USA > New York > Herkimer County > History of Herkimer county, New York > Part 29
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A short time before Dr. McDonald's resignation Bishop Hobart was earnestly requested to locate at Fairfield a college and theological school
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
which he had in contemplation, and, as an inducement, the whole academic property was offered free. The bishop did not, however, consider the location sufficiently far west, and the proposition was not accepted. The academy had now been in operation eighteen years, and, as an educational institution, had acquired a reputation unrivaled by that of any simi ar school in the country ; but its financial affairs had not been managed in accordance with strict business principles, the ac counts had been carelessly kept and many bills remained uncollected, so that the Board of Trustees resolved to try a new method of con- ducting the school. In the spring of 1821 Rev. David Chassell took charge of the school on the following terms, viz : He was to receive all money arising from tuition and all received from the Regents, ex- cept what was necessary to keep the buildings in repair. He, virtually, had the whole management of the school, having the use of the build- ings free of rent. After remaining three years Mr. Chassell left, and Charles Avery took the school on similar terms. At the end of three years he retired to accept the professorship of mathematics in Hamilton College, when Dr. Chassell again took the school and retained the sole management until 1840.
During all this period of twenty years, since the retirement of Dr. McDonald, the school had kept the even tenor of its way, main- taining its reputation as one of the very best secondary schools in the State. Mr. Chassell was an accomplished scholar, an enthusiastic teacher and a rigid disciplinarian ; he inspired his pupils with a love of correct and thorough scholarship, encouraged them in their ambitious hopes and aspirations, and aided them in every way consistent with his ability. lle was something of a terror to the idle and mischievous boys, but was always regarded with respect and reverence by the energetic and industrious students.
Mr. Chassell left the school in the spring of 1840 and the Board of Trustees, assuming control, employed Rev. Henry Banister as principal During this year the " Waterman Building," known afterward as the " Wood Building," was hired and fitted up, and in the fall term a female department was organized, with Miss Julia A. Baldwin as preceptress.
In the summer of 1844, the trustees of the Medical College granted the use of the college buildings to the academy, and the "South College"
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TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
was occupied as a Female Seminary at the beginning of the fall term. From this time the academy continued its usual course without the occurrence of any important events to mark its history until 1852. During its whole existence no boarding department had been connected with it; the teachers obtained board where they could, the principal resid- ing with his family in the village. The students obtained board at private houses, formed clubs or brought food from home, cooking it in their rooms. These rooms were unfurnished and at the beginning of the year often untidy, presenting a cheerless and forbidding appearance to the newcomer. In 1852 the " Laboratory Building " was remodeled and the first floor converted into a dining hall and parlors, with kitchen in the rear; the two floors above being made into two large recitation rooms.
In 1854, inspired by the enthusiastic talk of Rev. L. D. Stebbins, the Board of Trustees resolved to erect a new building on. the academy grounds, provide facilities for boarding a large number of students and advertise the school as a boarding-school, under the name of "Fairfield Classical Academy and Female Collegiate Institute," and also make several changes in the methods of conducting its affairs. By extensive advertising and a thorough canvass of a large portion of the State, many students were secured, and on November 8, what is known as the " Big School " opened. The buildings were filled to overflowing and the ex- pectations of Mr. Stebbins fully realized, but the low prices that had been fixed for board and tuition were insufficient to pay expenses, so the rates were necessarily raised, which caused a decrease in the number of students, yet it was still large.
On account of the large school, the students found the opportunities for society work too limited, and during the fall term of 1854 a debating club was organized, which, after a few weeks, developed into the Philo- rhetorean Society.
Mr. Stebbins soon resigned on account of ill health, and Rev. J. B. Van Petten became principal. Under him the school continued large and prosperous until the beginning of the Civil War, when several of the teachers, and many of the students enlisted. From this time the academy, though the numbers were less, continued its usual course for many years, and until the high school departments of the union schools so reduced the number of students that its prosperity began to decline.
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HISTORY OF HIERKIMER COUNTY.
In 1882 it was decided to obtain money on subscription, pay up all debts, repair the buildings and entirely reorganize the school. A stock company was formed, about $5,000 were raised and expended and a new charter obtained, in which the name " Fairfield Seminary " was substituted for that of " Fairfield Academy." The institution was first rented to Gen. Van Petten and afterwards to others at a nominal rent, but for various reasons the school was not a success.
In 1885 the present proprietors, 1). D. & F. L. Warne, obtained pos- session of the school, and by the application of untiring energy and business ability, have restored it to its former standing and popularity. Every means has been employed to keep the school in line with modern methods of education and render it as efficient and useful as of old. In 1891 the War Department detailed an officer to Fairfield for the purpose of military drill ; a fine new armory was built and a military department organized, which promises to add to the success and pros- perity of the school. Many persons have been educated here, who subsequently became prominent ; among them are ex Judge Addi- son Gardner, ex-Judge Denio, Prof. Foster, of Union College, ex-Senator A. M. Mills, and Jean R. Stebbins.
Churches. - Fairfield Central Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized February 1, 1836, with Amos Sherwood, Thomas A. Rice, Lina E. Ford, John Green and William Lamberson as trustees. Rev. E. W. A. Allen was the pastor. The present house of worship was dedicated in July, 1837, and about the same time Fairfield was set off from Herkimer circuit, and made a station. Rev. George Gary was presiding elder, and Rev. Aaron Adams was pastor at that time, and the same persons that composed the board of trustees were also elected a board of stewards. The following named clergymen have served as pastors of Fairfield station and in the order named :
Rev. Messrs. Aaron Adams, Isaac L. Hunt, Albert D. Peck, John Loveys, A. W. Cummings, F. II. Stanton, L. D. Stebbins, Aaron Adams, J. F. Dayan, Isaac Turney, J. C. Vandercook, George G. Hapgood, W. I. Hunt, C. H. Austin, B. E. Whipple, J. F. Dayan, Lewis Meredith, Pomeroy Wright, W. H. Anable, Harlow Skeele, W. F. Tooke, C. W. Parsons, T. II. Mellenthan, J. C. Stewart, Mr. Babcock, M. G. Wads- worth, L. B. Gray, J. L. Short. and IT. M. Church. The present trustees are : E. C. Rice, Milton Ford, Morgan A. Reese, James W. Ford, E. B. Fairchild, D. C. Reese, and M. A. Barnes.
Jours fraternally. D. DItarne
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TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
A meeting of a number of Episcopalians of Fairfield was held on the 5th of January, 1807, and the following persons were chosen as officers of a society : Wardens, Andrew A. Bartow and Jonathan Hallett ; vestrymen, Stodard Squires, Charles Ward, Elijah Blanchard, William Wakley, Peter Ward, Philip Paine, Joseph Teall and Abiel Burnett. The name of " Trinity Church of the Town of Fairfield " was adopted. The lot on which the church stands was purchased of Richard Smith in September, 1808, and the house was consecrated October 28, 1809. The list of pastors is not available.
The Village of Middleville - Is situated on West Canada Creek, on the western border of the town, and extends across the creek into New- port; but a large share of the business portion is in the town of Fairfield. The land on which this village stands was owned in early times by Richard Kimball, and was sold by him to Sheffield Kinyon (or Ken- yon) John McMichael, an early settler, erected the first building on the site of the present Spellman House ; it was kept as a public house, and another was kept in 1807 by Samuel Stevens, nearly opposite where George Griswold now lives. In 1808 a Mr. Streeter had a blacksmith shop on the site of the dwelling and store of W. W. Mosher (the store now occupied by H. E. & D. G. Jackson), and about that time Eber Stevens also had a shop. The first bridge across the West Canada Creek was built in 1810 by Jacob Wiltsie, and in the same year he erected a saw-mill on the site where a mill has stood for many years. In the same year a grist mill was also built on the site of the present one, by a stock company. The first school-house was built in 1813. Under the union free school system the present commodious house was erected. The school is now a graded one, with A. B. Crim as principal.
Kanata Knitting- Mills -The subscription list for a manufacturing company was started January 10, 1814, the company to be known as the Herkimer Manufacturing Company, capital $40,000, divided in 400 shares of $100 each, to be paid in installments of $8.50 every three months until paid in full. The company was organized to manufacture wool, cotton, flax, and iron ; the money subscribed to be used in pur- chasing six acres of land at $50 per acre, widening canal, repairing dam, erecting buildings, buying machinery and stock. The certificate of incorporation was dated January 27, 1814, and was filed in the sec-
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
retary of state's office February 1, 1814, with the following as stock- holders:
James llaile, George Kretsinger. Bela Ward, Roland Sears. Jed Baldwin, Joseph Lawton, Oliver Ellis, John Burton, Clark Smith, Linus Evarts, Richard Bushnell, Wy- man Eaton, Nathaniel Carpenter; and the following were named as trustees for one year: George Kretsinger, Oliver Ellis, James Haiie, Bela Ward, Clark Smith, John Burton and Nathaniel Carpenter.
The dam across the West Canada Creek was already built by the grist- mill company, and a raceway leading from the dam to grist mill further down the creek. The Herkimer Manufacturing Company widened the raceway to their property to about double its former width and erected a stone building of five stories 60 by 36 feet, and a wing 60 by 28 feet of two stories, the end of the wing being used as a store. They put in machinery for the manufacture of cotton sheeting, bed- ticking, ropes, and bunting ; they also made scythes, axes, pitchforks, and hoes. The above continued in existence until March 18, 1834, when it was dissolved by the chancellor of New York State, by peti- tion of
William HI. Gordon, Varnum S. Kenyon, Alexander II. Buel, Samuel Griswold, and John Farmer as trustees; Zina Kelsey, Clark Smith, John Green, Caleb Sheldon, Ste- phen Ayres, David Ford, Henry Ellison, Edward T. Cheever, Benjamin Jenks, Silas Thompson, Norman Butler, William M. Cheever. John Farrington, executor of Amos Farrington's estate ; Truman Cole, administrator of John Cole's estate; Stephen F. Carpenter, administrator Nathaniel Carpenter's estate ; Catherine Kretsinger, adminis- tratrix, and Ahijah Mann, jr., administrator of George Kretsinger's estate; and Aaron Griswold, executor of Benoni Ford, stockholders.
James B. Hunt was appointed receiver, and the property was sold by him at auction July 5, 1834, to Henry Ellison, John Farrington, and Simeon Osborne, for $8,850. John Farrington purchased the interest of his partners about the year 1836, and sold out to Varnum S. Ken- yon April 8, 1844. The business was now confined to the manufacture of cotton cloth exclusively, and in 1865 the mill was enlarged by an ad- dition to the main building of 50 by 36 feet, five stories; also an addi- tion to the wing, increasing the output about double. Mr. Kenyon conducted the business very successfully until his death, which occurred in 1873, and the business was continued by the executors of his estate for two years after, and May 5, 1880, the property was sold by them to
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TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
B. W. Nichols and W. W. Montgomery. June 29, 1881, Nichols sold his interest to Montgomery. September 18, 1886, the property was purchased by Edwin J. Nelson and Wm. F. Lansing, and the cotton machinery was taken out, and after many alterations and repairs, the mill was fitted up for a knitting-mill, with woolen cards and all the necessary machinery for the manufacture of knit goods. October 6, 1890, Edwin J. Nelson purchased the interest of Wm. F. Lansing and is now conducting the knitting business. The knitting- mills have three sets of 60-inch cards, 1,300 spindles, eighteen knitting machines, thirty sewing machines, and employ 100 hands.
One of the early industries of Middleville was the tannery built in 1814 by John Wood. It was operated by him until about 1840, when it passed to possession of George M. Thomas. He continued its oper- ation until his death in 1865, when his son, George H. Thomas, became the proprietor, and has continued as such to the present time. During this long period the establishment has, of course, passed through many changes and been greatly enlarged. The annual product is now about 125,000 calf-skins.
The post-office was established at Middleville in 1816 with William H. Gordon as postmaster. C. L. Earl is the present postmaster. The first store was built by Varnum S. Kenyon where H. E. & D. G. Jack- son now carry on trade. In 1828 R. G. Marvin started a clothiery where the railroad machine shops are located. The village of Middle- ville was incorporated in 1890 with Wallace W. Mosher as the first president; he was succeeded by Edwin J. Nelson, and he by Dr. Irv- ing S. Edsall.
Churches .- The "Union Religious Society of Middleville" was organ- nized April 5, 1825, with the following trustees : Sheffield Kenyon, Will- iam H. Gordon, Asahel Harris, Varnum S. Kenyon, and David Ford. During that and the succeeding year the society erected a wooden church which was dedicated in July, 1827. A committee was appointed to de- cide on a time during which the church should be occupied by the vari- ous denominations. This church was used as a union church until about 1880, services in the latter years being held only at intervals. The building finally passed to possession of the Methodists in 1880.
40
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
The First Universalist Society of Middleville was organized Febru- ary 10, 1835, by Rev. Joshua Britton, and a constitution and articles of membership were adopted. The subscribers were Climena Scott, Daniel Post, Betsey Post, Jonathan Potter, Jeremiah Potter, John and Ira Farmer, Bela Ward, Abigail Farmer, Benjamin Keeler, Daniel H. Eastman, and W. Weeden. The society had a share in the union church until it was sold to the Methodists. In 1882 the new church was dedicated, its cost being about $10,000.
The pastors who have served this church are Revs. Joshua Britton, MI. B. Smith, H. Hathaway, T. J. Whitcomb, D. C. Tomlinson, Dolphus Skinner, George W. Skinner, C. D. Haynes, T. D. Cook, L. Holmes, II. K. White, H. L. Webster, S R. Ward, R. H. Aldrich, E. F. Pember, E. B. Burgess, G. W. Powell, Herbert Whitney, and Mary T. Whitney, who was the last regular pastor. The church for a few years has been sup- plied. The officers are: Wardens. A. W. Ford, A. L. Petrie, Henry L. Ward, H. J. Hildreth; treasurer, A. W. Ford; clerk, M. C. Crist.
Episcopal services were formerly held in the Union church, as a mis- sion of the Fairfield church. As an outgrowth of this a church was or- ganized in 1872 under the name of the Church of the Memorial. A handsome church was erected in 1871-2 at a cost of about $10,000, and the rectory has a value of about $2,000. The same rectors have usually served this church and the Fairfield society, the present rector being Rev. Clarence M. Conant. The wardens are John Molineux, treasurer, C. W. Hamlin, M. D., secretary, and Geo. WV. Griswold.
The Methodist church of Middleville was organized January 16, 1836, and incorporated February 1, 1881. In 1880 the society pur- chased the old Union church building, which they removed, remodeled and thoroughly repaired. Services are now conducted in it.
The trustees are James F. Whiting, I S. Edsall and V. S. Farrington. Stewards, I. S. Edsall, V. S. Farrington, Lansing Chase, D. R. Martin, W. W. Dickens, Edward Reese, Herman Stroble. The present pastor is Rev. Il. M Church.
The substantial iron bridge across West Canada Creek was built in 1888; there had been three preceding wooden ones.
The grist-mill is owned by Dr. D. M. Devendorf, who leases it to Wolcott G. Farmer. The population of the village is about Soo and is steadily increasing.
Following is a list of the supervisors of Fairfield from its organization to the present time :
Morgan C. Crist
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TOWN OF SALISBURY.
1796-97, John Comins, jr. ; 1798, Nathan Smith ; 1799, 1801-4, David Brown ; 1800, William Lapham ; 1805-10, An os Haile; 1811-12, William Snob ; 1812-14, James Haile ; 1815, John Eaton ; 1816-25, 1830-32, William Griswold ; 1826-29, Nor- man Butler ; 1833-34, Hiram Nolton; 1835-37, Abram H. Seeley ; 1838-41, A. C. H. Smith ; 1842-43, Thomas A. Rice ; 1844, Alexander H. Buell ; 1845, 1846, 1849, Hiram Ayres; 1847-48, Parley Arnold; 1850-51, 1856, Lauren B. Arnold; 1852-53, David W. Cole; 1854, Samnel Green; 1855, Samuel C. Franklin ; 1857, Griffin Sweet; 1858-59, Morgan L. Churchill; 1860-61, Sideneus Teall; 1862-63, Alfred E. Varney ; 1864-65, John Green; 1866, Albert G. Ford ; 1867, Morgan C. Crist; 1868-70, Eleazer C. Rice ; 1871-72, Albigence W. Ford; 1873-74. Daniel B. Arnold; 1875-78, William WV. Mosher: 1879, 1880, Hiram S. Barnes; 1881, 1882, George H. Thomas; 1883, 1884, Milton Ford ; 1885, Thomas R. Petrie; 1886-88, Seymour C. Bishop; 1889-91, George H. Thomas; 1892, John Fields.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE TOWN OF SALISBURY.
T THIS is one of the largest towns in Herkimer county, having an area of more than 68,000 acres. It embraces a part of the Jersey- field patent, and portions of the first, second and fourth allotments of the Royal Grant. The surface of the northern part of the town is rough and mountainous and not thickly settled, while the southern part is hilly and well adapted to grazing. The principal streams are the East Canada Creek, which forms a part of the east boundary, and Spruce Creek, which flows through the southwest and southern parts. The soil is generally a sandy and clayey loam. Beds of iron ore exist in some parts and have been worked to some extent. The formation of the town occurred on March 3, 1797, when it was taken from Palatine, and on the 17th of April, 1817, it was annexed to Herkimer county from Montgomery county ; it lies on the eastern bor- der of the county and extends into the great northern wilderness.
Salisbury received its name from Salisbury, Conn., whence came many of the early settlers. Of the early settlement of the town Mr. Benton thus wrote :
This town was peopled before the Revolution, with several families of tories or per- sons friendly to the crown, although they may not have committed any overt act of
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HISTORY OF HERKIMER COUNTY.
treason against the colonies. Living on the Royal Grant, they were, no doubt, the tenants of, or went there under the protection of the Johnson family. They were allowed to remain unmolested by the Indians and tories during the whole war; but when the commissioners of forfeitures, in 1784. claimed the grant as the property of the State, they may not have esteemed the protection of their royalist landlords as of much value, or their titles, if they held any, as securing to them "an indefeasible estate of inheritance." One of these people, named Johnson, lived on lot number 154, in the first allotment, Royal Grant, on the road between the old Salisbury meeting- house and the Four Corners. Daniel Lobdell, another of them, lived in the westerly part of the town, about one mile sontherly of the old Salisbury meeting-house.
These parties were conveniently located, to suit the purposes and accomplish the objeets, of those who planted them on the direct route from the Mohawk valley to the head waters of the Black River. Here the disaffected could congregate in safety, and mature their plans of mischief ; and from these points, runners could be dispatched to hover round the out-settlements, collect information, watch the movement of troops in the valley, and even spy out what was going on at the block-houses and stockades, and outside of the principal forts; and here, too, straggling parties of the enemy re- ceived aid and comfort and were seasonably notified of whatever was important for them to know, and within the power of these people to give.
Old Mr. Lobdell had four or five sons who, at an early period of the war, went to Canada with a party of Indians and remained there until after peace was declared.
A controversy as to some of these lands gave rise to a litigation in 1860, as appears by the case of Mckinnon vs. Bliss, 21 New York Reports, 206.
A few New England families probably located in this town before 1788, and between that date and 1794 the immigration was quite rapid. The Salisbury meeting-house, a historic structure, was erected during the last named year. Jabez Ayers built the first frame dwelling in the town. The following families were among the early settlers : Avery, Cook, Hackley, Hallett, Todd, Hopson, Burrell and Water- man. In 1801, according to Rev. Caleb Alexander, who then visited the town, the population was 1,694.
The first town meeting was held April 4, 1797, and the following is a record of the proceedings :
Agreeable to statute, the freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Salisbury con- vened at the house of Aaron Hackley, esq., on Tuesday, the 4th day of April, 1797. Cornelius Humphrey and Aaron Hackley, esqs., superintended the meeting. l'olls opened and proceeded to put in the town offieers, and the following were chosen, that is to say : Cornelius Humphrey, esq., supervisor ; Eliphalet Taylor, town clerk ; Abijah Ford, Samuel Bennet, Jonathan Cole, assessors ; Jonathan Hallett, William Lee, jr.,
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TOWN OF SALISBURY.
and Joseph Munson, commissioners of highways; Nathaniel Curtis, constable and co ]- lector; Stephen Todd, jr., constable ; Reynolds Cahoon and Jabez Ayers, overseers of the poor ; Augustus Thorp, Stutley Can and Caleb Bates, commissioners of schools ; Eleazer Can, Jabez Tuttle and Joseph Tuttle, fence viewers and appraisers of dam- ages ; Joseph Cahoon and Alexander Ayers, poundmasters. The entire town at that time contained only thirteen road districts, and one overseer was elected for each dis- trict.
Other proceedings of this and succeeding early meetings consisted of the customary regulations for restriction of roving animals, selling liquors, etc. In this connection the following entry is of interest as in- dicating who were early merchants and what they had to contend with for violating the law :
Be it remembered that on the 15th day of January, 1798, Joseph Cahoon and Isaiah Kenyon, merchants of the town of Salisbury, county of Montgomery and State of New York, were this day convicted before me, Cornelius Humphrey, one of the justices of the peace of said county, for retailing, on the 9th day of this instant-Jannary-and at several other times, at their store in the town aforesaid, gin and other spirituous liquors by small measure to be drank in their house, without having a license or such permit in their house, out-house, yard or garden, or without having entered into such recogni- zance as is mentioned in the act entitled "an act to lay a duty of excise on strong liquors and for the better regulating of inns and taverns," passed March Ist, 1788.
Given under my hand and seal the 15th day of January, 1798.
CORNELIUS HUMPHREY, J. P.
Following is a list of the supervisors of Salisbury from its organiza- tion to the present time :
Cornelius Humphrey, 1797-99; Samuel Bennett, 1800; Jonathan Hallett, 1801-02; Cornelius Drake, 1803-05; Alvah Southworth, 1806-13; Stephen Todd, 1814, 1820-22. '1824; Elijah Ford, 1815; Isaac Sears, 1816; John D. Waterman, 1817-19; Jeremiah Drake, 1823, 1825, 1829 ; Abraham Marsh, 1826-27 ; Abial Pratt, 1828 ; Henry Water- man, 1830-31; George W. Alton, 1832-36, 1839; Eliakim Sherrill, 1837-38; Atwater Cook, 1840-41; Hiram Hadley, 1842-44; George Avery, 1845; Ira Comstock, 1846; Truman Bliss, 1847-48; Harry Burrell, 1849 ; Lorenzo Carry1, 1850 ; B. Avery, 1851- 52; Daniel A. Northrup, 1853 55, 1859, 1860; James J. Cook, 1856-58, 1877-78; James II. Ives, 1861-64; Milton B. Avery, 1865-66; George L. Byington, 1867-69 ; John Ives, 1870-71; W. F. Burrell, 1872-73; Volney Hopson, 1874; Ormel Leavitt, 1875-77; J. J. Cook, 1878-79; Frank H. Loucks, 1880-82 ; Charles L. Ives, 1883-84 ; William H. Cramer, 1885-86; Warren II. Eaton, 1887-92.
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