History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 141

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

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CHAPTER XL. STEUBEN.

THE town of Steuben occupies a position northeast of the centre of the county, and has an area of 26,126 aeres. The greater portion is in Steuben's Patent of 16,000 acres,

while the southern part ineludes a fraction of the Holland Patent, and the western portions are in Fonda's and other traets. The Cincinnati Creek forms part of the eastern boundary, and the town is watered by various smaller tribu- taries of that and the Mohawk River, and a few which find their way into Black River. The soil is not well adapted to the growth of grain, but as a grazing region it is superior. Bowlders of all sizes and descriptions abound, from a pebble's weight to many tons. The town is the most elevated of any in the county north of the Mohawk, and is broken by high and abrupt hills and deep and nar- row valleys. The southern portion is comparatively level. Among the points which reach the greatest altitude are Peun Mount, Bowen's Hill, Dutch Hill, and Starr's Hill. The latter was named for Captain David Starr, an early settler upon it; Boweu's Hill from a seaman named Bowen, who loeated upon it early ; and Dutch Hill from the faet that numerous Dutch families from the valley of the Mo- hawk have settled upon and around it. Starr's Hill was long considered to be the highest point of land in the county, elevated as it is about 1300 feet above the Mohawk River at Utica; but the statements in reference to Tassel Hill, in the southern portion of the county, prove the eon- trary. And it is a question whether the hill known as Penn Mount, north of Starr's Hill, is not higher than the latter. The use of a common level seems to demonstrate the faet, but that is not a correct test always. From observation, it would seem that Starr's Hill is from 50 to 100 feet lower than Penn Mount.

A journey on foot up the long eastern slope of Starr's Hill is well repaid by the view from its summit. Imme- diately to the south and southwest are the farms of the level part of the town, and away beyond, in the southeast, are the high Deerfield Hills, and southwest the level lands around the city of Rome, with the waters of Oneida Lake shimmering in the distance. The southern horizon, beyond the cloud of smoke arising from the factories of Utiea and its neighboring villages, is bounded by the rugged hills which lift, in a long, blue outline, their proud heads into the air, and their appearance is softened by distance into a haze which blends them together as one uubroken and solid wall. East from the summit of the hill the view is obstructed by timber. To the northeast a partial glimpse of the Black River Valley is obtained, and almost direetly north the huge form of Penn Mount obstructs the prospeet in that direction, and an immediate desire to climb it possesses the beholder. It looks but a short distance away, and the farm-houses on its side appear quite diminutive ; but the task of reaching its top from where we stand seems to be an easy one.

The summit of Starr's Hill is very damp,-so damp and eold, in fact, and so elevated, that Indian-eorn never ma- tures upon it. Now we are on the descent. The chasm between the two hills, which appeared but as a deep, narrow ravine before, widens into quite a valley, along which foams a rapid stream, tumbling over the bowlders in its bed, and hurrying ever onward to the sea. Beyond this stream we are confronted by a hill which we had not observed, so much greater were its neighbors; yet in a level region it would pass for an important one. Wending our way up

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and over it, and aeross the interval on its farther side, we at last reach the slope of Penn Mount and begin to climb. Onward and upward we go, and finally, tired and out of breath, arrive at its summit, adjust our glass, perch on a convenient rail-fence, and enjoy the glories around us. We first look to the southward, and find that the vision extends over the top of Starr's Hill and away to the hills beyond. Westward is seen a still larger portion of Oneida Lake, and away to the north stretches the long ridge known as "Tug Hill." In the valley below, to the northeast, the spires of Boonville appear cosily nestled, and the trains of the Utica and Black River Railway, with their smoke and rumble, roll swiftly along over the iron pathway which seems almost at our feet. The valley of Black River lies spread before us in all its beauty, and many miles of it are in full view. We seem in an upper world; yet, while look- ing off over the vast forest to the east and northeast, and noting with pleasurable emotions the ragged and broken masses of the famous Adirondack Mountains which uplift in solemn majesty before our vision, a longing steals over us to go higher, higher, to the tops of the vast peaks whose distant charms fill us with so much awc. We could never tire of gazing out over the broad landseape before us, with here and there in the forest wilderness a small elearing and a log cabin shown by the glass; and while " in sunshine and shadow"-for the day is partially cloudy, and the best for the occasion-the hill-tops and mountain peaks and forests and valleys appear in all their changing beauties,-one vast kaleidoscope of Nature's proudest handiwork,-we are filled with admiration, and could almost stay always gazing and wondering at this grand, glorious panorama. It is no wonder that Baron Steuben was satisfied with his grant, and called it the " best land in the world," for although deficient, as it undoubt- edly is, for agricultural purposes, it possesses natural beauties unsurpassed at least in the county; and the baron thought if Captain Simcon Woodruff, who had sailed around the world with Captain Cook, should choose to settle here it must be the best land in the world. And the many Welsh families who have located here undoubt- ediy ehose it because it so nearly resembled their own loved mountain land beyond the sea.

The act of the Legislature ereating this town was passed April 10, 1792, and it was stipulated that Steuben should be. " all that part of Whitestown beginning at the mouth of the Nine-Mile Creek ; running thence northeasterly to the northeast corner of Holland Patent ; thenee northerly along the east bounds of Steuben's Patent to the northeast corner thercof; thence due north to the north bounds of the State ; and also from the place of beginning due west to the line of Oneida Reservation ; thence northwest along said line to Fish Creek ; thence due north to the north bounds of the State." In March, 1796, the towns of Rome and Floyd were taken from Steuben, and in 1797 Western and Ley- den were formed from parts of its territory. A part of Steuben's Patent east of the Cincinnati Creek was afterwards annexed to Remsen, leaving the town with its present boundaries. Fort Stanwix, now Rome, was in the centre of the original town as pertaining to what is now Oneida County, and the first town-meeting was held at that place,

"at the house lately occupied by Seth Ranney, on the first Tuesday of April, 1793."* The following officers were elected at this meeting, viz. :

Supervisor, Roswell Fellows; Town Clerk, Jedediah Phelps ; Assessors, Abijah Putnam, Henry Wager, David I. Andrus, Samuel Sizer, Abel French ; Commissioners of Roads, Hezekiah Welles, Daniel W. Knight, Ebenezer Weeks ; Overseers of the Poor, Thomas Wright, Reuben Beck with ; Constables, Samuel Dickinson, Edward S. Salis- bury, Jasper French ; Collector for the west side of Mo- hawk River, Samuel Dickinson ; Collector for east side of same, Edward S. Salisbury ; Pathmasters, Clark Putnam, Benjamin Gifford, Alpheus Wheelock, Abiel Kinyon, Lemn- uel Beckwith, Stephen Sheldon, Frederick Sprague, Wil- liam Walsworth, James Ranney, William West, Joseph Biam, Thomas Parker, Ebenezer Bacon, Samuel J. Curtis, Charles MeLen, Simcon Woodruff, David Starr, Isaac La- throp ; Fence-Viewers, Jonathan Waldo, Bill Smith, Asa Beckwith, Abraham Brooks, Ephraim Potter ; Poundmas- ter, Thomas Wright.

At this meeting it was " Voted, That hogs be not per- mitted to run at large without a good and sufficient yoke." Also, " Voted, That the next town-meeting shall be holden at the new dwelling-house of Roswell Fellows." It will be seen by reference to the list of pioneers of Fort Stanwix and vicinity that many of the first officers of Steuben were chosen from their number, probably from the fact that the advantage of location gave them precedence over other por- tions of the town, and possibly because of their desire to become " office-holders." And the lion's share of the offices fell to the Romans as long as that town was included in Steuben. After the division in 1796, the next meeting- that for 1797-was held, according to the old records of the town, at the " house of Silas Fowler, that of the late Baron Steuben, Disceased !"

The Supervisors of the town of Steuben, since 1794, have been the following persons, viz. : 1794-95, Roswell Fellows; 1796, William Olney ; 1797, Samuel Sizer ; 1798, Noadiah Hubbard; 1799-1803, Samuel Sizer ; 1804, Sam- uel Potter; 1805, Samuel Sizer; 1806-12, Thomas II. Hamilton ; 1813, Jabez Burchard; 1814-30, Thomas H. Hamilton ; 1831-32, Russell Fuller; 1833, Henry Slocum ; 1834-35, Russell Fuller; 1836, Henry Slocum ; 1837-38, Alfred Gillett; 1839, Russell Fuller; 1840, William N. Steuben ; 1841, Russell Fuller ; 1842, Henry II. Hamilton ; 1843, Lester B. Miller; 1844-47, Russell Fuller; 1848- 51, William Lewis; 1852-53, Saul U. Miller ; 1854, Wil- liam Lewis; 1855, Joseph I. Francis; 1856, William Lewis; 1857, Alfred H. Gillett ; 1858, Lewis Everett ; 1859, Saul U. Miller ; 1860-61, David H. Williams; 1862, Thomas H. Jones; 1863-66, William Lewis; 1867-68, Lewis Everett ; 1869-70, Morris W. Morris; 1871-73, William Lewis; 1874-75, Lewis J. Lewis ; 1876, Leonard E. Adsit; 1877-78, John E. Owen. The remaining officers for 1878 arc :

Town Clerk, Elias Lewis; Justiecs of the Peace, William Lewis, William E. Jones, William Weldon, Lewis Richards ; Assessor, John T. Evans; Commissioner of Highways, Henry

# Town records.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

E. Griffith ; Overseers of the Poor, R. L. Prichard, R. R. Roberts ; Collector, John R. Watkins; Constables, J. R. Watkins, Albert Williams, William E. Lewis, John R. Jones; Town Auditors, James W. Owen, Pierce G. Wil- liams; Inspectors of Election, District No. 1, John C. Thomas, Frank Owens, James Clark ; District No. 2, David R. Jones, Robert W. Thomas, Owen M. Williams ; Excise Commissioner, Alfred O. Smith.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

The first person who settled in the present limits of Steu- ben was Samuel Sizer, who came about the year 1789 to superintend the farming operations of Baron Steuben, al- though he had previously been a ship carpenter.

Captain Simeon Fuller, a sturdy veteran of the Revolu- tion, located upon a lot in Steuben's Patent in the spring of 1792, and brought his family carly in 1793. His son, Major Russell Fuller, was several times clected to the office of supervisor of the town.

Captain David Starr, another Revolutionary patriot, settled upon the hill which bears his name, holding his place on a durable lease from the Baron Steuben. The captain was not very successful as a farmer, and after the death of the baron, the latter's executor and former aid, Colonel Walker, pressed the captain for his rent. This aroused his ire, and he forthwith challenged the colonel to meet him at the baron's grave and there settle the matter with sword and pistol. Further lenity was shown him and the suit was abandoned.

Many of the ear'y inhabitants of this town had borne arms under the gallant baron, and when he removed to his land and built a log house and made himself a home in the then wild region, with only a few male servants around him, his old followers took up their residence near him, and some even became members of his household. The old house occupied by the baron stood on the farm now owned by John Davics, and the well dug during the life of the general is still in use .*

Baron Steuben was, on one occasion on his way to Salt Point, in company with General Stephen Van Rensselaer and General William North, to select a site for a block-house, and stopped over night at the house of John A. Shacffer, Esq., at Manlius. Ou their return they also stopped there. During the night a great commotion was going on ; the baron's companion slept soundly, while he lay wakeful and nervous. In the morning his anger had reached such a pitch that he could not control it, and he proceeded to give the landlord a sound rating because of the great racket of the preceding night. Just then a woman approached, bear- ing in her arms a newly-born babe, and saying, " Here, Sir Baron, is the cause of the noise and trouble last night." The baron made profuse apologies, tendercd his congratu- lations, and offered to bestow his name to the new arrival ; the offer was accepted, and he forthwith drew a deed of gift for 250 acres of land in Oneida County, ate his break- fast, and went on his way rejoicing.

The baron's remains have been laid to their final rest beneath a substantial monument to his memory, which was

erected mainly through the efforts of Hon. Horatio Sey- mour, who procured the original appropriation from the State. The Germans in New York City aided largely in its construction, by furnishing means therefor. The work was done by Alexander Pirnie, of Trenton. The monu- ment is of Black River limestone, and a description of it is here unnecessary, as a fine view of it will be found in another part of this volume. The ceremony of laying the corner-stone occurred June 1, 1870, and that duty was per- formed by cx-Governor Seymour, in the presence of a large crowd of people, among whom were many Germans. The procession was two miles in length. The address of welcome was delivered by Deacon D. M. Crowell, of Rome, in behalf of the people of Steuben and Remsen. Governor Seymour also spoke eloquently on the occasion. After the corner- stone was laid, Major-General Franz Sigel, who was present, addressed his German friends in their native tongue. It was estimated that 4000 people were in attendance. The remains of the baron were moved to the new tomb April 24, 1871, by Didymus Thomas, of Remsen, and others. The skull was measured, and found to be 22 inches in cir- cumference. The monument was completed Sept. 30, 1872.

Captain Joseph Ingham, from the Bermuda Islands, set- tled in the town about 1800. His wife, who died Jan. 17, 1804, was buried on the top of Starr's Hill, where also lie the remains of William Davies and wife, the former eighty- two and thic latter sixty-two years of agc.

Daniel Barnes, from Middletown, Conn., came to this town in 1794, built a house and made other improvements on the farm now owned by John Griffiths, on Starr's Hill, and went back after his family, with whom he returned in the spring of 1795. He at first took up 50 acres. His daughter, Mrs. Porter, is now living east of the old farm on which she was born, in 1795. Mr. Barnes belonged to the Con- necticut militia during the Revolution, and was called out at the time of Burgoyne's surrender, but the command he was with arrived after that general had capitulated.

Among other early settlers of Steuben were Noadiah Fairchild, Joel and Samuel Hubbard, from Middletown, Conn., who located in the neighborhood of Starr's Hill. In 1793, Noadiah Hubbard took the contract for constructing the canal-locks for the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company, at Little Falls, in Herkimer County, and finished the work during the summer of that year. He had located first at Whitestown, about 1791, where he burned the first brick-kiln, and made the first lime at that place. He sub- sequently removed, about 1792, to Steuben. In 1798 he became the first white settler in what is now Jefferson County, locating in the town of Champion, and in after- years became prominent in the history of that county.

Elisha Crowel, also from Connecticut, was an early set- tler here. The first person to establish his residence in the neighborhood of what is now Steuben Corners was Stephen Brooks, who came from Connecticut about 1790-91, and located on the place now partly owned by his grandson, John W. Brooks. The first white male child born in town was Stephen Brooks, Jr., whose birth occurred in 1791 or 1792. It is related of Stephen Brooks, Sr., that after he had become comfortably situated in his new home he was greatly alarmed at a report that some hostile Indians in

See Steuben's biography for anecdote of Jonathan Arnold.

"CRIGGA." RESIDENCE OF JOHN R. GRIFFITH, STEUBEN , ONEIDA C.º N. Y.

RESIDENCE OF RICHARD D. DAVIS, STEUBEN, ONEIDA Cº N. Y

LITH BY IN EVENTS PHILA PA

JOHN C. OWENS.

MRS JOHN C. OWENS

PHOTOS. BY WILLIAMS

LITH. BY L. H. EVERTS, PHILA .PA.

RESIDENCE OF JOHN C.OWENS, STEUBEN, ONEIDA CO, N. Y.

MRS . R.P. ROBERTS.

R. P. ROBERTS.

PHOTOS. BY WILLIAMS, UTICA, N. Y.

LITH BY L N EVERTS, PHILA

RESIDENCE OF R.P. ROBERTS, STEUBEN, ONEIDA Cº N. Y.

RICHARD R. ROBERTS.

MRS. RICHARD R.ROBERTS.

PHOTOS BY HOVEY ROME, N.Y

OLD HOMESTEAD.

RESIDENCE OF RICHARD R. ROBERTS, STEUBEN, ONEIDA Cº N. Y.

LITH. BY L. H.EVERTS. PHILADELPHIA.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Canada were about to make a raid through this region, and lest he and his family should become their victims, he re- moved with them to New Haven, Conn., where his son Charles was born. He subsequently returned to Steuben, where he died.

Moses Adams, from New Marlborough, Mass., settled in this town in 1793, on the farm now owned by Allen Clark, where he stayed one year, and then moved to the farm now the property of Rowland Evans, east of Steuben Corners. He also lived in various other localities. His son Aaron was the third or fourth white child born in town, his birth occurring in June, 1796. The latter served as drum-major during the war of 1812, and his father was also in the ser- vice. Aaron Adams has been a minister of the Methodist Church for nearly fifty years.

In the town of Steuben there are but two or three Yan- kee families, the balance being mostly Welsh. The follow- ing article, from the pen of Griffith O. Griffiths, of Remsen, the first-born Welshman in the State west of the Hudson River, is copied from the Utica Herald, in which it ap- peared after the death of Mr. Griffiths, which occurred April 17, 1878. This gentleman was born in the town of Steuben in 1796.

" In the month of March, 1795, about twelve families took their leave of their native country and embarked on board of the noble ship that bore them safely across the Atlantic, and they arrived in New York after a passage of fourteen weeks. After a short stay in New York, five of the said families, namely, Griffith Rowland, William Williams, Evan Owens, Hugh Roberts, and Owen Griffiths, making in all about eighteen persons, left the city of New York, and started for some more favorable portion of the country, for the purpose of form- ing a sottlement. They embarked on board of a sloop, and came up the Hudson River to Albany, from there by land to Schenectady, where they chartered a bateau, and wended their way up the crooked Mohawk, making very slow headway, until at length they arrived at the present city of Utica, which then contained one frame building, and eight or ten log cabins. The only hotel was kept in a log house located where Bagg's Hotel is now situated. During their stay at Utica, they concluded to go to the town of Steuben, in Oneida County, which is situated about twenty miles from Utica. In a few days they prepared for their journey by chartering a wagon drawn by four oxen and a horse to lead. Into this wagon they packed all their ma- terials, children, etc., and were soon on their way to their new home. Such was the situation of tho roads in those days that from five to seven miles was all they could make in a day. Leaving Utica carly in the morning, they reached the foot of Dcerfield hill the first day, whero they were obliged to stay over night without any accommoda- tion but the great wilderness, and the canopy of heaven to cover them, and the rain pouring down during the whole night. Each one having to select his own lodging, if they succeeded in getting alongside of a log or a tree they thought they were doing well. One heroinc, with her infant, about three weeks old, got under the root of a tree that had turned up by the force of the wind, where she supposed she was secure from the elements. But when daylight camc she found, to her surprise, that her infant was richly adorned with ringlets formed of the American-not free-soil, which had found its way quite plentifully in the ridges formed by the flesh around her neck and arms, etc.

"Next morning, after wringing tho water from their clothes, they soon prepared for their day's journey. After considerable struggle and toil, they succeeded in reaching a log shanty that was crected and occupied by some jobbers that were engaged in clearing land at a point about one-half mile north from South Trenton. They were very kindly received and cared for, when they got a good night's rest after a hard day's travel of five miles. The third day they reached Trenton village, four miles farther north, where they found some settlers, and were of course accommodated. The fourth day, 15th Scp- tember, 1795, they made out to reach their place of destination, which is in the vicinity of the yellow store, in the town of Steuben, where

they found five or six families of Americans, who had preceded them the year previous, and who were very kind to them, sharing with them their hospitalities until they were able to support themselves.

" Their first object was to select suitable locations, which they did within the range of about one-half mile, where they were soon at work felling trecs and building their log cabins, which were their only re- course for habitations. They had to resort to the elms for a covering for their houses, as well as for a part of their furniture, such as tables, bedding, etc. Their sofas were made by splitting a basswood log into parts, turning the flat side up, and driving four pegs into the round or bottom part, which answered for legs. Their French bedsteads were made by driving four posts into the ground, laying eross-sticks on to them, then finishing off with elm-bark for the bottom. In some in- stances they would select a building spot where they could find a large maple or birch, which they felled, using a part of the body for one side of their dwelling, leaving the large stump in the centre, which was used for a table. The remainder of their furniture to correspond. During the first years of their residence in their new home there was no grist-mill nearer than Whitesboro', some twenty miles distant, and but one horse in the town, which was owned by the Americans, and was used as a common carrier to carry the grist to the mill. There being no road most of the distance, except a path through the woods, with marked trees for guide-boards, the settlers were frequently overtaken by night, and so dark was the forest that it was with the greatest difficulty that they found their way out. But the old gray was always truc to her trust, and so well acquainted with the road they gave her the rein and bid her go, the driver holding on her tail behind if there chanced to bo more than one of the settlers along. Their only chance was to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, thus successfully finding their way out of the woods.

"The next summer a grist-mill was built and in operation within four miles of the settlement, which dispensed with further difficulty of that nature. Owing to the great distance they had come, and the many difficulties they had to contend with, their limited means had become nearly exhausted. Consequently the men were obliged to Icave their wives and children to guard their castles, while they were seeking employment to obtain means to support themselves and families. During their absence the women were frequently annoyed by wild beasts, which were then quite numerous. Their howls during the night were fearful, and even in the daytime Mr. Bruin would fre- quently be seen prowling around, seeking whom he might devour; and sometimes would be successful in catching a porker, even in the door- yard, and walk off in triumph.

"In the year 1796 the first Welsh child was born in town, or in Oneida County, or even west of the Hudson, as far as can be ascertained, who still lives in the vicinity with his family. His wife is the infant mentioned as being secured under the roots of the upturned trec during the first night of their travel from Utica.

" Thus they remained in their solitary condition, without the com- forts of life or the means of grace, until the latter part of 1798, or early in 1799, when they were joined by several others whom they had left at New York. Among them were Deacon William C. Jones, William Griffiths, Rob rt Griffiths, John Parry, William P. Jones, etc., most of whom were professors. They soon on their arrival established a prayer-meeting, which was held at the dwelling-house of William C. Jones. Although neither of the first settlers spoken of were professors of religion, still they were brought up under the immediate influence of the religion of Jesus Christ, and they had become very much at- tached to it, and were taking quite an interest iu the cause. As evidence of this fact I would here mention one incident, which some one may profit by. At the time the first prayer-meeting was to be held, one of the mothers was living at service eight or nine miles distant from the settlement. Such was her attachment to the good cause, aud anxiety to be present at the organization of the first prayer- meeting among the Welsh in their new home, that she walked all the way on foot through the wiklerness, carrying her infant, who was about four months old, in her arms. What a contrast between the past and present ! At the present day it is often too much of a task to even cross the street on a dark night to attend such meetings. After this they continued to hold their meetings cvery Sabbath, until the year 1801, when there was quite a large immigration into the settlement. During the fall of that year Rev. John G. Roberts came from Ebens- burg, Pa., and settled among them, when he preached the first Welsh sermon to quite an audience for a now country, which had convened at the dwelling-house of John Jones, situated on a part of the estate of

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History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 141

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

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