USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : from 1700 to the present time, Volume I > Part 57
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SILAS D. CHILDS, also a partner with Mr. Parker in the transportation busi- ness, came to Utica from Conway, Mass. He was a man of great energy,
JOHN BUTTERFIELD
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
accumulated a large fortune, and at his death left a substantial sum to charities and benevolent objects, among which was Hamilton College .. He left a large portion of his property to his wife during her life, and at her death the beneficiaries under his will reaped further benefit. Mr. Childs left no descendants, and his large estate went to collateral relatives and to charities, for which the citizens of Oneida county have ever been grateful.
JOHN BUTTERFIELD came to Utica and entered the employ of Jason Parker as a stage driver. He was a man of very limited education, but of remarkable business capacity. Soon after locating in Utica he started a livery business. This was conducted during his entire life, and his establishment was famed throughout the entire state. He was a dealer in horses, buying them in large numbers, and selling them to dealers in all directions. It is reported of him that he transported the first live animal that was ever freighted upon the steam cars. As the report goes, he sold a team to Erastus Corning of Albany, and agreed to have them in that city the following morning. When asked how he expected to do it, he said he would send them by railroad. He took a plat- form car, arranged it so that the horses would be safe upon it, placed them on it, and the next morning they were in Albany. He was also instrumental in building the Utica & Schenectady railroad; the Utica & Black River railroad, and the Utica & Chenango Valley railroad; was one of the organizers of the American Express Company ; and was the organizer of the Overland Mail Route to California, a stage line of 2,800 miles. His capacity for organization was very great, and his judgment as to what should be done commanded the respect of his friends, so that he was able to command money for any enterprise he would undertake. It is related of him that when he was thought to be on his death bed, he purchased iron for the Utica & Chenango Valley railroad, he, at the time, being president of that company, and that the directors refused to acquiesce in his purchase. He then said to them, "Very well, I will take the iron." This was at the approach of the Civil war, and there was an almost immediate advance in the price of railroad iron. Soon after the directors of the company went to him and said that they had changed their minds and would take the iron. He answered, "The iron is mine, and you can have it at the market price," which gave him a substantial profit. He died in Utica in 1889, leaving a large fortune and an estate which inventoried nearly a million dollars, but he made no charitable bequests.
4
ERIE CANAL-The Erie Canal was started in Rome, July 4, 1817. This great waterway was finished October 20, 1825, and an immense celebration occurred in Utica, at which Governor Clinton and many notables were present. It may well be said here that the foremost engineer connected with the canal was John B. Jervis of Rome.
THE CHENANGO CANAL, running southward from Utica, was begun in 1834, and was completed in 1836. It was 97 miles long, and its object was to bring coal into central New York. After the completion of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad, and the Utica, Clinton & Binghamton railroad, this canal
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was abandoned. This was accomplished through the influence of the railroad companies. It was a catastrophe to the public that the canal was abandoned, and it seems incomprehensible that it could have been accomplished. From that time until the present day the railroads have had absolute control of the coal fields and coal markets. If the canal had remained open, it is probable that coal would have been purchased much cheaper in central New York than at the present time.
BLACK RIVER CANAL was built largely as a feeder for the Erie Canal. Its construction was authorized in 1836, and it was opened in 1851 between Rome and Port Leyden. It has ceased to be of great practical use to the state, and but very little business has been done over it until it was utilized for the pur- poses of the work upon the Barge Canal, and particularly at Delta, where the material for the construction of the great dam there came over this canal. Just what this canal will amount to after the construction of the Barge Canal is impossible to say at this time. The great feeders for the Barge Canal, being constructed at Delta and Hinckley, would seem to be sufficient to supply water without use of that which formerly passed through the Black River Canal.
PLANK ROADS-In 1847 a Plank Road Company was organized to plank the roads through low, wet and rough places. One road extended from Deer- field to Remsen; one was afterwards built from Utica to Rome and on west- ward; one to Schuyler and Frankfort; and one to New Hartford, Clinton, Waterville and Burlington. While the hemlock lumber, which was generally used for plank roads, was plentiful, the roads could be kept planked without an enormous expense; but as the lumber became scarce it was so expensive to plank the roads that finally they fell into dilapidation, and then they were worse than if they had never been planked. They became at times in the spring and fall almost impassable. Finally the planks were all removed, and nothing of importance was done for many years in regard to the construction of proper highways. The state, however, having voted to spend $50,000,000 under certain conditions upon the highways, the counties and towns have taken up the subject, and within the last ten years great advance has been made in the construction of suitable highways. The number of miles of first class macadam roads which have been constructed within the county to date is 105. The incentive to good roads was first caused by the invention of the bicycle. The bicycle riders desired good roads, an organization was perfected in the state, and a systematic campaign was carried on for years in favor of better high- ways. This was accentuated when the automobile became a practically assured fact, and at the present time there is no other thought in the public mind except to perfect our highways as rapidly as they can be economically con- structed upon approved engineering principles.
THE UTICA & SCHENECTADY RAILROAD COMPANY was incorporated in 1833. A railroad had been constructed from Albany to Schenectady in 1832, and the proposed line from Utica to Schenectady was to connect with that. The road
THEODORE S. FAXTON
SILAS D. CHILDS
LEWIS LAWRENCE Merchant and President of the Utica & Susquehanna Valley
SAMUEL FARWELL President of the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad
Railroad
ISAAC MAYNARD
Merchant and Treasurer of the Utica & Black River Railroad
JOHN THORN
Merchant and President of the Utica & Black River Railroad
PROMINENT FACTORS IN TRANSPORTATION
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
was to be upon the north side of the Erie Canal, with its terminus in the city of Utica.
In 1836 a road was built between Utica and Syracuse. Cars were run then through from Albany to Syracuse, and within a short time the road was con- tinued to Buffalo, which made a continuous line, although consisting of dif- ferent railroads, from New York through to Buffalo.
NEW YORK CENTRAL & HUDSON RIVER RAILROAD COMPANY-In 1853 the legislature passed a bill consolidating all the railroads between Albany and Buffalo, which gave birth to the great corporation known as the New York Central Railroad Company, which was afterwards consolidated with the Hudson River Railroad Company, making the great combination now called the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Company.
UTICA & BLACK RIVER RAILROAD COMPANY-In 1853 a railroad was organ- ized in Utica called the Black River & Utica Railroad Company, the object being to build a road northward from Utica. This road was constructed as far as Boonville about 1855. The expense of the road was so great that it was a financial failure, a receiver was appointed, the property sold, and a reorgani- zation was effected in May, 1861, under the name of the Utica & Black River Railroad Company. This line has been extended to Watertown and the St. Lawrence river, and was for many years conducted as a separate line, but was finally leased to the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg line, and that line was afterwards leased to the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Company, so that both the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad Company and the Utica & Black River Railroad Company became a part of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad system.
UTICA, CHENANGO & SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY-Lewis Law- rence and other prominent Utica capitalists organized this road in 1866. The object was to build a line of railroads southerly from Utica into the Chenango valley. This was completed in 1870, and was leased to the Delaware, Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad Company, which has ever since had control of it. This railroad is the principal source of the coal supply to Utica and vicinity.
UTICA, CLINTON & BINGHAMTON RAILROAD COMPANY-In 1862 John Butter- field and other of the business men of Utica organized a railroad company known as the Utica, Clinton & Binghamton Railroad Company, the object be- ing to construct a horse or steam railroad to connect Clinton with New Hart- ford, Utica and Whitesboro. In 1863 the railroad was built within the city of Utica, and as far south as New Hartford. Horse cars were used in the city, and as far as New Hartford. From New Hartford to Clinton a dummy engine was used to draw the cars back and forth. In 1867 the road was extended to Smith's Valley. In 1870 a steam road was built from Utica to New Hartford, but not on the line of the street railroad, as the street railroad had passed up Genesee street, the principal resident street in Utica, and the steam road was built up the westerly outskirts of the city. This line of railroad was first
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leased to the New York, Ontario & Western Railroad Company, and after- wards to the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. As soon as electricity be- came a practical means of propelling street cars, the system in Utica was changed, and electricity was used to propel all of the street cars over this line of railroad, both through the city and to the suburban villages.
NEW YORK, WEST SHORE & BUFFALO RAILROAD COMPANY-In 1884 it was proposed to build a railroad from New York to the west, known as the New York, West Shore & Buffalo Railroad. This line passed through Oneida county, and the road was substantially completed by the persons who had organized it, but soon after they got into financial difficulties, a receiver was appointed, the property sold, and fell into the hands of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Company. This railroad had endeavored to compete with the New York Central by carrying passengers at one cent per mile and freight at a ruinous rate. It was short lived, and the New York Central reaped the benefit of the visionary financiering of the managers of the insolvent corporation.
MOHAWK & MALONE RAILROAD COMPANY-A railroad was organized in 1893 to run from Herkimer, northward into the Adirondacks. It was constructed by the Vanderbilt money, and soon after was leased to the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Company. As the New York Central had also con- trol of the Utica & Black River Railroad, it changed the system of running trains on the Mohawk & Malone Railroad, and, instead of having them pass through Herkimer over the new railroad to Remsen and on into the Adirondacks, their principal trains run through Utica and over the Utica & Black River Railroad to Remsen and on into the Adirondacks, thus making Utica the real terminal of the Mohawk & Malone Railroad. This is the last steam railroad that has been perfected in this county.
THE ROME & CLINTON RAILROAD COMPANY, whose line extends between Rome and Clinton, was constructed in 1871. It was intended as a coal road, and soon after its completion was leased to the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, and has ever since been controlled by that organization.
ROME, WATERTOWN & OGDENSBURG RAILROAD COMPANY-In 1848 the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Railroad was commenced, and was opened as far as Pierrepont Manor in May, 1851. The year afterward it was extended north- ward to Watertown. This road had financial difficulties, and, after the build- ing of the Utica & Black River Railroad through to Watertown, the competition became so sharp that both roads suffered in consequence. In 1886 the Utica & Black River Railroad was leased by the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg Rail- road, and afterward both roads were leased to the New York Central & Hud- son River. Railroad Company, and all competition faded away.
THE UTICA BELT LINE COMPANY was organized in 1886, its object being to get control of all the street railroads in Utica, which was accomplished that same year. Electricity was substituted for horse cars, and great development
THE GREAT DELTA DAM ON THE MOHAWK RIVER, NORTH OF ROME, FOR STORING WATER FOR THE BARGE CANAL
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
was made in the local street railroad system. In 1897 the line was extended to Oriskany and Summit Park. The Bleecker Street Railroad was also acquired by the Belt Line Company, the Oneida Railroad procured rights in the streets of Utica, and finally a majority of the stock of all of these local companies was acquired by the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Company, a line was constructed to Rome, the West Shore Railroad was electrified between Utica and Syracuse, an electric line constructed as far south as Little Falls, and, although there are several different corporations, the dominating one is the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Company.
BARGE CANAL-One of the greatest industrial elements in Oneida county is the Barge Canal, which is at this time in process of construction. The county, indeed, plays a very important part in this great waterway, as the two large reservoirs, which are to furnish the water for the great level through the central part of the state, are to be located within its boundaries-one at Delta, and the other at Hinckley. The dam at Delta at this writing is nearly completed and the one at Hinckley has only been in process of construction since the spring of 1911. The dam at Delta submerges several square miles of territory, and has necessitated the removal of Delta village. The dam at Hinck- ley crosses the West Canada creek a short distance above the residence of the late Albert Hinckley. It is more than 4,400 feet long, and the effect will be to destroy the upper part of the village of Hinckley, and the villages of North- wood and Grant, Herkimer county. At the present writing the work upon the canal through Oneida county has not progressed sufficiently so that an accurate description can be given of the situation. For several years a con- troversy existed between the city of Utica and the state of New York in regard to whether the canal should pass along the new channel of the Mohawk river or whether it should be placed further northward, and the state finally decided to adopt the northerly course, which is about 1,800 feet northward from the old river channel of the Mohawk. This old channel has, during the last year, been entirely filled up at the foot of Genesee street, and the his- torical river and the famous ford has ceased to exist.
CHAPTER XXXII
FRATERNAL ORDERS-SOCIETIES-CLUBS
FREE MASONRY
Within the territory of what is now the county of Oneida, at least forty- two lodges of Free and Accepted Masons have been instituted, all having derived their authority either by dispensation or warrant from the Grand Lodge of the state. Many of these have, for various reasons, been compelled to relinquish their charters and thereby cease to exist. There are, however, at this date, twenty lodges in existence, having a total membership of 3,703 Master Masons.
EARLY LODGES NOW EXTINCT
AMICABLE LODGE No. 23 (revised No. 22, revised No. 11), NEW HARTFORD- The first lodge to be instituted in Oneida (then Herkimer) county, received its warrant from the Grand Lodge dated April 7, 1792, designating John J. Morgan as Worshipful Master; John Post as Senior Warden, and Michael Myers as Junior Warden. The records show that Judge Jedediah Sanger, General Oliver Collins and Hon. Richard Sanger each, subsequently, were Masters of this lodge. Meetings were held in the house of Judge Sanger in New Hartford in a room especially fitted by him for the purpose. The warrant of this lodge was sur- rendered in 1842.
STEUBEN LODGE, No. 54, TOWN OF STEUBEN-The warrant, dated December 29, 1796, named David Starr as Worshipful Master; Benjamin Pike as Senior Warden, and Samuel Sizer as Junior Warden. The warrant was surrendered about 1817.
ROMAN LODGE, No. 82 (revised No. 79), ROME-The warrant, dated Feb- ruary 13, 1799, named Joshua Hathaway as Worshipful Master; Stephen White as Senior Warden, and Chester Gould as Junior Warden. The warrant was for- feited to the Grand Lodge in 1835, but was subsequently returned to Rome, and was in possession of W. W. Wardwell of that city.
FEDERAL LODGE No. 83 (revised No. 80), TOWN OF PARIS "at or near Josiah Whitney's."-The warrant, dated November 23, 1799, named Nathan Whitney as Worshipful Master; Jonathan Barker as Senior Warden, and William Norton as Junior Warden. The warrant was surrendered in 1831.
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
MOUNT VERNON LODGE NO. 97, VERNON-Warrant issued January 21, 1803. The names of first officers and date of surrender of charter are not available, but the lodge was known to exist as late as 1824, in which year Simon Brigham, as Master, recommended a petition for a new lodge to be located in the town of Vernon "near the Castle" and to be designated as Oneida Lodge.
ONEIDA LODGE, No. 123, VILLAGE OF UTICA-Warrant issued June 5, 1805, designated John Post as Worshipful Master; Benajah Merrell as Senior Warden and Henry Trowbridge as Junior Warden. The last meeting was held June 8, 1812, and the warrant was surrendered in 1815. The warrant, records and jewels of this lodge are now in possession of Faxton Lodge, No. 697, Utica.
SANGER LODGE NO. 176, TOWN OF SANGERFIELD-Warrant issued December 7, 1808, designated Stephen Preston as Worshipful Master; Isaac Terry, Jr., as Senior Warden, and Oliver Rood as Junior Warden. The warrant was sur- rendered in 1830.
PHILANTHROPIC LODGE No. 188, CAMDEN- Dispensation granted 1809. War- rant issued 1816. As records are missing, the names of the first officers are not obtainable. September 19, 1816 under the charter the first officers were Olney Hines, Worshipful Master; Asa T. Smith, Senior Warden; Joshua Ransom, Junior Warden; Warrant delivered and forfeited June 4, 1835.
RISING SUN LODGE NO. 228, TRENTON-Dispensation issued June 9, 1809. Warrant issued November 26, 1813. The first officers of this lodge were Amasa Trowbridge, Worshipful Master; David Bronson, Senior Warden; Canfield Coe, Junior Warden. By permission of the Grand Lodge dated March 29, 1821, Rising Sun Lodge was removed to Remsen, but retained its original name. There is no evidence of its existence later than the year 1823.
HAMPTON LODGE No. 198, HAMPTON-Warrant issued December 5, 1811, designated Truman Enos as Worshipful Master; Eli Peck as Senior Warden, and Alfred Willey as Junior Warden. This lodge was in existence certainly as late as 1827, in which year it petitioned and received permission of the Grand Lodge to hold its meeting "in any part of the town of Westmoreland." The warrant is now in possession of Hampton Lodge No. 347.
FARMERS' LODGE No. 214, TOWN OF VENORA-Warrant issued May 8, 1813, designated Philip Robinson as Worshipful Master; Stephen Benedict as Senior Warden, and Daniel Bosworth as Junior Warden. There are no records of this lodge later than 1828.
AUGUSTA LODGE NO. 233, TOWN OF AUGUSTA-Warrant issued June 2, 1814, named William St. John as Worshipful Master; Nathaniel Rose as Senior War- den, and Isaac Watrous as Junior Warden. There are no records later than 1827.
Vol. I-30
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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY
CLINTON LODGE No. 228 (revised No. 258), TOWN OF SCHUYLER (Herkimer County)-"At the house of John P. Webb." Dispensation granted April 25, 1815. Warrant issued March 15, 1816, named John P. Webb as Worshipful Master; Benjamin Taber as Senior Warden, and Philip Knapp as Junior War- den. By permission of the Grand Lodge this lodge was removed in 1825 to the house of Henry Weaver in the town of Deerfield, Oneida county. The last meeting was held April 17, 1826, and the warrant was surrendered in 1826.
WHITESBORO LODGE No. 315 (revised No. 52), WHITESBORO-Warrant issued October 16, 1818, named Isaac Bronson as Worshipful Master; John B. Pease as Senior Warden; Loring Webb as Junior Warden. Last meeting was held December 18, 1839, and warrant was surrendered in 1842.
PARIS LODGE No. 348, TOWN OF PARIS-Warrant issued June 10, 1822, named Amasa Millard as Worshipful Master; Asahel Curtiss as Senior Warden, and Spaulding Pierce as Junior Warden. The warrant was demanded by Grand Lodge in 1835, though not delivered until 1843. The records and jewels were retained, and are now treasured by the present Sauquoit Lodge No. 150.
CORINTHIAN LODGE No. 445, TOWN OF VERNON-Petition was received in Grand Lodge November 16, 1824, and dispensation issued November 20, 1824, which named David McElfresh, Worshipful Master; Solomon Davis, Senior War- den; Charles Dix, Junior Warden. This lodge was variously designated as "Corinthian Lodge," "Oneida Lodge near the Castle," and "Oneida Castle Lodge," but in every instance as "No. 445." It was certainly in existence as late as 1827, but the records are very meager and designations confusing.
MORNING STAR LODGE NO. 374, ANNSVILLE-Warrant issued June 5, 1824, named Archibald F. Frink as Worshipful Master; Israel S. Parker as Senior Warden, and John Simons as Junior Warden. There is no evidence that this lodge existed later than 1829.
BOONVILLE LODGE No. 414, BOONVILLE-Warrant dated June 7, 1825, named David Porter as Worshipful Master; John Rogers as Senior Warden, and Aaron F. Bates as Junior Warden. The latest evidence of the existence of this lodge is the year 1831.
VIENNA LODGE No. 418, TOWN OF VIENNA-Warrant dated June 8, 1825, named Jonathan Tremain as Worshipful Master; Silas Cornish as Senior War- den, and Abiraim Parker as Junior Warden. Last mention of this lodge is May, 1828.
FARMERS' FRIENDSHIP LODGE No. 420, TOWN OF FLOYD-Warrant dated June 24, 1825, named Isaac Bronson as Worshipful Master; Nathan Townsend as Senior Warden, and Ira Kingsbury as Junior Warden. The last recorded
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meeting of this lodge was held April 21, 1831. Isaac Bronson held the office of Master during its entire existence.
BARON STEUBEN LODGE NO. 485, WESTERN-Warrant issued June 10, 1825, named Shelden F. Mills as Worshipful Master; George Riggs as Senior War- den, and Amasa Ives as Junior Warden. There are no further records regard- ing this lodge.
LODGES EXISTING AT THIS DAY
WESTERN STAR LODGE No. 15 (original No. 59; revised No. 56), BRIDGEWATER -Charter issued January 18, 1797, named James Kinney as Worshipful Mas- ter; Thomas Brown as Senior Warden; Daniel Perkins as Junior Warden. The present officers are Grant E. Pughe, W. M .; Arthur S. Hoxie, S. W .; Wil- liam H. Chase, J. W .; Jay B. Rogers, Sec.
UTICA LODGE No. 47 (original No. 270), UTICA-Charter issued November 20, 1816, named Montgomery Hunt as Worshipful Master; Ephraim Hart as Senior Warden; Thomas Walker as Junior Warden. The present officers are Fred E. Lewis, W. M .; Herman F. Stephens, S. W .; Frank B. Weeks, J. W .; E. A. Gayde, Sec.
SANGER LODGE NO. 129, WATERVILLE-Charter issued May 8, 1848, named Oliver Harris as Worshipful Master; Job Potter as Senior Warden; Silas Hanchet as Junior Warden. The present officers are W. Frank Suters, W. M .; H. Clay York, S. W .; A. Osborn Mayer, J. W., and N. S. Clarke, Sec.
SAUQUOIT LODGE No. 150, SAUQUOIT-Charter issued June 21, 1849, named Naaman W. Moore as Worshipful Master; William Knight as Senior Warden; Calvin E. Macomber, Junior Warden. The present officers are Edward F. Savage, W. M .; John R. Jones, S. W .; William E. Kimball, J. W .; Leonard W. Gardner, Sec.
PHILANTHROPIC LODGE No. 164, CAMDEN-Charter issued June 8, 1850, named Artemus Trowbridge as Worshipful Master; George W. Wood as Senior Warden; Truman Spencer as Junior Warden. The present officers are John C. Davies, W. M .; Albert T. Wilkinson, S. W .; Calvin R. Stewart, J. W .; Rosell A. Magee, Sec.
BOONVILLE LODGE No. 165, BOONVILLE-Charter issued June 8, 1850, named Henry Graves as Worshipful Master; Caleb Goodrich, Senior Warden; John Taylor, Junior Warden. The present officers are I. Gilbert Sawyer, W. M .; Clark M. Wheeler, S. W .; William H. Vivian, J. W .; Charles N. Jenks, Sec.
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