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 11
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ROBERT WALTON, born September 29, 1861 ; died March
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. 25, 1891, in Denver, Col .; married July 25, 1888, Lucy Justice in Oxford. Child : Mildred. SARAH VAN WAG- ENEN ; married September 9, 1890, in Oxford, Frank For- ester Bruce of Cleveland, Ohio. Children : Alice and --. ALICE M., married June 23, 1896, in New York city, Dr. Luzerne Coville of Ithaca. Child : Perkins. AGNES F., unmarried.
H ORACE S. READ, son of Silas Read of Smithville Flats, was born in 1817. Mr. Read succeeded his father in the mercantile business, which he carried on for a few years, in the meantime he was postmaster four years. In 1851 was elected County Clerk, at the expira- tion of the term came to Oxford in 1854 and entered into the drug business with James H. Fox, which partnership was dissolved in 1863, Mr. Read retiring in 1868. He was a man of pleasing address and social disposition. Mr. Read married Flora Grant of Smithville Flats, now de- ceased. He died January 23, 1886, aged 69.
Their children were: VIRGIL C., married in Michigan ; F. LOUISE, married Edward Bradley.
P ETER B. GARNSEY, now spelled Guernsey, was born in New Lebanon, N. Y. He studied law in the office of Chancellor Walworth and was admitted as an attorney in 1798, and as a counsellor in 1800. His wife was Mary Speirs, whom he married at New Lebanon, on Christmas Day, 1797, by whom he had four children. Soon after his marriage he came to Oxford where he engaged in the practice of his profession until about 1800, when he re- moved to Norwich. He, with Nathaniel King, represented Chenango County in the State Assembly in 1800.
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Better the rudest work that tells a story or records a fact, than the richest without meaning .- RUSKIN.
Theodore Burr.
Theodore Burr who came in 1793, built the first bridge in this place in 1800, the mill now owned by Fletcher & Corbin, the dam which still stands, and the building now occupied by the Memorial Library at an early date. He patented and built the first arch bridge across the Susque- hanna, and at that time was the most distinguished archi- tect of bridges in the country. At that early day hardly a bridge crossed the Susquehanna from Binghamton to Bal- timore that he did not build, and even now at Harrisburg one stands with his name cut in one of the stones dated 1813. In April, 1818, he advertised in the Oxford Gazette, that he had "devoted eighteen years of his life to the theory and practice of bridge building exclusively, during which time he had built forty-five bridges of various mag- nitude, with arches from 60 to 367 feet span."
Mr. Burr lived in Oxford several years and then re- moved with his family to Northumberland, Pa., where he and his wife died. Their children were : HENRY, GEORGE, CHARLES, MARILLA, PHILA, who married Silas Marsh, a merchant in Oxford from 1816 to 1826; ASENATH, married Simon G. Throop; AMANDA, married January 18, 1816, Charles Catlin of Wilkesbarre Pa. All except Asenath, removed with their parents to Pennsylvania.
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Gloom is upon thy lonely hearth, Oh, silent house! once filled with mirth; Sorrow is in the breezy sound Of thy tall poplars whispering round .- HEMANS.
John Rathbone.
John Rathbone, brother of Gen. Ransom Rathbone, came from Oswego soon after the war of 1812, opened a store which he conducted some ten years, and then re- moved to a farm in Cortland county, not being successful in business here. He built on the site of the residence now occupied by S. H. Mead, a large and elegant mansion for those days which later became known as the "McKoon house," a portion of which still stands in the lane in rear of Mr. Mead's house. The house fronted the east instead of the street, and was of such prominence that it was made the subject of a wood cut, the original of which is given below :
D.ThrowpuSe
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The modern method of illustrating, fifty or sixty years later, gives, on another page, a finer view of the old "man- sion." It was after Mr. Rathbone's time occupied by Peter Sken. Smith, who laid out a great deal of money on it, and later by Judge McKoon, who had a little stone law office on the lot in which later a select school was conduc- ted. After Judge McKoon disposed of the house it shel- tered tenants by the score. Could the old "mansion" tell the tales and changes that have occurred since its erection the Annals of the town would indeed be deeply interes- ting. In 1872, Counsellor Horace Packer purchased the property, made two houses of the one and removed them to the rear of the lot.
I N A HISTORY of the town of Sangerfield, the follo ing of local interest appears :
" On the 30th day of March, 1801, an act was passed by the state legislature to open and improve a certain road from the dwelling house of Benj. Wilson, in the town of Oxford, Chenango county, in the nearest and most direct route that "circumstances would admit of," through the towns of Norwich, Sherburne, Hamilton, Sangerfield and Paris, to intersect the Genesee turnpike, near the house of Jedediah Sanger, in Whitestown. Three thousand shares were subscribed for at $20 each, making a capital of $60,000. Amos Muzzy of the Huddle, was one of the two directors in the town, and David Norton at the Centre the other-both tavern keepers. It was at first expected that the road when it reached Sangerfield, would run through the Centre on the east side of the swamp, because it was really the nearest, most direct and level route through it; but Mr. Montgomery, an active and energetic settler of much wealth and influence, lived and had a tavern on the road starting from the east part of the Huddle and running westerly two or three miles out of the way which was already made. This passed by the village stores, was handy to the taverns of Messrs. Muzzy and himself, and although leaving David Norton out in the cold, would be on the whole very fine for the stronger parties concerned in the new turnpike. Of course these circumstances and the superior influence and power behind, clearly admitting of no other route, the road was opened and gates erected on the longer, hillier and poorer one. It had been used only a year or two as a turnpike, when the entire line was thrown up and surrendered to the town as a failure. Nobody would travel on it and David Norton was pleased. It is still often referred to in conveyances describing land on its line, as the "Oxford and Chenango turnpike, formerly so called."
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How still the morning of the hallow'd day! Mute is the voice of rural labour, hush'd. - GRAHAME.
Free Will Baptist Church.
The Free Will Baptist church of Oxford, in the south east part of the town, was organized April 15, 1848, by Elder Cyrus Steere of McDonough. The first baptisms were on April 16, 1848, when the following persons mere baptized into membership: Henry Mead, Henry Hackett, Julia Hackett, Squire Rathbon, Sally Rathbon, Ethan R. Clarke, Darwin A. Collier, Giles Manwarring and Samuel Sannick ; these together with Deacon Joseph Ogden, Joshua B. Stone and wife, Asa W. Rhodes, who was the first church clerk, Samuel M. Kinney, Derrick Race and Harriet Race, Samuel Manwarring, James Lowe and Nancy Morehouse were the first members.
On May 20th, of the same year the First Free Will Bap- tist church of Guilford, offered themselves as a body to unite with the Oxford church and were received into mem- bership. The first settled pastor was the Rev. Noah D. Wilkins, who commenced his pastorate in 1849. The church services were held in the school house of District No. 4, (the Miller district), until 1855, when they were held in the school house of District No. 18, (the Carhart District).
On the fifth Sunday in June, 1855, the first church edi- fice was dedicated; the Rev. Daniel McKoon preaching the dedication sermon.
The first pastor after the church was erected was the Rev. Ethan R. Clarke.
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Many of the old New England customs were enforced in this church during its early history, such as a committee to visit those who were absent from church more than a limited number of Sundays in succession, also to see that each member did not deviate from the rules of the church.
Much of the inside wood work of the building was bass- wood, and from that fact the edifice was known as the "Basswood church." The church was totally destroyed by fire February 5, 1874. A singing school was held in the evening, which closed at nine o'clock, and it was supposed the fire which was discovered at midnight, originated from the stove. The organ, clock, chandelier and other fix- tures were removed. There was an insurance of $1,000 on the property. Within a week steps were taken to rebuild and the present building was erected during the following summer and dedicated on December 12, 1874, the sermon being preached by the Rev. Dr. G. H. Ball of Buffalo, af- terwards founder and president of Keuka College.
In December, 1879, Sarah Gibson, widow of Robert Gib- son, deeded to the trustees of the church the house, now used as a parsonage, and lot containing twelve and one- half acres of land, valued at $1,000.
In 1889, the church received a legacy of three hundred dollars from Mrs. Mary A. Moore. This church still keeps up its organization.
On October 19, 1904, the church was again threatened by fire. Dry bush and leaves had caught fire and spread- ing reached the church, but the timely discovery and help at hand subdued the flames after damages to the amount of $25, had been done to the edifice.
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A perfect Woman, nobly planned To warn, to comfort, and command.
-WORDSWORTH.
"Aunt Patty" Dailey.
" Aunt Patty " Dailey was born in the town of Brook- line, Vt., on the 17th of March, 1784, " St. Patrick's day at six o'clock in the morning," as she used to say. In January, 1809, she married John Church, who came from Great Barrington, Mass., and settled on the Andrew Mc- Neil farm, now owned and occupied by Mrs. Alice McCall. His first wife, whom he married in Massachusetts, was a Hollenbeck, by whom he had seven children; his second wife, mentioned above, was Patty Thayer, by whom he had two children, Erastus and William. Mr. Church died October 23, 1825, aged 63. He had been a prosperous farmer, and after his death "Aunt Patty " deeded the farm to her son William, which was unfortunate, as he was not successful, and finally lost the place. On Christ- mas Day, 1827, "Aunt Patty" married John Dailey.
In 1795, when Mrs. Dailey was eleven years of age, her father came with his family from Vermont and set- tled upon the present site of the village of Bainbridge; which, as she described it, was a " huckleberry plain with but one house upon it." Deer were plenty, and bears were numerous. " Wolves," she said, " would howl enough to make the hair rise on a body's head." She taught school there in 1802, and was the first teacher in Sidney. When she came to Oxford the old building was still standing,
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which was erected upon the site of the old fort, where the Baptist church now stands. At that time there was no church here and hardly enough dwellings to call it a village. Said " Aunt Patty " " Oxford was a very thickly wooded country. As you came in sight of the village from the east, the first house on the right side of the road and next above the house of Patrick Hogan, for many years the tavern stand of William Bush, was a log house occupied by Walter Simmons. On the farm of James Burke, Priest Camp, a Presbyterian minister, once lived. Where stood the David Bixby house (now removed) was a frame house owned and occupied by Levi Sherwood. Next to that, but on the opposite side of the road and much further down, was the house of Uri Tracy, a framed dwelling. The nearest house to that, on the same side of the street, was a dwelling built by St. George Tolbud Perry; but the building burned down and the Van Wagenen house stands on the site of the one burned (now occupied by Mrs. L. Bolles). Across the road, where Charles W. Brown now resides, was the house so familiar to all as the home of Dr. Perez Packer, but built by, and then occupied by, Nathaniel Locke. Next, on the west side of the road, was the old one-story dwelling, which was torn down to make room for Wm. H. Van Wagenen's house (the late residence of Dr. Geo. Douglas). This same old building, the first frame house in the village, was erected in the year 1794 and used as an academy. Between this building and the Henry R. Mygatt house once stood two dwellings: one was occupied by Harry Ludlow, and the other stood on the very spot where the late Mrs. Sarah Van Wagenen lived (now residence of Mrs. Susan E. Curtis). A house once occupied by Stephen O. Runyan, was moved by Stephen Greene, to whom it was sold, to Greene Street. Upon the ground from which
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the building was taken, John Tracy erected the house known so well, now owned and occupied by John R. Van Wagenen." «
During her life "Aunt Patty " witnessed wonderful changes wrought from the wilderness. From a score of poor tenements, with their inhabitants struggling against poverty, she had seen Oxford rise to a beautiful, thriving, wealthy village. The latter years of her life she passed in widowhood and lived with friends and relatives, where she was always welcome; residing winters with nieces in Pennsylvania, returning summers to her old home in Oxford. Wherever she went she was ever ready to lend a helping hand in spinning, knitting, or sewing. She never had a headache, to her freedom from which she attributed the rare preservation of her sight, hearing, and memory. She had a remarkable memory, and could tell the locality and general appearance of every house that was in Oxford when she came here in 1809. " Aunt Patty " was a frequent and ever welcome visitor at the bedside of the sick, and is kept in sweet remembrance by those who have been to the "dark brink " and returned, and has also a bright record with those who have "gone be- fore." She died at Hooper's Valley, N. Y., Nov. 19, 1882, in the 99th year of her age.
E NOS WRIGHT, a native of Connecticut, was among the first settlers of Oxford. He was energetic, per- severing, and industrious, enduring hardships incident to the pioneer of this country, he aided in no small degree in converting the rude forest into fertile fields of luxury and abundance. He led an honest and examplary life and his faith was strong in the Christian religion. He died April 14, 1847, aged 79.
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A heart to resolve, a head to contrive, and a hand to execute. - GIBBON.
Abijah Lobdell, Jr.
Abijah Lobdell, Jr., was born in Johnstown, N. Y., of an old Revolutionary family. After clerking in Albany he came to Oxford in 1808 and opened a general store. In 1810 he married Sally Burghardt, who died January 28, 1861, aged 69. The first Episcopal service in town was held in their house. Mr. Lobdell was one of the first vestrymen of St. Paul's church, and also a trustee of Oxford Academy. His brother John was his partner here, and in 1812 went on to Buffalo with goods, which were destroyed when that city was burned, barely escaping with his life. He and a companion were six weeks com- ing back through the almost unbroken forests, following a trail and marked trees. Later John Lobdell went to New York, read law, and finally located in Louisiana, while his brother removed with his family to Utica and conducted a flourishing drug business in the " Checkered Store " on Genesee Street, still an old landmark and now used for a tobacco warehouse. In 1835, his health failing him, the family returned to Oxford and purchased a farm a mile below the village, which is still owned by his young- est daughter and only grandchild. Children:
MARY ANN, died unmarried.
JANE ELIZA, married John F. Hopkins.
SARAH MARIA, married George W. Godfrey. Child : Augusta C.
JAMES HENRY, died unmarried.
HELEN M., only survivor of the family, still resides in Oxford.
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What! mothers from their children riven! What! God's own image bought and sold ! Americans to market driven, And bartered as the brute for gold ! -WHITTIER.
"Aunt Phillis" Williams.
" Aunt Phillis" Williams, who was born a slave on July 4, 1772, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and died at Union, N. Y., February 16, 1883, in her 111th year, led an event- ful life which dated back to the days of the Revolution. She was owned by Gerrit Storms of Poughkeepsie until she reached the age of 41, and had a husband and five children. The husband bought his own and eldest son's freedom, but both were lost at sea while endeavoring to earn money to buy "Aunt Phillis' " and the rest of the children's time. About this time she, with her infant daughter, Dinah, with other slaves, was taken from Pough- keepsie by her master, brought to Oxford, sold at auction, and bid in by Judge Uri Tracy. The infant Dinah went with the slave, served in bondage, and, when strong and robust, worked in the fields like a man, remaining with Judge Tracy until the State abolished slavery in 1827. She married a man named Cruzer at Union, and died November 4, 1901, aged 96. Phillis, in later years, lived with different families in town until she became blind, and then removed to Union to end her days with her daughter. She often related that General Washington stopped over night at the residence of her master, Gerritt Storms, in Poughkeepsie, and that the tories robbed her mas- ter's house of money and valuables, after which they took
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Storms out and hung him to a tree, leaving him to die. His mistress cut him down with a jackknife and saved his life. She also remembered of a man on horseback giving warning of the advance of the British soldiers, and of her going with her mistress to the bank of a creek and burying their silverware, with what little money they had.
T HE FOLLOWING shows that the subject of educa- tion was not wholly neglected in the early days of the town :
To the Commissioners to Superintend the schools in the Town of Oxford in the County of Tioga.
This certifies that in division of the moneys appropriated for the support of schools to the several Towns in the County payable to your Order as followeth (Viz.) the sum of thirty-five pounds one Shilling and Six pence as soon as the same may be receiv'd from the State Treasurer and the further sum of twenty Six pounds eight shillings and one penny by the first day of April next.
Dated at Union, 4th June, 1796.
Reuben Kirby, John Welch, Ephraim Fitch, Elijah Burk, Lodawick Light, Supervisors for Tioga County.
A LADY, who resided on Clinton Street for many years, employed a faithful colored maid addicted to use of words and expressions, the definition of which she did not understand. The first day of employment, after ar- ranging the dinner table, she called the mistress to inspect it, saying: "Mrs. G., please look over the table, I don't know whether it is non compos mentis or not." A few days later, wanting a small piece of linen cloth, she in- quired : " Mrs. G., please can I peruse your rag bag? "
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He has been bred i' the wars .- SHAKESPEARE.
Reuben Doty
The first of the name of Doty in America was Edward Doty, also recorded as "Doten." Edward was a pas- senger on " The Mayflower," and married, in 1634, Faith Clarke at Plymouth, Mass., where he died in 1655. " He left a comfortable estate and nine children, six sons and three daughters."
Warren Doty, a descendant of Edward, born April 23, 1768; died February 13, 1838. Sarah, his wife, born May 13, 1772; died July 30, 1862. Place of birth and death of either not known.
Reuben Doty, the eldest of the five children of Warren and Sarah Doty, was born November 5, 1792, and died April 26, 1878, in Oxford. He married Almira Wil- loughby, of Oxford, born January 8, 1798; died March 13, 1874, in Oxford. Mr. Doty was a cooper by trade, and, during the War of 1812, served his country, for which he was pensioned. Children :
CHARLES W., born June 11, 1819; died May 12, 1868; married Eunice Cooper.
WILLIAM R., born September 28, 1822; died September 4, 1871; married Alzada Bowers.
NANCY M., born November 1, 1823; died August 6, 1901; married (1) John Hubbard; married , (2) Henry S. Fraser.
WILLARD H., born October 20, 1825; died May 19, 1893, in Cooperstown, where he married.
SARAH ANN, born February 15, 1828; died in child- hood.
FRANCIS H., born June 2, 1831; died in childhood.
LOUISA M., born January 5, 1833; died in childhood.
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No story is the same to use after the lapse of time; or rather, we who read it are no longer the same interpreters. - GEORGE ELIOT.
Man in Homespun.
One day during the '20's a stranger drove to the tav- ern on the west side in this village. He had a load of hides, was dressed in coarse homespun and not very pre- possessing in appearance. As the landlord met him at the door he inquired :
" Have you accommodation for my team and dinner for me?"
" Well, it is past our dinner hour," replied the landlord, " and we have nothing warm. But put out your team and I'll step into the kitchen and see what we can do."
The stranger drove to the barn and mine host went in search of the cook, to whom he said:
"A stranger, poorly dressed, has just drove in and wants dinner. Don't stop to warm anything up, but just clear off a place on the table and let him eat here."
" It won't take no time to start the fire again," was the reply. "And, whether he is poor or rich, any man who has driven far to-day needs a warm meal. I'll get it in a very short time, and he can eat in the dining-room."
" No," said the landlord, "he probably hasn't much money and a cold meal will serve him as well as any. Don't bother about the dining-room, let him eat here."
The cook, though demurring, hastily arranged the meal as directed, and served to the stranger upon his return from the barn. It was wholesome and heartily partaken
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of without any word of comment. Upon completing his dinner the man in homespun went to the barroom door and called the landlord outside. Taking a large roll of bills of high denomination from his pocket, he said :
" I'll now pay my score. I always make it a practice when traveling to show my money as little as possible, especially in a barroom among strangers. Though you know me not, you probably have heard of me, I am Mr. Pratt of Sherburne, and, having business in Oxford, thought it was useless to send my man with the hides when I had to come the same way. I keep these clothes to wear when I leave home with a large sum of money, for I am not so apt to be noticed by unprincipled persons, your meal, though cold, has satisfied me."
The landlord, through embarrassment, exclaimed : " Why, Mr. Pratt, if you had only mentioned your name before -_ "
Mr. Pratt interrupted by saying: "Now, no apology is necessary. Clothes don't always determine the man. I have better ones, but preferred to wear homespun for the reason I have already stated. I shall remain here over night, and take out your pay from this bill."
The landlord replied : "Mr. Pratt, I am very glad to be your host, and hereafter I shall not enter hastily in judgment upon future strangers who enter my door. The best the house affords shall be yours during your sojourn with me, and upon any future visits you may choose to make our town. The lesson I have learned this day will never be forgotten."
Mr. Pratt was hospitally cared for during the remainder of his stay, and returned home the following morning with a better opinion of the landlord than he had on his arrival.
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And though the warrior's sun has set, It's light shall linger round us yet,- Bright, radiant, blest. -LONGFELLOW.
Hezekiah Brockett.
Hezekiah Brockett was born in 1757 in Connecticut. In 1776 he was enrolled in the Continental army, and was one of the few that followed the bold and adventurous " Mad Anthony " Wayne in 1779 up the heights of Stony Point on the Hudson. He was one of the honest, earnest, God-fearing, hard-working forefathers, with the axe in one hand and the rifle in the other, who made the long, lonely journeys toward the setting sun, with the comforts and many of the necessities of civilization left far behind. The old veteran died April 11, 1851, in Oxford, at the age of 94, and was buried with military honors. The stars and stripes, which in life he loved so well, shrouded his coffin; the booming cannon echoed from hill to hill as his bier passed along; military with glittering mus- kets and muffled drums formed a guard of honor to the cemetery. Volleys of musketry were fired over his grave, and the old veteran was left to sleep peacefully, waiting the last great roll call.
V ILLAGE ILLUMINATED .- On the 1st of March, 1815, the village was illuminated in the evening on the return of peace with England. William M. Price de- livered an oration on the occasion in the Academy.
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When we laughed round the corn-heap with hearts all in tune, Our chair a broad pumpkin-our lantern the moon.
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