History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 135

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 135

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John Chapman, of Rhode Island, removed from that State to Vermont and remained one year, and about 1803 settled in Bridgewater, Oneida Co., N. Y. About 1809 he came to this town, and located on the farm now owned by Wake- man Rider. His son, Willard Chapman, is still a resident of Paris, and is seventy-seven years of age. John Chap- man's brother, Charles, lived in this town some time, and subsequently removed to Tioga County, where he died. He was a soldier of 1812. Nathaniel Chapman, the father of these men, settled in Paris five or six years after his sons came, and died in the town. Willard Chapman was probably born in Vermont during the residence of liis father in that State.

Among the early settlers of this town was the Gray family. They were originally from the north of Ireland, the first who emigrated to America having been Samuel Gray, who was born in 1715, and came to this country in 1736. He settled in Worcester, Mass., where he married Mary Wiley, who was also born in the north of Ireland, about 1718, and came to America in the same ship that brought Mr. Gray. The latter died in Worcester, about the year 1800. Religiously he was a Protestant, and by trade a weaver. He left seven children, among whom was Moses Gray, grandfather of the present Moses M. Gray, of Sauquoit. He married, about 1769, Sally Fuller, lived in Templeton, Mass., and afterwards removed to Grafton, Windham Co., Vt., where his wife died in 1793.

503

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Shortly after this event Mr. Gray, accompanied by his son Moses, removed to the State of New York and settled in the Sauquoit Valley, making the long journey on horse- back. Mr. Gray built a log house on the east side of the Sauquoit, a little south of where the Methodist Church now stands. In 1797 he married Anna Buckingham, by whom he had four children. By his first wife he had ten chil- dren. Moses Gray died May 8, 1805, from injuries re- ceived while felling a tree. His wife died in 1842.

Moses Gray, the eighth child of the preceding, was born in Templeton, Mass., Feb. 26, 1785. He learned the tan- ner's trade, and carried on the business until 1823, when he removed from Paris Furnace (now Clayville) to Sau- quoit, where he resided until his death, in 1845. His wife was Roxanna Howard, a native of Long Meadow, Conn., where she was born in 1789, and who died June 15, 1869. They had eight children born to them, viz .. Asa, Roxanna, Elsada, Almira, Moses Miller, Hiram, George, and Joseph Howard Gray.

Of these, Asa, the oldest, is the world-renowned botanist, who was educated for a physician, but having a greater love for natural science than for the practice of medicine, he abandoned the latter and applied himself to the study of botany. In 1834 he was elected professor of natural his- tory io Harvard University, which position he still nomi- nally retains, though he retired from active college duties in 1874. Dr. Gray married Jane Lathrop Loring, of Boston, Mass., in 1848. His present residence is at the Botanic Garden of Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

George died in Boston, Mass., Jan. 9, 1848. The others are still living. Moses Miller Gray, born June 9, 1820, married Emily Townsend in 1845. He owns and resides upon the farm occupied by his father, in Sauquoit. Joseph H. Gray is in the practice of law in New York City.

The first known member of the Howard family in America was John Howard, who died in Ipswich, Mass., in 1686. John Howard, the grandfather of Mrs. Moses M. Gray, emi- grated from Pomfret, Conn., to Sauquoit, N. Y., in 1793, where he died in 1816. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church in that village. His son, Joseph Howard, was born in Pomfret, Conn., in 1766. He married Submit Luce, of Somers, Conn., April 3, 1788. and removed to Sauquoit in 1793. He was a leading citizen of his adopted town, and one of the twenty-six persons who formed themselves into a church in Sauquoit, in January, 1810, of which body he was chosen the first deacon, and continued to hold the office for a period of forty years. He died June 4, 1846. He married, in 1833, Margaret Carson, by whom he had seven children : Roxanna, who married the present Moses M. Gray, Jillany, Walter, Ephraini, Joseph, Polly, and Anna.

VILLAGE OF SAUQUOIT.

This village (or more properly two villages) is located on the stream bearing the same name, in the north part of town, and from its early settlement has been a place of large manufacturing interests.

Phineas Kellogg has been named as the earliest settler at this place, locating in 1789, and building a log house. He then returned to New England, and " in March, 1790, Mr. Kellogg, John Butler, Sylvester Butler, Asa Shepard, and

Mrs. Plumb and two children (wife and children of Joseph Plumb) removed from New England, and arrived at the house built by Kellogg the preceding fall. When they arrived they found the roof broken in by the snow, a heavy bank of which yet remained in the house; this was shoveled out, and the room made as comfortable as circum- stances would permit, for the accommodation of the new- comers. Mr. Plumb followed the same spring. In the course of the season probably there were some arrivals, for in the fall William Swan, a lad of about fourteen years of age, died, which was the first death within the present limits of Paris, of which there is at this time any knowl- edge. The winter after Swan died there were two or three deaths in the vicinity, from the smallpox. In the year 1791, Kirkland Griffin, Captain Abner Bacon, Deacon Simeon Coe, Spencer Briggs, Baxter Gage, Josiah Hull, Nathan Robinson, Enos Pratt, and a Mr. Root settled in the vicinity of Sanquoit."*

Kirkland Griffin, Esq, was a resident of the east side of the creek, and a veteran of the Revolution. It is said that he was one of those who shared the terrible privatious of the " Mill Prison," in England, during that great strug- gle for independence, and after being released joined Com- modore Paul Jones, and was engaged in the fearful en- counter between Jones' vessel, the " Boo Homme Richard," and the British frigate " Serapis," which resulted in the capture of the latter. Many of Griffin's fellow-prisoners were among Jones' crew, and fought like vengeful tigers to wipe out the insults offered them by the minions of Britain. Esquire Griffin became a prominent man in the town of Paris.

Benjamin Merrills, another early settler in this vicinity, was a veteran of the old French war.

Captain Abner Bacon kept a tavern very early on the present site of Colonel Chauncey Butler's residence, and afterwards, in 1802, Judge James Orton kept a store and tavern in a part of the building later known as "Savage's Tavern Stand."

Dr. Leverett Bishop, of Sauquoit, is a son of David Bishop, who came to this town about 1808, from Guilford, New Haven Co., Conn. He located with his family on a farm half a mile east of Paris Hill, now owned by his grandson, S. R. Bishop. The family moved from Connecti- cut with an ox-team. About this time Amos Bishop made a trip to this vicinity on foot, carrying a pack on his back. The Bishop farm was originally settled by a man named Dunbar, who probably dug the present well on the place. When they came to the town a saw-mill was in operation at Sauquoit, and had been for several years. The elder Bishop was a veteran of the Revolution, and was with Washington on his famous retreat from Long Island. Dr. Leverett Bishop served at Sacket's Harbor, in the capacity of " surgeon's mate" (assistant surgeon as now termed), in the war of 1812. Amos, the father of S. R. Bishop, was under fire at Oswego. Another son, Joel, was lost at sca, off Sandy Hook, in the latter part of 1810. Dr. Bishop began the study of medicine during the war of 1812-15, and in the fall of 1815 began practice at the village of

" Jones' Annals.

504

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Skanandoa, in the town of Vernon. The following year, 1816, he came to Sanquoit, where he has since resided, and practiced his profession. He was eighty-seven years of age in July, 1878. His brother Amos died May 11, 1866, at the age of eighty-three.

Among the early physicians were Drs. " Dick" Perkins and "Jack" Perkins, brothers; they possibly lived in the edge of New Hartford. Dr. Amos G. Hull was a short time at Paris Hill, but finally sold his ride to Dr. Elnathan Judd. Hull went to New Hartford, afterwards to Utica, and finally to New York. He was a fine physician, and one of the best surgeons in the country. Dr. Seth Hast- ings, who lived beyond Paris Hill, was one of the earliest physicians. Dr. Spaulding Pierce lived in West Sauquoit village, and was here previous to the arrival of Dr. Bishop. The physicians at present practicing in this town are the following : At Cassville, Dr. Barnum ; at Clayville, Drs. Jones, Gifford, and Forbes ; at Paris Hill, Dr. Hughes; at Sauquoit, Drs. Bishop, Osborne, and Curtis.

The Sauquoit post-office was established about 1820, through the instrumentality of Hobart Graves and Dr. L. Bishop. The office was located on the east side of the creek, and Mr. Graves was the first postmaster. He had a general country store, which was the second one on the cast side of the creek, the first having been kept by Henry Crane, who discontinued the business before Graves cstab- lished his. Stephen Savage owned a store on the west side. His grandson, Stephen G. Savage, is at present a merchant on the same side, and also has the post-office. One Per- kins kept a store here previous to the tine Savage began business.

The village contains four stores, a hotel, a post-office, a Lodge of Good Templars, a Masonic Lodge, and several mechanic shops, besides various manufacturing establish- ments, which are described elsewhere.

The present "Sauquoit Hotel," on the west side of the creek, was built by Joseph Mason in 1862, and stands on the ground previously occupied by the old "Savage tavern stand," which was burned down. It is a frame building, the only hotel in the place, and at present owned by Alfred Rogers. A hotel was at one time kept at the corners, ou the east side, but has long been discontinued.

Sauquoit Lodge, No. 150, F. and A. M., is the succes- sor to " Paris Lodge, No. 348," which was one of the first Lodges in the county, having been formed previous to 1816, and discontinued during the " anti-Masonic" excite- ment. The present Lodge was chartered June 21, 1849, and incorporated in April, 1866. It owns a spacious lot of ground, and a frame building for its use as a lodge-room. Its membership in June, 1878, was about 100, and its principal officers for the same year are as follows: Josiah S. Parker, W. M .; B. E. Forbes, M.D., S. W .; C. L. Mar- shall, J. W .; Wayne Thurston, Treas .; John R. Jones, Sec .; D. H. Morgan, S. D .; Reuben Horrocks, J. D.

The grist- and saw-mills of W. F. Mould & Brothers have been owned by this firm since Jan. 1, 1853, at which time they were purchased of Henry Gilbert. The grist- mill has been extensively repaired and improved since coming into the hands of the present firm. During the winter three extra hands are employed, and in the summer

one. The grist-mill contains three runs of stones, and does principally a custom business. The father of these gentle- men, William L. Mould, was originally from England, and for four years previous to the purchase of this mill had operated the "Farmers' Factory-Mill," on the creek be- tween Sauquoit and Clayville. This latter mill is now out of use. It was built by the " Farmers' Cotton Company," whose factory was near the present upper paper-mill of the Messrs. Graham. The latter is not in operation. The upper paper-mill of this company, a short distance above Sanquoit, at one time owned by Savage & Moore, is also idle. The grist-mill at Sauquoit was originally built by Captain Abner Bacon.

Friendly Woolen Company .- About 1812 a company of Quakers came to Sauquoit, purchased a saw-mill which had been erected by Abner Bacon, Sr., rebuilt it, and also put up a shop and various other buildings; the shop being the same now standing east of the depot, occupied by a store, a barber-shop, etc. They also built quite an extensive woolen-mill, immediately below the saw-mill, and began business customary to those days, before power-looms had come in fashion. They spun the yarn and let it out to private families to weave into satinets. The factory did not prove a remunerative investment, and was sold ou an exe- cution to Thomas Dean, afterwards of Deanville, and Isaac Smith then carried it on for a while. In 1824 it was pur- chased by Kellogg Hurlburt, Abner Brownell, and John Chadwick, proprietors at the same time of the " Eagle Cotton- Factory," now " Chadwick's Mills," two miles below, in the town of New Hartford. This firm converted it into a cot- ton-factory, changed the name to " Franklin Mill," and began manufacturing cotton cloth in 1826. In 1827 the firm divided, Messrs. Hurlburt and Brownell remaining in charge. Soon after they made a large addition to the fac- tory ; Brownell afterwards bought Hurlburt's interest, and the firm-name became A. Brownell & Co. A second addi- tion was constructed, making the entire building 160 by 36 feet in dimensions. Mr. Brownell's sons finally assumed charge of the factory, which was burned May 4, 1877, and has not been rebuilt.

Abner Brownell, who was one of the earliest manufac- turers of cotton goods in the State, was originally from Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He first settled at what is now Toddsville, Otsego County, about 1807-8, where he was overseer of the " Union Cotton-Factory ;" came to Chad- wick's Mills about 1809, and to Sauquoit about 1812. He introduced the printing of cotton goods in this part of the country, and was a prominent manufacturer all his life.

Sauquoit Silk Manufacturing Company .- The building occupied by this company stands just below Sauquoit vil- lage, and was built by A. Brownell & Co., for a cotton-fac- tory, about 1840-45. It contained sixty looms, with other necessary machinery. This and the " Franklin Mill" were both in operation at the same time, and doing a large busi- ncss. The present silk manufacturing firm have occupied the building since September, 1873, the cotton machinery having been removed by the previous owners. The present officers of the company arc, President, L. R. Stelle, of Sau- quoit; Treasurer, Richard Rossmassler, of Philadelphia ; Secretary, A. D. Stelle, of Sauquoit. From 85 to 100

Geo. D. Dunham

H & Sunhar

PHOTOS BY J & SMITH UTICA N Y.

RESIDENCE OF GEORGE D. DUNHAM, PARIS , ONEIDA CO., N. Y.

LITH BY LK EVENTS , PHILA, PA.

DARIUS DUNHAM.

Mr. Dunham was born in Brimfield, Mass., on the 4th of June, 1790. When he was four years of age his father, David Dunham, brought him with the family to Oneida County. They came by land with ad ox-team from Brim- field, Mass., and were eleven daya in performing the journey. Mr. George D. Dunham has still some of the furniture brought by his grandfather, David Dunham, from Mass- achusetts at the time of his removal here in 1794, which he keeps as a aouvenir of the emigration of his ancestor to this county.

Mr. Dariua Dunham aettled first in the town of West- moreland, and in March, 1807, removed to Paris, and aettled upon the farm which he occupied till the time of his death. He married Polly, daughter of Asahel Curtisa, and reared a family of six children,-four sons and two daughters, -- two of whom are living at this writing, viz .: N. C. and George D. Dunham, the former residing at Sauquoit, and the latter on the old homestead of his father's.

In the reminiscences given us of the life of Darius DuD- ham, it is stated that when on his way to his new wilderness

home in Oneida County, he passed with his ox-team through what is now the city of Utica, and the place at that time contained one log tavern, one log store, and three or four log housea.

When quite young Mr. Ducham united with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, of which he remained a consistent member till the time of his death. He departed this life Oct. 28, 1874, having fulfilled the earthly mission of an honest, industrious, and worthy citizen, and an earnest and exemplary Christian. He was for many years a trustee of his church, a regular attendant and supporter of its ser- vices, and in his last will and testament bequeathed a hand- aome sum to charitable objects.

He was in theory and practice an earnest reformer, using his influence for the suppression of intemperance, the aboli- tion of slavery, the exaltation and purification of politics, and for the promotion of every virtue and every excellence in human society. He was pre-eminently an unselfish man, and devoted much of his time and energy to the good of others.

505

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

operatives are employed, and from 40,000 to 50,000 pounds of silk used annually, costing on an average $6 per pound. The manufactures are tram and organzine, for weaving pur- poses, and fringe for ladies' trimmings. The same company has a factory at Philadelphia, Pa., with a capacity for manu- facturing $150,000 worth annually, and is also engaged in weaving.

THE VILLAGE OF CASSVILLE

is located on the Sauquoit Creek, at the south line of the town. Its first settlers were Elias Hopkins, Mark Hop- kins, and Eleazer Kellogg, who were here some years pre- vious to 1800. Elias Hopkins built a saw-mill, which was the first mill of any kind above the Paris Furnace. It stood on the site of the grist-mill afterwards owned by Benjamin Rhodes, of Bridgewater, and now the property of Abel Budlong and Edwin Loomis. This grist-mill was ereeted by Amasa Burchard, who also owned a saw-mill. There was also a fork-factory here at one time. A grist- mill was built by John Budlong very early, three-quarters of a mile above the Paris Furnace, which has now gone out of existence. The present carding-mill is of more recent date, having been erected within the past ten or twelve years by Alonzo Burdick. In 1807 a carding and cloth- dressing mill was in operation, owned by Amasa Bur- chard, who had built it about 1804-5. It was on the spring-brook southwest of the village, and has long been removed.

Nathan Randal came to the town of Paris in 1799, from Connecticut, and settled a short distance north of the vil- lage, removing to it in 1807, since which time his son, Bishop T. Randal, has resided here. The latter and his brother Abel were at Sacket's Harbor during the war of 1812, and their father was a soldier of the Revolution. B. T. Randal is eighty-four years of age.

The post-office at Cassville has been established twenty- five or thirty years ; the first postmaster was probably Aaron Bligh. The last was Herbert Barnum, who moved away from the village, and his sneeessor had not been ap- pointed in May, 1878.

One of the first hotel-keepers here was Michael Foster, whose stand was a frame building which stood on the eor- ner south of the creek, and which has long been removed. The present " Cassville House" is a new building, and is kept by David Morris. It is located near the railroad.

Cassville has two stores, a grist-mill, a saw-mill, and a carding-mill, and several shops of various descriptions. East of the village is Richfield Junction, where a branch of the railway leads into the town of Bridgewater, and thenee into Otsego County, to Richfield Springs.

VILLAGE OF CLAYVILLE.

This village " was originally known as 'Paris Furnace.' It consisted only of a few scattered houses and workshops; and had no place of public worship within its limits, nor any minister of religion settled in the place. The inhabitants were of various religious sentiments, including a few Epis- copalians. Mr. F. Hollister purchased the water-privileges and grounds now pertaining to the Clayville and Einpire Mills corporations, and, with characteristic zeal, enterprise,

and public spirit, commeneed the manufacturing interests associated with those mills."*

Empire Woolen Company .- The factory now owned by this company was partly erected by Bacon & Collis, but before it was finished was purchased by Frederick Hol- lister when he came here, abont 1842-43. It was first known as the " Clayville Mills." Mr. Hollister built the lower mill owned by this company in 1843-44. In the latter year Hon. Henry Clay visited the place, and spoke at a meeting held in the factory, the floors having been laid, and the balance remaining unfinished. From that time the village has been known as Clayville, after the illustrions statesman. The officers of the present company are : President and Treasurer, A. J. Williams, of Utica ; Trustees, A. J. Williams, A. G. Williams, I. A. Williams, James H. Williams, N. A. Williams. The capital stock is $250,000. About 350,000 yards of fancy eassimeres are manufactured annually, and employment is furnished to an average of 230 operatives. The factory has received sev- eral additions since Mr. Hollister owned it, and its capacity is nearly doubled; it now contains fifteen sets of machinery. The company still owns the upper, or old " Clayville Fae- tory," which is not in use, the machinery having been mostly removed from it.

James Barnett, originally from Connecticut, and later a resident of Dutchess Co., N. Y., eame to the town of Paris in 1794, from the latter county, and settled near the line of Bridgewater. He had served in the commissary depart- ment during the Revolutionary war, and was one of the many who lost their property through the depreciation in value of the famous " Continental money." One son, Wil- liam Barnett, saw service during the war of 1812, as a substitute for his brother Albert, now of Clayville. The latter was then engaged in the wool-carding and cloth-dress- ing business at Cassville. Albert Barnett, Esq., who was eighty-six years of age in December, 1877, has lived in this town since 1794, with the exception of four years spent in Delaware. He has served a number of years as justice of the peace. In 1822 he was engaged to run a earding and cloth dressing factory, which had been built at Clayville, by Colonel Gardner Avery, Mr. Barnett aiding in its erection. This factory stood a few rods below the present " Empire Mill," and on the west side of the creek. The land on which most of the factories in this place stand was sold to the various owners by Mr. Barnett. The latter discontinued the business about 1830.

The first merchants in Clayville were Messrs. Bacon & Collis, who established a small store and built the frame of the " Clayville Woolen-Mill," which was completed and put in operation by Frederick Hollister, as described. Albert Barnett had a saw-mill where the Clayville mill now is, which he was running when he sold the site to Bacon & Collis. This saw-mill was built by Judge Eli- phalet Sweeting, who settled here about 1800. Many of the logs placed in the old dam have never been removed. The dam has been covered with earth.

Colonel Gardner Avery settled at the place in 1801 or 1802, and had an interest in the old cotton-factory known

# Records of St. John's Episcopal Church, C'ayville.

506

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

as the " Farmers' Mills," between Clayville and Sauquoit, where the paper-mill now stands. The Avery family was originally from Massachusetts. Eli Avery, a son of the colonel, now a resident of the village, has been a prominent citizen.

The old Paris furnace, which gave the village its original name, was commenced in 1800, and went into operation in 1801, Eliphalet Sweeting being the founder. The first boarding-house was kept by a man named Hill, in a log building, which for more than a year was the only edifice within a mile of the furnace. Thomas Spofford, the son of the millwright, lived in 1802 in a log house north of the furnace, aud the next building in that direction was the log house occupied by Theodore Gilbert, three-fourths of a mile farther north. Colonel Bentley, Deacon Charles Allen, and David Budlong lived on the west hill, where they had located before a settlement was begun at the furnace.

The old furnace stood on ground now occupied by one of the shops at the scythe-factory of S. A. Millard. Beach & Bowles were the first firm who engaged in scythe-making here, and had a factory in which they made axes, screws, and various other implements; it stood on the ground now occupied by the hoe and fork factory of Benjamin F. Avery (a resident of the State of Kentucky). D. J. Mil- lard carried on the same business for many years, but is now deceased.

About 1855-58 a chair-factory was built northwest of Clayville by Samuel Dexter, on a small stream emptying into the Sauquoit, and various articles were manufactured. At one time a run of stone was put in for the purpose of grinding feed, and cider was also made. The machinery has been mostly removed, and the factory is not now in operation. It was known as the " Paris Chair-Factory."

A post-office bearing the name of "Paris Furnace" (since changed to Clayville) was established here very early in the history of the place. Among the early postmasters was Deacon Joseph Howard, who owned a small store and a brewery. The office was kept at a hotel, which has been remodeled and largely repaired, and is now occupied for a a dwelling by Mrs. D. J. Millard. The present postmaster is Ezekiel Pierce.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 135

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