USA > New York > Madison County > History of Madison County, state of New York > Part 40
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During all the years in which these various settlements were growing up, Oneida Castle, chiefly in Vernon, but identified with the interests of this town, was the chief vil- lage of this section. It was then, nevertheless, an Indian village ; one in which great meetings were often held, when the Indians came from all quarters annually to receive their annuities. Before the settlement of the country, Skenandoah, the great Oneida Chief, kept a tavern here for the accom- modation of travelers : they spoke well of his house. In 1810, the Indian school house, and the Missionary church in which Mr. Kirkland preached, were there. DeWitt Clinton, on a journey through the place, in 1810, says :-
" At the end of the bridge over Oneida Creek, there stood a beautiful Indian girl, offering apples for sale to persons that passed. We saw Indian boys trying to kill birds, others driving cattle on the plains ; some Indians were plowing with oxen, and at the same time their heads were ornamented with white feathers ; some were driving a wagon ; the women milking and churning-all indications of incipient civilization.
"About four miles from Stockton's, we stopped at Skenan- doah's house. He was formerly Chief Sachem of all the Oneidas ; but since the nation has been split up between Christian and Pagan parties, he is only acknowledged by the former. The Chief of the latter is Capt. Peter, a very sensible man. The morals of the Pagans are better than those of the Christians. The former still practice some of their ancient superstitions ; on the first new moon of every new year they sacrifice a white dog to the Great Spirit, and devote six days to celebrate the commencement of the new year. The Christian party are more numerous by one hund- red than the Pagan ; they are entirely separated in their e rritory as well as in their God.
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" Skenandoah is one hundred and one years old, and his wife seventy-four. He is weak and can hardly walk. His face is good and benevolent, and not much wrinkled ; he is entirely blind, but his hair is not gray. He smokes, and can converse a little in English. He was highly delighted with a silver pipe that was given him by Governor Tomp- kins. His wife was afflicted with bronchocele or goitre.
* A number of his children and grand children were present. His daughter looked so old that at first I took her for his wife. Some of the females were handsome. His house is one hundred yards from the road, situated on the margin of a valley, through which a pleasant stream flows ; it is a small frame building, painted red, and adjoining it is a log house. There were four bedsteads in the room, composed of coarse wooden bunks, so called, and covered by blankets and pillows, instead of beds. A large kettle of corn was boiling, which was the only breakfast the family appeared to have. It was occasionally dipped out from the pot into a basket, from which the children ate. The furniture and farming utensils were coarse and those of civilized persons.
" His eldest son came in spruced up like an Indian beau. His features are handsome. He ate out of the basket. It is said, on his father's demise, he will succeed him as Chief Sachem, but if I understand their system aright, the office of Sachem is personal, not hereditary.
[See Indian chapter on this point.] * * * Such is the mode of living of the first Chief of an Indian nation. In England, he would be recognized as a King. * *
" Abram Hatfield and his wife, Quakers, have resided here some time, having been sent by that society, principally with a view to teach the savages agriculture, for which they re- ceive $200 a year. Hatfield was sick ; his wife appeared to be a kind good woman, well qualified for the duties allotted to her. They are amply provided with oxen and instru- ments of agriculture, to administer to the wants and instruc- tion of the Indians.
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" In this village, we saw several very old women, and there was an old Indian, named the Blacksmith, recently dead, older than Skenandoah, who used to say that he was at a treaty with William Penn. There was a boy far gone in consump- tion, which was a prevalent disease among them. Last winter, they were severely pressed by famine; and ad- monished by experience, they intend to put in considera- ble wheat-to which they have been hitherto opposed- and they now have large crops of corn. They appear to be well provided with neat cattle and hogs. * * * They evince great parental fondness, and are much pleased with any attention to their children. An Indian child in Skenandoah's house took hold of my cane ; to divert him, I gave him some small money; the mother appeared much pleased, and immediately offered me apples to eat-the best thing she had to give.
" In passing the Oneida Reservation, we saw some white settlers, and it is not a little surprising that they receive any encouragement from the Indians, considering how often they have been coaxed out of their lands by their white brethren."
In 1816, a Mission was established at Oneida Castle, by Bishop Hobart, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, Rev. Eleazer Williams taking charge. Under his ministration, the Pagan party was converted and became the " Second Christian Party of the Oneida Nation." In 1818, this party sold a piece of land to enable them to erect a Chapel, which was consecrated by Bishop Hobart, September 21, 1819, by the title of ' St. Peter's Church." The edifice stood on the hill south-easterly from the " Butternut Orchard," in the vi- cinity of Oneida Castle. This was sold to the Unitarian Congregational Society of Vernon village, in 1840, and re- moved to that place. The same bell that formerly called the Indians to worship still hangs in its steeple. Some years since several of the Oneidas who had emigrated to Green Bay returned to visit their native home. During
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their stay, some of them were at Vernon village, and the sound of the old bell greeted their ears ; they stood still in a group and listened reverently and in silence ; its solemn tones were recognized ; its well remembered peals vibrated upon their heart strings like loving spirit voices, hailing to them from the depths of departed time ; stoics, as they were, their eyes moistened, evincing the deep feeling of their na- tures on this sudden summoning to memory of the old scenes and associations in which the venerable bell had a part.
Rev. Eleazer Williams went to Green Bay with the In- dians. [See the chapter on the Oneida Indians, given else- where.]
In the mean time, Oneida Castle became settled with white people, and the village grew thriftily. An academy was early established, and maintained a good reputation among the academic institutions of the country. In 1841, the village was incorporated, at which time it contained about 400 inhabitants, sixty dwelling houses, one Presby- terian and one Baptist Church, two taverns and two stores.
Lenox Furnace was another of the early enterprises of this town. It was located one mile south of Wampsville, and was, for a long term of years, the leading business in- stitution of the town.
The " Lenox Iron Company " was organized in 1815, with 400 shares of $50 each, to be paid as called for by the trus- tees, and in default of payment thereof, the shares, and all previous payments were to be forfeited. The names of some of the original stockholders, were :- Judge Thomas, R. Gould*, Whitestown ; William Cheever and Augustine J. Daubyt, Utica ; Conradt Moot, Lenox ; James S. Sennet, Lenox ; Eliphalet Sweeting, Paris ; John Sweeting, West- moreland. Subsequently, among others, the following were added :- Gen. Joseph Kirkland, Utica ; Gardner Avery, Paris ; William Cobb, Lenox; Capt. J. N. Avery, Paris ;
* Judge Gould was an eminent lawyer and jurist, of Oneida County.
+ At an early day editor of the Utica Observer.
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Col. Stephen Chapman, Lenox. The first agent of the company was Lewis J. Dauby, of Whitestown, he being succeeded by Gardner Avery, who manufactured the first cast iron, in November, 1816. He operated the furnace successfully several years. William Cobb succeeded Mr. Avery, and was agent till 1827, when J. N. Avery received the agency, and continued till the business was closed in 1847, in consequence of the exhaustion of timber for char- coal, there being then no method of smelting iron with mineral coal. Iron ore was hauled to this establishment on sleighs, from Clinton, Westmoreland and Verona. The company manufactured hollow ware of all descriptions, in- cluding potash, caldron and salt kettles ; also castings for plows, and all kinds of shop and cooking stoves in current use. They began in the stove line with the first invention -" Dr. Noyes'* Parlor Stove," then considered a great achievement. The first pattern of the " Franklin Stove " was also cast here, and we presume, also, the first cooking stove, invented by David Gage. Connected with the works were a number of dwelling houses, the general boarding house, a blacksmith shop, a carpenter and joiner's shop, and a store and office. The place bore the title of " Lenox Furnace Village," and was so given, conspicuously, on all the maps up to 1850.
George B. Cady now (1871,) has a woolen factory at this place, where doeskins, cassimeres, tweeds, satinets, flannels, &c., are manufactured. In 1867, it was fitted up with new machinery, and turned out 200 yards of cloth per day, with nineteen hands. The firm have also a good reputation for. custom work.
The dry lands on the south border of Oneida Lake were settled after 1808, though Col. Cadwell was the pioneer in this section in 1807. He opened a clearing in the forest, laid out new roads, and did much during the first two years
* Dr. Noyes was then a Professor in Hamilton College.
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in the way of inducements to others to settle. Oneida Val- ley was one of the early villages. One of the oldest Presby- terian Churches of the town was located here. This church, with a store, hotel and about thirty houses, comprise the present village.
Durhamville is located on the Oneida Creek, mostly on the side, in the town of Verona, Oneida County. It was named from Eber Durham, who removed from Manlius, Onondaga County, in 1826. When he arrived, there were four log houses within the limits of the present village. By his energy and enterprise, a flourishing village soon came into being, its rapid growth being greatly promoted by the use of the hydraulic power, furnished by the surplus water here discharged from the Erie Canal, and turned to account by Mr. Durham, who leased it from the State. This source of prosperity is now dried up, the Canal officers having found that the rents were far from being equal to the dam- ages to navigation in times of low water. The enterprising business men, however, have endeavored to make good the loss by use of steam ; a steam flouring and grist mill, and a steam saw mill are in operation. The place has also a tan- nery, a glass factory and an iron foundry ; there are two churches, (Baptist and Methodist,) two taverns, two dry goods stores, nine grocery and provision stores, three ware- houses and various mechanics, with a population of. about 1000. In the earlier years of the Erie Canal, this point was known as " Hotchkiss Basin." In 1816, Calvin Baker was married at this place. It was the first wedding of a white couple between Oneida Castle and Oneida Lake.
Oneida Lake and South Bay are hamlets on the lake shore.
Merrelsville is a hamlet in the south part of the town, having a woolen factory, which was one of the early woolen mills of Madison County.
Pine Bush (at Bennett Corners Station on the Midland Railroad,) is also a hamlet located on the east road leading
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from Oneida Castle to Knoxville. It belonged to the last Indian Reservation. There was formerly a store, hotel and several shops here ; a good Methodist Church was erected here some years since. Several years ago the store was burned; the tavern is now the farm house of William Nelson.
CANASTOTA VILLAGE.
The land upon which Canastota village stands, was, in the first decade of this century, but a low, swampy forest, with a small clearing on the west side of the present village, trav- ersed by Canastota Creek. Canastota is located upon what was formerly known as the "Canastota Reservation " which was a part of, and was reserved from the "Canastota Tract," when that Tract was purchased by the State from the Onei- da Indians. This purchase extended from Oneida Lake shore to within about a half mile of the Seneca Turnpike, and contained ninety-one lots. The Reservation consisted of 329 1-2 acres. In 1808, the State authorized 10,000 acres of the Canastota Tract to be surveyed off to the Twenty Townships north of the Unadilla, each of those Townships to have 500 acres, to be appropriated to Gospel and School purposes. This took the most of the Tract, be- ginning at the Lake Shore .*
Capt. Reuben Perkins, a resident of the west part of the town, came and obtained of the Indians the land which is now the site of Canastota, for which he obtained a patent from the State, in March, 1810, bearing the signature of Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor. At the time of his pur- chase seven or eight Indian families were living there in log houses, among whom are still remembered the names
* It may be remarked here that on the survey of the "Twenty Townships " in 1789, the Government made provision for the support of the Gospel and Schools, and required the Surveyor General to mark two lots near the center of each town, of 250 acres each, to be reserved for those purposes. These Townships were after- wards sold to speculators without the proper reserve being made. The intelligent and religious emigrants who had taken up farms in those Townships, remonstrated and petitioned the Legislature with such energy that an act was passed appropriating the Canastota Tract to their use for said purposes. The avails have been accord- ingly so used.
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of Hon-Yost and John August. On selling their land the Indians removed, and Capt. Perkins repaired one of their block-houses which stood on an eminence near where Dr. Jarvis now lives, built an addition to it and moved in. He afterwards built a frame house on the same spot, which is still in use, having been moved across the road by Dr. Jarvis and converted into a tenant house. Not far from Capt. Perkins' house stood the cluster of pines from which it is said Canastota derived its name. The railroad bridge which spans the creek in the village is the nearest point we are able to name to the site of this cluster of three pines, one of which was on one side of the creek, and two opposite it, on the other ; one of the latter had partly fallen and lodged in the branches of the others, forming a shady retreat which became a resort of the natives in the long summer days, in the closing years of their occupancy .*
It is said that the name " Canastota," is derived from the Indian word " Kniste," signifying "cluster of pines," and " Stota,"" meaning "still, silent, motionless," which has yet greater significance. The lands were low, the stream slug- gish. To the swamp north of the village, the Indians gave the name of " Still Waters." Col. Cadwell remarked, (as given in Judge Barlow's sketch,) "I have many times heard the Indians bid their dogs be still by saying, 'stota ! stota !' or 'be still ! be still !'" Undoubtedly, both ideas, that of the " cluster of pines " and the " still waters," are intended to be conveyed in the word "Canastota."
At the period of Capt. Perkins' purchase, no road led through from the turnpike northward ; there was only a crooked Indian trail which crossed the big swamp in the
*A cluster of pines stood on the flat, farther down the creek, in the vicinity of the old saw mill owned by Mr. Hitchcock, west of the creek, by the hickory grove, which has been named as the cluster of pines referred to in the tradition ; but Mr. H., himself gives credit to the belief that the three pines uniting across the creek are the true ones.
+For the greater part of the history of Canastota, the author is indebted to a se- ries of graphic sketches on the early settlement of this region, published by Judge Thomas Barlow, in 1868.
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direction of Oneida Valley. The above mentioned sketch relates an interesting adventure of Col. Cadwell, in 1808. in traversing this swamp with a yoke of oxen, wagon, and load of seed potatoes, when he first began his settlement in the north part of the town. There is also a story of 1809, touching and sad, of Eli Barnard, Constable and Collector, (brother of Judge Pardon Barnard,) who, getting lost in the depths of this great forest, wandered about for many days, and at length laid down in the soft April snow, and died, where he was found after an anxious search, the ninth day after his departure from home ; and another thrilling inci- dent of a boy lost, and found alive on the fifth day.
In 1814, Capt. Perkins sold one hundred acres of his res- ervation purchase, it being the east part of the present vil- lage site, to Ephraim Sherman. This passed successively through the hands of Jason W. Powers, Samuel Halliday, Barnbort Nellis and Joshua A. Spencer, before it was cut up for village purposes. In 1821, Thomas Hitchcock and Thomas N. Jarvis, from Amenia, Dutchess County, con- tracted with Capt. Perkins for the remaining two-thirds of the Canastota Reservation. Jarvis was a youth, but the enterprise was a grand one, and greatly for the interest of his father's family. The purchase price was $8,000. In April, 1822, the conveyance was made in due form to Thomas Hitchcock ; and in 1824, by arrangement, the Jar- vis farm, a part of the Reservation, was conveyed to Milton Barlow, (brother of Mrs. Lydia Jarvis,) who subsequently conveyed it to Lancelot Jarvis, the farther of Thomas N. Jarvis. On the death of the father, it was divided among the heirs, and since, has been parceled out in village lots.
The springing up of a village at this locality, is due to the enterprise brought to bear upon this point on the construc- tion of the Erie Canal. This section of the Canal was laid through, about 1817. At that period, a noble wheat field flourished upon the village site, and but four houses modest- ly graced the landscape. Two of these houses were the res-
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idences of Capt. Reuben Perkins and Thomas Menzie, his son-in-law ; one of the others belonged to James Graham, which was located where the spacious "Montross House ' now stands ; the fourth was on Peterboro street.
The Canal brought with it a host of men, employers and employees, and forthwith sprang up taverns, groceries, stores and shops of various descriptions. James Graham converted his house into a tavern, and built a small store on the south side of the canal, on Peterboro street ; the spot is now occu- pied by a block of buildings. Mr. Reuben Hawley built his first store near here, and the Crouses commenced busi- ness in it in the course of the year 1817. This store now forms a part of Mr. Reeder's feed store, but it then stood out on a line with the street. The latter, and his brother John, carried on a heavy mercantile business here for years. Capt. Perkins built the house at the corner of Main street and the Canal, (northeast corner,) for a hotel. He also built the brick store which stood where the malt house now stands. There was a brick yard south of it where the brick was manufactured from which the store was built. Samuel Halliday built the tavern near the corner of Peterboro and Center streets, now the location of the Center Hotel. About 1821, Capt. Daniel Lewis built a dwelling house which stands on the west side of (now) south Main street, north of Mr Miller's large house, which is now owned by his wife, Mrs. Miller, daughter of the late John H. Rose. Another land- mark of the past yet remaining, is the house situated on the corner of Center and Main streets, which was built by Thomas Menzie about the same time.
There was a saw mill built at an early day, which was on the present location of Reeder's grist mill. At a later period a saw mill was built near where is now located the cabinet works of Bolster. The brick yard near the brick store, was a small one, operated first by Mr. Gleason, afterwards passing through several hands, and was finally given up. More recently, brick has been made in considerable quanti-
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ties on Mr. Bauder's farm, north of the canal. There is a steam saw mill and planing mill on Main street, built per- haps fifteen years since, which does a considerable business. The manufacture of salt was begun here about 1866, from wells sunk at places northwest of the village.
Canastota has the honor of being the place where the cel- ebrated Hamilton College Telescope was made, by the firm of Spencer & Eaton, mathematical instrument makers. This telescope has a focal length of sixteen feet, with an object glass of thirteen and one-half inches diameter. The flint and crown discs for the instrument were imported from Germany ; its cost complete was $10,000. It is re- ported to be a very superior telescope, and in workman- ship is regarded as fully equal to the Munich instruments. Mr. Charles Spencer, of this firm, is a son of Gen. Ichabod Spencer, mentioned elsewhere, and is a native of Quality Hill.
Although there has been considerable enterprise in man- ufactures, Canastota has been, and is more distinguished as a mercantile village. From its beginning, the place has grown steadily. From Judge Barlow's sketches we gather a statement of the business of the village at the time of his arrival here in 1831. There were then three public houses ; one kept by Joseph C. Spencer, the " Graham House," where the " Montross House" now stands ; the " Canastota House," now the village bakery, kept by John B. Youngs ; and one at the west end of the canal basin, (built by Capt. Perkins,) then, or subsequently kept by Eliab Joslin. There were three stores in the place ; that of Messrs. J. & D. Crouse ; Reuben Hawley's at the east end of the then canal basin, on Peterboro street, and one kept by Samuel Hitchcock on the west side of the vil- lage, on Main street, at the present corner of Main and Lumber streets. Nahum Fay, Elias Palmer, Capt. Robt. Bishop and Widow Tuttle were grocers. J. C. Spencer had been in business, but at that time had closed his store.
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A. D. Van Hooser carried on the hatter business in a shop where the Doolittle Block now is. The village then had a population of 406. The finest house on Peterboro street was that built by Dr. Spencer, standing where Col. C. B. Crouse now (1868,) lives, but was moved off, and is now oc- cupied by Allen Hutchinson ; it was then owned and occu- pied by Dr. Thomas Spencer. A brick house on Main street was built by Samuel Hitchcock, in 1831, for an Acad- emy or school building ; the upper story was a chapel, and the Methodists held meetings there. Where John Mont- ross' dwelling stands, was a large building called "Tryon's Hall," in which meetings were held, and just east of Morris Lewis' stood a very long house called the " Town Hall," in which public meetings, both secular and religious, were held. In 1833, the two churches, the "Dutch Re- formed " and " Methodist," were built.
On account of the low, swampy situation of the land, it required much labor to render a large portion of the village plot, fit for streets and building lots. Center street was then several feet below its present bed, and almost impassable on foot, in spring and fall. Several houses stood on posts before their owners had filled in their lots. Still the village progressed,-enlarged its area, increased in population ; in 1835, it was incorporated. In 1840, the Central railroad gave it a new impetus. In mercantile interests it is now one of the leading villages of Central New York.
Messrs. J. & D. Crouse (brothers,) may be considered the leaders and fathers of mercantile business in Canastota. Their tact, energy and economy insured to them from the first a steady and rapid prosperity. They commenced in 1817, in the store of the Hawleys, where they continued three years, then moved into the building occupied by A. B. Clark ; afterwards they bought part of the " Boat House," had it moved on the street, and fitted it up as a store at a cost of about $1,000. They continued in this store till 1834, when they went again into the Hawley store and remained
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till they built the large brick " Crouse Block." In 1853, the firm of J. & D. Crouse terminated ; John, the elder of the firm, went to Syracuse and entered upon the wholesale grocery business ; other members of the family joined in co-partnership with Daniel ; but in 1863, the latter remov- ed to Utica and opened there as a wholesale grocer ; and so the firm in Canastota ceased. Other mercantile firms in Canastota have been prominent, but being of later date were not so directly identified with the growth of the place.
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