The first town meeting was held at the residence of Lyman Ellis, at which the following town officers were elected: Edward Boomer, supervisor; Lyman Ellis, clerk; Caleb Ellis and Amos B. Noyes, overseers of the poor; Jeremiah Mason, Samuel Rhodes, and Benjamin Boomer, commissioners of highways; Matthew Boomer, constable and collector; Abiah Jenkins, constable; John Thomas, Christopher Edmonds, and Dyer McCumber, fence viewers; C. Ellis, Jeremiah Mason, Timothy Harris, Benjamin Boomer, D. McCumber, Joseph Holley, overseers of highways.

April 11, 1796, Marvel Ellis, of Troy, N. Y., contracted with William Constable for the purchase of this town, excepting a marshy tract each side of Sandy Creek, near the lake, which was afterwards included, and a tract of 3,000 acres in the southwest corner, sold to Brown & Eddy. The sum of $22,111.50 was paid, and a deed given, March 22, 1797, upon which a mortgage was given back upon the balance, amounting to $98,943.85. This mortgage embarrassed the early sales, and confidence was not restored until the property had reverted to the Constable estate, some years afterwards.

The greater part of the town was surveyed by Calvin Guiteau, in 1796, except the eastern part, which was surveyed by Nelson Doolittle, and the 3,000-acre tract in 1800, by Benjamin Wright, of Rome; the latter, in 1808, surveyed the whole town.

The first school commissioners and inspectors for the town were elected at a special meeting held July 24, 1813, and were as follows: commissioners, Oliver Scott, Elijah Woodworth, and William Case; inspectors, George Andrus, Lyman Ellis, and George Jenkins. Asa Averill was subsequently appointed school commissioner in place of Oliver Scott, resigned. In 1813-14 the town was divided into 17 school districts, and public school buildings were first erected during those years. Previous to this school-houses were built and schools maintained by subscription.

The following account is taken from Spafford’s Gazetteer of 1813: --

“In 1820 there were four grist-mills, six saw-mills, one trip-hammer, a distillery, and a convenient number of common mechanics. There were six school-houses, which also served for worshipping assemblies. Ellis village, or Ellisburgh (?), contained a grist and a saw-mill, a fulling-mill, distillery, school-house, and about 14 or 15 houses and stores.”

From the same author’s Gazetteer of 1824 we quote: --

“In 1820 the taxable property was $242,465. There were 13,454 acres of improved land, 4,386 cattle, 682 horses, and 8,729 sheep. There were made in families 51,576 yards of cloth in 1821. There were in town five grist-mills, 14 saw-mills, one oil-mill, five fulling-mills, four carding machines, three trip-hammers, two distilleries, and 13 asheries. The school districts numbered 23, where were taught l,039 children. The schools were kept eight of the 12 months.”

In 1880 Ellisburgh had a population of 4,810. The town is located in the first school district of Jefferson County, and in 1888 had 31 school districts, five of which were joint, in which 34 teachers were employed 28 weeks or more. There were 939 scholars attending school, and the aggregate days attendance during the year was 85,067. The total value of school buildings and sites was $27,020, while the assessed valuation of all the districts was $2,130<815. The whole amount raised for school purposes was $9,071.06, $5,175.33 of which was received by local tax. S. Whitford Maxson was school commissioner.

ELLISBURGH (p. o.) village is located on the south branch of Sandy Creek, about four miles form its mouth, and is the oldest village in the town. A postoffice was established here in 1806, and Lyman Ellis was the first postmaster. Among the early industries here was a clothing works, by Joseph Bullock, Hiram Warren’s tannery, Lyman Ellis’s grist and saw-mill, above “Stone Mills,” and a grist-mill owned by Andrew Scott and Thomas Davis, and located where the Hudson furniture factory now is. The village is 23 miles from Watertown, 163 from Albany, and 305 from New York city. It contains three or four general stores, two drug stores, a hardware store, wholesale seed store, two hotels, two grist-mills, a saw-mill, sash, door, blind, and furniture manufactory, a number of shops, a cheese factory, telephone and American express offices, a daily stage to Pierrepont Manor, and population of about 400.

BELLEVILLE (p. o.) village is situated on the north branch of Sandy Creek, 20 miles from Watertown, and 175 miles from Albany. Settlements were commenced here by Metcalf Lee, Bradley Freeman, Joshua Freeman, Martin Barney, James, Benjamin, and Jedediah McCumber, and others who engaged in farming, about 1802. The place being favorably situated for mills it gradually grew to a village. Its name is said to have been suggested by Calvin Clark, an early merchant here, and taken from Belleville, Canada. It had first been known as Hall’s Mills, from Giles Hall, who, in 1806, purchased of J. McCumber a hydraulic privilege here. The first merchant was Laban Brown, and John Hawn kept the first tavern. The Sackets Harbor and Ellisburgh Railroad, completed in 1853, passed through this village and gave it a healthy impulse for a time. The road was discontinued in 1862. The first school was taught here in 1805, in a blacksmith shop, and in 1807 a log school-house was erected. This building was without floors, and its roof was made of elm bark. The Ellisburgh Agricultural Society’s fair is held here. Belleville village was incorporated in 1860, and at an election held on May 29, of that year, the following officers were elected: De Alton Dwight, Alcander (sic) Dickinson, Daniel Hall, Abner M. Durfee, Calvin Littlefield, trustees; Arthur J. Brown, clerk; William R. Pennell, Collins F. Armsbury, Henry F. Overton, assessors; James E. Green, treasurer; Cyrus N. Rowe, collector; Patterson W. Stevens, poundmaster. At this election 52 votes were cast. Although Belleville is located principally on the north bank of the north branch of Big Sandy Creek, the corporation includes a considerable territory on the south side of the stream. The village now contains the Union Academy, two grist and flouring-mills, a woolen-mill, a cheese factory, four general stores, a hardware store, one millinery and fancy goods store, two clothing stores, a hardware store, drug store, a dealer in agricultural implements, a furniture dealer, two wholesale seed dealers, two meat markets, tow blacksmith shops, a shoe shop, two dentists, two physicians, an hotel, and about 500 inhabitants.

PIERREPONT MANOR is a post village and station on the R., W. & O. Railroad, and is located in the eastern part of the town, 19 miles from Watertown, 164 from Albany, and 306 from New York city. Stages run daily to Ellisburgh, Woodville, and Rural Hill villages. The first settlement was commenced here in 1805 by Joseph Allen, Pardon Earl, and Arnold Earl, who came from Galway, N. Y., by way of Redfield to Adams, and thence worked their way though the forest to Bear Creek. William Tabor, William Case, and several others soon after settled here and engaged in farming. Mr. Allen opened the first inn, and Oliver Snow the first store. Mr. Allen also kept the first blacksmith shop. Pardon Earl became a local land agent and a man of extensive business, residing here until his death in 1844, aged 62 years. The first school-house here was built on the north side of Bear Creek, in 1811, and served the purpose of school-house-, church, and place for public meetings. The first school teacher was Orson Tuller. Thomas E. Williamson was the first postmaster. The village now contains one hotel, two general stores, one millinery and fancy goods store, two blacksmith shops, harness shop, meat market, a fruit evaporating establishment, a livery stable, two churches (Episcopal and Union), about 60 dwellings, and 300 inhabitants. It has telegraph, telephone, and express offices.

MANNSVILLE (p. O.) is located in the southeastern part of the town, on Skinner Creek, 21 miles from Watertown, 161 from Albany, and 303 from New York city, and is a station on the R. W. & O. Railroad. David I. Andrus, as agent for Samuel Wardwell, of Rhode Island, was the first settler here previous to 1811. In 1822 Daniel Wardwell, son of Samuel, came on and took charge of the purchase made several years previously by his father, and in 1823 commenced the erection of a cotton factory, which stood a short distance below the present village, and was fitted for 600 spindles. Major H. B. Mann soon after purchased an interest in the factory, which was burned February 16, 1827. Upon the establishment of a postoffice here the present name was given to the village in honor of Newton Mann, one of the early settlers. David I. Andrus erected the first saw-mill here, and afterwards the first dwelling, which was subsequently used as a tavern. The village now contains two general stores, two drug and grocery stores, a grocery, flour, and feed store, a grocery, bake stuffs and confectionery store, a hardware and agricultural implement store, a furniture and undertaking establishment, three blacksmith shops, a millinery and fancy goods tore, shoe shop, a cider and vinegar manufactory, grist-mill, saw-mill, tannery, two meat markets, an hotel, photograph gallery, a lawyer, three physicians, several churches and about 500 inhabitants.

WOODVILLE (p.o.) village is located on the north branch of Sandy Creek, about three miles from its mouth, 22 miles from Watertown, 170 from Albany, and 312 from New York city. The settlement was begun here by Ebenezer, Ephraim, and Jacob Wood, sons of Rev. Nathaniel Wood, of Middletown, Vt., who came in to look for lands with Orimal Brewster, Simeon Titus, Ephraim Wood, Jr., and Hezekiah Leffingwell, in the fall of 1803. May 25, 1804. Ebenezer and Ephraim Wood purchased a tract of 754 acres, for which they paid $2,294.80, and, in March, Ephraim came in with a daughter and three sons. Nathaniel Wood, father of Ephraim, came on in June, 1804. Obediah Kingsbury, Oliver Scott, and others came the same year. A small saw-mill was built and in 1805, got in operation. In 1805 Ebenezer Wood, Nathaniel Wood, Jr., Mosely Wood, Samuel Truesdale, and families, and several young men, came in. Oliver Batcheller opened the first blacksmith shop in the village about 1810. The first store and the first hotel were kept by Ebenezer Wood, in his dwelling. The postoffice was established here between 1820 and 1830. The village now contains one general store, an hotel, grist-mill, door, sash, and blind factory, wagon shop, blacksmith shop, paper-mill, saw-mill, cheese factory, a drug and grocery store, telegraph, telephone, and express offices, and about 100 inhabitants. J. F. Converse’s Riverside stock farm is also located here.

RURAL HILL (p. o.) is a small hamlet in the northwestern part of the town. The postoffice was established here in 1849, and Philo Hungerford was appointed postmaster. The first settlement was commenced here in the spring of 1815 by Jedediah Hill. The locality was once known as “Buck Hill.” Edwin Burnham opened a store here before the establishment of the postoffice, calling it “Rural Hill store,” hence the present name. It has had at difference times several stores and shops and a hotel, but at present has very little business.

WARDWELL is a settlement in the northeastern part of the town on the south branch of Sandy Creek, and was once considered of enough importance to have a postoffice, which has been discontinued.

Union Academy of Belleville. --- Some time previous to 1824 Rev. Joshua Bradley, an eminent Baptist divine, made a persistent effort to interest the people in the vicinity of Belleville on the subject of education. He canvassed the towns of Ellisburgh and Henderson, here and there, and everywhere, again and again, to influence the people to give from their limited means for the purpose of schools. Before the building was determined upon he opened a school of higher grade at Mather’s Mills, in the upper part of the house belonging to John R. Hawes, and employed Mr. H. H. Haff as teacher. This school was opened in the fall of 1824, and its prosperity awakened a greater interest, so that the people were anxious to establish an academic institution in Belleville. After a long trial Mr. Bradley presented a plan for a manual labor school, and stock was subscribed sufficient to erect a building. A lot of about six acres was given by Giles Hall to be forever after used for school purposes. April 13, 1826, an act of incorporation was obtained by which Jotham Bigelow, Orin Howard, James W. Kennedy, John Hagedorn, Amos Heald, Peter N. Cushman, Wesson Thomas, Pardon Earl, Samuel S. Haws (sic), Edward Boomer, Sidney Houghton, Benjamin Barney, Samuel Boyden, Ebenezer Webster, Israel Kellogg, Jr., Jesse Hubbard, Hiram Taylor, Henry Green, Rufus Hatch, Charles B. Pond, Calvin Clark, John Barney, 1st, Samuel Pierce, and Godfrey W. Barney were constituted, with such as might associate with them, a body corporate, under the name of “Union Literary Society,” to have perpetual succession, and limited in their powers to the support of an academic school; the yearly income of their estate might not exceed $5,000; the number of their trustees, from 24 to 30, to be elected annually, or until others were chosen. Elections were held on the first Wednesday of November, and the payment of $5 entitled to membership and one vote. The school moved into the upper part of the stone church in the village. The stone school building was erected in 1828, and dedicated January 1, 1829, and on the 5th of January, 1830, it was received under the visitation of the Regents, upon the application of the trustees and Benjamin Durfee, Nahum Houghton, James McCumber, Henry Shaver, Jesse Brewster, Matthew Green, Thomas Clark, Amos Pratt, Daniel Wait, Culver Clark, Jotham Littlefield, Wadsworth Mayhew, and Charles Avery, who had contributed to its erection. Charles Avery was appointed principal in 1829, and he served two years, being assisted the first year by Isaac Slater and the second year by W. D. Waterman. The academy flourished to a degree that justified the highest expectation of its friends, and attracted great numbers of students from distant parts of the county. A building was erected for a shop, partially furnished with tools, and a few students engaged on the manual labor plan. This was soon abandoned, however, and the building sold and converted into a dwelling. The second principal was George W. Eaton, a graduate of Union College, who was succeeded by La Rue Perine Thompson, who served two years, when Joseph Mullin (Late Judge Mullin), a graduate of Union College, became principal, remaining one year, he being succeeded by Hiram H. Barney, also a Union graduate, who remained about two years. Lyman E. Boomer became principal in 1836, and was followed by Truman C. Hill in 1837. Both were graduates from Union College. During this time the debt on the building had been accumulating by reason of the unpaid interest on a mortgage, and in the fall of 1837 the academy was closed by the mortgagee. The trustees engaged with much zeal to raise the required amount, and were greatly assisted by Rev. Jedediah Burchard, the noted evangelist. Their efforts were attended with success, and in 1840, after needed repairs had been made, the academy was reopened under the principalship of Rev. George I. King, who was assisted by his wife, Betsey Sprague, as a preceptress, and David Hunter. The school was well attended at once, and great joy was manifest among students and citizens that “Old Union” was again free.

In the fall of 1841 Mr. King associated with him Richard Ellis, a graduate of Hamilton College, as joint principal. Mr. Ellis had, during the academy vacation, been teaching a mathematical and classical school in the village. In 1843 Mr. King resigned and Mr. Ellis became principal, who the same year was succeeded by Orsemus Cole, a Union College graduate. In 1845 Calvin Littlefield became principal, and he was followed by G. W. Ramsey, in 1847, with Mr. Ellis as assistant; in 1848, Mr. Ellis; 1850, John P. Houghton, a young man who had prepared for college at Union Academy and graduated from Union College, became principal, with Miss Porter as preceptress the first year, who was followed successively by Miss A. E. Barret, Miss Charlotte M. King, and Mrs. E. A. Ellis (formerly Miss Barret). The old building being entirely inadequate to the comfort and convenience of the increasing patronage, the trustees erected the present commodious structure in front of the stone building, at a cost of about $4,000, and had it ready for occupancy in October, 1856. The principal and family moved into rooms arranged for them in the fall of 1857. The following is a list of teachers employed in 1856: Rev. J. Dunbar Houghton, A. M., principal; Rev. J. W. Whitefield, teacher of painting and drawing; N. W. Buel, M. D., physiology and anatomy; Miss Lois M. Searles, preceptress; Mrs. E. A. Houghton, music; Miss Amelia Brigham, ornamental. In the winter of 1858 A. J. Brown and wife were added to the corps of teachers. In 1859 J. P. Buckley and George Fox became teachers. In 1861 Buckley and Fox enlisted in the civil war; the latter was killed while on picket duty in 1861, and the former in the second battle of Bull Run. At the close of the academic year ending July, 1864, Prof. Houghton, who had been in charge of the school for 13 years, resigned his position. During his administration grounds for a beautiful park had been laid out, and valuable books and apparatus had been purchased for the institution. The attendance was large, being in 1852, 188; 1855, 287; 1858, 205; 1860, 227; 1862, 236; 1864, 219. In 1864 Rev. Benjamin D. Gifford became principal, and he was succeeded in 1865 by Rev. Buel A. Smith. The whole number of pupils in 1866 was 342. In 1868 R. L. Thatcher was principal; in 1869, ‘70, ‘71, ‘72, ‘73, W. W. Grant; in 1874, Henry Carver; from 1875 to 1881, George F. Sawyer. The next principal was William C. Joslin, who served until the fall of 1884, when Henry A. Gaylord, A. B., an alumnus of Amherst College, became principal, and is now serving in that capacity. Under Prof. Gaylord’s administration the school has been greatly prospered. His assistants are James G. Riggs, A. B., mathematics and natural sciences; Charles B. Durfee, book-keeping and penmanship; Miss Nora Blanchard, lady principal, English, French, and German; Mrs. H. A. Gaylord, vocal and instrumental music. The academy is delightfully situated in the midst of a rich farming community in the village of Belleville. It has an endowment fund of more than $34,000, and also the Frederick Williams scholarship fund of $3,000, and a scholarship fund of $2,000, the bequest of the late Eunice E. Shepardson. The library consists of about 1,675 well-selected volumes, of which histories and books of reference form an important part, though works of standard fiction are well represented.

Belleville woolen-mills, located on the north branch of Sandy Creek, have been in operation about 50 years. T. L. Peters is the proprietor, and here are manufactured woolen yarns, flannel cloth, etc., etc.

Stone mills, at Ellisburgh village, are located on the south branch of Sandy Creek, and were built by John Shaw for a cotton factory, but were not used for that purpose. The buildings subsequently became the property of Samuel Cook, who ran a grist-mill here a few years, when he sold to Henry Millard, who continued the business with his brothers George W. and Henry, they selling to a Mr. Gilbert, who in turn sold to the present proprietor, H. A. Hopkinson. The mills have three runs of stones, with an annual capacity of 25,000 bushels of grain.

Banner grist-mill, located at Mannsville village, on Skinner Creek, was built about 1869 by J. D. Finster. In 1886 Mesrrs. M. W. Bates and T. M. Rounds leased it of Winchester & Curtis. It is run by water and steampower, and does custom grinding.

John Grow’s grist-mill, leased by James N. Smith, is located on the south branch of Sandy Creek. It has two runs of stones and does a small amount of business.

William H. Phillips’s grist and flouring-mill (formerly Hall’s mill) is located on the north branch of Sandy Creek and is run by water-power. It has a thriving custom patronage.

Belleville grist and flouring-mill, William Mott, proprietor, is run by water-power, has two runs of stones, and does an extensive business.

Woodville flouring, grist, and cider-mill, owned by G. T. Converse, and operated by George Wood and J. F. Converse, is run by water-power, and has a capacity for grinding 8,000 bushels of grain annually.

E. L. Stone’s cheese factory, located at Mannsville village, was built in 1861-62 by Shepherd & Grinnell. It had various owners until 1874, when it was purchased by the present proprietor, who has since conducted it. The size of the building is 110 by 35 feet, and the factory has the capacity for handling the milk from 1,000 cows, manufacturing about 300,000 pounds of cheese annually.

C. H. Grave’s cheese factory, at Wardwell settlement, received the milk from about 400 cows.

Silver Spring cheese factory, owned by C. J. Curtis, has the patronage of about 300 cows.

A. J. Smith’s cheese factory, located in the Goodenough neighborhood, was built in 1886. It received the milk from about 350 cows.

Mannsville tannery was built by Daniel Goddard about 50 years ago. In 1874 it was purchased by J. H. & H. E. Root, who have since conducted it. It has the capacity of 50 sides of leather per day, giving employment to 10 men, the value of the product being about $60,000 annually.

Charles Cowden’s sash, door, and blind factory is located on Mill street in Ellisburgh village. It does a thriving business.

Mrs. G. W. Green’s saw and cider-mill was built by Daniel Goodenough. It is located on Lindsey Creek and does custom work.

Hopkinson & Dennison’s cider and vinegar works, at Ellisburgh village, were established in 1875. Capacity, 10,000 bushels of apples annually.

Hawley & Bemis’s cider and vinegar works were established in 1859. They are located on State road, two miles north of Pierrepont Manor; capacity, 10,000 bushels of apples per year.

Harvey C. Stacey’s saw-mill, at Belleville village, was built by Giles Hall in 1806. It does custom work only.

Barnes & Freeman’s saw-mill, located on Deer Creek, is operated by water-power, with a capacity for cutting 175,000 feet of lumber per year.

John Q. Johnson’s saw-mill, on Lindsey Creek, is operated by water-power, and does custom work.

H. C. & E. I. Caster’s mills, at Wardwell settlement, on the south branch of Sandy Creek, are engaged in the manufacture and planing of lumber. About 10,000 cheese boxes are also annually manufactured here.

C. F. Calkin’s saw-mill, located near Pierrepont Manor, does custom work.

Mannsville steam saw-mill was built by Finster & Woodward about 1872. The present proprietors are Curtis & Winchester. The mill has the capacity for sawing 10,000 feet of lumber per day.

George S. Hudson’s saw-mill and furniture manufactory, located in the north part of Ellisburgh village, were formerly known as Wild’s mills. Fifteen men are employed, and about $15,000 worth of furniture and sash and blinds are manufactured annually.

The first settlement in the town of Ellisburgh was made by Lyman Ellis, in the spring of 1797, and was the first settlement in the territory now embraced within the limits of Jefferson County*. (*Excepting a military settlement which was made on Carleton Island about 1778.) In the spring of 1797 Marvel and Lyman Ellis, brothers, both of whom were interested in the purchase of the town from Constable, previously noted, came to the town, Lyman with a view of permanent settlement. In the fall of the same year Caleb Ellis, having met with Lyman Ellis at Rome, was casually introduced with the expectation that a relationship existed, but none was found; yet the interview resulted in an invitation to settle in the town. Caleb Ellis accordingly visited the town and selected a farm on the south branch of Sandy Creek, at a place where one Waldo had the year previous erected a hunter’s shanty.

At the close of the same season Lyman Ellis had built a dam and saw-mill, three-fourths of a mile below the present site of Ellisburgh village, and the mill was got in operation the same fall, but was partly swept away the next spring by a flood. In the winter of 1797-98 William Hicks, with ______ Butler and B. Pierce, remained in the town, and in the spring of 1798 Caleb Ellis and family, Robert Fulton, Vial Salisbury, Isaac Waddle, Abram Wilcox, two men by the name of Thornton, and others came into town with Lyman Ellis to rebuild the mill and erect a grist-mill; but nearly all were taken sick, and the pioneers were reduced to great suffering from want of provisions and necessary medical attendance.

Mary Ellis, a young daughter of Caleb, was the first person to die in the town, and the first death of an adult was that of Samantha Howard. The first birth is said to have occurred in the summer of 1798---a son, who was given the name Ontario, to Hezekiah Pierce. The first female born in the town was Harriet Howard.

On September 11, 1798, Marvel Ellis wrote to Constable as follows: ---

“We have a good dam across the creek, which has been expensive; a good saw-mill well finished, and running, and have done considerable towards a grist-mill. We have on the same lot a large and handsome improvement, have had a fine crop of wheat, and have a very fine corn. The people that are on the land have good improvements for the time and are industrious. I inclose you an account of the small sales to the settlers, the price sold for, and what has been received, which is a small sum in proportion to what has been laid out on the land; if people, would have been satisfied of having a release from the mortgage, by paying you, we should have had sufficient to have made the present payment now due. The remainder of the money due from these settlers is due within a year. We wish you to give us some further indulgence, and something to convince the people that you will release from the mortgage on receiving payment, which will enable us to make payments for the land, and make a large settlement soon.”

Inclosed in the foregoing was the following list, with the number of acres taken up by each: Joseph Caldwell, 60; William Hicks, 51; John G. Hayward, 150; Caleb Ellis, 126; Neal Salisbury, 100; Elijah Pettibone, 100; John Paddock, 50; Isaac Southerland, 130; Asahel Humphrey, 419; Elisha Phillips, 100; Levi Root, 140; Hezekiah Pierce, 149.

The first corn and potatoes raised by the county by the present race of settlers was by Lyman Ellis in 1797, who, also in 1798, was probably the first to raise winter wheat.

During the severe winter of 1798-99, when the snow lasted from the 29th of October until April 20th, the pioneers suffered severely, and one Gideon Howard, who was overtaken by a storm near Little Sandy Creek, while returning from Rome, was detained in the woods three days and nearly perished from fatigue and hunger.

In the spring of 1799 Mr. Ellis’s dam was again swept away and the mill partly destroyed, when this and the frame of a grist-mill were removed to the present village above, and the grist-mill was got in operation about 1803.

James Constable, a brother of William, made tours through these northern counties in the summer months of 1803-06, on business connected with the estate of his deceased brother, of which he was one of the executors. In his diary, under date of September 7, 1803, he wrote: --

“There are about 40 families in the town, most of them poor, but of that description of people fit to settle a new country; few comforts about them, and they seem to have few wants; no liquor is to be had, and they have not yet begun to distill, nor are there any apples to make cider, so that their only drink is water, with which they seem content. They do not hesitate about the price of $3, but paying one-quarter down is very difficult for most of them. There are good horned cattle amongst them; the horses indifferent, but the only ones fit for a new country. They do not seem to regard distance, and go nine or 10 miles backward and forward daily, over roads that are nearly impassable.” * * *

At this time the town was not honored by the presence of a clergyman, and the nearest physician was 20 miles away.

Regarding his visit to Ellisburgh the following year, under date of August 21, 1804, Mr. Constable’s diary says: --

“Proceeded on to Ellisburgh, and found the road from Ellisburgh so extremely bad and so seldom traveled, and another route, shorter and better, presents itself, so that I have, by the advice of Mr. Wright, judged it advisable to alter the latter. * * * The road will be nearly direct from Rome to Ellisburgh, and about 43 miles.

“August 23. Went down Sandy Creek to the lake, and found the marsh covered with hay-stacks, the contents of which had grown spontaneously, and there are many horses and cattle at pasture, which proves that this place is of consequence. Some of it is indeed very fine and the people are very desirous of buying, but no judgment can be formed of the quality of good and bad, and L. Ellis is therefore to send me an estimate before the price is fixed. Went to Christopher Edmonds’ on the north side of the creek. He has a fine farm and has produced the best corn in town. He expects this year a yield of about 90 bushels per acre. This article is very fine throughout the place, but the wheat has been affected by the fly and rust. The establishment has flourished generally; many settlers have come in since last year, and more are expected. There are now 60 families, and though cases of fever and ague happen near the lake, and sometimes the lake fever, yet the country is a healthy one, and the soil so good that it will settle fast.”

The remainder of this year’s journal, and first of the following year, relates to other sections than the town of Ellisburgh, and are omitted. In 1805 his visit was made in August. His diary continues: --

* * * On the way to Ellisburgh found many settlers since last year, and the improvement considerable; the crops of wheat excellent, and the corn good, as they have suffered little from drought. Arrived at Ellis’ at noon to remain two or three days. The mills are in tolerably good order, but the water so low they can grind only part of the day. Grists are brought from a great distance, and in boats from Oswego, and lower. Ellis has built a small house for himself, and a good barn. * * *

“August 9. * * * A school-house is now building near Ellis’ Mills, on the same lot, to be two stories high, the upper of which is to be devoted to divine service, when any minister travels that way. The town have also subscribed towards building a bridge across the creek, at the same place, and we agreed to contribute $20, as they could not raise sufficient, but they have engaged to improve the road from the bridge, to the north line of No. 10. Dr. Dresser has but two patients, and there is less sickness than at any previous year in this season.”

The proprietors had adopted the practice of giving certificates, allowing people a certain time after exploring to go for their families before taking contracts, but it was found that in many cases these had bee transferred, and this having grown into a system of speculation, was discontinued as they were given to assist the first real settlers, and their transfer operated against the interest of both land owners and settlers. Mr. Constable’s journal of August, 1806, speaking of the settlements in Ellisburgh, says: ---

“From Asa Brown’s passed on to Andrews’ settlement, or Ellisburgh, through a very good road, four miles. He has made considerable improvement here. The saw-mill has been long in use, and has enabled them to erect frame houses, some good barns, and a large grist-mill, which is, however, not yet finished. * * * Ellis rents the mills for $400 per annum, and his affairs will soon be in good order. * * * There have been some cases of sickness during the season, but none fatal. Dr. Draper* (*In his diary under date of August 9, 1805, --- ....Mr. Constable mentions “Dr. Dresser.” We are not informed which name is correct.) is still on the town, and has considerable practice. He will continue here, and hopes to build a house next year, when he will require a deed for the 50 acres of land to which he is entitled. I should have remarked that 180 militiamen trained here yesterday (September 2), and it is said by some that one-third were absent. If so, the population has greatly increased.”

CHURCHES.

“Rev. John Muir, born and educated at Glasgow, Scotland. Date of birth 5 May 1829. For many years connected with Canadian newspaper press; LL. B., 1863; Mem. Coll. Phys. and Surg., Ontario, 1869; M. D., 1872; vice-prest. (sic) Ont. Medical Council, 1873; provincial examiner in toxicology and sanitary science, 1873; minister of Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage, N. Y., 1875; rector of Zion Church, Pierrepont Manor, N. Y., for nearly 14 years.”

JAMES F. CONVERSE.