History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 140

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 140

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By the provisions of the act the election to decide the matter of incorporation was held February 8, 1871, the vote standing 231 in favor to 25 against. The first elec- tion for village officers was held March 21, 1871, when the following persons were chosen, viz. : President, Daniel B. Goodwin ; Trustees, E. H. Lamb, George Putnam, E. S. Peck ; Treasurer, Horace P. Bigelow ; Collector, T. Smith Yale.

At the first meeting of the board, March 25, 1871, Henry J. Coggeshall was appointed Corporation Clerk, Sam- uel L. Daniels Street Commissioner, and Thomas Garvey Police Constable. The village officers since have been :

1872 .- President, George Putnam ; Trustees, Edwin S. Peck, Edwin H. Lamb, R. Wilson Roberts.

1873 .- President, George Putnam ; Trustees, E. S. Peck, Edwin Westcott, Jasper G. Easton.

1874 .- President, George Putnam; Trustees, E. S. Peck, Perry S. Risley, Edward W. Buell.

1875 .- President and Trustees same as 1874.

1876 .- President, George Putnam ; Trustees, F. T. Gor- ton, Edwin Westcott, Francis H. Terry.

1877 .- President, D. Smith Bennett; Trustees, De Witt Conger, Edwin Westcott, F. T. Gorton.

1878 .- President, Reuben Tower; Trustees, De Witt Conger, Edwin Westcott, Clark E. Hewett ; Clerk, Her- mon Clarke ; Treasurer, Horace P. Bigelow; Collector, C. Merton Felton ; Police Constable, George Dearflinger.

The power furnished by the east branch of the Oriskany Creek at this place is the only durable power in the town, and this favorable circumstance caused a collection at this point, very early, of settlers, whose buildings stood in a " huddle," and the place was long known as " Sangerfield Huddle." From that small beginning it has grown to be one of the most important villages in the county.

The first settler on the site of Waterville was Nathau Gurney, in 1789. Benjamin White, who located in 1792, settled in the town in 1789, and was second at Waterville. In 1793, Judge Sanger built the first saw-mill, and Mr. White built a second one in 1794, on the site of the build- ing now used by Messrs. J. A. Berrill & Son as a foundry and machine-shop. In 1796, Mr. White also erected a grist-mill, and it was long known as " White's Mills."

Sylvanus Dyer removed here from the centre in 1799, and built a house at the west end of the village, in which he opened the first store in the place, and also kept tavern. Brown and Hewett, who had previously kept a store on the road to Oriskany Falls, opened one here in 1801, and Rob- ert Benedict established a third soon after.

" Esquire Benedict is said to have been very much of a gentleman, both in his manners and style of living. He was the brother-in- law of Dr. Nott, since president of Union College, and soon after be commenced trado tho doctor, then a young clergyman, ma.ls him a visit. Although Esquire B. was the son of a clergyman, and brought up in the faith of 'the most strictest sect,' yet oeither he nor his household possessed a copy of the holy Scrip- tnrcs. Fearing the reproof he would receive from the doctor if his destitution should be discovered when the family were enm- moned to worship, he borrowed a Bible of Colonel Sylvanns Dyer, his next neighbor, and placed it upon the table in the parlor, to appear as if his own. In the morning, after the family had assembled for prayer, the doctor took the sacred volume, and very revercotly open- ing it and turning over its leaves to select a chapter suitablo to the occasion, saw the name of Sylvaons Dyer written on a blank leaf, but which he passed without seeming to notice, and proceeded with his devotions. In the course of the day the csquire returned the borrowed volume, and thinking be would not again be caught in the awkward dilemma, proceeded to the store and purchased a copy, and in the ss- lection he strove for as near a rescoiblance to the one borrowed as possible, and placed it in the same position in which the doctor had left the other in the morning. When the family were all again pres- ent for evening prayers, the doctor took the new Bible and leisurely opened it to read as before. Probably the newness of the book caused a little suspicion in his mind, for after a close search on the blank leaves he quietly and quizzingly remarked, 'Brother Benedict, I don't see Sylvanns Dyer's name hers.' No description is necessary of the confusion of the brother-in-law in his unpleasant predicament."#

Benjamin White, the second settlert at Waterville, located in April, 1789, two weeks after the arrival of Mr. Gurney, the first settler. At quite an early day (subsequent to 1805) he emigrated to the town of Stafford, Gencsee Co., where he was afterwards brutally murdered by his younger son, who was tried and executed for the deed. The trouble was over a division of the father's property.

Amos Osborn, from Fairfield Co., Conn. (the family came originally from Hingham, England), located at Water- ville in 1802, and built, near " White's Mills," the first dis- tillery at the place. He purchased White's farm in 1810,

* Jones' Annals.

t It is also stated by Mr. Osborn, who wrote the sketch of this town io Jones' Aonals, that Mr. White was the first settler at what is now Waterville, where he says Gurney was first.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

paying $30 per acre for it, and afterwards bought a second farm in the vicinity, for which he paid nine gallons of gin per acre. The old White farm was within the present limits of the corporation, as was also the second one pur- chased by Mr. Osborn. A son of the latter, Amos O. Osborn, resides on the old White place, his house occupy- ing the ground on which stood the dwelling of Mr. White. The present residence was built by Mr. Osborn, Sr., in 1813. The old White residence (still standing west of Mr. Osborn's) was the first framed dwelling erected in the village.

Mr. Osborn carried on his distillery about thirteen years. He was for some years president of the Sangerfield Mann- facturing Company, which built a cotton-factory in 1816. They afterwards sold a controlling interest to Henry B. Clarke, who operated it until about 1830, when it was pur- chased by Messrs. Goodwin & Bacon, and transformed into a woolen-factory, which remained in existence several years. It is at present occupied by Messrs. J. A. Berrill & Son.

In the year 1802, Justus Tower settled in the place, and built a house and a grist-mill ; the latter is now used as a paint-factory. The house is yet standing on the west side of Mill Street, and is occupied by tenants. It belongs to parties outside of the Tower family. In 1803, Mr. Tower leased the old White mill, and operated both at the same time. A heavy freshet in April, 1804, deluged the valley, and carried off every dam at this place. Mr. Tower and John Williams, Jr., were drowned. The former had just been re-elected supervisor of the town. Soon after the freshet a severe epidemic carried off several of the inhabi- tants, among them Ichabod Stafford, Esq.

The Towers were from the town of Hingham, Plymouth Co., Mass., and first located in the town of Paris. There were four brothers,-Jeduthan (grandfather of Reuben Tower, president of the village, and of Charlemagne Tower, of Philadelphia, Pa.), Justus (father of Horace D. Tower, of Waterville), Jolin, and Jotham. John Tower was the father of John Tower, the present proprietor of the " Clin- ton House," at Clinton. Jotham was the youngest of twelve children. Justus Tower was but thirty-seven years of age at the time of his death. He built a store on the corner where Hubbard's brick store now stands, and after his death Jotham Tower stocked it with goods, repaired the grist-mill, which had been badly damaged by the freshet, and carried on both in company with Justus Tower's widow. The wife of Dr. Cleveland, Sr., of Waterville, is a danghter of Jotham Tower ; his youngest daughter is the wife of Ira Reed, of Rome; and another daughter is now Mrs. Mont- gomery, living north of Waterville, in the town of Marshall. Horace D. Tower (son of Justus) is in his eighty-fifth year, and, except a period of ten years, has been a resident of the village since 1802. His younger brother, Henry Tower, was for some years in the distilliog business with J. and R. Bacon, merchants of the place, who purchased the stock of goods left by Justus Tower at his decease, and carried on the store for thirty years or more. Henry Tower was also long prominently connected with Madison Uni- versity.

The post-office at Waterville was originally established

in 1806, with Amos Muzzy as first postmaster. He was succeeded by Colonel John Williams, who was in office when it was removed to the centre in 1808. It was not re-established here until 1823, and then under the present name of Waterville, the old office having been called San- gerfield. The present postmaster is J. L. Bissell. The office is located in Buell's brick block.

On a certain evening, in the fall of 1808, it happened that Dr. Sherman Bartholomew, Josiah and Reuben Bacon, Isaac Terry, and John Williams, Esqs., were in the tavern kept either by Eli Hotchkiss or Pardon Keyes (later the residence of Dr. E. A. Munger), and the subject of a name for the village was discussed by them, together with other topics. It was agreed that it deserved a more dignified title than " the Huddle," as it was familiarly called, and after several names had been offered, that of Waterville was suggested by Dr. Bartholomew. It was accepted, and the village has since been known by that appellation, though it was not generally adopted until the post-office was estab- lished in 1823. In 1806 the place had 32 dwelling-houses and stores, and 200 inhabitants, and has since been the seat of several manufacturing institutions not now in existence, among them being a large organ-factory, a distillery for the making of pure alcohol, etc.

Fire Department .- A fire company has existed in the village for many years. At present the department is an efficient body, consisting of Steamer Company, No. 1, with 36 members, and Hose Company, No. 1, with 24 mem- bers. The officers of the department are : President, H. J. Coggeshall; Vice-President, Claude Wilson ; Secretary, Her- mon Clarke; Treasurer, M. P. Cady ; Foreman of Steamer, G. R. Sanford; Assistant, Richard Berrill; Foreman of Hose, W. J. Kelly ; Assistant, F. H. Hubbard; Chief Engineer, A. B. Cady, Jr. ; Assistant, W. M. Roberts ; Engineer of Steamer, A. J. Gardner; Fireman, George Fino ; Assistant Fireman, C. H. Wample. The present two-story brick engine-house was built in 1872. Two hand-engines were formerly in use, but one of which, manufactured by But- ton, of Waterford, N. Y., is fit for service. A steam fire- engine, of the Silsbee pattern, was purchased in the summer of 1877, at a cost of $4000. The present department was organized July 17, 1877. It possesses about 850 feet of leather hose, of which part is single and part double riv- eted, and over 400 feet of rubber hose, all in good condi- tion.

Newspapers .- In 1814 or 1815, Joseph Tenney com- menced the publication of the Civil and Religious Intelli- gencer, which in 1825 was changed to the Sangerfield Intelligencer, and in 1835 removed to Fabius, Onondaga Co. The publication of The Oneida Standard was be- gun at Waterville, in 1833. It was subsequently removed to Utica, where it was published by Quartus Graves, as The Standard and Democrat. In 1835, on account of its Abolition sentiments, the office was entered by a mob and part of the type and furniture thrown into the streets. The Waterville Advertiser was commenced in 1851, by R. W. Hathaway. The Waterville Journal was established in January, 1855, by A. P. Fuller & Co., with C. B. Wil- kinson editor. It was discontinued in March, 1856. In 1857 the publication of The Waterville Times was begun

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

by Mckibbin & Wilkinson, who continned it until 1860, and sold out to J. H. Yale. November 8, 1866, the paper passed into the hands of R. S. Ballard. The present pro- prietor, James J. Guernsey, became the owner in 1870, and has since conducted the paper, which is an 8-column folio, 28 by 40 inches, issued weekly, and having a circn- lation of about 1000. It is printed in the Putnam Block, on a steam-power press. All kinds of job-printing are done. In this office is also printed a quarterly for Messrs. Charles Green & Son, known as "Charles Green & Son's Hop Paper." Its editor is W. A. Lawrence, of New York; its circulation about 5000 copies, issued gratuitously.

The Hop Trade in this vicinity is very extensive. Charles Green & Son are perhaps the heaviest firm in the business at this place; they sell entirely to brewers, and are also engaged in manufacturing the celebrated hop ex- tract, which they began in 1876. Their building for this purpose is located on the stream in the north part of the village, and employment is furnished to eight hands. The factory is kept running night and day.

The other Waterville firms engaged in the hop trade are Daniel Conger & Son, Terry, Bennett & Co., Squiers & Tower, Charles Terry & Son, and H. P. Locke. Others from New York City and various places have more or less business in the same line, Waterville being the heaviest hop market in Oneida County, or in a large extent of ter- ritory surrounding. Messrs. Charles Green & Son (W. Jerome Green) established a private bank in July, 1875, which is still in operation.

Boot and Shoe Factory and Tannery .- Colonel John Williams very early established a tannery here, and Chaun- cey Buell, who afterwards became his partner in business, fioally purchased the entire institution and started in a small way a custom boot and shoe shop in connection. When the Erie Railroad was being constructed the business largely increased and considerable wholesaling was done. The present firm is C. Buell, Son & Co. From 70 to 80 hands are employed in the shop and tannery together. The productions of the tannery amount to about $50,000 an- nually, and those of the boot and shoe department about $150,000; it has aggregated in previous years as high as $200,000. The goods are principally sold in the West.

Colonel Williams, who built the old tannery here, originally started one in the southwest part of town, on the west side of the " great swamp," and afterwards removed to Water- ville. Chauncey Buell, who came here in 1817 from Mas- sachusetts, where he learned his trade as a shoemaker, is a native of Wilmington, Windham Co., Vt. For some time he worked with Alanson Coe, then in business here. Mr. Buell and Philip Lumbard established a copartnership after the former had been here a short time, and manufac- tured boots and shoes from leather made by Colonel Wil- liams. In 1821, Mr. Buell made up $1000 worth of goods, Colonel Williams furnishing the stock, and made a trip to the Wabash River country, in Indiana, above Vin- cennes, where he disposed of his load at a good profit, and, returning, went into partnership with the colonel in 1822, in the tanning business. Together with Elisha Newbury, he purchased the colonel's interest in 1826, and this firm carried on the establishment for about six years, when Mr.

Buell became sole proprietor. From a small beginning the institution has become one of the most important in the country. The old shop which Williams & Buell occupied was finally torn away to make room for the present fine brick structure known as the " Buell Block."

Chauncey Buell has lived in the house in which he at present resides since he was married,-1826,-originally oc- cupying what is now the west wing.

The present Cold Spring Brewery on Mill Street, owned by E. S. Peck, was originally a distillery, built by Amos Osborn, in 1802, and recently owned by Reuben Tower. Its business at present is not large. Numerous distilleries have been in operation here at different times. One, which occupied the site of Messrs. Cady & Son's present stone building, was owned by Stanton Park, and was destroyed by fire in 1825, together with 6000 gallons of liquor, which latter ran out through a waste-ditch, and set fire to a barn which was also burned. The sight of the burning liquor floating on the surface was inexpressibly grand and a great curiosity. The present building was erected the same year the old one was burned.

The grist-mill now owned by Isaac Jones was built originally by Jotham Tower, about 1814-15, on the site of the old white mill. It contains four runs of stone and has a large custom business.

Paint-Factory .- The building now occupied by Terry & Gridley, manufacturers of white lead and colors (for house paints), was built for a grist-mill, in 1802, by Justus Tower. The present firm began business in 1869. From two to four hands are usually employed. The annual mann- factures average about $10,000.

Planing-Mill, Sash, Door, and Blind Factory .- The building occupied by Messrs. A. B. Cady & Sons (A. B. Cady, A. B. Cady, Jr., and M. P. Cady), was built by Stanton Park, for a distillery, in 1825, and occupies the site of the one owned by him which was burned in that year. After being used some time as a distillery, it was converted into a potato-starch factory, and operated by Henry Tower. Messrs. Seabury & Barnum afterwards occupied it as a foundry and machine-shop, and were suc- ceeded in the same business by Beardsley & Cady, the former now operating a small machine-shop near the " Park House." The Cadys changed it into a planing-mill, etc., about 1860, and have operated it in that capacity ever since. Doors, sash, blinds, mouldings, etc., are manufac- tured, and general planing done. Twelve to fifteen men are usually employed ; sometimes as many as twenty. The annual amount of business varies from $25,000 to $40,000.

The present foundry and machine-shop of J. A. Berrill & Son was established by the senior member of the firm in 1837, in the building formerly used as a woolen-factory, and originally built for a cotton-factory. The present manufactures are general castings, including iron and brass founding, and a patent paint-mill, the invention of Mr. Berrill, is also manufactured. In June, 1878, eleven hands were employed. A hardware-store is owned in connection. Mr. Berrill came from England a short time before he established himself in business here.

A planing-mill and lumber-yard near the railway station is owned by Messrs. Bennett & Suell.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Hotels .- The " American Hotel," now owned by A. Young & Son, was erected in 1814-15, by Jonathan Hub- bard, and has largely been repaired and remodeled. Before it was built there were three in the place,-one standing where Dr. Munger now lives ; another where Daniel Goodell lives, which was kept in 1802, by Amos Muzzy, and said to be the first in the village; and one next cast of H. D. Tower's present residence.

The present " Park House" was built for a store, and, in 1802, was occupied in that capacity by Robert and Hudson Benedict. It was finally converted into a hotel, and has since been used for that purpose. Its present proprietor is Thomas Garvey.

The " Commercial House" stands on the ground occupied for twenty years by the post-office, and was built in 1875 by its present proprietor, M. B. Crossett. Like the other hotels in the village, it is very popular. Mr. Crossett is the present supervisor of the town.

The " Brunswick Hotel," which occupies a pleasant location near the village park, was built in 1874, by Porter & Squier. It is at present kept as a temperance boarding- house, by Mrs. F. S. Rosbrook.

Waterville Grange, No. 61, P. of II., was organized Jan. 26, 1874, and received a charter on the 1st of June following. It started with eighteen members, and in June, 1878, had about 110, and occupied a hall in the Putnam Block, over the office of the Waterville Times. It is the largest Grange in the county, and its members reside prin- cipally in the towns of Sangerfield and Marshall, with a few in Bridgewater.

Its present officers are: Master, Neil S. Clarke; Over- seer, M. W. Terry ; Lecturer, Mrs. C. I. Peck ; Steward, C. L. Terry ; Assistant Steward, J. A. Hanchett; Chaplain, Daniel Livermore, Jr. ; Treas., Morris Terry ; Sec., C. F. Haven ; Gate-Keeper, Charles Stetson ; Ceres, Mrs. J. J. Bennett; Pomona, Mrs. Orlando Stetson ; Flora, Mrs. J. R. Wightman ; Lady Assistant Steward, Katie Day.

Sunger Lodge, No. 129, F. and A. M., was reorganized in 1809, and had been in existence before that time. Its old records are mostly lost. It was very probably named from Judge Sanger, who was at one time one of the prin- cipal officers in the Grand Lodge of the State. During the memorable anti-Masonic days it was kept alive by a few devoted individuals, and has never been suffered to run down since its reorganization.

Its present officers are John B. Jones, W. M .; A. R. Eastman, S. W .; N. S. Clarke, J. W .; W. J. Brown, Treas. ; Herman Clarke, Sec. ; G. R. Sanford, S. D. ; A. B. Glines, J. D. ; Rev. W. F. Tooke, Chaplain.

Warren Chapter, No. 22, R. A. M., was organized at Leonardsville, the old settlement south of Bridgewater vil- Jage, and chartered in 1808 in the town of Brookfield, Madison Co. It was moved to Bridgewater in 1812. and to Waterville in 1856.

Its present officers are G. W. Cleveland (M.D.), H. P .; G. R. Sanford, King ; Rev. Thomas Bell, Scribe ; William Suters, C. of H .; J. H. Montgomery, R. A. C. ; W. J. Brown, Treas. ; Hermon Clarke, Sec.

This Chapter was formerly in connection with Western Star Lodge, at Bridgewater.

Rowell Post, No. 23, G. A. R., was organized May 23, 1868, with 20 members, and named for Andrew F. Rowell, a member of Company D, 117th Infantry, who was killed at Cold Harbor, Va. He was then a sergeant, and a lieuten- ant's commission was on the way to him. The membership of the post has been as many as 40, but at present numbers only 15 or 16. It has rooms in the Green Block.

Its officers for 1878 are R. J. Roberts, Commander ; George H. Tafft, Senior Vice-Commander ; M. H. Risley, Junior Vice-Commander; George Dearflinger, Quarter- master ; J. B. Jones, Officer of the Day ; W. J. Brown, Adjutant ; J. J. Guernsey, Chaplain.

The Waterville Cornet Bund was organized in 1869, with 8 members, and now has 15. The instruments used are manufactured by Higham, of Manchester (England). The leader is C. M. Felton. The band meets semi-weekly for practice, and is an efficient organization.

The Waterville Cemetery Association was organized in 1857, under the law of 1847. One acre of the present cemetery had been in use for many years : about seven acres additional have been purchased, and the grounds neatly laid out, with convenient walks and drives. It is one of the finest cemeteries found among villages of this size in the State.

The officers of the Association are : President, Amos O. Osborn ; Vice-President, G. H. Church ; Secretary and Treasurer, D. B. Goodwin ; Trustees, A. O. Osborn, D. B. Goodwin, J. Candee, Morris Terry, H. H. Eastman, Wil- liam J. McGowan, P. S. Risley, F. H. Terry, William Os- born, E. A. Munger, G. H. Church, Sylvester Gridley.

The present physicians of the village are Drs. William P. Cleveland, George W. Cleveland, E. A. Munger, F. T. Gorton, C. Wilson, H. W. Jones, George Allen. Dr. M. Preston resides at Sangerfield Centre.

Of lawyers, the following are now practicing in Water- ville : E. H. Lamb, H. J. Coggeshall, H. T. Utley, Z. M. Knowles, and Charles Howe. The latter is at present school commissioner for this district. Mr. Coggeshall has served one term in the Legislature, and as a public orator ranks among the foremost of the county and State.

The National Bank of Waterville was originally estab- lished as a State bank in 1839, and changed to a national bank in 1865. Among the stockholders of the old bank were Stanton Park, Josiah Bacon, Reuben Bacon, Amos Osborn, Julius Candee, Samuel Goodwin, D. B. Goodwin, Charlemagne Tower, Julius Tower, David L. Barton, E. B. Barton, Henry Tower, Horace Bigelow, Isaac Hovey, and others. The first officers were: President, Stanton Park ; Vice-President, Julius Candee; Cashier, Josiah Bacon. The capital of the present bank is $150,000, and a general banking business is transacted. The tasty brick building occupied was erected in 1869, and is fitted with all modern conveniences for safety and durability, including fire-proof vaults. The present officers of this bank are : President, Daniel B. Goodwin; Vice-President, H. W. Tower; Cashier, William B. Goodwin.

Parks .- There are two small parks in the village, con- taining together about two and one-half acres of ground. They are taken care of by the village council, and are very neat in appearance. The larger one is surrounded by a sub- stantial fence.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Waterville is growing both in wealth and population, and presents as fine an appearance to the visitor as any vil- lage in the county. It contains many elegant residences, and bears an air of refinement and culture throughout. Its eastern portion is appropriated for tasty residence lots, and there is not a finer street in any other village in the county than the one extending eastward from the business portion of the place to the railway station. It has about twenty-five stores of various descriptions, beside a large number of me- chanie shops and the institutions herein separately described.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 140

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