LeRay, Jefferson, NY

Earliest Settlers

THE EARLIEST SETTLERS

Into this wilderness the first come was Benjamin Brown, brother of General Jacob Brown. He explored the country in the autumn of 1801, chose a spot on the banks of Pleasant creek, where Le Rayville now is, and commenced to clear the ground and to make preparations for the construction of a dam across the stream. The closing in of winter suspended the work, and he and his party of laborers retired to Brownsville to await the opening of spring. In the following April he returned to his purchase, setting out from Brownsville on the 17^th of that month, under the lead of his brother Jacob, who proceeded with compass, to lay their course, Benjamin and his party following, and cutting a track as they went. Short as the journey was, it bought some hardship, for their provision-train, which has been expected to follow them closely, encountered so many obstacles and delays that it did not overtake them until the second day, when they had reached their destination, not a little exhausted from their prolonged season of fasting.

A log house was erected for the workmen, and, although Benjamin was then a bachelor, he made further preparations for the reception of a prospective Mrs. Brown. She arrived in July, a newly-made wife, and the first white woman who set foot in the present town of Le Ray. Meanwhile good progress had been made in the construction of a saw-mill upon the creek, an enterprise which ad chiefly induced Brown's settlement at this place. it is related that a the 'raising' of the frame men came from a long distance, not more to help on the work than to participate in the festivities of the occasion, for not only did they feast on a remarkable fine carcass of venison well roasted, but they liberally moistened the viand with deep draughts of spirituous sustenance. In those days they would as soon have thought of constructing a building with a frame as of rearing the frame without ardent spirits! As it was, all went off propitiously, and before winter came the mill was completed.

Several new settlers came in 1803, and more in 1804. Among those who arrived in the first-named year were Joseph Child, with his three sons, Daniel, Samuel and Moses, from Pennsylvania, Thomas Ward, Daniel Coffeen, John Petty, and Robert Sixbury. The Childs settled in the neighborhood which still bears their name, southwest from Le Rayville, and Ward located where Joseph Bichet now lives, between Le Rayville and Evans' Mills. In the following year she, with Samuel child, working in the employ of Cadwallader Child, made the first clearing in the present town of Philadelphia. Coffeen settled where B. Steinhilber's farm now is, a mile southeast of Evans' Mills, but removed the next year to a place near Sterlingville. Sixbury was one of the surveying party, who, in 1804, accompanied Cadwallader child to Alexandria Bay, and thence back to Great Bend. In the same year hem with John Hoover, from Herkimer county, purchased the improvement of D. Coffeen, when the latter moved to Philadelphia. From this place he (Sixbury) afterwards moved to a farm two miles north of Evans' Mills, upon which he spent a good portion of his long life. He became widely known and famed as a skilled and successful hunter, for which his iron constitution and great powers of endurance eminently fitted him. He died in Le ray in the fall of 1875, having passed the age of 112 years. John petty removed, in the fall of 1804, to Philadelphia, being one of the first settlers in that town.

Guillaume Coupart, better known in Le Ray as William Cooper, or "French Cooper," was one of the comers in 1803. He was born in Normandy, France, June 24, 1773, and about twenty years later fled fromhis native country to escape conscription. He went to Newfoundland, was there taken prisoner, and carried to Halifax, whence he escaped, went to the State of Connecticut, where he remained for some time. He came to the Black river country in 1798, and located in Pamelia. In 1803, as mentioned, he came to Le ray, and settled west of Le Raysville, and south of Ingerson's Corners. He became a very large land-owner in the town, and died here January 19, 1851. His son, Victor Cooper, now resides at Sandford's Corners station.

Roswell Woodruff, father of Norris W. Woodruff, late of Watertown, settled in 1804 at the place later called Jewett's Corners, from Captain Ezekiel Jewett, to whom Mr. Woodruff afterwards sold the property, and removed to New Hartford, Oneida county, where he passed the remainder of his life. Benjamin Kirkbride came also in 1804, settling about one mile southeasterly from Evans' Mills, on the tract afterwards owned by Ezekiel Steinhilber.

*From Jefferson County History, by L. H. Everts, 1878

Transcribed by Holice B. Young

Html by Debbie

December 26, 1999

[Jefferson County ALHN][NY ALHN]