History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 119

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 119

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LEVI C. SCHERMERHORN.

The father of this gentleman is Cornelius Schermerhorn, who emigrated from Montgomery Co., N. Y., to the town of Deerfield, in 1803, and was married there, in 1819, to Nancy Harrington. They are both living, having been companions in life for most sixty years, the former being in his eightieth, and the latter in her seventy-seventh year. His father was early engaged in the tanning and shoe- making trade, but afterwards became a farmer. He received only the advantages of a common-school education, and worked on his father's farm till the age of twenty-six. He then started in life for himself, renting a farm for four years, and without any pecuniary assistance is to-day in possession of one of the finest farms in Oneida County, consisting of about 150 acres, on which are located large, fine, and com- modious buildings, with all modern improvements. In 1853 he commenced the manufacture of cheese, and pro- duced an article that gained high reputation in the market ; and in 1870 he was hired by a factory in Derby, Derby- shire, England, to educate their employees in the mode of making cheese in America. He also went to Brook, in Water Land, Holland, on the same business. He remained abroad a year. He was married, Sept. 8, 1852, to Susan, daughter of Elijah and Mehitable Terry, she being born in Newport, Herkimer Co., Deo. 20, 1826. They have but one child living, Lydia N., born in Russia, Herkimer Co., Dec. 28, 1854. He belongs to the Republican party, and he and his wife are members of the Free Baptist Church.

447

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

CHAPTER XXIX.

FLORENCE.

THIS town occupies a position in the northwest corner of Oneida County, and has an area of 33,473 acres. It in- cludes township No. 4, and a part of township No. 3, of Scriba's Patent. The town is watered by Mad River and its tributaries,-Little River and others,-and several branches of Fish Creek, which join the latter stream after a southeasterly course through Camden and Annsville. Several of these streams furnish very good power for driv- ing the machinery of mills, tanneries, etc. The surface of the town is somewhat hilly, and in places quite broken. The soil is cold and stony, and only by the hardest work is it made to repay the efforts of the husbandman. The original settlers have nearly all removed from the town, and in their places is now found a large population of natives of the land of the Shamrock.

THE SETTLEMENT

of Florence was commenced in the fall of the year 1801, at which time Amos Woodworth located about half a milc from its north line. John Spinning, at about the same time, settled on what is called the " State Road," two miles south- east of Florence village, and a Mr. Turner came at about the same period.

"These three settlers had each fifty acres of land given them by William Henderson, of the city of New York, who had previously purchased the fourth township of Scriba's Patent. The land was given as a bonus to induce them to commence the settlement of the town- ship. Perhaps there were others who had land given them, but of this no satisfactory information has been obtained. Very shortly after these first settlers bad moved into town, Azariah Orten, a Mr. Crawford and his son, Clark Crawford, and Norman Waugh, settled in the south part of town, and Benoni Barlow, Ebenezer Barlow, Am- brose Curtiss, Ephraim Wright, Joseph Olcett, and Benjamin Youngs settled in that part of the town known as 'Florence Hill.'"#

Nathan Thomson visited this town in 1801, but did not settle until the 6th of May, 1802, when he brought his family with him and located on the farm now owned by his son, Aaron H. Thomson. He built a log house a short distance east of the site of the present dwelling, where he kept tavern for a long period, and finally erected a part of the building now standing. He occupied this farm until his death, and was succeeded in the tavern-keeping business by his son, A. H. Thomson, who was born on the place Oct. 4, 1805. The latter is still a resident on the old farm, and occasionally practices law.

Another early settler in this neighborhood was Job Dawley, who located previous to the war of 1812, on the farm now owned by Robert McFern, near the present resi- dence of Mr. Dawley's son, Calvin. The latter person was twice at Sacket's Harbor during the war above mentioned, and is now eighty-two years of age. Other early comers to the town were Anthony Empey, Hiram Fellows, John Crop- per, Elijah Blake (the first surveyor), and Abel Smith.

When Nathan Thomson came to Florence there was but one house between that of John W. Bloomfield, Esq., at Taberg, in the town of Annsville, and the one occupied by

John Spinning, two miles east of Florence village, a dis- tance by the route then traveled of about twenty-two miles. The settler who lived in this lone dwelling was named John Rogers. For animal food the pioneer of that day was obliged to depend exclusively on his rifle to secure it from the herds of deer which roamed through the dense forests which surrounded his " log cabin home." Yet even that being the case, he so far humored his taste as to select the smoothest and fattest of the lot, for the hardy settler was still somewhat of an epicure.

Mr. Thomson very nearly lost his life on the 11th day of July, 1809, while engaged in drawing wood to his door. When about to fasten the chain to a load, the horse started and caught the hook of the chain through the fleshy part of Mr. Thomson's left leg, tearing the tendons loose from the heel to the knee. The horse dragged him about twenty-five rods, but Mr. Thomson finally disengaged him- self as the animal was preparing to leap a fence, when he must have almost certainly been killed. He finally recov- ered, but was badly scarred.

It has been impossible to ascertain anything reliable con- cerning the early schools of this town, from the fact that in the neighborhoods where they were likely to have been kept the population has almost entirely changed. But in this, as in other towns, it could not have been long after the settlements were made before means were provided, as best they could be, for the education of the children. There are at present seventeen districts in the town, three of them being joint districts. The attendance is consider- able, and the schools are in very good condition.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

" The first church organization in the town of Florence was a Con- gregational Church, on Florence Hill, organized December 16, 1816. At the time of its formation it consisted of 10 members,-3 males and 7 females. When constituted, it was on the Congregational plan of government, but early joined the Presbytery on the accommodation system. It had so increased that it reported to the Presbytery, Jan- uary 1, 1829, 68 communicants; in 1832 and in 1834, 72 in each year. From this time it declined in numbers until 1845, when it re- ported hut 40 members. From the time of its formation up to 1825 the church bad no paster, but was supplied with preaching quite a portion of the time by clergymen employed for different lengths of time. October 7, 1825, they gave the Rev. Samuel Sweezy a call to settle with them. A society in connection with the church was formed January 26, 1826, and forthwith hecame incorporated under the statute. Mr. Sweezy, having accepted the call, was installed March 8, 1826. At a society-meeting, held February 6, 1826, a vote of thanks to Gerrit Smith was passed, 'for furnishing part of the glass, a site for the meeting-house, a liberal lot for a burying-place, thirty acres of land for the benefit of the society, fifty acres to the Rev. Samuel Sweezy, and a subscription of $10 a year for the sup- port of the Gospel.' In 1825 the meeting-house on the hill was com- menced, hut was not completed under two or three years. The Rev. Mr. Sweczy afterwards removed to Camden, and the church lost its visibility."f

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 1

The first class of this denomination was organized about 1815, on Florence Hill, where a society is still in existence, with a small membership. Another class was formed about three miles below Florence village, on Mad River, about 1820, which flourished for a number of years. At the vil- lage a class was formed at about the same time, which

* Jones.

t.Jones.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

erected a house of worship in 1833. This society has a large membership, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. R. O. Beebe, who holds services also in Redfield, Oswego Co.

BAPTIST CHURCH, FLORENCE VILLAGE.

This organization was formed previous to 1828, in which latter year it belonged to the Oneida Baptist Association, and had a membership of twenty-four, with Roger Maddock, a licentiate, as pastor. Mr. Maddock labored here until 1831, when he was ordained as a preacher. In 1835 there were 64 members, in charge of James B. Olcott. Among the preachers were Denison Alcott, Benjamin Fuller, and others. The society built a very respectable house of wor- ship in the village, and in 1833 opened a school for the education of young men, on the plan of combining mental and manual labor. A large three-story stone building, for the use of the school, was erected in 1834, but finally both church and school lost their visibility. The church is now occupied by a small Congregational society, in charge of Rev. Mr. Watkins, of Osceola, Lewis Co .; and the school- building was. purchased by the Catholics about 1845-46, and converted into a church. The latter congregation is the largest in town, and is in charge of Rev. Father Ludden.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, EMPEYVILLE.

Owing to some disagreement, two churches were built at this place originally,-one where the school-house now stands, and the other in its present location in the western part of the village. One or both these churches received the name " Union Church" at first. Both were frame buildings ; the upper one was converted into a school-house, and finally burned. The present church was dedicated by the Methodist Episcopal society within the past five or six years. Owing to a recent revival, its membership has con- siderably increased, and now numbers about 40. The pastor is Rev. R. O. Beebe, of Florence village. A Sabbath-school is sustained, and the society is in a flourish- ing condition.

ORGANIZATION.

The town of Florence was formed from a part of Cam- den, Feb. 16, 1805. A portion of Annsville was taken off in 1823, leaving it with its present dimensions. By the provisions of the act creating the town, the first town- meeting was held at the tavern of John Spinning, two miles southeast of Florence village, on the State road, on the first Tuesday in April, 1805 .* The following were the officers elected, viz. : Supervisor, Asa Jenkins; Town Clerk, David Young; Assessors, Benoni Barlow, Eliakim Simons, Daniel Dye; Collector, Joseph Olcott ; Poormas- ters, Ephraim Wright, Abraham Morton; Commissioners of Highways, Samuel Town, John Spinning, Ephraim Wright ; Constables, Joseph Olcott, James Angell ; Fence- Viewers, Ansel Lovejoy, Imri Case, Lemuel Spinning, Jonathan Morton; Pathmasters, Azariah Orton, Jared Olcott, Norton Waugh, David Kellogg, Amos Willcox, Salem Town, Asa Jenkins, Daniel Dye.

The following are the Supervisors of Florence from 1806 to 1877, inclusive : 1806-7, Asa Jenkins ; 1808, Samuel

Stanford ; 1809-13, Asa Jenkins; 1813 (special election), Samuel Stanford; 1814-23, Benoni Barlow; 1824-28, Calvin Dawley; 1829-32, Amos Woodworth ; 1833-34, Simon Davis; 1835-36, Charles Curtiss ; 1837-38, Safford S. Delano; 1839-40, Amos Woodworth ; 1841, Nathan Thomson ; 1842, Varnum Dunton; 1843-44, Anthony Empey, Jr. ; 1845-46, Daniel G. Dorrance; 1847, Watson Sammon ; 1848-50, Aaron H. Thomson ; 1851-52, John Downer, Jr .; 1853-54, Rensselaer Lament ; 1855, Junius X A. Cowles ; 1856, Lewis Rider; 1857-58, Cornelius Simpkins; 1859, Aaron H. Thomson ; 1860-61, Lewis Rider; 1862-63, Michael McLaughlin ; 1864-66, A. H. Thomson; 1867-68, A. L. Rider ; 1869-70, Stoddard Loveland; 1871-77, Edward Fitzgerald.

For 1878 the officers of Florence are as follows, viz. : Supervisor, Joseph McFern; Town Clerk, Michael Donohoe; Justice of the Peace, John Moor ; Commissioner of High- ways, Michael Smith ; Collector, William Cavanah; Assessor, James Fox ; Overseer of the Poor, Patrick Roach ; Town Auditors, John Hoolihan, Joseph Finegan, Ira B. Griffin ; Constables, Daniel O'Mara, Thomas Smith, John Hawks, Elson Moses, Ambrose Osborn ; Inspectors of Election, Dis- trict No. 1, Edward Williams, Stephen Loveland, Robert Johnson ; District No. 2, Michael Malone, David Simpkins, C. G. Vandewalker ; Excise Commissioner, Daniel Courtany.

FLORENCE VILLAGE

is the most considerable place of business in the town, and is centrally located on Little River, a branch of Mad River. It contained in March, 1878, six stores, beside several estab- lishments keeping liquors and noticns, two tin-shops, one hotel (another large hotel was burned in February, 1878), four blacksmith-shops, three wagon-shops, one harness-shop, a post-office, three churches, a tannery, a grist-mill, etc. The hotel which was burned was a large building, owned by J. K. Curry, erected in 1825 by James Cleveland, the founder of the village of Cleveland, in Oswego County.

Florence post-office was established at an early date, and in 1823 was located at the tavern of Asa Barnes, two miles above the village. Mr. Barnes was then postmaster, although undoubtedly others had held it before. About 1829-30 the office was removed to the village. The pres- ent postmaster is Horatio J. Evans.

Thomas Evans, the father of the above gentleman, for- merly of Peterboro', Madison Co., came here in 1823, at the solicitation of Gerrit Smith, to aid in founding a vil- lage for the latter. Mr. Evans was a blacksmith by trade, and, on arriving here, began work in a shop which Smith had built the previous year (1822). Mr. Smith induced mechanics and men of various classes to locate here, and at one time great hopes were indulged in for the future of the village. His agent was Roger Maddock, a merchant of Peterboro', who came to Florence and bought out a small store kept by one Norton, and established himself in the same business.

Smith also owned a grist-mill at the village, which had been built but a short time previous. It is yet in operation, the property of Wilmot & Graves.

Previous to the year 1828 a tannery was put in operation by Ezra Graves, who left the place in 1828 or 1829, and is

# Town records have it March 5, 1805.

Photos. by Hovey & Brainerd.

Jebat Graves

WILLIAM W. GRAVES.

William W. Graves, son of Elijah and Alice Graves, was born in Cheshire Co., N. H., Sept. 5, 1809. He was the eldest of a family of four children. When he was ten years of age his father died, leaving his family in limited circumstances. William being the oldest, it was essential that he should earn something to help to support the family, which he did by picking up odd jobs here and there in the neighborhood. The first money that was earned by this industrious boy was nsed to purchase a cow for his mother. His advantages for obtaining an education were very meagre; but being a practical man, he has adopted a system of book- keeping that is both simple and accurate. When he was twenty-one years of age he learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade, which he has followed, more or less, from that time until the present. In the year 1837 he came to the town of Florence, after traveling over a considerable portion of the State in the employ of James Willson, introducing the spiral vent water-wheel. In the same year he built a grist-mill at Florence, and a few years later added a saw-mill. Since then he has erected many other buildings, doing much more in this line than

any other man in the town. His last enterprise in building was the erection of a tannery for his nephew, who was a practical tanner. Misfortune overtaking them, the nephew abandoned the enter- prise, leaving Mr. Graves to make the most of a bad investment, which he did by applying himself diligently to learn the trade.

June 20, 1841, he married Seba Page, a native of the same county as himself, and daughter of Elias and Olive Page. They were married in the mill at Florence, and used it for a habitation until their financial affairs warranted them in erecting a more suitable dwelling. Together they have labored for thirty-seven years, and have succeeded in accumulating a fine property, and now they are apparently enjoying the fruits of a busy life. The writer found them affable and entertaining, and hospitable to a fault. Not having been blessed with children of their own blood, they have adopted a loving daughter on whom they lavish paternal affec- tion. Mr. Graves has erected a fine monument on an emineuce overlooking the village, a picture of which can be seen on another page, in connection with a view of their home and surroundings.

449

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

now a judge in Herkimer County. His father was sheriff of the latter county, and had established him in business. The son was first judge of Herkimer County for fifteen years; also held the positions of surrogate, State prison inspector, and others.

Another tannery was put in operation at the village, in 1832, by James S. T. Stranahan, through the efforts of Gerrit Smith. Mr. Stranahan has since become a wealthy citizen of Brooklyn, Long Island. This tannery was de- stroyed by fire ; and a second one was built by Lewis Rider, who did a very heavy business. The property now belongs to the Terrill Brothers, of Boston, and this building has also been burned within the past three or four years. W. W. Graves is carrying on at present a considerable business in the manufacture of upper-leather. There was also another tannery in the village, owned by John Sliter, the frame of which is yet standing.

EMPEYVILLE (EAST FLORENCE POST-OFFICE).

This place was named from Anthony Empey, Jr., whose father, Anthony Empey, Sr., came to the town about 1811-13, and settled first where Calvin Dawley now lives. Anthony Empey, Jr., laid out the village, and a saw-mill was built here by the same family. Boardwine Dyer after- wards built a grist-mill, the latter being at present out of use.

The post-office at this place is called " East Florence," and was originally located at the corners near the Thomson place. Charles B. Thomson, a brother of Aaron H. Thomson, was probably the first postmaster. The office was changed to its present location at the village of Empeyville April 14, 1863, during President Lincoln's first term. The present postmaster is Garret Dyer. Mail was carried through this region on the old route between Rome and Sacket's Harbor, first on horseback and afterwards by a line of stages, which was put on in opposition to another, over what was known as the Black River route.

Empeyville contains two stores, two blacksmith-shops, a saw-mill, two cooper-shops, a basket-factory, a church, a frame school-house, a post-office, and about 150 inhabitants. It is located in an elevated position in the northeast part of town. The hills in this neighborhood rise probably 300 to 350 feet above the Rome level, and the streams have a rapid current. Numerous springs abound in this town, and, with good water and pure air, its location is excellent for the health of its inhabitants, even though the prospect for gaining a profitable livelihood by the cultivation of the soil is not flattering.

The first marriage in town was that of Benjamin Wilcox and Betsey Waugh, in 1803, and the first birth that of a child of Charles Crawford.

Thanks are due to those of the citizens of Florence who have assisted in the work of preparing its history. This task, at the present day, is attended with great labor and few satis- factory results, as so few of the descendants of the original settlers are at present living within its boundaries. We are indebted to the family of A. H. Thomson, to Garret Dyer, and others, in Empeyville and vicinity ; to Thomas Evans, of Florence village, and numerous others in the town for information obtained.

CHAPTER XXX.

FLOYD.

THE town of Floyd is located east of the centre of the county, and has an area of 20,650 acres. The largest part of this town is included in the southeast corner of Fonda's Patent, while in the southern part the Oriskany Patent covers a considerable area. The eastera portion is in the Holland Patent, and the southeast corner on the Sumner Tract. The town extends to the Mohawk River on the south, its southern extremity being at the junction of that stream and Nine-Mile Creek. Tributaries of both flow through the town, or, more properly speaking, have their sources within it.

The southern part of Floyd is included in the level inter- vale along the Mohawk, while farther north extends for some distance a sandy plateau, reaching back to the foot of the range of hills to the northward. This range has received the name of " Floyd Hill," and rises to the height of several hundred feet above the valley of the Mohawk. From its summit the eye covers a vast expanse of territory. The soil in a large portion of the town is excellent, and many fine farms are seen ; but in other localities it is cold and poor and much better adapted to pasturage than grain- growing. The inhabitants have in recent years engaged to some extent in the dairy business, which yields ample re- turns for their trouble. The Utica shale underlies the hilly portion of the town, and in a wet season the roads in such localities are well nigh impassable. The northern part of the town has been settled by a considerable number of Welsh, who are in the main an industrious and thrifty class of people.

The town was named in honor of General William Floyd, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ- ence, and a large landholder in this town and Western, in which latter he resided from 1803 until his death. He is buried in the cemetery at Westernville. The town of Floyd was formed from Steuben, March 4, 1796. The first town-meeting was held the same spring at the house of Samuel J. Curtiss, at which time Stephen Moulton, Sr., was elected supervisor, and Moses Coffeen town clerk. The records for 1797 are missing. Abel French held the office of supervisor in 1798-99; Jarvis Pike from 1800 to 1811 ; Nathan Townsend, Sr., in 1812; Ephraim Robbins from 1813 to 1819; Nathan Townsend again in 1820-21; Ephraim Robbins again from 1822 to 1824; Salmon Pel- ton from 1825 to 1832; David Moulton from 1833 to 1837; Samuel C. Brooker, 1838-39; David Moulton, 1840-42; Hosea Clark, 1843-44; David Moulton again from 1845 to 1851 .*

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settler in this town was probably Captain Ben- jamin Pike, who, it is supposed, located in 1790. Very soon after Stephen Moulton, Jr., settled, and following him came William and Nathaniel Allen and James Chase. At

# Jones' Annals. Two calls at the office of the town clerk, whilo gathering notes in this town, failed to find bim at home, consequently we are unable to give a full list of supervisors, etc.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

the time the Allens came Benjamin Pike, Elisha Lake, and a man named Howard were living below the place after- wards occupied by Linus Moulton. Two brothers named Howard resided at an early date half a mile cast of the corners, and Hope Smith settled shortly after. The latter was the father of Stephen R. Smith, one of the earliest and most popular Universalist preachers in the county. David Byam, James Bartlett, and a Mr. Putney were the carliest settlers in the north part of the towu. Captain Pike's son, Jarvis Pike, located in town very early, for the lease of a lot north of Floyd Corners was granted him by General William Floyd, Oct. 26, 1793.

The following account of the Moulton family is taken from Judge Jones' " Annals of Oneida County":

" As early as February, 1795, the different members of the Moulton family, from Stafford, Conn., had settled in this town. As before mentioned, Stephen Moulton, the younger, was among the earliest set- tlers. Within five years after his arrival, his father, Stephen Monlton, and four other sous, Salmon, Joseph, Benjamin, and Ebenezer, had moved into the town. The Moulton family were among the staunch- est Whigs of the Revolution in the land of ' steady habits,' and sac- rificed much in the cause of their country. Salinon was taken pris- oner on Long Island, and suffered all the horrors of a confinement io the ' Sugar House,' a place more noted for the suffering of its inmates than the ' Black Hole' of Calcutta, because more protracted. Mr. Moulton was kept so short of provisions that he and his compatriots used to chew pieces of the oak staves of the sngar casks left in their prison, for tho little nutriment they enntained. His father, Col. Ste- phen Moulton, was afterward taken prisoner (as is understood) at Fort Washington, and there confined. After a tedious confinement in the 'Sugar House,' Salmon was paroled to leave for Fort Washing- ton, and soon after, both father and son were paroled to go to their homes."

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 119

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