USA > New York > Madison County > History of Madison County, state of New York > Part 42
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seven of the citizens. Thereafter, however, it was a suc- cess upon its own merits. Twenty-one years ago, the only block of importance in Oneida was the brick "Empire Block," which was considered the building of the town. It was built by Asa Smith, tanner and currier, boot and shoe maker, and also post master. He is now a resident of Roch- . ester. Taking a view down Main street, south, the business blocks on the west side, with their original proprietors and present occupants, may be noticed as follows :- The block next the "Empire," where Charles I. Walrath is located, was built by James A. Bennett in connection with Charles and Joseph Walrath ; Albert E. Coe built the block adjoin- ing Walrath on the south ; next is the " Devereaux Block," built by Horace Devereaux, its present owner ; then the " Merchants Exchange," built by Timothy G. Seeley ; next the " Walrath Block," built more recently by D. & C. H. Walrath ; then the " Oneida Valley National Bank," and the " First National Bank ;" next, the block occupied by Barker & Randall, in which is the hall of the " Good Temp- lars," and built by Loomis & Atherly. Crossing now and coming north on the east side, first is the block now owned by Wm. Lyle, built by C. & D. Walrath ; next to this is the Patrick Devereaux block, which he built ; E. H. Curtis erected the next building, and that in which Mrs. R. O. Coe keeps a millinery store, was built by a Mr. Williams. The jewelry store of Chapin & Sons was built by Samuel Chapin. The east side, thus far, has been built up within ten years. Continuing on north, is Cleveland's drug store, built by Hollis Mannering ; the building occupied by Chase & Chappel was erected by Ephraim Beck, and is now owned by Dr. J. W. Fitch ; the corner block, in which is " Masonic Hall," was built by Newcomb and Charles Fields ; the " Gen. Messenger Block," at the north corner of Phelps street, was built by Gen. Messenger, who owned all the buildings between Phelps and Madison streets, on the east side of Main, except the National Hotel, which was built by Frank Gleason.
MADISON COUNTY.
The Eagle Hotel was built by Nelson and Ira Morris. By the side of this hotel, John W. Allen built a large store house, which was occupied by Hill, Allen & Co. This has been merged into the present spacious Eagle Hotel.
On the north side of Madison street, before 1862, there was the dry goods store of S. H. Goodwin, the drug store of R. I. Stewart, the cabinet ware rooms of Jones & Hulburt, and the large building of R. N. Van Evra, used for numer- ous shops, and which, with several others, was swept away by a destructive fire in August, 1862. All the north side of this street, between Main. and William streets, except the residence of T. C. Thompson, was destroyed. Mr. Good- win rebuilt the same year, and recently the burnt district has again been built up. On the south side of Madison street, Grove Stoddard built the store now kept as a cloth- ing store. The "Kenyon block " was formerly the store of Theodore C. Thompson and Sidney Rivenburg-then a wooden structure.
The "Bacon Hotel" was formerly the residence of He- man H. Phelps, at the time, Superintendent of the Utica & Syracuse Railroad. Mr. Bacon purchased it and converted it into the present hotel. "Northrup's Hotel " was one of the early public houses and was kept by Blodgett. This house changed hands several times before it came into Mr. Northrup's possession.
To improve the condition of the village, the trustees passed the following resolution at a meeting held Oct. I I, 1 869 :
Resol: ed, That the erection of wooden buildings within the following limits in this village is hereby prohibited, viz : On Madison street, from west line of William street to Main street. Also, on Main street, from north side of Mulberry street to Mad- ison street, and N. Y. C. R. R.
We sum up the general status of Oneida as last noted by us in the summer of 1871. At that date, the population within the corporation was about 4,000. There were nine dry goods stores, as follows : Randall & Barker, C. A. &
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D. H. Walrath, W. H. Dimmick, A. E. Coe & Son, S. & E. Kenyon, John E. Stone, T. C. Thompson, P. C. Lawrence and S. H. Goodwin & Son. There were also eight grocery stores, viz : Carter Bros., Douglass & Down- ing, David Walter, Harry Walter & Co., Stone & Schuyler, A. Hill & Son, and Matthewson & Rivenburg. Also, there were the two hardware stores of Farnam & Son, and A. R. Turner ; five or six boot and shoe stores and several shops for custom work ; several clothing, and hat and cap stores ; a number of millinery and furnishing stores and shops ; three watch and jewelry establishments ; two bakeries ; four meat markets ; an extensive sash and blind factory and sev- eral lumber yards .* There were five hotels and a num- ber of restaurants. We may note that the chief hotels were kept by C. Bacon, Fred. Allen and P. R. Miner. There were six religious societies, the Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Catholic and Universalist, all having houses of worship except the last named, which used Dev- ereaux Hall. The corporation included two commodious, brick, common school houses, and the Oneida Seminary un- der the charge of the Presbyterian Synod. There were two national banks, and we believe two private banks.
There are, in all, about ten lawyers in the village; also, several physicians of each of the popular "schools." There are two unusually well supported weekly newspapers pub- lished here, the " Oneida Dispatch " and the " Democratic Union," both large, well conducted sheets, giving full re- ports of local news from all parts of the County ; also, two and a half miles out, at the Oneida Community, the " Oneida Circular," weekly, is published ; less in size than the village papers, but full of advanced ideas and information pertain- ing to their own agricultural, horticultural and manufactur-
* The tannery of George Berry was one of the most thriving firms of Oneida. It was built in 1857 at a cost of $7,000. Important additions were made in the way of machinery, and otherwise, at considerable cost. In 1871 it was destroyed by fire. At the time there was stock in the tannery to the amount of $9,000, and Mr. Berry's loss was about $7,000 above the insurance of $9,000.
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ing enterprises. The Main streets of Oneida village are lighted by gas. The corporations of Oneida Castle, Oneida and Durhamville, are in a nearly straight line north and south. and adjoin.
Thus far have we gleaned in reference to the building up of the business portion of Oneida village. The limits of this work will not permit an enumeration of further enter- prises which are flourishing within the limits of this rapidly growing town, enterprises which are making their mark, ac- cumulating wealth, extending the village borders in all di- rections and establishing the foundations of a city.
SANDS HIGINBOTHAM.
We should not pass without further notice, the name of one who has contributed largely to the prosperity of Oneida ; who has been identified with its chief enterprises ; whose fatherly care has been extended over all its interests. We, therefore, append the following extract from the " Oneida Dispatch," published on the death of the individual to whom we refer, under date of Sept. 18, 1868 :
"The Late Sands Higinbotham .- To the many friends of the late Sands Higinbotham it will be a satisfaction to recall, or to learn, some of the principal incidents of his life. He was born in March, 1790, in the County of Rensselaer, in this State, and a few years afterward removed with his parents to Central New York. In his youth he went to Utica (at that time a small vil- lage,) to reside in the family of his half brother, the first Watts Sherman, who was several years his senior. He spent the pe-
riod of his residence there ; first as an attendant of one of the schools, and then as a clerk in the store of Mr. Sherman ; and some are now living in Utica, who still have pleasant memories of him in those days of his boyhood and youth. From Utica, in the year 1810, when he was twenty years of age, he went to Ver- non to reside, and there commenced business for himself as a merchant. During his twenty-four years' residence in Vernon, he was known as an honorable and prosperous merchant, and as a wise and conscientious man, whom all esteemed. During this time, also, he became acquainted quite extensively with the leading minds, not only of his own County of Oneida, but of the State ; and in many instances the friendships then formed were severed only by death. Many men now living will remember
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him at this portion of his life, with the greatest respect and af- fection. About the year 1830, he purchased several hundred acres of land where now is located the embryo city of Oneida, and in the autumn of 1834, he took up his residence upon it. In 1837, the Syracuse and Utica Railroad Com- pany located their railroad across his farm, and made one of their important stations there. In July, 1839, the cars com- menced to run ; and from that date, under the fostering care of Mr. Higinbotham, the village of Oneida has steadily grown and improved, from year to year, without drawback or change, ex- cept to a greater and more rapid improvement as time went on. Here, in the last thirty-four years, (a generation in itself,) the crowning work of his life was done. His strict integrity, his sound sense, his genial spirit, his large heart, were elements of attraction which drew around him a circle, not only of citizens and business men, but of friends. Religion, good morals, edu- cation, all received the fullest aid in his power to give ; and everything that was of interest to Oneida, also interested him. As his reward, he has lived to see his cherished home become one of the most thriving and beautiful villages of Central New York. Although always feeling an earnest interest in the pol- itics of the country, and in his early years taking an active part in the movements of parties, he yet constantly and steadily re- fused to accept any political office or nomination. He was, however, a Trustee of Hamilton College for the last thirty years of his life, and until very recently continued his regular attend- ance at all meetings of the Board, giving them the benefit of his ripe counsel and great experience. For the last two years his growing infirmities made it necessary for him to retire from ac- tive labor ; and now, in the evening of his busy life, his work be- ing done, he has peacefully gone to his rest ; the honored patri- arch, the much loved husband, father, neighbor, friend."
We also append the following notice of another citizen, some years since deceased, (Sept., 1866,) who was also dis- tinguished and useful.
"DEATH OF GEN. J. M. MESSENGER .- It is with the deepest sorrow we find ourselves called upon to record the death of one of our most prominent and respectable citizens, Gen. John M. Messenger, who died at his residence in this village, on the af- ternoon of Tuesday last.
* Gen. Messenger was widely known, having for a long period taken an active part in the political, as well as other matters of Madison county. Originally from Massachusetts, in 1808, we believe, he came to the town of Smithfield, where he lived for a number of years, afterwards re- moving to Lenox. As already remarked, he sustained a prom-
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inent position, owing not only to natural ability and practical judgment, but also sharing, in a large degree, that force of char- acter and indomitable will that always gave him marked influ- ence in society. Holding several important offices of trust, among which were those of Sheriff and representative to the Legislature, he proved himself honorable in discharging all the duties pertaining thereto. * * As a citizen, always interested in the growth and welfare of our village, as a neighbor, kind and obliging, as a man, upright and respected, his loss will be deeply felt. His last hours were made peaceful and happy by leaning for support upon the arm of his Redeemer, and his eyes closed in death with hardly a struggle. The funeral services were at- tended on Thursday afternoon, from his late residence, by a large number of sorrowing relatives and friends."
LAW FIRMS OF ONEIDA.
I. N. Messenger opened the first law office in this village in 1848. He was a graduate of Hamilton College in the class of 1839, and soon after entered into the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1843, under the old Chan- cery practice. On being established in Oneida, Mr. Mes- senger associated with himself J. C. Sloan, as partner. Soon after, Mr. Sloan and M. J. Shoecraft formed a co-partner- ship. Delos W. Thompson was the next to open an office. Afterwards John Snow* came and became a partner with Mr. Shoecraft, and Mr. Sloan went to Janesville, Wiscon- sin. In Nov., 1863, Jas. B. Jenkins, former associate of H. T. Jenkins, District Attorney, of Oneida County, came to Oneida and entered into co-partnership with I. N. Messen- ger. He had been a law student with Hon. Timothy Jen- kins, (whose reputation as an eminent lawyer was not lim- ited to this State alone,) and was admitted to practice in all the courts of the State, at the July term of the Supreme Court of 1851. He had practiced law some years at Oneida Castle, and previous to his establishment in Oneida, had been four years assistant District Attorney of Oneida County. The firm of Messenger & Jenkins has continued to the pres- ent time (1872). Soon after Messenger & Jenkins became established, Gen. Z. T. Bentley and W. W. Goodell came
* Since deceased.
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and opened offices. Both of these talented lawyers are now deceased-Gen. Bentley in 1870, and Mr. Goodell in 1871. Josiah E. Ferry and Clarence Carskadden have opened law offices at a more recent date, and are still in practice ; and John C. Kennedy, Esq., late law partner of W. W. Goodell, deceased, is also now practicing here.
The Oneida Valley Bank commenced business in 1851, under the General Banking Laws of the State of New York. N. Higinbotham, Banker and President; Samuel Breese, Vice-President; T. F. Hand, Cashier. In the following year, (1852,) its capital was increased to $ 105,000, as an association, under the same laws and with the same officers. In 1865, in common with all the old State Banks, it was changed to a National Bank under the name of " The Oneida Valley National Bank of Oneida," without change of capital or officers. It will be remarked that now, after twenty years of prosperity, the same officers who started with it in 1851, still continue its management.
" The First National Bank of Oneida," was organized October 1, 1864, with a capital of $125,000. Its first Directors, were :- Horace Devereaux, James J. Stewart, Samuel H. Fox, Franklin M. Whitman, James A. Bennett, Ambrose Hill, Simeon B. Armour, Stillman Spooner, Alvin Strong, Zadoc T. Bentley and Christopher A. Walrath. First Officers, were :- Horace Devereaux, President; Jas. J. Stewart, Vice-President ; Virgil Bull, Cashier.
Present Officers : James J. Stewart, President ; Samuel H. Fox, Vice-President ; Virgil Bull, Cashier. Alvin Strong and Zadoc T. Bentley, among the original Directors, are deceased ; they are succeeded by DeWitt C. Stephens and W. H. Bennett. Stillman Spooner is succeeded by Virgil Bull, as Director, and Horace Devereaux by Andrew J. Frost. The capital of this Bank remains the same as at the beginning. A surplus fund of about $30,000, has been set aside out of the earnings since it commenced.
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MADISON COUNTY.
The Oneida Savings Bank was incorporated February 19, 1866. First Trustees :- James Barnett, Peterboro ; Ralph H. Avery, Canastota; John J. Foote, Hamilton ; John H. Willson, Stockbridge; T. E. Barnes, Durhamville, Daniel G. Dorrance, Oneida Castle; Geo. H. Sandford, Verona ; Samuel Breese, I. N. Messenger, James A. Bennett, T. F. Hand, E. C. Saunders, George Berry, G. P. Soper, T. G. Seeley, Ambrose Hill and Milton Barnett, Oneida.
First Officers :- Daniel G. Dorrance, President ; Geo. H. Sandford and Goodwin P. Soper, Vice-Presidents ; Edwin Loomis, Secretary and Treasurer. I. N. Messenger was chosen Attorney. The Bank commenced business April I, 1866. Its resources on the first day of July, 1871, were $216,461,24. The officers at the latter date were the same as in the beginning, with the exception of the substitution of J. N. Avery and E. C. Saunders as Vice-Presidents. James Barnett, John J. Foote and James A. Bennett, have also retired by resignation, and Timothy G. Seeley's place
has been made vacent by death. The places of the last four named are filled by Wm. E. Fisk, of Canastota, and James J. Stewart, J. Newell Avery and S. Kenyon, of Oneida.
The Banking office of Barnes, Stark & Munroe. a private institution started in 1871. The Central Bank, also a private bank, was opened in 1871, by Jas. D. Kilburn, President, and W. E. Northrup, Cashier.
ONEIDA SEMINARY.
This Seminary was originated by the enterprise of a few individuals. It was incorporated July, 1857, and school opened in September of the same year. Planned on a most generous basis, its maintenance thus far has been attended with large expenditure of funds. It has, however, proved itself to have been an excellent institution of learn- ing, and under such principals as Rev. G. H. Whitney, Rev. E. Rollo, Chas. E. Swett and Rev. J. D. Houghton, has made its impress and mark for good upon the community around it. Rev. J. D. Houghton resigned at the close of
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the Seminary term in 1872, having been principal for the past three years. The school is under the care of the Pres- byterian Synod of Utica. The seminary, with its proposed endowment of $50,000 will enter upon the coming year with renewed vigor. Oneida Seminary is pleasantly located in the south part of the village ; its buildings are handsome, convenient and elegantly furnished, its grounds cheerful and laid out with taste, presenting, on the whole, an appear- ance not surpassed by any school of the kind in Madison County.
Masonic .- Oneida Lodge, No. 270, of Free Masons, was organized in 1851. Its charter is dated June 22, 1852, and is executed by Nelson Randall, Grand Master ; Joseph D. Evans, Deputy Grand Master ; Dan. S. Wright, S. G. War- den ; Jarvis M. Hatch, J. G. Warden, and James W. Powell, G. Secretary. Its first officers were : Lucius Brooks, W. M. ; George W. Harp, S. W .; Daniel Y. Lipe, J. W. ; Lu- cius Brooks was W. M. for three years, George Harp four years, Nelson Morris one year, and Alonzo E. Cherry held the same office from 1859 to 1869, with the exception of the year 1864, when Horatio Lewis filled that position. In 1870, O. M. Randall was W. M .; in 1871, Orrin Collins. The lodge has 140 members and may be considered a flour- ishing branch of the Order.
Doric Chapter, R. A. M., was organized in 1867, A. E. Cherry, M. E. H. P. A. R. Mckenzie held that office in 1868 and 1869, and A. E. Cherry again in 1870 and 1871.
Odd Fellows .- A Lodge of the I. O. O. F. had an exist- ence here from 1853 to 1857. It has recently been reor- ganized.
Good Templars .- Oneida Chief Lodge, I. O. of G. T., was organized in Oneida Village in October, 1866. Its first W. C. T. was William Snook. It is yet a flourishing and suc- cessful society. The P. G. W. C. T. of the State, Rev. Silas Ball, resides here (1871).
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Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria .- There is also a Lodge of this Order here, which was organized in February, 1871. First W. C., James B. Jenkins .*
Fire Companies .- The village has three fire companies ; Protection No. I, Protection No. 2, and Hook and Ladder Company.
ONEIDA COMMUNITY
Is located on Oneida Creek, in the town of Lenox, Madison County, and Vernon, Oneida County. The dwellings and the principal farm buildings are in Lenox ; its two largest manufacturing establishments and a large proportion of the land is in Vernon. It is situated about four miles southerly from Oneida Village. The Midland Railroad crosses their land and has a depot at this point. John H. Noyes founded this Community in 1848. It now numbers about two hund- red members. There are also two branches ; one located at Wallingford, Conn., where there are forty members, and another at Willow Place, located on a detached portion of the domain, one and a quarter miles from the main family, where there are thirty-five living, engaged in manufacturing. There are valuable water powers on the premises, all of which are improved. The business of Oneida Community is in general agriculture, fruit growing and preserving, and manufactures.
The Community started with a capital of $100,000, in- vested in lands and buildings. They were not, however, successful, financially, for a few years, but as time wore on, and the demand for their products increased, they prospered in a pecuniary sense, and now the Community has proper- ty to the amount of half a million of dollars, and this con-
*Mr. Jenkins is a strong advocate of temperance. He organized the first tem- perance society in Oneida in the fall of 1863, and continued its President for five years ; has been a member of the Good Templars' Lodge since its organization ; was a charter member of the Temperance Order called New Volume, and continued its Chief Counselor till its consolidation with the Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria in Feb., 1871 ; has been Worthy Chief of that Order since then ; is Right Worthy Deputy Grand Chief of the R. W. G. L., of G. S. & D., of S. of the State of N. Y. His is the law office of the G. L. of America.
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stantly increasing in value. The dwellings are pleasantly located a few hundred yards west of Oneida Creek ; they consist of the original mansion house erected in 1848, sub- sequently enlarged, three stories high, including basement, with a ground area of 35 x 72 feet ; a large brick mansion built in 1861, 45 x 72 feet, three stories high, with a wing also three stories high, 41 x 57 feet, and a four story tower, 18 feet square ; and several buildings adjacent, or attached as wings to the old mansion house. These are surrounded by a lawn and ornamental grounds, several acres in extent, ar- tistically laid out with walks and drives, and planted with trees, shrubs and flowers. A few rods in the rear of the dwellings, is a large brick building three stories and a half high, 31 x 72 feet, devoted to the laundry department, fruit preserving, dentistry, printing office, school, &c. On the opposite side of the road is a large building occupied as a store, shoe shop, tailor shop, harness shop, &c. West of the dwellings, some distance, is the depot of the Midland Railroad. The barns for the storage of the abundant crops and for the housing of their excellent dairy, are models for farmers, being arranged on the most scientific plan.
Of the manufactures, steel trap making is the leading busi- ness, giving employment to about one hundred persons. It was first introduced by Mr. Sewall Newhouse, who be- came a member in 1849. He had long been known in this section as a successful trapper, and maker of a superior kind of steel trap. In 1855, Mr. Noyes turned his attention to the manufacture of this commodity, and with the aid of the inventive genius of members of the Community, machinery was applied to the manufacture, and a superior article was soon produced. Six sizes of traps are manufactured and find market all over the country, and in large quantities throughout the west and northwest. In the manufacture of sewing silk and ribbons, about one hundred persons, chiefly women and girls hired from the surrounding country, are employed. Great care is exercised that the work be well
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done, the silk being imported from China and of the best quality. The sewing silk is regarded by buyers as the best in the country. The Community bag manufactory makes about thirty variety of bags, including all kinds in use, viz : ladies' satchels, gentlemen's sacks and bags, and Noyes' patent lunch bag, &c. Besides the above branches of man- ufactures, there is a machine shop, a foundry, a saw mill, and a carpenter and joiners' shop.
In gardening and orcharding, Oneida Community excels ; their orchards and fruit grounds cover about fifty acres. The orchards embrace the best known varieties that can be grown in this climate, of apples, pears and plums. With careful and scientific cultivation, they succeed in keeping their fruit trees in the best of condition, tolerably free from disease and insects and producing abundant crops. Their small fruits, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, grapes- tons of the latter being raised-are of the best varieties, and yield a great income. The products of the garden are equally prolific and profitable. Fruit-preserving has been carried to a high state of perfection and yields a handsome profit.
Financially, Oneida Community is a success. Its manu- factures, of traps, silks, &c., together with the exports of so great an abundance of produce, brings a large revenue. The following statement made in 1870, we believe is sus- . tained by the facts : "Besides supporting the members of the community, nearly $300,000 worth of goods here man- ufactured, were sold by their agents last year." They em- ploy about two hundred hands not of their own organiza- tion, paying good wages.
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