USA > New York > Jefferson County > Geographical gazetteer of Jefferson county, N.Y. 1684-1890 > Part 95
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636
TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.
was reared upon a farm. He married Mary J., daughter of Adam and Harriet (Southworth) Hoverman, November 9, 1867, and they have had two sons and four danghters, namely: Jen- nie May, born in December, 1869, who is a milliner and resides at home; G. Herbert, born. March 9, 1873; Lena H., born April 6, 1876; Pearly Blanche, born June 9, 1879; Fanny, who died in 1885, aged two years; and Grover Cleveland, born October 16, 1884. Mr. Washburn was engaged in mining in California, Idaho, and Nevada for about six years, when he re- turned to this town, where, and in Antwerp, he has been engaged in hotel-keeping and farm- ing. He resides on Mill street, in Philadelphia village.
Christopher Bigarel was a native of France, and came to America with his parents when three years of age, locating in Fowler, St. Lawrence County. He served in the late war and died in 1865 from wounds received in the battle of the Wilderness. He married Samantha Pike, and they had six children, namely: Wheeler C., of Minnesota; Dnane, who died in 1874; George, who died in 1888; Ella (Mrs. Orrin Thayer), of Minnesota; Frank D., who died in in- fancy; and Frank D., 2d. The latter was born in Fowler, August 16, 1860. When 15 years of age he started on a tour through the western country, where he remained two years, when he returned and attended school in St. Lawrence County, where he prepared himself for teaching, which profession he followed several years, at one time being principal of the High School in Philadelphia. December 24, 1884, he married Almeda L. Read. He is now engaged in mercantile pursuits, with his residence and store on Main street, Sterlingville.
Azel W. Danforth, son of Francis and Eunice (Warren) Danforth, was born in Albany County, where he married Mary Stickles, by whom he had three children, namely: Mary (Mrs. H. L. Curtis), of Watertown; Eunice W. (Mrs. Reuben Curtis), also of Watertown; and War- ren, of Iowa. Mr. Danforth married, second, Sarah Stickles, and their children were Marga- ret, of Iowa, and James H., deceased. His third wife, Eliza Ann, daughter of Josiah Phillips, bore him three children, viz .: James H., of this town; Julia (Mrs. Edwin Bush), of Water- town; and Merrill, who died at the age of six years. Mr. Danforth served as supervisor, and was a member of the Assembly in 1844-46. He died in 1864, on the farm now occupied by his son James H. James H. ; Danforth was born in 1840. He married Julia E., daughter of Jotham and Samantha (Shull) Marshall, in 1865, and they have a son, Warren, born in 1867. Their daughter Grace Matilda was born in 1873, and died in 1888. Mr. Danforth is a farmer and occupies the homestead on road 29.
Richard Estes was born in 1725 and died in 1782. He married Mary Pierce and they had 11 children, of whom James, who was born in 1776 and died in 1828, married Catharine Thorne, by whom he had 11 children, of whom Peter, who came to Jefferson County from the Mohawk valley, among the early settlers, was a ship builder. Peter married Sarah Leonard and they had two children, Delia (Mrs. S. C. Wilmot), of Anburn, and John P. W. The latter was born in 1825, and learned the carpenters' trade. He married Nancy, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Klock) Klock, and they had two sons and one daughter, namely: George W. and Mary M., deceased, and Grenville K., of this town. The latter was born March 16, 1848, and spent his early life npon a farm, subsequently sailing upon the lakes for several years. He married Ann E., daughter of Luke and Lena Ann (Klock) Chamberlain, in 1876, and they have four sons, namely: Ward S., Harold G., Clare W., and Dorr C. Mr. Estes spent many years in the West. He is now employed as superintendent in the planing-mill in Philadelphia village.
Richard Rodenhurst, son of Richard and Mary (Ashton) Rodenhurst, was born in Whit- church, Shropshire, England, January 11, 1828, and when seven years of age came with his parents to America and located in Westmoreland, Oneida County, N. Y. He married Sarah Ann, danghter of Hiram and Sophia (Tousley) Knickerbocker, of Eaton, Madison County, in 1853, and their children were De Witt C., of Philadelphia, and Fred S., of Theresa. His wife died March 12, 1867, and in 1868 he married Emma J. Fisk, by whom he had a daughter, Belle I. Mr. Rodenhurst has been in trade in Theresa for more than 20 years. De Witt C. Rodenhurst was born January 26, 1855, was educated at Whitestown Seminary, studied medi- cine with Drs. Sturtevant and Kelsey at Theresa, graduated at Long Island College Hospital in 1879, and commeneed practice at Ox Bow. January 10, 1884, he married Mattie H., daugh- ter of Zalmon and Cyrena (Swan) Pool, of Theresa. In the fall of 1882 he located in Phila- delphia village, where he continues in practice.
637
TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.
William Roberts, son of Owen and Mary (Roberts) Roberts, was born in Remsen, Oneida County, December 29, 1834, and was reared upon a farm. He located in Martinsburg, and for a time was engaged in farming and furnishing supplies for the Black River Railroad. In 1877 he located in Lowville and engaged in lumbering. He built mills in Philadelphia in 1882 and formed a partnership with Otis Brooks, with whom he continued four years. He married Serepta, daughter of Leonard S. and Sophia (Smith) Wilder, and they have two sons, George W. and Charles O. George W. Roberts was born May 4, 1861, and was educated at Lowville Academy. February 5, 1884, he married Jessie Nettie, daughter of Edwin L. and Charlotte (Manchester) Parsons, of Leyden, Lewis County. He is a salesman with his father. Charles O. Roberts was born August 22, 1864, was educated at Lowville Academy, and January 6, 1885, married Maria L., danghter of James B. Harris, of Antwerp, and they have two children, Ethel Mary, born December 2, 1885, and William, born December 21, 1886. He is a book-keeper for his father, and is supervisor of the town. Mr. Roberts is doing an extensive business and resides on Sand street.
Joseph P. Lawton, son of Benjamin and Betsey (Chase) Lawton, was born in Antwerp, May 23, 1833, and was reared upon a farm. October 28. 1855, he married Jane, daughter of James and Wealthy ( Wilson) Wilson. He taught school several terms, and occupied the James Wilson farm several years, when he bought a farm of 147 acres on road 5. They have had six sons and four daughters, born as follows, namely: James W., 1858, who has been twice mar- ried and has three children, Eddie, Joseph P., and John B .; Jay P., 1860, who is married and resides in Antwerp: Clark W., 1863, who married Jennie Hyde and has a daughter, Myrtle M .; Willie B. and Wealthy B. (twins), 1866: Fred E., 1868; Sarah Jane, 1871; Annis M., 1873; Charles E., 1875; and Ada Helen. 1877. In 1884 Mr. Lawton bought the Potter block in Phil- adelphia village, and engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. Ile was later a groceryman and is now a farmer.
Benjamin F. Kent, son of Benjamin and Emily (Stevens) Kent, was born in Clayton, Jan- nary 17, 1852. He was reared upon a farm and was educated in the district schools. He learned the jewelers' trade, and in 1876 engaged in business at Three Mile Bay, in the town of Lyme, where he continued until 1884, when he located in Philadelphia, and in 1886 built the block where he now resides, and in which his jewelry and boot and shoe store is located. October 14, 1855, he married Jennie L., danghter of Jacob and Louisa (Gunn) Putnam.
Isaac Warriner, son of Jacob, was born in Lee, Oneida County, in 1803, and when young located in Rodman. He married Laura Wilson in 1827, and they had four daughters, namely: Marcia Emeline (Mrs. James Clark), of this town; Mary E. (Mrs. Milton Wiggins), who died in 1887; Laura A. (Mrs. Benjamin Allen), of Philadelphia; and Helen M. (Mrs. Melvin Bryant), of Le Ray. Mr. Warriner married, second, Sally Klock, in 1868. He was a prominent mem- ber of the Free Baptist Church and died in 1888. His widow resides in Philadelphia village, on Main street. Her daughter, Mrs. James Clark, ocenpies the homestead on road 22.
James C. Graham, son of John and Mary J. (Carlisle) Graham, was born in Edinburg, Scotland, in 1855, and at the age of 10 years was left an orphan. In 1865 he came to this country, landing in New York, where he lived with William B. Ogden and worked for his board several years. He removed to Antwerp in 1871, attended Ives Seminary, and taught school winters, graduating in 1877. He studied medicine at the Oberlin (Ohio) College. graduated from Long Island College Hospital in 1881, and commenced practice in Sprague- ville, where he remained until 1884, when he located in Philadelphia, in which village he has since had a successful practice. September 3, 1884, he married Althea A., daughter of Will- iam and Ann (Campbell) Malterner, by whom he had a daughter, Eva A., in 1885. Mrs. Graham died July 14, 1885. Dr. Graham's office and residence are on Main street.
Anthony Wayne Wood, son of Joshua, a Revolutionary soldier, was born in Jaffrey, N. H., in 1802. In 1822 he located in Marcy, Oneida County, and in 1827 married Laura S., daughter of Abel and Lucinda (Miller) Sweet, by whom he had six children, namely: Mary E., who married James Sweet, and died in Buffalo; Henry C., who died at the age of 19; Laura L., who died at the age of 17; Rev. Abel S., now of Sidney, N. Y .; John W., who occupies the homestead; and Matilda R., who married Edward Wagner, of Whitesboro. Rev. Abel S. Wood was born in 1836, attended Whitestown and Winfield academies, graduated from Hamilton College in 1861, and from Auburn Theological Seminary in 1865. He began his labors in the Congregational Church in Verona, and was subsequently located at Niagara Falls, Kokoma,
.638
TOWN OF RODMAN.
Ind., St. Joseph, Mich., and Rensselaer Falls, N. Y., removing to Philadelphia in May, 1886, and in 1889 to Sidney, N. Y. He married Sarah, daughter of Dr. Benjamin and Sarah (Frasier) Weeks, in 1867, and they have a son, Gardner W., born November 8, 1872.
Elon G. Gardner, son of Samuel, was born in Pinckney, N. Y., in 1819. He married Caro- line, daughter of Channcey and Asenath (White) Doane, and they had three sons and three danghters, namely: Henry O., of Theresa; Delia (Mrs. J. P. Grosvenor), of Worcester, Mass .; Lucia A., of Richville; Carrie A. (Mrs. C. O. Gardner), of Watertown; Fred E., who married Josie St. Dennis, August 18, 1886, who died in 1887; and Delbert N., a book-keeper in Theresa. Henry O. Gardner spent his early life in Richville, and was reared upon a farm. He took a three years' course in Oberlin (Ohio) College, and for three years was engaged in trade with C. D. Gardner, at Richville. August 25, 1880, he married Abbie V., daughter of Joseph E. and Margaret (Borland) Smith, and they have three sons, namely : A. Dow, born June 3, 1881; Joseph E., who died in infancy in 1882; and Earl E., born March 17, 1886. Mr. Gardner taught school in Indiana for a time, when he returned to Belleville and again engaged in trade. March 15, 1888, he came to Philadelphia and organized the bank. In June, 1888, he bought A. N. Britton & Son's chair factory in Theresa, and organized a stock company, " A. N. Britton Manufacturing Co., Limited." He has a furniture and undertaking business in Philadelphia, in which his brother Fred E. is associated with him. H. O. Gardner resides in Theresa.
Lansing Becker, son of Hiram and Angelia (Cooper) Becker, was born in 1830, and was reared upon a farm. He was educated in Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary, and tanght school several terms. In 1853 he married Harriet Beeman, and their children were Lucy J., who died in 1875, aged 21 years; Annis M. and Leman C., of Wilna ; Charton L., who graduated from Cornell University in 1888 and now resides in Sioux City, Iowa: Hiram, of Wilna; and Alice of Antwerp. Mr. Becker's wife died in 1869, and in 1876 he married Mary M., daughter of Perley and Diana (Visgar) Miles, and they have a son, Claudins L., born December 6, 1876. Mr. Becker located on his present farm in 1853. He has been a justice of the peace several years, and was a member of the Assembly in 1876. He resides on road 35, in this town. Mrs. Becker has been a successful music teacher.
RODMAN.
R ODMAN embraces No. 8, or "Orpheus," of the " eleven towns." It
was formed from Adams, March 24, 1804, under the name of "Har- rison," and named in honor of Richard Harrison, one of the proprie-
tors. Its present name, which it received April 6, 1808, was derived from Daniel Rodman, of Hudson, who served as clerk of the Assembly in 1808-09. By an act of February 12, 1808, township No. 9 was erected into a separate town under the name of Pinckney, and the county line so changed as to pass around that town instead of across it, throwing the town into Lewis County. The town is nearly square, measures a little more than six miles in length, and contains an area of 22,597 acres. It is bounded on the north by Watertown, on the east by Lewis County, on the south by Lorraine and Worth, and on the west by Adams.
The surface of the town is somewhat elevated, and more or less broken by hills along the water-courses, which run in deep gorges or channels. There
639
TOWN OF RODMAN.
are, also, several gulfs of great depth, and considerable width, and these aid in giving the town excellent drainage. The principal stream is the north branch of Sandy Creek, which enters the town near the northeast corner, and flows through it in a southwesterly direction, passing out near the center of its western line. Its principal tributary is the Gulf stream, which empties into it near the village of Rodman. In the southern part of the town is Fish Creek, and its tributaries, having a general westerly course. Some of these streams afford excellent water-power, and their distribution is so general that nearly every part of the town is thoroughly watered. Numerous springs also abound, which, together with the favorable condition of the soil, makes this an excellent grazing region. The principal industry is dairying, although the cultivation of grains is not unprofitable. The soil is loam, or sandy and clayey loam, and was originally covered with a fine growth of maple, beech, and other varieties of timber, groves of which have been preserved on the higher lands, while along the streams are belts of hemlock. Before the land was cleared the timber products were the principal sources of revenue, sup- plying many saw-mills, asheries, and tanneries. Dry Hill, in the northwestern part of the town, having an elevation of several hundred feet above the gen- eral level, contains indications of the existence of a series of fortifications, similar to those found in other portions of the county, evidences of the occu- pancy of the territory by a prehistoric people.
At the first town meeting held in Rodman (then Harrison), at the house of Simeon Hunt, on March 5, 1805, the following officers were chosen: Thomas White, supervisor ; George H. Thomas, clerk ; Ozias H. Rawson, Cyrus H. Stone, William Rice, assessors ; Jonathan Davis, Robert Stuart, poormasters ; David Nickles, S. Hunt, Calvin Clifford, commissioners of highways ; Peter Yandes, constable and collector ; George H. Thomas, John Fassett, fence viewers ; S. Hunt, poundmaster.
The following account is taken from Spafford's Gazetteer of 1813 :-
"In 1810 there were' 214 families and 1,281 souls. There were four grain-mills, six saw- mills, one fulling-mill, a carding machine, and three distilleries. There were no houses of worship, but meetings were held in four school-houses, and a minister of the Congregational ·order was settled in 1809."
From the same author's Gazetteer of 1824 we quote :-
"In 1821 the population was 1,735; taxable property, $117,428; 7,890 acres of improved land; 2,308 cattle, 490 horses, 4,312 sleep; 17,976 yards of cloth made in families. There were seven grist-mills, eight saw-mills, three fulling-mills, two carding machines, five distilleries, and six asherics."
In 1880 Rodman had a population of 1,517. The town is located in the first school district of Jefferson County, and in 1888 had 13 school districts, of which one was joint, in which 24 teachers were employed 28 weeks or more. There were 317 scholars attending school, and the aggregate days attendance during the year was 27,582. The total value of school buildings and sites was $6,920, while the assessed valuation of all the districts was $594,722.
640
TOWN OF RODMAN.
The whole amount raised for school purposes was $2,978.32, $1,445.03 of which was received by local tax. S. Whitford Maxson was school commis- sioner.
RODMAN (p.o.) contains a Congregational and a Methodist Episcopal Church, seven stores, grist-mill, tannery, two blacksmith shops, wagon shop, a creamery; a neatly kept hotel, and about 35 dwellings. It is situated on Sandy Creek, in the east part of the town, and was once a thriving and busy center of trade for farmers. A large and flourishing academic school was once located here in quite an imposing building, the dome of which is now toppling to the ground.
ZOAR, or UNIONVILLE, as it is sometimes called, contains about a dozen dwellings and a cabinet shop. It was once the principal village in the town, and contained two stores and a hotel.
WEST RODMAN, on Sandy Creek, consists of a grist-mill, cheese factory, and several dwellings. At this place was once located a distillery, but it was long ago discontinued, and M. Slaughter's grist-mill now occupies one end of the building.
TREMAINE'S CORNERS (p. o.) is located in the southern part of the town. It contains no business places but a postoffice and a cheese factory.
WHITESVILLE (East Rodman p. o.) is a little hamlet situated in the north- east part of the township on Sandy Creek, and contains a Methodist Epis- copal Church, store, hotel, cheese factory, blacksmith shop, and wagon shop.
The Rodman grist-mill, located on Sandy Creek, in the village of Rod- man, was first built by Nathan Strong about the year 1810, a few feet west of the present site. In 1850 the mill was purchased by M. Slaughter, thor- oughly repaired and operated by him until 1861, at which time O. M. Cooley, now of Rochester, bought out Mr. Slaughter. The business was continued by Mr. Cooley until 1879, when he sold a one-half interest to his cousin, Egbert Cooley. They remained in partnership for one year and 10 months, when the property was destroyed by fire. The Rodman Milling Co., the present owners, then purchased the site and erected the present mill, which has three runs of stones, and is capable of grinding 250 bushels of grain daily. O. R. Porter, who has been employed in the mill for over 20 years, still has charge.
L. Washburn's tannery, situated on Sandy Creek, in the village of Rod- man, was built in 1840, by Joseph Brown. Three years thereafter Mr. Brown sold the property to Hiram Herring, who continued the business until his death, which occurred in 1881, when it passed into the hands of the Hiram Herring Tanning Company. This company had but a brief existence, for at the end of two years from the time the company was organized the present proprietor took possession of the property. The tannery at present turns out about 4,000 hides annually, and employs four hands.
C. C. Vroman's creamery, located a little north of Rodman village, is fitted up with the De Laval centrifugal cream separators. The cylinders are cap-
641
TOWN OF RODMAN.
able of churning 300 pounds of butter at one time. During the season the number of pounds of milk averages about 1,840,000, and the number of pounds of butter made therefrom about 80,000, valued at $16,800.
The West Rodman cheese factory was built by A. R. Heath in 1870. It has the milk of 450 cows, aggregating about 1,200,000 pounds annually. From this milk is made 120,000 pounds of cheese and 15,000 pounds of but- ter, the united value of which is about $ 13,000.
Mr. Oatman's saw, shingle, and planing-mill is situated on Fish Creek, about a mile southwest of Rodman village, and was built by M. P. Wait in 1866. It has a capacity for turning out 5,000 feet of lumber daily, and 600,- ooo shingles annually.
E. L. Todd's saw-mill, located on Sandy Creek, between Zoar and Whites- ville, was built by Reuben Smith about 1840. At the present time it is but little used.
M. A. Fassett's creamery, located on Sandy Creek, midway between Rod- man and Whitesville, has the patronage of 400 cows, and receives about 1,066,000 pounds of milk annually, from which is manufactured about 47,000 pounds of butter, valued at $8,500.
Dunaway & Dickinson's cheese factory, situated at East Rodman, re- ceives the milk of 350 cows, aggregating about 900,000 pounds annually, from which is made 90,000 pounds of cheese, valued at $8, 100.
The South Rodman cheese factory, located at Tremaine's Corners, is owned by C. D. Hitchcock, and has a patronage of 296 cows, receives about 750,000 pounds of milk annually, and makes about 75,000 pounds of cheese, valued at $5,525.
Henry C. Spencer's creamery, in the south part of the town, on road 55, has the patronage of 100 cows, receives about 216,000 pounds of milk an- nually, from which is manufactured 15,000 pounds of butter, valued at $3,150.
C. H. Vroman's creamery, in the north part of the town, on road I, is fitted up with approved apparatus, being built in 1886. It has the Blanch- ard butterworker and the De Laval separators. The patronage of the fac- tory is 450 cows, receives about 1,250,000 pounds of milk annually, from which is made 56,250 pounds of butter, valued at $11,812.
A. Miller's cheese factory was built by O. G. Heaton in 1864. It has the patronage of 375 cows, receives about 810,000 pounds of milk annually, from which is made 81,000 pounds of cheese, valued at $6,075.
E. A. North's saw-mill was built in 1869 by Marcus Inman. It is situ- ated on the Gulf stream east of Rodman village, and is capable of sawing 200,000 feet of lumber annually.
M. G. Wilson's cheese factory, located at Rodman village, was started in 1890. It has the capacity for handling the milk from 400 to 500 COWS.
Benjamin Wright made the first survey of this town in 1798, and in 1800 Joseph Crary made surveys. The town was divided into 56 lots of irregular
41*
642
TOWN OF RODMAN.
size, which were generally subdivided into quarters, the original division being known as a great lot. Silas Stow, of Lowville, as the agent of Harrison & Hoffman, opened the town for settlement in 1801, the land being generally sold at $3.50 per acre. Anson and Ebenezer Moody, Jonathan, Noah, and Aaron Davis, Simeon Hunt, Benjamin Thomas, and William Rice came in in the spring and summer of 1801, built log houses, and made small clearings. Mrs. E. Moody joined her husband here in September of that year, and was the first white woman to settle in the town. A few months later she gave birth to a son, which was the first white child born in Rodman. The child was named Walter Harrison Moody, for one of the proprietors of the town, who promised 100 acres to the first-born child. The child died at the age of three years, which was the first death in the town, before having received the land; but Mr. Moody subsequently received a title to 50 acres.
In September, 1802, Timothy Greenly, from Litchfield, N. Y., purchased a large tract, aggregating 2,669} acres, in the southeastern part of the town, and soon after located upon a portion of it, where he resided until his death, February 19, 1852. Thomas White, also from Litchfield, came in 1802, and settled on Sandy Creek, at what is now Whitesville. He moved west in 1810. Daniel Todd, from Connecticut, settled near White's the same year. Will- iam Dodge came in in 1803, and settled on lot 13. Reuben Smith also set- tled on lot 13 the same year. He was an active man and built several mills. In 1804 William Rice erected a saw-mill at Rodman village, and in 1806 a grist-mill.
The books of the land-holders show the following additional names of those who contracted for land under date of December 1, 1804: Jesse Smith, Aaron Moody, Horace Townsend, Thomas White, Joseph Nickles, Arnold Stone, Nathan Whitman, Avery Wallsworth, Joseph Dana, Titus King, Noah Davis, Thadrick Case, Leonard Farewell, Joshua Finney, John Vaughan, and Leon- ard Barker. In 1805 Buell and Westcott, Nathan Freeman, Hawks and French, Pierce and Lampson, Wright, Mead, and others made purchases. Asa Cooley came in in 1807, and the same year Abner Fuller settled on lot No. 1. From 1804 to 1810 the town settled very rapidly. In the western part of the town the Gateses were among the most prominent. Other well known settlers were Ziba Buell, Stephen Cook, Jesse Wright, John Butter- field, John Burton, Jacob Heath, Nathaniel Harrington, and Solomon, Joseph, and Job Priest. The town books show the following, besides those already mentioned, to have been active citizens of Rodman previous to 181 1 : Bazaleel Gleason, Roswell Blanchard, Luther Eastman, Peter Yandes, Beloved Rhodes, Cyrus H. Stone, Isaiah Post, Calvin Clifford, George H. Thomas, Elijah Rus- sell, Enoch Murray, Caleb Woodward, Zachariah Wallsworth, Epaphras Moody, Abel Loveland, Timothy Underwood, Abijah Kellogg, Stoddart Eastman, Nathaniel Tremaine, Greene Kellogg, Amariah Babbitt, Heman Swift, Titus King, Luther Woodworth, Barnard M. Warren, Aaron M. Loomis, Reuben Tremaine, Ebenezer Blackstone, John Hacket, James Wright, Lyman Law-
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