USA > New York > Herkimer County > History of Herkimer county, New York > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
The Pike Knitting-Machine Company-Is located on Elizabeth street. This business was begun with the late Michael Reddy as a partner in the fall of 1886. Mr. Reddy died, and in the spring of 1888 Mr. Pike purchased his interest. The business is prosperous and an industry of growing importance.
Chris. Hansen's Laboratory .- This is a branch of the main house in Copenhagen, Denmark, which has a world-wide reputation. The branch was first established in New York in 1878, but in 1881 was re- moved to Little Falls, the center of a great dairying industry. The products of the laboratory are Hansen's Butter Color, Danish Rennet Extract, Cheese Color, Rennet Tablets, etc. The establishment was located opposite the New York Central Railroad depot until 1891, when Lock Island, in the Mohawk in the eastern part of the village, was pur- chased of the Benton estate and its name changed to Hansen's Island. A heavy retaining wall was constructed to protect the western side of the island against high water, and a commodious stone building erected. The factory is reached by the iron bridge which was built by the town in 1892, at a cost of $15,000. This branchi was founded by and is un- der the management of J. D. Fredericksen, a native of Denmark. The
38
298
HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
products are shipped to all parts of this country, to New Zealand, Aus- tralia and many parts of Europe.
On Southern avenue is situated the planing- mill, saw- mill and furni- ture factory of P. W. Casler, which was established in 1884. A large business is carried on and from fifteen to twenty- five hands are employed.
Superior Furnace Company .- This company was organized in 1889 with a capital stock of $40,000, and the following officers: Watts T. Loomis, president ; Walter WV. Whitman, vice- president ; William G. Milligan, treasurer ; William H. Switzer, secretary and manager. The works and office are on Mohawk street, occupying a large portion of the foundry and machine shop of M. Reddy, to which large additions have been made. Three styles of heating furnaces are made-for hot air, a combination of hot air and steam, and hot water.
Reddy's Machine Shop and Foundry .- A paper- mill was erected in Little Falls in 1830 by William J. Pardee, and after operation for some time was conducted by M. W. Priest and William Paige, and was burned in 1839. It was rebuilt by S. M. & A. Richmond of wood. It was again burned July 13, 1853, and was rebuilt in brick in the same year. The Richmonds sold it to Butcher, Lamb & Senior, who used the building as a shoddy mill. It was next owned by Owens & Petrie, who manufactured starch there. Mr. Petrie sold it to J. J. Gilbert, and he transferred it to Michael Reddy. Early in the history of the village General Bellinger sold to Alanson Ingham a site for a felting and cloth- ing works .. Mr. Ingham erected a wooden building and carried on the business several years. The building was then converted into a ma- chine shop, and a foundry was established in connection. After pass- ing through several hands it was purchased in 1839 by Michael Reddy. This site and the paper- mill property above described, purchased in 1886 by Mr. Reddy, has been converted by rebuilding and additions into the present extensive works. Upon the death of Mr. Reddy the property passed to his sons, Robert, James, and Edward Reddy. Cast gearings and other foundry work are now produced, and thirty hands employed.
Yarn-Mill .- The old yarn factory on Loomis island, near the Reddy foundry, was built by Earl Trumbull between 1845 and 1848, on the site of Heath & Barber's foundry, which was one of the very early
299
TOWN OF LITTLE FALLS.
manufacturing establishments of the place. It was erected originally by Henry Heath and James N. Barber, who had leased the site and power from General Bellinger. Trumbull's lease was from A. Loomis, who succeeded General Bellinger. The plant was destroyed by fire in 1853, and Mr. Loomis rebuilt it the same year. From 1851 to 1868 the mill was operated by Gay & Barber. It was then sold to John C. Cunningham, who sold it at the end of a year, and in 1870 it came into the possession of Titus Sheard. He successfully operated the factory for a number of years. It is now used as a store-house by the Superior Furnace Company.
Rock Island Paper Mill -This mill is situated on Mohawk street, south side of the river. It was erected by Arphaxed Loomis on the site of a woolen- mill which was built by Erastus Hovey in 1845. It was also used as a flax-dressing mill, and finally as a woolen mill. In 1877 William Kingston & Co. leased the mill of Mr. Loomis and began the manufacture of paper, which was continued until 1881. From that year until 1883 the mill was idle, and in the latter year it was burned. Mr. Loomis erected a new building on the site, and Mr. Kingston equipped it with new machinery and again began manufacturing paper. The product is now building paper, and the capacity of the mill three and one-half tons per day.
A few rods below the paper-mill on Loomis Island, above men- tioned, was in early times a small machine shop which was carried on by James Tillinghast and was destroyed by the flood of 1865. On the site was erected a last factory which was operated by Kingston & Co. It has been unoccupied for several years.
The Warrior Mower Company .- This is one of the once prosperous industries of Little Falls that has gone out of existence. The company was incorporated in 1868 for the manufacture of mowing machines under patents to Frank Bramer. A large manufacturing plant was erected and business at once begun. The machines were successful and for many years found a market in all parts of the world. Three thou- sand or more were made annually. The business was given up in 1891 and the buildings are now used for storage.
Astoronga Knitting-Mills .- In 1858 J. J. Gilbert built a stone fac- tory on Seeley Island, south bank of the Mohawk, in the eastern part of
300
HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
the village and began manufacturing starch. Connected with the fac- tory was an elevator on the canal about twenty rods distant, which re- ceived grain from boats and conducted it to the factory. The business was continued until 1884, Mr. Gilbert in the mean time having died. In 1885 the building was remodeled by the estate, and, with the Wood- bridge paper-mill, converted into a knitting mill; it was operated by Gilbert & Walrath until 1891 when the copartnership expired by limit- ation, Mr. Walrath retired, and the business was continued by J. J. Gilbert, a son of the founder of the original factory. lle manufactures a variety of knitted underwear. The elevator alluded to above is now in use for elevating and storing grain.
Shoddy and Wool Extract .- This business was established by Smith & Bushnell in 1882, on a small scale, the works being situated on Loomis Island. In 1887 the business had so much increased that a new mill was built on Moss Island, and at present fifty-five hands are ยท employed, and the product is sold throughout the country.
Hotels .- In early times, on the then famous Mohawk turnpike, where the old building now occupied by Ransom & Wilcox still stands, on Main street, one Morgan kept a stage-house, and was succeeded by John McKinster. A handsome gilt buck's head and horns projected from the lintel. Here the four-horse post coaches halted to change teams and for meals and other refreshment. After the Erie Canal was com- pleted these coaches gradually disappeared from the turnpike road, as travelers went mostly by canal. The taverns, which were quite numer- ous in the village at that period, were, one by one, discontinued, the buildings being converted into dwelling houses or stores. A few of the best public houses, however, remained, some of which have been kept as such up to the present.
The Girvan House, corner of Main and Ann streets, is one of the landmarks of the village, and was originally erected for a dwelling by Eben Britton, father-in-law of Nathaniel S. Benton. Subsequently Mr. Benton raised the building one story and added to it on the eastern and western ends. It has been kept by various proprietors, and is now under the management of James Zoller.
A hotel long known as the Hinchman House stood on the ground where is now situated the Hardin & Wheeler block on Main street.
301
TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
This was burned in March, 1877, and George W. Shall, who was popu- lar as a landlord, converted two stores in the Hinchman property into a hotel, and successfully conducted it until 1891, when Messrs. Lasher & Weatherwax leased the property of Mr. Shall, and changed the name to Hotel Rockton. On the 16th of March, 1892, Mr. Lasher retired from the firm and A. G. Weatherwax became sole proprietor.
The Metropolitan Hotel, corner of Main and Mary streets, now kept by Joseph Mullin, stands on a site that has long been used for hotel purposes. In 1882 Mr. Mullin purchased the property, then known as the Bradford House, of Mr. N. A. Bradford, and rebuilt it into a hand- some structure of four stories.
The Grand Central Hotel was erected in 1875 on the site formerly occupied by the dwelling of the late George H. Feeter, which was owned and occupied by Peter J. Casler in 1866. Mr. Casler kept the house several years, but it is now used for other purposes.
There are several other less important public houses in the village which do not call for special mention.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
T HIS town is situated near the center of Herkimer county, as far as relates to the thickly settled southern part, and is bounded on the north by Norway ; on the east by Salisbury and Manheim ; on the south by Little Falls and Herkimer, and on the west by Newport and Herkimer. It was set off from Norway February 10, 1796, and from it a part of Newport was taken in 1806, and a part of Little Falls in 1829. The surface of the town is a hilly upland, the center rising into a ridge nearly one thousand feet above the West Canada Creek. The soil on the up- lands is mostly clay and in the valleys it is gravelly. It is quite well watered with small streams, and West Canada Creek flows along the southwest border. The town comprises the north half of Glen's pur- chase and the first allotment of the Royal Grant.
302
HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
Fairfield was first settled in 1770 by three German families named Maltanner, Goodbrodt, and Shaver, who located on the Royal Grant, about half a mile northeast of the site of Fairfield village and near to- gether. From the first-named family Maltanner Creek received its name. Quoting from Judge Benton :
These people were sent there by Sir William Johnson, to make an opening in his Royal Grant. They had never been suspected by the Americans of being friendly to their cause ; nor could they be charged with disloyalty to the king. In 1799 a party of Indians came to this little settlement, but one of their number being sick, they kept shy, as an Indian can, about ten days, to allow their comrade to recover, when, with a yell and a whoop, and brandishing their tomahawks, they fell upon Sir John Johnson's tenants, captured two of the Maltanners, father and son, killed a little girl sixteen years old, of the Shaver family, and then burned up all Sir John's houses and buildings in the settlement. The Goodbrodt and Shaver families and some of the Maltanners es- caped to tell the sad story of their bereavement and losses to their rebel neighbors. The Maltanners were taken to St. Regis by the Indians, where they remained three years, and returned in 1782. His majesty's officials in Canada might well suppose the two captives, if allowed to return, would not be very hearty and zealous in the royal canse, after such treatment; and therefore concluded to detain them. The elder Mal- tanner, when he came back, said he met Sir John in Canada, and told him what had happened, whereat the gallant knight was exceedingly wrathful, and fulminated big words and strong language against the d-d savages, for their conduct in killing, tak- ing captive and dispersing his tenants, and burning his houses. He had other tenants on the grant, loyal and true, who might be treated in the same way. Sir John no doubt felt hurt, not because any tender feeling towards his fellow man had been touched, or any law of humanity outraged; but because the same rule of warfare he had applied to others, had been, and might again be, visited upon himself.
There was a German settlement in the town before the Revolution near the Manheim line, about four miles north of Little Falls, where the Keller, Windecker, Pickert, and other families, who were not of the Burnetsfield patentees, settled under the patronage of some of the own- ers of the Glen's purchase. Cornelius Chatfield came into Fairfield on the 24th of March, 1785, and settled near the site of the village. He is believed to have been the first New Englander to arrive after the close of the war. Abijah Mann, father of Abijah Mann, jr., came in the following May and settled a little west of the village site. These were followed by Josiah, David and Lester Johnson, who came from Connecticut in 1786; John Bucklin and Benjamin Bowen, from Rhode Island; John Eaton, Nathaniel and William Brown, from Massachusetts,
-
303
TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
and Samuel Low in 1787 ; David Benseley, from Rhode Island, and Elisha Wyman and Comfort Eaton, from Massachusetts in 1788 ; Jere- miah Ballard from Massachusetts in 1789 ; William Bucklin, the Arnold families, Daniel Fenner, Nathan Smith, and Amos and James Haile, mostly from Massachusetts, in 1790; Peter and Bela Ward, from Con- necticut, in 1791. A large part of these settled southwesterly from Fairfield village ; while the Eatons, Browns, Hailes, Arnolds, Bucklins and Wards located at what became known as Eatonsville. Jeremiah Ballard settled about two miles northeast of Fairfield village. Moses Mather, father of Dr. William and Jairus Mather, settled on Bartow llill, but removed to Poland in 1806, where he remained nine years, and then returned to this town Jairus Mather is still an influential resident of Fairfield. John and Edward Griswold came into the town soon after Mr. Chatfield and purchased land on the west of the village site. Joseph Teall came in 1788 and bought land of Mr. Chatfield, which extended into what is now the village. Robert Nolton, father of Judge Hiram Nolton, settled just west of the village. John B. Fenner came into the town in 1806. Samuel Green was one of the early settlers and probably erected the first grist and saw-mill. Many of these pioneers have descendants living in the town, as will appear.
On Maltanner's Brook there is a picturesque water-fall. In that vicinity Daniel Marvin was an early settler and had a small grist-mill there at a very early date. Richard Bushnell succeeded Marvin. Mer- rell Hudleston came into possession of the farm on which the water- fall is situated and improved the grounds about the falls for a picnic resort. He gave the place the name of "Cupid's Retreat," which has ever since clung to it. Daniel and Amasa Bushnell were prominent citizens and had at one time a fulling- mill just west of where the cheese factory is located.
The first town meeting was held April 6, 1796, when the following officers were chosen :
Supervisor, John Comins; town clerk, Stephen Carpenter; commissioners of high- ways, Henry Neely, Abijah Mann, Joseph Willard ; assessors, Roger Kinne, Isaiah Johnson, Amos Graves ; overseers of the poor, Abijah Mann, John Eaton; school com- missioners, Nathan Smith, William Lapham, Joseph Mason ; constables, Luther Britton, John McMichael; poundmasters, David Brown, Roswell Buell ; fence viewers, David Brown, Cornelius Chatfield, Joseph Teall; collector of rates, Moses Mather.
301
HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
At the same meeting the town was divided into twenty-eight road districts, and the simple government of the community was established.
During a considerable period after the first settlement of this town the population was greater in number than at the present time. The farms were smaller, and grain raising for market at Albany was the chief agricultural occupation. Butter and cheese were made for home use, but not much more. If grain crops failed, or if, as often happened after the canal was opened, prices were very low, money was scarce, and the farmers suffered. But the time came to this town, as to many others in Herkimer county, when farmers awoke to the importance of dairying as a means of bettering their condition. They are among the most enterprising to be found anywhere, and embraced the comparative- ly new occupation with energy. The result is, that no town in the county now excels Fairfield as a dairy center, and years ago it had ac- quired the reputation of being the best in the world.
Joseph Teall has already been mentioned as the first settler on the site of Fairfield village. He purchased his land of Abijah Mann, and built his dwelling in rear of the old chapel of the academy. The first merchants in the village were Nahum Daniels and William Smith, who had a store in 1796; they were succeeded by Norman Butler, who kept a store thirty years or more. Butler also built a saw-mill, and owned a grist mill and a distillery, in which Gilbert Dean had preceded him. Major Jonathan and Stephen Hallett were early merchants ; Stephen ac- quired Jonathan's interest about 1820, and carried on an extensive business both in Fairfield and Norway. He was appointed sheriff of the county by the Council of Appointment in 1821, reappointed in 1822, and in November of the latter year elected to that office, which he held until 1826. He died at Fairfield November 19, 1827, aged forty years, leaving a wife and two daughters, only one of whom, Mrs. X. A. Willard, of Little Falls, survives. Mr. Hallett was succeeded by Alexander Il. Buell, who, at the death of the former, assumed the sole proprietorship of the business at Fairfield. In connection with differ- ent persons, Mr. Buell extended his mercantile business into the neigh- boring towns and villages of the county, and his commercial operations extended to various parts of the country. He was elected to the As- sembly in 1845, and to the Thirty-second Congress from the seven-
1
305
TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
teenth congressional district, composed of Herkimer and Montgomery counties, in 1850. He died at Washington, D. C., January 31, 1853, aged fifty-two years. F. A. Morey and M. A. Barnes are at present merchants in the village. The first frame building in the place was the one in which Daniels & Smith had their store. The first tavern was kept by Cornelius Chatfield, the pioneer, who was succeeded by John D. Waterman ; and Israel Jones had a public house which John E. Drake now keeps. The first lawyer in the town was William Lapham, a native of Ireland, who was here in 1796 ; he became prominent in the affairs of the town and combined farming with his legal labors. William D. Ford was an early lawyer and became member of Congress; and Hiram Nolton practiced here at an early day, and afterwards rose to the bench. A sketch of his career will be found in the chapter on the Bench and Bar. Arunah C. Smith was an early attorney and first judge of the county in 1840.
Col. Charles Willard came with his father from Saybrook, Conn., in 1793, and settled in that part of the town of Fairfield known as the Platform, where he spent the greater part of his life. In the War of 1812 he held a commission, and was on duty at Sackett's Harbor when peace was declared. Active, energetic and public-spirited, he was widely known and identified with movements for the improvement and well-being of the town. He died at Newport, July 14, 1862, leaving a large family of children. His son, George N. Willard, about sixty years ago, was a prominent merchant of Herkimer county. He was associated in business with the late Hon. Alexander H. Buell at Fair- field and Norway for several years. In 1848 he removed to Newport, and subsequently to Utica and Oriskany Falls, continuing in mercantile trade at each place. He died at Newport, November 26, 1888. His son, Charles P. Willard, is a prominent manufacturer of Chicago.
Drs. Eastman, Taft and Sherwood practiced medicine here in early years, and were followed by Dr. Moses Johnson, Dr. William Mather, Dr. Griffin Sweet, Dr. I. N. Willard, and Dr. C. W. Nichols, who is now in practice. The present postmaster is W. Lamberson.
The village of Fairfield has a national reputation as the site of the oldest medical college in the United States, and of the oldest academy, histories of both of which are found herein,
39
5.06
HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
Fairfield Seminary .- In the autumn of 1801 Rev. Caleb Alexander, a Presbyterian minister residing at Mendon, Mass., came into what was then called Western New York, to visit the churches and Indians as a missionary. He visited and preached at Norway, Salisbury and Fair- field, and during his stay, suggested to the people of the latter place the idea of establishing a school of academic grade. The people were favorably impressed with the proposition and immediately set about raising the necessary funds. Mr. Alexander removed his family from Mendon to Fairfield in the spring of 1802, and in connection with Captain Moses Mather, became actively engaged in circulating the subscription. Sufficient funds were soon procured and on the Fourth of July, 1802, the academy building was raised, and in the spring of 1803 was ready for occupancy. The school was chartered by the Re- gents of the University March 15, 1803. The first meeting of the Board of Trustees was held April 6, and the school organized April 13, with Mr. Alexander as principal. He was an accomplished scholar, a man of commanding presence and possessed of great tenacity and perseverance, and consequently the school was successful and popular from the start.
The Alexandrian Society, an association of students for mutual im- provement and practice in extemporaneous speaking, was organized in 1806, and at the same time the foundation of a library was laid.
In order to increase the usefulness, and extend the sphere of the institution, a building called the " Wooden Laboratory " was erected in 1808, and Dr. Josiah Noyes employed to give lectures on chemistry and the theory and practice of medicine. This course of lectures was so largely attended that the building was found too small.
It was then thought best to erect a larger building and establish a medical and anatomical school, so in 1809-10 the stone laboratory was built. The new department so increased the number of students in at- tendance that another building was required for their accommodation, and in 1811 a stock company was organized which erected the " North Building." This building was rented for many years by the trustees of the academy and finally purchased by them.
In January, 1812, Mr. Alexander resigned as principal of the academy and Rev. Bethel Judd was elected in his place. During this
-
111
'KORR-Co.N. Y.
FAIRFIELD SEMINARY, 1860.
2
HP
THE ARMORY.
307
TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
year the Alexandrian Society was reorganized and the name changed to Calliopean Society.
About this time an arrangement was made with Trinity Church, N. Y., by which the academy was to receive the sum of $750 annually, on con- dition that the principal employed should be an Episcopal clergyman, and that four divinity students should be instructed free. From this fact the school was sometimes referred to as a "Divinity School." In 1813 the laboratory was transferred to the Medical College, which had been lately chartered.
In 1814 Rev. Virgil H. Barber was made principal. After about two years it was ascertained that this gentleman had changed his re- ligious opinions and had become a Catholic. To retain him as prin- cipal being therefore in violation of the agreement with the vestry of Trinity Church, he was dismissed by the trustees. This Mr. Barber was a portly man of fine presence and affable manners, and a classical scholar of great acquirements. He had several children, and the Latin language was the common medium of conversation in his family.
The next principal was Rev. Daniel McDonald, under whose ad- ministration the school was attended by an unusual number of stu- dents who afterwards became eminent in their several professions. In 1820 the school received a grant of $5,000 from the State, and with this money the stock of the North Building was purchased, the scrip being bought up at the rate of seventy cents on the dollar. Dr. Mc- Donald left in 1821 to become principal of Geneva Academy, and the branch Theological School at Fairfield was transferred to Geneva. He is said to have been a remarkable man ; was prominent in the organ- ization of Hobart College, and for several years its acting principal. With Dr. McDonald's departure, the connection of Fairfield Academy with Trinity Church was ended.
Previous to this time frequent efforts had been made to obtain a charter for a college at Fairfield, and, in 1816, the Regents granted the charter on condition that $50,000 should be raised ; but with the most strenuous efforts only about one-half of that amount could be obtained, and no college was established.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.