HISTORY: Early History Of Clinton Co.; Clinton co., NY submitted by Joy Fisher (sdgenweb at yahoo.com) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ny/nyfiles.htm Submitted Date: February 6, 2005 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/nyfiles/ File size: 26.1 Kb ************************************************ Gazetteer and Directory of Franklin and Clinton COUNTIES WITH AN ALMANAC For 1862-3, Embracing the names of Business Men, County Officers, Distances, Interest Tables, Census Returns, and much other valuable Statistical Information COMPILED AND PUBLISHED BY HAMILTON CHILD OGDENSBURGH: PRINTED AT THE ADVANCE OFFICE, WATER STREET. 1862. CLINTON COUNTY NAMED from George Clinton, then Governor, was formed from Washington County, March 7, 1788. Essex was taken off in 1799. St. Lawrence was provisionally annexed in 1801 and taken off in 1802; a portion of Oneida was annexed in 1801; and Franklin was taken off in 1808. It lies upon Lake Champlain, and is the northeast corner County of the State. It has an area of 1,092 square miles. The surface is generally hilly and broken, and in the southwest mountainous. The Au Sable Range enters the southwest corner from Essex County, and extends in spurs and broken ranges through more than half of the west part of the County. The highest peaks, along the west border are 3,000 or 4,000 feet above tide water. These mountains have the same general characteristics as those further South. They are wild and broken, and their declivities and summits are so covered with ragged ledges of rock, that they produce but a scanty growth of timber, and are almost inaccessible. The uplands extend toward the North, and there is a wide and nearly level tract along the Canada border. Along the lake shore the surface is level or gently undulating, and from this tract it rises gradually but unevenly to the summits of the ridges in the interior. The mountainous region in the Southwest, comprising about one-third of the County, is underlaid by gneiss, granite and other primary rocks. A belt of Potsdam Sandstone extends in a great curve around the primary region and occupies more than one-half of the remainder of the County. Peat bogs are numerous in the northeast part. The primitive region is exceedingly rich in minerals. Magnetic iron ore is found in inexhaustible quantities, and of a quality unsurpassed in the world. Au Sable River forms most of the south boundary. North of this are Little Sable, Salmon, Saranac, Little Chazy and Great Chazy or Champlain Rivers, all flowing into Lake Champlain. English River flows north into Canada. The numerous falls upon all of these streams afford an immense amount of waterpower. Among the mountains in the west are numerous lakes and ponds. Fish are abundant in the mountain streams and lakes, but the salmon, once so abundant, have now nearly disappeared. The Ogdensburgh Railroad extends west from Rouse's Point, on Lake Champlain, through Champlain, Mooers, Altona, Ellenburgh and Clinton. The Plattsburgh and Montreal Railroad extends north through Plattsburgh, Beekmantown, Chazy, and intersects the Ogdensburgh R. R. at Mooers. A continuation of the road extends to Montreal, C. E. The County seat is located at Plattsburgh, on Lake Champlain. The first white man that ever visited this County was Samuel Champlain, in 1609, under the auspices .of the French. From that time until the final surrender of Canada, in 1760, the French claimed and held this region of country. At the close of the war of 1760, settlements rapidly spread down the Lake shore. By the terms of the treaty between England and France the French settlers were to be secured in their rights; but the Government of New York made conflicting grants, which gave rise to controversies and quarrels and seriously retarded the progress of settlement. A few families were scattered along the lake shore previous to the Revolution, but the expedition of Burgoyne in 1777 broke up every settlement in the County. An important naval engagement took place September 11, 1776, in the strait between Valcour Island and the west shore, between the British and American forces, without any decisive results. The conflict was renewed on the 13th, and the American vessels were nearly all run ashore on the Vermont side and burned. Settlements were made at all the principal places bordering upon the lake within ten years after the close of the Revolution. The embargo of 1808 was openly violated, and many severe encounters took place between the revenue officers and organized bands of smugglers. During the war of 1812 14, this County was the seat of important military transactions, and along its frontiers and upon the lake many skirmishes and engagements took place. In the summer of 1814, Sir George Provost, Governor-General of Canada, made extensive preparations for an invasion of the country along Lake Champlain. Toward the last of August a land force of 14,000 men assembled on the frontier, and commenced their march, supported by a formidable fleet under Commodore Downie. Gen. Macomb, who commanded the Americans, had a force of less than 3,000 men; but as the invading army drew nigh, he was continually reinforced by volunteers and militia. The American fleet, under the command of Commodore MacDonough lay off Plattsburgh in Cumberland Bay, awaiting the attack of the British. The attack was commenced on Sunday morning, Sept. 11, simultaneously by the British land and naval forces and a bloody and desperate battle ensued for two hours, when Commodore Downie struck his flag, and nearly the whole British fleet fell into the hands of the Americans. After keeping up a cannonade during the day, the British land forces slowly and sullenly retreated, and in a few days returned to Canada. These engagements were among the most brilliant that occurred during the war. Upon the completion of the Champlain canal in 1823, business received a new impulse, which has again been promoted by the construction of the railroads through the County. In 1838 9 the County shared the intense excitement attending the "Patriot Wars," and several encounters occurred. NOTE. The author is indebted for many facts relative to Clinton County, to "Palmer's History of Lake Champlain." GAZETTEER OF TOWNS. ALTONA was taken from Chazy, December 2d, 1857. It is an interior town lying north of the center of the County. The west half is underlaid by Potsdam Sandstone, and hundreds of acres are covered with the naked rock. Great Chazy or Champlain River is the principal stream. Its surface is a rolling upland, with a slight northeasterly inclination; The soil is light and sandy, and a large share is unfit for cultivation. The town is thinly populated and the settlers are principally engaged in lumbering. There is no village in town. Chazy (Altona P. O.) in the north part is a water and wood station on the O. R. R. Ellenburgh Depot is on the west line. The first settler was Simeon Wood, who located in 1800. It has an area of 61,558 acres. AU SABLE, pronounced Aw Saw-ble, a French name signifying river of sand, was taken from Peru, March 29,1839. It is the southeast corner town in the County. Its surface is nearly level in the east, rolling in the center and hilly in the west. The Au Sable forms nearly the whole of the South boundary, the Little Sable flows northeasterly through the west part. Its soil is generally a light sandy loam, fertile in the east and center, but poor for agricultural purposes in the west. Upon the Au Sable, where it breaks through the Potsdam Sandstone, is a beautiful cascade, known as Birmingham Falls. This cascade is located about two miles below Keeseville, and the romantic and picturesque scenery will well repay the tourist for the trip to see them. Iron ore of an excellent quality is to be found. The principal ore bed now worked is that of Messrs. Arnold & Co., which yields from 1,000 to 1,500 tons annually. Keeseville, named from Oliver and Richard Keese, sons of John Keese, one of the original proprietors upon the Au Sable, five miles from the Lake, contains seven churches, the Keeseville Academy, two extensive rolling mills, three nail factories, a machine shop, an ax and edge tool factory, a cupola furnace, an axletree factory, a horseshoe factory, a planing mill, two grist mills, and a nail keg factory. Clintonville, upon the Au Sable, in the west part of the town, was incorporated April 11, 1825. The Iron Works located here manufacture over 7,000 tons of iron annually. New Sweden, further up the Au Sable, in the southwest corner of the town, contains two forges. Birmingham Falls, at the head of the rapids, upon Au Sable river is a hamlet. The Union is a hamlet on the line of Peru, and contains two Quaker meeting houses. The first settlers were John Keese and others, about 1795. Edward Everett had located upon the site of the Union in 1786. The town has an area of 22,476 acres. BEEKMANTOWN, named from Wm. Beekman, to whom with others, the town was granted on March 27, 1769 was taken from Plattsburgh, February 25, 1820. Dannemora was taken off in 1854. It lies upon Lake Champlain, near the, center of the east border of the County. It is drained by many small creeks and brooks. The surface is level in the east, and moderately hilly in the west. Point au Roche and Ram's Head are capes upon the lake. St. Armand's Bay extends into the southeast corner. The soil is a clay loam in the east and center, and a light sand in the west. Beekmantown (P. O.) and East Beekmantown (P. O.) are hamlets on and near the line of the Plattsburgh and Montreal R. R. The first settlers were Maj. Benjamin Mooers and seven associates, who located at Point au Roche, August 10th, 1783. On the 6th of Sept., 1814, the British passed through the town, when a slight skirmish took place, resulting in the death of Lieut.-Colonel Wellington and Ensign Chapman, of the enemy, and several American militia. The town has an area-of 35,802 acres. BLACK BROOK, named from its principal stream, was taken from Peru, March 29, 1839. It is the southwest corner .of the County. Its surface is rocky and mountainous, the highest peaks being 1,500 to 2,500 feet above the lake. Among the mountains are several nearly level table lands, 200 to 300 feet above the general level. The forest trees are thinly scattered, and nearly the whole town is too rough and poor for cultivation. The Au Sable river forms a portion of the south boundary. The Saranac flows north-esterly across the northwest corner. Great and Little Black Brooks, tributaries of the Au Sable, drain the central parts of the town. Among the mountains are several small lakes and ponds. The soil is cold, wet, and poorly calculated for agricultural pursuits. Extensive beds of iron ore are scattered through the town. The Palmer mine, two miles north of Au Sable Forks, yields from 16,000 to 20,000 tons annually. The Myers and Trombois mines are also largely worked. The people are principally engaged in the manufacture of iron, charcoal and lumber. Au Sable Forks, on the Au Sable River, in the south-east part of the town, is mostly in Essex County. Messrs. J. & J. Rogers have extensive works here and at Black Brook, and they manufacture over 2,500 tons of blooms, nearly 1,000 tons of merchant iron, 50,000 kegs of nails, using l,600,000 bushels of charcoal per annum. Black Brook village, near the south border, contains extensive iron works and several sawmills. Clayburgh, on the Saranac, in the north part, lies partly in the town of Saranac. It contains Iron works and mills. Union Falls (P. O.) and Garlick Falls (P. O.,) both on the Saranac, are hamlets and lumber stations. The first settler was Zephaniah Palmer, who settled at Au Sable Forks about 1825. Several plank roads have been built in town to facilitate the iron and lumber business. The town has an area of 82,004 acres. CHAMPLAIN was formed March 7, 1788. Chateaugay (Franklin County) was taken off in 1799, and Mooers and Chazy in 1804. It is the north-east corner town of the County and lies upon Lake Champlain. Its surface is generally level with a slight inclination towards the lake. The Great Chazy or Champlain River flows in a winding .course, nearly twice through the town and discharges its waters into King's Bay. It is navigable to Champlain village for vessels of light draught. Corbeau Creek, its tributary, is the other principal stream. Point au Fer (Fire Point) and Stony Point are two capes projecting into the lake. The soil is a clay or clayey loam. Champlain Village, upon the Chazy river, near the north line of the town, is the seat of the Champlain Academy, two founderies, one of them for the manufactory of car wheels, a linen factory, planing mill, carriage factory, several stores and an excellent hotel. It is an important station on the O. R. R. A large amount of lumber carried east by the O. R. R. is shipped here. Perry's Mills (P. O.) is a lumbering station upon the Chazy in the north-west corner of the town. Rouses Point, named from Jacques Rouse, a Canadian who settled here in 1783, is upon the lake in the north-east corner of the town, it contains three churches, a brewery, and extensive depots and repair shops, belonging to the Ogdensburgh R. R. It is divided into the Upper and Lower villages, the latter being the largest. This village has grown to importance since the completion of the Rail Road. The passenger and freight Depots are among the largest structures of the kind in the State. The east end of the Depot building and the upper part of the same building were for several years, occupied as a Hotel, but it has been discontinued of late, the east end being now occupied as Offices of the R. R. Express, and Telegraph Companies. A Rail Road bridge a mile long with a floating draw of 300 feet opened and shut by steam crosses the lake to Vermont. Fort Montgomery is situated about one mile north of the village upon the banks of the lake. This fort commands the entrance to the lake. The fort has been building since 1814 or 15, but is not finished yet. The work was pushed vigourously the past year, and no doubt will soon be completed. The Champlain and St. Lawrence R. R. Co. (Canadian) erected at great expense a pile bridge of a mile in length between the Lower and Upper village, and at the latter place built a large and expensive depot and wharfes, but the experiment proved a failure for the greater share of the carrying trade tended towards the 0. R. R. depot, after a short time their improvements were abandoned, and they now occupy the O. R. R. Depot. Coopersville or Corbeau, is a small village upon Chazy River, opposite the mouth of Corbeau Creek. The first English settler was Pliny Moore, who came into town in 1789. It has an area of 29,827 acres. CHAZY pronounced Sha-zee was taken from Champlain, March 20, 1804. Altona was taken off in 1857. It lies upon Lake Champlain north of the center of the county. Its surface is rolling, having a gentle inclination towards the lake. The principal stream is the Little Chazy, flowing north-easterly through near the center of the town. Corbeau Creek drains the north-west part. The soil is' clayey and productive in the east, and sandy and poor in the west. Chazy village, upon Little Chazy River, contains two churches, a saw and grist mill, large quantities of excellent lime are burned and fitted for market at this place. West Chazy, in the south part of the town, on the Little Chazy River, is a Station on the Plattsburgh & Montreal R. R. Sciota is a station on the P. & M. R. R., in the north-west corner. Chasy Landing is a hamlet on the lake shore. Ingraham is a Post Office in the south-east corner of the town! The first settler was John La Trombois, who came into town in 1763. After the Revolution, the first settlers were refugees from Canada and Nova Scotia. The town has an area of 32,628 acres. CLINTON was formed from Ellenburgh, May 14,1845. It is the north-west corner town of the county. Its surface is elevated, but generally level. The highest portion along the south border is about 1,050 feet above Lake Champlain. It is nearly all underlaid by Potsdam Sandstone, which is here remarkably white. It is drained by small brooks. More than three fourths of the town is yet a wilderness, the principal settlements being in the northeast part. The soil is a light sandy loam, capable of bearing but a thin growth of forest trees. A large part of the land is owned by capitalists and speculators. Cherubusco is a Post Office and the "Summit" station upon the O. R. R. The Frontiers (Frontier p. o.), on the north border, and Wrightsville on the west border are hamlets. The first settlers located upon the Old Military Road and near the Frontiers previous to 1820. The town has an area of 42,054 acres. DANNEMORA named by Gen. Skinner from a celebrated iron locality in Sweden, was taken from Beekmantown, Dec. 14, 1854. It is the central town upon the west border of the county. Its surface is mostly a wild, mountainous upland, covered with a sandy soil and light growth of forest trees; Chazy Lake, near the centre, 3 1/2 miles long by 1 1/4 wide, discharges its waters into Chazy River, Upper Chateaugay Lake on the west border, 5 miles long and 1 1/2 miles wide, discharges its waters west into Chateaugay River. The settlements are confined to the southeast corner. Dannemora is a small village grown up around the Clinton Prison. This prison was located here in 1845, for the purpose of employing convicts in the mining and manufacture of iron, so that their labor would not come so directly in competition with the other mechanical trades. The first permanent settler was Thomas Hooker, who came to reside in 1838. The town has an area of 32,889 acres. ELLENBURGH, named in compliment to Ellen, daughter of John R. Murray, of New York, the principal proprietor of Township, No. 5 of the Military Tract, was formed from Mooers, April 17, 1830. Clinton was taken off in 1845, it lies upon the west border of the county, north of the center. It is an upland, mountainous in the south and rolling in the north, with an inclination towards the north-east. It is watered principally by the west branch of the Chazy River. Crystal Brook flows through the extreme north part. The soil is generally sandy, in many places covered with a rich vegetable mould. The settlements are chiefly confined to the east and west valley, near the north line of the town. Lumbering is extensively carried on. Ellenburgh Corners and Ellenburgh Centre are thriving little villages. Ellenburgh Depot, on the O. R. R., is a hamlet on the line of Altona. The first permanent settler was Abner Pomeroy, from Vt., about 1800. It has an area of 59,275 acres. MOOERS, named from Maj. Gen. Benj. Mooers, an early settler and prominent citizen of the county, was formed from Champlain, March 20,1804. Ellenburgh was taken off in 1830. Its surface is generally level with a gentle northeasterly inclination. The principal streams are Great Chazy and English Rivers. The surface is entirely underlaid by Potsdam Sandstone, and is covered with a light sandy soil. Along the north border are several small swamps. Upon the Canada line in the northwest corner, is a remarkable chasm in the rocks; called The Gulf, it is 16 rods wide and 300 feet deep. At its bottom is a pond of water said to be 150 feet deep. The walls are of sandstone and perpendicular. No existing agencies could have produced the chasm. The lumbering business is carried on in town to a large extent. Centerville, (Mooers Forks, p. o.) upon the Chazy River, is a station of the O.R. R. Mooers upon the Chazy, in the east part, contains several stores and mechanic shops. It is half a mile south of the junction of the O. and P. & M. R. R's. Angelville upon Corbeau Creek is a hamlet in the southeast corner of the town. The first settler was Joshua C. Bosworth, who located in town in 1796. The town has an area of 50,320 acres. PERU, named from its mountainous character was taken from Pittsburgh and Willsborough, (Essex Co.) Dec. 28, 1792. A part was annexed to Willsborough in 1799, and Au Sable and Black Brook were taken off in 1839. It lies upon Lake Champlain, south of the center of the county. The surface in the center and east part is rolling and slightly inclines towards the lake, and on the west it is broken and mountainous. The Au Sable flows across the southeast corner, and along its course are extensive swamps. Little Sable and Salmon Rivers drain the remainder of the town. Military Pond lies on the west line, and is drained by Black Brook. A strip of land two miles wide, extending along the lake, has a soil composed of clay and clayey loam. Most of this is a plain 4 miles wide, of a sandy soil, interspersed with swamps. In the west, the soil is a light sandy loam. Peru village on the Little Sable, near the center of the town, Laphams Mills, two miles below Peru, and Peasleville, on Salmon River, in the northwest part, are thriving villages. Port Jackson (Valcour, p. o.) on the lake, opposite Valcour Island, is a hamlet containing a church. Peru Landing is a hamlet, north of the mouth of the Little Sable, The first settler was Wm. Hay, a Scotchman who located upon Steward's Patent in 1772. The town has an area of 46,763 acres. PLATTSBURGH was first recognized as a town April 4,1785. A part of Peru was taken off in 1792, Beekmantown in 1820, Saranac in 1824, and Schuyler Falls in 1848. It lies upon Lake Champlain, a little south of the east border of the county, and includes Valcour and Crab Islands. These islands are memorable, the first for the naval engagement which took place near it during the Revolution. The remains of the Schooner Royal Savage, sunk at that time may still be seen. Crab Island, for its being the burial place of the sailors and marines killed in the naval battle of Sept 11, 1814. The surface of the town is level and gently undulating in the east, and broken and hilly in the west. It is principally drained by the Saranac and its branches. This river is the dividing line on the south between this town and Schuyler Falls. The soil in the east is a clayey loam, underlaid by Trenton limestone; in the center, a sandy loam underlaid by Calceferous sandstone; and in the west, a light sand underlaid by Potsdam sandstone. Cumberland Head is a peninsula extending into the lake, and forming Cumberland Bay. Extensive Military Works were begun here in 1814, but were abandoned upon the approach of the enemy. The State of Vermont presented Com. MacDonough with a farm on this point, which is still owned by the descendants. Plattsburgh, upon Cumberland Bay, at the mouth of the Saranac, was incorporated March 3, 1815. It has a safe and commodious harbor, and an excellent water-power, giving it facilities for a large amount of both commerce and manufactures. Besides the county buildings, it contains a town hall, custom house built in 1856, at a cost of $80,000, and contains rooms for the custom house, post office and U. S. Court, and the Plattsburgh Academy. A large amount of mercantile and manufacturing business is carried on, there are also three first class Hotels. A destructive fire occurred on Bridge Street, on 17 Dec., 1861. Upon a sandy plain, one mile south of the village, and ninety feet above the lake, are situated extensive barracks belonging to the United States Government. These buildings were commenced in 1838, and were originally designed to inclose a space of 600 feet square. Only a part of the design has been carried out. Troops were stationed here until 1846, when they were sent to join the army in Mexico. The buildings are now used by the Clinton Co. Agricultural Society for its annual fairs. During the fall and winter of 1861, the Macomb Regiment was recruited here under Capt. Lotr Chamberlain. Cadyville, upon the Saranac, Elsinore, one mile above Cadyville, and Salmon River (South Plattsburgh P. O.) are small villages. West Plattsburgh is a post office. The first settlement was made before the Revolution, by Chas. de Fredenburgh and several associates, under royal grants. During the war, the settlers were driven off and the improvements were destroyed. In 1785, a tract of seven miles square was granted to Zephaniah Platt and 32 associates who had bought up military land warrants to that amount, Nathanie Platt was the first Surveyor and Agent for the proprietors. The first three families who settled under this grant were those of Charles Platt, Chas. McCreedy and Kinner Newcomb. The town has an area of 30,380 acres. SARANAC was taken from Plattsburgh, March 29, 1824. It lies upon the west border of the county, south of the centre. Its surface is a broken and mountainous upland. The highest summits along the west border are 4,000 feet above tide. It is watered principally by the Saranac River and its tributaries. There are several falls upon the Saranac, affording an immense amount of water-power. The east part sloping towards the river is covered with a light sandy soil, and the river intervals with a sandy loam and alluvium. The soil among the mountains is sandy; but the whole western region is too rough for cultivation. Sarcenac Hollow, Redford and Russia, all on the Saranac River, are small villages. The first settlement was begun in 1802; by Russell Case and Ezekiel Pearce. The town has an area of 69,555 acres. SCHUYLER FALLS, named from the proprietor of the present village site, was taken from Pittsburgh April 4, 1848. It is an interior town, lying a little southeast of the center of the county. Its surface is rolling in the east and hilly in the west, with an easterly inclination. The Saranac forms its north boundary, and Salmon River flows along its south border. The soil is a light sandy loam. Schuyler Falls, on Salmon River, Morrisonville, on the Saranac, (lying partly in Pittsburgh), and Norrisville, upon Salmon River, three miles west of Schuyler Falls, are thriving manufacturing villages. The first settler was Ezra Turner, who located upon Salmon River in 1797. The town has an area of 22,050 acres.