USA > New York > Oneida County > Annals and recollections of Oneida County > Part 8
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some circumstance by which he might call him to mind. Mr. Parker mentioned the above occurrence, when they, who more than forty years before had undauntedly shared danger so imminent, now wept, like Joseph and Benjamin, upon each other's neck.
Mr. Parker, because the tallest man in the army, stood upon the right of the American troops when Cornwallis sur- rendered. As a conqueror he also met death when it came.
In 1794, Thomas Cassety came to the Falls of the Oris- kany, and built a log house, and commenced preparations for building a saw mill. Ozias Hart, Abel Prior, Thomas Spafford, Ezra Saxton, Abiel Lindsley, and Francis O'Toole, removed into the town this year.
Francis O'Toole was an educated Irishman, and was im- pressed into the service of England while on his way to France to complete his education. Hle was in a number of desperate battles, and, after three years, was landed in Bos- ton, without money or friends. He travelled over the country some four or five years in search of a home. The following narrative was related substantially to a friend by Mr. O'Toole :-
" After he had landed in Boston, he went to Hartford, Conn., where he hired to Col. Thomas Seymour, with whom. he lived two years. Frank had the fortune soon to ingra- tiate himself into favor with the Colonel and his lady. For the first year he passed only as a wild, unlettered Irishman. Upon one occasion, Mrs. Seymour kindly proffered her ser- vices to teach him to read. Frank, with the greatest possible nonchalance depicted upon his countenance, gravely told her he thought himself now too old to commence an education. His benevolent employers were not undeceived as to his knowledge of letters until his second year's service, and he was then detected as follows :- Col. S. had a son, by the
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name of Richard, pursuing his studies in Yale College Being at home during his vacation, he wished to excite some wonder among the servants in the kitchen by a display of his learning, by "spouting" a sentence in Latin. This pedantry threw poor Frank off his guard, and Richard was retorted upon severely in the same language. This was overheard by Mrs. S. in an adjoining room, who soon made her appearance, and told her son she thought he would be be very much improved by a farther acquaintance in the kitchen. The news soon spread that Col. Seymour's wild Irishman was liberally educated, and he who had been only greeted with the epithets of Pat and Paddy, was now ad- dressed as Mr. O'Toole."
In coming to this town, Mr. O'Toole followed the old Indian path, and upon arriving at the spring near where he built his house, was so well pleased with the place, that he resolved to make it his residence, if he could obtain it. This he was so fortunate as to accomplish, and located himself here in 1794, and remained until he was removed to his last resting place, February 23, 1842, at the age of ninety. He left a son, who is an Attorney-at-Law in Albany, and also a number of daughters, who are enterprising and highly respectable, and three of whom reside in Rome.
In 1795, Mr. Cassety completed his saw mill at the Falls. Lemuel Hart and J. Reynolds came into the town this year.
In the autumn of 1796, a grist mill was so nearly com- pleted, that the inhabitants were not all compelled to go cither to Clinton, Westmoreland, or Madison to mill. Pre- vious to this time, it was not an unfrequent occurrence for the inhabitants, for lack of beasts of burden, to carry their grain to those places upon their backs. A grist mill was built at Fishville, in 1808, by Charles Fish and Benjamin Gregg. In 1809 one was erected at the Centre, by Josiah Bartholomew and Eleazar Metcalf.
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Abraham and Alexander Holmes resided upon the east hill this year. Oliver Bartholomew, Deacon Philip Pond, William Martin, Stephen Crosby, Archibald and John Man- chester, Robert Worden, and John Goodhue, were also residents of the town this year.
In 1797, an effort was made in the Legislature to organize this town. The bill passed the Assembly, but when reached in the Senate, Samuel Jones, then a Senator from the south- ern district, and who was the first State Comptroller, arose and asked, "What will they do for town officers ? for the law declares they must be freeholders." This defeated the bill, for Peter Smith's land was then yet held by leases for twenty-one years, and the Oneida Reservation had not been sold.
In the spring of this year, five families came in company from Washington, Litchfield County, Conn., of whose num- ber were Robert Durkee, Newton Smith, Joseph Hurd, and Sheldon Parmalee. Benjamin and Joseph Durkee, in the course of the year, followed from the same town. They all settled upon the road running south from the Centre, and which was called "Washington street." Previous to the arrival of these settlers, there was no road from Michael Hinman's, where George L. Brigham now resides, to the Centre.
An election was held this year, while the territory of this town was included in Whitestown, Herkimer County, at the public house of Charles Putnam, upon the hill east of Harvey Putnam's present residence.
This town was organized in 1798. The name of Augusta was given in consequence of a promise of Gen. Augustus Van Horn to Thomas Cassety, who was now a Colonel in the militia, that if the Colonel would procure the town to be named after him, he would give him a new military hat.
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The name so nearly resembled the General's, that the Colonel received the promised "hat."
By the act organising the town, the first town meeting was to be held at the house of Timothy Pond, Jr. The first meeting was held agreeably to the Legislative appointment, and Thomas Cassety was elected Supervisor, and Joseph Durkee Town Clerk. Col. Cassety, from his education and talents, became a leading spirit in those days. Mr. Durkee held the office of Clerk twenty-four successive years, and of the nineteen men elected to office at this meeting, he is the only one who yet resides in town. But one other is known living, Oliver Bartholomew, who resides near Watertown. Col. Cassety was a Justice of the Peace for Herkimer County. for we learn of his having solemnized marriages while this territory belonged to that county. He administered the oath of office as Supervisor to himself, as appears by the records, and certified that the oath was taken before himself. Perhaps a part of this irregularity arose from the fact that the oaths of all town officers were recorded in the town book, and subscribed by themselves. In newly settled towns. many irregularities had to be overlooked. The statutes of those days required the oaths of town officers to be taken before a Justice of the Peace, or other proper officer, without fec or reward; and it is believed that Col. Cassety was the only person authorized to administer oaths within the limits of the town. The first election of Justice of the Peace by the people in town meeting, was that of Nathan Kimball, in 1830; but Justices were elected previous to that year at general elections, under the amendment to the Constitution adopted in 1826, but which the town records do not show. Esquire Kimball, who is yet living, has since held the office of County Judge. The town meetings were held regularly up to 1802. In 1801 the town meeting adjourned, to meet
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the next year at the house of Seth Holmes, who resided upon the west side of the road ascending the hill from the south at Vernon Centre. This venerable mansion is yet standing, although much gone to decay, and uninhabited. The meeting failed, for before the time appointed, the town of Vernon had been erected, leaving the house of Mr. Holmes in the latter town. Accordingly, three Justices of the Peace appointed the town officers for 1802. In 1805, a Town House was built at the Centre, in which the town meetings have since been held. It has been twice removed to different locations, the last time to the Centre, in 1842, when it was repaired at the expense of the town.
The first merchant was a Mr. Adams, who kept his goods in the house of Ichabod Stafford, in 1798. He built, or rather raised and covered, a building for a store in that vicinity, but failed before he had filled it with goods. Mr. Smith "sold goods" near the present residence of Christopher Stebbins, but committed some crime, for which he was sen- tenced to State's Prison. Elisha Carrington established himself as a merchant at an early period at Newell's Cor- mers, but he soon removed to Peterboro. Abel Lindsley traded at a very early period at the place now occupied by Cyrus Barber. Samuel Chandler came into the town and engaged in business with Mr. Lindsley, some five or six years before he commenced business with his brother. This firm failed, and Winthrop H. Chandler, after some delay, entered into business with his brother Samuel, in 1806. This firm, under the name of Samuel Chandler & Co., became one of the most respectable mercantile establish- ments in the county, and the brothers long enjoyed the con- fidence of the community.
They were both, at different times, elected Supervisors of the town, and Winthrop H. represented the county in the
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Assembly. Winthrop H. did not become an actual resident of Augusta until May, 1808, and the two continued the business until 1818, when Samuel died. Winthrop H. con- tinued the business until Feb. 24, 1835, when his store was destroyed by fire. This was the most disastrous blow to the prosperity of Augusta Centre that has ever happened. John J. Knox settled in Augusta in 1811. He has been exten- sively engaged in mercantile operations, and the purchasing of produce, up to the present time. He was for a time President of the Bank of Vernon. Knox's Corners is a place of considerable business.
Two citizens of this town have assisted in electing Presi- sidents. David Ambler was a member of Assembly when the electors were chosen by that body, who elected James Monroe. John J. Knox was an clector when W. H. Har- rison was elected. While in the Assembly, Mr. Ambler voted for the construction of the Erie Canal, a measure of vast importance, and which has fully shown the far-seeing wisdom of its supporters.
W. HI. Chandler, Riley Shepard, and David Murray, have been members of the Assembly. Chauney C. Cook, a native of this town, was a member of Assembly from Kirk- land in 1845.
The first white child born in Augusta, was Peter Smith Gunn. The first persons married in the town, were Daniel Hart and Catharine Putnam. Col. Cassety officiated upon the occasion. The oldest native now residing in this town, is Mrs. Margaret Mahanny, daughter of Francis O'Toole. The first death in the town was that of Elcazar Putnam, who died April 15, 1795, aged 31 years. He lived upon the east hill ; and as a number of families of that name had located near together, that section of the hill was known to the carly settlers as Put's Hill. The next death of an adult
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was that of Lucy Greene, who died in March, 1796. Age not ascertained. Two deaths of children occurred in this town at an early period, one a child of Ozias Hart, the other of John Porter, but which died first can not now be ascer- tained. They were first buried near where Herman Parker resides ; but the ground proving unsuitable, they were after- wards removed to the present burying ground, south of David Stilson's. This ground was originally given for that purpose by John Porter, and was enlarged, newly feneed, and beautified in 1845. There are four clergymen buried in it : the Rev. Amos Crocker, whose grave is lost, and Rev. Simon Snow, whose epitaph is,-
" With Heavenly weapons I have fought The Battles of the Lord, Finished my course, and kept the faith, And wait a sure reward."
The Rev. A. P. Clark, and the Rev. John Ormsbee.
During the nine years preceding September 1847, there were 247 deaths in the town. The annual proportion is one in 76,2. The greatest number in a year, 42 ; least number, 19. Population, 2,271.
There have been four deaths by fire-arms, where the de- sign to shoot, if not to kill, was shown. Mr. Major Wood, who lived upon the east hill, was shot by a woman who lived with him as wife. He had served in the continental army, and this woman came from the army with him. She was intemperate, and had been to an election the day pre- ceding the commission of the deed, and was intoxicated at the time. Little was known of the circumstances, or how much of malice or design were manifested by the act. She was tried, convicted of murder, and sentenced to be hung, and her body given to the surgeons. In the night preceding
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the day of execution, she hung herself in the jail at Herki- mer. At the time, it was the opinion of many that she was induced to commit suicide by the belief that thereby she would evade the last part of her sentence, and save her body from the dissecting knife. If this was so, she failed in her object, for her remains were used for the promotion of pro- fessional science. (See section upon Capital Convictions, pp. 42, 43, for particulars of her trial.)
Theophilus Fowler, an Indian, shot Ethan Wiggins, an- other Indian. They, with others, had been on a squirrel hunt for two or three days. Coming into the neighborhood of the distillery, Wiggins went into the shoe shop of Charles Stiles, an upper room of the house now occupied by David Fish, and Fowler went to the distillery and obtained some- thing to drink. Very soon Fowler took his gun and went rapidly up the street, until opposite the shoe shop. Wiggins was looking out of the window, and Fowler, without giving any notice of his intentions, drew up and fired. Wiggins fell, one shot having entered his eye, and was immediately carried to Brotherton, where he survived but about thrce days.
After the Revolutionary war, the Oneida Indians who resided at Oriskany, left that location, and a part came to the " Mile Square," in the neighborhood of the present residence of John Curry. This location had long before been occupied by Indians. Mr. Philo White was of the opinion that when the Oneida Indians left Oriskany, a part of them went to Canesaraga. After the settlement of Augusta, a number of those Indians yet remained upon the " Mile Square." Cornelius was their head man, and he had a son-in-law named Jacob. Jacob and another Indian, whose name can not now be ascertained, went to Clinton, where they obtained liquor. While upon their return, they
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had a quarrel, and although Jacob was much the smaller man, yet, as is believed, from the fact that he was less drunk, he obtained the advantage in the fight. Upon arriving at their settlement, they first came to the home of the larger Indian. The latter went into his wigwam, and obtaining his rifle, came to the door, and shot Jacob, who fell dead. He then dragged the body into the woods, and made an attempt to conceal it. The next morning, Jacob not having arrived at his home, his father-in-law, Cornelius, started to search for him. When he arrived at the place in the road where Jacob had been shot, his practised eye discovered blood, and with true Indian sagacity, he traced its trail into the woods, and found the body. From the circumstan- ces, he at once knew who was the murderer. Standing in the relation of the "avenger of blood," according to the Indian laws, he immediately proceeded to the cabin of the murderer, burst open the door, and with his ever ready knife, gave, as he supposed, the fatal stab. By means of " eaves- dropping," a few evenings afterwards, he ascertained that his aim had not been true, and that the murderer was re- covering from his wound. Cornelius then went to Hendrick Smith, his nephew, who resided at the Indian Orchard, and who was also from Oriskany, and borrowed his brass hatchet, with a steel edge, and also persuaded Smith to go with him. They started, and ran without once halting, until they ar- rived at the cabin door of their victim. Cornelius burst open the door, and finding the object of their vengeance upon his bed, without uttering a word, caught him by the hair, and with one blow of the tomahawk cleft open his head. Not knowing in what light the matter might be viewed by the friends at Oneida, of the Indian whom they had executed, Cornelius and Smith thought it prudent to leave the place until the excitement, if any, had subsided. They therefore
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went south into the Chenango country, and remained until they learned that the friends of the murderer were satisfied that his punishment was merited and just, and were not dis posed to take any notice of it, or his executioners, when they returned.
The author is aware that there is some skepticism in re- lation to this transaction. His informant was the Hon Aaron Stafford, of Waterville, who is a son of the Ichabod Stafford who settled in Augusta in 1793. He resided with his father at the time, and but a short distance south from where it took place. Although he was not an eye-witness. vet he well recolleets the affair, and that the next morning after the murder, Jacob's wife, with a very young infant, came to his father's, accompanied by her mother, the wife of Cornelius, and of their talking of the subject, and weeping bitterly. He also well recollects having seen the brass hatchet, with steel edge, belonging to Hendrick Smith, with which it was said the Indian was executed ; and also remem- bers the absence of Cornelius and Hendrick. Those at- quainted with the tenacity of Mr. Stafford's memory, will hardly doubt the correctness of his statements.
Another instance of death from fire-arms, was that in which Themas Grinnell. accidentally, shot himself in the arm, near the shoulder. He survived the accident but about a week.
Timothy Ranney was accidentally shot by his cousin, Silas Cook, on Sunday, the 10th of April, 1810. Riley Shepard and Timothy Ranney, were sitting near each other. reading alternately a verse from the Bible, and if the charge had possessed sufficient force to have passed through Mr Ranncy's head, Shepard would have shared the fate of hi- cousin.
At the Falls. Mr Cally shot Mr. Gardner, who was acting
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the part of a military officer, by giving him the word of com- mand. There had been a training the day previous, and Cady was not aware that the gun was loaded.
Orrin S. Cook, son of Josiah Cook, was killed by the falling of a tree, Oct. 22, 1818.
Terence Fagan was killed July 12, 1838, by falling from his wagon, and the horses stopping with one of the wheels resting upon his neck. His death occurred in Stockbridge, but he was a resident of Augusta.
Roswell J. Lewis, of this town, was killed at Oneida Castle, on the 22d of May, 1842, by being run over while attempting to stop his own and E. Wooster's horses while running. After the accident, he survived but about twenty- four hours. Says his obituary : "Within the recollection of our oldest citizens, death has not entered our town under so painful a shape, and attended by such a variety of distressing partienlars, as in this instance."
In 1834, a sum of about $2,100 was raised for the pur- pose of an Academical School at the Centre. A very com- modious stone building was soon erected, and a school went into successful operation. In 1840, the sum of $400 was raised for a library and philosophical apparatus, and the Academy was incorporated. The form of the building is peculiar, at least it is so for Central New York. The front is a regular semicircle, while the rear wall is straight. The teachers in this Institution have been, Melville Adams, Rev. Benjamin Lockwood, Robert Bradshaw, J. Manross, Hewitt Bronson, G. L. Hall, Rev. Samuel Whaley, A. K. Eaton, C. Percival. Mr. Hall taught successfully during seven years.
This town, like Vernon, was settled by very many from Litchfield County, Conn. At this time, eighteen of the forty-eight families who reside upon the road which runs
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north and south through the Centre, were from that county. or are the immediate descendants of such. The town of Otis. in Berkshire County, Mass., at one time had many repre- sentatives in Augusta.
Josiah Cook, grandfather of Chauney C. Cook, of Clinton, attended a half century celebration at the Centre in 1347. He came from Otis to this town in 1799, with thirteen chil- iren, all of whom, with a single exception, settled with Families in Augusta. His descendants, on the 7th of Sep- tember, 1847, numbered 250.
Abner Ranney, who died September 1st, 1847, aged 101 years, 5 months, and 5 days, eame from Blandford, Hamp- len County, a town adjoining Otis, had twelve children, eighty-seven grandchildren, and eighty great-grandchildren. 'These two patriarchs settled upon opposite sides of the same street.
Knox's Corners at one time went by the name of Cook's Corners.
Elisha Shephard, an old resident of this town, and who was in the battle of Stone Arabia, upon the Mohawk, on the 13th of October, 1780, in which Col. Brown, the commander, and about forty out of two hundred soldiers, were killed, related a fact which the author has never seen noticed in any sccount of the aborigines. Mr. Shephard states that none of the red-haired persons who fell in the battle were scalped. while no others escaped the horrid mutilation.
In 1795, Mr. J. Reynolds, while looking for his cows, accompanied by his dog. treed a bear, when about sixty rods south-west of Ozias Hart's. Being within hailing dis- ance, he called to Hart to come with his gun, and shoot the bear. Mr. Hart misunderstood the request, supposing the bear had treed Reynolds. Although he had a gun well loaded, and one or two dogs, he went in search of his brother
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that he might have his assistance in relieving his neighbor from his perilous situation. Mr. Reynolds becoming im- patient, went to Hart's, believing the dog would keep pos- session ; but in this he was mistaken, for the dog also left. and before the arrival of Reynolds or the Harts, the animal had decamped. and made good his retreat. The anecdote does no very great credit to the courage of Ozias Hart or the dog.
Another "bear story" is also told by the "oldest inhabit- ants." As Thomas Spafford was going to meeting one Sun- day, at the house of Ichabod Stafford, and when about half way from the Centre to Stafford's, he discovered a large bear following him. For a time he pursued his way quietly. hoping the animal would soon leave the path, but in this he was mistaken, for the animal gained fast upon him. He now attempted to frighten it from its course, but without success. The bear at length having come so near, and it .: company being so unwelcome, Spafford left the path, and ascended a small hemlock, and by the time he was fairly out of reach, the animal was at the roots of the tree. Thus un- pleasantly situated, and wishing to get a higher, and perhaps easier position, Stafford nnluckily took hold of a dry limb. which broke, and he fell. Bruin, doubtless thinking as . Spafford "came tumbling down," that he was "come for." suddenly left, while the latter pursued his way without fur- ther molestation.
Oriskany Falls is a flourishing village, in the south-west part of the town. The fall of the Oriskany Creek at this place is so considerable, that a large amount of water power is obtained. In its descent, the water is carried over a ledge of limestone, at an angle of about 45 degrees. There are a grist and flouring mill, two saw mills, two woolen factories. besides some smaller machinery ; and the water power is
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such as to admit a vast increase of business. The village contains about six hundred inhabitants, two taverns, two dry goods and two grocery stores, three storchouses, two cab- inet and chair factories, and most kind of mechanic shops. The Chenango Canal, and "Hamilton and Deansville Plank Road," pass through this place. There is an inexhaustible quarry of limestone in and near the village, large quantities of which are quarried for building purposes and for lime, and transported upon the canal to different parts of the country. The Congregational Church is of stone, of good size, and is a substantial edifice.
Augusta Centre has three places of public worship .- a Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist, those of Presbyterians and Baptists with steeples. They are all painted, and are well-arranged, good buildings. The Academy at this place has been noticed. There are a tavern, one dry goods store. a grist and flouring mill, with the various mechanic shops usual in country villages.
There are four grist mills and six saw mills in the town.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The first sermon preached within the present limits of the . town, was by a Methodist minister, in 1794, in the house of a Mr. Fairbanks, upon the place now occupied by Mrs. Camp Williams. Possibly there may have been preaching pre- viously by some missionary, but if so, it is not within the knowledge of any one now living in the town.
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