USA > New York > Madison County > History of Madison County, state of New York > Part 48
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Thomas, Levi and the Rev. Salmon Morton, were early settlers, and were among the most successful and influen- tial of that day. The mother of these men died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Charles Lewis, about the year 1846, aged nearly 102 years.
The first child born in the town of Madison, as before stated, was Sally, daughter of Nicanor Brown. She be- came Mrs. Anson Brooks. The first male child was Mar- cena Collister.
The first saw mill erected in Madison, is supposed to have been the one known as the Dunham saw mill, located one mile below Cleaveland's mills on the Oriskany Creek.
We have before stated that Erastus Cleaveland built the first grist mill in town in 1794. In a few years, finding his mill overstocked with grinding, particularly in the dry sea- son, he, with characteristic enterprise, erected a mill half a mile east of his first, on the same stream, which soon took the name of " Gray's Mill," and some years after he built still another at Solsville, now Parker's. Cleaveland trans- ferred this mill to his son-in-law, N. S. Howard, about 1832,
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who, after the completion of the Chenango Canal, claimed that his mill privilege was damaged by this State work to a large extent. He applied for, and obtained of the Legisla- ture, damages to near the value of the mill, and the distil- lery which he also owned, standing opposite. These, with much other property for manufacturing, remained unused for about ten years, when the entire water power of the place passed into other hands, and the mill was repaired and put in use. Within a few years the old distillery has been changed into a cheese factory on the same site.
The first frame house in town was built by Solomon Perkins, where T. L. Spencer now resides, one mile west of Madison village-Lot No. 37. Samuel Clemmons built one, near the same time, a short distance west of Squire Samuel White's present residence. A short time after, an- other frame house was built, which is still standing (1867) opposite Samuel Cleaveland's house ; this was for many years the residence of Samuel Berry, a brother-in-law of Erastus Cleaveland.
Taverns, institutions of great importance to the new country and to the emigrating public, were numerous. One of the first, perhaps the first, was kept by Daniel Hol- brook, one mile west of Solsville. Samuel Clemmons kept a tavern in the northeast part of the town at an early day, and Seth Snow kept one at about the same time two miles east of the village. Maj. Ephraim Clough, from Boston Mass., also kept a tavern in the northeast part. "Clough's Tavern" had a wide reputation. Otis McCartney bought the stand, after Clough's death, and converted it into a private residence. Amos Fuller kept a store near Clough's, which was burned down in 1808 or 9.
THE "OPENING."
The " Indian Opening " gave promise from the first of be- ing the village of the town. It was beautifully situated, and presented many inducements for the inhabitants to make it a centralizing location. John T. Burton built, and
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for many years kept a tavern at this point ; this, also, Was one of the first taverns opened in Madison. The remark used to be made, that " Burton kept his flip-iron hot from December to May,"-which would indicate that nearly everybody drank flip in those days. There is an anecdote related which illustrates the efficiency of a law in force at that period, forbidding the sale of intoxicating liquors to Indians :- An Indian came to Burton's tavern one day and asked for whisky, which, though the request was repeated- ly urged, Burton decidedly refused. Finding persistance did not avail, the shrewd fellow went away a short distance and found a boy, whom he sent to Mr. Burton's bar, and got the whisky: Possessed of his jug, and triumphantly displaying it, the Indian stalked up to the tavern door, and as he took a drink with evident gusto, called out, " Misser Burton ! Misser Burton ! your law got a hole in it !"
A store was kept at the opening by John Lucas. At this place the first postoffice in town was established, with Asa B. Sizer as first postmaster. The mail was carried on horseback about once a week, over the State road, which was early opened to Waterville, (then " Sangerfield Hud- dle,") and soon extended through Madison. One of the earliest physicians, Dr. Parker, had his office here for many years, and a church, organized in 1798, erected a house of worship here in 1802.
The first "Fourth of July" celebration in town was at the Opening. The inhabitants determined this should be a memorable time, and accordingly great preparations were made beforehand. A pine bough house was put up, which was tastefully finished off by the women ; powder was pro- cured, a fifty-six pound weight was got in readiness to serve as a cannon, and a keg of rum was transported from Utica. In the evergreen arbor a tastefully decorated table was spread, loaded with every luxury the country afforded at that time. We doubt not there were, in the infinite variety, chicken pies and roast meats in abundance, including in the
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latter the stuffed pig standing upon all fours on the largest pewter platter in the settlement, with gingerbread, dough- nuts and dried pumpkin pies, the standard delicacies, once, for dessert. The day came and was somehow ushered in ; but the fifty-six, as ordinarily charged, did not cause suffi- cient eclat ; so they placed upon it a thick plank loaded with cobble stones and applied a slow match to the powder. The stones were thrown in every direction, and the thunder- ing sound of the discharge echoed and reverberated far away in the adjacent woods, this time doing satisfactory honor to the illustrious occasion ; but the tedious waiting for the slow match did not harmonize with the spirit of the day. At length an old Indian, who had imbibed somewhat freely of the imported beverage in the keg, decided to stand by the improvised cannon and ignite the powder after
the manner of "white man" artillerists. This he did repeatedly, the cobbles flying all around him ; and at each explosion he could be seen in the midst of a cloud of smoke, swinging his arms, gesticulating like an orator and shouting out amid the confusion, "Good soldier ! never flinch !"
After the excitement of the firing had passed, all were exceedingly astonished, and very thankful too, to find that the Indian had not been harmed. Those who took part in this celebration, declared in after years, that in all their life- time, they never so well enjoyed the "glorious Fourth," as on this occasion at the Opening.
The first Church society in the town of Madison, Con- gregational, was organized in 1796, with nine members. The first pastor of this Church was Rev. Ezra Woodworth, who preached about eight years. A barn belonging to Mr. Berry, which stood where now is Samuel Cleaveland's garden, was their place of worship for a season. In 1804, they built a church at the Center. The barn above mentioned was also used for town meetings and other large gatherings previous to the building of the church.
The people of Madison were ever ready to improve op-
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portunities promising the general advancement. Hence when the Cherry Valley Turnpike was projected, they gave the enterprise a hearty and effective support. It became the means also of bringing new villages into existence, and so Madison village and Bouckville grew up, while the "Opening," and the "Center," both in the beginning promising some notoriety as villages, fell into decay.
MADISON VILLAGE.
The land upon which the village is located, was first taken up by Seth Gibson, and by him sold to Samuel Berry, receiving twenty-five dollars for his interest. The good soil and fine location induced Mr. Berry to make the purchase, though he acted on the suggestion of Mr. Cleave- land ; not thinking, however, that time and circumstances would so largely enhance its value. The germ of the new village soon appeared above ground ; Mr. Berry sold Samuel Sinclair the northwest corner in the cross-roads, where the latter built and kept a tavern a number of years. He was succeeded by Goodwin, and the same building is now (1870,) standing. John Lucas moved his store from the Opening to the northeast corner, where Mr. Morgan's hardware store now is, and continued trade there many years. The town clerk, Asa B. Sizer, located his dwelling just east of the tavern. Alfred Wells was also one of the first mer- chants, and had his store on the southeast corner. Dr. Samuel Barber, kept the first drug store-which was the place where the murderer, Hitchcock, obtained the poison to destroy his wife. Dr. Barber built the first dwelling house of the place, which is standing now, east of the M. E. Church. Eliphalet House, who was for many years, in the early days, a blacksmith and edge-tool maker at the Opening, was followed in the same business by his sons Eleazer and James, who located and continued in the busi- ness, in the village, for many years. Lawyers, doctors and other professional men, found this point a desirable loca- tion for their several callings. Phineas L. and Albert H.
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Tracy, brothers, Judge Edward Rogers and David Woods, were of the earliest and most prominent lawyers ; and Doctors Parker, Collister, Putnam, Sizer, Pratt and Bar- ker, are remembered as physicians of the first quarter century ; some of them for a later period. Rev. Ezra Woodworth, Elder Salmon Morton, Rev. Simeon Snow and Elder E. M. Spencer, are frequently named as pastors of this town during the early years of the churches. Itinerant ministers from all denominations frequently visi- ted the people here, among whom were Rev. Eliphalet Steele, of Paris, Congregational ; Elder John Peck, of the Baptist order ; Father Stacy, of the Universalist denomina- tion, and the noted and eccentric Lorenzo Dow. Madison village was incorporated, April 17, 1816, being then one of the three incorporated villages in the county.
BOUCKVILLE was mostly built up after the construction of the Chenango Canal. It was known at first to the travel- ing world as "McClure Settlement," and continued to be thus known many years. McClure's tavern, which stood east of the M. E. Church, is still a very good building, having been commodiously and tastefully improved ; it is now the residence of Dea. William Cooledge. Southeast of his tavern stood McClure's dwelling house, on the once State road, on land now owned by James Cooledge, Esq. ; the house was removed years ago. On the corner where Marcius Washburn now lives, stood the "Crain House," one of the taverns of the turnpike. John Edgarton, one of the first settlers of the town, located at Bouckville.
In the early times there was a road passing from the State road, from a point where Mr. Theodore Spencer now lives, in a southerly direction over the hill to the Manchester Settlement. On this road lived Capt. Russel in a log house. Charles Z. Brockett, the present owner of the same farm, has preserved the hearth-stone of Russel's log cabin, a slab of common limestone, and uses it as a door-stone at his residence.
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McClure's settlement was also known as the "Hook ;" but when the place (about 1824,) began to assume the pro- portions of a village, it was considered proper that a dis- tinctive name should be given it. Accordingly a number of the leading men of the place and neighborhood convened to select one. A. P. Lord, the Lelands, the Edgartons, and many others were present. After enjoying a convivial season, in which all became more merry if possible than was their wont, John Edgarton was duly crowned master of the ceremonious occasion, and his name was decided upon as the one to be honored, by naming the place " Johnsville." The locality bore this name until the construction of the Chenango Canal, when, a postoffice being about to be established, it became necessary to select a new name. Many, perhaps a majority, preferred the last christening ; but to this there was discovered a serious objection. The State of New York already had so many postoffices named after " John," with variations so nearly approximating " Johnsville " in orthography, that it was feared confusion might become worse confounded by continuing it for the postoffice, and so it was dropped. The name of " Bouck- "ville," in honor of Governor Bouck, was therefore adopted for the village and postoffice.
SOLSVILLE, a small village on the Chenango Canal, which, as before stated, once bore the name of " Dalrymple's Saw Mill," and " Howard's Mills," was, like Bouckville, named , at a convivial gathering, in honor of Solomon or "Sol." Alcott, who was a resident of the place and a manufacturer of potash.
The Chenango Canal has done much for the prosperity of the town of Madison, as well as for the county at large, and other sections through which it passes. In its incipiency the prominent men of Madison, Chenango and Broome . Counties, particularly, labored long and earnestly to obtain a movement by the Legislature in its behalf. Moses May-
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nard was sent by the people to Albany to advocate the budding enterprise. By his persistent efforts he obtained a recognition of the bill, and also gained the interest of Wm. C. Bouck, who afterwards became Governor. The Governor's influence was a great acquisition ; the bill re- ceived attention, Commissioners were appointed to estimate the cost, &c. ; but even this support, together with Mr. Maynard's two years' labor at Albany, did not quite insure the success of the enterprise, till it was ascertained that the "long level" on the Erie Canal needed another feeder. The advocates of the new canal were on hand at this juncture ; they succeeded in showing conclusively that the proposed work would become such a feeder, and the bill authorizing its construction, therefore, passed ; with provisions that it take none of the waters of the Oriskany and Sauquoit Creeks, and that the cost be not more than a million dol- lars. The work was begun in 1833, and completed in 1836. The summit level, as before stated, is in this town. From Oriskany Falls to Bouckville, a distance of six miles, it rises 172 feet, it being at the latter point 1, 128 feet above tide. From Utica to the summit, it rises 706 feet, by 76 locks, and from thence descends 303 feet by 38 locks, to the Susquehanna, at Binghamton.
The origin of the name of " Water Street" is thus re- lated :- One hot summer day, when the country was new, a stranger on horse-back came through the town on this street, and at every house stopped for water to give his thirsty horse ; there were no wells, and the springs and streams were dry. Being at last unable to refresh himself or beast, he rode off in disgust to the nearest point on the Oriskany Creek, where their pressing needs were satisfied. He mentioned his ill luck on that long street to the first settlers he met, and contemptuously called it " Water St." It has borne that name to this day.
In 1805, Madison was the scene of a great religious dis-
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cussion, between Elder Salmon Morton, Baptist, and Rev. Nathaniel Stacy, Universalist. The meeting was held in a barn. The entire community for several miles around were deeply interested, and sympathy for one or the other of the eminent disputants waxed warm. The Baptist Church at Hamilton took a lively interest in this discussion. Rev. Stacy, or "Father Stacy," as he was affectionately called in his advanced years, was a traveling preacher, and one of the ablest of his denomination. The founding of a Uni- versalist Church in Madison grew out of Rev. Stacy's dis- cussions, and his itinerant visits in the subsequent years. According to the information obtained in reference to this -at the time-famous religious disputation in Madison, each disputant came out of it triumphantly victorious ; each creed was totally annihilated, in the opinion of its opponents, yet each church lived and flourished after- wards.
About 1807, Alpheus Hitchcock, the murderer, lived at Madison Center. He was a fine singer, and one of the best of the early singing school teachers. He was said to have been one of the handsomest men in the country. The un- lawful attachment he formed for one of his pupils proved his ruin ; to be free to follow the bent of his inclinations, he compassed his wife's death by giving her poison. He was arrested, proven guilty and hung in Cazenovia, then the County seat. He was the first person upon whom was in- flicted this extreme penalty, in Madison County. The mur- der, the circumstances connected with it, the trial and exe- cution, produced intense excitement throughout the entire county.
In the autumn of 1806, this section was visited by a ma- lignant fever, to which many fell victims : A merchant at the Center, Silas Patrick, had been to Philadelphia to pur- chase goods, and while there contracted it. The contagion
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spread ; Mr. Thomas Dick's family, living near Mr. Pat- rick's, being the first after the latter to be prostrated with it. On the 4th of December, Mr. Dick, aged 50 years, died. Within six weeks from the date of his attack, his wife, a daughter, two sons, his aged mother and himself were all dead. Levi Dick, another son, aged 22, was left with the care of three young children, the eldest a girl of 12, and the youngest an infant a year old. This terrible disease, which made such havoc throughout the settlement, somewhat resembled the yellow fever, but with such pecu- liar symptoms that the physicians were unable to success- fully control it. Dr. Greenly, of Hamilton, by skillful treat- ment, arrested its progress. Levi Dick pursued a manly, praiseworthy course with the surviving remnant of his father's family ; he went on with the cares and la- bors of the farm, his young sister keeping house, and with more than brotherly affection reared the young children ; by his diligence and prudence he kept up the payments on the farm, thus securing at last a paid for homestead, and subsequently accumulated a considerable property. He was a respected member of society, possessed excellent qualities of head and heart, with a mind well stored with that solid and practical knowledge which is gained by dili- gence in spare moments during years of toil. He survived to a ripe old age, dying at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. F. Warren, in Augusta, Oneida County, in the winter of 1870, aged 85 years.
We have before noted that the first crop of hops grown in Madison County (perhaps in Central New York,) was raised by James D. Cooledge. In 1808, he began the cul- ture by securing all the roots that could be spared from the single hill or two in each of his neighbors' gardens ; these he increased and enlarged from, year after year, and sup- plied home breweries. In the fall of 1816, Mr. Cooledge took the first western hops to the New York market, after
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which, dealers in that product were ready to hold out in- ducements to growers in Central New York. His adjoin- ing neighbor, Solomon Root, also engaged in hop growing as soon as he could obtain the setts, and about the year 1817 or '18, sold two tons of hops at $1,000 per ton. After this, farmers of this section needed no urging to go into the business. During the subsequent forty years the town of Madison was largely indebted to the hop culture for its steadily growing wealth ; so marked and substantial was the advance among hop growers, that travelers were always struck with the evidences of it on every farm where one or more acres of stacked poles were to be seen.
The imaginative tourist will readily draw comparisons between the primitive ages and the to-day. In yonder field of stacked poles, he sees the wigwams of far away olden time ; in those grotesque groups of merry hop pick- ers, he beholds the dusky women of the ancient forest con- vened in the " Opening" to gather the harvest of Indian corn ; in the hilarious shouts and songs of those same groups of country girls under the growing vines, or in the shriek of the steam whistle, as the locomotive rushes like a ferocious monster over the iron threaded landscape, he fancies that he hears the concerted whoop of the savage horde ringing through the wilderness of an hundred years ago ; and his vision of what has been, is faithful and true, even upon or contiguous to the scene which produced it. There is truly a coincidence thus far in the two periods of time so far asunder, but here it must end. The heavy depths of the ancient forest is wanting. All this has been swept away by the men of whom we have been writing. Another race of beings swarm upon the area once covered with massive trees ; all is changed, and the march of pro- gress is onward.
PROMINENT MEN.
Erastus Cleaveland of whom frequent mention has al- ready been made, was from Norwich, Conn. He was born
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in 1771, was a poor youth, and compelled by the rigor of circumstances to support himself from the age of fourteen. In 1792 he visited Madison, and in '93 came here to locate and build up the first mills, as has been stated in the fore- going annals.
In addition to these enterprises on Oriskany Creek, he also started a distillery and brewery, and afterwards a card- ing machine and satinet cloth factory. He also dealt largely in buying and fattening cattle for the New York and Philadelphia markets. Gen. Cleaveland, Maj. Clough and Capt. Seth Blair, frequently journeyed together in taking their droves to market. Cleaveland was remarkable for energy, skill and perseverance. He was all through his life one of the first business men of Madison, and possessed unrivaled influence among his townsmen, while through- out the country he was well known, respected, and his judgment relied on. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, was Supervisor for a long period, and was elected to the Legislature twice after the organi- zation of Madison County. He also held several other offices, both in town and county, all; of which is evidence of the confidence and respect in which he was held in his every day life. He was commissioned Lieut. Colonel in the war of 1812, and was acting Colonel of his regiment, on duty at Sackett's Harbor. He was afterwards constituted a Brigadier General of militia in this county.
Mr. Cleaveland was successful in all his business pur- suits. He died at his residence near Madison village in 1858, in the 87th year of his age. His worthy christian wife survived him four years. Samuel G. Cleaveland, his son, succeeded him upon the homestead.
Phineas L. and Albert H. Tracy, from Norwich, Conn., came to Madison village in 1811, then young men, and engaged, in co-partnership, in the practice of law. They remained four or five years, when Phineas removed to Bata- via, where he became somewhat noted in the profession.
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Albert went to Buffalo and won a high reputation in prac- tice. He was elected to Congress from that district.
Edward Rogers succeeded the Tracys, and practiced law in Madison about thirty years. He was also for some years Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Judge Rog- ers was a graduate of Yale College, a writer of ability, and published several works. In 1840 he was elected to Con- gress and served one term. His son, H. Gould Rogers, was commissioned Consul to Sardinia under the adminis- tration of President Taylor.
David Woods, from Salem, Washington County, N. Y., came to Madison about 1816, and practiced law about eight years. He was elected to the Legislature in 1816, and in 1817, and was Speaker of the Assembly both years. During Mr. Wood's stay in town, Samuel Nelson, now a Senior Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, studied two years in his office and afterwards married his daughter. Judge Nelson now, (1870,) resides at Coopers- town.
Dr. Asa B. Sizer, one of the early physicians of the town, the first Postmaster, the first Clerk of the County in 1806, became Surrogate Judge of Madison County in 1816. Dr. Sizer was a man of ability, and was highly esteemed politi- cally, among his constituents.
Stephen F. Blackstone, was a man possessed of the qualities requisite in providing for the public needs of a new country. Always wide awake to the interests of the community, he was by that community trusted, honored and promoted. In 1814, he was chosen to the Asembly ; sub- sequently he was constituted Judge of Common Pleas, but his chief energies were directed towards developing the resources of the new country ; hence he became a zealous and leading agriculturist. Through the always conspicu- ous activity of this man, improvements were introduced, many branches of industry were revived, better stock was reared, and altogether the agricultural interest of the town
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were being continually expanded and placed upon a better basis than before. No man in Madison was more energetic in bringing about these results than Judge Blackstone.
James Cooledge, Esq., is one of the last survivors of the early settlers of Madison. He was for a great many years a practical surveyor, and hence became the standard authority in this town, in matters pertaining to this science. The author of French's map of Madison County, trusted to Mr. Cooledge's critical judgment in delineating this town, and found he had acted wisely in so doing. Mr. Cooledge has held the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, and has frequently, all his long life, been chosen to act in other official capacities, to the satisfaction and credit of his constituents.
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