History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 126

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 126

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# Gridley.

471

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Charles F. Seymour, Bates' Battery ; Benjamin F. Skinner, 57th ; Vincent Smith, Thomas Smith, sergeant, 117th ; John F. Smith, 57th, killed at Gettysburg ; Truman Smith, 8th Cavalry ; S. W. Stocking, 14th; Joseph Stockbridge, 146th; L. P. Stock well, sergeant, 146th ; George W. Strong, 146th ; Charles Strong, 115th ; E. O. Shorcy, 57th ; Henry Shorey, Charles Sumner, 101st ; Niles Taft, 117th, killed in service; E. Trask, 117th; John Trask, 117th ; William Taylor, 146th ; Christian Timian, 57th ; E. W. Twitchell, George Thomas, 26th ; Hugh Thorman, 57th ; Jay H. Tower, lieutenant, 16th Wisconsin ; William Top- ping, 57th ; Ezra Thompson, Calvin Thompson, died in Salisbury prison ; Webbon Turner, 117th, died in service ; Frederick Turner, Roswell Turner, 117th, killed ; Utley, James Vosburg, Daniel Vosburg, Michael Wallace, 57th, killed ; Henry Walker, Lorenzo Waterman, John G. Ward, Edgar Warner, 117th, died in service ; Jonathan C. Warner, 117th, died in Salisbury prison ; Garrett Welch, Lawrence Welch, Frederick Wells, 101st; Delos M. White, Matthew Wilson, Charles Willard, John W. Wicks, Ed- wald B. Wicks, lieutenant, 101st ; Thomas A. Wilson, captain, 146th, died in scivice; John Whipple, 8th Cav- alry ; B. F. Whiting, 57th ; David Williams, Monroe Woolnough, 117th ; Michacl Wholahan, 146th ; Albert H. Wocd, 14th Artillery ; Adelbert S. Wood, 146th ; James B. Wolfe, John B. Young,-300.

Among those who have kindly furnished information in the town of Kirkland, and lent their aid in various ways, are Mrs. A. D. Gridley, of Clinton, to whom we are in- debted for the use of her husband's excellent history of the town ; Hon. O. S. Williams, for a history of the Clinton Post-office, and other matters ; J. H. Tower, D. M. White, C. H. Goodfellow, the pastors and members of churches; Professor Edward North, for documents relating to the college, etc. ; David Pixley, of Kirkland Post-office, and many others.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JAMES L. BLACKSTONE,

the subject of this necessarily brief sketch, was born Aug. 20, 1826, and was the only son in a family of three chil- dren. One sister, M. A. Blackstone, is still living. His father, Edward Blackstone, was born at New Hartford, in 1801, and about the year 1824 married Cynthia Cook, who was born in Dutchess County in 1803. In the spring of 1830 he removed to the farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch, where he was engaged in farming until his death, which occurred July 1, 1878. Although having no political aspirations, he was identified with the old Whig party until he joined the Republican party, at the time of its formation. He manifested great interest in all educa- tional and religious interests, and by his sterling merits gained the confidence and esteem of all who knew him.

Mr. James L. Blackstone, upon arriving at the age of maturity, arranged with his father to remain upon the farm, and has ever since successfully followed the chosen occupa- tion of his father. He married, for his first wife, Kate

Dean, May 15, 1850. About two years later he was called to mourn her death, and Jan. 4, 1854, he married Helen E. Prescott, of New Hartford. The result of this union was one child, Edward J, born Jan. 6, 1873. Mrs. Black- stone is the second child and eldest daughter of John and Julia Prescott, who were children of pioneer families of the town of New Hartford. John Prescott was for many years deacon in the Baptist Church. Besides being a strong Abolitionist, he did all in his power to promote the cause of temperance. He died in 1850, surrounded by a large circle of friends.

Mr. Blackstone was elected to the office of justice of the peace, which position he has held for three years. He has also been commissioner of highways, and has held other minor offices. It is due him to state that he is a true rep- resentative of a successful agriculturist. A view of his residence may be seen on another page of this work.

MARSHALL W. BARKER,

the subject of this sketch, was born four miles south of Clinton village, and within the present limits of the town of Kirkland, April 15, 1801. His father, Wardell Barker,

A.LITTLE

MARSHALL W. BARKER.

was a native of the town of New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y., where he was born in the year 1772. In January, 1797, his father, Uzal Barker, grandfather of our subject, emigrated to Oneida with his family, which consisted of his wife and five children, and settled four miles south of Clin- ton, where they purchased a farm. Here the elder Barkers lived and died ; they were farmers, and at the date of their emigration were in medium circumstances; but being in- dustrious, economical, and energetic they soon acquired a competency. They were men who were universally known and esteemed for their high social qualities and sterling worth as citizens. The carly life of our subject did not differ materially from most farmer boys of those days. He received the advantages of the district school, and acquired

472

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

a good common-school education. When twenty-three years of age he started in life for himself, and purchased a farm in the immediate vicinity of his father's. The year following he was married to Miss Malina, daughter of James and Mar- garet Lumbard, of his native town, where she was born Sept. 12, 1805. Seven children were born to them, and named in the order of their ages as follows: John S., Charlotte E., Ellen M., Mary D., Desdamona W., Charles M., and Giles H. Mrs. Barker was called to higher existence Aug. 14, 1846. She was an estimable woman, highly endowed with those traits of character which adorn the wife and mother. She was a devoted Christian, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Barker has been married twice since ; the first time to Louisa MeLeao, of Cherry Valley, Otsego Co., and for his third wife a sister of his first,-Mrs. Maria Addington. In 1851, Mr. Barker, wishing to retire from active business, sold his farm and moved to Clinton, where he now resides. He is now in his seventy-eighth year-hale, robust, and is remarkably well-preserved. He can look back upon his past life with the consolation that he has improved his opportunities, and has conquered success in every department of life, and that he has done his part in the development of his native town.

JOHN KIRKLAND.

The Kirkland family were prominently identified with the early history of Connecticut, and the name is found among the thirty-six heads of families who were the early settlers of Saybrook, and who came there in 1635-39. John, the progenitor of the family, was of Scotch descent, and emigrated from Silver Street, London. He had a son John, who was the father of ten children,-John, Elizabeth, Priscilla, Nathaniel, Philip, Lydia, Martha, Samuel, Daniel, and Parnell.

The subject of this sketch was a descendant of the John above mentioned. He was born in Norwich, now Hunt- ington, Mass., Jan. 16, 1779, and came to Clinton village about 1794, and commeneed the first round of the ladder as clerk for Ralph W. Kirkland, one of the first merchants of the place, with whom he remained some time .. Having a decided taste for the profession of the law, he began its study with his cousin, General Joseph Kirkland, with whom he remained seven years. He was admitted to the bar in the year 1805, and soon after established himself in the practice of his profession at Clinton, where he remained many years. As a lawyer Mr. Kirkland was regarded by his profes- sional brethren as an able counselor, and although not considered an orator in the ordinary acceptation of the term, his speeches were always argumentative and convincing. He was positive in character, and very firm in his convic- tions when reached ; firmness, in fact, may be said to have been one of his prominent characteristics. Becoming weary with his arduous duties as a lawyer, he turned his attention to farming, which he followed until his death, which oc- curred Jan. 20, 1858. In his political affiliations he was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, with which he identified himself. Mr. Kirkland was united in marriage with Miss Mary Raymond, Feb. 11, 1824. She died Feb. 21, 1835, aged forty years. March 10, 1836, he was again married to Miss Julia A. Raymond. To

them was born one child, a daughter, Mary A., who is still living in the village of Clinton. His second wife died Aug. 11, 1840, aged thirty-eight years, and in 1841 he was again married to Miss Abigail Raymond, who died Nov. 23, 1867, aged seventy-one years. Mr. Kirkland was a gentleman of the old-school type, a firm supporter of religious and educational interests, enjoying to the fullest extent the confidence aud esteem of all who knew him.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

LEE.

THE town of Lee lies north of the centre of the county, and is composed of parts of townships one and two of Scriba's Patent, with several smaller tracts and a portion of Fonda's Patent. Its area is 27,771 acres; the soil is a sandy loam in the southern part, and somewhat colder in the northern. The portion south of Lee Centre is quite level, though con- siderably elevated, while the northern part rises into hills, in some places rugged and broken. These are a part of the range which extends nearly across the entire county, bc- coming lower after passing aeross Camden and Annsville, and assuming nearly a common level where they enter Os- wego County. On Fish Creek, at the northwestern boun- dary of the town, there are quarries of good building-stone. Fish Creek, Canada Creek, and the west branch of the Mohawk water this town.

Lee was formed from a part of Western by an aet passed by the Legislature April 3, 1811 ; in 1823 a part of Anns- ville was taken from it, leaving it with its present boundaries. The first town-meeting was " held at the school-house near Samuel Darling's, in the town of Lee, on the third day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twelve, pursuant to an act of the Legislature passed at the last session."*

The following were the officers elected, viz. : Supervisor, James Young, Jr .; Town Clerk, West Waterman; Asses- sors, Jesse Dutton, Earl Fillmore, Joseph White; Collector, Samuel Hall; Overseers of the Poor, John Hall, Dan Taft; Commissioners of Highways, Jotham Worden, Dan Taft, Thomas E. Lawrence; Constables, George Hawkins, Samuel Hall, Zaboliel Wentworth ; Fence-Viewers, Dan Taft, Adonijah Barnard, Asahel Castle ; Poundmasters, Dan Taft, Alpheus Wheelock.

The Supervisors of this town from 1813 to the present have been as follows : 1813, James Young, Jr .; 1814-16, John Hall, Esq. ; 1817-20, Wm. Park; 1821, Rudolph Devendorf,-Mr. D. removed, and William Park was elected at a special town-meeting to fill vacancy; 1822-32, Wm. Park ; 1833-40, Daniel Twitchell; 1841-42, James N. Husted ; 1843, Freeman Perry ; 1844-45, Lyman Sexton; 1846-47, John J. Castle; 1848, Jeram Chesebrough ; 1849, Mansir G. Phillips; 1850-53, Charles Stokes ; 1854 -55, Charles E. Fraser ; 1856, Elias Spencer; 1857, Chas. Stokes; 1858, Asaph B. Sexton ; 1859, Elias Spencer ; 1860-61, Henry J. Hitchcock ; 1862, Thomas J. Brown ;

# Town records.

REA

ANDREW DAVIDSON.

Photo. by Hovey & Trainerd.

ANDREW AND ALEXANDER DAVIDSON.

Alexander Davidson was horn in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, in 1770. He married Mary Golly about 1806, and had one daughter, by the name of Eliza Jane, who was born in Ireland, June 7, 1807. Mr. Davidson fol- lowed farming, and in the spring of 1810 emigrated to America, and settled in Lee township, on the place now in the possession of the family. One son, Andrew, was born in Lce, in September, 1811. Another son, Alexander, was born in Lee, in June, 1815. One daughter, Lucy Ann, was born in September, 1819.

Mr. Alexander Davidson owned some one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, on which his family continued to live and improve. He died October 4, 1830 ; his wife died June 20, 1861.

Andrew and Alexander, Jr., always continued to live together, in company with their sister, Lucy Ann; the mother continued to live with them till her death.

Andrew and Alexander have made all the improvements on their fine farms, which lie side by side. These are, everything considered, the best farm improvements in the town or county. Two beautiful rows of maple

shade trees face the entire front of their farms. No better farm buildings are to be found in the town. The fences are good, and the general appearance bespeaks at once that they justly rank among the most enterprising farmers in the county. But fine as these farms are, yet Andrew, who was a most excellent farmer, was called to part with his on the 1st of June, 1878. In politics, he and his brother Alexander have always been Democrats. Andrew was supervisor of Lee during the years 1862, 1863, and 1864 ; - he has been assessor; held some minor offices also. He was a man much esteemed and respected, and his loss is deeply felt not only by the members of his family, but by the public generally. His sister, Lucy Ann, died June 30, 1878, and both she and her brother Andrew lie side by side in the Valley Cemetery, where their parents also are buried.

The only member of this family who has been married is the sister, Eliza Jane. She married John Bamber, by whom three children were born, namely, Alexander, Mary Jane, and Lucy Ann. This biography, together with the views and portrait of his brother Andrew, is inserted by Alexander in memory of them.

1280

RESIDENCE OF THE LATE ANDREW DAVIDSON , LEE, ONEIDA CO. N.Y.

LITH BY L H EVERTS, PHILA, PA.

473

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

1863-65, Andrew Davidson ; 1866-68, Isaac MeDougall ; 1869, Andrew Golly ; 1870, Julius H. Sly ; 1871, Jay Capron ; 1872-75, Curtis B. Hitchcock ; 1876, Thomas J. Brown,-Mr. Brown resigned, and Elisha A. Walsworth was clected to fill the vacancy ; 1877-78, James Eames (2d).

The remaining officers for 1878 are : Town Clerk, Willis Austin ; Justices of the Peace, Levi K. Brown, Burlington Button, E. A. Walsworth, John Brown; Assessor, Henry Laufer; Commissioner of Highways, Platt E. Capron ; Collector, Norman Potter; Overseer of the Poor, John L. Field ; Constables, Henry C. Conradt, Joseph W. Hubbard, Norman Potter, Francis H. Wait; Town Auditors, Albert A. Cornish, Julius Sly, Eli J. Dewey; Inspectors of Elec- tion, District No. 1, John Champlin, Charles Brooks, Platt E. Capron ; District No. 2, Willett Stedman, Willis Austin, James M. Eames ; District No. 3, James Reynolds, Patrick Nolan, William A. Sinclair ; Game Constable, Samuel P. Clark ; Excise Commissioners, Evan W. Evans, Curtis Spinning.

On the 8th of March, 1872, interesting exercises were held at Lee Centre, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the first town-meeting. At this celebration, held in the Ecclesiastical Church, there were present many of the de- scendants of the early settlers in the town and county, among them being the following natives of Lee, viz., Sam- nel Nisbet, Henry Hall, John Shaver, Asa Starr,* Asahel Castle,* Albert J. Wilkinson, Nathaniel Kenyon,* Orrin Kenyon, Lewis Eames,* Walton Worden, D. G. Drum- mond, A. W. Cornish, Captain Asa Fillmore,* Lyman Sexton, Albert J. Wentworth, and John Ufford.t There were also present the following three persons, original voters of the town: William Parke, Nathaniel Kenyon,* and Stephen Allen .* Four others of these voters were living, but unable to be present; they were Nathaniel Wood, A. B. Pease, Joseph Kenyon,* and Tillotson Ross .* The following natives of town had come from other locali- ties to be present upon the occasion, viz. : George Hovey,* of Herkimer County ; Colonel E. B. Armstrong, of Rome ; Henry Twitchell, of Pulaski; Dr. H. N. Porter, of New York Mills; Smith Miller and Philctus Laney, of Anns- ville ; Dwight Waterman, of Whitesboro'; Hon. Calvert Comstock,* of Rome; Hon. Anson S. Miller, t of Rockford, Ill., and possibly others. The following extemporaneous historical address was delivered by Judge Miller, who spoke entirely without notes :

"Mn. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,-Confined to my room in Rome by a severe cold nearly all the week till last night, I appear before you quite unfit to discharge the responsible duties of this oc- casion. We may well rejoice in this first pleasant day after the raging storm. IIonored by the invitation to address you on this im- portant anniversary io the history of my native town, it becomes muc, in the first place, to tender you my grateful ackoowledgments. My old friends and neighbors will permit mne to think aloud, to speak familiarly, and free from the rules of labored composition. Your cordial and affectionate welcome to this family reunion of the soos and daughters of Lec, this thanksgiving gathering of the aged and the young at the parental homestead, awakens the most grateful emotions. Wo come from far and near; some of us from distant States, after an abscoce ab ond through the average lifetime of a

wholo generation. Go where we may, either where curiosity in travel may lead us, or the currents of business may bear us round the carth, even though the distance be returnless, and absence from our earthly home be perpetual, its endearmeuts will be imaged un- fadingly in our heart of hearts forever.

"Rejoicing in this return to the scenes of our childhood, we cannot repress feelings of sadness as we miss in this assemblage so many associated with the happy memories of life's morning. They are indeed missed, but not forgotten, and we deeply realize the pathos of the plaintive melody described by Ossian : ' The music of Caryl was like the memory of joys that are past,-pleasant though mouroful to the soul.'

"Great changes have passed over our native town in the course of thirty to forty years. Forty years ago I knew every man and woman and nearly every child in town. Now I find myself compar- atively a stranger among you. There are few who were men when I was a boy but what I recognize. It is easier to remember men than for men to remember growing boys. I met one the other day, who had been my father's nearest neighbor, who used to carry me on his back, and I chook hands with him, and said, ' How do you do, Mr. -? ' He looked at me closely, and said, 'Stranger, you've got the advantage of me.' I soid, 'Don't you remember the hoy Anson Miller?' Ile looked me in the face with astonishment, and said, 'Why, how you have grown !'

" Primitive dwellings have disappeared, and scattered shrubbery and trees mark the spots of former homes. Most of our youthful com- panions are gone,-some to westero regions and foreigo climes, over oceans and continents, and othere (the majority) have crossed the in- visible bounds which separate time from eternity. The lights of many happy homes have been extinguished. Cheering voices have been hushed in death, helping hands have turned to dust, loving hearts have ceased to bent, and fathers, toothers, brothere, sisters, and many beloved friends and neighbors no longer gladden our eyes in these circles of the living, -- circles sadly brokeo here, but, as we trust, to be forever rejoined in the spheres of immortal being. We read the names of our departed friends on the marble memorials in your cemeteries, where entire families have been laid in the silent graves. Some of the well-known families are represcuted here to day by single survivors only. Such is our earthly life. 'One generation passeth away and another generation cometh.' Early friends, though few, but doubly dear, now greet us with welcome home, and with hearts full of grati- tude we respond to all of the manifestations of sucial aud domestic love, of which home, the most inspiring word in our language, is at once the centre and the soul. Your greeting touches our hearts with electric force, and we feel in our own bosoms the pulsations of this assemblage. Years are the milestones of individuals in the journey of life, while scores an I centuries mark the eras of communities. Like travelers pausing on an elevation in their course, surveying the land- ecape behind, before, and all around, we stan.I to-day on the cmincuce of sixty years from the separate organization of our town, and over eighty years from its first settlement, to rear a memorial monument to its worthy founders. Stan ling, then, on this woount, let us build three tabernacles,-one for the past, one for the present, and one for the future.

" Threescore years ago, the present month, the incorporation of the town of Lec was completed by the election of its first board of officers. Previous to this perfected organization it bad been embraced within the limits of different towns,-in the town of German Flatts till 1788, in Whitestown from then to 1792, in Stenben from this to 1798, when the town of Western held its first towo-meeting for the election of officers, an act for the division having been passed in 1797,-from this to 1812, the first town-meeting, of which this is the sixtieth anniver- sary. An enabling act for the division of Western was passed by the Legislaturo in 1811. Most of the inhabitants of two entire genera- tions, and many of a third, have passed away since the first settlement in our present limits in 1790. Already the names of the pioneer men and women are known to a few only, and the early history of the town, excepting some general data of the county, will be forgotten unless preserve l in a permanent memorial. Earthly remembrance, at the best, is of brief continuance, and tradition will not long preserve the memory of our carly settlers from oblivion. Assembled, as we are, to commemorate the organization of Lee, and to pay a just tribute to our pioneer settlers, we cannot but feel our lasting obligations to those wbo, amid the labors and privations of an Indian frontier, built their log cabins, felled the forests, opened fruitful helds, established schools

{ Since deeensed.

t Since removed to Oswego County.

# Now of Patchin, Santa Cruz Co., Cal.

474

IIISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

ad eburcbes, and laid the foundations broadly and deeply for the prosperity of coming generatieos. They who left eocifortable homes ja New England and elsewhere fer this then wilderness region sought neither gold nor fame, but a living for themselves and their families. They strove to raise their children to a better condition than their own, and in their struggles with adversity they exhibited a lofty self- reliance and courage seldom surpassed by military heroes. They only who bave removed far from their bemes aod friends, and settled in the unbroken solitades of the forests and prairies, can truly estimate the feree in man and faith in Ged necessary to seeure success and happi- ness. Lee takes the lend, as far as I am informed, io celebrating the period of her organization, and, happily, at a time when a few of the men present at the first town-meeting are still with ns. Venerable meo, we are glad to see you here! May your last days be your best days! Sixty years ago seems but as yesterday. Your threescore years havs sbrivelled like n seroll touched by consuming fires. The example of Lee will doubtless be followed by other towns. The first settlement in what is now Lee was made on the west side of the Mo- hawk River, near the present site of Delta, by Esek Sheldon and bis sons, Stephen, Reuben, aod Amasa, in 1790. Stephen built the first beuse, a little log cabin, between Potash Brook and the house after- wards built by Israel Stark. The father nod the other brothers took up land oo the flat west of the Mohawk, next above the land knewn ns the Bugby place, just north of the read lending from Delta to Lee Centre. At this angle ic the roads under the bill was ereeted the first school-honse io the town of Western, now Lee. It was a small, log house, with a Dnteh fireplace, stick chimney, and slab- roof and seats. Joshua Northrup, a young surveyor, senrcely eighteen years old, was the first teacher. He settled in what is new Western, and was a magistrate there for many years. About the time of the Sheldon settlement, or soon after, David Smith and his sons, David and Rns- sell, came te the Mohawk country, near Delta, deseribed by a writer of that time as ' away up the Mohawk country beyond Fort Stanwix, inhabited ooly by benrs, wolves, and Indians.' David Smith, Jr., built a saw-mill there soon after, which be subsequently sold te Judge Presper Rndd, who came into the conotry from Franklin, Mass., with Eliza, his wife, aod his sons, Jabez F., Benjamin, and Wyllis, and his daughter, wife of the late Captain Gates Peck. Judge Rudd soon after added a flouring-mill, with one run of stone, and a enrdiog- machine, which were a great convenience to the country. The floor- ing-mill has been greatly enlarged nod improved by Elinkim Elder, Aoson Dart, and Elisha Walsworth. Soon after 1790 eame Deacon Nathan Barlow, and Lydia, his wife, late the widow of Joseph Miller, of Granville, Mass., nad mother of Smith, Eliakim, Dan, and Luther Miller, pioneer settlers. They cut the first wagon-path from the resi- deoce of Roswell Fellows, on the rond runaing from Fort Stanwix to Elmer Hill, a mile and a half, to their residence in Lce Centre.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 126

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