History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 140

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 932

USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878 > Part 140

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Benjamin White, the second settlert at Waterville, located in April, 1789, two weeks after the arrival of Mr. Gurney, the first settler. At quite an early day (subsequent to 1805) he emigrated to the town of Stafford, Genesee Co., where he was afterwards brutally murdered by his younger son, who was tried and executed for the deed. The trouble was over a division of the father's property.

Amos Osborn, from Fairfield Co., Conn. (the family came originally from Hingham, England), located at Water- ville in 1802, and built, near " White's Mills," the first dis- tillery at the place. He purchased White's farm in 1810,

# Jones' Annals.

+ It is also stated by Mr. Osborn, who wrote the sketch of this town in Jones' Annals, that Mr. White was the first settler at what is now Waterville, where he says Gurney was first. .

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

paying $30 per acre for it, and afterwards bought a second farm in the vicinity, for which he paid nine gallons of gin per aere. The old White farm was within the present limits of the corporation, as was also the second one pur- chased by Mr. Osborn. A son of the latter, Amos O. Osborn, resides on the old White place, his house oceupy- ing the ground on which stood the dwelling of Mr. White. The present residence was built by Mr. Osborn, Sr., in 1813. The old White residence (still standing west of Mr. Osborn's) was the first framed dwelling erected in the village.

Mr. Osborn carried on his distillery about thirteen years. He was for some years president of the Sangerfield Manu- facturing Company, which built a cotton-factory in 1816. They afterwards sold a controlling interest to Henry B. Clarke, who operated it until about 1830, when it was pur- chased by Messrs. Goodwin & Bacon, and transformed into a woolen-factory, which remained in existence several years. It is at present oceupied by Messrs. J. A. Berrill & Son.

In the year 1802, Justus Tower settled in the place, and built a house and a grist-mill ; the latter is now used as a paint-factory. The house is yet standing on the west side of Mill Street, and is occupied by tenants. It belongs to parties outside of the Tower family. In 1803, Mr. Tower leased the old White mill, and operated both at the same time. A heavy freshet in April, 1804, deluged the valley, and carried off every dam at this place. Mr. Tower and John Williams, Jr., were drowned. The former had just been re-elected supervisor of the town. Soon after the freshet a severe epidemie carried off several of the inhabi- tants, among them Ichabod Stafford, Esq.

The Towers were from the town of Hingham, Plymouth Co., Mass., and first located in the town of Paris. There were four brothers,-Jeduthan (grandfather of Reuben Tower, president of the village, and of Charlemagne Tower, of Philadelphia, Pa.), Justus (father of Horace D. Tower, of Waterville), John, and Jotham. John Tower was the father of John Tower, the present proprietor of the " Clin- ton House," at Clinton. Jotham was the youngest of twelve children. Justus Tower was but thirty-seven years of age at the time of his death. He built a store on the corner where Hubbard's brick store now stands, and after his death Jotham Tower stocked it with goods, repaired the grist-mill, which had been badly damaged by the freshet, and carried on both in company with Justus Tower's widow. The wife of Dr. Cleveland, Sr., of Waterville, is a daughter of Jotham Tower ; his youngest daughter is the wife of Ira Reed, of Rome; and another daughter is now Mrs. Mont- gomery, living north of Waterville, in the town of Marshall. Horaee D. Tower (son of Justus) is in his eighty-fifth year, and, except a period of ten years, has been a resident of the village since 1802. His younger brother, Henry Tower, was for some years in the distilling business with J. and R. Bacon, merehants of the plaec, who purchased the stock of goods left by Justus Tower at his deeease, and carried on the store for thirty years or more. Henry Tower was also long prominently connected with Madison Uni- versity.

The post-office at Waterville was originally established

in 1806, with Amos Muzzy as first postmaster. He was sueeceded by Colonel John Williams, who was in office when it was removed to the eentre in 1808. It was not re-established here until 1823, and then under the present name of Waterville, the old office having been ealled San- gerfield. The present postmaster is J. L. Bissell. The office is located in Buell's brick block.

On a certain evening, in the fall of 1808, it happened that Dr. Sherman Bartholomew, Josiah and Reuben Bacon, Isaac Terry, and John Williams, Esqs., were in the tavern kept either by Eli Hotchkiss or Pardon Keyes (later the residence of Dr. E. A. Munger), and the subject of a name for the village was discussed by them, together with other topics. It was agreed that it deserved a more dignified title than " the Huddle," as it was familiarly called, and after several names had been offered, that of Waterville was suggested by Dr. Bartholomew. It was accepted, and the village has sinee been known by that appellation, though it was not generally adopted until the post-office was estab- lished in 1823. In 1806 the place had 32 dwelling-houses and stores, and 200 inhabitants, and has since been the seat of several manufacturing institutions not now in existence, among them being a large organ-factory, a distillery for the making of pure alcohol, etc.

Fire Department .- A fire company has existed in the village for many years. At present the department is an efficient body, consisting of Steamer Company, No. 1, with 36 members, and Hose Company, No. 1, with 24 mem- bers. The officers of the department are : President, H. J. Coggeshall; Vice-President, Claude Wilson ; Secretary, Her- mon Clarke; Treasurer, M. P. Cady ; Foreman of Steamer, G. R. Sanford; Assistant, Richard Berrill; Foreman of Hose, W. J. Kelly ; Assistant, F. H. Hubbard ; Chief Engineer, A. B. Cady, Jr. ; Assistant, W. M. Roberts; Engineer of Steamer, A. J. Gardner; Fireman, George Finn ; Assistant Fireman, C. H. Wample. The present two-story brick engine-house was built in 1872. Two hand-engines were formerly in use, but one of which, manufactured by But- ton, of Waterford, N. Y., is fit for service. A steam fire- engine, of the Silsbee pattern, was purchased in the summer of 1877, at a cost of $4000. The present department was organized July 17, 1877. It possesses about 850 feet of leather hose, of which part is single and part double riv- eted, and over 400 feet of rubber hose, all in good eondi- tion.

Newspapers .- In 1814 or 1815, Joseph Tenney com- menced the publication of the Civil and Religious Intelli- gencer, which in 1825 was changed to the Sangerfield Intelligeneer, and in 1835 removed to Fabius, Onondaga Co. The publication of The Oneida Standard was be- gun at Waterville, in 1833. It was subsequently removed to Utiea, where it was published by Quartus Graves, as The Standard and Demoerat. In 1835, on account of its Abolition sentiments, the office was entered by a mob and part of the type and furniture thrown into the streets. The Waterville Advertiser was commenced in 1851, by R. W. Hathaway. The Waterville Journal was established in January, 1855, by A. P. Fuller & Co., with C. B. Wil- kinson editor. It was discontinued in March, 1856. In 1857 the publication of The Waterville Times was begun

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

by MeKibbin & Wilkinson, who continued it until 1860, and sold out to J. H. Yale. November 8, 1866, the paper passed into the hands of R. S. Ballard. The present pro- prietor, James J. Guernsey, became the owner in 1870, and has sinee conducted the paper, which is an 8-column folio, 28 by 40 inches, issued weekly, and having a circu- lation of about 1000. It is printed in the Putnam Block, on a steam-power press. All kinds of job-printing are done. In this office is also printed a quarterly for Messrs. Charles Green & Son, known as "Charles Green & Son's Hop Paper." Its editor is W. A. Lawrence, of New York; its circulation about 5000 copies, issued gratuitously.

The Hop Trade in this vicinity is very extensive. Charles Green & Son are perhaps the heaviest firm in the business at this place; they sell entirely to brewers, and are also engaged in manufacturing the celebrated hop ex- tract, which they began in 1876. Their building for this purpose is located on the stream in the north part of the village, and employment is furnished to eight hands. The factory is kept running night and day.

The other Waterville firms engaged in the hop trade are Daniel Conger & Son, Terry, Bennett & Co., Squiers & Tower, Charles Terry & Son, and H. P. Loeke. Others from New York City and various places have more or less business in the same line, Waterville being the heaviest hop market in Oucida County, or in a large extent of ter- ritory surrounding. Messrs. Charles Green & Son (W. Jerome Green) established a private bank in July, 1875, which is still in operation.

Boot and Shoe Factory and Tannery .- Colonel John Williams very carly established a tannery here, and Chaun- cey Buell, who afterwards became his partner in business, finally purchased the entire institution and started in a small way a custom boot and shoe shop in connection. When the Erie Railroad was being constructed the business largely increased and considerable wholesaling was done. The present firm is C. Buell, Son & Co. From 70 to 80 hands are employed in the shop and tannery together. The productions of the tannery amount to about $50,000 an- nually, and those of the boot and shoe department about $150,000; it has aggregated in previous years as high as $200,000. The goods are principally sold in the West.

Colonel Williams, who built the old tannery here, originally started one in the southwest part of town, on the west side of the " great swamp," and afterwards removed to Water- ville. Chauncey Buell, who came here in 1817 from Mas- sachusetts, where he learned his trade as a shoemaker, is a native of Wilmington, Windham Co., Vt. For some time he worked with Alanson Coe, then in business here. Mr. Buell and Philip Lumbard established a copartnership after the former had been here a short time, and manufac- tured boots and shoes from leather made by Colonel Wil- liams. In 1821, Mr. Buell made up $1000 worth of goods, Colonel Williams furnishing the stock, and made a trip to the Wabash River country, in Indiana, above Vin- cennes, where he disposed of his load at a good profit, and, returning, went into partnership with the colonel in 1822, in the tanning business. Together with Elisha Newbury, he purchased the colonel's interest in 1826, and this firm carried on the establishment for about six years, when Mr.

Buell became sole proprietor. From a small beginning the institution has become one of the most important in the country. The old shop which Williams & Buell occupied was finally torn away to make room for the present fine brick structure known as the " Buell Block."

Chauncey Buell has lived in the house in which he at present resides since he was married,-1826,-originally oc- cupying what is now the west wing.

The present Cold Spring Brewery on Mill Street, owned by E. S. Peck, was originally a distillery, built by Amos Osborn, in 1802, and recently owned by Reuben Tower. Its business at present is not large. Numerous distilleries have been in operation here at different times. One, which occupied the site of Messrs. Cady & Son's present stone building, was owned by Stanton Park, and was destroyed by fire in 1825, together with 6000 gallons of liquor, which latter ran out through a waste-ditch, and set fire to a barn which was also burned. The sight of the burning liquor floating on the surface was inexpressibly grand and a great curiosity. The present building was erected the same year the old one was burned.

The grist-mill now owned by Isaac Jones was built originally by Jotham Tower, about 1814-15, on the site of the old white mill. It contains four runs of stone and has a large custom business.

Paint-Factory .- The building now occupied by Terry & Gridley, manufacturers of white lead and colors (for house paints), was built for a grist-mill, in 1802, by Justus Tower. The present firm began business in 1869. From two to four hands are usually employed. The annual manu- factures average about $10,000.

Planing- Mill, Sash, Door, and Blind Factory .- The building occupied by Messrs. A. B. Cady & Sons (A. B. Cady, A. B. Cady, Jr., and M. P. Cady), was built by Stanton Park, for a distillery, in 1825, and occupies the site of the one owned by him which was burned in that year. After being used some time as a distillery, it was converted into a potato-starch factory, and operated by Henry Tower. Messrs. Seabury & Barnum afterwards occupied it as a foundry and machine-shop, and were suc- eceded in the same business by Beardsley & Cady, the former now operating a small machine-shop near the " Park House." The Cadys changed it into a planing-mill, ete., about 1860, and have operated it in that capacity ever since. Doors, sash, blinds, mouldings, ete., are manufac- tured, and general planing donc. Twelve to fifteen men are usually employed ; sowietimes as many as twenty. The annual amount of business varies from $25,000 to $40,000.

The present foundry and machine-shop of J. A. Berrill & Son was established by the senior member of the firm in 1837, in the building formerly used as a woolen-factory, and originally built for a cotton-factory. The present manufactures are general castings, including iron and brass founding, and a patent paint-mill, the invention of Mr. Berrill, is also manufactured. In June, 1878, eleven hands were employed. A hardware-store is owned in connection. Mr. Berrill came from England a short time before he established himself in business here.

A planing-mill and lumber-yard near the railway station is owned by Messrs. Bennett & Snell.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Hotels .- The " American Hotel," now owned by A. Young & Son, was ereeted in 1814-15, by Jonathan Hub- bard, and has largely been repaired and remodeled. Before it was built there were three in the place,-one standing where Dr. Munger now lives ; another where Daniel Goodell lives, which was kept in 1802, by Amos Muzzy, and said to be the first in the village ; and one next east of H. D. Tower's present residenee.

The present " Park House" was built for a store, and, in 1802, was oeeupied in that eapacity by Robert and Hudson Benediet. It was finally converted into a hotel, and has sinee been used for that purpose. Its present proprietor is Thomas Garvey.

The " Commercial House" stands on the ground oeeupied for twenty years by the post-office, and was built in 1875 by its present proprietor, M. B. Crossett. Like the other hotels in the village, it is very popular. Mr. Crossett is the present supervisor of the town.

The " Brunswiek Hotel," which oeeupies a pleasant location near the village park, was built in 1874, by Porter & Squier. It is at present kept as a temperanee boarding- house, by Mrs. F. S. Rosbrook.

Waterville Grange, No. 61, P. of H., was organized Jan. 26, 1874, and received a charter on the 1st of June following. It started with eighteen members, and in June, 1878, had about 110, and oeeupied a hall in the Putnam Block, over the office of the Waterville Times. It is the largest Grange in the county, and its members reside prin- eipally in the towns of Sangerfield and Marshall, with a few in Bridgewater.

Its present officers are : Master, Neil S. Clarke; Over- seer, M. W. Terry ; Leeturer, Mrs. C. I. Peek ; Steward, C. L. Terry ; Assistant Steward, J. A. Hanchett; Chaplain, Daniel Livermore, Jr. ; Treas., Morris Terry ; See., C. F. Haven; Gate-Keeper, Charles Stetson ; Ceres, Mrs. J. J. Bennett ; Pomona, Mrs. Orlando Stetson ; Flora, Mrs. J. R. Wightman ; Lady Assistant Steward, Katie Day.

Sanger Lodge, No. 129, F. and A. M., was reorganized in 1809, and had been in existenee before that time. Its old records are mostly lost. It was very probably named from Judge Sanger, who was at one time one of the prin- eipal officers in the Grand Lodge of the State. During the memorable anti-Masonie days it was kept alive by a few devoted individuals, and has never been suffered to run down sinee its reorganization.

Its present officers are John B. Jones, W. M .; A. R. Eastman, S. W .; N. S. Clarke, J. W .; W. J. Brown, Treas. ; Herman Clarke, See .; G. R. Sanford, S. D .; A. B. Glines, J. D. ; Rev. W. F. Tooke, Chaplain.

Warren Chapter, No. 22, R. A. M., was organized at Leonardsville, the old settlement south of Bridgewater vil- lage, and chartered in 1808 in the town of Brookfield, Madison Co. It was moved to Bridgewater in 1812. and to Waterville in 1856.

Its present offieers are G. W. Cleveland (M.D.), H. P .; G. R. Sanford, King ; Rev. Thomas Bell, Seribe ; Willian Suters, C. of H .; J. H. Montgomery, R. A. C .; W. J. Brown, Treas. ; Hermon Clarke, See.

This Chapter was formerly in connection with Western Star Lodge, at Bridgewater.

Rowell Post, No. 23, G. A. R., was organized May 23, 1868, with 20 members, and named for Andrew F. Rowell, a member of Company D, 117th Infantry, who was killed at Cold Harbor, Va. He was then a sergeant, and a lieuten- ant's commission was on the way to him. The membership of the post has been as many as 40, but at present numbers only 15 or 16. It has rooms in the Green Block.

Its officers for 1878 are R. J. Roberts, Commander ; George H. Tafft, Senior Viee-Commander ; M. H. Risley, Junior Viee-Commander; George Dearflinger, Quarter- master; J. B. Jones, Officer of the Day ; W. J. Brown, Adjutant ; J. J. Guernsey, Chaplain.

The Waterville Cornet Bund was organized in 1869, with 8 members, and now has 15. The instruments used are manufactured by Higham, of Manchester (England). The leader is C. M. Felton. The band meets semi-weekly for praetiee, and is an efficient organization.

The Waterville Cemetery Association was organized in 1857, under the law of 1847. One acre of the present cemetery had been in use for many years : about seven aeres additional have been purchased, and the grounds neatly laid out, with convenient walks and drives. It is one of the finest cemeteries found among villages of this size in the State.

The officers of the Association are : President, Amos O. Osborn ; Vice-President, G. H. Church ; Secretary and Treasurer, D. B. Goodwin ; Trustees, A. O. Osborn, D. B. Goodwin, J. Candee, Morris Terry, H. H. Eastman, Wil- liam J. McGowan, P. S. Risley, F. H. Terry, William Os- born, E. A. Munger, G. H. Church, Sylvester Gridley.

The present physicians of the village are Drs. William P. Cleveland, George W. Cleveland, E. A. Munger, F. T. Gorton, C. Wilson, H. W. Jones, George Allen. Dr. M. Preston resides at Sangerfield Centre.

Of lawyers, the following are now praetieing in Water- ville : E. H. Lamb, H. J. Coggeshall, H. T. Utley, Z. M. Knowles, and Charles Howe. The latter is at present school eomnissioner for this distriet. Mr. Coggeshall has served one term in the Legislature, and as a publie orator ranks among the foremost of the county and State.

The National Bank of Waterville was originally estab- lished as a State bank in 1839, and changed to a national bank in 1865. Among the stockholders of the old bank were Stanton Park, Josiah Bacon, Reuben Bacon, Amos Osborn, Julius Candee, Samuel Goodwin, D. B. Goodwin, Charlemagne Tower, Julius Tower, David L. Barton, E. B. Barton, Henry Tower, Horaee Bigelow, Isaae Hovey, and others. The first officers were : President, Stanton Park ; Vice-President, Julius Candee; Cashier, Josiah Bacon. The capital of the present bank is $150,000, and a general banking business is transacted. The tasty briek building oeeupied was ereeted in 1869, and is fitted with all modern convenienees for safety and durability, including fire-proof vaults. The present offieers of this bank are: President, Daniel B. Goodwin; Viee-President, H. W. Tower; Cashier, William B. Goodwin.

Parks .- There are two small parks in the village, eon- taining together about two and one-half aeres of ground. They are taken care of by the village eouneil, and are very neat in appearance. The larger one is surrounded by a sub- stantial fenee.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Waterville is growing both in wealth and population, and presents as fine an appearance to the visitor as any vil- lage in the county. It contains many elegant residences, and bears an air of refinement and culture throughout. Its eastern portion is appropriated for tasty residence lots, and there is not a finer street in any other village in the county than the one extending eastward from the business portion of the place to the railway station. It has about twenty-five stores of various descriptions, beside a large number of me- ehanic shops and the institutions herein separately described.

Among those who have kindly aided in compiling the foregoing aecount of the town, we are indebted to Amos O. Osborn, Horace D. Tower, Chauncey Buell, Reuben Tower, J. A. Berrill & Son, the Messrs. Cady, Terry & Gridley, and other manufacturers, Hermon Clarke, George Dearflinger, A. Young, the pastors and members of churches, and many others in Waterville and vicinity, and E. H. Mott (town clerk) and others at Sangerfield Centre.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

FRANCIS MARION STETSON

was born in Sangerfield, March 3, 1819 ; son of Joel Stet- son, whose father, Benjamin Stetson, settled in Sangerfield about 1794. He was a soldier in the Revolution ; served

Photo, by Williams.

FRANCIS MARION STETSON.

seven years ; was at the battles of Bunker Hill and Ben- nington ; died at a mature old age, leaving a large family. Joel located at Stockwell Settlement, where he carried on the lumber business ; built mills for the manufacture of lumber, carding-mill, cte. ; raised a family of ten children. Francis M. being the oldest son, he succeeded his father in the business. Was married, 1845, to Sarah G. Wells, daughter of L. Nathan Wells, whose father, Joshua Wells, settled in Bridgewater in the winter of 1800, coming from Rhode Island.

DANIEL LIVERMORE

was born in Sangerfield, June 19, 1801; son of Daniel Livermore, who came to this town from Brimfield, Mass., in 1796.

The subject of this sketch lived at home until his father died, in 1813, leaving a widow and seven children, of whom Daniel was the oldest boy. This was during the war, and as the family were poor, Daniel was induced, by bounties

Photo, by Williams.

Dand Livermore

offered, to enlist as waiter-boy. Men being scarce, he vol- untered to go into the ranks as a soldier. He participated in the battle at Lundy's Lane and the siege of Fort Erie, where he received serious injury, and has received a pen- sion for many years. In consequence of his injuries he was led to study, and in the winter of 1819-20 taught school at Sangerfield. The following spring he and three other young men went West, performing the journey to St. Louis, Mo., on foot, or by small boat down some of the streams. He was gone eighteen months, and returned to complete his studies as surveyor; after which he received the appointment of deputy surveyor of all publie lands south of the south line of Tennessee, and proceeded to fulfill the duties of that office in 1826, his first work being done in Louisiana, where he worked three seasons, returning to the old home in the summers, where he bought some land, built a house, and was married, March, 1850, to Miss El- mina Lampton. Sinee which time he has successfully fol- lowed the vocations of a farmer and surveyor, has filled several important town offices, and has held the office of justice of the peace for nearly thirty years. After a long and industrious life, which spans the whole period between the primeval forest and the civilized community, the aged pioneer and his wife now find themselves in the enjoyment of an ample competeney.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

JAMES G. PRESTON

was born in Sangerfield, May 21, 1836, and while he is a representative man of his town, is also a representative of one of the important pioneer families of the town. His grandfather, Dr. Stephen Preston, was a physician at Ash- ford, Conn. (where the family date their settlement back to 1741). Dr. Stephen came to Sangerfield in 1795, where he praetieed his profession for many years. His son, Madina Preston, was educated to follow the footsteps of his father, and commenced the practice with him before he

Das G. Bristoro

was twenty years of age. He subsequently had a large and successful practice for more than sixty-five years, and died at the advanced age of eighty-three years, leaving his son, Madina, occupying the old home and office at Sanger- field Centre, and administering to the siek and afflicted as his fathers had done before him.

James G. Preston lived with his father, Dr. Madina Preston, Sr., until he was twenty-three years of age, when he married Miss M. L. Joslyn, daughter of Dr. L. Joslyn, of Onondaga County, and settled on the farm where he now resides; is one of the enterprising, thrifty farmers of the county. Was elected supervisor of his town, and served in that office for fourteen consecutive years.

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History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 140

Author: Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 932

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 932