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FRANKLIN COUNTY. 311
in the town.1 After making about 600 tons of iron, the works were abandoned, with the loss of the
entire capital invested in them. There is but one church (M. E.) in town.
FORT COVINGTON2—was formed from Constable, Feb. 28, 1817. Bombay was taken
off in 1833. It lies on the n. border of the co., w. of the center. Its surface is level, or gently
undulating. Salmon River, the principal stream, is navigable to Fort Covington Tillage.
The soil in the N. is a rich, clayey loam, and in the s. a light, sandy loam. Fort Covisagtois3
(p. v.) is situated in the n.w. part of the town, upon Salmon River. Pop. 894. Fort Covington
Center is a p. o. The first settlements were made by French families, about 1796, around “French
Mills.” Settlers from Vt. began to arrive about 1800.4 Much of the timber near Salmon River
was stolen before this, and sold in the Montreal market. Soon after the battle of Cryslers Field the
American army passed up Salmon River and took up winter quarters at “French Mills.”5 In Feb.
the place was evacuated,6 and immediately taken possession of by the enemy.7 The Fort Covington
Academy, incorp. April 21,1831, is in a flourishing condition. The census reports 4 churches.7
FRANK.EIN8—was formed from Bellmont, May 20, 1836. It lies on the e. border of the
co., s. of the center. Its surface is broken apd mountainous, and it has an elevation of 1200 to
2000 feet above tide. The principal streams are the Saranac, which flows across the s. e. corner,
and the head branches of the Salmon River. Among the mountains are numerous ponds and lakes.
The soil is sandy, and scarcely fit for agricultural purposes, except along the streams. Iron ore
abounds, and has been worked to some extent. The settlements are mostly confined to the s. e.
corner, and the people are chiefly engaged in lumbering. The old Port Kent and Ilopkinton
Road passes diagonally through the town, and a plank road extends from Franklin Falls to Keese¬
ville. Franklin Falls9 (p.v.) contains 12 houses, and Vermontville 20. AMer
Brook and Merrillsville are p. offices. The first settlement was made at Franklin Falls,
in 1827, at which time a forge and sawmill were erected.10 In town are 5 large gang sawmills,
and several small manufactories of buckskin leather, mittens and gloves. There are 2 churches in
town,—M. E. and R. C.
HARKIETSTOWN11—was formed from Duane, March 19,1841. It is the s. e. corner town
of the co. Its surface is very rocky and mountainous, and its soil a light, sandy loam, generally
unfit for cultivation. Mt. Seward lies along the s. border.12 It is the least populous and wealthy
town in the co. It is principally drained by the Saranac. Among the mountains are a great
number of small lakes, the principal of which are the Lower Saranac, Big Clear, and St. Regis.
There are no villages or churches in town. Saranac Lake, on the line of Essex co., is a p. o.
The first settlers located on the North West Bay Road, about 1812.13
MALONE14—was formed from Chateaugay, March 2, 1805, as 11 Harrison.” The name was
changed to “Ezraville ” April 8, 1808, and to Malone, June 10, 1812. Constable was taken
off in 1807, Dickinson in 1808, and Duane in 1828. It is an interior town, lying n. of the geo-
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transpoftation. The enemy soon completed the work of de¬
struction.
7 A few years after the war, an extensive series of frauds upon
government was perpetrated at this place. They consisted of
fictitious claims for damages, in which the documents were
forged, and the parties, witnesses, and magistrates were perjured.
8 Asso. Kef. Presb., (Scotch,) Wes. H., Bap., and it. C., (St.
Mary’s.)
9 This town includes No. 10, and a part of No. 9, of the old
Military Tract.
10 Formerly called “ McClenathans Falls” from the proprietor.
On the 29th of May, 1852, the -entire village, consisting of 23
houses, store, tavern, extensive lumber mills, and a large
amount of lumber, was destroyed by running fires. Loss, $30,000.
11 Among the first settlers were Wm. McClenathan, Jas. Mal¬
lory, Horace Gould, John Griffin, Harry Wood, Richmond and
Davis Spaulding, Simeon French, and John Hough. The first
birth was that of Sanford Hough; and the first death of an
adult, that of Mrs. H. Wood. McClenathan kept the first inn
and store and built the first mill and forge.
is Named from Harriet, daughter of Wm. Constable and wife
of Jas. Duane. It embraces the townships of “ Ilarrietstown,”
“Barrymore,” and “Tipperary,” or Nos. 21, 24, and 27 of Great
Tract No. I.
is Mt. Seward, named from Wm. H. Seward, was called by the
Indians “ On-no-wan-lah,” the big eye.
ll Among the first settlers were Isaac Livingston, Isaiah C.
Flanders, Pliny Miller, Wm. Kelly, and Nehemiah White.
is Named “Harrison” from Richard Harrison, proprietor;
“Ezraville” from Ezra L’Hommedieu, of Suffolk co.; and Malone
from a family related to Harrison. It embraces the townships of
“ Malone” and “ Shelah,” or Nos. 6 and 9 of Great Tract No. I. |
1
By an act of May 20,1841, a company was chartered by the
name of “ The Franklin Native Steel Manufacturing Co.;” but it
was never organized. The making of steel directly from the
ares of this region has proved to be practically a failure. A few
years since, silver was said to be discovered; but it has never
been successfully worked.
2
Named from Brig. Gen. Leonard Covington, who was mor¬
tally -wounded at Cryslers Field and buried here. It embraces
the w. part of the township of “ Cormachus,” or No. 2 of Great
Tract No. I., and a part of the original St. Regis Reservation,
since ceded to the State.
3
8 Formerly called “ French Mills.” It is situated on a mile
square reserved by the Indians in 1796. This tract was leased
by the Indians to Wm. Gray, in 1793, and assigned to Jas.
Robertson, of Montreal, in 1798. These Indian leases occasioned
much difficulty concerning title, which was finally settled by
commissioners, after the purchase of the e. part of the reserva¬
tion, in 1816-18.1—Hough’s Hist, of St. Law. and Frank. Go’s.
4
Mills were built at a very early period, and were swept away
5
by a flood in 1804.
6
Here a fearful mortality occurred among the troops, on
7
had been lost or destroyed on the passage down the St. Lawrence,
8
nor could fresh supplies be obtained nearer than Albany. The
9
surrounding country was mostly a wilderness; and the army of
Gen Hampton the fall previous had exhausted the resources of
10
the Inhabitants, and, consequently, provisions were of a bad
11
quality and were procured with difficulty.
12
® As an appropriate finale to an imbecile enterprise, the re¬
13
treating army destroyed the boats on the river, sunk 60 tons of
14
biscuit, and destroyed all the public property too heavy for
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