USA > New York > Oneida County > Annals and recollections of Oneida County > Part 9
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The widow of Ichabod Stafford, who is now quite aged, and resides in the village of Waterville, informed the writer that a Baptist Church was formed very early in the settle- ment of the town, in the vicinity of her residence upon the
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east hill, of which she was a member. It was dissolved after a few years, and no records respecting it have been found.
In 1797, a log school-house stood upon the west side of the road which runs north from William Bridge's. In that school-house, on the 7th of September of that year, the present Congregational Church was formed, with nine mem- bers, by Rev. Doct. Asahel S. Norton, of Clinton, and Rev. Joel Bradly, of Westmoreland. The church was organized in the morning, and Rev. Mr. Bradly preached in the after- noon. The names of the first members were Isaiah Gilbert, Experience Gilbert, Benjamin Durkee, Susanna Durkee, Thomas Stafford, Lucy Stafford, Ezra Saxton, Abiel Linsley, and Anna Linsley. Mr. Linsley was the first moderator.
After the formation of the church, its members continued to meet upon the Lord's-day in private dwellings, school- houses, barns, and sometimes in the open air, for conference and prayer, and occasionally had preaching, by Dr. Norton and Rev. Mr. Kirkland, and sometimes others were employed for a few weeks, or perhaps months.
In 1800, the church numbered but sixteen, having re- ceived seven by letter, and two by profession.
In 1804, Rev. John Spencer commenced preaching to this people. He was a native of Connecticut, and had enjoyed but the privileges of a common school education. At the close of the Revolutionary war, in which he served as ; soldier, he came to Worcester, Otsego County. He was a plain, unassuming man, but contemplating the moral desola- tion around him, and the paucity of laborers, he desired to enter the ministry. He was encouraged, and licensed to preach in October, 1800. He spent two or three years in the County of Greene, and afterwards in the County of Oneida, and removed from Vernon Centre to Augusta. The elder class of the people, speak of him with affection. He
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left this place in 1807, and in 1809 removed to the then almost unbroken wilderness, but now the town of Sheridan, in Chatauque County. His praise as a missionary, was in many churches. A monument, bearing the following in- scription. marks his grave in the burying place in Sheridan
" This stone is consecrated to the memory of Rev. John Spencer, many years a missionary of the Connecticut Mis- sionary Society. . He was the first Gospel minister who traversed the wilderness then called the Holland Purchase, and was the instrument, under God, in forming most of the Congregational and Presbyterian Churches which existed in this region when he rested from his labors, 1826, aged 68.
"Ile trod a useful but laborious path to immortality. iu the ardent. unremitted exercise of doing good.
". The Association of Western New York, grateful to his memory, have erected this monument, hoping that it may prompt the beholder to imitate his self-denying labors. 1838."
Says Mr. Ayer: "From the time of Mr. Spencer's re- moval until October 15, 1809, the church appears to have been in the wilderness in tumults, like sheep without a shepherd, going astray. At that time the church called the Rev. David Kendall, of Hubbardston, Mass., to take the pastoral charge, which was accepted, and he was installed May 2, 1810. Mr. Kendall was dismissed, August 11, 1814. During his ministry, twelve were received by profession. and two by letter.
The Rev. Oliver Ayer commenced his labors with this church in October, 1814, and was installed January 10th, 1816. the Rev. Dr. Azel Backus preaching upon the occa- sion. from llebrews x. 25. Mr. Ayer continued his labors with the church about four years. These are reckoned as the four most prosperous years which this body ever ex.
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perienced in succession. Two years of the time witnessed a revival, in which the church, numbering at their commence- ment but forty-cight members, received accessions of one hundred and sixty.
Mr. Ayer's health having failed, the Rev Ely Burchard commenced his labors with this church in January, 1818. Mr. Ayer was not dismissed until Feb. 3, 1819, and the council that dismissed him, ordained and installed Mr. Bur- chard the next day. The church enjoyed the labors of the latter four years and eight months, and was increased during his ministry by the addition of forty-four upon profession, and fourteen by letter. He was dismissed Oct. 15, 1822.
The Rev. Benjamin J. Lane commenced his labors, as stated supply, a few weeks after the dismissal of Mr. Bur- chard, and continued them about four years. In the early part of this period there was an interesting revival, and during the four years of his labors, sixty-five were received upon profession, and fourteen by letter. The Rev. Leverett Hull immediately succeeded Mr. Lane, and like his prede- cessor, was not installed. He continued four years, and received about one hundred upon profession of faith. The first protracted meeting in Augusta was held during the ministry of Mr. Hull. The revival, which was the result of this meeting, or at least the measures and means adopted. were condemned by some as extravagant. Mr. Hull had warm and decided friends, while some were as decidedly opposed to him.
The Rev. Mr. Hull was succeeded, for one year, by Rev. John Waters, whose labors were eminently useful. In June. : 1831, a protracted meeting was held, in which the Baptists took part; a revival followed, and, as its fruits, on the 4th of September, fifty-three were received upon profession of faith, being the largest number ever received at one time by
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this church. On the 25th of November, 1832, the church reached its highest point in numbers, having at that time precisely four hundred members.
In January, 1838, thirty-five members received letters of dismission, for the purpose of forming a church at Oriskany Falls.
After the trial of many candidates, Rev. A. P. Clark was called to the pastoral office, September 13, 1833, and was installed February 12, 1834. He was an excellent pastor and man. During the spring or summer following, he had the misfortune to break one of his limbs, which hindered him from his labors a number of months. He died Feb. 6, 1835, aged 38 years. He was entombed with the people of his affection, and his epitaph is,-"Remember the words that I spake unto you while I was yet with you." Nothing could have been more appropriate.
A little more than two years of quiet followed. in which Mr. Robertson and Mr. Wells supplied the pulpit.
On the 10th of May, 1836, the present pastor, Rev. Orlo Bartholomew commenced his labors, and was installed by the Oneida Presbytery on the 24th of the following August. There were upon the church book when he came, 279 mem- bers. Of that number 119 have been dismissed. two have been excommunicated, and fifty have died. During this time, seventy-one have been received by letter, and ninety- four by profession of faith, and three who had been absolved, have returned, making the whole number received, 168, leaving the church three less than when the present pastor commenced preaching to them. In the first year of his labors, fifteen were added upon profession, the result of a protracted meeting. held in connection with the Baptist ('hurch. In the third year, thirty-six were received upon profession. Most of these were hopefully converted in the
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above-mentioned meeting. Elders Smitzer and Parker per- formed most of the preaching during the meeting.
Deacons Abiel Linsley and Isaiah Gilbert officiated for the first six or seven years of the existence of the church. They had each held the office before they came to Augusta. Deacon Linsley, after he left, was the instrument of doing much good; and a letter written by him to his pastor, when unable to attend public worship from ill health, was the commencement of the means which resulted in the formation of the Genesee Missionary Society. In 1804, Amos Gilbert and Philip Pond were chosen deacons. Lebbeus Camp, chosen in 1814, was dismissed in 1833. John Lewis was chosen in 1822, Robert Durkee and Mark Thompson in 1832, and Russell Knox in 1834.
This church has contributed liberally to the benevolent objects of the day. In five years, commencing with 1837. they gave $4,419 09 to different benevolent Associations. From the time of the erection of the town house, in 1805, to 1816, it was occupied as a meeting house by this Society. In 1816 the present house of worship was built, and was dedicated Feb. 3, 1817. In 1844, its interior was re- modelled, and it was re-dedicated the same year.
As early as 1802, there were two Methodist classes in Augusta, one of which met in the neighborhood where now the Messrs. Powers reside, and the other upon the east hill, in the vicinity of which the old chapel stood. This was the centre of the denomination in this town for many years, and they had often large congregations for the country. The old chapel was built by Riley Shepard, in 1819, and was regularly occupied until the new chapel was built at the Centre, in 1840. The new chapel was dedicated December 15, 1840, Zachariah Paddock officiating upon the occasion. The first service in it after the day of dedication, was upon
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Thanksgiving-day, the 17th of the same month, when the Rev. O. Bartholomew, of the Congregational Church, preach- ed from John vi. 12: "Gather up the fragments, that nothing be lost."
There are now in connection with the Methodist denomi- nation at various places in the town, as follows :- At the Centre, forty-two ; at the Falls, twenty-one ; at Knox's Cor- mers, twenty-three ; upon the "Strip," twenty; making 106 members of the station or circuit. There are twenty of the inhabitants of Augusta connected with the Methodist Society at Deansville, eighteen with the Society at Vernon Centre, and five connected with the Society at Stockbridge.
The present Baptist Church in Augusta was organized August 22, 1829, with thirty-three members. The first meeting for business was held August 30, the same year, and their meeting house was dedicated the 20th of the same month. These dates may seem paradoxical, but they are in accordance with the records and the facts. It seemed to the author unusual for a Society to erect a good and convenient meeting house, and have it dedicated, before the organization of the church ; but upon re-inquiry, he is assured the above dates are correct.
The most extensive revival was in 1831, and which is mentioned in the history of the Congregational Church. Seventy-six were added to the Baptist Church upon pro- fession, and twelve by letter during its continuance. In September, 1833, the number of members was 127, in 1838, 141. Present number, 85. The preachers to this Church have been, Elders P. P. Brown, James A. Mallory, A. H. Haff, Jason Corwin, -. Bridge, -. Jeffries, and R. Z. Wil- liams.
The Congregational Church at Oriskany Falls was organ- ized January 31, 1833. Its present number is seventy-five,
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of whom thirty-six reside in Augusta. There is but one more member of this denomination upon the territory which this Church occupies in Augusta, than when formed. The walls of their house were erected and enclosed in 1834, and the basement so finished that the congregation worshipped in it until the building was completed and dedicated, April 9, 1845. The dedication sermon was preached by the Rev. O. Bartholomew, from 2 Chron. ii. 4.
The Rev. John Cross labored with this church one year previous to the last Lord's-day in Nov. 1834, when the Rev. Pindar Field commenced his labors, and was installed by the "neida Association, December 21st, and was dismissed by the same on May 26, 1846, a little more than one year after the house, for which he had made great personal sacrifices, had been dedicated. At the time of his settlement, the church consisted of forty-seven members. There were added Jaring his ministry ninety-three, forty-one by profession and fifty-two by letter. During Mr. Field's pastorate, the sum of about $700 was contributed by this Society to the differ- ant benevolent objects of the day.
COL. THOMAS CASSETY .- The author has not been able to ascertain satisfactorily the time of his birth. He was the son of James Cassety, who was a captain in the British army, and on service in this country in the French war of 1756 After the peace of 1760, the captain went to Detroit, and established himself as an Indian trader. Here he con- tinued until the commencement of the War of the Revolu- tion, when he was ordered to take up arms against the colonies. This he refused to do. In the mean time Thomas, tise subject of this notice, was born, bad pursued the usual
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preparatory course, and was now far advanced in his colle. giate education. During a vacation, he visited his father at Detroit, and while there, an officer of the crown was sent to arrest his father for treason, in refusing to fight the battles of George III against the colonies. The arrest was made in the presence of the son, which so exasperated him, that he seized a loaded musket, and fired at the officer. Whether he killed him or not, is not known, as the Colonel in after life would never throw any light upon the subject, further than that the ball passed through the officer's hat crown. The Captain was taken to Quebec, and for three long years con- fined so closely in prison, that in the whole period the sun never for once shone upon him. At length, with two others. he made his escape. Thomas, after firing at the officer, made good his retreat from Detroit, and took refuge with one of the western tribes of Indians. Here he was received and treated with kindness, was formally adopted into their tribe, one of the chiefs of which gave him his daughter for a wife. By her he had issue ; and tradition has said, whether truly or falsely, that "the celebrated Tecumseh was a son of Thomas Cassety."
After a residence of several years with the Indians, and after our independence had been acknowledged by Britain, as he could then return in safety, he left the Indians, and again took up his abode in civilized life, and was again mar- ried. By this marriage he had seven children, two sons and five daughters. The next that is learned of him is, that he was residing at Canajoharie.
The surveyors employed by Peter Smith having been driven off. as before stated, their compass and chain broken to pieces by the pagan party of the Oneidas, Mr. Smith had recourse to Mr. Cassety, who was residing at that place, to induce him to come to Oneida, and make peace with the
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Indians. From his thorough acquaintance with Indian character, he was peculiarly fitted for this mission, in which he was entirely successful. Mr. Smith, by means of these services, was enabled to realize a considerable fortune.
In 1794, Mr. Cassety removed to the town of Augusta, and settled at Oriskany Falls, a location which for many years was known only by the name of Cassety Hollow. Here he built the mills as before stated, and in ereeting the grist mill, he and Peter Smith were in company: Soon after its completion. Cassety, who was now a Colonel in the militia, and Justice of the Peace, purchased of Smith his share, and mortgaged his property to Smith to secure the payment of the purchase money. Eventually, the foreclosing of this mortgage reduced the Colonel from competeney to poverty The earnings of years of toil and privation were all swept away.
Ilis death was most melancholy. A clothier, in removing from his shop, had left, among other articles, a bottle of sul- phuric acid. This the Colonel supposed to be whiskey, (a poison in most cases just as sure, if not as rapid,) and the fatal draught elosed his existence in a few hours. He died August 14, 1831.
Colonel Cassety had talents of a high order, which had been improved by a good education. He was a warm and true friend; generous almost to a fault. The early settlers of Augusta often enjoyed his bounty. Upon one occasion, in a time of seareity, he divided among them, gratuitously, all the bread-stuffs in his mill, poor as well as rich receiving in proportion to the numbers in their families. Unsolicited, upon another occasion, he advanced the money to save a poor man's cow from being sold upon an execution. He was a wit and humorist. In polished society, he was a gentleman. For the amusement of others, he could represent scenes from
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savage life with skill and accuracy. In his intercourse with those in humble life, he could conform to them without compromising bis dignity of character. He had his faults. but we would let those lie, buried in the same grave. where. without monument or epitaph, sleep his remains.
His father, Capt. James Cassety. died in Augusta. May 23. 1822, aged 84
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CHAPTER V
AVA.
This is the youngest sister in the family of towns in Oneida County. It was taken from the west part of Boonville, and organized as a town, by an act of Legislature, passed May 12, 1846.
The territory included in this town was first settled by Ebenezer Harger. He removed from Connecticut to Whites- town in 1797, and to this town in 1798, and settled upon the east branch of the Mohawk, about three-fourths of a mile east of the location of the Ava Post Office. Zephaniah Wood and Abner Wood settled soon after Mr. Harger. Soon after,-and it is believed in 1800,-Philo Harger, Benjamin Jones, Lemuel Wood, and Justus Beardsley moved into the town. In 1801, Philo Harger and Benjamin Jones erected the first saw mill in the town, upon the east branch of the Mohawk. At this time, the few settlers were nine miles from any other inhabitants. The nearest grist mill was that of Gen. Floyd, at the place since named West- ernville, at a distance of twelve miles, without a road, bridges, or causeways. For the first few years, these isolated pion- eers endured many hardships and privations. Wolves, those pernicious nuisances of border life, were quite too numerous. and destroyed many of their few sheep and other stock.
This town occupies an elevated position. Head-waters of the Mohawk, Black River, and Fish Creek emanating 8
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from it. It is much better adapted to grazing than grain ; and products of the dairy are. fast becoming the staple of export from the town. Indeed. it is believed that when its forests are relieved of their lumber, and its population become farmers only. that then its surplus butter and cheese will render Ava equal in wealth to any of the adjoining towns.
The town is well watered, and has an abundant water power. The east and west branches of the Mohawk. Point Rock Brook. and Blue Brook run through the town, and Fish Creek bounds the west end of the town. There are in the town one grist mill. and eight saw mills. The water is pure. and its numerous waters are yet well stored with the "speckled trout."
Horace Hoyt, Esq., who has been Supervisor of the town two years since its erection. is its only merchant. Besides the legitimate business of a country store, he deals largely in lumber. In 1848. he sold at least fifteen hundred thousand spruce shingles. He is also engaged in the manufacture of potash.
. A Society of Friends, who have a house for public wor- ship, is the only religious society in the town. although there are within its limits a resident Methodist preacher, and men- bers of other denominations of Christians.
There is also a physician located in the town. and he. with the clergyman, are the only professional men within its bounds.
The Common Schools of this town are well sustained by its inhabitants. Each year since its organization, they have voted to raise a larger sum by taxation. than that received from the income of the State Common School Fund ; and in this they have surpassed a majority of the towns in the county.
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The town has also a School Fund of between three and four hundred dollars, the income of which is also applied to the support of education. This fund was derived from a division of the poor fund of the town of Boonville, when this town was taken from it.
The soil is a gravelly loam, with little or no clay. Good stone for building purposes is abundant.
Within the town is a small lake, or pond, of some sixty or seventy acres in extent. The water is very clear and pure, and in some places seventy feet in depthi, and still it has no visible inlet or outlet.
There is another small pond, of two or three acres. in the vicinity of Point Rock Brook.
The old French Road leading from Fort Stanwix to Car- thage, passed through this town, and some portions of which can still be traced. This was probably the route taken by M. De Lery, when he and his command surprised and took Fort Bull, as mentioned in the history of Rome, Chap. XIX
Besides those mentioned as first settlers, Messrs. Bates, Barnard, Fanning, Adams, Mitchell, Beck, and Tiffany were pioneers in the settlement of Ava.
Many Germans have located in the north part of this town, and they are a hardy, industrious, and frugal class of citizens.
Henry Capron was the first Supervisor, which office he again holds this year (1850 )
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CHAPTER VI.
BOONVILLE.
Iv the Introductory Chapter, it will be perecived that the territory embraced within the limits of this town, was in- cluded in 1788 in the town of Whitestown, in 1792 in Steu- ben, and in 1797 in Leyden, in which town it remained until 1805, when the town of Boonville was formed. Mr. Boon, the acting agent of the Holland Company, had proposed the name Kortenaer,-that of a distinguished individual of Holland,-but it seems that it was decided that the town should bear up the name of its patron. While this town and Leyden were united, Kortenaer (as Boonville was then called) took the lion's share, for nearly all the town meetings were held within its limits ; and during the eight years of their connection, Andrew Edmonds, at whose house their first town meeting was held, was twice elected Supervisor, and the brothers Phineas and Silas Southwell were elected several times to the same office.
The first settler of the territory now included in Boonville. was Andrew Edmunds, who removed there in the spring of 1795. He was agent for Mr. Boon, or, more properly, for the Holland Company, and a number of men were in his employ or under his direction. During this season they erected a saw mill, and made other preparations for the commencement of the settlement. A grist mill was also commenced, and the boards sawed, but in kiln-drying the
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boards, so that they could be worked, they unluckily took fire, and were all consumed. This so much delayed the grist mill, that it was not put in operation until the next spring.
In the spring of 1796, large accessions were made to the settlement ; among them we find the names of Luke Fisher and his son, Phineas Southwell, Silas Southwell, Martin Southwell, Asahel Porter, Ezekiel Porter, Aaron Willard, Jacob Springer, Jeptha King, Hezekiah Jones and son, a Mr. Stockwell, and three young men by the name of King, and doubtless a number of others whose names are not now re- collected. Of these, many were in the employment of the Holland Company, while others "took up" farms, and com- meneed clearing away the heavy forest. This spring the Company erected the store now occupied by the Messrs. Bamber, and with such rapidity, that it was occupied as a store as early as June. In the fall the Company erected a building for a tavern. In size and appearance, it nearly corresponded with the store. Of these several structures erected by the Holland Company, none now remain, except the store. The tavern was upon the lot upon which stands the stone building in which the Post Office is now kept. From the best information obtained, the first death in the town was that of a Mr. Truman. Of this there is, however, some uncertainty, as other informants think it was a Mr. Darrow who died first.
That pleasant relation first instituted in Eden, "when angels were witnesses, and God the priest," was early at- tended to. The first marriage was that of Mr. Henry Evans and Miss Elizabeth Edmunds, daughter of Capt. Andrew Edmunds, the first settler. If some died, others were born. The first birth in the town was that of a daughter of Jacob Springer.
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This town lies in an elevated position, the head waters of the Mohawk and Black Rivers, and Fish Creek, being found almost in the same neighborhood. Snow falls to a greater depth than in the southern part of the county. The larger portion of the town is better adapted to pasture than grain. In the south part of the town is a section which has received the distinctive local name of Egypt, possessing a warm gravelly soil, which is good for grain. In many parts, the surface is dotted with immense bowlders. Quarries of good limestone for building purposes, are abundant. Dairying is the most general and productive business carried on by the farmers, and is receiving to some extent the attention it de- serves. Lumber is abundant, and large quantities were prepared for market in anticipation of the opening of the Black River Canal in the spring of 1850, and which found its way to market in the following season of navigation. The forests of pine and spruce are so extensive upon and ucar the head-waters of the Black River, that many years inust clapse, even with the facilities of the canal, before they can be cleared.
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