Clayton, Jefferson, NY

Villages & Hamlets

DEPAUVILLE

Depauville is pleasantly situated on Chaumont River, at the head of the boat navigation, and six miles above Chaumont Bay. It received its name in honor of Francis Depau, an importing merchant and capitalist of New York, who purchased fifteen ---------- ---------- ---------. This place at first bore the name of Catfish Falls, by which it is still occasionally called. The creek above the place is still called Catfish Creek; hence the original name of the village. The first improvement was begun by Simon and Jared White, who came on as trespassers to get out lumber, but, being warned off by the agent, left a large amount of hewn timber, that rotted on the ground. From this place, they removed to Three-Mile Point, on Chaumont Bay, where, after a short sojourn, they started in May, 1817, for the west in an open boat. The party consisted of the brothers, their mother, wives, and children,--eleven in all, and had arrived in Hounsfield, a mile ot two beyond Sacket’s harbor, where they put up for the night. After leaving this pace they were never seen alive. They were many dissolute soldiers and sailors lounging about the neighborhood. Their boar was found robbed of household goods, several hundred dollars which had been in the possession of the men were gone, and their bodies exhibited unmistakable marks of violence. The children were found drowned, but the bodies of the women were never found. These circumstances warranted the belief of robbery and murder; but, although, the excitement was intense and general, nothing occurred to settle suspicion upon any party sufficient to warrant an arrest.

In 1816, Nathaniel Norton, Jr., who had previously been a merchant at Russia, New York, came as agent of C. H. and E. Wilkes, owners of 12,000 acres of Penet’s Square and adjoining Depauville. Soon after, David and Nathaniel Holbrook came to the place with their father, and under a contract of Alexander Le Ray, the agent of Depau, erected a rude apology for a saw- and grist-mill, but upon failure of payment the premises were sold, in 1824, to Stephen Johnson and Peter Martin, who had located as merchants and lumbermen. At this time there were but two or three log houses and the rude mills above referred to.

GRINDSTONE ISLAND

Grindstone Island was first settled in 1802, by Amariah Howe. Among other early settlers were Daniel Gross, Lewis Jones, Anthony Lince, Samuel Johnson, Williams Wells, and others. The principal employment of these parties was rafting. The first adult death in the town of Clayton (to which Grindstone Island belongs) occurred here in 1804. It was that of Mrs. Olive Howe, who was interred on the island. The geological formation of the island is mostly granite; and an extensive quarry is about to be put in operation by a Montreal company. This granite is susceptible to high polish, and is second only to Scotch granite, which it very much resembles in variety of color and fineness of quality. The island has an area of 5530 acres, and a population, according to the last census, of 350. It contains some good farms has a school, and other evidences of thrift and prosperity. (Jefferson County History, by L. H. Everts, 1878)

Transcribed by Holice B.Young

Html by Debbie

December 26, 1999

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