History of Lewis County, New York; with...biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 37

Author: Hough, Franklin Benjamin, 1822-1885
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Syracuse, New York : Mason
Number of Pages: 712

USA > New York > Lewis County > History of Lewis County, New York; with...biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 37

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The census of 1880 gave a population of 129 in Talcottville village.

LEYDEN STATION.

This is merely a railroad station wholly without business, other than as supplied by the village of Talcottville, a mile west.

A short distance to the south of this is a highly picturesque locality, upon the Sugar river, above the railroad

bridge, and almost within sight from the passing trains. The river here tumbles down a hundred feet or more along a narrow gorge in the Trenton limestone, presenting a succession of cascades, which in high water are very fine.

The river, in passing through the Black river limestone a quarter of a mile or more below, sinks into the fis- sures, and in summer disappears entirely, but some fifty rods below again comes to the surface. This feature is a com- mon one wherever this rock comes to the surface.

These currents not unfrequently widen the natural fissures into narrow caverns, which may be followed several hundreds of feet. They are generally lighted from above, and present no par- ticular interest, excepting from the fossils that sometimes stand out in relief from the eroded surface.

TOWN MEETING DISTRICTS.

At the annual town meeting held in 1876, a vote was taken of 98 to 81 favor- ing the formation of districts for holding town meetings. This resulted in an act passed by the supervisors December I, 1876, providing that a town meeting should be held in each election district, and that all resolutions should be voted upon by ballot. This arrangement, re- quiring two separate town meetings at the same time, of course makes it neces- sary to secure an understanding before hand, as to the business to be done. We have been informed that this arrange- ment gives general satisfaction. The reasons that led to it were, that when the town meetings were held at Talcott- ville, it was found difficult to get the votes up from Port Leyden, and if they were held somewhat more frequently at the latter place, it excited the jealousy of the remainder of the town, because it is on the extreme border.

274

HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

SPECIAL TOWN MEETINGS DURING THE WAR.

August 25, 1862 .- A special town meeting was held, pursuant to call, for the purpose of offering a bounty for vol- unteers, under the call for 300,000 men, the quota of the town being 22. A bounty of $50 was offered with but two dissenting votes. A committee of five persons, besides the supervisor, was ap- pointed to act as a War Finance Com- mittee, viz :- Thomas Baker, (Super- visor); Ela Merriam, Jerome B. Hurl- but, Eleazer Spencer, James S. Jackson, and Dennis Miller.

August 18, 1862. - Another special meeting was held to provide means for paying the bounties already promised. A Finance Committee was appointed, consisting of John D. Lord, Eliphalet Sears, George M. Brooks, H. D. H. Snyder, Jr., and N. C. Brooks.

October 18, 1862 .- At a special meet- ing, a further bounty of $50 was offered, and a War Committee was appointed to raise the men, and to stipulate the payment.

December 8, 1863 .- At a special meet- ing a committee, consisting of Ela Mer- riam, William J. Hall, Eleazer Spencer, Alanson Merwin, Lysander W. Wolcott, Joseph H. Wilcox, and David Alger, was appointed to fill quotas, and a bounty of $200 was offered.

August 5, 1864 .- The bounty was raised to $300.

August 12, 1864 .- A committee, con- sisting of Linus Birdsey, L. W. Wolcott, H. D. H. Snyder, Jr., Joseph H. Wil- cox, Ela Merriam, Thaddeus E. Munn, James S. Jackson, John D. Lord, and J. B. Hurlbut, was appointed to procure men to fill the quota, and the sum of $30 was to be paid for getting a recruit.

September 6, 1864 .-- Voted to pay a sum which, with the county bounty,

should make $1,000, to fill the call for 500,000 men.

November 3, 1864 .- It was provided that the above should be raised in three equal installments.

January 7, 1865 .- A special meeting was held, at which the former proceed- ings were confirmed.

The excess of bounty moneys refunded to this town, amounted to $5,294.27, which was applied to reduce the taxes.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

The Baptist Church of Leyden is the oldest church in this town, and the old- est of this sect north of Oneida county, in the State, having been formed at the house of Thomas Brayton, April 22, 1803, by four males and one female. Elder John Clark, their first minister, was or- dained October 4, 1804, by Elder Jesse Hartwell, of New Marlborough, Mass., Elder Timothy Pool, of Champion, Phil- ips, Chandler, Maltby, William H. Stevens, Jeduthan, Zaccheus and John Higby, and Russell Way. In this year the church received an accession of twenty-eight males and thirty-one females from a revival of religion that occurred. Elders Thomas Davis, Thos. Morgan, Chandler Hartshorn, Riley B. Ashley, R. Z. Williams, H. Nichols, Henry W. Chafa, Clement Haven, V. R. Waters, J. Lawrence, Reuben Saw- yer, Calvin Fisher, S. M. Hubbard, Luke Davis, M. E. Fisk, - Graves, Frederick Kratz, G. N. Sears, D. D. Barnes, C. Bailey, and others, have preached here.

On the 4th of July, 1820, a subscrip- tion was drawn up to procure the means for erecting a church, 35 by 40 feet, which was successful. The edifice was built in 1821, at a cost of $1,660, and on the 17th of January, 1825, a society was legally formed, having Dr. Samuel

275

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEYDEN.

Bass,* Daniel Talcott, Samuel Doug- lass,t Jesse Miller, Isaac L. Hitchcock, and Nathan Coe, first trustees. The church edifice at Leyden Hill was re- paired in 1856, but since the erection of another church edifice by the same society, in 1864, the old church on Ley- den Hill has been falling into decay, and is already beyond use. Several years since, a plot of ground was purchased adjacent to this church by individuals as a burial place, and the title was con- veyed to its trustees. This church has fallen into disuse, and is passing to decay.

The Presbyterian Church of Leyden was formed November 6, 1803, by the Rev. Ira Hart, and consisted of six males and eight females. The first pas- tor was the Rev. Jeduthan Higby, who was ordained September 10, 1810, and preached three years. The second pas- tor was the Rev. Reuel Kimball, who was installed May 14, 1817, and dis- missed for the want of support in 1826. The Rev. James Murdock and others were afterwards employed, and Mr. Kimball was re-engaged at a later period. The Rev. Evan Evans was employed from June 3, 1838, to August 12, 1843, and one year after, the Rev. Augustus L. Chapin began to preach. Others have been engaged for short periods, but for several years no stated services have been held, and the church num- bered in 1859 but two males and about a dozen females. The Presbyterian church of Leyden was built in 1821, and the First Presbyterian Society of Ley- den was formed under the statute, Jan- uary 3, 1826, with Abner Porter, Calvin B. Gay, and William Parks, trustees. It was changed to Congregational Jan-

* Dr. Bass died February 20, 1858, aged sixty-seven years.

+ Samuel Douglass died February 22, 1874, aged seventy-two years.

uary 4, 1836. Revivals occurred in 1824 and 1831, and protracted meetings have been held by Burchard, Crandall and Knapp. Some years since, the old church of this society was sold, and it has since been used as a cheese factory. In 1825, an effort was made to erect a Union church at Talcottville, but with- out success. The First Universalist Society in Leyden was formed June 4, 1831, with Otis Munn, James Brooks, Joseph Burnham, Eliphalet Sears, Armstrong Malcom, Alfred Day and Ezra Miller, first trustees. A church was erected,* and the society has kept up its organization, although for several years it has not held regular meetings.

The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Leyden was formed March 12, 1832, with Halsey Miller, Levi Hubbard and John Utley as trustees. A church edi- fice was erected at Talcottville, but this having much decayed, has been removed, and an arrangement recently made by which the Universalist church has been thoroughly repaired and is now owned by the two sects, but chiefly occupied by the Methodists.

An Old School Baptist Church was formed May 22, 1834, in the shed of the Leyden church, consisting of five males. A few days after, four females united, and December 17, 1837, the church was dissolved, and united with this sect in Turin.

A church was erected in Port Leyden and dedicated December 6, 1853. It has been used by the Congregationalists and others, and the title of its property has been, or is now, in suit. A Congre- gational church was legally organized at Port Leyden, May 2, 1859, with Alan- son Merwin, Daniel Scrafford and Syl- vester Stimson, trustees.

* Joshua Stow, former proprietor of lands in this town, gave $50. He died about 1840.

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HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

The Calvinistic Methodist Church of Port Leyden was formed March 9, 1855, with Rev. Edward Reese, Pierce Owens, David Roberts, Richard Roberts, Evan Evans, and John Hughes, trustees. It has not now a place of worship and the members attend at Collinsville.

The Congregational Church at Port Leyden, was organized November 3, 1854, from the old church of Leyden, with fifteen members. The church they used was dedicated December 6, 1853, and was owned in part by others, and was for a time in litigation. The pastors of this church have been as follows :-

Rev. E. S. Barnes, (in connection with Boonville one year, and with Lyons Falls) till January, 1858 ; J. H.Richards, 1857- '59; Henry Budge, 1859-'62 ; James B. Fisher, May, 1862, to May, 1867 ; George A. Miller, 1867 to 1871 ; W. W. Warner, October, 1871, to October, 25; 1874; J. S. Wilson, May 1, 1875, to May 1, 1877 ; Lewis Williams, since May 1, 1877. Present number, 75. Present trustees, W. G. Hall, O. Betts, Oscar Wilson ; deacons, William G. Hall, J. W. Hol- comb, C. R. Hubbard. Parsonage owned by the society and free of debt. Church property valued at $3,500. Expect to build a new house of worship the com- ing year.

The Leyden Methodist Episcopal Church was incorporated August 10, 1868. Richard Bailey, F. Tefts, McKaw, S. P. Fox, O. Seymour, Orrin Thayer, T. J. Coe, and Selden Goff.

St. Martin's Church, (R. C.,) was built at Port Leyden, in 1880-'81, n pastoral residence having existed several years before. The Rev. Eugene Carroll was the first resident priest, who resided till his death, in July, 1882. He has been succeeded by the Rev. James O'Connor.

The church of this denomination is much the largest one in the village, and is externally of brick, with a timber frame within.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Port Leyden, organized a legal society, December 8, 1873, with Henry J. Botch- ford, Franklin B. Rugg, John J. Gills, H. N. Kellogg, and Robert Jaycock, as trustees. They erected a church soon afterwards. A parsonage was built in 1865.

The Methodist Protestant Church has an organization on the east side, but no meetings are at present held.

St. Mark's Church, (Protestant Episco- pal,) of Port Leyden, was incorporated July 24, 1865, the Rev. R. McDuff, pre- siding. The first wardens were Augus- tus B. Snyder, and William H. Swinton, and the first vestrymen, Henry C. North- am, James A. Merwin, James E.Willard, John Gibson, Henry D. H. Snyder, Jr., Charles Wheelock, Edgar Jenks, and George W. Merrihew.

They have a neat but small church on the western border of the village, erect- ed in 1865, and for which Mrs. Augustus Snyder was the first subscriber. The amount she gave was $500.

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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEYDEN.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

[JOHN D. LORD. ]

JOHN D. LORD.

The family of Lord is of English ori- gin. Nathan Lord, grandfather of John D., and the first of the name of whom anything definite is known, was a resi- dent of Franklin, Connecticut, where he died at the age of 95, probably about the year 1830. He was twice married. His first wife was Abigail Ingraham, and his second wife was Mary Nevins. Their children were Asa, Peggy, Hannah, Charles, Mary, Gurdon, Rufus L., Na- than, Lydia, Lynds, Eleazer, Henry, David and Thomas. Of these children, Asa was born in Franklin, Connecticut,

October 6, 1767, and settled in Leyden, Lewis county, in 1794, on the farm now owned by Leonard S. Loomis, being one of the first three pioneers of that town. He was drowned on the 9th of April, 1818, by being swept over a mill-dam during a freshet at Madrid, St. Lawrence county.

Gurdon, the father of John D., was born in Franklin, Connecticut, July 5, 1780. He came to Lewis county at the age of 21, worked one summer, and in the next year, bought a farm in the town of Leyden, one portion of which is now owned by the sons of the late James S. Jackson, and another portion by John D.

278

HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

Lord. His life was the quiet and un- eventful life of a farmer. He married Sally Dewey, daughter of John Dewey, of Leyden, December 19, 1804. His death occurred October 18, 1866, and that of his wife April 13, 1861. Their children were :-

Mary Rudd, born August 12, 1807, died October 12, 1809; Lydia Axie, born September 20, 1810, married first, Will- iam Horr, second, Abner Horr, and now a widow living in Cleveland, Ohio; John D .; Sarah Naomi, born July 3, 1813, married Ruel Kimball, Jr., and now a widow living in Utica ; Nathan Lynds, born August 23, 1715, a Presbyterian minister, now (1883), in Rochester, Ind .; Mary Ann, born August 1, 1818, died December 1I, 1881.

John D. Lord, the third child of Gur- don Lord and Sally Dewey, was born April 1, 1812. His life has been passed in the pursuit of farming, in which he has been successful, and is owner of some of the finest land in the town. He received the education of the common schools, and to the learning thus derived, was added a well-poised mind of the rugged and independent type. He was united in marriage January 20, 1842, with Mary Bailey, of Lowville, who died July II, 1852 ; and on the 23d of October, 1855, he married Samantha Sawyer, a native of Brandon, Vt. His children were :-

Sarah Elizabeth, born November 22, 1843, married December 21, 1871, to Rev. Everett R. Sawyer, a native of New London, N. H., now a clergyman at Sandy Hill, Washington county, N. Y .; Mary Bailey, born April 7, 1846, married August 18, 1875, to William H.

Johnson, M. D., of Port Leyden ; John Albert, born January 17, 1851, and died in infancy.

HENRY J. BOTCHFORD.

The subject of this memoir was born in the town of Hunter, Greene county, N. Y., June 11, 1839. When in his ninth year, his father moved to Wood- land, Ulster county, N. Y., and engaged in the business of tanning, He attended the district schools of the neighborhood until his seventeenth year, when he en- tered the Ashland Collegiate Institute, where he remained three years, gradu- ating therefrom in 1859. He soon after entered the law office of King & Mat- toon, of Catskill, Greene county, N. Y., but after a year's study there, his health failed him, and he was obliged to give up the legal profession.

In 1861, he enlisted in the 44th New York State Volunteers, and served three years in the Army of the Potomac, en- gaging in all the principal battles of that branch of the service. Here his bravery entitled him to recognition, and from the ranks of a private, he was suc- cessively promoted to sergeant, second and first lieutenant and captain, and dur- ing the major part of his last year's ser- vice, was acting-adjutant of the regi- ment.

After the regiment was mustered out of service, he returned to his home, and soon after engaged in the business of leather tanning with General Sampson, of Ulster county, N. Y., where he re- mained until the fall of 1866, when he married Clementina G. Woodworth,

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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEYDEN.

daughter of David Woodworth, of Woodland, Ulster county, and soon after, in connection with his brother, G. M. Botchford, came to Lewis county, and built the Otter Lake tannery, where he remained until 1870. In that year he be- came connected with the Moose River tannery, having in the same year pur-

Of this trade he was master, and he had a happy faculty of elucidating any proposition in which he was interested, so that he was equally capable, both as to the theory and the practice of leather making. In the conventions of the National Tanner's Exchange, held in Philadelphia, in 1876, and in New York,

[HENRY J. BOTCHFORD. ]

chased a residence in Port Leyden, where he lived up to the time of his death. In 1879,he built a second tannery at Moose River, and in December, 1880, purchased in connection with his father, the Oswegatchie tannery, at Harrisville, N. Y. In these various and extensive enterprises, he displayed unusual busi- ness capacity, being quick in percep- tions, and of sound judgment in all affairs of business.

in 1877, he was prominent among the debaters on the art of leather tanning.

Politically, Mr. Botchford was a Re- publican, and for a time was as active as he was influential. In the fall of 1875, he was nominated for member of Assem- bly from Lewis county, but was defeated by twelve votes.

In 1877, when Lewis and Jefferson counties were in the same senatorial dis- trict, he carried his county for State

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HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

Senator, but was disqualified on ac- count of being postmaster at Moose River.

Mr. Botchford was a prominent and devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Port Leyden, and in all his various walks of business,

THE MERWINS.

ALANSON, AMANDA, M. H. AND JAMES A. MERWIN.

The ancestor of the Merwins in America, was Miles Merwin, who was born about 1623, in the north of Wales,

[ALANSON MERWIN.]

church or politics, succeeded in mak- ing friends of all with whom he came in contact.

At the time of his death, he was a partner with his brother, G. M. Botch- ford, as H. J. & G. M. Botchford, at Ot- ter Lake, and as H. J. Botchford & Co., at Moose River ; also with his father, D. Botchford, of Botchford & Co., at Har- risville.

He died February 22, 1882, aged 42.

or England, and in 1645, being then by trade a tanner, emigrated to New Eng- land, and settled in the town of Milford, Connecticut, there becoming the owner of a large tract of land, on Long Island Sound, and now known as Pond Point, or Merwin's Point-a quite celebrated local summer resort. This town was originally known as "Wepowage," and its settlement commenced in 1639, the pioneers being mostly from the counties

281

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEYDEN.

of Essex, Hereford, and York, in Eng- land. At this place, Milford Miles died, April 23, 1697, aged 74. His family was as follows :--

Eliza, who married a Mr. Canfield ; John, born in 1650, who settled at the homestead ; Abigail, who married Abel Holbrook; Thomas, who settled at Nor-

about 1710, and was a proprietor there in 1724. He had a son Daniel, Jr., born about 1716, who married Elizabeth Wells, December 20, 1738. Of this marriage was born James Merwin, grandfather to Alanson, October 19, 1739. The wife Elizabeth, died October 29, 1739, and the husband married again in 1741, and.

[AMANDA MERWIN.]

walk, Conn .; Samuel, born August 21, 1656, married Sarah Woodin, and set- tled at New Haven; Miles, born December 14, 1658; Daniel, born in 1661, and died young ; Martha ; Mary ; Hannah, and Deborah, who married a Mr. Burwell.

Miles, the son, was married in Sep- tember, 1681, and had a son Daniel, who was born in Milford, Conn., about 1685. This Daniel moved to Durham, Conn.,

had other children, some of whose de- scendants are now living in the vicinity of Kingston and Prescott, Canada. James Merwin married Martha Smith, who was born in 1736, and died August 2, 1808. They lived in Haddam, Conn., where James died, February 13, 1790. Of this marriage, there were born, He- mon Merwin, August 1, 1767, died Jan- uary 1, 1844; Elizabeth, born 1769, died young ; Rebecca, born May 13, 1771,

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HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

married Daniel Carter, about 1803, died in 1849 ; Anna, born in 1773, died young ; Martha, born December 1, 1774, married James Clark, in 1789, died in 1849; James, father to Alanson, born June 5, 1777 ; Daniel, born December 1, 1779. died in 1836.

James Merwin, father to Alanson, was born during the struggles of the Revo- lution, and his childhood was familiar with its trials and successes. Early left fatherless and poor, his education was but sufficient to enable him to read and write, and he depended on experience to give him whatever else he needed. At about sixteen years of age, he was ap- prenticed to learn the trade of black- smith, and at that practical school he graduated with a reputation second to none for industry, knowledge of his trade, and faithfulness to the interest of his employer. With this capital and a good constitution he started in life, and for several years was engaged at his trade in Haddam, Middletown, and the sea coast, being much employed as a ship blacksmith upon vessels being built on the Connecticut river. The desire to obtain a home,which operated then as it does now, led him with others, in the year 1800 to the Black River valley, whither the tide of immigration from his locality tended. The settlements then in New York State, west of Albany, were few and scattering. Utica was but a hamlet in a swampy valley. Boon- ville had but two or three houses, and here and there in the woods beyond was a settler, who had built his log house, and was clearing and burning the woods for cultivation. Travel then was by

the ox team or on foot. The bear and the Indian were the neighbors mostly seen. Men then were hardy and indus- trious, and foremost among them was James Merwin. At first he could buy and pay for but ten acres of land, and his practice was not to run in debt.

To this region, then a wilderness, he came with his wife Esther, from Had- dam, Conn., in 1800, and settled in Ley- den, on the farm he owned and occupied until his death. Here he built a log house for himself and wife, and began to clear and till his few acres of land. During the day he worked on his farm, and at night he was at his forge, as work might come in. One fall, within a year or two after his arrival, he went on foot back to Connecticut, worked there during the winter at his trade, in ship building, and in the spring returned with funds enough to purchase another ten acres. During the War of 1812, he served with the militia, when called out to Sackett's Harbor. After the war he continued his farming, always attending faithfully to his business, and performing all his engagements ; careful in all things, tem- perate, kind and humane, intellectually strong and sound in judgment, never neglecting his duties to his family, to society, or as a citizen ; modest in his demeanor, and never intruding himself in the way of others. For sixty-five years, he, with his faithful, intelligent and capable wife, sharing his labors and burdens and pleasures, lived upon the farm which in their youth they had selected for a home, and lived to see the wilderness turned into fruitful fields ; their child and grand-children grown up

283

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF LEYDEN ..

and become settled in life, and their great-grandchildren gather about them, and lisp their names with affection and veneration.

James Merwin died in Leyden, Feb- ruary 13, 1865. Esther Smith, his wife, died April 30th, of the same year. She was born in Haddam, Connecticut, Feb-

Lucinda, Sabra, Clinton, Mary Ann, now deceased; Sylvester, now deceased, and Martin.

The only child of James and Esther Merwin was Alanson, who was born in the town of Leyden, February 23, 1801. Here he passed his early life where he was educated, and here through life he

James A Messina

ruary 5, 1782, and was the daughter of Lewis Smith and Anne Hubbard, his wife. This couple had two other chil- dren, Hannah, wife of Allen Augur, and Catharine, wife of Joseph Stimpson, both of whom settled early in Leyden. The sole representative of the family of Mrs. Augur, is Lewis Augur, of San Francisco, Cal. The family of Mrs. Stimpson, were Sydney, deceased; Nel- son, Joseph, Catharine, now deceased;

has been the architect of an honest name which men respect and his children re- vere. On the 13th of January, 1825, he married Amanda Kimball, and immedi- ately thereafter went to live upon their farm on the East road, in Leyden. Their children were James A .; Huldah Kim- ball, born January 18, 1829, married Rev. George G. Saxe, now of New York ; Milton H., born June 16, 1832, now of Utica, N. Y.

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HISTORY OF LEWIS COUNTY.

The wife of Alanson Merwin died in 1878. She was descended from the Kimballs who were at Ipswich, Mass., from 1650, and were numerous, origin- ating probably with Richard Kimball, who came from Ipswich, England, in 1634. Henry, son probably of Richard, was at Ipswich in 1640, and Thomas was at Charlestown in 1653. Boyce Kimball, a descendant of Richard, was born at Ipswich, June 26, 1731, and the record of the family of himself and Re- becca, his wife, is thus :-

Boyce, born March 4, 1757; Rebecca, July 9, 1759; Jonathan, July 23, 1761 ; Ebenezer, December 3, 1764; Mary, September 11, 1767 ; Susanna, July 24, 1769 ; Priscilla, November 21, 1771; Timothy, December 21, 1773 ; Richard, May 19, 1775; Amasa, May 23, 1777 ; Ruel, December 20, 1778.

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History of Lewis County, New York; with...biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 37

Author: Hough, Franklin Benjamin, 1822-1885 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Syracuse, New York : Mason Number of Pages: 712

Author: Hough, Franklin Benjamin, 1822-1885
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Syracuse, New York : Mason
Number of Pages: 712