History of Oneida County, New York, 1667-1878, Part 78

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 78


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In Utica a public meeting was called at the court-house, on the 9th of September, 1831, at which an address and stirring resolutions were adopted, and a committee appointed to solicit subscriptions for the gallant people who had given Pulaski and Kosciusko to the cause of American liberty. Of this meeting Hon. Nathan Williams was chairman, and General Joseph Kirkland secretary. The following promi- nent gentlemen were appointed as the soliciting committee:


A. B. Johnson, D. Wager, T. H. Hubbard, Joseph Kirk- land, Montgomery Hunt, Horatio Seymour, William J. Bacon, Rudolph Snyder, James S. Porter, Abraham Culver, E. B. Shearman, Ammi Dows, A. Munson, J. McGregor, Aug. Hulburt, James Platt, John Newland, E. A. May- nard, T. R. Walker, Dr. J. McCall.


A considerable sum was raised and forwarded by this committee to General Lafayette, who responded in the fol- lowing characteristic letter :


" PARIS, November 29, 1831.


" GENTLEMEN,-The resolutions, the address, the donation of $974.59, and the letter which my American fellow-citizens of Utica have been pleased to send me, could not fail to excite those feelings of admira-


tion, pride, and gratitude, the more gratifying to my heart when I remember the situation of your part of the country in the years 1777 and 1794, as well as the welcome bestowed upon me six years ago in your flourishing and beautiful town. The unhappy downfall of Poland will have been known in Utica long before this answer can reach you. But while we have to mourn together over the fate of that heroic nation, and to hope the day of justice shall rise again upon them, we find some consolation in the thought that the appropriation of fraternal relief could never be so seasonable as it proves to be in their present cir- cumstances. I have requested the American committee that had framed the first address to the sympathy of the citizens of the United States to assist me in the judicious distribution of the money intrusted to my hands. We meet every week, and there is an understanding between us, the French committee and a committee of the Poles already arrived in this capital. Accounts of those proceedings have already been transmitted to New York. Every mark of your so long- experienced affection and confidence is to me a most precious treasure. I beg you, gentlemen, to receive yourselves, and to transmit to the citizens of Utica the homage of my grateful and affectionate respect. " LAFAYETTE.|


"The gentlemen of the Utica Committee."


CITY CHARTER.


Utica was incorporated as a city by an act of the Legis- lature, passed Feb. 13, 1832. Under this charter the city was divided into four wards by Genesee Street and the Erie Canal, the northeast quarter being the first ward, the northwest quarter the second ward, the southwest quarter the third ward, and the southeast quarter the fourth ward. The officers provided for by the charter were a mayor, four justices, one supervisor, and three constables for the city, and three aldermen, one assessor, and three inspectors of election in each ward. All thesc, except the mayor, were elected by the people; the mayor was appointed by the Common Council until 1840, when the office became an elective one. There were also appointed by the council a city clerk, an attorney, a treasurer, an overseer of the poor, a street commissioner, a surveyor, several collectors, two police constables, watchmen, and other subordinate officers.


" The amount of taxation was limited to $8000 in one year. Under the school law of 1843, two school commis- sioners were elected annually, who held their offices three years."


The original charter was revised in 1849 and 1862, and perhaps at other periods. The boundaries under the charter were the same as those of the village, but under the new charter of March 31, 1849, they were enlarged, and the city was subdivided into six wards. The east and north boundaries remained on the county line and the Mohawk River, but the west line ran between lots Nos. 99 and 100 of Cosby's Manor, beginning at the river and running thence to a point in said line 200 rods south of the south side of Varick Street, thence at right angles with said line east to the east line of the county.


The first and second wards remained as before. The third was divided by the Chenango Canal, the part lying east forming the third, and the portion lying west of the said canal the sixth ward. The fourth ward was also divided by John, Rutger, and West Streets, the portion lying on the west side of the line forming the fourth, and that on the east the fifth ward.


f The original of this letter was destroyed when the council-room was burned, Dec. 7, 1848.


į Jones.


# Sce Chapter XVI.


BEA


Photo. by Williams.


Josiah Rathbun


JOSIAH RATHBUN was born in Brookfield, Chenango Co., N. Y., Jan. 12, 1795. He was second son in a family of seven children of Josiah Rathbun and Catharine Fitch. His father was of English descent ; was a native of Canaan, Conn., born about the year 1758. Was a soldier (in place of his father) of the Revolutionary war; was taken prisoner on the Vermont frontier by the British and Indians, and confined until the close of the war, when he married and settled in Brookfield. Afterwards removed to Denmark, Lewis Co., where he died at the age of eighty years. His wife was born about the year 1761, lived to be eighty years of age, and died at Denmark, Lewis Co. Dr. Rath- bun spent the time until he was seventeen years of age at home, receiving the advantages only of the common school. His father being in limited circumstances, Josiah resolved to leave home and begin a business life for himself.


He accordingly went to Martinsburg, N. Y., where he worked on a farm for two years, attending sehool during the winter seasons. It was during this time, on account of a fecble constitution, that he became impressed with the idea of leading a professional life, and entered Onondaga Acad- emy, in Onandaga County, where he remained for nearly three years, including the time spent in teaching in winter.


In the year 1820 he began the study of medieine at Lowville, Lewis Co., N. Y., which he continued for some three years, including one course of lectures at Fairfield, Herkimer Co., and two courses in the old Medical College of New York. After receiving his license, Dr. Rathbun practieed some eight years in Martinsburg, and then in the spring of 1833 came and settled in Utica, where he has remained until the present time in the practice of his


profession. He has lived to see most of his associates of the medical fraternity who were here when he eamc pass away.


Dr. Rathbun has never been active in politics. He was first a Clintonian, and identified with the old Whig party, but is now an unswerving member of the Republican party. He was formerly a member of the Medieal Society of Lewis County, and since his residence here has been a member of the Medieal Society of Oneida County.


Dr. Rathbun is a plain, unassuming man, known for unsullied integrity of purpose in all his dealings with his fellow-citizens ; and in his professional career has remem- bered the needy when his assistance could afford relief, as well as to dispense to those who were able to pay for his services. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1825, and a liberal supporter of all kindred interests.


In the year 1824 he married Miss Irene Ballard, of New York, by whom he had two children,-Anna, wife of General John W. Fuller, of Toledo, Ohio, and Jane, de- ceased. Ilis wife dicd in 1856. For his second wife he married Miss Eliza, daughter of James S. Foster, of New Hartford, this county, with whom he now lives.


Dr. Rathbun is a careful and judicious practitioner, hon- orable in his professional intereourse, quiet and unobtrusive with the siek. Affable and courteous, a large and influen- tial circle called for his aid, and through many long years he has ministered to the same families. He retained a large business until age admonished him of required rest, and now, full of the memory of a well-spent life, he waits for the summons of the great king.


295


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


Under this charter the officers to be elected were a mayor, recorder, attorney, treasurer, surveyor, overseer of the poor, marshal, street commissioner, four justices of the peace, and six school commissioners for the city, and two aldermen, a supervisor, assessor, collector, constable, and inspectors of elcetion for cash ward.


The boundaries under the revised charter of 1862 are described as follows, to wit :


" Beginning at the point in the middle of the Mohawk River where the division line between lots numbered 101 and 102 in Cosby's Manor interseets it, thenee running southerly on said division line to the southerly line of the New York Central Railroad; thence west- erly along said southerly line of said railroad to the west line of grent lot 104 in said Cosby's Manor; thence running south on said line to the north side of the Whitesboro' road ; thence casterly on the north side of said Whitesboro' road to the old division line between John S. Capron's and J. and C. Faass' land ; thenee running south- erly along said division line to the line of New Hartford; thence easterly along the line of New Hartford to the westerly line of lot 101 in said Cosby's Manor ; thence southerly along said line of lot 101 to the centre of the road leading from Utica to Burr-Stone Mills (so called); thenee easterly in the centre of said road to the westerly line of lot 100 in said Cosby's Manor; thence southerly along said last-mentioned line to the line between the farins formerly owned by Samuel S. Thorn and John Butterfield ; thence easterly along tho last-mentioned line to the centre of the old Seneca Turnpike ; thence easterly along the centre of Slayton's Bush Road (so called) to its intersection with the centre of the road leading northerly through the farm owned by Robert McBride ; thenee northerly in the centre of said last-mentioned road to the present southerly bounds of the city of Utica; thenco casterly along the present bounds of the city of Utica to the easterly bounds of Oncida County ; thenee northerly on the easterly hounds of Oneida County to the centre of the Mohawk River; thenee westerly up the middle of the Mohawk River to the place of beginning."


Under this charter the eity was divided into nine wards. A tenth was added in 1872, and the western bonndary was altered and extended to its present location in 1875. The present area of the city is 5500 aeres.


The year 1832 will long be remembered as the date of the first visitation of the scourge known as the Asiatic cholera, which is supposed to have its origin in the immense malarial region covering the delta of the river Ganges, from whence it travels, in a direction opposite to the diur- nal motion of the earth, until it compasses alnost every land on the globe. Its appearance in Utica was on the 12th day of July, and it continued to work its terrible destruction for several weeks, disappearing in August.


At that date the town had a population of about 9000, and during the continuance of the disease, according to Mr. Jones, there were 201 cases and 70 deaths ; among whom were several prominent eitizens. Ezra S. Cozier, who had been president of the village in 1821-23, and in 1831, died on the 17th of July ; and Hon. Wm. H. Maynard, while on business in New York, was stricken down with the disease, and finally died of typhoid fever, August 28.


There was great consternation, and many of the people left the place. Business was interrupted, and there was more or less suffering and destitution. It was probably the most severe epidemic, in proportion to its duration, that has ever visited the place.


On the 21st of October, 1835, it is said the first anti- slavery convention ever held in the State convened at the Bleecker Street Presbyterian Church. Meetings in antici-


pation of the convention had been held previous to this date, at which strong resolutions were passed in condemna- tion of the scheme of the " Abolitionists." At one of these meetings, held at the court-house on the 17th of Octo- ber, Rudolph Snyder was president ; J. C. Devereux, Ephraim Hart, E. S. Barnum, Kellogg Hurlburt, Adam Bowman, Nicholas Smith, and J. B. Pease, vice-presidents ; and William C. Noyes and Isaiah Tiffany, secretaries. The committee on resolutions consisted of Samuel Beardsley, J. M. Church, Rutger B. Miller, Chauncey Rowe, and B. B. Lansing. The resolutions condemned the action of the Common Council in granting the use of the court-house, approved the course of the mayor (General Joseph Kirk- land) and the minority of the Council for opposing the measure, and declared that the meeting would " not sub- mit to the indignity of an abolition assemblage being held in a public building of the city, reared as this was by the contributions of the citizens, and designed to be used for salutary publie objects, and not as a receptacle for deluded fanatics or reckless incendiaries ;" and that it was the " in- cumbent duty of every citizen to make use of all lawful and proper measures to arrest the disgrace which would settle upon the city by the public assemblage of the conven- tion appointed to be held on the 21st inst."


The meeting was adjourned to meet at the court-house on the 21st inst., at nine A.M.


Another meeting was held at the court-house on the 20th instant, composed of the more conservative element, who were in favor of freedom of speech, while at the same time proclaiming the inviolability of the laws. This meet- ing was presided over by Bradford Seymour, assisted by H. Nash, E. M. Gilbert, and Dr. J. P. Batchelder, with John Bradish, James Sayre, and James McGregor scere- taries. Dolphus Bennett, Horace M. Hawes, T. B. Dixon, Dr. Rathbun, and Andrew Hanna were the committee on resolutions. The meeting was not altogether harmonious.


The morning of the 21st was ushered in by the firing of cannon, and several thousand people assembled from the surrounding country. The anti-slavery convention, con- sisting of about 600 delegates from all parts of the State, met at the Second Church, ou Bleecker Street, and organized by choosing Judge Brewster, of Monroe County, chairman, and Rev. Oliver Wetmore, of Utica, secretary.


At the citizens' meeting, held at the court-house, a committee, consisting of J. Watson Williams, Chester Hayden, George J. Hopper, Rutger B. Miller, and Harvey Barnard, was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the feeling of the people, which reported in favor of ap- pointing a committee of twenty-five leading citizens to visit the convention and remonstrate against their proceedings, and to " warn them to abandon their pernicious movements," ete. The committee, consisting of the following well-known names, was accordingly appointed : Chester Hayden, R. B. Miller, S. Beardsley, Ezra Dean, William Tracy, J. W. Williams, E. A. Wetmore, A. G. Dauby, O. B. Matteson, G. W. Hubbard, J. D. Leland, Benjamin Ballou, Augustus Hickox, A. B. Williams, Julius A. Spencer. H. Barnard, T. M. Francis, B. F. Cooper, I. Tiffany, D. Wager, T. S. Gold, A. Blakesley, Burton Hawley, Jesse Newell, and .J. II. Dwight.


296


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


This imposing delegation, followed by a great concourse of people, visited the Abolition Convention, into which, after considerable difficulty, they forced an entrance, and amid much confusion read the resolutions of the court-house meeting, after which the convention was broken up amidst a terrible uproar, mingled with threats and bitter impreca- tions, and the delegates were shortly driven from the eity. The church was locked, and the key put in the possession of C. A. Mann. And thus the cultivated, high-toned, and religious people of Utiea vindicated the principles of the Declaration of Independence.


The change in public opinion between 1835 and 1861 is among the most wonderful phases in the life of the Great Republie.


It is recorded in Judge Jones' " Annals" that the first locomotive ran over the Utica and Schenectady Railway on the 22d of July of this year (1835).


The most destructive fire that had at that time ever desolated Utica occurred on the 31st of March, 1837. It broke out in the building No. 53, on Genesee, corner of Broad Street, in a row of old frame buildings which then extended down Genesee Street about half-way to Bagg's Square. Everything on the block bounded by Genesee, Broad, John, and Main Streets was destroyed except two or three substantial buildings on the corner of Main and John Streets. The stores on Genesee Street were partly cleared of their goods, which were piled in the middle of the street but subsequently destroyed. The fire erossed Genesee Street to the northwest side, and destroyed every building from No. 54 to Whitesboro' Street, including ten stores and the four-story temperanee hotel kept by Captain William Clarke. On Whitesboro' Street every building was destroyed between Genesee Street and Burehard Lane, including the hotel known as " Burchard's Inn."


It was, apparently, a very disastrous conflagration, but proved, in the end, a blessing; for the " burnt distriet" was soon rebuilt with a far better class of brick structures, adding not only greatly to the appearance of the place but reducing the chances for future fires.


In July of this year the renowned statesman and orator, Daniel Webster, visited Utiea and delivered a political speech in Steuben Park.


The Utiea Female Academy was founded in this year.


On January 27, 1839, the first train of ears passed over the Syracuse and Utica Railroad, and in September of the same year President Martin Van Buren visited Utica.


Utiea, in common with the whole country, was visited by the political exeitement of the campaign of 1840, when " Tippecanoe and Tyler too," and log cabins and hard cider were all the rage. Judge Jones records the fact that a log cabin was completed by the Whigs on the corner of Genesee and Whitesboro' Streets, on the 8th of August of that year.


On the 3d of August, 1841, died Captain William Clarke, a veteran of the war of 1812, and presumably the same man who kept the temperance house destroyed by the great fire of 1837. Captain Clarke was an officer in the 23d United States Infantry, and participated in the un- fortunate affair at Queenstown, where he was severely wounded, and in consequence of which he received a life pension.


Another officer of that war who resided for several years in Utiea, and who died on the 19th of May, 1838, was Commodore Melancthon T. Woolsey. He belonged to a military family, his paternal grandfather having fallen at the head of a battalion in 1758, during the old French war. Commodore Woolsey was in the county elerk's office of Oneida County previous to the year 1800. In that year he entered the United States navy, where he rose to distine- tion, and served in the Atlantic and Pacifie Oceans and on the lakes. In 1808 he was placed in command of the Lake Ontario flotilla, with headquarters at the then impor- tant naval station of Sacket's Harbor.


The only armed vessel on Lake Ontario at that date seems to have been the brig " Oneida," in addition to which he equipped the schooner "Julia," and on the breaking out of the war in June, 1812, he made a cruise and succeeded iu capturing the British war schooner " Nelson," which he added to his little squadron.


He was in command of the naval forces at Saeket's Harbor when the British squadron made their attack on the 19th of July, 1812, and by his judicious management and effectual fire from some heavy guns advantageously posted caused the enemy to withdraw from before the place. He was also in command of the party who were transporting a large supply of naval stores from Oswego to Sacket's Harbor, in bateaux, in the summer of 1813. The bateaux were pursued into Sandy Creek, in the present town of Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., and followed by the Brit- ish in foree; but the bateaux were taken up the ereek about two miles, the men landed and a few guns placed to eover the approach, and a strong foree formed to intereept the enemy, who came on confident of an easy victory. They were, however, received with so heavy a fire, and so. completely taken by surprise, that upwards of two hundred, including nearly the whole force, exclusive of killed and wounded, surrendered prisoners of war.


It was at this spot that the story originated eoneerning. the celebrated bayonet charge. After the first destructive fire, and while the British troops were in eonfusion, Com- modore Woolsey commanded his riflemen, in thunder-tones, to " charge bayonets !" when, seeing only destruction await- ing him, the British commander at once laid down his arms. It would seem that he and the commodore had been ae- quainted before the war, and when the British offieer ap- peared before Woolsey a mutual recognition took place, and the former, taking Woolsey by the hand, exelaimed, " Com- modore, I am happy to be permitted to renew our former acquaintance, although under unfavorable eireumstan ces ," and then, noticing for the first time the body of riflemen, he added, good-humoredly, " But who ever heard of rifle- men charging bayonets before ?"


He was buried with military honors, the Utiea Citizens' Corps, then recently organized, forming the escort. General Comstock and staff, and Captain Mervine, of the United States navy, were also present at the funeral obsequies.


In 1843 there was a grand military encampment in Utiea, on the 17th of July, at which a numerous body of State militia were present, and during which John Quincy Adams visited the city. The famous Norwegian violinist, Ole Bull, gave a concert in the place in June, 1844, which


297


HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.


was a noted event, and excited much interest among the music-loving portion of the community.


The State fair was hield in Utica in September, 1845, eommeneing with the 16th. This is believed to have been the first occasion of its location herc.


The year 1846 witnessed the inangnration of a new and most important enterprise in Utica. This was the organi- zation of the Utica Steam Woolen-Mills Company, with a capital of $100,000. In 1847 two other extensive insti- tutions were organized, the Globe Mills Woolen Company, and the Utica Steam Cotton-Mills Company, each with a heavy amount of capital. These great manufacturing in- terests have been of immense benefit to the eity, and given it a prominenee which probably no other enterprise has ever done .*


A eurious and serious accident occurred on the 9th of May, 1847, at the bridge over the Mohawk. The ordinance of baptism was being administered by the Rev. Mr. Corcy, in the river near by, and the shore and bridge were covered with speetators, when suddenly a portion of the bridge gave way, precipitating some twenty persons into the river, and resulting in the death of W. O. Smith and the injuring of several others. A parallel case occurred at Dixon, Ill., in 1873, when the iron bridge over Rock River broke upon a similar occasion, and precipitated several hundred people into the stream, where many were killed and drowned.


On the 4th of July, 1847, Professor Wise, the eclebrated aeronaut, made a grand balloon ascension in Utica.


Several destructive fires visited the city during the years 1850 and 1851, many of which were no doubt incendiary. On the 5th of June, 1851, James J. Orcutt was convicted of arson in the first degree, for firing and destroying the barns and other outbuildings of Butterfield & Co., in the rear of the National Hotel, in the preceding spring. The Common Council offered rewards amounting to seven hun- dred dollars for the apprehension of the offenders.


The part which Utica took in the great war of the Re- bellion is best told in the history of the various organiza- tions which went into the field from Oneida County, which will be found in Chapter XLIX., devoted to the military history of the county during that memorable epoch. Promi- nent among those who won distinction on the battle-fields of the South are the names of Butterfield, McQnade, Davies, Christian, and Peattie. The record of the gallant men who went out from Utica will stand to the latest generations, a proud inheritance to those who shall come after them, while the names of a legion of the fathers, inothers, brothers, and sisters of those who fought and fell, and who ministered to the sick and wounded returning to their homes from field and hospital, if less conspicuous, are no less precious.


The principles for which the soldier contended, and the great objects accomplished by the lavish expenditure of blood and treasure, shall surely be cherished and perpetu- ated by the purified Republic, and the memory of hier martyrs remain forever unsullied and imperishable.


Succeeding the war Utica steadily increased in business, and its growth in every branch of industry was marked. In 1868 the value of improvements exceeded $2,000,000.




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