History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 123

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 123

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"They are universally civil in their deportment. The men and boys took off their hats, and the girls courtesied as we passed by them. . . . These people receive aonually $2160 from the State, out of which their schoolmaster and their superintendent receive pay for their services.

" At this season of the year they nnite with the Oneidas in gather- ing ginseng, and collect a thousand bushels annually. It brings them two dollars a bushel. Most of it goes to Philadelphia, and thence to China. It is, however, oo unprofitable business for the Indians. They are paid for it in cosh, which many of them eroploy as the means of intoxication. This is commonly followed by quarreling, and some- times by murder ; but much less commonly thon among the Oneidas."

Another Indian who became famous was Samson Occum. He was born at Mohegan, near Norwich, Conn., in 1723. He early embraced the religion of the whites, and finally became quite a noted minister and teacher. In 1786 he formed a colony in this town and Marshall, on the Oriskany Creek, of 192 Montauks and Shinecocks from Long Island, several Mohegans from Connecticut, and a number of Nar- ragansetts from Rhode Island, with a few representatives of other tribes who had become wasted, and ministered to them and the neighboring Stockbridges. He was the com- poser of the hymn beginning,

" Awaked by Siaai's awful sonod."

He died at New Stockbridge, N. Y., in July, 1792, aged sixty-nine years. The name of " Priest Occum" is yet revered by the descendants of all who were acquainted with him.

Good Peter, a convert of Rev. Samuel Kirkland, and an

* This account differs somewhat from Mr. Jones', given ia Chapter III.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Oneida chief, was another character among the Indians noted for his persuasive eloquence.

When the first settlers on Dean's Patent, in Westmore- land, heard of the arrival of the emigrants at Clinton they started to find them, knowing only that they were several miles south upon the Oriskany, above an Indian clearing, on the site of the present village of Manchester. They followed the Indian trail, crossed the creek at the clearing, and took a southerly course up the valley. Soon they dis- covered a number of cows feeding in the woods, and Joseph Blackiner, a leading man in the party, full of sport, " raised his coat tails above his head, shook his hat, and made such a succession of hideous noises that the frightened cows started for home on a run, and thus showed the company the way to the settlement at Clinton. Many and hearty were the greetings between the new neighbors, and the good-will which then sprang up continued to grow and flourish ever afterwards."

Judge Williams mentions that in the fall of 1790, " as Mr. Jesse Curtiss and three or four others were returning from meeting one Sunday afternoon,-their path lying through a field near the house now occupied by Mr. Gunn, -they heard an unusual rustling in the corn, and on searching for the cause soon discovered two bear cubs busily engaged in breaking down and destroying the ripen- ing corn. Forthwith they set upon them, and, despite their grunts and cries, by dint of kicks and blows soon dis- patched them. The same afternoon, Mr. Bronson (who lived in the house now occupied by Samuel Brownell) on returning from meeting found the old mother bear sitting quietly on the steps of his door, little dreaming of the sad calamity which had even then overtaken her children." Mention is not made of the fate of the mother.

" The streets and cross-roads of the town were carly designated by names. The street leading past the homestead of the late James D. Stebbins was called Brimfield Street, because it was wholly settled hy inhabitants from Brimfield, Mass. The present borough of Franklin was long styled Sodom, though we never kuew that it was noted for its depravity. Post Street, running southeast from Franklin, was so called from Darius Post and his three sons,-Titus, Ethan, and Darius, Jr.,-who came from Vermont at an early day and settled on adjoining farms in that district. The street leading to Utica once rejoiced in the name of Toggletown, because the roadside fences were once 'toggled' together at the end of cach section. That porfion of the town which lies between one and two miles east of Clinton has long been christ- encd Chuckery. Judge Williams says, ' The story goes that in Massa- chusetts, according to established eustom, the Governor's proclamation for Thanksgiving was read in all the churches. Then, as now, he called upon the people to render u tribute of gratitude for the bless- ings of Providence upon their farins, their fisheries, and their mer- chandise. In Egremont, some mischievous wag, possessing himself of the copy of the proclamation which the clergyman had prepared to read to his congregation the next Sabbath, changed the word fish- eries to chuckeries, and so the unsuspecting paster read it, to the no small edification of his audience! Soon after this a company of col- anists from Egremont came westward, and settling on the bills east of this village, gave this odd name to their resting-placc.'"

The joke did not even end here, for a colony of Kirk- land people who removed many years ago to the town of Fenner, Madison county, dubbed their little settlement " New Chuckery." It has since been corrupted into Perry- ville, and the memory of its former name, and the incident which originally caused it to be given, remains but a dream of the past.

With the story of the first burglary in the town we will close this "chapter of incidents." It is told by Judge Jones and Rev. Mr. Gridley substantially as follows :

Ephraim Hart, who had succeeded his father, Thomas Hart, in the mercantile business, had collected about $1800 in silver coin, and expected soon to start with it for New York to purchase goods. It was in the year 1801. One Samuel MacBride, an Irishman, who had learned of the treasure, broke into the store one night and stole the entire amount and carried it off. The business was undoubtedly new to him, and his plans could not have been well laid ; for before morning he was captured and brought back to Clinton, with all except about two dollars of the money. While in confinement awaiting trial he succeeded in es- caping, and, like the darkey who was told by his minister that there were two roads through life which led, one to perdition and the other to eternal punishment, concluded to take to the woods. He took the polar star for a guide and steered towards it. Near what is now Middle Settlement he found a hollow stump, about ten feet high, which he climbed and slid down into, intending to remain there until the next night, and then resume his travels. On the ar- rival of darkness he attempted to climb out, but found that the inner surface of the stump was so smooth that the task was exceedingly difficult. At last, just at daybreak, he made a final and despairing effort, and-blessed be St. Pat- rick !- reached the top. But alas for his hopes ! Fortune smiled on his pursuers, and he was discovered while on the run for the forest, and an officer of the law recaptured him. He was tried and sentenced to State's prison for fourteen years.

EDUCATIONAL.

In a preceding chapter will be found sketches of Hamilton College, Clinton Grammar School, Miss Royce's Seminary, Clinton Liberal Institute, The Young Ladies' Domestic Seminary, Home Cottage Seminary, and Houghton Semi- nary, all located in this town.

DWIGHT'S RURAL HIGH SCHOOL .*

This school was opened in May, 1858, by Rev. Benja- min W. Dwight, its principal and proprictor, with Rev. David A. Holbrook and Henry P. Bristol as associates. It occupied the ground-eighteen acres and more-on the corner of Elm and Factory Streets, and faced with two im- posing fronts these two avenues. It stood 150 feet back from the former, and 225 feet from the latter, on a pleasing artificial slope. The grounds were laid out in ample style, with walks and carriage-drives, and were planted with orna- mental trees. A large gymnasium, 70 feet by 32, stood at the southeast, at a distance of some 350 feet.

" The building was erected in the years 1857-58. Dr. Dwight, wbe had been for several years conducting a large and flourishing high school in Brooklyn, cmne to Clinton for the purpose of com- hining the influence of fine rural surroundings with educational Inbor. Ile believed that he could uchieve much higher physical, intellectual, and moral results in such a school than in any other.

"The sebool opened with nine boarders and eighteen day-scholars, and rose, when at its greatest height, to over 80 pupils, some 53 of

# Prepared by Rev. B. W. Dwight, LL.D., and published in Grid- ley's Kirkland.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

them being boarders. The school was a place of abounding physical healthfulness, of earnost intellectual work, and of warm religious life. Students enme from far and near all over the land, and went from the school to a dozen differcat colleges. Besides giving earnest attention to classical and mathematical drill, full courses of daily study wero appointed in history, physiology, and the modern lan- guages. During the last three years of the school a number of young ladies were admitted to it, and with good effect in every way.

" The school building, which was expensive for those days, having eost nearly $20,000, was large and showy. Four distinct buildings were in fact harmonized in it into one. The combined structure was on every side of it picturesque in appearance, and pronounced by all who saw it one of the largest and finest buildings in the county. Its entire frout was 56 feet, and its greatest length 106 feet.

" In the yenr 1864, Mr. IIenry P. Bristol died, after a short illness. He was a man of thorough principle and of exact scholarship, and was always respected and esteemed by the pupils whom he sought to improve and bless. Dr. Dwight, in the hope of benefiting the do- elining health of his wife, went to New York in the spring of 1863, and opened there a school, nt No. 1144 Broadway, leaving the school here in the hands of Rev. Mr. Holbrook, who, after two years, re- signed the charge into the bands of Mr. Ambrose P. Kelsey. In April, 1865, after having been only a few months under the care of the latter, the building caught fire in the roof, near one of the chim- neys, an.I burned slowly down, in the absence of an efficient fire- engine in the place, before the eyes of a great crowd of spectators."

Mrs. Marr's School was opened as a select school in May, 1861, by Mrs. Elizabeth D. Marr. It was com- menced in the building formerly occupied by Mr. Kellogg's seminary, and was transferred the following year to rooms in the Clinton Grammar School. A building was erected for its occupancy on Meadow Street, to which it was soon removed, and where it has since remained. At this school instruction is given in all the English branches, in the Latin, French, and German languages, and in drawing and painting .*

COMMON SCHOOLS.+

" The first building crected in Kirkland for the purposes of a coin- mon school stood on the cast side of the village green, upon the spot now occupied for a similar purpose. It was a frame building, one story and a half high. This was afterward removed, and now (1873) stands on the north side of Kellogg Street, and is occupied by Mr. James Hughes. This original school-house was succeeded by a brick building. The bricks used in this structure were made on the farm of Gideon Cole, now owned by James Elphick aud Dr. G. I. Bronson. Io the spring of 1840 this house, having become some- what dilapidated, was sold at public auction for some $300, and soon afterwards the present frame building was ercetel oo or near the same spot. It is worthy of note that a Mr. Fillmore, brother of President Fillmore, was one of the early teachers in this school-house.

" It was originally a very general practice to measure the lot by the size of the school-house, as if a sufficient margin for a play- ground was land thrown away. The school-house on Utica Street was built on a steep bluff, at an angle on two sides of some 45 de- grees, with not one spare foot of ground. A school was sustained on this spot for many years, but a bright light one evening many years ago showed that the old building was being reduced to ashes.

" The first school-house in the castern part of Kirkland, near Mr. Pickett's, was built by n Mr. Willard, at the contract price of $150. Low price and poor work. It was attempted to wano tho building in winter by a Russian stove, of which Dr. Backus said, 'One might ahout as well warm his feet by a tombstone.' Another and better building was afterwards put up on the same site, hut ers long it went by fire, and the district itself was dissolved.

" The Franklin district is a large and populous onc. The first school-house was destroyed under circumstances bordering on the ludicrous. It may suffice here to state that for a certain cutaneous

disense sulphur was regarded as the best remedy, and that, in order to its being well rubbed in, a large firo was considered necessary. Well, the boys got better, but the red-hot stove-pipe set the building on fire, and the boys were not io a condition to put it out."

In the school-house on Prospect Hill a Sunday-school has been sustained for more than fifty years, with the help of teachers from Hamilton College. Other schools began early in the history of the town, and the names " Chuckery District," " Brimfield Hill District," " Manchester District," " Post. Street," and others, have been preserved to the pres- ent day.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

The first religions meeting held by the settlers of Kirk- land was convened on Sunday, April 8, 1787, in an un- finished house belonging to Captain Moses Foot, which stood upon the corner in Clinton now occupied by the hardware-store of A. N. Owston. Mr. Foot opened the meeting with prayer ; Barnabas Pond, Bronson Foot, and Ludim Blodgett led the singing, and Caleb Merrill, who lived near Middle Settlement, read a printed sermon. Meetings of this kind continued to be held until the for- mation of a church and the installation of a minister.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CLINTON.

Rev. Samuel Eells, of Branford, Conn., visited this place in November, 1788, held religious services, and performed a number of baptisms. During his stay he prepared a covenant, or declaration of belief, which did not entirely suit those wishing to form a society, who subsequently sent for Rev. Dr. Edwards, then pastor of the North Church, in New Haven. He visited Clinton in August, 1791, and organized a Congregational Church, consisting of 30 mem- bers. " The society of Clinton" was formed a few weeks later, having eighty-three members. Rev. Asahel Strong Norton, of Chatham, Conn., was called, and became the first pastor, being ordained and installed September 18, 1793, with a salary of " one hundred pounds, lawful money." This continued as his pay for twenty years, when it was raised to $600. A log building of moderate size had been erceted on the village common in 1792, and in this meetings were held. Mr. Norton also preached in various parts of town, holding services in school-houses and barns, and even in the open woods The log building was torn down in 1796, and the school-house was used as a place of worship until a new church could be erected, which work was con- summated the same year. The new edifice was built of wood, faced the south, and stood in the park, the front middle door being nearly two rods north of the south entrance to the park. This house was about 65 by 48 feet in dimensions, with a square tower projecting half its depth in front, and surmounted by an open belfry and a turret. The church was not completed until the summer of 1801, and the first bell was hung in its belfry in August, 1804. This bell was cast by Captain Timothy Barnes, of the village, and weighed 800 pounds. Through some defect in the casting it was soon broken, and was sent to Troy to be repaired. When it came back its weight was increased abont 100 pounds. This church was considered unfit for use in 1833, and it was resolved to build a new edifice. It is familiarly remembered as the " old white meeting-

# Gridley, page 147.

t From an article prepared by Gains Butler, and inserted in Grid- ley's history.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

house." A new building, of stone, was ereeted, in 1835-36, on the south side of the park, at a cost of about $8000, and ou its completion the old church was torn down. This second church became known in recent years as the " old stone church." It was destroyed by fire July 10, 1876, and the present elegant and costly edifice has been erected since upon its site. Work was begun on the new building, also of stove, in October, 1876, and it was dedicated, with imposing ceremonies, Feb. 14, 1878. Its cost, including furniture, organ, etc., has been about $40,000.

Dr. Norton's pastorate continued until 1833. Those in charge since have been Revs. Moses Chase, from July, 1835, to January, 1839; Wayne Gridley, February, 1840, to February, 1845; Robert G. Vermilye, D.D., June, 1846, to October, 1857; E. Y. Swift, January, 1858, to May, 1862; Albert Erdman, March, 1864, to February, 1869; Thomas B. Hadsou, D.D., October, 1869, to the present.

This church was originally constituted with the Congre- gational form of government, but after an existence of over seventy years was changed to Presbyterian, and belongs to the Utica Presbytery. The parsonage on College Street was built in 1850. The present membership is about 425, and a Sabbath-school is sustained with a membership of 325, and an average attendance of 175 or more. The pastor is the Superintendent, and is assisted by Rev. Isaac O. Best, principal of the Clinton Grammar School. The school has 23 classes and teachers. The value of the par- sonage is about $4000.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, CLINTON.

Early in 1818 a class was organized, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. John Gregory, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gillespie, and Mrs. Triphena Butler, of the village, and others of the vicinity. This class belonged to the Westmoreland circuit, including also Augusta, Vernon, Verona, Paris Hill, Marshall, and Westmoreland. Preaching was established in the village in the summer of 1819, at the residence of John B. Gregory, where it was continued for eight years. There were also occasional services in the school-house at the foot of College Hill, and at the Clinton factory.

Dr. Joseph Cornell located in the village in 1831, and, in company with Mr. Gillespie, purchased a site for a church edifice for the sum of $1500. A church was built and dedicated in 1842, and repaired in 1849-50. A parsonage was purchased on College Street, in 1853, but afterwards sold, and another one obtained on Fountain Street. The church was enlarged and repaired in 1867, at a cost' of $5600, and re-dedicated Jan. 8, 1868. A new parsonage was built the same year, adjoining the old one on Fountain Street. The pastors of this church since its organization have been Revs. John G. Hall, 1842-43 ; S. G. Lathrop, 1844; William Loomis, 1845 ; A. J. Dana, 1846; H. F. Rowe, 1847-48 ; Richard Cooke, 1849-50 ; L. H. Stanley, 1851 ; S. Stocking, 1852-53; L. Bowdish, 1854-55; John H. Hall, 1856-57; T. Pilkinton, 1858; T. J. Bissell, 1859-60; William N. Cobb, 1861-62; M. G. Wadsworth, 1863; Dwight Williams, 1864-66; M. S. Hard, 1867-69; M. G. Bullock, 1870-72; Orlando C. Cole, 1873-74 ; present pastor, Rev. L. L. Palmer.

The membership in May, 1878, was 220; membership of Sabbath-school, 180; Superintendent, H. W. Mahan ; 19 officers and teachers.

UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, CLINTON.

The Universalist society in Clinton was originally a part of the Universalist society of New Hartford, which was organized in 1805, through the labors of Rev. N. Stacey. In 1821 the Clinton society assumed an independent existence, and built a brick church, 52 by 40 feet, at a cost of about $2500. The latter was done through the liber- ality of Joseph Stebbins, Esq., who lent his aid in such a measure that it was possible to carry out the plan. Although the society was always Universalist, the church, when built, was designated a Frce Church, and the society wor- shiping in it as the Free Church Society of Clinton. The building was free for the use of all Christian sects when not occupied by the actual proprietors. The Methodists and Baptists occupied it in this manner to some extent when first erected. In June, 1831, the society adopted, legally, the name and title of the First Universalist Society of Clinton. Rev. Stephen R. Smith, its founder, became its first pastor, and remained in charge from November, 1821, until September, 1837, except the time, from 1825 to 1828, which he spent in Philadelphia, and during which the church was without a pastor. Others who have been in charge were Revs. Timothy Clowes, D.D., J. T. Sawyer, D.D., and W. P. Payne, the latter of whom took charge in September, 1863. The church is at present without a regular pastor. Rev. Mr. Powell, of College Hill, preaches temporarily to the society, which is not large. The new church, erected at a cost of nearly $18,000, was dedicated October 12, 1870. Rev. Mr. Payne resigned his charge in July, 1871, and was succeeded in October of the follow- ing year by Rev. W. R. Chamberlain. The church will seat 350 persons, and is tastily furnished and of elegant design.

THE COLLEGE CHURCH.

A Presbyterian Church was organized in Hamilton Col- lege, April 20, 1825, and maintained until 1831, when it was disbanded, owing to the then depressed condition of the college. In Deeember, 1861, it was re-organized, and has since been prosperous. The pastor of the college is ex-officio pastor of the church. The elders are six in num- ber, and are chosen, one from cach of the college elasses, and two from the faculty. In October, 1862, this church joined the Presbytery of Utiea, to which it still belongs.

BAPTIST CHURCH, CLINTON.

Pursuant to arrangements made at a preliminary meeting held Aug. 16, 1831, this church was organized with 17 members, September 21, of that year. These persons were John H. Parmele, John Foot, Jr., William H. Hubbard and Emily, his wife, Clark Wood and Amanda, his wife, Lewis M. Wood and Adaline, his wife, Simeon Russell and Asenath, his wife, William S. Richmond and Naucy, his wife, Phineas Siuith, Samuel L. Hubbard, Eunice Ann Parmele, Eveline Edwards, Susan Nichols, Mary Ann Nichols, Lucinda Nichols.

A site for a meeting-house was purchased, and the present

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

edifice erected at a cost of $2000, and dedicated Nov. 9, 1832, the dedication sermon being preached by Rev. Na- thaniel Kendrick, D.D., of Hamilton. The church was improved and remodeled during the recent pastorate of Rev. C. H. Johnson, at an expense of $6500. The pastors of this society have been Revs. Daniel Putnam, from May 27 1832, to Dec. 15, 1833 ; J. P. Simmons, Jan. 1, 1834, to Feb. 8, 1835 ; P. P. Brown, April 4, to September, 1835 ; Reuben P. Lamb, Dec. 4, 1836, to Sept. 29, 1838; Wil- liam Thompson, March 2, 1839, to March, 1840; Horace Jones, June to December, 1840; A. H. Stowell, Dec. 5, 1840, to April 3, 1841 ; J. Corwin, Feb. 5, 1842, to Dec. 1, 1844 ; A. Kenyon, Dec. 1, 1844, to Dec. 1, 1847 ; Harry White, Sept. 5, 1847, to May, 1849 ; Hiram Main, Sept. 1, 1849, to Aug. 31, 1850 ; Dennison Alcott, Oct. 5, 1850, to July 31, 1852 ; Carlos Swift, Feb. 5, 1853, to March 15, 1856 ; John G. Stearns, June, 1857, to Oct. 1, 1862. For several years after this the society became weak in numbers, and was ministered to by several supplics, among whom were Revs. L. D. Galpin and William A. Wells. From Oct. 2, 1864, to Dec. 1, 1865, the mecting-house was closed. On the first Sunday in December, 1865, Rev. Charles H. John- son commenced preaching here, and continued till October, 1866. The pulpit was filled by various preachers from this time until Nov. 1, 1867, when Rev. C. H. Johnson resumed his labors, and remained until Jan. 1, 1872. The pastors since have been Revs. C. H. Ayers and William J. Quincy, the latter the present incumbent. The membership of the church in May, 1878, was about 100. The Sunday-school was organized in June, 1833, and has a fair membership at present. Its Superintendent is the pastor.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, KIRKLAND POST-OFFICE.

The cotton factory at Manchester (Kirkland Post-Office) was built in 1815, under the superintendence of Warren Converse, who was its general agent for many years after- wards. In 1817, aided by a few others, Mr. Converse es- tablished a Sabbath-school for the benefit of the children and youth connected with the mill. Soon afterwards ar- rangements were made for holding religious meetings in the brick school-house at the place. Ministers of different de- nominations occasionally held services, and in 1834 the present house of worship was built, and dedicated carly in 1835. A Congregational Church was organized at the same time. Rev. Dr. Norton, formerly of the Congregational Church at Clinton, was for a short period its stated minis- ter. Among others who have had charge were Revs. Seth Williston, D.D., Hiram H. Kellogg, Salmon Strong, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Page, Samuel W. Raymond, Benjamin W. Dwight, LL.D., Prof. William S. Curtiss, D.D., Mr. Loomis, John Barton, and James Dean. The present pastor is Rev. Amos Schofield. The church has a membership of about 20, and a Sabbath-school with a membership of 52. Its Superintendent is Gilbert M. Read, of Hamilton College. Mr. Schofield preaches every alternate Sabbath at Lawrence- ville, in the town of Westmoreland.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 123

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