History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 117

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 117

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Grove Mills, on the cast side of Mad River, were built by John Lambie and Levi Wilcox about 1858-60. The present proprietor is James Owen. This mill contains two runs of stone. Mr. Lambie's people came from Scotland in 1831, and his wife's father, John Richmond, in 1830.

The furniture and chair-manufactory in the north part of the village was established by F. H. Conant, in 1851. The present proprietors are F. H. Conant's sons, who man- ufacture for the trade only. The old factory was burned in 1876, and the present one erected since. It is located on Mad River. The lumber used is purchased principally in the log; about half a million feet were worked up in 1877. All kinds of hard-wood lumber are used, of which the black- walnut is shipped mostly from Michigan, with a small amount from Ohio. The value of the annual productions of this factory is about $50,000. The goods are princi- pally disposed of in the State of New York, although con- siderable amounts are sold in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Canada. The firm has a retail store in the village. Forty hands are employed on an average. There is also a furni- ture-factory two miles above the village, on Mad River, owned by Young & Mabie.

Corn Canning .- Camden is the centre of a very large business in this line, and the brand of corn packed in this neighborhood is equal to any in the country. A new fac- tory has been erected the past season (1878), by Messrs. Godfrey & Stoddard, on Mad River. The principal estab- lishment is owned by the "Camden Packing Company," which has two factories in town. One of them, located a mile and a half west of the village, was erected by J. E. Woods in the spring of 1874, and the other, below the vil- lage, by Stephen S. McCall, in 1872. The former is known as the " Woods Factory," and Mr. Woods owns a third in -* terest in it, the company renting the building of him. Eight thousand cases, of two dozen cans cach, were packed here in 1877. During about half the year five or six men are em- ployed in making cans, and in the canning season about 200 men, women, and children are furnished work at the factory. The other, known as the " McCall Factory," was operated, in 1872, by S. S. McCall & Co., and, in 1873, by J. P.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

McCall & Co. The " Camden Packing Company" carried it on for Mr. McCall from 1874 to 1877, and packed in the latter year over 16,000 cases. The products of these fac- tories are shipped to nearly every point where canned corn is used, although the principal market is San Francisco, Cal. Other extensive markets are Chicago, Boston, and New York. Very much of the corn prepared by this com- pany is shipped indirectly to Great Britain and Europe, and even to Australia. The company is largely interested in a fruit-canning establishment at Lockport, Niagara Co., N. Y. During the summer of 1877 the following persons were engaged in corn-packing in the neighborhood of Cam- den, beside the " Camden Packing Company," viz. : J. W. Mix, Godfrey & Stoddard, Pliny Phelps, Byron Phelps, W. I. Stoddard, and Paddock Brothers. A new factory, to go into operation in 1878, was nearly completed in March, when these items were gathered, owned by James Gerow. In 1877 the Paddock Brothers put up about 1000 cases ; Godfrey & Stoddard, about 2000; J. W. Mix, about 7000; and the others, from 200 to 500 each. The Camden Packing Company canned more than all the other factories in the State in 1877, calculating the amounts put up here in corn, and the fruit at their Lockport factory, about 28,000 cases altogether, and rank about fifth among the firms in the United States in the same business.

The first firm to establish themselves in the business of corn-canning in this county were the Edgett Brothers, who commenced at Camden abont 1855. J. W. Mix established his factory in 1865. He employs from 140 to 150 hands during the canning season, and averages from 7000 to 8000 cases annually, while the first year after he started he only canned about 100 cases. Except in the packing and ship- ping season, he has several persons making cans, at the rate of 1050 daily. His factory is located in the northwest part of the village. Mr. Mix's great-grandfather, John Mix, came from New Haven, Conn., as early as 1800-2, and settled on the hill west of Camden village. At that time it was generally supposed the village would be laid out on the latter site; but, owing to the better facilities for build- ing factories, mills, etc., the space between the two streams, Fish Creek and Mad River, was selected.

THE CAMDEN INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION

was organized in 1856, and grounds leased of Ashbel Upson, upon which a race-track was constructed, and build- ings erected for the exhibition of agricultural and other pro- ducts. Until 1875 very successful fairs were held annually; but none have been held since the latter date.

A building for the use of the Camden union school was erected in 1853, and in 1855 it was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt the same year, and is a fine-appearing two-story structure of brick, in the northeastern part of the village.

A private bank was established here May 14, 1876, by its present proprietors, Messrs. D. G. & J. G. Dorrance.

THE CAMDEN SAXE-HORN BAND

was organized in 1855, with fourteen members. The or- ganization has since been continued under different names. At one time it was considered one of the finest bands in

Central New York. It has fifteen pieces at present, and is under the leadership of C. R. Besse.

The village contained in March, 1878, about thirty stores of various descriptions, and a proportionate number of mechanic shops.

SOCIETIES.

Philanthropic Lodge, No. 164, F. and A. M., was or- ganized about 1850. Previous to this, at quite an early date, a Masonic Lodge was organized here, numbered 140, but was disbanded during the anti-Masonic excitement consequent upon the Morgan affair. The membership of the present Lodge in March, 1878, was 102, and its officers as follows, viz. : Spencer J. Upson, W. M .; B. D. Stone, S. W .; John F. Wolcott, J. W .; W. H. Crenan, S. D .; C. E. Kniffen, J. D. ; E. A. Harvey, Treas. ; J. H. Tracy, M.D., Sec .; P. E. Boehm, Tyler ; P. J. Loveland, Chap- lain; G. W. More, Organist ; N. N. Salladin, Marshal. A neat Masonic hall belonging to this Lodge was built in 1863, at a cost of about $2700.

Darius Chapter, No. 144, R. A. M., sprang from the old lodge, and has at present a small membership. Its officers for 1878 are P. J. Loveland, High Priest ; J. H. Tracy, M.D., King; George Abbott, Scribe; James E. Tripp, Treasurer ; H. G. Du Bois, M.D., Secretary ; Spencer J. Upson, Captain of Host; M. R. Cook, P. S .; F. D. Fi- field, R. H. C. ; H. A. Case, M. 3d V .; Heman Snow, M. 2d V .; A. T. Van Valkenburgh, M. 1st V. ; P. E. Bochm, Tyler.

The resident lawyers in Camden are Stephen Cromwell, Arthur C. Woodruff, and Egbert More.

The present physicians of the village are the following : Robert Frazier, M.D., regular, formerly of McConnellsville ; J. S. Wright, M.D., eclectic, oldest practitioner in the place; Robert Mclaughlin, M.D., eclectic ; Hiram G. Du Bois, M.D., regular, in practice here since 1869 ; Henry W. Leonard, M.D., eclectic, a member of the Oswego County Ec- lectic Society. Dr. Joshua H. Tracy and Dr. H. H. Wood- ruff are regularly educated physicians, but are not now in practice. Dr. Du Bois served as president of the County Medical Society in 1875 and 1876, and Dr. Frazier in 1872; both are permanent members of the State Medical Society.

VILLAGE OF WEST CAMDEN.

About 1800, Manning Barnes came to this town from the State of Connecticut, and located where the village of West Camden now stands. He built a log house on the site of the present hotel at the place, and a frame part after- wards added is now a portion of the hotel. Some time after he settled, having been obliged to keep persons over night who were on their way north and northwest (into Jefferson and other counties), he erected a sign, and made a business of tavern-keeping for many years.

Mr. Barnes was accompanied to this town by his brothers, Whiting and Lyman. They selected land upon which to locate, and afterwards moved in the family of their father, Zopher Barnes. The other sons were Zopher, Street, and Pliny Barnes. Whiting Barnes settled on the farm now owned by A. Barnes, westward of West Camden.

The first store at this place was established by Wilburt Barnes, who erected a small building, and placed a stock of

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

439

goods therein. He continued in business for some time. He was a son of Manning Barnes.

The post-office at West Camden was established in 1832 or shortly before, and probably the first postmaster was Merritt Munson. Whiting and Wilburt Barnes afterwards held the office, and the present incumbent is E. Delamater.

West Camden is located on a sandy level two miles west of Camden village, and contained in March, 1878, one store, a post-office, a hotel, a school-house, one church edi- fice, in which the Congregationalists and Methodists hold services, a railway-station, a blacksmith-shop, and a saw- mill. Quite an extensive tannery was located here, but was recently burned, and when the place was visited for

historical notes (March, 1878) it had not yet been rebuilt. The Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg Railway passes through the place, following the valley of Fish Creek, along which, in this vicinity, are numerous tracts of swampy land.

To those who have aided the historian in compiling the foregoing account of the town thanks are hereby tendered. Among the parties who have kindly assisted us are Hon. Thomas D. Penfield, the pastors and members of churches, proprietors of manufactories, and many, whose names we have not space to mention, in Camden village; Woodard Perkins, Mrs. S. L. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo Munson, of West Camden and vicinity, and numerous others.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

FRANCIS SKINNER.

The subject of this brief sketch was born June 6, 1801, in Albany County. He is the son of Wright and Hannah (Ten Eyck) Skinner. The family moved to Oneida County about the year 1827, and settled in the town of Camden. In the same year Francis bought the farm on which he now resides, which was then in a wild state. He spent six years of his early life in this county, peddling tin-ware for Erastus Upsen in this and the adjoining counties.

Oct. 31, 1839, he married Maria Keals, danghter of Frederick and Catherine Keals, of Manlius, Onondaga Co. Together they have labored to earn for themselves a home, and their efforts have been crowned with success, and they can look forward to a life of ease, having a competency for this world's needs.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

DEERFIELD.

" BY an act of the Legislature passed March 15, 1798, the county of Oneida was taken from Herkimer County, with its eastern boundary commencing on the southeast corner

MRS. FRANCIS SKINNER.

of the town of Bridgewater, and running north on the east line of Bridgewater to the southcast corner of Paris; thence on the same line, continued on the east line of Paris and Whitestown, to the southerly line of Cosby's Manor. Thus far the county line was upon the original line of Whites- town, as established in 1788. Commencing on the south- erly line of Cosby's Manor, the county line diverged from the original line of Whitestown, by running northeasterly in a direct line to the northerly bounds of Cosby's Manor, at a point where the same is intersected by the division line between Gage's and Walton's Patents; thence northerly upon the line between Walton's and Gage's Patents to the West Canada Creek ; thence northerly up the waters of said creek to the forks thereof, etc. The line of the county thus diverging from the original line of Whitestown, left por- tions of the towns of Frankfort and Schuyler in the county of Oneida. The act then proceeded to annex the part so left of Frankfort to Whitestown, and then organized the town of Deerfield from the part taken from Schuyler, pro- viding that the first town-meeting should be held at the house of Ezra Payne."*

By an act passed March 30, 1832, the town was di-

Jones' Annals, etc.

440

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

vided and the new town of Marcy created, leaving Deer- field with its present boundaries. The town has an area of a little more than 35 square miles, or 22,500 acres. Its population, by the census of 1875, was 2098. The northern boundary is formed by the West Canada Creek, and the southern by the Mohawk River; on the east is Herkimer County, and on the west the towns of Marcy and Trenton, Oneida County. Reall's Creek, named from an early set- tler, rises near the centre of the town, and, after a winding course of seven or eight miles, empties into the Mohawk, near the Genesee Street bridge at Utica. It flows through the village of Deerfield Corners, which place is connected with Utica by a turnpike toll-road one mile in length. North of the centre the town is crossed by Nine-Mile Creek, so named from the fact that it discharges its waters into the Mohawk at a point nine miles above Utica. There are numerous smaller streams, mostly tributary to the Mohawk, a few flowing into West Canada Creek.

The surface of the town is greatly varied. Immediately north of the Mohawk the broad alluvial intervale, or bottom- land, stretches back an average distance of perhaps one and a half miles. After passing for some distance above what is known as the "river-road" a steady ascent begins, and terminates on the summits of the famous " Deerfield Hills," 800 feet above the Mohawk. Crossing these, the valley of Nine-Mile Creek intervenes, beyond which the hills in the north part rise to the height of probably 1000 feet above the Mohawk. The view from either range is one of great beauty. A broad expanse of hill and dale is spread before the eye, and occasional silver threads of water appear along the beds of the different streams. From the vicinity of North Gage Post-office, the valley of West Canada Creek appears almost under foot, and away eastward the frowning hills of Herkimer County appear, massive and grand. To the north are seen the highland regions of Russia, Herki- . mer Co., with an occasional church-spire or white farm- house, and to the northwest rises some of the highest land in Oneida County,-Starr's Hill, in the town of Steuben. From the southern range of hills a fine bird's-eye view of the Mohawk Valley for many miles is obtained, and the villages of Oriskany, Whitesboro', Yorkville, and New York Mills appear seemingly in a cluster, while the city of Utica becomes dwarfed by distance to a mere handful of church-spires and columns of smoke. The valley to the east is closed in by the hills, which stand like mighty sentinels to watch the gateway through which the stream passes, and forever

" Frown on the river below."

Previous to the Revolution a few adventurous men came into the upper valley of the Mohawk, and located in what is now Deerfield. These were George J. Weaver,* Captain Mark Damoth, and Christian Reall, who located here in 1773, built themselves log houses, and began clearing ground for cultivation. " Like a large proportion of the Dutch on the Mohawk, these settlers were stanch Whigs. Not having the sign of being Tories at their doors (this sign was the skull-bone of a horse upon the top of a stake), they were marked for the firebrand and the scalping-knife.

In the summer of 1776 an Indian, believed to have been an Oneida, and who, for some cause, had received the sobriquet of Blue Back, was hunting northwardly from the settlement, and in the vicinity of Canada Creek. While thus occupied, he came upon a party of Tories and Indians, who were very particular in their inquiries respect- ing the little settlement at the Corners. Blue Back gave such answers as he chose, and the party proceeded in the direction of the settlement. After they were out of sight, Blue Back, who was well acquainted with, and the fast friend of, the settlers, boding no good to them from the visit they were about to receive, determined to apprise them of their danger. For this purpose, being well acquainted with the intervening hills, swamp, and thickets, with all the rapidity of the Indian scout he hastened to their set- tlement, and gave them timely warning of their danger. Soon their scanty furniture was hidden in the forest, and the women and children, in a wagon, accompanied by the men on foot, were rapidly wending their way to Little Stone Arabia, a small fort which was situated in the present town of Schuyler.t The time was but brief ere the Indians and Tories were in the settlement ; but ' the birds had flown,' and nothing was left upon which to vent their disappointed spite except the empty dwellings. To these the brand was applied, and their charred ruins were all that was left of the first settlement of Deerfield."}

It is stated that after the escape of these pioneer settlers, Mr. Damoth, who had previously been a resident of Herki- mer, returned to that place, and was soon after commis- sioned captain of a company of rangers. In a subsequent attack upon Herkimer he had an arm badly shattered, which disabled him so much that he received a pension for life on account of it.

Mr. Weaver, another of the settlers, was taken prisoner near Herkimer by a party of Indians and Tories, and carried, by way of Oswego, to Canada, and kept for nine months in close confinement at Quebec. He was taken from there to England, and after having been a prisoner for over two years was finally exchanged and returned to the Mohawk Valley.

The long Revolutionary struggle was not the least severe in the beautiful valley of the Mohawk, and many scenes of ruthless slaughter and bloodshed were witnessed within it, the scattered settlers suffering from Indian ravages and from the forays of their scarcely less savage allies, the Tories. Scarcely a family living in the region but was in mourning for some member slain, and many were completely broken up and their farms left desolate. The three families who were driven out of Deerfield, however, each resolved to go back to their hastily-evacuated farms, and the year 1784 found them again at work in their fields so long untilled, in the locality of what is now Deerfield Corners.

At nearly the same time Peter Weaver,§ Nicholas Weaver,§ George Weaver, George Damoth, Nicholas Harter, and Philip Harter, arrived and settled in the same

¡ Herkimer County.

# Jones.

¿ Petor and Nicholas Weaver were not of the same family as George J. Weaver, although distantly related.

* Originally spelled Weber.

THE OLD HOMESTEAD.

RESIDENCE OF L.C. SCHERMERHORN, DEERFIELD, ONEIDA CO, N. Y.

LITH BY L.H EVERTS, PHILADELPHIA. . BARN 60 BY 80 FEET.)

PHOTO. BY WILLIAMS

Duncan Blue

A.L.BLUE.

LITH. Bv L K. EVERTS, PHILA , PA. .

RESIDENCE or ALLEN L. BLUE, NORTH GAGE , ONEIDA Cº N. Y.

RESIDENCE OF PETER WALKER, DEERFIELD, ONEIDA C.º N. Y

633

LITH BY L. H EVERTS, PHILA . P.A.

PHOTO BY SMTK

JAMES COX.

MRS. NANCY M.COX.

RESIDENCE OF JAMES M. COX, DEERFIELD, ONEIDA CO, N.Y.

LITH BY L. H.EVERTS, PHILA. PA.

441

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

neighborhood. Judge Hugh White had but a short time previously located where now stands the village of Whites- boro'.

The first white male child born in the town of Deerfield was a son of George M. Weaver and grandson of George J. Weaver. This was George M. Weaver, Jr., whose birth occurred Jan. 15, 1787. He died early in 1877, in his ninetieth year. When but five years old he was a party to an adventure of a kind common at that period, which is described as follows in Judge Jones' " Annals" :

" In 1792 the first bridge was erected over the Mohawk between Utiea and Deerfield. To insure more help it was raised on Sunday. George M. Weaver-son of George J. Weaver-and his wife, with their little son, . . . were on their way to the raising, and when about half-way from the Corners to Utica, and some twenty or thirty rods above the present MacAdam road, their dog treed a hear. Mr. Weaver left his wife and son with the dog to keep the animal up the tree, while he returned for his gun. The peculiar barking of the dog bad apprised the inhabitants of ' Old Fort Schuyler' that valuable game was on foot, and a number of them arrived with their guns at about the same time that Mr. Weaver returned. Four or five shots were made in quiek sueeession, and poor Bruin's life paid the forfeit for his temerity in approaching so near the site of an embryo eity."

The only surviver of the third generation of the Weaver family in this town is Jacob G. Weaver, who lives a short distance above the corners, on the old plank-road. A son of George M. Weaver-Hon. A. B. Weaver-occupies his father's old place, and is among the leading citizens of the town. He has several times been in the Assembly. Jacob G. Weaver has four times filled the office of supervisor of Deerfield,-and the Weaver family, from its earliest settle- ment here, has been one of the most influential both in agricultural matters and politically.

Nicholas and Philip Harter, mentioned among the early settlers of this town, were brothers, and owned adjoining farms. Nicholas Harter was a Revolutionary veteran and pensioner, and a shoemaker by trade, at which he worked evenings, attending to his farm-labors during the day. He died July 26, 1854, in his ninety-fourth year. His son, Richard Harter, resides on the old place, and in the house in which he was born in 1800. The road originally passed north of the house instead of south, as at present. Philip Harter was by trade a blacksmith, and erected a small shop on his place, in which he worked during his life in Deer- field. He died about 1807-8. The Harters were from Herkimer, Herkimer Co., where they were both born. Their grandfather was a native of Germany, and was killed by the Indians during the Revolution.

Timothy Smith, originally from near Providence, R. I., and afterwards of Worcester, Mass., settled in Deerfield in March, 1800, with his family, on what is still known as "Smith's Hill," where they at first occupied a barn. Mr. Smith was accompanied by his wife, four sons, and one daughter. One of the sons died in Jefferson Co., N. Y., another in Iowa, and the others in Deerfield. Pratt Smith, the last survivor, died in town in March, 1874, at the age of eighty-six. He was one of the settlers who had witnessed a great amount of hardship and privation in the develop- ment of the country. His son, Giles Smith, from whom the foregoing information was obtained, is a resident of the town, of which he was elected supervisor in 1877. The

hill was named from the Smith family, they being the first permanent settlers upon it.

Dr. Alexander Coventry, who settled in Utica in 1796, removed to a farm in Deerfield about 1804. He was a native of Scotland, and came to America in July, 1785, locating first at Hudson, Columbia Co., N. Y. From there he removed to Romulus, Seneca Co., and in 1796 to Utica, -then " Old Fort Schuyler." In 1817 he had for a part- ner Dr. John McCall, at that time also a resident of Deer- field. In 1818 their office was removed to Utica. Dr. Coventry died Dec. 9, 1831. His son, Robert Coventry, resides on a portion of the old farm in Deerfield, where he was born in February, 1807.

The settlements in the northern part of the town were made a number of years later than those along the Mohawk. In 1803, John Smith, from near Little Falls, Herkimer Co., several families named Blue, the Walkers, and the Mckays, located in the North Gage neighborhood. These families were nearly all Scotch.

Jacob H. Schermerhorn, a native of Rensselaer County, and later a resident of Montgomery, came to Deerfield about 1800-2, and purchased between 200 and 300 acres of land in the north part of town. In 1803 his eldest son, Uriah Schermerhorn, with a colored family named Jackson (the property of the elder Schermerhorn), moved to the place, and in March, 1804, his father settled with the rest of the family. A log house and barn were huilt on the place, near West Canada Creek, and Mr. Schermerhorn, Sr., afterwards moved up and built another log house near the present dwelling of his grandson, William Schermerhorn. The house now occupied by the latter was built by his grand- father in 1812, and was the first framed house erccted in this part of the town. Jacob H. Schermerhorn died on the 8th day of May, 1813. His son, Cornelius Schermerhorn, resides at North Gage. Another son, Daniel, was the first man to volunteer from Deerfield for the war of 1812. He held the rank of sergeant, and was stationed at Sacket's Harbor. After the war he became a colonel of militia.

Levi Schermerhorn, of North Gage, has in his possession an old-fashioned plow, with a wooden mold-board, and but one handle ; also, an iron pitchfork eighty years old or more, a shovel-plow of ahout the same age, and a " scythe and mat- hook" brought from Germany before 1800. While recently in North Holland, where he went to give instructions in the art of cheese-making, he prepared a model of the wagons now in use in that country. It is a curiosity, and shows a lack of enterprise and ingenuity on the part of the Hol- lander. The driver sits on the end-board, and by means of a crook in front steers the wagon down-hill with his feet.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 117

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