USA > New York > Oneida County > Annals and recollections of Oneida County > Part 11
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ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
Oliver Barnes, and Benjamin Barnes, Jun. Thus organ- ized, the Church removed to Camden, then a part of the town of Mexico. The first sermon preached in the place was by the Rev. Joshua Johnson, of Redfield, from Isaiah XXXV. 1: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them: and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." Within the year 1799, the church and society erected a house of worship, and the pews were sold for the support of preaching. The pews continue to be sold annu- ally to raise money for the same purpose. In September, 1800, twelve were received from various other churches, and in November, 1803, eleven others were added to their num- ber. June 5, 1803, several of the members of this church. and several others, in all twenty-three, were organized into a church, called the Second Congregational Church of Camden, and this society subsequently erected a house of worship.
In 1807, the First Church and congregation erected and enclosed a meeting house.
October 6, 1809, they gave the Rev. Ebenezer Laven- worth a call to become their pastor, which was accepted, and he was duly ordained and installed. He was a plain preach- er, and during his ministry thirty-six were added to bis church.
October 13, 1813, he was dismissed, at his own re- quest, and removed to Pompey ; and the church received stated supplies from the Rev. Messrs. Brainard, Sweezy, and others. Mr. Sweezy's labors were much blessed, and in the following winter Rev. Oliver Eastman, from Vermont, preached to the church, and as a result of their labors, and the revival which followed, fifty were added to the church. A society was soon organized under the statute, by the name of the Union Congregational Society. The terms of union were. that meetings should be held in the houses of worship
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of the two churches alternately, and in proportion to the amount raised by each for the support of preaching.
In 1815, the Second Church united with the First Church, and subsequently but one organization was maintained.
In February, 1817, Henry Smith, a native of Durham, N. H., a graduate of Bowdoin College, and a licentiate of the Salem Association, was unanimously called by the church and society to become their pastor. The call was accepted. and he was duly ordained and installed by a body of ministers from the Oneida Presbytery and the Oneida Association. The Rev. John Frost, of the Oneida Pres- bytery. preached the ordination sermon. from 1 Tim. iii. 1.
In the autumn of 1818, by its request, this church was lismissed from the Oneida Congregational Association, and united with the Oneida Presbytery, upon the "accommodating plan," reserving to itself the congregational form of govern- ment.
The labors of Mr. Smith were greatly blessed to the good of the people. In 1818 and 1821 there were accessions to the church ; and in 1824 about sixty, and in 1825 about seventy were added to their number. But 1826 was the crowning year of all, and justly styled, "the great revival." As a result of this revival, more than 150 were added to this church, while many others united with other churches and denominations. Defections followed, but the pastor being a. " peace maker," the wanderers were generally reclaimed, and that too without compromising any principle on his part. Upon the organization of the Oswego Presbytery, Jan. 17, 1823, this church, with its pastor, became a member of that body.
During Mr. Smith's labors, the church increased from 100 to 600 members. Bible classes and Sunday Schools were fostered by him, and were instrumental of great good.
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Nr. Smith, after a severe illness of about ten days, died. July 19. 1828. He died in the triumphs of faith.
The church was without a settled pastor about one year. but during this time was supplied by the Rev. Herman Nor- ton and Lewis H. Loss, and about twenty were added to its members. A call was given to Mr. Loss to become its pas- tor, which was accepted, and he was ordained Nov. 11, 1829. by the Oswego Presbytery. During the year of the pas- torate of Mr. Loss, forty persons, mostly heads of families. were added to the church.
Discordant anti-masonry. with its anti-Christian spirit. crept into the church, and Mr. Loss, from a consciousness of his want of experience, was induced at the end of the year to ask a dismission. which was reluctantly granted.
The Rev. John Barton was soon afterwards procured as a preacher, and he continued his labors for two years. He was well calculated to allay the excitement. The church modified its resolutions, and the Masonic members pledged themselves to refrain from any connection with the Masonic institutions, and thus harmony was restored.
In August, 1831, a protracted meeting was commenced. under the direction of the Rev. J. Burchard. The results of this meeting were the hopeful conversion of about 700 persons. residing in Camden and the adjoining towns.
Mr. Barton declining to become pastor of the church. his labors were terminated at the close of the two years, and Rev. John Gray succeeded him, and preached eight months. Soon afterwards, the Rev. William Lusk presented himself as a candidate for settlement, and, after a brief probation. was ordained, Feb. 19, 1834. At first he had a large con- gregation. but being understood to be somewhat prejudiced. against "new measures," a disaffection was created. and at the close of the first year such was the state of affairs, that
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fears were entertained that he could not be longer sustained. An unhappy division followed. but after a protracted exa- mination, the Presbytery advised the continuance of their relations. A meeting of the society was called, and after a warm discussion by both parties, a vote was passed to give Mr. Lusk the six months' notice of their wish to have the pastoral relation dissolved, according to the stipulations of the settlement. The case was again presented to the Pres- bytery. and that body granted the request of the majority of the society, and the fall his labors terminated.
In 1836, their divisions had become in a great measure healed. and the society made a successful effort to repair their meeting house. The pulpit was supplied for a year and a half by the Rev. Messrs. William Fuller and John Cross. and Mr. Fuller was successful in gathering in a num- ber of converts. A sufficient sum was raised by the sale of slips to justify the calling of a pastor, and an invitation was therefore given to the Rev. John Barton, which was ac- cepted, and he was duly installed. He continued his labors with them for eight years, and was an instrument of much good to the people of his charge. During this term, there were 120 additions, 97 were dismissed, and 28 died. At the installation of Mr. Barton. the church numbered 325 mem- bers. His labors closed in the fall of 1844. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. R. Richard Kirk, who was installed Oct. 7. 1845. Mr. Kirk continues his labors with encouraging prospects, and enjoys the confidence of a large and respec- table congregation. Thirty-five have been added to the church since the commencement of his labors, and at this time it numbers 325 members.
A few incidents will close the history of this church. Mrs. Thankful Northrop, one of the pioneers in the settlement of Camden, and one of the original members of the church
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when organized at Paris Hill. (she was then the wife of Noalt Tuttle.) is yet a frequent attendant at church, and a regular member of the Sunday School.+
Since 1815. the church has experienced eighteen extensive revivals, and has received about 1,100 members, a large majority of whom have changed their relation, to bear tes- timony in other spheres to the truths of the Gospel, and the blessings of its institutions.
At an early period the society received a donation of land from the heirs of Mr. John Murray, the avails of which produce an annual income of $112. This fund is perpetual.
* Since penning the above. the writer has received the intelli- rence that this good old lady has gone to her rest. She died the 11th of February, 1849, being her birth-day, having completed her 4th year.
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DEERFIELD.
CHAPTER IX.
DEERFIELD.
By an act of the Legislature, passed March 15, 1798, the County of Oneida was taken from Herkimer County, with its eastern boundary commencing on the south-east corner of the town of Bridgewater, and running north on the east line of Bridgewater to the south-east corner of Paris, thence on the same line continued on the east line of Paris and Whites- town, to the southerly line of Cosby's Manor. Thus far, the county line was upon the original line of Whitestown, as established in 1788. Commencing on the southerly line of Cosby's Manor, the county line diverged from the original line of Whitestown, by running north-easterly in a direct line to the northerly bounds of Cosby's Manor at a point where the same is intersected by the division line between Gage's and Walton's Patents, thence northerly upon the line between Walton's and Gage's Patents to the West Canada Creek, thence northerly up the waters of said ereek to the forks thereof, &c. The line of the county thus di- verging from the original line of Whitestown, left portions of the towns of Frankfort and Schuyler in the county of Oneida. The act then proceeded to annex the part so left of Frankfort to Whitestown, and then organized the town of Deerfield of the part taken from Schuyler, providing that the first town meeting should be held at the house of Ezra Payne. The author has been thus particular in the descrip-
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[CHAP.
tion of this line, from the fact that heretofore there has been some uncertainty in the minds of a portion of the carly set- tlers of the county as to when, and how, the east line of Whitestown (which crossed the Mohawk at the fording place now the foot of Genesce street, Utica) had been carried far- ther east than it ran originally. .
The history of the first settlement of Deerfield contains much of interest.
In 1773, George J. Weaver, Capt. Mark Damoth. and Christian Reall, moved to the vicinity of Deerfield Corners. built themselves log houses, and commenced clearing away the forest. Little is known of their trials and hardships up to 1776. Like a large proportion of the Dutch on the Mohawk. these settlers were staunch Whigs. Not having the sign of being tories at their doors, (this sign was the scull bone of a horse upon the top of a stake), they were marked for the firebrand and the scalping knife. In the summer of 1776 an Indian, believed to have been an Oneida: and who for some cause had received the sobriquet of Blue Back, was hunting northwardly from the settlement. and in the vicinity of Canada Creek. While thus occupied he came upon a party of tories and Indians, who were very particular in their inquiries respecting the little settlement at the Corners. Blue Back gave such answers as he chose, and the party proceeded in the direction of the settlement. After they were out of sight, Blue Black. who was well acquainted with. and the fast friend of the settlers, and boding no good to them from the visit they were about to receive. determined to apprize them of their danger. For this purpose, being well acquainted with the intervening hills, swamps, and thickets. with all the rapidity of the Indian scout. he hasted to their settlement. and gave them timely warning of their danger Soon their seanty furniture was hidden in the forest. and
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the women and children, in a wagon, accompanied by the men on foot, were rapidly wending their way to Little Stone Arabia, a small fort, which was situated in the present town of Schuyler. The time was but brief ere the Indians and tories were in the settlement, but "the birds had flown," and nothing was left upon which to vent their disappointed spite, except the empty dwellings. To these the brand was ap- plied, and their charred ruins were all that was left of the first settlement of Deerfield.
If thus successful in their escape were these pioneers, yet in the succeeding troublous times of the Revolution, two of them at least came in for a full share of the suffering which fell so heavily upon the good Dutch inhabitants of the Mohawk valley. Mr. Damoth, who had previously resided at Herkimer, returned to that place, and soon afterwards received a Captain's commission in a company of rangers. In an attack upon that place, he had an arm so shattered, that it never afterwards entirely recovered, and on account of which he received a pension to the close of his life.
Mr. Weaver was hardly as fortunate. He was taken pri- soner near Herkimer, by a party of tories and Indians, and from thence, by the way of Oswego, was taken to Canada. He was kept in such close confinement in the prison at Quebec, that for nine months he never saw the sun, moon, or stars. From Quebec he was taken to England, where, after having been a prisoner for more than two years, he was ex- changed, and returned to his native valley.
In the summer of 1784, as a singular coincidence, after all the casualties of war, when it could be truly said, "there was scarcely an individual in the whole Mohawk valley who had not mourned a father, mother, brother, daughter, or lover slain," after the guns of the tories, and the firebrand, toma- hawk, and scalping knife of the less savage Indians had ren-
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dered this beautiful and fertile valley almost a desert waste. these three first settlers and their families were again united upon their old farms, planting and gathering crops in the same fields their own hands had cleared, at Deerfield Cor- ners. About the same time, Peter Weaver, Nicholas Weaver, George Weaver (originally spelt Weber), George Damoth. Nicholas Harter, and Philip Harter, arrived and settled in the neighborhood. Of these, Nicholas Harter only survives, and now (autumn of 1850), at the age of ninety years, in the enjoyment of a green old age, with. apparently, but few of the infirmities of so long a life, he is left to recount the sufferings, trials, exploits, and incidents of the Revolution to a new generation. He was born at Her- kimer, and although but a lad, was familiar with the paths to old Forts Schuyler and Stanwix, and the settlement at Deerfield, prior to the war. He married the daughter of Capt. Damoth (Damoot as pronounced by the Dutch, and Damewood by the early New England settlers). With a hearty laugh he related to the writer a "scrape" he once witnessed in the Mohawk, near the foot of Genesee street. Utica. A few days after the Oriskany battle, a party started from the Mohawk settlements with a number of beef cattle for the garrison at Fort Stanwix, and several women took this opportunity of an escort to visit their hus- bands who belonged to the garrison; the women on horse- back, while the cattle drivers were on foot. Upon arriving at the fording place in the Mohawk at the point named, and as one of the women was descending the steep bank to the river, a brawny Dutchman, who did not wish to wet his feet. jumped upon the horse's back, behind the woman. The horse, offended either on account of this unceremonious ac- cession to his load, or else the reversed order in which his cargo was arranged. sprang forward, and by "a well-directed
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effort," threw the Dutchman into the centre of the stream, while the woman landed in safety.
The early settlement of Deerfield was confined to that portion of the town lying in the Mohawk valley, and the hill sides adjoining. The Coxes and Coffins settled in the north part of the town, near Canada Creek, some fifteen or twenty years afterwards.
Reall's Creek is the small mill stream that rises in the high land between Canada Creek and the Mohawk. and running past the Corners, empties into the Mohawk. It received its name from the Reall mentioned as one of the first settlers; his first house, which was burnt by the Indians, stood upon its bank. His second house is yet standing.
In 1792, the first bridge was erected over the Mohawk. between Utica and Deerfield. To insure more help, it was raised on Sunday. George M. Weaver, son of George J. Weaver, and his wife, with their little son, the present George M. Weaver, of Deerfield, were on their way to the raising, and when about half way from the Corners to Utica. and some twenty or thirty rods above the present MeAdan road, their dog treed a bear. Mr. Weaver left his wife and son with the dog, to keep the animal up the tree, while he returned for his gun. The peculiar barking of the dog had apprised the inhabitants of "Old Fort Schuyler," that valu- able game was on foot, and a number of them arrived with their guns at about the same time that Mr. Weaver re- turned. Four or five shots were made in quick succession. and poor Bruin's life paid the forfeit for his temerity in approaching so near the site of an embryo city.
Dr. Francis Guiteau was elected first Supervisor, and Isaac Brayton Town Clerk.
The intervale land, so celebrated as the Mohawk Flats. is alluvial. and the soil such as is common to bottom land.
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[CHAP.
Back from this is a gravelly plain, naturally good for grain ; but too much cropping, with too little manure, has in many instances rendered it less productive than it should be. From this plain rises, and in some places quite abruptly, the high land adverted to, between the Mohawk and West Canada Creek, known as Deerfield Hill. This high land is better adapted to grass than grain. The forests of this high land have for many years supplied Utica with a large por- tion of its fuel, but these have now almost disappeared, and but a few years will elapse before, instead of taking wood to Utica, coal will have to be brought for home consumption.
Deerfield Corners is a village of considerable business, containing a dry goods store, a number of groceries, and a tavern. Between the Corners and Utica, nearly all the bricks used for building in the city of Utica have been made. They are made from the alluvial deposits of the Mohawk, and are durable weather bricks.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The contiguity of the thickly-settled portion of this town to Utica, where large congregations of the different denomi- nations assemble regularly for worship, has caused quite a proportion of the church-going population of this town to join the different societies in that city. The Baptists gathered a church in 1798; the second or third Baptist Church organ- ized within the limits of the county, and erected a house of worship a short distance below the Corners. Elder Oded Eddy was ordained about this time, and became the first pastor of this church, which relation he sustained for twenty- four years. From the causes mentioned, this body has lost its visibility, but the denomination hold meetings occasionally
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in their house. Elder John Leland, a man of extended fame for his strong native powers of mind ; . and as a preacher. statesman, and politician, when upon visits to his son, John D. Leland. Esq., preached in this place ; and it is needless to say, that if timely notice was given, a large audience was insured.
The Methodists also hold meetings occasionally in the Baptist meeting house.
The North Deerfield and South Trenton Baptist Church reported fifty-four members in 1850. Rev. Albert Cole pastor. Elder A. F. Rockwell (now of Utica) was pas- tor in 1841; Elder S. S. Hayward from 1842 to 1844; Elder Nelson Ferguson in 1845-6; Elder Wm. A Wells in 1847-9. The services of the church are divided between North Gage in Deerfield, and South Trenton. Of the his- tory of this church prior to 1841, the author has obtained no particulars.
In 1845, this town had 2,347 inhabitants, and contained one grist mill, eight saw mills, one fulling mill, and one card- ing machine, besides various mechanics' shops. There are no factories in this town.
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ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
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CHAPTER X.
FLORENCE.
THE settlement of this town was commenced in the fall of 1801. At this time Amos Woodworth, father of the Hon. Amos Woodworth now residing in the town, settled within about half a mile of its north line. John Spinning, at about the same time, settled on what is now known as the State Road, two miles south-easterly from Florence village ; and a Mr. Turner also, at about the same time, moved into the town. These three settlers had each fifty acres of land given them by William Henderson, of the city of New York, who had previously purchased the fourth township of Scriba's Patent. The land was given as a bonus to induce them to commence the settlement of the township. Perhaps there were others who had land given them, but of this no satisfac- tory information has been obtained. Very shortly after these first settlers had moved into the town, Azariah Orton, a Mr. Crawford and his son Clark Crawford, and Norman Waugh, settled in the south part of the town, and Benoni Barlow. Ebenezer Barlow, Ambrose Curtiss, Ephraim Wright, Joseph Oleott, and Benjamin Youngs, settled on that part of the town known as " Florence Hill."
Nathan Thompson, who for many years kept a public house in what is now known as East Florence, and who was succeeded in the tavern by his son Aaron H. Thompson.
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Esq., visited the town in 1801, but did not arrive with his family until the 6th of May of the next spring.
The settlement of this town, in common with the north- ern tier of towns, progressed more slowly than the other sections of the County. Indeed, until within the last ten years, quite a portion of the land had not been purchased by actual settlers. In general the land is cold, and there is but occasionally a year in which Indian corn comes to matu- rity. With but few exceptions, the soil is stony, and in many instances after cultivation the land is almost covered with cobble and flat stones, a large portion of which are too small to make permanent wall for fences. The town is better for grazing than grain. Where the farmers have turned their attention to dairying, they have been successful, and it is believed that eventually, this town will furnish a fair pro- portion of butter and cheese for market. Being elevated. with a clear, bracing atmosphere, and pure water, it is un- usually healthy.
Within the last three years, the author was at Florence Hill. When about to start to go down to the village, a fine rosy faced little boy of some twelve or fourteen summers, very politely asked if he could ride about two miles. The request was granted. He was intelligent and communicative. In reply to inquiries in relation to the productions of the soil, he said, " grass did very well, they could not raise much corn, oats did a little better, that the land was so cold they could not raise much grain of any kind, but then it is very Icalthy." There was a moral to be gleaned from the closing remark of the boy. How little can be enjoyed, in a country, let the soil be ever so rich, and its productions luxuriant, if obtained by the sacrifice of health, and how sweet the coarsest food if seasoned with a good appetite. We could not help internally saying,-that is right my little fellow, always look at the bright side of the picture.
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There is a quarry of good building stone on Little River, about half a mile below Florence village. The town is hilly, but not mountainous. It is well watered with numerous springs and streams.
Mad River is the most considerable stream in the town. It enters on its north line, and flowing quite through the town of Florence, passes into the town of Camden some little distance above Camden village. It is but a small stream where it enters the town, but swelled by its numerous little tributaries from the hill country on either side, it leaves the town a very considerable stream for water power. Little River is the name of the stream on which Florence village is situated. Although not large, still from its extensive fall, it is capable of turning quite an amount of machinery. It must not be confounded with its namesake which empties into Mad River from the west, between Camden village and McConnelsville. This Florence Little River which empties into Mad River on its easterly side, adds still more to the singularity of the names of the streams in the " Fish Creek Nation," as this portion of the county has sometimes been called. Mad River, two Little Rivers, with numerous smaller streams united, meet Fish Creek at the Forks. when conjointly, they form but a creek to the Oneida Lake.
By the act organizing the town of Florence, the first town meeting was to be held at the house of John Spinning. . The town meeting was held agreeably to the terms of the act, on the first Tuesday in April, 1805. The meeting was held in a small framed house in which Mr. Spinning kept a tavern ; with its moss-grown roof it is yet standing. It is on the east side of the State Road, about two miles southi-casterly from Florence village, and can readily be distinguished by the traveller by a large ornamental pine, that stands in such close contiguity as to nearly or quite touch one of its corners. At
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