Clayton, Jefferson, NY

Businesses

THE GREAT FIRE

June 6, 1856, Clayton was visited by quite a destructive conflagration, which greatly retarded its business development. The fire started in a building that stood on the present site of the band-stand, next to A. F. Barker’s brick block, and burned through to Thomas Rees’ warehouse. The fire started in the clothing store of L. d. Davidson. The sufferers were L. D. Davidson, clothing store; E. L. Hawes, shoe shop; John Johnston, dwelling and store; Amos Ellis, M. D., drug store; Hale & Deans, general store; Perry Caswell, boots and shoes; William Delaney, clothing store; John Keating, clothing; R. G. Angel & Co., general store; and one other building, the occupant of which could not be ascertained. The total loss was about $25,000; on which was an insurance of only $6,000.

The business facilities of Clayton are unsurpassed by any other village of like population in the State; and the abundance, cheapness, and quality of its domestic market make it desirable as a place of residence. Its delightful location, in close proximity to the Thousand Islands, on the St. Lawrence, and the reputation of the magnificent scenery surrounding the village on every hand, draw multitudes of tourists, and visitors, who pronounce a summer stay at Clayton the height of enjoyment and repose. Here, within sight, are many of the beautiful isles forming that most wondrous of all archipelagos. It is justly celebrated as affording the very best of piscatorial sports, and is among the best trolling grounds for muscalonge, black bass, and pickerel on this continent.The salubrity of the air, the health-inspiring lake and river breezes, conspire to make it desirable place to pass the summer months.The convenience, with which the village is reached, either by rail or water, is also a feature of its general popularity. Clayton is the terminus of the Utica & Black River Railroad; while the elegant steamer "Faxton," Captain Holt commanding, tri-daily trips to Cape Vincent during the entire season, there connecting with all trains on the Rome, Watertown, & Ogdensburgh Railroad.

The well-deserved reputation of the Clayton hotels is also a worthy auxiliary to the comfort and enjoyment of those visiting this beautiful resort. Pre-eminent among the old established hotels is the

WALTON HOUSE

which maintains an enviable position among watering-place houses of entertainment for good management, an admirable cuisine, and agreeable accommodations. Mr. S. D. Johnston, the proprietor, has had along experience in the business, and an extended residence on this vicinity renders him capable of understanding the peculiar requirements of his guests, and his affable disposition and courtesy make him a popular host. Nor is the

HUBBARD HOUSE

behind its neighbor in all of these requisite qualities; and, on the whole, it is a matter of congratulation alike to the citizens and the pleasure-seekers to have tow such admirable hotels at their disposal.

As an evidence of the moral and material progress of the place we may mention that it has four churches,--denominationally classified Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Protestant Episcopal, and Roman Catholic; a well-managed graded school, and an ably-edited weekly newspaper; a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and a Temperance Reform Club.

THE BUSINESS INTERESTS

embrace three dry-goods stores, of which S. H. Johnson, George McKinley, & Co., and H. S. Barker are the proprietors respectively. There are two clothing stores, five general stores, of which those of D. C. porter, H. C. Rees, and W. W. Angel are the most extensive. There are two drug stores, of which that of Amos Ellis, M. D., is in all its appointments equal to those usually found in the larger cities. The building is as spacious, the stock of goods as fine and varied as those found in any similar establishment in the State. The other drug store is kept by D. Barton in Captain M. Halpin’s imposing new stone block,--the most magnificent and substantial structure in this part of the country. There are one boot and show store, that of Perry Caswell (a merchant of nearly forty years’ experience in the village), two jewelry stores, and the usual number of other business establishments and mechanical shops. There are a grist-mill, foundry, saw-mill, two planing-mills, and other industrial interests; a ship-yard, operated by S. G. Johnston; the extensive rafting and lumber-forwarding establishment of Thomas Rees; the private banking house of Barker & Grant; and other minor interests too numerous to mention. It has four resident ministers; three physicians, of whom Dr. A. Ellis is the oldest practitioner; two lawyers; one dentist; and one photographer. The industry and energy of the inhabitants have done what they could to vie with the munificent lavishments of nature which the place enjoys; all and everything, is short, of man’s handiwork betoken the activity and ingenuity of a tasteful, industrious, and enterprising class of people.

PHYSICIANS

Dr. Amos Ellis has been in the practice of his profession as a physician of the regular school for forty-two years in Clayton. He is a native of Jefferson County, having been born in Brownville, January 9, 1810. He received his medical education at Fairfield, and subsequently studied with Walter Welch, M. D., at Adams, and began practicing in 1833. He is a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society.

Dr. William Frame located in Depauville in 1822, where he practiced until his death in September, 1847. He was educated in Herkimer County, New York, and commenced the practice of medicine in Russia, in that county, in 1804. His son, Luke E. Frame, M. D., now of Depauville, studied the science under his father, and graduated at the Geneva medical college in 1844, and has been in practice in his present place of residence ever since. Solomon V. Frame, (son of Luke E. Frame), now a practicing physician in Clayton, is a graduate of the Buffalo medical college, class of 1863. Another son, Silas Wright Frame, M.D., is a resident physician of Belleville; and is a graduate of Bellevue Hospital medical college, of the class of 1875.

Dr. H. A. McIlmoyl is located also at Clayton, Dr. Aaron Sumner practiced in Depauville from 1830 to 1876.

We are indebted to the following-named gentlemen for assistance in the compilation of the above history of the town of Clayton: Thomas Rees, Amos Ellis, M.D.; Jerry Carter, James F. and R. G. Sngel, O. A. Smith. John Johnston, A. F. Barker, James D. Gloyd, Alfred Fox, Esq., Luke E. Frame, M.D.; Thomas Faire, Captain Elliott, Perry Caswell, Erastus Wright, William Baxter, E. J. Seeber, Esq., Schuyler Osborn, A. Buskirk, Richard Terry, H. E. Morse, R. M. Esselstyn, Esq., Revs. S. F. Danforth, A. W. Cady, James J. Sherry, and others. (Jefferson County History, L. H. Everts, 1878)

Transcribed by Holice B.Young

Html by Debbie

December 26, 1999

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