USA > New York > Oneida County > Annals and recollections of Oneida County > Part 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
Their grain, potatoes, ete., for seed, had to be procured at the German Flats. Henry Wager and Asa Beckwith went on foot to the German Flats for seed potatoes, and each
700
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
brought home a bushel upon his back, which they planted. These were the first potatoes ever planted in town. Mr. Wa- ger was well repaid for his time and toil, for from the bushel he harvested seventy bushels in the fall.
The refusal of the patentees to convey their lands in fee, materially retarded the settlement of this town. Leases in perpetuity, or for three lives, with annual rents, were the most common conveyances. As in every other section of the . country where the inhabitants were but leascholders, instead of being independent freeholders, the leasing system was here found to be very calamitous. The end of the evil is not yet. but is seriously felt at the present time. About one half of the town is yet held by leasehold tenants. The privations and hardships of the first settlers were great, yet not more so than those experienced in every section of the county, settled thus early. Roads were soon constructed, difficult and une- ven though they were, yet they answered the purposes of men inured to inconveniences. Late in the fall of 1789, the few inhabitants constructed a bridge across the Mohawk River in this town, not a plank or stick of hewn timber was used in its construction, and this was the first bridge across that stream between its source to its junction with the Hudson. Rough and unsightly as it was, it withstood the buffetings of the freshets for a greater number of years, than any bridge since erected over the same stream in the town.
This town was incorporated in 1796, and was taken from the town of Steuben. The first town meeting was held at the house of Ezekiel Sheldon, and at this meeting John Hall was elected supervisor, who held the office for two years. He was succeeded by Henry Wager, Esq., who held the office for twenty-four years. After Mr. Wager, Benjamin Rudd and Arnon Comstock held the office three or four years cach, and Mr. Comstock was succeeded by Hervey Brayton, who
ยท
701
WESTERN.
XXVII. ]
held the office one year, and he by David Utley, who held the office for fifteen years and until 1849, when he removed from the town. In the latter year, George Hawkins was elected to the office, and was re elected in 1850 and 1851.
WATERS, FACE OF THE TOWN, SOIL, GEOLOGY, ETC.
This town is well watered by the Mohawk River and its branches, and here this stream may be said to be first enti- tled to the appellation of river. The east and west branches, uniting in the town of Ava, enter this town near the north- west corner, and after running easterly in a very meandering course for about four miles, it receives the Lansing Kill (or creek), and its course is then south-westerly, until it leaves the town and enters Rome. After receiving Lansing Kill it receives Stringer's Creek, and Willis' or Blue or Big Brook, these names all being more or less used for the same stream. These three tributaries are all sufficiently large for mills and manufacturing purposes. The Mohawk has a sufficiency of water and fall in this town to drive a vast amount of ma- chinery. The water in this town is very pure, and the smaller tributaries so abundant, that it may be ranked as among the best watered towns in the county or state.
The alluvial soil in the valley of the Mohawk is very rich and productive, and of the first quality for either grass or grain. The uplands are good for meadow and pasturage, and a considerable portion of the soil of the hills is mixed with slate, and is likewise good for grass and grain. The northern portion of this town is quite uneven, and the streams have worn for themselves deep channels, which, in many placas, are impassible by roads, and are a very great incon-
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
venience to the inhabitants. In the aggregate this is a good agricultural town, and few towns of its size and population send more to market. Upon the high land on the south- easterly side of the Mohawk, is a tract of a few hundred acres, differing so much from the ordinary quality of land in this section of the county, or as geologists would have it, " so out of place," that it is perhaps worth noticing. It consists of a warm sandy loam, is quite productive, with a very hand- some level surface. The valuable farm of Mr. Carmichael is located on this traet. The principal grains now raisod in the town are corn and oats.
Of the agricultural productions sent to market, the chief are, beef, pork, butter and cheese. Droves of fat and lean cattle are annually driven to the eastern market.
Probably three-fourths of the income of the farmers are received from the products of the dairy. Lands which, twen- ty-five or thirty years since, were of but little value, have by dairying become valuable.
In general the farms in this town are not large, few ex- ceeding two hundred acres.
This town contains some of the best quarries of limestone. particularly where Stringer's Creek enters the Mohawk val- ley and further up that stream. These quarries furnished large quantities of stone for the locks of the Black River Canal. The stone can be worked of any desired thickness. and cuts well. Considerable lime of a good quality has been burned. The limestone lies in horizontal strata, and is gen- erally overlaid with slate. Like all stone of this kind it is mainly composed of shells and other marine substances: There are almost certain indications that the Mohawk has at different times occupied its whole valley. In many places its channel has materially changed since the first settlement. Whole trees with their branches. perfectly sound, have been
703
WESTERN.
XXVII.]
discovered from eight to twelve feet below the present sur - face, but conjecture can hardly range back to the time when they were growing and blooming in the forest.
As yet no iron or other ores have been discovered within its limits.
. The original patentees of this town were Jellis Fonda, John Lansing. jr., Ray and Lansing, John Taylor, Judge Ooth- oudt. Goldsbrow Banyer, Lush and Stringer, Stephen Lush, Thomas Machin, and Thomas and William Burling.
The first settlers purchased their farms at one dollar per acre. Fonda's patent, containing 40,000 acres, was pur- chased of the original patentee, Jellis Fonda, by John Lan- sing, jr .. George Clinton, William Floyd and Stephen Lush. at ten cents per acre. This patent now constitutes a part of. the towns of Western, Lec, Rome, Floyd and Steuben.
Within the limits of this town there are twenty school dis- triets, as the author is informed, but it is probable they in- clude some parts of districts in other towns.
It has no seminaries or higher schools established. The common schools are flourishing and well patronised.
Westernville is a handsome village situated on the south- east bank of the Mohawk. The Black River Canal enter. the town in the deep ravine of the Lansing Kill, and from thence down that stream and the Mohawk until that river enters the town of Rome. It passes through the village of Westernville, and will eventually add much to its business and prosperity. The public business of the town is here transacted, besides it is the centre of very considerable trade. The business statistics of the village are included in those of the town
By the consus of 1845, this town contained 2,523 inhabi-
704
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY. [CHIAP.
tants, 517 of which are voters. There are two grist-mills, twenty-two saw-mills, two wool carding and cloth dressing establishments, five taverns, six stores, one tannery, two sad- lers and a factory for the manufacture of pegs for shoes, be- sides blacksmiths, shoemakers, etc., etc. Oars and split hoops are also made in large numbers and sent to market.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
As early as the year 1798, a Baptist church was formed in this town of about sixty members. At the time of its for- mation it had no pastor. Elder Stephen Parsons and other clergymen occasionally visited and preached to the church. It was a very respectable body of Christians. Elder Jona- than Waldo afterwards resided in the town, and preached to them frequently on the Lord's and other days. He was tru- ly an excellent, pious and exemplary man. He accomplish- ed much good to his church and the people generally. After his death the church seemed to lose its urity, and finally in a measure its visibility. There is however a small society which maintain an organization, but they have no pastor.
After the decline of the Baptists, the Methodists formed a society, and for a number of years the larger portion of pro- fessors of religion in the town belonged to this society. At present it is the most numerous denomination in the town. They have now two houses of public worship, and two socie- ties, which have been incorporated within a few years past.
The Presbyterians have a society that was incorporated in 1818. They have a good commodious house of worship. and
.
XXVII. ]
WESTERN. 705
when they have preaching the congregation is large and res- pectable. They have had two settled pastors. A Mr. Cor- lis has recently supplied the desk, with the prospect of a set- tlement.
*
The church numbers at this time about one hundred members.
There is a society of Friends in this town, which has been in existence more than forty years. Although not large, it is respectable. They meet for worship regularly on the first and fifth days of the week. They are a friendly, sober, hon- est and industrious body of Christians, and like the denomi- nation generally are an ornament to the religion they profess.
Very much to the credit of the different religious denom . inations in Western, since its earliest settlement, they have lived together on the most friendly terms, exercising Chris- tian charity towards each other, pastors have exchanged with each other, houses for public worship have been opened for those of a different belief; indeed that brotherly love for one another has been so manifested, that it would seem they ex- pect in a future world to meet in the same great assembly. to worship one God and Redeemer forever and forever.
GENERAL WILLIAM FLOYD.
A brief memoir of this patriot and statesman, whose name is appended to the Declaration of Independence. as one of the New York delegation in the Continental Congress of 1776, and who was also one of the pioneer emigrants to the town of Western, it is presumed will be acceptable to our readers.
45
706
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
General William Floyd was the son of Nicoll Floyd, and great grand-son of Richard Floyd, who emigrated from Wales in 1654, and settled at Setauket, on Long Island, in 1655. His father had besides, seven children. Ruth, Tabitha, Nicoll, Charles, Charity, Mary and Catherine. He died in 1752. General Floyd was born at Mastic, Long Island, December 17th, 1734. His early education was not such, as, from the wealth and ability of his father, might have been expected. His natural intelligence was great, and his moral character elevated. His first wife was a daughter of William Jones of Southampton, by whom he had three children, Nicoll, Mary and Catherine. The former has long possessed the estate at Mastic, and enjoyed in an eminent degree the publie respect and confidence. Mary married Col. Benjamin Tallmadge of Litchfield ; and Catherine became the wife of Dr. Samuel Clarkson of Philadelphia. The second wife of Gen. Floyd was a daughter of Benajah Strong of Setauket, by whom he had two daughters, Ann and Eliza. The first married Geo. Clinton, son of the late Vice President of the United States ; and the other became the wife of James Platt of Utica, now of Oswego. Mrs. Clinton, after the death of her husband, married Abraham Varick of New York. General Floyd was carly chosen an officer in the militia of Suffolk County, and rose eventually to the rank of major-general. He was soon after clected a member of the provincial assembly, and in 1774, was sent a delegate from this province to the first Con- tinental Congress. In 1777, he was elected a senator ; and on the 9th of September of that year, took his scat in the first constitutional legislature of this state. On the 15th of October, 1778, he was appointed by the Legislature a mem- ber of Congress, and was re-appointed on the 14th of Oeto- ber, 1789, in conjunction with Ezra L'Homedieu and John Sloss Hobart. He was also one of that immortal band of
-
XXVII. ]
WESTERN. 707
patriots, who on the 4th of July, 1776, signed and published to the world the great charter of American Independence. When the British took possession of Long Island, his family fled for safety to Connecticut ; his house was occupied by the enemy, and he remained an exile from his estate for nearly seven years. The devastations committed upon his property in his absence were very great. In 1784, he purchased a valuable tract of wild land, in what is now the town of Wes- tern, Oneida County, and to which he removed in 1803. Being a man of wealth, he was very useful to the inhabitants of that then infant settlement, in building mills, etc. There he continued to reside, with the good opinion of his fellow eit- izens, and in comparative independence, until his death, which occurred at Western, August 4th, 1821. His remains were interred in the cemetery attached to the Presbyterian. church in Westernville.
An appropriate stone with the following inscription marks the last resting place of the patriot :
In memory of GENERAL WILLIAM FLOYD, who died August 4th, 1821, Aged 87 years. He was born at Mastie on Long Island. He was an ardent supporter of His country's rights. He was honored in life for the sincerity of his patriotism, and the Declaration of Independence will be to his memory an imperishable monument.
At an early period in the controversy between Great
-
.
703
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
Britain and her Colonies, the feelings of Gen. Floyd were strongly enlisted on the side of the people, and he entered with zcal into every measure calculated to ensure their rights and liberties. These feelings on his part excited a corres- pondent sympathy on the part of the people, and led to his subsequent appointment to the first Continental Congress, which met at Philadelphia the 5th of September, 1774; and he most heartily concurred in all measures adopted by that body. He served on numerous important committees, and by his ardor and fidelity rendered essential service to the patriotic cause. He enjoyed unusual health until near the close of life, and the faculties of his mind remained unim- paired to the last. In his person he was of a middle stature. and possessed a natural dignity, which seldom failed to im- press those with whom he was associated. He was eminent- ly a practical man, without ostentation or vanity. When his plans were once formed, he seldom found reason to alter them ; and his firmness and resolution were rarely equalled. In his political character there was much to admire. Uni- form and independent, his views were his own, and his opin- ions the result of reason and reflection. If the public esti- mation of a man be a just criterion by which to judge, Gen. Floyd was excelled by few of his cotemporaries ; since, for more than fifty years, he was honored by his fellow citizens with offices of trust and responsibility.
There are many anecdotes of Gen. Floyd yet in the recol- lection of his old neighbors. He was very kind and gene- rous to the poor among the carly emigrants. His great wealth allowed the luxury of giving in no very stinted man- ner. Had the aborigines given him a name, as they did in many instances to the first settlers, for some peculiar quality, it would have been open-hand. His wife, although an excel- lent woman, did not always feel it her duty to be quite as
709
WESTERN.
XXVII. ]
liberal as the General. On one occasion, he rebuked her in such a kind and feeling manner, that the incident is believed to be worth preserving. A poor man calling on the General for aid, he went to his granary and measured a bushel of wheat and gave to him. Upon returning to his house, his wife gave him a short lecture, upon the impropriety of always giving, without knowing whether to a worthy and needy ob- ject or not. The General immediately turned to one of his men, who happened to be present, and directed him to go and measure another bushel of wheat, and give the man in the name of his wife, remarking, that he wished her to share with him the happiness of enjoying the poor man's gratitude.
One of the early settlers had taken a lease of a lot of land of the General. The man did not possess that important trait of character, industry, equal to the successful commence- ment on a new farm, and therefore did not succeed very well. At the end of a year, a few years after he had taken the lease, he found himself minus the means of paying his rent, and knowing his liability to be turned out of possession if he failed, as a last resort drove his only cow to the General to pay his yearly dues. The General it seemed, very well knowing the man's lack of industry, gave him a severe lec- ture, and asked him how many children he had at home. The man replied that he had five, and that they were too young to help him. Aye, aye! said the General, five small children, and too lazy to maintain them; drive the cow home, go to work, and earn something to pay your rent next year.
When the General removed from Long Island, he brought with him a considerable number of slaves of both sexes. He was a kind and good master, and provided every thing for their comfort. When the law for the abolition of slavery in this state went into effect, these slaves became free, and many of them and their descendants yet remain in the town.
710
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP ..
About three years since, one of his old female slaves called at a house in the vicinity of the General's former residence, and referring to her former and present condition, told the woman, that she was very sorry she had her freedom given her. When she " lived with massa Floyd, he provided well for, and always treated her kindly, but that now she did not know how to take care of herself, and that she suffered for the necessaries of life." This is mentioned to show the feel- ing yet retained for him by the old servant.
A number of ancedotes related of the General's dealings with his slaves, speak much for the man. He had a man named Bill, who was quite a favorite. Independence was to be celebrated at Fort Stanwix, and Bill requested of his mas- ter a horse and some money, that he might attend. His re- quest was granted, and Bill in his Sunday best was at the celebration. He there heard that immortal instrument read, which declares that all men are created free and equal. He also partook rather freely of that which "steals away the brains," and by the time he started for home, to use a sailor's phrase, was " nearly half seas over," yet he managed on his journey to preserve his equilibrium on his horse. As was his right, he cogitated by the way upon the beauties of the cele- bration, and at length came to the sage conclusion, that if all inen were created equal, there was no good reason why massa Floyd should not turn out his horse when he got home, as he always turned out massa's horse when he rode out. In this frame of mind he arrived at home, and, riding up to the gate, halloos, "halloo, massa Floyd :" The General, who had re- tired, arose, raised the window, and asked of Bill what was wanting. He received as a reply, " I want massa Floyd to turn out the horse." The General discovering by the voice, the peculiar state of Bill's mind, answered, " well, well, in a minute," and proceeded at once to dress himself. and very
711
WESTERN.
XXVII. ]
gravely proceeded to take the horse, put the saddle and bri- dle in their places, and turn the animal into the pasture. Bill soon went to bed, and as we may suppose, slept off a large quantum of his independence. The next morning, quite ashamed of the closing scene of his celebration, he ap- proached the General with an awkward apology, for his ludi- crous conduct, but the General replied, " never mind, never mind, Bill, that is all got along with," and never with Bill did he recur to the subject. Afterwards, when with his friends, he used to relate, with great glee, the active part he took in helping Bill finish his celebration of the glorious fourth.
He had also a very tall man, named Tom, who from his height received the descriptive sobriquet of Long Tom. Tom was a great fox hunter, and his persecutions of poor reynard were carried on in the two-fold capacity of hunter and trap- per. In the season of the year when their fur was valuable, many of their stuffed skins hung in the lofts of the buildings as witnesses of Long Tom's skill and prowess in the destruc. tion of these wily lovers of poultry. This, of itself, speaks much for the indulgent kindness of the General to his people. Upon slaughtering his hogs one year, the General found that his best porker, weighing between three and four hundred pounds, was so diseased with measles as to be entirely worth less. The General therefore told Tom that he might have it to bait foxes, and at night the rest of the pork was taken into the house, but the diseased carcass was suffered to hang where it was dressed. After dark, Tom, without revealing to . any one his plan, harnessed a team and took his present to Brayton's store and sold it. Being large and well fattened, it brought the highest price, or as dealers would say, it was sold at the " top of the market." The next morning Mr. Brayton discovering the utter worthlessness of his purchase, at once called upon the General for an explanation, how he
712
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
came to palin on him in the evening such an article. "What," says the General, " that negro has not sold you that measly hog ! well, I will call the raseal, and we will see what he will say for himself." So Tom was called, and the General asked him if he received directions to sell the hog. "No, Massa," was the reply. " And what did I tell you ?" " Massa Floyd gave me the hog." " I know," says the General " that I gave it you, but how did I tell you to use it ? " Poor darkey with the utmost sang-froid replied, " Massa Floyd gave me the measly pig to bait foxes-and I have caught the biggest fox in town with it." The effect of the negro's wit upon the ris- abilties of the General and Mr. Brayton can well be imagined. Composure being restored, the General took the money from his pocket and paid back the price of the hog, leaving Tom to keep the pelf, not exactly acquired by peltry, but by suc- cessful fox baiting.
713
WESTMORELAND.
XXVIII. ]
CHAPTER XXVIII.
WESTMORELAND.
IN the order of time this was the fourth town settled in the county, and Dean's Patent, now on its west line, was the first settled section of the town. James Dean, of whom a bi- ographical sketch is appended, located his patent in the fall of 1786. For the gratification of his antiquarian readers, the author inserts the title of the act and the particular sec- tion authorizing this patent. The act was passed May 5th, 1786. " An act for the speedy sale of the unappropriated lands within this State, and for other purposes therein men- tioned.17
Seetion XXV .- " And be it further enacted by the author- ity aforesaid, that it shall and may be lawful for the said commissioners [of the land office] to direct letters patent to be prepared and granted in the manner aforesaid, to grant to James Deane, his heirs and assigns, in fee simple, the follow- ing tract of land, to wit : Beginning at a certain place where the west line of the patent of Coxborough [this line is known in all the old records and surveys as the line of property] crosses the stream or brook, formed by the junction of the streams or brooks called Kanaghtaragcara [now known as Dean's Creek], and Kanyonskotta [the small stream north of the old mansion of Judge Dean, now owned by Luke C. Dean], it being one of the branches of the Oriskany Creek or River [this starting point is where Dean's Creek crosses
714
ANNALS OF ONEIDA COUNTY.
[CHAP.
the line, between the farms of the late James Smith and of A. and E. R. Fitch], running thenee north twenty-four de- grees and thirty minutes, west forty chains, thence south six- ty-five degrees and thirty minutes, west one hundred and six- ty chains, thence south twenty-four degrees and thirty min- utes east, one hundred and sixty chains, thence north sixty- five degrees and thirty minutes east, one hundred and sixty chains, thence on a direct line to the place of beginning."
By the same act, Wemple's Patent, of one mile square, was granted, to be bounded on the south line and east half of Dean's Patent, and Kirkland's Patent, also of one mile square. was to be located west of Wemple's and south of Dean's. One moicty of Kirkland's was in fee simple, and the other in trust for the support of a minister of the gospel employed by the Oneida Indians. This last moiety is known as the mis- sionary lot. The Oneida Indians having previously given their right to the land to Mr. Dean, he with his brother Jon- athan felt so confident that the grant would be ratified by the State, that they removed to the patent in the February previous to the passage of the before recited act. At this time the patentee was unmarried, but his brother had a wife and children. Mrs. Eunice Dean, the wife of Jonathan, was therefore the first female who settled in Westmoreland, and to give some idea of the hardships and deprivations she ex- perienced, within the first year of her residenee, it is only necessary to state, that, at one time, for six successive weeks. neither she nor her family tasted of a morsel of bread.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.