USA > New York > Oneida County > Steuben > A narrative history of Remsen, New York, including parts of the adjoining townships of Steuben and Trenton, 1789-1898 > Part 14
USA > New York > Oneida County > Remsen > A narrative history of Remsen, New York, including parts of the adjoining townships of Steuben and Trenton, 1789-1898 > Part 14
USA > New York > Oneida County > Trenton > A narrative history of Remsen, New York, including parts of the adjoining townships of Steuben and Trenton, 1789-1898 > Part 14
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It appeared that on the previous afternoon while at a tavern at Trenton, he was seated in the chim- ney-corner near two men who were engaged in a low- toned conversation; and, feigning sleep or drunken- ness, he was able to gather much that they were talk- ing about, they paying little attention to the "drunk- en Indian." It developed that they were planning to rob the home of Mr. Jones that night, supposing him to have a considerable sum of money in the house. Finally the Indian quietly left the tavern and walked to Mr. Jones' residence, a distance of nearly four miles, and, as we have shown, acted as their guardian and defender. Daylight revealed blood-stains upon the snow, showing that the Indian's shot had taken
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effect, though no further evidence concerning the marauders was ever obtained.
These "noble Romans of the west," as one writer has called our North American Indians, were usually appreciative of favors extended them, and showed the settlers here their gratitude in many ways. How- ever, there were those among them who were not above petty pilfering, and, from either friend or foe, were disposed to carry away anything that suited their fancy, especially so where it chanced that there were none but women or children to oppose them.
On one occasion an Indian and his squaw stopped and demanded food near Bardwell, at a house sur- rounded by a fine young orchard. The family were poor, and had but little to eat in the house; so when the food was not forthcoming, the Indian surmising there were no men about became abusive, and finally this "noble Roman" went into the orchard and for amuse- ment, or perhaps seeking to emulate "the Father of our Country," with his tomahawk began to hack down the young apple trees. The woman of the house rushed out, calling to Green White, a noted hunter, trapper and "Indian Slayer" who lived alone in a cabin within hailing distance, who promptly re- sponded, bringing his flint-lock musket-a trusted companion never very far from his hand, whether at home or abroad. When the circumstances were hur- riedly made known to White, he raised his weapon, leveled it at the Indian's heart and fired; but the woman struck up his arm as he was about to pull the trigger, and the ball entered the side of the house above the Indian's head. White then told the mis- creant that, as his life had been saved by a woman, in future to cease intimidating them when he fancied them alone and unprotected, and to hasten from
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his sight lest he even now repent having spared him.
In the fall of 1791, Col. Marinus Willett, having been ordered to make an expedition into the Mohawk country at the head of about four hundred men, sur- prised a party consisting of six hundred Tories and a hundred and thirty Indians at Johnstown, drove them into the woods, and severely distressed them by cutting off their retreat to their boats. About this time Colonel Willett was joined by sixty Oneida In- dians-which tribe it will be remembered was the only one of the Confederacy that remained friendly to the Americans-and, shortly after, he came up with a party which formed the rear guard of the Brit- ish and Indians, most of whom they killed or took prisoners.
In the retreat of those who escaped, among whom was the deservedly hated Walter Butler of Cherry Valley infamy, an Indian trail along West Canada creek was followed. They crossed the stream here some distance above the Gang Mills-or Hinckley, now called-at a point long after known as "Butler's Ford." Here Butler was wounded by one of Willett's Indians, who shot from a considerable distance, just as the renegade was about to ford or had forded the stream. As the Indian rushed upon him after he fell, Butler cried for quarter; whereupon the Indian ex- claimed in broken English: "Sherry Valley! remember Sherry Valley!" at the same time cleaving his head with a tomahawk.
The location or the supposed location of this tragedy was marked many years ago by a monument. It was erected by we know not whom, whether by men of Tory sentiments and out of commiseration for the fate of Butler, as some have contended, or by those concerned only in marking the spot as one of historic
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interest. However, as some doubt has been expressed as to the monument marking the precise location of the affair, we would say that one who was familiar with that part of the stream in early days and who visited the place after the monument had been erected, stated that the ford at which the fleeing band crossed was farther down the creek; that, on account of a dam having been constructed at the Hinckley mills, the creek was no longer fordable at the point where Butler and his men had crossed. The monument was carried away by a freshet in the spring of 1869.
REMINISCENCES OF STEUBEN
The following brief reminiscences of Steuben were furnished by Simeon Fuller, who was born and reared in that township, and are printed just as he wrote them :-
"Capt. Simeon Woodruff, an old sea captain and a graduate of a New England college-a midshipman on board Captain Cook's vessel and with the latter on shore when he was killed by the Sandwich Islanders, was one of the earliest settlers here. His farm ad- joined that of Captain Fuller. Bears were plentiful in those days, and he trapped a good many of them. On one occasion a big one got into his trap. Wood- ruff was very lame, so he called in a couple of his neigh- bors, his nephew and a man by the name of Francis, to help kill the bear. The Captain was armed with a Queen Anne flint-lock musket that carried an ounce and a half ball, Francis with an axe, and the nephew with a club. They soon came up with the bear, which, instead of trying to get away reared up on her hind legs and came slowly for them, gnashing her teeth and growling. The Captain leveled his musket and pulled trigger, but it missed fire. He kept on snapping the trigger, and the bear kept coming nearer, when his neighbors took to their heels, shouting to the
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Captain to run. When the bear got within about four feet of the muzzle of the gun, it went off and dropped her dead. The old man turned, and called out: 'Run, cowards, run!' They said they were never so ashamed of anything in their lives-to leave the old man who could not run, and having with them the only weap- ons good for anything in a rough-and-tumble fight with a bear.
"He married a young and pretty girl after he moved into Steuben. He was sick a long time and his wife thought it would be well to be ready for the funeral; so had her mourning suit made, and came to her husband's bedside to have him pass judgment on it as a mourning suit. He said it became her very much, and he liked it. He was buried near the stone church, half a mile west of Remsen, by the Free Masons. Not a stone marks his grave. He was high in the Masonic order. The location of his grave is well known.
"A family of Burchards settled near Baron Steu- ben's house, at Sixty Acres, and several of the younger members of the family were born there, I believe. Among them was the Rev. Samuel Burchard, of New York city, of 'Rum, Romanism and Rebellion' fame, who, much to his regret and chagrin, defeated Blaine for the Presidency, and for which he repented after- ward in dust and ashes.
"There were no grist-mills nearer than Whitesboro for some years, and the early settlers had a line of marked trees to that place through the woods, pre- sumably by way of Holland Patent. Many a grist of wheat and corn has been carried on the back to Whitesboro. The first grist-mill between Utica and the St. Lawrence was built upon Cincinnati creek, at Parker Hollow. The site of the mill can be seen from Prospect station, on the R. W. & O. railroad.
"Owen Griffith and Griffith Rowland were the first Welsh settlers in Steuben. They, unlike most Welsh of the present day, had the English language to learn after they came here; and like all others that are learning a new language, were anxious to display
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their knowledge. One day, while working on the highway and having to roll a big stone, one of them cried out to the other, 'look out for your feets!' 'Feets,' said the other, 'why don't you say foots?'
"Griffiths built a store (Store Felen) in the eastern part of Steuben, and which was for years a landmark in the town. Those who have filled their jugs there have been buried many a year. A few old grey heads that bought their first candy there, remain. David and Mary Roberts (brother and sister) kept this store for many years before it was torn down. Mary Rob- erts, when quite a young woman was not well, and thought a vegetable diet best for her. She accord- ingly comuned herself absolutely to roasted or baked potatoes with salt and tea, for the rest of her life. She lived to be over eighty years of age, well but not strong, a marvel to the doctors.
"Intoxicating liquors were then sold in all stores, "x as well as taverns, and kept in all families. They were strict protectionists in that they believed in home consumption. They had no market, except a home market for their corn and rye at the distiller's, and felt in duty bound to consume his whiskies. That, and tobacco and tea, had to be bought at the store. Clothing-woolen and linen-was manufactured in the family. The Welsh women were famous knitters. It was a common thing to meet them on the road in silk hat and muslin cap, knitting as they went. It is said-and it may be true-that some of them would go on foot to Utica, carrying a basket of eggs on their head, and knit a pair of stockings going and coming. These were the kind of emigrants; and Wales sent us many of them in those early days. They settled mostly in the east part of the town, the Yankees in the southern, while the Mohawk Dutch drifted up the Mohawk river to its uppermost branches, in the northwest part of Steuben. The Dutch did most of their business in Westernville and Rome, and the Welsh, in Remsen and Utica. Consequently they seldom got together, except at town meetings, when both sides brought out their best wrestlers-the Weav-
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ers, Wetherstines and Platts on the part of the Dutch; the Griffiths (two boys), Tom Phil and Bill Lewis, on the part of the Welsh. Sometimes one party would come out ahead, sometimes the other-all in good nature.
"Like all frontier settlements, it was thought to be quite an honor to be the best man in a rough-and- tumble fight. Richard Jones (Cobin Dick) was re- puted to be best man at one time among the Welsh, and Mike Young among the Dutch. Mike had been to Remsen village and had taken in pretty freely, and had to pass Store Felen where Cobin Dick and a number of his cronies were having a carouse. Dick was very heavily loaded. Mike stood in his wagon and issued a challenge to any Welshman. Dick at once stripped and at it they went. Dick was too drunk to fight at first, and got awfully pounded; but he sobered up, and turned on Mike and was putting in his best licks when Young, seeing that it was all up with him, cried enough. Dick said: 'Don't beg yet, I have but just begun.' Of course that ended the fight. Dick's pluck and endurance won him the victory. They met afterwards at town meeting every year during their lives, and were the best of friends. I happened to meet Young after he had got to be an old man. I said to him: 'Did you ever know a man they called Cobin Dick?' 'Yes, I knowed him; I had a fight mit him once, and pounded him and pounded him, and the more I pounded him the stouter he grew; and by Gott, he licked me.'
"At one time Lewis P. Lewis was champion. He was a tall, long-armed man of the Abe Lincoln style of build. No waste timber about him. Lewis was a Federal, and a man by the name of Williams, of the opposite party, was an aspirant to Lewis' honors as champion in throwing the sledge. Williams could throw it a little farther than Lewis, and every time he threw he would walk up to Lewis, roll up his sleeve, shake his fist in his face and say: 'There is Democrat muscle for you.' Lewis stood it for a number of times, and then hauled off and knocked him out with
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the first blow. He was immediately arrested by a constable of the opposite party, and brought into the house. While making out the papers to take him to jail, they neglected to keep close watch of him. Cap- tain Fuller, who stood near him said: 'Lewis, do you see yonder woods?' He needed no further hint, so ran, with the constable after him; but the latter failed to catch him, and thus the matter ended.
"Fifty or sixty years ago, three days' election was held in each town. Three inspectors held the polls open in one locality one day, and on another day in another place, and would take the ballot-boxes home with them every night, and at the end of the three days counted the votes and made out the returns. No one questioned their honesty-and they were honest. No ballot-box stuffing, no crooked work. If a man h? u ever been caught in any such work, he need never expect anything further from the people.
"A laughable incident occurred at the polls at about that time. A Welshman who had been in the coun- try but a short time-and most likely it was his first time to cast a ballot-was challenged on the ground that he was not naturalized. Of course there was a great deal of wrangling over it. Finally he was told that if he voted he must swear it in. The man took a long breath and solemnly said: 'I ha'nt custom swear; but if I must, I will: Go in, G- d-n you!' and de- posited his ballot in the box-and it had to be counted. After the town was divided into election districts, the northern district-French Road-made Steuben the banner Republican town in the state; there being but two or three Democratic votes cast in the district.
"A thing that speaks well for the morals of the town is, that for the last thirty or forty years no intoxicat -. ing liquors have been sold in the town.
"Dr. Bill, who later lived in Remsen, was the first physician to practice in Steuben. In those days the first thing to do was, bleed the patient; and it was a theory among doctors, if a patient craved for any- thing he sure must not have it. A neighbor of Cap- tain Fuller's was very sick with a fever, and Dr. Bill
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attended him. Fuller was to care for the patient during the night. The doctor said the man had got to die, and most likely would not live until morning. He must not, he said, be allowed any cold water, but warm water might be given him, a teaspoonful at a time. During the night the patient wanted cold water so badly, and as he had got to die anyway, the Captain drew some cold water out of the well and gave him. The man fell asleep for a time, awoke and wanted more water. He gave him more, and so on through the night. When the doctor came the next morning, he pronounced the patient much better, and said he would get well; and he did. The Cap- tain used to say long before cold water was allowed by the profession, that it was the cold water that cured him.
"Dr. Roberts of 'Welsh Medicamentum' fame, was an early physician in the town. He had such wonder- ful success that the superstitiously inclined believed that the evil one was in league with him, and he rather encouraged the belief. All the neighbors' houses around there were filled with boarders for treatment. Some days the fences on the roadside were lined with teams for long distances, and his house filled with patients, and he dealing out Medicamentum from a little bar in one corner of the room. After he died-and he did not live long-his widow sold the receipt and the right to manufacture, to Dr. Marchisi, of Utica.
"Dr. Gillet came into the town when a young man and married a daughter of Judge Hamilton. He practiced his profession during a long life, and was very successful in his practice. It was his boast that he never knew the northeast wind to blow so hard, or the weather so cold, but what he could set his face against it and go, if called.
"The traces of an old road following nearly a north and south direction, was noticed by the early set- tlers in Steuben. Articles of camp equipage, kettles, a sword, musket, etc., were found. It was thought a French expedition passed through here during the French and Indian war. Subsequently a highway
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was laid out through the town near the course of this old road and it always has been designated the French Road."
PROFESSIONAL MEN
The first in these parts who may be termed pro- fessional men were the land surveyors; and of these there took up permanent residence here Gershom Hinckley, Broughton White, Joseph H. Montague and Griffith Jones. The clerical profession followed next in point of chronology, and their name is legion; many of whom we have individually mentioned in connection with the history of the various church societies, which also holds true concerning school- teachers, mentioned in the history of the schools. The first of the legal profession to locate in Remsen was George A. Yeomans, born January 28, 1806, who died here June 26, 1854. Succeeding him came Samuel Douglas, Charles Snyder, Americus Mel- ville, Lewis Edwards, George Prichard (afterward Judge of Oneida county), and Robert Jones. This is an array of legal talent singularly small to cover a period of almost a century; but this fact does not nec- essarily betoken a people particularly prone to peace, or devoid of the fighting-instinct when their legal rights are violated or infringed upon; for in import- ant cases originating here, the most brilliant legal talent of Utica and Rome has been brought into the fray. We recall one case in which both plaintiff and defendant were represented by men who were at the time colleagues in the United States Senate.
Local suits at law were ever a source of diversion to the residents of the community, where at best there was scant diversity of entertainment. On oc- casions when the contestants were well known and the case gave promise of more than ordinary interest,
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farmers from the surrounding country were likely to have "business" in town on that day, when, together with the male residents of the village, they would casually find their way to the tavern, where these cases usually were tried. An instance is recalled where two reputable farmers got into legal difficul- ties over the sale and purchase of a cow. Among the witnesses called was a young fellow who seemed - possessed of the idea that the natural, moral, and legal obligations of a witness should be characterized by strictest loyalty to the man who had subpoenaed him, regardless of circumstances or facts. Conse- quently, when called to the witness-stand he volubly recited all he knew, insistently volunteering much that was neither requested nor desired of him; and hic statements were so strong, and so palpably at variance with the testimony of other unimpeachable witnesses who had preceded him, that he soon was summarily dismissed. Upon leaving the stand, he immediately was surrounded by friends who began to remonstrate with him for being so emphatic on cer- tain points, that he and every one else present knew to be false; and especially for his efforts to traduce the character of the defendant, whose reputation in the community was of the best. "Why, you would have made him out a scoundrel," they said, "a liar, a thief, a perfect devil!" Then, in a voice perfectly audible throughout the room, he indignantly retorted: "Well, I was Lew Powell's witness, wasn't I?"
More may be said concerning the medical profes- sion, though this region has ever been regarded as a healthful one. Even in earliest times, unlike most newly settled communities, malaria, or "fever 'n' ager," as the settler called it, was rare. The towering hills "standing round about," seemed like officers
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of a board of health to ward off the causes of this tenacious and enervating ailment of pioneer families. Sickness in general was met and baffled by home treatment and home nursing. In the family at that period, medicines, like the food, made up in quality and quantity what was lacking in variety. Bottles of camphor, castor oil, picra, and kindred compounds occupied a prominent place on the cupboard-shelf, while various useful herbs were kept on hand in the household; and to the influence of these, ordinary ills readily succumbed. The nostrums known to have been resorted to by many well-meaning people in cases of jaundice, persistent coughs and measles, however, were too nauseating to contemplate and too vile to name. Aside from juvenile diseases, epidemics were seldom known. Still, notwithstanding this gen- ": eral healthfulness, doctors were comparatively early comers; but, like the early ministers, they must needs have also some other vocation to aid them in eking out a livelihood, and this most often was farming.
The early qualifications enabling a man to become a medical "practitioner" were not numerous, nor the requirements very exacting. It was essential of course that he have some knowledge of bone-setting and blood-letting, and be competent to determine to what extent he might administer his all-potent doses of calomel without killing the patient outright. Many who had survived this treatment, and whom the doctors prided themselves on as examples of re- markable cures, carried throughout their lives the pernicious effects of the drastic doses administered; and it has even been claimed that some of their de- scendants suffer from the "cure" to this day, in which event it may be truly said that the old system of medical practice "being dead, yet speaketh."
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Outside the large cities, there were not many regu- larly graduated physicians anywhere in the country, for few of this class ever penetrated to the frontier settlements to locate. Some of the early medical practitioners here had never been inside the walls of a medical school, though they may have danced at- tendance upon older practicing physicians for a short or longer period, and thus gained an insight into general practice; but, whether self-taught or school-taught, they all resorted to the same heroic measures in the treatment of diseases. Neverthe- less, while the early doctor may not have possessed extensive scientific knowledge, he did display more or less skill, and great nobility of character. At least he often obtained good results, and was self- sacrificing to an eminent degree in the practice of his profession, frequently suffering great hardship in answering distant calls in severest weather, the jour- ney having to be made either on horseback or on foot. With saddle-bag swung across the neck of his horse when he rode, or hung upon his arm if he walked, he made his weary way over miles of rugged hill-roads that were scarcely more than bridle-paths, in his efforts to relieve suffering and allay the fears of anx- ious hearts. His presence was always cheering and most welcome.
Philip Scott is said to have been the first physician to locate in Remsen township, having settled north of Fairchild Corners a few years prior to 1800.
Dr. Luther Guiteau, though a resident of Trenton village, had an extensive practice throughout the townships of Remsen and Steuben; and long after practioners had located here, Dr. Guiteau retained a large practice among the early families, and frequently was called in for consultation by the resident doctors.
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He was born in Lanesborough, Mass., and came to Trenton in 1802. He practiced there until 1850, and the forty-eight years of his professional life was but once interrupted, when he was elected to the state legislature, in 1819. After his death his son, Luther, Jr., who had practiced with the father succeeded him. Dr. Guiteau, Jr., married Sarah, daughter of Col. Mather Beecher, of Remsen. Judge Jones in his "Annals of Oneida County" expresses himself con- cerning the elder Dr. Guiteau as follows: "Not a little remarkable in the history of his family was their con- nection with the medical profession. For many gen- erations it is well ascertained that they had in succession furnished one, at least, who did credit to himself and honor to the science of medicine."
Dr. Earl Bill was one of the earliest physicians to ** locate in this section, having taken up his residence on Starr's Hill, in Steuben, very early, and removing thence to Remsen village in 1814. He was a grad- uate of the Berkshire Medical School, of Massachu- setts, and his professional life in the two townships covered a period of more than half a century.
Dr. Alfred Gillet came to Steuben when a young man, locating at the Corners. He married a daughter of Judge Thomas H. Hamilton, and was in practice there for many years.
Dr. Daniel Roberts, by far the most widely-known practitioner ever in this section, came to Steuben in 1818. Concerning him we shall have more to relate further on.
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