THE HOUSES THEY LIVED IN

Almost a century old is this house of native stone, which is located not far outside of the village of Alexandria Bay on the road to Redwood. It is the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Felder, Mr. Felder, supervisor of the Town of Alexandria, being engaged in the motor freight business between that village and Redwood.

Since Dec. 4, 1918 the house and farm which goes with it have been owned by Fred VanBrocklin and his wife, the former Miss Sarah Jarvis of Wellesley Island. Mr. VanBrocklin, now retired, is an uncle of Mrs. Felder and son of Morgan VanBrocklin who, as a young man, worked upon the construction of this house.

The house, which now shows signs of some modernization of its original architecture, was constructed about 1853-54, the land upon which it stands, having been purchased April 22, 1853 by Jesse Davis from Theodosius O. Fowler and Mortimer Livingston, of New York City, executors of the estate of Francis Depau, the New York City merchant who owned a large acreage of Jefferson County land in the town of Clayton and St. Lawrence River area.

The Jesse Davis purchase consisted of two parcels, upon one of which, 79.35 acres, he caused this house to be built, and three years later, Jesse Davis and his wife, Hannah, conveyed the property to his son, Delos Davis of the Town of Alexandria also.

Mrs. Susan M. Davis joined with her husband, Delos Davis on April 3, 1889 in transferring the house and farm to their son, Hiram P. Davis. Hiram Davis kept the place until Dec. 4, 1918 when he and his wife, Addie E. Davis sold it to Mr. and Mrs. VanBrocklin, the present owners.

Mr. Davis, who was born across the St. Lawrence River from Alexandria Bay in the village of Rockport, Ont., Feb 24, 1863, removed as a child with his parents to the Bay. There he received his education and there he returned to reside after he had conducted this farm for some years.

Upon taking up his residence in Alexandria Bay he engaged in the meat business. About 1913 he removed to this city [Watertown] and engaged in the grocery and meat business on State Street near William Street. From that he retired on Oct. 1, 1917 to take up the real estate business and the same year announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination of sheriff having served as a deputy for four years during the administrations of Sheriffs John H. Bogart and Morris S. Gragg. Mr. Davis died Jan 19, 1921, about two years after he had disposed of this farm to Mr. VanBrocklin.

Mr. and Mrs. VanBrocklin, now 77, have long resided in Alexandria Bay and for 45 years Mr. VanBrocklin served as caretaker of Craigside, summer home of Henry A. Laughlin. Mr. VanBrocklin was vorn Dec. 30, 1872, son of Morgan and Delia Mallett VanBrocklin of the Town of Antwerp. His wife, the former Miss Sarah Jarvis, was born May 20, 1873.

Mr. VanBrocklin is a brother of the late George VanBrocklin who died June 22, 1940 and who was the father of Mrs. Felder. George VanBrocklin was also a resident of Alexandria Bay. He was born April 15, 1882 and engaged in farming the greater part of his life. His wife was the former Miss Margaret Jarvis, who was a daughter of George and Catherine Jarvis. Mrs. VanBrocklin died Sept. 17, 1944.

Supervisor Felder, who served as electrician's mate third class in the navy in the Pacific theater during the last war, is the son of Joseph and Margaret DeYoung Felder Jr., long residents of the Redwood-Plessis area. Joseph Felder Jr. served some time as justice of the peace and has been elected president of the Jefferson County Association of Justices. Supervisor Felder, his wife, the former Kathleen VanBrocklin and children enjoy the old stone house, which is their home.

© Nan Dixon, 2001