Outline history of Utica and vicinity, Part 1

Author: Brown, Elizabeth Gilman; New Century Club, Utica, N.Y; Butcher, Ida J; Goodale, Frances Abigail Rockwell
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Utica, N.Y. : L. C. Childs and son
Number of Pages: 242


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VERSITY. OF


THE


F.


SEAL.O


LET THE


LIGHT


THERE BE


CALIFORNIA


'1868.


LIBRARY


THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA From the collection of ELSPETH HUXLEY


«


ORISKANY MONUMENT.


Oneida Historical Society


OUTLINE HISTORY


OF


UTICA AND VICINITY


PREPARED BY A COMMITTEE


OF THE


NEW CENTURY CLUB


THE


CIT


SEAL OF


UTICA.


5.


UNUNDA


UTICA, NEW YORK L. C. CHILDS AND SON 1900


COPYRIGHT 1900, BY THE NEW CENTURY CLUB OF UTICA, N. Y ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


PREFACE.


TI THIS sketch of our city and its neighborhood has been prepared with the object of bringing together, in brief and inexpensive form, the most important facts of local history, with a slight mention of noteworthy citizens and of natural surroundings.


Sincere thanks are due to the many friends who have given valuable aid : especially to Dr. M. M. Bagg, whose works have been a main source of information ; Professor North of Hamilton College ; Mr. Egbert Bagg ; Miss Blandina D. Miller ; Mr. Quentin McAdam and Mr. William C. McAdam ; and to Mr. Charles D. Walcott of Washington; Dr. F. J. H. Merrill of Albany; Dr. Joseph B. Haberer ; Mr. Benjamin D. Gilbert ; and Mr. George C. Hodges.


The Editors take pleasure also in acknowledging their indebtedness to The Saturday Globe for the use of several plates for illustrations, and to the Oneida Historical So- ciety, and the Rev. John R. Harding of Trinity Church, for similar favors. The photograph of Sherman Fall is printed by the courtesy of the U. S. Geological Survey. The plate was lent through the kindness of Dr. F. J. H. Merrill, State Geologist.


The work is but an outline history. For the many de- tails which give life to the subject, readers are asked to


.


iv.


PREFACE.


consult the writings to which full marginal references are given.


It is hoped that the book now issued will interest a larger number of our citizens in the life of the past, and especially that it may stimulate the young to reach for- ward to the highest type of citizenship in the opening cen- tury. If this shall be the result, the wish of its originators will be fully answered.


THE EDITORS.


NEW CENTURY CLUB, UTICA, N. Y. JANUARY, 1900.


CONTENTS.


PAGE


I. Earliest History .. I


II. The Village of Utica-1798-1832. 9


III. The City of Utica from its Incorporation to the Civil War-1832-1861 16


IV. Utica during the Civil War-1861-1865. 22


V. Industrial Growth of Utica and Vicinity.


33


VI. The Spanish War ..


42


· VII. Centennial Celebrations.


VIII. History of Transportation; Routes of Travel


IX. Names of Streets.


59


XI. Noteworthy Citizens of Oneida County.


69


XII. Education.


97


XIII. Library ; Oneida Historical Society: etc 106


XIV. The Government of Utica. II2


XV. Geography.


129


XVI. Geology. 138


XVII. Botany 152


XVIII. Birds.


163


Bibliography. 18I


Index. 191


48 51


X. Old Buildings. 62


ILLUSTRATIONS.


Oriskany Monument


FACING PAGE Frontispiece


Oneida Stone.


4


Trinity Church.


65


Utica Free Academy. 97


Munson-Williams Memorial. 108


" Old Saratoga " III


Sherman Fall, Trenton Falls.


14I


Wilson Elm


159


ABBREVIATIONS.


Pioneers, Dr. Bagg's Pioneers of Utica.


M. H., Dr. Bagg's Memorial History of Utica.


O. H. S., Oneida Historical Society.


E. and F., Everts and Fariss' History of Oneida County. (Other abbreviations will be noticed as they are used.)


"The Times, as we say-or the present aspects of our social state, . . . . are the receptacle in which the Past leaves its history, the quarry out of which the genius of to-day is building up the Future."


EMERSON.


I.


EARLIEST HISTORY.


FORT STANWIX AND OLD FORT SCHUYLER.


HE territory embraced within the present limits of


T Oneida County was not settled until the close of the Morgan's Revolution, when the tide of immigration began pour- League of the ing into Central and Western New York from New Eng- Iroquois. land. Its soil was originally a part of the vast domain over which the Iroquois Confederacy held sway.


The territory of the Five Nations, as they were called by the English-and the Iroquois by the French-extend- ed from the Hudson to Niagara. The Nations, or tribes, were known severally as Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas. Later the Tuscaroras of South Carolina were adopted into the Confederacy, and hence- forth the Iroquois were styled by the English, "The League of the Six Nations."


Becoming allied with England in the war which the Colonists waged for Independence, the Iroquois forfeited their lands by the victory of the Americans and the laws of war. Henceforth ownership was vested in the United Ibid Ch. I. States government. The action of the Oneidas, however, in refusing to take up arms against the Americans, prevent- Ibid. p. 20. ed the Iroquois from declaring their allegiance, as a unit, Hist. Empire Lossing's to the British Crown. It is to the honor and credit of the State, P. 334. State of New York that only by treaty or purchase, were the lands once in possession of the Indians appropriated by the State.


An Act passed by the First General Assembly of the Province of New York in 1683, provided for the division of the Province into twelve counties. (Dukes and Corn- wall were later surrendered to Massachusetts. )


Ibid. Bk. I. Ch. 2, p. 38.


pp. 24, 27-28, 29.


2


OUTLINE HISTORY OF UTICA AND VICINITY.


Albany County, one of the original twelve counties, ex- Ibid. pp. 96-7. Hendrick's Brief Hist. Empire State, pp. 44-5. Ibid. pp. 98-9. Jones's Annals tended westward to the bounds of the Province until 1772, when Tryon County was erected from its territory, taking its name from the last English Governor of New York, William Tryon. This was changed by the Legisla- of Oneida Co., ture, April 2, 1784, to Montgomery County, in honor of pp. 2, 3. Lossing's Hist. Empire State, p. 584. Jones's Annals p. 8. Judge Holden's Ad- dress, Cent. Oneida Co., March 15, 1898. General Richard Montgomery, who fell at Quebec in 1775. The County of Herkimer was erected from the territory of Montgomery County in 1791. March 15, 1798, an Act was passed dividing Herkimer County, and the counties of Oneida and Chenango were formed from its territory. The domain covered by the former took its name from the original occupants of the soil, the Oneida tribe of Indians.


One of a chain of forts built by the English during the French and Indian war was located on the site of the present city of Utica and was known as "Old Fort Schuy- Ded. Site Old ler." It was designed to guard the fording place in the Ft. Schuyler in Trans. O.H. S., 1881 4. river above it, and stood near the intersection of Second street and the New York Central Railroad. The Indian Jones's Annals pp. 490-1. path from Oneida Castle crossed the one leading to the Pioneers, p. 5. Oneida Carrying Place, (Fort Stanwix), at the ford, near the place where the bridge now spans the Mohawk at the foot of Genesee street. The fort was called "Old Fort


M. H., p. 17. Pioneers, p. M. H., p. 18.


Schuyler" to distinguish it from a more important forti Jones's Annals fication on the site of the present city of Rome, N. Y., P. 323, (note,) P. 491. properly called Fort Stanwix. During the Revolution an M. H. p. 18. effort was made to change the name of Fort Stanwix to Fort Schuyler.


The statement is often made that Old Fort Schuyler was Barber's Hist. Colls. p. 374. named in honor of Col. Peter Schuyler of Albany, the be- Jones's Annals loved "Brother Quider " of the Indians and uncle of Gen- M. H. pp. 17-18. eral Philip Schuyler of the Revolution. Others claim that P. 490. it was named for his nephew and namesake, Col. Peter


3


EARLIEST HISTORY.


Schuyler of New Jersey, an officer in the active service of his country at the time this fort was built. When the


Hist. Colls. N. foundations of the defense were laid, Col. Peter Schuyler of Y.(Gen.Schuy- Albany, (its first mayor), had been dead over a quarter of a ler,) p. 498. I. S. Hartley century. It seems reasonable to believe that the custom in Trans. O. then prevalent, of naming fortifications in honor of officers H. S. 1881-4. in active service, was followed in this instance, and that "Old Fort Schuyler" was called for Col. Peter Schuyler of New Jersey, then in command of the Jersey Blues at Oswego.


The fort, probably built in 1758, was allowed to go to decay at the close of the French war. Indeed, it had Jones'sAnnals never been an important fortification, having been rudely P. 491. constructed in the form of an earthen embankment, sur- rounded by pickets.


Fort Stanwix, built by the English in 1758, and named in Barber's Hist. honor of General John Stanwix, stood at the head of nav-, D. E. Wager


Colls. pp. 367-8 igation on the Mohawk, (now Rome, N. Y.), and was an in Trans. O.H. expensive and elaborate fortification, costing the Crown Jones'sAnnals S., 1885-6. $266,400. The need of defense at this point was impera- PP. 323-4. tive from its situation on the great water-route from the Y. Doc. Hist. N. Hudson to the western lakes. Here, in early times, boats Vol. 4, P. 323. O'Callaghan, were transferred from the Mohawk to Wood Creek across the portage known as the "Oneida Carrying Place."


Fort Stanwix played an important part in the Revolu- tion when, in Burgoyne's Campaign of 1777, under the gallant Col. Peter Gansevoort, it withstood the siege of the Jones's Annals P. 313. English, commanded by Col. Barry St. Leger. It was the Ibid., pp. 328- 60. news of the attack upon the fort which led the militia of Barber's Hist. Tryon County, under Gen. Nicholas Herkimer, to march to Colls., pp. 367- 9. its relief. Intercepted at Oriskany on the morning of the Campbell's 6th of August, 1777, by the English and their Indian allies on Co., Ch. 4. Annals of Try- under Brandt and Butler, a battle followed which has been called the most obstinate and murderous of the Revolution,


4


OUTLINE HISTORY OF UTICA AND VICINITY.


Cobb's Story for the loss of life, was relatively greater here than in any of the Pala-


other engagement. The battle of Oriskany, although a tines.


Roberts' Hist.


Empire State,


Vol. 2, pp. 413-


seeming defeat, was in effect a victory. Washington said: "Here Herkimer first reversed the gloomy scene of the campaign." By their heroic action the farmers of the Mohawk Valley, largely the German Palatines, drove back the invader. The plans of Burgoyne were frustrated, and in the following October his army surrendered upon the Heights of Saratoga.


7. Ded. Oriskany Mon. in Trans. O. H. S., 1881-4.


Gov. Sey-


mour's Ad.


dress of Wel- come, Cent.


Bat. Oriskany, Trans.O. H. S., 1877.


According to the best authority, the Stars and Stripes in the form adopted by the Continental Congress, June 14, Flag of U. S., 1777, were first unfurled on land from the ramparts of Fort Preble's Hist. p. 276 in Har. Stanwix. Hastily improvised for the occasion, the flag per's Mag., July, 1877. Lossing's Field Book of was displayed during the siege of the fort. It was made of a white shirt, a blue camlet cloak, and bits of red cloth the Rev., Vol. from the petticoat of a soldier's wife.


I, P. 242


Rev. Samuel Kirkland, who later founded the Ham- ilton Oneida Academy, of which Hamilton College is the outgrowth, served as Chaplain at Fort Stanwix during the Revolution. To the influence of this eminent missionary to Fiske's Am. Rev. Vol. I, pp. 285-92. Barber's Hist. Colls., pp. 362- 4,376 the Indians of Western New York, and to the efforts of the pioneer settler of Westmoreland, Judge James Dean, is due the action of the Oneidas in remaining neutral during the War for Independence. Through the labors of Mr. Jones'sAnnals 203-20, 744, 853- 4. Kirkland, the Oneidas and their celebrated chief, Skenan- Lothrop's Life of Kirkland. doah, embraced the Christian religion. They were known as "the tribe of the Upright Stone." This sacred stone was their national altar, and they gathered around it from year to year to celebrate solemn religious rites and to worship the Great Spirit. The moral qualities of the Oneidas led Pas- Schoolcraft's Notes on the tor Kirkland to pronounce them the noblest of the Six Iroquois, p. 46. Nations.


The sacred stone of the Oneidas now stands in Forest


ONEIDA STONE.


Saturday Globe.


5


EARLIEST HISTORY.


Hill Cemetery, near the entrance. This valuable histori- Gridley's Hist. of Town of cal relic was brought from Stockbridge, Madison County, Kirkland, p. 7- in 1849. 20.


Fort Stanwix was the scene of important treaties and conferences between the Colonies and the Six Nations. Notable among them is the Convention of November 5, 1768, which established " the line of property," or bound- ary line between the Six Nations and the Colonies of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia-Jones's Annals long the source of hostilities and the subject of continued P. 123. dispute and controversy. Near the foot of College Hill, Clinton, the Class of '87 of Hamilton College has erected a stone to mark the "line of property" as fixed by the treaty of Fort Stanwix, signed for the Crown by General Indian Agent Sir William Johnson.


In 1784 a treaty was signed at Fort Stanwix in which peace was established between the United States and the Six Nations. Samuel Kirkland acted as interpreter. He was largely influential in bringing the Indians to terms of peace, "Red Jacket," the Seneca Chief, being present and opposing the treaty stipulations.


The Great Indian Treaty of 1788, held at Fort Stanwix, was all important in its relations to the future of Oneida Lossing's County, for the land now included within its limits was there ceded to the State by its original owners and occu- pants.


By the Act creating Oneida County, it was provided that there should be held a Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace in May, September and De- cember. The court was to be held in the school house at Fort Stanwix, which stood on the site of the present City Hall in Rome. Jedediah Sanger, of New Hartford, was elected first judge, and the side judges were Hugh White of


Ibid. p. 210


Hist. Empire State, p. 334.


6


OUTLINE HISTORY OF UTICA AND VICINITY.


Whitesboro, David Ostrom of Utica, George Huntington of Rome, and James Dean of Westmoreland. William Colbraith of Rome was the first sheriff, Jonas Platt of Whitesboro the first county clerk, and Arthur Breese of Whitesboro the first surrogate.


The first term of the Court of Common Pleas was held in May, 1798, Judge Sanger presiding. The first Circuit Jones'sAnnals Court was held in September, 1798, Hon. John Lansing, P. 24. Chief Justice ; the first Court of Oyer and Terminer was held at the same place (the school house at Fort Stanwix), June 5, 1798, presided over by Hon. James Kent, Justice of the Supreme Court.


The site of Utica, called in the Oneida tongue, "Yah- nun-da-da-sis," meaning "around the hill," is a part of a Ibid. pp. 486- tract of 22,000 acres which George Second, King of Great Britain, granted in royal letters patent in 1734 to a num- Jones'sAnnals ber of individuals, but in reality to the Governor of the P. 490. Province, William Cosby. The pronunciation of the Indian name varies, and it has been written "U-nun-da-da- ges."


Ibid. p, 531.


The quit-rents reserved in the patent having been left unpaid, Daniel Horsmanden, Chief Justice of the Colony of New York, directed the land to be sold in 1772, at pub- lic sale. It was bid in by Colonel, afterwards General, Philip Schuyler, for the benefit of himself, Gen. John Bradstreet, Rutger Bleecker and John M. Scott.


Pioneers, pp. 7-Q. M. H., pp. 20-1.


In 1786 the survey of Cosby's Manor was completed by John R. Bleecker, son of one of its proprietors. At this time three dwellings were located near the ford, one on the west and two on the east side of the present Genesee street.


By the Act of 1784 which changed Tryon to Montgom- ery County, its territory was divided into five districts, one


90, 529-38. Pioneers, p. 645


7


EARLIEST HISTORY.


of which was German Flats. The latter, which formed a part of Cosby's Manor, was divided March 7, 1788, and Whitestown was set apart as a separate town which, west p. 2. of the dividing line, then included the whole of New York State. The eastern boundary line of Whitestown crossed M. H., p. 20. the Mohawk at the ford, leaving part of the settlement of "Old Fort Schuyler" in Whitestown and part in Ger- man Flats. "Upon the formation of Oneida County in 1798, the east line was thrown eastwardly to the present line of the city and county."


At this period Rome and Whitesboro bade fair to become the centres of trade and population in Oneida County. The natural advantages offered the early settler in the vicinity of Old Fort Schuyler were not such as would prove attractive to the pioneer. Yet, the excellent facil- Jones'sAnnals ities afforded at this point for the transportation of supplies, M. H, pp. 18. PP. 492-5. early marked it as an important trading-post. Gradually 19. the fording place took upon itself the character of a village, p. 495. Jones's Annals as the early traders and mechanics began to locate in the vicinity of "Old Fort Schuyler." For some years the settlement was confined to the two streets which ran paral- lel with the river, (Water and Main), with a few scattering houses on the Whitestown road.


A real impetus was given to the growth of the settlement in the years 1794, '95 and '97 by expenditures laid out upon the road to the "Genesee country" through appropriations Barber's Hist. from the legislature. Particularly was this true of the Colls., P. 374. Pioneers, pp. year 1800, when the great highway to the west was con- 6, 7. structed by the Seneca Turnpike Company, which, taking in "Old Fort Schuyler," passed much to the south of Rome and Whitesboro. (See VIII.)


In 1792 the settlers petitioned the legislature for aid in the construction of a bridge across the Mohawk. The M. H., p. 29. Ibid., p. 29. bridge raised in 1791 was now completed and, by doing


Jones'sAnnals


Pioneers, pp. II-12.


8


OUTLINE HISTORY OF UTICA AND VICINITY.


away with the inconvenience hitherto experienced in ford- ing the river, added materially to the growth of the hamlet.


Barber's Hist. Colls., p. 374. Pioneers, p. 90 Jones's Annals P. 567.


The first Church within its limits was organized April I, 1793, under the style of "The United Society of Whites- town and Old Fort Schuyler." August 21, 1794, Rev. Bethuel Dodd was installed pastor.


Up to the year 1798 the history of the place is mainly the chronicle of a list of pioneers whose integrity and thrift laid the foundations of the future city's growth.


1


II. THE VILLAGE OF UTICA. 1798-1832.


TI "HE men of Old Fort Schuyler now felt the need of more formal organization and applied to the legislature for an act of incorporation, which was passed April 3, I798.


The village took the name of Utica. It is said that this name was chosen by lot. According to the story, some of the inhabitants of the village, discussing the matter at Bagg's Tavern, decided to settle it by allowing each to write the name of his choice and put it in a hat ; the first name drawn out to be adopted. This proved to be Utica, "the Am. Hist., pp. choice of that eminent classical scholar, Erastus Clark." 196-7.


There was a second charter in 1805, and a third in 1817. (See XIV.) By the third charter Utica was made a town, Ibid., p. 79. separate from Whitestown. The records of the first seven years of the village were destroyed by fire in 1848, and we have little knowledge of the official acts of that time.


The Directory of 1832 says : "The gentleman who was Utica Direc- the first President of the Village (1798), Talcott Camp, Esq., tory, 1832, p. is still resident in the city." 194


The first tax list which we have is that of 1800, when the taxes amounted to $40., and the highest sum was Pioneers, pp. $2., paid by John Post, the pioneer merchant and tavern 18-23, 97. keeper.


The first newspaper in Utica was the Whitestown Gazette and Cato's Patrol, published in 1798 by William McLean. Ibid., p. 83. He had first published it at New Hartford in 1794 under the name of the Whitestown Gasette.


Pioneers, p. 78.


Fiske's Criti- cal Period of


IO


OUTLINE HISTORY OF UTICA AND VICINITY.


Mrs. Whitch- We are told that the first paper printed in the county, er's Stray Leaves in the which was also the first west of Albany, was the Western Hist. of Whitesboro,


P. 41.


Sentinel, established by Oliver P. Easton, at Whitesboro, in January, 1794, and continued six years.


Water for the village use was obtained in 1802, when the "Utica Aqueduct Company" brought water in a log 'aqueduct from springs at the foot of the sand bank (now Spring street), through the pasture lots to the corner of Genesee and Liberty streets, and down Genesee.


T. Hopper in Trans. O. H. S., 1885-6.


In 1824, the Erie canal caused the severing of the aque- duct, but a new company, the Utica Aqueduct Association, was formed in 1832, and erected works in the same re- gion two years later. The deed of the property on which some of these springs are situated contains a clause reserv- ing to the Association the right to obtain water from this source. It actually did so until 1850.


The Utica Water Works Company was incorporated March 31, 1848.


In 1805 three wells were dug, which were in use for Pioneers, p. 209. some time. That in the centre of Bagg's square was Trans. O. H. long kept open, and was a gathering place for the inhabi- S., 1885.6. tants during a great part of the village life.


Pioneers, pp. 90-1.


In 1793 the Presbyterians had organized a religious socie- ty, (See I.) and church-going people of every denomination met for worship in the school house, the Presbyterian min- ister conducting the services and giving part of his time to Utica and part to Whitesboro.


A church building was erected in 1806-7, on the corner of Washington and Liberty streets, on a lot given by Major John Bellinger with the sole condition that he should have a pew in the church.


bid., p. 213. Ibid., P. 339.


The Presbyterian Church of Utica was separated from


I I


THE VILLAGE OF UTICA-1798-1832.


that of Whitesboro in 1813, while as early as 1805 the Ibid., P. 215. Utica society had organized separately for the transaction of business.


Trinity Church was organized in 1798, by Rev. Philander Chase. In a few years it was reorganized, the certificate D. W. Perkins, in Utica 05. of incorporation bearing date Aug. 14, 1804. The present server, Sep :. lot was obtained in accordance with a promise from the 50, 1887. Bleecker family to give a lot to the first church that should 68-147. Pioneers. pp. be erected. The present building was used in 1806. and completed in ISIO.


In the early part of this period many Welsh families set-


Ibid .. pp. 134- tled in Utica, and in ISOI a Welsh Baptist Church was 136. Jomes's Early formed-the first Church, exclusively of Utica, whose Of- Welsh Se :- ganization has been continuous and services unbroken to tless of Ozeida Co. in Trans. the present time. In 1804. a small church was built by o. H. S. 155g- the Welsh Congregationalists. 92.


Services of the Roman Catholic Church were first held in Utica in IS19, in the building on John street, which served as Court House and Academy.


St. John's Church was soon organized ; the present lot. on the corner of John and Bleecker streets, was given by .... Judge Morris S. Miller, and a building consecrated in 1821.


Pioneers. P


A large number of charitable and missionary societies were organized in this period. some of which are still in existence. Among them was The . Female Charitable So- Ibid .. p. 230. ciety of Whitestown." organized in ISO6, which was "the first benevolent association of the county of which we have any knowledge."


For many years the children of all denominations gath- ered in one Sunday School, organized in 1816. The first Ibid .. PP. 414- book of Scripture questions compiled for Sunday Schools 415, 612 613. in this country was prepared in 1824 by the Superintend- ent of this school. Truman Parmelee.


I 2


OUTLINE HISTORY OF UTICA AND VICINITY.


M. H., pp. 107,


112, 113.


In 1811 there was a military company in the village- the Independent Infantry Company. In the war of 1812 some of its members, as well as others, about sixty in all, were enrolled as volunteers, (February, 1813), and, as a new company, commanded by Captain William Williams, were attached to the 134th Regiment. They were not called into battle, but a few other volunteers from Utica were in active service in different organizations, and some were drafted.


(For Uticans in the navy, see XI.)


Pioneers, pp. 309-313.


Soldiers also often passed through the village on their way to or from some military post.


Commodore Perry visited Utica soon after his victory on Lake Erie, and received a public dinner from the citi- zens, (Nov. 3, 1813.)


The first directory was issued in 1817. It contained a List of the American Navy, with the statement, "The ships in italics denote vessels captured from the British." The second directory was issued in 1828, and the third in 1829.


M. H., p. 129.


In 1817 all business was prosecuted below Catharine street. Residences were scattered above this point. The roadways were unpaved, but sidewalks were made of flag- ging, cobble, gravel or tan bark, to suit the convenience of the householders.




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