LeRay, Jefferson, NY

LeRaysville

LE RAYSVILLE

When Benjamin Brown selected the site for his mill and dwelling, he probably had an eye to utility alone; but if he had been seeking expressly for a location of natural beauty, he could hardly have found it elsewhere in greater degree than at the spot which he chose, on the banks of Pleasant creek. And although Le Raysville is now but an obscure hamlet, with its former importance only a memory, its grand manor-house in decay, and the hospitable owner and his distinguished guests in their graves, yet the attractions which nature lavished on the place are still there, and will remain.

Four years after Brown settled at the place where the village now is, Dr. Baudry, a Frenchman, who had been sent by Le Ray to choose a location for his residence and land-office, arrived at this place, and after having made thorough examination of other eligible points to which his attention had been invited in different parts of the purchase made his selection here, and at once commenced preparations for the erection of the proprietor's house.

The felling of timber was commenced in the fall of 1806, and the sawing was done at Brown's mill in the succeeding winter and spring. Early in 1807 the frame was made ready and raised under the superintendence of Ethni Evans, who, probably, was also the master-carpenter of the whole work. The house was not entirely finished when the proprietor came to occupy it in 1808; but he took possession as it was, amid the smoke of the burning log-heaps upon the clearing. The site was upon a commanding eminence, half a mile southwest from Brown's, and near the head of his mill-pond. It was covered with a heavy growth of deciduous trees, principally maple and elm. In thinning the grove, discrimination was made against the elms in many cases, and, while they were marked for destruction, the maples and beeches were left. A broad opening was cut from the main entrance of the house, along the plateau, to the brow of the hill overlooking the pond, and from thence an unrivaled prospect was had, down the valley of Pleasant creek, over the roofs of the incipient village. "The heir-apparent to the princely palaces and garden of Pussy" had abundant reason to be pleased with his new home in the wilderness!

The first agent in charge of the land-office at Le Raysville was Moss Kent, a brother of the chancellor. When M. Le Ray returned temporarily to France in 1810, leaving his son Vincent in charge of his affairs, Kent remained to assist in their management. His residence was in the household of his patron. In 1816 he retired from the agency, and was succeeded in that position by Samuel C. Kanady, who held it until his death in 1835. In 1816, Le Ray returned from France, bringing with him his daughter Theresa and her husband, the Marquis de Gouvello. They had just then been married, and their visit to Le Raysville was prolonged to about a year. Le Ray remained for many years, making his home, most of the time, at his ville. During these years he was constantly busy with his improvements: building mills, promoting settlements, and endeavoring in every way to advance the interest of those who had located on his lands.

The post-office of Le Raysville was established in the spring of 1818, upon the first opening of the mail-route from Denmark to Wilna, by way of this village. Prior to this, the mail for the land-office and for the people of Le Raysville and vicinity had come via Champion, being usually brought from thence by Mr. Le Ray himself, who was never weary of obliging the people of the town. The first post-master was Samuel C. Kanady, who resided in the Village, though employed in the land-office at the villa. He held the office until his death in death in 1836. His successors have been ------------Whipple, William Phelps, Ennis Mosher, Horace Grover, Albert Mosher, and William S. Phelps. The first physician of the village was Dr. Horatio Orvis, who had at first located with his father, where J. J. Kinney now lives, but soon after came to Le Raysville. He continued in practice for a great number of years.

The first public-house, called the Le Raysville hotel, was opened about 1810. One of the early proprietors was Amasa Barber. It has been recently closed, and the village has now no public-house. Another hotel was started on the east side of the creek, by Curtis Mann, and was afterwards kept y several proprietors, among whom were Marvin Kingsbury and Stephen Macomber. It is now a dwelling house. The first and only store in the village was owned by Mr. Le Ray, and was for some time carried on in charge of a clerk named Devereaux; afterwards (about 1821), by Martin Hubbard, then by S. C. Kanady. It is still in existence, owned by W. S. Phelps.

Mills and manufacturing industries have been very few in Le Raysville. The saw-mill of Benjamin Brown passed to the hands of Curtis Mann, then to S. C. Kanady, and later to Wm. Phelps. It has been several times rebuilt, or, more correctly, several mills have occupied the site, the last having been erected by Wm. S. Phelps in 1856, of which nothing now remains but the foundation and some rusty iron-work.

A very considerable business in cabinet-making was done for many years by William Phelps, who came to Le Raysville in 1814, and opened his trade in a shop which he built the following year, on the est side of the main street. Afterwards he built the stone shop on the west side, which may still be seen there, but it has years ago ceased to be used in the business for which it was erected. Upon a small tributary entering the creek upon the east side a saw-mill was built many years since Curtis Mann, and afterwards sold to Wm. Phelps. An Axe-helve factory was added by Leonard Fortune, and is now owned by Charles Mosher. The saw-mill is the property of Heman Wafel. At one time a box-factory was there, but has been discontinued.

In 1825, the work of demolition of the Le ray residence was commended, to make room for the erection of a more elegant and luxurious one. It was built of stone, smoothly plastered upon the outside. The main building was built with about 60 feet front, and nearly or quite the same depth. Attached to this was a wing, large enough for a mansion itself. A lofty portico on the southerly front was supported by four massive columns. Internally, the finish was of the best. In those days, there were no planing and moulding machines to turn out fair-looking but trashy work; all was done by the slow hand-process, and in this case, at least, there was no slight or sham. Alfred Vebber, who now lives about two miles from Evans' Mills, was busy for months in making the doors of cherry-wood paneled with choicest maple. All was of the best material and workmanship. The mansion was completed in 1827, and was at that time said to be the most splendid establishment west of the Hudson. On this mansion Le Ray loved and dispensed an elegant hospitality for a period of about 5 years before his return to France, which occurred in 1832. Once more he came to America, and spent a few months at Le Raysville, in the year of 1836, then made a final return to France, where he died, on the last day of the year 1840, at the good age of eighty years.

During his life Monsieur Le Ray de Chaumont was respected and beloved by the people of the county of Jefferson, and since his death he is only mentioned in terms of affection and eulogy. He was extremely liberal in the encouragement which he gave to public improvements and to the promotion of education and religion, giving sites for school-houses and churches, and often supplementing these gifts by donations of material and money. To such as were indebted to him by reason of land-purchases, he was more than indulgent. Those who settled on his tract he seemed to regard as under his especial protection, to be defended against distress or destitution from whatever cause. In his household a majority of the servants were natives of La Belle France, but a few were colored Americans, and among the latter was a negress named Rachel, of great age, and consequently of great assumed importance, who was not too old to be extremely desirous of gaining recognition and respect from her French fellow-servants, and who, as a means to that end, treated those of her own color with scarcely disguised contempt. There are those still living in Le Ray who remember how in their childhood they went timidly to the mansion with blackberries for sale, and how they were met, and repulsed by Aunt Rachel with the sharp remark, "No! don't want no blackb'rys; got a heap too much black round dis yere house now" (with a look of disdain at her colored co-servitors). But when the children had turned away with heavy hearts, a light tap was heard at the window, and they saw the kindly master of the house beckoning them to him. Perhaps at that moment he was entertaining a marquis or a marshal of France, but, if so, he excused himself to his guests, that he might gladden the little ones' hearts by purchasing their wares which he did not need. Such acts showed that innate benevolence which made him universally popular and esteemed.

The land-office remained at the Le Ray manor until about 1836, when it was finally removed to Carthage. The last agent here was Patrick Somerville Stewart, who succeeded Mr. Kanady at the death of the latter. Jules R. Payen, a French gentleman, became the purchaser of a tract of 2000 acres of the Le Ray lands, embracing the manor-house, where he made his residence, and where he died July 26, 1862. His daughter, Mrs. Wm. S Phelps, of Le Raysville, is the present owner of the mansion, and lands surrounding it.

The stately house, the office once so busy, the conservatory, and all things that the hand of man placed there, are desolate and decaying, but the beech and maple groves are as grand, their shade as deep, and their foliage as gorgeous as ever, and the little stream flows as merrily through the grounds, with waters as copious and as marvelously clear as on the day when all this beauty first charmed the eyes of Le Ray de Chaumont. (Jefferson County History, by L.  H. Everts, 1878)

Transcribed by Holice B. Young

Html by Debbie

December 26, 1999

[Jefferson County ALHN][NY ALHN]