USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878 > Part 150
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"Few trunks, few chairs, an oval table, two neat beds, was the principal furniture; a double-barreled gun, a pretty collection of books, chiefly modern literature, in the French language, the chief ornaments of the cottage.
"At our return to our encampment our tent was pitched, the fire blazing, our boys snoring, and we, too, soon fell asleep. I awoke with daylight, and made the circuit of this fortunate island. When I returned to the place of our landing I crossed the corn plantation and went on, to contemplate more carefully wbat might have escaped my sight the preceding evening.
" Des Wattines had laid out behind the cottage a pretty garden, divided by a walk in the middle. The two foremost beds, and rabats, against the house, were covered with a variety of flowers; sweet- williams, lady-slippers, with a few decaying hyacinths. At the right hand were bush-beans, large kidney-beans, at poles ; cabbage, turnips, peas, salade, with that strong-scented herbage which we call keovel (chervil), and which you purchase so dear at your arrival in New York, although its culinary use in cakes and soup was then yet un- known there. At the left, watermelons, cantelopes, cucumbers, per- sil, string-peas, with a few of the winter provisions, all in great for- wardness, with few or no weeds among them; behind the garden a small nursery of apple-trees, which was closed with a patch of lux- uriant potatoes ; and thesc, again, were joined both sides by wheat, describing a semicircle around it.
" All this was the workmanship of Des Wattines' industry ; without any assistance, not even a plow or harrow, having no other tools but an axe and an hoe. It was true it was all in miniature, but it required, nevertheless, an indefatigable industry to be able to accomplish all this to such a degree of perfection. When I approached the cottage Des Wattines was yet employed in dragging heavy wood for fuel towards it, which he chopt and split in a short time, and in less yet the fire was blazing, when he came with a catfish of sixteen pounds for our breakfast. While he was busily engaged in its preparation,
# Penet.
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
madame appeared, brought him a handful persil, and dressed tho table. The table-cloth was of neat damask, a few silver spoons and forks, the plates and dishes cream-colored,-remnants yet of their former affluence; while the contentment legible in her eyes spread a fresh glow over her countenance, and made a deep impression on our hearts, and whetted our already keen appetite. De Zeng was mean- while arrived, and complimented madame with his usual politeness. Salade, roasted and stewed fish, well baked, warm bread of Indian corn, with good Hyzan tea, which she accepted from us with kind- ness, soon filled tho table. I was seldom better regaled. The fish was delicious; tho sprightly conversation gave a fresh relish to every mouthful we tasted ; and we might have desired to be inhabitants of that enchanted spot, had it been in our power to withdraw our atten- tion from the hardships to which they were exposed, and banish the idea that they seldom could obtain anything else but fish.
"You know, my dear sir, how all significant it is toujours de per- drix ! Although the gay conviviality of Des Wattines drove for a while this gloomy thought away, it could not prevent its return, while now and then a downcast look,-how suddenly it was relieved !- an in- voluntary, half-suppressed sigh, gave a new poignaney to the bitter- ness of this feeling. Des Wattines, even assisted by De Zeng, ridi- euled in vain similar reveries and phantoms ; she smiled, and its force was blunted-an island! in Oncida Lake! The want of all society whatever, except, perhaps, a solitary visit from-a bear! the want of inany of the necessaries of life, and that, too, in her situation, when her Camille was born ! the imperious necessity to leave, from time to time, such an amiable, delicate woman with three children, helpless, sometimes days together, alone on this island, as often Des Wattines went to the Oneida Creek for corn. Was it possible that similar reflections should not have marred the most tumultuous joy ? I will not deny that my spirits were damped, and my jocundity was now and then deeply tinged with melancholy.
" Des Wattines inquired in the boundaries of our journey " to Lake Ontario,' 'and in what manner ?' 'Well, with our canoe,' was the reply. lle sprang from his chair and stared us fully in the face with a ' Par Dieu ! with your canoe,-to Lake Ontario ? nanny ! prenez le bateau, take it, major ; it is at your service, prenez le.' We did not hesitate long to accept his offer. We might have brought our adventu- rous expedition to a happy end ; it was unquestionable that we might effect it with far greater safety in a bateau. We soon had our baggage transported in it, left our eanoe behind at the island, with our frying- pan, through the slothfulness of our hands. We started thus on Satur- day morning about ten. Towards the south the Canoserago Creek, rich in fish, falls in the lake. The bottom of the lake at the south side is a grey stone, which extends to the shore and seomis divided in oblong squares. There are appearances, and very strong indeed, of rock-iron, which ore in some parts is extending for a considerable length on the shore, and, although we had proofs not its reality into question, we could not ascertain it. The land had again a very prom- ising aspeet at some distance from the shore, and shall, I doubt not, be trausformed within a few years in productive farms. We arrived at Fort Brewerton about noon, situated at the northwestern corner of the lake. Here is a location of about four hundred acres, obtained by Mr. Kaats during the late British war. It was now inhabited by two families, viz., that of one Captain Bingham and one Mr. Simonds, the latter from Caughnawagha. They had rented it at £20 a year, and desired to make a purchase of it, but Mr. Kaats, acquainted with its value, had constantly declined their offers.
" I was highly gratified with excellent bread and butter, feasted on milk for my beverage, and purchased two pints of it, which we carried to our bateau. The situation aloue renders this spot of considerable consequence, and its importance must be heightened as soon as the back lands are settled, and the navigation of the western waters shall bo carried to that summit, to which it eventually must ascend. The soil is clay, of which a large quantity of brick was made; somewhat further a sandy loam was covered with stately trees, -oak, then beech, ash, and maple.
" We arrived in the Onondago River, which, even as the Fish Creek, has generally very steep bauks,-more so, however, at the west side. We passed somo pines, and through our unexpertness, large rifts, with difficulty. It was said here was an ancient Indian eel-weir, by which this natural obstruction in the bed of the river bad been increased. The stream was otherwise very placid, and our progress, of course, casy. To the west, joining Kaats' locatiou, is an excellent tract of land, the property of Mr. L'Home Dieu; to the south the military
lands, chiefly a valuable, fruitful soil. A sudden shower compelled us to land about three miles below Fort Brewerton, where we encamped that night, being resolved, if the rain might abate, to take a view of the land.
"The soil is rich, with a great variety of luxuriant trees; a black loam, with a mixture of fine sand of the same color, many inches deep, then clay ; the timber majestic, spreading its branches and foliage ; beech, oak, maple, black ash, with here and there a pine and hemlock. I had ventured-rather imprudently, perhaps-a few miles in the woods; the beauty of the spot had Inred me deeper and deeper, till at last I knew not from where I came or whither I went. The sun being set, I had lost this unerring guide; my only refuge was now my pocket-compass, by which I agaiu discovered the course which I had to steer towards the river. This, nevertheless, would have brought me two miles below muy encampment had not De Zeng, apprehensive of this issue, sent out the boys to hunt the straggler.
"Next day, about three in the afternoon, we reached Three Rivers Point, eighteen miles from Fort Brewerton ; here join the Onondago and Seneca Rivers, that of Oswego flowing to Lake Ontario in a northwesterly direction. One Barker lived at the east side of this point, whose chief employment was to conduct the bateaux over the falls in O, wego River. Ile might have been independent had he possessed virtue and strength of mind sufficient to take advantage of his situation. Every bateau bound to or coming from the Genesees, Onondago, Oswego, Cataraqui, and Niagara stops here, and their erews would often deem it a happiness could they there be supplied with refreshments of bread, butter, and milk, of rum and gin. Ile knew scarce the first, so seldom did he see these articles, and the latter he wanted for himself exclusively.
" This spot is a reservation of Church land for the benefit of the district ; and why not, my dear sir, are not by this great State a few millions of their unsold lands devoted and appropriated to the main- tenance of the clergy, without any distinction of sects, so the new settlers would not be burthened above what they are able to bear, and the worthy clergy would not often be reduced to beggary ? A small patch of corn promised a good erop, and a similar of summer wheat, which he said to have sown the first of May, had branched out its large cars.
" At the southwest side of Oswego is the valuable tract of L. Ganse- voort, with here and there a cleared spot ; and another in no respect, except extension, inferior to this, is a location of one thousand acres of L'Home Dieu, to the north of the Onondago, opposite to the southern point of the Oswego.
" We hired Barker at five shillings a day to bring us over the fall and stay with ns till our return. We started from the point at four. We distinguished at a considerable distance the grumbling noise of the water on the first and second rift. Near the first is a remarkable good mill-seat. Here were the Onondagos collected in large numbers ; some fishing, some smoking in their hnts, others from time to time arriving and passing us iu their bark canoes,-with much art con- structed, so light and easily manageable that a squaw with her little danghter gained on us, and left us soon behind her by her velocity. We concluded to encamp about ten miles from Three Rivers Point, opposito to a handsome island in the Oswego River. The pickerel often weigh here thirty pounds ; pike is of a similar size; we took a catfish of four span and a half; perch, too, of which we obtained a few, is here in abundance.
" At a short distance from the river is a good fertile soil ; further, of a rich clay ; the timber pretty similar to that we had seen before. We started again pretty early on Monday morning, and arrived at the falls, twelve miles from the point. This indeed was again a very interesting sight. Yon would be enraptured with it. Could E borrow and then make use of Vernet's pencil, so that I could do justice to the scenery, I would offer you a grand tablenu. At the south side is a farm of three hundred aeres, of one Mr. Valekenberg, who intends to build him this year a saw- and grist-mill. It is a noble spot for constructions of this kind.
" Ilere we unloaded our bateau, dragged it about a hundred rods over the carrying-place, and there, below the falls, committed her again to its proper element. In a few moments onr baggage was again on board, and we in the batean. Here Barker did give us a proof of his dexterity and alertness ; with a rapidity which dimmed the sight, with an incredible swiftness, we passed over stones, between rocks and islands. as an arrow on the wing, and lost the falls out of our sight and hearing before we could reflect to turn our eyes
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
onco more towards these or examine our process with coolness. At twelve we arrived at Oswego, yet secured by a British garrison, not- withstanding it ought to have been surrendered many years before to our government, in conformity to the treaty of peace. But I should not have dared to assert that from our side all its articles had been religiously observed. If so, nevertheless, then our national forbear- anee was a rare example in a republican government.
" It is time, my dear sir, to take some repose; I at least am in want of it, and the generous cannot he lack in courtesy. In my next I shall bring you to the limits of the land of promise. I will not leave you there, but, depend upon it, you will perceive how I am then speeding, as a dart from the how, towards my beloved family.
" Adio. Yours, &e."
" KINGSTON, 10th August, 1792.
"MY DEAR SIR,-Two fortifications, commanding a considerable extent of water and land, attracted our notice. That to the south, constructed in former days by the British, was now chiefly demol- ished ; that to the north, fortified by the French, and conquered on them by the British during the Seven Years' war, is yet garrisoned by them, although within our lines. Its whole defenee, however, is but one company, which could not make any resistance, as all the fortifieations are so decayed that it would not be a great achievement to drive over these ramparts with wagon and horses. Neither does it seem the intention to make any repairs, from the eonseiousness, no doubt, that their surrender is long since finally concluded, and only delayed on account of some trifling formalities at this or the other side of the Atlantic. I saw, nevertheless, in this paltry, despicable fortress seven barrels of salt, taken from an American bateau by an American runaway, now a British custom-house offieer. It is, for- sooth, a port of entry, which a sturdy Yankce might pass withont a fee. This practice could not be continued if the whole country was settled, even if the post was not surrendered, as Americans could not, neither would, bear much longer sueli an indignity. Neither would a large force be required to set this garrison at defianec. An act of hostility, however, would in the present situation be an aet of impru- denee, of rashness, as it might elog our government's negotiations ; and the day is now fast approaching that it shall be peacefully surrendered, and the American stripes unfurled on this bulwark,- when the British leopard may return with honor to his Canadian den.
" The commanding officer, a Rhode Island man by birth, Captain Wiekham, treated us with a great deal of politeness, and regretted to be unable to offer us refreshments, as the Canadian sloop, which was for these, was not yet returned, but every hour expected.
" This frank and fearless veteran was not at all alarmed at our ap- pearanee, or suspected that we might come to discover and betray the nakedness of the country and fort entrusted to his charge. He en- quired carelessly in the object of our expedition, and made us an offer of his aid whenever he might be of any service to ns; and he did so effectually. It was through his management that the British inter- preter, thoroughly acquainted with Lake Ontario and its shores, agreed to conduct us to the Salmon Creek.
" This Mr. Price spent a part of his youth with Onondago Indians. Ile was in the beginning disereet enough, and eivil through the whole of this excursion, but his society, otherwise far from indifferent, lost a great part of its worth by his ineessant swearing ; it was, indeed, if lie deemed it an accomplishment. This was a pity, indeed, as he was blessed by a bountiful God with various rare endowments, a sound judgment, a lively imagination, undaunted courage, with a frame of body so strong that it haffled all fatigues ; so handsome that he did not want to steop whenever he wished to conquer. He was an in- genious mechanic, indeed, excelling to whatever he hended his versa- tile genius. IIe made an excellent violin for one Mr. Gordon, an European, who was often pleased to say in its praise, 'that in Canada it might be offered for a Cremonese.'
" This Mr. Price was our Palinurus as soon we had entered our bateau, which was ahout four in the afternoon ; our raw hands rowed ; Price was at the helm. We did sit on the middle bench ; ere long we reached deep water. Lake Ontario resembles rather an open sea than an inland reservoir of water. You look in vain for land to rest your eye upon. We arrived with a fresh breeze at Four-Miles Point, hoisted now our sail, passed it, and obtained then a view of a range of perpendicular roeks, which rendered a landing impossible and dangerous to approach them nearer. I cannot say that I was eharmed
at first with this prospeet, and yet it was imposing enough ; but I was heeome too much aeeustomed to peaceful rural seenes to become at once enamored with objeets of grandeur, risen and protruded by the woods, the waves, and the rocks. Not one of our argonauts or he seemed pleased with the trip; what signified rowing when we might sail? Spread the eanvas! IIow merrily glides our bateau over the waves! Bernhard, one of our hands, boasted on his seamanship and experience. Ife doubted not or he might bring a vessel in safety to the harbor ; he had seen the narrows, between Long Island and Staten Island. Priee swore that he was tired with steering, and called, with another eurse, a pilot to take care of the helm. Now he placed him- self between us and smoked his pipe. Our new steersman pointed every time towards shore, which he as often was compelled by a general command to steer more towards the middle, as we were now between the tremendous roeks at Four- and Nine-Miles Point. The wind sud- denly inereased; our pilot turned again towards the shore, and was anew, for a moment, by Price's tremendous eurses, overawed to steer onee more to deep water. But his inereasing fear,-not longer within his, control,-a desultory, animated conversation between De Zeng, Price, and myself, permitting to follow the hias of his alarming impulse, and a pretty rough western wind, carried us, within a few moments, at a distance of a few rods only towards these horrible, perpendicular roeks, of which some seemed suspended over the watery surface. We were now in an imminent danger ; a shipwreck, hy which the bateau must have been dashed in pieces, seemed inevit- able, and no lives might have been saved except, perhaps, that of Priee. At once a loud, pityful ery, 'Hold towards shore!' struek our ears. Price did tear the oar from Barker's hand, commanded to lower the sail and bring ont the oars; but all in vain. The pilot wept and eried, 'Ifold towards shore, Mr. Price ! good Mr. Price! push on shore-I pray God Almighty-dear Mr. Price, set on shore !' Price's reply was, 'God damn you, raseal ! down the sail ! out the oar! obey or sink !' One of our boys sat nearly lifeless in the bow ; the other near the mast, pale as death, with staring eyes and with opened mouth. The danger iucreased to appearance; the surge rose higher and higher ; our united strength and weight, viz., De Zeng's and mine, were searee sufficient to prevent the bateau turning upside-down ; twice did I actually see a great part of the hottom, twice I did see it naked, -one-half ineh more and we had been lost. At last the sail was strnek, the oar out, and we were only in part exposed to the first shock, while Priee, who remained calm and alert, succeeded in foreing the prow into the waves, and bringing us again in safety in deep water. When the danger was past the terror of our erew ahated, and I praised in my soul the Almighty, as I do at this instant, for our hair-breadth escape."
" Price remained now at the helm, and we proceeded on our course with a steady breeze very pleasantly, except that De Zeng and I were thoroughly soaked over the right side from top to toe, while our three hirelings grinned that they were yet dry. This was our reward for our arduous struggle to avert a peril which threatened to overwhelm us all.
"We entered, notwithstanding the foaming breakers, a creek of the middle size, three miles to the south of the Little Salmon Creek, towed our bateau in an inlet, and chose the heights for our encamp- ment. Before our tent was pitched and our fire in full hlaze, Priee and Barker returned with a large eel and huge catfish, which were more than sufficient for our supper.
" We arrived on Tuesday at the Little Salmon Creek. There was fish in the greatest ahundanee : Oswego bass, perch, sunfish, catfish, cel, sheepshead, similar, but superior in flavor to that species ealled neus braessem by the Dutch, and sword-fish .; We speared a few of these and cut off their heads, armed with swords of five and six inches in length, without tasting the fish, as some of our erew pretended that it was of a poisonous nature, which I would doubt. It might be so in the sword; or it might be that this terrible weapon overawed the first examiners, and roused their imagination to give birth to similar dreams ; the meat certainly appears good, being solid, white, and lined with a milky substance. The salmon collects here and in the Big Salmon Creek in nearly ineredible numbers during the fall and spring.
"The soil along the shore is generally indifferent, seldom, to ap- pearance, above mediocrity. Sand and stone at various distances, intersected by swamps, a few pine, more hemlock, and sometimes a
# Ife had much better have thanked Price. + Gar-fish.
WM. J. BABCOCK.
Photo, by Williams,
MRS. WM. J. BABCOCK.
WM. J. BABCOCK.
William J. Babcock was born in Petersburg, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., June 23, 1812, the eldest child of Benjamin and Hannah Babcock. Both father and mother were natives of Petersburg ; died and are buried there. His grand- fathers, Jason Babcock, and William Reynolds, on the mother's side, both moved from Rensselaer County at an early day. They were both of English descent. His father served as colonel in the war of 1812. Their chil- dren were William J., Nelson P., Minerva, Oliver R., Amy, and Chester T. Oliver R. and Chester T. are deceased. Nelson P. is the proprietor of Babcock's Hotel, in Hoosic. Minerva has been twice married. Her first husband was Porter E. Randall ; second, Harris Hopkins, both deceased. She now lives at Holland Patent. Amy, wife of Porter E. Jones, lives at Petersburg, Rensselaer Co.
William J. Babcock lived with his parents till nineteen years of age. He then bought his time of his father, and took up the mason trade, and has followed it almost contin- uously since. When twenty-one years of age he built a large stone cotton-factory for General William Plunket, at South Adams, Mass. ; also stone cotton-factory for Brayton & Co., in North Adams, besides quite a number of the prominent stone and brick residences in both those places. In March, 1836, he moved to Utica, and was employed six months as foreman in the construction of the locks of the Chenango Canal. April, 1837, he moved to Holland Patent, where he has ever since resided. Built Ira Thomp- son's and Ingham Townsend's stone houses, in Floyd ; Henry Miller's stone residence, Joy's Hotel, and the cobble-stone house now owned by Owen Evans, in Trenton; two stone poor-houses near Middleville, Herkimer Co .; two large residences in Newport for Perry & Sweezy ; in Canajoharie, six stone dwelling-houses and three stores for Caldwell,
Loucks & Gardinier ; the Baptist Church in Holland Pat- ent, since burned ; in Schoharie, Schoharie Co., the brick Dutch Reformed Church, the court-house and jail ; also the stone school-house in Holland Patent. His last work was the fine stone residence near Holland Patent, built for his son-in-law, John G. Williams, which was commenced in 1872, and occupied by him Jan. 1, 1874,-one of the finest residences in Oneida County.
Mr. Babcock was married, Sept. 12, 1833, to Anna Hiscox, daughter of Gardner and Anna Hiscox. Her father was a native of Connecticut, her mother of Rhode Island. Her brothers and sisters were Pamelia, Susan, Gardner, Roxanna, Amanda, and David W. All but Amanda, who died at three years of age, are married and living. Mrs. Babcock was born March 9, 1806.
Mr. and Mrs. Babcock have but one child, Fannie H., born Oct. 15, 1837. She received her education at Hobart Hall Academy, Holland Patent, and at Fort Plain Semi- nary ; was married, Nov. 13, 1860, to John G. Williams, of Utica, N. Y., son of the veteran teacher, John Williams, deceased, who taught in Utica forty years. John G. re- ceived his education at his father's school, and at the Wes- leyan University, Middletown, Conn., where he graduated in July, 1860. He has adopted the profession of a teacher.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams have one child, William J. B., born July 9, 1866.
In 1841, Mr. Babcock purchased of Joseph Stevens thirty acres of land and residence, situated a half-mile west of Holland Patent, which he occupied for many years, and still owns. At the present time Mr. and Mrs. Babcock are living with their daughter, Mrs. Williams. Mr. Babcock is Republican in politics ; has served nine years as commis- sioner of highways.
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