History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 129

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 129

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

MARTIN WASHBURN,

son of Luther Washburn, was born in Vermont, May 21, 1782. His father, Luther, emigrated from England pre- vious to the Revolutionary war, in which he served till its close. He married Sarah Spinning, by whom he had eight

Photo. by Hovey & Brainerd.

MARTIN WASHBURN.

children, viz., Martin, Freeman, Luther, Rufus, Sally, Ma- linda, Rachel, and Calvin, all of whom were born in Ver- mont, except Calvin.

Martin came with his parents and other members of the family to Lee, Oneida County, N. Y., about the year 1795, being then about thirteen years old ; was married to Martha Curtis in 1802, by whom he had twelve children, viz. : Manford, Eleeta, Julia A., Irene, John, Fanny, Alvira, Euphemia, Daniel, Albert, Samuel, and Alpheus; all of whom lived to be men and women. Manford, Samuel, and Alphens are now dead.

Mr. Washburn, by occupation, ever followed that of the

farmer, and purchased in 1814 the farm now owned by his son-in-law, Curtis Spinning; sold the same in 1828, and moved nearer to Lee Centre. In polities he affiliated with the Democratic party, and died January 1, 1867. His wife, Martha Curtis, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., 1786, and died March, 1844. His father, Luther Wash- burn, died September, 1848, at the advanced age of ninety- two. It is a pleasure to preserve the memory of these staneh pioneers and defenders of our common country, Martin having served in the war of 1812.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

MARCY.

AN act of the Legislature entitled " An Act to divide the Town of Deerfield, in the County of Oneida," was passed March 30, 1832, and the southwest part of Deer- field was ereeted into a new town, which was named Marey, after the then Governor of the State, Hon. William L. Marey. A few months afterward the Governor visited the town, and was the guest of C. Baldwin, Esq. The terri- tory comprised in this town is made up of portions of the following patents, viz .. Oriskany, in the southwest part ; Sadaqueda, southern central; Cosby's Manor, southeast ; Servis, northeast ; Holland, northern central ; and Sumner, northwest. Its area, according to a tabulated valuation in 1869 by a committee of the board of supervisors, made for the purpose of equalizing assessments, is 19,065 aeres.

The Mohawk River forms the southern boundary of the town. The rich alluvial flats along this stream vary in width from half a mile to a mile, and are very produetive. To the north of them extends a wide, level " benel" or terrace, which is generally sandy and thirty or forty feet higher than the river. The northern portion of the town is composed of ridges of high hills, rising six hundred feet above the Mohawk, and broken in places by deep valleys through which flow numerous small streams. Nine-Mile Creek enters from Trenton on the northwest, and after a winding course of several miles, and a deviation into the town of Floyd, it finally flows into the Mohawk, near the southwest corner, and in the town of Marcy.

The Utica and Black River Railway erosses diagonally from southeast to northwest, having a station at Marcy Post-office, and leaves the town at Stittville. The old " Northern Plauk-road" traverses the northeast corner of the town. It has been abandoned as a plank-road some years. This highway was built in 1847-48 by the " North- ern Plank-road Company," and the travel over it has always been extensive. It was laid over the original turnpike road passing through Trenton, Remsen, ete.

The inhabitants of Marey are engaged largely in dairying, and numerous factories for the manufacture nf checse have been erceted. There is also an establisliment in the western part for making checse-boxes. The most extensive cheese- factory in town is owned by Mr. Hodges, in the south west part. The first factory was built in 1862, on the farm owned by Levi Tanner, by Messrs. Levi Tanner, A. W.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Wood, and Charles Ashby, and received the milk of a thousand cows. The same year another factory was erected by David L. Wilcox and Amos Potter, and used the milk of four or five hundred cows. Like every business in which there is much profit, dairying was carried on for a few years by so many in the town that most of the factories were forced to suspend operations, but the business has since resumed a healthy tone, and is not at present overdone. Stock has been greatly improved since the introduction of cheese-factories, and many fine cattle may be seen on the different dairy farms. The favorite breed is the Ayrshire, the reputation of which is well known in this country.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

The first settler in what is now the town of Marcy was John Wilson, who removed from Windsor, Windsor Co., Vt., in 1793, locating here in the spring of that year, with a large family of children, all under eighteen years of age. He settled on a river farm, half a mile east of Nine-Mile Creek, the place being now (1878) the property of William Richards. Mr. Wilson built a small log house on his piace and cleared several acres of land; but when he was just beginning to get his new home in shape for a pros- perous future he was taken ill with bilious fever, and died in the fall of the same year be settled. The elder children continued on the farm, while the younger ones were cared for by relatives. Mr. Wilson was the sixth son of Thomas Wilson, an Irish emigrant, who settled in the town of Plainfield, Conn., in 1745, where he raised a family of ten children,-nine sons and a daughter. In 1765 the elder Wilson removed, with his family, to the town of Windsor, Windsor Co., Vt. When the echoes of Lexington and Concord were still ringing through the col- onies, eight of Mr. Wilson's sons joined the Continental army and took part in the long struggle for independence. The youngest son would have gone with his brothers but for his youth. The young men all lived to see the new country recognized as a separate power among nations, their iron constitutions receiving no shock from the many hardships and privations they endured.

Early in 1794, James Wilson, the seventh son of the emigrant, arrived in Marcy, and moved with his family into a log house, eighteen feet square, which had a short time previous been built by a Dutchman, named Tull, and in which he and his family-in all twelve persons-were then living. This house stood on the bank of Nine-Mile Creek, about sixty rods above its junction with the Mo- hawk. Wilson lived in the cabin with Tull until spring, when he purchased a " new lot," or one unimproved, about a mile north of Oriskany village. To this he removed, cleared a few acres of land and planted it with corn, mix- ing with it a large proportion of pumpkin-seeds. The corn had scarcely appeared above the ground before it was completely harvested by wild pigeons, every stalk being pulled by them. The pumpkin-vines were not disturbed, and in the rich soil the yield of this "golden fruit" was exceedingly abundant, the size reached by them being re- markable. It would seem that the practice of feeding pumpkins to cattle had not at that time been introduced, as Mr. Wilson fed his oxen and cows the following winter

from the tops of elm-, basswood-, and maple-trees, which he cut for the purpose. He prospered, however, in suc- ceeding seasons, and at the end of fifteen years from his arrival found himself possessed of a fine home and consid- erable wealth.

In 1794, Isaac and Jacob Wilson, fourth and fifth sons of Thomas Wilson, located in town, in the same neighbor- hood with their brother, James. None of the original settlers are now living in this locality, Thomas, son of James Wilson, who was but a lad when his father came in 1794, having removed to Vernon previous to 1850.

Among the early settlers in town were the Carey and Camp families, and others, all choosing homes along the river, and bear each other. The remainder of the territory was settled much later, and in some places the original buildings are yet standing as erected.

Anthony W. and Jonathan Wood, from the State of New Hampshire, settled in Marcy in 1816, and within a year or two afterward moved to the farm now owned by Anthony W. Wood.

William Mayhew, Sr., at Marcy Post-Office, located in this town during the construction of the Erie Canal. His father, Robert Mayhew, came to the county in 1804, and settled in the town of Whitestown in 1805.

Among those now living who have long been residents of the town are Jeremiah Sweet, members of the Edic and Weaver families, and others. There is also a large popu- lation of Welsh, residing principally in the northern part. Among the oldest of these people at present having homes here are Mrs. Richard Jones and others. Mrs. Jones came to Marcy with her husband in 1833 from Utica. Of the early Welsh settlers in this town the principal were Joseph Ellis, Evan Jones, and Ellis Owens, who have relatives still in town or in the county. Thomas Ellis, a son of Joseph Ellis, resides at Whitesboro'.

At about the period of the war of 1812-15 an institu- tion was started in the northeast part of town for the manu- facture of window-glass. This industry lasted but a few years, owing to the discovery in the neighborhood of Oneida Lake of a better quality of sand. To the latter locality the manufacture was transferred, and since then nothing of a similar nature has been established at Marcy. The glass made here had a green tinge, and some of it is yet in ex- istence in a few of the older houses in town, notably the house built by James Wilson.

SCHOOLS.

As soon as arrangements could be perfected among the early settlers, schools were established. The first one in town was in the Wilson neighborhood, and must have been taught previous to the year 1800, as the old school-house was nearly ready to fall to pieces in 1816. There is no one at preseut in town who remembers the name of the first teacher, and that information is necessarily omitted. There are now 11 school districts, and in 1877 there were 479 children of school age. The average attendance for the year was 182 and a fraction. The amount of money paid to districts by the county treasurer for 1877 was $1140.59.

482

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

POST-OFFICES.

A post-office called Marcy was established probably pre- vious to 1836, in the southwest part of town, on the " River road." Albertus Hibbard was appointed post- master, and was succeeded by William Mayhew, Sr., wlio was appointed by President Van Buren. The post-office was then removed to its present location at Marcy Station. The third and present postmaster is Mr. Mayhew's son, William Mayhew, Jr. The mails, originally brought by carriers, are now transported over the Utica and Black River Railway.

A post-office was established in January, 1878, at Edic's Crossing, in the southeast part of town, and named May- nard. Ephraim V. Horn was appointed postmaster, and is the present incumbent of the office. The mails are received and delivered by the train without stopping.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

THE UNION SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE TOWN OF MARCY*

was incorporated by a vote of the society, Feb. 4, 1839, and the proceedings were approved by the first judge of Oneida County, and recorded in the County Clerk's office, Feb. 5, 1839. The church was organized during the year 1839, with the following registry of names, to wit: David Babcock, Samuel C. Baldwin, W. Barnard, John Burton, Stephen Briggs, Anthony Bradt, Amos Cleaver, John Cleaver, Horace Dyer, Milton Dyer, Jacob Edic, David Gray, T. Gray, George Hicks, George Hazard, John Haz- ard, William Hill, John I. Jones, Walter King, William R. Miller, Jeremiah Sweet, William Sherman, Freeborn Sweet, Samuel Steward, Robert Start, Abram Weaver, John White, Thomas White.f The church was erected during the year 1839, at a cost of about $1100, also a parsonage the same year at a cost of about $500, and horse sheds at a cost of about $200; total cost of church property, $1800. The lot on which the church and parsonage were built was donated to the society by Jacob Edic. The cemetery was also a donation from Mr. Edic, and was placed in the hands of the board of trustees for the church property. The first board of trustees was composed of the following persons, viz. : Jacob Edic, William Hill, Amos Cleaver. Rev. Mr. Cass was the first regular pastor. Previous to this organ- ization, in 1824, the Rev. Mr. Frost, pastor of the Presby- terian Church in Whitestown, had recommended the people in Marcy to secure the services of a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, by the name of Gibson, which was done, and services held in the school-house near the site of the present church. A great revival soon followed, and he organized a class. This was the nucleus of the future church.

The present board of trustees consists of Anthony W. Wood, Edward T. Marson, James Cavana, Ephraim V. Horn, John R. Pugh. The pastor is Rev. Hiram M. Church. The membership, Feb. 20, 1878, was 39. A Sabbath-school was started soon after the organization of the church, and has a membership of 50; a library of

over 300 volumes, beside taking forty copies of a Sunday- school paper. The missionary collections for the year 1877 were $16. Present Superintendent of the school, John R. Pugh.

BEREAN BAPTIST CHURCH-MARCY STATION.

This society was organized early in 1844, under Elder William H. Thomas, who became the first pastor. During his stay the present frame church was built. The mem- bership at the end of the year 1844 was 73, and according to the minutes of the Association for September, 1877, the church then had 34 members. Among the early pastors were Elders Myron H. Negus and Alfred Harris. The present pastor is Elder J. S. Webber, of Holland Patent. A Sabbath-school is sustained with a membership of about 80. Its Superintendent is C. C. Potter. It has thirteen officers and teachers and a library of 130 volumes. There were at one time a second Baptist Church and a Congrega- tional Church in this town, but neither is now in existence. The Baptist Church was located in the east part of town, north of the present Methodist Episcopal Church.

WELSH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

A society of this denomination was formed in 1854, in charge of Rev. John R. Griffith, who was long its pastor. The present frame church, in District No. 11, was built during his pastorate. Some years previous, or about 1840, a small congregation was organized and a church built, which was abandoned finally and the present one erected in its place. The society, in 1854, was large and flourish- ing, while at present the membership is not far from 20. No regular pastor is employed, although meetings are held, preaching being done by various ministers. Evan J. Jones is the Superintendent of the Sabbath-school.

WELSH METHODIST CHURCH.

A number of persons formerly belonging to the Welsh Presbyterian Church left that congregation a few years after its formation, and organized a Methodist society, erecting a frame church in the northeast part of the town. This first building was destroyed by fire, and the present one erected in its place within the past eight or ten years. The church is attended by supplies,-a different one being sent every sixth week. A small Sabbath-school is sustained.

A GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH,

with a small congregation, is also located in the northeast corner of town, and its organization is of recent date. A comfortable frame church has been erected.

THE WELSH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,

on the old plank-road, is in the southeast part of the town. This society has been in existence thirty years or more. Its first church, a frame building, was removed, and is now used as a cheese-factory. The present structure was erected in 1858. The membership is small, and the congregation is under the pastoral care of Rev. William D. Williams.

INDIAN OCCUPATION.

Although there were no members of the Indian tribes of this region residing in the town when the whites first

* By Rev. Hiram M. Church:

t Most of these joined February 4, the others Feb. 13, 1839.

WOLCOTT HOMESTEAD

MARTIN CAVANA HOMESTEAD.

RESIDENCE OF JAMES CAVANA, MARCY, ONEIDA CO., N. Y.

LITH BY L N. EVERTS, PHILA, PA.

RESIDENCE OF EDWARD T. MARSON, MARCY, ONEIDA Co., N. Y.

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

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

settled here, yet there were traces of recent occupation, and in the locality of the Wilson tract were evidences that a village had once stood there. The land was covered with small, second-growth timber, and numerous " hopper holes," as they were called, were found, which had been used as caches, or hiding places for corn and provisions on the approach of an enemy. They would hold about ten bushels each, and were lined with dry ferns and grass. Various implements were plowed up, some of them very curious, including peculiar-shaped iron hatchets, of supposed Span- ish manufacture .*

REMINISCENCES.

The following description of the customs and manners of the early inhabitants of this town is given in the lan- guage of Judge Jones :

" The first settlers were mostly uneducated men, yet, with their rude manners, kind and neighborly. They were in the habit of meeting at some one of their houses to celebrate the advent of the new year. A 'rich supper,' as they termed it, was provided by each furnishing the articles in which he most abounded; and the result was that these suppers exhibited a bountiful supply of turkeys, chickens, pies, cakes, etc. After the supper the young people spent the evening in dancing, while the older ones told their stories and cracked their jokes.

"Strong drink was freely used, although by few to intoxication, for this was before the invention of temperanee societies. Logging and wood beee were also the order of the day, to which a whole neigh- horhood were invited, to give one of their number a lift io drawing, piling, and burning logs, in clearing land, or to cut and draw firewood. It is very questionable whether those who have succeeded them enjoy life with as high a relish as they did. They were a plain people, manufacturing in their families almost every article of their wearing apparel, the fabric of which, though coarse, and colored from the bark of the hemlock, soft maple, butternut, and hazel, was warm and dura- hle. The females, or, as they might be termed, 'nature's ladies,' were well fitted by inclination and habit for pioneers, and threading the paths through the tangled forests on foot, or, at best, on horseback, was to them a pastime. An instance might be given of a young married woman, who, wishing to visit her father's family, some three miles distant, at the place now known as Coleman's Mills, in the towa of Whitestowa, went to the pasture, caught a highly-spirited four-years- old horse, manufactured a halter from her homespun, home-woven, long, and strong unmentionables, and, without other head-gear for her horse, or even a saddle, performed the journey, having to ford or swim the Mohawk at the ' Oxhow' on her outward and homeward passage. She had a pleasant visit, and her, it must be confessed, perilous ride was performed without aceident."

So plenty was wild game that the settlers suffered much from the depredations of bears, wolves, and even foxes, and it became a matter of necessity to acquire proficiency in the use of the rifle in order to protect the fields and stock from being entirely destroyed. Bears were the most troublesome, and great numbers of them were killed. It is related of a Mr. Hall that he had at one time sixteen of the " pelts" of these animals stretched on the sides of his barn to dry.

ITEMS FROM THE TOWN RECORDS.

The first town-meeting for the town of Marcy was held Tuesday, May 1, 1832, at the " school-house near Samuel Camp's." " Isaac Bronson, a justice of the peace, residing in said town of Marcy," presided, and the following officers were elected, to wit : Supervisor, John Newell ; Assessors,

Samuel C. Baldwin, Dan P. Cadwell, Harvey Foot; Com- missioners of Roads, John F. Allen, Nathaniel Kent, Joel Hale ; Collector, John Cavana ; Commissioners of Schools, Hazen E. Fox, Horatio N. Cary, Jeremiah Sweet; In- spectors of Schools, Jonathan Sweet, James Dikeman, Ezra Simmons ; Overseers of Poor, Samuel C. Baldwin, William Potter ; Constables, Joseph Ward, George W. Miller, John Cavana, Phineas Sherman, Jr .; Sealer of Weights and Measures, Anthony W. Wood ; Justices of the Peace, William R. Miller, Ezra Simmons, Conrad Raymer ; Town Clerk, Milton Dyer.

From 1833 to 1877, inclusive, the following-named per- sons have served as Supervisors of the town : 1833, Samuel C. Baldwin; 1834-35, Milton Dyer; 1836-38, Conrad Raymer ; 1839, Samuel C. Baldwin ; 1840-41, Nathaniel D. Bronson ; 1842-43, James A. Dikeman ; 1844-46, Hazen E. Fox ; 1847-48, Clark Potter ; 1849, Jeremiah Sweet; 1850, Amos C. Hall; 1851-52, Clark Potter ; 1853, James A. Dikeman; 1854, David Babcock ; 1855, William H. Hale; 1856, David Babcock ; 1857, Clark Potter ; 1858-59, Edward T. Marson ; 1860, James Ca- vana ; 1861-62, Henry Edic; 1863, George B. Robbins ; 1864-65, Ebenezer Lewis ; 1866-67, Michael Van Hatten ; 1868-69, William E. Clark ; 1870, David T. Jenkins ; 1871, Charles J. Edic; 1872, James Cavana; 1873-75, Charles J. Edic; 1876-77, David T. Jenkins.

The remainder of the town officers for 1877 were : Town Clerk, Thomas N. Grace; Justices of the Peace, C. J. Edic, C. C. Potter, A. Nicholson, E. T. Marson ; Commis- sioner of Highways, M. Van Hatten; Collector, B. San- ders ; Overseer of the Poor, John E. Jones,-George E. Chapin was afterwards appointed in the place of Jones ; Assessor, William C. Williams ; Town Auditors, James Cavana, Ephraim V. Horn, John Potter ; Inspectors of Election, William H. Humphrey, N. D. Nicholson, George Barnard; Excise Commissioners, Levi Tanner, Abel Ful- ler; Constahles, James Handwright, Augustus Ratersdorf, Thomas Deitle, Porter E. Buel, James W. Morey ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, James W. Morey.

Thanks are hereby tendered to the following-named per- sons for information furnished in this town : Anthony W. Wood, Rev. Hiram M. Church, William Mayhew, Sr., Mrs. Richard Jones, Thomas N. Grace (Town Clerk, for use of records), members of the different churches and others.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

EDWARD T. MARSON

was born at Lilbourne, Northamptonshire, England, April 28, 1808. He was the son of John Marson and Mary Terrington, both natives of England, where they lived and died. The former died at the age of fifty, and the latter at the age of seventy-five years. The subject of this sketch was the youngest of the family of three sons and one daughter, and spent his early life, and until he was twenty-

* It is more probable they were made by the French, but it is by no means certain that they were the work of either.

484

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

three years of age, at home on the farm, receiving fair op- portunities for obtaining an education.

In the year 1831, Mr. Marson emigrated to America, living the first year in Westchester County. The following year he spent in Troy, N. Y., and the next five years in Watervliet, Albany County, when he came and settled in the town of Marcy, Oneida County. This was about the year 1839, or one year after that town was organized. He at once bought a farm of 100 acres, and has since resided

about the year 1852, and held that office continuously (except one year) for twenty-five years, ending January, 1878, five years of which time being justice of sessions.

Mr. Marson is known as a strictly honest man in all his dealings, and possesses those manly qualities worthy the emulation of those younger in years.

He has been for several years connected with the Metho- dist Church, and a valuable member in the councils of that body.

EDWARD T. MARSON. Photos. by Williams.

MRS. EDWARD T. MARSON.

there, following the occupation of a farmer, and is ranked among the representative farmers of that town.

Mr. Marson was formerly identified with the Whig party, and since the formation of the Republican party an active member and advocate of its principles. Held in great esteem by his fellow-citizens for his integrity and re- sponsibility, he was elected supervisor of his town for two terms, 1858-59, and was first elected justice of the peace

In the year 1826 he married Miss Mary Ann Lee, of English birth, barn about the year 1806. They have had nine children, of whom only four are living-Thomas, John, William, and Joseph. Edward T. lived to be twenty-eight years of age, and was married, and died in Ulster County, 1863. Catherine only lived to be eight years of age. The boys living are all farmers in the town of Marcy.

CHAPTER XXXV. MARSHALL.

THE town of Marshall is located in the southern part of the county of Oneida, and has an area of 19,322 acres. It is nearly all included in the tract belonging to the Brother- town Indians, a triangular strip in the northeast corner, being a portion of the Coxeborough Patent. The town is watered by the Oriskany Creek and its branches, which also furnish excellent power. The Chenango Canal, and Utica, Clinton and Binghamton Division of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railway, pass along the valley of the Oriskany. The canal is not at present in use except as a means of furnishing water-power. The village of Water- ville includes within its corporate limits a small portion of this town at its southern boundary. An account of the

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 129

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