History of Madison County, state of New York, Part 53

Author: Hammond, L. M. (Luna M.)
Publication date: 1872
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : Truair, Smith
Number of Pages: 802

USA > New York > Madison County > History of Madison County, state of New York > Part 53

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John Owen French, from Williamsburg, near Northamp- ton, Mass .* settled between Canaseraga and Chittenango in 1805.

Jacob Patrick settled in the immediate vicinity before 1800. He discovered the first plaster bed-between Cana- seraga and Chittenango-in digging a well, which led to the finding of others. This one, it is said, was worked as early as 1810 ; to bring it into more extensive notice the discov- ery was advertised, the advertisement being endorsed by the names of Benjamin Drake, Robert Stewart, Gilbert Caswell and John Lewis, vouching for the truth of the statements made. This advertisement is found in the "Cazenovia Pilot," date of August 22d, 1810.

Among the early settled families of Chittenango was that of John H. Walrath. who came in the year 1808, from Rome, Oneida Co., his native place being Mindon, Mont- gomery Co. Himself and son, Henry I., had contracted to

# See close of this chapter.

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SULLIVAN.

construct a section on the Seneca Turnpike in this district, which was the direct inducement bringing him here. In the autumn of this year he brought his family and was domiciled for the winter in a small house located where the parsonage of the Reformed Church now stands, on the hill road leading to Canaseraga ; there is a conspicuous land- mark to designate this spot .* Mr. Walrath only occupied this house during the winter ; in the spring he moved to a farm of 100 acres that he had purchased across the creek, which is still known as the "Walrath farm," and is owned by his grandson, Abram Walrath. It was mostly forest, but he immediately opened clearings and began improve- ments. He had a large family when he came, with whose combined energies the farm developed and flourished, and abundantly rewarded their labors. Mr. Walrath died in 1814, when only 48 years of age. His widow with characteristic energy went on with her life work, reared her family to industry and usefulness, and with the help of her boys, paid for the farm and established a home of com- petence. Five sons and two daughters grew to man and womanhood, most of whom and many of their descendants became citizens of Sullivan. The names of these sons and daughters were :- Henry I., John I., Abram, Daniel, Fred- eric, Mary and Elizabeth. John H., the father, was born October 12th, 1766; Magdalena, the mother, October 9th, 1764. They were married February 11th, 1787.1 The mother survived till April 9th, 1853, dying at the ripe age of 88 years. When Mr. Walrath came, there were but three or four houses where the village of Chittenango stands. The land through the north part was mostly a quagmire ;

* In front of the parsonage grows a pine and oak twin tree, apparently from the same root so interlaced are the roots of the two. Their bodies are joined at the base as one, but the oak, growing straight, asserts its individuality and has com- pelled the pine to bend to its own unyielding nature. In accommodating its fibres to the other, the pine winds diagonally partially around it and then shoots upward like its twin mate, their branches interlocking, while the crown of the pine stands well above the other. The two, so intermingled, present a peculiar and interesting appearance.

+ See appendix Note q.

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MADISON COUNTY.

the streets here have been filled up in some places three feet, in others as much as six. The "Park" and the land about it, when the "Bethel" was built, was a mud pond ; and the school house, situated in the midst of it, is well remembered by the oldest inhabitants (who were school children then,) as standing upon stilts, having a long plank leading from the dry ground up to the elevated door, and as having a most uninviting play ground.

Canaseraga was the first village of the town, and yet it had but few white families before 1805. Capt. Timothy Brown before mentioned, settled there that year. He was from Williamsburg, Mass. Hiram Brown, who lives on Lot No. 2. is the only one of his family left here. Isaac Holi- burt had been a merchant in Canaseraga but had failed. Besides the tavern of John Dennie, there was one kept by a Mr. Drake, in 1805. On account of the turnpike, taverns abounded. The first frame house, as before related, was built by Dennie ; the next was built on the front of a log house by Solomon Beebe. This log house had been occu- pied by Cornelius Doxtator, an Indian, in which he had also kept tavern. David Burton came in 1806, and built the next frame house. The next store after Holiburt was kept in this house by Samuel Chapman ; it is still standing (1869,) owned and occupied by Mrs. Sarah F. Frederick. John Klock built a house, also for a tavern, which is yet standing and now owned by Thomas French, Esq., son of John Owen French. This village in 1810, was the cen- tral point for all the country west of the circle of Quality Hill ; town meetings, general trainings, and other public meetings were held here. Settlements pushed on into the wilderness in various directions ; at a point on the present line of the Erie Canal, a number of Massachusetts people formed a settlement and called it "New Boston."

In 1810 the census gave Sullivan 318 heads of families, with a population of 1794 inhabitants. This census report adds :- " The Chittenango Hill, known to travelers as the

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SULLIVAN.

" Canaseraga Hill," over which the Seneca Turnpike passes, is near a mile on that road, from the base to its summit, and is of considerable magnitude. The creeks, Canaseraga and Chittenango, furnish good mill seats in abundance ; there are three grain mills, six saw mills, and some carding machines now erected, besides several other buildings. There are three school houses and a meeting house now building." Canaseraga had 35 to 40 houses and two stores, while New Boston was stated to be a " handsome, compact settlement, two miles north of the turnpike."

In 1823, Canaseraga was incorporated as “ Sullivan Vil- lage ;" but Chittenango had begun a substantial growth and Sullivan Village remained stationary. The N. Y. S. Gazet- teer of 1840 states that " there is no attention paid to the act of incorporation now." It contains about one hundred and fifty inhabitants, twenty-five dwelling houses, one free church, one tavern, one store, one grist mill. This place again took on its name of Canaseraga.

CHITTENANGO.

This village had many natural advantages in its favor ; a beautiful location, rich soil and an unequaled water power ; besides it was the point where the Cazenovia road intersect- ed the Seneca turnpike. The village commenced about 1812, when Judge Sanger and Judge Youngs, of Whites- town built the saw mill and grist mill, the latter being on the spot where stands the mill of Ransford Button.

In 1815, Robert and David Riddle built the tannery, which materially added to the prosperity of the place. In 1814 or '15, Elisha Carey built a large and fine hotel, which afterwards became the Polytechny building. Not far from 1815, came Dr. Samuel Kennedy, James Kennedy, Dr. Samuel Fuller, Thomas Livingston, John B. Yates and others, all of whom were enterprising men, and added the stimulus of wealth to the rising village. John B. Yates was especially conspicuous, being a man of great wealth and largeness of heart ; he became in a decided sense the

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MADISON COUNTY.

patron of the village of Chittenango. He built a plaster mill about 1818, from which he sent out large quantities of plaster ; subsequently he manufactured water lime on a large scale.

The Erie Canal became emphatically the means of pros- perity to Sullivan, as it opened to the great markets the wonderful resources of this region. The discovery of water lime, the first in the State, was brought about accidentally in the efforts of contractors on the Canal to furnish lime in sufficiently large quantities for the masonry work required in its construction. It was the purpose of contractors to make use of common quick lime on account of the great ex- pense of hydraulic cement. Mason Harris and Thomas Livingstone, of Sullivan, entered into a contract to furnish a quantity for the middle section, and opened quarries on the land of T. Clark, Esq. It was found the lime thus obtained lacked the usual characteristics of caustic lime. Canvass White and Judge Wright, two engineers taking an interest in the matter, examined it. Dr. Barton, a scientific gentle- man of Herkimer, was called to experiment and if possible ascertain what it was. He broke a quantity in the trip- hammer shop of J. B. Yates, of Chittenango, burned some, pulverized it in a mortar, and after mixing it with sand rolled a ball and placed it in a bucket of water for the night. In the morning it had "set" and was solid enough to be rolled

across the floor. It was pronounced to be equal to the best Roman cement. Mr. White obtained a patent for making this cement, but his rights were evaded for many years ; builders in their ignorance permitted prejudice to warp their judgments ; and though used on the canal structures, it made its way to public favor very slowly. Great exertions were made to invalidate Mr. White's patent, which was eventually (in 1825) compromised by legislative action of the State, paying to him $10,000 for his right and throwing it open to the people.

In 1824, Mr. Yates built the woolen factory, a stone struc-

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ture, which was merged into the "Broadhead Factory;" this, (afterwards greatly improved,) was burned in 1865, causing a loss of $60,000. In 1866, James Broadhead had rebuilt the factory (again of stone,) on a highly improved plan, and put in cotton machinery. He sold the property in 1867 to "Hintermister Brothers."

While manufactures, mechanics, and mercantile pursuits flourished under the influence of the growing wealth, there were men and means at hand to elevate the standard of ed- ucation and religion. With this high purpose in view Mr. Yates, in 1824, or '25, purchased the inn of Elisha Carey and established therein the Polytechny, an institute of learn- ing, under the presidency of Dr. Andrew J. Yates. This school was famed far and near for its generous plan and ex- cellent management.

Before the last named date, the school house in Chitte- nango had been conveniently arranged for holding religious services, and all societies used it ; hence its name, "The Bethel." Perhaps the oldest religious society was the Pres- byterian, of whom in 1816, there were about twenty mem- bers. These obtained preaching irregularly from a minister by the name of Johnson. The Reformed Dutch Church, however, was originated soon after, and immediately became prominent. The Presbyterians joined them and built a church about 1828 ; the latter however, increased, and in 1833, they formed a separate body and built their own house of worship.

The first Fourth of July celebration in this village took place in 1828, which, as we now read it from the worn pages of the "Madison Observer and Recorder" of that day, is in- vested with a charm which only time can give. We copy :

"The fifty-second anniversary of our national independence, was this day for the first time celebrated in the village of Chit- tenango. A large number of the neighboring inhabitants, to- gether with the villagers, assembled upon the occasion, to pay due respect to the day which gave us birth as a nation, and to ex- press our gratitude for the happiness and prosperity which we enjoy under our republican institutions.

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The day was ushered in as is usual on such occasions. At 10 o'clock in the morning the line of procession was formed in front of the Polytechny, under the direction of Col. Sage, Marshal, and Adj't Dunham, Assistant Marshal. The procession then moved through the village to the green in front of the church, where a spacious arbor had been prepared by the committee of arrangements for the exercises of the day. After an appropriate and impressive prayer by Rev. Mr. Sherman, and martial music by the Cazenovia band, the Declaration of Independence was read by Daniel B. Cady, Esq., and an oration, written in elegant and classic style, happily portraying the situation of our country, was delivered by Andrew J. Yates, Esq., of the Polytechny ; af- ter which, a set piece of sacred music was sung by a number of the students of the Polytechny, and a benediction pronounced by Rev. Dr. Yates. The procession then returned to the vil- lage, and at 2 P. M. about two hundred sat down to a dinner prepared by Col. George Ehle, in a style befitting the occasion. His table was filled with the choicest productions of the country; and his dinner was served up in a manner satisfactory to his guests. After the removal of the cloth, a set of patriotic toasts were drank, accompanied with music and firing of guns. At 5 o'clock P. M. the company dispersed, and thus closed the first celebration of our National Independence in the village of Chit- tenango, impressing upon the minds of all the virtue of republi- can institutions and the inestimable value of liberty."

At this period, prominent among Sullivan's citizens were Judge John B. Yates, Rev. Andrew J. Yates, Dr. Samuel Fuller, William K. Fuller, A. T. Dunham, Judge Sylvester Beecher, Dr. Samuel Kennedy, James Kennedy, Thomas Livingston, George Ehle, Henry H. Cobb, Robert Riddle, Daniel B. Cady, Jarius, Thomas and Samuel French, Peter Collier, Abram Walrath, John Adams, Zebulon Douglass, Henry Anguish, Judge Knowles. The influence of these men was felt in various directions. Some of them were legal and political gentlemen, who exerted their influence in correcting many abuses which had crept into the adminis- tration of law in the country. Sunday mails were protest- ed against and finally abolished ; and imprisonment for debt so long continued after the law was abolished, was inquired into, and the wrong stayed. No men labored more earnestly to correct the last named evil than some of the prominent men of Sullivan.

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Ir 1832, the first newspaper of the town, the " Chitte- nango Herald," was established by Isaac Lyon, who con- tinued it many years.

During the intervening years, from 1827 to 1836, the first projects were up for railroads in this county. At the time of the agitation for the Chenango Canal, the question of a railroad from the north line of the County to the Che- nango was discussed. Its route was to follow the Chenan- go valley, so as to obviate the necessity of a canal, and its western or northern terminus was to be at Chittenango. This proposed road was considerably advertised* ; and the exports of Sullivan from the gypsum beds, and the hydraul- ic and limestone quarries, besides the convenient point from which to transfer salt from Syracuse and Salina, were made items of no inconsiderable importance in favor of the road. The canal, however, was pushed through, and the project dissolved. But still a road was felt to be needed through from the Erie canal to the southern towns, and prominent men of Chittenango, Cazenovia and DeRuyter, entered upon the preliminaries of such a work with earnestness. The names of John B. Yates, Perry G. Childs, Robert Rid- dle, J. D. Ledyard, John Knowles, George K. Fuller, Ben- jamin Enos, and others, appear foremost in the enterprise. Railroad meetings were held along the proposed route, which it was desired should extend from Chittenango to DeRuyter, and further as soon as practicable. A company was formed, subscription books opened, and $70,000 was subscribed. Judge Yates agreed to build the first mile from his own private means. The preliminary surveys were made and the work of grading commenced at Chitte- nango in 1836, when Judge Yates was taken ill and died. The work ceased, and the road was ultimately abandoned. Had Judge Yates lived, quite probably this road would have been a success, and the present C. & C. railroad might not have been. In 1839, the Syracuse & Utica railroad

" Madison Observer and Recorder, March 29, 1828.

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was opened, and thus a new source of prosperity was given the town. The increased activity in trade was marked.

In 1825 the population of Sullivan was 3, 130; in 1830, 4.048 ; in 1840, 4,390. Chittenango village contained in the latter year, 1,000 inhabitants, one hundred and eighty dwellings, three churches, a large woolen factory, two large water lime factories, one flouring mill, three taverns, ten stores. The Gazetteer thus gives its location, etc. :- " It is situated one mile south of the Erie Canal, with which it is connected by a side cut .* The Syracuse & Utica railroad has a depot near the village. The Chittenango Sulphur Springs, one mile south of the village, is a place of great attraction. The Polytechnic Institute is situated in this village."

Chittenango village was incorporated March 15, 1842. The first village officers were :- Robert Riddle, Alfred Bellamy, Daniel Walrath, George R. Fuller, James Crouse, Trustees ; Abner P. Downer, Edward Sims, Hiram Curtis, Assessors ; Daniel F. Kellogg, Joseph P. Plank, Alonzo Bishop, Fire Wardens ; Oren A. Thompson, Collector ; Geo. Grant, Treasurer, Henry H. Cobb, Clerk.

The iron foundry and machine shop was built about 1833, Daniel Walrath, proprietor. The paper mill was built by Paddock, about thirteen years ago.

The Chittenango Bank was originated by Abner P. Downer and Jeremiah Gates, (both now deceased,) in the year 1852. It received its charter April Ist, 1853. Original capital, $105,000. Its first officers were :- Geo. Crouse, President ; Geo. Grant, Vice-President ; David H. Rasbach, Cashier. In 1864, it was changed to the " First National Bank, of Chittenango," with a capital of $ 150,000. Present officers, Robert Stewart, President ; Peter Walrath, Vice-President ; B. Jenkins, Cashier. This is one of the most reliable banks of Madison County. Its capital has been largely increased.

# The Episcopal church now stands where was once the canal basin.

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وحول

أبخرةُ ساعِل

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SULLIVAN.

NEWSPAPERS OF CHITTENANGO.

The Chittenango Herald was established in 1832, by Isaac Lyon, and was published successively as the Chit- tenango Republican, the Phoenix, and the Democratic Gazette, until 1856, when it was discontinued. The Chittenango, Madison County, Times, was established in 1870, by Mr. A. White.

THE YATES POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE.

This institution was founded by John B. Yates, in 1824. The building was purchased by him of Elisha Carey, it having been built in 1814 for an inn. Rev. Andrew Yates, brother of John B., was first President, and continued in that position till 1832. It was a very popular school, having students from all parts of the Union. Judge Yates sustained the school with its corps of six professors, giving to students the most liberal advantages, at a great pecuniary sacrifice to himself. In 1832, it was closed for want of adequate sub- stantial support to maintain its generous plan. On the death of Mr. Yates, in 1836, when his estate came in process of settlement, the building was bought by Henry Yates, who deeded it to trustees for school purposes, the name being changed from "Polytechny," its original name, to " Yates Polytechnic Institute." Between the years 1832 and '37, it was used again as a hotel, Samuel M. Rowell, proprietor. In 1837, it was re-opened as a school under the supervision of Rev. George W. Thompson, and continued for five years with varied success. In 1843, it passed into the hands of William Velasko, who continued as principal until 1861, the students numbering most of the time from 150 to 200, with from 40 to 80 boarders. During Mr. Velasko's term with the Institute, he had 3,200 different scholars, who were from all parts of the States. Since 1861, four different princi- pals have carried on the school, with a degree of success not always satisfactory pecuniarily. The last Principal, J. W. Hall, endeavored with unremitting care and effort to restore it to the high standing of its better days, and in a

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good degree succeeded, though pecuniarily unprofitable. In 1871, it closed as an Institute, and opened under the arrangement of a graded school, having four departments. It has a fine library and philosophical apparatus, and has been furnished with all that pertains to an institution con- ducted on the College plan. About $12,000 has been ex- pended during 1871, for repairs, improvements, and arrange- ments made for the several departments. The accompany- ing engraving represents the Polytechnic Institute as it was in 1844, while under the supervision of William Velasko.

CHITTENANGO SPRINGS.

This place is situated upon land first taken up by a Mr. Diefendorf, who sold to Peter Collier. Mr. Collier located here and obtained a deed of the land directly from the State. In 1824 or '25, he cleared the land around the springs and opened a wagon road to the place, it being previously accessible only by way of a foot path over the pinnacle of the ridge. West of the creek was a poor wagon road, which was improved at the same time, as it connected with the new one penetrating to the springs. Milton Leach lived there in a small house in 1826, and kept a grocery, and also opened a shower bath house for the benefit of visitors. Mr. Collier erected a good build- ing about 1831 or '32, part of which is incorporated with the present springs buildings. He kept boarders and a few invalids, and improved the shower house. Judge Horatio G. Warner purchased the property of Mr. Collier, and after a time sold it to Holmes & Richardson ; then Rich- ardson sold his interest to his partner, and the latter brought the Springs into extensive notice not far from 1840. New and improved buildings were then erected ; the springs made attractive ; drives, promenades, arbors, bath- ing rooms, in short every thing in vogue for pleasure and comfort, was instituted to make the place an attractive resort.

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The Springs are situated two miles south of Chittenango village, and are of easy access by way of an excellent macadamized road direct from the depot. Since the first building up of accommodations about 1840, they have been from time to time improved till the present admirable appointments were attained. It is a popular watering- place, with every convenience for promoting the comfort and amusement of the invalid or devotee of pleasure ; hot baths of the mineral waters with efficient medical supervi- sion ; charming drives, boating, fishing, bowling, billiards, croquet, music, &c.

The water has been critically analyzed by the best chem- ists in the State and pronounced equalled by only one other spring in the country-the "White Sulphur Springs," of Virginia-in medical qualities. The following is a state- ment of an analysis of one pint of water from each of these Springs :-

WHITE SULPHUR

YATES.

Carbonate of lime,

1,33

0,88

Sulphate of lime,

8,22

Sulphate of magnesia,

3,II

12,75

Sulphate of soda,

1,66

Chloride of calcium,

trace

0, 14

Organic matter,

trace

trace.

Their curative properties are greatly recommended by medical men.

A new mineral Spring, the water of a bluish color, has more recently been discovered near the hotel; the water has a remarkably tonic effect.

At different dates the patronage of the Springs has been very large; in 1870, under the management of C. W. Reicks, the number of guests during the year was upwards of 10,000.

BRIDGEPORT.

Messrs. Isaac and John Delamater made a settlement at the Chittenango Rifts, or Rapids, as the place was then called, in 1802. Judge John Knowles, John Adams, Esq.,

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and others, settled in that neighborhood about the same time. There is a sudden fall in the Chittenango Creek here of about ten feet, which yields an immense water power, which is very little employed. It is a famous place for taking suckers and other fish, early in the spring, and from this circumstance has been denominated the sucker bank. It was once a great place for taking salmon. It was not uncommon to take them from the nets weighing from twelve to twenty-five, pounds. Before dams were erected, they were taken as high up as Chittenango Falls, twenty miles above the outlet. Schooners of two hundred tons have been built and launched for the lake trade at Bridgeport, previous to the building of the canal .*

From a sketch in the Madison County Directory the fol- lowing extract is made :-

"The first settler in the vicinity of Bridgeport, was Capt. Ro. sel Barnes, now living in Illinois. He built the first framed house having previously kept tavern in a log one. Mr. Rector, father of Capt. John Rector, of Bridgeport, was among the first settlers, his son having resided here for sixty years. Barrels were manufactured there at an early day, taken down Chitte- nango Creek, through Oneida Lake and Three River point, thence to Salina, where they were exchanged for salt. * * *

Mrs. Cuppenoll, an aged lady living at Bridgeport, and daugh- ter of Mr. Carter, relates that when she was first married, her husband used to change works with a friend at a distance, leav- ing her alone sometimes for a week. On one occasion, before he left home she prepared for their supper a dish of thickened milk. It being late, she deferred washing the kettle, but filling it with water, set it outside of her cabin door and retired. This door was only a 'rag rug' hung up temporarily. During the night she heard what she supposed to be the fighting and scrambling of dogs over her kettle, and only wondering where they all came from, she gave herself no further trouble and went to sleep. Early in the morning she was awakened by the hal- looing of her nearest neighbor, who having heard the howling of a pack of wolves near her dwelling in the night, and knowing the frail character of her door, fully expected to find that she had been devoured by the ravenous beasts. Her kettle was licked clean but no damage was done. Afterwards, until her husband's return she slept in the loft.

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History of Madison County, state of New York, Part 53

Author: Hammond, L. M. (Luna M.) Publication date: 1872 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : Truair, Smith Number of Pages: 802

Author: Hammond, L. M. (Luna M.)
Publication date: 1872
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : Truair, Smith
Number of Pages: 802