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Cornell University Library 1993.A HISTORY.
GOUVERNEUR
ITS PAST AND PRESENT
By Mrs. C. A. Parker.
PUBLISHED BY
THE GOUVERNEUR FREE PRESS,
18 90.
<9A* 7 3*5 5
ERRATA.
Page 15, Mr. James Parker came to Gouverneur in 1808, not 1810.
Page 54, Mr. A. Z. Madison, of Fredonia, instead of Buffalo.
Page 56, Mrs. Julia Crane died in 1887, instead of 1883.
Page 64, Chapter XVII, instead of Chapter XIX.PREFACE,
The following pages embodying the settlement and growth of Gouverneur
with the principal events of its more than four-score years, were commenced
in the “long ago ” when in our early womanhood we came to the place mak-
ing its interests our own and seeking the friendship of its people.
Many of the early settlers were then alive, and it was our pleasure to listen
to the tales of olden time, of the lights and shadows of pioneer life, the successes
and discouragements attendant upon it, and the unfading hope which like an
inspiration dwelt in every heart. Our object has been to perpetuate family
legends and to place on record the names of those to whom we are indebted
for the existence of this goodly heritage. Too often the benefactor is lost in his
benefactions while others enjoy the fruits of his industry.
With the exception of two or three dates, a residence, and some trifling mis-
takes in orthography which are corrected at the errata of the work, we believe
every statement to be correct. When there was any conflict as to dates or facts,
the whole has been carefully sifted and the results given. The work makes no
claim to rhetorical flourish or elegance of diction; indeed the moods and tenses
may have been occasionally ignored in the haste of preparing manuscript for
the hungry printer. Aside from our own notes made from time to time as
events occurred, the files of the Herald-Times and Free Press have been gen-
erously placed at our disposal, while the various officers of church, school,
corporation and society have kindly submitted to the tiresome interview.
With our aged friends we have had many a season of delightful intercourse.
Often would the tears start and the lips quiver as they rehearsed the exper-
iences of those trying days. Now it was a story of want when the cruse of
oil was low and the measure of meal was well nigh exhausted. Again it wTas
a tale of alarm from some wild animal or the wilder savage. Sickness too,4
GOUVERNEUR,
invaded the little settlement and death occasionally claimed a victim, though
immunity from either was strikingly apparent, the simple habits of its people
offering no invitation to disease.
Many matters of personal interest have been omitted, our aim being to give
a continuous history of Grouverneur. As a volume of reference we think it
will be found invaluable to all. The work might have been swelled to twice,
its size had we burdened it with the details common to such a narrative; but
this has been scrupulously avoided, knowing the interest would in no wise be
enhanced thereby.
The labor of preparing these pages has not been small, and it is but justice
to the writer to say that the work is a gratuitous offering to our towns-people,
who we hope will appreciate .its neatly finished typographical appearance, if
not the work of
THE AUTHORGOUVERNEUR
A HISTORY.
CHAPTER I.
An old man, over whose head the
frosts of ninety winters have fallen,
sits by my side. He is still upright,
sprightly and genial; and like Moses
of old, his eye is not dim, nor his
natural force abated. His errand is
briefly told; the printer has attacked
him and there is no discharge on that
warfare. “Now for a tale of olden
time; tell us of other days before the
forests were modeled into houses, when
this lively town was a thing of fancy,
and men carved their own fortunes by
the unaided work of their hands.”
In vain the veteran of years remon-
strates ; there are older settlers than he,
his hands are stiff and his writing un-
canny; memory is dull and thought
comes not at his bidding. Cannot a
compromise be effected? Now a bright
idea strikes my aged friend, and with
eager steps he hastens to my door, lays
his case before me, and I cannot say
him nay; would a more ready pen
had been selected to perform the office.
But I am to write of our beautiful
town and village, of its early settlement
by a hardy race—now mostly resting
in the quiet cemetery which crowns a
neighboring slope. I shall write of
other days, when men and women ig-
noring the softer pursuits of later times,
put hand to the plow and fingers to the
loom, and sat down after the heat of
the day to enjoy the fruits of honest
labor.
In the forthcoming chapter of Gouv-
erneur there will necessarily appear
errors of date and location, as we have
often to rely upon tradition and the
treacherous memory of the aged. Time
too, has removed many of the ancient
land-marks; streams have been turned
from their original course, or dried by
the open clearings; hills are leveled
and swamps drained, forests have been
cut away and streets intersect the
country, with railroads and telegraph,
so that the network seems almost too
tangled to unravel. Still we hope to
keep near the bounds of truth and
shall rely upon such assistance from
our friends as they may be able to
furnish. We want adventure, anec-
dote and any matter of interest they
may have in store. Let nothing be
omitted, so that every link in the chain
may be complete and each take his
place in the ranks as they pass in re-
view before another generation. From
the old settlers we have gathered a
large amount of matter, and shall com-
pile it as these sketches proceed.
During the year of 1805, some surveys
were made in the township then known
as Cambray, but not until February,
1806, were any lands occupied. About
the middle of that month, four families
left their pleasant homes in Hartford,
Washington county, to try the perils
and excitement of pioneer life. Their
names stand first on the roll of settlers
in Gouverneur. Pardon Babcock,
Willard Smith, Eleazer Nichols and
Isaac Austin. The latter gentleman
seems to have planned and headed the
expedition, having prepared provisions
for their sustenance, until the party
should be enabled to provide for them-
selves. Eleven hundred pounds of
pork was boned, salted and packed;
sacks of sugar, packages of tea, coffee
and spices, were purchased, with all
the necessary adjuncts of larder and
cellar, while eight bushels of beans ac-
companied the pork barrels to their
destination, so that the settlers were in
little danger of starvation.GOUVERNEUR.
The wife of Mr. Austin, though a
helpless invalid, was carried the whole
distance in a small crib prepared for
the purpose, never shrinking from the
hardships which awaited herself and
family; a rheumatic affliction confined
her to her couch for more than thirty
years, from which she dictated the
affairs of her household, and guided it
with discretion. But little furniture
was brought to the new home, as
everything must be packed in the
smallest possible compass. Eight
straight-backed chairs with one small
rocker started upon the journey, but
these with one exception were broken
on the way; an elder daughter oc-
cupied this for holding the baby and
thus saved it from destruction.
The females and younger members
of the party rested at a log shanty in
Antwerp—held and kept by one Jer-
shom Matoon, as Hotel—with provis-
ions for man and beast, wnile the
fathers and husbands proceeded to
erect houses for their reception. The
first building was an open shed, into
which the sun and moon shone with-
out opposition until a corresponding
one was raised in front, leaving room
for a fire at each end for the triple pur-
pose of light, heat and a defence
against wild animals. But four of this
arty now remain — Mrs. Willard
mith, Mrs. Rufus Smith, daughter of
Eleazer Nichols, El well Austin and
Mrs. Josiah Waid, children of Isaac
Austin. The writer is largely indebted
to Mrs. Waid for particulars concern-
ing the infancy of the town. She en-
joys a green old age attended by a
loving daughter and still resides near
the home of her childhood.
The settlers drove before them seven
cows and four yoke of oxen, their only
shelter being some leaning hemlocks
with the under branches trimmed
away, and their food mostly boughs
cut for browsing. Messrs. Smith and
Nichols built a second shanty near the
river below the present residence of
James Maddock, and Stephen Babcock
erected the first four-sided building
where Joel Key’s house now stands
and which has lately passed into the
hands of James Duffle. The follow-
ing season considerable land was
cleared for planting and sowing, some
log houses and barnes built and the
settlement assumed quite an air of civ-
ilization and prosperity. Six or eight
bushels of potatoes were purchased in
Antwerp, the seed-ends carefully saved
and their eyes dug out for planting.
Grubbing hoes were used for opening
the ground both for potatoes and corn.
On the last day of March, 1806, Isaac
Morgan and wife from Vermont,
joined the settlement, and while assist-
ing them over the river, an ox belong-
ing to Mr. Austin, broke through the
ice and became so chilled that a fit of
sickness ensued during which he was
tenderly nursed by his owner who
walked to Richville with a bed-tick,
which he backed home full of hay for
the poor animal, and was soon re-
warded by seeing him restored to
health and service; a few months
later, the foolish beast in exploring a
miry spring, lost his life, leaving only
a valuable hide as legacy to his
protector.
During the following summer the
journey to Antwerp was shortened by
a more direct route, and a road cut
through to Richville by voluntary
labor. Pour pigs were purchased at
the latter place and backed home in
bags, also a few hens and two pairs of
geese. Moose meat, venison and part-
ridges were often obtained of the In-
dians in exchange for tobacco, bread
and any trinkets they fancied. In the
immediate neighborhood were many
wigwams of the St. Regis Indians,
who, although proving harmless, were
a source of anxiety to the settlers.
Their friendship, however, soon exhib-
ited itself in gifts of maple sugar,
baskets and berries, with an occasional
call for rum and tobacco. One squaw
pleaded sleeplessness as the result of
being without the latter commodity;
and a young Indian begged of Mrs.
Austin a few gills of whiskey to quiet
a joint tooth-ache held by himself and
wife. The good stuff was given him
in a small tea pot; but he soon re-
turned for more saying:	“ It come so
easy he got not home before all was
gone.” The latter application being
refused, he sat down by the fire and
was soon in a glorious drunken sleep.
As other parties brought on a small
quantity of spirits, complaint was
made that it held too much river water
and did not produce the desired and de-
lightful sensations of former libations.
The Sabbath was always sacredly
kept, and of the religious services we
shall speak in our next.ITS PAST AND PRESENT.
7
CHAPTER II.
Whatever our settlers left behind, it
is certain they brought their religion
with them; and not a Sabbath passed
but services of some kind commemo-
rated the day. Prayer meetings were
held during the week, and sermons
were read from time to time. The
children were early taught to sing,
and with their parents, formed a choir,
whose harmony was re-echoed by the
surrounding forest as their notes were
wafted homeward.
Stephen Patterson, an intelligent
layman, read and expounded the scrip-
tures ; he is reported a godly man, and
one thoroughly versed in Bible lore, so
that his teachings and exhortations
were listened to with a lively interest.
Mr. Patterson was not at this time a
resident of the place, but with his
family removed hither the following
year.
Early in the spring of 1806, Messrs.
Pettengil and Nichols, missionaries
from Connecticut arrived, and made a
short sojourn in the settlement. They
were ferried singly over the river, and
while the boatmen were after the
second member of the party, the former
critically surveying the home and sur-
roundings of Mr. Austin, remarked
upon the impracticability of holding a
meeting in the place, which Mrs. A.,
construing into a slight of her humble
quarters, replied with some spirit, “Our
{Saviour was born in a stable, and you
can preach in our shanty.” It is need-
less to add the preaching was done
before a very respectable audience.
The text was from Mark, YI, 12. “And
they went out and preached that men
should repent.”
Mr. Heath, a Methodist clergyman
from Dekalb, occasionally officiated,
but no church was regularly organized
until 1810, of which we shall speak in
a future number.
As before remarked, provisions for
two years had been provided for the
settlers, but the addition of other fam-
ilies and the frequent calls from the
Indians, so reduced the store as to call
for the most rigid economy; corn was
pounded for bread and pudding, and
the precious wheaten loaf was daily
dealt out to serve as an antidote to the
evils arising from the use of corn alone.
The muddy roads being impassable for
loaded teams, it was late in December
before any movement could be made
toward replenishing the empty flour
bins of the neighborhood. Just before
Christmas, Mr. Isaac Austin, with an
ox-team started for Coopers Falls
carrying corn for grinding and bring-
ing home a quantity of flour for him-
self and others. He was absent three
days, a blinding storm making progress
almost impossible. At home, but two
quarts of hoarded flour remained, and
his anxious family had well nigh given
him up for lost. The little ones had
seasoned their homely fare with scrap-
ings of birch bark, and retired for the
night; but the faithful wife and mother
kept fire and watched until midnight,
when the cherry “whoa,” fell upon her
ear, and all was well. Mr. Austin be-
coming benumbed with cold, had
found himself sleeping upon his load—
and this while in a standing position.
Feeling his danger he aroused himself
by vigorous motion, and as before
stated, was soon with his delighted
family. On the first day of January,
1809, a company of Indians made a
formal visit at the house of Mr. Austin,
having previously notified him of their
intentions. They numbered about one
dozen, and were arrayed in their best
attire, painted and hung with feathers
and ornaments of every hue. As they
neared the house, a salute of several
guns somewhat startled the host and
family, but after this friendly demon-
stration they relapsed into their usual
quiet, and patiently awaited the dinner
they saw preparing.
The bill of fare, as reported by Mrs.
Waid, should have satisfied a company
of gourmands. It consisted of roasted
ribs, fried cakes, bread and wine; after
which they smoked their pipes of mar-
ble and buck-horn, and returned to
their homes in better condition than
many who have since made New Years
calls. The Indians possessed many
trinkets of unwrought silver which
they claimed to have found a three
days’ journey up the river; but none
of the settlers could be induced to ac-
company them to the spot, such was
their guarded care, lest themselves or
families should be betrayed by their
red-skinned neighbors. That silver was
found at no great distance from Gouv-
erneur, is undoubtedly true, and it
remains for some future explorer to find
the coveted deposit.8
GOUVERNEUR,
The maple trees which still abound
in this region, were quite a source of
wealth both to the whites and Indians.
Troughs were made either by hewing
or burning a cavity in a log, until it
was capable of holding the sap, which
was afterward boiled in a caldron
kettle brought all the way from Wash-
ington county. The female members
of the settlement often attended to this
duty, the men being engaged in felling
trees and clearing up the land for
tilling.
The cows and other live stock im-
ported seemed to have an intelligent
perception of their duties, seldom
wandering from home and fattening
themselves by becoming consideration,
so that soon pork, fowls, beef and
butter, were no longer luxuries. Seven
pigs, from a family of sixteen, weighed
when dressed, two hundred and fifty
pounds apiece. For the benefit of pork-
raisers, we would remark that they
were fed upon boiled corn, with an
occasional dessert of the same pounded.
Neighborly exchanges were made in
eggs and poultry, two large or three
small hen’s eggs being deemed an
equivalent for one goose egg.
The first birth in the settlement was
Allen Smith, son of Willard Smith,
before mentioned. He was born May
8th, 1806, and died March 9th, 1871.
For two years the only means of
communication between the banks of
the river was by boat or a perilous foot-
path, formed by felling trees from oppo-
site directions, their upper branches
being trimmed off and leveled. These
rested upon the island in the river just
above this village, and which have
ever stood the firm abutments of subse-
quent bridges.
The bark-covered houses and barns
answered well for a time, but the sun
and rain so warped this primitive roof-
ing that it was deemed expedient to
seek a substitute. This was only accom-
plished by a toilsome journey to Coop-
ers Falls, the nearest saw mill then in
the county; boards were rafted or drawn
from this distance—venders of patent
roofing then being unknown—and in
this tedious manner, were comfortable
shelters secured.
A valuable donation of books, con-
sisting of religious and secular histories,
with issues from the American Tract
Society, was received from Connecticut
during the infancy of the settlement.
These works, it is believed, were instru-
mental in moulding the intelligent
mind for which the early inhabitants
were remarkable.
Although the settlers enjoyed an un-
usual degree of health, the services of
a physician were sometimes necessary;
and the nearest one to be procured was
Dr. Seeley of Dekalb; it is also related
that so tardy were his movements that
patients frequently recovered before
his arrival.
In the spring of 1807, Dr. John
Spencer, wife and two children came
from Windsor, Connecticut, and for
years he was the only physician within
the circuit of many miles. He traveled
far and near in the performance of his
duties, often going a great distance on
foot, remaining out over night with
the sick whom he nursed with assiduous
care. At one time several families in
Antwerp were prostrated with a malig-
nant fever; these he visited from time
to time, always on foot and by an ob-
scure and unfrequented path. Early
one morning in December, 1807, he set
out for his usual visit. When about
three miles from the settlement, he
was startled by the sight of a deer
pursued by a black wolf. Secreting
himself behind a log, he watched with
interest the chase, when a pack of
eleven others came upon the scene of
action, but discovering the new game
paused for reflection, leaving their
comrade to look after the deer. Their
counsel, however, was of short du-
ration, for with loud howls and open
jaws they assailed the doctor, whose first
impulse was to retreat. Near the present
residence of M. Gr. Norton, was an un-
finished log house; this he hoped might
be reached, but deeming such a move-
ment impracticable, he next bethought
himself of being treed; the latter sug-
gestion was however abandoned, as he
was reminded that the wolves had ho
occasion to hurry, and might detain
him longer than was agreeable, as the
cold was intense. So divesting him-
self of coat, hat and unnecessary bur-
dens, he cut a heavy beech cudgel and
rushed at his assailants, beating the icy
bushes right and left and making all
the noise he was capable of doing, by
shouting, pounding and stamping,
until the pack thought best to retire.
Caution now pointed homeward, butITS PAST AND PRESENT,
9
duty was beyond, and our hero some-
what sensitive as to his reputation for
bravery, determined to proceed, which
he did although haunted for some time
by the disappointed howls of his late
distant assailants.
Dr. Spencer was a dignified but
genial gentleman of the olden time,
and we well remember his fair face
surmounted by hair of silvery white-
ness. His good wife survived him
several years, and both are now sleep-
ing near the scenes of their former
labors.
CHAPTER III.
The high reputation of the country
for farming purposes, together with
the low price of land and the available
water power of the Oswegatchie, soon
tempted new adventurers to Gouver-
neur, so that in the spring of 1807,
there were twelve families in the settle-
ment, namely: Isaac Austin, Willard
Smith, Pardon Babcock, Eleazer Nich-
ols, Isaac Morgan, Richard Townsend,
Daniel Austin, Stephen Patten-on,
Benjamin Smith, Isreal Porter, Stephen
Smith and Dr. John Spencer. It will
be seen that the Smiths were then as
now, largely , represented. Land which
was originally twenty shillings per
acre, now readily sold for three or
more dollars and was taken up in plots
ranging from two to five hundred
ac r es. A large tract was soon purchased
from the proprietor, Mr. Gouverneur
Morris, and the work of clearing
rapidly progressed. It was no unusual
thing for one farmer with the assistance
of a hired man to cut over six or eight
acres during the summer, and fallow
it for a crop of winter wheat. The
reports of these wheat harvests ap-
proach so nearly to the fabulous that
we forbear mentioning the number of
bushels to the acre; suffice it to say
that many farmers soon found them-
selves out of debt and the owners of
fine productive farms. The nearest
market at this time was Ogdensburg,
where all produce must be carried by
sleigh or wagon, over rough and
unimproved roads, or floated by raft
or canoe down the Oswegatchie river.
The wholesale destruction of forests
has always marked the track of the
Sioneer, and perhaps as a matter of
efence against wild beasts the evil
cannot be remedied. Some years since
while watching the p1 anting of shade
trees in our own streets, a plain hearted
old gentleman remarked, “We have
been all our lives endeavoring to get
out of the woods, and the next gene-
ration will spend their days in getting
back again.” One who wielded one
of the first axes in Gouverneur, has
often told the writer his method of
providing the winter fuel. This, with
his mode of building and kindling a
fire, may not prove uninteresting to
our readers.	‘ ‘ All the down wood
was at once refused; nothing but the
body of standing timber was considered
fit for burning; this was never piled
nor corded, but stacked so as to season
and shed the rain, and subsequently
snaked over to the house where it was
once more cut in twain and was then
ready for use. The most of us had an
andiron or fire-dog, some had only
stone supports.”
“The mode of procedure was first to
carefully fit a back-log to the rear of
the fire-place, then one as nicely
adjusted to the front—this only for
foundation—and the work of filling up
commenced. Smaller logs were piled
in, and the interstices stopped with fat-
pine, chips, dried bark, etc. After the
application of a few coals to the base
of this structure and one or two puffs
from the mouth or bellows, the fire
was considered made for the day, un-
less the “women folks” saw fit to make
occasional additions of light stuff—for
be it known this was always the work
of masculine hands, the strength of
two men being considered necessary to
accomplish the daily task. This duty
over, we again repaired to the woods,
felling trees and chopping until time
for feeding the cattle and replenishing
the fire at home. Most of the winter
was spent in this manner,” adds our
informant, ‘ ‘but them fires was cheer-
ful, though.”
Aside from the light of the fire-place,
but few means for illumination were
at hand; some candles were moulded
or dipped, but so few animals were
slaughtered that tallow was not plenty,
Beggar-lamps were sometimes impro-
vised by melting lard in a shallow dish
and tying a small weight in a rag
leaving the end above the grease for
lighting. Pine knots were often used
and many who are not reckoned of
the old settlers well remember the10
GOUVERNEUR,
cherry light from these natural illumi-
nations.
So much land was occupied upon
the south side of the river that the
want of a bridge besran to engross the
public mind, the more so as several
persons had narrowly escaped drown-
ing while attempting to cross by boat
or the foot-path formerly described.
The settlers receiving no encourage-
ment from the town of Oswegatcliie,
of which they formed a part, with
characteristic independence raised
among themselves the sum of five
hundred dollars with which to build
the bridge. Mr. Isaac Kendall was
the contractor, and in the face of
every discouragement it was in a few
months completed. A log hut was
erected to protect the workmen from
the weather, floats were constructed
upon which to operate, timber was cut,
hewn and hauled to the river, which
was soon spanned by a rough but con-
venient structure which lasted for
twelve years and was then replaced by
one built by James Parker, of which
more anon.
The bridge had no railing but heavy
beams pinned to the sides for pro-
tection. Great, was the rejoicing at
this achievement of industry and art;
calls and visits of congratulation were
exchanged and no draw-back appeared
to hinder the advancement of civiliz-
ation. Mothers took their babes and
spinning wheels out to spend the day
with the nearest neighbor, quilting
parties were instituted and days of
feasting followed in the wake of the
new bridge.
The settlers for a time had a prefer-
ence for locating at Natural Dam, a
beautiful sheet of water a mile or two
below the present village of Gouver-
neur. Here in 1808, a large clearing
was made by order of Mr. Morris, and
a sawmill and flouring mill erected at
the expense of the proprietor. Mr.
Isaac Austin built these mills with the
understanding that certain rentals
should accrue to himself, but there
being some defect in the contract he
lost largely, became discouraged,
abandoned the enterprise and returned
to his own premises. An incident
which occurred during the raising of
the mill deserves being perpetuated.
Elder Sawyer came on horse back to
look over the ground preparatory to
holding mission services, but finding
the male members of the community
absent—they being engaged in raising
the mills, a work of three or more
days—he concluded to postpone the
meeting to a more favorable oppor-
tunity. “What,” exclaimed the in-
domitable Mrs. Austin, “cannot you
preach to the women as did Paul and
Silas?” The hint was taken, word
went far and near, and quite an audi-
ence of females gathered to listen to
the precious word. The text upon
this occasion, which was singularly
appropriated was from Acts XVI, 13:
“And we sat down and spake unto
the women which resorted thither.”
Whether any Lydias appeared among
the hearers as the result of this dis-
course, tradition saith not.
The religious harmony which pre-
vailed among the town fathers is well
worthy the imitation of their sons.
The first families were Baptists, but a
large Congregational element was
early developed, and until the organiz-
ation of the Baptist church in 1810, no
outward feeling was manifested re-
garding sect or belief, and all parties
worshiped together, each giving of his
ability for the support of the gospel
by whomsoever preached or declared.
Early in August, 18' 8, a shadow came
over the settlement in the sudden death
of Emily Porter, a sprightly little girl
of two years, and daughter of Isreal
Porter before named. She had been
out during the day with some other
children gathering peas; and it is
believed ate a quantity of the half
ripened kernels which swelled in the
stomach producing violent spasms
from which she was only released by
death. This occasion led to the selec-
tion of the first burying ground which
was near the present Presbyterian
church in a hemlock grove. The
crossing of the river being necessary
to reach Mr. Porter’s house, and the
bridge not yet completed the body
was brought over to the house of Mr.
Isaac Austin where impressive funeral
services were held by Stephen Patter-
son. The coffin was made of un-
stained pine, and at its removal fifty
years later was found in a good state
of preservation. The grave was im-
mediately surrounded by stout pickets
and otherwise so protected as to secure
it from invasion by wild beasts.ITS PAST AND PRESENT.
11
The Indians, whose history is inti-
mately connected with our own, lost
so much of their native shyness as to
prove a source of annoyance. Their
visits were made at all times and upon
all occasions and no ordinary hint
moved them to departure, particularly
if the family meal was at hand. As it
was not deemed expedient to offend
them these visitations were quietly
overlooked. One copper-faced lad of
sixteen or seventeen years conceived a
passionate affection for one of the
comely daughters of the settlers. His
regard was manifested by sundry gifts
of baskets, maple sugar, birds and
other game, always accompanying the
latter with the assurance that they
were the fruit of his own gun or bow.
The young man’s dress upon such oc-
casions was in the most approved
style of Indian decoration. A hawk’s
tail formed a crest above his painted
brow, while various trinkets dangled
from any part of his person where
they could find a lodgment. But our
damsel was proof against such charms,
the discarded lover coolly withdrew his
attentions, leaving her to become the
cherished wife of one of her own choice
and color.
CHAPTER IV.
In the autumn of 1809, it was deemed
expedient to open a district school,
there being about a dozen children in
the neighborhood between the ages of
five and fifteen, and, indeed, several
younger aspirants for knowledge were
soon added to the number.
Accordingly a board of trustees was
organized and a school house built of
logs, near the spot now occupied by
the Presbyterian church. This structure
measured twelve feet by sixteen,
measuring from the outer walls. A
large fire-place ornamented one side,
the teacher’s throne a second, and
three or four benches hewn from logs,
the remaining two. The furniture was,
of course, scanty in the extreme, con-
sisting of small deal table, one chair
and, we may suppose, a few twigs of
beech or birch completed the outfit.
A young man named Silas Brooks, of
Antwerp, was engaged as teacher, and
for a whole week imparted lessons of
wisdom to the assembled group, but
becoming homesick aud dissatisfied at
limiting his efforts to so small a num-
ber, he resigned and sought a wider
field of action, where we may hope he
found full play for the exercise of his
intellectual forces.
Miss Betsy S. Sackett was solicited
to fill the vacancy, which we believe
she did with credit to herself and the
satisfaction of her employers. The
names of her scholars have been pre-
served and the list may atvaken some
memories of olden time in the hearts
of those who may recognize an old
friend or playmate. They were Re-
becca Austin, Patty Austin, El well E.
Austin, Amanda Babcock, Isaac Mor-
gan, Jr., Sally Nichols, James Nichols,
Nancy Nichols, Iantha Porter, George
Washington Porter, Eliza Austin—an
occasional scholar—and Betsy Spencer,
less than three years old, who was
drawn to school on a hand sled by a
slave boy named George. Of the latter
scholar it is reported that at this early
age she was a ready reader, and the
subsequent advantages bestowed upon
her by indulgent parents have long
placed her among our most intelligent
citizens.
Later, Miss Sackett was married to
John Parker and settled in the town
of Fowler, where she died March 22nd,
1861, in the 73 st year of her age.
The first slave brought to town was
one Jenny, belonging to Dr. Richard
Townsend. In early life she lost a leg
which was amputated below the knee,
and henceforth propelled herself by a
contrivance attached thereto in the
shape of a small stool, padded for a
rest, and which she navigated with
considerable ease. Jenny was at one
time conveyed to Ephraim Gates, for
the consideration of a span of horses
and sleigh, but her health failing so as
to render her nearly useless, she was
repurchased by her former owner, by
whom she was treated with uniform
kindness until her death, which oc-
curred the following season. Her
funeral was largely attended and every
token of respect manifested. Dr. John
Spencer read the funeral sermon, and
the poor maimed body was decently
interred in the public burying ground.
The postal arrangements were for a
long time in an imperfect state. The
settlers mostly received their mail from
the Black River country, whence a
man was occasionally dispatched on
foot to bring the letters, there deposited12
GOUVERNEUR,
with HaiJe Coffeen, postmaster for
that section. The cost of one letter
was seldom below twenty or thirty
cents, and newspapers were rarely to
be had. Dr. Richard Townsend was
eventually appointed postmaster for
Gouverneur. This gentleman made
an office of his table drawer, where all
missives for the district were securely
kept until called for. The mail was
carried from Black River, or Water-
town, to Ogdensburg on horseback by
Levi Holt, whose cheery face was
always welcomed in the settlement,
and whose retentive memory furnished
most of the floating events of the day
to the ready listeners on his beat.
Great was the rejoicing when a few
years later the mail was transferred to
a four-wheeled vehicle, and the driver’s
horn awoke the surrounding hills to a
realization of their importance as a
town among towns, with a post-office
and all the elements of a glorious
future.
Mr. Isaac Austin was early elected
justice of the peace, which office then
carried more weight and respectability
than it has done in latter times. The
justice was considered the regulator of
public and private affairs, and the
guardian of town morals; he settled
family difficulties, gave advice freely,
and brought offenders to trial; he
married parties cheaper than the
minister, and tied the hymenial knot
as closely—in short he was the faith-
ful arbiter of all disputes and the
willing servant of all parties. Upon
one occasion, the squire was called to
walk a distance of six miles to join a
couple in the bonds of wedlock. Attir-
ing himself in his best velvet suit, he
quietly proceeded upon his way, doubt-
less musing over the anticipated fee,
when he carelessly collided with a
projecting knot of wood, splitting open
the knee of his cherished pants and
bruising the unlucky member so as to
render a bandage indispensable. A
pocket handkerchief supplied the latter
want but gave an undignified appear-
ance to the offending leg. He, how-
ever, arrived at his destination without
further mishap, performed the cere-
mony from a secluded corner of the
room, made his apology for not re-
maining at the marriage feast and
returned home, much to the surprise
of his family who did not look for his
coming before the following day. At
another time the good man went a
distance of several miles upon a similar
errand, accompanied by his invalid
wife in her cradle and drawn over
rough and unimproved roads. They
were amply repaid by the pleasant
company and bountiful repast which
awaited them, and all hands voted the
entertainment well worth the trouble
and labor of the undertaking.
The ever present Indians evidently
exercised their ingenuity in contriving
ways and means for refreshing their
inner man at other people’s expense.
The squire and family had one day
regaled themselves upon a “boiled
dinner,” and at the usual hour retired
to rest. A little after midnight a slight
noise attracted the attention of the
sleepers, when it was discovered that a
party of the redskins had taken posses-
sion of the kitchen and were generously
helping themselves to the best the
house afforded. Pork and beef were
gulped down in chunks, and potatoes
packed them into place. The bread
disappeared like snow in summer, and
the empty platter bore a famished look
as the bewildered owner made his ap-
pearance upon the scene of action.
Remonstrance was in vain; the thing
was done, and it was not the part of
prudence to arouse the ire of the in-
truders. They however saw the
necessity of an apology, and pleaded
an unsuccessful chase, extreme hunger
and the known generosity of their
host. A gentle reproof was admin-
istered, with instructions to call in
future by daylight and make their
wants known to the proper authorities.
Although the country was con-
siderably cleared and settled, the
wolves and bears still held possession,
and made frequent inroads upon the
domestic animals and growing crops.
Several incidents concerning the deni-
zens of the forest have been furnished
the writer, and it has been thought ex-
pedient to embody the most of them in
the present chapter without reference
to date or location.
Mr. Willard Smith, having captured
a large fat bear, resolved in giving a
dinner party in honor thereof. A fine
roast was taken off, and a small oven
of stones was improvised out of doors
for cooking the much prized delicacy.
The dish was prepared after the mostITS PAST AND PRESENT.
13
approved style, the fat carefully
drained off, and a gravy of drawn
butter enriched the whole. All the
vegetables of the season adorned the
board, and, adds our informant, 441
have seldom seen a more inviting
meal. ” The remainder of the bear was
salted and packed for future use, and
made an excellent substitute for pork.
Bear catching was reduced to a
science and the settlers lost all fears of
the animals, so that bruin was fre-
quently vanquished by a single hand,
and forthwith found quarters in a tub
of brine, while his shaggy hide adorned
the sunny side of some barn, where it
was left to be cured by wind and
weather, and was a trophy of no mean
character. No wild animal ventured
nearer the haunts of civilization than
the bear. He trampled down and
carried off the corn, stole the maple
sugar, tipped over the sap troughs and
once or twice essayed a paw into the
boiling syrup, much to the amusement
of the attendants, whose shouts of
laughter were only drowned by the
growls of the discomfited beast.
Mr. Ephraim Case adopted a novel
mode of capturing a bear which was
destroying his corn. A piece of meat
was attached to a rope, and the hunter
retired to a neighboring hill, where
with his gun he awaited an attack; but
becoming drowsy, he fastened the rope
to his leg and fell into a quiet nap,
from which he was awakened by an
unceremonious journey down the hill;
he at once fired in the direction of the
new conveyance when the steed took
fright and retired from the scene of
action.
Henry B. Holbrook—lately deceased
—was accustomed to relate an ad-
venture which here deserves mention.
He was about driving up his cows for
milking, but missing a valuable mare
he started in pursuit. After tracking
her some distance, five large wolves
disputed with him the right of way.
As there happened to be plenty of
stones in the neighborhood, he pelted
the pack for a while and then grace-
fully backed off, leaving his assailants
masters of the field. By this time
night had set in, and Mr. H., coming
directly upon the house of Wm.
Rhodes, near Little Bow, he lodged
there, unable to proceed further. But
a^different scene was transpiring at
home; the family and neighbors being
thoroughly alarmed instituted a search
for the missing party, blowing horns
and otherwise making signals by
which the wanderer might learn his
whereabouts, should he be within
hearing. The innocent cause of all
this tumult was afterward found in a
neighboring pasture, evidencing by a
crop of porcupine quills protruding
from her nose, that she had met with
a more serious encounter than her
master. Upon another occasion Mr.
Holbrook in returning from a visit,
became benighted and camped out in
the woods; hitching his horse to a tree,
he made himself as comfortable as
circumstances would permit, but the
restive beast told of other parties
present, and our hero sought a tree,
where, with chattering teeth he awaited
the morning, which hurried never for
his accommodation. Half perished, at
daylight, he again mounted his horse
and at last reached the house of
Isreal Portei, where he lived at the
time.
Our readers must be satisfied with
one or two more incidents which serve
to show the hardships of pioneer life
and the trials of those who prepared
the way for the pleasant homes we
enjoy.
On a Sabbath morning, Lyman
Dodge found a large black wolf in a
trap, and in the absence of fire-arms,
the beast was killed by blows from a
long pole, snarling and growling to
the last. At another time a party of
coon-hunters treed an imaginary coon
up a hemlock stub; failing to fetch
him down by ordinary means, a fire
was kindled at the base, when a bear
dropped into the flames and made off
for the thicket, leaving behind an un-
questionable odor of burnt hair.
Mr. James Parker, a charming old
man of ninety years, has furnished us
many items of interest which will in
due time appear. Among them he
mentions the killing of a deer, after a
playful remark from his father that
“breakfast would have time to cook if
they waited for him. ”
CHAPTER V.
For some time our friends had been
subjected to petty annoyances and in-
conveniences, which though small,
aroused in the colony the same spirit
414
GOUVERNEUR,
which actuated our revolutionary
fathers to declare their independence.
The freeman’s treasured privilege of
voting could not be exercised short of
a toilsome journey to Ogdensburg, and
there each man must prove his own
identity after a dictatorial formula pro-
vided for the occasion. Such indig-
nities could in no wise be suffered, and
the spring of 1810 found a respectable
number of men prepared to take official
proceedings toward becoming an inde-
pendent body.
There were between two and three
hundred inhabitants in the settlement,
and about thirty legal voters. To some
of the latter, Daniel D. Tompkins and
DeWitt Clinton, no doubt, owed in
part their election, for it is reported
that party spirit ran high and ambitious
mothers, inspired by the popular
tumult, named many of their boy-
babies Daniel or DeWitt, and it is
presumed that some of the girls re-
joiced in the names of their respective
spouses.
After the usual legislative proceed-
ings, the town was formed from Oswe-
gatchie, April 5th, 1810, and named
Gouverneur, after Gouverneur Morris,
the first proprietor of the district. A
caucus was held on “Cold Friday,” at
the office of Dr. Richard Townsend,
and the first town meeting at the house
of Dr. John Spencer, at which time the
following officers were elected:
Supervisor, Richard Townsend;
Town Clerk, Amos Comly; Assessors,
Pardon Babcock, Rufus Washburn and
Isaac Morgan; Commissioners of high-
ways, Amos Comly, Ephriam Case
and Benjamin Smith; Overseers of the
poor, Jonathan Colton and Israel
Porter; Constable, Collector and keeper
of the public peace, Barnabas Wood;
Pound Master, Israel Porter. These
gentlemen are said to have discharged
their duties with so much zeal and
fidelity, that crime and disorder were
strangers—introduced only since they
have gone to their rest—and entertained
by few of their deecendants.
Progress was now the watch-word,
and this spirit exhibited itself in public
improvements whenever and wherever
they could be advanced. The west
side of the river first boasted an inn,
kept by Israel Porter, and a commo-
dious log school house was built near
Fosgate’s four corners. John Cheney
Rich, late of Richville, N. Y., taught
the first school, and bis own intelligent
family attest to his competency as
instructor of the young. This school
house was also used as a place for
religious services, which were for a
long time held there by the Baptist
and Congregational denominations.
This portion of the town for a time
out-stripped the other in the number
and quality of its buildings. The
country was more level and better
cleared, and several influential families
having located here, the tide of civiliz-
ation swept westward; but the water
privileges of the opposite side together
with early associations caused business
to gravitate in that direction, and the
establishment of a store by John Brown
forever settled the location of Gouver-
neur village.
The first store—which was a model
of its kind—deserves more than a pass-
ing notice. Goods were brought from
Black River, Sacketts Harbor and Og-
densburg, and were sometimes even
shipped from parts of Canada. Calico
sold from two shillings to fifty cents
per yard; cotton cloths varied accord-
ing to the texture, from two shillings
to one dollar per yard, and broadcloths
were sometimes valued as high as ten
dollars per yard; and as the war of
1812 approached, goods reached most
fabulous prices. “Yet,” says one, “we
were always well dressed and kept
within range of New York fashions.”
Domestic manufactures were often the
only currency in circulation. “But I
reckon,” adds our informant, “that we
were happier in those days than now.”
Neighbors were then neighbors in the
scriptural sense of the word, one was
no better than the other, and the petty
frauds, emulations and bickering of
later years, were to them unknown.—
Mothers nursed their own babes, spun,
wove and knit, while husbands held
the plow with as honest a pride as their
sons now support a ratan or light a
cigar.
Mrs. Pardon Babcock, who died
March 27, 1856, at the age of 78, was
wont, after performing her daily tasks,
to visit her nearest neighbor, Mrs.
Daniel Austin, by boat, which she
rowed with much dexterity, often
carrying one or more children upon
the journey. The new cemetery is
located upon the farm once owned byITS PAST AND PRESENT.
15
Pardon Babcock, and we could wish a
suitable monument placed over the
remains of the aged pair, recognizing
their virtues and services in a becoming
manner.
By the aid of judicious runners, the
praises of Gouverneur were sounded in
all directions, so that scarce a month
passed without some addition of num-
bers and wealth to the place. Emi-
gration was diverted from adjacent
towns which were soon outstripped by
the infant aspirant for honors. The
settlers, too, were solid men, possessing
little of the spirit of adventure, and
who were willing to invest their money
in lands to be cleared and cultivated
for themselves and children. It has
also been remarked that few new
places contained a like number of
educated persons. A circu 1 ating 1 ibrary
was early set in motion, and this love
of reading has so been transmitted
from parent to child, that scarce a
family can be found which has not a
well-stored book case in its possession.
Old letters, deeds and public documents
further impress this fact upon us. All
are marked by correct orthography
and a bold fair hand.
A goodly share of prudence marked
all operations, so that plenty and pros-
perity were early guests. Many articles
were exported, so that the out lays
were not over-balanced by needless ex-
penditure. Black salts, or potash,
maple sugar, wheat flower and cattle
were i*old in Ogdensburg, Watertown
and Sacketts Harbor; from the latter
point salt was obtained as also some
other articles of exchange. A fine pair
of horses were reared and trained for
DeWitt Clinton, and driven to Albany,
where he was then Lieut. Governor of
the state.
Flowering mills were erected at
several points below the town, where
grain was either exchanged or con-
verted into such matter as was most
needed at home. Mr. James Parker
relates that upon one occasion he drove
to Church’s Mills over an obscure road,
or blazed path, as it in reality was.
Having set out to return home with
his load, he was obliged to ford two
streams and back his grain over to
secure it from becoming wet. Night
and weariness overtaking him near
the residence of the late Harvey Van-
Buren, he again unloaded, turned his
oxen loose, and as it was raining,
placed his cart over the precious gram
and crept under it for a night’s repose.
A company of wolves relieved the
tedium of the night by their howls, so
that the good man was early prepared
to resume his journey.
Mr. Parker with his younger brother
John, came to Gouverneur April 19,
1810. Both married daughters of
Elijah Sackett, and both made farming
their pursuit. John Parker settled in
Fowler, where he died May 26, 1866,
aged eighty-three years. James Parker
was born in Canterbury, Conn., April
1st, 1792, and consequently completed
his ninetieth year the present month;
he still resides upon the farm he chose
and cleared, and m the house he as-
sisted to erect. His form is scarcely
bent with age, his hair is silvery white
and his fine blue eyes as clear as ever.
They are to-day surmounted by heavy
dark eyebrows which give him the ap-
pearance of firmness and concentra-
tion, characteristics which have
followed him through life. With the
exception of deafness, his faculties are
unimpaired; he has ever been a model
of temperance and industry, and as a
gentleman and Christian his record is
untarnished. A slight impediment of
speech made him diffident in conver-
sation, for which reason his virtues
were better known in his family than
in the outer world; but no philan-
thropic object passed his purse unaided,
and his hand was ever first in public
improvements. May he long live to
cheer us with his presence, and may
his bright example be a model for
many.
The years of 1810 and ’12 were full
of interest to the town of Gouverneur.
The first church organization was
completed, a clergyman ordained, and
officers elected, and one or two schools
established; mutterings of a coming
storm were heard from all directions,
and our northern frontier was illy
protected against an invading army.
The Indians of adjacent towns had
made unfriendly demonstrations and
some faint hearts turned homeward
for safety. The latter circumstance
for a time discouraged emigration and
palsied commerce; but the tide of
progress could not be readily stayed,
and men moved firmly and cautiously
upon their way. Crops were planted16	GOUVERNEUR.
and harvested, public improvements
were undertaken, streets straightened
and widened, fences built, new houses
erected and old ones repaired. Laws
were made for the destruction of
noxious weeds, cattle forbidden the
•highway and ducks and geese were
fined for leaving their own premises.
We shall next proceed to some par-
ticulars regarding the Baptist church,
its pastors and officers and its present
condition and prospects.
CHAPTER VI.
No settlement can be considered well
established without a religious organiz-
ation ; and men only interested in the
sale of lands have ever found the
school and church valuable adjuncts
in the advancement of their projects.
Our settlers, we believe, were influenced
by higher and better motives; they
had left behind them refinements and
privileges which they were not disposed
to bury, and in the bright future, they
saw the wilderness blossom like the
rose; churches and seminaries arise
under the magic hand of civilization,
and public improvement which should
outrival the scenes of early years.
Fathers and mothers, are not your
golden projects realized? and hear you
not from earth and heaven, the whis-
pered and welcome plaudit of “Well
done good and faithful servants ?”
For the following history and estab-
lishment of the Baptist church in this
village, we are indebted to the records
which have been kindly placed in our
hands, as well as to several aged citi-
zens who have furnished facts of inter-
est: On the 18th day of February,
1811, a committee of three persons—
namely, Elder Amasa Brown, Timothy
Atwood and Eli Carington, of the first
Baptist church, of Hartford, Washing-
ton county, met at the house of Isaac
Austin; and after prayer to the great
Head of the church, proceeded to hear
the request and resolutions laid before
them. The articles were, first, Doctri-
nal, second, Practical and third the
Covenant; to which, after mature de-
liberation, the committee resolved to
accede, giving the petitioners the right
hand of fellowship as a church and as
brethren of the church.
There were eighteen members all
told; their names were Jonathan
Payne, Stephen Patterson, Eleazer
Nichols, John Brown, Hezekiah Nich-
ols, Isaac Austin, Benjamin Drake,
Aaron Atwood, Joel Atwood, Tabitba
Austin, Zilpha Gates, Patty Payne,
Alice Payne, Betsy Thompson, Nancy
Nichols. Lovicie Smith, Polly Brown
and Hannah Atwood. At this time
Jonathan Payne was chosen mode-
rator, Stephen Patterson, clerk, and
soon after Jonathan Payne was called
to serve as deacon. Isaac Austin and
John Brown took charge of finances
and collections. In December of this
year it was resolved to join the county
association, and a committee was ap-
pointed to attend the next meeting at
Stockholm.
The desire of all was now to have
permanent religious services, and it
was unanimously voted that Jonathan
Payne should be ordained to the work
of the gospel ministry. After due ex-
amination the business of consecration
proceeded, assisted by delegates from
Hartford, Denmark, Watertown, Rut-
land and Henderson. Mr. Payne
related his religious experience, call to
the ministry, etc., which being satis-
factory, the work of ordination was
completed on Tuesday, February 20th,
1812. Elder Osgood gave an intro-
ductory review of the church and its
organization, Elder Parsons preached
the sermon, Elder Card made the
consecration prayer, and with Elders
Brown and Gill, laid their hands upon
the candidate, Elder Brown gave the
pastoral charge, Elder Gill the right
hand of fellowship and Elder Johnson
made the concluding prayer.
The services were conducted at the
school house described in a foregoing
chapter, and were of a solemn ana
impressive character. People flocked
in from adjoining towns and all doors
were hospitably opened for the num-
erous guests. In March, Aaron At-
wood was chosen deacon, and the
Saturday preceeding the first Sabbath
of every month was set apart for
church and covenant meetings, and we
believe has been religiously observed
up to the present time.
The first baptism was that of Sally
Haskins, and took place Sunday, June
7th, 1812, near the place now used,
and nearly opposite the residence of
A. P. Killmer Esq. Elder Jonathan
Payne performed the service, and aITS PAST AND PRESENT.
17
large number of persons witnessed the
ordinance. The labor of raising the
yearly salary, was then, as now, a
burden borne by the few. Elder Payne
owned a small place known as the
Rhodes lot, adjoining the premises of
Harvey Thompson; only one-fourth
of his time was due at home, as he
preached at various other points, and
money being out of the question, it
was stipulated that he should receive a
certain amount of grain upon the first
day of January; and this for some time
formed the bulk of the good man’s
income. Elder Payne has been suc-
ceeded by Rev’s Morgan, Barrel, Saw-
yer, Haven, Boughton, Pomeroy,
Webb, Sawyer, C. Sawyer, Morgan,
Babcock, Ames, Daniels, Child and
Putnam. In 1822 a plain frame church
was built, and in 1850 sold to James
Spencer, Esq., and removed to his
premises. The same year the present
house was erected and is a neat and
well-kept edifice. A parsonage is in
couise of building near the church,
which we believe is to be a convenient
and handsome dwelling.
The membership of the Baptist
church has steadily increased until it
numbers 213 members and is in a
flourishing and working state.
The separate religious organizations
will receive due attention as we proceed
with the narrative of Gouverneur.
We must now return to the early
history and eventful years of the war.
Little fear was entertained of a raid
from the British army; but the Indians
were more than suspected of treachery
and evil designs, so that every pre-
caution was taken for defence; and
this led to the erection of the Block
House, soon after the declaration of
war. Watchers, or sentinels, were
posted at all points, suspicious move-
ments magnified, and every eye was
on the alert for something—no one
could tell what.
On a quiet summer evening Mrs.
Willard Smith noticed an unusual
movement among the tall potato vines
which grew upon the river bank.
Hurriedly notifying her nearest neigh-
bor, Mrs. Nichols, that an Indian was
lurking by, the brave ladies armed
with a pitchfork, repaired to the spot
ready to extinguish the whole race of
scalping savages; a few violent thrusts
brought up a bristling hedgehog —
whose arrows in civilized hands might
have proved mischievous enough, but
upon the present occasion only
furnished a few specimens of field
artillery and topics for many a hearty
laugh in years to come. Upon another
occasion an Indian with his squaw
took lodgings with Mrs. Smith, who
was alone in her house. When Mr.
Red-skin was ready for retiring he
dextrously threw his tomahawk into
the door for safe keeping, very much
as a modern traveler tosses his satchel
into the rack of a railroad car. The
good hostess however was vividly re-
minded that a similar motion might
pin her to the door post. The un-
welcome visitors left at a reasonable
hour, much to the relief of their land-
lady.
That the Indians had an idea of
honesty is aptly illustrated by a
circumstance which took place about
this period. Mrs. Smith relates that
they had raised a mammoth cabbage
which they kept to astonish visitors,
and as an evidence of the fertility of
the new country. One morning a
bright object in the direction of the
cabbage plot called for an investigation,
when it was discovered that the big
vegetable had disappeared and a silver
shilling occupied its place upon the
newly cut stump. Cabbages yielding
this amount to the head might prove a
remunerative crop.
Previous to the draft which took
place in 1812, rumors of an attack upon
Ogdensburg reached the settlement
and called out all the patriotism of the
citizens. Men left their families and
flew to the rescue of our frontier har-
bors. From Gouverneur Stephen
Patterson, William Fanning, Isaac
Austin and Stephen Mitchell volun-
teered, taking only their guns and a
few eatables for the way. They found
the place all quiet for ihe time and in
a few days returned to their homes.
Fanning, however, who was lightly
clad, took on a cold, which with
additional exposure, eventuated in his
death. But the war was not thus easily
disposed of. There were foes at home
as well as abroad. Men who sympa-
thized with the old government and
who were suspected of being too
friendly with the enemies of the
country. A few such, co-operating
with the Indians, worked mischief in18
GOUVERNEUR,
neighboring towns, and the utmost
vigilance was exercised to detect such
at home.
Many were loud in their professions
of loyalty, but when men were really
needed they were scarce enough. One
whose duty it was to notify a few of
the draft, relates that their consterna-
tion and fear were laughable in the ex-
treme. Some wept, others concealed
themselves in all sorts of possible and
impossible places, while not a few
boldly and cheerfully shouldered their
guns and went for the defence of their
country.
Silas Spencer, then a citizen of this
place and brother of Dr. John Spencer,
went as substitute for John Parker,
and performed a feat of heroism which
deserves a place in history, and should
be engraved on his monument—when
such a memento is required, for the
brave man still lives. A squad of
British soldiers were effecting a land-
ing at Ogdensburg—there being but a
small garrison there—when Mr.
Spencer turned a solitary cannon upon
the invaders, touched it off with a fire
brand, re-loaded again and again,
until the men dispersed and returned
by the way they came. This primitive
mode of warfare may not have been
according to the teachings of West
Point, but it availed for the occasion.
CHAPTER VII.
For reasons best known to them-
selves the British government failed
to make the expected efforts to occupy
frontier towns. Ogdensburg ana
Sacketts Harbor were points of in-
terest, and neither place was properly
protected. Both were considerably
harassed, and several skirmishes took
place within their limits, but no per-
manent foothold was obtained and to
the determination of the inland towns,
much of our subsequent success may
be attributed. At home, every nerve
was strained, every precaution taken,
and aid in abundance sent to the front.
Men planted and harvested their crops,
women spun, wove and knit, while
many a load of provisions and cloth-
ing was rafted down the river for the
relief and comfort of our soldiers at
the front. One lady reports having
baked thirty loaves of bread at one
time, and others were equally busy in
their care for the army. Of the many
who left this section for the war, but one
man, Charles Newell, is known to
have perished, and he died from a dis-
ease contracted in camp. He was a
single man, and while in Gouverneur
had worked in the ashery above
the falls.
The war was unpopular from the
first, but a principle was at stake, and
men were not wanting to fight for it.
Considerable strategy was practiced
upon both sides, occasional shots were
exchanged to test the strength of the
armies, night raids were undertaken
for foraging or the release of prisoners,
jails were mysteriously opened and
their occupants set at liberty before
knowing into whose hands they had
fallen. Many of the new settlements
were entirely depopulated, and the
very sight of an Indian was sufficient
to throw a community into the greatest
excitement, and the belief that an
army of savages was in near ambush.
Nor were these fears entirely ground-
less. Horses and cattle were stolen or
driven beyond the reach of their
owners. A fine yoke of steers belong-
ing to one of the settlers, was driven
into Jefferson county and sold for rum
and a few Indian trinkets—so much
below their real value as to excite sus-
picion. The animals were eventually
recovered, but the thieves, we believe,
were never brought to justice. Strange
as it may seem, no injury beyond the
above mentioned was ever sustained
by our citizens. In the adjacent towns,
the Indians were provoking beyond
measure; making threats and execut-
ing them, purloining everything
within their reach, and otherwise an-
noying the inhabitants, until they
were glad to surrender their premises
and return to their early homes.
Whether the uniform kindness ever
extended them, or the appearance of a
formidable Block House and pickets
counselled them to peace, is still a
question to be settled. Business wTas
of course paralyzed, and crops more
or less neglected; but after a time
better judgment prevailed, confidence
was restored, and acting upon the
advice of one to whom the settlers had
ever listened, men returned to their
homes and were never more molested.
“If we stay in the Block House,”
said Mr. Austin, “we with our cattle
shall perish for food and shelter, andITS PAST AND PRESENT.
19
if we return to our farms we can but
die.” After pledging themselves to
mutual protection and assistance, the
unfinished fort was abandoned, and a
year later was sold at public vendue,
the avails to be appropriated toward
building a house of worship or any
benevolent object afterward suggested.
Of this Block Bouse we must have a
further word to say. It was situated
in the road between the residence of
F. M. Holbrook, Esq., and H. H.
Hoover’s livery stables. The pickets
compassed about one acre of ground,
and the main building was formed of
timbers calculated to withstand the
wind and weather of a century. Spruce
logs were brought from Richville, oak
from the surrounding forests, and
men from far and near labored upon
this modern Babel, until it assumed
satisfactory proportions. Some of the
timbers still exist in the dam by the
mills in this village, some were incor-
porated into buildings, a remnant of
one still remains on the premises of
Isaac Starbuck, Esq., several houses
were framed from the larger portions,
bridges were interlaced with beams
from the structure, and any one in
need of wood for fences, fuel, shop or
shed, was referred to the old ‘ 4 Block
House.” Later, parties who had
labored upon the affair, were remun-
erated for their trouble, and a list of
these may at some time be given to
our readers.
Dr. John Spencer at one time kept
a small Inn on the farm now owned
by Wallace McKean. One morning
he breakfasted a party of soldiers, who
carried some small ordnance on their
way to Ogdensburg. Having a desire
to inspect one of these death-dealing
machines, the Dr. put his eye to the
mouth of a cannon, when, lo! instead
of powder and ball, several of his own
hens were reposing in the big gun,
their necks rung and their last cackle
hushed. 44 Well,” soliloquized the Dr.,
44 the men need, them more than I, let
them go.” A few years later, a stranger
accosted him at his new place of busi-
ness, with the question:	“ Didn’t you
keep tavern down the river once ? ”
Being answered in the affirmative, he
added, 4 4 did you breakfast some
soldiers one morning ? and did you
miss any hens about that time ? ” The
Dr. assured him that the facts were
perfectly fresh in his memory, that he
knew of the theft at the time, but felt
it a privilege to do something for his
country, and was willing they should
select their own provisions.
So rigid was the economy practiced
by the settlers, and so inventive was
their genius, that had they been for-
ever cut off from foreign supplies, we
believe they would have worked them-
selves up to their present standard of
perfection. Farming utensils, with a
few exceptions, were manufactured at
home. One man constructed an entire
loom, another reels and wheels, and
still another rakes, axe-helve*, hoes
and pitchforks. Some ingenious har-
rows were made of pointed sticks,
while the more primitive dragged the
limbs of trees over their plowed
ground.
Mrs. Willard Smith relates that upon
one occasion herself and family made
one hundred pounds of maple sugar
by boiling the sap in a tea-kettle and
porridge-pot. At another time Mrs.
Nichols and Mrs. Smith united the
milk of their cows, and made a com-
pany cheese, the hoop holding about
five quarts. Said hoop was made of
some small measure, and remained in
existence until a few years since when
it was accidentally destroyed. Mr.
Willard Smith owned some flouring
mills hollowed from long logs, with a
pestile, worked by a spring pole for
pounding corn. These he kindly per-
mitted his neighbors to use, never re-
quiring the usual toll.
As milk was greatly in demand, the
raising of calves was no light matter.
Slops of all kinds were invented, bass-
wood leaves steeped, and with the ad-
dition of a liitle sour milk, a young
dairy was soon in process of training.
Mrs. Smith still lives at the advanced
age of eighty-eight years. She is a
cheerful, intelligent old lady, retains
her faculties perfectly, and resides but
a few miles distant with her daughter,
Mrs. William Rutherford. Her father,
John Garrett, a soldier of the Revolu-
tion, died at her house, February 16th,
1853, at the age of ninety-seven. He
had lived with her two or three years,
and his remains lie in the new cem-
etery. Willard Smith died March 3d,
1844, at the age of sixty years. Mr.
and Mrs. Smith were about the same
age and were married at Hartford,20
GOUVERNEUR
Washington county, March, 1805 The
wedding dress of the bride deserves a
description in this place. It was of
fine white cambric, costing one dollar
per yard; was afterwards sold and did
the same service for Mrs. Nancy
Barnes, was again purchased for the
adornment of Mrs. Miranda Bullock,
upon a similar occasion, and still again
was the wedding dress of Mrs. W.
Foster, who eventually dyed the gar-
ment and cut it up for her children,
who, it is presumed, made an end of
the noted material. Did our ladies of
the present day exercise a similar care,
we believe bankrupt husbands would
be less common.
About the close of the war, a dis-
tillery was built by John Brown,
which for some years, continued in
full operation; it was situated near
the ashery above the mills, and was a
source of annoyance to the settlers,
although ardent spirits were then
deemed necessary to the health of
laboring people. One whose business
was blacksmithing, was subsequently
arraigned before the church, for mak-
ing too free use of intoxicating drink.
His honest plea was that the duties of
a blacksmith were of the most ex-
hausting nature, and that as he had
never been seen the worse for liquor,
the matter was one of his own, and he
would in future attend to his own
business.
Another whose steps had become too
unsteady to keep the road from the
village to his farm, noticed on the fol-
lowing morning that his uneven pace
was distinctly marked upon the newly
fallen snow. His mortification was
such that he immediately drove all his
cattle from their stalls, made them
pass over the tracks, the better to ob-
literate them, and made a point of
watering the poor beasts at the river,
though there was not the slightest
probability of their being particularly
thirsty. Should a drove of cattle now
be driven over every drunkard’s p*th,
we fear the roads would become badly
worn, and the river unusually dry.
CHAPTER VIII.
As we proceed in these familiar
sketches of Gouverneur, it will some-
times be necessary to make a retro-
grade movement, and go over the old
ground, as new characters are intro-
duced in their connection with public
or local movements. We are some-
times asked, “ Do you not intend giv-
ing a history of this person or that
institution ? ” To which we reply,
4 4 Each shall be remembered in order
of citizenship and position.” Our first
settlers were men and women of mark,
else they would never have left their
homes of civilization and comfort for
the uncertainties and perils of emi-
grant life. We have from the town
records, the names of thirty or forty
of the first families with the date of
their arrival here, also a list of the
deaths which cover a period of more
than fifty years; and we shall be glad
to relate incidents of interest connected
with the lives of any from whom we
have not heard.
There was considerable competition
among the settlers regarding the con-
struction and improvement of their
property. Dr. Richard Townsend took
the first step in this direction, by
building a house hewn from blocks of
timber, neatly shingled with broad
cuttings of pine. The house has been
added to and remodeled from time to
time and is now a handsome residence
owned and occupied by F. M. Hol-
brook, Esq.
The first frame house is still stand-
ing, and was built for Dr. John
Spencer, by Rockwell Barnes and Isaac
Austin. It is now owned by Mrs. H.
D. Smith, and though in a good state
of preservation, hears the marks of
time and wear. It is one of the old
landmarks long owned by one of
fragrant memory and treasured for its
hospitable roof which has sheltered
some of Gouverneur’s choicest spirits.
Building material was for many
years brought from Natural Dam,
over unworked roads; yet in spite of
these difficulties, nearly every man
built and owned his house; and it has
often been a subject of remark that
few places of its size could boast of
more comfortable homes than Gouver-
neur, and these occupied by the owners
thereof; indeed so true is this state-
ment that houses to rent are the excep-
tion, rather than the rule, and it is but
lately that buildings for this purpose
have been erected.
Several persons had long had an eye
upon the waste water power which
now propels the mills and machineryITS PAST AND PRESENT.
21
at this place. William Downs, a
practical worker in wool, was the first
purchaser, and an extract from the
contract between himself and Gouver-
neur Morris, may not prove uninterest-
ing to our readers. After the usual
4‘Firstpart,” “secondpq^t,” “whereas,”
“aforesaid,” and “witnesseth,” we
learn that on the first day of February,
1814, “The said William Downs pur-
chased of the said Gouverneur Morris,
a building lot of thirty-eight feet in
length east and westerly, and twenty-
four feet in depth, on the Easterly
island and on the north side of the
bridge over the Oswegatchie river in
the town of Gouverneur, with the
privilege of the water for the use of a
carding machine and fulling mill. On
condition that the said party of the
second part shall erect and bring into
operation said carding machine and
fulling mill, timely in the ensuing sea-
son to card the fleeces which may be
taken from the sheep at that time and
the mill to dress the cloth. The party
of the second part is also to build a
dam across the river, and to keep a
correct account of all expenses. Then
follow certain conditions relative to the
sale of other water privileges, all of
which may have been very lucid to the
parties concerned, but to our innocent
eyes appears to be a jumble of reserva-
tions, conditions and seeds for future
litigation and misunderstanding. The
document is neatly drawn and signed
by Wil iam Downs, Richard Townsend
acting as agent for Mr. Morris and the
whole “signed, sealed and delivered, in
the presence of John Brown.”
Mr. Downs is reported a good work-
man, who made excellent cloth and the
nicest kind of rolls for spinning.
The new country was for many
years known as fine hunting ground,
and from its early settlement we have
accounts of hair-breadth escapes and
feats of valor. At one time, while
Messrs. Townsend and Austin were
prospecting and surveying, they be-
came acquainted with an old man
named Rockwell, living alone in a
shanty near Ox-bow, Jefferson county.
He had lost wife and children, and
accompanied by his dog Trooper,
sought seclusion in our northern
woods. Late one evening the dog
entered the enclosure of the above
named gentlemen, and by his intelli-
gent movements, intimated to them
that something was wrong with his
master. At the mention of his name,
he set up a pitious howl and in various
ways endeavorrd to gain their atten-
tion. “Trooper,” said the doctor,
“Where is your master?” Again the
poor beast whined the answer that
mischief had befallen his best fiiend,
and it was agreed that the party should
immediately instigate a search for the
missing hunter. Accordingly, furn-
ished with a good supply of torches,
they set out following their intelligent
guide to his post of trust; after a
journey of some miles, he halted by a
log, sniffed the air and wagged his tail
in a demonstrative manner. Here the
poor hunter, benighted, chilled and
weary, had lain down, and but for his
faithful companion, would never have
awakened from his perilous slumber.
With difficulty he was aroused aud
persuaded to follow the gentlemen to
their shanty, where he was warmed
and cared for until morning, when he
departed for his own quarters, with a
recommendation to have a little care
in the future.
Upon another occasion, Stephen
Patterson and Isaac Austin were re-
turning from Somerville, whither they
had been to assist some emigrants who
had broken down in the woods. Be-
coming very hungry they came upon
an Indian hut near the premises of
Milton Norton, and occupied by one
Jo. The host had a savory soup over
the fire just at the delicious point of
completion, and kindly offered a ladle
to his visitors, who without any
question for ‘ ‘conscience sake, ” put in
a large supply, refreshing the inner
man most satisfactorily; dipping a
little beyond the proper depth, one of
the party fished up the entire paw of a
hedg hog, claws and all, which so
cloyed the appetite of both that they
professed themselves satisfied with the
repast and went on their journey feel-
ing uncertain how long their stomachs
would be able to carry the contents,
and wondering if hunger would again
attack them near an Indian shanty.
Indian cooking was held at a discount
after it was ascertained that they
strained maple syrup through their
blankets, and slept on the jerked
venison to protect it from the dogs.
Nor were the above articles as saleable22
GOUVERNEUR,
as before these facts became known.
Thos. Babcock, son of Elder Sher-
man Babcock, of Whitehall, N. Y.
lived for a time with his uncle Pardon;
he was a lad of much promise and
some spunk, as two or three incidents
will show. Upon one occasion him-
self and the younger Patterson were
rowing Mrs. Willard Smith and babe
with Mrs. Isaac Morgan and daughter,
Arabella, over the river, when by ac-
cident the boat was overturned and the
whole party of six spilled into the
water. With the presence of mind
worthy an older head, young Babcock
proceeded to pick up the cargo. The
catastrophe occurred near The Ripples
and as the water was shallow at that
place, the two ladies with the little
girl were first conveyed to shore, when
the intripid boy clutched a yellow
blanket supposed to contain the baby
—Allen Smith; what was his dismay
to find the blanket empty, and the
babe floating down the tide. The little
fellow was however soon restored to
its mother, and all but Patterson were
safe on the shore; the terrified lad
cried for help alleging that as he was
unable to swim he should certainly
drown; after teasing him sufficiently
and using some unbibical expletives,
our hero again plunged into the river
and piloted the boy to shore. The
party were thankful enough for their
escape from a watery grave, and ever
held the young man in grateful re-
membrance.
Upon another occasion a traveler
came on horseback to the river which
he was unable to ford; as bridges were
then few and far between—the boy
Babcock volunteered to ride over upon
the horse while some of the “ women
folks ” rowed the stranger across in a
boat. Fearing some calamity his good
aunt remonstrated, but with a know-
ing wink he bade her go in the house,
when he dashed into the water and
was soon upon the opposite side. For
this feat he received the fee of one
dollar, but was assured “ he did this
job too cheaply by half.” After per-
forming every antic of which he was
capable in the line of climbing trees,
house tops and other impossible points,
swimming the rapids, trapping wolves,
bears and racoons, this young ad-
venturer returned to his home in
Whitehall, where he took charge of a
small schooner upon Lake Champlain,
and was subsequently drowned in
those waters.
The elder Stephen Patterson was
crushed to death while walling up a
well on the premises now owned and
occupied by A* P. Killmer, Esq. His
son, one of the pillars of the Baptist
church in this place, died of a linger-
ing consumption. His last attendance
upon public service was marked by an
incident still fresh in the memory of
many. He rose and read from Watt’s
Hymns, a few verses relating to the
shortness of life, the power of God in
creating and sustaining the human
frame, and joined heartily in the sing-
ing, the last time his voice was heard
in public worship.
The family of Benjamin Smith was
the sixth in order of emigration to this
place, with their three sons; Jason,
Amon, and Calvin, and their entrance
into Gouverneur was celebrated by a
break-down at Somerville, where they
camped out under the broken wagon
in a storm of wind and rain until help
arrived.
Many of their descendants remain,
of whom we shall speak upon a future
occasion.
CHAPTER IX.
As individual acts make up the his-
tory of a country, or some event of
note, so we must blend the biographies
of our settlers with the rise and pro-
gress of Gouverneur. It would require
a volume of some magnitude to record
the events of a single life, how little
then can be expected from these occa-
sional papers, chincked up as they are,
with items from many sources and
jottings by the way. A dear old lady
said to the writer, “Make a mark of
that, it interests one whether it does
others or not.” So should our readers
miss something for which they have
looked, or be surprised at something
which is written, let them remember
we have selected what we believed
would please the general reader, and
be especially acceptable to the elders
who are fast passing beyond the reach
of present history.
Foremost among the artisans who
availed themselves of the privileges of
moulding the future of the new
country, was Captain Rockwell Barnes,
of Farmington, Conn. He was bornITS PAST AND PRESENT.
23
January 22nd, 1788, of parents who
shared largely in the struggles of the
Revolution. At the early age of six
years he, with a jack knife, modeled a
perfect house in his father’s dooryard.
iSo skillfully was the work performed
that it attracted the attention of passers
by; ever mortise, joint and stick was
in its proper place. A few years later
he constructed an entire saw mill on a
small creek near by. The building
was complete, the machinery perfect,
and soft materials could be sawed by
it. The irons were shaped in his
father’s blacksmith shop. Working
only in rainy weather, and so quickly
was the thing accomplished that it was
well nigh completed before his parents
were aware that so important a struc-
ture had arisen in his neighborhood.
The rag-wheel is about eighteen inches
in diameter and is still preserved in
the family; the saw was made from a
case knife, and the whole as a speci-
men of ingenuity and perseverance,
but forshadowed the coming man. At
the age of fourteen, Mr. Barnes was
apprenticed to Deacon Aaron Carring-
ton, to learn the trade of carpenter and
joiner; three years later he was re-
leased from his engagement by the
death of Mr. 0., whose confidence in
the young apprentice was such that he
left him his tools valued at two hun-
dred dollars. As is often the case
when the opportunity offers, the heirs
of Deacon Carrington charged Mr.
Barnes one shilling per day for the use
of the tools, and demanded their worth
in full, which was paid by our indus-
trious young mechanic.
In 1806, Mr. Barnes married Miss
Nancy Barnes, of Monroe, Washington
county, and two years later left his
wife and child to seek for work in this
vicinity. At Natural Dam he assisted
in building the flouring and saw mills,
and after fulfilling various other con-
tracts, he concluded to bring his family
to this place which he did in 1810, his
father, mother and brothers accom-
panying him. In 1808 Mr. Barnes con-
structed a light stand for Mrs. Willard
Smith, which she lately exhibited to
his son as a specimen of his father’s
handiwork. The first frame barn in
town, was built upon the Kearney
farm; and the first one in the yillage
for Isaac Austin. This building was
made entirely of hewn timber, and
was so neatly finished that religious
services were frequently held therein.
The stone foundation was made by
Benjamin Leavitt, at a cost of ten
dollars, and we venture to add that it
was as well done as work costing ten
times the amount at the present time.
Said barn was taken down a few
years since by Orin Williams and
made into a double building for him-
self and Henry Bullard. Proprietors
of balloon frames would do well to
look over these ancient timbers before
proceeding with their new style of
architecture.
In 1812 Mr. Barnes received the com-
mission of Ensign, and in 1816, that of
Lieutenant, from Daniel D. Tompkins.
In 1819, he was commissioned as Cap-
tain by De Witt Clinton, by which
title he was ever afterward known.
He was a veteran of 1812, but died be-
fore any appropriations were made for
those soldiers; a man of indomitable
spirit and will, he for sixty years at-
tended every town meeting and elec-
tion ; received various offices of posi-
tion and trust from his fellow towns-
men and ever studied the prosperity
and advancement of town and village.
He died July 4th, 1869, in full posses-
sion of his faculties, and attended to
the last by an affectionate daughter.
It is pleasant even at this late day to
recall the faces of those aged ones,
who carved the destiny of our town
and left their impress upon it. Mrs.
Rockwell Barnes died two years before
her husband and was a woman of
decision and intelligence. She reared
a large and respectable family with but
little assistance, as her husband was
usually absent at his business. Her
will was law, and amid the privations
of a new country she clothed and edu-
cated her children, fitting them for
posts of trust and usefulness.
The severe winters of ’14, ’15 and ’16,
told upon the resources of our settlers.
Provisions were few and expensive,
imported goods were unthought of, yet
many a mother did her house-work
and performed the out door duties of
making paths, feeding stock, drawing
water and wood, while her husband
was engaged at a distance, felling
trees and preparing for the summer’s
work.
The close of the war found about
thirty families living in town, with24
GOUVERNEUR,
several single men and women who
were assistants, or had c«»me to seek
their fortunes in the new country.
Later, a large influx of emigrants from
Johnstown, N. Y., swelled the num-
bers and wealth of the place. They
settled mostly on the street leading
from Gouverneur to Ox-Bow, and the
neighborhood still bears the name of
“Johnstown Street” or settlement.
Two or three school houses were
erected during the year 1815; one
framed and built near the present site
of S. B. Van Duzee’s store, stood until
1827, when it was replaced by a sub-
stantial brick edifice.
CHAPTER x.
The farming interests of Gouverneur
were, from the first, largely protected.
A committee of five persons, namely,
Ephriam Case, Pardon Babcock,
Rufus Washburn, Benjamin Smith
and Jonathan Colton were early ap-
pointed to superintend the destruction
of noxious weeds. The duties of said
committee were wide and arduous.
Every aspiring daisy, thistle, burdock
and mullein was instantly doomed.
And although these arbiters of the law
were empowered to levy heavy fines
for flagrant violations thereof, we do
not learn that any decided action was
taken in the matter. Indeed, if any
member of said committee hinted to
his neighbor that “Noxious weeds
were flourishing upon his premises,”
the faithful keeper of the public in-
terest was likely to find a thriving
hedge of thistles or pigweed blooming
in his own garden by the following
morning; and it soon became apparent
that men were as jealous for the public
welfare as for their own. Strangers
visiting Gouverneur at this period
were wont to compare the country to
a well kept garden. Cedar posts and
rails were hauled from Richville, and
neat fences enclosed every man’s
premises. The colony was at this time
self-supporting, and to its resources
many of the surrounding towns looked
for subsistence. There are now in
many households specimens of linen
in napery, toweling, sheets and tick-
ing, which would do credit to a
modem loom. Blankets and counter-
panes, too, are exhibited of better man-
ufacture than can be found for sale or
in our smartest factories.
As late as 1819 and 1820, wild
animals were so troublesome as to call
for bounties for their destruction. One
of the favorite amusements of our
fathers was a bear, wolf and coon
hunt. An occasion of this kind is
thus playfully described by an old
settler, with whom we have had many
a social chat. The scene of action ex-
tended over the farms of Colburn
Barrell and Ephriam Case, including
large tracts between. “There was a
large party of us and we circled the
woods; armed with every conceivable
weapon, and closing in inch by inch
aiming at a common centre where we
expected to find at least a dozen of the
varmints. What then was our sur-
prise to find only a poor fox, leaping
and bounding in every direction to
find a break in the ranks, but,”
added the old gentlemen, “he was
the scartest fox I ever did see.”
In 1815, The Gouverneur Union
Library was incorporated. The object
was to furnish interesting and useful
reading for all disposed to accept at
little or no cost. The books were
mostly raised by contributions in
money or selections from private
libraries. Many were received from
abroad, so that a valuable collection
was soon secured. And every family
was in the receipt of one or more
volumes of history, travel, romance,
sermons and tracts. The books were
all of a moral tone, and their influence
for good seems incalcuable. The trus-
tees of the library were Rockwell
Barnes, Israel Porter, Aaron Atwood,
Richard Kimball, Benjamin Brown,
Timothy Sheldon, Pardon Babcock
and Joseph Smith, all of them serving
at one time or another in this capacity.
This library was eventually transfered
to the Gouverneur High School, and
from thence to Gouverneur Wesleyan
Seminary. The destruction of the
seminary on the night of January 1st,
1889, involved the loss of many of
these volumes, though we believe some
of them still remain, venerable tokens
of their venerable and liberal donors.
The burying ground mentioned in a
former number was early ceded to the
citizens of Gouverneur, by the pro-
prietor, Gouverneur Morris. We are
indebted to Erwin Barnes, Esq., for a
copy of the document, found among
his father’s papers. “Whereas theITS PAST AND PRESENT.
25
inhabitants of Cam bray have requested
the grant of a piece of two acres of
land for a burial ground, and have
solicited a part of lot No. 85, beginning
at a post standing due east from the
Island Falls, forty links above the
pitch of water and 7 chains, 32 links
from the high water mark and run-
ning thence south five chains and fifty
links, thence east three chains and
sixty-four links, and thence north five
chains and fifty links, and thence west
three chains and sixty four links. I do
hereby devote the above place to the
burial of the dead and will execute a
grant therefor to the town, when in-
corporated. In witness thereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the
tenth day of September, in the year of
our Lord, 1808. ” 1 ‘Gouverneur Morris. ”
Sealed and delivered in the presence
of, See. This ground, as most of our
readers are aware, was more than
crowded when it became a subject of
serious inquiry where a new site should
be purchased, and whether or not it
were best to remove the bodies from
the old lot. Much debate and some
serious opposition was incurred, an
awe amounting almost to superstition,
prevaded the minds of many, relative
to disturbing the remains of the dead;
but a committee, after looking over
the various lots offered for sale, at last
settled upon the beautiful farm of
Pardon Babcock, lying south west of
the village, on the banks of the Oswe-
gatchie. Thirty-six acres of this farm
were purchased at a cost of fifteen
hundred dollars, by the Gouverneur
Cemetery Association, which was
organized in June, 1857. Benjamin F.
Hathaway, of Flushing, Long Island,
was employed to lay out and grade the
new ground, which was accomplished
in a beautiful and satisfactory manner.
More than six hundred lots were pre-
pared for use, with miles of walks and
avenues, trees were planted, and every-
thing to make this home of the dead
attractive, was faithfully performed.
The cemetery was dedicated or conse-
crated to the burial of the dead, June
22, 1858. The first president was Rev.
B. B. Beckwith, Charles Anthony,
vice-president; Stephen B. VanDuzee,
treasurer, and Cornelius A. Parker,
secretary. The first trustees were B.
B. Beckwith, Edwin Dodge, Erwin S.
Barnes, S. B. Van Duzee, Charles
Anthony, Cornelius A. Parker. Thos.
M. Thayer, John Bolton, Milton Bar-
ney, W. H. Bowne, Harvey D. Smith,
and Richard Parsons, with William
Miller for superintendent and sexton.
The first burial was that of J. Bradford
Smith, August 24th, 1857. Others
followed in rapid succession, and soon
the public mind became not only
reconciled but anxious to further the
act for removing the dead in the vil-
lage burying ground. This was done
in a decent and becoming manner,
under the supervision of Thomas
M. Thayer, Esq. The most picturesque
portion of the new cemetery was
selected for this purpose, boxes were
provided, and the whole accomplished
at the expense of the corporation.
The old site was sold for building
lots and gardens, and the avails ap-
propriated toward the payment and
adornment of the new ground. The
number of removals was a little short
of one thousand. And up to the
present writing the new interments
almost reach that number. Thus one
of the most delicate and difficult tasks,
which often fall to the lot of a corpo-
ration, was performed in a pleasant
and satisfactory manner. In looking
over the rural cemeteries in different
parts of the state we have yet to see a
more tasteful and well kept ground
than our own Riverside. We have
taken up this matter in detail, put in
connection with the gift of the town
and as a part of its history and re-
cord to call the attention of owners
and proprietors, to the continuation of
their labors in keeping up the improve-
ments and appearance of this hallowed
spot.
We have before alluded to the relig-
ious element of Gouverneur, and in a
former chapter have given a history of
the foundation and progress of the
Baptist church. The course of events
will soon bring us to the origin of the
first Presbyterian church, of this vil-
lage; hut previous to this we must
diverge to other topics of interest,
which incidentally or accidentally
occur in our history. No note-worthy
events filled up the years of ’15, ’16
and ’17, though there was a marked
advancement in the town. Some one
has remarked that when the settlers
found themselves standing idle they
either established a prayer-meeting or26
GOUVERNEUR,
opened a new school. Mr. Roger
Haddock, father of Mrs. Isaac King
and Edward Maddock, of this village,
came to Gouverneur about the year
1816, as agent for Mr. Morris. He
settled for a time at Natural Dam, and
was an active member of the Baptist
church, in this place. To Mrs Mad-
dock we believe belongs the praise of
establishing the first female prayer-
meeting, and to her husband the honor
of superintending the first regular
Sabbath school. Both were fine vocal-
ist*, and we are told that with his
family quietly riding to church, Mr.
Maddock was wont to make the woods
resound with his Sabbath songs, re-
minding all who heard them that the
way was his delight, and that by ex-
ample, at least, he guided his house
with discretion and trained them to
walk in the better way.
CHAPTER XI.
Reference has already been made to
the religious principles of our fathers,
and so naturally did their children and
hired help fall into the good way, that
it was playfully remarked that the
doctrine of total depravity was in
danger of falling into disuse, or of
becoming obsolete. The Sabbath, if
not a day of rest, was a day of wor-
ship. Every available vehicle of
transportation was called into requi-
sition. Ox-carts loaded with wife,
children and hired help piously wended
their way to the house of prayer.
Horses bearing the good old pillion,
carried father, mother and one or two
babies to the same place, and many
convenient wagons drawn by horses,
hied in the same direction. “Later,”
says another, ‘ ‘the church-going people
formed a procession only excelled by a
real procession of the present day. A
snug little jag of hay always accom-
panied each vehicle so that the faithful
animals might not suffer during the
long services of the day, for be it
known the fashionable morning and
evening sei vices had not yet reached
this little eden, which in passing we
would remark may account for any
decay in church attendance. The
stomachs of the good worshipers were
not forgotten in the general pro-
gramme. Cold meats were cooked on
the preceding Saturday, big dough-
nuts fried, and bread and butter pre-
pared for the Sunday’s lunch. “In-
deed,” a good lady assures me, “there
was very little work done during the
Sabbath in those days.” Neighbor-
hood prayer-meetings finished the day,
with the usual doses of catechism and
ten commandments for the younger
members of the family.
The clergymen of those days were
expected to be working men, and
what time they were not engaged in
study they were expected to be at work
among their parishioners. At a church
meeting, met to consider the expe-
diency of requiring but two services per
Sabbath, Mr. Strong Colton settled
the debate by remarking in his pe-
culiarly authoritative tone, “When I
hire a farm laborer I want the whole
of his time, and when I hire a preacher
I want him to preach his time out.”
This blunt exposition of the question
held good for many years, and we do
not think a like view of the subject
would injure the morals of the present
inhabitants of Gouverneur.
Several extra services were held
from time to time by clergymen from
abroad, and the fruits of these efforts
are reported as eminently successful.
There were but few heads of families
unconnected with some church organ-
ization. One, whose jokes have de-
scended i o us as worthy of repetition,
after various solicitations to avow
himself a Christian and unite with the
church, said with a knowing twinkle
of the eye and a sly glance at his wife,
whose maiden name was Church, “I
joined that church some years since,
and have never felt it my duty to
unite with another.” This poser so
unsettled his interlocutors that they
left him to the enjoyment of his jokes
and religious faith in his wife. This,
with four exceptions, was the only
head of a family who was not a pro-
fessor of religion. A framed school
house standing near the store of S. B.
Van Duzee was often used as a place of
public worship, and the various de-
nominations alternately met there
until the erection of a building for
religious purposes alone. Richard
Kimball taught the first school in this
house, and besides the common
branches added some exercises in com-
position, declamation and history.
This school ever had an upward tend-
ency, and though persons *hen wereITS PAST AND PRESENT.
27
opposed to anything beyond district
school and district school teacher, the
conception of an academy or seminary
had long filled some heads with hopes
of their realization.
At this time, 1816, we have a town-
ship of one hundred and fifty families,
and a village of one or two hundred
persons. A few framed houses were
built, with one main street and three
or four shorter ones branching there-
from. There was a store, a post-office,
land office, fulling mill and several
minor establishments, all adding to
the thrift and comfort of the place.
Mr. Israel Porter kept an inn in the
back portion of the building still known
as the “Old Porter House.” The up-
right part was added at a later date,
and the whole is still in a good state of
preservation. Nor were the acts of
Mr. Porter confined entirely to inn
keeping. Having buried the wife of
his youth in July, 1816, his attention
was turned to other pursuits, and in
1818 he erected flouring and saw mills
in the village of Gouverneur. These
with their water rights have since
passed through several hands and still
exist, moved by the same unceasing
force of fifty years ago. Mr. Porter
was largely interested in public im-
rovements and held several posts of
onor and responsibility. In person
he was of medium height, small
twinkling eyes, and had ever a fund of
humor at hand. He died in Wisconsin,
Sept. 16, 1836, at the age of 68. His
second wife, Lucy Church, died at the
house of H. D. Smith. Esq., April 22,
1857, aged 81 years. But one or two
members of this famdy survive, and
none we believe in the neighborhood
of their father’s early home and labors.
Many items of interest remain on
hand of the early times of our town.
A few may yet appear in connection
with their authors, but we must pro-
ceed with matters of general interest.
We omitted in the proper place to give
outlines of several sermons which
have been handed down as specimens
of the preaching of olden times. One
by Elder Jonathan Payne strikes us as
a model of its kind. The subject was
drawn from the passage found in St.
James, relative to the mischievous
propensities of the tongue. After a
detailed account of the evils arising
from the misuse of this valuable organ,
the good man added:	“Not fifty
thousand evil spirits let loose upon
earth could make the heart aches, and
create the griefs done by one tattler.”
We know not the occasion of the ex-
ordium delivered at this time, but we
do know that plain preaching has gone
into disuse, and the result is apparent
in every department of society.
Upon the much mooted subject of
Christian amusements, another of the
ancients spoke in thiswise:	“Noth-
ing is proper for the man of the world
which is improper for the professing
Christian. No place is fit for the one
which is unfitted for the other; parties,
pleasant assemblies, rational amuse-
ments of all kinds are not alone wisely
provided, but necessarily essential for
the advancement of civilization and
the growth of a healthful public tone.”
The test, he made the word of God
and the rational desire of an educated
mind. Would this test was oftener
preached and practised at the pres-
ent day.
No events of special interest are re-
orted at this time beyond the general
ealth and prosperity of the town.
Emigrants rushed in from all quarters
and the increase at home was such as
would frighten a modern household.
Families of children numbering eight,
twelve and fourteen are often reported
and a regiment of eight or ten boys
was the heritage of several happy
parents; nor are we in fear of contra-
diction when we report such families
as happier and more respectable than
the pampered indolents represented by
one, two or three in most households,
whose only occupation seems to be the
filching of their parent’s earnings and
the gratification of their own selfish
desires.
One has drawn at random from a
few families born in this town, and
the report is as follows:	Of one, three
farmers, one clergyman and one physi-
cian ; of another, a missionary, a mer-
chant and several mechanics; of an-
other, a clergyman, a merchant and a
physician; of another, architects, law-
yers, engineers and farmers, and from
others every craft, profession and
position of honor the fondest parent
could desire.
The almost yearly visits of Gouver-
neur Morris or of some member of his
family added greatly to the improve-28
GOUVERNEUR,
ment of the town; and his kind smile
or encouraging word is still held in
grateful remembrance.
Many efforts were made for dividing
the town, but none succeeded before
the year 1841, when some persons so
far distant from the centre as to lose
their right in town meeting and town
government petitioned for a division.
This movement only added to the
enterprise of those left behind, and a
more compact township of equal
dimension does not exist in St. Law-
rence county.
CHAPTER XII.
One of the noticable features in the
rise and progress of Gouverneur was
the indomitable spirit of perseverance
which actuated all hearts. If a public
improvement was proposed the thing
was done; was a school to be organ-
ized, a building was provided, teachers
hired and scholars furnished. A large
Presbyterian or Congregational ele-
ment had long existed and a church
organization was the desideratum of
all parties. Clergymen of that denom-
ination from neighboring towns had
occasionally officiated, among them,
Rev’s Winchester, Dutton and others.
Services were alternately held in this
place and the Colton neighborhood,
and many were desirous of building a
church at the latter place; but busi-
ness naturally gravitating to this
point, it required no knowledge of the
future to fix upon this spot as the
centre of trade and the place where
the future village should stand. As
et no building for public worship
ad been erected. The two denomina-
tions usually assembled at the school
house, sometimes at Mr. Austin’s large
barn, mentioned in a former chapter,
often at a dwelling house, and occas-
sionally at Israel Porter’s unfinished
dancing hall —one of the largest rooms
in the settlement; and we may here
add that some of our most zealous and
useful Christians have assured us that
the gospel there preached was received
into willing hearts ; verifying the
the truth that God is no respecter of
persons, nor of places, if His word be
preached in its purity.
The forces operating upon the settle-
ment at this period may be readily
conceived when we consider that they
were mostly of Puritan stock, and in
many ways connected with the moving
spirits of the age. We are indebted to
Miss Elizabeth Spencer for a circular
written in June, 1816, and published
the following year. It was prepared
by Messrs. Dwight, Smith, Beecher,
Dutton and Humphrey, to the emi-
grants from New England and others
in the new settlements. After the
Christian salutation they are encouraged
and stirred up to renewed exertions in
behalf of the religious progress of the
west. W e would there were room for
the whole address which is prophetic
of our present prosperity, and is well
worth a re-print. The school, the
Bible, the church, and the Sabbath are
placed in the foreground. Temper-
ance, liberality and the formation of
religious societies are strongly urged;
and from such teachings arose our
home and foreign missionary societies;
and from this we date the formation of
the first female missionary society in
Gouverneur, and the young ladies
working and reading association or-
ganized and put in operation between
the years of 1822 and 1826, and which
were productive of much good both as
a working and paying institution.
Many garments were made and sent to
destitute portions of the country, and
large sums of money were raised for
home and foreign work. Receipts are
before us from various sources ac-
knowledging these donations, one
from Rockwell Barnes for money ‘ ‘for
the help of building the Meeting
House.” Received through Miss Betsy
Goodrich, treasurer, “October, 1820,
received of Tabitha Austin, treasurer
of the Female Branch Society, seven
dollars and seven cents to be trans-
mitted to the Female Society of the
Western District, Oliver Ayers, Mis-
sionary.” “Received of Mrs. Clark,
five dollars for the Parent Society,
from the Branch society in Gouver-
neur, January, 1822, Sarah Richland.”
Of the first Missionary Society, Miss
Betsy Goodrich was president, Rebekah
Putman, Treasurer, and Elizabeth
Spencer, Secretary. The ladies of
these societies met together irrespec-
tive of church or creed and worked
with heart and hand for the advance-
ment of religion, education and social
improvement. The names of thirty or
forty of these persons are before us,
but want of space forbids our transcrib-ITS PAST AND PRESENT.
29
ing them to the limited column
allotted us. Many of them are still
with us, working, praying, hoping,
and many more have fallen asleep.
Thus with limited resources we find a
great work progressing, money raised,
arments bought and made for the
estitute at home and abroad, and a
current set in motion which the lapse
of fifty years has been unable to re-
press, and which was in truth the par-
ent of the liberal institutions we enjoy.
Strangers are prone to remark upon
the public and private charities, with
the general thrift of the town which
is hardly equaled by places of twice
its size.
During the years 1815-16-17, the
demand was loud and frequent for
the establishment of a Presbyterian
church, accordingly in the latter year,
Rev. Nathaniel Dutton, of Champion,
with Deacon Matton and others
founded a church of six members,
which number was speedily aug-
mented by additions from every side.
The first person admitted upon pro-
fession of her faith was Mrs. Elizabeth
Spencer, and the first children bap-
tised were those of Mrs. S. There be-
ing no settled pastor at this time,
religious services were only occasion-
ally held, but at such times parents
brought their children for baptism,
and in many ways illustrated their
zeal for the enlargement of Zion. A
proof of the perfect harmony which
existed among the settlers is that these
sacraments were often administered at
the house of Isaac Austin, a leader of the
Baptist church, and who having a
capacious room hospitably opened it
forBthe use of his brethren of the Pres-
byterian church. On the 13th of
April, 1820, the first Congregational
or Presbyterian society was organized.
The trustees were John Spencer,
Rockwell Barnes, Richard Kimball,
William Cleghorn, James Parker and
William Colton. A church building
was commenced during this year, but
was not finished until 1824. The cost
was about fourteen hundred dollars,
and much of the work was done by sub-
scribers, Mr. Rockwell Barnes, we
believe, being the principal contractor,
and performing much of the labor.
Considerable difficulty was exper-
ienced in securing a lot for the new
church. Dr. John Spencer negotiated
with Mrs. Morris through Judge Kent,
her agent, for the gift of the present
site; the road was then crooked, and
the location badly defined, but by the
removal of one grave, that of Mrs.
Kimball—the lot was squared, leveled
and rendered a desirable spot for
building upon, the house was long
enclosed before the inner part was
finished, though services were some-
times held there. One who has often
sat within the unfinished wall relates
how the wind whistled through the
crevices, and how with benumbed
hands and feet the listeners sat the
long day glad of the privilege thus
dearly bought.
What a contrast to our comfortable
houses, now resplendent in paint and
frescoe, cushioned seats, carpeted floors,
furnaces and stained glass, scarcely
behind the temple of Jerusalem of
old, yet we look in vain for the devout
worshipers of other days, and it is a
question if pure religion flows as read-
ily through our carpeted aisles as over
the rough flooring of fifty years ago.
The first regular ministry was that
of James Murdock, covering a period
of five years. Mr. Murdock was an
old man, but genial and active and
much beloved by his people. His sal-
ary was small, scarcely equal to the
support of his family; but his excel-
lent wife so managed the larder as to
throw an air of thrift and comfort
over her household. We hear of the
good man riding over wood and com-
mon visiting and instructing his flock,
amid the privations of pioneer
life, with the hardihood of a good
soldier. Mr. Murdock related with
great gusto his various experiences
with humanity in those parochial
visits. Calling upon a lady twenty
miles distance from his house, he was
fed with the best of the house, the
supper moistened with good raspberry
tea, and sweetened with molasses,
upon expostulating with his hostess,
for the excess of the latter ingredient,
he was smilingly assured “that noth-
ing was too good for the minister.”
In connection with the above, the old
man tearfully related his reception at
another place where he was offered
the coarsest fare “ that he might learn
how poor people lived.” Mr. Mur-
dock instituted the Friday meetings
of the church which have only been
830
GOUVERNEUR,
lately transferred to Saturday. He
was also the father of the monthly
concert for prayer.
Mr. Murdock has been succeeded by
Eevs. Richard C. Hand, Jonathan
Hovey, Robert H. Lawrence, Simeon
Bicknell, B. B. Beckwith and N. J.
Conklin, the present pastor. The old
church was removed and a new one
erected in 1844, which has been re-
modeled and repaired from time to
time, and it is now in a good condi-
tion. The society is large and flour-
ishing and the membership consider-
ably exceeds two hundred. A parson-
age with convenient adjuncts has
been erected upon the church prop-
erty, but public buildings have so in-
fringed upon the location that we
believe the day is not far distant when
a new church and ground will be de-
manded to secure the quiet of public
worship.
CHAPTER XIII.
Four or five of the years following
1820 were marked by a declension
from the former prosperity of Gouver-
neur, the scarcity of money together
with the low prices of all produce and
marketable materials, became a source
of discouragement to the settlers; the
late comers were indebted for their
lands, and many were even unable to
pay the interest thereon. For hay
there was no market, grains were
scarcely in demand, butter brought
only six and eight cents per pound;
and eggs were so low that no hen
possessing ordinary self-respect could
be induced to lay more than enough
for home consumption.
An occasional emigrant came in and
purchased land, but the vitality of the
settlement was for a season paralyzed.
During these years, we notice in 1822,
the arrival of Daniel Keys and family
from Vermont; of these but the father
and eldest son survive, the former now
in his nineties, and with faculties
hardly blunted by time —is often at our
side dictating some passage or furnish-
ing some required date. He took up
two farms, cleared and fenced them,
and now cultivates a garden, sports
with his great-grand children, and for
aught we can see, bids fair to see the
resent generation off the stage. 1824
rought to the settlement one to whom
Gouverneur owes much of its present
prosperity; of course we refer to
Harvey D. Smith, a man identified
with every movement secular or re-
ligious, which looked for the advance-
ment of civilization and the benefit of
mankind. He came to Gouverneur
when all hearts were heavy over the
palsied state of affairs, and the losses
and privations which had fallen over
the settlement. Although engaged in
mercantile business, he so thoroughly
entered into the plans and interests of
others that he was seized upon as the
organ and exponent of their affairs.
Every office of trust or responsibility
in the gift of a grateful town was
offered him. To him were matters of
dispute referred, and by him they were
peaceably adjusted. The school, the
church, and every public movement
received from him a helping hand, and
for many years he was the pillar of
our domestic edifice. Hundreds looked
to him for counsel, which was wisely
and freely given, until borne
down by the labors of a long and toil-
some life, he fell asleep September
28, 1864, in the seventy-fifth year of
his age.
We are indebted to Mrs. H. D. Smith
for a manuscript prepared by her late
husband, from which we have gleaned
many items of interest.
During the year of 1826, the irre-
pressible desire for a high school or
Seminary, was gratified. The subject
had long agitated the gravest minds,
parents were anxious for the future of
their children, and having left homes
where these privileges were enjoyed,
they could be satisfied with nothing
less in the new colony. Some there
were unable to keep pace with the
times, who were afraid of fostering
feelings of arrogance in the community
by this upward movement. But in the
words of another they lived to be
ashamed of their fears, and became the
firmest supporters of the new insti-
tution. The people were still poor in
purse, but privations had become fa-
miliar, and a judicious leader was all
that was required to render the plans
feasible. The Baptist and Presbyterian
churches were enclosed and a brick
school house in course of erection.
Elwell E. Austin was contractor for
this building, at $873.00. The
masonry was done by Samuel Rounds,
and the carpenters were John Robert-ITS PAST AND PRESENT.
31
son and Levi Tanner. The old clock
dial was painted by a man named
Havens, a cabinet maker then in town.
That the work was well done, can be
attested by a glance at the premises
forty-six years from the date of its
completion. After enduring the batter-
ings of teachers and scholars, the
building is still in a good state of
preservation, and having lately been
sold to Oliver Sprague, Esq., he has
fitted it up as a grocery and dwelling,
and the old brick walls have still a
comely look, though somewhat anti-
quated in style.
A second story was added to the
original plan by private subscription,
and by this means more than five
hundred dollars were raised, and late
in the year the top of the edifice was
devoted to academic aspirants, and
called “The Gouverneur Union Acad-
emy.” The first teacher upon the
ground floor was Mrs. A. Z. Madison,
formerly Maria Vary, who died in
Fredonia, N. Y., about one year since.
In a letter from Mr. El well E. Austin,
kindly furnished us by Mr. George
Miller, we are informed that masons,
carpenters and painters are all dead;
the contractor alone, with his ancient
land mark, survives. The old dial is
now in the possession of George Miller,
Esq., and hangs near his place of busi-
ness, reminder to many a passer by of
olden times and olden days, of school
life and school sports, and of many
who are forever fled from the early
circles of Gouverneur.
The academic department was first
taught by a gentleman named Huger,
a brother of William Huger, compiler
of Ruger’s Arithmetic; and we may
here say, if the gentleman proved as
knotty as his brother’s arithmetic, we
have at this late date a fountain of
sympathy for the unfortunate students
placed under his tuition. In 1828 the
school was re-christened under the
title of “Gouverneur High School.”
Nine trustees were elected in April of
that year. Dr. John Spencer, who
with his family had been foremost in
the interest of the school, was one of
the first officers of the institution, and
the first of the trustees. The others
were H. D. Smith, David Barrell,
Aaron Howley, Josiah Waid, Alba
Smith, Robert Conant, Joel Keys and
Almond Madison. Isaac Green was
the second teacher of the institution,
but it does not appear that he made it
a paying affair, although the school
prospered under his care. The room
in the brick school house did not long
prove adequate to the demand, and a
second building was soon thought
necessary for the wants of the com
munity. As in the proverb, “The
wish is father to the thought,” so in
Gouverneur, “The want is ever
realized.” In 1829 the Regents of the
university were petitioned for a share
in the literature fund, which was
granted and has ever been a source of
profit to the school. In 1830 efforts
were made to raise funds for a new
and a larger building, which might
accommodate a greater number of
students and where more teachers
nrght be profitably employed. We can
not better inform our readers upon
this matter than by quoting a brief
history of the school, kindly furnished
for our use, from one of the earliest
catalogues in existence. This little
document contains the names of fifty-
five ladies and one hundred and two
gentlemen, many of whom are among
us fighting the battles of life, and
many, very many have laid off the
armor. We would there was room
for all the names, but a few must
suffice. The Austins, Barnes and
Bownes head the ladies list. Of the
gentlemen, quite a number are familiar
to us all. Loren Austin, Erwin S.
Barnes, Almond C. Barrel], F. M.
Beardslee, Erastus Cole, Ezekiel Fos-
gate, John Goodrich, Benjamin Leav-
ett, C. A. Parker, Aaron Rhodes,
Henry Sheldon, I. P. Smith, and
others are standard bearers of whom
we need not be ashamed. The cata-
logue reports the years of 1832 and ’33.
The trustees of this time were Wm.
E. Sterling, Edwin Dodge, L. B.
Parsons, Sylvanus Cone, Jas. Averill
3d, Alba Smith, A. Z. Madison, Ira A.
Van Duzee and H. D. Smith. The
teachers were Joseph Hopkins, A. Z.
Madison and Mary A. Hopkins. The
first report is drawn up by H. D.
Smith, secretary, and is in his usual
terse style. His own words are, “The
school originated in the urgent neces-
sity for such an institution in this
section of the country; was established
in 1827, and incorporated in 1828, and
has ever since been in successful ope-32
GOUVERNEUR,
ration. Until recently it has labored
under great disadvantages, from the
want of suitable accommodations.
This evil has been remedied by the
liberality of individuals in this and
adjacent towns, in contributing four
thousand dollars for the erection and
completion of a substantial and elegant
Academic building, containing such
and such apartments,” the details of
which are here unnecessary. Mr.
Hopkins had at this time had charge
of the school for four years, and his
services proving acceptable, he was
engaged for a longer period. The
terms of tuition were three dollars for
children, in the common branches,
four and five for those of mature years
and the higher or classical studies.
Board was from ten to twelve shillings
per week, extras furnished. The cata-
logue of 1834 and ’35, contains a cut of
Gouverneur Academy, an upright
front and belfry, with wings at either
side. The officers and teachers are
nearly the same, and we notice an
increase of students, many from a
distance. The name of Chas. Anthony
appears first on the gentlemen’s list.
Edwin Bond, Isaac Foster and many
familiar names follow. The school is
reported as in a flourishing condition,
and “The government of a mild
parental character.
In March, 1836, Mr. Hopkins re-
signed his position, and the school,
with certain conditions, passed into
the hands of the Methodist denomina-
tion, who agreed to pay off the debts
of the institution. Rev. Jesse T. Peck
was the first principal under the new
regime, and things were comparatively
prosperous until on the night of Janu-
ary 1st, 1839, the building was burned
with all the apparatus, cabinet and
bell, the latter the only one in town.
CHAPTER xrv.
This calamity however was not al-
lowed to impede the progress of the
school. Rooms were at once fitted up
in the old place—namely the upper
story of the brick school house, where
things shortly assumed their former
course, and matters went on as quietly
as though no interruption had taken
place. But busy hands and resolute
hearts were by no means idle, and
measures for erecting the present edi-
fice were immediately put in force. The
institution was at this time heavily in
debt. The insurance in the Jefferson
County Mutual Company was wholly
repudiated, so that the small sum of
five hundred dollars from a New York
company was all that remained of
their generous benefactions to the
ruined Seminary. But the blessings
flowing from a Seminary of learning
were too largely appreciated to admit
of failure, so that scarcely a day was
lost in useless repining. At a town
meeting held soon after, it was voted
that the legislature be petitioned for a
loan of two thousand dollars to be re-
funded in four years. This loan was
soon made, and subscriptions immedi-
ately solicited for pushing forward the
work; while the man, woman or child,
who had no stock in the new building
was looked upon as among the un-
fortunates of the community.
A building committee, consisting of
Harvey D. Smith, Wm. E. Sterling,
Edwin Dodge and Jesse T. Peck, was
chosen, and the site for the present
edifice selected a few rods north of the
old ground. The work was well and
rapidly carried on and completed in
the year 1841. The cost amounted to
nearly six thousand dollars—some what
beyond the original estimate—but was
cheerfully assumed by the contractors.
Owing to the stringency in the money
markets, more than the lack of pros-
perity in the school, the institution
was for many years in debt, but a
timely and judicious appropriation
from the state relieved this pressure in
the year 1851, and the school at once
felt the result. New instruments were
purchased, the library enlarged, re-
pairs made and an air of thrift soon
pervaded the whole atmosphere.
It is not our purpose to notice the
denominational changes which have
taken place during the existence of the
institution. Suffice it to say that the
officers have been men of principle
who have been governed by the purest
of motives, and who had the interest
of the community in view. Of the
gentlemen who have successfully filled
the office of principal, we have the
names of Joseph Hopkins, Jesse T.
Peck, Loren B. Knox, A. W. Cum-
mings, John W. Armstrong, William
W. Clark, E. C. Bruce, Andrew Roe,
George G. Dains and M. H. Fitts, the
present incumbent.ITS PAST AND PRESENT.
33
Although many an adverse gale has
blown upon this institution in the form
of private, select, district, and opposition
schools in all directions, it has ever
held a prominent place in the hearts of
the community. Good teachers have
ever been furnished, and a large and
respectable number of students have
always been in attendance. From its
portals have gone forth missionaries,
clergymen, lawyers, doctors, and arti-
zans of every craft, and we hazard
nothing in saying that the Gouverneur
Seminary stands to-day among the first
of like institutions in our land. Its
able corps of teachers have so won
upon the hearts of the community
that we give them the entire charge of
our sons and daughters, relying upon
their zeal and fidelity, as upon old and
tried friends. May the noble old
structure stand until our children’s
children shall arise and call her
blessed.
But we have digressed in this detail,
and must return to Gouverneur as it
was in the years of 1828 and 1830.
Business had long been prostrated by
the uncertain state of markets and the
questionable title of lands, so that late
purchasers relinquished their claims
rather than hazard the loss of their
investments. Trustees of the public
lands realized quite a sum from the
sale of lots which legitimately accrued
to the churches of the town, but was
subsequently relinquished in favor of
schools. The taxes at this time were
mostly paid by non-residents, as many
of the owners and proprietors then
were. We are again indebted to a
record made by H. D. Smith Esq., for
items which follow. He says, “In
the year 1829, Edwin Dodge came on
as agent of the Morris estate, by which
most of the land was owned. The
liberal and forbearing policy which he
adopted as agent, ana subsequently as
owner of considerable portions of
lands, encouraged purchasers, and
induced the location of a highly re-
spectable class of emigrants from the
east and from Scotland. The example
and skill of the Scotch introduced a
better style of farming, and dairying
brought substantial profit.” The town
gradually overcame these depressing
circumstances, and after its prolonged
infancy arose to a perfect and complete
manhood. The population at this time
somewhat exceeded fourteen hundred
persons, and as property increased in
value, new purchasers arrived, while
the markets far and near told of re-
newed activity. The country was
rapidly cleared up, manufacturers
secured water privileges for their ope-
rations, one or two merchants com-
menced a limited business in dry goods,
groceries, drugs and medicines, while
the roads of the surrounding country
were improved by grading and work-
ing, and new ones cut to open com-
munication with other points of
interest. Trade still consisted much
of barter, as money was scarce and
only used for making pavment for
lands or some absolutely indispensable
article.
Gouverneur has ever been known as
one of the heathiest localities upon
record. The death rate as compared
with neighboring towns is truly
wonderful, being scarcely half the
number, and at no time has any epi-
demic disease prevailed. The medical
profession has usually been well repre-
sented, and for the period of sixty-four
years, but ten or twelve physicians
have been permanently settled; of
these we have the familiar names of
Drs. John Spencer, Murdock, Griffin,
Orfis, Wait, Williams, Parmelee, Mer-
rick, Carpenter, Fisher, and Wilson.
It has been playfully remarked that
the inhabitants of Gouverneur enjoy
an immunity from the common dis-
eases of mankind, so that life is
measurably secure unless imperiled by-
accident, or extreme old age. Of this
we have only to remark that we
believe no place of its size presents
such an array of stalwart, healthy men
and women.
The legal profession has had but a
small number of representatives. Ed-
win Dodge, Edward Fowler, Charles
Anthony, C. A. Parker, W. H. An-
drews and E. H. Neary have been the
principal practitioners covering a period
of more than forty years ; other parties
have from time to time studied and
practiced in the town, and afterward
found positions in different portions
of the county, where they are a credit
to themselves and the profession which
they represent.
Although many clearings had been
made in and about Gouverneur, the
forest proved a formidable obstacle toGOUVERNEUR,
34:
the extension of neighborly visits and
juvenile rambles. In the year 1830,
two small boys were lost over night,
the whole population joining in the
search for the little wanderers, who
were found the following morning
fast asleep, but ready and willing to
return to their homes and the comforts
of civilized life. Other parties were
often benighted, but a prompt action
of the citizens usually brought them
to light before serious results occurred.
Cattle, too, strayed from their owners
by some unaccountable infatuation.
One farmer relates that he has often
been through the woods to Antwerp
after his missing cows. This mischief
was soon ended by the further clearing
and the building of fences. An im-
provement was also made in the erec-
tion of barns and out-houses, for the
shelter of cattle. Bells were provided
for animals given to undue disposition
for exploring, and we have seen some
of these articles in a perfect state of
preservation, there being no longer a
demand for their cherry music. The
mischievous Indians sometimes took
advantage of the bell-bearing cows and
furnished their families with milk and
cream therefrom: indeed the settlers
suffered at this late date more from
these petty thieves than at any former
period. It was not unfrequent for a
neatly dressed lamb to appear at the
owner’s door, backed by a sober faced
Indian who unblushingly offered it as
“wensonnor was it always safe to
question the identity of the meat,
which was usually paid for without
further parley. Chickens, green peas,
corn and like commodities were con-
sidered public property, and it was
better policy to attribute their loss to
bears, coons, and the like, than to in-
dulge in personalities. One lady has
assured the writer that her father’s
family for many years almost wholly
maintained a company of these savages
rather than lose their good will. As
lands were sold these strange people
receded into the forest, until the place
which knew them, soon knew them
no more.
chapter xv.
The year 1831 was marked by the
death of two of the early settlers of
Gouverneur: Namely, Mrs. Benjamin
Smith, of Little Bow, Jan. 14th, aged
about fifty years, and Aug. 29th, Mrs.
Isaac Austin, at the age of sixty. The
latter lady had, as before noticed, been
confined to her cradle with a spinal af-
fection and rheumatism, for more than
thirty years. She was a woman of
wonderful energy and perseverance,
was often carried to church in her
cradle, and by example and counsel
incited many to follow her bright
course of Christian patience and cheer-
fulness.
The town at this date had received a
new impetus, and was making rapid
strides toward its present position of
independence and affluence. A tan-
nery which is still standing near the
river on the premises of Mrs. John
Barroll, was opened by the Goodrich
brothers. Chauncy, Allen and Thomas,
all tanners and shoemakers of the first
order. Indeed, the Goodrich family
can to-day make a shoe equal to the
best workman in the place. Boots and
shoes were manufactured upon a large
scale, many were exported to less
favorable localities, so that it was aptly
suggested that the village might be
named Bootville. A common mode
of shoeing a family was to adopt the
shoemaker, bench and all, into the
household, and lodge and board him
until every member thereof was neatly
shod for the season, all rents occurring
within the first three months to be
repaired free of cost. Would our
present manufacturers could be bound
to the same terms. Farmers carried
pelts of animals to be tanned upon
shares, thus securing a good article for
themselves, and fixing the responsibil-
ity of its quality upon the party pre-
paring it.
Two or three dry goods stores were
open at this time, one kept by the late
L. B. Parsons, Esq., who built the
store with a brick front now occupied
by Messrs. Boardman and Cutting, for
the sale of hardware, cutlery, machines
See. Woolen cloths, linen, hose and
mittens were early manufactured in
private families and exchanged for
such goods and groceries as were
needed at home. Luxuries were even
now thought of, and two or three
carpets graced the floors of the more
forehanded. Carpets at once became
the rage; stripes of every rainbow hue
were invented, and poor, indeed, was
the housewife who did not possess aITS PAST AND PRESENT.	85
covering for her floor, of yarn or rags,
as her means would allow. We have
seen specimens of this handiwork ex-
hibited by the manufacturers, which
quite surpass anything of later attempts
in the same line.
On the 29th of October, 1834, Pardon
Babcock, another of the old settlers,
died of consumption, at the age of
fifty-seven. He had long been an
invalid, bent and feeble, but pursued
his business—that of a blacksmith—
until within a few days of his death.
He was a man of cheerful spirit, full
of humor, and never allowing his fail-
ing health to interfere with his busi-
ness or amusements. Almost the last
evening of his life he rallied his wife
upon her despondency regarding his
precarious condition; and bounding
into bed, from which he never arose,
he remarked upon his unimpaired
strength of body and limb; but disease
had done its work and a few hours
only remained to the man who had so
nobly helped to carve the future of our
beautiful town.
In 1836, the population of G-ouver-
neur was about two thousand, and the
valuation of property eighty five or
ninety thousand dollars; but a division
of the town in 1841 essentially dimin-
ished it in population and valuation.
It, however, soon assumed its former
prosperity and again went on in the
old path of advancement and improve-
men t. Stringent laws for the protection
of public peace and morals were en-
acted, and pound masters were ever on
the watch for straying or mischevious
animals, neglected farms were marked
for complaint, and few weeds were
permitted to raise their insolent heads
above the growing crops. Nor were
the children of over-tender parents
omitted in the general lookout for
wrong doing. ‘‘How often,” says one
with whom we sometimes counsel,
4 ‘how often when about to perpetrate
some misdemeanor have we looked out
to see our way clear from the school-
master or the tidings man. Not a
walk by moonlight with the girl of our
choice, not a boat-ride upon the river,
or the gift of maple candy or spruce
gum, but was reported to our parents
and guardians in detail, until the
schoolmaster himself was found in a
distant grove, saying the sweetest of
soft things to his lady-love, when we
came out in open rebellion, and were
never afterward molested/’ Many
lasting friendships were made in these
days, and many pleasant family ties
cemented. The village swarmed with
strangers, come hither to avail them-
selves or their children of the advant-
ages of the flourishing schools, or to
model others after them.
Several anecdotes connected with
the then boys of our town are at hand,
but lest their sons should take example
therefrom we must omit some of the
best. Boating was at one time the
principal amusement of the young
people; but a ponderous boom heading
several thousand logs, proved a serious
inconvenience to the water spirits, as
no boat could thread the disputed pas-
sage. Accordingly one night the ob-
noxious hindrance disappeared and
the pent up logs were set at liberty;
the workmen at the saw mill were
treated to a holiday, while their neigh-
bors at Natural Dam were kept busy
sorting logs for a fortnight to come.
One of the perpetrators of this act
lived to do good service as colonel in
the Union army, and was killed at
Antietam while fighting the battles of
the late war.
The pretty sweet heart affianced to
one of the professors of the Seminary,
was so often enticed away from her
lord and master—to be—by some of
the gay young men of the school, that
the forlorn professor thought best to
marry her at once, in order to render
the property secure.
We now come to an important event
affecting the interest of the town, and
which bears largely upon the present
and future of many souls; namely, the
formation, growth and prosperity of
the Methodist Episcopal church. The
spirit of Wesley has never been at rest,
but has sought put new fields to con-
quer ; none so rich but it approaches,
none so poor but it descends thereto.
Several persons of this communion
resided in Gouverneur, but quietly
worshiped with other denominations,
until the time should arrive for an
independent organization. Occasion-
ally an itinerant preacher passed
through the place, and held a service
in some private house or school room.
Meetings were assembled at the district
school house in the neighborhood of
Emery Eager on the Somerville road,36
GOUVERNEUR,
as early as 1822; and a society is
supposed to have been organized at
that time under the ministry of Benja-
min Dighton. There were preaching
stations at Fowler, Antwerp, OxBow
and Gouverneur. The clergymen
were mostly young men, and of course
poor; their whole stock of wealth con-
sisting of the horse on which they rode
and the clothes upon their backs.
They were wholly dependent upon the
hospitalities of the families where they
stopped, who were expected to wash,
iron and mend for them as occasion re-
quired ; these items with one hundred
dollars from the conference in those
days of honest simplicity, kept the
minister respectfully housed and
clothed; and who will say that the man
of God was less useful, or less respected
than the recipient of a ten thousand
dollar salary who solemnly rolls to his
gilded temple in a comfortable carriage,
and mystifies his hearers with wordy
nothings, until they are ready to perish
for one undulturated portion of the
living word.
We have hardly time in the present
chapter to notice the organization of
the Methodist society in this village,
for the particulars of which we are in-
debted to Rev. J. T. Hewitt, who has
at much cost of time and labor pre-
pared it for us, and Dr. E. S. Beards-
lee, who has furnished many items of
interest, and supplied many a missing
link in the chain.
About the year 1828 the service at
the district school house was aban-
doned, those worshiping there retiring
to Somerville, and stated preaching
commenced, first at the house of Dr.
Richard Townsend, on the Johnstown
road, Rev. Godfrey Bomey officiating.
In 1832, meetings were held at the
school house, which then stood on
the corner lot adjoining the present
Baptist church, the Rev. Lyndon King
preacher. The first class was formed
about this time, of which Isaac Smith,
Joseph Smith and Moses Kenyon, with
their wives, were the first members,
and later were joined by Dr. E. S.
Beardslee and wife. Dr. Beardslee is,
we believe, the last of the class, and
the oldest member of the church.
About three years later the little
congregation removed to the chapel of
the Gouverneur High School, where
they remained until the burning of
that building, when they again re-
turned to their old quarters in the
school house, like Noah’s dove, finding
no rest, but ever bearing the olive
branch before them.
In our next we shall continue this
subject, which we can assure our read-
ers will be full of interest.
CHAPTER XVI.
As before noticed, the present Semi-
nary building was completed during
the year 1841, when the Methodist
congregation, journeying like Israel of
old, commenced stated worship in the
chapel of that building. The church
was yet small; “so few in number,”
remarks Rev. J esse T. Peck, ‘ ‘that I
have entertained the whole church at
my table in a small dining room, and
there was room to spare.”
The annual camp metings were for
several years held on the farm of Jas.
Clark, Esq. “There,” remarks an aged
friend, “we expected and received
great blessings.” Quarterly meetings,
prayer meetings and other services
were well attended. They went with
ox-teams from place to place, compel-
ling men to come in and hear the word
of God. Thus with accessions from
various sources, this indomitable little
band pursued their way until the year
1863, when under the ministry of H.
A. O’Farrell, they purchased, at a cost
of one thousand dollars, the building
known as the Second Congregational
church of Gouverneur. This was an
event in the life of the little church
and caused such emotions of joy and
gratitude as cannot well be described.
For seven years they met in this
modest building, until it became evi-
dent that the time had arrived to
“Lengthen their cords and strengthen
their stakes.” At a call from the pastor
and trustees, it was unanimously de-
cided to erect a new and more com-
modious . house of worship. C. W.
Brooks at this time ministered to the
people, and with characteristic zeal, he
pushed the enterprise. The old church
was removed to a lot donated by H. S.
Randall, Esq., and when no longer
required for meetings was sold to
Messrs. Grinell & Co., for the sum of
twelve hundred dolars. This amount
added to the subscriptions now rapidly
flowing in made a very respectable
fund. The committee traveled far andITS PAST AND PRESENT.
37
near, soliciting and receiving subscrip-
tions. An experienced architect, Jas.
Hegeman, was secured and plans at
once made for the new house. The
basement was excavated, and the walls
built of fine sandstone. The corner
stone was laid May 10th, 1870, with
appropriate ceremonies, the pastor, C.
M. Brooks, officiating. The immense
frame and tower went up as if by-
magic, and was so nearly completed
that it was found expedient to dedicate
the house to the worship of Almighty
God, Feb. 9th, 1871. The day will
long be remembered, not alone by the
Methodists of Gouverneur, but by all
of its citizens who laid aside the work
of the day and repaired to the new
church until every seat and aisle was
crowded, and numbers were obliged to
leave, unable to gain an entrance.
After the usual singing and prayer,
Dr.—now Bishop—Jesse T. Peck, arose
and announced his text, Ephesians,
4th, 5th, “One Lord, one faith, one
baptism.” The sermon was probably
one of the finest ever preached in
Gouverneur, and says one, “The near-
est approach to inspiration we ever
heard from mortal tongue.”
The crowd of clergymen inside the
altar were unable to express the usual
“Amen,” but with bowed heads and
tearful eyes they listened with the rapt
audience to the eloquent words which
fell from the speaker’s lips.
At the close of this discourse it was
announced that before the service of
consecration would take place, it was
desirable that the remaining debt
should be canceled. Rev. B. I. Ives, of
Auburn, acting with his usual tact,
took the matter in hand and announced
the entire cost of the structure to be in
round numbers, sixteen thousand dol-
lars, and that the arrears should at
once be raised, first by subscriptions of
five hundred dollars, several of which
sums were assumed by parties present;
next, two hundred and fifty dollar
pledges were given, then sums of one
hundred, fifty ana lesser donations
down to one dollar were taken until
the church was freed from debt, and
dedicated a perfect offering to the
living God. Thus one of the finest
ornaments of Gouverneur stands to-
day a beautiful monument to the
liberality and perseverance of a hand-
ful of earnest Christians. We would
wish the community would further
the interests of these zealous friends
by contributing a good bell, as a
finishing touch to their beautiful
edifice.
Of the many clergymen who have
served in the Methodist church at this
place, we have the names of Benjamin
Dighton, Godfrey Barney, 0. W. Leet,
Manson Reuben Reynolds, Gibbs Lyn-
don King, John Wallace, L. L. Ad-
kins, Harvey Chapin, Jesse Penfield,
Geo. C. Woodruff, Lorenzo Stebbins,
John N. Brown, B. S, Wright, Hubert
Graves, W. Armstrong, Hiram Shep-
herd, S. Slater, J. C. Vandercook,
Benjamin Paddock, Allen Castle, E.
E. Kellogg, Josiah Zrimerman, H. A.
O’Farell, B. E. Whipple, Darius Sim-
onds, A. J. Copeland, C. W. Brooks,
and John T. Hewitt. The record may
not be perfectly in order, as we are
obliged to depend on the memory of
friends, but we believe the list is not
far from correct.
Upon the accession of the present
pastor, Rev. J. T. Hewitt, m May, 1871,
there were ninety-six members, with
several on probation. At the present
writing, October, 1872, there are one
hundred and forty-six members, with'
ten on probation. Connected with the
church is one of the liveliest working
Sabbath schools we have ever known,
consisting of over three hundred schol-
ars. In the words of the present pas-
tor, “It is under the very efficient
superintendence of William Whitney
Esq., to whose able management and
untiring diligence much of its pros-
perity may be ascribed.”
We have been thus minute in our
history of this society, because we
believe, as before remarked, that its
influence in connection with the
Gouverneur Seminary and the relig-
ious bearing upon the community can
never be fully realized; and we can
only regret that the system of itiner-
ancy will so soon deprive us of one of
the most noble and eloquent of her
preachers.
A Congregational church was
founded in this town in February,
1843, and in March of the same year,
it was incorporated as the Second
Congregational church of Gouverneur.
The trustees were John Leach, Mathau
W. Smith and Rockwell Barnes. It
is neither our intention nor province
1038
GOUVERNEUR,
to enter into the particulars relative to
the formation of this church; suffice it
to say that the movement was un-
doubtedly prayerfully and conscien-
tiously made, and when after years of
struggles and misfortunes the scheme
was abandoned, most of the members
returned to the parent church, willing
workers in the fold, wherever their lot
might be cast.
Some busy agitators were ever ready
to move, no matter where, and after
the previous division of the town,
were forward for another and another,
so that through the years of 1841-42
and ’43 the community was constantly
in a ferment regarding the matter. A
new town was proposed from parts of
Hermon, Dekalb and Gouverneur;
what the parties expected to gain from
this proceeding no one has ever yet
been able to explain, but that the thing
failed can never be regretted, since a
more flourishing township cannot be
found in St. Lawrence county. The
village was formally incorporated
December 7, 1849. The officers we
believe have been before mentioned;
but from the date of its existence as a
village public improvements com-
menced. At this period scarcely a
sidewalk was to be seen, and the deep
yellow sand was a serious impediment
to foot travel. In a future number we
shall speak of these improvements, the
grading and graveling of the streets,
with the waterworks and other ad-
juncts of civilization. We have also
the promise of a full account of the
mineral resources, lumbering opera-
tions and other matters of interest
pertaining to our great and growing
town.
CHAPTER XVII.
Growing towns are anxious to avail
themselves of all the privileges their
neighbors enjoy, and Gouverneur is
no exception to the rule. Watertown,
Ogdensburg and Canton each boastea
their printing presses, and each issued
weekly one or more newspapers. A
newspaper must be printed m Gouver-
neur ; there were the daily details of
fire, robbery, runaways of men and
horses, accidents, deaths and marriages;
advertisements, local poets and prose
writers who must find vent for their
pent up thoughts and impress the
world with their growing genius. The
Seminary, too, furnished many a full-
fledged essayist, whose powers must
lie dormant, unless some pitying printer
could be prevailed upon to emblazon
his sheet with the brilliant coruscations
of their sparkling thought.
Several attempts had been made to
start a newspaper in Gouverneur, but
until the year 1849 nothing definite
was accomplished. The first printing
press was brought into town in April,
1849, by W. M. Goodrich and M.
Wilson, and the first paper was issued
April 19th of the same year, and
entitled The Northern New-Yorker.
We have before us one of the earliest
of these sheets, and the familiar names
of those days call up many a tender
association. The visitor’s report of the
Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary by
Rev. B. B. Beckwith is particularly
interesting. The order of exercises for
the annual exhibition contains the
names of many long since gone to rest,
and of others, whose furrowed faces
and silvered temples bespeak their
ardor in the battle of life.
The same copy contains the death of
ex-President Polk, and business cards
of firms long since dissolved by death,
or by mutual consent, speculations re-
garding the career of Louis Napoleon.
Hungarian losses and gains, and manjr
other matters forgotten by the partici-
pants themselves, and only furnishing
a moment’s amusement to the readers.
The Northern New-Yorker, after run-
ning a very respectable career, passed
for a time into the hands of Nelson
Bruet & Co., and was discontinued
during the year of 1851.
On the 20th of July, 1852, a paper
entitled The Laborer was issued by
Martin Mitchel, of Fowler, N. Y.
This office was located in Conklin’s
block, a building now occupied by
Messrs. Barney & Bowne as a hard-
ware store. The Laborer was a plucky
litt]e sheet, and we have often smiled
as it reached our hands, the paper
being so folded as to conceal the first
syllable, rendering the title “The
Borer,” by which it was always play-
fully called. But the little messenger
was anything but a bore to its numer-
ous readers; for in those days of rustic
simplicity we had neither railroad,
telegraph nor news office ; so that the
whole country must be weekly sifted
to supply its patrons with readableITS PAST AND PRESENT.
39
matter. Before us is the first number
of the Laborer with an article by Dr.
Franklin B. Hough, concerning the
first settlement of Gouverneur, all of
which we would like to transcribe had
we space, as it contains and verifies
much of the matter we have from time
to time noted in these sketches. A
paper from the pen of Dr. P. 0. Wil-
liams, formerly of this village, also
gives a prophetic view of the, then,
future of Gouverneur. This we may
at some time lay before our readers, as
it could scarcely have been mo're cor-
rect had it been written at the present
date. Although the political principles
of the Laborer were adverse to many
of its readers, the paper was largely
patronized; but the investment not
proving remunerative it was deemed
expedient to secure an assistant, en-
large the sheet, and change the name;
all of which was accordingly done.
A Mr. Mason was chosen associate
editor, and the paper christened the
Free Press. Harley Mitchel, Esq.,
eventually succeeded Mr. Mason, and
the paper received the additional title
of the St. Lawrence Free Press.
The health of the elder Mitchel fail-
ing, Mr. Armstrong was associated
with the paper until 1854, when it
became evident that a newspaper could
not be sustained in Gouverneur unless
the list of subscribers could be enlarged,
advertisements multiplied and funds
furnished for its managers. At this
juncture J. J. Emmes, of Hammond,
N. Y., assumed the control of the
paper and attempted an organization
for liquidating the debts of the con-
cern, and also for raising a reserve
fund for future operations. Quite au
amount was subscribed to this fund
in sums of five, ten and fifteen dollars;
but little, however, was realized from
all this, and newspapers were pro-
nounced for the time a failure in
Gouverneur. We well remember with
what reluctance we recognized the
fact, but all surrendered with becoming
grace, and saw the printing press de-
part without a tear.
In a short time Mr. Emms lost what
he had invested in the unfortunate
sheet, which after an eventful career
was buried beside its predecessors.
Yarious expedients were suggested for
the remedy of these defeats, and in-
ducements were held out for other
publishers to fill up the broken ranks
of newspaper failures. But not until
the year 1864 was one found willing to
undertake the enterprise, and retrieve
the fallen fortunes of newspaper
publishing in Gouverneur. The Times
was started in Sandy Creek, Oswego
county, N. Y., November, 1862, F. E.
Merritt, editor and proprietor; and at
the urgent solicitation of parties in
Gouverneur, was removed to this vil-
lage in July, 1864, and continued
under the head of the Gouverneur
Times. We well remember the modest
little sheet, whose welcome face weekly
greeted us, and we have ever rejoiced
in the success of the enterprising pro-
prietor, whose subscription list now
reaches eleven hundred, and who has
without additional expense to his pat-
rons enlarged and improved his paper
until it compares favorably with any
issued in the state.
The Gouverneur Recorder was es-
tablished in 1866, Miss M. M. Smith,
editress, and has, we believe, a circu-
lation of six or seven hundred copies;
it is an eight page paper, and is
usually well stored with interesting
matter.
We have before had occasion to re-
mark that as a reading community
Gouverneur cannot be surpassed. The
private libraries are a credit to any
village, and we doubt if any of the
surrounding cities or villages can ex-
hibit a better class of books than those
which adorn the shelves of many
book cases. Almost every publisher is
here represented; our Scotch farmers
seldom fail to receive a package from
“Bonnie Scotland.” Some German
and Welsh papers find, their way
hither, while nearly every publication
of any worth can be found upon our
tables.
The incorporation of the village in
1849 led to many public improvements
which have before been noticed; until
that time little had been done by way
of straightening the streets, or grading
the thoroughfares for the convenience
of pedestrians; a few feet of sidewalk
here and there greeted the traveler;
but with the growing importance of
an incorporated village, came the
desire for village conveniences, which
were not far behind the time of its
reaching its majority.40
GOUVERNEUR,
No extensive conflagration has ever
visited Gouverneur. In 1825 the
flouring mills of Israel Porter were
destroyed by fire, and later one or two
dwelling houses of no particular value.
In 1848 the brick hotel of Peter Van
Buren was partially burned, and in
1854 the saw and flouring mills near
the bridge with a part of the bridge
itself were destroyed. A competent
fire department was long since organ-
ized, and the water works, of which
we shall hereafter speak, seem to
render us comparatively safe from the
devouring elements, though a few
hundred additional feet of hose would
throw protection over a greater extent
of territory.
In January, 1849, a Universalist
society, embracing in its broad charter
the whole world, but more especially
Gouverneur and Hailesboro, was
formed, with James Sherwin. Addison
Giles, Francis Farmer, Hull Tuttle, v
Sanford Betts and Isaac P. Smith as
trustees. Their places of meeting were
at the old Town hall of this village,
and the school houses of Somerville
and Hailesboro. Later, a Union
church was built at the latter place
which is often used for worship.
Clergymen from Canton and other
towns officiate, but no stated preaching
is expected, and the society, we believe,
is not in a growing condition.
The mineral resources of Gouver-
neur demand an entire chapter, and
we had promised our readers a pro-
longed account of the mines and
quarries of the town. But so con-
flicting are the reports of the owners
and operators, that we shall only
glance at the facts themselves until
the mining interests of the town shall
fall into the hands of honest and re-
sponsible parties, who intend to de-
velop its riches, and erect permanent
works for the employment of home
laborers, and the investment of home
capital. Red iron ore is found in large
quantities and several rich veins are
worked with good returns for the out-
lay. Two or three varieties of marble
and granite bid fair to attract future
operators, and it is presumed that the
day is not far distant when the
quarries of Gouverneur will challenge
the world for an equal. Serpentine,
fluorspar, chalk and Rensselaerite are
found in large quantities, and no more
interesting field for the minerologist
or scientist can be found in the same
compass of territory.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The next important event affecting
the interest of our model town, was a
railroad; the thought flashed like a
meteor over the inhabitants, and with
many was quickly dissipated; farmers
whose property could be summed up in
hundreds, immediately saw that an
open market with ready transportation
would* enhance the value of their
farms, as well as double the price of
produce; yet many clutched their
purses the tighter, selfishly awaiting
the liberality of their neighbors:	The
lumbering interests, too, demanded an
opening for their surplus matter, while
the flouring mills and mechanical
manufactures called for a larger
circulation. Merchants received their
goods by the slow and expensive trans-
portation then in use, and one has
informed the writer that every pound
of salt used within an area of fifty
miles was brought by boat to Ogdens-
burg, and from thence distributed by
horse power to the various places
of sale.
Taking into consideration the extent
of territory to be reached by a railroad
from Watertown to Potsdam, and the
many channels which must necessarily
flow into such road, a few foresighted
individuals .from the various points
upon the way took the subject into
serious consideration, the result of
which was the formation of a company
to look over the route and report upon
the expediency of the project. The
investigation proved satisfactory, and
a goodly interest enlisted, a company
was organized under the general rail-
road act of the state of New York, in
the year 1852. A glance at the route
was first made by a few skillful ob-
servers, and later a full survey under
the control of Edward H. Broadhead,
a practical engineer, and a man of
large experience. His report upon
one or two routes was favorable, the
grades and curves were not difficult,
and the line very direct. It was ac-
cordingly resolved to prosecute the
work without delay, and the road was
put under contract in October, of the
same year. Grading commenced at
both ends of the road, bridges wereITS PAST AND PRESENT.
41
projected at the most available points,
and rocks and hills were levelled with-
out delay or mercy. It seems but
yesterday since a posse of stalwart
Hibernians with cart, spade and pick,
invaded our village, and commenced
operations. Old men and childern,
old ladies and invalids turned out by-
scores to witness the novel exhibition,
while an occasional blast of powder
from some stubborn ledge of rocks
caused the weaker portion of the crowd
to stop their ears, or utter the faintest
screech over the deafening charge
which sent showers of stone in every
direction. Long before the grading
was completed, rails were laid at either
end of the road, engines were run
first to Evans Mills, then to Philadel-
phia, Antwerp, and at last to Gouver-
neur. It was about nine o’clock of a
summer morning that the old Chicopee
majestically stalked over the Oswe-
gatchie at the same point where the
present bridge now stands. Hundreds
of persons watched its course, as it
went forward, and returned in triumph
to the opposite shore, when such a
shout arose as to drown the wheezing
steam horse with its echos. A railroad
in Gouverneur! A railroad with all
the concomitants of shanties, boarding
houses, mud barns and sod heneries; a
railroad with its rapid transportation
almost annihilating space and bring-
ing distant friends within reach of
friendly greeting, it was almost too
good to be true, but we soon became
accustomed to the sounds, and the
novelty is a thing of the past. Our
road was completed within the space
of. three years, the capital of two
millions of dollars was nearly ex-
pended, station houses were built, and
the whole line of seventy-six miles
was neatly fenced by the company or
by the owners of lands adjoining. The
first officers of the road were, Edwin
Dodge, President; Zenas Clark, Vice-
President; Henry L. Knowles, Secre-
tary; Daniel Lee, Treasurer; and Jon-
athan Adams Chief Engineer; thirteen
directors. were also chosen, and the
road was pronounced in good running
order within three years from the date
of organization.
Of the subsequent losses sustained
by the company, and of the transfer of
the property to the Rome Sc Water-
town corporation we have nothing to
say. The movement was deemed ex-
pedient, although the loss to some
parties was large. The latter company
immediately built a branch road from
Dekalb Junction to Ogdensburg, which
has proved a good investment for
them, and the road is largely patron-
ized. Trains still run from this point
to Potsdam, taking Canton and other
places in its way.
The poor old Chicopee deserves a
passing notice before we drop this sub-
ject. It exploded in Montreal a few
years since, injuring several persons
and shattering to atoms everything
within reach of its broken fragments.
That property in Gouverneur has
more than doubled in value since the
introduction of a railroad, has never
been questioned and the mutterings of
those who supposed themselves depre-
ciated in pocket, have long since been
hushed by the music of crisp currency
which they received for their produce,
wares and merchandise.
The Gouverneur Agricultural So-
ciety was organized in the year 1859,
and in September last held its four-
teenth anniversary. The first grounds
were leased from the Averils for the
term of five years; these lots are now
occupied by dwelling houses, and the
ground at a great expense has mostly
been raised to a level with the main
street. About the year 1865 the society
purchased of Benjamin Smith twenty
acres of land lying near the northern
extremity of the corporation of Gouv-
erneur. The land was valued at about
thirty-five hundred dollars, and build-
ings erected at a cost of twenty-five
hundred more. A high fence encloses
the whole, with seats, stands for
judges, dining-hall, and rooms for the
transaction of business. The trotting
course is a half-mile in length, level,
and said to be one of the best of its
kind. The yearly attendance is large,
and the interest seems unabated.
Persons from all parts of the county
and state are in attendance, and the
premium lists are open to all. Good
speakers are yearly provided, and their
addresses would form a volume of in-
tense interest. Thus far we have
heard from Judge Clark, Horace
Greeley, Edward Everett, Judge Nott,
Luther Tucker, George W. Bungay,
L. J. Bigelow, S. H. Hammond,
Horatio Seymour, Calvin T. Hulburd,42
GOUVERNEUR,
X. A. Willard, T. G. Alvord, A. B.
James, and again X. A. Willard. The
society is reported in a flourishing con-
dition, with few liabilities, and a pro-
perty valued at ten thousand dollars.
During the last ten or twelve years,
farmers have turned their attention to
dairying interests, and the raising of
£rain has been nearly suspended.
little of the wheat or corn here u^ed
is grown in Gouverneur, but is im-
ported at considerable expense from
the western markets. This we believe
to be mistaken economy, as the yearly
cost of feeding more stock than a farm
can support has in many cases com-
pletely swallowed up the proceeds of
the whole farm. True, our large and
numerous cheese factories do an im-
mense amount of business, thereby
relieving farmers’ wives and daughters
of much labor. In this town we have
four of these factories, each turning
out thousands of pounds of cheese of
the finest quality, and which com-
mands the highest market prices; but
in the name of the charity which
begins at home, we must ask that a
supply of our boasted good butter be
kept on hand to meet the demands of
the summer months. Many farmers
are obliged to purchase for their own
tables, and many times (we do not
speak for ourselves, as we manufacture
tbe article in sufficient quantity for
home consumption,) there is not a
pound of good butter to be had in the
village. Although the discussion of
this subject may not legitimately come
within the scope of these articles, our
attention has been so often called to
the matter that we cannot forbear
dwelling upon it. Some of our most
successful dairymen have assured the
writer that with care in the manufac-
ture of their cheese, they have obtained
the same price offered for factory
cheese, secured a large amount of
butter, and have realized from three
to five dollars more per cow than when
they have carried their milk to the
factories.
Great improvements too are yearly
making in the stock which produces
the milk for butter and cheese. We
believe the Ayrshires are by unani-
mous consent acknowledged to be the
largest milkers and the most profitable
for making cheese, while the Alder-
neys are in demand as butter pro-
ducers. Messrs. Patterson, Burts and
Carpenter have imported numbers of
the former, and are to be credited with
much zeal and perseverance in this
department.
We now approach the period of the
great rebellion when Gouverneur sent
the richest of her blood to quench the
fires lighted at Sumpter, and to sustain
the nation in its attempts to maintain
its ground against one of the most
terrible charges ever aimed against a
great and noble government. Many
instances of personal valor are recorded
of our soldier boys, but we shall only
be able to glance at the subject which
also must be reserved for another
chapter.
CHAPTER XIX.
. A few military organizations have
existed in Gouverneur, but after a short
career were disbanded. Such was the
peaceable spirit of our townsmen that
when the war of 1861 burst like a
thunderbolt athwart the land, that we
hardly believed a full company of sol-
diers could be raised in the neighbor-
hood. Party spirit, too, ran high,
many being in principle opposed to the
war upon any terms, believing that it
could and should be avoided. But
when the stubborn fact became mani-
fest that the Union was threatened and
a consequent dissolution of the states
imminent, men flocked to the ranks in
numbers far beyond the quota de-
manded from Gouverneur.
The first company was mostly en-
listed by Geo. Parker and Albert M.
Barney, who with Robert P. Wilson
and William H. Walling, were chosen
first officers. Forty-one of this company
were Gouverneur boys, men of every
profession and craft, whose faces were
familiar in our houses and upon our
streets, and who were missed, sadly
missed, from the circles where they
moved. Many who read these lines
will recall the shudder with which we
received the tidings that a friend or
relative had joined the band of patriots
now upon the eve of departure. Yet
brave mothers and sisters wrought
upon garments necessary for the com-
fort of “our boys,” and many resorted
to the house of Daniel Sharpe, Esq.,
where we manufactured a beautiful
silken flag, the gift of generous hearts
and the work of willing hands. EveryITS PAST AND PRESENT.
48
stitch seemed a memento of affection
and a reminder of the trembling fin-
gers which plied them. And so the
brilliant colors were blended, stripes
of red and white with a bright blue
ground, and all the stars were fastened
there—not one was missing—and
thanks to our own and thousands of
other noble patriots, all shine in the
constellation of our sacred constitu-
tion, brighter we believe for the
bloody eclipse through which they
have passed.
The first company of Gouverneur
was mustered into service May 2d,
1861, and two days later, May 4th, left
the village on the afternoon train. It
requires no active imagination to recall
the scenes of that day; partings, some
of them forever, were exchanged at
home; and the whole company were
drawn up in front of Jas. M. Spencer’s
hotel where prayers and tears, ad-
dresses and admonitions were offered,
and the beautiful flag was presented
by Miss Carrie Sharpe with an appro-
priate address, which, had we space,
should appear in the present article.
Captain George Parker received the
flag in behalf of the company, touch-
ingly alluding to the hopes and de-
termination of himself and men that
its folds should never witness an act of
cowardice or treachery, which promise
we know was never broken, as the
mortality of the company can attest.
The first death was that of Solomon
Burr, at the battle of Gaines’ Mills,
June 27th, 1862. Although Mr. Burr
was not a Gouverneur man, his name
deserves a record in this place as one
of those who never for once departed
from the line of duty, and at the
request of Capt. Parker, from whom
we have gathered many of these items,
we give him a place upon the roll of
honor with our boys. The captain
would fain we should name all his
men upon this noble list, but time and
space forbid. Erwin H. Barnes was
mortally wounded upon the same day,
but lived to see his parents who visited
him in the hospital, where he died a
few days subsequent. Although a
mere boy he was a true soldier, and
when his body was brought home to
rest in his native soil, hundreds of
tearful eyes looked upon the youthful
form, and the church where the funeral
services were held was thronged with
sympathizing friends and relatives.
Rev. B. B. Beckwith preached at this
time a rousing “war sermon,” and did
full justice to the merits of the young
hero.
On the 14th of September of the same
year was fought the bloody battle of
Crampton’s Gap, at which Andrew J.
Lee was instantly killed and James H.
Robertson was mortally wounded.
Robertson, too, was brought home and
buried with other members in our own
“Riverside.” At the same battle Chas.
H. Conant of Fowler, color-bearer, was
killed; although he was not a native of
Gouverneur, he was well known among
us, and with all the heroes of that ter-
rible fray deserves more than our feeble
pen can award him.
This company was only enlisted for
two years, at the end of which time
they were formally mustered out of
service, though many re-enlisted and
served until the close of the war.
Twenty-five were ki led or died from
other causes during the period of their
enlistment, and it was a meager
handful of war-worn men who met in
front of P. Van Buren’s two years
from the commencement of the war.
At this place a banquet had been
prepared, which fair hands distributed
in no meager morsels. Welcoming
poems and addresses were read, and
though many were missing, we know
not which were happier, those who
received their living friends, or those
who owned a buried hero.
It is impossible in an article like the
present to enumerate the various deeds
of valor which are recorded of our boys,
nor let any feel himself forgotten, as
we may at some future day enlarge
upon this subject and give each one his
meed of praise.
Late in the year 1864 arrangements
were made for attacking Fort Fisher
through New Inlet, the eastern en-
trance .to Cape Fear river. For the
immediate defence of this inlet the
rebels relied mainly upon Fort Fisher.
Admiral Porter, who had visited Mala-
koff during the seige of Sebastopol,
says:	“This was a more formidable
stronghold than that place, the taking
of which gave the death blow to the
Confederacy.” A letter from General
Butler, dated Dec. 25th, 1864, gives us
another view of our boys in the most
hotly contested battle of the campaign.44
GOUVERNEUR,
After asserting the almost utter im-
possibility of reducing the fort, Gen.
Butler says, “Gren. Weitzel advanced
his skirmish line within fifty yards of
the fort, and while the garrison were
kept in their bomb proof by the fire of
the navy, three or four of our men
ventured upon the parapet, captured a
horse, killed an orderly who was bear-
ing dispatches, and brought away a
flag from the parapet while the shells
of the navy were falling thickly about
•the heads of the daring men.” Later,
Admiral Porter writes General Butler,
‘ I wish some more of your gallant fel-
lows had followed the officer who took
the flag from the parapet and the brave
fellow who brought the horse from the
fort.” The officer here referred to is
Capt. W. H. Walling, another of “our
boys,” who has been brevetted for his
valor, and who to-day carries a rebel
bullet in his bosom, a leaden keepsake
from his southern friends. Gen. N. M.
Curtis, though not a son of Gouver-
neur, was so intimately connected with
the capture of Port Fisher that we
must not forget his name in connection
therewith. On the 15th of January,
1862, the fort was finally taken, Gen.
C. being wounded about the head and
losing an eye in the engagement. We
might fill pages with the noble deeds
of our own boys, but enough has been
written to prove that they were brave
and true, and every way worthy of the
confidence reposed in them.
Many have returned and are pursu-
ing the ordinary avocations and duties
of life. Some rest from their labors
on their native soil, and some lie in
graves unmarked save by the eye of
Him who watches over the dust, and
who will gather it at the last. Many
are disabled for this life by wounds or
disease, and many have tasted the
horrors of starvation in southern
prisons. The war of the Great Re-
public is ended and we are still a
happy, united country, forgiving and
forgiven. Hundreds of cities and vil-
lages can boast of their heroes and re-
count their valiant deeds; but none,
we believe, can present a more thrilling
record of bravery or a more interesting
chapter of events than our own Gouv-
emeur. Would a more capable hand
had undertaken the recital.
CHAPTER XX.
A large number of persons favoring
the worship of the Protestant Episcopal
church had long and quietly assembled
with other denominations until a fit-
ting opportunity offered for resolving
themselves into a corporate body. The
first Episcopal service held in Gouver-
neur was late in the afternoon of a
summer Sabbath, in the year 1862.
Rev. Wilbur F. Paddock, now of St.
Andrews’ church, Philadelphia, Pa.,
was the officiating clergyman. The
trustees and pastor of the Presbyterian
church of this village, kindly opened
its doors for this purpose. To many
the service was strange, and some
looked on with curious eyes; but the
solemn words and appropriate re-
sponses soon won the favor of all, and
the beautiful and eloquent discourse of
the young clergyman from the words,
“Who will have all men to be saved,”
so enlisted the attention of the audience
that the service will not soon be
forgotten.
On the 16th of April, 1866, the
Protestant Episcopal church of this
village was incorporated, now known
as Trinity church. The first wardens
were Benjamin F. Skinner and Aaron
B. Cutting. Eight vestrymen were
chosen, namely:	Wm. H. Bowne,
John S. Honeycomb, James D. Easton,
A. E. Norton, A. M. Barney, A. S.
Egert, G. E. Burt and Thomas Jones.
The rectors thus far have been Jede-
diah Winslow, Edward Dolloway,
John H. Babcock and W. M. Ogden,
the present incumbent.
Simultaneous with the organization
of the society, a subscription was
started for raising funds for the erection
of a church. The congregation at this
time worshipping in the chapel of the
Seminary which was kindly tendered
them by the trustees of the school.
Never was a paper more industriously
circulated, and each day witnessed an
increase in the amount subscribed.
The ladies, too, united their efforts in
no feeble measure, for the advance-
ment of their beloved object. Festi-
vals and sewing societies were held,
with weekly sociables for the raising
of funds for furnishing the new
church.
On the 10th of September, 1866, the
walls were so nearly completed that
the comer stone was laid with appro-ITS PAST AND PRESENT.
45
priate ceremonies. The list of deposits
is too long for this place, but embraced
all the subjects of the day, papers of
the county, catalogues, officers of the
churches and town, with other neces-
sary information for the curious should
they ever be exhumed from their rest-
ing place.
Early in the fall the frame was
raised, a neat Chapel finished in the
basement, with vestry, chancel, entry
and audience room above. Stained
glass windows were purchased in
Buffalo, N. Y., a furnace introduced,
carpets were laid down, and the
furniture put iu place, making the
whole one of the most finished struct-
ures in town. But one mistake marred
the enterprise and that was the
purchase of a cast iron bell, a mis-
taken economy, which soon manifested
itself in a cracked jargon, reminding
the donors that witholding more than
is meat tendeth to poverty. The
lesson, however, we believe has proved
salutary, and cast iron bells will in
the future be at a discount in this
neighborhood Later a fine toned bell
of proper material has been hung, and
now calls a goodly number of
worshipers to the house of God. The
church was dedicated free from debt
July 29, 1869, with appropriate re-
ligious ceremonies. It was provided
in the original subscription for the
building of said church, “that the
pews or sittings are to be equitably
assessed from year to year, for the con-
tingent revenue of the parishthere-
by wisely avoiding the rock upon
which so many societies have split,
and which even in our own midst has
been the cause of much unhappiness
and ill feeling. A parish school has
much of the time been in operation in
connection with the church, and a
flourishing Sunday school is also at-
tached thereto. Perhaps no organiza-
tion of the kind has e ver attained a
more rapid growth in Gouverneur
than this church, and we are glad to
believe it a power which will leave its
mark for good upon the future of the
town.
In the year 1868. the Gouverneur
Water Works’ Company was in-
corporated with a capital of $20,000.
This enterprise was the labor of a few
individuals, the original company
consisting of but seven persons,
namely: Charles Anthony, Augustus
E. Norton, Edwin Dodge, Peter Van-
Buren, Stephen B. VariDuzee, Lyman
Litchfield and Charles E. Clark. In
the same year the company purchased
a water power, on one of the islands
in the river a few feet below the Main
street bridge, where they erected a
water house and put in machinery
propelled by water, by which they run
three force pumps upon what is
known as the Holly System, by which
the water is forced up through a main
pipe extending from the water house
to Spencer’s hotel, and from which,
pipes can be readily taken to other
portions of the village. A portion
only of the cross pipes have been laid
and water introduced into private resi-
dences, although nearly every place
of business upon Main street is sup-
plied with running water. A trough
cut from solid stone is placed just be-
low the public park, where a con-
tinuous stream of living water bubbles
into the basin which is always full no
matter how great the draught upon it.
We have often seen a half dozen of
teams standing at this public fountain,
and during the business hours of the
dry scarcely a minute passes without
a call upon its never-failing resources.
The pipes are laid in Rosendale cement
and the machinery is capable of forc-
ing water for extinguishing fires to
the height of eighty or one hundred
feet, and it is to be hoped that the day
is not far distant, when every house
in the corporation will be secured from
fire by the introduction of water upon
the premises, The town has been so
heavily taxed for other purposes, that
it has hardly been deemed expedient
to assume the additional expense of
the water works so that this may be
attained, although the whole is only a
question of time.
Reference has before been made to
the hose and cart which have been
purchased by the village for use in
case of fire, and also for drenching the
streets in hot or dry weather. An
efficient fire department also exists,
but thus far they have had no op-
portunity for testing their powers in
this direction. It is generally believed
that much of the hose on hand is not
adequate to bear the pressure which
must necessarily come upon it in case
of immergency, and the purchase of a
L246
GOUVERNEUR,
few hundred feet of *a stronger
material is earnestly recommended.
For the history of the water works,
we are indebted to Chas. Anthony,
Esq., who kindly furnished the items,
for which he has our thanks; and
while upon the subject, we must be
ardoned for calling the attention of
uilders and owners of buildings, to
the unsafe proximity of barns, sheds
and other wooden edifices. In most
incorporated towns there is a law
limiting the distance between such
buildings. If such a law exists in
‘Gouverneur, it is almost daily set at
defiance, and it is the observation of
those who have watched the progress
of fires, that a large per cent, of them
are propogated and fed by the cheap
rear buildings, which are always at-
tached to stores and dwellings. The
observance of this fact, with suitable
action upon the matter will doubtless
sooner or later prove the salvation of
our village.
Another matter also deserves atten-
tion in this connection, namely, the
clearing of paths in winter, and the un-
safe condition of many of our side-
walks. Many private families never
open a path about their premises from
the falling of the snow until its de-
parture under the spring rains, and
the unfortunate pedestrian who is
called over the way may wade it at
his - leisure. Several ragged and
broken sidewalks still challenge the
traveler to a struggle for life and limb,
and the owners of one or two sections
have been advised to open an accident
insurance office upon the premises.
To our own relief and perhaps to
that of our readers, we have but one
more chapter to write of Gouverneur.
In this we shall recapitulate some
matters, look over the events of the
year, and leave the history of Gouv-
erneur for the present.
CHAPTER XXI.
For nearly one year, dear readers,
we have walked hand in hand about
our beautiful town and village.
Many who commenced the journey
with us have stopped by the way,
weary with toil and travel and are
resting from their labors. Five of our
early settlers have removed to another
and we believe a better country:
‘‘Where the inhabitant shall not say,
I am sickand they tread the ever-
lasting hills rejoicing in eternal peace.
With the present chapter our task is
finished; in the pursuance of our labors
we have formed many pleasant and
lasting friendships; nearly all have
responded to our inquiries in a cheer-
ful and kindly manner, not a few
have brought us items of intelligence
and have evinced a lively interest in
the work. Occasionally one has
questioned our recitals with a know-
ing shake of the head that, * ‘I could
have told her better.” But we know
that all statements of importance have
been corroborated by one or more
witnesses, and nothing which is
written would we have otherwise. An
apology is due the reader for the un-
finished appearance of some of the
papers. We make no pretensions to
rhetorical finish, but amid the cares
and duties of a household and severe
domestic afflictions, the series bears
the marks of haste, which may in the
future be corrected, should. we re-
write the whole as has been suggested.
Other towns have their histories, tales
of privation, of self denial and the re-
linquishment of private good for the
general weal; yet we hesitate not in
saying Gouverneur led the van in the
march of public improvements in St.
Lawrence County, and it is the re-
mark of strangers that we are scarcely.
behind towns many times larger than
our own. When our village is lighted
with gas—which may not be far in the
future—we shall be in possession of
every convenience enjoyed by the
principle cities of the United States,
unless we except navigation which is
fully supplied by our busy rail road
and the rapid river which furnishes all
needed hydraulic privileges.
We have been requested to call at-
tention to one or two topics, which,
although not directly connected with
the history of Gouverneur, may well
be classed among its necessary im-
provements ; of the two bridges which
span our rivers, one is known to he
wholly unsafe, and the other is a
cumbrous pile of lumber which must
he watched and stayed during high
water, and may yet he the occasion of
untold damage. Many of our sister
towns have iron and stone bridges,
which, although more expensive atITS PAST AND PRESENT.
47
the first, are expected by their per-
manancy to cover the original cost.
With our unusual facilities for build-
ing a structure of this kind, it is to be
hoped that an improvement in this
direction will at once be made.
Much has already been said of our
Seminary, select and district schools;
and we would approach the matter in
the kindest possible manner, knowing
the various opinions held respecting
them. We have within the corporate
bonds of the village an attendance of
six or seven hundred scholars. The
free school system is unquestionably
one of the greatest benefactions of the
age; but the lines here are too loosely
drawn for the general good. While
we have in the Seminary one of the
ablest corps of teachers it has ever
been our good fortune to secure, we
have in addition to the quarterly
tuition, an enormous school tax which
many are compelled to pay without
reaping the advantage of one dollar’s
worth in their own families. If we
must support a graded school, let it be
one in reality, with a competent board
of education and teachers who can im-
part instruction in the languages and
higher branches. Surely a tax-ridden
community have a right to ask a
reformation in this direction.
Another item demanding attention
—and which can be readily remedied
—was noticed by Judge James more
than a year since in his excellent ad-
dress before the Agricultural society
of this village. We refer to the un-
kept appearance of our beautiful shade
trees, and we confess to a remissness
on our own part, which shall be cor-
rected at an early day. It is absolute
ruin to bonnet, hat, coat or dress, to
pass under our trees on a rainy day.
A few hours given to the judicious
pruning of the lower branches, would
greatly add to the comfort of pedes-
trians, as well as to the general ap-
pearance of our thoroughfares.
We have seen a goodly town arise
from the wilderness, crowned with
every gift which the hand of industry
or civilization can bestow. Our homes
have been built upon ground conse-
crated by other hands, and we may
believe our actions watched by many
who have passed before us to the spirit
world. Let us cherish the institutions
they reared, and follow their sacred
injunctions. Humanity is always the
same, and unless sanctified by higher
and better aspirations, we shall only
sink to a level with those whose path-
way is downward—whose end is de-
struction.
Ours is a noble heritage; with in-
dustry and care, the day is not distant
when G&uverneur shall take her place
among the cities of the state, “Beauti-
ful for situation, on the sides of the
north.”
PART SECOND.
CHAPTER I.
When the closing chapter of this
history was written, late in the year of
1872, we were conscious of a desire to
follow the fortunes of our town a little
farther. Nearly seventeen years have
passed, during which time a great
many changes have taken place. A
new race of people are walking our
streets and new faces greet the scribe
at every step of the way. Familiar
forms are missing, and the music of
their voices is hushed for all time; yet
their sons and daughters have taken
up their work and the hum of industry
is heard on every side. Could the
pioneers of our goodly town be per-
mitted once more to visit the scenes of
their early labors, we think they would
retire satisfied that they had not lived
in vain.
The years of ’78, ’74 and ’75 were
marked by a peculiar fatality among
our elderly people. Mr. Pel eg Chamber-
lain, one of the first officers of the
Gouverneur Agricultural Society,
suddenly expired, November 15, 1873.
Mr. John Fosgate, lumberman and
miller, died February 4,1874. A man
of great industry ana financial ability,
who had kept hundreds of men in his
employ, providing for them and their
families with a liberal hand. Zebina
Smith, for a long time sexton of the48
GOUVERNEUR,
church and cemetery, died March 17,
1874. Elwell Austin, who came with
his parents here in 1806, died in a
neighboring state, January 31, 1875.
James Parker, in his nineties, and
Benjamin Leavitt, in his ninetieth year,
died a few days later. Dr. S. C. Wait,
who followed his profession for more
than forty years in this town, died
October 30th of this year. Mr. Joseph
Hopkins, formerly teacher of the Gouv-
erneur High school, and lat^r, princi-
pal of the Seminary, died in Minnesota,
December 13th of this year. The
remains were brought to Gouverneur
for interment in the family lot at
Riverside.
The old brick school house, on the
corner of Church and John streets,
was purchased in 1873, by Dr. McFalls,
of Rossie, who fitted it up for a dwel-
ling house and commenced the practice
of medicine in this place. Meantime
a site for a new school house, with
accommodations for a larger number
of scholars, had been purchased on
Gordon street. A large and com-
modious building was here erected,
which has been added to from time to
time, until this, too, proved too small
for its purpose, and the system of
Union schools was inaugurated, an
account of which will be given in its
proper place.
In the year of 1874, the Roman
Catholic society of St. James, pur-
chased the building in the rear of
where the Fuller House now stands,
formerly owned and occupied by the
Methodists, who removed it from their
lot on Grove street. It was for a time
used as a Town Hall and Opera House;
but was remodeled by this society into
a pleasant place of worship, and was
dedicated September 22, 1874, Bishop
Wadhams, of Ogdensburg, and other
clergymen assisting. A second bank
was this year organized by Messrs.
Godard and Herring, which is now
represented by G. M. Gleason as First
National Bank of Gouverneur. That
business demands should warrant a
venture of this kind, is proof positive
that a healthy growth was progressing,
a fact which future events have justi-
fied. Of late it has even been hinted
that a third bank could be made useful
in Gouverneur, and it remains for
some idle capital to undertake the
enterprise.
CHAPTER II.
In a former chapter the fact was
noted that no disastrous conflagration
had yet visited Gouverneur; but im-
munity from this calamity was not
always to last. Early on the morning
of January 15, 1875, the cry of fire
aroused our citizens to the realization
that the fire fiend was with us. An
unbroken block of five wooden build-
ings, three stories in height, reaching
from the corner of Park and Main
streets to the block now owned by
S. C. Potter, crammed with stores,
shops, offices and human habitations,
was almost a sheet of flame when dis-
covered. The weather was intensely
cold, a fine snow was falling, and
quite a body of snow covered the
ground and neighboring buildings.
This fact, with the help our Holly
waterworks, went far toward mitigat-
ing the damage which otherwise might
have been even greater. Among the
sufferers were the Herald office and
furnishings, Evan Mosher, W. F.
Sudds, Andrew Kinney, W. A. Short,
James Brodie and Killmer Sc Morris;
besides the entire loss of property in
the second and third stories. The
buildings being of such known in-
flammable character, little insurance
was cerried and the savings of years
were in a few hours reduced to ashes.
From the first it was conceded that the
Roman Catholic church in the rear
was doomed; but amid the roar of
flames and din of voices a beautiful
sight struck each looker on. The
large, white cross, tipped with gold,
was almost the last thing to take fire,
and as the blaze curled about the
extended arms, they lingered lovingly
awhile as if loth to level this emblem
of the Christian’s hope.
The society of St. James, after dis-
posing of their vacant lot, at once
purchased a building site on Gordon
street. Here they immediately erected
a new frame church, which was dedi-
cated November 25,1875, Bishop Wad-
hams again officiating.
But little time was spent in idle
regret by the sufferers from the fire of
January 15, 1875. Before the smoke
had fairly cleared away, material for
a row of substantial brick and 'stone
buildings was secured. The lots were
cleared of debris and phenix like arose
from the ashes, the superb structuresITS PAST AND PRESENT.
49
which now grace the spot. Charles L.
Fuller erected the hotel which still
bears his name. It was opened to the
public early in July, 1876, D. Peck
having charge. W. A. Short built
the two brick blocks adjoining. James
Brodie added still another, and Messrs.
Killmer Sc Morris finished the row
with two large and convenient stores.
These were nearly completed during
the year, so that in April, 1876, the
temporary wooden buildings in the
park were taken down and order once
more reigned.
The old brick stores on the corner of
Church and William streets, built by
Messrs. Thos. Thompson and Rockwell
Barnes, about the year 1833, had long
shown a “ flavor of mild decay,” and
during the year of 1875 they were
taken down to make room for Union
Hall block, which owes its existence to
the enterprise of S. B. Van Duzee and
Willett Bowne. The need of a Town
hall for elections, lectures and public
entertainments had long been felt. A
central position was desirable and it
was unanimously voted that no fitter
location could be provided. The origi-
nal building, 90x83 feet, contained
four handsome stores with the large
public hall above, measuring 84x65
feet, also offices for rental purposes.
The third story was finished with a
large Masonic hall and rooms for
storage purposes.
The first election was held in Union
Hall in November, 1875, and the first
lecture therein was given by Mrs.
Mary A. Livermore, Dec. 4th of the
same year. The subject, “ What shall
we do with our daughters ? ” was
handsomely presented by the lady, and
many of our citizens availed themselves
of the opportunity of hearing this
distinguished personage.
CHAPTER III.
The year of 1876, now passed into
history as centennial year, witnessed
great strides of advancement in Gouv-
emeur. The winter of ’75-76 was one
of remarkable mildness. On the night
of January 1st doors and windows
were open, while crowds of people
were parading the streets, listening to
fife and drum and watching the fire-
works and bonfires on public square.
There was no snow and the ground
was like early April, mud and water
on every side.
The first sewers were laid this year.
Street lamps were placed on Main
street, and a handsome fountain pur-
chased by private subscriptions of one
dollar, was placed in the centre of our
village park. This, if we rightly
remember, made its first public exhi-
bition July 4, 1876. The old wooden
bridge spanning the river and channel
in this village, becoming unsafe from
age and the wear of water against the
abutments, it was decided that it be
replaced by one of iron with more
permanent foundations. A diver was
accordingly secured to make the neces-
sary surveys under water, and many
of us can recall his droll appearance,
as clad in his water tight suit, he went
in and out of the water like some
huge monster of the deep. Six hundred
cords of stone were used alone in piers
and abutments. The bridge was com-
pleted early in the year of 1877, at a
cost of $18,000. It has given such
general satisfaction that many of the
same model have been built in town
and county. The building of the iron
bridge was literally the marriage of
East and West Gouverneur. In 76
and 77 the formidable hills on either
side were leveled by blasting and grad-
ing until the ascent is now compara-
tively easy.
During the years of 76 and 77,
several more of our aged citizens were
removed by death. Mrs. Erminia
Parker died April 22, 1876; Daniel
Keys, July 2nd, aged 94 years; Mrs.
Benjamin Leavitt, April 23, 1877,
aged 90 years, and Edwin Dodge,
November 15, 1877.
On the night of January 19, 1877,
an abortive attempt was made to burn
the wooden buildings reaching from
the Me Allaster block to the Egert
block below, which was successfully
accomplished a few months after. Late
in the evening of May 1,1877, the now
familiar cry of “Fire!” again called
our citizens to the rescue of property
and home. The principal sufferers
were Boardman & Cutting, Laidlaw
Sc Kinney, O. G. Waldo, S. B. Stin-
son, Thomas Doyle, G. L. VanNamee
and A. Kinney. Many others lost
heavily. The entire loss was esti-
mated at $60,000 with but light in-
surance.
Again was the industry and enter-
prise of our people put to the test.
L350
GOUVERNEUR,
Before the close of 1877, J. E. Mc-
Allaster and G. L. VanNamee had
completed substantial brick buildings,
and before the close of 1878 the wide
gap was closed in the following order:
J. E. McAlJaster, G. L. VanNamee,
George Draper, J. W. Tracey, S. B.
Stinson, Foster & Barbour, James
Stype, and Clarence Waldo. Some of
the blocks have since changed hands,
but it is asserted that a finer row of
stores can not be found in Northern
New York.
Early on the morning of October 7,
1877, fire was again discovered; this
time in the ware-house of S. B. Van
Duzee, in the rear of Union Hall block.
The building was also used as village
lock-up and storage for hose-cart and
hose. The river was low and the
utmost work of the pumps barely suc-
ceeded in forcing the water to the top
of the buildings The marble shop of
the Whitney Brothers was soon in
ruins. The Presbyterian church and
sheds on the east side, were saved by
almost superhuman efforts, but Union
Hall block was doomed. Some of the
walls were left standing, which, with
the old foundations, were again
brought into service. The loss was
$30,000; but pluck and energy pushed
a new edifice into existence, with a
brick ware-house in the rear, measur-
ing 24x60 feet. The Whitney Brothers
put up a one story building 20x40 feet,
where the marble works are still
located.
The year 1878 was scarcely ushered
in when Union Hall block was again
ready for occupancy. The new hall
was finished with finer appointments
than before, and was re-rented for
town purposes by the voters of the
town. That this series of disastrous
fires was of incendiary origin has
never been questioned; and while the
matter was generally discussed at every
corner, an old lounger settled the
question with the remark, “They may
talk all day about the incend’ry theory;
I believe the thing was sot.” A good
laugh being a panacea for many ills,
we may hope all hearts were lightened
by this sage conclusion.
CHAPTER IV.
Mr. Augustus E. Norton, for many
ears identified with the insurance
usiness of this section, died January
27, 1878. He was a public spirited
gentleman and by industry and econ-
omy had acquired a competence, which
as failing health came, left him free
from care or solicitude for the future.
Union Hall block was fiilly com-
pleted in March of this year, less than
six months from its destruction by fire
the October previous, and to-day stands
a fitting monument to its founders,
S. B. Van Duzee & Co.
A fine watering trough, cut from a
solid block of granite, was this spring
placed in public square where it still
furnishes pure water for thirsty
animals which have learned its loca-
tion. It is amusing on a warm day to
watch them come and go with grati-
tude expressed on every brutish
feature.
The want of a suitable building for
storing hose and cart, as well as for
tne meetings of our firemen, was this
year met by the purchase of a lot on
Clinton street, costing four hundred
dollars. A handsome brick structure
25x45 feet, with a secure stone base-
ment to be used as village lock-up was
erected at a cost of about two thousand
dollars. The first floor is used exclu-
sively for fire extinguishing apparatus;
here our fine La France steamer is
housed, of which we shall have more
to say in another chapter. The second
floor is finished for holding meetings,
drying hose and any legitimate pur-
pose connected with the fire depart-
ment. A belfry holding a good bell
surmounts the whole and the building
is as near fire-proof as such a structure
can be made. Being centrally located,
it is readily reached and is an orna-
ment to the street upon which it
stands.
An event, perhaps not properly be-
longing to this recital, is here intro-
duced as being of general interest and
which will not soon be forgotten. On
the night of August 8th, 1878, a storm
of lightning, thunder and rain oc-
curred which for duration, force and
destruction has seldom been equaled.
The day preceding had been warm and
oppressive ; in the early evening
flashes of lightning lit up the horizon
in every direction. Not a cloud, how-
ever, was to be seen and hundreds of
people were out to welcome the Ant-
werp band which was discoursing
music to our citizens. Before elevenITS PAST AND PRESENT.
51
o’clock mutterings were heard and the
storm burst upon us in all its fury.
The rain poured for ten hours without
intermission, making a precipitation of
ten inches per pluviameter. The
lightning was almost constant, but
did little damage in this section. In
the afternoon of the same day another
shower occurred with two more inches
of rain-fall. Thus in the space of
twelve hours about one foot of water
fell; small bridges and culverts were
washed away, houses half submerged,
cellars filled, garden and field crops
carried off and incalculable damage
done to trees, fences and roads. The
brick store of Foster Sc Barbour then
in course of erection was leveled to
the ground, streams burst their bounds
and the country resembled a vast lake
interspersed by islands with com
modious harbors. Legends of former
storms were silenced in the face of this
reality and few who witnessed the
storm of August 8th, 1878, will care to
see it repeated.
Rev. John W. Armstrong, for many
years principal of the Gouverneur
Seminary, died August 12th, 1878, at
Fredonia, N. Y., where he was still
engaged in his favorite pursuit, that
of teaching the young. His memory
is still held in pleasant remembrance
by those of his scholars who survive
him. A head-stone in our cemetery
marks the spot where the wife of his
youth was laid many years ago.
Dr. Eben L. Beardslee, to whom we
are indebted for many facts regarding
the Methodist church, died November
22nd, of this year, aged eighty-five
years. Himself and wife were among
the first half-dozen members of the
church and Dr. B. lived to see its num-
bers multiplied to his heart’s fullest
desire. He came to Gouverneur dur-
ing the year 1835 and several of his
children still reside in this vicinity.
CHAPTER V.
The year 1879 came in cold and
blustering; the first week of January
snow fell to an unusual depth and
travel was almost entirely suspended.
New York mails were one week behind
and for five days not a car was pushed
through. Groceries and provisions
were low and many families were out
of the necessities of life. The winter
following was severe but uneventful.
The first Decoration Day services were
held this year in Gouverneur, Rev.
H. C. Townley delivered a pleasant
address and other home talent was
enlisted for the occasion. The march
to Riverside and Hailesboro cemeteries
was becomingly performed with bands
of music and a large concourse of
people, witnessing at once the patriot-
ism and kindly remembrance of our
nation’s dead by a grateful people.
The day has since been observed with-
out exception, the interest apparently
growing as the years pass by.
A phenomenal rain fall occurred in
the autumn of 1879. Three inches per
pluviameter fell at one time, besides a
succession of similar storms.
Early in 1880 the friends of educa-
tion began a series of efforts by word
and newspaper correspondence to pre-
pare the minds of thepeople for a change
m our school system. The old Sem-
inary, loved, honored and revered by
many, seemed no longer able to com-
pete with the advanced ideas of educa-
tion. Potsdam Normal drew many in
that direction, Ives Seminary at Ant-
werp took a class who favored denomi-
national supervision, and Cornell was
beckoning others to a higher course
than either could offer. The harmless
war of words continued for several
years, when by an almost unanimous
vote a Union Free School was decided
upon, the workings of which must be
reserved for a separate chapter.
After the disastrous losses by fire
our people were not slow in learning
the lesson thus summarily taught, and
a beautiful steamer, costing three
thousand dollars, was purchased from
the inventor La France from the
works at Elmira, N. Y. An exhibi-
tion of its power was given on July
3rd of the same year. The working
was so satisfactory that many neigh-
boring towns have fortified themselves
with one of the same manufacture.
The steamer was on exhibition at our
annual fair where it had a host of
admirers. The first real work laid
upon the machine was on the night of
Friday, October 1st, when the work-
shop of S. B. Van Duzee Sc Co. was
burned on the Brooklyn side. Much
surrounding property was saved and
it was remarked that the steamer more
than earned its cost upon this occasion.
The loss to the company was fifteen52
GOUVERNEUR,
hundred dollars; but without doubt
would have been much greater had
not the forethought of our people pro-
vided for the emergency. Early in
evening of April 18th, 1881, the now
familiar cry of fire was again sounded
on our streets. The Van Buren House,
a large three storied frame structure,
was belching smoke and flame from
its roof; this with the wooden store,
owned and occupied by William
Whitney, druggist, was of course con-
sumed. Adjoining property was
seriously threatened and several fires
were lighted across the streets, both
the Presby terian and Baptist churches
being on fire and several dwelling
houses. The trusty steamer again
won laurels for itself, while our brave
firemen covered themselves with
glory. Before midnight the fire was
down, though the heated walls of
adjacent buildings still required watch-
ing. The loss on the Van Buren
House property reached the sum of
ten thousand dollars, while that of
Mr. Whitney was over four thousand
dollars.
Dr. S. L. Parmelee, for many years
a practicing physician in this village,
died . April 17th, 1881, at his home in
Watertown, whither he bad removed
a few years previous. The remains
were in'erred beside his aged mother
in Riverside.
CHAPTER VI.
With little respect for the strange as
supernatural, we may mention the
phenomena of 1881, as at least excep-
tional. Science accounts for them all;
but the frequent extremes of heat and
cold, the dry and hazy atmosphere,
with halos about the sun and moon
attracted general attention. After a
warm rain on Sunday, June 5th, the
sky suddenly cleared and a blighting
frost swept over Northern New York.
Ice a half inch in thickness formed on
standing water, trees were denuded of
leaves, grass was blackened and many
garden vegetables were entirely killed.
On Sunday, July 3rd, light thunder
storms occurred during the day and
the air was hot and murky; at half-
past six in the afternoon a rumbling
sound was heard in the sky, much
like the incoming of a heavy train of
cars. The sound lasted for several
minutes and many eyes were scanning
the heavens for a solution of the mys-
tery. A repetition of the phenomonon
occurred a naif hour later, though not
of so long duration. Meantime the
clouds had rolled away and a cool
starry night ensued. Various theories
were at the time advanced, the most
rational of which was that a cyclone
of considerable magnitude passed over
us, happily spending its force in
cloud land. Dry and intensely hot
and smoky weather followed, so that
during the first week of August when
the moon was nearing its full, the
nights were dark and gloomy.
On Tuesday, September 6th, a few
hours before sunrise, the sky was
lighted by a red and lurid glare,
which, upon the approach of day be-
came a brassy yellow. Lamps were
burned until late in the forenoon and
people gathered in knots to discuss the
situation. Many, too badly frightened
to listen to reason, or look to natural
causes for an explanation. In some
sections cattle roared and bellowed
with fear, and an oppressive apprehen-
sion settled over all. House-wives in
adjoining towns reported dark stains
upon linen left out to bleach, and an
ash-like dust settled in some places.
Reports by telegraph only noticed a
continuation of the dark and smoky
weather and by 12 o’clock, noon, the
sky had resumed its usual appearance.
Monday evening, September 12th, a
luminous belt spanned the heavens
from northeast to southwest, remain-
ing from 8 to 9 o’clock, and on Wed-
nesday following a similar belt again
spanned the sky.
This being the month of President
Garfield’s death, a general depression
had settled over the country, intensi-
fying, perhaps, the peculiar atmos-
pheric conditions ; but timely rains
the ensuing week dispelled the smoke,
reviving the fields and cooled the air,
and nature apparently satisfied with
her unusual exploits, resumed the
even tenor of her way.
The above, taken from notes made
during the year, is not given to excite
surprise, but the recurrence of such
phenomena in the short space of six
months, attracted such general atten-
tion that we have given it in full.
The wise man has well said, “ There is
no new thing under the sun and the
thing that hath been, it is that which
shall be.”53
ITS PAST AND PKESENT.
CHAPTER VII.
In April, 1882, some of our business
men resolved upon the establisment of
a second newspaper in this village.
Accordingly, Mr. B. G. Parker, of
Norwood, formerly a Gouverneur boy,
was invited to come here. He sold
out his business at Norwood, and pur-
chased an entire new outfit and started
the Free Press. The venture proved
successful and the two papers have
had an increasing circulation until
they hold their own with most of the
county publications. Work upon
the Van Buren block commenced in
May of this year. The frontage of 118
feet has three fine stores which pay a
handsome annual rentage. The build-
ing is three stories in height, has 75
rooms, and is heated throughout by
steam. The outer work is of brick,
a metal roof covers the whole and the
structure is one of the finest of the
kind in Northern New York, costing
about $40,000. The hotel was opened
to the public the first week of Novem-
ber, and on Friday, November 10th, a
handsome party was given, at which
two hundred people were entertained
in royal style. The hotel is still in
charge of Mr. J. B. Van Buren and
has always received a liberal patron
age. The Rhodes block, a small brick
structure adjoining Union Hall block,
was also built this year.
On June 12th, 1882, occurred the
death of Mr. Milton G. Norton, one of
Gouverneur’s model farmers, whose
fine cattle and well-kept farm were a
source of pride to our citizens.
The immense steam saw mill of
Starbuck Sc McCarty was built this
year, the workings of which will be
given in another chapter when we dis-
course of the lumbering interests of
this section.
Saturday, August 5th, 1882, at about
noon still another conflagration visited
our village, at which time VanDuzee’s
shop, Corbin’s manufactory, the old
house built by Eli Robinson, and
several smaller buildings were burned.
The day was very hot, making the
labors of firemen and citizens particu-
larly exhausting. The loss by this
fire was about $40,000. The works
were immediately rebuilt and are still
in active operation.
Mrs. Elwell Austin died Sept. 14th,
of this year; she had lived in Gouver-
neur for more than fifty years and
was known as a lady of more than
ordinary intelligence.
Rev. Moses Rowley died m Wiscon-
sin Dec. 9th, 1882, aged 87 years. Mr.
Rowley spent his early days in Gouv-
erneur, was the first postmaster here,
was once elected to assembly from this
county, and engaged in mercantile
affairs until his removal to another
sphere, that of minister in the Baptist
society, which he served through
several successful pastorates. The
house on Rowley street, moved from
the spot now occupied by Anthony’s
bank, still has the knocker on the door
bearing the name UM. Rowley.”
On Thanksgiving night, Nov. 31st,
1882,	snow fell a foot or more in depth
and good sleighing at once followed,
continuing 130 days without interrup-
tion ; a fact almost without parallel in
this latitude.
CHAPTER VIII.
With the unprecedented period of
sleighing, Gouverneur probably never
saw a busier winter than that of ’82-
’83. Every day was improved and
immense consignments of freight and
produce were made at the depot.
Mrs. Jerusha Dodge, another of oar
respected pioneers, died March 7th,
1883,	aged 80 years. Her residence in
Gouverneur covered a period of nearly
fifty years.
The April freshet of this season was
considerably above high water mark;
several of the low streets and houses
were innundated and considerable
damage was done. At one time it was
devoutly hoped that the unsightly
covered bridge leading to the cemetery
would be carried off; but unfortun-
ately it proved equal to the situation
and to-day remains a blot upon the
otherwise fair landscape.
Captain George Parker, one of the
veterans of the late war, died May
11th, 1883. He was captain in the 16th
regiment, and remained in the service
two years. Besides serving his country
in this capacity, Mr. Parker held
several positions of honor and trust
at home.
A rousing celebration was held July
4th of this year. Among other nota-
bles present we may mention General
Daniel E. Sickles and Hon. Roswell
P. Flower as among our honored
1454
GOUVERNEUR,
guests, both gentlemen taking part in
the exercises.
Captain George B. Winslow, died at
Vienna, Virginia, Sept. 30th, 1883.
He enlisted from this place and his
remains were brought home for in-
terment.
Negotiations for telephone communi-
cation with neighboring places were
commenced this year, but no work
was done until the ensuing season.
On Monday night, October 22d, the
large wooden stores of S. C. Potter
and Stephen Burtis were burned; the
loss was about $15,000 with a small
insurance. These buildings were re-
placed the following year by the fine
brick structures now known by the
names of their owners.
Jason Smith, one of our earliest
pioneers, died January 26th, 1884,
aged 82 years. He had lived in Gouv-
erneur seventy-eight years of his life
and was a man of unusual vigor.
Mrs. Anna Hills Smith, died March
31, 1884, aged 82 years. She came to
Gouverneur in 1826, riding all the
way from Washington county in a
lumber wagon.
Mrs. Belinda Barnes Paul, with
whom the writer has spent many
pleasant hours, and from whom slie
has received many valuable facts, died
April 19th of this year. She was the
daughter of the late Rockwell Barnes
and was a lady of unusual intelli-
gence.
A serious accident happened at the
Whitney Marble Works Saturday,
May 3rd, 1884, at which time six men
were killed. The men were testing a
boiler, but the particulars of the catas-
trophe will never be known, as the
mill and men were destroyed in a few
moments of time. The loss to the
company was about $15,000 and will
be treated of in our account of the
marble interests. Hundreds of people
visited the scene of the disaster which
will not soon be forgotten.
Snow fell on Decoration Day of this
year and much damage was caused
by frosts.
In June, 1884, Gouverneur was
honored by a visit from one of her old
settlers, Mr. A. Z. Madison, of Buffalo,
N. Y. He came to Gouverneur in
1819, when but 16 years of age. Ac-
companied by his son he made a tour
of our village and was greatly pleased
at its appearance of prosperity. On
Tuesday night, July 16th,	1884,
the last remaining wooden structure
in the business part of Main street was
burned. It was a one-story building
and was occupied by J. M. Reynolds,
jeweler, and H. G. Reynolds, post-
master. The entire loss was over
$4,000, partially covered by insurance.
The handsome postoffice fixtures were
an entire loss.
Rev. G. G. Dains. for a time prin-
cipal of our Seminary and a long time
resident here, died August 4th, 1884.
at Hamilton, N. Y., and was brought
here for interment beside his deceased
children.
Mr. O. G. Barnum, another of our
old and successful farmers, died Aug.
12th, of this yaar.
Telephone polls were set in the
autumn of ’84, giving us communica-
tion with Ogdensburg, Watertown and
adjacent villages.
The month of December took from
us another aged inhabitant, Mrs. Mary
Preston Smith, widow of the late H. I).
Smith. She passed away Dec. 10th,
on her 84th birthday. The memory
of this lovely lady will long remain
fresh in the minds of those who
knew her.
CHAPTER IX.
The handsome structure known as
the “Reynolds Block,” was finished
late in 1884. It fills the last remain-
ing gap made by the various fires on
Main street and is an ornament to the
place. The building is four stories
in hight, has a convenient store m
front and the upper rooms are filled
with offices, shops and dwelling rooms.
The Herald-Times office occupies the
rear and basement with composing
rooms above. The whole is built of
rough ashlar, and like the St. Law-
rence block, is a standing advertise-
ment for our inexhaustible quarries of
marble.
A blacksmith shop, owned by S. C.
Merritt, burned on Friday night, Jan.
23rd, 1885. Its proximity to other
imflammable buildings made it a
serious centre for a fire, but our fire-
men with their usual energy, assisted
by a heavy body of snow, prevented
further mischief. The loss was about
$1,000, partially covered by insurance.
It will be noticed that our series of
conflagrations, commencing in Janu-ITS PAST AND PRESENT.
55
ary, 1875, closed at the end of ten
years, if we may except the burning
of the steam saw mill and Gardner’s
carriage factory, which occurred two
years later. During this time, Main
street passed from an unsightly wooden
pile to its present substantial and
artistic state.
The month of February, 1885, was
particularly cold and tempestuous. A
blockade of snow lasting from the
14th to the 23rd of the month, so
hindered railway travel that the city
mails were mostly cut off. An oc-
casional newspaper found its way
through the Utica & Black River line
and a few telegrams were received
from the outer world. We well re-
member the first train on a Saturday
night piloted by a snow plow and two
engines as it wheezed its way through
the accumulating drifts.
In a former paper we noted the
establishment of a Union Library
Feb. 14th, 1815, with a board of trus-
tees then and there recorded. Many
of these books found their way into
the Seminary library, and the stock
was from time to time added to by
donation or subscription. These vol
umes have with or without authority
been so scattered or lost that but a
few remain. The present Reading
Room Association was organized Nov.
19th, 1885, and is known as the Gouv-
erneur Ladies Reading Room Associa-
tion. The board consists of a presi-
dent, five vice-presidents, the latter
taken, one from each of the religious
denominations of the place, a secre-
tary, treasurer and librarian, with a
general executive committee. By this
method each church and society is
represented, thus securing a mutual
interest from all. The principal mag-
azines and papers of the country, most
of the county papers and some foreign
publications" are found at the rooms.
There are about 650 volumes of choice
literature on the shelves and scarce a
month passes without an addition
thereto. Political and denominational
issues of every creed and belief are ad-
mitted—if found to be moral and
instructive—and all private opinions
are by this means respected. A few
quiet games are provided for the little
folks, and a more home-like, cheerful
resort cannot be easily found. The
society after a few years sojourn in
rented apartments, have lately secured
the old Seminary house on Grove
street which is open afternoons and
evenings, Sundays excepted. The
rooms are daily thronged with visitors
and the central location is a great con-
venience.
The Woman’s Christian Temperance
Union having been in operation since
1884, it was decided a short time pre-
vious to the organization of the Read-
ing Room Association to enlarge their
sphere of action by establishing a
Public Library with rooms where all
classes could resort for recreation and
instruction. Having quite a supply
of books and furniture in their hands
they generously turned all into this
new channel of benovelence, and
though still working in their own par-
ticular line, they keep a lively interest
in the Reading Room. The W. O. T.
U., commencing with only fourteen
members, now numbers over one hun-
dred ladies whose labors in the temper-
ance field are telling upon our com-
munity. Aside from weekly meetings
for business and consultation, they
edit a column in a local paper, circu
late temperance literature and by per-
sonal effort are waging war against a
monstrous evil.
In connection with the Reading
Room may be mentioned another
organization, which though dating
from September, 1883, has the same
end in view, the reading and study of
healthful literature. The Chautauqua
Literary and Scientific Circle, doubt-
less owes its existence to the untiring
efforts of Professor T. B. Mackey, the
work of course seconded and assisted
by others. The line of reading and
study, while keeping pace with the
home society, is varied to suit the
tastes and pursuits of others. The
meetings are held the first and third
Mondays of each month, and the
transient and permanent membership
must exceed one hundred persons.
CHAPTER X.
Mr. Abida Smith, brother of our
esteemed townsman, Benj. Howard
Smith, died with his daughter in Mich-
igan, Jan. 16th, 1886. Mr. Smith was
for many years a resident of Gouver-
neur, and at the time of his death, was
82 years of age. Mr. Benj. H. Smith
came to this place in 1825, was married56
GOUVERNEUR,
a year later and with his wife still
enjoys a green old age on the farm he
has tilled for so many years. January
26th, 1876, the happy pair celebrated
the fiftieth anniversary of their mar-
riage, when many friends gathered to
attest by their presence the respect to
which this amiable couple are entitled.
Again, on the 26th of January, 1886,
friends and neighbors repeated their
visit to celebrate the 60th anniversary
of the aged couple; and it is not un-
likely that 1896 will see a similar
gathering, as both Mr. and Mrs. Smith
are in good health with unimpaired
faculties of mind and body.
Rev. Erastus Wentworth, teacher in
our Seminary from 1837 to 1842, died
at Sandy Hill, N. Y., May 25ih, 1886.
Mr. Wentworth visited this place a
few years since and was warmly wel-
comed by his early friends of the
Seminary.
Ool. Albert M. Barney died in New
York August 24th, 1886, aged about
fifty years. Col. Barney enlisted early
in the war; he proved a good soldier
and was once or twice promoted for
bravery. His body was brought home
for interment with his father’s family.
Beginning sometime in 1886 our
village authorities have been indust-
riously at work straightening, leveling
and graveling the streets, grading and
building sidewalks, making commodi-
ous gutters and other needed improve-
ments, until with a few exceptions,
Gouverneur has the most perfect
system of drainage to be found in this
section. The various small streams
have been arched over with substantial
stone-work and firm iron guards pro-
tect the traveler on either side. The
wisdom of filling in our beautiful
park—questioned at the time—is shown
by the fine turf now seen and the
absence of the unsightly pool of water
left after every season of wet weather.
A general system of sewerage is now
about decided upon, which for the
health and convenience of our com-
munity is earnestly recommended.
Two more of our aged citizens were
called away early in 1883, Mrs. Julia
Crane, long time active in church and
society, died January 21st, and was
buried by her first husband, Rev.
Robert Wilson, whose death occurred
many years before.
Mrs. Matilda Horr died March 12feh,
1887, aged 87 years. She had resided
here nearly fifty years and belonged
to that long list of persons born in the
year 1800; there were at one time if
we rightly remember, about twenty-
five of our citizens born in this year;
only three or four of them are now
alive.
During this year a neat and com-
modious building was erected by the
Water Works company for the pumps
which supply the village with water.
It is of rough ashlar and brick, with a
metal roof and is as near fire-proof as
such a building can be. The pumps
work day and night, with a reserve
for cases of emergency. In it are
rooms for a night watchman and
conveniences for the company’s system
of operations. In this connection we
may add that twenty-four new and
large hydrants have this year been set,
and the company are rapidly extend-
ing their works as the demand there-
for increases.
CHAPTER XI.
After a few years trial with kerosene
and naphtha lamps, our enterprising
village decided upon a new system of
lighting the streets. A committee
was accordingly formed to test the
various modes of electric illumination
and the 1'American” was selected as the
most perfect light. A stock company
wasformed in the summer of 1887,called
The American Illuminating & Power
Company, of Gouverneur, with a paid
up capital of $20,000. The first officers
were E. D. Barry, President; W. F.
Sudds, Vice-President; V. P. Abbott,
Treasurer; and C. Arthur Parker,
Secretary. At a meeting of the village
board it was voted to receive the lights
for three years, the circuit to be com-
pleted October, ot the same year. One
dynamo being found insufficient for
the demand, a second was purchased,
giving both a street and commercial
circuit. Both instruments are now
loaded to their utmost capacity. There
are thirty-one arc lights on the streets
and between forty and fifty arc and
incandescent on the commercial cir-
cuit. These beautiful lights can be
seen at a great distance and many
neighboring towns are now lighted in
the same manner. The day is probably
not distant when the company will
enlarge their works and our homesITS PAST AND PRESENT.
'will be lighted by electricity. The
present power is furnished by the;
Gou verneur Machine ( ompany.
The Union Free School system hav-
ing been duly canvassed, public
opinion was found to be largely in
favor of the new movement. Students
of the old Senainary still clung to their
Alma Mater, but “ Progress” was the
watch-word and all barriers to a tree
education must be removed. The
millionaire and the pauper here meet
on an equal footing. Armed with the
knowledge which is power our free in-
stitutions will be the safer in educated
hands. A meeting was called for
March, 1887, to consider the establish-
ment of a Union Free School in this
village, and the uniting of districts
No. 1 and 12. The opposing vote was
small and it was then and there de-
cided to consolidate the two. A mo-
tion was made and seconded that a
board of education consisting of nine
trustees be appointed. This was carried
without opposition. The first board
consisted ot H. Sudds, J. B. Johnson,
L. M. Lee, J. W. Ormiston, J. Laber-
dee, B. L. Barney, John McCarty, A.
S* Whitney and F. H. Norton. The
school opened the following autumn
with an able corps of teachers at d has
thus far proved an entire success.
Twenty teachers are now employed
and it will surprise many to know
that at the last school census there
were on the east side 753 children of
school age, and on the west or Brook-
lyn side, 404. A new school house is
now in process of erection on Depot
street which will accommodate the
large number of children south of the
railroad. There is thus provision
made for all classes and it would seem
that stringent measures should be used
to enforce attendance upon the priv-
ileges so freely given.
Early on Saturday morning, July
9th, 1887, the large steam saw mill of
Starbuck & McCarty took fire from
the engine room and was totally des-
troyed ; the fire having made such
headway that no attempt was made to
save the building, the firemen directed
their attention to adjoining property
and the large piles of lumber in the
neighborhood. By this calamity a
large number of men were thrown out
of employment and the company sus-
tained a loss of over $30,000. The
m
works were almost immediately re
placed as will be detailed in the ac-
count of our lumber interests.
Just two weeks from the former
date, on Saturday morning, July 23d,
the carriage shop of Gardner & Turn-
bull, with a small dwelling house,
burned to the ground. This fire being
in a dangerous centre, near the saw
mill, tannery and flouring mills, great
anxiety was for the time felt, but
pluck and fortune again conquered
and for the time being these fearful
calamities were at an end. The loss
in this instance was about $5,000.
To say that our village has been
purified by fire will be questioned by
none, and in almost every case the
buildings have been replaced by hand-
some and substantial structures at once
ornamental and remunerative.	#
In accordance with our progressive
element, a third newspaper, entitled
The Northern Tribune, was started in
the summer of 1887 ai d has a liberal
patronage. The three papers are now
edited by enterprising young men,
who. though occasionally engaging in
local controversies, are believed to
have the interests of their patrons and
the reading public at heart and weekly
send out neat and newsy sheets.
CHAPTER XII.
As early as 1812, Freemasonry had
quite a representation in Gouverneur.
Many good men of that period were
Masons and held their views un-
molested until the kidnapping of
William Morgan, of Batavia, Sept. 11,
1826. The excitement incident upon
that occasion shook society throughout
the land, and one of our churches was
nearly disrupted at the time. A few
withdrew; others were dismissed from
the church and sought a home with
other denominations. Still the organiz-
ation flourished until the year 1851,
when the first meeting under the
present charter was held June 9th,
with B. F. Skinner, Grand Master;
Josiah Waid, Senior Warden, and
William Holmes, Junior Warden.
The present membership is 180, and
their meetings are held at Masonic
Hall, which is a neatly furnished room
in Union Hall block. Among our
many benevolent organizations may
be reckoned No. 156, of the Grand
Army of the Kepublic, founded in
1558	GOUVERNEUR.
1880, whose motto, “ Fraternity,
Lo\alty and Charity,” is continually
exemplified. The Erwin H. Barnes
Post now numbers 170 members, with
19 who no longer answer to the roll
call. The society was established
through the indefatigable labors of our
townsman, G. 8. Conger, who may
well be termed the sponsor of the
movement, the sick are visited and
cared for; their dead have a soldier’s
burial, and a lot in our cemetery has
been provided for those who have
none of their own. The annual camp
fire is kept up where the comrades live
over their camp life with tale and
song of battlefield. May these social
re-unions continue until a softer bugle
call shall muster them into the great
army on high, where the sword shall
be exchanged for a harp of gold, and
*the din of war is forever forgotten.
Gouverneur Council Royal Arca-
num, organized in September, 1889,
with 19 members. Its object, “Bene-
ficiary and Fraternal.” The society
originated in Boston in 1879, and New
York state alone has now a member-
ship of 17,000 persons.
The Knights of Labor have a large
membership, established about two
years since, for mutual protection in
the matter of wages and general
interests.
An Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows also exists with rules and practices
peculiar to that society. There is also
a department of Grangers, the work-
ings of which order are generally
known. Many of our prosperous
farmers are interested in this organiz-
ation, holding their meetings at stated
intervals and having their annual
festival as the year rolls around.
A lodge of Good Templars, number-
ing less workers than we could wish,
has long been in operation here. The
first lodge dates back to the year 1849,
when some of our most prominent
men were interested in temperance
matters and exercised a wholesome
influence upon society. In this con-
nection we may mention the “Band
of Hope,” consisting mostly of children
and young people; the Young People’s
Society of Christian Endeavor and a
number of other societies, all of which
are working for the general weal of
our growing town.
CHAPTER xill.
Before entering upon the industries
of Gouverneur, it may be well to con-
clude the events of interest occurring
in the years of 1888 and ’89. The
summer of ’88 will be remembered as
hot, dry, windy and disagreeable.
Vegetation suffered, and the rains
were light and infrequent. Forest
and field fires were reported from all
sides, and considerable mischief was
done in this section. When showers
did occur there was often damage from
lightning, and in one instance a child
was killed in an adjoining neighbor-
hood. On the evening of Wednesday,
July 11, at seven o’clock, a storm of
cyclonic character passed over Gouv-
erneur. The wind, which had been
high during the day, increased in
violence. Many trees were prostrated,
and chimneys, roofs and fences suffered
considerably. The clouds hung low,
with an angry, coppery appearance,
and the mercury fell twenty degrees
in as many minutes But little rain
fell and the cold wave which followed
neared the freezing point.
August 28th and 29th marked an
epoch in our history which deserves
mention in this place. A few ladies
had occasionally availed themselves of
their right of suffrage as allowed by
our school laws; but, upon this oc-
casion more than one hundred females
stormed the polls, carried the election,
and returned to their homes well
satisfied with the results. The custom
has obtained such favor that our school
meetings are about evenly represented
by the sexes.
A phenomenal storm of sleet oc-
curred on Sunday, January 6, 1889,
which for destruction and damage,
stands without a parallel. Ice formed
upon telegraph and electric wires until
they appeared like immense cables
stretched from pole to pole. Trees
were so coated that they bent to the
ground, and the crackling of broken
boughs was like the roar of artillery.
Some streets were rendered impassable
and many shade and forest trees were
ruined. Some idea of the weight of
the ice may be formed by the fact that
a gentleman weighed a small spray
from an elm tree and found its weight
to be eight pounds. Our photograph-
ers, taking advantage of the occasion,ITS PAST AND PRESENT.
59
have produced some lasting memen-
toes of the scene.
The summer of 1889 was one of
almost continuous rain; scarcely two
days of clear weather followed in
succession, and the sun was hidden
for days together. Several showers
gave two and three inches per pluvia-
meter; the streams were full and low
lauds were flooded. Hay, which was
an enormous crop, was harvested in
a damaged condition; much grain was
ruined, and many vegetables were left
to rot in the ground. A tour through
the northern part of the state revealed
a worse condition than that which
existed in this section.
A neat monument was this year
placed in our cemetery, with the
following inscription:	“In memory
of Pardon and Martha Babcock.”
‘ ‘Erected by the Cemetery Association. ”
It is to be regretted that the date of
death and ages of these pioneers of our
town were not added, as the cemetery
occupies a part of the Babcock farm.
Pa»don Babcock died of consumption,
Oct. 29, 1884, aged 57 years. Martha
Babcock, his wife; died of old age and
debility, March $9,1856, aged 78 years.
The wri er remembers several pleas-
ant interviews with this lady, from
whom she obtained many interesting
reminiscences of pioneer life and the
hardships incident upon it. We ever
found the old lady cheerful and a vein
of humor ran through all her conver-
sation.
Mr. Jas. Maddock died Sept. 10,1889,
aged 85 years. He had resided in
this town for 72 year-sand was one
of our thrifty farmers. His father,
Roger Maddock, was at one time agent
for the elder Gouverneur Morris.
We will conclude this chapter by
shaking hands with some of our
elderly citizens who link the present
with the past.
Mrs. Betsey Smith, widow of the
late Rodney Smith, came to Gouver-
neur in the year 1836, and will be 96
years of age in December, 1889. She
is in the enjoyment of perfect physical
health, and resides with her daughter
on Wall street, on whom she leans
with a childish faith, receiving the
tender care her years demand. Mr.
Benjamin H. Smith, born June 17th,
1800, and now in his 90th year, came
to Gouverneur when a young man,
and with his worthy wife enjoys the
pleasant surroundings their united in-
dustry has secured. Mr. Orin Free-
man, bom June 15, 1801, is to-day
hale and hearty, with the prospect of
many years before him. Himself and
wife perform the entire domestic duties
of their home, and both carry their
more than four score years with un-
usual lightness. Mr, John Van Namee
was horn September 23, 1809, and
came to Gouverneur when a lad of
fifteen years. He is still active, in the
store or at his home, and enjoys a joke
or story with the relish of fifty ,years
ago. The Van Buren brothers came
to Gouverneur in 1821. But two are
now living, Mr. Samuel Van Buren,
of Gloversville, 87 years of age, and
Mr. William Van Buren, nearing his
80th year. The latter gentleman is
almost daily seen upon our streets and
carries his years with unusual ease.
Mr. Nathan Hale can be found at his
home on Park street, attending to his
own affairs with the zest of a younger
man Mr. Andrew H. Rutherford,
88 years of age, can be seen in winter
time shoveling the snow from his own
and his neighbors’ walks with a
gallantry born of his own Scottish
hi I Is. Messrs. Washington Nichols and
Henry Nobles were burn in this town,
and carry their four score years with
lightness. Grandpa Cutting is- still
one of our “boys,” and the list may be
concluded with the names of Almond
Barrell, James C. Read, S. B. Van
Duzee, Myron Parsons, Milton Barney,
and Isaac King; all active, reliable
citizens of whom our town may well
be proud. Of elderly ladies we may
he permitted to name Mrs. Maria Van
Buren, Mrs. Pauline Smith, Mrs. Caro-
line McAllaster, Mrs, T. M, Thayer,
Mrs. Newell Haven, Mrs. Milo Shat-
tuck, Emily Sheldon, Mrs. Matilda
Bignail, Mrs, James Maddock, and
many others, whose busy, virtuous
lives have placed them on the honored
list of Gouverneur’s noble women,
chapter xrv.
As in all new settlements, the
lumber interests were the first to de-
velop the resources of the town. In
the year 18(|9, a saw mill was built at
Natural Dam by Joseph Bolton under
the directions of the elder Gouverneur
Morris; considerable land was cleared60
GOUVERNEUR,
and the point was for many years
known as Morris’ Mills. Indeed,
Natural Dam was for a time quite a
business rival of Gouveineur village,
it being distinctly expressed by Mr.
Morris, that the noise of machinery
should not disturb the quiet of the
little settlement at this place.
An incident properly belonging to
the early history of Gouverneur, will
be none the less interesting if recorded
here. The first bridge, built in the
summer of 1808, existed only in the
near future, when Mr. Alexander
Parker, then of Antwerp, and father
of the late Capt. George Parker, pur-
chased a cow of Mr. Isaac Austin pay-
ing therefor the sum of $47, with ihe
proviso that said cow be delivered on
the west side of the Oswegatchie river.
It was early spring and the ice being
of questionable firmness, a place below
rapid water was chosen for the trans-
fer. A path way of straw and boards
was carefully arranged and a rope was
attached to the horns of the animal
who made the passage in safety, and
we are told that her descendants long
ministered to the sustenance of the
Parker family.
In the year 1866 Messrs. Weston,
Dean & Aldrich purchased the Natural
Dam property, where they erected ex-
tensive mills for the sawing of iumber.
There they have a box factory, a
shingle mill, and kindling-wood fac-
tory. The lumber is put in assorted
piles, and the place looks like a vast
city of lumber with streets, alleys and
lanes. The works are well worth a
visit as few industries of the kind are
to be found in this section. The com-
pany have a private railway connect
mg with the Rome, Watertown Sc
Ogdensburg road and the sales are on
a large scale. The yearly cut at these
mills is upwards of 16,000,000 feet.
The second bridge at this village
was built m 1820, and two or three
years later the water power was im-
proved and the first saw mill was then
built by Israel Porter. The property
subsequently passed into the hands of
a company consisting of Rockwell
Barnes, Josiah Waid, Moses Rowley,
John Spencer, and others. Asa Hunt
held the mill for a time, when it was
purchased by the late John Fosgate
who added it to his flouring mill
property, and for some years did a
large lumbering business. The mill
again changed hands, but the operators
proving unequal t«» the situation, it
v as purchased by Messrs. Starbuck Sc
McCarty in the year 1869. These gen-
tlemen have kept the works in motion
up to the present time and in connec-
tion with their immense steam saw
mill are doing an extensive business.
The steam mill was built in 1882 and
1883 and the fir>t log was sawed Satur-
day, August 25th, 1883. This mill, as
before menti* ned, burned Satuiday
morning, Juty 9th, 1887, and was im-
mediately rebuilt though somewhat
smalbr than before. The company
now saw upwards of 12,000, (>00 feet of
j lumber per annum. They have
a lumber ya»d near the railroad on the
west side of the village where every
grade of lumber is piled for sale.
Spruce logs are also prepared at this
mill for the Watertown market where
they are ground into pulp for paper. A
branch yard has also been established
at the latter place for the sale of th* ir
lumber. The supply for these immense
works is from Lewis and Herkimer
counties; a quantity is also cut from
St. Lawrence county. The logs are
floated down the Oswegatchie river
which is often packed for miles with
them. Hemlocks are peeled for tan-
ning purposes before being consigned
to the water.
CHAPTER XV.
The mineral resources of Gouver-
neur are of world wide reputation.
Iron ore exists in many localities and
is worked with large profits. Lead is
found of a superior quality; silver in
small quantities has b*en unearthed,
and graphite is abundant. To the
mineralogist a field almost without a
rival is open, and it has been playfully
remarked that whatever is lacking in
his collection can be supplied at Gouv-
erneur. Mica can doubtless be had in
paying quantities; we have seen spec-
imens weighing many pounds, from
which were taken sheets of eight or
ten inches of considerable purity and
clearness. Fine tourmalines of white
and brown, beautiful crystals of gar-
net and many other interesting spec-
imens are to be had at this place. The
crystals of apatite are among the
largest yet discovered in any part of
the world, and are abundant in Gouv-ITS PAST AI
erneur.” (Dana’s Manual of Mineral-
ogy* page 121.) A mass quarried
from the grounds of the Gouverneur
Marble company, by the late Dr P. O,
Wil liams, containing more than thirty
perfect crystals and forwarded to Prof.
Dana of Yale college, received the
following response: .“.The specimen
is a magnificent one and we are glad
to add it to our Yale’ collections.”
Iceland spar of a beautiful shade is
f >und in boulders; chalk and potters’
clay of an inferior quality, besides a
long list of other rare minerals, for
which refer to ‘’Dana,” page 386.
Serpentine of a beautiful quality occurs
near the river and crops out in several
places about t he village; Scotch granite
of a fine grain is so plenty that mills
for cutting and polishing are already
talked of. Steatite or soapstone will
be treated of in a separate chapter as it
has become otie of the great industries
of our place. Indeed, the who 1 e of
St. Lawrence county seems to rest
upon a bed of valuable mineral deposit,
which time alone can utilize. Scarce
a year passes but some use is found for
hitherto waste matter, and little sur-
prise is manifested when a new dis-
covery is made.
The unsightly waste of stones and
rocks cropping out on many farms
west of this village, had long been a
topic for ridicule or served to point a
joke upon the unfortunate owner. ..
The open ground and crevices fur-
nished a meager pasturage, while an
occasional school house or cheese
factory occupied some rocky site To
use a provincialism, the men were land-
poor, and many left their farms for
more fertile lands, little thinking they
were parting with untold wealth. A
mill for sawing this marble, then only
known as gray limestone, was built by
Jasper C. Clark, at Hailesboro, about
the year 1825. This mill stood near
the spot now occupied by the Agalite
Fiber company, on Mill creek, a strong
water power at that point. , Seadr
stones, many of which are still to be
seen in our cemeteries, water-tables,
window-sills and caps,, mantels, fire-
jambs, and other matter was here pre-
pared as the demand required. The
old Spencer House, built in 1825, was
trimmed with this material; the house
occupied by Isaac Starbupk, the ofd
Eager house and several others. Quite
D PRESENT.	61
an elaborate mantel piece once orna-
mented the “ Moses Rowley” house,
and if we mistake not, is still to be
seen there.
The brothers, T. J., and Daniel
Whitney, quarried and dressed a small
amount of marble on the Jas. Barney
farm, from 1876 to 1880, but having
no suitable machinery, for a time
abandoned the, work. In the year
1880 Mr. J E. McAllaster leased
fif teen acres of land of J. B. Preston j
On the south side of the railroad, west
of this village. The enterprise of this
gentleman so developed the quarry
that he sold his interest therein in
April, 1881. It is now known as ‘ ‘The
St. Lawrence Marble Company,” of
Gouverneur, aud operated by the
following gentlemen: John Benham,
president; J. W. Griswold, vice-presi-
dent; Austin Stevens, secretary, and
T. J. Whitney, superintendent. This
company at once erected a mill with
sixteen gangs^ of saws and four chan-
neling machines in the pit, which is
already about seventy feet deep. The
original opening was one hundred feet
square, but has been enlarged by cut-
ting and drifting in various directions.
The company employ upwards of sixty
men and by a judicious division of
labor the works are kept running day
and night. They have also an artesian
well 440 feet in depth, which supplies
all the water needed for the works.
The yearly sales of this quarry
already aggregate $125,000 with , a
constantly, increasing demand. The
works, which are about one mile vyest
of this village, are well worth a visit,
where the visitor can spend a few
hours in profitable and instructive
observation. We ar© permitted , to
make a few extracts from the records
of this company showing the extensive
and increasing demand for the pro-
ducts of their quarry. In the city of
Chicago fourteen private residences
have lately been built of this famous
marble, beside public buildings
for various purposes. It has been
largely used in the asylpm build-
ings at Ogdensburg, the county clerk’s
office, town hall and Presbyterian
church at Canton, churches and bank
at,Carthage, various public and private
buildings at j Watertownj Syracuse,
Antwerp, land other places. ;l TEhe
Herald-Times and St. Lawrence blocks62
GOUVERNEUR,
of our own village have only to be
seen to form some estimate of the
beauty and utility of this product of
our town. The texture of the stone is
fine, capable of a high polish, and the
many specimens in our neighborhood
which have for fifty and sixty years
been exposed to the elements, are proof
of its enduring quality.
In 1881 Messrs. John N. Baxter,
John S , and E. H. Sanford, of Ver-
mont, purchased one hundred acres of
land of I. W. Stacy. These gentlemen
expended a large amount of mo ey 0*1
the property, erected buildings and
bought machinery, but for some reason
abandoned the work for their old
quarries in Vermont.
In November, 1881, the Whitney
Marble company was organized, hav-
ing purchased thirty acres of land of
William McKean. Here they opened
a quarry which was worked with
reasonable success until their mill was
destroyed by the explosion of a boiler
on the morning of Saturday, May 3,
1884. Six men were killed by this
calamity, and the company’s loss was
$20,000. This was a very severe
blow to the owners, but the works were
immediately rebuilt and business re-
sumed. Misfortunes, however, fol-
lowed, making it necessary to re-
organize in 1888, under the corporate
name of “Gouverneur Marble Com-
pany ” The present proprietors are
S. B. Van Duzee, Daniel Peck, James
C. Read, Lewis Eckman, and Geo. P.
Ormiston. They have four gangs of
saws and employ upwards of twenty-
five men. They have also purchased
a few acres from the James Barney
farm and the company are throwing
out a fine quality of marble, with
active sales which have placed the
owners on a solid business footing.
In the year 1888 Messrs. Alexander
and J. A. Davidson, of Chicago,
bought of J. B. Preston, eight acres of
land west of the St. Lawrence works,
and have opened a fine quarry there.
It is unfortunate for Gouverneur that
the city of Watertown has offered this
company a water power at a nominal
price, so that much of their cutting
and polishing is done at that place.
We have been thus particular in
detailing the history of the marble
interests of Gouverneur, believing that
this industry has openea a fountain of
wealth without a rival in Northern
New York. Several fine quarries are
only awaiting capital to bring them to
notice, and as the demand is almost as
unlimited as the supply, »t needs no
prophet’s eye to see the works multi-
plied in a few years of time. Fortu-
nately many of the quarries lie near
the railroad so that markets are readily
reached. The work of cutting is re-
duced to such a system that builders
can call for the amount needed with a
surprising nicety Slabs of desirable
thickness are prepared for side-walks,
and much ornamental work is already
done.
We may add in this connection that
Scotch granite of a superior quality is
found at Hailesboro and Natural Dam,
and that preparations for working our
beautiful serpentine are already in
progress. The latter material bids fair
to become a source of wealth Tables
and indoor work, paper weights and
many ornamental articles have already
been furnished. The stone takes a
fine polish and some of the markings
are of great beauty.
CHAPTER XVI.
The talc industry having assumed
proportions of such magnitude in our
town, it has been thought best to de-
vote an entire chapter to its production
and sale.
Steatite or soapstone, more com
monly known as talc, is found in
many localities and its uses are vari-
ous The American Indians had many
cooking utensils of the material, and
in some of the arts it is almost indis-
pensable. It is found in beds, veins
and even in pockets; often in company
with serpentine which it somewhat
resembles though softer and greasy to
the touch. The first known in this
section — unless small quantities
gathered by mineralogists—was quar-
ried at Natural Dam and Little Bow,
during the winter of 1869 and 1870, by
Mr. Daniel Miuthorn of Watertown,
N. Y , and to his untiring zeal and
enterprise belongs the credit of op* n-
ing up this vast industry to Gouver-
neur, although like many other in-
ventors and discoverers, Mr. Mint horn
has realized nothing from his labors.
Prospecting about the above named
places, enough was procured to war-ITS PAST AND PRESENT.	. 63
rant him in building a mill for testing
the material.
Wanting capital for the enterprise
he enlisted Messrs. G. W. Goodrich
and George Paddock of Watertown,
in the matter and soon rocks were
blasted away for a flume and the fol-
lowing year a mill was erected at
Natural Dam. The material thus far
obtained proved too impure fo* the
filling of paper—the first use made of
the pulp. Here also a soft clay was
used for pottery; but the indifferent re-
sults produced discouragement and
the works were for the time aban
doned. Attention having been called
to the fact that this mineral existed in
this locality, prospectors were at once
put upon the track and their efforts
have been amply rewarded. Mr.
Min thorn again sought for material
on the farms of Abner Wight and
William Woodcock of Fowler, just
west of Little York. A portion was
ground at this village and also at
Natural Dam, • and proved to be of
purer quality than any yet found,
though still containing some gross mat-
ter. Suitable machinery was still
lacking and it was not until the spring
of 1875 that successful efforts were
made to make it a paving industry.
At this time Messrs. G. A. Mendon,
A. L. McCrea, Sen , A. L. Mc( ■rea,
Jr., and Henry Palmer built a small
steam mill on the farm of Abner
Wight, incorporated under the name
of “Agalite Fiber Company.” This
mill was operated with considerable
success until 1878, when the works
were removed to the saw mill of < lark
& Howard, Hailesboro, N. Y. Here
they continued operations until 1x80,
when they purchased the Henry Haile
flouring mill at Hailesboro, where
they are still at work turning out large
quantities of the powdered material.
The mill runs day and night and the
hum of its machinery has become a
familiar sound. In 1877, Col. Palmer,
having retired from the company,
found a superior quality of talc at
Freemansburgh, on the Brayton lot.
Associating with himself, S. B. Van-
Duzee and John S. Honeycomb, later
they purchased thirty acres of land of
Egert and Averill at Hailesboro, with
a suitable water power. Here they
erected a large mill which was oper-
ated until 1882, when they sold their
interests to the Adirondack Pulp Com-
pany, and which is now known as the
lower mill In 1880 A, G. Gillett, L.
M. Gardner, A. C« >rbin, and S. Graves,
bought of A. W. Brown a water
Srwer, situated one mile south of
ailesboro, built there a mill, obtain^
ing their talc of Charles Anthony on
land east of the Brayton lot, continu-
ing there two years, after which they
also sold to the Adirondack Pulp
Company.
In 1883. Messrs. M Belding, G. H.
Kenedy, W. B. Putney and Austin
Stevens, purchased 20 acres of land of
Fred Haile, at Hailesboro, organizing
under the name of “St. Lawrence
Pulp Company.” These parties obtain
their material from the Brayton lot,
also from L. M. Gardner's lands at
Edwards Capt. W. L. Palmer erected
a steam mill on the west side of this
village on land owned by J. F. Sayer,
adjoining the railroad. This mill was
run for a time, with varied success,
talc being drawn from the farm of
William Woodcock in Fowler. This
mill is not just now in operation. In
1888 L. M. Gardner commenced a talc
mill on the old furnace water power at
Freemansburgh, he, also, obtaining
his material from the Brayton lot near
by. The Natural Dam property after
a time was purchased by T. W. Bay ud,
S. Fred Stevens and A. J. McDonald,
who also superintends the works. The
mills have been enlarged and the talc
is brought from land in Edwards,
owned by Charles Anthony. The
company is incorporated under the
name of “Natural Dam Pulp Com-
pany,” and like most of the others, is
doing a thriving business.
From the above it will be seen that
seven mills for grinding talc are pour-
ing the fruits of their industry into
our town, while many of our citizens
have largely invested their capital in
its manufacture. Mr. A. L. McCrea,
Jr., is the enterprising superintendent
of the “St. Lawrence,” A. J McDon*
aid at the Natural Dam, C. A Millett,
at the “Adirondack,” George E.
Hogg, of the “ Agalite,” and L. M.
Gardner, at Freemansburgh.
The talc is quarried in slabs, also in
huge, rocky looking matter, when
forced from the bed by powder. Some
specimens have a cold, greenish, icy
look, and are very beautiful. It sel-64 ■	GOUVERNEUR
dom appears on the surface and is
oftenest found by baring1, some times
where least expected. The veins are
often fifteen feet in width and the
mines are well worth a visit. The un-
derground work is at present attended
with some danger, though new ap
pliances are almost weekly added. It is
probable that further pr< >specting at
Natural Dam and other portions of
our town will reveal a pure article, as
only that near the surface has as yet
been tested. The pulverized article is
put up in sacks of fifty pounds, quite
resembling the flour we receive in
similar sacks, although larger bags of
burlap are used for exporting the
article.
The present weekly shipments from
this village aggregate upwards of six
hundred tons; this involves a large
amount of teaming and it is no uncom-
mon sight to see a procession of wagons
loaded with the crude or manufactured
material. The question is often asked,
“To what use is all this product ap-
plied?” That considerable is employed
for adulteration cannot be denied ; but
could we know no more harmful
matter entered into our daily food, no
complaint would be made. Most of
the paper now made is filled with talc.
The pulverized article is largely used
in porcelain; crayons are made of it,
cosmetics, tootfi powder, and it is also
the base of many paints. Sizing rollers
in cotton mills are manufactured from
blocks of soap stone and many beauty
ful articles are made from the sawed
material As it soon hardens after
being taken from the mine, a little
added heat allows it to take a fine
polish.
The marble and talc industries of
^nuverneur have added largely to our
population, as many laborers with
their families have been drawn hither
finding permanent and remunerative
employment here. Much foreign
capital has also been invested here.
All of which adds largely to our wealth
and prosperity,
Nothing will show more plainly the
amount of business done in the
various industries of the place than
the shipments of the.different products
from this station during the past year.
The grand total of freight billed from
Gouyerneur depot in 1889 was 154,-
314,769 pounds or 7?, 158 tons. Lumber
takes the lead in amount over all
other products, being twenty per cent,
greater than the talc, and excepting
the talc, nearly twice as much as all
other products combined, as the follow-
ing table will show :
Total No. pounds lumber shipped...63,581,982
Total No. pounds talc shipped...	...52,372,567
Total No. pounds marble shipped...—16,267.769
Total No. pounds wood pulp shipped.... 6,363,908
Total No. pounds butter & cheese ship’d 1,297,500
The balance of tonnage is made up
of agriculture implements, furniture*
etc. The amount of money collected
during the year on freight received
here was $54,465 99. The passenger
traffic also shows that this is an im-
portant and bustling station—27,518
tickets having been sold for $30,702.09
during the year. But the freight
business so far exceeds the passenger
that we are reminded of the oft heard
remark of our genial friend, the com-
mercial traveller, when he strikes this
branch of the R. W. & O. rail road
that ‘ ‘ this is the road where the
freight trains have the right of way.”
CHAPTER XIX.
The closing of the year of 1889
brings of course the closing chapter pf
this history. . Having followed the
fortunes of our town from its birth tp
a ripe majority, a period of over eighty
years, but few events of interest re-
main to be chronicled.
On Sunday, November 10, 1889, at
Spencerville, Ont, occurred the death
of Mrs. Eunice Boy den, widow of the
late Ezekiel Bullard and a former res-
ident of this place. Her. age was
nearly ninety years and many of us
remember her as a lady of rare beauty
and refinement. *. The remains were
brought to Gouverneur for interment
in the family lot.
At a little after nine o’clock on
Saturday evening, Nov. 28d, the cry
of “fire” called our people out to
witness the burning of the old Spencer
house property, situated on Main and
Depot street. The brick building was
erected more than sixty years sinpe
and was considered one of the ancient
land marks of the town. The wooden
additions and barns were all destroyed
and the loss reached about ny#
thousand dollars, mostly covered by
insurance. The walls of the brick
j structure still remain perfect and may
again be rendered habitable. TheITS PAST AND PRESENT.
65
location being a desirable one, it is
expected the remaining space will
soon be covered with substantial
modern dwelling houses.
Note has elsewhere been made of the
warm and open fall and winter of
1889. Moderate weather ruled until
the end of the year; but as this section
seldom fails of its full complement of
wintry instalments, little anxiety need
be felt for the incoming year.
The population of the town of Gouv
erneur at this time is estimated at about
seven thousand persons, though it is
several years since any census has been
taken, and we must wait until the
count of 1890 is made before the
number can be officially stated.
There are six churches in the town
besides one or two chapels where re-
ligious services are held. Of school
buildings and houses there are twenty,
employing about thirty-five teachers,
with an aggregate outlay of ten thous-
and dollars in salaries
G-ouverneur village has four dry
goods stores, fi^e drug stores, fifteen
groceries, beside two at Natu-al Dam
and one at Smith’s Mills. Of clothing
stores we have five, furniture stores
two, printing offices and newspapers
three, machine shops two, carriage
shops four, with blacksmiths’ shops
and minor interests many. Four
hotels and four saloons minister to the
natural and artificial needs of the
traveling and local public, while
seventeen lawyers stand ready to right
the wrongs of mankind. Of physicians
there are ten resident here, besides two
who are only away for a season. This
may seem a large number for a town
enjoying such general immunity
from disease as Gouverneur, but it
must be remembered that they are
called to ride over a radius of many
miles, this being the nearest point
from which they may be called. Two
efficient banks meet the present wants
of our people, having facilities for
carrying all the industries of the town.
Gouverneur lies about equi-dis-
tant from Watertown and Ogdensburg,
both of which cities find in it a for-
midable rival, it being the centre of a
wide and rich farming country and
the entrepot of mill, mine and dairy
for miles around. Lying as it does on
the R W. & O. rail road, there is
an almost hourly run of trains loaded
with passengers, freight and the pro-
duce of our town.