| Text |
By Ernest G. Cook
Theresa, Sept. 10 - "Have I missed one of your stories, or have you missed writing it?"
Such was the call that came out to the writer on the Elm Ridge road near the cross of a hot July day. The Elm Ridge road leads from Evans Mills to Whitneys Corners and as you come down from Evans Mills about two miles out you cross the Indian River over the Ansted Bridge. Just about that time you are getting into some rich historical lands. In fact the highway itself was the main road over which went much of the commerce of the pioneers from the important center of Evans Mills to the still more important trading post of Oxbox. Thence the road turned to go the Rossie way into the Ogdensburg section. Once this very road out of Evans Mills was a planned highwaywith tollgates and taverns along the way.
About a half a mile up from the Ansted Bridge is the well kept Ward homestead. It was Charles E. Ward who gave the call to the writer on that July day. Under the shade of some trees in the front yard we passed for a visit and to make an effort to answer the questions asked. Every writer needs friendly helpers if he would garner many facts and Charles Ward is a prince of a friend.
The de La Folle Mansion.
"You see," said Mr. Ward, "I have been looking for the story of Madam de La Folle and her home just down there near the river. A wonderful place it was in its day -- a regular French mansion with French windows and French doorways and all that goes with such a place. It was built, you know by Joseph Bonaparte and there were some real stories tucked up in that pioneer mansion.
"And just this side of the de La Folle place only a few rods is where Peter Burhans located when the country was so new there was not a road to the place. Peter, you know, is of the Holland Dutch and had hunted and trapped in this section and thought this high ridge was the best corn land he had seen anywhere about. So when he got ready to settle down he just forded the Indian River down there and put up his long-house. You ought to get his grandson, Duane Burhans to show you thier old family Bible that has been handed down from generation to generation to the oldest son in each succeeding family. It is about 300 years old and the family brought it over from Holland in the ship 'Spotted Cow'.
Sixberry the Hunter.
"And right over back of the de La Folle place was where a Robert Sixberry, the hunter and trapper, who was probably the first white man ever to cross the lands of this section, camped. You know he lived to be 112 years old and had a son 94 when he died at the advance age of 112. He has got a great grandson, "Tall Charlie" down at the Mills who can tell you all about the veteran hunter, for Tall Charlie used to spend a lot of time when he was a boy with the old gentleman. Robert Sixberry is buried right over back here across the river. You can cross on the Joachim bridge. When I was young --Mr. Ward is past sixty now-- what is now a cross road that can be hardly followed, used to be a main road and well travelled. Joachim was some place, and by the way, that ought to be worth a story.But whatever you do, try and get a story of Sixberry, the hunter and of de La Folle. I shall expect to see them."
French, Dutch and Yankee.
It is rather strange that these three distinct racial groups should settle in such a small area, and so near neighbors, the de La Folles, the Burhans and the Wards. And their lands extend from shore to shore of the Indian River.
When the Indian River leaves Philadelphia it seems inclined to go quite direct to Theresa. A little ways out it encounters high ridges and turns and makes almost a straight route towards Evans Mills. When within about a mile of Evans MIlls, and after it has circled Elam Ridge, it again abruptly turns and flows in almost a direct route to Theresa. It actually travels some nine miles to get a little over three miles.
It is in the fold of the bend of the Indian River that the three above named farms are located. The farms are bounded on both the north and south by the Indian River. On the high ridge about midway between is a wonderful view of the surrounding country.
The Ward family has records that extend back for seventeen generation into old England. Back in those early days there was Sir Richard Ward, knight of his times and well known by the people of his country, We think it was a son, Andrew Ward, who came to America with Gov. Winthrop and located in the Mass. colony and was a strict Puritan. So the Ward family have been connected with the country from its very first days. Andrew had three sons, one of the sons remained in the Mass. colony, one located in Conn. and one in Va. It was from the son who went to the Conn. colony that the Wards of Elam Ridge are descendants. And probably many of the Wards of New England who are of English descent are descendant of Andrew Ward who came over with Gov. Winthrop.
It is known that Julia Ward Howe is a descendant, as in this same list we must include the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Edward Everett Hale and others. A rather distinguished family. And we must not forget Fighting Joe Wheeler of the south, who descended from the son who settled in Va.
Charles Ward of Elam Ridge always laughs at the mistake that Fighting Joe Wheeler made in Cuba. The old veteran of the Civil War was throwing his life into the cause of America at the time of the Spanish-American war. In his division were some of his relatives from the north. There came the days when the Americans were charging up the hill to dislodge the Spanish from their entrenchments. The division didn't seem to pep up to the job to the liking of Fighting Joe. They seemed to hang back a little. Throwing his hat to one side and putting the spurs to his horse, Fighting Joe himself plunged to the head of his troops. The old man made a picture as he rushed to the front, hair flying in the wind, waving his sword in a frantic manner, he began to pep up his troops. They started their rush that won the victory. The old general forgot everything and where he was in the excitement. With voice getting hoarse from his repeated commands and calls, he shouted out: "Come on! Come on! Give the Yankees hell!"
His troops from the north gave a laugh, cheered the old man who was so bravely leading his division on, and went forward with a vim to victory.
Charles P. Ward, Herkimer.
In time Charles P. Ward from the New England branch found himself employed on a farm in the dairy section of Herkimer County. The family had gradually worked west from Conn., farming in Dutchess county, N.Y. for some years. In Herkimer county, Charles P. Ward had some expert instruction as a dairyman. He behad for his instructor Harry Burrell of Little Falls, founder of the dairy supply fiem that now bears the Burrell name and the supplies are sold in all parts of the dairy world. Mr. Burrell had made a study of the kind of cheese the English people favored and had made a number of trips to England to study the situation. He taught Mr. Ward how to make this special kind of cheese. At that time cheese were shipped to the number of four or five in heavy casks with straight sides, cheeseboxes being unknown at that period. Mr. Ward had worked for some years for a Mr. Perris who had a prize herd of dairy cattle so he was well instructed in both the care of the cow and the making of her products into prize cheese. It was about this time that Mr. Ward thought of coming into the Black River country.
But as Robert Sixberry, the hunter, was on the Lands years before, let us learn first about him. We will go and see "Tall Charley" and get the story from him.
(To be continued.) |
