History of Lake Pleasant

1824 History

The following is taken from "A Gazetteer of the State of New-York Ebracing an ample Survey and Description of its Counties, Towns, Cities, Villages, Canals, Mountains, Lakes, Rivers, Creeks, and Natural Topography," by Horatio Gates Spafford, LL.D., 1824. Transcribed by Lisa Slaski.
LAKE PLEASANT, a very large Township of Hamilton County, 20 to 75 miles N. of Johnstown, bounded N. by St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, E. by Wells and Hope, S. by Johnstown of Montgomery County, W. by Herkimer County. This town was erected from the N. end of Johnstown, in 1812; and in 1816, by the act [provisionally] erecting Hamilton County, all lands lying W., to the county line, were annexed to this town, which makes it extend W. to Herkimer County, embracing all what was formerly the N. end of Stratford. Its extent N. and S. is 60 miles, and its meidal width about 21, comprising about 2 thirds of the proposed county. It is a wild waste of mountain and swamp lands, abounding with small lakes, and sends waters to the Black River, Indian River, Racket River, and the Sacandaga. little is known of the country, except that it is so poor in general that nobody inclines to settle in it, though I am told by people who have been on fishing parties to its Lakes, that there seems to be a good many small tracts of very tolerable land. The Lakes are very numerous, and produce immense quantities of very fine large trout. "Sixteen hundred might have been taken by one party, in a few days, with hooks, a winter frolic and a sleigh ride, and still it was paying 'dearly for the whistle.'" Lake Pleasant is said to be 4 miles in length, with a fine sandy beach. Elm Lake, has at least one house in sight of it, and I tried very hard to persuade its proprietor to give me some information about the country, a savage wilderness, of which no more need be said, than, that for ages yet to come, it will probably remain such. Population, 312: 59 farmers, 5 mechanics, 2 foreigners not naturalized, 1 slave and 1 free black: taxable property, $158104: 2 schools, 6 months in 12; 34.61; 42; 45: 63 electors; 718 acres of improved land; 267 cattle, 53 horses, 386 sheep: 2678 yards of cloth: 1 grist mill, 1 saw milll, 1 ashery.
Since the above was written, a resident Correspondent gives me some more information. See Hamilton County. Lake Pleasant is 70 miles NNW. of Albany, and to this distance the road, which was made some years since by the State, is kept open, and has lately been much improved. This road was designed to extend to St. Lawrence County, 94 miles of it was opened, and except to l. Pleasant, is now grown up to brush. 'The State ought to complete the design, and bring the public lands of this region into market.' L. Pleasant is 30 miles N. of the Fish House.

1841 History

The following is taken from "Historical Collections of the State of New York," by John W. Barber and Henry Howe New York: Published for the Authors by S. Tuttle, 194 Chatham Square, 1841. Transcribed by Martha Magilll.

LAKE PLEASANT, taken from Johnstown in 1812; centrally distant from New York 255, from Albany 120, and from Johnstown 43 miles. It is about 50 miles long, N. and S., and 7 broad, E. and W. Pop. 296. Lake Pleasant is a small village, about 16 miles N. of Fulton county line.

1860 History

The following is taken from the "Gazetteer of the State of New York; Embracing a Comprehensive View of the Geography, Geology, and General History of the State, and a complete History and Description of Every County, City, Town, Village, and Locality with Full Tables of Statistics," by J. H. French, Syracuse, N.Y.: Published by R. Pearsall Smith, 1860. Transcribed by Marcia Buffett.

Lake Pleasant was formed from Johnstown, Fulton County May 26, 1812. Parts of Stafford, Johnstown, and Salisbury were annexed at the time of the formation of Hamilton County. Morehouse was taken off in 1835, Arietta in 1836, and a part of Long Lake in 1837. A part was annexed to Hope in 1847, and a part to Wells in 1858. It is the central town of the county, and includes a long tract extending from north to south to within a few miles of each extremity of the county. Its surface is broken and mountainous and most of it is still a wilderness. Lake Pleasant, from which it derives its name, is about 4 miles long by 1 mile wide. Round Lake, a half mile from this, is very irregular in form, and about 1 1/2 miles across in the widest part.¹ The Eckford chain of lakes, in the northern part, are in the midst of wild mountain solitude's. The upper of these is named Janet Lake.² The principal streams in the south are the north and west branches of the Sacandaga, and in the north the Racket and its tributaries. A mine of graphite has been opened 4 miles north of Sageville. Limestone mixed with silex and mica, from which quicklime if obtained, is found south of Lake Pleasant. Lumbering and shingle making are carried on to a considerable extent. Lake Pleasant (post office), at the foot of the lake, contains a hotel and 2 dwellings. Sageville³(p.v.) is situated on a beautiful elevation 50 feet above Lake Pleasant⁴ and Round Lake, about one-fourth of a mile distant from each. It contains the county buildings, a large hotel, a church, and several dwellings. Settlement was commenced about 1795 by Joseph Spier, of Columbia County.⁵ Meetings were first held by Rev. Elisha Yale; and the first settled minister was Rev. Ryan Bristol.

FOOTNOTES
1. The summit level between round Lake and Little Long Lake is but a few feet above the water. In wet seasons water runs both ways, and 25 miles of slackwater navigation might be made at comparatively small expense. Round Lake flows into the north branch of the Sacandaga and Little Long Lake into the west branch, --so that, after running 25 and 35 miles respectively, their waters again unite.
2. Named from Mrs. James E. DeKay, by Dr. Emmons, while making the geological survey of the 2nd district. She was the daughter of Henry Eckford the celebrated shipbuilder, from whom the chain of lakes was named.
3. Known for several years as “Lake Pleasant” until changed through the agency of Hezekiah Sage, of Chittenango, who built a large hotel and attempted to establish an extensive business there. Efforts have been made to procure a change of the present name, but without success.
4. A few years since, Abraham R. Lawrence, of New York City, built a large hotel for summer resort at the head of Lake Pleasant. As a speculation it proved a failure.
5. Benjamin Macomber, John Barnes, Joseph David, Joshua and Jonathan Rich, Jesse Callop, Caleb Nichols, George Wright, Ephraim Page, Daniel Fish, Henry Burton, Lemuel Holmes, and B. Saterlee settled in town before 1806. The first birth was that of Olivia Spier, in 1806; and the second, that of Eleanor Macomber, who died a missionary in Bermah. George Wright kept the first inn, in 1806, and William B. Peck, the first store in 1817. A sawmill was built by ---Foster, in 1795; and a gristmill by Joseph Spier in 1797.

1872 History

The following is taken from the "Gazetteer of the State of New York; Embracing a Comprehensive Account of the History and Statistics of the State with Geological and Topographical Descriptions," by Franklin B. Hough, Albany, N.Y.: Andrew Boyd, 394 and 196 Broadway, 1872. Transcribed by Martha Magill.

LAKE PLEASANT - was formed form Johnstown, (Fulton co.), May 26, 1812. Parts of Stafford, Johnstown, and Salisbury were annexed at the time of the formation of Hamilton co. Morehouse was taken off in 1835, Arietta in 1836, and a part of Long Lake in 1837. A part was annexed to Hope in 1847, a part to Wells in 1858, and a part to Indian Lake in 1861. It is the central town of the co., and its surface is broken, mountainous, and mostly a wilderness. Lake Pleasant, from which it derives its name, is about 4 mi. long by 1 wide. Round Lake, 1/2 mi. from this, is very irregular in form, and about 1 1/2 mi. across in the widest part. ¹ The principal streams in the s. are the branches of the Sacondaga, and the sources of the Black River and West Canada Creek and its tributaries. Lumbering and shingle making are carried on to a considerable extent. Lake Pleasant, at the foot of the Lake, contains a hotel and 2 dwellings. Sageville, ² (p.o.) is situated on the beautiful elevation, 50 feet above Lake Pleasant ³ and Round Lake, about one-fourth of a mi. distant from each. It contains the co. buildings, a large hotel, a church, and several dwellings. Settlement was commenced about 1795, by Joseph Spier, of Columbia co. ⁴ Meetings were first held by Rev. Elisha Yale; and the first settled minister was Rev. Ryan Bristol. Newtons Corners, (p.o.) is near Round Lake.
Footnote 1: The summit lever between Round Lake and Little Long Lake is but a few feet above the water. In wet seasons water runs both ways, and 25 mi. of slackwater navigation might be made at comparatively small expense. Round Lake flows into the n. branch of the Sacondaga, and Little Long Lake into the w. branch - so that, after running 25 and 35 miles respectively, their waters again unite.
Footnote 2: Known for several years as "Lake Pleasant," until changed through the agency of Hezekiah Sage, of Chittenango, who built a large hotel and attempted to establish an extensive business here.
Footnote 3: A few years since Abraham R. Lawrence, of New York City, built a large hotel for summer resort at the head of Lake Pleasant. As a speculation it proved a failure.
Footnote 4: Benj. Macomber, John Barnes, Joseph Davis, Joshua and Jonathan Rich, Jesse Callop, Caleb Nichols, George Wright, Ephraim Page, Daniel Fish, Henry Burton, Lemuel Holmes, and B. Satterlee settled in town before 1806. The first birth was that of Olivia Spier, in 1806; and the second, that of Eleanor Macomber, who died a missionary in Burmah. Geo. Wright kept the first inn, in 1806, and Wm. B. Peck the first store, in 1817. A sawmill was built by ___ Foster in 1795; and a gristmill by Joseph Spier, in 1797.