By J. W. HUBBELLI have been asked to relate to you what I remember of Chazy in the olden time and what I have heard from my father, Julius C. Hubbell, about the place and its inhabitants, when he first came here as a lawyer in 1802; Much of my information comes from him, so you will pardon me if I tell you how he came, and from what place.
My father was born in Louesboro Massachusetts, in 1787, and was one of ten children, five boys and five girls. He was the third son, and in so large a family, the boys as soon as large and old enough had to hustle and get out and earn their bread and butter, so father was provided with a new suit of clothes. The cloth of which they were made was spun, woven and colored by the daughters of the family who also made the suit and fitted it. "Tailors were scarce in those days and money to pay them was scarcer," at any rate the suit was considered a very fine one and father at the age of fourteen left his birthplace and came to Champlain, N. Y., to live with his brother Silas. His brother then established as a lawyer at Champlain, having came 1roiii Louesboro by the way of Rutland and Burlington, walking and riding "when he got a chance," as far as liurlington. From there to the mouth of the Big Chazy River, he rowed himself in a small boat which he contrived in some way to borrow or hire. Being pretty well exhausted with his row, he went up to a small log house he discovered on the bank near by, where he was refreshed by some cold Johnny Cake, and a glass of corn whiskey; having made himself known he induced the proprietor "Prisque Ashline," "grandfather of the Prisque Ashline who also lives at Dunn's Bay, to row him up to Champlain.
Father lived with his brother Silas and studied law and worked in his office at Champlain for seven years. The last three years of this time he did nearly all of the office business and considered him-.elf quite competent as a lawyer, and although not quite 21 years old was admitted to practice in the Courts. During these years father had become acquainted with my mother Ann Moore, daughter of judge Pliny Moore of Champlain, before whom he had many law cases. And when she returned from school at Montreal, he decided to start out for himself in another place. He had earned during the seven years just about enough to pay for his board and clothes, and one law book. With this law book, an iron candlestick and snuffers, and one Yankee shilling in his pocket he walked front Champlain to Chazy by marked trees. There were no roads then. It was all wilderness.He hired a room on the south side of the building now owned by Mrs. Minkler next to Mr. McCann's store, and commenced the practice of law. This was near the end of the year 1808. Subsequently he hired the whole house, married in Jan. 27, 1812, brought mother on horse back on a Pillion to this house and commenced housekeeping. In that house, my brother Pliny, sister Mary Caroline and Martha A. Mygatt were born. Mrs. Susen K. Seymour was born in the stone house. It was on the front stoop of that house that my father and mother stood and saw Sir George Provost and all his host of 12,000 English soldiers pass by to the Battle of Plattsburg, and mother was there when they retreated too. And here I must relate an incident that occurred at that time. After the army of 12,000 men had passed, a general and his staff quartered themselves at this house, and agreed with mother to pay a crown each meal and furnish their own wine, which they did punctually, mother said they were gentlemen but soldiers. Just before the Battle of Plattsburgh, at dinner they were boasting of how they were going to take Plattsburgh, and then go on to Albany &c. .Mother was patriotic and being a women could say things. She said "pooh, you'll go no farther than Plattsburgh, you'll be whipped and you'll soon be galloping back. "Zounds madam," says one of the officers, "if you were a man I would run my sword through you. Mother tossed her head and said, "well you'll see." The General then said, "Madam you are very brave, should we be galloping back as you say, each officer of my staff shall throw his purse at your feet." Well sure enough the morning of tbe battle, a courier came up hastily and whispered to the General and soon another came and then another, and they did not go back but went on towards Canada.
The General and his Staff saddled their horses and went hurriedly towards Plattsburgh. Mother overheard one of the courier say, that the British, were defeated, and were retreating. Mother went behind the door and swung her sun bonnet and silently cheered, fearing to do so more openly. Soon however the General and his Staff could be beard clattering back and they were not going to stop, but seeing mother on the stoop with her sun bonnet in her hand, they suddenly at some word halted and lined up in front of the stoop. At the command "throw purses," each officer threw his purse on the stoop at mother's feet, then they saluted, turned towards Canada and were seen no more. Mother exultantly picked up the purses in which she found more than $1,000, in gold and silver.
Father at first boarded with Mrs. Grant, who lived in a log house about where Mr.and Mrs. Fletcher Gilbertnow live. Afterwards he boarded with Septa Fillmore in a log house near where the hotel now stands. Near the bridge, the old distillery where quantities of rum and whiskey were made, was on this side of the river about where Mr. Gilbert has his barn. A little later, he boarded with Mr. Stetson, father of Lemuel Stetson. In 1811, he built the stone office which he occupied as Lawyer, Justice of' the Peace, Poor Master. and Land Agent until 1880-almost 70 years.
After the British Army had passed through to Plattsburgh, father followed them to Cumberland Road and witnessed the Naval Battle at Plattsburgh, from that point. When The Battle was over, he procured a boat and rowed to Commodore McDonough's vessel, and was the first man who stepped on the vessel after the action. He returned late much fatigued and his sleep was uneasy and wakeful, so much so, that he got out of' bed and going to the window, saw a bright light in his office. Slipping on his clothes he ran across the garden and looked in the window of' the office and saw it was filled with soldiers. They had taken cedar rails and thrust the ends in the fire-place, and were cooking food in three iron kettles hung on the crane. All about the floor were soldiers, sleeping. their heads on their knapsacks, two guards were pacing in front of the door who as he advanced halted him, He informed him that he owned the building and thought it was afire. At that an officer came forward and questioned him and asked him if he wished to come in. He said I should like to take care of my books and papers." "They shall not be touched sir," said the officer, but come in. He entered and looked around: just within the door were seven kegs filled with British gold. and in the darkness was a wagon with the horses detached and facing the wagon eating their feed. At four o'clock in the morning father made another visit but the wagon, horses, soldiers, and gold were all gone, and the office deserted, and the cedar rails burnt to within three inches of the floor.
In 1816 he built the house in which Mrs. Mygatt now lives, from stone quarried from a ledge in his garden. Just after the house was built, the stone Methodist church was commenced and finished the next year, and cost with the sheds, over $7,000. This church was donated to the Methodist society by Alexander Scott, who lived where Mr. Kingsbury lives. This church and the stone school house were burned on December 21st., 1855, having caught fire from ashes in the wooden shed attached. Another church was built of brick in 1857. This church was burned February, 1st., 1881. The same year the present church was built and dedicated Oct 12th, 1881. The old stone school house was built up in 1813, and the Ashly Scott store which Mr. Forbes occupies, about the same time. Luther Ransom, son of Dr. Ransom built the stone house lately remodeled and occupied by Edith Doane, and for a time occupied it for a store. Elisha Ransom, his brother, came here at an early date with the brothers and lived in a little red house near North's grist mill. They bought 200 acres of land about three miles southwest of this village, each occupying his proportionate share, they spent the most of their lives on these farms.
In 1807 five families, the heads being Septa Fillmore, Seth Graves, Eleasur Graves. and John Brownson moved up from Saxe's Landing to Chazy, which was known for many years as the "Five Nations". The origin of the name is reported as follows. A company of traders from the south, stopped at the Landing to purchase furs. On inquiry of the landlord, "Old Chantonette," he told them that there were no furs for sale there, but there was an Indian village three miles west, called the "Five Nations," where they could doubtless purchase furs; they started with high expectations, but just before reaching there, found these five men working on the road, they told their mission and the directions they had received. "Trash" exclaimed one of the party, "that's one of old Chantonette's tricks." There were many others who settled here at that trite, but I cannot stop to speak of them it this time. Many of them were soldiers of the war of 181 2 and 1814, and afterwards remained here. 'here was one I remember well; he was a shoemaker, and lived in the southwest corner of John H. McCan's lot.
Captain Frank Kinsley by name, he it was who made the first wagon road between this village and Mr. Fayett North's. The trees had been cut out and father who was road commissioner at that time, hired him and his oxen to pull out the stumps and grade up the road. The lot on which the Presbyterian church stands, was given to the society on the 25th. day of March, 1818 by Seth (,raves. and during that summer the church wits built,
the frame of which now stands. The school house lot was also given to the district by Seth Graves. This building was erected in 1874, by John Woodward, at a cost of' $3,855. Wm. 11. Chisholm, Allen Hyde, and George W Brownson were the building committee.
Dr. Nathan Carver was the first physician; and came here in 1806, be settled at what is known ,is the Carvers comers, just south of here, the original house being directly across the road from the present house on the west side. I)r. Carver died therein 1836. I remember him from the fact that he had a way of' making me take his medicine, by bringing me little red sticks of Moose alder which I admired very much.
The first merchant was Phillip Dewal. who kept a store about the year1809 in the building .just north of Kingsbury's house. I could recite many more incidents about old residents, but I have already made my communication too long, and taken the time of others who claim your attention.
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