USA > New York > Oneida County > Gazetteer and business directory of Oneida County, N.Y. for 1869 > Part 15
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to the hands of Mr. Parker, who carried the mail on horseback, his wife sometimes taking his place when he could be more profitably employed. From such small beginnings his business increased un- til it became one of the largest organizations ever formed in the place. At the time of his decease there were eight lines of daily stages running through Utica, east and west, besides twelve daily, semi-weekly and weekly lines running north and south, in most of which he was or had been interested. Besides these there were two daily lines of packets upon the canal to Schenectady, and one to Buffalo, and one to Syracuse. Mr. Parker died September 28, 1830, aged sixty-seven. Bryan Johnson, James and Archibald Kane, J. C. Devereux, Watts Shearman, John Bissell and Daniel Thomas were among the early merchants of Utica. On one occa- sion, when Mr. Parker arrived with the mail from Albany, it was found to contain six letters for the inhabitants of Old Fort Schuy- ler. This was so remarkable that it was heralded from one end of the settlement to the other, some even doubting the truth of the statement until it was confirmed by the word of the postmaster. About the same time, 1794, Mr. Parker had in his employ a col- ored man and a colored dog also, and by these two the mail was dispatched to Fort Stanwix. The contract time for the trip was " up one day and back the next."
The construction of the Erie Canal added greatly to the business facilities of Utica, so that it speedily outstripped all its early ri- vals. The canal was commenced at Rome on the Fourth of July, 1817, and in October, 1819, it was completed from Utica to the Seneca River. In 1821 boats descended as far east as Little Falls. The work was completed in the fall of 1825, and the 4th of Novem- ber was celebrated throughout the State with every domonstration of joy and gratification.
The first act of incorporation of the village of Utica was dated April 3, 1793, and in 1805 a new charter was granted, providing that five " discreet freeholders" should be chosen annually as Trus- tees. In the early legislation of the village we find the following :
June 3, 1805. " Voted that the assize of bread for the ensuing month he as follows : Wheat fourteen shillings per bushel, a loaf of superfine wheat flour, to weigh two pounds ten ounces, for one shilling, and other sizes in proportion; a loaf of common wheat flour, to weigh three pounds three ounces, for one shilling, with a fine of five dollars for selling at a higher price, for each offense."
The " assize of bread " was regulated and published monthly as long as Utica was a village. In 1808 a fire engine is first men- tioned upon the records, and a committee is directed to make the necessary repairs.
January 2, 1810, the Trustees " voted that the village pump be
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put in complete repair, and that a contract be made with some faith- ful person to keep the same in repair one year."
This pump was in the center of Genesee street, nearly on a line with the south side of Whitesboro street.
Utica received a city charter by an act of the Legislature, passed February 13, 1832. Its growth in wealth and numbers has been onward, and its geographical position, lines of communication and natural advantages are guarantees of its future increase.
The population in 1813 was 1,700; in 1820, 2,972; in 1840, 12,782 ; in 1850, 17,565; in 1865, 23,686. The area of the city is 5,500 acres.
The improvements during the last year have been unprecedent- ed, more than two millions of dollars having been expended in en- larging and improving the city. A large number of public and private buildings have been erected, and others have been greatly enlarged and improved. The hopes of the most sanguine respect- ing the growth of Utica, seem destined to be realized.
Among the citizens of Utica, who have contributed largely in making the city what it is, few are deserving greater credit than Hon. John Butterfield. He entered the County about fifty years ago, a poor boy, and was employed for some time as mail carrier between Albany and Utica. The latter place was a very small vil- lage at that time, and a one-horse wagon making the trip once a week was sufficient to supply all the demands of the inhabitants. Hle was honest, sober, industrious and faithful in the discharge of all his duties, and in addition to these qualities, was economical and enterprising. At length with the accumulations of his small earn- ings, he purchased the right to carry the mail on his own account, and soon the more pretentious stage took the place of the one-horse wagon. A livery stable was the next enterprise, on a small scale at first, but as business increased the number and elegance of the horses and carriages was increased, until he was able to build large and elegant stables, furnished with all the modern improvements, and horses and carriages to match. Some twelve or fifteen years ago, he engaged extensively in the Express business, which proved to be very lucrative. His funds were freely invested in every enterprise calculated to build up the city in which he lived. Busi- ness blocks, railroads and other enterprises received an impulse from his energy and his money. The splendid hotel in Utica, which bears his name, is one of the finest in the State. In 1865, he was elected mayor of the city. About a year ago he was prostrated by a stroke of apoplexy, from which he has never recovered, and probably never will. As an active business man his days are end- ed, but he has left an example of what energy and perseverance can accomplish.
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Hon. Roscoe Conkling, United States Senator, is a resident of Utica. He was born in Albany in 1828, studied law and removed to Utica in 1846. In 1849 he was appointed District Attorney for Oneida County ; in 1858 he was elected Mayor of Utica, and sub- sequently a representative to the Thirty-Sixth Congress. After being re-elected several times and serving or important. com- mittees, in January, 1857, he was chosen to represent the Empire State in the United States Senate, a position which he still holds.
VERNON was formed from Westmoreland and Augusta, February 17, 1802. A part of Stockbridge, (Madison Co.,) was taken off in 1836. It lies on the west border of the County, south of the center. Its surface is rolling, the mean elevation being 200 feet above the Mohawk. The principal streams are Oneida Creek. forniing the west boundary, and *Skanandoa Creek, flowing through the east part. The soil is a fine quality of gravelly and clay loam, underlaid by limestone, water-lime and gypsum. It is one of the most fertile towns in the County. A mineral spring is found about one mile north-west of Vernon Center. The territory of this town was included in the original Oneida Reservation. The principal Oneida village was called Kan-on-wall-o-hu-le. A small remnant of this once powerful tribe still live in the south-west part of the town.
Vernon, (p. v.) on Skanandoa Creek, north of the center of the town, was incorporated April 6, 1827, and contains four churches, two academies, a bank, two hotels, a knitting factory and carding mill, a flouring mill, a saw mill and about 500 inhabitants. The Fair Ground of the Agricultural Society in the vicinity contains a half-mile track.
Vernon Center, (p. v.) situated south-east of the center of the town, contains two churches, viz., Presbyterian and Methodist, a hotel, a grist mill, two saw mills, and about 100 inhabitants.
Oneida Castle, (p. v.) on the west line of the town, contains two churches, a union school, two hotels, a hat manufactory, two stores and about 600 inhabitants.
Turkey Street is a thickly populated part of the turnpike between Vernon and Oneida Castle.
The first settler in this town was Josiah Bushnell, from Berkshire County, Mass. He came here in 1794, and settled upon the north-west corner of Bleceker's South Patent. The Indian title to this territory was extinguished in 1797, and immediately a large number of emigrants from the New Eng-
*Named from the celebrated Oneida Chief, and signifies Hemlock or Stream of Hemlocks. The aged chief once made this striking remark : " I am an aged hemlock, an hundred winters have whistied through my branches, I am dead at the top."
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land States settled here, and within two years most of the land was taken up. The first settlers upon " Baschard's Location," were Rev. Publius Bogue, Deacons Hills and Bronson, Samuel Wet- more, David and Levi Bronson, Seth Holmes, Anson Stone, Asahel Gridley, Heman Smith, Eliphas Bissell, Adonijah Foot, Stephen Goodwin, Seth Hills, Eli Frisbie, James and John De Votie, Samuel Austin, and others named Stanton, Griswold, Alvord, Thrall. Wil- cox, Church, Spencer, Carter, Marshall, Tuttle, Bush, Wilcoxson and Webber. Most of these were from Litchfield County, Conn. They laid out a plot of six acres, called Vernon Center. On this green all Protestant denominations have a right to build meeting and school houses. Around this plot the land was surveyed into acre lots, upon which some of the first settlers located. On the " Reservation," in the east part of the town, were settlers named Skinner, Lawrence, Shedd, Gratton, Deland, Spaulding, Grant, Kel- logg, Carter, Tryon. Morse, Simons, Doane, May, Mahan, Page, Ingraham, Crocker, Graves, Soper, and others. In the south-west- ern part of the town the settlers were Griffin, Webster, Freeman, Grant, Stone, Hotchkiss and others, and on VanEps' Patent the early settlers were Richard and Benjamin Hubbell, Gad Warner, Benjamin, Alanson and David Pierson, Joseph Patten, and William and Elisha Root. The early settlers of this town were possessed of more wealth than those of any other town in the County, and as a consequence were able to hire some of their improvements made, and were exempt from many of the hardships and privations to which most of the early settlers of the County were exposed.
The first marriage in the town was that of Aaron Davis and Amy Bushnell; it took place previous to 1798, but the time is not pre- cisely known. The first birth was that of Edward Marshall, and the first death that of a daughter of Josiah Bushnell, in 1795. Mr. Sessions taught the first school, in 1708; A. Van Eps kept the first store, the same year, and Asahel Gridley built the first grist mill. The first religious society, (Cong.) was formed in IS01, at Vernon Center.
The population in 1865 was 2,931, and the area 23,649 acres.
The number of school districts is twelve, employing fourteen teachers. The number of children of school age is 865 ; the num- ber attending school 605; the average attendance 276, and the amount expended for school purposes during the year ending Sept. 30th, 1868, was $4,569.09.
VERONA was formed from Westmoreland, February 17. 1802. It lies on the west border of the County, near the center. Its surface is generally level, slightly rolling in the east and marshy in the west. Oneida Lake and Onvida Creek form the west boun- dary, and Wood Creek the north boundary. Several small streams
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are tributaries of these. The soil is a deep, rich, alluvial loam. There is a mineral spring in the east part of the town, at which a hotel and water cure has been erected for the accommodation of patients and visitors. The water is nearly saturated with sulphur- etted hydrogen gas, and resembles in many respects that of the Harrowgate Springs in England. The eastern part embraces many fine farms, well adapted to most kinds of grain, and the western part is rapidly improving under a judicious and enlightened system of agriculture, which is every day becoming more preva- lent. Dairying is carried on to a considerable extent throughout the town.
Verona, (p. v.) situated about a mile and a half east of Verona Station, on the New York Central Railroad, and surrounded by a rich farming country, contains two churches, two hotels, three stores, a tannery, a carriage shop, several other mechanic shops and about 200 inhabitants,
Durhamville, (p. v.) named from Eber Durham, who settled there in 1826, is situated on the Erie Canal in the west part of the town, and contains four churches, viz., Baptist, Presbyterian, Meth- odist and German Catholic; two hotels, a saw mill, two black- smith shops, a dry dock and boat yard, a wagon shop, a large glass factory, several stores and about 1,000 inhabitants. The glass fac- tory of Fox Brothers is one of the most extensive and important in the State. The Midland Railroad is located through this village.
Higginsville, (p. o.) named from Christopher Higgins, and situ- ated on the Erie Canal, a little north of the center of the town, is & hamlet.
New London, (p. v.) situated on the Erie Canal, in the north-east part, contains two churches, two hotels, two carriage shops, a sem- inary, a large dry goods store, several groceries and about 500 in- habitants.
Sconondoa, in the south part of the town, is a hamlet. On the farm formerly owned by Mr. Breese, and now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Stephens, is a spring possessing the medicinal qual- ities of some of the Saratoga waters.
State Bridge, (p. v.) on the Erie Canal, contains about twenty houses.
Dunbarton, also on the Canal, contains a large glass factory and twenty or thirty houses.
Stacey's Basin is a hamlet on the Canal.
Verona Springs, in the south-east part of the town, is a watering place of some celebrity. Dr. Nelson Hunt and his wife are both graduates of a medical college, and are prepared to receive and en- tertain those who are in search of health or pleasure. The water is especially recommended for scrofula.
Verona Depot is a station on the Railroad.
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The first settlement was made by George A. Smith, in 1792. He arrived at Jonathan Dean's tavern, in Westmoreland, on Christmas eve, 1791, and the next day started for his place of des- tination, through snow, swamps and thickets almost impenetrable, making his progress so slow that he was eight days in reaching his location upon Wood Creek, near the farm now occupied by Elias Van Schoick. Other authorities say that he first settled upon Oneida Creek, near its mouth. Asahel Jackson, from Berkshire County, Mass., settled near the mouth of Wood Creek, at the mil- itary work known as the " Royal Block House." This was erected about the year 1722, on a slight elevation, and surrounded by a ditch enclosing a space eight rods square. Mr. Jackson opened a public house and kept it until his death, about ten years, after which it was kept by his widow for about ten years. About the close of 1796, or early in 1797, La Whitten De Wardenou, a Frenchman, settled at "Oak Orchard," on Wood Creek. Among other early settlers were Russell Brooks, Martin and Noah Lang- don, Samuel Avery, Joseph Eames, John Bosworth, Oliver Pome- roy, Ithamar Day, Eleazar and Fisher Ellis, Jedediah Phelps, Stephen Benedict, Jabez Loomis, Joseph Lawton, Ebenezer and Elisha Kelsey, John Wright, Ambrose Jones and Augustus Elmer. Most of the early settlers came from Massachusetts and Connecti- cut, and settled in various parts of the town. Several of those whose names are given settled near Verona Village. Doctor Alex- ander Whaley came from Norwich, Conn., in 1801, being then twenty-one years of age, and taught school at Clark's Settlement. He was the second school teacher in the town, Elizur Ellis being the first. Dr. Whaley has long been known as one of the most prominent citizens of the town, and though now in the eighty-ninth year of his age, is still in the enjoyment of his mental and physical powers to a remarkable degree. The first settler at Durhamville was Eliphalet Frazee, in 1811. He was soon followed by Diah and David Rawson, Benjamin Newcomb, Leonard Pease, Asher Williams, Roswell Barber and others. Among the early settlers at Higginsville were Christopher Higgins, Joseph Lawton, Wait Williams, Henry Thorp, Wells Kenyon, Jacob H. Stark and Wal- ter Durkee. The first frame house in the town was built by the "Inland Navigation Company," on Wood Creek, in 1796.
The first birth was that of Eva Smith in 1795, and the first death that of a child of Wardenou in 1797. Not being able to procure a coffin, the child was buried in its cradle. The first sermon preached in the town was by Rev. Joseph Avery, of Berkshire County, Mass. The first church (Congregational) was organized in 1803, by Rev. Peter Fish and Rev. Timothy Cooley, missionaries. Robert Clark kept the first tavern in the village. Martin Langdon gave the ground for the first cemetery, located a short distance
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west of the village. The first town meeting was held in a log house built by Mr. Langdon, on the farm now occupied by Albert W. Rogers. Jedediah Phelps was chosen Supervisor, and Eleazar El- lis, Town Clerk.
Mrs. Elizabeth Whaley Matteson died in this town July 27. 1850, in the one hundredth year of her age. She was a woman of great piety and retained her faculties in a good degree to the close of life. At the age of ninety-five she would sometimes walk to and from church, a distance of two miles. Mr. Benjamin Blackman. one of the early settlers, died March 23d, 1858, in the ninety-fifth year of his age. He was a native of Connecticut, removed to Westmoreland in 1788, and in 1807 to Verona, where he resided until his death.
The population in 1865 was 5.964, and the area 41.645 acres.
The number of school districts is twenty-nine, employing thirty- one teachers. There are 2,300 scholars, and the average attend- ance is 759: The amount expended for school purposes during the year ending Septembor 30th, 1868, was 89,306.50.
TIENNA was formed from Camden, April 3, 1807. Its original name was " Orange " but was changed to " Bengal," April 6, 1808, and to Vienna, April 12, 1816. A part of Annsville was : taken off in 1823. It lies upon the west border of the County, north of the center. Its surface in the western part is comparative- ly level, in the south it rises gradually from Oneida Lake and spreads out into a rolling plateau. The north part is hilly. Wood Creek and Oneida Lake form the south boundary. Fish Creek forms most of the east boundary and unites with Wood Creek be- fore it enters Oneida Lake. The west branch of Fish Creek forms part of the north boundary. The soil in the north part is a light, sandy loam; in the south-east, along the Creek, it is alluvium. Good building stone is quarried in the eastern part, and bog iron ore is found in large quantities in the marshes near the Lake. A large bed of Fuller's Earth is situated in the town. A company has been formed and is now engaged in mining and preparing this earth for market, a large amount being used for manufacturing pur- poses.
Vienna, (p. v.) in the eastern part of the town, contains a church (Methodist), a hotel, two stores, a wagon shop, a tannery, a saw mill, a carding machine and about thirty houses.
----- North Bay, (p. v.) situated in the southern part, on the shore of Oneida Lake, contains two churches, viz., Baptist and Methodist, a school house, two hotels, two stores, two potteries, a grist mill. two saw mills, several mechanic shops and about 300 inhabitants. The site of the village slopes gradually towards the lake, and the
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main street, extending about half a mile north-westerly from the lake, is nicely shaded, and terminates at the residence of James Roe, Esq., a beautiful cottage with grounds adorned with shrubbery, and from which there is a fine view of the lake and the surrounding country. Boat building is extensively carried on. The planing mill and lath factory of Mr. Luce is doing a good business. . The Fair Ground lies a short distance west of the village, and the so- ciety is noted for the success which attends their annual Fairs. Near North Bay, on the land of Daniel Mulholland. is a Roman Catholic Church, surrounded by a flourishing grove of maples. A beautiful row of maples extends along the road for about fifty rods.
Mc Connellsville, (p. v.) in the north part, on the line of Anns- ville, contains a church, a hotel, two stores, a saw mill, a vegetable oil distillery and about twenty-five dwellings.
Fish Creek Landing, in the south-east part, contains a store, sev- eral mechanic shops and about twenty houses.
West Vienna, (p. v.) on the lake shore, about three miles from North Bay, contains two stores, a hotel, a saw mill. a grist mill, a cigar factory and about twenty-five dwellings. Boat building is carried on to some extent. Mr. T. G. Cole carries on boat building quite extensively, on the lake shore, about two and a half miles west of West Vienna. He employs about thirty hands.
Elpis, in the north-west part of the town. contains a church. two saw mills, a blacksmith shop and about a dozen dwellings. On the farm of Samuel Holmes. about half a mile from Elpis, is a beaver dam, and the tract known as Beaver Meadows, and evidently caused by this dam, contains a large amount of valuable peat.
Pine is a hamlet in the north-east part.
The first settlement of this town was made in 1798. by Ephraim Church, on land now owned by Alanson Bailey. Timothy Hal- stead, Peter Gibbons. Alex. and Jonathan Graves, Eliakim Stod- dard, Allen Nichols, David Stone, Isaac Cook and Robert Humas- ton, settled in the town about the year 1798-9. Elijah Graves, son of Jonathan Graves. came into the town in 1800. He was then in his eighteenth year, is now the oldest settler residing in the town, and retains to a remarkable degree his mental and physical powers. The first saw mill was built in 1801, where the McCon- nelisville mill now stands, by Jones & Hamil, and the first grist mill, by Wm. Smith, near the same place, about 1804. Timothy Halstead was the first settler at this place. Henry N., his son, was at that time three or four years old, and with the exception of Elijah Graves, is now the oldest settler in town.
The first birth in town was Polly Blakesley, in 1803; she died in 1865. The first death was that of Alexander Graves, killed in a saw mill. Lyman Mathers taught the first school, and Wm. Smith kept the first inn, in 1801.
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The first bridge across Fish Creek was built in 1802, on the di- rect road to Rome, and was engineered by Mr. Hamil. Elijah Graves was one of the workmen upon the bridge and gives an in- teresting account of the structure. It was built upon trestles, the posts of which were twenty-two feet long and 18 inches square; the cap pieces were 18 feet long, and the same size as the posts, all of which were solid oak. They were unable to raise it with the force that could be collected and resorted to machinery and teams, with which the work was accomplished. The practice of building sub- startial bridges has been continued to the present time. During the last year, Mr. Lyman L. Stedman, commissioner of highways, has caused two bridges to be erected across the west branch of Fish Creek, which reflect credit upon the commissioner and the people of the town. Three other substantial bridges have been erected within the last four years, costing $11,500. The bridges are all constructed with substantial stone butments, making Vienna the best bridged town in this region.
Dr. Chatfield has been a practicing physician in Vienna for 45 years.
The population in 1865 was 3,408, and the area 37,589 acres.
There are twenty school districts, employing twenty teachers. The whole number of scholars is 1,134; the average attendance 417, and the amount expended for school purposes the last year was $4,103.20.
WESTERN was formed from Steuben, March 10, 1797 .- Lee was taken off in 1811. It lies in the interior, north of the cen- ter of the County. Its surface is a hilly upland, broken by numer- ous gulleys worn in the slate by the streams. Lansing Kil Creek unites with the Mohawk River near the center of the town and flows south-westerly to Rome. The soil in the valleys is alluvium and very productive. Stone quarries are extensively worked near the confluence of Stringer's Creek and the Mohawk. These quarries furnished large quantities of stone for the Black River Canal.
Westernville, (p. v.) situated in the southern part of the town, contains three churches, two hotels, three stores, a tin shop, a car- riage shop, two blacksmith shops, a tannery and about 200 inhabi- tants.
North Western, (p. v.) situated on the Mohawk River, a little east of the center of the town, contains a Methodist church, a hotel, two stores, a grist mill, a saw mill, a tannery, a blacksmith shop and about 100 inhabitants.
Hillside, a little north of the center of the town, is a hamlet.
Big Brook, (p. o.) is a hamlet near the east line.
Delta, (p. v.) is mostly in Lee.
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The settlement of the town of Western was commenced in 1789, by Asa Beckwith, and his four sons, Asa, Reuben, Wolcott and Lemuel, who were soon followed by Henry Wager. With a single exception, these settlers continued to reside until their deaths, upon the same farms upon which they first located. Their nearest neigh- bors were at Fort Stanwix, (Rome,) nearly ten miles distant .- Their grain, potatoes, &c., for seed, had to be procured at the Ger- man Flats. Henry Wager and Asa Beckwith went on foot to Ger- man Flats for seed potatoes, and each brought home a bushel upon his back. These were the first potatoes planted in town. Mr. Wager harvested serenty bushels in the fall, from his one bushel of seed. The proprietors of this town refused to sell their land, but leased it in perpetuity, or for three lives, receiving annual rents. This materially retarded the prosperity of the town. In the fall of 1789, the inhabitants built a bridge across the Mohawk River at this place, the first one built between its source and its junction with the Hudson. There was not a plank or a stick of hewn tim- ber of any kind in it.
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