History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 111

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 111

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).

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ORISKANY FALLS.

Organized in 1867. The present fine frame house of worship was erected and dedicated in 1872, and cost $6000. A Methodist class had existed here many years

415

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

before this society was formed, but was not incorporated until 1867. In 1860, Rev. D. W. Bristol preached in the school-house at this place. Rev. L. Eastwood was the first pastor upon the organization of the society in 1867. Rev. Moses Wells is at present in charge. The membership in May, 1878, was over 40. W. H. Fowler is Super- intendent of the Sabbath-school, which has an average attendance of about 60.

CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD (EPISCOPAL), ORIS- KANY FALLS.

This society was organized some time previous to 1871, at which date Rev. Russell Todd was the clergyman in charge. The present frame church was erected that year. The number of communicants is small, and services are held here and at Augusta Centre by Rev. Mr. Mott, of Waterville.

ST. JOSEPH'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH, ORISKANY FALLS.

Meetings were held by this society, about 1867-68, for the first time at this place in Owen's Hall, and in 1872 the present church edifice was begun, and completed in January, 1873. About 40 families belong to this congre- gation. The church is a fine frame building, having a tall spire, and cost about $4000. The first pastor was Rev. Father Peter O'Reilly, of Clinton. Rev. Father T. W. Riley, of Waterville, has the present charge.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, KNOXBORO'.

A union church was built at this place by the Presby- terians and Methodists, and occupied by theni for many years. Finally, separate buildings were erected for the use of these societies. The present Methodist Church was erected in 1872, the cost, including the lot, being between $8000 and $10,000. The present pastor is Rev. J. W. Simpson The membership is about 160. Irving A. Stone is Superintendent of the Sabbath-school, which has a membership of 160, and possesses a library of some 300 volumes. The first meetings of the society were held in the old school-house, since changed to a dwelling.

THE PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY

at Knoxboro' has a neat frame church, erected in 1872, at a cost, including sheds and furniture, of about $10,000. It was dedicated in February, 1873. This society is an offshoot from the one at the Centre. The minister in charge of the latter formerly came to Knoxboro' and held occasional services on week-days, also every alternate Sab- bath, until the union church was built. The Universalists and Baptists at times occupied this building. The present membership of the Presbyterian Church is between 90 and 100, and its pastor Rev. E. F. Robb, who took charge May 1, 1875. The Sunday-school is presided over by J. Theodore Knox, and has a good library, and a membership of 150.

VILLAGE OF ORISKANY FALLS.

This thriving village has a picturesque location, in the southeast part of the town, on the Oriskany Creek, from the five falls of which, located here, it takes its name. Railway facilities are afforded by the Utica, Clinton and

Binghamton Division of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railway, and considerable manufacturing is done, the creek affording good power.

The grist-mill built by Colonel Cassety stood nearly upon the site occupied by the present foundry and machine-shop, and was washed away in a heavy freshet about 1807. Upon that occasion rain fell almost constantly for six days and nights, and the narrow valley of this stream was com- pletely flooded.

The present grist-mill, owned by Everts, Frost & Co., was built by David Currie. It contains four runs of stone, and does a large merchant business, from 70 to 75 barrels of flour being manufactured daily. The mill is kept run- ning day and night, and furnishes work for two men besides the proprietors. A saw-mill in connection employs three hands. The wheat used in the grist-mill is shipped from the West. The firm of Everts & Frost took possession of these mills in 1873, and on the 1st of January, 1878, the name was changed to Everts, Frost & Co.

The " Farmers' Mill" was built in 1861-62, by Martin Miller, and is at present owned by J. C. Brown. It is a frame building, with a stone foundation; contains four runs of stone, and does principally a custom business.

Foundry and Machine-Shop .- The machine-shop was built in 1853, by the present proprietors, Messrs. Ballard & Griggs, and the furnace two or three years afterwards. Wood-working machinery, agricultural implements, and other articles were manufactured, and general jobbing was done. This institution is not now in operation.

The yarn-factory was built in 1865, for a woolen-fac- tory, by Owen & Brainard, and operated by them for the manufacture of cassimeres until 1875, since which time the firm of E. B. Woolworth & Co. have occupied it for the manufacture of woolen yarns. The building is owned by the original proprietors. K. J. Willard, of the present firm, is the general manager of the establishment, and has had an experience of twenty-five years in the business. The building is constructed of stone, and contains two sets of machinery. The yarn made here is of an excellent quality. Twenty-five hands are employed, and the fac- tory, when in full operation, has a capacity for manufac- turing 75,000 pounds of yarn annually ; it is not kept in operation throughout the entire year, however. This firm has been engaged in its present business for a number of years. Previous to locating at Oriskany Falls it owned and carried on a factory at Lyonsdale, Lewis Co.

Planing- Mill, Cider-Mill, and Storehouse .- This build- ing was erected hy David Murray for a warehouse, upon the completion of the Chenango Canal. It was purchased afterwards of Mr. Murray's son, by Messrs. Willard & Curtis, who occupied it for some time, and is now owned by J. A. Douglass, who has in it a planing-mill and cider-mill, and deals in lumber, flour, salt, phosphate, etc., employing two bands.

Lower Woolen- Mill .- This building was originally erec- ted for a tannery and currying establishment by Aaron Burley, as early as 1816. Subsequently the same person operated it as a custom grist-mill and distillery, beginning about 1824-25. The present proprietors are Messrs. E. & W. D. Hicks, who have operated a woolen-factory in the

416

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

building since 1863. A general assortment of cassimeres, flannels, and yarns are manufactured, and work is given to an average of fifteen employees. Two sets of machinery are used.

The brewery at this place was originally built by a man named Hines, although a distillery stood early on the ground, owned by Elisha Fowler. The present proprietor is Eugene Smith, who has erected all the buildings (frame) except the stone malt-house. About ten hands are employed, and from 6000 to 7000 barrels of ale and lager are manufactured an- nually. The mash-tub has a capacity of 100 bushels; 50 barrels of beer are made at once ; mashing and grinding are done by the aid of a ten horse-power stcam-engine. The malting eapacity is 15,000 bushels. The grain used is pur- chased from farmers in the vicinity. About 2000 barrels of beer and ale are retailed to customers.

A post-office was established here about 1828-29, and David Murray, who came here in 1827 and opened a store, was the first postmaster. Previous to this time the mail was carried on horseback from Vernon through to Madison Village, Madison Co., via Augusta Centre, which latter place was the post-office for this town. The present ineum- bent of the office at the Falls is John M. Howe.

The hotel now occupied by Andrew Sargent was built about 1836-37, by John Stebbins, at the time the Chenango Canal was completed. It has since been enlarged and im- proved. Mr. Sargent has occupied it since 1845. His father, Samuel Sargent, located at Madison, Madison Co., in 1814, and during the last few years of his life lived with his son at the Falls.

Josiah Willard owned a traet as early as 1821, on the corner where the " Sargent Block" now stands, and there have been others in the village at different periods.

Oriskany Falls Engine Company, No. 1 .- A hand-en- gine, manufactured at Seneca Falls, was purchased in 1871, and this company was organized immediately afterwards, and chartered by the State in 1873. The company joined the State Firemen's Association in 1874. It had assisted, up to the middle of May, 1878, in extinguishing seven fires, none of them eausing a heavy loss. It has about 40 mem- bers, and is officered as follows : Foreman, Eli Hieks; As- sistant Foreman, Clark Maynard; Treasurer, E. J. Dudley ; Clerk, A. T. Brock.

The Douglass Hose Company has 10 members, and its officers are : Foreman, Charles T. King ; Assistant Foreman, C. T. Walter; Treasurer and Clerk, the same as those of the engine company.

The Oriskany Falls News .- A job printing-office was established in 1869, by the present proprietor, Fred. G. Williard, and in January, 1872, the publication of a small, two-column folio monthly, called the Monthly Advertiser, was commeneed by him. Two issues were printed, after which it was 'enlarged to a three-column folio, and called The Weekly News. It has also been issued as a seven- column folio, but was finally reduced to its present size, 16 by 22 inches, four columns, and the name changed to The Oriskany Falls News. It is devoted entirely to local interests.

Rescue Lodge, No. 489, I. O. G. T., was organized early in 1877, and in May, 1878, had about thirty members.

A lodge-room has been fitted up in the basement of the Congregational Church. The officers for 1878 are the following persons, viz. : W. C. T., Charles Walter; W. V. T., Sarah Munson ; Secretary, Clark Maynard ; Assistant Secretary, Bertha Baker ; Financial Secretary, Julius Gla- zier ; Treasurer, Ella Glazier ; Chaplain, David Spears ; Marshal, Amenzo Brown ; Deputy Marshal, Florence Bentley ; P. W. C., Truman H. Cox, M.D .; I. G., Nina Thompson ; O. G., David Jeffers ; R. H. S., Edith Brown ; L. H. S., Hattie Britt ; Lodge Deputy, Mrs. D. J. Lamb.

The village contained, May 14, 1878, nine stores of various kinds, three shoe-shops, two blacksmith-shops, three saloons, two livery-stables, a barber-shop, a cooper-shop, an undertaking- and cabinet-shop, two meat-markets, and one extensive coal-dealing firm,-Messrs. Putnam & Abbott. These are in addition to the churches, hotel, manufactures, etc., already mentioned. There is also a brass band, having ten pieces, under the leadership of E. S. Bergan. A neat stand was erceted for their use in the spring of 1878. The beautiful cemetery belonging to the village contains about four aeres.

AUGUSTA CENTRE.

The post-office at this place is called Augusta, and is the oldest one in town. Winthrop H. Chandler held the office a good many years, it being located in his store, which stood opposite (east of ) the present store of Henry M. Hawley. He was probably not the first incumbent. The present postmaster is Mr. Hawley, who has the only store in the place.

A hotel was kept here soon after 1800 by Jared Moss, and was burned down about 1820. Another building was put up on the same ground, and occupied for some time as a tavern, and is now used as a dwelling. Others have kept public-house here in a small way, but there is no in- stitution of the kind in the place at present.

The village has now one store, a post-office, two church societies, a school-house, a blacksmitb-shop, a wagon-shop, and a shoe-shop.

VILLAGE OF KNOXBORO'.

This place was originally called Cook's Corners, and afterwards Knox's Corners, but was finally changed to Knoxboro'.

The post-office was established here about 1850, and the first postmaster was James C. Knox, who has held the office ever since, with the exception of one Presidential term (Buchanan's), when Ephraim Hart was postmaster.

James C. Knox & Son (J. Theodore Knox) are carrying on the store established in 1811 by John J. Knox, father of the senior member of the present firm. From this family the place derives its name. J. C. Knox, in com- pany with others, established what was known as the " New York Lock Company" in 1861, and carried on the manu- facture of loeks at this place for four or five years.

John J. Knox and others established a brewery here in the neighborhood of 1820, " to keep folks from drinking whisky." It was afterwards sold to parties from New York City, who manufactured malt and shipped it to that place.

The old union church has been transformed into a union school building, the upper floor being fitted for a

417

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

public hall. The school has two departments, and an at- tendance of about one hundred. Its principal is R. C. Schermerhorn.

The hotel in this village was built by one of the Cooks, as early as 1805-10. It was kept for many years by Timothy Smith. Its present proprietor is P. M. Van Evera.

The Knoxboro' cheese-factory was established by Marvin J. Knox, in the spring of 1861. The present factory was built by him and William M. Fairfield, in 1862. Mr. Knox died before it was entirely completed, and George Helmer purchased an interest and helped finish it. Mr. Helmer is the present proprietor. In May, 1878, this factory was re- ceiving 1700 to 1800 pounds of milk daily. There are two other factories in the town, two of the three making cheese exclusively, and the other cheese and butter.

The grist-mill east of Knoxboro' was built by Charles Fish, and is a brick structure, standing on the site of a frame one previously owned by him, and afterwards trans- formed into a woolen-factory, which was operated a number of years. Between the village and the grist-mill a distil- lery was carried on in an early day by Abner Ranney, and there have been numerous others in town ; also several saw- mills, one of which stood on the small stream in the village. All have gone into disuse, and been mostly removed, except the old one at the grist-mill mentioned.

Knoxboro' contains at present (1878) two stores, two blacksmith-shops, a carriage-shop, a tin-shop, two shoe- shops, millinery and dress-making establishments, etc., besides churches, schools, hotel, etc., already mentioned. The location of the village is pleasant and commanding, near the summit of the west hill, overlooking the valley of the Skenandoa for a number of miles, and containing nu- merous fine residences, the property of some of the wealth- ier citizens of the town.

For information furnished, and favors extended while gathering items for the history of this town, we are under great obligations to Elisha Fowler, A. Sargent, Sidney Put- nam, and others, at Oriskany Falls; James C. Knox and others at Knoxboro'; the town clerk (for use of records) and others at the Centre ; and the proprietors of manufacto- ries, etc., pastors and members of churches, and many whose names are not now recalled. Special obligations are due to Mrs. Andrus Root, of Deansville, for the use of a copy of Rev. O. Bartholomew's historical sermon, delivered at Augusta Centre in 1847.

CHAPTER XXIV. AVA.

THIS town lies centrally on the northern boundary of the county, and includes portions of Matchin's and Adgate's Patents, with several smaller grants to other parties. Its arca is 22,488 acres. Its surface is high and rolling, and the town was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, which proved a source of considerable income to the settlers Numer- ous mills for the manufacture of lumber have been erected,

but since timber has become comparatively scarce, they have mostly been abandoned or torn away. Through this town flow the head-waters of the Mohawk River, and the west- ern boundary is formed by Fish Creek. Besides these there are numerous smaller streams, in all of which the brook trout abounded in great numbers in the days of the early settlement, and in whose waters many of these speckled beauties are still found. In Moose Creek, Isaac Knight used to boast of catching a wash-tub full in a day, but that stream now contains but few. Tributaries of Black River also have their sources in this town, and nearly all the streams furnish considerable water-power.

To the northward of Ava are the dense forests of the northeastern portion of Oswego County, where yet the deer, wolf, and bear are found, and an occasional panther makes the woods ring with his hideous notes. This town was much troubled, during the first years of its settlement, by these animals, especially by the wolves, which made sad havoc among the few flocks of sheep possessed by the settlers, and the bears were not too conscientious to carry of an occasional pig or calf.

THE SETTLEMENT

of the town was begun quite early, considering the distance of the locality from the common thoroughfare along the lower Mohawk, past Fort Stanwix and the " Carrying- Place," and down Wood Creek.

In the year 1797, Ebenezer Harger came from Connec- ticut to Whitestown, and in 1798 removed to this town,' and located three-fourths of a mile east of what is now Ava Corners.

Zephania and Abner Wood came soon after, and about 1800 their numbers were augmented by the arrival of Philo Harger, Benjamin Jones, Lemuel Wood, and Justus Beardsley.

Eli Mitchell, from Massachusetts, came to the town of Western about 1803, and settled with his wife on Webster Hill. Their daughter, Jerusha, was born in that town in 1804. About 1807-8 they moved into Ava, and settled on the farm now owned by their son, Eli T. Mitchell, in the southeast part of the town. The old log house in which they lived stood a short distance northeast of Mr. Mitchell's present residence, and has long been removed.

Rickerson Kenyon was also an early settler, locating south of the Mitchell place, and Joseph Hunt lived in the neighborhood of Ava Corners.

Daniel Buck, also from Massachusetts, located about the year 1800 on the farm now occupied by his son, Jonathan Buck, in the northeast part of the town. The latter per- son was born on the place in December, 1804, and has re- sided upon it ever since. Daniel Buck was a soldier during the struggle for national independence.

Isaac Knight came to this town about 1798-99, from the State of Rhode Island, and settled a mile northcast of the Buck place; the farm now (1878) being occupied by Fen- ner Rockwood.

Northwest of this, on the Moose Creek, a saw-mill was built quite early by Remember Kent, and was kept in use for many years. In 1877 the old dam gave way, and the mill has been abandoned.

418

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Silas C. Morse, of Ava Corners, is a grandson of Silas Morse, who settled very early in the town of Western, cast of the village of Delta. He adopted a boy and a girl, named White, who took the name of their foster-father. The adopted one, Silas W. Morse, was born in the town of Western in 1797, and died in 1848. He was for some years a resident of the town of Lce.

Among other early settlers of the town were Messrs. Bates, Barnard, Fanning, Adams, Beck, Tiffany, and others. Solomon Bates was from New Lebanon, N. Y., and settled in 1800. The first saw-mill in town was built in 1801, by Philo Harger and Benjamin Jones, on the east branch of the Mohawk. The first birth of a white child was that of Chauncey Harger, who was born in March, 1800.

The early schools in this town were institutions of the day, and the same log buildings were here used as were the style in all other parts of the county at that time. In the castern part of the town the children were obliged to go two and three miles to schools in what is yet Boonville, Ava being then included in the latter town. There was in that part of town no school until a very few years before the ercetion of the new town.

The school districts in Ava in 1878 number 10, and the number of children of school age, by the last report, was 371. The apportionment of moncys paid to distriets for teachers' wages, etc., for the school year of 1877-78, was $944.63.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

Meetings have been held by the Germans of this town for forty years or more, and the place of congregating for worship was long the old school-house in Distriet No. 9; meetings were also held in the dwelling-house next east. The present frame church, situated in this district, was built about 1860-61. The membership of the society is small, and the pastoral labors are performed by Rev. Henry Graves.

A SOCIETY OF FRIENDS

at one time had an existence in this town, and a house was built by them for public worship. They were long ago the only religions society in town, although members of various denominations resided within its limits.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AVA CORNERS.

This society was organized in 1868, and the present neat frame church erceted in 1869. A local preacher held ser- vices for one year, after which Rev. William C. Empey was installed as the first regular pastor. The present pas- tor is Rev. Mr. Woodward, a student of the Syracuse Uni- versity. The membership of the society is not large. A Sunday-school is usually sustained.

ORGANIZATION OF TIIE TOWN-ELECTIONS, ETC.

The town of Ava was erected from Boonville, by an act of the Legislature, passed May 12, 1846, entitled " An act to erect the town of Ava from the west part of the town of Boonville, in the county of Oucida." This act is as fol- lows, viz .:

" The people of the State of New York, represented ia Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows :

"¿ 1. All that part of the town of Boonville, in the county of Oneida, lying west of the following deseribed line, to wit : Beginning oc the south line of the town of Boonville aforesaid, at the southeast coraer of lot number twenty-two of Matchio's Patent, and running thence northerly along the east lines of lots twenty-two and twenty - one to the northeast corner of lot number twenty-one aforesaid; theace westerly to the southwest eorder of lot number one hnudred and eighty-six of Adgate's Patent; thence northerly along the west lines of lots numbers one hundred and eighty-six, one hundred and fifty-eight, one hundred and thirty-three, one hundred and eleven, ninety-two, seventy-six, sixty-two, fifty-one, and continuing the same course across lot aumher two hundred and two of said Adgate's Patent . to the northwesterly line of said town of Boouville, is hereby erected into a separate town by the name of Ava.

" ¿ 2. All the remaining part of the town of Boonville sball con- tique to be and remain a separate towa by the name of Boonville.

" ¿ 3. The first town-meeting in the towo of Ava shall be held on the fourth Tuesday of May, 1846, at ten o'clock in the foreavoa, at the house of Joshua Coleman, in said towa, and at such towo-meet- ing Isaae Knight, Horace Hoyt, and Trumao Harger, or any two of them, may preside, and for that purpose shall possess all the powers and duties of Justices of the Peace.

"¿ 4. All subsequent anoual towa-meetings in said town shall be held oa the same day as is or shall be provided for holding anoual towa-meetings in the respective towns in the County of Oneida.

"¿ 5. This act shall take effect on the fourth Tuesday of May, 1846."

According to the provisions of the above aet, the first town-meeting for the town of Ava was held on the date set forth, and the following officers elected, viz. : Supervisor, Henry Capron; Town Clerk, Horace Hoyt; Justices of the Peace, Samuel Jones, Truman Harger, John Cronk, Jeremiah Rowley ; Collector, Ezekiel R. Preston ; Asses- sors, Jonathan Buck, David Rankins, Ephraim S. Adams ; Superintendent of Common Schools, Horace A. Buck ; Commissioners of Highways, Nathan Shippy, Artemas Young, Daniel Edgerton; Overseers of the Poor, Samuel Hunt, Hiram Cronk ; Constables, Nathan R. Tiffany, Noah Nelson, John S. Bush, Archibald McDonald; Scaler of Weights and Measures, Horace Hoyt.

The Supervisors of this town, from 1847 to 1877 inclu- sive, have been the following-named persons : 1847, Henry Capron ; 1848-49, Horace Hoyt ; 1850, Henry Capron ; 1851-52, Silas C. Morse ; 1853, Horace Hoyt; 1854-55, Walker Adams; 1856, Reuben Knight; 1857, Peter A. Flint ; 1858-59, Henry E. Shaver; 1860, Samuel Hunt ; 1861, Stephen L. Bates; 1862-64, Jedediah Edgerton ; 1865-66, James H. Capron ; 1867, Samuel Hurlbut ; 1868, Selden Palmer ; 1869, Silas C. Morse ; 1870-71, John M. Edgerton ; 1872, Peter A. Flint; 1873, Selden Palmer ; 1874, Smith M. Capron ; 1875, Silas C. Morse; 1876, James H. Bellinger ; 1877, Luke Jones.

The officers for 1878 are as follows, viz. : Supervisor, Gideon Vary ; Town Clerk, Philip Hammnes; Justices of the Peace, George Oster, Richard Chase, Jr .; Assessor, Addison Sawyer; Commissioner of Highways, Andrew Kilts; Overseer of the Poor, Fred Henry ; Collector, Syl- vester Butler; Constables, Sylvester Butler, William Welch, Charles Knight, Hadley Buck ; Inspectors of Election, District No. 1, Adam Ruth, Charles Doty, Selden Palmer ; District No. 2, Edward Mackin, James H. Franklin, Milo Gukins; Town Auditors, Charles Castle, George C. Van Dyke, Andrew Hurlbut; Commissioner of Excise, Fred. W. Swigelsou.

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 111

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