History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 152

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 152


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185


A Unitarian Church at one time had an existence at Holland Patent, services being held in connection with Trenton village. It has no pastor at present.


BAPTIST CHURCHI, HOLLAND PATENT.


This church was constituted March 26, 1812, with six- teen members. Its first pastor was Elder Joel Butler. In 1813 a small house of worship was erected. After Elder Butler, some of the early pastors were Elders Norman Guiteau, Simon Jacobs, J. Stevens, Griffith Jones, Dyer D. Ransom, Robert Z. Williams, Nathaniel Wattles, and Thomas Roberts. In 1840 the present stone church edi- fiee was built, at a cost of $3000. The present pastor is Elder J. S. Webber. Membership in February, 1878, 163 ; Sabbath-school with over 100 members, of which J. N. Jacobs


# Old building abandoned and no society now in village. t Jones. ¿ Ibid.


558


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


is Superintendent. The value of the church and parsonage is about $12,000.


ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCHI, HOLLAND PATENT.


" On the 25th of April, 1821, the Rev. Henry Moore Shaw, James Wetmore, and others took the preliminary steps to incorporate this church at Holland Patent, and the records show that it was fully organized on the 21st of June of the same year. Rev. Henry Moore Shaw was chosen Rector ; James Wetmore and Abraham Dicfendorf, Wardens; and Aaron Savage, Seth Wells, Robert McArthur, Samuel Candee, Bryant Youngs, John P. Warner, Samuel White, and Aaron White, Vestrymen. The society has now a good church edifice and parsonage."* The commu- nicants number about 40; J. H. Wetmore is Superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and Rev. W. H. Dcan is the Rector.


There are also at Holland Patent a Welsh Methodist and a Welsh Congregational Church. Neither has a large mem- bership nor a regular pastor. The pulpit of the former is supplied by Rev. Thomas T. Evans.


REFORMED CHRISTIAN (OR UNITARIAN) CHURCH OF TRENTON VILLAGE.


Previous to the organization of this church, the " United Protestant Religious Society" was formed, in 1803, and incorporated in 1804,-dissolved in 1811. The Christian Church was organized in March, 1806, and Rev. John Sherman was appointed first pastor. He preached until March, 1810, when he resigned. Rev. Isaae B. Peirce became the second pastor, in 1815, and resigned in 1842. His successors have been Revs. Edgar Buckingham, Thomas W. Brown, John B. Wight, Charles Ritter, B. S. Fanton, Mr. Ritter a second time, Jefferson M. Fox, and William Silsbee; the latter coming in July, 1867, and being duly installed as pastor June 1, 1868, sinee which time he has remained in charge. The number of members of this church is at present about 20. A Sabbath-school is sus- tained, with Rev. Mr. Silsbee as Superintendent. The original frame church edifice is still in use. Oct. 10, 1874, a memorial tablet of brass, mounted on black walnut, was erected in the church, with the following inscription : " To the dear memory of Sophia Apolina Mappa (obt. Jan. 7, 1861) and Cuneira Engelbertha Van der Kemp (obt. Jan. 3, 1868), to whom this church owes a large measure of its prosperity and purity, this tablet is erected, A.D. 1874, by the congregation with whom they worshiped, aided by generous friends who loved and revered their example." The tablet was manufactured by the Messrs. Lamb, of New York City, and was the fulfillment of a design long cher- ished by the friends of these excellent women. The num- ber of contributors to the memorial was about 30.


THE WELSH CONGREGATIONALISTS


have a neat frame church at Trenton village, in which ser- vices are occasionally held. The society has no regular pastor, the one from Holland Patent preaching here part of the time. The membership is small.


METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHII, TRENTON VILLAGE.


The organization of this society dates back forty years or more. The first meetings were held in an old store which was built by John Billings, on the site now occupied by the church. The present edifice was built about 1847, and is a tasty frame structure. A cabinet-organ of the Wood pattern has recently been placed in the church. The present membership of the society is about 70. The pastor is Rev. Charles E. Babcock. Rev. Mr. Thomas, a Presby- terian minister residing in the village, is Superintendent of the Sabbath-school, which possesses a small library.


METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, PROSPECT VILLAGE.


In 1841 a union society was organized at this place, and a church built, and dedicated in January, 1842. The property was afterwards deeded to the Methodists by the agent of the Holland Land Company, Charles A. Mann, of Utica, from whom all the property in the village was procured. The church is still used by different societies, the Methodists and Free-Will Baptists being the principal ones. The membership of the Methodist Society is about 40, and the pastor, Rev. J. L. Short, of Remsen. A union Sabbath-school is sustained, with a large membership. Its Superintendent is E. E. Whittemore, the teacher of the village school.


THIE FREE-WILL BAPTIST SOCIETY OF PROSPECT


was organized March 28, 1857. Its membership is at present about 40. The union church is occupied by it a portion of the time. Its pastor is Elder J. M. Lang- worthy, of Utica.


A society of


CLOSE-COMMUNION BAPTISTS


was organized here about 1820, with Elder John Farley, the first Baptist minister who located in the village, as its pastor. This society has become merged in the Free-Will Baptist Society. Previous to the organization of the Close- Communion Society, a cemetery association was formed, known as the " Baptist Society of Prospect," and the cemetery was donated to it by the Holland Land Company. The first burial in this lot was that of the remains of Cyrus Farley, a son of Elder John Farley, about 1820-21. Be- fore the present union church was built the mectings were held in the school-house.


A WELSH BAPTIST CHURCHI


formerly had a local organization at Prospect, but its mem- bers have since associated themselves with the one at Remsen.


THE WELSH CALVINISTIC. CHURCH, PROSPECT,


was organized about 1857. Present frame church built about 1860. Present membership about 30. Services are held every Sunday. John T. Jones is Superintendent of the Sabbath-school.


MORIAH WELSH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, PROSPECT.


Meetings were held by members of this denomination as early as 1853, but it was not until 1863 that the society was incorporated and a church built. The first preacher


# Jones.


559


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


stationed here was Rev. Hugh Williams, of Plainfield, who ministered to this congregation two years. Rev. Robert Evans was afterwards located here in charge. The church is now supplied by different ministers, having no regular pastor. Its membership is about 30. David Griffith is Superintendent of the Sunday-school. The church is a neat frame building.


THE BAPTIST CHURCH, TRENTON FALLS,


was formed about 1833, with 39 members, and the present frame church erccted in 1838. Among the pastors of this church have been Elders A. F. Rockwell, John Stevens, Jesse Joncs, R. Z. Williams, Van Rensselaer Waters, James Mallory, - Salmon, Philander Persons, and others.


A WELSH METHODIST CHURCH


is located south of South Trenton, and occupied by an English Methodist Episcopal Society, whose pastor is Rev. Mr. Wright, of Trenton village.


A WELSII BAPTIST CHURCH,


in the same locality, has been abandoned and the society broken up.


TIIE " NORTHI DEERFIELD AND SOUTH TRENTON" CHURCII (UNION),


at South Trenton, is now occupied by the Baptists and Presbyterians. The Baptists have no regular pastor ; the Presbyterian minister is Rev. J. McK. Brayton, of Hol- land Patent.


TRENTON VILLAGE.


The original name of this village, as mentioned in Mr. Seymour's address, was Olden Barneveld, and under that name the place was incorporated by an act of the Legisla- ture passed April 9, 1819, the territory included being described as follows, viz. :


" Beginning at the corners of great lots numbers one hundred and two, one hundred and three, one hundred and eight, and one hundred and nine, in Servis' Patent; and runs from thenee south seventy-five degrees thirty minutes east, along the south line of great lots num- bers one hundred and threo and one hundred and four, till it inter- seets the Steuben Creek ; from thenee north eight degrees east, till it interseets the Cincinnati Creek; from thence north seventy-five de- grecs thirty minutes west, along a line running parallel to the north line of great lots numbers ninety-one and ninety-two, until it inter- seets tho west line of lot number ninety-two; from thenee south four- teen degrees thirty minutes west, along the west line of lots numbers ninety-two, ninety-five, one hundred, and one hundred and three, to the place of beginning." .


The village of Trenton was incorporated by an act passed April 26, 1833, with slightly different boundaries from the above. Its charter was amended April 30, 1864, taking up the tract to the Utica and Black River Railway, and a second time amended, April 25, 1870, changing the bound- aries to their present location. The records of the village of Olden Barneveld are not to be found, consequently a list can only be given of the trustecs of the village of Trenton from 1834. They are as follows, viz. :


1834 .- Benjamin Brayton, John Mappa, Luther Gui- teau, James Birdsell, Daniel Warren, Jr.


1835 .- James Douglas, David R. Case, Thomas Tanner, Jr., Ezra M. Birdseye, Thaddeus Ball.


1836 .- John Mappa, Thomas T. Worden, Daniel Warren, Jr., John Billings, John W. Tanner.


1837 .- John Mappa, Thomas T. Worden, Thomas J. Douglas, Ananias Horton, Benjamin Tanner.


1838 .- David Storrs, Thomas Powell, John Billings, Peter A. A. T. Van der Kemp, Benjamin Brayton.


1839 .- Luther Guitcau, Daniel Warren, Jr., Isaac Utley, John Clark, James Birdsell.


1840 .- John Mappa, George W. Doty, Philctus New- comb, Thomas T. Worden, Luther Guiteau, Jr.


1841 .- James W. Watkins, James Birdsell, James Doug- las, David Storrs, P. A. A. T. Van der Kemp.


1842 .- L. Guitcau, Jr., Jonah Howe, James Cole, Danicl Watkins, T. T. Worden.


1843 .- James Douglas, John Billings, Ezra M. Birdseye, James W. Watkins, Thomas Powell.


1844 .- L. Guiteau, Jr., John Clark, Jonah Howc, Gco. W. Doty, Nathan Cole.


1845 .- J. W. Watkins, James Birdsell, Thomas J. Doug- las, Thaddeus Ball, Nathan Cole, Jr.


1846 .- Thomas T. Worden, L. Guiteau, Jr., Daniel French, Jonah Howe, Daniel Watkins.


1847 .- James Birdsell, James Douglas, E. M. Birdseye, John Billings, Nathan Colc.


1848 .- Thomas Powell, T. T. Worden, L. Guiteau, Jr., Jonah Howe, Samuel Talcott.


1849 .- Warren Dodge, J. W. Watkins, Philetus New- comb, Frederick Bull, Richard James.


1850 .- L. Guiteau, J. Howe, J. Cole, John Evans, Jr., James Birdsell.


1851 .- L. Guiteau, Daniel French, John Roberts, Jacob Wicks, James Evans.


1852 .- Thaddeus Ball, D. B. Worden, Addison Fuller, G. L. Skinner, Thomas Tanner.


1853 .- Nathan Tyler, Jonah Howe, John Roberts, Jas. Evans, John H. Smith.


1854 .- L. Guitcau, D. B. Worden, John Evans, Jr., Jonah Howe, Nathan Tyler.


1855 .- James Evans, John Roberts, Ezekich Lovell, Welcome Vincent, Richard James.


1856 .- G. L. Skinner, T. J. Douglas, G. French, T. T. Worden, M. Miller.


1857 .- Jacob Wicks, Addison Fuller, L. Guiteau, James Cole, Phincas Birdsell.


1858 .- G. L. Skinner, T. J. Douglas, D. B. Worden, G. W. Storrs, James Evans.


1859 .- A. Fuller, John H. Smith, John Roberts, Grif- fith Prichard, David Evans.


There is no further reeord until


1864 .- William W. Wheeler, Ezra Green, Albert Tower, Daniel French, Jr.


1865 .- Jacob Wicks, H. S. Stanton, Jerome B. Watkins, Hugh Abrams.


1866 .- John G. Jones, J. B. Watkins, Warren Reeves, Sylvester Sandford.


1867 .- No record.


1868 .- Daniel French, President; W. W. Wheeler, L.


B. Worden, James Evans, John G. Jones, Trustees.


1869 .- D. French, President ; James Evans, J. G. Jones, Claudius Vickery, L. B. Worden, Trustces.


560


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


1870 .- Hugh H. Jones, President ; C. Vickery, Thomas J. Lewis, J. G. Jones, Adam G. Griffiths, Trustees.


1871 .- Levi Wheaton, President; J. G. Jones, A. S. Skiff, T. J. Lewis, C. Vickery, Trustees.


1872 .- Daniel French, President: J. G. Jones, A. S. Skiff, Frederick A. Smith, Thomas J. Lewis, Trustees.


1873 .- Albert S. Skiff, President ; Martin Newman, D. French, Jr., Frederick Smith, T. J. Lewis, Trustees.


1874 .- A. S. Skiff, President; George Keeler, J. B. Watkins, Thomas C. Hubbart, T. J. Lewis, Trustees.


1875 .- A. S. Skiff, President; D. French, Jr., Philip Egert, William Boullian, John Hughes, Trustees.


1876 .- A. S. Skiff, President ; L. B. Worden, J. L. Plumb, Jerry George, Fred. A. Smith, Trustees.


1877 .- William Boullian, President ; Nathaniel Tyler, Ezekiel Lovell, Daniel French, Jr., H. R. Downs, Trustees ; R. L. Guiteau, Clerk ; Jeremiah Baker, Street Commis- sioner; Byron G. Barker, Treasurer ; John M. Hicks, Col- leetor.


One of the early settlers at the village was Elizur Skinner, who was originally from Connecticut, and came here from Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y., about 1809-10. He lo- eated first on a farm two and one-half miles above the village, and soon after removed to South Trenton, where for a year he kept a publie-house. During the war of 1812-15 he returned to Trenton village, and kept for four years the hotel now oceupied by G. L. Skinner. This hotel was built by Judge John Storrs.


Two stores were built and opened at the village at an early date, one by Peter Remsen and the other by Douglas & Billings. Their proprietors handled large amounts of grain, and in the latter store, still standing, and occupied by Egert & Pritchard, the grain rattles through the ereviees occasionally from where it has lain so many years. The present firm of Egert & Pritchard have a very extensive business for a country establishment.


The post-office at the village was established about the year 1800. Dr. Luther Guiteau, who located here in 1802, was for some time postmaster, but resigned in favor of his brother-in-law, John Billings, who settled in 1804 and was appointed in 1805. He held the office about sixty years, and at his death was the oldest postmaster in the United States. The present ineumbent is Griffith Pritchard.


Luther Guiteau, M.D., is the oldest practicing physician in the town, and is located at Trenton village. The other physicians of the town are Drs. E. D. Raynor and - Spencer, of the village; D. A. Crane and Norton Woleott, of Holland Patent. Dr. Crane is next oldest in practice to Dr. Guiteau, and eame to this town from Marey.


A fire company was organized in the village, May 26, 1834, consisting of nineteen members, of which Thomas T. Worden was chosen captain, and Thomas Tanner, Jr., second in command. A small hand-engine had previously been purchased, and in 1835 it was repaired. How long the fire department had an existence we are unable to state, but it is without a " loeal habitation and a name" at present.


BARNEVELD LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.


In 1874 a room was offered for the use of a library by Mr. Jacob Wicks, in a block built for stores, and


a subscription paper was cireulated for the purpose of raising funds sufficient to furnish the room and purchase books. The sum of $99 was subscribed, together with a number of books On the 21st of November, 1874, the subscribers met at Dr. Guiteau's, and organized a body ealled the " Trenton Library Association," and adopted a constitu- tion of fifteen articles. The name was afterwards changed to the " Barneveld Library Association," in memory of the original appellation of the village. By gift and purchase two hundred and forty volumes were obtained, but on the 17th of March, 1875, the library was destroyed by fire, with the exception of forty volumes, Mr. Hicks' entire bloek being burned. At a meeting of the citizens it was resolved to revive the library ; $118.75 were subseribed for that pur- posc, besides more than fifty books, and in just three weeks after the fire the library was again in running order. By the end of April it contained three hundred and fifty vol- unies, of which only sixteen had been purchased, the rest having been donated. Donations of books arrived from various parts of the country, in response to published ap- peals for assistance, and before the close of 1875 more than twelve hundred volumes were in the library. Munificent donations were received, and in July, 1875, the " Barneveld Library Association" was duly incorporated.


As a start towards means for ereeting a separate building for its use, Mrs. Pauline E. Henry, of Germantown, Pa., offered $100, which has sinee been received. Another sub- seription of $77 was raised to purchase a site for the building, which was finally accomplished at a cost of $100. In 1876 a fourth subscription was started, and when it had reached $1200 the building was commeneed, the corner-stone being laid July 27, 1877. It is constructed of Trenton lime- stone ; outside dimensions, 40 by 26 feet ; eost, including site, about $1700. The present officers of the Association are Dr. Luther Guiteau, President ; Robert Pritchard, Viee- President; William Silsbee, Secretary ; Robert Skinner, Treasurer ; H. S. Stanton, Thomas Lewis, John Hughes, George W. Wheeler, Mrs. Robert Skinner, Directors.


The use of the library is free to members of the Associa- tion ; those not members are required to pay five eents per week for the use of books. A natural history cabinet has been eommeneed. The "Trenton Lyceum" and lodge of "I. O. G. T." meet in the building weekly. There were in February, 1878, in the library over thirteen hundred volumes, classified in eight divisions, as follows :


. Religion and Theology 163 Science, Philosophy, and Natural History. 124


History and Travels. 260


Biography 139


Works of Fiction. 268


Poetry and the Drama.


103


Periodicals.


84


Miscellaneous. 253


Total. 1394


The business of the village of Trenton in 1878 may be summed up as follows : two general stores, one druggist, three blacksmith-shops, two wagon-shops, one harness-shop, one tailor-shop, one eooper-shop, two hotels, a sehool-house, town-hall, three churches, the Barneveld Library, a grist- mill and butter-tub factory, a planing-mill, a furniture-store, one undertaking establishment, two meat-markets, and a


PHOTO BY WILLIAMS.


SYLVANUS FERRIS.


INION HALL


YH ! DODGE


UNION HALL


LITH BY L. H. EVERTS, PHILA, PA


" UNION HALL." WM P. DODGE, PROPRIETOR, PROSPECT, ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


JOYSHOTEL.


561


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


barber-shop. The population of the corporation numbers about three hundred.


HOLLAND PATENT.


This village takes its name from the large tract of land, principally in this town, including about 20,000 acres, and " granted by the British Crown to Henry, Lord Holland, and by him sold to Seth Johnson, Horace Johnson, and Andrew Craige. Under their direction it was surveyed and divided into lots of about 100 acres cach, in July, 1797, by Moses Wright, a surveyor, then residing in Rome.


" At the time the Johnsons came upon the patent, Noah Sinons, who also claimed to be an owner of it, was engaged in making a survey, but soon left, and never came to the patent afterwards."* The heirs of Noah Simons afterwards went to considerable expense in tracing out the title in England, and found the record of the original conveyance to their ancestors. If attended to in season the tract could have been secured to the Simons family, but on examina- tion they found that the Johnsons and Craige had so long since sold the whole of their rights to the settlers that they were barred by the statute of limitations.


"Seth Johnson, the senior partner of that firm, was born in Mid- dletown, Connecticut, Nov. 2, 1767, and died while on a visit to Hol- land Patent, Dec. 8, 1802, and was the first person buried in the burial- ground he had given for the use of settlers upon his lands.


" A few families moved upon the patent previously to 1797, having purchased of Simons. The date of the first settlement cannot be pre- cisely ascertained. One of the author's informants was of the opinion that Holland Patent was settled a little earlier than Trenton village. Of the settlers under the title of Simons, Rowland Briggs, Eliphalet Pierce, Eliphalet Cotes, Benjamin White, and a few others, who pur- chased of Simonds, repurchased of the Johnsons and Craige. Soon after the survey the proprietors (Johnson and Craige), wishing to es- tablish an actual and permanent settlement, sold one-quarter of the patent to Bezabel Fisk, Pascal C. I. De Angelis, Hezekiah Hulbert, and Isaac Hubbard, for the location of which these four drew shares, after selecting two lots each. In this way a nucleus was formed, around which gathered a band of hardy pioneers, the descendants of whom to this day bless their memory. They encountered many hardships, and suffered from many wants and privations. Bears and wolves were also quite too plenty. One of these pioneers, Eliphalet Cotes, was at the killing of forty-nine bears. It was the uniform cus- tom when they met for public worship to take with them their guns, and on one occasion worship was adjourned that they might repair to the neighboring forest to kill one of the pests of the pig-sty,-a bear. Mrs. Kelsey, the wife of an early settler, having been to Whitestown to dispose of some of her handiwork, on her return became lost in tho woods, and for the want of a moro convenient sleeping apartment spent the night in the top of a tree; she elimbed to a sufficient eleva- tion to save herself from being made the supper of some of the wild beasts, which had almost undisturbed possession of that section of country. She did not very highly enjoy the musie of her serenaders, although they wero adorned with the moustaches and whiskers so necessary to modern musical excellence, yet sho comforted herself with the reflection that if sho had been less fortunate in seeuring a place of safety she would soon havo lost all power to listen to the music, harsh as it was. Daylight, however, made her persceutors retreat, and sho reached home in safety."+


Of the four persons who purchased one-fourth of the Holland Patent and settled upon it in 1797, Hezekiah Hurlburt died in January, 1800, while on a visit to Con- necticut, aged fifty years; Bezabel Fisk died also in Con- necticut, aged eighty-eight years ; Pascal C. I. De Angelis died in Holland Patent in 1839, aged seventy-six years ;


Isaac Hubbard died in Ashtabula Co., O., in 1848, aged ninety-nine years.


HOBART HALL ACADEMY


was incorporated by the Legislature in 1839, and P. C. I. De Angelis was its first president. This is now used as a union school building.


A post-office was established here subsequent to 1804, previous to which date the only one in town was at Trenton village. This office was on the route from Utica to Sacket's Harbor, and weekly trips were made by a carrier on horseback. The present postmaster is Watson Williams.


The large brick building known as the " Clarendon Ho- tel" was erected in 1876 by Hamlin Williams, and cost, including furniture, $20,000. It was built principally for the accommodation of summer boarders.


The village contains 2 hotels, a union school, 5 churches, 5 stores, a wagon-shop, several blacksmith-shops, and a post-office.


STITTVILLE


is a small village in the southwest corner of town, con- taining 2 stores, a post-office, blacksmith- and wagon-shop, 1 shoe-shop, 1 harness-shop, an old tannery (not now in operation), a cider-mill, a large cheese-factory, owned by A. G. Bagg, a Methodist Episcopal Church, and a knitting- factory, established in the spring of 1878, by John S. Maxwell, employing about 35 hands.


The post-office at Stittville was established about 1851-52, and William Grant was appointed the first postmaster. The present incumbent of the office is F. C. Mizer.


VILLAGE OF PROSPECT.


This enterprising village is located in the northeast part of town, on the West Canada Creek, at the upper or " Prospect Fall." Colonel Adam G. Mappa was with the surveying-party which laid out the village, and while stand- ing on the brow of the hill above the basin and looking castward across the creek valley and upon the varicd scenery, exclaimed, " What a beautiful prospect ! I pro- pose we call this place Prospect," and so the name was given it. Truly is the location beautiful. " Prospect Fall," the first of the Trenton falls, is about 24 feet high, and extends in semicircular form across the stream, here quite broad. In high water the darkly-rushing torrent pours in an unbroken sheet over the wall of rock, and roars and foams on into the narrow gorge below and towards the more majestic cataracts farther down the streau).


The first store in the village was opened by George Watkins and John Owens, in the brown building now used as a dwelling, and standing near the old hotel under the hill ; this was in 1823. Before establishing himself in the mereantile business, Mr. Watkins had taught school in the village. His father, Phineas Watkins, was an early settler of the town, locating near what is called " Birch Ridge." The Watkins family was from Berkshire Co., Mass., and settled first at Little Falls, Herkimer Co., N. Y., removing afterwards to Trenton.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.