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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT
V
C
THE
AUTHOR
)
Fing Elizabeth H Pike Mrs. W. J Hubie my & Edic. More E. V. Conant
1
PIONEER HISTORY
-OF-
CAMDEN,
ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
/
J.
To
1
-
2.000
26. Concert.
1
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORS.
Otric
1898
UTICA, N. Y.
PRESS OF T. J. GRIFFITHS, 131 GENESEE STREET.
1897.
TIVO COPIES RECEIVED
73980C=2
2973
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1997, by MRS. E. T. PIKE, MRS. E. EDIC, MRS. W. J. FRISBIE AND MRS. E. H. CONANT, In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
F129 CIMPO
TO THE SONS AND DAUGH- TERS OF CAMDEN, NEW YORK.
PRESENT AND ABSENT, AND TO THE DESCENDANTS OF FORMER RESIDENTS, THIS RECORD OF ITS SETTLEMENT AND OF THE TRIALS
AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THEIR ANCESTORS IS RESPECT-
FULLY COMMENDED WITH THE HOPE THAT IT
MAY MEET AN APPRECIATIVE WEL-
COME FROM ALL, AND
STRENGTHEN THEIR
LOVE FOR THE OLD TOWN.
"Believe us, we count ourselves in nothing else so happy, as in our history remembering our good friends."-Shakespeare.
1
INTRODUCTION.
HE object of this volume is to record the early settlement of the town of Camden, and bring the same to the knowledge of its readers. No doubt many have questioned, like ourselves, why they selected this part of the country? When it was first settled? By whom? and just where did this or that one reside in those early days? We seek to answer these questions, and many others-to tell you something of the trials that beset these pion- eers, to show that their lives were not "downy beds of ease" and pleasure, but full of earnest toil and endeavor, privation, and often times suffering. It is well to know how the foundation of our now beautiful village and town was laid, that we may the better appreciate it-how it has grown from the primitive forest of pines to its present state of improvement-with what persistent labor they wrought to clear ground for their habitations, to the end that we may the more fully understand how great is the debt of gratitude we owe to the early builders of our community. We assume no superiority of authorship, nor shall it be our effort to embellish these pages with flowery descriptions; but a plainly related history of each family as we have gathered facts relative to it, will be our pleasure. This required years of patient labor. We have met with many encouragements, and but very little that tended to dishearten, and have found a more than ordinary interest manifest in the minds of all to whom we have turned for information and aid in our work. And now, kind read- ers, remember, we are sensible of defects, but court no criticism. With Dr. Arnold, "We can not see how the public mind can help bearing anything we have the honest courage to publish."
It is our earnest hope that the labor will not have been in vain -that this book will not fail to interest its readers, and that it will lead them to feel a deeper pride in, and love for, the dear old town of Camden.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
George Scriba's residence,
17
George Scriba, IS
Primitive Log House,
26
Mrs. Concurrence Parks, 35
Cemetery on the Seventh, 36
Residence of Dr. Joel Rathburn,
45
Residence of Amos Davenport Mix.
48 49
Mrs William Bird,
55
Home of Samuel Wood,
Home of Ibri Curtiss,
Stream at foot of Main Street,
Dead Level Diagram.
Site of first Tannery now Knitting Mill,
Cemetery Grounds,
Israel Stoddard,
Judge Stoddard's Place,
S2
John Wilson House,
90
Jehiel Higgins' Residence,
Brick School House, District No. 5, 1816-1890.
98
Mr and Mrs. Martin Cook, 109
Julius Cook, IIO
Birthplace and Home of Julius Cook.
111
Curtiss Johnson,
117
First Home of Benjamin Phelps,
120
Mrs. Benjamin Phelps,
121
Second Home of Benjamin Phelps,
122
Phelps Bros.
124
Home of Albert Phelps,
126
Home of Ranney Phelps, I34
Old Bridge leading to Distillery, 135
Old Distillery-R., W. & O. RR. Bridge,
I36
Site of First Cemetery. 145
Home of Enos Blakeslee,
147
Parke Cemetery,
148
Home of Honuel Gifford, 149
Home of Harvey Parke, 151
Bridge over Fish Creek, 155
Home of Dr. Joshua Ransom,
157
Daniel Parke's Powder Horn,
Daniel Parke Place, . 92 96
59 61 63 64 65 79
Residence of Amos Mix, Jr. .
ILLUSTR.ITIONS.
PAGE.
Mir. and Mrs. Giles Sanford.
150
Fortune C. Sanford.
Lyman Matthews House.
163
Preston Hill School House.
Mrs. Caleb Preston.
170 172
Mr. and Mrs. Seth Dunbar.
177
Andrew Craig's House,
176 152
Lewis Preston's House,
1.55 156
Uri Hill House.
Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Sanford.
187
Home of Ephraim Sanford.
155 192 103 195
Home of Anthony Lathers.
Home of John Lambie Sen.
197 200
Mrs. William Ford-Home of Rev. William Ford.
201
Baptist Church.
202
Andrew Crawford.
203
Mr. and Mrs. Abram E. Johnson.
205
Mr. and Mrs. William Swanson.
205
The Grove Mills.
213
Home of Heman Byington.
215 216
Gerrit Smith's Home.
247
Wolcott Hill School House.
220
Riley Root Farm, house built by Ephraim Meeker.
221
Home of S. D. Castle.
222 ¢
Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Castle.
223
Home of Deacon Stephen Bryant.
225
Ilome of Tillotson Barnes,
220
Deacon Cobb.
235
Home of Deacon Cobb,
236
Home of Philo Scoville.
ote 212
Mabie Place.
244
House built by William Stevens for his son Sylvester.
247
Miss Sally Porter- Mrs. Byington in her teens.
250
Mr. and Mrs Ambrose Byington.
251
House built by Ethel Higgins, 1527
255
Home of A. Smith Johnson. 250
The Skinner Neighborhood Burial Spot.
263
Robert Allen Farm House,
26S
Mr. Leonard West.
273
Mrs. Leonard West.
274
First Tavern in Camden. .
278
View of Railroad Bridge from Mexico Street. 275
View from Mexico St. Bridge.
2-1)
Caleb Preston.
Jesse Blakes Home,
Temple School House.
Home of Chester Wilcox.
Rev. William Ford.
Rev. Elijah Gaylord.
Ebenezer Doten.
9
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
Old Cemetery on Mexico Street.
231
Milo Pond's Home, 286
The Dunbar Mill.
289
Deacon David Osborn and wife, .
291
Deacon Osborn's Home.
292
Home of Bartholomew Pond,
294
Dr. Torbert House.
295
Andrew Tuttle's Home.
297
Manning Barnes' Residence,
312
Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Smith,
317
Home of Elias Chapman, 322
Hamilton Gifford's Home,
323
Eastern View of Hamilton Gifford's Home, 324
Presbyterian Church, West Camden, 326
M E. Church, West Camden, 327
Mrs. Clorinda Miller. 334
Falls on Mad River above Old Mill site, 335
336
Wilson Baldwin's Home, built by Ransom Barnes,
340
Home of Edward Goodyear,
341
Norman Castle Home,
342.
Mr. Ashbel Upson,
343
Calvin Johnson's Early Home,
345
Martin Smith's Home.
347
Mr. George Elden.
349
The Jamieson "Cottage,"
354
Home of Henry Bacon,
355
Fort Newton,
359
Col. Richard Empey,
361 362
Mr. Aaron Stone,
364
A. Stone & Son's Drug Store,
365
Mr. Thomas Stone, 364
377
Mr. Francis H. Conant, 379
Mr. John Bettis,
382
First Congregational Church,
386
Rev. Henry Smith,
395
Grave of Rev. Henry Smith,
397
Old Town Hall, M. E. Church and Parsonage, tot
Rev. Eliakim Stoddard. 407
436
First Presbyterian Church,
439
Old Fire Engine and Old Town Hall Bell,
451
Two Fire Buckets. 453
The "Eldorado," built by Warren Mix,
454
Park Hotel, burned 1867.
465
West side Main Street, burned IS92,
456
West Side of Main Street, burned in 1882, 457
The Empey Homestead,
Mr. Thomas DeMilt Penfield,
Priest Smith House, 396
New Trinity Episcopal Church,
Nathan Kinnie Home,
10
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
Mr. George Trowbridge, .
464
Trowbridge Homestead,
465
Mr. Truman Spencer and Spencer's Exchange,
Store built by H. J. Miner, 466
46S
Major J. D. Cavarly, 469
Cottage Store, .
471
Reed's Hotel.
475
Mr. and Mrs. Ranney Parke,
476
Colton Tavern, 1835.
477
Horatio Gates Torbert, M. D.,
490
Dr. John A. Seewir, 492
Dr. Robert Jamieson,
494
Dr. Robert Frazier, 496
506
Approach to Forest Park,
541
Entrance to Woodland Avenue,
542
Drive at foot of Hill east of Cemetery.
543
East Side Drive.
544
Camden Brass Band,
"The Pines." 545
CONTENTS.
PAGE. GEORGE SCRIBA 17 LAY OF LONG AGO 20
HISTORIANS' OPINION OF THE SETTLEMENT OF CAMDEN 21
CHAPTER I.
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN 23
CHAPTER II.
SEVENTH TOWNSHIP
31
CHAPTER III.
SEVENTH RELIGIOUS SOCIETY 5I
CHAPTER IV.
PLANK ROAD 63
CHAPTER V.
CONTINUATION OF PLANK ROAD 76
CEMETERY-1840 76
CHAPTER VI.
CONTINUATION OF PLANK ROAD IO2
CHAPTER VII.
JOSEPH SCOVILLE
. 128
CHAPTER VIII.
PHELPSVILLE
.131
F
CHAPTER IX.
PRESTON HILL
156
12
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER X.
HILLSBORO 190
CHAPTER XI.
WOLCOTT HILL
......
.213
CHAPTER XII.
TABERG ROAD
.228
CHAPTER XIII.
TABERG ROAD CONTINUED
CHAPTER XIV.
262
SKINNER SETTLEMENT
TABERG ROAD ACROSS TO WOLCOTT
HILL
SCHOOL HOUSE 265
DINGLE STREET 276
STATE ROAD 276
MEXICO STREET 277
ROAD LEADING 3 FROM MEXICO STREET TO
HILLSBOROUGH ROAD 309
WEST CAMDEN 3II
PARNASSUS STREET 331
CROPPER STREET 333
MAIN STREET NORTH 351
CHAPTER XV.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN CAMDEN 385
METHODISM IN CAMDEN 404
WESLEYAN METHODIST 431
MILLERITES 432
TRINITY CHURCH 432
ROMAN CATHOLIC 438
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN 439
. 234
13
CONTENTS.
P'AGE,
EARLY SCHOOLS 441
INCORPORATION OF CAMDEN VILLAGE 449
FIRES IN CAMDEN 454
CAMDEN WATER WORKS 460
MERCHANTS 460
CHAPTER XVI.
FARLY TAVERNS OF CAMDEN 475
CHAPTER XVII.
FACTORY VILLAGE 483
F. H. CONANT'S SONS' CHAIR MANUFACTORY
487
CHAPTER XVIII.
PROFESSIONAL MEN 489
DOCTORS 489
LAWYERS 498
CHAPTER XIX.
CAMDEN SAXHORN BAND . 503
CHAPTER XX.
NEWSPAPERS . 509
POSTMASTERS 516
CHAPTER XXI.
MASONIC LODGE 517
ANCIENT LODGE I. O. O. F. 518
ROYAL ARCANUM .518
ORDER OF AMERICAN MECHANICS
518
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 518
KNIGHTS OF MACCABEES 518
IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN 518
CORALLINE SOCIETY 519
CAMDEN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
520
CURTISS HALL
.522
14
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CAMDEN OPERA HOUSE 523
524 CAMDEN BANKS
CHAPTER XXH.
MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS
.526
REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOTS AND DATE OF
DEATH 532
SOLDIERS OF 1812, AND DATE OF DEATH 536
MEXICAN SOLDIERS 536
LIST OF SOLDIERS IN THE LATE CIVIL WAR, EN-
LISTED FROM CAMDEN, TOGETHER WITH
THEIR REGIMENT . 537
CHAPTER XXIII.
FOREST PARK
. . . . . 540 ..
CHAPTER XXIV.
SUPERVISORS 547
CHAPTER XXV.
GLEANINGS .551
CONCLUSION 554
FRENCHMAN'S ISLAND .556
GEORGE SCRIBA.
I HE name of George Scriba occurs in nearly all of the deeds which have come under our notice as conveying land to very many of the early mien in this locality, and it may interest some, as it did us, to see a portrait of the man,and learn a bit of his career. He was born in Holland in 1752, and came to America probably, when so many of his countrymen were seeking homes and fortunes here. In 1793 Mr. Scriba came to Constantia, and established himself a home on the picturesque shores of Lake Oneida, the locality then called Rotterdam. Mr. Scriba came there a man of wealth-estimated to have been worth from
George Seriba's Residence.
$1,000,000 to $1,500,000. He invested largely in new, uncul- tivated territory, owning much of Oneida Co. Rotterdam was a place of larger business importance than Syracuse at the time. He was prominently interested in all measures for the ad- vancement of the locality, giving liberally to the establishment ot the .Episcopal Church, its building and equipment, and also a plot of ground for a burial place. The church was built in 1829, and still stands in fairly good condition, and is one of the children of Old Trinity, New York. The residence of Mr. Scriba was built in 1794, and the illustration is a very good
2
18
PIONEER HISTORY OF
one, though time has made inroads upon its beauty-is of Dutch colonial style in structure, two stories high in front, sloping from the ridge to a half story in lieight at the rear. We entered a door at the west end of the house, leading into a fairly wide hall, riin- ning through the entire length of the house to an outside door opposite.
In this hall, of the ancient furnishings, was a grandfather's clock, In the center of the house, at the front, is the door, where no doubt many a welcome guest has entered in the years of Mr. Scriba's prosperity and ownership. It opens into a wide hall, which extends through the center of the house and joins the other longer hall. Large square rooms open out of this on either side, in which are old-fashioned fire-places, with capacity for a good sized log. We could imagine the Scribas, Roosevelts. Staats, and many another kindred spirit assembled about these cheerful firesides, smoking, as is the Dutchman's wont, and oft- times enjoying the beer, brewed by the thrifty burghers. Into the western of these two front rooms we were ushered by Miss King of Constantia, who kindly accompanied us to the spot, and intro- duced us to Mrs. Louisa, widow of Frederic, who was a son of George Scriba, the subject of our sketch. Mrs. Scriba is a most inter- esting lady, though advanced in life to 86 years, somewhat infirm in body, but strong in intellect. She exhibited sev- eral family relics, curious and of value. Among them was some of the Scriba silver, heavy and substantial, the spoons engraved. on medalions. with the initials "C. S .: " portraits in miniature wrought in wax from one of which - the accompanying copy was taken. George Scriba A pair of Dresden vases are standing on the mantel, which Mrs. Scriba told us were considerably over one hundred years old. On this same mantel is a marvelous allegorical representation of the grave of Washington. It is executed in wax, colored.
19
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
On the base of the monument which supports a lofty column, o!namented by Masonic devices, appear the various emblems and trophies of war. In front stands the American eagle holding a wreath of laurel. On the left of the monument is Minerva, the Goddes of Wisdom and of War, in the attitude of sorrow, leaning upon a shield, and weeping at the remembrance of uncommon greatness departed. Ncar her, Ceres, the Goddess of Plenty, pours from her cornucopia the riches of the earth, and an Indian struck with admiration and grief rests upon his bow. At the foot of the monument is seen an infant whose moistened eyes bespeak no common loss. On the right, America, represented by a female clothed in mourning, holds the annals of the country, the sacred and everlasting record of the high achievements of him whose loss she deplores. Near her appears the beautiful figure of Char- ity and a seraph admiring the mysteries of redecming love, em- blematic of the hero's moral and Christian virtues. Above, an angel commissioned from the skies to conduct the sublime spirit to the heavenly abode, is seen flying towards the earth, holding in one hand a torch just extinguished, indicative of the close of life, and in the other an unfading garland, expressive of immortal fame. At the foot of the monument is lying a skull, near which stands a flower stalk, with the flower broken off, and falling on the small skull, denoting death. At the extreme left of the pic- ture stands a vase with initials, "G. W. Raufchner, 1800."
It is likely the smaller portraits of the Scriba family were wrought by the same artist. They were hung in 1805, where they have ever since remained. An old piano, manufactured by Wm. N. Bebee of Vernon, stands in the room, and Mrs. Scriba, feeble though she is, told us that but a few days before our visit she had sat at the instrument and played over some of the tunes she loved, which had cheered and gladdened her heart, making her feel younger. There were candelabra which would contain three cardles each. This was considered a princely abode in its day, and no doubt its portals swung wide to admit visitors who came to enjoy the genial hospitality of the host and hostess. Mr. Scriba carried on a busy traffic with the Indians, who found a loyal friend in him, and he often entertained these strangers within the
20
PIONEER HISTORY OF
broad halls, giving food and rest to their wearied bodies, East of the house is a spacious elm tree, planted there years ago by the son, Frederic William Scriba. The brick used in the fire- places and chimneys were imported from Holland. George Scriba died August 14, 1836, aged 84 years. He is buried at Constantia, in the enclosure contributed by him for burial pur- poses. An unpretentious stone marks his grave.
[From the Camden Journal February 1873. LAY OF LONG AGO.
BV W. H. C. HOSMER.
In the good old days of pioneer ways, How full of fun were we, When neighbors all obeyed the call To meet at the "logging bee ;" When flax was spun, and every one In stout tow cloth was drest, And the spinning wheel, with its humming zeal, Was music that pleased the best.
Log houses stood where the grand old wood On their roofs of bark threw shade, And loud was mirth round the spacious hearth, When the roaring fire was made; When Christmas came, the best of game, Smoked on the settler's board, And streaming hot, from the iron pot, The golden mush outpoured.
The hardy girls, with their sun-burnt curls, Were brides for stalwart grooms, Whose coats, home-made, of butternut shade, Were wove in rustic looms; Brown came the loaves, in our land of groves, From oven out of doors, And well I ween, with rushes green, Were scoured the rough oak floors.
In clearings rude dwelt a brotherhood Of bold, united men, Who slew the bear, in his dangerous lair, The wolf in his brambly den :
21
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
Our land they made long dark with shade, Bears traces of their power,
For towns upsprang, where their axes rang, And the church upreared its tower.
Though tired with toil, to tame the soil, From morn till evening close,
Neuralgic moans and dyspeptic groans Disturbed not their repose ; Of iron mould, were these men of old, And honored they should be,
So we seek to tell, how they did so well, In our "Pioneer History."
THE OPINION OF THE HISTORIANS OF THOSE COMING HERE.
Col. Elmore's Regiment of 1776 was raised under authority of the Continental Congress, to serve for one year from April 1776. Col. Samuel Elmore had served in Hinman's Regiment in the Northern Department in 1775, and again as Lieutenant of Wooster Provisional Regiment in the winter of 1775 and 1776. Elmore and most of the company officers recruited their men in Connecticut, to some extent from the Regiment that served in the North. Some of the officers belonged to New York, and a few from Massachusetts. They took the field July, 1776, under Schuyler, and on August 25 marched from Albany to Tryon County, now part of Oneida, and the rest of their time were gar- risoned at Fort Stanwix.
They broke up in the spring of 1777. On the muster roll, as they stood January 13 to 15, we find these names: Aaron Mat- thews, Beriah Pond, Barnabas Pond, Benj. Curtiss, Joel Dunbar, Bartholomew Pond; in Col. Huntington's Company, Daniel Park; in another Company, Samuel Woods, Jesse Penfield, Da- vid Brown, Levi Munson; the last four were in the Connecticut records; Jonah Sandford and Jesse Curtiss. Most of these men emigrated to this vicinity in less than 20 years after they were discharged from the army. It is barely possible when garrisoned at Fort Stanwix they were among the foraging parties that were sent out in different directions, and many of them liked the lay of the land. They were young men when at Fort Stanwix.
22
PIONEER HISTORY OF
When they settled here they were men with families. Most of the settlers were from Connecticut, and at that time the desir- able farms of their native State were taken up, and they wished to seek a new country and home; and here the woods and cheap lands were inviting the tide of emigration.
There might have been an Horace Greeley, not by name, but of the same ambitions, who said, "Young man, go West," for in 1805 there was a great pouring in here from Connecticut. A few years found them with comfortable homes and well-cleared farms from the primeval forest.
There have been a number of cannon-balls found in this vicin- ity, and it has been a quandary how they got here, as in some places it would have been impossible to have dragged the heavy old cannon through the rough and wild woods, and especially without any particular object to do so. On inquiry we find that the early settlers used to go to Salt Point, now Syracuse, and get loads of salt, and in order to make it useful they would take an iron kettle, and put in a chunk of salt, and then a large cannon- ball, and keep rolling it around until the salt was pulverized. Some of the balls that have been found in this section were probably used for this purpose, and their being out of shape was by the rust from the salt, and lying so long imbedded in the ground, or against a rock.
PIONEER HISTORY OF CAMDEN.
CHAPTER I.
HE town of Camden, in the north-western corner of Oneida County, containing about 31,438 acres, lies close to the boundary line of Oswego County. The town of Florence lies north-east, while Anusville forms the eastern boundary. Little River divides it on the south from Vienna. The west branch of Fish Creek and Mad River are the principal streams; they unite just below the village, and empty into Oneida Lake. These streams have both been utilized extensively for manufacturing purposes. Throughout the village the land is nearly level, but undulating in the open country, especially so in the northern and western parts. The soil is a sandy loam in some places, gravelly and stony in others; there are also stone quarries which furnish good building material. Camden has been rightly called the queen village of Oneida County, for seldom can be found a more beautiful place than our village presents, with its magnificent shade trees and comfortable homes, with the well-kept lawns sur- rounding them, in many cases, the pride of the owner's heart. As early as 1794, five years before the town of Camden existed as a town, while yet it was a part of the "Mother of townships," Mexico people came here in search of desirable places to locate. The land was heavily timbered, and it was a laborious task to clear even a small portion, where they could build a home, and still harder to prepare it for the grain and other necessaries which they must raise to sustain life. But the tall pines gave them plenty of material for their rude homes. From one mon- arch of the forest we are told twelve logs were cut. Where the village stands to-day the pioneers found only a fine forest, which echoed long and loud with the sound of the pioneer's ax, ere houses were built, and they were surrounded with plenty. But they brought strong arms and brave hearts with them, and with undaunted efforts worked hard to provide homes for themselves
24
PIONEER HISTORY OF
and families, and gained good farm lands, which in many cases have descended to the third and fourth generation, which sons and grandsons have each improved, until large orchards, wide corn-fields, and acres of waving grain tell us what has been ac- complished during the last century in our beautiful town. The usual route over which our fathers came into this locality was a trail, which led up from Rome through Taberg, thence turning to the west, near the place where later the Smith Johnson house was built, through to the corner, where the brick school- house stands on the plank road, then on to Preston Hill, and then descending to the valley, through which the river flowed. Relatives and friends who remained in the homes, from which the more venturesome ones had emigrated, were led to believe this was a land flowing with milk and honey, and the good things of life were only waiting to be gathered. But sore was their dis- appointment when they reached their destination, and found while nature had beautifully showered her gifts over the land, the harvest could only be theirs by hard labor and many privations. But people continued to come-whole families-and soon the settlement was of sufficient importance to become a town. Re- ferring to the "Annals of Oneida County," by Pomeroy Jones, we find "the town of Mexico was divided. March 5th, 1799, and a new town erected from its territory, called Camden, including all of the seventh, and part of the eighth township of Scriba's Patent." Why it was given the name of Camden has never been fully determined. Many reasons have been given, one being that it was taken from the Indian name. The Oneida tribe called it "He-stä-yung-twa," meaning, lost. Perhaps our forefathers had reason to select such a name, feeling lost indeed, leaving nearly all traces of civilization so far behind them. Soon, how- ever, it must have lost its significance, if it ever had any for them. as homes sprang up, and neighbors became more plentiful.
Some are of the opinion it was named for the Earl of Camden, "on account of his liberal policy; during the Revolutionary War his name became very popular in the United States, and many towns and villages, and several counties, bore his name." The late Mr. Wager, Oneida County historian, is of a very different
25
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
opinion. In response to an inquiry if he believed the town to have been named for him, he says, "I have not the slightest idea it was ever named for the Earl of Camden, although he was a friend to the American cause in the Revolution, for this reason : The feeling was so bitter towards the British government, that for several years afterwards they would not designedly give a name to a town or a county that was borne or had been by a lord or anyone else, who belonged to England. Now I am quite sure it was named after Camden in New Jersey, for this reason, John W. Bloomfield came from New Jersey, not far from Cam- den, and settled at Taberg. All of the towns of Annsville, Flor- ence, Camden and Vienna were a part of the town of Mexico. Mr. Bloomfield was an agent for Mr. Scriba, the patentee of 500,000 acres of land in Oswego County, and then living in Con- stantia. Mr. Bloomfield's uncle had been Congressman, and Governor of New Jersey, and J. W. Bloomfield was a man of wealth and influence, and his word was law and gospel in that region, when Camden was named. I have no doubt but Mr. Bloomfield was influential in naming it after the city in his native State, more especially as Annsville was named Ann after his wife, showing he had power in that section." In the new history of "Our County and its People," edited by Mr. Wager, we find "in 1793-4 the Roosevelt purchase, or Scriba's Patent, was subdivided into twenty-four townships or great lots. Mr. Scriba gave a name to each township, but after the reorganization, only one, Florence, in this County, retained the name given it by him. Township No. 5 included the west part of Camden, and was named Linley. Township No. 8 included the cast part of Camden, and part of Annsville, and was named Bloomfield, after the late John W. Bloomfield."
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