narrow strip, of which the outline was surveyed by
Win. Cockburn in 1794. The west triangle was surveyed

Watson. 221

out by Brotighton White of Remsen, in 1808, and the east
one by N. J. Beach in 1842.

A large part of the west, and all of the east tract, is still
a forest, and much of it towards and beyond the county line,
is chiefly valuable for its timber. There is a tradition that
Low offered Watson $16,000 to exchange lands, before
either knew any thing of the soil, or hthe relative value of
their purchases, which time has shown to belong to the two
extremes of agricultural capacity.

At the date of organization there were no roads in Wat
son, connecting the upper settlements near Lyonsdale, with
those opposite Lowville, and for many years the only way
of passing from one part to the other was by the roads on
the west side of the river, from fifteen to twenty miles
around, or upon the river itself. It was therefore a desira
ble object to secure the location of town meetings, which
could not possibly be located so as to accommodate more
than a part of the voters. In 1824 the town meeting, held
at the house of Daniel Wheaton, at LyonsdaJe, was ad
journed over to the same place.

The northern section was numerically the strongest, and
the next year privately rallying their full force, some from
the extreme parts of what is now Diana, attended at the
appointed house, which was, at the time, uninhabited, and
the barn empty. They opened at 9|, an hour earlier than
usually opening town meetings, three justices and the
town clerk presiding, and on the pretense of the want
of accommodation and inclemency of the weather, ad
journed over to the next day at the house of Thomas Puffer,
in what is now Watson, and 20 miles from Lyonsdale.

The southerners, upon assembling, found the town meet
ing stolen, but upon weighing all the circumstances, con
cluded to go on as if no accident had happened, and called
upon a justice present to organize the meeting The latter
refused to do so. and the electors proceeded in their own
way, elected a full set of town officers and adjourned for
one year to the same part of the town. The northern
party met the next day, pursuant to adjournment, also
elected a full set of town officers, and probably adjourned over
to the same neighborhood.

During four years two town meetings were thus annually
held, and a double set of town officers elected. Both
supervisors appeared at the county board, and the one from
the northern part alone was admitted, and the collector
from this part alone received his warrant from the board.
The town officers in the southern part received no pay for

222 Watson.

their services, and their authority in local affairs was
limited to their own section, and by sufferance rather than
law.

In March, 1828, the upper party quietly mustered their
whole force on the night before town meeting day, agreed
upon their ticket, and leaving at home a few old men, bare
ly enough to conduct their own meeting, they set out before
dawn with a dozen sleigh-loads of voters to assist their
rivals in electing town officers. The expedition was con
ducted with the most profound secresy, and the enemy were
taken by surprise. To have contested the passage at the
ferry might have been easy, had not the ice furnished a
bridge for crossing, or to have privately dispatched a small
party to capture the town meeting left behind in charge of
the veterans would have been feasible had not the distance
prevented.

The result showed a striking unanimity at the two town
meetings, the same persons being elected throughout and
the adjournment of both being to the same place in the ex
treme south part of the town. Resolutions for a division
had been voted in 1822-4-5-6 and 7, the latter by the north
ern party recommending Beaver river as the boundary line.
In 1828, both town meetings voted against any division
until the southern town officers had been paid for their ser
vices, but before another town meeting the question of
division was settled by the legislature.

A suit brought by Goodell against Baker in the Lewis
Circuit, Dec. 14, 1826, before Judge Williams, in a suit of
trespass de bonis asportatis, for having distrained the plaintiff's
horses for a tax, assuming to act as collector under author
ity of the northern town meeting, was decided in Goodell's
favor. The defendant appealed to the Supreme Court for
a new trial, which was granted in February, 1828, and the
case as reported,1 gives the circumstances of the adjourn
ment, and the opinions of the Court briefly as follows :

The people at town meetings may determine the place of
holding town meetings from time to time, and may adjourn
to a second day and another place if they judge neces
sary. There could be no injury to the rights of any as all
might attend. They were exclusive judges of the occasion;
and although they might have been indiscreet, their act was
still legal and the officers they elected at the adjourned
meeting were legally chosen and the proper town officers.

Both parties voted in their town meetings to raise money
to protect the rights of the town, and in Watson the poor

1 Coiren's Reports, viii., 287.

Watson. 223

fund belonging to the town was voted to be applied to this
law suit.

Settlement was begun within this town by Eliphalet Ed
monds and Jonathan Bishop, who received deeds of Tiller,
agent of Castorland, on the 10th of October, 1798, for 100
and 162 acres respectively, at $2 per acre. The lots were
surveyed by J. C. Chambers, and the settlers began small
improvements on the banks of the river but did not long
remain. The former in the fall of 1799, took up land in
Adams, and the next spring became a pioneer settler in that
town. Isaac Puffer1 arid family soon after settled in this
town, and were for several years the only inhabitants. He
was the first purchaser under Watson, and built a saw mill
for the proprietor on his tract near Chase's lake. In 1807,
Melancthon W. Welles became the first agent of Watson,
and under his direction surveys were made in Watson's
west triangle by Robert McDowell soon after. Unexpected
difficulties prevented Mr. Welles from forming a successful
settlement at that period, and a few years after he relin
quished the agency.

The first agricultural operation of any magnitude was by
Puffer, who in 1811 burnt over the great windfall on the
plains east of the present bridge; and planted corn. The
season was favorable, and the yield among the logs was
over forty bushels to the acre. Settlement advanced many
years but slowly, and many of those who undertook im
provement were of the poorer class, who possessed neither
resources nor tact in encountering the difficulties which the
wilderness presented. In 1823, over twenty Wurtemburghers
were sent on by Watson, who paid their passage and win
ter's subsistence upon condition of three years' services, but
most of them left in the spring. This is believed to have
been the only attempt made by this proprietor to settle
Europeans upon his lands.

Many hundred tons of bog iron ore were taken from this
town to the Carthage furnace. The boat used had a burthen
of from fifty to fifty-five tons, and made two trips a week. —
It floated down with the current, and was pushed up stream
by poles.

In former times the settlers in Watson were much an-

1 Isaac Puffer was from Princetown, Massachusetts, but had resided about
ten years in Otsego county. His family were Isaac, jr., (afterwards celebrated
as a Methodist preacher,) Sally (Mrs. D. Tiffany), Asa, Ebenezer, Thomas,
Polly (Mrs. Russel Stone), and Josiah. Some of these brothers have been
successful hunters, and Ebenezer Puffer has killed 47 wolves (five of the
black variety), and bears, deer, and other wild game "in proportion." Isaac
Puffer, sen., died about 1836.

224 Watson.

noyed by wolves, and it was found difficult to keep sheep
on this account. It is said upon good authority, that 52
sheep have been destroyed by a single wolf in one night. —
A most remarkable event was reported as happening in this
town, July 27, 1839, nine miles east of Lowville. The
house of James Ranney was left in charge of a girl twelve
years old, and a child a little over a year old was sleeping
on a bed in an adjoining room ; hearing the child scream,
the girl sprang to the door and saw a wild animal leap from
an open window with the infant in its mouth. She followed
about forty rods, thinking it was a iarge dog, till it reached
a pair of bars, where, after several times trying to leap over
with its burden, it made off into the woods without it. —
The child was not seriously injured. Tne animal proved to
be a huge male panther.

An affray occurred in this town Aug. 21, 1829, between
Samuel Shaw and Wm. Myers, in which the former received
several large wounds from a knife. Myers was sent to
state prison. He had evidently intended to provoke a quar
rel, and to kill Shaw as if in self defense.

On the 13th of March, 1337, Isaac G. Puffer, a young man,
was accidentally shot by an intimate companion and play
mate of childhood, who thoughtlessly presented a gun sup
posed to be not loaded, and telling him to prepare for death,
discharged its contents, killing him instantly.

The only capital execution that has hitherto occurred in
Lewis county, was that of Lawrence McCarthy, for the
murder of his father-in-law, Asahel Alford of this town,
Nov. 15, 1838. Mr. A. had been living with McCarthy some
time, and a difficulty had been known to exist between them.
One day when the two were alone, the murderer approach
ed his victim while writing, and killed him with an axe,
drew him with a horse by a chain fastened around his legs
to an unfrequented spot in the woods, buried him slightly
with stones and brush and returned. A snow soon covered
the trail, but suspicions led to a successful search, and
"Larry" (as he was commonly called) was indicted for
murder on the 13th of December, tried on the 13th of June,
before Judge Gridley, and hung in the court room at Mar-
tinsburgh on the 1st of August, 1839.

In the interval between the sentence and the execution,
fears were entertained that the Irish laborers upon the
canal at Boonville would attempt the rescue of their coun
tryman, and threats to this effect were freely made. To
provide against this, a volunteer company was formed at
Martinsburgh, under Elijah L. Thompson, and armed from

Watson. 225

the state arsenal at Watertown. Sentinels were stationed
around the jail, and arrangements were made for resisting
any attempt that might be made. The " Larry Guards "
and a rifle company escorted the prisoner to the gallows
and guarded the Court House while the execution was pro
gressing, and an immense crowd were drawn together by a
morbid curiosity to witness the preparation, although but a
few were enabled to observe the final crisis.

A few weeks before this execution, the Rev. Michael Gil-
bride, a Catholic priest of Carthage, applied for a private
interview with the condemned, and was refused access, un
less in the presence of the jailor. In this refusal the sher
iff had followed the letter of the statute, and the advice of
the district attorney. The priest at once made personal
application to the governor for his interposition or author
ity, and the latter addressed a lengthy letter to the sheriff,
which scarcely amounted to more than his advice to place
a charitable construction upon the law. Whether this let
ter was designed for the public eye may be surmised from
the fact, that it was published in the papers before it was
received by the sheriff.

In July 1849, extensive damage occurred in this town
from running fires in the woods, and an extremely dry season
seldom occurs without a liability to this accident. In 1822,
a settlement was begun in the eastern border of the town,

on No. 4, Brown's Tract, by David Barber and Bunce.

In 1826, Orrin Fenton settled, and is still with one excep
tion, the only settler living in that part of the town. The
station is highly convenient to parties hunting in winter,
and fishing in summer, and is chiefly supported by them.

A Union Library was formed in this town July 14, 1829,
with Nathan Snow, John Fox, Daniel C. Wickham, Joseph
Webb, jr., Francis B. Taylor, Hiram Crego and Lansing
Benjamin, trustees. It never became successfully organized.

A ferry, regulated by the law of public convenience,
formed the first, and until 1828, the only means of crossing
the river with teams in summer to this town. It was owned
and kept by the Puffer family. In 1821, those interested
in lands east of the river, attempted to raise the means to
erect a bridge, but nothing was effected. The question
continued to be under consideration until Feb., 1828, when
Ozem Bush, Thomas Puffer, J. C. Harrington, Lemuel
Tooley and Daniel B. Baker, were designated as trustees to
receive subscriptions for a free bridge, and an appeal was
published, urging the importance of the proposed measure.
c*

226 Watson.

As a further stimulus, an act was procured, March 29, 1828,
allowing Nelson J. BeacE to erect a toll bridge, and to hold
the same twenty years, unless a free bridge was built before
Jan., 1829. These efforts were successful, and a frame
bridge was built by Tho. Puffer and finished Aug. 6, 1828.
In 1832, a draw was placed in the bridge at the expense of
the towns of Watson and Lowville, and a few years after,
the bridge was rebuilt at the expense of the two towns.

An act passed Jan. 20, 1851, authorized a loan of $1,000
by the town of Watson, to be repaid by a tax, in from two
to five years, and a loan by Lowville of $975, to rebuild
the Watson bridge. The piers, abutments and draw, were
built by the state in a most thorough and permanent manner,
and the money raised by the two towns was applied upon
the wooden superstructure of the bridge.

The balloon " Excelsior " landed in the top of a hemlock
tree on the land of Mr. Nye near Passenger's mill, late in
the afternoon of August 3, 1859. It contained Prof. C. C.
Coe and C. H. Hull, and had made the passage from Oswego
in a little over two hours. It passed over Adams, Harris-
burgh, Lowville and Martinsburgh at a great elevation, and
it was the intention of the asronants to gain the sea board.
Perceiving the immense stretch of forest which lay beyond
them to the eastward, they hastened to descend, and finally
landed with much peril.1 This was the first balloon ever
seen in the county except those made of paper, and inflated
with air rarified by heat. Of the latter the first were sent
off about 1837, at our principal villages, by an itinerant
juggler as the afterpiece of his performances.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. — The earliest meetings here were
held by the Methodists, and in 1834, this town first appeared
on the conference minutes as " to be supplied." The num
bers then claimed were 77. The Plains M. E. church was
incorporated May 12, 1854, with Reuben Chase, Ira A. Stone,
Eben Blakeman, Ebenezer Puffer and Adam Comstock,
trustees, and the present church edifice was erected the
same year. The first minister whose name appears on the
minutes as assigned to this charge was the Rev. Isaac
Puffer, who had spent a part of his early life in this town.2

1Mr. Coe at the agricultural fair in Rome, Sept. 29, 1859, made an ascension
in the presence of 10,000 spectators, and at the height of two miles his bal
loon burst. By a happy coincidence of circumstances, the descent was made
in safety, but soon after Mr. C. received a serious injury in getting his bal
loon down from a tree which has disabled him perhaps for life.

2 The Rev. Isaac Puffer was born in Westminster, Mass., June 20, 1784, and
in 1789, removed to Otsego Co,, and in 1800 to Lewis Co. In 1809 he was
received on trial in the N. Y. Conference and appointed to Otsego Circuit with-

West Turin. 227

Richard Lyle was stationed in 1844 ; H. 0. Ttlden in 1845-6 ;
A, S. Wightman in 1847-8.

The Seventh Day Baptists formed a society in this town,
May 2, 1841, but have never erected a house of worship.
Their first trustees were Burdick Wells, K. Green, Daniel
P. Williams and Joseph B. Davis. In 1846, they claimed
73 communicants. They now consist of about 20 families,
and the school in their district is held but five days in the
week.

WEST TURIN.

This town was formed from Turin, March 25, 1830, in
cluding besides its present boundaries Montague, Osceola,
High Market and all of Lewis except the portion taken from
Inman's triangle. While the plan of a division of Turin
was in prospect, the old town was offered townships 3, 8
and 9 by the parties desiring to be set off, and a committee
was sent to Albany with a map upon which was marked the
course of the hills and the extent of settlement. The county
was then represented by a citizen of Turin village who re
garded the wild lands then attached to the town as poor ;
and reasoning upon the principle that poor lands make poor
settlers, and that the poor tax of the town would be propor
tioned accordingly, refused to listen to any plan which left
these lands with the old town. The parties asking for a
division yielded without a struggle the point which secured
to them over $350 in non-resident taxes annually, and the
old town's people displayed a black flag at half mast and
evinced other signs of displeasure upon receiving news of
the division.

The lands rated as poor had not then seen the peep of
day, for the dairying interest had not begun to be developed,
and tracts which as yet, from their elevated location, had
failed to succeed in grain, might have been well regarded as
destined to afford a meagre profit to the farmer. These very
lands are now found admirably adapted to grazing, arid less
liable to drouth than the lower and otherwise more favored
tracts that were the earliest taken up by settlers.

in the newly formed Genesee Conference. He continued to labor in central
and northern New York, until 1843, when by his own request, he was placed
on the supernumerary list, and in 1848, he removed to Illinois. He preached
occasionally until Dec. 1853, when a severe illness prevented farther use
fulness. He died at Lighthouse Point, Ogle Co. 111., May 25, 1854. A strik
ing peculiarity in his preaching, was the facility and correctness with which
he quoted scripture, always naming the place where found. This custom
gave him the appellation of " Chapter and Verse " by which he was often
known among his friends. His citations sometimes exceeded a hundred in
a sermon, and had generally a close relation to the argument in hand.

228 West Turin.

Supervisors. — 1830, Martin Hart ; 1831, James McVickar ;
1832, Aaron Foster; 1833-4, Peter Rea; 1835-6, Anthony W.
Collins; 1837, David A. Stiles; 1838, Seth Miller ; 1839-40,
Horace Johnson ; 1841-2, Edmund Baldwin ; 1843, Owen
J. Owens ; 1844, S. Miller ; 1845-6, Wm. R. Wadsworth ;
1847-8, S. Miller ; 1849-50, Jonathan C. Collins ; 1851, S.
Miller ; 1852-4, V. E. Waters ; 1855, W. R. Wadsworth ;
1856, Homer Collins; 1857, Hiram T. Felshaw ; 1858, Riley
Parsons ; 1859-60, Schuyler C. Thompson.

Clerks.— 1830, Seth Miller, jr. (resigned), Wm. R. Wads-
worth appointed and continued till 1844 ; 1845, Ela G. Stod-
dard ; 1846, Robert W. Bennett ; 1847, V. R. Waters ; 1848,
Charles M. Goff ; 1849, W. R. Wadsworth ; 1850, C. M. Goff ;
1851, V. R. Waters; 1852, Luman L. Fairchild ; 1853-4, W.
R. Wadsworth; 1855, C. M. Goff; 1856, John C. Stiles;
1857-9, W. R. Wadsworth.

West Turin now includes parts of townships 2 and 4, or
Flora and Pomona of Constable's Four Towns. Of these the
former belongs to the Pierrepont estate, and its settlement
is modern as compared with the latter, upon which Nathan
iel Shaler commenced settlement in 1796.1 In the summer
of 1795 Shaler sent a man to explore these lands, and late
in that year he concluded the purchase noticed in the his
tory of Turin. The Stows were his competitors for the
tract, but Shaler at length secured it and at once took active
measures for establishing a settlement.

A road was run from fort Stanwix, and early in 1796,
John Ives,2 the pioneer settler, came on with his family and

1 Mr. Shaler was a prominent merchant of Middletown, Ct., and towards
the close of the last century, was residing in New York, and concerned in the
West India trade. He there became acquainted with Mr. Constable and pur
chased one half of townships 3 and 4 of Constable's four towns, and became
his agent for the undivided remainder. He was accustomed to spend his sum
mers here during several years, but never removed his family. He soon after
undertook the settlement of lands on the Connecticut Reserve in Ohio, where
he owned the towns of Shalersville, Middletown, Bazetta and a part of Me
dina. He died at Middletown, Ct., May 1816.

A daughter of Mr. Shaler married Commodore McDonough, the hero of
Plattsburgh.

His son, William Denning Shaler, resided many years in this town, and
died in New York, May 18, 1842.

2 Major Ives removed a few years after to a farm 2^ miles north of Turin
village, where he died of a cancer, March 13. 1828, in his 66th year. His
wife survived until Feb. 12, 1841. He was a native of Meriden, Ct., and re
sided at New Hartford about a year previous to his removal to this town. He
was appointed sheriff in 1810, and was a highly esteemed and valuable citi
zen, systematic and successful in business, and a man of much influence in
the county. His homestead is now owned by his son Selden Ives. Another
son George, formerly of this town now resides in Chicago. John Ives, the
oldest son, died in California.

West Turin. 229

built his first rude bark shelter by the side of a large elm
tree, which was felled late in the evening of their arrival.
This formed their dwelling for a few days, until a regular
log cabin could be built. In reaching this spot the family
was compelled to cross swolen streams upon the trunks of
fallen timber, and carry their goods across these treacherous
bridges at great peril. The family had tarried in Leyden a
few days, while Mr. Ives went forward and explored the
town for a location of 400 acres which he was allowed to
select from the whole tract. The final removal of the house
hold did not take place till April.

During the summer, about twenty young men were hired
by Shaler to put up a saw mill, which was got in operation
in the fall, and during the summer great numbers from Mid-
dletown, Meriden, and towns adjacent came in and selected
farms. Among these were Joshua Rockwell,1 Levi Ives,2
Nathan Coe,3 Elisha Scovill,4 Daniel Higby, Levi Hough,5
William Hubbard,6 James Miller,7 Ebenezer Allen,8 and
perhaps others, the most of whom began clearings and made
preparations for their families but returned back to Con
necticut in the fall. But two families spent the long dreary
winter in the town, a winter which has had few equals in
intensity of cold and depth of snow. Mr. Ives had occa
sion to go to Connecticut and left his family with a large
supply of wood and a stock of provisions, sufficient to last
till his return. He was absent six weeks, and in the mean
time the snow fell five feet deep, cutting off all communica
tion with the world. At length a young man named Caleb
Rockwell reached the cabin on snow shoes to see whether
the family were alive and well, and a few days after he re
turned with his sister, and the tedious solitude was soon after
relieved by the return of the husband, and with him several
new settlers. Soon after this, the roof of the cabin was
crushed in by the snow, and had not the beams of the gar-

1 Mr. Rockwell died March 2, 1825, aged 83 years.

2 Brother of John Ives and father of Levi Silliman Ives, late bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal church in North Carolina, and now an ecclesiastic in the
Roman Catholic church. Levi Ives became melancholy from want of pros
perity, and drowned himself in Bear creek, near Black river, June 19, 1815.

3 From Middlefield. He died Feb. 27, 1845, aged 76 years.

4 From Meriden, Ct. Mr. Scovill had several children who settled in this
town and became heads of families. Hezekiah and Elisha Scovill were his
sons.

5 Born at Meriden, Ct., May 2, 1773. Removed to this town in 1798, and
to Martinsburgh in 1814, where he died Aug. 21, 1853.

6 Mr. Hubbard is said to have built the first framed house in town.

7 Second son of Richard Miller. He came April 29, 1796, when IS years of
age. He is still living in this town.

8 Died March 1, 1829, aged 60 years.

230 West Turin.

ret floor been strong, the whole family would have been
buried in the ruin.

During the second summer, Jonathan Collins,1 Seth Mil
ler,2 Reuben Scovil,3 Aaron Parsons,4 Willard Allen,5 Eli-

1 Jonathan Collins was born at Wallingford, Ct.., May 3, 175.5, served in the
Revolution, for which he drew a pension, and emigrated from Meriden to
this town in 1797. He arrived in March, and had great difficulty in crossing
Sugar river then swollen by the spring flood. The goods were got across on
a tree, the horses were made to swim the stream, and the sleigh was drawn
over by a rope attached to the neap. He selected a valuable tract for a farm,
and having considerable means, he was enabled to begin settlement to advan
tage, and to maintain through life an independence in property, which was
surpassed by but few in the county. He was early selected as a magistrate
and judge, and from 1809 to 1815, 'lie served as the first judge of the county
court. In 1820 he was chosen a presidential elector. Few citizens have en
joyed to a greater degree the confidence of the public, and in the various
trusts reposed in him by the town and county, he uniformly evinced strict
integrity, sound judgment, and a scrupulous regard for the public welfare.
His brother, Gen. Oliver Collins of Oneida co., was in service on the frontier
in the war of 1812-15. His sons were :

.Lew, born Feb. 24, 1778, long a merchant at Collinsville, and a member of
assembly in 1813. He died March 31, 1819.

Selden, born May 22, 1780. Died at Ogdensburgh June 13, 1857.

Homer, bom May 15, 1788. Member of Assembly in 1858. Resides at
Collinsville.

Jlnthony Wayne, born February 10, 1797. Resides at Turin village.

Jonathan C., born January 30, 1804. Presidential elector in 1852, and
member of assembly in 1854. Resides on the homestead. Judge Collins
died April 6, 1845, aged 90 years.

2 This family was from Canaan, Ct. Seth Miller was a son of Benjamin
Miller, and settled a short distance west of Constableville, where he died
Feb. 20, 1855, aged 75 years. His sons were, Sylvester, a physician of Low-
ville, whose death we have noticed on page 155, James, a physician, who
settled in Johnstown, Timothy, first merchant of Constableville, now de
ceased, Benjamin, who removed west and died, Seth, merchant of Constable
ville, elsewhere noticed, and Edwin, who resides 011 the homestead. He had
four daughters.

3 Died July 9, 1846, aged 77 years.

4 Died Aug. 26, 1854, aged 84 years. He was a son of Elder Stephen Par
sons, and father of Aaron Parsons, jr., sheriif in 1853, and member of assem
bly in 1855.

Eld. Stephen Parsons was thrice married and had eleven children, six of
whom removed to the Black river country before he moved from Whitestown
himself.

Aaron was the oldest. His sister Eleanor married Elisha Cone and died in
this town August, 1853, aged 82.

Stephen died in Denmark in 1832, aged 56 years.

Ichabod still resides in Denmark at an advanced age. He was several years
a judge in the county court.

Elihu, half brother of the above, died in Pompey, N. Y., in 1842. His
sister Betsty married Elijah Clark of Denmark, and died in 1833, aged 53.

Comfort, eldest son by third marriage, resides at Wales Centre, N. Y.

Johnson was a physician, served in the war and was taken prisoner. He
died in Florida July 30, 1820. His sister Sally married Johnson Foster of
Turin. Grace, another sister, married Isaac Foster, and died in California in
1859. Jinn, the youngest, married Mr. Crane of Denmark. The death of
Eld. Parsons has been noticed on page 93.

5 Mr. Allen was a surveyor and farmer. He died Sept, 18, 1850, aged 77
years.

West Turin. 231

sha Crofoot,1 James T. Ward, Philemon Hoadley,2 William
and Abner Rice, Elder Stephen Parsons, Jesse Miller, Wil
liam Daniels,3 Ebenezer and Elijah Wadsworth,4 and others.
During the second season Mr. Shaler completed the first
grist mill erected in the county. It stood upon Sugar
river not far from the place where it issues from the hills.
Within the next three years the whole town below the
hill, and an extensive tract west of Constableville was taken
up by settlers. Among these pioneers were Aaron Foster, 5
Ebenezer Baldwin,6 Cephas Clark,7 James and Levi Miller,8
Elisha Cone,9 Dr. Horatio G. Hough, Roswell Woodruff,10
Richard Coxe,nWm. Coleman,12 and Josiah P. Raymond,13

6 Mr. Crofoot was a native of Berlin, Ct. He removed from Middletown
April 25, 1797, having spent the summer previous in this town. He died
March 29, 1813, in his 60th year. His wife died March 16, 1813. His chil
dren were Mary and John, who never came to this county ; Isaac, formerly a
judge of the county court, and now of Fond-du-Lac, Wis.; Rachael, who died
March 11, 1813 ; James, still living in town ; Anson, who died July 23,
1825 ; and David, who died Sept. 2, 1814.

2 Mr. H. settled on the old French road where it crossed the east road, south
of Collinsville. He was from Westfield, kept an inn several years, and
died Jan. 8, 1811, aged 57 years. Jacob Hoadley, his father, died aged 84.

3 Died Jan. 12, 1849, aged 88 years.

4 Elijah W. died Oct. 17, 1836, aged 72 years. Ebenezer W. died in
Vienna, N. Y. Seth Miller, sen., and Willard Allen married sisters of these
brothers.

5 Died in Martinsburgh, April 3, 1858, aged 87 years. He settled in 1799,
near the state road, in this town.

6 Died Nov. 3, 1834, aged 66 years. He settled between the villages -of
Turin and Collinsville, on the place now owned by his son, Edmund Bald
win.

7 Settled in 1801, from Granby, Ct. Died Dec. 1, 1854, aged 91. He left
numerous descendants, many of whom still reside in town, on the road be
tween Turin and Constableville.

8 Rev. James Miller died March 31, 1843, aged 67 years. He was a Metho
dist preacher. His brother Levi, also a Methodist minister, removed some
years after to Louisville, N. Y., where he died, Jan. 26, 1853, aged 73 years.

9 Setttled in 1798. Died June 28, 1828, aged 61. He was the first tanner
in Turin.

10 W. was from Berlin, Ct. In 1804 he exchanged his place near Collinsville
with Coxe for 400 acres in Jefferson county. Many years after he removed to
New Hartford, where he died. He was the father of the late Norris M. Wood
ruff of Watertown, who also resided here several years.

11 Richard Coxe belonged to an old and respectable family, on the Delaware,
in New Jersey, and his sister Grace married James D. Le Ray. He came in
1800 to supersede Tillier in the agency of Castorland, and continued for some
time to carry on the store which the French had established under Obous-
sier. He was appointed first county clerk, and traded several years on the
hill, a little west of Collinsville, where he built a stylish curb-roofed house
and store, still standing. He went off about 1816, and was afterwards many
years a clerk in the post office department at Washington. Charles C. Coxe,
his brother, was several years consul at Tunis.

12 Coleman settled on the Rees Place, east of Collinsville, and went to the
Western Reserve six years after.

13 Came in 1800 with Coxe, as clerk to the French store, and still living in
town.

32 West Turin.

Shaler built a house near St. Paul's chapel in the village
of Constableville, and was accustomed to spend several
weeks of each summer in town but never came to reside.
He employed James T. Ward,1 a man of plausible address
and considerable means, to induce people to emigrate to
this town ; whether the result be due to Ward or Shaler, it
will be conceded that a better class of citizens seldom emi
grated to a new country than those who began improve
ments in this town. They were mostly in easy circum
stances, and early acquired clear titles to their farms. Ex
cepting the first year or two, the settlers did not suffer
those hardships which are often incident to a new country,
as the earth yielded its fruits kindly, and the principal
difficulties arose from the poorness of the roads, and the
difficulty of reaching markets. As an instance of the ex
pense attending the transportation of provisions we may
notice that Jonathan Collins upon coming into town in March,
1797, offered to furnish a cart and one yoke of oxen, to any
one who would furnish another yoke and bring in a lot of

iThe following anecdote is related by Mr. Alson Clark in his historical
articles upon this county :

As Mr. Ward was coming in from fort Stanwix, he met at the foot of the
long hill now Lee Corners, two suspicious looking men, who went on before
while he stopped at the inn. Two or three miles beyond he overtook them,
when one of the men challenged him to wrestle, as Ward thought to try his
strength, and if able, to rob him. He accepted the proposal, and having
slightly fastened his horse a short distance beyond, took from his portman
teau a bottle of spirits to treat them with, before beginning the contest. He
found some other occasion to return to his horse, when springing upon its
back he soon disappeared, leaving the bottle in their possession.

Capt. Ward returned to Middlefield, where his habits reduced him to pov
erty. A pleasing incident occurred near the close of his life. One of his
settlers, who in paying for land had given several twenty dollar notes, found
the relation of debtor unpleasant and resolved to take them up. They were
all written upon one piece of paper. Ward opened the paper, computed the
sum due, and stated the amount at less than what was expected. Upon being
told of this, he carefully revised his figures, assured the purchaser that it was
all right, and gave them up with a receipt in full. The latter on going home
discovered that one of the notes had not been unfolded. He had previously
lost more money than this through Ward, and finally concluded to let the
error offset the previous transaction and he kept the secret. About thirty
years after, as he felt death approaching from a slow but incurable disease,
this act came up before him, troubling his sleep, and haunting his waking
hours with the chidings of a burdened conscience. He at length sought the
advice of his family and for the first time related the circumstances of the
case. They at once agreed upon the only course that should be taken. Com
pound interest was reckoned upon the note, and nearly sixty-five dollars were
placed in the hands of a messenger to deliver to the owner, with an explan
atory letter. The agent found Mr. Ward, enfeebled by age, but forced to
earn a scanty support by day labor among the farmers. He had never de
tected the error, and read the statement with surprise and gratitude, for an act
which of itself possessed no merit, but which has too few parallels in the
business dealings of mankind.

West Turin. 233

flour and pork from Whitestown for half, and much of his
first year's provisions were brought upon these terms.
Game and fish formed an important element in the line of
provisions, and of the latter, salmon from Fish creek were
taken in great numbers. A long stretch of deep still water
in that stream still bears the name of Shaler's Hole, from its
its being an important fishing ground for his people. Deer,
wolves and bears were numerous, and two men coming
through from Redfield to Shaler's, once killed an enormous
panther over seven feet long, and dragged him out to the
settlement.

During the winter of 1799 — 1800, three deserters from
the British fort at Kingston, escaped to this state, and were
making their way up the Black river valley, when they
were pursued and arrested by a citizen of the district now
included in Jefferson co., shut up in an smoke house over
night, and the next day taken back to the garrison, for the
bounty offered by the British government. The facts
spread quickly through the settlements, losing nothing
in passing from mouth to mouth, until in reaching this
town, they had gained many details of cruelty, that were
well calculated to excite indignation. With an impulse
prompted by virtue, a prominent citizen of Constableville,
seized his gun, declaring that the statutes against kidnap
ping should not be trampled upon, and that the laws of his
country should be enforced against the sordid villain who
had sold the freedom of men for a few pieces of silver.
He called upon his neighbors to arm and follow, and the
expedition gaining a recruit at every cabin, amounted to
about forty armed men by the time it reached Champion.
A warrant was taken out from Justice Mix, and delivered
to a constable, with whom they proceeded to their destina
tion, notwithstanding word was sent, that the offending
party had employed Indians to aid in defending him, and
that resistance would be made. The warrant was served
and the party was escorted up to Champion, where he was
bound over to the next term of the Oneida court, and the
avengers quietly returned home. The trial resulted in the
heaviest fine which could be imposed, amounting with ex
penses, it is said, to about $800, and a stigma was attached
to the culprit, which half a century of virtuous life could
not outlive. He died in 1813. The first local agent after
Ward was Samuel Hall,1 who resided here but a few years.

1 Mr. Hall returned to Middletown, where lie died about five years since.
He owned extensive brown freestone quarries, which have supplied building
material to an immense extent, in New York and elsewhere.
D*

234 West Turin.

The state of the colony in 1803 is thus described by James
Constable in his diary :

" Remained at Rome till Monday, Sept. 12, when I left at 9 A.
M. for Shaler's settlement, in company wtth B. Wright. Travelled
through a middling good country but well settled, though the
lands are principally held under lease from Gov. Clinton and
Chancellor Lansing. This tenure is, I am told, very objection
able in the country, and it must be given up when the lease ex
pire. Came to Clark's tavern 6 miles from Rome, in the town of
Western. This town the Governor is considerably interested
in, but except near Clark's the settlers are few and the soil not
inviting. Some places appear to have been occupied, but are
now deserted. We saw people going near a mile for water.
This is however the driest season ever remembered through the
country, and such a circumstance may not happen again. If it
does the people will abandon this part.

Passed through Leyden1 which appears very indifferent, and
the settlers were of course few, most of them indeed had not
been long there. Arrived at Jones' 15 miles from Rome and ex
pected to find it a tavern to dine at, but they had left off that
business as they told us was the case with their neighbors 4
miles further, and that there was no public house nearer than
Shaler's settlement, so we baited our horses and proceeded
through Adgate's purchase and Inman's Triangle, both of which
are and appear very rough and bad, though of the latter Wright
tells me the part to the eastward is very good. We do not find
a settler in several miles, and the road, bad as it is, is the only
sign of improvement. Pass the two main branches of the Mo
hawk, now nearly dry, though very formidable streams gener
ally. The Triangle improves in quality somewhat, and after
some distance we entered Shaler's No. 4, where we immediately
saw settlers, good buildings, and crops of corn. His house and
other buildings being not far from the south line, we soon ar
rived there, being 5 o'clock, so that we were 8 hours going 26
miles, which in a new road is pretty good speed. While dinner
was getting ready we looked at the buildings. The house is a
good large frame house, well finished and grand for that part of
the country. The barn, stable and other places for cattle also
good. The mill is a common country mill with one run of stone
and well finished. The saw mill like others of the country, but
not covered in, though the boards cannot be wanting. Neither
of these mills had run for some time for want of water. The
dam seems firm and good though it has been twice heretofore
carried away.1 There is also a house for potash work which is

1 Leyden then included Boonville and Ava.

2 The summer of 1803 was the driest upon record in the Black river coun
try. On one occasion a party of 17 men, working for Shaler, rather than to
go without flour, mounted the wheel by turns, tread-mill fashion, and
ground out sufficient grain for present use. Several of the early settlers went

West Turin. 235

equal to what I have seen in this country; but knowing that up
wards of $10,000 were expended in these buildings, I was as
tonished to see that so much could have been laid out on them;
but of this more hereafter.

After our view it was near dark; we got our dinner, sat an
hour or two and went to bed. Everything was well provided
for us, and plenty of good liquor from Mr. Shaler's stock. Look
ing from the house, about 150 acres appear to be well cleared
which is called the homestead, and there are also some very fine
farms covered with good buildings, but there is a street (as they
call it) about a mile west from the house and of that length, of
good farms in high cultivation, which the lateness of the hour
and my other route did not permit me to see. I had to go to
Martin's, 12 miles north of us, next morning, Tuesday, Sept. 13,
and accordingly set off after breakfast, travelling over a road
which the settlers by laying out judiciously and using have
made infinitely superior to that between this place and Rome.

Our course from Shaler's to Martin's is N. W. through No. 4,
and part of No. 3. This No. 4 Wright considers superior to
any land belonging to the estate. It is indeed very fine, and
being more settled and cultivated than Ellisburgh appears to
greater advantage, but the soil so far as I am a judge is not
superior. There is however an advantage it possesses over the
other in being so remarkably well watered throughout, while
Ellisburgh depends upon the two branches of Sandy Creek in
the dry season. The buildings are all framed and well finished
including barns, &c. We seldom see log houses. On our route
we met two men who were desirous of buying lands on the
other No. 4,1 which they had been to view, and which they said
contained land good enough for any man. I told them the ex
ecutors2 had not yet determined about opening that town for
sale but soon would, and make it known. This account of No.
4 was pleasing, as I had formed a very indifferent opinion of it,
and Wright says they must have been on the N. E. corner, as
the remainder is bad. Crossed from Shaler's No. 4 to No. 3,
which seems somewhat inferior though very little. It has few
settlers, his whole force having been hitherto applied to the
other, but his object now is to settle No. 3, and he is raising the
price of the other to $6 and $7 which the people will not at
present give, but go to the other at half the price. Passed to
Capt. Clapp's tavern 8 miles from Shaler's. The landlord is a
very active, industrious and intelligent man, the buildings and
farm about him in excellent order, the work of two years. He
told me when he set down there, there was not a neighbor north-
to Whitestown to mill, and one Win. Barnes backed home two bushels of
corn meal from that place. The first dam at Constableville was built like a
log house, and stood less than a year. The house above mentioned was af
terwards burned.

1 In Martinsburgh, No. 4 of the Boylston tract.

2 Executors of the estate of Wm. Constable, then recently deceased.

236 West Turin.

ward of him as far as Lowville, and now there are about 40
families in a distance of a few miles. I found from the conver
sation of him and Wright, that he knows every spot of the
country; he informed us that he had been running a line for a
road through the whole length of No. 3, and found the soil and
ground good. This he did by order of Mr. Shaler, and when the
road is cut the town will settle immediately."

Keturning the same day from Martin's, he adds :

" Wednesday, Sept. 14. Arose and breakfasted by 5 o'clock,
that we might go by Shaler's new road through No. 3 and 2.
The former appeared in this part rough and hilly, the soil not
very good and no settlers, but the road being only just cut,
there has not been time for them to sit down. The travelling
rather bad, there being no bridges or causeways to cover the
mud holes. Passed on 7 miles without seeing a house till we
come to Inman's Triangle. I was sorry to find No. 2 so indiffer
ent. The timber was mostly beech and hemlock, which denotes
a very poor soil, and the country is rough and uneven without
being relieved by intervale."

In the year following, Constable notes under date of Sept.
11, that after leaving Collins for Rome the wind blew very
hard, and they heard and saw the trees falling in every
direction. One dropped in the wood just before them and
obliged them to go around it ; and in several places they
leaped their horses over trees newly fallen. In 1805 he re
marks, Sept. 4 :

"Passed on to Coxe's at the High Falls, or rather 1J mile
west of them, where he lives and is finishing a house he
bought. He is clerk of the new county of Lewis but has
not yet got the books for the papers, and the records are in
a very insecure place."

Township No. 2, or Flora, was first opened for settlement
under Shaler as agent, who was authorized June 13, 1803,
to lay out a road, and sell at not less than $2.50 per acre.
Abraham Scranton was appointed agent Dec. 15, 1804,
through the aid of Shaler. On the 25th of August, 1804,
Hamlet Scranton,1 his son, was associated in the agency,
and the rule, hitherto invariable, of requiring a quarter
payment down was relaxed by the executors of the Consta
ble estate. The terms allowed were 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, in
equal installments. The diary, under date of August 6,
1806, says of this agency :

1 Mr. Scranton was from Durham, Ct. The family removed to Rochester
in April, 1812, where they became early settlers. Hamlet Scranton died of
apoplexy, April, 1851, aged 78 years. — Memorial of the Scranton Family, p.
61 ; Lives of Pioneers of Rochester, p. 9. Hamlet D. Scranton is the present
mayor of Rochester.

West Turin. 237

" Left Rome and arrived at Scranton's in Turin towards
evening, having travelled through the old road from Deacon
Clark's in Western, through town No. 2, which appeared a
good soil, though not a little hilly. Saw no settlers, and the
road requires a good deal of working, which Mr. Scranton
informed me was to be done in about two weeks, the people
from Leyden having undertaken to meet them and do their
part. We find Mr. Scranton (the son) not so sanguine of
settling this town as the father was lust year, at $5, tho' he
thinks settlers will come forward at a less price. We there
fore authorized him to proceed in the business on the best
terms he could, without adhering to $5. He had a frame
prepared for a saw-mill, which was to be raised to-day. The
other business remained as last year. The grist-mill was at
a stand both for a want of water and itself appearing to be
worn out."

The attempt to settle No. 2, except along the direct road
to Rome, which crosses the N. E. corner, failed, as from its
great elevation, grains did not thrive, and its value for
grazing was unknown. In 1826 some Germans came to the
office of H. B. Pierrepont in Brooklyn, to buy lands, and
selected portions of this town. Among these were Joseph
Kochly, Capt. Wider and others, chiefly from Alsace on the
Rhine. They were joined by others from the borders of
France and Germany, and from Switzerland ; and in 1834
Kochly counted 75 German families, on 3,400 acres in No.
2. ID 1836, 2,000 acres were under contract, and as much
more deeded, and in 1839, 5,000 acres were contracted.
These foreigners are chiefly Catholics and Lutherans. They
prove a hardy, laborious, patient and well disposed class of
people, and mostly become citizens as soon as the legal
forms can be complied with. Settlement was begun on Fish
creek by one Wright, who was supported for some time by
Pierrepont's agent, on condition of his remaining. Others
were induced to venture in, and a permanent settlement was
formed. Many Irish from the canals settled in 1841, and at
present the greater part of the township is settled.

The first birth, was that of Richard, a son of Joshua Rock
well, and the second that of Julia, daughter of John Ives.
The second male child born in town was Seth Miller, jr.
On the second summer of settlement, a young man named
Coe was brought to Shaler's house to be nursed, and died. In
1799 a sickly season occurred, and two men named Platt
died of a putrid fever. About thirty persons who came to
attend them sickened with the fever. In the early settlement
a child of Samuel Hall was drowned at Constableville. The

238 West Turin.

first school was kept by Miss Dorothy Wadsworth, daughter
of Timothy Wadsworth and afterwards wife of Willard
Allen. A school-house was built in 1798, near the house of
Horace Johnson, Esq., in Constableville.

In 1805 an act was procured, allowing Shaler to make
conveyances in the same manner as if Wm. Constable, sen.,
were still alive. It was vetoed by the Council of Revision
for the following reasons:

" 1st. The bill not only enables Nathaniel Shaler, therein
named, to complete the contracts of sale which he had made
prior to the death of Wm. Constable, by virtue of attorney
from him, but to proceed under the said power and sell the
residue of the said lands therein specified, and which are
stated in the bill to William Constable, a son of the said
Wm. Constable, deceased, and who is now an infant under
the age of twenty-one years, thereby absolutely disposing
of the estate of the said minor, contrary to the just rights of
property and the general principles of law.

" 2d. Because if it is deemed necessary that the real estate
of the said minor should be sold, it ought to be done under
the direction, and at the discretion of the court of chancery,
so that the respective interests of all parties concerned
might be duly examined, adjusted and secured."

The bill in a modified form passed on the last day of the

1 We may in this connection record a notice of the family so intimately as
sociated with the land titles of northern New York.

William Constable was born in Dublin, Jan. 1, 1752. His father, Dr. John
Constable, was a surgeon in the British army, and came to Montreal during
the French war, and brought his son William, then an infant, with him. In
1762 Governor Cadwallader Golden granted him a commission as surgeon in
the first regiment, in the pay of the province of New York. He then re
moved to Schenectady, where his daughter married Mr. James Phyn, who
was there engaged in the Indian trade, in correspondence with Col. Sir Wil
liam Johnson.

Dr. Constable sent his son to Dublin for his education, to the care of his
paternal aunt, Mrs. White, with whom he resided, while a student at Trinity
college. By inheritance he became possessed of a valuable estate near Dub
lin. On his return to America his kinsman, Mr. Phyn, associated him in his
business at Schenectady. On the breaking out of the war of the revolution
Mr. Phyn and his friend Mr. Alexander Ellice, removed to England under a
pass from the committee of safety, in consequence of which their property
was not confiscated. These gentlemen established in England the firm of
Phyn, Ellice and Inglis — a firm which gave two members to the privy council
in the persons of their sons, Sir Robert Inglis and the right honorable Ed
ward Ellice. Mr. Constable joined the cause of his adopted country, and
served in the army as aid-de-camp to General Lafayette. He ever afterwards
continued in intimate correspondence with him. When the General visited
this country in 1824, hearing that the widow of his deceased friend was at
Brooklyn, at her daughter's, Mrs. Pierrepont, he paid his respects to her
there.

As Philadelphia and Charleston, were at that time, the chief commercial

West Turin. 239

William Constable, Jr., born April 4, 1786, was carefully
educated in Europe, married Eliza, daughter of John
McVickar, and in June, 1810, came to reside at Constable-
ville, first occupying the house built by Shaler. He received

ports of the country, Mr. Constable associated himself with Mr. James Sea-
grove and established a commercial house at Philadelphia, while his partner
settled in Charleston. Their trade was mainly with the West Indies, and
Mr. Constable, in the course of his business, visited Havana, and there took
the yellow fever, of which he nearly died. He married in 1782 Ann White,
daughter of Townsend White of Philadelphia ; a lady of beauty of person,
and of character, who had been a school friend of Miss Dandridge, and who
afterwards became Mrs. General Washington, whose friendship she retained.
After the peace, Mr. Constable, in 1784, removed to New York, and estab
lished the firm of Constable, Rucker & Co. On the death of Mr. Rucker,
shortly afterwards, the firm of Constable & Co., in which Robert Morris and
Gouverneur Morris were partners, contributing £50,000 as their share of the
capital. The national debt, and that of the several states, not being yet
funded, offered great field for speculation, which the firm was largely con
cerned in, as they were also in furnishing supplies to Europe. Mr. Robert
Morris, who was the chief financial agent of our government, remained in
Philadelphia, while Governeur Morris, who was sent minister plenipotentiary
to France, aided by procuring contracts, and by his advices from thence.
The war between France and England threw the carrying trade into the
hands of neutrals. The firm of Constable & Co. took early advantage of this,
and in 1786 sent the ship Empress to India and China, and made a very
profitable voyage. In 1788 the ship America, of 600 tons, which was the
finest ship that had been built at New York, was built by Mr. Constable for
that trade. In 1790 he proposed to build a ship of one thousand tons, but
the demand for China goods in this country did not warrant it, and he aban
doned the enterprise. He fulfilled a large contract with the British govern
ment for the supply of their troops in the West Indies. Through the agency
of Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth of Hartford, and Joseph Howland of New
London, he shipped seventy -eight cargoes of cattle from Connecticut.

Europe continuing to draw supplies of provisions from this country, raised
the price of wheat here to two dollars per bushel, and even higher, which
induced Mr. Constable to establish a flouring mill. For this purpose he pur
chased the confiscated estate of Philips manor, at Yonkers, nineteen miles
from New York, consisting of 320 acres. Here he resided and built a large
mill, which he continued in operation for many years. He sold this estate
for $65,000 and bought a country seat at Bloomingdale, six miles from New
York. His residence in the city was first in Great Dock street, afterwards in
Wall street, till 1797, when he sold to the bank of New York for $27,000 for
their banking house. He then leased the dwelling of the Hon. Rufus King
in Broadway, where the Astor House has been built.

Mr. Constable at an early day had had his attention turned to land specu
lation. His first purchases were in Ohio, associated with companies, who
with military protection, commenced settlements, mainly of French settlers,
on the Muskingum and the Scioto. As the British still retained their outposts,
which they did not finally surrender till ten years after the peace, they insti
gated the Indians to harass these settlers. Besides these lands he made ex
tensive purchases in Kentucky, Virginia and Georgia. Mr. Constable was in
terested in the grant of two millions of acres made by the state of Massachu
setts in the Genesee country, which was sold to Mr. Bingham. He, in 1787,
associated with Alexander Macomb, with whom he had been intimate since
boyhood, in the purchase of the 640,000 acres on the St. Lawrence river called
the Ten Townships. His share of this purchase was Madrid, Potsdam, and
the half of Louisville, and the half of Stockholm, in all 192,000 acres. In
the year 1791 he associated with Alexander Macomb and Daniel McCormick

240 West Turin.

from his father, townships 3 and 4, of the four towns, sub
ject to the contract with Shaler, and a bond to Daniel
McCormick. He died May 28, 1821.

The elegant mansion erected by Mr. Constable in 1819, a

in the purchase from the state of New York of the great tract known as Ma-
comb's purchase, estimated to contain four millions of acres, being one tenth
of the state of New York, and comprising the whole of the present counties
of Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence and Franklin, with parts of Oswego and
Herkimer. In this purchase, each of these gentlemen was jointly interested
one-third, but the contract with the Commissioners of the Land Office was
made in the name of Macomb, and the first patent taken out in his name,
while the remainder of the tract was patented in the name of Daniel McCor
mick. The price paid was eight pence per acre, which at that time was deem
ed very advantageous to the state, as Massachusetts had sold at that price two
millions of acres of land in the Genesee country, which was deemed far su
perior in quality to this land. The state was also really the gainer, in conse
quence of the stimulus given thereby to land speculation, which enabled the
commissioners of the land office to sell the remaining unappropriated lands at
advanced prices. The clause inserted in the patents, requiring settlements to
be made within a specified time, had been usual in all grants previously made
by the Provincial government and by the land office. It had, however, never
been fulfilled and never enforced. When in 1791 the law granting power to
the commissioners of the land office " to sell the waste and unappropriated
lands of the state " was under discussion, Mr. Macomb (a member of the
Legislature) had this clause, by an unanimous vote, stricken out. It
was inserted in the patents by inadvertence, and when attention was drawn to
it by foreign purchasers, Mr. Macomb procured a certificate of the nullity of
the clause.

Immediately after the contract was made with the land office, Mr. Consta
ble embarked for Europe to sell, where he was joined by his family. He
remained till the fall of 1795 and had two children born in Europe. He left
his commercial house in charge of his brother James, whom he took into
partnership, having dissolved his connection with the Messrs. Morris. In
1792 the patent for Great Tracts 4, 5 and 6, containing 1,920,000 acres, was
taken out, and the title immediately transferred to Mr. Constable, who, with
the aid of his agents, Col. Samuel Ward and Col. William S. Smith, succeed
ing in selling the whole, in large tracts, to Messrs. Inman, Chassanis, Anger-
steen, the Antwerp Company and Thomas Boylston, at prices varying from two
to four shillings per acre.

The surveys which were not completed till after these sales were made,
located the Black river further north than it was supposed to be. A tract
was sold to Thomas Boylston, bounded by the Black river on the north and by
the line of the patent on the south as four hundred thousand acres more or
less. The subsequent surveys showed this tract to be valuable, and to con
tain 817,155 acres ; whereupon Mr. Constable repurchased it at an advance
of £60,000 sterling, and then sold the northern part of it, containing 305,000
acres, for one dollar per acre to Messrs. Low, Henderson, Harrison and Hoff
man. This tract is now called the eleven Black river towns.

The remainder of the Boylston tract, containing 512,155 acres, Mr. Con
stable retained for himself, having bought out the interests of his associates in
it. It was subdivided into townships, called the Thirteen Towns, which, with
the town of Ellisburgh, and Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Turin, called Constable's
Four Towns, constituted the whole of it.

If the surveys of the 640,000 acres of ten townships, and the great tracts
of No. 1, 2, and 3, containing 1,800,000 acres, could have then been obtained,
Mr. Constable would have succeeded, in selling the whole in Europe. The
St. Regis Indians, instigated by the Governor of Canada, Lord Dorchester,
drove off the surveyors, and finally did not cease their opposition, till the

West Turin. 241

little east of Constableville, has since remained the home
stead of the family. This seat for quiet seclusion, elegant
surroundings and classic beauty, is not surpassed by any in
northern New York. The management of the landed

Jay treaty, after which the British posts at Oswego and Oswegatchie were
given up.

On his return to America, Mr. Constable exerted himself to make improve
ments in roads, so as to open his lands for settlement. He also took an active
interest in forming a water communication between the Hudson and lake
Ontario, by improving the navigation of the Mohawk river and Wood creek.
The company formed for the purpose was called the Northern Inland Lock
Navigation Company. This company, after succeeding in conveying boats
of ten tons from Schenectady to lake Ontario, with one portage, was bought
out by the state, when it was determined to construct the Erie canal. The
first township sold was Ellisburgh, which subsequently reverted. Afterwards
Nos. 3 and 4, now Turin, were placed in the hands of Mr. yhaler of Middle-
town, as we have already noticed.

The next township sold was No. 5, to Walter Martin. For this township
there were many competitors ; but Mr. Constable made it an invariable rule,
not to.sell but on receiving one-quarter of the payment in money. If he
had departed from this determination, he might then have sold all his town
ships at two dollars per acre, so great was then the rage for land speculation
and so scarce was money. The only other township sold was No. 12, called
Redfield, which was sold for two dollars per acre. The consequence of the
European war was then severely felt in our commercial community, from the
the course taken by belligerents in seizing our vessels. France, dissatisfied
with an act of neutrality, and under a disorganized government, made seizures
of our vessels under various pretexts. The spoliations thus made would have
been paid to our merchants by France, but unfortunately for the claimants,
they were assumed by our own government, which, to the disgrace of the
country, has withheld payment to this day. Among the refugees from
France, driven to this country in 1797, were the Duke of Orleans and his
brothers Monpensier, and Beaujoli. The duke brought a letter of credit
from Gouverneur Morris on Mr. Constable, for one thousand dollars. This
money, with interest, was repaid by Louis Phillippe to the son of Mr. Morris.

The patents of Great Tracts Nos. 1, 2, and 3, were not obtained till 1798.
Mr. Macomb had failed in 1793, for one million of dollars, in consequence of a
wild speculation in stocks, with Col. William Duer and Isaac Whippo. He
thereupon assigned his third interest in these tracts to certain creditors, and
conveyed his contract with the Land office to Daniel McCormick, who took
out the patents in his name, and made a partition with Mr. Constable for his
one third interest. On his second visit to Europe, Mr. Constable narrowly
escaped being taken by a privateer. He succeeded in France in making some
large sales of land to Mr. Le Ray, Mr. Parish and to Neckar. The commer
cial distress that prevailed in England prevented any success in that country.
It was in Paris that lie first became acquainted with Mr. Pierrepont, who in
1802 became his son in law.

Hearing that his brother James had involved his commercial house by en
dorsements, Mr. Constable returned to New York in 1801. Though under
no legal obligation to do so, he paid these large obligations, which consumed
most of his personal property. The scattering lots in townships Nos. 1 and 13
in Lewis co., were given to some of the holders of these obligations. His
health, which had always been delicate, was much impaired by this misfor
tune. He endeavored to visit his lands, but after going to Rome, he found
the road could not be traveled except on horse-back, which he was unable to
do. He thus never saw an acre of his extensive possesions in this county.
He appointed Mr. Benjamin Wright his general land agent. Mr. Wright,
who resided at Rome, had been previously employed by Mr. Constable in
E*

242 West Turin.

interests remaining with this family, chiefly devolved upon
his son John Constable, whose indulgence towards settlers,
and whose urbane manners, have rendered him deservedly
popular in the community where he resides.

surveys for the improvement of Wood creek, when he was interested in the
Inland Lock Navigation company. He had also been his principal surveyor
in subdividing Macomb's purchase into townships and lots. He continued
his valuable agency for the family, till his services were required by the state
in the construction of the Erie canal. Under the agency of Benjamin Wright,
Nathaniel Shaler, and Isaac W. Bostwick, the sale and settlement of this land
progressed satisfactorily.

Mr. Constable died 22d of May, 1803, leaving a widow and seven children.
As in questions of title in this county, the names of his heirs are often re
quired, we will add a list of them.

Anna Maria, born 1783, died 1859. She married Hezekiah B. Pierrepont,
who died 1838.

Eweretta, born 1784, died 1830. Married James McVickar who died 1835.

William, born 1786, died 1821. Married Eliza McVickar.

John, born 1788, resides in Philadelphia. He married Susan Livingston,
and afterwards his present wife, Alida Kane.

Harriet, born 1794, married James Duane, who died 1859. She continues
to reside in Duane, Franklin county.

Emily, born 1795, died 1844. Married Dr. Samuel W. Moore, who died
1854. *

Matilda, born 1797, married Edward McVickar, and resides at Constable-
ville, and New York city.

The executors under the will, were James Constable, H. B. Pierrepont and
John McVickar. The first two gentlemen made persevering efforts to open roads
and induce settlement We give elsewhere some interesting extracts from
the diaries of Mr. Constable, from 1803 to 1806. He died in 1807, and Mr.
McVickar died 1812. Mr. Pierrepont continued his labors till the settlement
of the estate in 1819, when he purchased the remaining interest of the heirs
of Mr. Constable. The lands in Lewis county, he became possessed of, were
townships Nos. 1 and 2, West Turin, 3 Montague, 4 Martinsburgh, with part
of No. 5, and No. 8 and 13 Osceola, and parts of Denmark and Harrisburgh ;
comprising one hundred and fifty thousand acres. On the death of Mr.
Pierrepont, in 1838, these lands were subdivided among his heirs.

In concluding our notice of Mr. Constable, which we have somewhat ex
tended, from the connection which his history necessarily has with the history
of Lewis county, we will add a delineation of his appearance and character
as portrayed by that venerable and distinguished jurist, the Hon. Ogden Ed
wards :

William Constable was truly one of nature's noblemen. He was a man of
sound comprehension and fruitful mind, of high-toned feelings and vivid
imagination. He saw clearly, felt keenly and expressed himself pungently.
He was endowed with all the qualities necessary to constitute an orator ; and
was, in truth, the most eloquent man in conversation I ever heard. So im
pressed was I by his eloquence, even at the early age of sixteen, that I asked
my father if he did not think that Mr. Constable was very eloquent in con
versation. To which he cooly replied " That he was the most eloquent man
in conversation that he had ever heard." Such were his powers, and such
the charms of his conversation, that wherever he went he was the king
of the company. I first saw him in 1796, at a dinner party. Among
the distinguished persons present were General Hamilton, Colonel Burr and
Volney. Yet, even in such company, all eyes and ears were turned to him,
and he appeared to be the master spirit. He was a man of a princely dispo
sition. Every thing with him was upon a lofty scale. Whatever was laud-

West Turin. 243

George Davis of Bellville, N. J., formerly a sea captain,
in 1817, purchased a large tract of wild land from James
McVickar, and several improved farms, and came to reside
at Constableville. His maritime associations had deprived

able insured his commendation ; what was reprehensible, his fiery indigna
tion.

It is a Spanish proverb, " Tell me who your company is, and I will tell you
who you are." Testing him by this rule, he must have been truly great, for
his most intimate associates were Jay and Hamilton, and Robert Morris, and
the other master spirits of the time. Even in early life he was thrown into the
society of the distinguished men of the revolution, being an aid to the great
and good Lafayette.

His appearance strikingly indicated his character, his countenance beamed
with intelligence and expressed every emotion. So striking was his appear
ance that I heard a very sensible man say, " That although he was not
acquainted with Mr. Constable, yet, such was his appearance, that he felt as
though he should be pleased to pass his days in his company." He lived in
splendid style and his house was the resort of the master spirits of the day.
The last time I saw him was in 1802, at Lebanon Springs, the summer before
he died. Though in broken health, his spirits were superior to his infirmi
ties. Although more than half a century has since elapsed, yet so striking
and so interesting were his characteristics, and so deep the impression they
made on me that I retain a vivid recollection of them to this day. I may
say in the words of the poet :

And that the elements were so happily blended in him
That nature might have stood up and said to all the world
" This was a man."

Hezekiah Beers Pierrepont of Brooklyn, was known in Lewis county, through
his extensive landed possessions in the county, and the intercourse, in con
sequence, he had with the inhabitants. He was born at New Haven, Con
necticut, 3d Nov., 1768, and was descended from the Rev. James Pierrepont,
the first minister settled in that colony after its establishment. It is worthy
of note that the town plat apportioned to him in 1684, has ever since belong
ed to the family, and been occupied by them. It has thus never been sold
since it was ceeded by the aborigines. The immediate ancestor of the Rev.
James Pierrepont, was John Pierrepont, who belonged to the family of Holme
Pierrepont, in Nottinghamshire, which family was descended from Robert de
Pierrepont of Normandy. John came to America about the year 1640, with
his younger brother Robert, as tradition says, merely to visit the country,
but married and settled near Boston, where he purchased in 1656, three hun
dred acres, now the site of the town of Roxbury, The family name being
French, became Anglicized in this country, and was spelt Pierpont. The
correct spelling has been resumed by this branch of the family.

The subject of this memoir displayed at an early age an enterprising active
spirit. While at college he became dissatisfied with the study of Latin and
Greek, and the prospect of a professional life. He proposed to his father if
he would permit him to leave his studies, he would provide for himself, and
not receive a share of his estate. His father consented, and he fulfilled his
promise to him, and thereafter provided for himself. He first entered the
office of his uncle, Mr. Isaac Beers, at New Haven, to obtain a knowledge of
business. In 1790 he went to New York and engaged in the custom house,
with the view of obtaining a better knowledge of commercial business. The
next year he associated himself with Messrs. Watson and Qreenleaf, and act
ed with them in Philadelphia in the purchase of national debt, in which he
realized a small fortune. In 1793 he formed a partnership with his cousin

244 West Turin.

him of the ability or the inclination to assume that social
position, or to enjoy the rural independence and happiness
which one differently reared might have attained. He be
came involved in losses, his health failed, he went to sea,

William Leffingwell and established in New York, the house of Leffmgwell
and Pierrepont.

France being then in revolution, neglected agriculture, and derived large
supplies of provisions from America. Mr. Pierrepont went to France to at
tend the shipments of his firm. The seizures of his vessels by England, then
at war with France, so embarrassed the trade that he abandoned it, and in
1795, purchased a fine ship named the Confederacy, on which he made a
trading voyage to India and China, acting as his own supercargo. On his re
turn voyage, his ship with a valuable cargo was seized by a French privateer,
and condemned and sold, contrary to the laws of nations and our treaty stip
ulations. He remained in France making reclamations against that govern
ment, with a good prospect of recovering the value of his property, when a
treaty was made between the two countries, by the terms of which our gov
ernment agreed to assume the claims of its citizens against France, and France
agreed to assume the claims of its own citizens against the United States. To
the disgrace of the government of the United States, these claims, among other
similar claims known as " claims for French spoliations prior to 1800," though
brought constantly before congress, have never been paid. Twenty-one re
ports have been made in their favor, and the bill has twice been passed and
been vetoed. The best men of this country have admitted their justice and
advocated them.

Mr. Pierrepont was in Paris during the most bloody days of the revolution,
and saw Robespierre beheaded. He was detained in England also by the
legal steps necessary to obtain his insurance, part of which he recovered.
Though war prevailed, his character as a neutral enabled him to travel be
tween England and France. Our country being represented in those countries
by able men, as well in as out of the diplomatic circle, he enjoyed their
society and cemented friendships which lasted during life. That with Mr.
Constable was one, and also that with Robert Fulton, in compliment to whom
Mr. Pierrepont named a son Robert Fulton, who died in infancy. After an
absence of seven years Mr. Pierrepont returned to New York. He married in
1802, Anna Maria, eldest daughter of William Constable. After his marriage,
wishing to engage in some business of less hazard than foreign trade, he
traveled through New England to examine its manufacturing establishments,
and finding distilling profitable he in 1802 purchased at Brooklyn a brewery
belonging to Philip Livingston, and turned it into a manufactory of gin
which attained a high reputation, and was very profitable as it was at that
time the only manufactory of the kind in the state. He purchased also a
country seat on Brooklyn heights, which afterwards became his permanent
residence. He was at that time one of only twenty -six freeholders, who
owned the village of Brooklyn, now a city the third in population in the
United States. When the profits of his manufactory were diminished by
competition Mr. Pierrepont abandoned it, and thereafter gave his attention
exclusively to the management of his extensive landed estate in northern
New York and his real estate at Brooklyn. He purchased in 1806 the town
of Pierrepont and subsequently half of Stockholm in St. Lawrence county.
He made large additions to his landed estate in the five northern counties by
purchases from the heirs of Win. Constable and others, and became the
owner of nearly half a million of acres of land, one hundred and fifty thou
sand acres of which were in this county. He made annual visits to this
county to direct the making of roads and other improvements to facilitate
settlements, and spent large sums on turnpike roads, aiding in constructing,
among others, the St. Lawrence turnpike, of which he was president, and

West Turin. 245

and died off the coast of South America. His son is said
to have paid the penalty decreed by the law of nations
against pirates.

The Welsh settlers on the hills west of Turin, mostly
settled under Capt. Davis.

The post office of Constableville, was established Jan.,
1826, with Seth Miller, jr.,1 as postmaster. The receipts of
the first quarter were $4.12, and in the first three years
averaged $4.01. They began to increase rapidly Jan.,
1829, when they had more than quadrupled. The quarter
ending March, *1853, gave $65.12, and the whole period of
Col. Miller's term, ending Sept., 1853 (excepting from Jan.,
'45, to May '49), gave a total of $3,744.45 received from
postage.

which extended from the Black river to Franklin county a distance of seventy
miles. He was also one of the principal proprietors of the turnpike from
Rome to Constableville, and was interested in the Albany and Schenectady
rail road, which was the first constructed in the state of New York.

His first visit to this county was in 1803, with Mr. James Constable. It
was then an almost unbroken forest, and he was obliged to travel on horse
back. He had the gratification to witness its gradual settlement and improve
ment, much of which was the result of his own exertions, seconded by his
agents, Mr. Bostwick, Mr. Harvey Stephens, Mr. Diodate Pease, and Mr. David
Stiles and others. In the treatment of settlers Mr. Pierrepont was uniformly
kind and lenient, extending his indulgence in the collection of their indebted
ness, much to his own inconvenience. He surrendered the care and manage
ment of his lands in Lewis county for five years previous to his death, and
by the provisions of his will, to his son Henry E. Pierrepont, who continued
during twenty years in their active management, till the year 1853, when they
were partitioned among the members of the family.

Mr. Pierrepont died llth August, 1838, leaving a widow, two sons and
eight daughters. His widow died in 1859. We add a list of the children of
Mr. Pierrepont, to whom his possessions in this county have descended.

William Constable Pierrepont, residing at Pierrepont Manor, Jeff. Co.

Henry Evelyn Pierrepont, residing at Brooklyn.

Anna Constable Pierrepont who died in 1839, leaving a son, Gr. Hubert Van
Wagenen.

Emily Constable Pierrepont, who married Joseph A. Perry.

Frances Matilda Pierrepont, who married Rev. Frederick S. Wiley.

Mary Montague Pierrepont, who died in 1853.

Harriet Constable Pierrepont, who married Edgar J. Barton. She died 18 .

Maria Theresa Pierrepont, who married Joseph S. Bicknell.

Julia Josephine Pierrepont, who married John Constable of Constableville.

Ellen A. Pierrepont, who married Dr. James M. Minor.

1 Col. Miller began trade in 1819, and has since been steadily and success
fully engaged in business, presenting the longest course of continuous mer
cantile employment in the county. In the various commercial crises which
have happened, he has not been compelled for a day to suspend business or
stop payment ; an exemption which can be said of but few merchants of
equal business in this section of the state. This success has been due to a
discriminating judgment, and strict attention to business, qualities which in
every pursuit, ensure their appropriate reward. Col. Miller was many years
a partner of James C. Duff. He has been influential in public affairs, and a
prominent political leader in the Whig and Republican school.

246 West Turin.

The village of Constablevilleisthemost important business
point in the southern part of the county, and enjoys an
extensive trade with the country south and west.

Collinsville, on the East road 1J m. west of the falls, was
formerly known as High Falls village, and received its pre
sent name from Levi and Homer Collins. It was an im
portant business point in former times, and Jabez Foster,
Levi Collins, John Hooker, Richard Coxe and others carried
on extensive mercantile operations at or near this place.
The Collinsville Institute was incorporated by act of May 2,
1837, which appointed Dr. David Budd,1 John Whittlesey,
Hezekiah Scovil,2 Ela Merriam, Alburn Foster, Jabez Rock
well, Jehiel H. Hall, Morgan Cummings, Rev. Russel Way,
and Sylvester Hart, trustees. A school was taught in the
basement of the Union church, a few terms, by A. W. Cum
mings, when the enterprise died out. It was never recog
nized by the Regents, and issued but one catalogue. The
business of this village has been almost entirely transferred
to other places.

Lyons Falls, is the name of a small village and P. 0,, at
the High falls, where the Black River canal enters the river
which is navigable from this place to Carthage. The falls
themselves, and a narrow strip about three acres in extent
on the west side belonged to the Brantingham tract. A lot
of 50 acres adjacent, was bought about 1835, upon specula
tion by an association, and some part is still held in undi
vided possession. The water power belonged to Caleb
Lyon at the time of his death. In 1829, an act was pro
cured for a manufacturing co. at this place, rather to call
attention to its facilities than with a view of actual con
struction. The water power now amounting to 70 feet fall
including the state dam above, has hitherto been improved
only by a saw mill, and the importance of the village as a
business point is mostly prospective. The high falls during
freshets, present a scene of wildness and grandeur well
worthy of a visit, but in low water the torrent is confined
to narrow channels worn in the gneiss rock, down which it
rushes with immense force. Tradition relates that in the
revolution, a white man pursued by Indians, leaped safely

1 Dr. D. Budd was born in Schoharie, Sept. 30, 1798, attended one course
of lectures at Phila., received a diploma from the Schoharie Co. Med. Society-
June 10, 1821, and removed in that year to this town. He died in Turin
village Nov. 4, 1848, having held for several years the offices of judge and
justice of the peace. He \yas a man of scientific attainments and devoted
some portion of his time to mineralogy. His son Dr. Charles D. Budd is en
gaged in medical practice in Turin.

2 Died Oct. 12, 1856, aged 75 years.

West Turin. 247

across these channels and escaped from his pursuers, who
paused at the verge of the fearful chasm, and dared not fire
their pieces at the heaven protected fugitive. Several fatal
accidents have happened here. In May, 1837, two men
named Graves and Brown were drawn under the falls in a
boat one Sunday and drowned. The body of the former
was found a year after at an island below, having apparently
been buried in the sand most of the time.

On the 5th of May, 1842, a son of Noble Phelps, aged 5
years, playing in a skiff above the falls, was drawn into the
current, Mr. J. Lewis Church seeing the peril, seized a log-
hook from the mill yard, sprung upon the bridge, dropped
down on the slope of the pier, caught the boat as it was
passing down the falls, and saved the child's life at a great
risk of his own. On the 9th of Jan., 1857, John Post, jr.,
aged 22, while cutting ice in a flume above the falls, stepped
upon a cake which broke and dropped him into the stream.
He probably passed over the falls immediately.

The house of D. II. Green, adjacent to St. Paul's Church
cemetery on the West road, was burned on the evening of
Dec. 7, 1859, and two boys aged 12 and 13 years, who were
sleeping in the chamber, perished in the flames. The family
had retired to rest, and were awakened by the fire, which
barely allowed Mrs. Green and two younger children to
escape. The stairway was already in flames, and the lads
stifled and bewildered by the smoke, sank down within
hearing of their mother. The husband was away from
home, and as the night was intensely cold, no help was
rallied until the work of death was accomplished.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. — Missionaries named Hart and
Robinson, from Conn., came through the country and held
meetings at an early day. During the summer of 1796,
regular prayer meetings were held. About 1803, a revival
occurred, in which most of the converts joined the Baptists.
A church was formed at that time, under Rev. Stephen
Parsons from Middletown, and for several years was much
the most thriving in town. A Baptist society was legally
formed in this town June 15, 1835, with Aaron Parsons,
Jesse Miller, and Nathaniel Wadsworth, trustees. After
existing at Constableville several years, it has become
nearly or quite extinct.

About 1803, a Presbyterian church was formed, which
became Congregational, and its meetings were removed to
Turin village. On the ]4th of Feb., 1843, the Constableville
Presbyterian church was organized by the Watertown
Presbytery, consisting at first of 4 males and 11 females.

248 West Turin.

A Presb. soc. had been legally formed June 13, 1835, with
Edwin Miller, Nathaniel Wood and James Miller, 2d, first
trustees, and changed to Congregational Oct. 22, 1838.
This society has no church edifice, but owns an interest in
the Union church at Constableville.

The first church edifice built in town, and the first of its
denomination north of the Mohawk valley, was St. Paul's
church, which stood about a mile north east of Constable
ville, near where the Canal turnpike ended. This society
was organized April 7, 1817, at the house of Levi Collins,
in Collinsville. The first vestrymen were Nathaniel Mer-
riam, and Thomas Alsop, and the first wardens JohnKentner,
James McVickar, Giles Foster, William Constable, Walter
Dewey,1 Willard Allen, Calvin Roberts, George Davis, and
Timothy Miller.

Arrangements were first made to build of stone near Col
linsville, but the influence of Geo. Davis, T. Alsop and oth
ers determined its final location. The first rector was
Joshua M. Rogers, who was sent hither as a missionary, and
labored with great zeal and success to promote the objects
of his mission.2 He was succeeded by the Revs. Amos G.
Baldwin, Edmund Embury, Lawrence Sterne Stevens, and
for a short period by others. St. Paul's Church was con
secrated by Bishop Hobart, Aug. 16, 1818,3 and the grounds
were deeded to the society in October of that year. The
edifice having fallen into decay was taken down, and its lo
cation being inconvenient, the society was reorganized
Jan. 30. 1835. under the Rev. Mr. Embury for the purpose
of rebuilding in a more convenient site. Edward McVickar
and Wm. Van Coughnet were chosen wardens, Seth Miller
jr., Wm. Constable, Edwin Miller, Brock McVickar, Wm.
D. Shaler, James C. Duff, Bryant Collins and Bard McVickar
ar, vestrymen. During that year St. Paul's chapel was
built on the south border of Constableville village, upon a
site deeded to Trinity church, N. Y., from which it received
$600 in aid of the building.

After some attempt to build separately, the Presbyterian,
Open Communion Baptists, Baptists and Meth. Episcopal
churches united in 1835, and built a union meeting house in
Constableville. There is at present no stated preaching in

1 Dr. Dewey died at Collinsville, Feb. 26, 1821, aged 35 .years.

2 Mr. Rogers was born at Hudson, N. Y., May 15, 1782, of Baptist parents.
He was ordained deacon in 1816, and as priest in 1817. In 1833 lie accepted
a call to Trinity church, Utica, and in 1851 resigned and retired to Easton,
Pa., where he died March 1, 1858. He was buried near New York.

3 Two years before this date, there were but two Episcopal families in this
vicinity. In 1817, there were 16 communicants.

West Turin. 249

this house, except by the Methodists. In the winter of
1842-3, a revival occurred in which nearly all these sects
united.

An Open Communion Baptist church was organized in
this town about 1812, from the Baptist church previously
existing, in which Jeduthan Higby1 and Russell Way2 be
came prominent ministers. They mostly resided near Col-
linsville. They are now much reduced in numbers, but con
tinue to hold their covenant meetings.

The union meeting house at Collinsville was built of stone,
in 1836, by the Presbyterian Congregational, both Bap
tist, and Prot. Episcopal sects, each to use it in proportion
to subscription. The society was formed Sept. 29, 1836,
with Ansel Stocking, Lyman Lane and Lyman Hoadley,
trustees. The church has been thoroughly repaired within
a few years.

An independent Baptist society was formed March 22,
1842, with Newton Clark, Benham Webb, Edwin Payne, Ja
son Paine and Horace C. Ragan, trustees, but no edifice has
been built.

On the 13th of March, 1848, a Calvinistic Methodist
church (Welsh) was formed at Collinsville, with John
Hughes, Evan Roberts, Edward Reese, Robert Evans and
Robert Morris trustees, but no edifice was built by them
until 1855, when the society was reorganized Jan. 22, and
a neat church edifice built in that year. The first trustees
under this organization were Rev. Thomas Williams, Thomas
Lewis, Evans Evans, John Lloyd, John Hughes and Griffith
T. Williams. A church of this sect was formed in Con-
stableville, March 13, 1848, and has a small edifice. In both
of these the Welsh language is used.

The church of St. Michael in this town, four miles south
of Constableville, was first built by a society legally formed,
Nov. 2, 1843, having as trustees, Casper Houck, Joseph
Bali, Jacob Detenbeck, Joseph Ryan and Nicholas Kresbeck.
It was rebuilt in 1851, on the plank road near the summit
of the land dividing the waters of the Black and Mohawk
rivers. It is of ample size and has a bell. Preaching is
done in the German language, and a German school was
opened adjacent in 1857.

The next Catholic church formed in the town was St.

iFrom Middletown, Ct. His son of the same name became a Presbyterian
minister, and an associate of Gerry of Denmark.

2 Eld. Way was from Middletown. He died at his home in Collinsville,
Feb. 23, 1848, aged 68 years. His father, Moses Way, died in this town
April 7, 1813, aged 67 years.

250 Early Roads.

Mary's, mostly supported by the Irish, and situated half a
mile west of Constableville. It was built in 1846. A third
church of this denomination, named St. Peter's and St.
Paul's, was built in 1854, near Fish creek in the extreme
south west corner of the town. It is attended from St.
Michael's church, and is also almost entirely supported by
Germans.

A Methodist Episcopal society was formed in 1849, with
John R. Scovill, David C. Higby and James Crofoot first
trustees, and a chapel named the Ebenezer was built in that
year, about two miles west of Constableville, on Crofoot
hill, at a cost of $1,050. About half this cost was defrayed
by James Crofoot and his sons William., John, Levi and
Benjamin. Other sects assisted, and may use it to some ex
tent.

A German Union Evangelical church was formed Dec. 5,
1854, with Geo. Long, Samuel Miller and Andrew Hays
trustees. They have a small church on the plank road,
three miles south of Constableville, near Olmstead creek.

CHAPTER V.

STATE TURNPIKE AND PLANK ROADS.

The first road projected through this section of the state
was designed to extend from the Little falls on the Mo
hawk to the High falls on Black river. The measure was
urged upon the legislature by Arthur Noble and Baron
Steuben in 1791 and received a favorable report but no
further action.1 The first road actually opened in the
county, was made at the expense of the Castorland Com
pany and led from Rome to the High Falls. It was cut out
about 1798 by one Jordan, and was used several years, but
as its course lay across the current of travel as it was soon
after directed, it soon fell into disuse and not a mile of it is
now in existence. It is said that a branch from this road
led to Whitesboro. The French also caused a road to be
laid out and cut from their settlement at the falls to Beaver
river, but this can now only be traced by a line of second
growth trees through the forest, or the rude vestiges of its
bridges. It was nearly direct in its course, and appears to

1 The petition of Steuben and Noble is given in the Hist, of Jeff, co., p. 307-
The diversion of the Canadian fur trade to Albany was urged as a prominen t
motive.

Early Roads. 251

nave been laid out rather with a view to shorten distance
than to accommodate settlement along its course. It was
cut by Judah Barnes in 1797-8.

A bridle path run with a pocket compass, with very little
reference to the most favorable location, was opened about
the time of first settlement. It led from Collinsville to Tug
Hill west of Turin village and across the hill, down to the
place first settled by Ezra Clapp ; from thence northward
along near the line of the state road, passing west of Martins-
burgh village and below Lowville to Deer river and Cham
pion. The idea of climbing a hill over five hundred feet high ,
and again descending on the same side, when a level and nearer
route might have been taken, is sufficiently absurd to one
acquainted with the topography of this region, and affords a
striking proof of the ignorance of the surveyor. Along
this path known as " Dustin's track," the first settlers toiled
their weary way on foot or on horseback (for it was not
passable for teams), until a more favorable route was dis
covered and opened.

The first routes through the county were surveyed and
chiefly cut out at the expense of the land proprietors, but
the principal cost of construction was borne by the settlers
along their route. One of the earliest of these in the north
part of the county, was that leading from the village of
Lowville through Copenhagen to Rutland, or township 3,
and on this account still named the " Number Three Road."
It was surveyed by Joseph Crary, before 1800, and cut
through about 1802 or 1803. The east road in Lowville
and Denmark is a little older, and has scarcely been changed
from its location in advance of settlement. Through Den
mark it is often known as the Base Line road from its
running along the line from which offsets were made in sur
veying the lands adjacent to the river.

Nathaniel Shaler, in 1797, caused a road to be cut from
Constableville southward to Rome. It meandered along the
valleys no%far from the present route, but in no place for
any considerable distance on the same line. He established
a family named Jones at the half way point in the present
town of Ava. He also opened a road in the western part
of Turin, which did not settle through and is now partly
grown up. Both of these routes were known in their day
as the Shaler roads.

The first state patronage for roads in this county, was
obtained in an act of March 26, 1803, by which the sum of
$41,500, was to be raised by a lottery, for public roads,
chiefly in the Black River country. The governor and

252 State Roads.

council of appointment were directed to appoint three com
missioners to lay out and improve a road from within two
miles of Preston's tavern, in Steuben, to within three miles
of the High falls on Black river, and thence through Turin,
Lowville, Champion, &c., to Brownville, to intersect another
road ordered in the same act to be built from Rome through
Redfield. Walter Martin, Silas Stow and Jacob Brown
were appointed commissioners for constructing this road,
but subsequently Stow was succeeded by Peter Schuyler,
and Brown was succeeded by Nathaniel Merriam, Feb. 5,
1820. The location through Lewis county was made by
Stow and Martin, and an active rivalry was excited, espe
cially in Turin, between settlers who had located on differ
ent routes. The east road through that town was already
opened and traveled as far north as a mile beyond Eleazer
House's location, and the farms on its route were all taken
up by actual settlers. The road nearer the hill through
Houseville had been laid out, but led through swamps diffi
cult to pass, but the interests of Ezra Clapp, a sub-agent,
and incidentally those of one or two of the commissioners,
lay in that direction. Professing no concern but for the
greatest good to the greatest number, the offer was made
that the route should be given to the parties who would
subscribe the greatest amount of free labor. Upon com
paring it is said that notwithstanding five hundred days
signed by Clapp for Shaler, the east road out numbered the
west. Whether so or not, the location, perhaps predeter
mined, was that of the present plank road.

Thus deprived of their object, the disappointed party re
solved to connect their road with the east road in Lowville,
and by the utmost effort finished in the summer of 1803, a
branch five or six miles long, and from a quarter to half a
mile east of the state road, connecting the two east roads.
It was never much traveled and soon fell into ruin. This
route was known as the Oswegatchie road, as it formed
a continuation of the road from the Long falls (Carthage)
to the Oswegatchie at Ogdensburgh.

The cost of the State road is said to have been about
$30,000 to the state, and its commissioners were continued
about twenty years. In 1814 they were authorized to
change the southern location.

An act passed Feb. 25, 1805, appointed commissioners liv
ing in Oneida co. to lay out a road from Whitesboro, through
to intersect the State road in Turin. The road was surveyed
by John Hammond, but its proposed location gave much
dissatisfaction in Turin. In 1807 memorials were sent in

State Roads. 253

for a lottery to construct a road from Whitestown to Turin,
but these failed in consequence of the great number of
similar grants that had been made.

A road from Turin to Emilyville, or township 15, great
tract 1 of Macomb's purchase, St. Lawrence co., was author
ized April 15, 1814, and James T. Watson, Robert McDowell
and Levi Collins, were appointed to locate and con
struct it at the expense of adjacent lands. This act was
kept alive about 30 years, and a road was cut through from
Independence creek to the old Albany road. By a con
strained but perhaps justifiable interpretation of the law, a
portion of the money was finally applied upon collateral and
tributary roads upon which settlement was progressing,
the labor spent on the northern end of this route was lost,
as it still lies in the great forest and has never been traveled.

A State road from Lowville to Henderson Harbor was
authorized April J7, 1816, and Robert McDowell, of Low
ville, Eber Lucas, of Pinckney, and Abel Cole, of Rodman,
were appointed to lay it out. The route was surveyed, and
the map filed in the clerk's office May 2, 1818. It was
located chiefly upon roads previously laid out, and the
expense of its improvement was assessed upon adjacent wild
lands. In 1820, David Canfield of Denmark, Tyrannus A.
Wright of Pinckney, and Sanford Safford of Harrisburgh,
were appointed commissioners for completing the road. It
runs from the stone church in Lowville nearly parallel with
the south lines of Lowville, Harrisburgh and Pinckney, into
Jefferson county.

About 1824, a road was cut out from the Black river in
Watson, north eastward to the St. Lawrence turnpike. It
was wholly built by Watson and Le Ray, and still bears the
name of the Erie canal road. It passes through Belfort
and the Bent Settlement.

A road from Cedar Point on Lake Champlain to the Black
river was authorized April 21, 1828, and the commissioners
emerged from the forest on a preliminary survey on the last
day of August of that year. They reported that 68 of the
73 miles were saleable lands and estimated the co(st at $23,-
259 besides bridges. The latter would cost but $350. The
eastern end only was opened. A bill appropriating money
for this road was rejected in the senate April 8, 1829.

A road from the West road on the north line of Lowville
towards Denmark village, was ordered to be laid out by an
act of Feb. 19, 1829, naming Pardon Lanpher, Harvey
Stephens and Homer Collins as commissioners for this pur
pose. This road was laid out and has been since traveled.

254 State Roads.

By an act of April 9, 1831, Peter Mann and Silas Salis
bury were appointed to lay out a road from one mile east
of Watson bridge north to the Lower falls on Beaver
river, and the north line of Watson. This road was also
opened.

By act of April 14, 1841, David Judd of Essex, Nelson J.
Beach of Lewis and Nathan Ingersol of Jefferson counties,
were appointed to construct a road from Carthage through
township 4, of Brown's tract, to lake Champlam in Moriah
or Crown point, the expenses to be defrayed by a tax on
the non-resident lands to be benefited. The road was sur
veyed in the summer of 1841, and opened during the next
half dozen years so as to be passable by teams, The east
ern portion now forms the usual route from the lake to the
Long Lake settlements, but a portion westward has fallen
into decay, and is growing up with trees. It is settled upon
and traveled from Carthage to about a mile east of Belfort.
Several acts have been passed concerning this road, among
which was one in 1843, releasing from the tax certain lands
in Denmark and Lowville which came within the limits first
defined by law.

A road from Port Ley den to the old forge on township 7
of Brown's tract, Herkimer county, and another from the
residence of Hezekiah Abbey to intersect this, were author
ized June 8, 1853, to be constructed under the direction of
Lyman R. Lyon and Francis Seger, by the aid of highway
taxes upon unsettled lands adjacent. The act was extended to
1867 in 1859, but as yet the roads are not fully completed.
They follow mainly the routes opened by John Brown about
sixty years since.

An act passed April 2, 1859, appointed Seymour Green
and Diodate Pease to lay out and open a road from the
northern settlements of Osceola through to some road al
ready opened in Martinsburgh, and granted most of the
non-resident highway taxes upon the lands of the towns
through which it passed, for a period of five years for its
construction. Surveys have been made and the route has
been partially opened.

The foregoing list embraces, with an exception to be
noticed, all the roads located within this county by virtue
of special acts of the Legislature, excepting turnpikes, of
which more have been projected than built and of which the
last rod has long since been merged in common or plank
roads.

The Mohawk and Black River Turnpike Co. incorpo
rated April 5, 1810, had power to build a turnpike from

Turnpike Companies. 255

Rome to the residence of Ezra Clapp in Turin. It failed to
organize.

The St. Lawrence Turnpike Co., incorporated April 5,

1810, constructed a road across the northeastern border of
the county, but no settlements were formed upon it and in
1829 its charter was repealed and the road was divided into
common districts. In 1830 an act was passed to tax the
adjacent lands for improving this road, from the tenth mile
post beyond Carthage to the line of St. Lawrence county.
The road was surveyed by B. Wright and Chas. C. Brod-
head in 1812.

The Black River and Sackets Harbor Turnpike Co.
was incorporated March 30, 1811, to build a road from Low-
ville through Copenhagen to Watertown, capital $37,500.
Nothing done. The Sackets Harbor Turnpike Co. formed
by the same act had power to build a turnpike from Copen
hagen to Sackets Harbor, but did nothing.

The Lewis Turnpike Co. was incorporated April 8,

1811, to construct a turnpike from Steuben through Boon-
ville and Martinsburgh villages to Lowville, but effected
nothing. The parties named in the act were Isaac W. Bost-
wick, Silas Stow, Walter Martin, Chillus Doty and Peter
Schuyler, who might associate others with them. Capital
$37,500.

The Boonville Turnpike Co. completed their survey in
May, 1816, and about one mile and a half of their road
extended into Leyden. This road was constructed and
maintained many years, but no gate was erected in Lewis
county. It was kept up until a plank road was constructed.

The Turin and Leyden Turnpike Co. capital $10,000,
was formed under an act of March 26, 1819, and laid out by
Pelatiah Ballou, Broughton White and Peter Post. It was
surveyed by Mr. White in June 1819, and was constructed
from the State road in Leyden, south of Talcotville, directly
through to a point on the State road, a mile north of Turin
village. It was completed and put in excellent condition,
but no gates were ever erected upon it. One of the princi
pal objects of the projectors of this enterprise was, to pro
cure a direct route where every other means had failed,
through the opposition of parties interested in other roads.
Application to the town commissioners and the legislature
had been tried in vain when this measure was resorted to
with success, and the route was left free of toll in the hope
of diverting travel upon it. It was given up soon after as
a common road. The corporators of this road were Jona
than Collins, Win. Constable, James McVickar, Geo. Davis,

256 Turnpike and Plank Roads.

Oliver Bush, Anthony W. Collins, and their associates. The
act gave them the existing highway so far as they needed,
and power to buy new lands not over $3,000 in value.

The Canal Turnpike Co.< was incorporated Feb. 28,
1823, with $15,000 capital to build a road from Stokesville
in Lee to Olrnstead creek in Turin. Subscription books
were to be opened by Seth B. Roberts and Geo. Brown of
Oneida, and Ela Collins of Lewis county. In May 1826,
Stephen Ward, Ephraim Owens and John Post were ap
pointed (under an act passed a few days previous), to locate
the southern end at the court house in Rome, and to ex
tend it northward to the store of Seth Miller jr., and thence
to St. Paul's church in Turin. The stock was by this act
increased to $20,000, and the rates of toll were raised.
The location north of Constableville was actively opposed
by interested parties. The route of this road had been sur
veyed under the direction of Peter Colt, James Lynch and
Moses Wright in August, 1808, under an act of April 8, of
that year. To open the road an act of April 15, 1815, ap
pointed Moses Wright assessor, and Geo. Huntington, Wm.
Constable and Thomas E. Lawrence commissioners to as
sign a tax to be levied upon adjacent lands, but the super
visors neglecting to raise the tax, the act was modified
April 15, 1816, and the road was opened in that year. It
was not however passable in wet seasons until improved as
a turnpike. It was proposed in 1823, to extend the canal
turnpike to Martinsburgh, but the measure was opposed by
a vote of town meeting, and means were found to suppress
the project.

Early in 1842 the plan of a McAdamized road through
the county was discussed, but nothing resulted from it. In
the spring of 1847, efforts were made to organize a plank
road on an extensive scale, to extend through Oneida and
Lewis counties. A meeting was held at Boonville, Feb.
23d, and town committees were appointed, but nothing was
effected towards a general union of effort, and each sectional
interest began its race of rivalry, which has produced the
natural result. Upon neighboring and nearly parallel routes
plank roads were laid, all of which have perished much
sooner than was anticipated, and most of which have never
earned beyond the cost of collection and maintenance, any
thing worth naming towards paying first cost or rebuild
ing. With the exception of the roads laid along the line of
the State road south of Lowville, they have all been aban
doned and again laid out into road districts. In every
instance these roads were constructed along old and well

Plank Roads. 257

settled roads, except at points where to improve the grade
it was found necessary to deviate slightly from the former
line. The excavations and embankments upon these roads
will form a durable monument to their memory, and if the
gain in value of farms and their market products, justly
due to plank roads, were placed to their credit, it would far
exceed the amount expended upon them. Unfortunately
the public spirited citizen has in this case, as in others, often
paid too liberally to enrich his parsimonious but more
wealthy neighbor, and fortune, with partial hand, has dealt
out her favors to the undeserving.

Of the eight plank roads, with an aggregate length of
seventy-six miles, that have been built in this county, all
but three have been discontinued. The history of these roads
is briefly as follows :

Rome and Turin P. R., laid on the route of the old Canal
turnpike, filed its articles in the Secretary's office Dec. 24,

1847. Capital $45,000 ; cost $50,000 ; was 30 miles long ;
was inspected July 21, Sept. 28, and Oct. 28, 1848, and aban
doned to the public Jan. 18, 1855.

Turin P. R., through the town of Turin, on the State road,
filed articles Dec. 27, 1847; cap. $8,000; was 5J m. long,
and was inspected July 15, 1848, except 117 rods south of
the village, which was inspected July 9, 1849. After pay
ing large dividends a few years, it was bought at a small
price by parties interested in its maintenance, and it is still
kept up. Large quantities of timber cut for rail road ties,
have been used in relaying it.

West Martinsburgh and Copenhagen P. R., filed articles
Feb. 17, 1848. Cap. $25,000 ; length 17 miles ; cost 22,000,
the whole of which was lost. Inspected July 17, 1849, and
abandoned March 19, 1856, and April 5, 1858. It was laid
on the West road from the south line of Martinsburgh to
Copenhagen.

West Turin and Leyden P. R., on the line of the former
Turin and Leyden Turnpike (so called) from its southern
end to the Rome and Turin P. R., one mile north of Con-
stableville. It filed its articles Oct. 23, 1848 ; cap. $6,000 ;
length 5J m. Inspected August 30, 1849, and abandoned
March 3, 1856. It was a total loss to the owners, and made
but one or two small dividends.

Lowville and Carthage P. R., along the State road from
the line of Martinsburgh to Denmark village, and thence by
the direct road to Carthage. It filed its articles Nov. 8,

1848. Cap. $22,000, cost $26,000, the most of which was

258 Plank Roads, Mail Routes.

lost. Length 16 m. Inspected July 30, Aug. 6, and Sept.
11, 1849, and abandoned May 5, 1859.

Boonville P. R., on the State road from the south line of
Turin to Boonville, and southward. It filed its articles Nov.
8, 1848. Cap. $30,000; length 20 m. Inspected Aug. 31,
1849, and still maintained.

Martinsburgh P. R , on the State road through the town
of Martinsburgh. Filed its articles Dec. 13, 1848. Cap.
$7,000 ; length 5 m. Inspected July 13, 1849, and still
maintained.

The Great Bend and Copenhagen P. R, about three
miles of which lay in this county, filed its articles Dec- 4,
1848, cap. $13,000; length 10 m. ; inspected July 17, 1849,
and abandoned about 1856.

Several other plank roads were proposed, among which
was one from Lowville to New Bremen ; one from near
Constableville to the High falls, and another from Turin to
the High falls and Lyonsdale. The Lowville and Denmark
P. R. Co., formed a regular organization but did nothing.
During the summer of 1859, an effort was being made to
raise the means to rebuild the road from West Leyden to
Stokesville on the line of the old Rome and Turin P. R.,
but without success.

These several plank roads were chiefly laid with hemlock
plank eight feet wide and three inches thick, the track
being usually on the west side of the grade, so that teams
going southward retained the plank in meeting other teams.

Mail Routes. — The first route through the valley was
established Jan. 19, 1804. Daniel Gould is said to have
been the first carrier. He was succeeded by Reuben Chase
soon after, who began in 1804, and performed one trip each
week from Utica to Brownville. Mr. Barnabas Dickinson
of Denmark, was the next mail carrier, and by him a two
horse carriage was first placed upon the route for the ac
commodation of travellers. About 1812, or 1814, Parker
& Co., run a line of stages. Other parties were afterwards
engaged in this service, and in Jan., 1824, E. Backus and
Ela Merriam, with N. W. Kiniston and John McElwaine,
commenced carrying the mail, and with the exception of
four years Mr. Merriam has continued in the business till the
present time.1 It has been carried daily except on Sunday
during 36 years, and until 1848 to 50 over as muddy a road

1 The shortest trip from Utica to Sackets Harbor ever made over this route
by stages, was on Thursday, Feb. ]9, 1829. The trip was made in 9 hours
45 minutes, and the mail was changed at every office. The stops amounted
to 39 minutes, distance 93 miles, snow 2£ feet deep. Mr. Merriam has been
concerned in stage routes from Denmark to Ogdensburgh, from Rome to

Early Canal Measures. 259

as could be found in the state. The spirited and sacrificing
efforts of Mr. Merriam, in calling public attention to plank
roads and other improvements, and in their construction
and maintenance, entitle him to the lasting gratitude of the
citizens of Lewis county. Without his exertions the only
existing plank road southward from Lowville would ere
this have been abandoned, and the traveling public left to
plod their weary way over the original mud road.

There has been since its first establishment, a daily mail
line (except Sunday) through the county with a short
interval in 1859. In 1821, a route was established from
Martinsburgh to Adams; and about 1826, a route from
Rome to Turin. At a later day a side route was established
from Turin to the post offices east, and from Lowville
through the woods to Edwards, St. Lawrence co. There
are at present several short routes supplying offices not on
the central line, at intervals of two, three and six days.

CHAPTER VI.

CANAL AND RAIL ROAD PROJECTS.

BLACK RIVER CANAL AND IMPROVEMENT. — Excepting the
vague allusion to canals and other public works, in the
instructions of Tillier in 1796, no measure was proposed
for constructing a canal into this county until 1825, when
DeWitt Clinton in his annual message suggested a connec
tion between Black river and the Erie canal, as one of
several highly desirable canal routes. Under a general act
passed April 20, 1825, a survey was ordered from the Erie
canal in Herkimer co., to the head waters of Black river
and thence to Ogdensburgh, and another from Rome to the
same.

A survey was begun by James Geddes, one of the chief
engineers on the Erie canal, July 25, 1825, and the leveling
was continued down to Carthage. By this survey the
Remsen summit on the eastern route was found 841 feet, and
the descent from thence to the lake 985 feet. From Rome
to Boonville, the rise was 700 feet, and from thence to the

Sackets Harbor, through Redfield, from Oneida to Turin, from Rome to
Turin and Denmark, from Rome by Copenhagen to Watertown, from Rome
by Western, to Boonville, and now from Boonville to Lowville, in company
with Moses M. Smith of the latter place.

260 Canal Statistics and Surveys.

river below the falls 422 feet. The Camden route to
Ogdensburgh, 129 miles, was estimated at $655,630, and
the Boonville route, 114 miles, $931,014. Mr. Geddes
advised two dams with locks on the river, and a towing
path on the bank. A canal meeting was held at the Court
house Sept. 21, 1825, at which James T. Watson reported
Geddes's survey, the maps were left with Mr Day an for re
ference, and a committee was appointed to gather statistics
of transportation from each town in the county, specifying
every article of which more than five tons were carried,
with the probable increase. Other meetings were held in
Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, and committees of
correspondence were chosen to secure unity of action.

A meeting at the court house Dec. 24, 1825, prepared a
petition to the legislature, and reported the following esti
mates of business :

Denmark 1272 tons ; mean distance 60 miles.

Lowville 1310 tons, viz : grain and flour 550 ; ashes 130 ;
butter and cheese 10 ; sundries 620. Distance 60 miles at
1J cents per mile.

Martinsburgh 1280 tons. Twin 600 tons. Leyden, Watson,
Pinckney and Harrisburgh, 1200 tons. Total 5,662 tons,
amounting to $5,435.80. From Jefferson county the esti
mate claimed 10,680 tons at $10, 146; from St. Lawrence
13,000 tons at $23,400, and from Herkimer and Oneida
4,620 tons at $1,386, making with the extra transporta
tion added to the Erie canal a revenue of $69, 145.88. 1

The county papers of northern New York at this period
teemed with articles favoring the measure, and a series of
statistical essays in the Black River Gazette, signed Jona
than, had a beneficial influence upon public opinion.

The canal commissioners reported March 6, 1826, upon
the Herkimer, Rome and Camden routes. The first had a
rise and fall of 1831 feet, and was deemed inexpedient. The
second had 1587 feet lockage, and would cost to Ogdens
burgh $931,014, and the third with 635 feet lockages would
cost $855,630. No result followed, and on the 2d of Jan.,
1827, a canal meeting held at the court house, renewed their
memorial, and petitioned Congress to procure the right of
navigating the St. Lawrence to the ocean. A meeting at
Carthage Oct. 23, 1827, prepared the way for a general con
vention at the court house in Martinsburgh on the 4th of
Dec., at which delegates attended from all the towns in-

1 A general committee of correspondence was chosen at this meeting, con
sisting of Russell Parish, Isaac W. Bostwick, Ela Collins, Charles Dayan and
James McVickar.

Rev. J. Clinton's Address. 261

terested in the work. Spirited addresses were delivered,
and a resolution was passed for the incorporation of a com
pany to construct a canal.

The address of the Rev. Isaac Clinton upon this occasion,
affords data in the highest degree valuable as showing
existing resources. It was therein stated that five towns in
Lewis co. made annually 100 tons of potash each, and three
others about fifty tons each. About 2500 barrels of pork,
and 60,000 bushels of wheat were supposed to pass through
and from the county to the canal. About 1500 head of
cattle were driven from the county and five times as many
from Jefferson and St. Lawrence. The county exported 50
tons of butter and cheese, 20 tons of grass seed, 14 tons of
wool, 12 tons of oil of mint, and 325 tons or 650 hogsheads
of whiskey. It received annually 400 tons of merchandise,
50 tons of bar iron and steel, 40 tons of gypsum, 15 tons of
dyestuffs and 20 tons of hides. The increase from the county
and beyond had been during twelve years at the rate of
300 tons annually. This address closed with a direct ap
peal to the enterprise of our citizens. It was as follows :

"Perhaps, sir, it may be said that the remarks are plausible,
but the undertaking is great and we can do without it. So we
might do without many other things. A farmer on a very small
scale might do without a scythe and cut his grass with a jack-
knife. What are canals and what are rail roads but great labor
saving machines ? What a grass scythe is to a jack-knife, so
is a canal to a common team. Will it be said, sir, that the un
dertaking is really too great — we can not accomplish it? Let
no such thought lodge in any man's bosom. Say we can accom
plish it, we must and we will have a canal. What if the patriots
of the Revolution had said — ' slavery is truly detestable and
liberty is equally desirable, but what are we ? We have no
army, no treasury,, no revenue, no magazines of arms, and such
is the mighty power and prowess of Great Britain that we can
not withstand them ?7 What, I say ! Then we and our children
would have been slaves forever. But they said, we can withstand
them ; and they did withstand them, and with their blood and
treasure and indescribable hardships and privations procured
the benefits and blessings we now enjoy. Let us not say " we
can't." This expression has been the ruin of thousands, has
prevented many a glorious enterprise, — has kept many a family
poor and in the back ground. This was the imbecile language
of our committee, last winter! Let us then say we can and we
will have a canal. Many farmers may turn out if need require,
with their teams and work out shares. It would be better to
do this than be forever wearing out their teams in carrying
their produce to market and paying toll at turnpike gates. The

262 Canal Surveys.

enterprise is only worthy of the industrious and spirited citi
zens inhabiting this section of the state. And from the previ
ous estimates I am confident the stock must be good, and after
the canal is made and proved, will sell at any time for ready
cash."

A writer in the Black River Gazette, under the signature
of jlsdrubal, at this period also urged the measure proposed
at this convention.

The application in the hands of Mr. Dayan then in the
the senate, and Gen. Ruggles in assembly, procured an act
passed March 20, 1828, incorporating the Black River canal
company. A subscription of $100,000 by the state was
proposed by Mr. Dayan, who was supported by Senators
Hart, Waterman and Wilkins, and opposed by Jordan and
Carroll. It was finally stricken out in the senate.

The act incorporated Geo. Brayton, Isaac Clinton, Levi
Adams, Peter Schuyler, James McVickar, James T. Watson,
Seth B. Roberts and Vincent Le Ray de Chaurnont and their
associates, with $400,000 capital and the usual powers of
similar stock companies. The canal was to be finished
within three years, and the franchise included the navigation
of the river to Carthage. The commissioners above named
employed Alfred Cruger1 to survey and estimate a route,
and his report rendered in September of that year, mostly
advised inclined planes instead of locks, and placed the
total cost of 44.86 miles at $433,571.25. The structures
were to include 9 culverts, 8 dams, 7 waste weirs, 52
bridges, 1015 feet rise by planes, and 75 feet by locks. He
proposed to improve the river by wing dams, where ob
structed by sand bars, eight of which might be built for
$4,168. Subscription books were opened at the office of
W. Gracie, N. Y., Dec. 15, 1828, but the stock was not taken,
and a meeting at Lowville represented from many towns,
Jan. 24, 1829, discussed a plan of local taxation, but finally
abandoned it, and agreed upon a memorial urging its adop
tion as a state work.

A concurrent resolution introduced by Mr. Ruggles, was
passed April 7, 1829, ordering a new survey in case that
made by Cruger was not found reliable, and the canal
commissioners were directed to report the result to the
next legislature. Canal meetings were held at Lowville
June 4, and at Turin Oct. 17, 1829, and an effort was made
to procure a nomination of a person pledged to the canal

1 Mr. Cruger died at Mantanzas, Cuba, in 1845, while engaged in a rail road
survey.

Black River Canal. 263

alone, irrespective of party, but did not meet with favor.
On the 12th of January, 1830, a convention of delegates
from Lewis, Jefferson and Oneida, met at Lowville to me
morialize the legislature ; town committees were appointed,
and again Nov. 22, of that year, for a similar purpose.

On the 6th of April, 1830, the canal commissioners were
by law directed to cause a survey of the proposed canal, and
Holmes Hutchinson employed under this act, reported his
labors the 6th of March following.1 His estimate based
upon a canal 20 feet wide at the bottom, 4 feet deep, and
and locks 10 by 70 feet, capable of passing boats of 25 tons,
placed the total cost of canal and feeder at $602,544. The
first company having expired by its own limitation, a new
one of the same name was chartered April 17, 1832, with
$900,000 capital, and power to construct a canal from Rome
or Herkimer to the Black river, and thence to Ogdensburgh,
Cape Vincent, or Sackets Harbor. The work was divided
into six sections, of which one must be finished in three
and the whole in ten years. Nothing was done under this
act.

In 1834, Francis Seger in the senate, and Geo. D. Ruggles
in the assembly procured an act (April 22,) providing for
an accurate survey of a canal from the Erie canal to the
Black river below the falls, and thence to Carthage. The sur
veys of Cruger and Hutchinson were to be adopted in whole
or in part, at the discretion of the commissioners, and the
result was to be reported at the next session. Mr. Timothy
B. Jervis was employed upon this duty, and his survey based
upon a canal 26 feet wide at the bottom, banks 7 feet high,
water 4 feet deep, locks and two inclined planes, computed
the cost at $907,802.72, with composite locks, and $1,019,-
226.72 with stone locks.2

A report from the canal board in 1835, stated that the
actual cost of freight by rail road was 3J cents a mile per
ton, as shown by the Mohawk and Hudson rail road. This is
believed to have influenced favorable action upon the Black
River canal, although manifestly unfair as regarded rail
roads, because based upon the experience of a road only
sixteen miles long, then with two heavy inclined planes, and
using locomotive and stationary steam power as well as
horses.

The construction of the Black River canal was authorized
by an act of April 19, 1836, which provided for a navigable
feeder from Black river to Boonville, and a canal from thence

1 Assembly Documents, No. 229, 1831.

2 Assembly Documents, Nos. 55, 150, 1835.

264 Black River Canal.

to Rome and to the High Falls, and the improvement of the
river to Carthage for steam boats drawing 4 feet water.
The details of construction and expense were left discre
tionary with the canal commissioners, who were to receive
from the canal fund such sums as the canal board might
estimate and certify would be the probable expense, with
such additional sums over and above the foregoing, borrowed
on the credit of the state, and not to exceed $800,000.
The surplus waters of Black river, riot needed for the canal,
were to be passed around the locks by sluices or turned into
Lansing's kill or the Mohawk river.

This act was largely due to the exertions of Francis Seger
of the senate, and Charles Dayan of the assembly, whose
active labors for the promotion of this measure deserve hon
orable recognition in this connection.1 Eleven years had
passed since this work was first urged upon public notice
by the governor, and the youth who listened with enthu
siasm to the glowing prospect of coming benefits from the
completed canal, had ripened into manhood before the first
positive step was taken towards its realization. Still they
were destined to grow old in the anticipation, and while
those who had fondly cherished and aided the successive
stages of effort, became silvered with age ; full many closed
their eyes in death, before it became a practical reality !
Stow, Clinton, Watson, the elder Le Ray, Lyon, W. Martin,
Adams, J. McVickar, Collins, Parish, Rockwell, Bancroft, J.
H. Leonard, N. Merriam, H. G. Hough, B. Yale, S. Allen,
and many others who had served on committees, and con
tributed time and money to the promotion of this improve
ment, died before it was so far completed as to admit boats
into the river.

Surveys were placed in charge of Porteus R. Root, and
in Sept., 1836, Daniel C. Jenne, resident engineer, began
further examinations which were continued through the fall
and in the spring following.

The first contract for construction was made November

1 Francis Seger removed from Albany county to this county in 1826. He
studied law with Marcus T. Reynolds, and was admitted to the bar in 1823,
having taught school at various times to aid in acquiring an education. He
was several years deputy clerk, and from 1828 to 1833, inclusive, clerk of
assembly, but yielded this position at the urgent solicitation of friends of the
Black River canal, for a place in the Senate, where he remained four years.
He was appointed a master in chancery, and in April, 1843, under Bouck's
administration, became first judge of Lewis county. He continued to offi
ciate until 1856, having been elected judge and surrogate, at the first judicial
election in June, 1847, and again in 1851. In 1846, he was elected one of
the secretaries of the constitutional convention. His highest ambition ever
seems to have been the faithful discharge of official trusts, with an ability
and simplicity worthy of imitation.

a 9

Black River Canal 265

11, 1837, including 14 miles from Rome and work was at
once begun. On the 26th of May following, the work was
let to Boonville, including the feeder, and Sept. 7, 1838,
eight miles north of that place. Work was begun and vigor
ously prosecuted until, under an act of March 29, 1842,
entitled "An act to provide for paying the debt and pre
serving the credit of the state," more familiarly known as
the tax and stop law, work was suspended. The original
estimate upon which work had been begun was $1,068,437.20.
The third division, extending from Boonville to the river a
distance of ten miles, contained 38 locks of which 24 were
nearly finished, the gates and docking timbers excepted.
The other 14 locks had not been contracted. It was esti
mated that $276,000 would finish this division, and $809,000
the whole work.1 There had been expended according to
the report of 1842, $1,550,097.67. The sum of ^$55,222.78
was paid for extra allowances and for suspension of con
tracts on the part of the state, and much loss was occasioned
by the decay of wooden structures, washing away of banks?>
filling in of excavations, and other damages to which half
finished works of this class are liable.

In the constitutional convention of 1846, Lewis county
was represented by Russell Parish, an ardent friend and
able advocate of the Black river canal. In a speech of
Sept. 15th he urged the completion of this work with great
zeal, and the clause in the constitution (art. vii. sec. 3),
providing for the completion of this canal among other
public works, is without doubt to be attributed in quite a
degree to him.2

An act passed May 12, 1847, appropriated $100,000 to
this canal. Work was soon after resumed on the feeder, and
the next year on the canal south of Boonville, many old
contracts were resumed, new portions were let, and in the
fall of 1848, the feeder was finished so far as to admit
water on the 18th of October. The first boat passed up the
feeder to the river Dec. 13, 1848. The canal from Boon
ville to Port Leyden was put under contract in 1849, and
the feeder was brought fully and successfully into operation
in May or June of that year. The first boat from Rome

1 Other estimates placed this amount less. A special report by acting com
missioner Enos, dated Feb. 23, 1843 (Senate Doc., 49), estimated the cost of
completion, with stone locks, at $639,000.01, and with composite locks, at
$436,740.96.

2 The vote in Feb. 1854, on amending the state constitution in relation to
the canals, was in this county, cast in favor of the change in every town ex
cept Montague, West Turin, Turin, Osceola, Lewis, Leyden, and Pinckney,
amounting to 1572 for and 907 against the measure.

266 Black River Canal.

came up May 10, 1850, and water was let in down to Port
Leyden, Oct. 27, 1850, and it was brought into use in the
spring of 1851.1 The part north of Port Leyden was put
under contract in 1850, to be done July 1, 1854, and one
mile brought into use in 1852. A dam four feet high was
built in 1854 just above the High falls at a cost of $5,000,
affording two and a half miles of navigation on Black and
Moose rivers. The canal passes 45 chains in the river
above this dam.

The canal was finally brought into the river Nov. 13, 1855,
by the completion of 2.7 miles of canal comprising 13 locks
north of Port Leyden. The canal is 35,62 miles in length.
The feeder is 10.29 miles, and the slack water above the
dam 2 miles further. A feeder at Delta 1.38 miles, and the
river below the falls 42.5 miles making in all about 95 miles
of navigation, including 5 miles on Beaver river which en
ters 10 miles above the falls and is navigable for boats of
three feet draft. The canal rises 693 feet by 70 locks, from
the Erie canal at Rome to the summit at Boonville. It de
scends northward, 387 feet, by 39 locks to the river below
the High falls a distance of 10.3 miles.

The canal has 6 aqueducts, 12 waste-weirs, 18 culverts,
36 road bridges, 40 farm bridges, 3 tow bridges and 2
dams. Its net cost of construction and working, up to
Sept. 30, 1857, was $4,050,406.70. It had not then paid its
expenses for repairs in any one year.2

The experience of 1849 (a very dry season) demonstrated
the necessity of reservoirs on the head waters of Black
river to supply the Rome level on the Erie canal. Of these
three, known as the Woodhull, North Branch and South
Branch reservoirs, having together an area of 2,177 acres,
and a capacity of 1,822,002,480 cubic feet have been built.
The lakes on Moose river, appear capable of improvement
as reservoirs, to an extent sufficient to meet all probable de
mands for river navigation or hydraulic power below.

The improvement of the river channel has been made a
subject of vacillating project, and barren expenditure, which
reflects little credit upon the state authorities charged with
this duty, and although large sums have been applied to
this object, we have comparatively little benefit to show
beyond the dam at Carthage,3 three substantial bridges, and

iThe estimated cost of completion in 1851 was $397,761.96 including the
river improvement. In 1853 the estimated cost of finishing was $155,400,
or according to the plan of 1851 $248,784.

2 Senate Doc. 129, 1858. The deficiency alluded to, is not limited to this
canal, and might be said with reference to others,

3 The dam at Carthage was built in 1854, at a cost of $7,500. One of the
bridges above alluded to is at that village.

Black River Improvement. 267

a few landing places partly built at town or individual cost.
In the summer of 1849 two boats were built for clearing the
river, one at the Falls and the other at Illingworth's in New
Bremen. In 1851 a plan was adopted for constructing jetty
dams and piers, for confining the current and thus deepen
ing the channel. The estimated cost of this work, including
the dam at Carthage, two bridges and the reservoirs was
$153,200. On the 18th of October, 1853, after large expen
ditures, this plan was abandoned, and that of two dams with
locks was substituted, under the advice of John C. Mather,
then canal commissioner.1 This scheme was superseded in
1854, by the canal commissioners, on the ground of fraudu
lent contracts,2 and that of 1851 readopted Dec. 19 of that
year, at an estimated cost of $161,000 for completion. Other
heavy expenditures were incurred, when on the 3d of Sept.,
1857, this plan was again abandoned, and the engineer was
directed to furnish plans for a dam and lock just above the
mouth of Otter creek. There had then been spent on the
piers, $88,320. The dam and lock are now under contract,
and unless the plan be again changed, and the half finished
work abandoned, they will perhaps be in use in one or two
years. The estimated cost of the work at contract prices is
$27,309.20, of which $10,840.10 were spent in 1859. The
chamber of the lock is 160 by 34 feet, and the lift 4 feet.

It will be noticed that the idea of improvement of the
river has been a subject of progressive growth. In 1828
Cruger estimated its 'cost at $4,168. In 1830 Hutchinson
found it would be $12,000. In 1834 Jervis estimated it at
$20,840. Its ultimate cost is to be revealed by time and our
canal engineers.

The Black river was declared a public highway by act of
March 16, 1821, from the High falls to Carthage, and on the
24th of June, 1853, from the falls up to the Moose river
tract. The latter act applied $5000 to the improvement of
the channel for floating logs, required booms and dams to be
constructed with reference to passing timbers, and attached
penalties for obstructing the channel. The commissioners
for applying this sum were Alfred N. Hough, Gardner
Hinkley, and Anson Blake, jr.

The steamer Cornelia2' was built in 1832 at Carthage, by
Paul Boynton, now of Canton, for a company in which V.

1A dam near Lowville was to cost $29,700, and one at Otter creek $35,000,
two bridges $6,000, dredging $6,000, and reservoirs $39,600.

'•^For details see Assem. Doc. No. 8, 1855.

3 Named from Madame Cornelia Juhel a relative of the Le Rays. Among
other names proposed was Dido, by some one who is presumed to have read
the Enead of Virgil.

268 Steamboats on Black River.

Le Ray was president and principal owner, at a cost of about
$6,000. Its dimensions were, length of keel 90 feet, across
the guards 22 feet, and when light it drew 22 inches of water.
She measured 70 tons, and was furnished with two upright
high pressure engines of ten horse power each, when first
built, but before starting one of these was taken out, reduc
ing the draft to 17 inches. The machinery was built by N.
Starbuck of Troy. Her cabin was aft, the floor a little be
low the deck, and the forward part was covered by an
awning. Her first trip was made Sept. 22, 1832, having on
board a large number of citizens, and everything went on
pleasantly until opposite Lowville where she ran on a sand
bar, and although the hands jumped into the water and tried
to lift her off it was of no avail.

This was but a prelude to numerous like casualties which
marked her short and unprofitable career, which ended with
1833. A thrilling incident attended her first visit to the
High falls. The man at the tiller, wishing to show the party
on board and the spectators on shore the qualities of
the boat in rapid water, steered up so near the falls that as
she turned the spray from the torrent covered the deck, and
the boat itself came as near as possible being drawn under.
Fortunately there was a heavy pressure of steam up, and
the next moment the craft was out of harm's way, with
only a thorough drenching.1 This boat was dismantled, and
a few years after was privately cut loose from the dock at
Carthage in a freshet, and went to pieces in the rapids.
Her engine was put on a boat upon Black lake, and her
boiler, many years after, was used in pumping water at one
of the iron mines near Somerville, St. Lawrence co.

In the spring of 1853, G. H. Gould fitted up a scow with a
small portable engine connected with a stern wheel by a band.
This craft named the Enterprise made a few trips. The
little steam tug William P. Lawrence, of Lansingburgh, was
brought into the river in Sept. 1856, and on the llth made
the first steamboat visit to Beaver falls. She soon after
burst her boiler near Independence creek and was com
pletely demolished. The captain was badly injured in
the face, a boy was thrown through the window into the
river, and the engineer into the hold. The fireman was
thrown into the river somewhat scalded, and the boiler
itself blown ashore, the steam chest going far beyond over
the tops of the trees. The accident was attributed to fast
ening down of the safety valve.

1 Related by Mr. Boynton, builder and engineer at the time.

Rail Road Projects. 269

In Jan. 1848, notice of an application for the formation
of a steamboat company with $50,000 was published but
failed. The Black River steamboat company was formed at
Lowville, April 24, 1856, and in the summer following, the
the steamer L. R. Lyon was built at Lyons falls ; it was
launched June 26, 1856,1 and got in operation that year, at a
cost of $8000. When light this boat draws 15 inches of
water ; she is built with a stern wheel, after the model of
the Ohio river boats, with open sides and elevated cabin.
She is chiefly employed in towing canal boats. The little
steamer /. W. Norcross, built at Phoenix, Oswego county,
came in from the canal in the spring of 1858, and was em
ployed one season as a packet, making atrip from Carthage
to the falls and back daily. She has since run on the Erie
canal.

KAIL ROAD PROJECT. — The Black River company, incorpo
rated in 1832, was empowered to construct a route by canal
or rail road from the Erie canal at Rome or Herkimer to Og-
densburgh, but accomplished nothing beyond a partial sur
vey.2 In December, 1852, the plan of a rail road through the
Black River valley was discussed, and a call for a meeting
signed by thirty-four citizens, and published in the North
ern Journal in January 1853, led to a favorable response,
and the appointment of a committee consisting of five per
sons in each county interested, for collecting statistics. A
meeting was appointed at Theresa on the 20th, and another
at Boonville on the 26th of the same month. On the 27th
articles of association were drawn up forming the Black
River railroad company, with $1,200,000 capital, for building
a rail road from Herkimer on Mohawk village, to Clayton on
the St. Lawrence. Of the proposed directors Ela Merriam,
Seth Miller, Moses M. Smith, Wm. L. Easton and John Bene
dict, resided in Lewis county.

This movement excited immediately an active rivalry be
tween Utica and Rome, and on the 29th of Jan. 1853, the
Black River and Utica rail road company was formed, and
the articles filed two days after in the secretary's office.
The capital was $1,000,000 (increased one half" Sept. 26,
1853), and the directors were T. S. Faxton, Spencer Kellogg,
John Butterfield, Martin Hart, Alfred Churchill, Jas. V. P.
Gardiner, Benj. F. Ray, James S. Lynch, Wm. H. Ferry,
Hugh Crocker, Harvey Barnard, Jonathan R. Warner, and
John D. Leland, all of Utica excepting Leland, who resided

iBy the fall of a platform on this occasion, about a hundred persons were
pcecipitated several feet to the ground, and one, Mrs. Edwin Woolworth,
died a few days after, from the nervous shock thus occasioned.

2 For details see Hist, of Je/erson Co., p. 338.

270 Rival Rail Road Projects.

in Deerfield. They proposed to build a road by way of
Boonville and Carthage to Clayton. Daniel C. Jenne was
at once employed to begin surveys in the midst of winter,
and energetic efforts were made to secure subscriptions to
the stock.

The citizens of Rome lost no time in raising means for a
preliminary survey, under Octave Blanc, and on the 8th of
March at a meeting held at Lowville, the claims of the three
rival routes south of Boonville were presented arid urged,
and a committee of three to each town on the line from
Boonville to the St. Lawrence, was appointed to examine
the subject and to decide as to which of the three routes
had the strongest claims to patronage. This committee was
unable to agree and appointed a sub-committee of eight, to
visit the several places proposed for junction with the N.
Y. Central rail road, and report at an adjourned meeting at
Carthage on the 22d inst. The Lowville meeting continued
two days, and an intense activity was shown by the rival
parties in securing a favorable decision. At the Carthage
meeting a rule was adopted, that two-thirds majority should
decide upon the southern terminus. After two days' discus
sion it was found impossible to obtain the requisite vote
and the committee was discharged. The Ogdensburgh, Clay
ton and Rome rail road company was formed Feb. 19, 1853,
with $2,000,000 capital. Its directors were Henry A. Fos
ter, John Stryker, Edward Huutington and Alex. Mudge
of Rome, Elijah B. Allen and Henry Van Rennselaer of Og-
densburgh, Augustus Chapman of Hometown, Wm. L.
Easton of Lowville, Seth Miller of West Turin, A. H. Barries
of Martinsburgh, Sidney Sylvester of Denmark, Samuel J.
Davis of Wilma, and Jason Clark of Plessis.1 The Herki-
mer location having been abandoned, the Utica and Rome
rail road projects were pressed with enthusiasm by their re
spective friends. Acts were procured allowing the corpo
rations of Utica, Rome and Ogdensburgh to subscribe to
the stock. Subscriptions were urged, surveys completed,
and right of way purchased or solicited as a donation.

Work was begun on the B. R. and U. rail road at Utica,
with commemorative ceremonies, August 27, and at Low
ville, Oct. 27, 1853. Speeches were made, in which many
pleasant things were said of Lewis county, and cheerful
hopes expressed that the road thus begun would before
many months be finished. The road was put under con
tract Aug. 10, with Farewell Case, Lund and Co., who in

1 Extended details of the origin of these companies will be found in the
History of Jefferson Co., p. 339

Rail Roads. The Necessity of One. 271

Oct. 1853, sub-let a part extending from the north end of
Lowville village to south of Martin's creek in Martinsburgh,
to Solomon Phelps, Chester Ray and Albert Buel.

Large quantities of ties were got out, the masonry of
bridges was built in a substantial manner, the road was
extensively graded, and costly excavations in rock and earth
were begun, and in some places completed. The road was
opened to Boonville, Dec. 15, 1855, and has since been in
regular operation to that place, changing entirely the busi
ness connection between Lewis county and Rome, and divert
ing nearly all the travel and business of the Black River
valley from Denmark southward to Utica. A large amount
of work has been done on this route north of Boonville,
chiefly in grading and the masonry of bridges.

Work was begun on the 0., C. & R. R. R. at Rome, Nov.
10, and at Carthage, Nov. 23, 1853. Sections 6, 7 and 9
were awarded Nov. 7, 1853, to Clapp and Allen of Lewis co.,
and Archibald McVickar & Co. of N. J. Sections 10, 11,
and 12 in Lewis, to Bebee Williams & Co. of Onondaga.
Much of the right of way was secured and fenced, a large
amount of grading was done, but no part of the road was
ever completed, and five years after the date of organiza
tion the project was hopelessly and completely abandoned.
A considerable amount of the land granted for the use of
the road has been reconveyed, and the shareholders, exas
perated by repeated calls for installments to pay large sala
ries of officers and unavailing expenses, are it is believed
mostly free from this reckless adventure. The proposition
for two rail roads, side by side, and seldom a mile apart,
running through the whole length of the county, both lead
ing to the same markets and supplying the same wants, was
sufficiently absurd. There can not be room for the slightest
doubt, but that the present business of the county would
render the construction of one rail road through it a safe
and prudent investment, while the now dormant resources
which it must awaken, would ensure it permanent and re
munerative support. The wealth of its forests, the extent
of its water power, and the still half developed capacity of
its soil, are subjects of too much importance to lie long
neglected. It is understood that the Black River and Utica
R. R. will change owners during the present year, and that
it will pass into the hands of the bond holders. If the citi
zens of Lewis co. prove true to their own interests, they
will unite in a strong effort to extend this road through at
least to Lowville, and there can be little doubt, but that

272 S. H. & Sar. R. R. Agriculture.

this would at least double the present business upon the por
tion already constructed.

The Sackets Harbor and Saratoga rail road co. was incor
porated by an act of April 10, 1848, which granted 250,000
acres of the state lands, upon conditions which have since
been so far complied with that the lands have been con
veyed to the company. The preliminary arrangements were
completed and the company duly organized Jan. 10, 1852.
On the 8th of April 1852, the ceremony of breaking ground
near Dayanville was performed with parade of martial mu
sic and oratorical display, but work was not actively com
menced until 1854. During the summer of that year, a large
amount of grading was done on the southern portion, and
in places in this county, but in the fall of 1854, work was
suspended and has not been resumed. The intention of the
company was to first construct a plank road, to facilitate
the travel which the rail road would require until opened,
and large quantities of road plank were sold for less than
their worth in standing timber upon the suspension of work.
The report at the close of 1858, states that the capital stock
is $6,000,000 ; amount subscribed $5,461,100 ; paid in $2,-
714,150; expenditures $3,675,858.67; length 182 miles.
The legislature by act of April 6, 1857, changed the name
of the company to the Lake Ontario and Hudson River rail
road company.

CHAPTER VII.

NOTICES OF SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS.

AGRICULTURE, &c. — From 1808 to 1814, premiums for do
mestic cloths were awarded by the state, to the extent of
$15,210, mostly by the judges of the county courts, and
specimens of each are still preserved in the Albany Institute.
The following awards were made to citizens of Lewis
county :

1809, Lewis Graves, $80.

1810, Peleg Card, $80.

1811, Peleg Card, $40; Chester Wood, $35; Nathan
Munger, $30.

1814, Moses Waters, $40 ; Ethan Card, $35 ; Lewis Card,
$30.

Under an act of 1819, creating a board of agriculture,

Lewis County Agricultural Society. 273

Lewis county was entitled to $ 100 annually for two years,
if a like amount should be raised by subscription. A socie
ty was formed under this act in 1820, held four annual
fairs, and distributed premiums in money and plate upon
farms, tillage, animals and domestic manufactures. The
secretary was Charles Dayan, and the president for one
year at least, was the Rev. Isaac Clinton. The first fair
was held Oct. 23, 1821, at which the address was delivered
by Judge Stow, and premiums to the amount of over $300
were awarded. Members were furnished with a badge
formed of ears of wheat, worn like a cockade upon the hat.
The festival ended with a ball at Welle's tavern, where
nearly a hundred couple attended. The last fair was held
in 1824.

The Lewis county association for improving the breed
of horses, was formed in 1831, and held one or two annual
fairs. It may be here noticed, that this county early ac
quired distinction for its superior breed of horses.

On the 5th of May, 1841, a law gave $53 annually to
Lewis co., in aid of a county agricultural society, which
has since been continued annually. A meeting called by
the county clerk, June 21, 1841, was addressed by Charles
E. Clarke, and a constitution adopted, which remained un
changed until Dec. 27, 1859, when the present constitution
was adopted, under the law of 1855. Under the former, a
president, six vice-presidents, an executive committee of
five, a corresponding and recording secretary, and a trea
surer were elected every year. Members paid $ 1 annually,
and none other could receive premiums.

The first officers elected were, Clement Whitaker, pre
sident ; Johnson Talcott, Carlos Hart, Charles D. Morse,
Harrison Blodget, Elias Gallup, Alburn Foster, vice-presidents;
Jared Stiles, Enoch Thompson, Timothy Mills, Levi Hart,
Oliver Bush, executive committee; Stephen Leonard, correspond
ing secretary; Charles Dayan, recording secretary; and Harvey
Stephens, treasurer. The officers of the society have been
as follows :

Presidents. — 1841-2, Clement Whitaker ; 1843-4, Ela Mer-
riam ; 1845, Lyman R. Lyon ; 1846-8, Norman Gowdy ;
1849-50, Hiram Mills ; 1851, S. D. Mason ; 1852, Ashley
Davenport : 1853, Seth Miller ; 1855, Sanford Coe ; 1856.
Lewis Stephens ; 1857-8, Edmund Baldwin ; 1859, Moses
M. Smith.

Corresponding Secretaries. — 1841—2, Stephen Leonard ; 1844,
Charles L. Martin ; 1845, Francis Seger ; 1846, V. R. Martin ;
1847, Win. King ; 1848-9, Cornelius H. Wood ; 1850-4, Har-
I*

274 Lewis County .Agricultural Society.

risen Barnes; 1855, Chas. D. Adams; 1856, Leonard C.
Davenport ; 1857, Cornelius E. Stephens ; 1858, H. D.
Nolton; 1859, Jehiel R. Wetinore.

Recording Secretaries. — 1841, Charles Dayan ; 1843, Charles
L. Martin ; 1844, C. Dayan ; 1845, S. D. Hungerford ; 1846-
8, John Benedict ; 1849, F. W. Northrup ; 1850-1, S. P.
Mills ; 1852-3, N. Duane Baker ; 1855-6, Charles G. Riggs ;
1857-8, Mortimer Smith ; 1859, Charles M. Goff.

Treasurers.— 1841, Harvey Stephens; 1848-9, Ela N. Mer-
riam, 1850-8, Moses M. Smith ; 1859, Alfred H. Lee.

Fairs, have been held at Denmark in 1852 ; Lowville in
1843, 6, 8, 1856, 9, at West Martinsburgh in 1844; at
Martinsburgh in 1842, 5, 1850, 4 ; at Turin in 1847, 9, 1851,
5, 7, 8 ; and at Constableville in 1853. From 1852 to 1859,
inclusive, $1,640 and 270 volumes of books were given as
premiums. With two exceptions the receipts have steadily
increased, and in 1859, were much greater than ever before.
In 1856, the fairs were located alternately at Turin and
Lowville for six years ; and in 1857, an association at the
former place purchased about eleven acres of ground, a
little west of the village, the most of which has been en
closed and fitted up for fairs.1 In 1859, a lot was purchased
in Lowville by Norman Gowdy and enclosed at the expense
of the society for a like use. The latter has a course about
half a mile in length. The society was reorganized Dec.
27, 1859, under chapter 425 of the laws of 1855, and its
officers now consist of a president, vice-president, secretary,
treasurer and six directors. The officers are, James S.
Jackson, president; Win. W. Smith, vice-president; F. B.
Morse, secretary; and Alfred H. Lee, treasurer; Norman
Gowdy, Charles H. Curtis, Azro H. Buck, Ela Merriam,
Sanford Coe and C. G. Riggs are directors.

In this connection we may notice the total results of
agriculture in Lewis county, as reported by the state and
national census for the year preceding the dates of these
official inquiries. They may vary from the truth, but are
the nearest and most reliable data existing with regard to
our productive resources.

1 The owners of the Turin fair ground, are Albert Foster, Jefferson M.
Wilcox, Edwin Woolworth, Charles Gr. Riggs, Alfred H. Lee, and Edmund
Baldwin.

Agricultural Statistics. 275

Agricultural Statistics.

1840. 1845. 1850. 1855.

Barley, bushels, 20,271 23,119 23,813 37,513

Beans, bushels, 678 1,030

Buckwheat, bushels, 8,498 25,803 10,117 10,443

Corn, bushels, 48,984 53,180 83,027 92,398

Flax, pounds, 45,281 31,905 65,782

Hay, tons, 43,284 67,280 51,802

Hops, pounds, 5,460 11,322 8,870

Oats, bushels, 144,880 202,515 295,445

Peas, bushels, 21,925 12,978

Potatoes, bushels, 634,316 498,849 287,715 243,841

Rye, bushels, 2,473 9,278 11,383

Sugar, pounds, 257,476 236,918

Turnips, bushels, 22,340 5,830

Wax and Honey, pounds, 148 17,968 12,743

Wheat, bushels, 85,191 87,406 73,584 63,785

Wool, pounds,..., 68,173 89,229 44,137 27,047

1821. 1825. 1835. 1840. 1845. 1850. 1855.

Cattle, 10,417 13,780 25,063 31,130 32,790 32,308 29,748

Horses, 1,887 3,066 4,684 3,931 4,570 4,309 5,106

Sheep, 18,267 34,467 40,234 36,665 40,657 15,368 10,086

Swine, 11,739 16,197 18,076 15,813 9,091 8,353

Value of dairy products, 1840, $137,177

In 1855, there were reported 2,423 working oxen and
19,151 cows. The amount of butter produced, was 1,575,-
515 pounds, and of cheese, 1,896,741 pounds. The amount
of cloths of domestic manufacture formerly large had de
creased to 15,802 yards.

Of the grains now cultivated, the surplus from the county
is now small, and much less wheat is raised than consumed.
In most sections, the production of butter and cheese has
been found the most profitable and certain, and the true in
terest of the farmer will generally be found to cultivate
grains only so far as by the proper rotation of crops to
keep his land in the best condition possible for the growth
of grass. Of the less common products of agriculture, seve
ral require historical notice.

Dye Stuffs. — The cultivation of saffron (Carthamus tincto-
m), for dyeing, was about 1846, a prominent business with
several farmers in Lowville and Martinsburgh. At a some
what earlier period, the cultivation of madder was attempt
ed, but without success sufficient to induce a continuance of
the enterprise.

Flax has been a subject of culture from the first, but never
extensively as a leading business, except during the active
operation of the Copenhagen works. In 1845-6, large
quantities were raised, chiefly from the high price of the

276 Agricultural Statistics. Insurance Company.

seed. Linseed oil has been extensively manufactured at
Lowville and Copenhagen.

Hemp was cultivated to a considerable extent in Den
mark and vicinity, soon after the establishment of Varick's
cordage manufactory at Copenhagen, about 1832-5. The
result was not satisfactory, chiefly from the difficulty of
properly preparing it for use when grown.

Essential oils. — The manufacture of the oil of peppermint,
has been an important item of business in Lowville and
Harrisburgh, and is still followed to a limited extent. The
first field of mint in the county was planted in 1811, by
Martin Guiteau and Truman Terrill, who continued the
business several years. The Buck, Morse, Humphrey, and
other families have since been extensively engaged in it.
In 1814, three farmers had 40 acres planted, and the profits
of some of the earlier adventurers were great. The plant
is usually mown three years, and the yield per acre in oil
generally averages ten pounds the first year, fifteen the
second, and five or six the third. It is distilled soon after
being cut, or when partially cured like hay. The price
of this article is very fluctuating, and on several occasions,
the transition from one extreme to the other has resulted
in heavy losses. Other essential oils, as of hemlock, cedar,
spearmint, &c., have been made to a limited extent.

Silk. — In 1843, Ira Adams received a premium of $3.79,
at the rate of 15 cents per pound, for cocoons, and $1.12
at the rate of 50 cents per pound for reeled silk. This was
probably the largest amount ever raised in one year by one
person, and but few have ever attempted silk culture in the
county. The Morus multicaulis speculation prevailed in
this county to only a moderate degree, as compared with
other sections.

THE LEWIS COUNTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, was in
corporated Feb. 27, 1837, and Ela Collins, Isaac W. Bost-
wick, Stephen Leonard, Andrew W. Doig, Jared House,
Merrit M. Norton, John W. Martin, Carlos P. Scovil, Enoch
Thompson, Isaac W. Bush, Asa L, Sheldon, Ashley Daven
port, Abraham Miller, John Whittlesey and Ela Merriam
were appointed directors. The directors elected John Whit
tlesey president of the company, but the organization was
never completed and no policies were issued.

THE LEWIS COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY was formed May 28,
1812, when the Rev. James Murdock was chosen president;
Rev. Isaac Clinton, vice president; Stephen Leonard, treasurer;
Barnabas Yale, secretary; and Jedediah Darrow, jr., Dea.
Mather Bosworth, Dea. Samuel Dean, Wm. S. Radcliff and

Sabbath School, Anti-Slavery and Educational Societies. 277

John McCollister, a committee. Members were required to pay
$1 the first year and 50 cents annually until it amounted to
$3. During the seven first years there was no change of
officers except in the committee, which included at different
times the Rev. Jeduthan Higby, Dea. Seth Miller, Jonathan
Barker, Paul Abbott, Lemuel Dickinson, Chillus Doty, John
Ivesand Chester Shurnway. In Aug. 1827, a Bible soc., auxil
iary to the Am. B. S., was formed in this county. Its dona
tions to the parent society have been $599.08, and its remit
tances for bibles and testaments $3,056.39.' Stephen Leonard
has acted as treasurer from the beginning, excepting one year.
In 1828 it established auxiliaries in each town, but this was
found unadvisable. A Bible census has been several times
taken, by the first of which in 1829, it was found that 400
families in 2000 were without the Bible. In 1848 it was
found that 708 out of 3743 families were destitute, and of
that number 278 were supplied, the remaining 430 being all
Catholic.

In 1818, John W. Towne of Marlborough, Vt., agent of
Holbrook & Fessenden, got an 'immense subscription list for
a $12 quarto family bible in this county.

THE LEWIS COUNTY SABBATH SCHOOL UNION was formed
in 1825, and held annual meetings about 5 years. It became
auxiliary to the Am. S. S. U. The first anniversary gather
ing of S. S. pupils was at Lowville July 2, 1829, at which
550 scholars were present. The services were unusually
impressive from the funeral of Anna Shepherd, a child of
twelve years of age, which was held upon the occasion. In
1830, 400 met at Martinsburgh, and similar gatherings have
been held annually or oftener since this period.

THE LEWIS COUNTY ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY was formed
Aug., 1835, auxiliary to the Am. A. S. Society, and reor
ganized Jan. 10, 1837, embracing at first members of both of
the great political parties, and of all religious creeds. It was
soon after merged in a political party which in 1846, num
bered 5 per cent of all the votes cast for governor. At no
other election has their vote been so high.

THE EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY OP LEWIS COUNTY was formed
Nov. 14, 1845, with D. P. Mayhew, president; Sidney Syl
vester, 1st vice president ; A. D. Pease, 2d vice president ;
Harrison Barnes, corresponding secretary ; A. S. Easton,
recording secretary, and J. P. Clark,1 treasurer. After a few
years this organization was given up, and a Teachers' associa
tion was formed which has since been continued with great

1 Mr. Clark of Denmark, now a professor in Irving college, Tennessee.

278 Educational and Temperance Societies.

advantage. Teacher's institutes have been held annually
since 1846, in different parts of the county, beginning at
Turin.

Lewis county was composed of 12 towns in 1844, when
acts were passed requiring the supervisors of each county
to appoint one or more superintendents of schools. It so
happened that the board was equally divided, and from
political grounds could not unite upon a candidate for this
office. No effort was made until 1843, when after three
days' ineffectual balloting the board adjourned. Notice was
duly given by the secretary of state that unless the county
complied with the statute, the public school moneys would
be withheld. This led to a special meeting of the supervisors,
and the forenoon of the first day was again spent to no
purpose. Upon assembling after dinner, it was found that
but eleven persons were present, the twelfth being on his.
way from the hotel. The vote was at once pressed to an
issue and the dilemma ceased. The incumbents of this office
until its discontinuance were Sidney Sylvester of Copenha
gen, Jan. 16, 1844, and Alfred H. Bush of Turin, Nov. 16,
1846.

Under the act of 1856 creating the office of school com
missioner, the county has been divided into two districts,
the southern, or No. 1, embracing we believe the towns of
Greig, Martinsburgh and towns south, and the other, the
remainder of the county.

SOCIETY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE. —
Under this name an association was formed in this county
April 26, 1843, and continued till Sept. 2, 1848. It consisted
at one time of about forty young men, mostly students, and
was designed for mutual improvement by the reading of
original papers, debates, &c.

TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES. — The first society of this kind in
the county,1 was formed at Copenhagen, in February, 1825,
and consisted of twelve members. It grew out of prosecu
tions for the sale of ardent spirits without a license, under
an act passed February 18, 1820, requiring poor masters to
recover certain fines for the benefit of the poor. These
suits were instituted by Levi Robbins, *poor master, and
although judgment was got, the town would release the par
ties convicted, by a vote of town meeting. The discussions
which these measures raised, led to the formation of a

1 Turin may incidentally claim an earlier attempt at reform with regard to
intemperance. At a town meeting held in 1821, it voted that no licenses should
be granted (unless the applicant should first produce a certificate of the town
sealer, that his measures had been compared and found correct).

Temperance Societies. 279

society, consisting of Norman Guiteau, Levi Bobbins, Wm.
C. Lawton, David Goodenough, Dr. John Loud, Austin H.
Bobbins, Harris Bronson, Edward S. Bobbins, Wm. Keen, J.
Stoddard, and two others not remembered by our inform
ant.

A town society was formed in Turin, July, 1827, in Low-
ville in February, 1828, in West Leyden in January, 182.9,
and in Martinsburgh in October, 1830. Societies were also
formed in Stow Square, Leyden and Greig. The first tem
perance tavern in the state, so far as we are informed, was
opened by Douglas Wright of Denmark, in 1817, and con
tinued two years. The first merchants who discontinued
the sale of liquors, were Fowler & Woolworth of Turin, in
April, 1829, and their trade fell off one-third in conse
quence.

A County temperance society was formed at Martins-
burgh, September 15, 1828, and became auxiliary to the
State temperance society, upon the formation of the latter.
This county society in a few years fell into neglect.1 The
Washingtonian Temperance movement began in 1843. A
society styled the Washington Association of Lewis was
formed July 15, 1843, and at the close of that year 5,000
members belonged to it in Lewis county. Anniversary
meetings were held June 25, 1844, and July 8, 1845, and the
interest continued until the vote upon the license question
in 1846 and 1847, divided public sentiment. A Carson
League was formed at the county seat, July 13, 1854.
Capital $100,000, in shares of $5, of which 25 cents were
required to be paid. It is believed a few prosecutions were
begun, but a decision of the Court of Appeals terminated its
existence.

The B. B. Am. Conf., of the M, E. Church, at Lowville,
December, 1826, voted to use its influence to prevent the
use of ardent spirits in their society, and in 1832 passed
strong resolutions, in which the use, manufacture or sale of
liquors was declared strongly derogatory to Christian char
acter and a fit subject of discipline.

Temperance lecturers through the country have been fre
quent ; among which were Bev. D. C. Axtel, in Oct., 1829 ;
Samuel Chipman in 1833, and November, 1845 ; L. A. Cran-
dall in 1839 ; Caleb Lyon of Lyonsdale. in the spring of 1842 ;
J. P. Coffin, in December, 1842, and Thomas N. Johnson, in
September, 1844.

!In 1830, there were 10 town societies, and 077 members ; in 1831, there
were 9 town societies, and 1,237 members ; in 1832, there were 13 town
societies, and 2,118 members.

280 Excise Vote. Masons. Odd Fellows.

The vote on the license question in May, 1846 and 1847,
was as follows, in the several towns :

Croghan,

1846.

No
License. License.

12 10

1847.
No
License. License.

234 256

205 176
214 161

184 124

189 74

Denmark,

285
33
4
73
112
218
196
14
84
130
72
117

Diana,

Leyden,

129

Lowville,

168

173

Osceola,

Pinckney,

Turin,

139

"Watson,

West Turin,

169

Total, .

1,173

1,348

1,026

791

MASONIC LODGES. — A Mark lodge was formed at Martins-
burgh, about 1810, at the house of Adoniram Foot, and
afterwards removed to Denmark. It was merged in chap
ters about 1824.

A Master's lodge was formed at a very early day at the
house of Jonathan Collins, in Turin. It was the first in the
county. %

Jefferson Lodge, No. 64, was formed in the winter of 1806-7,
in Martinsburgh, with Chillus Doty, Master ; Wm. Derby
shire, S. W. ; Solomon Rathbone, J. W. It was removed to
Lowville, and held for some time in the house of Ira Ste
phens, from whence it has returned to Martinsburgh. Before
its removal it was held at the house of Chillus Doty and A.
Foot, and after its return at the house of David Waters.
Its charter was surrendered June 3, 1831.

Orient Lodge was formed in Denmark about 1810, with

Jonathan Barker, M., Sueton Fairchild, S. W., and Van

Vleck, J. W. A new charter was granted September 6,
1851, No. 238 ; and it has been removed from Denmark
village to Copenhagen.

Lowville Lodge, No. 134, was chartered June 13, 1848, and
has since been sustained.

Turin Lodge, No. 184, was chartered December 3, 1850.

ODD FELLOWS' LODGES. — Six lodges of the I. 0. 0. F.,

Odd Fellows. Religious Bodies. 281

have been formed, of which four continue in this county, as
follows :

Lewis Lodge, No. 92. Constableville. Meetings Saturdays.

Copenhagen Lodge, No. 190. Copenhagen. Meetings Sat
urdays.

Cynosure Lodge, No. 215. Turin. (Charter surrendered).

Melphia Lodge, No. 308. Lowville. Meetings Mondays.

Central Lodge, No. 367. Martinsburgh. (Extinct).

Juris Lodge, No. 417. Port Leyden, and afterwards near
Lyons Falls, in Greig. Meetings Saturdays.

A few " Daughters of Rebekah " were admitted at the
Juris Lodge, in 1853 or 1854, but no others are, it is be
lieved, reported.

Sons of Temperance. — Eleven lodges of this order have ex
isted in this county, all of which are extinct. They were
formed between 1844 and 1850, the first at Copenhagen,
and the last at Lowville, viz :

Copenhagen Lodge No. 45 ; Constableville No. 46 ; Col-
linsville No. 63; Port Leyden No. 64; Cedar Grove (Deer
river) No. 65 ; West Martinsburgh No. 370 ; New Bremen
No. 206 ; Houseville No. 217 ; Dayspring (Martinsburgh)
No. 218 ; Turin No. 219, and Lowville No. 267. Eight of
these reported Jan. 1852, a total of 228 contributing mem
bers.

Daughters of Temperance. — A society of 12 members of this
order, named " Hope of the Fallen Union," was organized
in Martinsburgh Jan. 9, 1851, by Mrs. J. A. Granger of
Champion. It was of ephemeral duration.

Good Templars. — This order was instituted at Martins
burgh in June and at Deer river in July 1854.

CHAPTER VIII.

RELIGIOUS BODIES.

Methodist Episcopal. — The churches of this county are in
cluded in the Black River conference, which was formed
in 1835/1 This region was embraced in the N. Y. confer
ence till 1809, in that of Genesee from 1809 to 1829, and in
that of Oneida from 1829 to 1835. The county formed a
part of Albany district till 1S08, of Cayuga district from
1808 to 1812, of Oneida district from 1812 to 1820, and of
Black River district from 1820 to 1839. The Herkimer and
Gouverneur districts divided the county from 1839 to 1844,
j*

282 Religious Bodies.

since which the Adams district has embraced nearly its
entire area.

The presiding elders of the Black River district were
Rinaldo M. Everts, 1821-2; Dan. Barnes, 1823-5; Goodwin
Stoddard, 1826; Nathaniel Salisbury, 1827-30; Josiah
Keyes, 1831-2; John Dempster,2 1833, and Gardner Baker
1836-9. In the Herkimer district it was Geo. Gary3 in
1836-9, and Aaron Adams in 1840-1. In Gouverneur dis
trict, W. S. Bowdish, 1839 ; Lewis Whitcomb in 1841 ; and
N. Salisbury in 1842-3. In Adams district in has been L.
Whitcomb in 1844 ; N. Salisbury in 1845-6 ; Isaac Stone4
in 1847 ; Geo. C. Woodruft'in 1848-9 ; Geo. Gary in 1850-1;
A. J. Phelps in 1852 ; Gardner Baker in 1853-9.

The Black River circuit formed in 1804, embraced the
whole of the northern part of the state west and north of
the great forest. Turin circuit was formed in 1812, but in 2
years was discontinued. Lowville and Martinsburgh to
gether formed a circuit from 1832 to 1840, when the latter
was separated. Watson Mission was formed in 1834, and
in about ten years it became a circuit. New Bremen be
came a mission in 1849, and Copenhagen a circuit in 1840.
The Black river circuit was changed to the Turin circuit in
1844. New Boston became a mission in 1851.

Wliile the Black River circuit embraced the whole county,
its ministers were Griffin, Sweet, and Asa Cummins in
1804; G. Sweet and Seymour Ensign in 1805; Mathew
Van Duzan and William Vredenburgh in 1806 ; Datus En
sign in 1807 ; M. Van Duzan and Luther Bishop in 1808 ; L.
Bishop and Wm. Jewett in 1809 ; Joseph Willis and Chand-
ley Lambert1 in 1810 ; Wm. Snow and Truman Gillett in
1811; Joseph Kinkead in 1812; Isaac Puffer and Goodwin
Stoddard in 1813; C. Lambert in 1814; Ira Fairbank arid

!This conference was incorporated by special act, April 17, 1841, with
power to hold real estate not exceeding $20,000, and an income not over
§10,000 annually.

2 Mr. Dempster went as a missionary in Buenos Ayres. He is now at the Gar-
rett Biblical institute, Evanston, 111.

3 Mr. Gary was born in Middlefield, N. Y., Dec. 8, 1793, and admitted to
trial as a preacher, while but fifteen years of age. Having been employed
many years in New England and central New York, he was in 1844 appointed
to take charge of Oregon mission, where he remained four years. He died
at Camden, N. Y., March 25, 1855, having labored 4G years, of which 23 were
as a presiding elder, 6 as a missionary, and 16 on circuits or stations.

4 Mr. S. was born in Hoosick, N. Y., March 28, 1797, and died in Onondaga
county, Sept. 10, 1850, having served in the ministry nearly thirty years.

1 Chandley Lambert was born in Alford, Mass., March 27, 1781, and at the
age of twenty-seven entered the Methodist ministry, in which he labored
zealously about twenty years. He subsequently settled in Lowville where
he died, March 16, 1845.

Religious Bodies. 283

James Haz en in 1815 ; I. Fairbank and G. Stoddard in 1816 ;
J. Willis in 1817 ; Andrew Prindle and Abraham Lippet in
1818; A. Prindle and Henry Peck in 1819; Nathaniel
Reeder and J. Willis in 1820; Benjamin Dighton in 1821;
C. Lambert in 1822 ; Truman Dixon, Squire Chase2 and
Elijah King (sup.) in 1823 ; Benj. G. Paddock and N. Salis
bury in 1824 ; B. G. Paddock and S. Chase in 1825 ; I. Puffer
and John Ercanbrack in 1826 ; I. Puffer and I. Stone in
1827 ; John H. Wallace and 1. Stone in 1828 ; Calvin Haw-
ley in 1829 ; Josiah Keyes and L. Whitcomb in 1830, and
Anson Fuller in 1831-2.

The Black River conference was held in the grove south
of Turin village, July 31, 1839, and at Lowville July 17,
1846.

The Missionary society of the B. R. Q. M. Conf. was found
ed Dec. 29, 1827 and a constitution adopted May 3, 1828.

Presbyterian. — The Watertown Presbytery includes this
county. It was formed in 1830, from the St. Lawrence
Presb. which was organized from that of Oneida in 1816,
and held its first session in Martinsburgh in the fall of that
year. The Revs. Jas. Murdock, Isaac Clinton, Samuel F.
Snowden, Jeduthan Higby, jr.3and David Banks (of Water-
town), were original members of this bod}^. The principal
facts concerning the union and withdrawal of churches, are
noted under the towns where they severally occur.

Congregational. — The Black River association was formed
at Lowville, Sept. 1, 1807, by delegates from churches at
Leyden, West Leyden, Turin, Lowville, Denmark, and six
towns in Jefferson county.

The Free Communion Baptists, were first organized in this
county in 18 13, by persons who had belonged to the Baptist
church, but were led to differ upon doctrinal points, pro
bably through the influence of persons from Russia, Herki-
mer county. The B. R. yearly meeting, adopted its con
stitution in Sept., 1830, and embraced the region between
East Canada creek and the Genesee. In the spring of 1844,
this sect was merged in the Free Will Baptists, and their

* 2 Mr. Chase was born in Scipio, N. Y., Feb. 15, 1803, was licensed to preach
in June 1822, and was soon after received on trial in the Genesee conference.
He preached at various places in this and Oneida conference, and in 1831
was appointed presiding elder of Potsdam district. In 1836 he was sent by
his own request on a mission to Liberia where he remained about two years,
when he returned with greatly impaired health. In 1841, while at Lowville,
the opportunity for returning to the African mission offered, and he again
sailed to Liberia where he remained till March 1843. He died at Syracuse
while attending conference, July 26, 1843, and was buried at Houseville.
He married Julia, daughter of Eli Rogers of Martinsburgh.

284 Religious Bodies. Newspapers.

number in Lewis county, has become very small. They
are embraced in the St. Lawrence yearly, and the Jefferson
quarterly meetings. Small societies exist in Diana, Har-
risburgh, West Turin and Watson.

Baptists. — The Black River Baptist association, was formed
in 1808, at which time there existed a church at Denmark
of 29 members under the Rev. Peleg Card, and another at
Turin of 65 members under the Rev. Stephen Parsons. The
association then also included Jefferson and parts of St. Law
rence and Oswego counties numbering in all 9 churches,
371 members, and 5 ministers. The B. R. missionary soc.
was formed in 1817, and up to 1844, had received $7,837.

Roman Catholics. — This county is embraced in the Diocese
of Albany, and contains nine churches, of which two are
unfinished. They are distributed as follows : Crogan 1,
Diana 1, Harrisburgh 1, New Bremen 2, Pinckney 1, West
Turin 3.

Universalists. — The B. R. association was formed June,
1823, and includes this county, Jefferson and Oswego. The
only churches erected within our limits are at Denmark
and Talcottville.

FRIENDS. — There is but one society of this sect in the co.
(Lowville), which belongs to the Le Ray Monthly meeting.

Revivals of religion have occurred in the winter of 1803-
4, at Turin (among the Baptists), in 1818, 1822, 1831, 1832,
1842-3, and 1857. In that of 1832 the Rev. Jacob Knapp
held meetings at the Line church, at Lowville and at Turin.
The Rev. Jedediah Burchard in the same year held meetings
at Stow square, Denmark and Leyden Hill. That of 1857,
was characterized by the absence of excitement, and by its
apparently spontaneous origin.

CHAPTER IX.

THE NEWSPAPER PRESS.

The Black River Gazette, the first newspaper printed north
of the Mohawk valley within the state, was begun at Mar-
tinsburgh, March 10th, 1807, by James B. Robbins, arid con
tinued a year. It was Republican in politics, and chiefly
under the patronage of Gen. Martin. The press was re
moved to Watertown and used ia printing the first paper in

Newspapers. 285

Jefferson county. While at Martinsburgh, this paper was 19
by 21 inches in size, with four columns to the page, and the
type was of the old style with the long s. Ephraim Luce
was post rider.

The Lewis County Sentinel was begun at Martinsburgh,
Oct. 12, 1824, by Charles Nichols, and published one year,
at $2.00 by post or $1.75 if taken at the office. The size
was 19 by 22 inches, four columns to the page. Neutral in
politics.

The Martinsburgh Sentinel and Lewis County Advertiser was
first issued Oct. 13, 1829, by James Ketchum Averill. Terms
$2.00 to village and mail subscribers, $1.75 if taken at the
office and $1.50 in clubs of ten or more. If not paid till the
end of the year, $2.50. It was a small sheet, with five col
umns to the page, and ended in Feb., 1830. Democratic in
politics. Mr. Averill has since been long connected with
the press in the north-eastern part of the state.

The Lewis County Gazette was begun in Lowville in the
spring of 1821, by Lewis G-. Hoffman, and was continued
nearly two years, when its publisher removed to Black Rock.
He now resides in Waterford, Saratoga co. This paper was
18 by 24 inches, with four columns to the page, and was
issued weekly at $2.50 per annum. In politics it was
Bucktail.

The Black River Gazette was begun by Wm. L. Easton1 at
Lowville, Oct. 19, 1825, and published until Dec. 1, 1830, by
him, when Joseph M. Farr became publisher and continued
it until 1833. It began of the same size as the Lewis Co.
Sentinel, upon the same press that had been used by that
paper, but the second year was enlarged by one column to
the page, and in the second volume till No. 33, H. L. and
W. L. Easton were associated. It was issued at $2.00 per
annum, and professed to be impartial and independent in
politics. The nominations of both parties were kept stand
ing in its columns previous to elections, and it was open to
discussion upon any subject of public interest until 1832,
when it adopted the anti-masonic nominations and advocated
the election of William Wirt to the presidency. Mr. Easton
became a joint publisher again Oct. 10, 1832, and continued
such till the end.

l William L. Easton was born in Berkshire county, Mass., in 1806, came to
this county in 1825, and has since mostly resided at Lowville. He was one
of the first directors of the Bank of Lowville, which office he held nearly
twenty years, and was for some time its cashier and president. He was
surrogate of Lewis county ahout four years.

286 Newspapers.

The Lewis Democrat was begun by Le Grand Byington
March, 25, 1834, and was published one year. It supported
the whig party, advocated Seward's claims as candidate for
governor. Size and terms the same as that of the B. R.
Gazette, the press and type of which were employed upon
this paper. Its editor has since figured in the Ohio legis
lature, and now resides at Iowa City.

The Lewis County Republican was begun at Martinsburgh
by James Wheeler May 18, 1830, as the organ of the Demo
cratic party in the county — the type and press being the
same that had been used by Mr. Averill. On the 12th of
September, 1836, it was transferred to Daniel S. Bailey, who
continued to publish it until united with the Northern Jour
nal, Jan. 1, 1860. It was issued from a wooden Ramage
press until Mr. Bailey procured a new iron press, and in Jan.,
1853, a steam power press was procured. In the spring of
1845 it was removed to Lowville, and a few. years after re
turned to Martinsburgh. During the campaign of 1848 it
supported the Hunker portion of the Democratic party,
in 1852 it supported Pierce, and in 1854 it became Repub
lican. Being thus brought upon the same political platform
with the Northern Journal, the proprietor of the latter pur
chased Mr. Bailey's interest, and Jan. 4, the first number of
the Journal and Republican was issued.

Few country newspapers have been conducted with more
discretion and ability than this, during the long period it
was in the hands of Mr. Bailey. We are indebted to the
early files of this paper for many valuable facts in these
pages.

The Lewis County Democrat, the first and only paper printed
at Turin, was begun by Horace R. Lahe, Sept. 22, 1846, with
new type and press bought for its use, partly by the aid of
a local subscription, but chiefly by Clement Whitaker,
Homer Collins and Jonathan C. Collins, who advanced
money with the agreement that Lahe should purchase at
the end of a year. This was accordingly done.

It supported the Radical or Barnburning branch of the
Democratic party, and in the campaign of 1848 was strongly
Free Soil in politics. Terms $1.50. In Jan., 1850, it
was removed to Martinsburgh, where a few numbers only
were published, and soon after to Boonville where its press
and material have since been in use.

The Lewis County Banner was begun at Lowville Sept. 8,
1856, as the organ of the Democratic party and advocate of
Buchanan for the presidency. It was conducted the first

Newspapers. 287

year by N. B. Sylvester, subsequently by E. A. Teall and
Almont Barnes, and since Sept. 1, 1858, by Henry Allgcever.
It is the only Democratic paper in the county.

The Northern Journal, was commenced at Lowville, by
Ambrose W. Clark from Otsego co., Feb. 22, 1838, at $2 per
annum, and of nearly its present size. At the end of the
eighth vol. 1846, Edwin R. Colston1 became its publisher,
and in Nov., 1847, the paper appeared under the name of
of C. W. Haven as editor. Jason C. Easton, became owner
March 9, 1848, and in Oct. 1848, William Oland Bourne of
New York followed as publisher, until 1850. After appear
ing a few months under the names of Wm. X. Ninde, printer,
and Y. R. Martin, editor, Mr. Easton resumed the paper
and in the spring of 1853, became associated with Homer
C. Hunt, under the firm of Easton & Hunt, and continued to
the close of vol. 16. Cordial Storrs, jr., became proprie
tor December 28, 1853, and having conducted the paper
two years was followed Jan. 2, 1856, by Geo. W. Fowler.
On the 27th of Oct., 1858, Henry A. Phillips, became
publisher and has since continued. This paper was estab
lished as the organ of the Whig party in the county, and in
1854, it became Republican. It has uniformly supported
the nominees of this party, except in 1858, when it substituted
the name of Mr. Lyon for congress as an independent can
didate, in opposition to the nominee of the Republican
party. Late in 1859, Mr. Phillips purchased the Lewis
County Republican, and Jan. 4, 1860, the two were first
issued under the title of

The Journal and Republican, at Lowville, Mr. Bailey re
maining for a time associate editor. The typographical
execution of the new paper is neat, and its articles are well
selected. It is the only organ of the Republican party in
the county.

The Dollar Weekly Northern Blade, was begun at Constable-
ville, August, 1854, by Fairchild and Bealls. It was changed
from small folio to quarto at the end of the first year, and
Fairchild became sole publisher in July, 1855. The third
volume became folio. In February, 1856, Galusha P. Eames
became publisher, and in September of that year, J. S.
Kibbe's name appeared as editor. While in Eames's pos
session the paper was enlarged to 24 by 30 inches. On the
23d of April, 1857, Wm. R. Merrill and Edwin R. Cook
became publishers and changed its name to

1 Mr. Colston died in Brooklyn, Oct. 11, 1857, aged 33 years.

288 Newspapers. Official Lists.

The News Register, and in the spring of 1858, removed the
office to Carthage and began the publication of the Carthage
Standard.

The Hawk Eye, a juvenile four page quarto sheet supposed
to have been printed at Lowville, appeared at Constable-
ville a few weeks in the fall of 1855. To oppose this

The Young America was printed at the Blade office a few
weeks. It was somewhat larger, but scarcely more respect
able than its pigmy opponent.

CHAPTER X.

OFFICIAL AND PROFESSIONAL LISTS.

CONGRESSMEN. — Until 1808, this county formed with Her-
kimer, Oneida, Jefferson and St. Lawrence, the 15th Dis
trict ; from 1808 to 1812, with Herkimer. Jefferson and St.
Lawrence, the 10th ; from 18 12 to 1822, with Jefferson and
St. Lawrence, the 18th ; from 1822 to 1832, with Jefferson,
Oswego and St. Lawrence (double district), the 20th ; from
1832 to 1842, with Herkimer, the 16th ; from 1842 to 1851,
with St. Lawrence, the 18th ; and since 1851, with Jefferson,
the 23d. With one exception, the representatives from this
county, have resided in Lowville.

18th Congress, 1823-5. Ela Collins. 30th Congress, 1847-9. Wm. Collins.

26th-27th Con., 1839-41. Andrew 33d Congress, 1853-5. Caleb Lyon,

W. Doig. of Lyonsdale. ,
22d Congress, 1831-3. Chas. Dayan.

STATE SENATORS. — This county formed a part of tbe West
ern District until 1815, when it was included in the Eastern.
From 1822 to 1846 it formed a part of the 5th, and since
1846, of the 21st District. It now elects with Jefferson
county. The senators from Lewis county have been :

1809-12. Walter Martin, Martinsb'g. 1847. Nelson J. Beach, Watson.

1819-22. Levi Adams, Martinsb'g. 1851. Caleb Lyon of Lyonsdale,2
1827-28. Charles Dayan,i Lowville. Greig.

1834-37. Francis Seger, Greig. 1852-53. Ashley Davenport, Den-
1843-46. Carlos P. Scovil, Martins- mark.

burgh. 1858-59. Jos. A. Willard, Lowville.

1 Elected in place of George Brayton of Oneida county, resigned.

2 Elected March 27, 1851, in place of Alauson Skinner of Jefierson county,
resigned.

Assemblymen. Judges. Sheriff's. 289

ASSEMBLYMEN. — Lewis county was united with Jefferson
arid St. Lawrence as one assembly district, until 1808, since
which it has been entitled to one member alone. Its mem
bers in the assembly have been :

1808. Lewis Graves, Denmark. 1837. Geo. D. Ruggles, Lowville.

1809. Judah Barnes, Turin. 1838. William Dominick, Greig.

1810. Lewis Graves, Denmark. 1839. Sanford Coe, Leyden.

1811. Nathaniel Merriam, Leyden. 1840. Chester Buck, Lowville.

1812. William Darrow, Lowville. 1841. Eliphalet Sears, Leyden.

1813. Levi Collins, West Turin. 1842. Carlos P. Scovil, Martinsburgh.
3814. Chillus Doty, Martinsburgh. 1843. Amos Buck, Denmark.

1815. Ela Collins, Lowville. 1844. Alburn Foster, Martinsburgh.

1816-7. Chillus Doty, Martinsburgh. 1845. Dean S. Howard, Greig.

1818. Levi Hart, Turin. 1846. Nelson J. Beach, Watson.

1819. Levi Robbins, Denmark. 1847. Thomas Baker, Leyden.

1820. Nathaniel Merriam, Leyden. 1848. David D. Reamer, Diana.

1821. Stephen Hart, Turin. 1849. Diodate Pease, Martinsburgh.

1822. Chester Buck, Lowville. 1850. John Newkirk, Pinckney.

1823. Abner W. Spencer, Denmark. 1851. Caleb Lyon* of Lyonsdale,

1824. Caleb Lyon, Greig. Greig.

1825. Amos Buck, Jr., Denmark. 1851. Dean S. Howard, Greig.

1826. Amos Miller, Leyden. 1852. John Benedict, Lowville.

1827. John W. Martin, Martinsb'rg. 1853. Seymour Green, Osceola.
1828-9. Geo. D. Ruggles, Lowville. 1854. Jonathan C. Collins, W. Turin.

1830. Joseph 0. Mott, Turin. 1855. Aaron Parsons, Leyden.

1831. Harrison Blodget, Denmark. 1856. David Algur, Leyden.

1832. Andrew W. Doig, Lowville. 1857. Lucian Clark, Denmark.

1833. Eli Rogers, Jr., Turin. 1858. Homer Collins, West Turin.

1834. Geo. D. Ruggles, Lowville. 1859. Lyman R. Lyon, Greig.
1835-6. Charles Dayan, Lowville. 1860. Richardson T. Hough, Lewis.

FIRST JUDGES of the county court, appointed until 1847.

Daniel Kelley, March 29, 1806. John W. Martin,2 March 16, 1833.

Jonathan Collins, June 1, 1809. Francis Seger,3 April 9, 1843.

Silas Stow, June 27, 1815. Edward A. Brown, Nov., 1855.

Edward Bancroft, Jan. 24, 1823. Henry E. Turner, Nov., 1859.

SHERIFFS, with the date of appointment or election.

Chillus Doty, April 3, 1805. David Miller, Nov., 1825.

Ehud Stephens, June 9, 1808. Hezekiah Scovil, Nov., 1828.

John Ives, Feb. 28, 1810. Ashley Davenport, Nov., 1831.

Chillus Doty, March 2, 1811. John Whittlesey, Nov., 1834.

Silas Stow, March 2, 1814. Elias Gallup, Nov., 1837.

Levi Adams, March 15, 1815. Alvin Farr, Nov., 1840.

Sylvester Miller, June 15, 1818. Elihu Parsons, Nov., 1843.

Ehud Stephens, June 6, 1820. George Shepard, Nov., 1846.

Ira Stephens, Jan. 10, 1821. Aaron Parsons, jr., Nov., 1849.

Sylvester Miller, Feb. 12, 1821. Peter Kirley, Nov., 1852.

Ira Stephens, Nov., 1822. Gilbert E. Woolworth, Nov., 1855,
Chester Ray, Nov., 1858.

1Lyon resigned April 26, 1851, and Howard was elected to fill the vacancy
for the extra session.

2 Judge Martin in an address to the grand jury upon his retiring from the
bench in April, 1843, remarked that during an official term of ten years he
had not been required to sentence one prisoner to state prison. There was
not at that time a single distillery in the county.

3 Elected at the first judicial election, June 1847.

292 Personal and Political Statistics.

Foot, Anson, Feb. 25, 1806. Perry, David, Aug. 12, 1806.

French, Elkanah, Sept. 8, 1833. Shaw, Otis, Oct. 25, 1833.

Gage, Alden, jr., Aug. 14, 1813. Stevens, S. Rodney, July 10, 1829.

Hanon. Dennis B., Jan. 16, 1844. Stone, A. C., July 6, 1842,

Hastings, Charles P., March 21, 1842. Sturtevant, James M., July 19, 1832.

Hawn, Abraham, Jan. 6, 1832. Sweet, Jonathan, July 11, 1805.

Huntingdon, Ralph, Jan. 29. 1808. Taylor, Francis L., Aug. 1, 1832.

Jerome, Levi R., March 12, 1844. Thompson, William, July 18, 1832.

Kellogg, Joseph, April 3, 1843. Wait, Samuel C., April 10, 1833.

Miller, David, March 19, 1818. Wellman, Manly, July 19, 1805.

Miller, Sylvester, Feb. 12, 1816. Whiting, John, Dec. 15, 1826.

Orvis, Charles, Oct. 1, 1836. Wood, Charles, May 3, 1836.

Peden, James T., Jan. 26, 1844. Woodman, Joseph, May 3, 1830.

CHAPTER XI.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES.

PERSONAL STATISTICS. — The accompanying table presents
the total population of each town as reported in the official
censuses. It will be borne in mind that the decrease is in
some cases only apparent, and due to the division of towns.

The number of electors under the former system of
property qualification was as follows :

Freeholders Freeholders Renting tenements Total,

worth over $250. worth $50 to $250. worth over $5

per annum.

1807, 574 72 450 1096

1814, 614 71 499 1184

1821, 740 34 617 1391

POLITICAL STATISTICS. — The vote upon governor at the
several elections in this county has been as follows :

1807.— Morgan Lewis, 419 ; D. D. Tompkins, 411.

1810.— D. D. Tompkins, 533 ; /. Plait, 302. The former
had majorities in every town except Denmark and Harris-
burgh.

1813.— D. D. Tompkins, 313 ; S. Van Rensselaer, 229. The
former had majorities except in Denmark, Martinsburgh and
Turin.

1816.— D. D. Tompkins, 326 ; Rufus King, 228. Mr. King
had a majority only in Denmark.

1817.— DeWitt Clinton, 381 ; Peter B. Porter,

1820.— DeWitt Clinton, 334; D. D. Tompkins, 314. The
former had majorities except in Harrisburgh, Lowville and
Pinckney.

Personal Statistics.

293

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292 Personal and Political Statistics.

Foot, Anson, Feb. 25, 1806. Perry, David, Aug. 12, 1806.

French, Elkanah, Sept, 8, 1833. Shaw, Otis, Oct. 25, 1833.

Gage, Aldeu, jr., Aug. 14, 1813. Stevens, S. Rodney, July 10, 1829.

Hanon. Dennis B., Jan. 16, 1844. Stone, A. C., July 6, 1842,

Hastings, Charles P., March 21, 1842. Sturtevant, James M., July 19, 1832.

Hawn, Abraham, Jan. 6, 1832. Sweet, Jonathan, July 11, 1805.

Huntingdon, Ralph, Jan. 29. 1808. Taylor, Francis L., Aug. 1, 1832.

Jerome, Levi R., March 12, 1844. Thompson, William, July 18, 1832.

Kellogg, Joseph, April 3, 1843. Wait, Samuel C., April 10, 1833.

Miller, David, March 19, 1818. Wellman, Manly, July 19, 1805.

Miller, Sylvester, Feb. 12, 1816. Whiting, John,' Dec. 15, 1826.

Orvis, Charles, Oct. 1, 1836. Wood, Charles, May 3, 1836.

Peden, James T., Jan. 26, 1844. Woodman, Joseph, May 3, 1830.

CHAPTER XI.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES.

The number of electors under the former system of
property qualification was as follows :

Freeholders Freeholders Renting tenements Total,

worth over $250. worth $50 to $250. worth over $5

per annum.

1807, 574 72 450 1096

1814, 614 71 499 1184

1821, 740 34 617 1391

POLITICAL STATISTICS. — The vote upon governor at the
several elections in this county has been as follows :

1807.— Morgan Lewis, 419 ; D. D. Tom.pkins, 411.

1810.—1). D. Tompkins, 533; J. Platt, 302. The former
had majorities in every town except Denmark and Harris-
burgh.

1813.— D. D. Tompkins, 313 ; S. Van Rensselaer, 229. The
former had majorities except in Denmark, Martinsburgh and
Turin.

1816.— D. D. Tompkins, 326 ; Rufus King, 228. Mr. King
had a majority only in Denmark.

1817.— DeWitt Clinton, 381 ; Peter B. Porter,

1820.— DeWitt Clinton, 334; D. D. Tompkins, 314. The
former had majorities except in Harrisburgh, Lowville and
Pinckney.

Personal Statistics.

293

No. of voters by Towns
at Various Periods.

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294 Political Statistics.

1822. — Joseph C. Yates, 776 ; Solomon Southwick, 1, in
Martinsburgh. The vote on Lieut. Governor was 467 for
Root, and 300 for Buntington.

1824.— -S. Young, 678; DeWitt Clinton, 502. Clinton's
only majority was in Denmark.

1826.— W. B. Rochester, 768 ; DeWitt Clinton, 726. The
towns of Denmark, Harrisburgh, Turin and Watson gave
majorities for Clinton.

1828.— M. Van Buren, 964 ; S. Thompson, 778 ; S. South-
wick, 66. Van Buren had majorities'in Greig, Leyden, Low-
ville, Martinsburgh, Pinckney, Turin and Watson, and
Thompson in all the other towns.

1830.— E. T. Throop, 1031 ; F. Granger, 618 ; E. Root, 14.
Throop had majorities in Diana, Greig, Leyden, Lowville,
Pinckney, Turin, Watson and West Turin, and Granger in
the other towns.

1832.— W. L. Marcy, 1450 ; F. granger, 836. Marcy had
majorities in all the towns except Denmark, Harrisburgh
and Lowville.

1834.— TP. L. Marcy, 1230; W. H. Seward, 852. The
majorities were the same as in 1832.

1836.— W. L. Marcy, 1101; /. Buel, 400. Marcy had
majorities in every town except Lowville.

1838— W. L. Marcy, 1308; W. H. Seward, 1156. Marcy
had majorities in Greig, Leyden, Martinsburgh, Pinckney,
Turin, Watson & West Turin, and Seward in other towns.

1840.— W. L. Marcy, 1786 ; W. H. Seward, 1690 ; G. Smith,
40. Marcy had majorities in Diana, Greig, Leyden, Pinck
ney, Watson and West Turin, and Seward in the other towns.

1842.— W. C. Bouck, 1716 ; L. Bradish, 1519 ; JJ. Stewart,
64. Bouck had majorities in Croghan, Diana, Greig, Harris-
burgh, Lowville, Martinsburgh and Turin, and Bradish in
the other towns.

1844.— S. Wright, 2080 ; M. Fillmore, 1649 ; A. Stewart,
153. Wright had majorities in Croghan, Greig, Leyden,
Osceola, Pinckney, Turin, Watson and West Turin, and
Fillmore in the other towns.

1846.— J. Young, 1828; S. Wright, 1172; H.Bradley, 166.
Young had majorities in every town except Croghan,
Diana, Osceola, Pinckney and Watson, which went for
Wright.

1848.— H. Fish, 1286 ; /. A. Dix, 1250 ; JR. H. Walworth,
804 ; W. Goodell, 10. Fish had majorities in Denmark, Di
ana, Harrisburgh, Lowville, Martinsburgh, Pinckney and
Turin ; Dix in Croghan, Leyden, New Bremen, Osceola,
Watson and West Turin, and Walworth in Greig.

Political Statistics. Aid to the Greeks. 295

1850.— H. Seymour, 2004; W. Hunt, 1618; W. L. Chap
lin, 5, Seymour had majorities in every town except Den
mark, Harrisburgh, Lowville and Martinsburgh, which went
for Hunt.

1852.— H. Seymour, 2549 ; W. Hunt, 1787 ; M. Tompkins,
268, Seymour had majorities in Diana, Greig, Leyden,
Martinsburgh, Montague, New Bremen, Osceola, Pinckney,
Turin, Watson and West Turin ; Hunt in Denmark, Harris-
burgh and Lowville, and Tompkins in Croghan.

1854.— H. Seymour, 1583 ; M. H. Clark, 1449 ; D. Ullmann,
138 ; G. C. Bronson, 131. Clark had majorities in Denmark,
Greig, Harrisburgh, Lowville, Martinsburgh, Montague,
Osceola and Turin, and Seymour in the other towns.

1856.— /. A. King, 2949; A. J.Parker, 1173; E. Brooks,
431. King had majorities in every town except High Mar
ket and Lewis, which went for Parker.

1858.— E. Ji. Morgan, 2557; Ji. J. Parker, 1861; G.
Smith, 126 ; L. Burrows, 38. Morgan had majorities in every
town except Croghan, High Market, Lewis, Montague,
New Bremen, Osceola, Pinckney and West Turin, which
went for Parker.

CONSTITUTIONAL VOTES. — In April 1821, the county voted
for convention, 958 ; and against convention, 94. In 1822,
the county voted 550/or, and 138 against adopting the Con
stitution.

In 1845, the vote for a convention was 1277, and against
one, 738. The vote on the amended constitution, was 1828
for, and 370 against it. Upon granting equal suffrage to
colored persons, the vote was, for 879, and against, 1,189.

STATE LOANS. — This county received a share of the $400,-
000 loan of 1808, in proportion to number of its electors.
Of the $5,355,694.28 U. S. deposit fund received by this
State in 1837, $103,501.02 came to this county. The capi
tal reported Dec. 6, 1859, was $32,977.80. The present
commissioners are Orrin Woolworth of Turin and Leonard
C. Kilham of Martinsburgh.

AID TO THE GREEKS. — On the 20th of Feb., 1827, a meet
ing was held in Lowville village to adopt measures for aid
ing the Greeks then struggling for independence and re
ported as famishing and destitute. This expression of
sympathy was but a part of a general feeling which at that
time prevailed through the country. The circular of the
Albany executive committee was read, and a series of reso
lutions adopted, in which the people " once first in science,
freedom, arts and arms " were declared entitled to aid as a
Christian country struggling against Tartar tyranny. The

296 Aid to the Greeks. California Companies.

clergy were invited to call attention to the subject from the
pulpit, and town officers were urged to solicit donations on
town meeting day. A central committee composed of Philo
Rockwell and Edward Bancroft of Martinsburgh, and Isaac
W. Bostwick, David Perry arid James H. Leonard of Low
ville, was appointed, and the following persons were re
quested to solicit gifts in clothing, grain or money, to be
transmitted to the state committee at Albany, viz.: Dr.
Sylvester Miller, chairman, Orrin Wilbur, secretary, Joseph
A. Northrup, Stephen Leonard, Eli Collins, Palmer Town-
send, Isaiah Bailey, Moses Waters, Truman Stephens, Wm.
Shull, Constant Bosworth, John Stephens, Wm. Dingrnan,
Chester Buck, Geo. D. Euggles, Daniel T. Buck, Lemuel
Wood, Benjamin Davenport, James Henry, Solomon King, jr.,
Thomas Townsend, Benjamin Hillman, Eleazer Hill, Jacob
Dimick, Melancton W. Welles, and Jarcd House. A spirited
address was prepared and circulated, and in the first week
$120 were raised. The ship Chancellor, which sailed from
New York in the spring with supplies, arrived safely and
proved timely and serviceable to these people. These efforts
continued to the spring of 1828, when a contribution of
$170 in cash and clothing was sent from Lowville, and
formed a part of the outfit of the brig Herald, which sailed
about the close of May. A general county meeting was
held at the court house in Martinsburgh in April, 18^8, for
the promotion of this object, and town committees were
appointed.

CALIFORNIA COMPANIES. — While the citizens of Lewis have
thus proved themselves susceptible to the appeals of op
pressed humanity in classic Greece, not a few must confess
that the golden fame of California lost none of its essentials
in traveling across from the other side of our continent.
Under this impulse were formed The Lewis County Mining
Association and the Lewis County Mining Co. The former
organized at Turin, Feb. 10, 1849, consisted of fourteen
members who were joined by others, but disbanded in a few
days, and only a few went to California. The latter, formed
at Lowville a few days after, was to have expired April 1,
1851. Capital limited to 300 shares of $50, and affairs
under seven directors, chosen annually. The persons going
to dig gold, were to have expenses paid, except clothing,
and were entitled to half the proceeds, the balance being
divided among the stockholders. The diggers were to act
under a superintendent, arid the articles of agreement re
quired them to be honest, temperate, sabbath-keeping and
industrious. If sick, they were to be nursed, and if they

Semi-centennial Fourth of July. 297

died they were to be decently buried, if circumstances per
mitted. The constitution and by-laws, as published in the
Northern Journal, February 27, 1849, never went into effect,
chiefly from the impossibility of finding any men willing to
go on the terms proposed, and the utter inability of the
company to raise money for sending them. Notwithstand
ing an allusion to the 1st day of April, there is no doubt but
that the enterprise began and ended in good faith. Perhaps
fifty men from this county went to California for gold, near
ly all of whom returned wiser but poorer.

THE NATIONAL SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION was held
at Lowville, July 4, 1826, and presented a feature of pecu
liar interest from the number of revolutionary veterans
assembled from all parts of the county to honor it with
their presence. Fifty-five of these were present at the
dinner, and their names, present and former residence and
age were presented as follows :

Names. Residence. Former Residence. Ages.

Levi Adams, Martinsburgh, .... Granby, Ct., 63.

Charles Allen, do Windsor, Ct., 64.

Joseph Anderson, Denmark,. . .Cummington, Vt., 11.

Jonathan Austin, Harrisburgh,. Charleston, R. I., 11.

Jonathan Ball, Lowville, Southborough, Mass., . . 75.

Jesse Benjamin, Martinsburgh, . Preston, Ct., 68.

Luther Bingham, Turin, Canterbury, Ct., 67.

Taylor Chapman, Lowville, . . . .Windsor, Ct., 63.

Leonard Chambers, Denmark,. .Dublin, Ire., 78.

Samuel Clark, do Newton, Mass., 71.

Isaac Clinton, Lowville, Milford, Ct., 68.

Josiah Dewey, Leyden, . Lebanon 68.

Benjamin Dowd, Turin, Middleton, Ct., 64.

Giles Easton, Martinsburgh,. . .East Hartford, Ct., 64.

Thomas Fair, do ... Chesterfield, N. H., 67.

Samuel Garnsey, Lowville,. . . . Dummerston, Vt., 64.

Timothy Gorden, Martinsburgh,Freehold, N. J., 70.

Samuel Gowdy, do Enfield, Ct., 66.

Elijah Granger, do Southwick, Mass., 64.

Peter Hathery, Turin, Minden, N. Y., 59.

John I ves, do . , Meriden, Ct., 65.

Solomon King, Lowville Amenia, N. Y,, 70.

William Kisner, Harrisburgh, .Canajoharie, N. Y., 66.

Nathaniel Lane, Lowville, Peekskill, N. Y., 58.

Ezekiel Lynian, Turin, Canterbury, Ct., 66.

Zelak Mead, Harrisburgh, Salem, N. Y., 75.

William Miller, Martinsburgh,. Middletown, N. Y.,. ..67.

Ithamer Morgan, Turin, West Springfield, Mass. ,64.

Charles Morse, Lowville, Plainfield, Ct, 63.

Jeremiah Mott, Martinsburgh, . . Elizabethtown, N. J., . . 63.

298 Revolutionary Soldiers.

Ichabod Murray, Lowville, . . ...New Milford, Ct., 70.

Jacob Nash, Denmark, Braintree, Mass., 90.

Hem*y Mumford, Martinsburgh, .Boston, Mass., 86.

Silas Perkins, do .Windham, Ct. 62.

Isaac Perry, Lowville, Predericksburgh, N. Y., 66.

Salmon Root, Martinsburgh, . . .Farmington, Ct., 63.

Peter Ryal, Denmark, Fishkill, N. Y., 67.

Elijah Skeels, Martinsburgh, . . . Kent, Ct, 73.

Levi Smith, Leyden, Haddam, Ct, 73.

John Shull, Lowville, Palatine, N. Y., 81.

Heridrick Schaffer, Lowville, . .Manheim, N. Y., 66.

Abiather Spaulding, Denmark, . Dover, N. Y., 69.

James Stevens, Lowville, Glastonbury, Ct., 69.

Nicholas Streeter, Mart'sburgh, Stone Arabia, N. Y 74.

Joseph Talmadge, do East Hampton, N. Y.,..71.

Edward Thompson, Lowville, . . Granby, Ct., 66.

Jesse Thrall, do . . Windsor, Ct, 72.

Daniel Topping, Turin, Southampton, N. Y., . . . 84.

Willard Warriner, Mart'sburgh,Wilbraham, Mass., 70.

Joseph Van Ingen, Denmark, . . Schenectady, N. Y., . . . . 63.

Jeremiah Wilcox, Mart'sburgh, Middletown, Ct., 81.

Josiah Woolworth, Leyden, . . .Ellington 73.

Levi Woolworth, Turin Suffield, Ct., 69.

Samuel Weyman, Martiusburgh, Brethren, Mass., 67.

Mathias Wormwood, Lowville, .Johnstown, N. Y., 75.

Gen. Ruggles acted as marshal of the day, and the fol
lowing military companies participated in the celebration,
viz: Artillery from Turin, Capt. Homer Collins; Light
Infantry from Martinsburgh, Capt. Conkey; Rifles from
Lowville, Capt. Dodge ; and Rifles from Martinsburgh, Capt.
Coates. The Union band of Lowville Academy under Capt.
G. De Feriet, discoursed patriotic music and the Rev. Isaac
Clinton delivered an oration at the Methodist church.

The census of 1840, returned the names of thirty-eight
revolutionary pensioners, of whom fourteen were widows.
Their names and ages were as follows :

Denmark, Elizabeth Graves, 77; John S. Clark, 78;
Louisa Munger, 79; Hannah Mores, 88; Elias Sage, 83;
Joseph Van Ingen ; Peter Royal, 80.

Greig, John Slaughter, 86.

Harrisbwgh, Elias Jones, 81 ; William Risner, 81; Garret
Marcellus, 80.

Lowville, John Buck, 76 ; Elisha Buck; William Chad wick,
79 ; Arthur Gordon, 80.

Leyden, Lydia Dewey, 79 ; Elizabeth Cone, 76; Ada Mil
ler, 86 ; Lewis Smith, 87 ; William Topping, 75 ; Hezekiah
Johnson, 79.

Martinsburgh, Ruth Adams; Jesse Benjamin, 81; Anna

Militia Organizations. 299

Easton, 69 ; Lydia Green, 80 ; Edward Johnson, 81 ; Salmou
Root, 77; Peter Vandriessen, 75; Bartholomew Williams, 76.

Pinckney, Catharine Forbes, 84.

Turin, Benjamin Dowd, 79 ; Giles Foster, 83.

Watson, Sarah Puffer, 75; Jacob Shutz, 78; Elizabeth
Webb, 81; Lewis Day, 73; Sarah Farr, 73.

West Turin, Jonathan Collins, 84; Simeon Strickland, 54.

THE MILITIA of Lewis, Jefferson and St. Lawrence co's.
were formed into the 26th Brigade, April 11, 1805, and
Walter Martin was appointed brigadier general. The 46th
regiment, formed on the same date, had for its officers,
Jonathan Collins lieut. col., Leonard Sage pay master, Wm.
Holladay qr. master, and Wm. Darrow surgeon. The follow
ing were appointed captains : Jonathan Edwards, Morris S.
Miller, Solomon Buck, Jabez Wright, Oliver Bush, Ephraim
Luce, Enos Scott, and Richard Coxe. Upon the appoint
ment of Collins to the office of judge, Richard Coxe suc
ceeded as It. col. com., Feb. 11, 1811, and this officer held
this rank when war was declared.

The 101st regiment was formed June 15, 1808, compris
ing the towns of Lowville, Denmark, Harrisburgh, and
Piuckney, its first officers being Luke Winchell, It. col. com.,
Solomon Buck 1st major, Zeboam Carter, 2d major, Wm.
Card adjutant, Andrew Mills qr. master, and Wm. Darrow
surgeon. Its first captains were John Bush, Nathan Cook,
David Cobb, Wm. Clark, Robert Clafton, Jesse Wilcox and
Ezra King. Zeboam Carter was colonel of this regiment
when war was declared and these two regiments comprised
the whole county through that period.

The first troop of horse was formed in this county in
1809, having Levi Collins capt., Abner Clapp 1st lieut., Ado-
niran Foot 2d lieut., Johnson Talcott cornet, and Leonard
House, Levi Hart and David Waters, sergeants.1

The troubles with England occasioned an act of congress
passed March 30, 1808, detaching 100,000 men from the
militia and placing them under the orders of the general
government. Of these 14,389 were drawn from this state
and 350 from Martin's brigade. None of the militia of this
region were called out under this act. On the 10th of
April, 1812, in anticipation of a war, the president was
authorized to require the several states to organize, arm

1 The first roll comprised besides the above, Warren Church, Oliver Allis,
Comfort Parsons, James Henry, John Waters, Elisha and Richard* Arthur,
Elijah Halladay, James Coates, Selah Hills, Joshua Loomis, Joseph Bradford,
James Miller, Ithamer Ward, Aaron Parks, Johnson Foster, Benj. Baker,
Ghirdon Lord, Winthrop Allen, Levi Hunt, Eber Hubbard and John Clo-
bridge.

300 The War. Militia Drafts.

and equip their proportions of 100,000 men to be officered
from the militia then existing, or others at the option of the
states and to receive the same pay, rations and emoluments
as in the regular army when in actual service. The whole
or a part of this draft might be called out as occasion
required, and the levies were to be drawn for a term of six
months. Under this authority, 13,500 men were detached
in this state, and 230 from the 26th brigade. A company
was drafted for three months, under Captain Lyman Dem-
ing of Denmark, in the regiment of Col. Christopher P.
Bellinger of German Flats. They served at Sackets Harbor
from May 12 to August 21, 1812, when they were discharged.

War was declared June 12, while these men were in
service, and upon the receipt of the news the governor by
general orders, dated June 23, authorized Gen. 5rown to
call upon the militia of Lewis, Jefferson and St. Lawrence
counties, and equip them at the state arsenals at Watertown
and Russell. Under this authority one company of 72 men
besides officers was called into service from this county for
a term of six months, under Capt. Nathan Cook of Low-
ville, and placed under Col. Thomas B. Benedict of DeKalb.
This company drew their arms at Watertown, escorted two
heavy loads of arms to the arsenal at Russell, and repaired
to Ogdensburgh where they remained in the presence of the
enemy through the season, and assisted in repelling the
attack in October.1 Rowland Nimocks of Turin, was lieut.,
and Ebenezer Newton of Pinckney, ensign of this company.
Major Oliver Bush was on duty in this draft.

During the winter following some arms and ammunition
were deposited in Martinsburgh in the care of Gen. Martin,
and 200 muskets and some ammunition in Turin, Leyden and
Lowville upon the bond of Richard Coxe, Daniel Kelley,
James H. Leonard, Jesse Wilcox, Levi Hart and Levi Col
lins.2 An alarm for the safety of Sackets Harbor, occasioned
by the arrival of Sir George Prevost in Kingston, and a
threatened attack by crossing on the ice, led Gen. Dearborn
to call out the militia en masse in this and other counties on
the 1st of March, 1813, and they remained at the harbor
and at Browriville till the 20th3 under Brig. Gen. Oliver

1 Capt. Cook was arrested by order of Gen. Brown upon a charge of
cowardice on the occasion of this attack, but was honorably acquitted, and
the affair did him no injury where the facts were known. He was afterwards
colonel'of the regiment in which he belonged.

2 Governor Tompkins's message of April 1, 1813.

3 Col. Coxe's (46th) regiment consisted of companies under captains
Truman Stephens and Adam Conkey of Martinsburgh, Winthrop Shepard and
Hezekiah Scovil of Turin, Ethemer Wetmore and John Felshaw of Leyden,

The War. Militia Drafts. 301

Collins of Oneida county. The fear of an attack ceased
with the melting of the ice, and a project for an aggressive
movement, was postponed until the fleet could cooperate.
A third draft for three months was made in Sept., 1813,
consisting of 60 men under Capt. "Winthrop Shepard of
Turin, and a company under Capt. Wm. Root of Denmark.
They served under Gen. Collins in the regiment of Col. Geo.
H. Nellis from Sept. 14 to Nov. 4, 1813, at Sackets Harbor
and Brownville, during the costly preparations for the mi
serable failure of Wilkinson in his boasted descent upon
Montreal.1 An inspection return dated Sept., 1813, showed
that the 26th brigade contained in the 46th and 101st regi
ments (Coxe's and Carter's), seven companies each, and a
total of 30] and 367 rank and file.

A call en masse was made, and the militia of the county
served in one regiment, under Col. Carter, from July 30 to
August 22, 1814, at Sackets Harbor.2 Gen. Martin was on
duty upon this occasion. The last call en masse was made
October 7, 18 14, and the militia of Lewis county were com
prised in four consolidated companies under Col. Carter.3
They served at Sackets Harbor till November 11, 1814.
Two companies of cavalry under Capt. Sanford Safford,
Abner Clapp and Calvin McKnight, served at Brownville in
Maj. Levi Collins's regiment, and a company of Silver Grays
under Capt. Jonathan Collins, volunteered for the service
and were on duty from October 28, to November 9, 1814, in
Lieut. Col. Calvin Britain's regiment.4

The above comprises the military service of the citizens

and Luke Winchell of Lowville. Col. Carter's (101st) regiment included the
companies of captains Moses Waters, Joel Murray and Cyrus Trowbridge of
Lowville, Israel Kellogg and Francis Saunders of Denmark, and Capt. Hart
Humphrey of Harrisburgh. Winchell's company consisted of "Silver Gfreys"
or exempts, Bradford Arthur served as lieutenant.

1 This draft included Montgomery, Madison, Otsego, Herkimer, Oneida,
Onondaga, Jefferson and Lewis counties. In the general orders of Oct. 4, the
general rendezvous was ordered to be at Martinsburgh, Lowville or Champion
as Gren. Collins might direct. The 26th brigade (Martin's) was directed to
furnish 2 captains, 4 lieutenants, 4 ensigns, 10 sergeants, 12 corporals, 2
drummers and 180 privates. While encamped near the harbor the snow fell
a foot deep, and the weather was severe.

2 Captains Waters, Root, Conkey, Tallmadge, Kellogg, Knapp, Trowbridge,
Murray, Scovil, Shepard, Wetmore and Felshaw, served with their compan
ies at this call.

3 Under Captains Kellogg, Root, Tallmadge and Waters. The general orders
making this call were dated Oct. 3, and state that Sackets Harbor is in imme
diate danger of invasion. Oneida, Herkimer and Lewis counties were com
prised in the call, the whole to be under the command of Gen. Collins.

4 This company of exempts numbered 56 men, officers and privates. A few
citizens of Pinckney joined a company of exempts in Lorraine, under Capt.
Joseph Wilcox.

302 Notes upon the Seasons.

of Lewis county during the war.1 The settlements were
frequently alarmed by rumors of Indian invasions from
Canada. The route through the county became a thorough
fare of armies, and every resource of the valley was called
into use to supply the troops passing through, or the garri
sons on the frontier. The first body of regulars that passed
was Forsyth's rifle company.2 Armies under Gens. Dear
born, Izard,3 Covington and Dodge,4 besides many small
parties of regulars, marines, militia and sailors, trains of
artillery and arms under escort, went through at various
times.

In the winter of 1813-4, some ten or fifteen teamsters
were hired from the north part of this county, and many
more from Jefferson, to remove flour from Sackets Harbor
to French Mills, and from thence to Plattsburgh. They had
returned as far as Chateaugay, where 32 teamsters had
stopped at an inn for the night, and were carousing to wear
away the tedious hours, as sleep in such a crowd was out of
the question. Their gayety was suddenly arrested by the en
trance of a British officer, who informed them that the
house was surrounded by his men, and that they were all
prisoners. Their sleighs were loaded with plunder and they
set out for Cornwall, where, after four days' detention, they
were paid and dismissed.

NOTES UPON THE SEASONS, 1799. — The summer pleasant,
and cooled by frequent showers. A slight frost occurred
early in September, which was not followed by hard frost
till Dec. Heavy rains occurred in Sept. and Oct., followed
by a mild and pleasant Autumn. The winter following was
open, with snow of moderate depth.

1800. — Snows disappeared on the last of March ; the crops
good and the autumn more pleasant than the former. The
winter of 1801-2 was memorable as warm and open. Many
families, intending to remove from New England by the first
sleighing, were detained till Feb. 24, when a deep snow fell
but soon wasted.

1802. — Plowing in March. Warm and wet in the early
part of the season, giving a great amount of vegetable
growth, but towards harvest the wheat fields were struck
with rust, destroying the crop.

!The author is indebted to Leonard C. Davenport of Lowville, for many
facts concerning drafts and calls upon the militia.

2 Shadrack Snell of Martinsburgh, a lad, ran away, joined this company, was
taken prisoner on the lines, and died in Dartmoor prison.

3Izard's army passed in September, 1812.

4Gren. D. was from Johnstown, and married Washington Irving's sister.
His brigade of about 1000 men was quartered a few days at the old Academy.

Notes upon the Seasons. 303

1803. — Long memorable as the dry summer. The streams
were, it is said, lower than ever since known. This region
of country suffered from the drouth much less than por
tions of Jefferson co.

1807. — A snow storm from the north east, set in on the
31st of March, and continued till April 5. It fell on a level
five feet deep, did not drift, and went off almost as soon as
it came, producing a flood which has never since been
equalled upon Black river. The grist mill at Martinsburgh
was swept off on this occasion. The season which followed
was good for crops.

1806 to 1812. — A series of cold summers, although in
1806 the corn crop in Lowville was excellent.

1811. — Spring rye sowed in Leyden March 21.

1813. — Oct. 12, snow two feet deep in Denmark. In the
winter following the snow fell deep and was much drifted.

1815. — Crops good, wheat and potatoes excellent, corn
light.

1816. — Long memorable as the cold season. The spring
was mild and a few days of April oppressively warm. This
was followed by cold, and frost occurred in every month of
the year. On Pinckney it snowed and drifted like winter.
June 6th, 7th, 8th, the snow lay ancle deep in the fields and
many newly shorn sheep perished. In Denmark the snow
lay an inch deep on the 9th of June, and ice formed a quar
ter of an inch thick, corn and garden vegetables generally
were killed, but grass was an average crop, and in Lowville
the wheat was not cut off. A frost on the 26th of August,
killed down what remained of the corn. The autumn was
mild, and the winter late. On the 26th of December, there
was no snow, but the ground was frozen.

1817. — The potatoe crop was exceedingly fine, in one
instance 700 bushels to the acre. Other crops were excel
lent.

1820. — May 25, snow an inch deep in Denmark.

1824. — May 14, snow four inches deep in Denmark. On
the 26th the ground was frozen hard, and on the 28th of
October, snow lay a foot and a half deep. The winter fol
lowing was open, and there was not two weeks of sleighing.
The snow was gone March 1st.

1828. — Hot sunshine and copious showers produced a
sickly season. Root crops were excellent, but winter wheat
blasted and yielded more straw than grain.

1829. — An unusually bountiful year, wheat, rye, corn and
almost every fruit of the earth good. Apples yielded
abundantly, but there were no plums. December was like

304 Notes upon the Seasons. Epidemics.

April, warm and spring like. Six weeks before there had
been snow enough for sleighing.

1830. — A more abundant yield than on any previous
year. Barn room was every where insufficient, and most
grains (especially wheat) superior. Corn was not as good
as usual, owing to spring frosts. Rains frequent in harvest.
Apples and plums plenty. A terrific hail storm crossed
Leyden June 14. The track was half a mile wide and from
four to five long, and the storm was preceded 15 to 20
minutes by roaring of thunder.

1832. — Drouth very severe.

1833. — A rainy season and heavy freshets.

1834. — May 14, snow three feet deep in drifts in Denmark,
and on the 18th nearly as great, plum and cherry trees in
blossom were broken down with snow, and many trees were
killed by frost.

1835. — A remarkable yield of wheat, averaging in some
fields 35 to 40 bushels to the acre.

1841. — May 6, great freshet, and much damage done at
and below Carthage.

1849. — Memorable for drouth and running fires in the
woods east of the river.

1853. — Summer dry and grasshoppers abundant. About
the middle of September rains revived vegetation, and in
some places fruit trees put forth blossoms in the fall.

1856. — Sept. 15, destructive hail storm crossed Turin
attended with wind and rain. About 3000 panes of glass
broken.

1857. — May. Flood from melting snows.

EPIDEMICS. — A fever of a typhoid type appeared in the
county in the winter of 1812—13 in common with a large
district of country in the northern and eastern states, and in
Canada. It was especially prevalent in March and April,
and was more fatal to men of strong constitutions than to
those naturally feeble. It was attended with great pain in
the stomach and chest, burning fever, and in the last
moments with delirium.

A malignant erysipelas prevailed extensively throughout
the county in the spring of 1843 and in 1845, proving
especially fatal to parturient women. The slightest wound
or abrasion would sometimes become the seat of extensive
ulceration, and sloughing, and the loss of parts thus oc
casioned was extremely slow in replacing. Other less
marked periods of mortality have occurred, but only as
portions of wide spread epidemics, and few sections of the

Tornadoes. 305

union present fewer instances of sickness from local causes
than this. Intermittent and other fevers from miasma, are
altogether unknown, unless contracted in other places.

TORNADOES. — Of these, several have swept over the county
since its settlement, and traces of others, as shown by fallen
timber and young trees, indicate that these fearful tempests
had traversed this region before its settlement. The first
and greatest one ever witnessed in the county, occurred on
Sunday evening. June 3, 1810, and forms an epoch in the
memories of early settlers. It passed nearly a due east
course from West Martinsburgh across the river near the
Watson bridge, and far beyond into the wilderness, leaving
a track of broken and prostrate trees over a space a mile
and a quarter wide and of unknown length. It was attended
b}7 torrents of rain and vivid and incessant lightning. Its
approach was announced by a fearful roaring in the woods,
and the crash of falling timber was lost in terrific peals of
thunder. The affrighted inhabitants fled to their cellars
or sought in the open air an asylum from the dangers which
their own dwellings threatened. The clouds which had
been gathering in dense black masses, having poured an
immense volume of water along the track of the storm,
cleared up as soon as it had passed, and the remainder of
the evening was beautifully serene and quiet. Although
many buildings were unroofed or prostrated, it is wonder
ful to relate that no lives were lost.

In 1823, a tornado passed over the unsettled country near
the S. W. corner of the county, leaving a track two miles long
and half a mile wide, on which no trees were left standing.
This occurred about a mile south of the deep valley of
Salmon river, and nearly parallel with it, in the present
town of Osceola.

A tornado from the north west passed over Harrisburgh,
Sept. 9, 1845, tearing down trees over a track in some
places forty or fifty rods wide. It struck the saw-mill of
Jacob Windecker and the house of Eichard Livingston in
Lowville, where it prostrated a building attached, and did
other damage to buildings but destroyed no lives. Eleven
days later, the great northern tornado swept the forest from
Antwerp to lake Champlain, mostly through an uninhabited
region and likewise without the loss of human life.

At half past five o'clock on the afternoon of July 5, 1850,
a tornado cloud was seen, like an immense cloud of smoke,
rapidly whirling and advancing down the hill about a mile
south of Turin village. It passed eastward to the river,
demolishing two or three barns, unroofing several houses,

306 Earthquakes. Notes on Natural History.

and prostrating everything that lay in its track. It is
reported that plank were torn up from the road, grass
twisted out by the roots, and solid objects on the ground
removed. No lives were lost.

EARTHQUAKES have been felt several times since the settle
ment of the county, but seldom sufficient to create a sen
sible motion of the earth. They were indicated by a deep
rolling noise like distant thunder, or like wagons driven
over frozen ground. Such an instance occurred in the
county late in the evening of Jan. 22, 1832, and in Martins-
burgh April 8, 1836. On the first of March 1838, a slight
shock was felt at Lowville, at nine o'clock in the evening,
and another in December 1839. At half past two o'clock
on the morning of March 12, 1853, an earthquake was felt
throughout the county, windows, stoves and crockery were
rattled, in Lowville one chimney was thrown down, and
even the bells in the stone church and academy were rung
by the movement. The effect was more sensible in brick
and stone, than in framed houses, and some persons awakened
by the noise and frightened by the motion, ran into the open
air, lest they should be buried in their own houses.
The phenomenon was attended by a distant deep rumbling
sound, gradually approaching and then dying away in the
opposite direction. As it approached it was interrupted
by a series of explosions like bursts of thunder, and the
noise is described as peculiarly grand, appalling and un
earthly. It continued from one to three minutes, and was
heavy in Turin, Lowville, Copenhagen and Adams, and
light in Watertown.

NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY. — Beaver were known in the
more remote sections of the forest in this county until after
settlement. Their dams, and the meadows formed by decay
of timber thus flowed, were common on the high plateau
region west of the valley, and rarely on the limestone ter
races. It is probable that a few scattered beaver still live
in the east woods.

Moose have been often killed east of the river where they
are still found. Elk's horns prove the former existence in
our county of this animal, now wholly extinct in the state.

Wolves once common and still found in the east woods.
Of these there are two varieties, the black and the common.
The former are large, powerful and fierce. The county
bounties for their destruction have been $10 till 1819, except
1815, and on various years since. A special act, April 18,
1838, allowed the addition of $10 for wolves and $5 for
their whelps. State premiums of $347.50 were awarded in

Notes on Natural History. Topography. 307

1816 ; $180 in 1817; $282.50 in 1818 ; $440 in 1819 ; $500
in 1820 ; $720 in 1821 ; $40 in 1822 ; $72.50 in ]823, and
$52.50 in 1824. In the whole state during these years it
was $88,714.15, chiefly in Franklin county.

Panthers have seldom been found west of the river, and
bounties have usually been the same as for wolves.

Squirrel hunts, were formerly held. Large parties would
meet, appoint two captains, choose sides, and on a given day
devote themselves wholly to the sport. The heads were
counted in the evening, and the vanquished party paid the
supper and sometimes the powder, and shot. The unit of
reckoning was usually a red squirrel. In one of these con
tests, a black squirrel was counted 2, a partridge 2, a wood-
chuck 4, a fox 6, a deer 8, a wolf 12, and a bear 12. The
last two were usually rated much higher.

White swans. — A flock was seen on the river March, 1826.
One of them when shot was found 7 feet 10 inches from tip
to tip of wings, and weighing 17 pounds.

Pigeons, have in some years appeared in great numbers,
especially in the spring of 1829, 1849 and 1858, when they
nested in the beech woods of Montague, and West Turin.

Fish. — In Fish creek salmon formerly abounded. No
perch were found in Black river or its tributaries until
about 1843, when B. Smith and A. Higby, jr., put about
30 specimens into Brantingham lake. They have greatly
multiplied, are now common. Trout, dace, suckers, bull
heads and eels, form the other principal native fishes of our
streams and lakes.

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY. — Lewis co. lies mostly in the
valley of the Black river,1 which flows centrally through it
from south to north. The river is broken by frequent cas
cades and rapids, until it reaches the High falls where
it plunges down a steep, broken ledge of gneiss rock, to
the still water which affords a navigable channel to Car
thage, 42J miles below. This is the lowest part of the
county and is 7 14 feet above tide level. The amount of
water passing at Carthage at the lowest stages has been

1 The Indian name of this river, as given by L. H. Morgan of Rochester, in
his League of the Iroquois, is Ka-hu-ah-go As given by the St. Regis Indians
to the author in 18.52, it is Ni-ka-hi-on-ha-ko-wa, and by Squier, in his
Aboriginal Monuments of New York, Ka-mar-go. The authority first cited
gives the name of Deer river, as Ga-ne-ga-to-da; Beaver river, Ne-hji-sa-ne ;
Otter creek, Da-ween-net ; Moose river, Te-ca-lum-di-an-do ; Great Fish
creek, Ta-ga-soke; Salmon river, Ga-hen-wa-ga; Sandy creek, To-ka-da-
o-ga-he ; and Indian river, 0-je-quack. The St. Regis name Indian river,
0-tsi-qua-ke, "where the black ash grows with knots for making clubs."

308 Topography and Geology.

computed at 30,000 cubic feet per minute. The principal
tributaries of Black river on the east, are Beaver river.
Crystal, Independence, Otter and Fish creeks, arid Moose
river, which issue from lakes or swamps mostly, and have
their waters highly discolored by organic or mineral matter
in solution. On the west, the river receives Deer river.
Stony, Sulphur-spring, Lowville, Martin's, Whetstone,
House's, Bear and Mill creeks, Sugar river and a few other
streams. Such of these as rise in swamps on the western
plateau region are also highly discolored, but the smaller
ones, fed by springs from the slates and limestones, are
very clear. Along the river, but little above its level,
are extensive swamps in Martinsburgh, Lowville, and Den
mark, on the west side, some of which are capable of being
brought into use. They were mostly covered with ash and
alders, but the lower one of these was in 1854, burnt off,
and is now covered with wild grass and reeds capable of
being mowed. The soil of this vlaie, or natural meadow,
is a deep black muck underlaid by clay. Along the river-
bank is a ridge of hard land formed by its overflow, and west
of it, a drift ridge of sand covered with hemlock timber.
Still west of this, is a long narrow cedar swamp, extending
several miles. It is higher than the meadow near the river
and has furnished a large amount of bog iron ore for the
Carthage furnace.1 A cedar lot has by many been regarded
as an essential appendage of a farm.

The river flows over limestone a short distance from
Oneida county, when its bed comes upon gneiss rock,
the primitive formation extending from about half a mile
west of the river throughout the whole eastern part of the
county, excepting a portion of Diana. This rock when it
appears at the surface, rises into rounded ridges, mostly
naked, or with soil only in the crevices and hollows. It is
largely composed of feldspar and quartz, with particles of
hornblende, magnetic iron ore, and more rarely of garnets.
It is everywhere irregularly stratified and highly inclined.
The general surface rises gradually from the river eastward,
until it reaches an elevation of from 1,500 to 2,000 feet
above the river on the eastern border. This rock covers a
comparatively small part of the surface, the intervals being

1 This ore never occurs in swamps liable to overflow from the river. It
has been found largely in Watson, New Bremen and Denmark, occurring as
a loam, or in solid masses, sometimes replacing the particles of roots, leaves
and wood, but preserving their form. It is said to have been mostly exhausted,
but if allowed to remain without drainage, would be again deposited. Limit
ed quantities of this ore have been found in Diana.

Topography and Geology. 309

a light sandy soil of drift, with occasional intervals of allu
vial deposit, sometimes appearing to have been formerly
lakes. The disintegration of this rock affords the iron sand
so common along the streams, and upon the shores of lakes
in this region. A vein of magnetic iron ore has been opened
in the north part of Greig, but not worked to any extent,
In Diana, white crystaline limestone occurs, presenting a
great variety of interesting minerals, and many instructive
points for the study of geology. The region is highly meta-
morphic, and presents marked indications of former igneous
agencies.

The minerals of Diana and vicinity, are Apatite in small
green crystals ; Calcite in great variety, including satin spar,
and a coarse crystaline limestone of sky blue tint; Horn
blende; Mica of the varieties known as Phlogopite ; Py
roxene, white and black in crystals, and in grains known as
coccolite ; Quartz in crystals, and of the forms known as
ribbon agate chalcedony ; Rensselaerite ; Scapolite in rounded
pearly gray crystals ; Serpentine, opaque and greenish ; Sphene
of the variety known as Ledererite ; Sulphurets of copper and
of iron ; Tremolite; Wollastonite or tabular spar, and Zircon in
square prisms, sometimes a third of an inch on a side, and
with terminal prisms. Mining for silver was attempted by
Enoch Cleveland many years since, and a small blast fur
nace was put up which produced a few hundred pounds of
very hard metal apparently iron. The reputed ore is a fine
grained greenish black rock which occurs abundantly, and
appears to consist of chlorite and specular iron ore in
variable proportions.

The primitive region of this county still comprises large
areas of unsettled lands, and presents the same wild forest
scenery of lakes, dark winding streams, tangled swamps and
sombre pine and hemlock forests, as when first explored by
surveyors and hunters. The whole of Diana, and about
half of Croghan are drained by the Indian and Oswegatchie
rivers. A small part of Diana is underlaid by calciferous
sandstone, which usually occurs level and covered by a thin
but fertile soil. Detached capping masses of Potsdam
sandstone also occur in this town, but the most remarkable
locality of this rock in the county, is due east of Martins-
burgh village, where a stratum is found resting directly
upon the gneiss, in the bed of Martin's creek. Its thickness
does not exceed three feet, and its surface exposure is slight.
It is directly covered by limestones and is composed of
masses of pebbles and sand cemented as if by heavy
pressure.

310 Topography and Geology.

Parallel with the river, and on an average of about a mile
west, rises an irregular series of terraces, consisting of
birdseye, Black river and Trenton limestones. The first of
these may be quarried in rectangular blocks, and is highly
valuable for building and for lime. A portion of it furnishes
hydraulic lime, which has been made to some extent in
Lowville and Martinsburgh. It does not form a surface
rock of much extent and occurs chiefly on the edge of the
lower terrace, and in the beds of streams. It is covered
by the Black river limestone which forms the surface rock
between the first and second terrace, is not adapted to
building, contains masses of flint, and is so soluble that
every exposed angle has been rounded and every seam
widened by the action of rains and running water. Streams
usually sink into crevices and flow under it, often forming
caverns of limited extent, especially in Leyden. The Trenton
limestone forms the highest and broadest terrace of the
series, rising from 300 to 600 feet above the river, and
spreading out into the level fertile region which every
traveler through the county has admired. These limestones
seldom appear at the surface except at the edge of the ter
races and in the water courses, and every stream flowing
across them has more or less of a smooth rocky bed, and a
picturesque cascade where it tumbles down to the next lower
level. Deer and Sugar rivers and Martin's creek have worn
deep yawning chasms into the rock, and present cascades of
singular wildness and beauty well worthy of a visit by the
pleasure-seeking tourist.

The western tributaries of Black river have usually no
valleys, except the immediate channel they have worn. Drift
agencies have given the appearance of several oblique val
leys coming down from the northwest across the limestone
terraces, which usually have a drift deposit on their north
ern side, while on the south the rock is exposed and often
furrowed in the direction of these oblique valleys. Deer river
might almost as well have turned northward at Copenhagen
into Sandy creek, as to have taken its present course.

In Martinsburgh and Lowville, veins of calcite with the
sulphurets of zinc, lead and iron have been found. In the
former, carbonate of lead, and in the latter fluor spar oc
curred. These mineral veins are of scientific interest,
from the evidence they afford of electrical deposit. They
were formed in what appeared to be natural fissures of the
rock, and the sulphuret of zinc was attached to each Avail,
upon which was a layer of lead ore and lastly of pyrites,
the latter often covering the crystals of calcite or appearing

Topography and Geology. 311

with cavities left by their solution. The lead was some
times crystalized and imbedded in spar, or grouped with
clusters of that mineral in masses of much beauty.

A range of high lands, known as Tug Hill,1 runs through
the county parallel with the river, and from three to seven
miles from it. It rests upon the limestone and consists of
Utica slate and Hudson river shales, rising by a rounded
slope to an elevation of from 500 to 1000 feet above the
flats below, and spreading out in a level or slightly broken
region, into Oneida, Oswego and Jefferson counties. Innu
merable beaver meadows occur along the sluggish streams
rising from extensive swamps in this region, and the waters
from this plateau flow from it into the Mohawk and Black
rivers and lake Ontario. The largest streams flowing from
this region are Fish creek and Salmon river, each of which
have valleys of considerable extent, and receive numerous
tributaries. Deer river also gathers the waters of a wide
district. The large streams flowing down have uniformly
worn deep channels, the larger of them several miles in
length, and in Martinsburgh presenting some of the wildest
scenery in the state.2 Every spring torrent has its ravine,
and the limestone flats below, are so covered with slate

1 Said to have been named by Isaac Perry and Buell, on their first

journey into the county, upon reaching the top of the hill on the old road
west of Turin village.

2 The more interesting of these is Whetstone gulf. The chasm extending
about three miles up, is bordered by precipitous banks 200 to 300 feet in
height. The first two miles are mostly occupied by a heavy growth of
timber, but the last mile presents but little of this, except what over
hangs the banks, or finds root on the steep, crumbling slate rock. The
stream is here quite irregular in its course, presenting sharp angles and sud
den turns, which afford, at every step, new points of interest, and a constant
succession of magnificent views. The walls approach nearer as we ascend the
stream, until they may be both reached by the outstretched arms, and the
torrent is compressed into a deep, narrow chasm, which forbids farther pro
gress without difficulty and danger. A rough wagon road has been made
about two miles up the gulf, and in low water parties can cross the stream
everywhere without difficulty.

About two miles west of Martinsburgh village, on Martin's creek, occurs
another gorge worn in the slate hills, of much the same character. From a
vast triangular pyramid of slate rock formed by the junction of two gulfs, it
has acquired the name of Chimney point. To the left of this, as seen from
the banks above, a stream of moderate size falls in a beautiful cascade about
sixty feet, breaking into a sheet of foam upon the rough bed, down which it
glides. A few rods below it unites with the longer and larger branch, whose
ravine extends half a mile further up. Upon following the latter we arrive
at a cascade, where the stream falling from a narrow chasm into a pool, for
bids further progress. The strata of slate, elsewhere nearly or quite level,
are here highly inclined, but the disturbance in the stratification only extends
a few rods. Chimney point has the advantage of presenting its finest view
from the banks, but such as prefer to descend, will find themselves amply
rewarded by the pleasing variety of scenery which the locality presents. This

312 Topography and Geology.

gravel, that the line of junction of the two rocks can no
where be seen in the county. Leyden Hill is a detached
mass of this slate formation, cut off' by a valley from the
main portion. The road from Constableville to Home, rises
about 1000 feet above the latter place and runs many miles
over this range of highlands, which comprises the whole of
Lewis, Osceola, High Market, Montague and Pinckney, and
parts of Leyden, West Turin, Turin, Martinsburgh, Harris-
burgh and Denmark. The black oxyde of manganese oc
curs in swamps in Martinsburgh on the top of Tug hill, and
weak sulphur springs known in the earl}7 settlement as deer
licks, are common but unimportant.1 The limestones and
slates in this county abound in characteristic fossils of great
scientific interest. About half a mile below the foot of Tug
hill, on tlieline of junction between the slate and limestone,
there occurs a strip of clay averaging perhaps forty rods in
width, which may be traced from one end of the county to
the other. In the state of nature this was a line of ash or
cedar swamp, and when cleared and drained it aifords a
strong meadow or grass land, but it can not well be plowed.
The slates allow the rains to percolate down through their

ravine is surrounded by cultivated fields, but is still as wild a solitude as
when first found by the surveyors.

A thrilling incident occurred at Chimney point, in the spring of 1834,
which, were it not well authenticated would scarcely appear credible. It is,
however, too well known and attested to admit of a doubt, and must be
placed on the list of wonderful escapes. Chillus D. Peebles, who lived adja
cent, was clearing the land, and rolling the logs off into the gulf, when by an
unexpected motion of a log he was thrown off the precipice. He fell about
one hundred and fifty feet, and struck on the steep slope formed by the gra
vel crumbled from the cliffs above, from whence he bounded and rolled to
the bottom, about a hundred feet further. The accident was seen by a man
not far off, who hastened to descend by the usual path, expecting to find the
unfortunate man dashed to atoms or mangled and dying on the crags below.
To his infinite surprise he met Peebles, who had got up and started to return,
which he did without aid, and in less time than the person who came to
, assist him. Upon reaching the top he was delirious, but after a few days he
returned to his labor as usual.

1 One of these occurs near the head of Whetstone gulf, and another 1 mile
S. W. of Houseville on House's creek. One sulphur spring of some interest
occurs in the limestone on the land of S. B. Dewey, on lot 14 in the N. W.
part of Lowville, which from the earliest settlement has enjoyed a local repu
tation for its medicinal properties. It issues from the foot of a low terrace of
Trenton limestone, within a few feet of the upper strata of that rock, and its
sulphurous taste and odor is apparently due to sulphuret of iron dissem
inated in the rock. It occurs on the west side of a smnll mill stream a few
rods below Gladwin's grist mill, and the spot is shaded by a thin growth of
trees. The spring is curbed about three feet deep and the water is clear.
Now and then a few bubbles of inflammable gas rise from the bottom, and at
some periods the discharge of gas is said to be sufficiently active to give the
spring the appearance of boiling. The water may be easily drank and flows
olf at the rate of about six quarts in a minute.

Drift Deposits. Scenery. 3 13

seams until the water reaching the limestone finds its way
to the surface in this line of springs. West of the strip,
slate may be found anywhere, by digging through the soil
and drift. East of it, it can be found nowhere, except in
broken gravel washed down by streams.

Drift deposits occur promiscuously over every part of the
county, usually in rounded ridges. The largest of these are
south-east of Denmark village, where the deposit is miles in
extent and of great depth. By the term drift, we wish to
include all earthly matter or detached rocky masses lying
upon the undisturbed rock, excepting soil derived from the
disintegration of the rock underneath, and the alluvium or
soil washed down and deposited by water, or formed by
organic growth. The soil of the drift is variable, being in
some places light and sandy, while at others it is hard loom
or clay. In the Primary region, especially in Diana, there
are found in many places, flat intervales and marshes which
appear to have been formerly lakes that have been filled in
by the encroachment of vegetable growth and by the soil
washed down from the ridges adjacent. Peat has been
observed in some of these marshes, and marl deposited in
the bottom of the lakes. Boulders of gneiss and other pri
mary or igneous rock, are found promiscuously resting upon
all the formations of the county, or imbedded in the soil.
In many cases clusters of these masses are found together,
favoring by their appearance the theory that they had been
transported by fields of floating ice, at a period when this
region was covered by the ocean.

The scenery of the county, excepting the ravines and cas
cades above described, presents nothing majestic, and may be
regarded as beautiful rather than grand. From the western
side of the river, the eastern slope appears rising by
insensible degrees until lost in the blue level range of the
forests of Herkimer county, with here and there a point
slightly elevated above the general surface, indicating the
position of the higher mountain peaks of Hamilton county.
The highest primary ranges in Lewis county, occur in its
south eastern corner, in the town of Greig. On an autumnal
morning, or after a summer shower, patches of white mist
resting upon the surface, indicate the position and extent of
the forest lakes, and at times a curtain of fog hanging over
the river, may shut out the view entirely. As viewed from
the brow of the slate ranges, the panorama of the valley and
of the distant horizon is exceedingly beautiful, and sunrise
as seen from these hills on a clear morning, will amply
repay the labor of an early walk to their summit. The

3 14 Scenery of the Valley.

beaver meadows of the western plateau region, are usually
bordered by a thrifty growth of balsam fir trees,whose demise
conical masses of dark evergreen, give a characteristic
aspect to the scenery of these open meadows in the bosom
of the forests. No prospect can be conceived more cheer
less than the swamps which extend for miles along the head
waters of Fish creek, and other streams, which have their
sources in these highlands. They are mostly without trees
or shrubs, excepting here and there a slender tamarack,
festooned with gray hanging moss. Where the soil is of
sufficient stability to support them, a growth of alder shrubs
may be traced along the margin of the channels, but in
many places the surface may be shaken to the distance of
many feet, and a pole may be thrust to an almost indefinite
depth.

Viewed from the eastern side, the limestone terraces and
slate hills on the west, are seen to great advantage, and the
successive steps by which the surface rises, are distinctly
observable. The cultivation of sixty years has quite changed
the natural surface of the landscape, and a patch of reserved
woodland here and there alone remains. Viewed from a
distant eastern point, the horizon towards the north drops
down as the hills are of less elevation towards the lake, and
the terraces become much broader. At the period when
lake Ontario flowed up to the lake ridges, now nearly four
hundred feet above its surface, the north eastern portion of
the county might have been submerged, as traces of these
ridges are found in Wilna, near the borders of this county.

INDEX.

Academies, 129, 135, 162, 188, 215.
Adams, Levi, 175; Dr. Seth, 155; Wm.

Root, 166.
Aldrich, Jonathan, house of burned.

80; Peter W., 128.
Alford, Asahel, murdered, 224.
Allen, Dr. Samuel, 82, 88.
Alpina, 73, 96, 100.
Alsop, Thomas, 30, 248,
Angerstein, John Julius, title of, 33.
Antwerp Company's lands, 25, 70, 71.
Arson, trial for, 153.
Arthur, Richard, notice of fam. of, 175.
Ashley, Otis, jr., shot, 182.
Assemblymen, chron. list of, 289.
Astor, John Jacob, owner of lands, 31.
Balloon, from Oswego, 226.
Bancroft, Edward, notice of, 180.
Bank of Lowville, 157 ; Lewis county,

186; of the People, 160; Valley, 160.
Bannister, Rev. Henry, 166.
Baptist Association, 284.
Bar, list of the Lewis county, 290.
Barnes's Corners, Pinckney, 206.
Barnes, Judah, 211.
Barney, Eliam E., 165.
Bands of Instrumental Music, 157, 214.
Beach, John, 218; Nelson, Jr., 218.
Bears, encounter with, 117, 128.
Beaver Falls, Croghan, 196.
Beaver Lands, tract known as, 53.
Beavers, notice of, 306 ; dams of, 198.
Belfort, Croghan, 78.
Bellctre's expedition, 21.
Benton, Z. H., 100.
Bent's Settlement, Croghan, 78.
Birdseye maple, statistics of, 119.
Black river, erroneous location of, 20,

25, 34 ; elevation of, 307 ; Indian

name of, 307 ; canal, 263 ; company,

262 ; tract, 24, 25, 26, 27.
Blake, Patrick, 56, 58, 59, 62, 76.
Blodgct, Jesse, family of, 84.
Boards of Health, cholera, 88, 155.
Bog iron ore, where found, 223, 308.
Bonaparte, Joseph, 71, 72, 77, 94, 95,

96, 98 ; lake, 96, 97.
Booge, Rev. Aaron, J., 189.

, Gerret, 121.

Boshart, Garret, 143.

Bossuot, Jean Baptiste, 77.

Bostwiclt, Isaac W,, 84, 113, 149, 178.

Boylston, Thos., 25 ; tract, 25, 27, 28.

Brantingham, Thomas HM 32 ; tract,
25, 31.

Brass band, Turin, 214.

Brccsc, Arthur, land agent, 32.

Bridges, 89, 103, 119, 135, 196, 226.

Brodhead, Charles C., surveys of. 62,
125, 139.

Brown, Charles; academy of, 91.

Brown, Gen. Jacob, 2, 6, 56 ; John, 33.

Brown's Tract, 25, 33, 111.

Brunei, Mark I., 50, 51, 52.

Buck, Chester, 134.

Budd, Dr. David, 246, 291.

Burr, Aaron, lands owned by, 22, 34.

Burnand Eugine, Swiss proprietor, 99.

Bush, Zaccheus and family, 211.

California, so called in Harrisburgh,
114; companies, 296.

Canaan, Timothy, child of, burnt, 185.

Canal statistics, 260 ; surveys, 259 ;
description of, 266.

Card, Peleg, 86.

Cardinal lines of Castorland, 62.

Carret, James, agent, 77.

Castorland, 25, 34 to 70, 104.

Castorvillc, 66, 57, 80.

Cattle, sale of; anecdote, 213.

Cavanaugh, Michael ; respite of, 131.

Caverns in Black river limestone, 130,

310.

Cedar timber, 308, 312.
Celebrations, semi-centennial, acade
mic, 166 ; 50th, of 4th of July, 297.
Census returns, 292, 293.
Chassanis, operations of, 34 to 70.
Charter of Lowville academy, 163.
Chimney Point, gulf in Martinsb'g, 311.
Clapp, Ezra, 212, 213, 236.
Clark, Rev. Charles, 169.
Clay strip, through the county, 312.
Clerk's Office, Martinsburgh, 17.
Climbing, extraordinary, 89.
Clinton, Rev. Isaac, 164 ; 261 ;

316

Index.

Coin (so called), of Company of New
York, 44.

Collins, Ela, and family, 162; Jonathan
and family, 230.

Collinsville, West Turin, 246.

Colquhoun, Patrick, 24, 31, 32, 33, 124.

Columbian society, Turin, 216.

Commissioners for locating county seat
13 ; Bank, 157, 186.

Company of New York, 35, 39, 195.

Conferences, M. E., statistics of, 281.

Congressmen, list of, 288.

Conklin, Thomas L., 184.

Conscqua, a Chinaman, lands of, 117.

Constable, James, 29, 198, 241; extracts
from the diary of, 3, 177, 178, 199,
234, 237; John, 242; William, 22, 23,
24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 39, 124,
238; William, jr., 238, 239.

Constable's Four Towns, 25, 28, 240.

Constablcville, West Turin, 245.

Constitution, votes on, 295; of the com
pany of New York, 40.

Contract system in land titles, 29, 236.

Convention at Denmark, 3, 123.

Cooper, James, murder of, Leyden, 131.

Copenhagen, origin of name of, 86.

Cornelia, township of, 25, 171.

Costar, John G., titles of, 117.

County, act erecting, 8 ; changes in,
11, 95 ; seat, efforts to secure 1, 2, 13 ;
buildings, 14, 160; clerks, 290; courts,
14, 162.

Coxe, Richard, 17, 56, 76, 123,231.

Court House, Martiiisburgh, 16 ; Low-
ville, 160.

Crary, Joseph, surveyor, 83, 113.

Cratzcnberg, Wm., indicted for mur
der, 88.

Crofoot, Elisha, and family, 231.

Croghan, town of, 74.

Cronk's Corners, Pickney, 206.

Darrow, Dr. William, 143.

Daughters of Temperance, 281.

Davis, George, notice of, 30, 243.

Davenport families, Lowville, 148.

Dayan, Charles, 153, 195, 262, 264.

Dayanville, New Bremen, 195.

Dean, Faxton, drowned in Martin's
Mill, 181.

Deeds to first settlers of Lowville, 144.

Deer, 129, 213 ; licks, 312 ; river, 90.

Denmark, town of, 81.

Deponceau, Peter S., agent of Bona
parte, 71, 72.

Deserters from Kingston returned, 233.

Desjardins, Simon, 46, 50, 51, 53, 62.

Devouassoux, J. T., French settler, 76.

Dcwey, Dr. Royal Dwight, 208 ; Wal
ter, 208.

De Wolf's purchase ; Antwerp co. , 70.

DeZotcllc, Louis, sup'sed death of, 77 „

Diana, town of, and how named, 94.

Division of Oneida co, 1 to 8, 209.

Doig, Andrew W., 154.

Doty Chillus, 175, 178.

Drafts from militia, 299.

Drift deposits, 309 ; defined, 313,

Drowning, narrow escape from, 145,
247.

Dustings Track, first road in co., 251.

Eager, Fortunatus, 145.

Earthquakes, notices of, 306.

Easton, William L., 168, 270, 285.

Edwards, Ogden, on the character of
W. Constable, 242.

Elk, notice of, now extinct, 306.

Emigration, European, 78, 1 19, 237.

Epidemics, notices of, 237, 304.

European settlements, 78, 119, 237.

Executors of W. Constable's estate, 29.

Expeditions through the valley, 21.

Favarger, Charles, agent, 100.

Fay, Cyrus M., teacher, 165.

Ferries on Black river, 103, 225.

Fire Company, Lowville village, 156.

Fires, 80, 88 ; deaths by, 80, 185, 247;
in woods, 78, 225, 247.

Fish, 117, 307; creek reservation, 23.

Floods, 89, 128, 181.

Flora, township of West Turin, High-
market and Lewis, 25, 114, 116, 228,
236.

Forged credentials of Gerry, 91.

Foreigners, vote for removal of from
Turin, 210.

Forest scenery, east of river, 309.

Fort Johnson, the model of Martin's
house, 179.

Forty Thieves, so called, 185.

Foster, Giles, and family, 211.

Fourth of July, semi-centennial cele
bration, 297.

French, Abel, agent, 83, 84, 90, 204.

French company ; see " Company of
New York;" revolution, favored
emigration, 35 ; road, 54, 57 ; settle
ment, 54, 55, 80, 196.

Frcudenrich, Frederick, titles of, 100.

Friends, society of, 284.

Geology of the county, sketch of, 307.

German settlements, 78, 119.

Gerry, W. H., clerical imposter, 91.

Glensdale, Martinsburgh, 186.

Goff, Deuel, notice of, 208.

Good Templars, secret order of, 281.

Graves, Lewis, 81,

Grcig, town of, 101 ; John, 33, 101.

Greeks, aid to the, 295.

Green, David I., titles of, 30 ; Seymour,
agent, 202, 203.

Greenlcaf, James, 32, 33.

Hall, Samuel, local agent, 233.

Hamilton, Alexander, 29, 113.

Hammondj Theodore S., titles of, 73.

Handel, township of Pinckney, 24.
112, 203.

Harrisburgh, town of, 112.

Harrison, Richard, 26, 82, 1 13.

Harris, Foskit, 98.

Harrisville, Diana, 98.

Hart, Levi, 208 ; Stephen, 211.

Health committee, Lowville, 165.

Hemlock timber, prejudice against, 28.

Index.

317

Hemp, culture of noticed, 88.
Henderson, William, titles of, 26, 204.
Herreshoff, Charles, suicide of, 111.
Higby, Amos, 211 ; Amos jr., 215.
High falls, Black river, 246, 307;

Deer river, 89 ; incidents at, 89, 90.
High Market, town of, 114.

House, Eleazer, and family of, 212.

Houseville, Turin, 214.

Hovey, Aaron, death of, Lowville, 146.

Hybla, township of Osceola, 25, 197.

lllingworth, Samuel, 195.

Indians, 146 ; names of streams, 307 ;

titles, 21, 23.

Inman, William, 31, 32, 124.
Inman's Triangle, 25, 28, 31, 121.
Instinct, remarkable case of, 142.
Irish settlers, 115,237.
Iron, manufacture of, 97, 98, 100, 111.
Ivcs, Maj. John, and family, 216, 228.
Jail, 16, 17; liberties, 14; St. Law
rence prisoners, 17.
Jay, William, titles in Lewis, 117.
Jetton, of Company of New York, 44.
Johnson, Edward, 211.
Jones, John, title of, 31.
Joulin, Pierre, agent and exile, 56, 57,

59, 62, 64, 107.^

Judges, list of, first county, 289.
Judson, David C., titles of, 73, 101.
Kelley, Daniel, notice of, 144.
Kelsey, Eber, 128.
Kcrr, James, title of, 32, 33.
Kiabia, so called in High Market, 115.
Kilham, Thos., notice of fam. of, 211.
Kimball, Rev. David, 190 ; Rev. Reuel,

132.

King's Falls, on Deer river, 90.
Knox, Ziba, notice of, 154.
La Farge, John, titles of, 72, 73, 96, 99.
Lambot sisters, French proprietors, 76.
Land titles, history of, 20.
Lead ore, notices of, 183, 310.
Leonard, James H., and family, 151 ;

Stephen, 161.
Le Ray, James D., 56, 57, 64, 66, 67,

68, 70, 71, 72, 75, 77 ; Vincent, 54, 79.
Lcry's expedition in the French war, 21 .
Lewis county bank, notices of, 186.
Lewis, Morgan, namesake of county,

11 ; town of, 116.

Leyden, town of, 121 ; Hill, 131, 312.
Libraries, 91, 129, 161, 188, 206, 214,

225.
Livingston, Brockholst, titles of, 32.

33 ; Philip, 33.
Lord, Asa, notice of, 126.
Lost in the woods, 118, 184.
Lottery for state roads, 252, 253.
Loud, Dr. John, 85.
Louisburgh, now Sterlingburgh, 97.
Low, Cornelius, 187 ; Nicholas, 26, 27,

76, 135 ; notes from land books of,

143.

Lowville, town of, 133 ; village of, 150,

156.
Lucretia, township of, Turin, West

Turin and Martinsburgh, 24, 115, 210.
Lumber manufacture, 110, 119, 130.
Lyon, Caleb, 33, 111 ; Caleb of Lyons*

dale, 96 ; Lyman R., 33, 34, 96.
Lyonsdale, Greig, 111.
Lyons Falls, West Turin, 246.
McAdamized road proposed, 256.
McCarthy, Lawrence, executed, 224.
McCollistcr, John, notice of, 176.
MacomVs purchase, 21 ; great tracts

of, 23, 24:

McDoivell, Robert, surveyor, 138.
McVickcr, Edward, titles of, 29; Jas.,

titles of, 30 ; John, ex'r., &c., 9, 31.
Mail routes, notice of, 258.
Mantua, township of Denmark, 24, 8L
Martin, Gen. Walter, 172; Vivaldi R.,

154.
Martinsburgh, town of, 171 ; village

of, 186.

Mayhew, David P., Principal, 166.
Medical Profession, imp'ft. list of, 291.
Memorial of R. Tillier, 57 ; reply to, 65.
Merriam, Ela, 258, 259; Nathaniel,

122.

Methodist Episcopal Conferences, 284.
Militia organization, drafts, &c., 299 ;

" riot," 86.

Mill, first in county, 229 239 ; in Low
ville, 146 ; swept off, 181.
Miller, Rev. James, 231 ; Morris S.,

84, 148; Col. Seth, 245; Dr. Sylves
ter, 155.

Mineral localities, 155, 309, 310.
Montague, town of, 193.
Monterey, Croghan, former P. 0., 78.
Moore, Capt. John, shot, 182.
Moose, notice of, 306.
Morris, Gouverneur, 55, 56, 57, 59,

62, 63, 65, 70, 76 ; Robert, 32.
Hunger's Mills, Denmark, 85.
Murders, notices of, 87, 131.
Murdoch, Rev. James, 190.
Mycr's Mills, Denmark, 90.
Natural History, notes on, 306.
Naumburg, P. O. in Croghan, 80.
New Boston, Pinckney, 206.
New Bremen, town of, 194.
Newspaper Press, notices of, 284.
New Survey, in town of Lewis, 116, 123.
Northrup, Joseph A., 154.
Norton, Rev. Elijah, 189.
Number Three Road, 147.
Oars, manufacture of, 119.
Oboussier, Jacob, 55, 195.
Ogden, Samuel, titles of, 32, 33 ; Thos.

L., 82.
Oneida co., plans for division of, 1 to

8, 209.

Osceola, town of, 197.
Oswegatchie road, 252.
Oyster keg hoops, manufacture of, 120.
Paddock, Loveland, title of, 73, 101.
Pahud, Joseph, agent, 101.

318

Index.

Panthers, notices of, 224, 307.
Paper mill, Martinsburgh, 181.
Parish, Russell, 153.
Parsons, Eld. Stephen, and family,

93, 230 ; Zerah, 125.
Patent, for academic building, 165.
Pauperism, statistics of, 17.
Peebles, J., 177 ; Chillus D.,fall of, 312.
Perry, Dr. David, 154; Capt. Isaac,

148.

Personal Statistics, tables of, 292.
Petition for erection of Lewis co., 6.
Pharoux, Peter, 46, 50, 51, 52, 53, 62,

68, 105.
Phillippc, Louis, travels in America,

61, 241 : La Farge, his agent, 73.
Phcenix bank, New York, 30.
PicJcand, Rev. James D., 168.
Pierrcpont, Hezekiah B., 29, 31, 117,

199, 243.

Pigeons, notices of, 307.
Pike, Gen. Z. M., sword of, 166.
Pinckncy, town of, 203.
Pitcher, Reuben, and family, 176.
Plank roads, statistics of, 98, 256.
Political statistics, Gov's elect'n, 292.
Pomona, township of, 25, 210, 228.
Poor House, notice of, 135.
Porcia, township of Martinsb'g, 25. 171.
Port Leydcn, village in Ley den, 129.
Post, Wm. and GeVardus, titles of, 73.
Potash manufacture, notices of, 80,

129, 145, 151, 177.
Prussian Settlement) Croghan, 80.
Puffer, Rev. Isaac, 223, 226 ; Isaac G.

killed, 224.

Railroads, notices of, 89,
Rathbonc, John, titles of, 31.
Rags, poetical advertisement for, 182.
Receipt, form -used by French co., 36.
Religious societies, 80, 91, 101, 111,

114, 120, 132, 167, 189, 194, 196, 207,

215, 226, 247, 281.
Reamer, David D., 98,
Remonstrance ag'st erection of co., 7.
Revolutionary reminiscence, Lowville,

138 ; soldiers, 297.
Roads, 27, 34, 54, 57, 118, 123, 135,

147, 198, 209, 228, 237, 250.
Rock Island, near Port Ley den, 130.
Rockwell, Philo, 178.
Rogers, Jonathan, 141 ; Rev. Joshua

M., 248.

Rohr's Mills, New Bremen, 80.
Roman Catholics, notice of, 284.
Rope manufactory, Copenhagen, 88.
Roseburgh, Mrs., captivity of, 138.
Rurabclla, t'nship of Osceola, 25, 197.
Safford, Dr. John, 178.
Saint Michel, Louis de., 75, 76, 77.
St. Regis mining co., 100.
Salmon, Rev. Martin, 217 ; (fish) for
merly in Fish creek, 233, 307.
Salt, first load to Lowville, 147.
Sauthier's map, errors of, 20, 25.
Sawyer, Rev. Leicester Ambrose, 190.
Scenery, general notice of, 313.

8chools,91t 114, 122, 129, 161, 179, 214,

238.

Scrantom, Abraham, and Hamlet, 236.
Seal, first county, 1, 14; of Company

of New York, 40 ; Bank of Lowville,

157; Lowville academy, 162.
Seasons, notes upon, 302.
Seger, Francis, 33, 263, 264.
Senators, state, list of, 288.
Shaler, Nathaniel, 27, 29, 228.
Shalcr's roads in Turin, 256.
Shaw, Sam., wounded by Myers, 224.
Shepard, families of, 211.
Sheriff's, county, list of, 289.
Silver Grays, companies of, 87, 301.
Silver mine, so called, Lowville, 155.
Sistcrfificld, tract named, Croghan, 76.
Sligo, name proposed, 115.
Smith, William S., titles of, 24, 25, 34.
Snows, deep, 205, 303.
Soil, of drift formation, 313.
Sons of Temperance, 281.
Spafford's Landing, Lowville, 142.
Speculations in lands, noticed, 26, 27.
Squirrel hunts, usages at, 307.
State loans) amount to this county,

295 ; roads, 250, 252.
Staves manufactory of, 89, 130.
Steam saw mills, 89.
Stephens, Ehud, and family, 139.
Stewart, P. Somerville, 78.
Stcrlingbush, Diana, 98;
Starrs^ Lemuel, 116, 125.
Storrsburgh, a proposed name, 123.
Stoiv, Joshua, 116, 125; Silas, 139.
Stow's Square, 137, 147,
Streams of Castorland, old and modern

narnesj 53 ; tributary to Black river,

308.

Stump mortar, first mill in Turin, 214.
Suchard) Louis, purchaser, 99, 100.
Sugar River falls, described, 130.
Sulkouski, prince, 101.
Sulphur Springs, 138, 312.
Surrogates, list of county, 290.
Surveys, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 51, 52, 54,

83, 113, 115, 116, 123, 138, 195, 198,

201, 240; interrupted, 249.
Survilliers, Count de, see "Bonaparte

Joseph."

Swansmill company, title of, 69.
Swans, white flock of, seen, 307.
Swiss company, 56, 59, 73.
Talcott, Samuel A., 152 ; families, in

Leyden, 127.
Talcottville, Leyden, 131.
Tanneries, 78, 80, 99, 130, 196.
Tassart, A., title of, 75.
Taylor, Stephen W., principal, 164.
Tiffany bridge, Mart'sgh, Greig, 104.
Tillier, Rodolphe, 53 to 68, 75, 195.
Toll bridge, incorporated, 226.
Topography of the county, 307.
Topping, William, first settler, 126.
Tornadoes, notices of, 202, 305.
Totten and Crossjicld's purchase, 20.
Towns, alphabetical list of, 74.

Index.

319

Town Hall, Lowville, 135, 161 ; meet
ing stolen in Watson, 221.

Treaties, Indian, 21, 23.

Treasurers, list of county, 290.

Tug Hill described, 311.

Turin, town of, 207 ; village of, 214.

Turnpikes, notices of, 209, 254.

Underbill, Richard W., titles of, 32.

Universalist association, 284.

Valley Bank, Lowville, 160.

Valuation of towns in 1809, 16.

Varick, Abraham, rope manu'fr, 88.

Voters, number in Leyden, 127.

Votes at each election of Governor,
292 ; on constitution, 295.

Voyage, first down Black river, 140.

Waggoner, Henry, death of, 87.

Walker, Thomas, agent, 32.

War, militia drafts in, 297.

Ward, James T., agent and proprie
tor, 32 ; Samuel, 24, 25, 31, 33, 39.
• Washington, funeral address, 128.

Water power, 89, 108, 130.

Waters, Mary Ann, death of, 183 ;
Moses, 147.

Watson, town of, 218.

Watson, James T., proprietor, 219 ;

tract of, 25, 34.
Well, remarkable, Greig, 111.
Welles, Melancton W., ag't, 145, 223.
Wcntworth, Erastus, principal, 166.
West Leyden, P. O. in Lewis, 117.
West Martinsburgh P. 0., 186.
West Turin, town of, 227.
Whetstone gulf, description of, 311.
Whittlcsey, Samuel, anecdote of, 182.
Wilcox, families, Lowville, 148.
Wilder, Luke, notice of, 155.
Wilkinson, John, notice of, 211.
Willard, Gen. Jos. A., notice of, 156.
Williamson, Capt. Charles, 31,32,62,

102.

Wolves, notices of, 213, 224, 306.
Woolwort h families, Turin, 211.
Wright, Benjamin, 28, 29, 32, 83, 113,

115, 116, 138, 178, 198, 204; families

in Denmark, 84, 85.
Xenophon, township of Lewis, 25, 116.
Yale, Barnabas, notice of, 180 ; Rev.

Calvin, 190.

Yeomans, David P., principal, 166.
Zinc ore, found, 310.

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