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 18
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Children : .
WILLIAM M.
JOHN E.
HENRY N., born May 17, 1845; died suddenly February 10, 1864.
BENJAMIN S., born June 1, 1851; married November 23, 1881, Josephine A., daughter of John B. Bowen of Bing- hamton.
William M. Miller, son of Henry L. and Elizabeth ( My-
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gatt) Miller, born September 28, 1840, in Oxford; mar- ried July 17, 1879, Emma E., daughter of B. M. Pearne of Oxford.
For nearly forty-five years Mr. Miller has been in the general merchandise trade in Oxford, reckoning the period of his clerkship. His father and his grandfather carried on the same business years before him; the original store of Epaphras Miller, who founded the business in 1800, stood where the grandson now does business. In the spring of 1868 Mr. Miller became a partner with his father, Henry L. Miller, and Gerrit H. Perkins, and the firm was known as Miller, Perkins & Co. At one time the patrons of this firm were scattered over an extent of country within the radius of a day's drive. Frequently large bills of goods were carted from this store over into Delaware county.
The death of the senior partner, in 1886, led to no im- mediate change, the business being conducted under the same firm name until the retirement of Mr. Perkins in 1890, since which time Mr. Miller has conducted the busi- ness alone. Mr. Miller is a director in the First National Bank of Oxford, the owner of the Citizens Opera House, and a large property in village and farm real estate. Mr. Miller has been one of the active members of the fire department, first connected with the old Lady Washington Company, and afterwards with the Sappho Hose Company.
Children :
HENRY P., born September 27, 1880; graduated at Rut- gers; died May 17, 1904, in Minneapolis, Minn.
ELIZABETH M.
BENJAMIN M.
John E. Miller, son of Henry L. and Elizabeth (Mygatt) Miller, born August 26, 1842; graduated with the vale-
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dictory at Oxford Academy, and with honors at Yale, where he obtained the degree of A. B., and later A. M. Upon leaving school he spent two years as clerk in his father's store and three years in banking, being the first teller of the First National Bank of Oxford, where he was employed for about two years, and subsequently oc- cupying the same position for more than a year in the State National Bank of Minneapolis. While there he declined a flattering proposal to accept the cashiership and a place in the directory of a bank which was being organized in Des Moines, Iowa. His desire was to pursue an active out-door business, this being the special reason why, after registering at Albany as student in law, he decided not to follow the profession. In June, 1872, Mr. Miller entered into copartnership with William C. Beards- ley in quarrying and shipping blue stone at South Oxford, which partnership continued only a year and a half, Mr. Beardsley retiring from the firm. Mr. Miller conducted . the business alone up to the fall of 1880. In January, 1881, New York parties took a half interest in the business, and the firm conprised W. H. Hurst, James J. Treanor, Frank P. Treanor, superintendent, and John E. Miller, under the name of John E. Miller & Co. This firm made large contracts and furnished quantities of stone in New York City and vicinity. Following the expiration of this contract Mr. Miller disposed of the stone interest, re- serving a valuable quarry in Greene, also one in McDon- ough. Since then he has been greatly interested in fine horses and in the pursuits of an agricultural nature. He has been a village father for a term of five years.
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The beginnings of all things are small CICERO,
George C. Rector.
George C. Rector came to Oxford about the year 1845 from Esperance, N. Y., where he was born March 26, 1831. After a few years engaged in clerking, he became the junior member of the firm of Miller, Perkins & Rector, which did a large mercantile business on Fort Hill during the days when the Chenango canal was in its prosperity. Later Mr. Rector engaged in the hardware business which he conducted for a number of years previous to his re- moval to the West. He is now a resident of Hastings, Neb. He married (1) April 20, 1856, Sarah Roome, born May 1, 1836, in New York City, died May 5, 1874, at Blue Earth City, Minn .; married (2) July 20, 1875, Angelina Roome, born March 7, 1840, in New York City, died March 25, 1902, in Hasting, Neb. Children by first wife :
HENRY C., born in Oxford; died June 14, 1899, in Mos- cow, Russia, aged 44 years. In 1877 he went to Europe in the employment of the International Bell Telephone Co., and worked in Germany, Switzerland, France, and Russia.
HATTIE, born February 26, 1859; died March -, 1862. LIZZIE, born November 11, 1862, in Oxford.
GEORGE HERBERT, born March 10, 1864, in Oxford. JENNIE, born April 10, 1866, in Oxford.
ORLANDO A., born November 10, 1872, in Minnesota.
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The flood may pour from morn till night Nor wash the pretty Indian white .- HAFIZ.
Indian Stories.
After their land was sold the dusky natives, mostly Oneidas, still held possession of their hunting grounds and sought game and fish in forest and stream. They lived peacefully among the whites. The early history of the Chenango Valley furnished a variety of Indian stories, some of a romantic and others of a tragic character. One is as follows :
One summer's evening General Hovey, with a party of surveyors, among whom was Captain Derrick Race, had finished their day's work of laying out village lots, and were approaching their cabin, when an unknown Indian warrior of powerful. build appeared and inquired if a strange Indian had passed that way. Colonel Race replied :
" Yes, about an hour ago, and you will find him a mile north, where he has camped for the night."
The warrior resumed his journey, quickly and silently passing from sight in the direction designated. Reaching the one whom he sought, and who, seeing escape was im- possible, rose from a sitting posture, placed his hands at his side and exclaimed : "Ugh ! me dead Ingun !" The other without a word raised his tomahawk and buried it three times in his skull, wiped it on his sleeve and re- turned to the cabin of the surveyors. In the morning he disappeared as silently as he came, having fulfilled his mission to avenge the murder of his sister, which had
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occurred in a southern State. He had been on the track of his victim for several weeks to accomplish this purpose.
Upon another occasion five hundred Indians, dressed and painted in holiday attire, passed down the river in bark canoes. They were on their way to attend a grand council of the several nations at Tioga Point, now Owego. Their unexpected advent caused great alarm before the object of their visit was made known.
A few Indians still lingered for many years about the town, who were accustomed to camp along the streams, hunt, fish, make baskets, and brooms. They were gener- ally quiet and peaceable, but the whites would sometimes abuse them. Occasionally an Indian would tell over his cups of the traditional glory of his ancestors, when the old fort was theirs. They were principally Oneidas, among them was Antone, better known as "Old Abe," who, notwithstanding his subsequent perfidy, often sided with the whites in cases of disagreement.
Daniel P. Fitch, of whom mention is made elsewhere, related the following to the writer in regard to Antone.
In the years 1809-10 I lived with my uncle, Daniel Perry, or Price as the Dutch would have it, in South Ox- ford, on the east side of the river. He had a good farm, well improved for that day, good buildings, with an orchard of apple trees in full bearing, far in advance of the early settlers in that section. Abe Antone was in the habit of going there from Madison county, to spend the hunting season, which began about the first of October and held until New Year's Day. I well remember when they came in 1809. The squaws and children were in a two-horse wagon, while the chief and his braves walked, carrying their muskets and wearing belts in which were their hatchets and hunting knives. My uncle and aunt welcomed them cordially; the squaws and children were
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given the spacious kitchen to use until their cabins were repaired, which stood on the banks of a creek that ran through the farm in a dense growth of small hemlocks and pines. The third day after their arrival the hunt began, which was conducted by the chief himself. Early in the morning Antone, with their best marksmen, took their stand on what was called runways, while the others cir- cled around in the woods, driving the game to the marks- men, who shot it. At the close of the day's hunt the chief would call at the farm house and tell what luck they had. At one time he said : " Me shoot four deer to-day "; at an- other time, " Me shoot seven buck to-day." My uncle told him that was a good day's work. He then got apples and cider, of which Antone was very fond, and in return re- ceived venison and other presents. Game was very plenty, deer, bear, wolves, all the various fur animals, such as foxes, otter, mink, and muskrat.
At this time Antone's family consisted of ten children, eight sons and two daughters. The sons were able to join in the chase with their father. The girls being the youngest, about seven or eight years of age, were my play- mates during the two hunting seasons they passed in South Oxford. When they were dressed in their neat Indian blankets, with wampum belts around their waists, bead work on their wrists, and their coal black hair combed neatly over their necks and shoulders, they were really pretty. And their bright, shining eyes, musical laugh and winning ways added much to their charms in my youthful eyes. Game becoming scarce and the country settling up so rapidly, Antone went to Delaware county, then a wilderness, to pursue his hunting. This was the last I ever saw of him or his family, but I became aware of some of the tragic events that happened to them in later years.
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In time the young Indian girls grew to womanhood, were admired by the young braves of their tribe, and also by the young men among the pale faces. Mary, one of the girls, received the addresses of an Oneida brave, to whom she was tenderly attached and expected to marry, but was doomed to disappointment, for he proved false. He married another dusky maiden of the forest, and Mary mourned over her disappointment until she could bear it no longer. She grew moody and revengeful, and one night arming herself with her father's hunting knife went to their wigwam and, finding them asleep, plunged the knife into the breast of her rival. She fled, but was soon arrested for the crime and placed in jail by the authorities of Madison county. To this Antone objected, telling the white men that it was none of their business, and that they could settle it their own way, but the authorities paid no attention to the old chief's wishes. Mary was brought to trial, proved guilty and sentenced to be hung. Antone made strong efforts to save his daughter and told the court that he did not want his child hung like a dog, but if they would shoot her so that she could die an honor- able death he would be satisfied, otherwise he would have revenge. She was executed at Peterboro, and I was shown the field years after where the scaffold was erected upon which my youthful playmate met her death.
Antone's grief and sorrow over the death of his child was intense and he laid plans to carry out his threat of revenge. He left his family and disappeared, but suddenly appeared in a field one day where men were hoeing corn. John Jacobs, an Indian, was one of the party and had been the principal witness against Mary and active in her arrest. Antone approached, shook hands with each one until he came to Jacobs, and while apparently grasping his hand in friendship, drew a long knife from his sleeve, at the same
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time saying, " How d'ye do, brother? " quickly drove it three times into the body of his victim, who fell at the first blow. Antone gave a terrific whoop and disappeared be- fore the terrified witnesses recovered their presence of mind. It has been said, though I cannot vouch for it, that he also killed the judge and the sheriff who had sentenced and executed his daughter. Great excitement followed, a reward was offered for his body dead or alive, and a thor- ough search made, but no clue could be found. Finally the reward was increased, and General Ransom Rathbone of Oxford called out the militia and a thorough search was made in the forests of New York and Pennsylvania, but without success, for Antone was securely sheltered in South Oxford by Andrew Achorn until the excitement died away.
Finally two brothers, in whom Antone placed great con- fidence, followed him to Delaware county, whither he had gone, and after giving him presents and spending some days, finally proposed shooting at a mark, with the object to take their victim while his musket was unloaded. An- tone consented and fired, the men rushed upon him, but were beaten off, and the old chief would have then escaped if they had not shot him in the leg. He was taken to Mor- risville, placed in jail, where he gave up all hope, and refusing to eat pined away. Judge Williams of Utica pre- sided at the trial. The prisoner pleaded not guilty and objected to a trial, except by his own people; stating that he had paid $270 to the different tribes for a ransom and thought it hard that he should die when he had made his peace with the Indians. He also produced a document written by George Washington, appointing him one of his aids and fast runners to carry messages and orders from one post to another. He plead his services to the country in gaining its independence, his friendship for the whites,
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but all to no purpose. The court appointed Judge Platt and General Kirkland his counsel, who rested their defense on this, that the State of New York had no jurisdiction over the Indian tribes within her territory. The court, however, overruled the objection and Antone was sentenced to be hanged on Friday, the 12th of September, 1828. He said he was willing to die, but objected to the mode of execution, preferring to be shot. A great crowd gathered at Morrisville to witness the old chief meet his death, a walking skeleton and nearly one hundred years old.
Antone was accused of other murders, but in a confes- sion he made which was printed in a pamphlet, a copy of which I have read, he denied, but acknowledged killing two persons, an Indian and a white man.
In later years Abraham Tushnook was another noted Indian character in this vicinity. He was also called " Old Abe," and handled the bow and arrow in a skillful manner. At "general training " he earned quite a little money by shooting pennies from a notched stick to the amusement of a crowd. Abe belonged to the Stockbridge tribe, and served under Captain Jacobs in the war of 1812. His attachment for the favorite hunting grounds in the Che- nango valley was strong. He died at the County House in Preston October 18, 1870, aged 82.
From Chenango Republican, published at Oxford, Sept. 8, 1826:
$300 REWARD ..
W HEREAS, Several specimens of anthracite coal have been discovered, at various points in the town of Oxford, imbedded in those charac- teristic strata of mineral substances, which invariably attend, & attest the presence of coal; the citizens, of Oxford,as an additional stimulus to the ex- ertions of such persons as have evinced a disposition to enter upon the search, offer a reward of Three Hundred Dollars, to be paid to the discov- erer or discoverers of an inexhaustible COAL-BED, in this section of country.
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Ay me! What perils do environ The man that meddles with cold iron! What plaguy mischiefs and mishaps Do dog him still with after-claps !- BUTLER,
Cork Island Duel.
The only affair of honor that ever occurred in Chenango county took place on the island a half mile above the river bridge in Oxford. It was in the early days of the town that two worthies, Messrs. Sherwood and Starkwether, had a difference, then a quarrel, over some trifling affair, and their friends seeing a chance for considerable sport kept them in a heated condition until it was resolved to ex- change shots in vindication of their honor, and the little island was selected for that purpose. Their seconds were chosen, who secretly gave the affair publicity that the friends might be present and enjoy the fun.
On the day appointed the belligerents made their appear- ance on the spot selected. The seconds had agreed that neither should suffer harm, and loaded the pistols with cork instead of lead, and each inspired his principal with courage by informing him that his antagonist's pistol was loaded with cork, but assuring him that his own contained a ball. Sherwood, who had arrived first on the field, said, as Starkwether approached :
" Starkwether, you know I'm a good shot and sure to kill. If you'll acknowledge you are in the wrong, then this affair is ended, and we'll go home."
" Not by a danged sight, Sherwood," was the bold reply. " I'm here on my honor, and when I return you'll be the one they'll take home to bury!"
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" I will, eh!" quickly answered Sherwood with flashing eye. "I know there's going to be a funeral, but it won't be mine, not to-day, nor next week, nor for a month to come. You know I'm in the right, confound it, and I thought I'd give you a chance to live a few years longer. You'd rather die a natural death, hadn't you? "
" Well, I'm going to, you old skunk," said Starkwether, as he stooped to pick a spear of grass. "You can't scare me into showing the white feather. Get up there in line while I let daylight through you."
" I'm an old skunk, am I? gol dern ye! Get your old pepperbox ready; I ain't afraid! I'll show you a trick that's played on folks that never before have been beyond their father's farm."
" You talk as though you had got a brace of printer's devils about your ears. Stop your jibberjabber, the sexton is waiting for his job."
The seconds now concluded that the principals were thoroughly worked up, placed them in position, back to back, with directions to mark off ten paces as one was counted, to turn at two and fire at three. The neighboring trees concealed many interested spectators, whose sides fairly ached with laughter they were compelled to subdue for fear of discovery.
" Now, gentlemen," said one of the seconds, "are you ready? If so, we'll proceed."
The principals bravely and in loud voice acknowledged their readiness to shed each other's blood.
" Then, gentlemen, you thoroughly understand the rules, and I'll now give the signal. Ready! One! Two! Three ! "
As the last word was echoing from the neighboring hills the report of the pistols rang out simultaneously. And
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as arranged neither contestant was injured, but was hur- riedly approached by his second, who told each that they had winged their man, though not mortally wounding him, and that a speedy retirement from the scene and a few days in seclusion would be about the thing to do until the affair blew over.
It was several days before Messrs. Sherwood and Stark- wether became fully acquainted with the facts of the affair, and by that time their wrath had cooled, and they again became fast friends. The island has since been known as Cork Island.
D ANIEL SILL, son of Rev. Elijah Sill, was born in New Fairfield, Conn., in 1771; married Abigail Mc- Knight, January 25, 1798, and with her came to Oxford. She died in 1806, leaving four children, all of whom were born in Oxford. They were:
ASENATH, who married Samuel Lewis, and died in March, 1850.
ADDISON, married Jemima Cleveland, and moved to Kingsville, Ohio.
DIANA, died in infancy.
SUSAN, married Ami Cleveland, and died May 15, 1859.
Mr. Sill's second wife was Albasinda Barnes, whom he married February 2, 1808. Two children were born to them, who died in infancy. Mr. Sill was a farmer, and after residing here a few years moved away and died Feb- ruary 17, 1826, at Ossian, N. Y.
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Years following years steal something every day ; At last they steal us from ourselves away. -PorE.
Stephen Weeks.
Stephen Weeks and wife came from Long Island at an early day and settled in Bainbridge. Not liking the situa- tion there they went five miles farther and located on " Cider " creek, near Yaleville (Guilford), where he cleared the land sufficiently to put up a log house to shelter himself and wife. They never saw another white woman's face for six months. Mr. Weeks died in 1813, leaving his wife with eight children, the youngest of whom, Stephen, 2d, born March 26, 1813, was but six months old. By the time he was old enough to do anything his brothers had made way with all they could dispose of, and he started out to shift for himself. He finally located in the town of Smithville and hired out to Joseph Corbin, remaining five years, and working for five dollars per month. Eventually he bought back the land piece by piece that his brothers had sold, and when that was accomplished he married, September 13, 1837, Julia A. Williams, daughter of Eber and Martha (Bennett) Williams, pioneers of Oxford. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks remained in Guilford nearly ten years, and then sold the farm and moved to Wisconsin. The climate not agreeing with them, they returned East and to the home of Mrs. Weeks' parents in Oxford, Mr. Weeks buying their farm on the Tyner road. Here they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Weeks died October 5,
!
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1874. Mrs. Weeks was born October 25, 1817, in Oxford, and died on the same farm July 4, 1876. Children :
AMELIA F., born in Guilford; married Burton Westover of Oxford. Resides at San Diego, Cal.
GEORGE, born in Guilford; died December 26, 1846, in Wisconsin.
ALBERT, born in Wisconsin, died unmarried June 10, 1864, in Oxford.
E. PERCIVAL WILLCOX, born September 20, 1808, in Durham, Greene county, N. Y .; died January 27, 1869, in Montrose, Pa. Married March 31, 1834, Sarah Jane Spees, born August 10 ,1808; died July 24, 1891, in Montrose, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Willcox came to Oxford soon after their marriage, and resided in one-half of the Ira Willcox home- stead, now the Memorial Library building, for twenty-five years. Mr. Willcox, during this time, was engaged in busi- ness at the Oxford foundry and also in a hardware store, which at first was located in Fort Hill block, and later moved to the present location of Burchard Bros.' store. Frances Elizabeth, their only child, married Henry C. Tyler and resides at Montrose, Pa. Mr. Tyler died June 10, 1891.
O N the evening of December 25, 1862, Niagara Fire Company gave their third annual festival, the pro- ceeds of which were donated for the comfort of sick and wounded soldiers of the Civil war.
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The mould of a man's fortune is in his own hands. -BACON.
John Y. Washburn.
John Y. Washburn, son of Luke and Margaret (Noys) Washburn, born May 31, 1810, in Poughkeepsie, N. Y .; died September 5, 1890, in Norwich. Married (1) October 28, 1834, Antoinette Bristol, who died August 24, 1838; married (2) in September, 1839, Priscilla Gifford, who died February 7, 1844; married (3) September 8, 1844, Sarah A. Spencer, born November 14, 1820, in Coventry; died March 29, 1893, in Towanda, Pa., at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Babcock, who was then living there.
Mr. Washburn came from Massachusetts stock, and some of his ancestors took an active part in the Revolutionary war. Members of that family thereafter became prominent in the affairs of Massachusetts, one of them serving as Governor of the State at one time.
Mr. Washburn learned the cabinet making trade and came to Oxford in 1830, where for some years he conducted the cabinet business. At the formation of the Oxford Hoe and Edge Tool Company he became identified with that company as manager of its lumber interest, which at that time was quite extensive. He remained with that company during his active business life at Oxford, having about 1869 acquired the entire ownership of the property of the com- pany. The factory was destroyed by fire in 1871 and was not rebuilt. He served the town of Oxford in various of- ficial capacities, and when he came to Oxford he identified himself with the Methodist church of this village, and served as one of the official board of that church for sixty
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consecutive years. In his earlier life he was an active member of the fraternal organizations having lodges at Oxford, and was identified with the Oxford National Bank as a stockholder almost from its inception to the time of his death. He was a man of sterling qualities and character, industrious, sober, and faithful in the discharge of every duty and undertaking which he assumed. He died at the home of his son, Wesley, in Norwich, and is buried in his family plot in Riverview cemetery. All his children that obtained school age were educated at Oxford Academy.
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