USA > New York > Chenango County > Oxford > Annals of Oxford, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and early pioneers > Part 10
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Ebenezer Hull, son of John and Martha (Pardee) Hull and his wife Bedee Jacobs, were married January 2, 1803, at North Haven, Conn. They came to Oxford in 1804 and settled on the East Hill on the farm now occupied and owned by their son, James H. Hull. Coming to this town at an early day they were among the pioneers of Chenango county. On July 24, 1849, Mr. Hull, while engaged in the field accidentally fell from a load of hay, receiving in-
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juries from which he died almost instantly. His age was 73. For thirty-five years he was a communicant of St. Paul's church. Mrs. Hull died February 24, 1844, aged 64. Children : LEVI, 1st, born April 23, 1804, in Con- necticut ; died in infancy ; ALANSON, born May 21, 1806, in Oxford; died February 3, 1905, in Oxford; married (1) May 26, 1828, Wealthy Warner of Jackson, Washington county, N. Y., who died December 28, 1863; married (2) September 15, 1868, Betsey (Hale) Tully of Norwich, who died March 1, 1875. Alanson Hull was Justice of the Peace for several years, and lived seventy-five years upon the farm he purchased in 1830. He was at one time post- master, with the office at his home, which was called Ox- fordville. At his death he was the oldest communicant of St. Paul's church and the oldest person in town. Children by first wife: Edwin A., (1) married Martha Merrill; married (2) Mary Ann Hatch; resides at Hinsdale, Catta- raugus county, N. Y .; Joseph J., married Sarah M. Mead; Sarah E., married (1) Israel Jacobs ; married (2) A. J. Ackley ; resides on the homestead; Martha W., mar- ried John W. Manning of Coventry. EBENEZER, born June 4, 1809, in Oxford; died July 24, 1887, in Oxford; un- married ; LEVI, 2d, born April 13, 1811, in Oxford; died young; ELIJAH, born February 14, 1814, died unmarried ; JAMES HENRY, born November -, 1825; married Jane E. Kinney, who died December 8, 1898, aged 72.
Elijah Hull, son of John and Martha (Pardee) Hull, married Nancy Blakeslee. Their children were : William, Willis, Philemon, and Mary, who died young.
Willis Hull, son of Elijah and Nancy (Blakeslee) Hull, died February 10, 1895, in North Haven, Ct., aged 76; married Emily Bradley, who died January 14, 1899, in Oxford, aged 83. For many years they resided in Oxford on the farm now owned and occupied by James Burke, on
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the road to the O. & W. station. Children : LAVINA B., married James O. Dodge of Oxford ; MARGARET A., mar- ried J. Boardman Smith, of New Haven, Ct. ; died Septem- ber 20, 1862. Child: Arthur H. Smith, resides in New York city.
I N 1832 the McDonough Mineral Springs were exten- sively advertised and well patronized. Gideon Miner had charge of the hotel at one time and later he conduct- ed for Oxford Academy the gentlemen's boarding hall, now Morton flats. There were a happy lot of boys in the hall at that time, and they kept the genial boarding house manager busy guessing what was going to happen next.
G. D. Phillips ran a line of stages from Oxford to the Springs every Friday afternoon, and carried many jolly loads of health and pleasure seekers during the season.
A LAMANZER WATSON one of the early harness mak- ers had a sign on his shop on Fort Hill which read : "Cash Paid for Dekin Skins." One day C. F. T. Locke hailed Mr. Watson with "Say, Alamanzer, what are you paying for dekin skins?" "Twenty-five cents," was the answer. "Good," said Locke, "I'll go and skin every deacon in my church and send you the hides." The dea- cons of Mr. Locke's church would have been something of a curiosity, even unskinned.
It must have been an open winter in 1851, for on De- cember 15th it is recorded that a boat loaded with mer- chandise arrived on the canal from the north.
WELCOME -FIREMEN
PARK HOTEL-Decorated for the County Firemen's Tournament in 1898. Hotel re- modeled from the old Perkins Tavern, now a double residence.
THE HOTCHKISS HOUSE
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For he by geometric scale, Could take the size of pots of ale .- BUTLER.
Old Tavern Days.
The earlier taverns were not the comfortable institu- tions of today for there were but few travelers. The rooms were low studded, with great beams overhead, the floors hard oak boards white, smooth and well "sanded." The important feature of the inn was the barroom, with the quart pots, pint pots, gill pots, glass bottles, tank- ards and its cavernous fireplace, on which huge logs crack- led in winter time as the smoke ascended the mammoth chimney. Around the room were big, comfortable chairs, red settees, and a huge bunk wherein the hostler slept at night and on which the village loafer generally roosted during the day, and by the fireplace hung the "flip iron" a necessary adjunct in the days when flip was a popular tipple. Near the bar was a standing desk, with a lid, on which stood an ink horn, quill pens and sandbox. In the desk was kept the account book which recorded the debt of delinquent tipplers and accounts of the tavern. The following gives an idea of the cost to a guest at the "Oxford Village Stage House" "for a day's keep," being a copy of a bill rendered in 1821 :
Mr. Jackson
Bill
Breakfast
$ 0.31
Dinner
0.25
Supper
0.25
Brandy Wine & Segars
0.19
Lodging
0.13
Horse keeping and Oats
0.50
Handbills were tacked to the walls, advertising stole
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horses, runaway apprentices and stage lines ; the gorgeous show bill was then unknown. Here is a copy of one of the old Stage House bills :
Oxford Village
Stage
house.
ETHAN CLARK,
B EGS leave most respectively to inform his friends and the public, that he has taken the TAVERN STAND on the west side of the Chenango river in the village of Oxford, and has made upon the house a general and com- plete repair. He is now ready to furnish travellers and gentlemen who wish to spend a few days in the village, or boarders, with every accommodation that the situa- tion of the country will afford. His bar shall be supplied with the best of liquors, his table furnished with the choicest viands, and his charges as reasonable as at any other public house in the county. He assures all those who may be pleased to call upon him, that his indefati- gable personal exertions, together with the most assidu- ous attention of his family, shall not be wanting to rend- er his house pleasant and comfortable.
His Stables and sheds have also been repaired so as to furnish extensive accommodations to horses.
*A STAGE arrives at his house twice a week from Newburgh and Geneva, via Chenango Point- once a week from Catskill-and twice a week from Albany and Utica.
Oxford, 6th November, 1821.
The landlord enjoyed the right to sell liquors and in those early days all classes indulged in the practice of drinking; in moderation to be sure, but as often as occa- sion demanded. The landlord was an important person- age, his name was conspicuous over the door, or on the sign, and he usually looked after the comfort of his guests without putting himself to any great trouble. He had a penchant for public office and himself sang bass in the choir on Sunday. His rotund figure was conspicuous on election
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days, well dressed though always appearing in his shirt sleeves. He was the village oracle and able to discuss pol- tics, theology and science, to at least his own satisfaction.
The landlady was usually the one who toiled early and late. The polished and well sanded floor, immaculate window panes, clean blue china, and savory dishes, at- tested her care. She and her daughter officiated in the dining room, and were famous for their wonderful dump- lings with potato crusts. Chickens were plenty, likewise fresh vegetables from the tavern garden. Then there was the appetizing baked beans, warm brown bread, succotash, rye cakes, and pandowdy. Ale, usually home brewed, cider and black tea were poured from pewter flagons. The water, clear and cold, was drawn from a well by a " sweep." At supper, among the prime favorites, were hot ginger bread, Johnny-cake, delicious waffles and mush and milk. People in those primitive times were not particular and were willing to sleep under any arrangement, so long as they got shelter. It was usual to have two or three beds in a room, and it was a common occurrence for the land- lord to enter, candle in hand, the room of a guest, and es- cort a stranger to his side to calmly share the bed till morning, sometimes three sharing one bed, and a man was regarded as very unreasonable who objected to a stranger for a bedfellow. If the night was cold, a warming pan would be passed over the sheets and the guest was left to the consolation of a feather bed and patch work quilts, and considered himself fortunate if he was not compelled to share his quarters with one or more guests. If the tav- ern was crowded then one had to sleep before the open fire, rolled up in a bear skin robe, while the great logs in the black fireplace became white ashes.
Many of the old taverns had an assembly hall on the upper floor, and here fair maidens and ruddy-faced youths
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enjoyed the contra dances to the music of a violin. Balls commenced at four o'clock and often lasted until next morning.
The original portion of what is now the Hotchkiss House was built previous to 1796 and for many years known as Wells' Tavern. The house was of typical New England architecture, two stories in front, sloping toward the rear until a man could touch the eaves, and was painted red. Behind the tavern was a large shed with roof and open sides for the protection from rain of snow or loaded wagons.
One November afternoon there gathered at the tavern several of the townspeople for the pot of extra-brew and the long clay pipes, called church-wardens. Among those present were: Anson Cary, in broadcloth and expansive shirt front; Eleazer Smith, tall and lank; John Fitch, wearing a tile hat and stiff black stock ; Josiah Hackett, in continental suit; John Holmes and Jared Hinckley in homespun ; all patriots of the Revolution. It was at these gatherings that fell many of the epigrams which were re- called years after. On this particular day the subject of conversation finally drifted to the Continental army and its officers. John Fitch spoke up and said :
" Wells, pint of ale, please, and a churchwarden." Then shifting his chair, continued: " Speaking of Bene- dict Arnold, although rendered infamous by his attempt to betray his country -- "
" Rabbit ye, an' be darn'd !" broke in Josiah Hackett, " hold your gab there, old Arnold wasa traitor and brought up all standing."
" Yes, yes," replied Fitch, but I want to say some things about him that I know. I was at the second battle at Freeman's Farm, where the British were totally defeated by Arnold, who had charged with mad fury upon their
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line. During the battle a wounded Hessian soldier, lying on the ground, fired at Arnold and slew his horse, while the ball passed through the general's left leg that had al- ready been wounded, and fractured the bone above the knee. As Arnold fell, one of our men attempted to bay- onet the wounded soldier who had shot him, when the gen- eral cried out, "For God's sake, don't hurt him; he's a fine fellow !" The Hessian was spared, and I have always said that was the time Benedict Arnold should have died."
"Oh, the old sneezer !" again put in Hackett. "I've heard when he was dressed up the bottom of his waist was pinched up to the size of a quart cup; that he wore eleven capes to his coat, and over the place where his brains should have been a jockey cap of catskin, and carried a mock gold watch with two seals, each as big as a premium turnip."
"He wasn't quite such a fopas that," said John Holmes, knocking the ashes from his pipe, "but I have heard that before his death in England he was shunned and depised by even the English."
After a general filling and lighting of pipes and a round of ale, Jared Hinckley got into a reminiscent mood and related one of his experiences :
"If ever I struck hell upon earth it was at the battle of Oriskany, fought in a dark ravine filled with a mass of fifteen hundred human beings, made up with St. Leger and his Indians and loyalists, and General Herkimer with 800 hundred pioneers; all screaming and cursing, slip- ping in the mire, pushing and struggling, seizing each oth- er's throats, stabbing and shooting, and dashing out brains. It was a sight that will never leave my eyes. General Herkimer had unconsciously marched into an ambuscade, but his men soon recovered and fought with the courage
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and skill of veterans. The slaughter, however, was dread ful. At the beginning of the battle a musket ball passe through and killed the horse of General Herkimer an shattered his own leg just below the knee. With perfect composure and cool courage, he ordered the saddle to b taken from his slaughtered horse and placed against th trunk of an immense tree, where he was carried and pror ped up. After lighting his Dutch pipe he continued in loud voice shouting orders to his men who were falling lik autumn leaves. But the old hero had fought his last bat tle, for his shattered leg was not skillfully treated and h died ten days later, propped up in bed, smoking his pip and reading his Bible at the thirty-eighth Psalm."
"It was after this battle that the first American fla with stars and stripes was raised," remarked Anson Cary
"Yes, indeed," replied Hinckley, "though a crude àï fair it was."
"How so?" asked Eleazer Smith, who, though a goo listener, seldom spoke.
" Well, I'll tell you. Not a great while before thi battle Congress had adopted the stars and stripes as th National symbol of American liberty. Colonel Willett r turned to Fort Stanwix and raised five captured British standards, while over them he raised a hastily made fla to represent the American banner. It was made out of aj officer's white shirt, an old blue overcoat, and som strips of red cloth from the petticoat of a soldier's wife And that was the first American flag with stars and stripe hoisted."
" Well," exclaimed Josiah Hackett, "the English rig ermadoons scampered along through mud and mire to get out o' sight of it; but it still waves over our land, and wil till time is no more."
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" Well said, Josiah" spoke up John Holmes. "We'll take a final sip and go home, the hour is getting late."
The old soldiers, who had enjoyed fighting their battles over, retired, Josiah bringing up the rear, and as he closed the door marched off singing:
" Yankee doodle, ramrods, guns, Pikes and pistols handy- We're the true descendant sons Of Yankee doodle dandy,"
S TEPHEN O. RUNYAN was practicing law in Ox- ford previous to 1799, and continued till his death, which occurred April 23, 1820, at the age of 48. He came from New York and his office stood on Washington Park, at the head of which he resided. It was destroyed by fire in July, 1823. He was distinguished for his charity and benevolence, and his whole life was characterized by a devotion to acts of public munificence. He was popular with the people, and his mind was richly stored with anecdotes, which he was fond of relating. His wife died June 5, 1860, at Cortland, N. Y.
A DISTILLERY was located for many years opposite the residence of Alpha Morse. One dollar in those days would fill a three-gallon keg straight from the worm. Immense quantities of corn were converted into whisky and numerous porkers were fatted on the malt, being kept thereby in a blissful state of booziness from the day they reached the distillery yard until they were dumped into the scalding kettle. Many a boy was sent to the distillery for whisky to be used in refreshing the minister on his yearly calls.
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A merchant of great traffic through the world .- SHAKESPEARE.
Captain Samuel Farnham.
Captain Samuel Farnham, born in New London, Conn., December 16, 1775, came to Oxford in 1799 and opened a drug and general merchandise store in a story and a half frame building which stood on the site of William M. Miller's store. He is the first merchant of whom we have any record, though it is probable that General Benjamin Hovey opened a store soon after coming here. Captain Farnham continued the business until his death, which oc- curred April 20, 1822, at the age of 47. He was associat- ed for two years, from 1807, with Epaphras Miller.
Captain Farnham received his military title from his connection with the first artillery company in town, or- ganized and commanded by him, receiving his commission from Governor Morgan Lewis, who was elected to the gov- ernship in 1804.
In 1800 Captain Farnham was united in marriage to Sally, daughter of Henry Balcom, and sister of Francis and Samuel Balcom. Soon after their marriage they went to housekeeping on Clinton street, in a house long after- wards the home of Horace S. Read, which stood on the site of the residence of E. A. Pearsall, where they died.
Mrs. Farnham reared to manhood a family of six sons, and died February 16, 1859, in the 79th year of her age. Two sons, within the same year preceded her to the grave. Four children, Epaphras M., Julia A., Charles E., and Sarah D., died in infancy.
FARNHAM HOUSE, CLINTON STREET (Present . - Residence of J. L. Rumsey, Columbia Street)
THE OLD FEEDER DAM
15
-
OLD McKOON RESIDENCE AND LAW OFFICE (Site of Residences of Harvey Morton and S. H. Mead)
STAGE HOUSE IN THE SIXTIES (Now Hotchkiss House)
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George Farnham succeeded his father in the mercantile business, and after trading a few years sold his interest to his brother John. In 1841 he removed to New York and became interested in the Chenango Lake Boat Line which transported merchandise to and from New York. He died suddenly in that city on the 3d of February, 1859, in the 59th year of his age. Married Susan, eldest child of Thomas Gibson. Child: Susan Elizabeth Gibson, born in 1826, married Ransom Balcom.
Dr. John P. Farnham after purchasing the mercantile business of his brother George, carried it on some five years when he disposed of it to Dr. Cleveland in 1829, and established a hardware store on the lot now occupied by the residence of Francis G. Clarke. In 1833 he moved to Carbondale, Penn., and for many years practiced his pro- fession, but afterwards embarked in the mercantile and lumber business. He died at Carbondale in February, 1871, and had long been a prominent citizen of that place.
Alexander Farnham died at Honesdale, Penn., April 19, 1858, aged 50.
Frederick W. Farnham made his residence at White Mills, Penn.
Samuel H. Farnham was a life long resident of Oxford and for many years conducted a jeweler's business, which he carried on for a few years, and having purchased a por- tion of the Fort Hill block, he entered into the grocery and fancy goods line, at the same time carrying on his trade of silversmith. In February, 1855, Mr. Farnham was ap- pointed Canal collector in this town, and in September, 1861, with other members of the Oxford Band left for the seat of war to form part of the Regimental Band of the Anderson Zouaves, but remained but a few months on ac- count of ill health. He was the possessor of an extensive
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and interesting cabinet of curiosities, many of which were ancient and valuable, and was also fond of pets, usually having a variety on exhibition at his store. He died July 21, 1887, in the 75th year of his age.
His fame was great in all the land .- LONGFELLOW.
Joseph Walker.
Joseph Walker was born in the year 1796 at Pittsfield, Mass., and in 1817 married Mary Hamilton of Bingham- ton, coming to Oxford the same year. He engaged in the tannery business with William Mygatt, later entering the boot and shoe business on Navy Island, which he con- ducted for years. He also owned and worked a farm about half a mile above the village, which he sold to his brother- in-law, Milo Porter. Mr. Walker devoted much time to the study of astronomy and sent to London, England, for two mammoth globes to persue his studies, and later presented them to Oxford Academy. He was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was one of the founders of Oxford Lodge, No. 175, Free & Accepted Masons. He was one of the few who saw Oxford grow from a small hamlet into a beautiful village. Mr. Walker died April 1, 1870. His wife, who was born in 1799, died in 1874 at Clayton, Mich. Their only child, Mary, married May 15, 1855, Jacob Rheinwald of Oxford, who with Mr. Walker at one time conducted a brewery in the rear of Mr. Walker's residence, which stood on the site of the Dr. Douglas' residence on Washington Park. In 1876, they moved to Bouckville, Madison county, where they have since resided.
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Who'er has travell'd life's dull round, Where'er his stages may have been, May sigh to think he still has found The warmest welcome at an inn. - SHENSTONE.
Erastus Perkins.
Erastus Perkins, born January 18, 1778, was the eldest child of Captain Erastus and Anna (Glover) Perkins of Norwich, Conn., where he spent his early life. In 1799 he came to Oxford, then a two weeks' journey, in company with his wife, Abigail Stephens, whose father, Alvin Steph- ens, subsequently lived on the farm now owned and occu- pied by Nathan Pendleton. Mr. Perkins remained in Ox- ford one season and then went to Deposit, N. Y., where he built the first frame house in that town. His business there was lumbering and rafting, but the population was too rough to suit him and he returned to Oxford in 1801, where his life was chiefly spent in mercantile pursuits. Soon after his return he built the Park Hotel on the east side of the river, which he kept till 1822. It was afterwards kept by his brother, Captain James Perkins to 1837, and then by his son, Alvin S., as late as 1850. The hotel during the following years underwent several changes until about 1900, when it was newly remodled and enlarged. On the night of October 28, 1903, it was so badly damaged by fire that it ceased to be a hotel.
The earliest town meeting noted in the "Book of the Town Clerk " for 1814, was held at the house of Erastus Perkins. In 1815, '16 and '18, he was one of the seven pound keep- ers and fence viewers, "their yards to be the pounds." In 1821, '22 and '23 he was one of three commissioners of common schools. In 1822 he built a house and it was
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"voted that the next Town Meeting be held at the new Dwelling House of Erastus Perkins." In 1831 he was again commissioner of schools. In 1814 he subscribed $10 to Rev. William Lacey's salary as rector. In 1815 he sub- scribed $50 to the first building of St. Paul's church in the center of Fort Hill Square, and August 16, of that year, he with John Tracy were appointed building committee of said building. February 28, 1850, he was elected senior warden in place of Austin Hyde, deceased. He had charge of the Van Wagenen burial ground almost to the time of his death. A man of fine character, interested in church and school, liberal in proportion to his means, and in poli- tics a Whig. Mr. Perkins died May 30, 1852. His first wife, Abigail Stephens, died January 31, 1815, aged 34. His second wife was the Widow Ursula Allen of Connec- ticut, who died January 2, 1821, aged 42. She had two children by her first husband, the Hon. John W. Allen, and the wife of Judge Andrews of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Perkins third wife was Agnes Van Wagenen, daughter of Gerrit H. and Sarah (Brinckerhoff) Van Wagenen of Ox- ford, who died February 13, 1868, aged 80. Children by first wife: ERASTUS S., died March 12, 1882, in Houston, Tex., aged 70; married Eunice Butler, who died June 7, 1861, in Houston ; ALVIN S., died October 7, 1872, in Hous- ton, aged 64 ; married Frances, daughter of Jabez Robin- son of South Oxford, and moved to Houston in 1857, where she died of yellow fever October 19, 1859; LEONARD S., married Harriet Bennett, and died in Houston October 22, 1859; GURDON, died April 15, 1873 in Oxford, aged 61; married Frances A. Squires; ANN MARIA, married Col- onel Joseph Juliand of Greene; died June 1, 1860, in Greene, aged 56; JANE E., married Dr. Austin Rouse of Oxford.
Children by third wife: SARAH A., born August 31,
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1824, in Oxford ; married May 19, 1852, James W. Glover of Oxford ; FRANCES B., born October 19, 1827, in Oxford ; married November 30, 1849, Andrew J. Hull of Oxford; GERRIT HENRY, born June 24, 1826, at Oxford; married June 26, 1856, Frances Willcox of Honesdale, Pa.
Gerrit Henry Perkins, died March 26, 1900, in New York city. On May 8, 1854, soon after his father's death, Mr. Perkins became a vestryman of St. Paul's church, Ox- ford, and at a subsequent meeting was elected clerk, which position he held till June, 1890. He received his educa- tion at Oxford Academy, after which he read law in the office of Henry R. Mygatt and was admitted to the bar, practicing but a few years. About 1852 he went into partnership with Henry L. Miller in a general mercantile business in the store now occupied by William M. Miller. After a period of nearly two years they removed to the Fort Hill building, then vacated by the firm of Chapman & Thorp. A number of years later they removed to the store first occupied by them on LaFayette square. The firm was changed to Miller, Perkins & Co. upon admis- sion of William M. Miller, and so continued till 1890. Upon the organization of the Chenango Mutual Life In- surance company in 1881, he was elected president and took out the first policy of the company, holding the office till the time he left Oxford. Mr. Perkins was a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 175, F. & A. M., and for many years trustee of the same. Also one of the board of direc- tors of the First National Bank of Oxford ; trustee of Ox- ford Academy for a long term of years, and trustee of vil- lage and president of the board. He moved from Oxford in 1890 and entered into the brokerage and insurance busi- ness in New York city, where he remained till the time of his death. Children, all born in Oxford :
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