History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 92

Author: Durant, Samuel W; Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 862

USA > New York > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 92

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This lodge, as will be seen from its number, is one of the earlier ones formed in the State, and is in a flourishing condition.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF MANNSVILLE

was formed about 1831 by the union of one in Lorraine and one in the west part of the town. The latter, styled the " 2d Baptized Church of Ellisburg," was formed Oct. 8-13, 1817, under Elder Timothy Brewster, assisted by Elders Emery Osgood, of Henderson ; Matthew Wilkie, of Wilna; Martin E. Cook, of Ellisburg; and Elisha Morgan, of Rutland. In 1833 this sect, with the Congregationalists, erected their present place of worship at a cost of $1600.

The first pastor of this congregation at Mannsville was Elder Allen. Those succeeding him have been Elders Jonathan N. Webb, Henry Ward, Daniel Reed, - Heath, Abner Webb (afterwards sent on a mission to Bur- mah, and now in the western part of the United States), Joshua Freeman, H. L. Grose, Leander Hall, J. M. Beeman,

Howell, J. W. Ford, - Lindsay (a Scotchman), and the present pastor, Elder D. K. Smith .*

The edifice belonging to the society is a frame building, with a capacity for seating easily 250, and with little crowding nearly or quite 300 persons. A Sabbath-school was organized within four or five years after the organiza- tion of the church, and has a membership of about 140. D. H. Wheeler is the present superintendent. The school has a library of about 100 volumes, and a corps of teachers numbering ten. The menibership of the church was 173 in June, 1877.

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY of Ellisburg was organized at Mannsville Aug. 18, 1834, with Roswell Keeny, Benjamin P. Grenell, and Danicl Wardwell, trustees. The early records of this church have been burned, so that it is impossible to give much regarding its early history. For a long time the society owned an interest in the only meeting-house in the place (the Baptist), but in 1856 they erected their present frame church edifice, at a cost of about $3000. It will seat about 250 persons ; is surmounted by a neat spire, and stands in the eastern part of the village.

- The first preacher who had charge of this congregation was probably Rev. Mr. Moulton, in 1834. In 1836, Rev. Charles B. Pond was here. From about 1838 to 1842, Rev. Charles Baker ; succeeding him werc Revs. Elisha P. Cook, - Taft, - Osborn (the latter came probably

* It is possible that one or two may be omitted from this list, as it is given from memory by an old member of the church.

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

about 1852) ; in 1856, Rev. Alvin Parmelee, who stayed till about 1862; next, Rev. Calvin Chapman, who remained two years; Revs. Charles Gillette and S. Y. Lumm; the time of the latter expired in July, 1877, since when the church has been without up to the time these notes were taken (Sept. 29, 1877). The present membership is about 120. A Sabbath-school is connected with the church, having about 80 members. A. K. Heddin is the superin- tendent. The school has nine teachers and a small library.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI.

This society was organized about 1847-50, and a frame church built. The congregation was originally in eonncc- tion with the one at Ellis village in a single charge, but is now a station by itself. Sinec 1860 the pastors have been nearly as follows : Revs. O. Holmes, 1860 to 1862; D. W. Roney, 1862; A. Cheeseman, 1866; Ward W. Hunt, 1867-8; M. T. Hill, 1870-71; George W. Miller, 1872; E. H. Waugh, 1873-4; I. L. Hunt, 1875; N. M. Caton, 1876; O. P. Pitcher, 1877; the latter being the present pastor. Rev. C. C. Phelps probably belongs at some place on the above list also.

In September, 1877, this church had about 85 members. A Sabbath-school is sustained, with a considerable member- ship and a library of about 100 volumes. The church has a well-proportioned spire, but, in common with the other churches of the village, is without a bell. Nearly all the churches are taking steps toward securing these articles, and ere long the sound of the " church-going bell" will un- doubtedly eall the people together in the time-honored fashion of old.

CHURCH OF CHRIST.

An organization of this denomination, more familiarly known as the " Disciple Church," was effected at Manns- ville in 1871. Previous to this a congregation had been formed as early as 1830 in the old school-house which stood in District No. 7 before the present stone structure was built. The first preacher of this denomination who held meetings in town was probably Rev. Josiah I. Lowell. Jasper J. Moss, Dr. Shepherd, and Rev. Mr. Yearnshaw were also among the early preachers, and held meetings in the Congregational church at Ellis village, from which they made some converts. The congregation as formed at Mannsville consisted of about 70 members, and was under the pastoral care of Elder J. S. Hughes, the first pastor here. Since him the pastors have been Elders W. T. New- comb and John Boggs, the latter in charge at present. Others have been here as supplies for a short time each.

A frame church was built in 1872, at a cost of $2500, and will comfortably seat 250 persons. A Sabbath-school was organized about the same time the congregation was formed, and has been kept up sinee. Its first and only superintendent has been L. F. Hudson, who yet holds the position. Stewart Plummer is the assistant superintendent. The school is in charge of seven teachers, and has a small library. The membership of the church was about 85 in the fall of 1877.

SEVENTHI-DAY ADVENT CHURCH.

The first Seventh-Day Advent church was organized in Ellisburg in 1851, this being about the time organizations 24

were begun by this denomination. The first to enter into the organization-a new idea to them, as they believed the coming of the Lord was close at hand-were Lorenzo and Janc Lowrey, Abel Tuttle and wife, William and Polly Brigham, Henry Brigham, A. H. Robinson, Luretta Rob- inson, Madison and Huldah Ballou, and Henry H. Wilcox and wife. A. H. Robinson was ordained local elder. This people have no settled pastors. Their ministers are evan- gelists, who from time to time visit the churches.

A frame church edifice was ereeted in Mannsville in 1859. It is 26 by 40 feet in dimensions, and will scat about 200 persons. Contains no furniture execpt table, chairs, stove, and lamps. Membership in October, 1877, 42. A Sabbath-school was organized about 1860, with Henry H. Wilcox as its first superintendent ; its present membership (Oet., 1877) is 36. It has a small library. The Sabbath-school officers for 1877 were as follows: Superintendent, N. L. Burdick ; Assistant Superintendent, Joseph Ferrin ; Secretary, Jennie Lowrey; Librarian, Charles Fulson ; Treasurer, Mittie L. Burdick ; Chorister, George Hall.

PIERREPONT MANOR.

In March, 1805, Joseph Allen, with Pardon Earl * and Arnold Earl, from Galway, N. Y., came in by way of Red- field to Adams, and thence worked their way through the forest to Bear creek, and settled on the site of the present village of Pierrepont Manor. William Tabor, William Case, two or three families by the name of Simmons, and a few others, settled for farming purposes soon after. Allen opened the first inn, and Oliver Snow the first store. Mr. P. Earl, after 1807, became a local land-agent, and a man of extensive business, and in 1822 the agency of the estates derived by H. B. Pierrepont from William Constable, lying in Jefferson and Oswego counties, was assumed by William C. Pierrepont, his elder son, who has since resided here, and acquired the title of these lands. The village is by plank-road five miles from Adams village, two from Manns- ville, and thirteen from Pulaski. The R., W. & O. railroad has a station at this place. Few villages will compare with this for the neat and quiet aspeet which it presents. It is situated on the level of the lake ridge, and commands a distant prospect of the lake.

A melancholy accident occurred near this place, on the evening of May 6, 1852, by an engine, while running back- wards, eoming in contact with a hand-ear containing a party of young ladies and gentlemen, by which three of the former were killed and one severely injured. The hand-car was taken contrary to explicit orders of the company by cin- ployces, who were at once discharged. No blame was at- tached to any one, except those who had allowed the hand- car to be placed upon the track.

Joseph Allen was a native of Massachusetts, and a black - smith by trade ; he emigrated about 1780 to Galway, Sara- toga county, New York, and as soon as 1800 began to talk about emigrating to the " Black River country." His old- est daughter, Nancy, about 1803, married Joel Brown, and moved to Ellisburg, and settled near the present village of

* Mr. Earl died at Pierrepont Manor, Jan. 9, 1844, aged 62.

370

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Adamıs. In 1804, Mr. Allen sold his farm in Galway, and in 1805 moved to Ellisburg, and settled as above stated. This was immediately preceding the creation of Jefferson County, and the spot was in the midst of an unbroken wil- derness. The place took the name of Bear Creek, from the stream on which it is located, and retained it until subse- quent to 1822, at which time William C. Pierrepont settled here, and gave it the present name. Considerable dissatis- faction was evineed in the change of name by some of those who had resided here longest.

John Allen, a son of Joseph Allen, in some historical notes prepared by him a short time preceding his death (which occurred May 6, 1876), states that the first white man who came through from Riehland to this place was one Deaeon Harding, who was in search of a stray horse. There was at that time no road between these places other than a line of blazed trees. The Allens sowed some oats after they came, as late as July, on the site of the present hotel, and the season was so favorable that they ripened and yielded well; they were raised for fodder, however, and were not thrashed out. Mr. Allen had been to the neighborhood in the fall of 1804, and purchased his land, and built a log house on the ground where his son, Elihu Allen, now has a blacksmith-shop. He also set out an orchard as soon as he could procure trees, probably about two or three years after he located. The orchard is yet standing, in the rear of the "Pierrepont Manor Hotel." Mr. Allen built a frame addition to his house within a short time after settling, and kept tavern in it, doing so from necessity, as there was no one else to attempt it. In 1818 or '19 he built the present "Pierrepont Manor Hotel." When he first came he erected a small shop in which to do blacksmithing, and performed all work of this kind neces- sary in the settlement. He afterwards worked quite ex- tensively at the trade, and ceased his labors only upon the arrival of another blacksmith in the little hamlet. This man's name was Joseph Pope. A Methodist preacher, named Leander Cole, also did some blacksmithing here long before a church was built.

Arnold and Pardon Earl, who came with the Allens, settled, the former half a mile east of Allen, and the latter in the western part of the present village. The Earls and Allens were related, Joseph Allen's wife being a sister of Arnold Earl and cousin to Pardon Earl.

A school-house was erected about 1811; a frame building on the north side of Bear creek, which served the purposes of a school-house, church, and place for general meetings. The first teacher was Orson Tuller, a very capable man and one much respected by his pupils. He was at the time living in the western part of town.

ZION CHURCHI (EPISCOPAL),

at Pierrepont Manor, was legally organized January 4, 1836; Amos C. Treadway being at the time rector. Wil- liam C. Pierrepont and Thomas Warren were chosen church wardens, and Thomas Blenking, Jr., Cornelius M. Tabor, Jason Marsh, Harvey Allen, Pardon Earl, Thomas E. Williamson, Robert Myrick, and John Allen, were elected vestrymen. A ehureh had been erected the summer pre- vious by Mr. Pierrepont, at a cost of $3000, which was

consecrated August 16, 1836. The rectors have been the Rev. Messrs. A. C. Treadway, Nathaniel Watkins, Josiah E. Bartlet, C. B. Ellsworth, and others. A parish school- house has been built, standing opposite the church.

UNION CHURCH.

A meeting of the Christians of the place was held January 22, 1855, pursuant to notiee given December 31, 1854, for the purpose of taking into consideration the or- ganization of a Free Church, those composing the meeting having held worship for some months in the school-house. The assemblage was presided over by Elder S. H. Taft. An organization was effeeted February 26, 1855, with 19 members. The trustecs clected this day were Albert G. Earl, Hiram Allen, Benjamin Randall, Samuel Bemis, Franklin Waite, William Williams, and Loren Bushnell, and the name " Free Church and Society of Pierrepont Manor" was adopted. A church was built the same year, and Mr. Taft preached here four or five years, since which time the house has been oeeupied by nearly all denomina- tions, although the Methodists and Baptists have used it most.

A post-office was established early at the Manor, with Thomas E. Williamson as postmaster. The present oceu- pant is E. J. Robinson, the office being located at his store.

Pierrepont Manor contained in October, 1877, three stores, three blacksmith-shops, two churches, one frame school-house, a post-office, and one hotel.

WOODVILLE,

a small village on North Sandy creek, about three miles from its mouth, formerly Wood's Settlement, was settled by Ebenezer, Ephraim, and Jacob Wood, sons of Nathaniel Wood, of Middletown, Vermont, who came in to look for lands with Orimal Brewster, Simeon Titus, Ephraim Wood, Jr., and Hezekiah Leffingwell, in the fall of 1803. Messrs. E. & E. Wood purchased May 26, 1804, for $2294.80, a tract of 754 acres, and in Mareh, Ephraim Wood, with a daughter and three sons, came in to reside, his brother Ebenezer remaining to settle the estate. Rev. Nathaniel Wood, their father, an old man, came on in June, 1804. Obadiah Kingsbury, Oliver Scott, and others eame the same year. A sınall mill was built, and in 1805 got in operation. In 1805, Ebenezer Wood, Nathaniel Wood, Jr.,* Mosely Wood, Samuel Truesdale, and families came in, and several young men. A field of corn planted by the Woods on the marsh, as late as June 7, produced an im- mense yield. which greatly raised the reputation of the settlement and the hopes of the settlers.

When the Woods came in they followed the old Redfield turnpike into Adams, and the balanee of the way cut their own road. The mill spoken of above was built by them. A paper-mill was built here about 1846 by the Messrs. Clark, and is still standing.

Oliver Batcheller, now residing in Woodville, came here from Stratton, Windham Co., Vt., in the winter of 1808-09, settling in March, 1809. He had been here the year pre-

* Reuben Wood, afterwards Governor of Ohio, and later a resident of Valparaiso, South America, was a son of Nathaniel Wood.

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

vious and examined the country, and the general aspect being favorable he made the location as mentioned. He was but twenty-two years of age at the time. In 1815 he married Polly, a daughter of Ebenezer Wood. Mr. Batcheller belonged to the militia during the War of 1812, and was several times called out. He was a blacksmith by trade, and while at work in the village lacard of the fight which was progressing between Woolsey's and Appling's men and the British,* on the north bank of the south branch of Sandy Creek, and hurried at once to the scene of action, arriving just as it was over. This engagement was perhaps a quarter of a mile below the present boat-landing on the south branch of the creck.

Soon after Mr. Batcheller settled at Woodville, he built a blacksmith-shop on the ground now occupied by the store, at the south end of the bridge. He afterwards moved a short distance up the creek, and built a second shop and put up a trip-hammer. His first shop was the first one in the village. Mr. Batcheller is now (October, 1877) in his ninety-first year, and has voted at every election since he came to the village.

The first attempt at merchandising in the village was made by Ebenezer Wood, who brought in a few such goods as were necessary for the use of the settlers. This was soon after he camc, and in the spring of 1809 he had a few arti- cles still on hand. The first regular store, however, was opened by Nathan Burnham, who settled here in 1812, and carried on the business for some time. The first hotel was kept by Ebenezer Wood, in his dwelling, which stood im- mediately in front of the spot now occupied by the residence of Nathaniel Wood. The present hotel was built for a dwelling, probably by Nicholas Meade, a shoemaker, and converted into a hotel some time afterward. The present proprietor is Rollin H. Gray.

A school was taught in the village previous to the War of 1812. At present the place has a neat frame school building, ornamented with columns in front, standing in the eastern part of the place.

A post-office was established some time between 1820 and 1830, previously to which time the people had received their mail at Adams, Ellis village, and other places. The first postmaster was probably Asa Averill; the second was Augustus Victor Wood, who occupied the office for seven- teen years. The present incumbent is Nathaniel Wood, Jr.

About 1846-47, William Gray built the shop now owned by his son, William Gray, Jr., for blacksmithing, wagon- work, and repairing. The present proprietor has enlarged the shops, and has quite an extensive and lucrative practice.

SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.

" Orion Lodge, No. 286, F. & A. M.," was formed at Woodville, Oct. 27, 1817, with Martin E. Cook. W. M .; Oliver Scott, S. W. ; Ebenezer Wood, J. W. It was after- wards removed to Ellis village, and about 1827 abandoned. " Olive Lodge, No. 642, Sons of Temperance," formed at Woodville, April 1, 1850 ; long discontinued.

" Eagle Lodge, No. 47, Good Samaritans," organized at Woodville, April 15, 1852. First in the office of W. C. was G. A. Jenkins. Lodge not now in existence.

LIFE-SAVING STATION.

This station was established in the autumn of 1876. It is situated at the mouth of the Big Sandy creek. The building is of wood, 45 by 20 feet in dimensions, and the station is provided with the necessary apparatus. The crew consists of a captain and six men. The present cap- tain is Wm. E. Van Alstyne, and the names of the men are as follows : Sanford Van Alstyne, H. J. Noble, Charles Wood, Edward Chapman, Charles Dennis, and Enos Kil- born. The eastern coast of Lake Ontario is a dangerous locality in time of storms, and this station is likely to be of great benefit to those who are exposed to the perils of the deep.

THE BAPTIST SOCIETY OF WOODVILLE

was formed Jan. 27, 1825, with Ebenezer Wood, Oliver Scott, Amaziah Fillmore, Pedro Scott, Wm. Ellsworth, and Abijah Jenkins, trustees. The church was formed by the Rev. Asa Averill, since whom Peleg Card, - Buckley, W. B. Downer, L. Rice, and others have been employed. The society has a house of worship, which has long been unused. It is a frame building, standing cast of the store, and now in a dilapidated condition.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WOODVILLE

was formed Nov. 22, and a society Dec. 14, 1836, of which Ebenezer Wood, Oliver Batcheller, and Win. Gray were trustecs. A union house had been erected and partly fin- ished previously ; in 1837 it was taken down and a brick church erected at a cost of about $1100. Rev. Chas. B. Pond became the first pastor, and was installed Jan. 23, 1840. In four years Elisha P. Cook succeeded, since whom David Powell, J. Burchard, Frederick Hebard, - Smith, and others have been employed. Mr. Hebard is the present pastor, having returned to the charge after an absence of nearly twenty-five years.

The present brick church, built in 1868 at a cost of about $9000, and dedicated in August, 1869, stands on the site of the old church, which was taken down to make room for it. It will seat about three hundred persons, and has a session-room in the rear capable of seating over a hundred. A very fine Mason and Hamlin organ, costing $600, has been placed in the church. The Sabbath-school has a small library.

The first bridge across Sandy crcek at this place was an open structure of wood, built in the summer of 1808. It was planked over, and stood across the stream where the dam now is. The present King iron bridge was erected in 1869, at a cost of $6000, and consists of two spans. The Wood saw-mill stood where the grist-mill now is. The latter was built in 1825 or '26 by Samuel Cook, who after- wards finished the stone mills at Ellis village. The present proprietor is S. T. Wood.

RURAL HILL P. O.

The first settler here was Jedediah Hill, who located in the spring of 1815. The place afterwards passed into the hands of his son, Eben, then to a brother of the latter, John, who sold it to Amasa Hungerford, Jr. On the death of the latter it became the property of his brother, Philo Hun- gerford, the present proprietor.

# Sec chapter on War of 1812-15.

372

HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

A post-office was established in February, 1849, and Philo Hungerford was appointed postmaster. He has held the position ever since with the exception of a short time during the administration of President Buchanan, and at that time the man who was appointed in his place lived without the precincts of the office and did not occupy it, Mr. Hungerford attending to its duties. Mr. Hungerford has lived at the hill since 1844.

The locality was known for years before the establish- ment of the post-office as " Buck Hill," from the fact that it was a great resort for deer, and large numbers of these ani- mals were killed here by the early settlers. Edwin Burn- ham opened a store before the establishment of the office, calling it the " Rural Hill Store," and the office received the name of " Rural Hill Post-office" in consequence. It has had at different times several stores and shops, a tavern, etc., but at present there is very little business in the place.

PRE-HISTORIC REMAINS.

The ideas entertained by some of the early settlers re- garding the aboriginal remains of this town, and the prac- tice which some were, through ignorance, led into, of searching for buricd treasure, have been mentioned. The following mention and description of the ancient forts and their surroundings are taken from the journal of Rev. John Taylor, of Massachusetts, who made a missionary tour through the Mohawk and Black River countries in 1802. This journal was published in the " Documentary History of New York" in 1850, and from that work we make the subjoined extracts. Mr. Taylor afterwards settled in Men- don, Monroe county, N. Y. (1817), and in 1832 removed from there to Michigan, and died at Bruce, Macomb county, in that State, in 1840, at the age of seventy-eight.

" Sept. 1, 1802. I this morning started from Mr. Johnson's,# rode 2 miles, and entered into a wilderness of 24 miles without a housc. Tho road was cut out this summer, and is a tedious, hilly, rooty, muddy, stumpy, solitary road. Traveled, as I supposed, 12 miles ; ealled at a large hemloek ; bent down some friendly maples that my horse might gather the leaves. Enquired of my saddle-bags for some dinner; made a comfortable meal. Divided my dinner with my horse ; as he was not accustomed to eating meat, gave him a double portion of bread. After refreshing in this manner, traveled on the other 13 miles, and came upon the south branch of Sandy ereek, ahout three miles from the lake. Crossed the river; turned to the east; in about half a mile eame to the old fort; examined it, and found myself lost in conjectures. Rode 4 miles to Mr. Hockley's on the north hraneh. This is about 4 miles ahove the junetion of the 2 branches, about 4} miles from Ontario. This is as fine a tract of country as I think I ever saw. It is heavy timbered ; but the land is as rich as land can be. This is a rich country from here to the Black river. This town, and undoubtedly all this country, has been, in some ancient period, thickly inhabited. In many places there are evident marks of houses having stood as thick as to join each other. The remains of old fire-places built of stones, wells evidently dug and stoned to a considerable depth, and the remains of old forts and intrenehments, are all evidenees of this fact. The fort on the south branch is ploughed, and the old fire-places appear to have been about two rods apart, thro'out the whole. The earthenware of a peculiar structure, and of singular materials, is scat- tered over the ground. The point of a steel sword-2 edges-about 1 foot } long was found last spring in ploughing the fort. The fortifica- tion is regularly built with 5 sides and 5 gateways ; is about 20 rods from the river, upon the N. bank, 1400 or 1500 rods to the northcast. Near the north branch is another fort, west of which, 150 or 200 rods, there is

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History of Jefferson County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 92

Author: Durant, Samuel W; Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.) Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 862

Author: Durant, Samuel W; Peirce, H. B. (Henry B.)
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 862