The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890: George Potter; Mark Marriott; Matthew White; Jonathan Lamson; George Frasier; Austin H. Coughlan; Alfred A. Hodges; Joseph Bullock; Seymour H. Pitcher; and George D. Sullivan.
The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890: John C. Fox; Robert Muzzy; Henry B. Whipple; Newton M. Wardwell; Albert Rice; Samuel Fuller; Jesse Maxson; Calvin C. Totman; Jacob Brimmer; and Giles Parker.
The location of this large and thriving village of 2000 inhabitants is on Sandy creek, one and a half miles from the Rodman town-line, and extending on its south to the towns of Lorraine and Ellisburg. The principal part of the village is in the valley of the creek, mostly on its north bank, although some of the private residences are on the terraces along the stream, giving the place an elevated appearance beautiful to behold, and admitting the display of much fine taste. The streets are wide, graded to a considerable extent, and cleanly kept. Outside of the business … Read more
This thriving institution of learning is located at Adams village, whose inhabitants early felt the need of better facilities for education than the common schools afforded; accordingly efforts were made at different times to found an institution of learning of a higher grade; but, owing to local jealousies and the powerful opposition of the friends of the Black River Institute, located at Watertown, and Union Academy, at Belleville, they were not successful. In the year 1852 an effort was made to establish a graded school, but it resulted in failure. In the year 1859, Captain Sidney J. Mendell, filled with … Read more
“Rising Sun Lodge, No. 124, F. & A. M.,” was organized, probably in 1806, with Robert Merrick as the first W. M. Regular meetings were held until the anti-Masonic times of 1827, when the lodge was suspended. In March, 1851, it was resuscitated with the same name, the number being changed to 234. The officers and charter members were B. Wright, W. M.; J. C. Cooper, S. W.; J. Griswold, J. W.; Dennis Waite, Almanson Tibbetts, Herman Strong, J. H. Whipple, Elijah Wright, and Titus Bassett, members. The present membership is more than 200. An elegant hall was formally dedicated … Read more
The Manufacturing Interests of the village date from 1800. That year David Smith built and got in operation a saw-mill near where the present mill stands. It did a great deal of work, yet it was not able to supply the demand for lumber, and even the slabs were used in building. From this circumstance the village was sometimes called ” Slab City.” A larger mill replaced the first one, which has long since been destroyed. In the western part of the village there is a good saw-mill, owned by Saunders & Wright. In 1802, David Smith got in operation … Read more
Agriculture has from the first been the leading industry of the people of Adams, and some of the cereals, especially barley, here produced are widely noted for their excellence. But it was not generally known, until about 1850, that the soil and climate of the town were especially favorable to the growth of vegetables, such as peas and beans. Its situation on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario gives the town the benefit from the precipitation of moisture in the form of heavy dew, which seem more essential to the perfect maturity of the above vegetables than any other condition. … Read more
The Military History of the town includes the names of a number who served in the war for American independence: Peter Doxtater, who was taken prisoner by the Mohawk Indians and kept three years, served as a scout in the Revolution and received a pension from Congress in 1834. He died at Adams, Dec. 1, 1842. Others on the pension-roll were John Merriam, Abel Bassett, Danforth Doty, Lucy Thompson, and Cynthia White. Paul Stickney was a sailor under Paul Jones, and Preserved Redway was one of Washington’s bodyguard. He was also present, as corporal of the guard, at, Gen. Burgoyne’s … Read more
The first town meeting was held at the house of Eliphalet Edmonds, and at the election held March 1, 1803, the following officers were chosen: Supervisor, Nicholas Salisbury; Clerk, Phineas Keith; Assessors, D’Estaing Salisbury, John W. Smith, David Grommon, Thomas White; Collector, Isaac Baker; Overseers of the Poor, Thomas White, David Comstock; Commissioners of Highways, Paul Stickney, Jacob Kellogg, Simeon Hunt; Constables, Isaac Baker, Anson Moody; Fence-viewers, David Comstock, David Smith, George H. Thomas, George Cooper; Pound-keepers, Jacob Kellogg, Benjamin Thomas; Overseers of Highways, Abraham Ripley, James Perry, Enan Salisbury, John Cowles, Consider Law, Solomon Robbins, Hezekiah Tiffany, Thomas White, … Read more
The following 10 biographical sketches were extracted from the Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y., 1685-1890: William Crouch, Zephaniah Hubbs, John N. Cook, William Jackson, Abenezer Fish, David Lindley, William Elliott, Joseph Ryder, William O. Case, and Joel Kilborn.