Watertown Re-Union, Wednesday, May 10, 1911 (pdf.0667 fultonhistory.com)

PLESSIS

Plessis, May 9. -- The farm joining the Corlis farm, situated on the west side of the Alexandria Bay road (as nearly as I can learn), the first settler upon it was Austin Martin, who cleared it and lived there, selling, I believed, direct to Silas Corlis, who, owned it a number of years. This place was purchased by George W. Townsend sometime in the fifties. He built the substantial farm house and drilled the well which is famous, being the only flowinig well in these parts. He sold sometime in the eighties to Ferdinand Bauter.

The farm below was owned many years by David Briggs, who came from Western Oneida county sometime in the early thirties and built a house and barn. He sold sometime in the fifties to a man named Newall, who died in the army, his widow and family retaining it until it was purchased by Ferdinand Bauter, who combined the two farms. He built a pretty house on the Briggs place. This latter place or rather the buildings and about ten acres of land was purchased by George Townsend. After his death this was sold to R. W. Steele, who occupies the same. The farm after F. Bauter's death was sold to Jerome Frost, who made some addition to the house and built a fine barn. His son, Charles Frost, conducts the farm.

The next place on the same side of the road was owned by Solomon Makepeace, who was one of the early settlers and probably took up the place. He built the house and barns and some of the finest stone walls in this country were built by him on his farm. After his death the farm was bought by John VanBrocklin to add to his farm. He later sold the portion on which the buildings stood and fifty acres of land to Edwin Spalsbury, and in course of descent it has fallen to Ross Timmerman, who rents the same to F. P. George, as it joins his farm, situated on the other road.

The farm on the east side of the road, as nearly as I can learn, was settled upon by one Stowe, whose wife committed suicide by hanging. This was at one time owned by Eli Phelps, who sold to Sanford Suts. This was owned for a long term of years by Benjamin Joy, who built the large house and rebuilt the commodious barns, the old barns having been struck by lightning and burned. This farm is one of the best in this section. It has been owned by Adam Snell of Lafargeville for a long period of time. George Hartman is the tenant, having occupied the place several years. The Georges, numbering seven sons and two daughters, came from Vermont during the early settlement of this town and Jesse, Moses and Paige settled near Browns Corners. They were powerful men and I am told were noted for feats of strength. In those days they had gangs for raising the log buildings, and they, with Charles Rundlet, could beat the gang with whom they competed. They at one time followed the other gang to a house-raising which the former gang had been unable to raise, but they put it up without any difficulty. The Georges all went away with the exception of Page (sic) George's family, John B. George having retained the homestead building, a fine house on the site of the old. This is situated in Number Six.

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