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 93
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an intrenchment lately found, half a mile in length, in a straight line, and also a breastwork. 22 north of this is another fort, regularly built, containing about 10 aeres. Upon all those works the trees are of equal dimensions with those around. I measured one and found it 4 feet diameter, and saw some which had fallen and were almost con- sumed, which appeared to be of equal dimensions, and which grew upon the highest parts of the fort. The pcoplo frequently find pipes, something in tho form of German pipes. The bottom of the N. branch of the river is a level roek. Standing at a little distance it looks liko ice; when within a rod and a half or 2 rods it is crooked. This rock may be found all over the country, from 15 to 20 or 30 feet under- ground; it is all a limestone, and is filled with sea-shells, petrified or cemented into the solid roek. At the end of the lake there are large marshes, on which vegetation is very rapid. Some of this is planted with corn, and produces abundantly ; but in consequence of there being so much grass and other productions, which cannot be gathered, the people are, in the fall of ye year, liable to a distressing fever,- much more malignant and dangerous than the common fever and ague. It is this season hitherto healthy ; none have the fever, except- ing a few who have collected hay upon the marshes, near the mouth of Sandy ereek. In the lake there are large winrows of sand, 5 miles in length, on which there stands, here and there, a pine and some other small trees, which makes the appearance from the land very pic- turesque. This town began to settle in '98 ; is called Mexico, or Ellis- burg; in the town of Mexico, 9 miles square; about 30 families; is rapidly settling ; inhabitants very rough in general. An evidence of this country having been formerly settled, beyond what has been men- tioned, is this : European productions, and such as would bo left hy au improved people, are found here, as currants, black and red, an- geliea, plantain, English parsley, high balms, peppermint, and indeed almost everything which is found on Connecticut river.
" There are in the marsh hewn and square timbers, which have been dug up many feet from ye surface, and where this people mow. A batteau has also been dug up from a considerable depth under the surface, half a mile from the lake, in the marsh.
"Mr. Hackley tells me that between the Black river and the St. Lawrenee there aro ye same marks of former settlement as here. There aro forts huilt in the same form ; and all ye marks of a society different from that of Indians. Last summer a man, in digging a eeilar, found, a foot under the surface, that he had fallen upon an old eolepit. I am told hy the people here that pieces of broken bricks are found in all the lands they plough.
"Sept. 1.1 I have this day rode a mile and a half into the woods to examine the remains of another fort, and I am truly thrown into a wilderness of conjecture. The fort lies upon 2 sides of a small ercek, which is about the centre between the N. and S. branches of Sandy ereek. It is an irregular fort, but was built with a good deal of art. The ditch is at present in many places 4 feet below the sur- face. Standing in the diteh, I find that I can just oversee the land in the fort. In one direction it is an hundred rods across, and, on an average, it is about 50 wide. There are a number of gateways. On both sides of ye creek there are most singular walls. Upon the east side there is one redoubt about 8 rods from one of the gateways. Some parts of the wall are douhled, or, rather, there is an inner and an outer wall. The ground appears to be very much broken upon the N. E. corner, and looks as though there had heen works within works. Within the walls, upon each side of the creek, there are wells, or pe- euliar springs which answered for wells. I am in doubt whether those appearances are such as give sufficient evidence that they are the effects of art.
"Upon the west side of the creek the well is at the corner of ye fort, and upon the top is about 9 rods round. It deseends, and is very steep until it comes to a point at the bottom. In the corner of this basin there is a living spring,-the water rises and passes again into the ground. A pole may be run down into the spring about 15 feet.
"Sept .. 3. 4 miles } to the N. east at No. 7. A decent, respectable, industrious people in general ; anxious for privileges. Most of the people from Connectieut. Visited a fort 1} miles from the river, No. -. This fort was huilt in ye same manner with the others. It stands upon ye east side of a marsh, which was evidently onee a pond. The
There is something wrong in the date previous to this, it beiug also given as Sept. 1. Mr. Taylor could hardly have done so much in one day.
# In Redfield.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
wall begins upon the top of the bank, and is 300 paces round to the bank, where it ends. The base of the angle is 120 paees. Probably the bank was picketed. It has several gateways. In this trench there is one dead tree that is almost ready to fall to pieces, which measures 4} in diameter ; and many trees stand upon ye banks of this ditch 4 feet diameter. The land here is the first rate; and in this town there has been no sickness since they began to settle, except in one or two iustances of persons who had been down to the lake in the unhealthy season. The faet is, that all this country is a rich meadow ; it is made ground for many feet from the surface. There is now before me a field of corn equal to any I ever saw in Deerfield meadow, tho' dunged; no plough or harrow has ever been on the land, nor has it heen hocd but twice, and then slightly. Everything which is put into the ground grows as rank as possible; hut the people are yet very poor, having been on hut 2 years. Deer, salmon, and trout very plenty. This is 8 miles in a direct line from the lake. Salmon run up every freshet, and ye people can easily take them with spears. But 3 families in this town the winter before the last. I find, by intelli- gent people in whom I may confide, and who have seen them, that there are 2 other forts in this quarter. One lies on the forks of the north branch of Sandy Creek, 33 miles S. east from the fort which I examined in this town, about 90 rods in diameter; and that there is another 3 miles to the N. W. of the one I examined. This is an oe- tagon, containing about two acres, with 2 intrenchments extending in different directions from the fort 20 rods. The whole of these works are made in the solid rock ; are about 4 feet deep and four feet wide. This is a most stupendous work, and could not have been effected with- out iron tools.
"In this country may be found growing wild, and in great plenty, hops, grapes, cranberries, plums, strawberries, gooscherries, black- berries, raspberries, currants, plantain, dock, yarrow, spikenard, sarsaparilla, mullein, burdock, dock, English pursley, French sorrel, peppermint, commen mint, catnip, thorn apples, of which pies are made. Indian corn, potatoes, oats, and flax, peas, beans, and all kinds of productions grow very rank. Wheat this year was hurt with the rust, but grew amazing rank. Face of the country beautiful, no stones of any consequence. From 3 pints of barley 3 bushels were produced this year. There appears hy the best accounts to be forts, huilt in the manner of those on Sandy creek, all over the country, from the St. Lawrence to the Black river, and south and south west all round the lake, particularly, and upon the Military grounds, and these by ac- eount correspond with those on the Ohio in their conformation. They are a ditch, and the earth is banked up on the inside. The ditches of those which I have seen I think must have been at first about 8, 10, and 12 feet wide; how deep cannot he even judged with any degree of certainty until some person, who has time, shall dig down and throw out the made earth. By whom were these works wrought? Not hy the natives, surely, because in various parts of this country iron im- plements are dug and ploughed up. And if the natives ever had the art of working iron, it is not probable they would lose an art so use- ful. Further, nothing ever appeared in the natives which indicated 80 much improvement in the art of self-defense as to build ferts so regular as those are found to be. Again, the fort near Sandy creek, which is cut in the rock, must have been a work too stupendous for untaught savages to effect, and it is doubtful whether it could have been done without the use of powder. And there is a difficulty at- tending this fort: on condition er suppose it to have been done by any European nation, they would not have undertaken a work 80 arduous when so little benefit could have been derived from it in pro- portion te the work. Who, then, wrought those works? That they were done by the hand of man there is no doubt; hut hy whom, and when, aud for what purpose must remain at present inexplicable eniginas. What has become of this people? And why have we no histories of sueli a nation as must have inhabited this part of the world ? Were these the works of the autediluvians, or is this the land of Nazareth, to which Esdras says the ten tribes traveled, and were an hundred and twenty days on their journey ? Or is it the Vineland of the emigrant Swedes, who returned to their native coun- try but once ? Or are they ye works of Spaniards in scareliing for
gold ? Or was this land inhabited by the emigrant Mexican after the Spanish conquest? That these works were not done by French or English is beyond a doubt from various reasons too numerons to men- tion. I am informed that in the Military tract several picees of stamped coin are found which cannot be read by the ignorant peas- ants, and which I am fearful will be lost. Probably, if a knowledge of those ancient people is ever obtained it will be derived from in- scriptions, on stones er metals, which may have withstood the rust of time."
Three-quarters of a century have passed away since the learned divine above quoted puzzled his brain about the traces left by an unknown race of people, and turned over in his mind the various theories as to their origin, use, and manner of construction, and with all that the researches of the archaeologist have yet brought to light,-and their labors have been unintermitting and not without reward,- the question is almost as much in the dark as at that time. The shadowy traditions of the ancient Allegewi, transmitted through the deseending years, regarding themselves and other nations of their day, their struggles to wrest from each other the broad country they inhabited, are imperfectly recorded in history. A thorough knowledge of the art of defense was indeed theirs, as the works similar to those herein described, scattered throughout the country, truly testify. Their knowledge of the manufactures was also great, as shown by the numerous relies gathered by treas- ure-seekers, and they must certainly have been much further advanced in civilization than the present savage races of the continent. What terrible feud, or chain of circumstances, has wrought their destruction and blotted their race from the land ? Where research fails in satis- factory results, and history has spread no record of this people before us, conjecture is at best feeble, and we forbear.
Among those who have furnished historical data in this town we are indebted to the following :
At Mannsville .- William Wardwell, William Earl, J. J. Baldwin, Daniel Rounds and son, O. J. Woodard, O. II. Baleh, N. L. Burdick, D. C. Bishop, pastors and members of churches, and others.
At Ellis village .- Benj. F. Wilds and son, Theron Hol- ley, proprietors of manufactories, and others.
At Belleville .- II. H. Harris, Philemon Stacey, D. C. Thomas, Samuel Brown, W. B. Doane (corporation elerk), pastors and members of churches, James E. Green, J. H. Carpenter, and numerous others.
At Pierrepont Manor .- The Allens and others.
At Woodville .- Nathaniel Wood, Oliver Batcheller, R. HI. Gray, Mrs. A. V. Wood, J. H. Converse, Mrs. Amos E. Wood, and others.
At Rural Hill .- Philo Hungerford.
For the town .- Sam'l Matteson, Willard Alverson, Lavias Fillmore, James Brodie & Son, George Whipple and sister, G. K. Dealing, Mrs. Capt. John Miner (at Mannsville), P. P. Martin (of Mannsville), George M. Wood (Lake View House), and many others.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
O
WM. G. HITCHCOCK.
MRS. WM. G. HITCHCOCK.
WM. G. HITCHCOCK
was born in Westfield, Orleans Co., Vt., Mareh 16, 1828. His father, Joseph Hitcheoek, and mother, whose maiden name was Betsey Prentiss, were both natives of West- minster, Windham Co., Vt. They had eleven children,- five sons and six daughters,-all of whom reached mature age. The parents are still living with their son, the sub- ject of this sketeh, at the advaneed age of ninety years, though both are very feeble. Wm. G. is the tenth child, and moved with his parents to the town of Worth, Jefferson County, then known as Lorraine 2d, in 1845. At the age of twenty he bought a farm of 100 aeres, to which was afterwards added an 80-acre pieee.
He was married, March 4, 1852, to Oreelia E. Clark, the youngest ehild and only daughter of Dea Sylvester and Eleeta Clark, who were natives of Pittsfield, Mass. Her mother died Dec. 29, 1871. The father is still living,
making his home with his son-in-law and daughter. Of her brothers, two are still living, viz. : Myron A., a farmer in Wisconsin, and Florello R., a farmer in Ellisburg. There have been three children born to Mr. and Mrs. H., only one of whom, Cora May, eleven years of age, is living.
Mr. Hitehcoek has devoted his life to farming, and though ealled to fill, at times, loeal town offiees, has been no seeker for publie positions. In polities he is Republi- ean, easting his first vote for John C. Fremont. He has been a member of the Congregational church from his eighteenth year. Mrs. H. has been a member of the Bap- tist ehureh at Mannsville for twenty-eight years. If a literal obedienee to the fifth commandment entitles to long life, then should both Mr. and Mrs. H. live long in the land, for none ean be found who have honored father and mother more than they.
375
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
A. A. WHEELER.
This gentleman is the youngest of six children of Philip and Roxanna Wheeler, and was born at Mannsville, in this township, July 18, 1836. His father, Philip Wheeler, was born near Troy, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., June 30, 1800, on a 1200-acre tract of land purchased by his father from the Van Rensselaer estate.
PHILIP WHEELER was a descendant from English and Dutch parentage, his father's ancestry coming from Worcestershire, England, and his mother's from both Eng- lish and Dutch families. Philip's father was a New York slaveholder, and he (Philip) inheriting the slaves, manu- mitted them at once, and before he was obliged to by law. After settling his father's estate Philip Wheeler moved into the city of Troy, where he engaged in the mercantile busi- nese, including rafting lumber from Troy to New York, in which he continued about five years, during which time- about 1824-hc was married to Roxanna Shepherd, daugh- ter of Thomas Shepherd, whose wife was a descendant of the Browns, of Rhode Island, owners of the "John Brown Traet." The Shepherd family was of English stock, and from New Hampshire, and the grandfather of Mrs. W. married into the Cops family of Cops' Hill, Boston.
Philip Wheeler, together with his wife and father-in-law, Mr. Shepherd, came to Jefferson County iu 1825, and the two gentlemen purchased and improved a large tract of land near Mannsville. Mr. Whiceler, after clearing his portion, sold it and moved into the village, where he pur- chased the property of Hon. Daniel Wardwell, then mem- ber of Congress from this district. This property included about two hundred acres of land. Immediately after lo- cating in the village Mr. Wheeler engaged again in mer- cantile pursuits, carrying the business on upon a large scale and credit system for twenty years, during which time he never had a claim disputed or a litigated suit, at the same time managing his farm and accumulating a large property through continued success. He finally disposed of his stock in trade, and for the balance of his life gave his atten- tion wholly to managing his farm, which had been dimin- ished by the sale of the western portion to a little more than one hundred aeres, including the homestead. Upon the part of the farm sold much of the village has since been built. Mr. W. died in Nov., 1872, his wife having pre- ceded him three years to the " land of the hereafter." Mr. W. was noted during life for his sound judgment and great strength of character. He was also always strongly attached to agricultural pursuits. His wife, the partner of his joys and sorrows, and sharer of his reverses and sue- cesses for nearly half a century, was known for her very charitable disposition and her kindness to all in adverse circumstances. Both were passionately fond of their chil- dren, and were also members of the Methodist Episcopal church, which society in Mannsville Mr. Wheeler was largely instrumental in founding. Their son, A. A. Wheeler, during his youth worked on the farm and at- tended the school in the village, and when seventeen years of age entered the Jefferson County Institute, at Water- town, at which and under private tutors he finished a preparatory course for college, after which he entered the
Union College at Schenectady, from which he was gradu- ated in the class of 1858. In 1859 he was graduated from the Albany law-school with the degree of LL.B. (Under subsequent charters this institution and the Albany college have been consolidated into the Union University.) While at the law-school Mr. Wheeler read in the office of the celebrated criminal lawyer, William A. Hadley, and soon after graduating entered the law-office of Starbuck & Sawyer, at Watertown, where he remained one year. He began practicing at Mannsville in 1860. In August, 1862, he volunteered in the 10th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and was commissioned senior first lieutenant of Capt. A. Cleghorn's company, " E." During the fifteen months he served the command was stationed at Fort Richmond, on Staten Island, at Sandy Hook, and in Fort Mahan, in the de- fenses of Washington. At the end of this time he returned home for the purpose of taking command of a company in the 20th N. Y. Cavalry, but his arrangements not being consummated he remained at home. Previous to his en- listment he had been interested in recruiting troops, and speaking at meetings for that purpose in various parts of the county.
In politics he is thoroughly Republican, and began stumping for the party on its organization in 1856, before he was old enough to vote. The work then begun he has kept up since, being prominently engaged in the campaign for Hayes and Wheeler in 1876. His first speech during that canvass was delivered by request at Watertown, before the Republican club of that city. The effort on that ocea- sion was highly lauded by the papers and all who heard it, and his speech was reported in full. Mr. Wheeler has represented the district at two State conventions, and taken active part in the debates on questions there arising.
On his return from the army he resumed the practice of law, which he has since continued with marked success, and commands a good practice, with respectable increase. He resides on the old place, which is the same as his father left it, and has the management of the farm, although he de- votes no personal labor to its improvement. For a number of years heretofore he has to some extent spent time and labor of his own upon it, but everything is now done by means of hired help. Mr. Wheeler is a gentleman of cul- ture and a elose student, being well versed in science and literature and other subjects kindred to his profession. As an orator and dehater he ranks high.
Of Philip Wheeler's children but two beside A. A. Wheeler are now living, Sally A., Philip, and John having passed to "the other shore."
Dr. T. B. Wheeler, a graduate of the military school at Norwich, Vermont, attended school at Cazenovia and at the Union Academy in Belleville, Jefferson County. He is also a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at New York City, from which institution he was appointed resi- dent surgeon in the famed Bellevue Hospital.
He married a daughter of Andrew Shaw, a prominent merchant of Montreal, Canada, Master of the Trinity Board, and is now a resident of that city.
Dr. William L. Wheeler received his education at the Methodist school at Cazenovia, at McGill College, in Mon- treal, and graduated from the College of Physicians and
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Surgeons at New York. Was also appointed resident sur- geon at Bellevue hospital. In 1861 he entered the U. S. Navy as assistant surgeon in the regular service, and re- mained in it for six or seven years, a portion of which time he was on board the monitor Patapsco. During the en- gagements around Charleston he took an active part, and on one occasion was a volunteer in a storming-party sent against Fort Sumter. After leaving the service he en- gaged in a very successful and lucrative practice at Ithaca, Tompkins county, New York, and finally married the cldest daughter of Gov. William B. Lawrence, of Ochre Point, Newport. R. I., where he is at present residing, engaged in the practice of his profession.
CHARLES GOODENOUGH
was born in Brattleborough, Vt., Oct. 11, 1807; the eldest son of Daniel and Nancy Goodenough. His father was born in Brattleborough, July 6, 1786. The mother's maiden name was Nancy Miller; she was born March 9, 1788. They had seven children,-five sons and two daugh- ters,-viz., Charles, subject of this sketch ; Nancy F., born Feb. 3, 1809 ; Charlotte, born Aug. 26, 1813, wife of John Boomer, now living in Harmony, Chatauqua Co., N. Y .; Caleb, born Nov. 28, 1815, died April, 1855 ; Henry Mil- ler, born April 22, 1819, died in infancy ; Harry, born Dec. 1, 1821, died Aug. 26, 1826; Alfred, born Jan. 12, 1825, died March 12, 1844. The four former were born in Brat- tleborough, Vt., the three latter in Ellisburg. In March, 1817, the family moved from Brattleborough, and settled in the south western portion of Ellisburg. The father died Aug. 12, 1855 ; the mother, July 29, 1857.
His sister Nancy married Wm. S. Lindsey, Jan. 26, 1831. By this marriage there were four children, viz., Hannah, born Aug. 25, 1831, died Nov. 11, 1854; Daniel, born July 19, 1833, died Nov. 22, 1856; Charles, born March 15, 1836; Lestine, born Dec. 16, 1838. Wm. S. Lindsey died April 15, 1838. Lestine married Harry M. Dailey, Dec. 31, 1860. One daughter, Effie H., was born to them, Feb. 16, 1866. Mr. Dailey died Mareh 3, 1866. Mrs. Dailey was again married, July 4, 1873, to Geo. W. Greene.
The subject of this sketch lived with his father till he was twenty-one years of age. He had previously bought of Pierrepont ten acres of land, the first of the large landed property of which he afterwards became possessed. When twenty-one years of age he went to live with his sister, Mrs. Lindsey, who kept house for hin, after her husband's death, as long as he lived. His second purchase was a ten-acre piece, upon which he built his first house. He first leased, and afterwards owned and ran, the "Goodenough" saw- mill, situated near his house, on Lindsey creek. By profits from this mill and from his lands he continued adding to his estate, until, at his death, he was the owner of about six hundred acres of land. He died of a tumor March 9, 1870.
Mr. Goodenough was never married. By the terms of his* will the bulk of his large property was left to his sister, Mrs. Lindsey. The " homestead" farm of 161 acres and saw-mill were willed to her son, Charles Lindsey.
Two thousand dollars were willed towards the erection of a church, and the " Goodenough" Methodist Episcopal church -a neat and substantial structure, situated near his late residence-stands a monument to his liberality. Mr. Good- enough was one of those men of whom it may be truly said the world is better by their having lived in it. A godly man in a locality which for some reason had gained the sobriquet " No God," his influence, while living, went far towards reclaiming the place and gaining for it a better name.
ERASTUS B. HAVEN.
Luther Haven, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Newton, Mass., May 25, 1792. He came, with his father, into New York State in 1794, and settled in Frankfort, Herkimer Co., in 1807. He came to Ellis- burg, and bought by "piece-meal" what now constitutes the " homestead farm," in the southeastern part of the town. He was married, July 6, 1814, to Phebe Tracy, by whom he had ten children, viz .: Polly Matilda, born April 3, 1815, died July 14, 1841 ; Harriet E., born May 1, 1817, died Aug. 1, 1828; Sophrona, born March 12, 1819; John, born Feb. 13, 1821, died March 24, 1864; Erastus B., born May 11, 1823; Laura A., born June 9, 1825, dicd Feb. 2, 1852; Phebe D., born Sept 1, 1828, died May 12, 1847; Fanny F., born Feb. 6, 1831, died Oct. 8, 1847; Jennette R., born Sept. 9, 1835 ; Sarah C., born Sept. 22, 1837. The latter, the wife of A. A. Fish, lives in Florida, Iowa. Jennette R. is the wife of H. W. Todd, and lives ncar Oswego, N. Y. Sophronia, unmarried, lives in Mannsville, and keeps house for her father.
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