USA > New York > Madison County > History of Madison County, state of New York > Part 25
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alive with plumed heads, bands and bars, stars and epau- lettes. The evolutions of the drill were studiously and accurately performed, and the pomp of the parade, and the pleasure and exultation of the performers, was hightened by the presence, the smiles and admiring glances of the gentler sex. These often-congregating masses, for one purpose and another, kept Morrisville in a continuous move, keep- ing step with the spirit of the times.
The village was incorporated April 13, 1819. The first newspaper, the " Madison Observer," was published here in 1822, under the proprietorship of Rice & Hall, who had removed it from Cazenovia. From 1829 to 1840, there was great activity in trade, and mechanics and manufactures developed. The population of the village in 1830, was 503, in a town containing 3,544 inhabitants. There had been a small foundry built, then carried on by Sumner Whitney. About the same period, Jefferson Cross established his foundry, which has been kept in operation to the present time. Mr. Cross commenced making stoves at the opening of his business. Stoves were not in general use at that day, and he had the pleasure and honor of introducing them into very many households. In the manufacture of the stove known as the " Great Western," he realized a handsome profit, in consequence of its great demand. [We risk the remark that, for some purposes, it is a very useful stove at this day.] The machine shop which Mr. Cross built was connected with his foundry, where he made a large va- riety of castings. After his death, this shop was sold, and the same business was carried on in the foundry. These works have been a source of benefit to the village, and are still a substantial and paying concern. George and Dwight Cross, sons of Jefferson Cross, succeeded to the ownership of the establishment, and are the present firm. About 1820, Nathan Shephard built a small woolen factory on the Chenango, at the west end of the village, which was in op- eration some fifteen or twenty years; in 1830, it was run
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by Ozias Higley. Clark Tillinghast and Perley Ayer were other manufacturers of that day. There were then, as we learn from the advertising of that period, a comb factory be- longing to Jonathan Gurley, also the chair making and cabinet rooms of Curtis Coman ; the saddle, harness and trunk shop of James Slocum ; the millinery shop of Miss M. Bicknell, and the store of B. Bicknell. There were others whose trade, we are to suppose, was sufficient without ad- vertising. There were two taverns, and the names of the landlords, for a series of years, are given as John Farwell, A. Morey, P. Munger and Ward White. There was a dis- tillery which belonged to Bicknell, Norton & Palmer ; it ceased to be, many years ago. Bradley Tillinghast built the tannery somewhere about 1830. This business is still con- ducted by him, on an extensive plan, and by his efficient management has proved profitable. The grist mill was built by Bennett Bicknell in 1833. Stephens & Gurley built a silk factory on Union street, before 1840; the chief arti- cle of manufacture was sewing-silk ; they had an extensive commerce for a time, but the establishment remained in operation but a few years ; the building has been converted into a cheese factory.
The educational spirit of this village was originally and is now, decidedly cosmopolitan. In the absence of literary institutions corresponding with those planted in other villages, it was the aim here to educate the mass in the more common and useful fields of learning, and to a higher state of perfection than could result in common schools. Select schools were held season after season on the most advantageous terms for pupils, in which the com- mon English branches were taught for $2 per quarter, and Algebra, Geometry, Natural Philosophy and Rhetoric, for $3 per quarter ; and board could be had for $ 1,25 per week. In 1831, an Academy was built, which stood on the location of the present Union School house ; it was a fine three- story building. Its first Principal was Eli Burchard, of
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Marshall, Oneida County ; its first board of trustees, O. P. Granger, B. Coman, J. F. Chamberlin, W. T. Curtis, E. Holmes, B. Bicknell, M. Leland, A. Williams, J. Payne, C. Tillinghast, J. W. Avery, A. Cornell and J. G. Curtis.
The N. Y. State Gazetteer of 1842, gives Morrisville 130 dwelling houses and 700 inhabitants. The County build- ings were " composed of a Court House, County Clerk's Office and a Jail, very pleasantly situated ; an incorporated Academy, three Churches,-the Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist ;- a printing office, silk factory, distillery, tannery, woolen factory, iron foundry, machine shop, grist mill, saw mill, five stores and two taverns."
In 1847, a new Court House was built ; Ellis Morse, Samuel White and Oliver Pool, were the committee appointed to superintend its erection. This was burned in October 1865, during the session of Court. In 1866, it was rebuilt. It is a two-story wooden building, containing an excellent court room with gallery, jury rooms and libra- ry. It is pleasantly situated in a small park, fronting on Main street. In the park is a fountain, and reservoir thirty feet in diameter and seven feet deep, affording an abundant supply of water in case of fire. The Clerk's office is a small brick building, fire proof, adjacent to the Court House. The Jail, situated also contiguous to the Court House, is an old building and is soon to be super- seded by a new one of brick. The cell in which the notorious Indian murderer, Antone was confined, still bears the carvings he made in the curious hieroglyphics of savage life. Immediately after his sentence, he engraved upon the wall the number of moons and the number of sleeps to the day of his doom ; thus, here the firm hand of this eloquent representative of barbarism performed its last work.
In 1868, one of the three then existing hotels, the upper or most easterly one, was destroyed by fire. This was a commodious, well patronized house, and its loss has been
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seriously felt. A company is rebuilding it the present sea- son (1872,) on a plan far more extensive than the former. On the public green, near the lower or western hotel, is situated another fountain ; this, with that in the Court House park, supplies such an abundance of water, that, for the future, and with her efficient corps of firemen, Morris- ville seems munificently provided for, in case of a repetition of the conflagrations she has experienced.
About one mile south of Morrisville, near the "Center," was the old "Tillinghast factory." This was one of the first woolen factories of Madison County, built about 1822, by Perley Ayer. It was situated in a remarkably pictur- esque locality. The factory pond was a narrow body of water, created by damming between two perpendicular hills, covering some fifteen acres, and was ordinarily some twenty feet in depth. The plot for the factory houses, con- taining about twenty acres of level land, was at the foot of the hill and was handsomely laid out. In time this became the property of Clark Tillinghast, who by the means of cap- ital, considerably increased the business. There were seve- ral fine dwellings and a good boarding house, and there were also on the premises a saw mill and tannery. This fine property was damaged beyond redemption by two suc- cessive floods, in the autumn of 1851, in the first of which the water broke through the dam, carried away a part of the saw mill, struck a range of dwellings, broke up and carried away two of them, and forced the others against each other, nearly destroying them. The flood now turned and ad- vanced upon other buildings, utterly demolishing and sweep- ing away the dwelling house of Almon Lawrence, leaving not a trace of it save the submerged cellar ; his barn shared the same fate. The cloth lying in the dye-house was swept away, and several hundred sheep pelts were carried away from the tannery. Onward traversed the wild flood toward Eaton village, tearing up dams and bridges in its course and bearing on its bosom the spoils of the devastated fac-
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tory settlement ! Fortunately the horrors of the scene were not aggravated by the loss of human life ; but very many were stripped of the savings of their industry, and some 150 persons were thrown out of employment. Mr. Tillinghast immediately commenced repairing, when, a few weeks later, a second flood damaged the property still far- ther, so that it was never fully repaired and put in success- ful operation again. After years of disuse the premises were sold to the firm of Graham & Co., who built a machine shop there in 1869.
The First National Bank of Morrisville was established in 1864, with a capital of $100,000. First Directors : Daniel Stewart, L. D. Dana, F. M. Whitman, Henry Runkle, Reu- ben Harwood, S. T. Holmes, A. M. Holmes, B. Tillinghast, George E. Cummings, John C. Head. First officers : Daniel Stewart, President ; A. M. Holmes, Vice President ; L. D. Dana, Cashier. The present officers are: Daniel Stewart, President ; A. M. Holmes, Vice President ; L. D. Dana, Cashier ; Brownell Tompkins, Teller. There has been but one change in the list of directors since the or- ganization of the bank ; that of Charles L. Kennedy in the place of George E. Cummings.
BENNETT BICKNELL.
The Madison Observer of Sept. 21, 1841, published an extended notice of Mr. Bicknell's death, which occurred Sept. 15, 1841, in his 61st year, from which the subjoined extract is made. It gives a just view of his appreciation by his fellow citizens :
" Our village has been smitten with no common calamity. It has been deprived of its head and benefactor-of one who per- haps more than any other man was identified with its growth and prosperity. Mr. Bicknell was a native of Mansfield, Conn., and removed to this place in 1808, when, where is now a flour- ishing village, there existed but a few scattered tenements of rude construction, and an almost unbroken primeval forest. To its subsequent growth and advancement he contributed in a
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great degree. We behold on every side the evidences of his activity, enterprise and liberality. He gave largely, unstint- ingly, and bestowed his time and services freely, to whatever tended to the promotion of the welfare of the place.
Mr. Bicknell received repeated evidences of the confidence of his fellow citizens. Much of his life has been spent in public service. In 1812 he was elected a Representative from this County in Assembly, and in 1814 he was chosen State Senator from this then great western district. He also served in the ca- pacity of County Clerk for five years, at first by appointment, and, on the adoption of the amended constitution, by choice of the people. In 1836 he was elected Representative in Congress from this district, (the 23rd, Madison and Onondaga.) At the close of his term, he was strongly solicited to become a candi- date for re-election, but steadily declined the wishes of his friends, and retired from public life.
In his private and business relations, he enjoyed a wide and enviable reputation, not only throughout the county, but beyond its limits. It was, however, as a public man that he was general- ly known. He was from youth, thoroughly and essentially a democrat, and he adhered to his political faith with a constancy and tenacity of purpose, which could only have been the result of well considered and mature deliberation. His democracy pervaded all his public and private conduct. It was clear, steady and consistent.
Blessed with a constitution of body capable of great endurance, and which was impaired by scarcely an interval of sickness down to the day of his death, endowed with a vigorous mind, a sound, healthy and sagacious common sense, which rarely conducted him to wrong results ; and moreover carrying into all his pursuits an energy and activity which knew no repose, and an indomitable perseverance which never relaxed, he was enabled to effect more in the moderate period allotted to him in this world, than most men accomplish with the longest term of human existence. * * * His was the generous heart and open hand for the poor man, as well as for his more fortunate neighbor; a working man himself, his sympathies were with the laboring classes. He lent freely of his means to those who were just starting in life, and a willing and an active hand in every public enterprise. He was a safe guide and counselor, and it was this trait in his character which acquired for him a hold upon the confidence and regard of his fellow citizens, which cannot be appreciated but by those who witnessed it. It is in this respect that his loss is irrepara- ble and his decease is a blow to community. Indeed there are few among us of whom it may not be asked, in regard to the death of Mr. Bicknell, ' Who hath not lost a friend ?'
Let us add to the above that the private character of Mr.
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Bicknell was such as may be commended without reserve. It was unsullied even by the breath of suspicion. His inter- course with his fellow men in all the relations of life were marked by justice, propriety and benevolence. With a vigilant attention to his own character and rights, he blended a con- stant observance of the courtesies of life, and a habitual regard for the feelings of others. He has descended to the grave, not only, it is believed, with scarcely an enemy, but enjoying the un- qualified love of all who had the happiness to become his friends. * * * Long, very long, if ever will it be, before the breach occasioned by his loss will be repaired His funeral was attended by the entire population, and a large number of citizens from abroad. It was an immence concourse, and testified more eloquently than words, to the estimation in which the deceased was held."
JUDGE HOLMES .- Epenetes Holmes was born in Ame- nia, Dutchess County, N. Y., December Ist, 1784, and in 1795 removed with his parents to Pittstown, Rensselaer County, where his father pursued the hatter's trade. His early educational advantages were quite limited, as he never attended a day school after he was eleven years of age. During his twelfth year he had the privilege of attending an evening grammar school ; the residue of his education, as well as the earlier part of his legal studies, were prosecuted evenings, after the close of a good day's work. In the office of Hon. Herman Knickerbocker he completed his studies, and was admitted to the practice of law as an attorney in the Supreme Court, in Shaghticoke, Rensselaer County, in the year 1809, where he remained until March, 1817, when he removed to Morrisville, Madison County. There he re- mained till his decease, which occurred in 1861, when in . his 77th year.
Judge Holmes continued the practice of law, opening a law office in this village, on his removal here. He received repeated marks of public confidence by being called to fill official stations. Soon after his removal here, he was ap- pointed Justice of the Peace; he was subsequently, for several years, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, and for
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ten years was one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, of this county. In all of these positions he dis- charged his duty faithfully, and to general satisfaction. As a lawyer, he won golden opinions, and great confidence was reposed in his ability and sound judgment as a counselor. He enjoyed a fame worthy of emulation.
For many years Judge E. Holmes was an influential member and officer of the Congregational Church, of this village, until age and bodily infirmities compelled him to withdraw from active life. In the various social and busi- ness relations, he ejoyed the esteem of his fellow citizens, and, at the close of a long life, left behind him an irre- proachable name.
JUDGE GASTON, as he was familiarly known, came to this place from New England in the year 1800, when the coun- try was almost an unbroken wilderness, and resided here from that time until his decease. In 1804, he opened the first store in the village, on the line of the old State Road, and afterwards, when the turnpike was constructed, at the junction of Main and Eaton streets. On the organization of this town, in 1807, he was chosen Town Clerk, which office he held for nearly twenty years ; he also represented this town repeatedly in the Board of Supervisors, and for many years discharged the duties of Justice of the Peace. He was at one time a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas. H's ability and great probity secured him the confidence of all.
Judge Gaston was a man of unassuming manners, and in all the relations of life, justly esteemed for his sound judgment and unbending integrity ; and we believe we can truly say, that it is the willing tribute of all who have known him during his sixty years' sojourn in our community, that he was emphatically the " noblest work of God"-an honest man. Judge David Gaston died November, 1860.
OTIS P. GRANGER came to Morrisville fifty years ago.
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He was a young man of talent, and soon gained an enviable place in public favor. He was the first Surrogate of Madi- son County from the town of Eaton ; was appointed April 13, 1827, and served thirteen years. He was one of the active public-spirited men of his time. Being a man of keen perception and ready wit, he was well calculated to relish the contests of the political arena of the days long past. Judge Granger yet resides in Morrisville, enjoying a hale old age.
LAWYERS .- Among the lawyers of Morrisville who have exerted a wide influence, and won an enviable reputation for success, A. Lawrence Foster deserves mention. He opened an office here at an early day. At first being some- what successful, he resolved to change his location for one more propitious, when an unexpected incident roused his energy, and he decided to remain, and at all hazards win himself a position. 'Political contests-Foster was a Whig -served to strengthen his indomitable will. He became one of the successful lawyers of his time ; was generally pitted against Hubbard & Stower in important cases. A. L. Foster was elected to Congress from the 23d Congres- sional District in 1841. A. S. Sloan, formerly County Clerk and lawyer, studied law with Foster. Duane Brown, Esq., another successful lawyer of that day, succeeded Mr. Fos- ter. Mr. Brown was an able and popular advocate. He continued in business here till his death. Sidney T. Holmes, son of Judge Epenetes Holmes, opened an office in Morrisville and acquired success and a wide reputation of being an ahle and safe counselor. He was elected County Judge in 1851, and served twelve years. He was elected to Congress from the 22d District in 1865. He has recently re- moved to Bay City, Michigan, where a new field invites him to continued success. Charles L. Kennedy commenced here as a student with Duane Brown, Esq., in 1845 ; was admitted to the bar in 1847, and remained in company with
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Mr. Brown till the fall of 1849, when he went to Chitte nango, having formed a co-partnership with William E. Lansing. He remained there till 1856, when Lansing was elected County Clerk, and Mr. Kennedy took charge of the office as Deputy. At the close of the term, 1858, Mr. Ken- nedy was elected County Clerk, and at the expiration of his term formed a co-partnership with Judge S. T. Holmes. In 1867, C. L. Kennedy was elected County Judge and Surrogate, and as an evidence of the high estimation in which his services were held, he was re-elected to that posi- tion in 1871. Nathaniel Foote, Esq., has been a practicing lawyer since 1845, in Morrisville. He was from Chenango County, of the family of Footes well known in the public annals of that county. Alexander Cramphin, attorney and counselor-at-law, who was elected County Clerk in 1868, and Lucius P. Clark, Commissioner of Pensions, have well sustained law offices, and are long established in the confi- dence of the citizens. Several recent firms have been added to the ranks of the profession in Morrisville, some of them already winning golden opinions from their predecessors.
WEST EATON.
Thomas Fry, Stephen Cornell, Perry Burdick, Barry Carter and David Darrow, earliest located on lands which are now occupied by West Eaton village. Thomas Fry built his dwelling on the corner where is now the store of Smith & Bedell. David Darrow's large farm took in much of the site of the present village, and his farm house was situated very near where the road runs between the large house of Alvin Wadsworth and the cheese factory. Thomas Fry built a saw mill where stands the factory of Barnes, Mitchell & Howe. He, afterwards, in company with William Hopkins, built a grist mill on the same spot. The first tavern was built by Isaac Sage, very near where Mrs. Wellington's residence is, between her house and Richard- son's Hotel. Barry Carter kept tavern here after Mr. Sage. In the house built by Mr. Fry a Mr. Dunham kept the first
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store, he receiving his goods on commission from the house of Foreman & Co., of Cazenovia. This primitive store, which was a double house, one part used for a store, the other for the family, would scarcely bear comparison with the fine building of its successor, the Smith & Bedell store, yet it was quite serviceable for its day.
The Skaneateles turnpike induced more rapid settlement, and the adjacent country was being inhabited, but years passed while the village was very slowly growing. The people were busy clearing up their farms, looking after the needs of society, nourishing their district schools and infant churches. Otherwise all of men's physical strength was employed in reducing nature to a state wherein it would serve the wants and necessities of life. We are scarcely able to understand the discomforts they experienced and the hardships they endured. The comforts of a primitive school house with the first trial of a stove, was given by an old lady who herself has known the changes of more than three score years. The school particularized was kept west of this village in the year 1816, by a Mr. Hubbard. The district had built a new frame school house, and, as stoves were coming in fashion, they had dispensed with the fire- place in building their house. In school meeting the merits of the few patterns of stoves extant were duly discussed. A neighboring district had used what was called the "potash kettle stove," and this school meeting decided to test its merits. Accordingly a potash kettle, in which the black- smith had constructed a door, and an outlet for pipe, was hauled to the school room, turned over a circular brick platform, and made tight around the edge with plaster. This unique stove was found of sufficient capacity to receive a large amount of fuel; but it had not a good draft, and consequently three or four hours of wintry weather passed each day before its massive sides became hot, and then it increased in heat to the superlative degree, which was now as intolerable as the cold had been. Grateful indeed was
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the chill wintry air from the door widely thrown open, to the burning cheeks and aching heads of scholars, who, but a few hours before had vainly endeavored to mitigate the pains of their chilling feet. Thus the school suffered through that long winter, and it is indeed a matter of won- der, how, under such untoward circumstances the children of that generation were able to store away so much sound knowledge as we see exemplified in their later lives. We infer, however, that the good sense of their parents added and encouraged improvements as their means would per- mit ; suffice it to say that this kind of stove was not used a second term.
West Eaton, or "Leeville," as it was called, from Philip Lee, one of the early inn keepers, made but little advance ยท as a village before 1840, having then but a dozen houses, one store, a hotel, a saw mill, grist mill, carding and cloth dressing works. In the forests round about, was growing the timber, in the quarry lay the stone, and in widely sepa- rated places lay other raw material, which the future should bring together to build the manufacturing works, the churches, and the numerous fine dwellings of this thriving village. Most of those twelve houses are yet standing.
Joseph E. Darrow kept the only store, in the house now belonging to Mr. Enos, near the fountain. The wool card- ing and cloth dressing works were owned and operated by Abner Isbell, and were located on the site of the present woolen mill of Barnes, Mitchell & Howe. In that day of stage travel, the tavern was the most busy institution of the place. The old tavern had disappeared and a new one, the present hotel, had been built by Major Smith, as early as 1830, and was kept by Calvin Wellington. After 1840, a new impulse seemed to enter every department of business. Joseph E. Darrow built his house east of the L. Wellington store in 1842, and built this store in 1845. In 1843, the Methodist church was built. In 1845, A. Y. Smith built the first woolen factory. He commenced with two sets of
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