History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 163

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 163

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This town is watered by the Oriskany, Dean's Creek, and others, tributary to the Wood Creek and Mohawk River. Within it are found considerable quantities of iron ore, which has been used in numerous furnaces in this region. Excellent building-stone also abounds ; the soil is very productive, and the general surface of the town hilly or rolling.

Westmoreland was formed from a part of Whitestown, April 10, 1792, and another portion of the latter was an- nexed in 1798, at the formation of Oneida County. Verona and a part of Vernon were taken off in 1802, and a small portion annexed to Kirkland in 1855. From the town records one or two leaves have been lost, containing the minutes of the first town-meeting,* and it is impossible to give the officers chosen at that time, but the following is a list of the Supervisors since 1794, viz. : 1794, Captain Isaac Jones ; 1795, James Dean ; 1796, not given ; 1797, Dan Chapman, Esq .; 1798-99, James Dean, Esq .; 1800-1803, Joseph Jones ; 1804-1805, Jared Chittenden ; 1806-15, Roderick Morrison ; 1816-17, Thomas Holbert, Jr. ; 1818, Roderick Morrison; 1819, Thomas Holbert, Jr. ; 1820-23, Roderick Morrison ; 1824-33, Truman Enos ; 1834-35, Warren Converse; 1836-38, Parker Halleck ; 1839-40, James B. Drummond ; 1841, John Nicholson ; 1842-43, Pomroy Jones; 1844, Almon Beardsley ; 1845-46, Warren Converse; 1847-48, James J. Curtiss ; 1849, John Park; 1850-51, Zenas M. Howes; 1852, Jonathan Rose; 1853-54, John Wylie; 1855, Jeptha Skinner; 1856, Abel B. Buell; 1857, Arthur F. Brown ; 1858, Joseph L. Mansfield ; 1859, Grant Adams ; 1860,

Morris W. Halleck ; 1861, John Wylie; 1862, John B. Nicholson ; 1863, Nehemiah F. Metcalf; 1864, Jacob J. Massey ; 1865, Nehemiah F. Metcalf; 1866-68, John L. Dean ; 1869-71, Philander Shedd ; 1872-76, Joseph K. Schuyler; 1877-78, William S. Fuller. The remaining officers for 1878 are : Town Clerk, Thomas Hughes ; Jus- tices of the Peace, James N. Lawrence, James B. Drum- mond, William C. Law; Town Auditors, Marquis Scrip- ture, Morris W. Halleck, John D. Jenkins; Assessor, George R. Smith ; Collector, William H. Miller; Commis- sioner of Highways, Dan. S. Cushman ; Overseer of the Poor, Russell H. Williams ; Constables, William H. Miller, Clark McClenthen, Peter F. Yauger, William Gibson ; In- spectors of Election, District No. 1, George P. Bowles, Samuel G. Foot, James Pryor ; District No. 2, Francis M. Metcalf, Charles H. Kellogg, James Halleck ; District No. 3, Joseph Pearsall, William S. Snow, Joseph D. Newton.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN WESTMORELAND.

The following biographical sketch of Judge James Dean is copied from Hon. Pomroy Jones' " Annals of Oneida County," as being still of importance to those who shall peruse this work :

"James Dean, the first settler of Westmoreland, was born at Groton, Connecticut, in the month of August, 1748. Of his early youth nothing is known, excepting that he was destined as a missionary to the In- dians, and at the age of twelve years was sent to reside at Oquago,t on the Susquehanna, with an Indian missionary named Mosely, who was then laboring with a branch of the Oneida tribe, located at that place. He soon became master of the Oneida tongue, and was adopted by a female uative as her son. To this mother he ever manifested an ardent attachment. His acquisition of this language was of great use to him and his country in after-life. Learning it when thus young, while the organs of speech were flexible, he was enabled to speak the language most fluently. The Oneidas said he was the only white person whom they had ever known who could speak their language so perfectly that they could not at once detect him, although he might be hid from view, but him they could not deteet. How long he re- sided in Oquago is unknown, but in those few years, under the in- struction of Mr. Mosely, he fitted himself to enter college. IIe was a member of the first class which formed and gradnated at Dartmouth. His freshman year in that institution was before the completion of a building for the use of the students, and the class used to study and recite in a rude shelter formed by placing slabs against the trunk of a large prostrate pine. In this poor apology for a college dormitory young Mr. Dean studied and slept the first summer he spent in his col- legiate course. Ile graduated just previously to the commencement of the war of the Revolution.

" In 1774 the leading citizens of eich colony were endeavoring to ascertain the sentiments of all classes of people relative to the por- tending contest ; and tho peculiar fitness and qualifications of Mr. Dean recommended him to the Continental Congress, then just as- sembled, as a suitable person to ascertain those of the Indians in New York and Canada, and the part they would probably take in the event of a war with the mother-country. In order to disguise the object of his mission, it was arranged that he should assume the char- acter of an Indian trader, and he was accordingly furnished with such goods as were then carried into the Indian country for the pur- poses of trade. Ile was also for that purpose furnished with letters, invoices, and other papers from a well-known house in Boston, then engagod in the Indian trade. Thus fitted out, he commenced his ex . pedition to the Six Nations and their branches, and the tribes con- nected with them, living in Canada. In the course of his travels in Lower Canada, he was arrested by the British authorities as a spy, and taken to Quebee, where he underwent a most rigid examination. His self-possession wus equal to the erisis, and aided by his papers

+ Now Windsor, Broome Co., N. Y.

# At this meeting, Captain Isaac Joncs was chosen Supervisor and Alex. Parkman Town Clerk.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

he was enabled perfectly to quiet their suspicions, and was dismissed, they having been successfully overreached by but an inexperienced hand in the art of honorable dissimulation. It was during this expe- dition that the subject of this notice first visited Oncida Castle, and for the first time stood upon the soil of Oneida County.

" At the commencement of the war of the Revolution, Mr. Dean was retained in the public service, with the rank of major in the staff, as agent for Indian affairs and interpreter. The selection was most fortunate. He was stationed during most of the war at Fort Stanwix and Oneida Castle. Ifis position was often a most trying one, although entirely devoid of opportunities for distinguishing himself or gathering laurels on the battle-field. This to the soldier is a cheerless position, but as a true patriot he remained at his post during the whole contest, rendering the most important services to his country. The New York Historical Society have obtained all of General Gates' papers, public and private, aud among them are a number of manuscript letters from Mr. Dean, written during the eventful campaign of 1777, at Saratoga.

"To give a specimen of his duties the following is related : Nich- olas Sharp, long known to the early settlers of the county as 'Saucy Nick,' and as the worst Indian in the Oneida tribe, was, during the whole contest, true to the cause of the colonies, and one of the most active and reliable scouts in his nation. Shortly before the burning of Cherry Valley by the Indians and Tories, Nov. 11, 1778, Mr. Dean dispatched Nicholas to Canada, to learn what he could of the designs and plans against the frontiers. By means now unknown the scout ferreted out the whole plan of the expedition against that devoted settlement from the Canadian Indians. The day fixed for the attack was so near that it was necessary to make all haste to give the warn- ing in time to save the place, and such was the celerity of Nicholas in returning to Oneida that upon his arrival he was entirely ex- hausted, and for two or three days unable to walk. As no time was to be lost, Mr. Dean immediately dispatched Scanandoa to give timely warning to Colonel Alden, the commandant at Cherry Valley. That officer, unfitted by intemperance for his responsible position, heeded not the warning, believing that the severity of the season precluded the possibility of an attack. The inhabitants were there- fore suffered to remain in their houses, and the gate of the fort left unfastened. On the very night named by Nicholas, Cherry Valley was burned, and the few of its inhabitants who escaped the tomahawk an'l scalping-knife were carried into captivity. Colonel Alden was among the slain.

"The great body of the Oneida tribe were induced by Mr. Dean, aided by Mr. Kirkland, to remain neutral, at least as far as appear- ances were concerned. In feeling, with a few exceptions, they were with the Americans, and some of them did good service at Oriskany, Stone Arabia, and some other places.

"The siege of Fort Stanwix and the battle of Oriskany occurred during an absence of Mr. Dean down the Mohawk. On his return with the command of General Arnold, intended for the relief of the garrison, he passe l the battle-ground, still strewn with the corpses of those who had fallen in the conflict, unburied where they fell. Such was the terrible effluvia, the wind being in the west, that when he ar- rived at the eastern border of the field he held his handkerchief to his face, and put his horse to its utmost speed to gain the windward side of that dreadful field, 'where friend and focmen undistinguished lay festering.'

" At the close of the war Mr. Dean was present at a feast given the Stockbridge Iudians in Massachusetts. General Washington gave or- ders to one of the contractors at West Point to furnish the provisions. An ox weighing 1100 pounds was barbecued for the occasion. The principal men in the vicinity were present. Mr. Dean and the Rev. Mr. Sargeant (missionary to the Stockbridge Indians in this county) presided at the table. After the feast the Indians performed the cer- emony of burying the hatchet, as a token that war was past,-also some other of their national ceremonies for the gratification of their guests.

" Mr. Dean ever after the war enjoyed the confidence of the Oneida tribe. On the 30th of December, 1783, he sent letters, and an address from them, to the board of the Missionary Society in Scotland, asking that Mr. Kirkland should be continued as a missionary.

" In 1785 he was at Oneida and received an address from the cele- brated Brant, which he forwarded to Congress, requesting, among other things, that Colouel James Monroe, Major Peter Schuyler, and Mr. Dean would be present at a council and conference with the Sharnese and Cherokees, to be held at Buffalo Creck.

" For his services the Oneidas gave Mr. Dean a tract of land two miles square, the title to be confirmed and ratificd by the State. This was probably in 1783. He chose for its location a tract upon the north side of Wood Creek, in the present town of Vienna. In the spring of 1784 he loft Connecticut, in company with Jedediah Phelps and Andrew Blanchard, to commence the settlement of his land. The day of starting is not known, but they left Schenectady the 3d of May, and arrived at Wood Creek the 13th. Without knowing it, they undoubtedly passed Judge White while he and his sons were engaged upon the Shoemaker farm in planting their crop of corn. After Mr. Dean and his party arrived at Wood Creek, they built a log house and a shop for Mr. Phelps, who was a brass-founder and silversmith, and intended to work for the Indians. During the summer they made a small clearing, and although now covered with a second growth of timber, it still retains its name of 'Dean's place.' In the spring of 1785 the place became inundated to such an extent that for three weeks they were obliged to live in the garret of their log cabin, and for the purpose of cooking their meals they descended from their loft into a canoe by a ladder, and then rowing to the shop, used the forge as their only fireplace above high-water mark. On the subsiding of the water the party were fully satisfied that the selection was an unfortunate one, and unfit for the commencement of a settlement. Mr. Dean stating this to the Indians, they agreed he might change the location to any point upon the west side of the ' line of property,' between Brothertown upon the Oriskany and the Wood Crock. He selected his land so as to include the falls of the creek, since known as Dean's Creek. To render such location certain, the survey-as appears from the description of his patent-of the east line of the patent commenced in the ereek, and thence ran north and south to the north and south bounds of the tract. He located his patent in the fall of 1785, and settled upon it in February, 1786. At this time he was unmarried, but in the fall of that year he visited Connecticut, and was married to Miss Lydia Camp on the 11th of October.

" Mr. Dean's energies were now directed to clearing a farm, in- ducing settlers to remove to his patent, and in building mills for their accommodation. Success crowned his efforts, and it was but a few years before every lot offered for sale was . taken up' by an actual seit!er."

It is observed that Mr. Dean located upon his patent before the State had ratified the grant, but so confident was he that it would be done that he set forth with his brother, Jonathan Dean, the latter being accompanied by his wife and children. That lady, Mrs. Eunice Dean, was the first white woman who settled in the town of West- moreland. For six weeks at one time neither she nor her family tasted bread, their dependence being mainly upon meats. Immediately after James Dean was married he returned with his wife, on horseback, and at once began housekeeping. The old Judge Dean homestead is now occupied by John L. Dean, a son of Luke C. Dean, and grandson of the judge. Another son of the latter, John Dean, lived a short distance south of the old place, on the farm now owned by his son, George Dean. Judge Dean's daughter, Electa, who became the wife of Joshua A. Spenecr, a prominent advocate of Oneida County, and for- merly of Madison County, was recently living in Catskill, New York, and is about eighty years of age. The present frame dwelling occupied by John L. Dean, and standing on his grandfather's farm, was built by Mrs. Judge Dean, in 1793, while he was absent upon a trip to Michigan, and is thought to be the oldest framed house in Oneida County.

Soon after his arrival, the judge set up a small hand grist-mill on the ercek, it having been brought along by his brother. He fitted a small wheel to turn it, thereby saving hand-labor. This was probably the first grist-mill in the county, although not of sufficient importance to be

AMOS BARNS.

Photos. by Hovey & Brainerd.

MRS. A. BARNS.

CAPTAIN AMOS BARNS

is the son of Nathaniel and Naney Pendleton Barns, and was born Feb. 13, 1799, in Westerly, R. I. He is of English origin, his aneestors having come to America within a few years after the settlement of Plymouth, and settled in the New England States.

A history is known as far baek as 1675, which is the date of the birth of Isaac Barns. He was a farmer by occupation at the east end of Long Island. He died in 1769, being ninety-six years of age, leaving a son, Isaac, who was born at Amagansett, L. I., Jan. 29, 1704, by oceupation a farmer. He had a family of twelve children, of whom Nathaniel was one, who was born Mareh 18, 1740. Isaac died April 22, 1772. Nathaniel was an owner of real estate on Long Island during the Revolu- tionary war ; was the owner of a privateer which he com- manded during that war, being a resident of Westerly, R. I., at that time. He married Miss Elizabeth Brown, of Westerly, R. I., by whom five children were born, of whom Nathaniel, Jr., was one of two sons. Nathaniel, Sr., died in middle life. Nathaniel, Jr., was born Sept. 12, 1769, in Westerly, R. I. He was a mariner during his life; was a sea-captain, doing business in the West Indies. He married Miss Naney Pendleton, of Westerly, R. I., about 1790 or 1791. By this union eight children were born, namely : Nathaniel, Acors, Benjamin, Amos, Catherine, Betsey, Sally, and Lydia, all of whom lived to be men and women. Nathaniel, Jr., dicd Oct. 15, 1819 ; his wife died April 30, 1835.

The subject of this sketch is the youngest son of a family of eight children. His early life was employed as a eabinct- maker till he was about nineteen years of age, when he eom- meneed following the sea, having previously engaged some-

what in the business. He rose through the several grada- tions from the eook of a fishing smack to that of captain. During the last four years of his sea life he was engaged in running a packet between Stonington, Conn., and New York. In 1820 and 1821 he was on a voyage to South Shetland Islands, in the Antarctie Ocean, in the brig " Frederick," Captain Pendleton ; in the June following he was very near the Arctic, in the sloop " Alonzo," Captain Acors Barns. In September, 1833, Captain Barns settled in Oncida County, and in February, 1834, purchased his present residence, which has been his home ever since. He was married to Miss Margaret Diekens, of Westerly, R. I., Jan. 13, 1822. Miss Margaret Dickens was born May 31, 1801. By this union eleven children were born, of whom nine are now living. Names of children are as follows : Sylvester, Matthew, Susan, Franklin, Arthur, Margaret, Lydia, Sarah, Harrict, Caroline, Henry D. Saralı and Harriet are dead. In polities, Captain Barns affiliates with the Republican party. The captain is not an aspirant for an official position, preferring the quiet of home to any official honors. From 1850 to 1854 he was postmaster at Westmoreland.

He has been an acceptable member of the Episcopal Church for many years, having filled the office of warden during the same period. The captain has been a tectotaler for more than sixty years, and has been a truc worker in the temperanec eausc. Mrs. Barns died Jan. 27, 1872, having lived with the captain more than fifty years. Mr. Barns is now an old gentleman, hale and hearty. He reviews his long life with some satisfaction, and is living with no apprehensions of the future. Sinee 1852 he has been treasurer of the Westinoreland Cemetery Association.

003

IIISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

classed among those of greater capacity and better design ; therefore Wetmore's mill at Whitestown remains in history as the first grist-mill in Oneida County. The judge after- wards built a saw-mill and a larger grist-mill.

In the fall of 1786, Silas Phelps moved in with his family from New Marlborough, Berkshire Co., Mass., and built a log cabin on the lot adjoining Jonathan Dean's on the cast, and these three were the only white families in the town during 1786. In January, 1787, Ephraim Blackmer and Nehemiah Jones arrived, also from New Marlborough. The following description of their last day's ride was written by Mr. Jones' son, Hou. Pomroy Jones, author of " Annals of Oncida County," and put in print several years before that work was issued, being inserted in the latter also :

" In January, 1787, Ephraim Blackmer, Esq., and Captain Nehe- miah Jones removed from Berkshire Co., Mass., to Dean's Patent. Esquire Blackiner came in advance, with a horse-team, bringing the families, consisting of their wives, Esquire Blackmer's two children, and Captain Jones' one, some beds, bedding, and clothing, while Captain Jones followed more slowly with an ox-team, with such fur- niture aud provisions as were supposed necessary to commence house- keeping among the Indians, as their New England friends were pleased to term the location of the settlers in 'Deansville.' Esquire Blackiner stayed the last night of his journey at Oriskany, a distance of about ten miles from Judge Dean's. The next morning he took, to use the teamster's phrase, an early start, that is, before sunrise, well knowing it would consume the whole day to travel the distance, and wishing to get through before dark. Probably they would have looked incredulously at the idea of a railroad's being constructed in the then next half-century, over a part of their route, carrying pas- sengers at the rate of fifteen, twenty, and even thirty miles per hour." There was no road on any part of the distance, nor track, except that of the Indian snow-shoe, which rather impeded their progress than otherwise. It was a bitter cold day, the snow about eighteen inches deep. By dint of untiring perseverance our travelers had, by a little past the middle of the day, kenned their way to the spot near where the village of Hampton now stands. In crossing the creek a little north of said village, the stream being but partially frozen, the sleigh unluckily turned over, turning the women and children into the water, the youngest, a child of Mrs. Jones, less than one year of age, going completely under water. Happily, the water was not deep enough to endanger them from drowning. In a few minutes they were all safe on shore, but in such a plight ! or, I might have said, 'in sneh a pickle !' the women and children to a considerable extent drenched in water, without a shelter or fire nearer than Judge Dean's, a distance of about four miles, which would cost more than that number of hours to reach, with the thermometer, if one could have been consulted, ranging near zero. Would not our modern delicate femalos rather shudder at the thought of being placed in such a situation, and under such circum- stances ? But our settlers had no idea of being disheartened or dis- couragod. 'Necessity is the mother of invention.' Fortunately, the ehost of bedclothes had escaped the drenching. The seats were re- moved from the sleigh, and dry bedclothes spread over the bottom of it. The women and children then placed themselves on them, the brandy-jug was introduced, and each one drank what he could bear, without being too far intoxicated, and some two quarts of it sprinkled over them. In those days alcohol was used to keep people warm in winter and cool in summer. A largo amount of dry bedding spread over them completed their arrangements for the rest of their journey. After the first half-hour all fear of freezing gave way to the equally disagreeable one of suffocation. First the water, and then the brandy, caused such a profuse perspiration that our travelers could not liken the appearance of their sleigh to anything more appropriate than a traveling coal-pit. To conclude, they all safely arrived ut Judge

# And perhaps at that day the judge's own eyes would have dilated had he been told that in the near future locomotives so powerful would be built, and tracks of such pattern be constructed, that railway trains would speed nlong nt the rate of sixty miles an hour and more.

Dean's a little before dark. The women are both yet living, t and I have frequently heard them jocosely observe that Judge Dean's olfactory nerves must have borne strong testimony that they had not been over-temperate on their journey ; but they always concluded by observing that not one of the party took even a ' slight cold!'"

Captain Nehemiah Jones had been a soldier of the Rev- olution. He lived to be nearly seventy-nine years of age, and died Dec. 19, 1838. Ilis sister Mary was the wife of Ephraim Blackmer. The latter person died in February, 1796, and his was the first Masonic funeral ever held in Oneida County. The sermon was preached by Rev. Asahel Norton, at .Clinton. The attending Masons were principally from New Hartford, where a Lodge had been organized, holding its meetings in the upper part of Judge Sauger's old house. General Joseph Kirkland, then living in New Hartford, was probably secretary of the Lodge.

Captain Jones' son, Hon. Pomroy Jones, still a resident of Westmoreland, was eighty eight years of age on the 30th of December, 1877, and is probably the oldest man in town. His faculties have been wonderfully preserved, however, and the form of the veteran straightens easier than that of many a man at sixty. He was one of nearly a full company of men from this town, twelve of whom were in the service in 1812, commanded by Captain Gurdon Caswell. The full militia was called out in 1814, and kept on duty nearly two months. A full company was drafted from this town in 1812, and included Mr. Jones. This company was kept in service six months, and its only losses were from de- sertion.

Judge Jones has in his possession the table used by his father's family, it being the first one brought into the town of Westmoreland,-Judge Dean's people having used a plank for a table. He also has a diminutive pair of shoes, made for his aunt, who was born in 1758, and a couple of chairs more than 130 years old, which were used by the ancestors of his second wife. After the judge returned from the army he belonged to the militia a number of years, and was then upon the bench for ten years. He was at one time personally acquainted with a large propor- tion of the citizens of the county.

Three persons have died in this town at the age of one hun- dred years,-Lewis Crandall, Henry Francis Aaron Keck- land, and a man who lived a mile east of Lairdsville. Keck- land was a German, and had served under Burgoyne, and afterwards enlisted in the American army. The man whose name is not given (because not recollected ) was a veteran of the Revolution, and after he was one hundred years of age Judge Jones made out his pension papers for him, and says the old gentleman was then possessed of a man's stature but an infant's mind.

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History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 163

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

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