HISTORY Other: Early History Of Franklin Co.; Franklin co., NY submitted by Joy Fisher (sdgenweb at yahoo.com) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm Submitted Date: February 6,2005 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/nyfiles/ File size: 26.9 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 FRANKLIN COUNTY. NAMED in honor of Benjamin Franklin, was formed from Clinton County, March llth, 1808. Township No. 11, in the OLD MILITARY TRACT, was taken from Franklin and annexed to Essex Co., March 22d, 1822, and contains an area of 1,718 square miles. The County is mostly drained by Chateaugay, Salmon, Little Salmon, Deer, St. Regis and Racket Rivers, tributaries of the St. Lawrence. The Saranac river takes its rise in the township of Brandon, and flows through the Southeastern part of the County, towards Lake Champlain. The Southern part of the County is a vast wilderness of mountainous ranges, dotted here and there with an immense number of beautiful lakes, some of them several miles long. The wilds of this immense forest, extending from the Southeastern portion of St. Lawrence and Lewis Counties to Lake Champlain, is the winter resort of many of our Northern hunters, and here, too, in the Summer time are often to be found gay parties from city and country, enjoying the cool breezes of this elevated region; and at this season of the year immense numbers of trout are taken from the lakes and streams and sent to friends at home. The average elevation of this region is l,600 feet above tide. Mt. Seward, 5,100 feet above tide, is the highest peak. There are several other elevated peaks, whose heights have never been ascertained by actual measurement. The Northwestern part, including the towns of Bombay, Fort Covington, Westville, and portions of Moira and Constable, is underlaid by Calciferous Sandstone. The soil upon this rock is generally a heavy clay. A strip of sandy soil, about four miles wide, lies next the Calciferous Sandstone region, the remainder of the Northern half of the County being mostly a fertile loam, mixed with clay. Upon approaching the mountainous region towards the South, the soil becomes more and more sterile, and large tracts are valuable only for their timber and iron ore. The Northern part is well adapted to agricultural pursuits, the soil yielding a good return of Spring grains and potatoes, the latter of which are to a large extent manufactured into starch. Dairying is largely carried on, and large quantities of hops are raised in the central towns. The principal work of internal improvement in the County is the Ogdensburgh Railroad, extending through Moira, Bangor, Malone, Burke and Chateaugay. This road was completed in 1850, and has been of immense value to the County, furnishing the means of rapid and cheap transportation to her marketable productions. The County seat is located at Malone. A Court House and Jail, in one building, was erected on the west bank of the Salmon River in 1811 13, and a new stone Jail in 1852. The County Poor House is located upon a farm of 110 acres, two miles Southwest of the village. There are two newspapers in the County, both published at Malone. A tract 10 miles by 40 on the East side of this County, formed a part of the old military tract. A portion in the Northwest corner of 24,000 acres, was reserved by the St. Regis Indians, and the remainder was included in Great Tract No. 1, of the Macomb purchase. Wm. Constable, agent and part owner of the last mentioned tract, and the executors of his estate, sold the Northern part, and actively assisted in promoting settlement. The earliest settlement in the County was made at St. Regis, by a colony of Indians from Caughnawaga, on Lake St. Louis, and from Oswegatchie, under Father Anthony Gordon, a Jesuit, about 1760. They are now known as the St. Regis Indians, and number about 1,000, about half of whom reside in this County, and the remainder on the North side of the National boundary, which passes through the village. During the Revolution a portion of these Indians joined the Americans, and Louis Cook, one of their number, received a Colonel's commission from Gen. Washington. In the war of 1812 a part of the tribe joined the British and a part the Americans; and they are thus historically divided into British and American parties. This distinction is hereditary, from mother to son, and the annuities of each government are bestowed accordingly, without reference to the locality on either side of the line. The first white settlements were made in Chateaugay in 1796, and in other towns of the two Northern ranges in 1800 02, by emigrants from Vermont. At the commencement of the war of 1812, the county contained about 2,500 inhabitants. In 1813 14 it became the seat of important military events, in the fruitless attempt to invade Canada. Upon the withdrawal of the troops from French Mills now Fort Covington in February, 1814, the County was overrun by the enemy, who visited Chateaugay, Malone and Hopkinton, the latter in St. Lawrence County, and seized a considerable amount of military stores. In 1832, the cholera appeared at St. Regis, spreading terror throughout the whole country. Dr. McAuley, of Cornwall, C. W., was sent over by government to attend the sick, and Dr. Bates, of Fort Covington, was also employed. The epidemic raged 11 days, during which 78 persons died. The disease did not spread, however, confining itself to the vicinity of the river. Since the completion of the Railroad, the County has had far better advantages than formerly, for sending her produce of every kind forward to market, and she is fast growing to be one of the most important of our Northern Counties. GAZETTEER OF TOWNS. BANGOR was taken from Dickinson, June 15th, 1812. Brandon was taken off January 28, 1828. It is an interior town, lying Northwest of the center of the County. Its surface is gently rolling, with a general Northerly inclination. The underlying rock is Potsdam Sandstone, appearing only in the valleys of the streams. The soil is sandy in the North and a clay and loam in the South. The principal streams are the Little Salmon and Deer rivers. This is one of the finest agricultural towns in the County. South Bangor, (Bangor P. O.,) North Bangor, (Amador P. O.,) and West Bangor, (P. O.,) are small villages. The first settlement in the town was made by Benjamin Seeley, in 1806. The first school was taught in 1808 by Samuel Russell. The year following, many others settled along the central road and St. Lawrence turnpike. The town embraces some of the finest agricultural districts in the County, and has an area of 28,465 acres. BELMONT, named in honor of Wm. Bell, one of the early proprietors of a portion of the town, was taken from Chateaugay, March 25th, 1833. Franklin was taken off May 20th, 1836. It occupies a wild rocky region on the East border of the County, North of the center, and has a general inclination toward the North. The Owl's Head is a prominent elevation on the West border, at which place there was an alleged murder committed in November, 1851. Mr. Justin Bell was shot by a Mr. James Sherwin, who was tried at Malone in 1852, found guilty, and was sentenced to be hung, but this was commuted to imprisonment for life. Its streams are Chateaugay, Trout and Little Trout rivers, and the East branch of Salmon River. Among the hills are several beautiful lakes, the largest of which are Lower Chateaugay and Ragged lakes and Ingraham and Round Ponds. A considerable portion of the town is unfit for agricultural purposes, and valuable only for its timber. The settlements are chiefly confined to the vicinity of an East and West road, extending through the North part. Chateaugay Lake is a post office in the Northeast part. The town has an area of 93,919 acres. BOMBAY, named by Michael Hogan, the founder of Hogansburgh, from Bombay, in India, where his wife had formerly resided, was formed from Fort Covington, March 30th, 1833. It lies in the Northwest corner of the County, the Northwest corner of the town bordering upon the St. Lawrence river. The surface is generally level, and the soil is a deep clay loam in the North and sandy in the South. The principal streams are the Racket, St. Regis and Little Salmon rivers and Pike Creek. Hogansburgh, at the head of navigation on the St. Regis river, two miles from its mouth, has a population of about 250. The waterpower is good, and milling to some extent is carried on. Large quantities of wood are boated from here to the Montreal market every Summer. It was the residence of the late Rev. Eleazer Williams, the reputed Bourbon, Louis XVII. St. Regis is an Indian village, in the Indian reservation, lying mostly in Canada. The lands of this reservation are partly leased to whites; but the cultivation is extremely slovenly and wasteful. Bombay Corners and South Bombay are hamlets. The first improvement in town, except at St. Regis, it is said was made by Father Gordon, the founder of St. Regis, who in 1762 caused mills to be erected at what is now Hogansburgh. But these have long since passed away, and the first real improvement was begun in 1811 by Daniel W. Church, who built some mills for Mr. Hogan, who had acquired title to township No. one of Macomb's purchese. The first settler in township No. one is said to have been Joseph Hadley, a hunter, about 1803. In 1818, Hogansburgh was laid out as a village, and considerable improvements were made. In 1822 settlers arrived quite rapidly, and in two or three years most of the lands not covered by the reservation was taken up. The town has an area of 20,545 acres. BRANDON, derived from. Brandon. Vt., from, whence most of the first settlers emigrated, was taken from Bangor, January 28,1828. It lies west of the center of the County, and covers a territory six to eight miles wide and forty-seven miles long, extending to the South border of the County. It embraces the townships of St. Patrick, Westerly, Ennis, Gilchrist, Margate, Killarney and Cove Hill. The North part is moderately hilly, with a general inclination towards the North. The South part is broken and mountainous, and mostly unfit for cultivation. A great number of lakes and ponds lie among the mountains in the central and Southern parts. The principal streams are the Little Salmon, Deer, east branch of the St. Regis and Racket rivers, all flowing across the town in a Northwest direction. The waters of the Saranac Lake and Stoney Creek Pond are separated only by a narrow strip of land, forming the only portage for canoes between Lake Champlain and the Racket River. The soil is mostly light and sandy, and poorly adapted to cultivation. The settlements are confined to the Northern border. Within the past few years lumbering has been carried on to a considerable extent. Large numbers of pine logs have been floated down the Racket River. The first settlement was began in 1820. There is no village, post office, or church in the town. It has an area of 190,130 acres. BRIGHTON was taken from Duane, November, 1858. It embraces township No. 18 and the South half of No. 15, of Great Tract No. 1 of Macomb's purchase. There are few settlers in the town. The inhabitants are mostly engaged in lumbering. There is no village or post office in town. In the Southern portion are numerous small lakes. It has an area of 48,709 acres. BURKE, named in honor of Edmund Burke, the British statesman, was taken from Chateaugay, April 26th, 1844. It lies on the North border of the County, east of the center. Its surface is rolling, and has a general inclination towards the North. A swamp extends along the North border. The soil is a fertile clay, sand and loam. It is watered by Trout and Little Trout Rivers. Burke (P. O.) is a hamlet on Little Trout river. Burke Hollow (Andrusville P. O.) is a small village on the O. R. R. North Burke is a Post Office. The first settlement was commenced in 1796 98, by Jehial Barnum, Noah Lee and others. The town has an area of 25,096 acres. CHATEAUGAY, pronounced Shat-a-ghe', was taken from Champlain, March 15th, 1799. "Harrison," (now Malone,) was taken off March 2d, 1805, Belmont, March 25th, 1833, and Burke, April 26th, 1844. A part was annexed to Jay, Essex Co., March 22d, 1822. The surface is rolling, with a northerly inclination. It is watered chiefly by the Chateaugay River and its branches. The river in its descent to the St. Lawrence has worn for itself a deep and narrow channel, affording in many places the most picturesque scenery. About a mile above the village the ravine is 200 feet deep, and in it a water fall of 50 feet. Half a mile east of the village of Chateaugay is an intermitting spring, rising from the sand, sometimes in sufficient volume to turn a mill, and at others perfectly dry. It has no regular periods of intermission. Sometimes it will flow for one or two years, but is usually dry about the close of summer. The water is remarkably clear and cold, but is never known to freeze. It emits bubbles of nitrogen gas. There is a smaller, but constant flowing Spring, less than a mile Northeast of this which discharges gas; as yet the nature of these gaseous emanations have not been ascertained. The soil is principally a clayey loam interspersed with clay. Chateaugay Village lies on the plain, a little east of the deep, narrow valley of the Chateaugay river, and is an important station on the O. R. R. On the 30th of June, 1856, a tornado destructive to life and property, passed over the town destroying and injuring nearly 200 buildings. Several lives were lost. The manufacturing interest of the village is not large, but quite an extensive mercantile trade is carried on, a large portion of which is with people of Canada. One of the greatest works of engineering on the 0. R. R. is the Chateaugay tunnel and embankment. The course of the river was changed from its naturnal bed and turned through an artificial tunnel, 300 feet long, 25 feet wide and 22 feet high, cut through the solid rock. The original bed was filled with earth for a road bed. The embankment is over 800 feet long and its top 160 feet above the level of the water. The first improvements in town were commenced by Benjamin Roberts and Nathan Beeman, early in 1796, on the site of the present village. In 1812 a blockhouse was built for protection against invasions by the enemy. In the fall of 1813, Gen. Hampton was encamped here for several weeks, with a force designed to co-operate with Gen. Wilkinson in the invasion of Canada, but late in November he returned to Plattsburgh, without accomplishing his object. In the spring of 1814, the enemy invaded the place, pressed teams, and took away a considerable amount of provisions left by the American army. The town has an area of 25,773 acres. CONSTABLE, named from Wm. Constable, agent and part proprietor, was taken from "Harrison," (now Malone,) March 13, 1807. Fort Covington was taken off February 28th, 1817, and Westville, April 25th, l829. The surface is rolling, with a northerly inclination. The soil is principally a light, sandy loam. A strip of sand lies along the South border and a swamp along the North. It is drained principally by Trout and Little Trout Rivers. Constable (East Constable P. O.) is a small village upon Trout River. Trout River (P. O.) is a hamlet near the Canadian line. The first settlement was begun by Jonathan Hapgood and Christopher Austin, from Milton, Vt., in June, 1800. The town has an area of 20,756 acres. DICKINSON, named from a gentleman in New Jersey, was taken from "Harrison," (now Malone,) April 11, 1808. Bangor was taken off June 15th, 1812, and Moira April 15th, 1828. It lies on the west border, and is 47 miles in length. It embraces the townships of "Annastown," "Williamsville," "Dayton," "Johnsmanor," "Cheltenham," "Lough Neagh," and Mount Morris. The north part is rolling and hilly, and has a sandy and loamy soil of good quality. The central and Southern parts are mostly sterile and rocky, mountainous regions. It is watered by the same streams as Brandon, and the hills abound in a large number of beautiful but mostly small lakes, the largest of which is "Tupper's Lake," on the South border, which is several miles long. Dickinson (P. O.) is on the St. Lawrence turnpike. East Dickinson is a post office. Thomasville, (Dickinson Center P. O.) is a small village on Deer River, founded by John Thomas, who built mills herein 1839. The principal settlements are in the North part, the central and Southern portions being almost an unbroken wilderness. A few settlers came into town previous to 1812. It has an area of 183,111 acres. DUANE, named from James Duane, proprietor and first settler, was formed from Malone, January 24th, 1828. Harrietstown was taken off March 19, 1841, and Brighton in November, 1858. It is an interior town lying Southeast of the center of the County, and embraces the townships of "Ewerettaville" and the north half of Fowler. Its surface is broken and mountainous, and the soil light and sandy, much of it unfit for cultivation. It is drained principally by the Deer River and east branch of the St. Regis. Magnetic iron ore has been found in considerable quantities. There is no village in the town. Duane is a post office. Jas. Duane, of Schenectady, son-in-law of Wm. Constable, acquired by marriage the title of a large portion of the town. In 1821-2 caused the tract to be surveyed, and began settlement in 1823-4. A forge was built in 1828, and a quarter furnace in 1838, by the Duane brothers on Deer River, both of which were supplied from ore found in town; but after being worked a few years, the works were abandoned with a heavy loss to the owners. The town has an area of 47,401 acres. FORT COVINGTON, named in honor of Brig.-Gen. Leonard Covington, who was mortally wounded at Crysler's Field, in 1813, and buried here, was taken from Constable, February 28th, 1817. Bombay was taken off March 30, 1833. It lies on the North border of the County, west of the center. Its surface is gently undulating. Its soil is in the North a rich clayey loam, and in the South, light and sandy, intermixed with loam. It is drained principally by Salmon, Little Salmon and Deer Rivers, the former of which is navigable to Fort Covington village. Fort Covington, (formerly "French's Mills") is situated on the North border of the town, near the center and on the Salmon river, which affords considerable water power, used for milling and manufacturing purposes. The first settlement in town was made by some French families about 1796, at "French's Mills." With this exception no settlers arrived until 1800, when a few Scotch families and some from Vermont came into town. In earlier times a large amount of the best timber near Salmon River had been stolen and sold in the Montreal market. Soon after the battle of Crysler's Field, the American army under Gen. Wilkinson ascended the Salmon River, and took up winter quarters at French's Mills, where they remained till the February following. They had hardly left the village when the enemy took possession and scoured and plundered the country. The town has an area of 21,978 acres. FRANKLIN was taken from Belmont, May 20fch, 1836, and made to embrace about half of township No. 9 and the whole of No. 10, of the Old Military Tract. It lies on the East border of the County, south of the center. Its surface is broken and mountainous, having an elevation of from 1,200 to 2,000 feet above tide. It is drained principally by the Saranac river which flows across the Southeast corner, land the headwaters of the Salmon river. Among the hills are several ponds and lakes. The soil is sandy and poorly adapted to agricultural purposes, except along the streams. Iron ore abounds, and mines have been worked, but are now abandoned as unprofitable, though in future time they may be re-opened, as they are said to be very rich. The settlements are mostly in the Southeast corner, lumbering being the chief business. The Old Port Kent and Hopkinton road passes diagonally through the town, winding among the mountains in its .course. A plank road extends from Franklin Falls to Keeseville. Franklin Falls, formerly called McClenathans Falls, on the Saranac, is a lumbering station of 12 or 15 houses. On the 29th of May, 1852, the entire village, consisting of 23 houses, store, tavern, extensive gang mills, and a large amount of lumber, was destroyed by a running fire, which swept from the woods upon the little village in the ravine with such velocity that the inhabitants barely had time to escape with their lives. Vermontville has about twenty houses. Alder Brook and Merrillsville are post offices. The first settlement was made at Franklin Falls by Wm. McClenathan and others in 1827, at which time a forge and saw mill were erected. There are in town five large gang saw mills and several small manufactories of buckskin leather, mittens and gloves. The town has an area of 106,091 acres. HARRIETSTOWN, named from Harriet, daughter of William Constable, and wife of James Duane, was taken from Duane, March 19,1841. It is the Southeast corner town and embraces the townships of "Harrietstown," "Barrymore" and "Tipperary," or Nos. 21, 24 and 27 of Great Tract No. 1. Its surface is very rocky and mountainous, the soil a light sandy loam, mostly unfit for cultivation. Mt. Seward named in honor of Wm. H. Seward, lies along the South border. It was called by the Indians "On-no-wan-lah," the big eye, and is 5,100 feet high. The principal settlement is in the northeast part of township No. 21. It is drained by the Saranac and head-waters of the Racket. Among the mountains is a large number of lakes and ponds, the largest of which is the Lower Saranac. Saranac Lake, on the line of Essex Co., is a post office. There is no village in town. It was first settled by Isaac Livingston and others about 1812. It has an area of 72,431 acres. MALONE was formed from Chateaugay, March 2d, 1805, as "Harrison," from Richard Harrison, proprietor. April 8th, 1808, changed to "Ezraville, from Ezra L'Hommedieu, of Suffolk Co., and again changed to Malone, June 10, 1812. It embraces Nos. 6 and 9 of Great Tract No. 1. It is an interior town, lying North of the Geological center of the County, and South of the center of population. Its surface is gently undulating in the North, and broken and hilly in the South. The Salmon river is the principal stream, it flows northwesterly through the town in a deep channel worn by its waters; in its rapid descent along the North border are extensive plains. The soil in the South among the hills is sandy and unproductive, but in the North is fertile, and well improved, when not covered by light drift deposits. A paint called "Duane Paint," resembling sienna and much used for outside painting, is manufactured from an iron ore found in the South part of the town. About a mile South of the Village is a quarry of Potsdam Sandstone of excellent quality for building, as the beautiful appearance of many of the buildings of the village will testify. Malone, the County seat, and the only incorporated village in the County, is finely situated on Salmon River, in the center of township No. 6. It is the seat of the Franklin Academy, finely located on an eminence in the Western part of the village. It is also the most important intermediate station on the Ogdensburgh Railroad, the machine and repair shops of which are located in the Northwestern part of the village, and will compare favorably with the best shops in the Eastern States. All the engines and cars used on the road are built here. The Bank of Malone is also located here, and is doing a flourishing business, probably very few villages in the State of equal size does as much general business as Malone. The village is supplied with pure spring water, conducted in pipes from an adjacent hill. The Water Works Company was incorporated March 23, 1857, with a capital of $15,000- The Fair Grounds of the Franklin County Agricultural Society are located in the valley just East of the Village. The ground is level and finely adapted to the purpose. The 98th Regiment N. Y. S. V. were stationed on these grounds while recruiting during the fall and winter of 1861 2; while they were here the grounds bore the name of "Camp Franklin." Titusville is a small village at the Great Falls, on Salmon river, in the south part of the town. The first settlements were made near Malone village by Enos, Nathan, and John Wood and others in 1802. An arsenal was built at the village in 1812, and sold in 1850, the proceeds of which were applied to beautifying the park in the eastern part of the village. In 1813 14 the place was visited and plundered by the British. The town has an area of 63,200 acres. MOIRA, named from the Earl of Moira, was taken from Dickinson April 15,1828. It lies on the West border of the County, North of the center. The surface is generally level, with a slight inclination towards the North. The soil is a sandy loam, generally fertile. Large quantities of Potato Starch is manufactured in town annually. The principal streams are Little Salmon River and Pike Crek. Moira Corners is a small village near the center, and is a station on the O. R. R. Brush's Mills on Little Salmon River, in the east part of the town is an important wooding station on the R. R. A little west of this village is an extensive establishment for preserving vegetables and fruits. The town fell to the share of Gilchrist and Fowler, upon apportionment, and was first settled by Appleton Foote in 1803. The town has ah area of 27,826 acres. WESTVILLE, named from the village so called from its location in the old town of Constable, was taken from Constable, April 25, 1829. It lies near the center of the North border of the County. The surface is generally level with a Northerly inclination. Salmon river, upon which are several falls, affording, a good supply of water-power, is the principal stream. The soil is a fertile clayey loam. A sulphur spring of some local notoriety lies near the Northeast corner of the town. Westville, (West Constable P. O.) is a small village on Salmon river. This town was owned by the Constable family and for many years Wm. Bailey, of Chateaugay, and Albon Man were agents. In 1822 the unsold portions were sold to Edward Ellice, of London, Eng. The town was first settled by Benjamin Seely, of Vermont, in 1806. The town has an area of 21,622 acres.