History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 107

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920

USA > New York > Oneida County > History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 107

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).

Father Beecham was succeeded in the care of St. Peter's Church by Rev. Father A. Murphy, the present pastor, in

# His death occurred Mareh 10, 1876.

401

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

April, 1876. The pastor is superintendent of the large Sabbath-school. About 310 families are connected with this church at present. The building is located at the cor- ner of Floyd Avenue and Stanwix Street. In connection with the church is a convent and an academy, in charge of the Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus ; also, St. Peter's School for boys.

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

This society was organized in 1848, previous to which time missionary services had been held for several years. The first resident pastor (1848) was Rev. Florian Schweniger. The present pastor is Rev. P. J. Smith. About 300 families are connected with this church, of which number a large proportion is composed of country members. The pastor is superintendent of the Sabbath- school, and J. B. McGratlı is organist. A frame school- house, standing in the rear of the church, was occupied in 1871, and the day-school kept in it has a large attend- ance. The school has three divisions,-junior, middle, and senior.

The corner-stone of the present fine brick church on Lib- erty Street, west of Washington, was laid May 18, 1871, by Bishop John J. Conroy, of Albany. The building is 56 by 150 feet in dimensions, with sandstone trimmings, and a belfry the top of which is 100 feet from the ground. The dedicatory services were held Sunday, Sept. 22, 1872. The churchi will seat 900 persons.

TRINITY CHURCH (GERMAN LUTHERAN).

Organized in 1848. The frame church located at the corner of James and Ridge Streets was built in 1853, in which year the society was incorporated. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Wetzel, now of Utica, and the church was built during his pastorate. The present pastor is Rev. H. Veith. About 120 families are connected with the church, and a Sunday-school is sustained with an attendance of about 75, and the pastor as superintendent.

ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

Organized about 1868-69. The church, a frame build- ing on the corner of Madison and Park Streets, was built about the same time. The present membership of the society is not large. A Sabbath-school is kept up in connection with church services. Rev. Charles A. Wiegel is the pastor.

Besides the churches mentioned, there is a small Metho- dist Episcopal Church northwest of the city.

For information furnished regarding the history of Rome we are indebted to the articles published by D. E. Wager and others in the Rome papers; to Edward Huntington, Esq., S. G. Visscher, Esq., Colonel Enoch B. Armstrong, Colonel Louis Roth, L. E. Elmer, Prof. O. C. Harrington ; the pastors and members of churches ; members of the fire department, city band, and various other organizations and societies ; the officers of the water-works; Dr. R. E. Sut- ton (city chamberlain); the publishers of the Sentinel and Citizen, and many others whose names we have not space to mention.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

D. M. K. JOHNSON, A.M.,

was born in Cazenovia, N. Y., June 7, 1815. His father, David B. Johnson, for many years a leading member of the bar in his section of the State, was district attorney for Madison County, and also master and examiner in chancery. A native of Connecticut, he removed to Troy about the beginning of the present century. Pursuing a course of legal study there, he was licensed to practice in 1810, and marrying Miss Eliza L. Kilborn, of one of the old families of that place, he settled in Cazenovia, Madison Co., in 1811, which continued to be his place of residence through life. D. M. K. Johnson was an only child, and was care- fully educated in the seminary of his native town, where he prepared for a higher course. Entering the sophomore class of Hamilton College at the early age of sixteen, he pursued his studies until the fall of 1832, when their further pursuit was interrupted by the necessity of accompanying his father, whose failing health rendered imperative a change to a warmer climate. Upon his return to Cazenovia, the next summer, he determined to adopt the legal profession as liis avocation, and, preparing himself for this career, under the tuition of his father, he was admitted to the bar as at- torney and solicitor in 1837, and three years later as coun- selor, under tlie old regime. After being licensed to practice he resided a while in Cazenovia, and thence removed to Camden, whence he removed to Rome, in 1844.

He has acted as attorney and counselor for the New York Central Railroad for his vicinity since 1857, and has also served several financial corporations in Rome in the same capacity. He has also been employed in several important matters on behalf of the State, and, either as at- torney or counsel, has been connected with many of the important cases of his section. In 1859, Hamilton College conferred upon him the degree of A.M. Inheriting excel- lent legal talent, he has cultivated with industry and success, and not only stands high in the profession, but ranks among the representative men of his section. He was married in 1844 to Miss Frances J. Matteson, of Rome, who died in 1851. In 1860 he married Julia W. Sumner, of Jackson, Mich., by whom he has two children,-daughters, -Julia Frances and Ella Sumner Johnson.

Mr. Johnson has persistently refused to accept office, in some instances declining after nomination, preferring to de- vote his entire time to the honorable but arduous profession to which he has dedicated his life.

DR. M. CALVIN WEST.

The West family is of English origin, and emigrated to this country at an early date; but we are unable to trace their ancestry back prior to John West, who was born in the State of Vermont and emigrated to this county about the year 1790. He located in the town of Western, where his son John was born Dec. 26, 1796. The family in 1816 removed to Rome. John, Jr., was married, Nov. 26, 1821, to Mary, daughter of John Driggs, she being born in Stafford, Tolland Co., Conn., Jan. 22, 1800. Her father removed to Rome in 1804, and engaged in the

402

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

manufacture of woolen goods, and operating grain- and lumbering-mills. He continued his business activity to the time of his decease, in 1855. Dr. M. Calvin West, the youngest son of this couple, was born in Rome, Sept. 11, 1834. Having passed successfully through the district schools and an academic course, Dr. West graduated at the age of eighteen, and, for a few years immediately succeed- ing, he was engaged in assisting his father in agricultural industry. In 1857 he entered the office of Dr. Calvin West, his paternal uncle, at Hagerstown, Ind., for the pur- suit of medical study, and, subsequently attending the regular ecurse at the University of Ann Arbor, Mich., he reecived his degree in medicine in 1860. Continuing his studies, seientific and clinical, after graduation, in associa- tion with his uncle till 1861, he removed in the fall of that year to Floyd, where he practiced medieine till 1863, when he removed to Rome, his present place of residence. While a practitioner in Indiana he was a member of the Wayne County Medieal Society of that State, of which organiza- tion he was also president. He is actively connected with the Oneida County. Medical Society, and has been a delegate to the New York State Medical Society, and is a permanent member of the American Medical Association. While a member of the Wayne County Medieal Society he pre- pared and read before that body an able and practical artiele on " Hypodermie Injection," which was published in the Cincinnati Lancet. Dr. West has been for a long time a member of the board of directors of the National Bank at Rome, and is connected with other local corporations. Active and untiring in the performance of his duties, and recognized as a leading member of his profession, he is also gifted with excellent general abilities. Wise in coun- eil and of much practical knowledge, his fellow-citizens rely on his judgment in matters other than those purely pro- fessional. He was married in 1861 to Miss Felicia H. Williams, daughter of Jesse Williams. Mr. Williams built and managed the first cheese-factory in the county, and for several years stood alone in that branch of industry. He died in 1864, aged sixty-seven.

HENRY PATRICK.

About the year 1770, three brothers by the name of Patrick emigrated from the old country and settled in Still- water, Saratoga Co. One of these was the great-grand- father of the subject of this sketeh. The family continued to be residents of that town for a number of years, and Henry was born there, Ang. 9, 1810, being the son of Isaac and Anna Patrick. He remained on his father's farm till the age of twenty-four, when he purchased a farm in North- umberland, Saratoga Co., on which he resided three years. He subsequently removed to Saratoga Springs, in the same county. In 1842 he came to Rome, Oneida Co., for the purpose of engaging in lumbering and farming, with very small means. He located in what was then called the Pine Plains, and commenced to fell, saw, and ship timber to the Eastern markets; he continued in this business till 1865, having amassed a comfortable fortune. He belongs to the Republican party, and has been solicited at various times by his fellow-citizens to hold offices of trust and confidence, but has always declined to serve them in any publie position.

PHINEAS ABBE

was born in Windom, Conn., March 3, 1811, being the eldest son of Charles and Nancy Abbe. In 1814 his father removed to Solon, Cortland Co., N. Y. At the age of ten Mr. Abbe went to work for himself on a farm, and pursued the same calling in life till 1835, when he bought a farm of 63 aeres in the town of Rome, being the same farm on which he now resides. He was married, March 8, 1835, to Mary, widow of Elisha House, she being born in Westmoreland, Oneida Co., June 24, 1799, being the daughter of Chester and Mary Stillman. By her first marriage she was the mother of two daughters, and by her second marriage three sons : George Henry, born Dee. 13, 1838 ; Elisha Stillman, Feb. 17, 1840 ; William Edward, Feb. 17, 1842. Mr. Abbe belongs to the Republican party. He is a member of no particular church, but his wife is an active worker in the First Presbyterian Church of Rome. They enjoy a comfortable fortune, which has been obtained by their joint efforts in industry, frugality, and economy.

E. B. ARMSTRONG.

A man who, from an humble position and by his own efforts, has risen to affluence and social position, and through all the events of a checkered life has preserved his integrity unimpeached, well deserves the pen of the historian, and to be held up as a model to posterity. E. B. Armstrong was born in the town of Lee, Oneida Co., Jan. 10, 1809. His father, Oliver Armstrong, moved to that locality previoas to 1800. The subject of this sketch attended the school of his native town till eighteen years of age, after which he attended the private school of Oliver E. Grosvener for nearly one year. His education finished, he entered the store of his brother, General J. Armstrong, as clerk, and after two or three years of striet business training, during which time he proved himself to be the possessor of excellent business qualities, he became a partner in the business, the firm continuing until his brother's death, which occurred in August, 1852. His brother's place was filled by young members of the family for some time ; finally he became sole proprietor, remaining so till 1870, when he virtually retired from active business duties. Since that time he has found his time well employed looking after his own private affairs, and in the management of his estate, which is very exten- sive, and includes large interests in the manufacture of iron. He has been engaged in the manufacture of pig- iron, more or less, for over thirty-five years, and at one time was manager of the Talberg furnace. During the past twelve years he has been a director in the Franklin Iron-works. He is also vice-president and dircetor of the Rome Iron-works, with a capital of $400,000; and presi- dent of the Rome Merchants' Iron-mill, capital $150,000.

Mr. Armstrong is also a director of the Fort Stanwix and Central National Banks. He was joined in wedlock, in 1837, to a daughter of Henry Tibbits, Esq., an old resident of Rome, by whom he had four children ; none of them, however, are living. Mr. Armstrong has always been thoroughly identified with the interests of Rome and Oneida County, being a large real estate holder, and the

wis c Withishing & Lagraving to New York

403

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

owner of many valuable farms in the county. He is to- day, with one or two exceptions, the oldest " Roman of them all," and has gained his position and influence by personal exertion, proving himself to be an indefatigable worker. A history of Mr. Armstrong's life is useful for its practical instruction. He has amassed a fortune that would content the extravagant requirements of royalty. Yet he has never risked a dollar in the precarious invest- ment of wild speculation, but day by day added to his little commencement. Attending wholly to his own business, he has become honored for his integrity, and known as one of the most influential citizens of Oneida County.

CHAPTER XXII.

ANNSVILLE.

THIS town is located in the northwest part of the county, and includes portions of towns 1, 2, 3, and 8 of Scriba's Patent. Fish Creek forms more than one-half its present boundary, while the west branch of the same stream forms most of its southern boundary. The town extends to the county line on the north, is bounded by Florence and Camden on the west, and includes an area of 36,316 acres. It was named from the wife of J. W. Bloomfield, its first settler.

Aside from the two branches of Fish Creek, the town is watered by numerous smaller streams, among them Miller's Creek,-named from the first settler on its banks,-Fall Brook, Glenmore Brook, and a small stream emptying into Fish Creek at Taberg, with several of lesser note. Fall Brook is so named from the falls at its outlet into Fish Creek. The upper fall is fourteen, the middle twenty, and the lower sixty feet. The stream is small, except in time of high water, when a rushing flood thunders over the rocky walls into the abyss below, affording delight to the beholder. All the streams in this town are very rapid, falling from thirty to one hundred feet per mile, and were originally filled with fish. The scenery along the largest of them is inexpressibly grand and imposing, and a sceker after the beauties of nature will find a visit to this locality well repaid by a study of the many phenomena it contains.

A branch of the Oneida tribe of Indians formerly resided at the. meadows in this town, and about the time of the French war of 1755-60 a party of Canadian Indians, about twenty in number, settled at the forks of Fish Creek, for the purpose of enjoying the facilities for fishing afforded by this stream. The Oneidas objected to this proceeding, and finally succeeded in driving away the intruders.

The town of Annsville was formed from Lee, Florence, Camden, and Vienna, April 12, 1823, and the first town- meeting was held March 2, 1824, the following-named officers being elected : Supervisor, Benjamin Hyde; Town Clerk, John Segar ; Assessors, John Bloss, James Hart, Dan Taft ; Collector, Edminster Harrison, Jr .; Overseers of the Poor, Increase Bartlett, Peter Abbott, Jr .; Commis- sioners of Highways, Daniel Griswold, Zachariah Tompkins, John Paddock; Constables, E. Hammon, Jr., Eben S.

Bartholomew, R. R. Jones; Commissioners of Common Schools, Eliakim Simons, Gilbert H. Hull, William Clover ; Inspectors of Common Schools, Josephi C. Bloomfield, Ben - jamin Hyde, Jr., Marshal F. Fairservice ; Poundmasters, Barker Cobb, Asher Miller.

The Supervisors of this town since 1825 have been as follows, viz .: 1825-27, Joel Northrop ; 1828, no record ; 1829-31, Israel S. Parker (record missing from 1832 to 1853 inclusive); 1854, Thomas B. Allanson ; 1855-56, Alfred Blenis; 1857-62, Thomas B. Allanson ; 1863, David Beekman ; 1864, Benjamin F. Sccor ; 1865, Thomas B. Allanson ; 1866, George W. Brown ; 1867-68, Benja- min F. Sccor ; 1869-70, David B. Danforth ; 1871, William G. Cornwell; 1872, A. J. Brewster ; 1873, Ambrose Bloss; 1874, William H. Nelson; 1875, William C. Armstrong ; 1876, George H. Wilson ; 1877, William H. Nelson ; 1878, Supervisor, Thomas B. Allanson; Town Clerk, Matthias Hanley ; Justice of the Peace, George Gibbons; Assessor, Dennis L. Daley; Commissioner of Highways, Jonathan Stanford; Collector, John H. Lackey ; Overseers of the Poor, District No. 1, William W. Barber ; District No. 2, Jacob Sauer ; Constables, George W. Brown, Byron Morse, Clark Kilborn, Warren Kingsley; Game Constable, George Kenyon; Town Auditors, H. T. B. Hannay, Henry S. Wetherbee; Inspectors of Election, District No. 1, Chauncey Tompkins, Isaac W. Ethridge ; District No. 2, Morris O'Connor, George Sherman; Com- missioners of Excise, Harrison Lillybridge, Edmund C. Spinning.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first white settler in this town was John W. Bloom- field, who came here in April, 1793, fromn Burlington, New Jersey. He made his first improvement on the place afterwards occupied by Dr. Beach. The night before he arrived within the present limits of Oneida County he stayed eight miles below Old Fort Schuyler, now Utica. He pur- chased a large tract of land in Annsville, and soon built a grist-mill and a saw-mill. It is related that in the morning of the day he arrived in Oneida County, he came from his stopping-place of the night previous to Old Fort Schuyler for his breakfast, but on reaching that place he could not find sufficient to make a meal upon or to feed his horse, and was consequently obliged to mount the animal and ride four miles farther to Judge White's, at Whitesboro'. He arrived at the latter place just in time for dinner, and took the two meals in one. He stayed with the judge about two weeks, and from thence proceeded to Fort Stanwix, arriving there the same day with George Huntington, who brought in a small stock of goods for sale to the settlers. After stopping a short time at the fort he went on to his purchase at Taberg.

"The next year after Esquire Bloomfield arrived at Taberg he employed a man hy the name of Gere to dig a well. Gere resided in the prosent town of Lee. After he had progressed to a considerable depth the sand caved in, and canght his feet and legs, and Mr. Bloomfield went down to extricate him. When he had landed at the bottom he looked np, and saw that the sides of the well were crack- ing and beaving, ready to fall in upon them. He sprang and caught hold of the rope used for drawing up the earth, and, hy powerful exertion, succeeded in extricating himself, while poor Gere was covered to a great depth, and with him all the shovels on or near the premises. A messenger was immediately dispatched to Lee, and

404

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

another to Rome, to get help and shovels. This was about the middle of the afternoon. Gere could talk with those on the surface ; said that the tub which was suspended by the rope over bim had prevented the sand from falling upon his head, and that he was not burt. aod only suffered for the want of fresh air. How intense were the feelings of the few bystanders ! Minutes seemed ages before help arrived; but very soon, io proportion to the distance, men came seattering in with shovels. Each went to work as if the preserva- tion of the life of a human being depended on his individual exer- tions. Such, however, was the vast amount of earth which bad eaved io, and the constant running in, like water, of the sand from the sides, that the work proceeded very slowly. All night they toiled on, without succeeding in renehing the sufferer. Each sue- ceeding bour his voice grew more feeble, until some time in the night it ceased forever. In the morning the force was increased, but it was nearly noon befure all that remained of the poor well-digger was exhumed. The body was taken to Lee to be buried. He left a wife and children, and two of his sons afterward lived with Mr. Bloom- field."#

A couple of incidents regarding Mr. Bloomfield's experi- ence with the Indians are thus related by Hon. Pomeroy Jones, in his interesting " Annals of Oneida County" :

" Previous to the breaking up of the settlement of the Oneida Indians at the Forks they used to bring salmon to Mr. Bloomfield, at Taberg, for which he paid them a certain price per pound. The Indians were not slow in learning that the beavier the fish the more money they received. One day an Indian brought him a back-load of fish, and they were as usual weighed and paid for. On dressing them it was found that each fish had been heavily charged with gravel stones; but before the discovery was made the poor Indian was far oo his way to the Forks with his ill-gotten gains. A few days afterwards Mr. Bloomfield saw Powlis, their chief, and com- plained of the fraud practiced upon him. Powlis was very indignant, and said that Mr. Bloomfield had ever paid a fair price for every article he had purchased of them, and that he should not again be so illy trented; and in all his purchases afterwards Mr. B. never found a fish with so indigestihle a dressing.

"One day, while Mr. Bloomfield was out upon his farin, an Indian came to his house and requested Mrs. Bloomfield to let him have some liquor. This she resolutely refused, and he still as resolutely demanded it, saying that he knew they had it in the house. Finding that words did not terrify her he drew his knife, and by threatening gestures drove her into a corner of the room, thinking thus to terrify ber, so that the liquor would be forthcoming. In this he was mis- taken, for she then, in a determined voice, directed some member of the family to go out and call Mr. Bloomfield, who was not far distant. By this time he had learned the spirit of the woman, and thought he had better beat a hasty retreat while he could with a sound skin, which he at once effected. The next day, to make peace with her, and to convince her that he highly appreciated her firmness, he brought a fine saddle of vedison and presented it to her. She was ever afterwards well treated by the Indiaos."

Elias Brewster, one of the early settlers of Annsville, and a descendant of the Pilgrims of New England, came to Oneida County from Connecticut, in 1789 or 1790, and located at first upon a farm in the town of Western, near what is now the village of Delta. In 1806 he pur- chased land in Annsville, began clearing it in March of that year, and April 1, 1807, removed with his family to the new location, the snow at the latter date being five feet in depth. Mr. Brewster's cabin was of the primitive kind: crotches set in the ground held the poles which supported the roof, which latter and the siding were made of rough boards and slabs ; these had to be hauled a distance of three miles over a route where there was neither road nor bridge. A huge fireplace was constructed in one end of the building, and a hole left in the roof allowed the smoke from the fire to cscape; the door was rongh, and hung

with strips of raw hide; while the window-panes were made of paper, rendered partly transparent with oil. This was the style in which many of the first settlers lived. Mr. Brewster's nearest neighbors were two miles distant, in the town of Lee. Wild animals of various kinds were plenty, and many were the encounters-some of them amusing-which the settlers had with them. The cattle were allowed to graze in the forest during the summer, and were brought home and penned every night.

"On one occasion it was near night before Mr. Brewster started for these useful animals, and ascertaining their direction by the tink- ling of the bell suspen.led from the neck of the ' old cow,' he at once dashed into the forest. He found them a full mile from his house, and sunset warning him that darkness would soon be upon him, be therefore started the cows rapidly for home. The road was circuit- ous, to avoid a miry swamp. The more rapid striking of the bell notified the family that the cows were found, and in full motion for home, as well as of the progress made. When about two-thirds of the distance was accomplished the wild, unearthly scream of a pan- ther on the track in the rear gave notice to all concerned of the ex- treme danger of the father. These screams were continued at short intervals, and distinetly showed that the panther was fast gaining upon the hell. Soon the eatfle reached home, and were let into the little elenring, wheo sueb a shrill and prolonged scream rang out from the darkness, apparently but a few rods from the house, as, if once heard, will ever be remembered. As soon as the cattle were yarded a fire was kindled in the inclosure, which, with the aid of horns, tin pans, and brass kettles, snecessfully frightened away the unwelcome visitor,-not, however, until it had given a full and fair speeimen of the hideousness of its notes, and its capabilities in pro- longing them. On the following murning the bark of a recently- fallen beceb-trec showed the capacity of the animal to harm a subject more congenial to its appetite.

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.

History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 107

Author: Durant, Samuel W Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss Number of Pages: 920

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920