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THE ORIGINAL SETTLERS
The settlers at Port Putnam
and down the river from that point, previous to the war of 1812, are
believed to have been the persons already named.--Putnam, Macombs, and
Sternberg; Jonathon Cummings, Daniel Spinning, Elnathan Judd, Norman
Wadworth, John B, Esselstyn, who came in 1803, and was prominent in the
town for many years; Eddy Cole; Caleb Lobdell, Avery Smith, and another
family of the same name; Mr. Phelps, William Hollenbeck, Charles Gillett,
Orison and Zimri Butterfield, Daniel Nicol, Abner Hubbard,--who never
tried to tell as good a story as Barret Hubbard,--Samuel Brittain, and a
Mr. Dodd. As late as 1815 only seven houses could be found on the site of
Cape Vincent village, and for many years, the forest was left unbroken
from a point just below the corner of William street to Port Putnam. The
settlers generally came in by the State road, and only a single cabin was
built on the route between Chaumont and the St. Lawrence river for at
least fifteen years. Sometimes, when the road was bad, it would take
thirteen or fourteen hours to make the journey. Often it was impassable.
This log cabin was occupied by Mr. Soper and his family, and was a very
Interpreter's house to the pilgrims coming into the new country. In 1815 a
most beautiful grove of eighteen or twenty elm-trees was growing on the
beach at the foot of Point street, just beyond the euphonious "Toad
Hole." All that beach has since been washed away. On the lot now
owned by Mr. John Grapotte, and also on the lot of Mrs. Pool, were two
famous deer-licks. The crack of many a hunter's rifle was heard in the
vicinity of these licks sixty-five years ago. In connection with the names
of the first settlers, the names of those on the site of Cape Vincent
village should be given. They were: Holleb Phelps, Richard M. Esselstyn,
John Mathews, Uncle Nash, Eber Kelsey, Dr. Ainsworth, of Vermont, Nathan
Lake, and one Proven, whose other name cannot be recalled. These were here
in 1812.
Elnathan Judd came to the
town in 1809, and settled on the farm where is son Philetus, a man above
sixty years of age, is still lliving. Richard M. Esselstyn came to
Chaumont, as a surveyor, in 1801. The next year he returned to Claverock,
his birthplace and in 1806 came back to the county and settled with his
brother, John B., on a farm below Port Putnam. He was county clerk during
the war of 1812. He died of yellow fever at Utica, October 2, 1822,
greatly lamented. Dr. Ainsworth was the first physician who settled in
this part of the county. Eber Kelsey came from Leyden in 1809, and, with
the aid of about twenty men cleared a tract of Fifty acres of land on the
site of the present village built a house, a barn, tavern, and wharf, and
became himself a permanent resident. John B. Esselstyn was one of the very
first pioneer settlers who spend his days and strength for the good of the
town, and died upon the soil. He settled on Cape Vincent territory in
1803. Six years later he formed a partnership with his brother, Richard
M., who built a store and commenced trade. He lived to a good old age, and
his memory will long be cherished. In other parts of the town, about 1820,
and before this date, might have been found Michael Van Schaick, John
Vincent, Willard Ainsworth, Joseph Cross, Dr. Sacket, Dr. Brewster,
Benjamin Estes, Captain Caton, and Captain Merritt. Captain Merritt sailed
the schooner "Appollonia" from this port; and on her last voyage
she was struck by lightning about thirty miles off Mexico bay. She sunk so
quickly that the crew had barely time to get out the small boat and
escape.
The first large schooner
built at Cape Vincent was the "Merchant," the iron-work being
done by Samuel and John Forsyth. This schooner made a trip to the head of
Lake Ontario and back in three days, with a cargo. Besides the names
already given were Ira Hadley, James Borland, Abner Rogers, James Buckley,
Oliver Pool, Jacob Bedford, Philip and Abner Gage, Fuller, Green, Hassler,
Converse, Pigsley, Holman, Marshall, Van Husen, Hoff,--but time would fail
in an attempt to mention the host of enterprising men who made Cape
Vincent the field of their achievements. Many of these persons mentioned
were farmers; and it is the farming class of the community, whose names
are seldom seen or heard, from which the world gets its living. Stop
raising wheat, and making butter, and what would become of the professions
or histories? (Jefferson County History, by L.
H. Everts, 1878 - Transcribed by Holice
B.Young. Original HTML by Debbie
Axtman) top
THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT
This portion of the town,
now occupied chiefly by French and German residents, was originally
settled by Americans, of whom the names of Jacob Van Nostrand, Aaron
Whitcomb, Samuel F. Mills, Phineas and Asahel Powers, and Thomas Shaw was
mentioned. Thomas Shaw came from New Jersey, and on his way was offered a
plat of ground within the present upper limits of New York city, for $100
per acre. He thought he could do better in Jefferson County, and did not
purchase. He always kept his stock till it died, never selling or killing
an animal for forty years.
Through the influence of Mr.
Le Ray a colony came from France, and gave the name to the settlement.
After the French a company of Germans appeared and made themselves
neighbors. The American families gradually sold out their farms to the
Frenchmen or Germans, although the greater part of the immigrants took up
new land and hewed out their own fortunes. The colonies were both Roman
Catholic in faith, and for many years the preaching and religious services
were conducted in both languages; the worship was in the same building.
Several of the old people are still unable to speak or understand much of
the English tongue. (Jefferson County History,
by L. H. Everts, 1878 - Transcribed by Holice
B.Young. Original HTML by Debbie
Axtman) top
DISTINGUISHED FRENCH
FAMILIES
About 1818 a number of
educated French people came to Cape Vincent, having been involved in the
reverses of Napoleon the First, in consequence of which they found it
necessary to flee from their native land. They had no connection with the
French colony.
Among those whose names are now remembered
by the old inhabitants were Peter Francis Real and his con-in-law, General
Rolland, Camille Arnaund, Jermaux, and Pigeon. Peter Real was a county,
and the chief of police under Napoleon and an enthusiastic student in
astronomy. Some of the finest instruments of that age of science were
brought to Cape Vincent from France, and the boy who was privileged to
visit the upper room in Count Real's house where those instruments, as
well as others, were kept, gazed in perfect wonder at the display. The
count lived about two years in a hired house, and then built at the head
of Gouvello street what was currently known as the "cup and
saucer" dwelling, because it resembled those two articles of
sewing-society comfort. It should not be inferred, however, that it was
made for sewing-society purposes. On the other hand, there is every reason
to believe that a plan was laid by these French residents to spirit
Napoleon away from St. Helena and bring him to Cape Vincent,, with the cup
and saucer house for a home. But napoleon died in 1821, and for this
reason, or some other good one, the town just escaped a world-wide
notoriety. The astronomical instruments were taken back to France when
these exiles returned, after the death of the great chief. Mr. Louis
Peugnet was also an officer in Napoleon's army. Pigeon never wore anything
on his head while in Cape Vincent, summer or winter, because he had made a
vow to that effect, to last so long as Napoleon was held a prisoner on his
lonely island. And yet a story is told of him, that, while once watching
the boys as they were merrily skating on the river, he became very
desirous of learning the art. But the falls and the bumps! To avoid any
unnecessary collision after the skates were strapped on, he tied a cushion
over his head and a pillow just below the middle of his body behind, and
went out among the boys for his first skating. How he succeeded tradition
does not inform us. (Jefferson County History,
by L. H. Everts, 1878 - Transcribed by Holice
B.Young. Original HTML by Debbie
Axtman) top
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