It includes only the know portions of the county where the Jesmer Clan settled.

Jesmer family history page

Louis Jasmin Dahuat page

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, by J. H. French, Published by Pearsall Smith, Syracuse, N.Y.: 1860; pp. 307-313.

http://www.nnytombstoneproject.net/franklin/franklin_history.htm

FRANKLIN COUNTY

         This county was formed from Clinton, March 11, 1808, and named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. A small portion was annexed to Essex co. March 22, 1822. It contains an area of 1,718 sq. mi., and is centrally distant 130 mi. from Albany. It lies upon the northern frontier, between St. Lawrence and Clinton counties. Its surface is mostly level in the N., undulating and hill in the center, and broken and mountainous in the S. The Au Sable Mts. occupy the S. E. portions; Mt. Seward, 5,100 feet above tide, is the highest peak. There are several other elevated peaks; but their heights have never been ascertained by actual measurement. The plateau of the central and the valleys of the s. part of the co. have an elevation of about 1,600 feet above tied. The N. W. corner, including the townships of Bombay, Fort Covington, Westville, and portions of Constable and Moira, is underlaid by calciferous sandstone. The soil upon this rock is generally a heavy clay. Next S. of this region is a belt about 8 mi. wide, extending N. E. and S. W., underlaid by Potsdam sandstone. A strip next to the calciferous sandstone, about 4 mi. wide, has a sandy soil, and the remainder a fine fertile loam, mixed with clay. The underlying rock in the central and s. portions of the co. is gneiss; and the soil is of a light, sandy nature, nearly unfit for cultivation. Upon approaching the mountainous region toward the S. the soil becomes more and more sterile, and large tracts are valuable only for their timber and iron ore. Bog iron ore is found in considerable quantities along the line of junction of the calciferous and Potsdam sandstones, and in times past it has been quite extensively used in the manufacture of bar iron.

         The co. is mostly drained by tributaries of the St. Lawrence, the principal of which are the Chateaugay, Salmon, Little Salmon, Deer, St. Regis, and Racket Rivers. The Saranac River flows through the S. E. corner. In the southern wilderness are immense numbers of lakes, some of which are several miles in extent. Their general elevation is about 1,600 feet above tide, and they are so located that slight improvements only are needed to connect them, and to form a communication between the head waters of streams flowing in opposite directions. In the N. part the people are engaged in the various branches of agriculture, the soil yielding a good return in spring grain, and in potatoes. The whole region, however, is best adapted to pasturage, and dairying forms the leading pursuit. In the central and S. parts the people are mostly engaged in lumbering. The manufacture of starch has become an important business within the last few years. [1]

     The principal work of internal improvement in the co. is the Ogdensburgh R. R., (formerly Northern R.R.,) extending through Moira, Bangor, Malone, Burke, and Chateaugay. This road was completed in 1850, and has been of immense value to the co., though a total loss to the stockholders. Steamboats from the St. Lawrence land regularly at Fort Covington, and occasionally at Hogansburgh, during the summer. The Salmon River has been improved for log navigation, and a portion of the Au Sable improvement is within the limits of the co.

   The co. seat is located in Malone Village. [2] A courthouse and jail, in one building, was erected on the w. bank of Salmon River in 1811-13, and a new stone jail in 1852. [3] The co. poorhouse is located upon a farm of 110 acres, 2 mi. S.W. of the village. It was built in 1826, at a cost of $1,200 and has since been burnt and rebuilt. There are two newspapers in the co., both published at Malone. [4]

        A tract of 10 mil. by 40, on the E. side of this co., formed a part of the old Military Tract [5] , a portion in the N.W. corner, of 24,000 acres, was reserved by the St. Regis Indians [6] , and the remainder of the co. was included in Great Tract No. 1 of the Macomb Purchase [7] . Wm. Constable, agent and part owner of the last mentioned trace, and the executors of his estate, sold the northern part, and actively assisted in promoting settlement. [8]

       The earliest settlement in the co. was made at St. Regis, by a colony of Indians from Caughwaga, on Lake St. Louis [9] , and from Oswegatchie, under Father Anthony Gordon, a Jesuit, about 1760. They are now known as St. Regis Indians, and number about 1,000, of whom 420 reside in this co., and the remainder on the N. side of the national boundary, which passes through the village. [10] During the Revolution a portion of the Indians joined the Americans; and Louis Cook, one of their number, received a colonel’s commission from Gen. Washington. In the war of 1812 a part of the tribe joined the British and a part the Americans; and they are thus historically divided into British and American parties. [11] This tribe is gradually increasing in numbers, although, from their filthy habits, they are frequent sufferers from virulent epidemic diseases. They are mostly Catholics, — a Catholic mission being supported among them. A few profess to be Methodists. [12] Two schools are sustained by the State, though they are thinly attended, and apparently of little benefit. The first white settlements were made in Chateaugay in 1796, and in other towns in the tow northern ranges in 1800-02, by emigrants from Vermont. At the commencement of the war of 1812 the population of the co. numbered about 2,500. In 1813-14 it became the seat of important military events, in the abortive attempt to invade Canada. Upon the withdrawal of the troops from French Mills in Feb. 1814, the co. was overrun by the enemy, who visited Chateaugay, Malone, and Hopkinton, and seized a considerable amount of military stores. [13] In 1832, the cholera appeared at St. Regis, spreading a panic throughout the whole region. Since the completion of the R. R., systemic efforts have been successfully  made to bring into market the valuable timer in the central and southern parts of the co.

BOMBAY [18] –was formed from Fort Covington, March 30, 1833. It lies in the N.W. corner of the co., and one corner borders upon the St. Lawrence. The surface is generally level, and the soil is sandy in the S. and a deep, fertile, clayey loam in the N. The principal streams are the Racket, St. Regis, and Little Salmon Rivers, and Pike Creek. The St. Regis is navigable to Hogansburgh, at which place is a good water power. [19] Hogansburgh [20] (p.v) lies at the head of navigation on the St. Regis River, 2 mi. from its mouth. Pop. 250. St. Regis is an Indian village, in the Indian Reservation, [21] lying mostly in Canada. Pop. In this co. 200. Bombay Corners (Bombay p.o.) and South Bombay are hamlets. The first improvement was made in 1811, by Michael Hogan, who had acquired the title to Township No. 1 of Macomb’s Purchase. [22] In 1818, Hogansburgh was laid out as a village and considerable improvements were made. In the same year a road was laid out across the Indian Reservation to Fort Covington. The title to the township passed from Hogan to Robert Oliver, of Baltimore. In 1822, settlers began to arrive quite rapidly, and in two or three years most of the land not covered by the Reservation was taken up. There are 3 churches in town; 2 M. E. and R. C. A Prot. E. church was also commenced some years since, but is not yet finished.

FORT COVINGTON [40] –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 Village. The soil in the N. is a rich, clayey loam, and in the S. a light, sandy loam. Fort Covington [41] (p. v.) is situated in the N. W. part of the town, upon Salmon River. Pop. 894. The first settlements were made by French families, about 1796, around “French Mills.” Settlers from Vt. began to arrive about 1800. [42] 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.” [43] In Feb. the place was evacuated, [44] and immediately taken possession of by the enemy. [45] The Fort Covington Academy, incorp. April 21, 1831, has been changed to a district school. The census reports 4 churches. [46]