History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 152

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 152

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).

" My companion, more sanguine ia bis prejects and more ardent in their pursuit, had a much higher conception of this tract than your friend; to him it was superior, far exceeding all that he had scen, in situation, in luxuriant fertility, in natural riches. No doubt it was gifted with it; it might, by an active industry, be transformed in an Eden ! It may be so; it may be that his views are nearer the truth ; he had been on that spot before me, but it did not appear to me under such high glowing culers. I did see some very indifferent parts; I meant to have discovered several harren spots; but in what tract of land extended to 6 er 100,000 acres shall similar spots not be dis- covered ? Perhaps these may even exist to a much larger amount than I do suspect where we did not penetrate. The seil, in my opinion, is even less rich than that in Whitestown and at the Oris- kany Creek, but its cultivation shall be easier; it shall not hake, it shall not be hardened in the same manner in a dry season.

" I visited and examined this tract with the view to fix there my permanent residence, and obtain a valuable possession for my children and your family. My dear friend had always an equal share in these my contemplations and pursuits. I did not shrink at meeting in face some hardships, but visited it, and endeavored to examine it from creek to creek, not only near the water-side, but often several iniles in the interior, to obtain a sufficiently correct knowledge of its situa- tion, of its real and relative value; and in this maind I do not hesitate to make yen this frank and bonost confession, that I have not yet encountered in this State an equal extensive tract of land on which I should prefer to end my course, if joined by a few respectable families, in the vicinity of a tolerable settlement, of which, if my wealth was equal to its acquisition, I should, in preference to all which I have yet seen, desire to secure its possession.

" All the informations which I have been able to collect are in unison with my views, so that hereabout shall be the happy limit of our wanderings, under God's blessing. Several families have en- gaged to move thither, if I can procure them lands at a moderate price. Give now once more a proof ef that undaunted courage, so often tried and found adequate to the task you manly engaged in. Ilere the execution is chiefly in our hands ; who could hesitate who crossed the Atlantic, not for the sake of Inere, but to secure for himself and his family an asylum against civil and religious oppression ? You de not yet regret this step, and then I advised you to follow my example, and so you did. Here I may speak with greater confidence. I have been on the spet without interest, unprejudiced, as our actual residence is certainly desirable in several points of view. There all its improvements are of my own creation, not without great expense, not without onrelenting personal exertions; there I ama first begin- ning to gather the fruits of my labor, and have the well-grounded prospect of increasing advantages; there I am surrounded by kind neighbors, and at no great distance hy respectable families, who treat us rather as near relatives than strangers, whose good-will and kind- ness we have earned, and, as we flatter ourselves, secured. But yon, my dear sir, know toe well that I have not yet learned to go by balves, that reluctantly I submit to disappointments, and venture rather a fresh struggle, whatever may be the risk, than to give up a well-digested plan. You know that the yet required expensive in- tended improvements are made impossible, though not thro' my own fault, neglect, or carelessness, but, happy for me, through them ia whom I placed an unbounded confidence. Inform me of your plan and sentiments without dieguise. My determination may be molli- fied; it cannot be shaken.

Yours sincerely."

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, STITTVILLE.

An organization was effected here by this denomination as early as about 1836-40, and a small frame church was built on the hill near the present site of the railway station. About 1860 it was removed to its present location, and some $3000 expended for repairs upon it. The present value is about $4000. The membership is quite large, and the pastor is Rev. Mr. Miller, of Floyd.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, HOLLAND PATENT.

" From the first settlement of the town, the families of Judge Van der Kemp and Colonel Mappa were constantly in the habit of meeting together for religious services. After some time a school-house was erected, in which the first settlers used to meet for public worship. The Rev. Mr. Fish, a Presbyterian clergyman and a native of New Jersey, was the first preacher who visited the town. . . . It must have been within three or four years after the set- tlement commenced, for he is found named as the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Holland Patent, which was formed in 1797. The Presbyterian Church at Trenton village was organized at an early period .* Previous to 1822 the Rev. Dr. Harrower preached alternately at the village and Holland Patent."t The former records of the church at Holland Patent are lost, so that little is known of its early history. "In 1812 a Congregational Church was formed at the Patent by the Rev. Elijah Norton, to which he preached as ' stated supply' a short time, and was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Harrower, who preached for both Presbyterians and Congregationalists, who met to- gether for worship at that place and at Trenton village. On the 2d of January, 1821, near the close of the labors of Dr. Harrower in this place, the two churches united, and assumed the name of ' The Church of Christ in Hol- land Patent.' In 1822 the Rev. William Goodell was regularly installed its pastor."} Revs. Stephen W. Bur- rill and James W. Phillips were successors to Rev. Good- ell. The present pastor is Rev. James McK. Brayton. The society has a good membership, and supports a flour- ishing Sabbath-school.

A Unitarian Church at one time had an existence at Holland Patent, services being held in connection with Trenton village. It has no pastor at present.

BAPTIST CHURCH, HOLLAND PATENT.

This church was constituted March 26, 1812, with six- teen members. Its first pastor was Elder Joel Butler. In 1813 a small house of worship was erected. After Elder Butler, some of the early pastors were Elders Norman Guiteau, Simon Jacobs, J. Stevens, Griffith Jones, Dyer D. Ransom, Robert Z. Williams, Nathaniel Wattles, and Thomas Roberts. In 1840 the present stone church edi- fice was built, at a cost of $3000. The present pastor is Elder J. S. Webber. Membership in February, 1878, 163 ; Sabbath-school with over 100 members, of which J. N. Jacobs

# Old building abandoned and ne society now in village. ¡ Jones. į Ibid.

" Adie.

558

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

is Superintendent. The value of the church and parsonage is about $12,000.

ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, HOLLAND PATENT.

" On the 25th of April, 1821, the Rev. Henry Moore Shaw, James Wetmore, and others took the preliminary steps to incorporate this church at Holland Patent, and the records show that it was fully organized on the 21st of June of the same year. Rev. Henry Moore Shaw was chosen Rector ; James Wetmore and Abraham Diefendorf, Wardens; and Aaron Savage, Seth Wells, Robert McArthur, Samuel Candee, Bryant Youngs, John P. Warner, Samuel White, and Aaron White, Vestrymen. The society has now a good church edifice and parsonage."* The commu- nicants number about 40; J. H. Wetmore is Superintendent of the Sabbath-school, and Rev. W. H. Dean is the Rector.

There are also at Holland Patent a Welsh Methodist and a Welsh Congregational Church. Neither has a large mem- bership nor a regular pastor. The pulpit of the former is supplied by Rev. Thomas T. Evans.

REFORMED CHRISTIAN (OR UNITARIAN) CHURCH OF TRENTON VILLAGE.

Previous to the organization of this church, the " United Protestant Religious Society" was formed, in 1803, and incorporated in 1804,-dissolved in 1811. The Christian Church was organized in March, 1806, and Rev. John Sherman was appointed first pastor. He preached until March, 1810, when he resigned. Rev. Isaac B. Peirce became the second pastor, in 1815, and resigned in 1842. His successors have been Revs. Edgar Buckingham, Thomas W. Brown, John B. Wight, Charles Ritter, B. S. Fanton, Mr. Ritter a second time, Jefferson M. Fox, and William Silsbee; the latter coming in July, 1867, and being duly installed as pastor June 1, 1868, since which time he has remained in charge. The number of members of this church is at present about 20. A Sabbath-school is sus- tained, with Rev. Mr. Silsbee as Superintendent. The original frame church edifice is still in use. Oct. 10, 1874, a memorial tablet of brass, mounted on black walnut, was erected in the church, with the following inscription : " To the dear memory of Sophia Apolina Mappa (obt. Jan. 7, 1861) and Cuneira Engelbertha Van der Kemp (obt. Jan. 3, 1868), to whom this church owes a large measure of its prosperity and purity, this tablet is erected, A.D. 1874, by the congregation with whom they worshiped, aided by generous friends who loved and revered their example." The tablet was manufactured by the Messrs. Lamb, of New York City, and was the fulfillment of a design long cher- ished by the friends of these excellent women. The num- ber of contributors to the memorial was about 30.

THE WELSH CONGREGATIONALISTS

have a neat frame church at Trenton village, in which ser- vices are occasionally held. The society has no regular pastor, the one from Holland Patent preaching here part of the time. The membership is small.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHI, TRENTON VILLAGE.

The organization of this society dates back forty years or more. The first meetings were held in an old store which was built by John Billings, on the site now occupied by the church. The present edifice was built about 1847, and is a tasty frame structure. A cabinet-organ of the Wood pattern has recently been placed in the church. The present membership of the society is about 70. The pastor is Rev. Charles E. Babcock. Rev. Mr. Thomas, a Presby- terian minister residing in the village, is Superintendent of the Sabbath-school, which possesses a small library.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, PROSPECT VILLAGE.

In 1841 a union society was organized at this place, and a church built, and dedicated in January, 1842. The property was afterwards deeded to the Methodists by the agent of the Holland Land Company, Charles A. Mann, of Utica, from whom all the property in the village was procured. The church is still used by different societies, the Methodists and Free-Will Baptists being the principal ones. The membership of the Methodist Society is about 40, and the pastor, Rev. J. L. Short, of Remsen. A union Sabbath-school is sustained, with a large membership. Its Superintendent is E. E. Whittemore, the teacher of the village school.

THIE FREE-WILL BAPTIST SOCIETY OF PROSPECT

was organized March 28, 1857. Its membership is at present about 40. The union church is occupied by it a portion of the time. Its pastor is Elder J. M. Lang- worthy, of Utica.

A society of

CLOSE-COMMUNION BAPTISTS

was organized here about 1820, with Elder John Farley, the first Baptist minister who located in the village, as its pastor. This society has become merged in the Free-Will Baptist Society. Previous to the organization of the Close- Communion Society, a cemetery association was formed, known as the " Baptist Society of Prospect," and the cemetery was donated to it by the Holland Land Company. The first burial in this lot was that of the remains of Cyrus Farley, a son of Elder John Farley, about 1820-21. Be- fore the present union church was built the meetings were held in the school-house.

A WELSH BAPTIST CHURCH

formerly had a local organization at Prospect, but its mem- bers have since associated themselves with the one at Remsen.

THE WELSH CALVINISTIC CHURCH, PROSPECT,

was organized about 1857. Present frame church built about 1860. Present membership about 30. Services are held every Sunday. John T. Jones is Superintendent of the Sabbath-school.

MORIAH WELSH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, PROSPECT.

Meetings were held by members of this denomination as early as 1853, but it was not until 1863 that the society was incorporated and a churchi built. The first preacher

# Jones.

559

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

stationed here was Rev. Hugh Williams, of Plainfield, who ministered to this congregation two years. Rev. Robert Evans was afterwards located here in charge. The church is now supplied by different ministers, having no regular pastor. Its membership is about 30. David Griffith is Superintendent of the Sunday-school. The church is a neat frame building.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH, TRENTON FALLS,

was formed about 1833, with 39 members, and the present frame church erected in 1838. Among the pastors of this church have been Elders A. F. Rockwell, John Stevens, Jesse Jones, R. Z. Williams, Van Rensselaer Waters, James Mallory, - Salmon, Philander Persons, and others.

A WELSH METHODIST CHURCH

is located south of South Trenton, and occupied by an English Methodist Episcopal Society, whose pastor is Rev. Mr. Wright, of Trenton village.

A WELSH BAPTIST CHURCH,

in the same locality, has been abandoned and the society broken up.

THE " NORTH DEERFIELD AND SOUTH TRENTON" CHURCH (UNION),

at South Trenton, is now occupied by the Baptists and Presbyterians. The Baptists have no regular pastor ; the Presbyterian minister is Rev. J. McK. Brayton, of Hol- land Patent.

TRENTON VILLAGE.

The original name of this village, as mentioned in Mr. Seymour's address, was Olden Barneveld, and under that name the place was incorporated by an act of the Legisla- ture passed April 9, 1819, the territory included being described as follows, viz. :

" Beginning at the corners of great lots numbers one hundred and twe, one hundred and three, one hundred and eight, aod one hundred and ine, io Servis' Patent; and runs from thence south seventy-five degrees thirty minutes east, along the south line of great lots num- bers one hundred and three and one hundred and four, till it inter- sects the Steuben Creek ; from thenee north eight degrees east, till it intersects the Cincinnati Creek; from thence north seventy-five de- grees thirty minutes west, along a line running parallel to the north line of great lots numbers ainety-one and ninety-two, until it inter- sects the west line of lot number ainety-two; from thence south fenr- teen degrees thirty minutes west, along the west line of lots aumbers ninety-two, ninety-five, one huodred, and one hundred and three, te the place of beginning."

The village of Trenton was incorporated by an act passed April 26, 1833, with slightly different boundaries from the above. Its charter was amended April 30, 1864, taking up the tract to the Utica and Black River Railway, and a second time amended, April 25, 1870, changing the bound- aries to their present location. The records of the village of Olden Barneveld are not to be found, consequently a list can only be given of the trustees of the village of Trenton from 1834. They are as follows, viz. :

1834 .- Benjamin Brayton, John Mappa, Luther Gui- teau, James Birdsell, Daniel Warren, Jr.

1835 .- James Douglas, David R. Case, Thomas Tanner, Jr., Ezra M. Birdseye, Thaddeus Ball.

1836 .- John Mappa, Thomas T. Worden, Daniel Warren, Jr., John Billings, John W. Tanner.

1837 .- John Mappa, Thomas T. Worden, Thomas J. Douglas, Ananias Horton, Benjamin Tanner.

1838 .- David Storrs, Thomas Powell, John Billings, Peter A. A. T. Van der Kemp, Benjamin Brayton.

1839 .- Luther Guiteau, Daniel Warren, Jr., Isaac Utley, John Clark, James Birdsell.

1840 .- John Mappa, George W. Doty, Philetus New- comb, Thomas T. Worden, Luther Guiteau, Jr.

1841 .- James W. Watkins, James Birdsell, James Doug- las, David Storrs, P. A. A. T. Van der Kemp.

1842 .- L. Guiteau, Jr., Jonah Howe, James Cole, Daniel Watkins, T. T. Worden.

1843 .- James Douglas, John Billings, Ezra M. Birdseye, James W. Watkins, Thomas Powell.

1844 .- L. Guiteau, Jr., John Clark, Jonah Howe, Geo. W. Doty, Nathan Cole.

1845 .- J. W. Watkins, James Birdsell, Thomas J. Doug- las, Thaddeus Ball, Nathan Cole, Jr.

1846 .- Thomas T. Worden, L. Guiteau, Jr., Daniel Freneh, Jonah Howe, Daniel Watkins.

1847 .- James Birdsell, James Douglas, E. M. Birdseye, John Billings, Nathan Cole.

1848 .- Thomas Powell, T. T. Worden, L. Guiteau, Jr., Jonah Howe, Samuel Talcott.

1849 .- Warren Dodge, J. W. Watkins, Philetus New- comb, Frederick Bull, Richard James.

1850 .- L. Guiteau, J. Howe, J. Cole, John Evans, Jr., James Birdsell.

1851 .- L. Guiteau, Daniel French, John Roberts, Jacob Wicks, James Evans.

1852 .- Thaddeus Ball, D. B. Worden, Addison Fuller, G. L. Skinner, Thomas Tanner.

1853 .- Nathan Tyler, Jonah Howe, John Roberts, Jas. Evans, John H. Smith.

1854 .- L. Guiteau, D. B. Worden, John Evans, Jr., Jonah Howe, Nathan Tyler.

1855 .- James Evans, John Roberts, Ezekiel Lovell, Welcome Vincent, Richard James.

1856 .- G. L. Skinner, T. J. Douglas, G. French, T. T. Worden, M. Miller.

1857 .- Jacob Wicks, Addison Fuller, L. Guiteau, James Cole, Phineas Birdsell.

1858 .- G. L. Skinner, T. J. Douglas, D. B. Worden, G. W. Storrs, James Evans.

1859 .- A. Fuller, John H. Smith, John Roberts, Grif- fith Prichard, David Evans.

There is no further record until

1864 .- William W. Wheeler, Ezra Green, Albert Tower, Daniel French, Jr.

1865 .- Jacob Wicks, H. S. Stanton, Jerome B. Watkins, Hugh Abrams.

1866 .- John G. Jones, J. B. Watkins, Warren Reeves, Sylvester Sandford.

1867 .- No record.

1868 .- Daniel French, President; W. W. Wheeler, L.

B. Worden, James Evans, John G. Jones, Trustees.

1869 .- D. French, President; James Evans, J. G. Jones, Claudius Vickery, L. B. Worden, Trustces.

560

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

1870 .- Hugh H. Jones, President ; C. Vickery, Thomas J. Lewis, J. G. Jones, Adam G. Griffiths, Trustees.

1871 .- Levi Wheaton, President; J. G. Jones, A. S. Skiff, T. J. Lewis, C. Vickery, Trustees.

1872 .- Daniel French, President : J. G. Jones, A. S. Skiff, Frederick A. Smith, Thomas J. Lewis, Trustees.

1873 .- Albert S. Skiff, President .; Martin Newman, D. French, Jr., Frederick Smith, T. J. Lewis, Trustecs.

1874 .- A. S. Skiff, President; George Kecler, J. B. Watkins, Thomas C. Hubbart, T. J. Lewis, Trustees.

1875 .- A. S. Skiff, President; D. French, Jr., Philip Egert, William Boullian, John Hughes, Trustees.

1876 .- A. S. Skiff, President ; L. B. Worden, J. L. Plumb, Jerry George, Fred. A. Smith, Trustecs.

1877 .- William Boullian, President; Nathaniel Tyler, Ezekiel Lovell, Daniel French, Jr., H. R. Downs, Trustees ; R. L. Guiteau, Clerk ; Jeremiah Baker, Street Commis- sioner; Byron G. Barker, Treasurer ; John M. Hicks, Col- lector.

One of the early settlers at the village was Elizur Skinner, who was originally from Connecticut, and came here from Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y., about 1809-10. He lo- cated first on a farm two and one-half miles above the village, and soon after removed to South Trenton, where for a year he kept a public-house. During the war of 1812-15 he returned to Trenton village, and kept for four years the hotel now occupied by G. L. Skinner. This hotel was built by Judge John Storrs.

Two stores were built and opened at the village at an early date, one by Peter Remsen and the other by Douglas & Billings. Their proprietors handled large amounts of grain, and in the latter store, still standing, and occupied by Egert & Pritchard, the grain rattles through the crevices occasionally from where it has lain so many years. The present firm of Egert & Pritchard have a very extensive business for a country establishment.

The post-office at the village was established about the year 1800. Dr. Luther Guiteau, who located here in 1802, was for some time postmaster, but resigned in favor of his brother-in-law, John Billings, who settled in 1804 and was appointed in 1805. He held the office about sixty years, and at his death was the oldest postmaster in the United States. The present incumbent is Griffith Pritchard.

Luther Guitean, M.D., is the oldest practicing physician in the town, and is located at Trenton village. The other physicians of the town are Drs. E. D. Raynor and - Spencer, of the village; D. A. Crane and Norton Wolcott, of Holland Patent. Dr. Crane is next oldest in practice to Dr. Guiteau, and came to this town from Marcy.

A fire company was organized in the village, May 26, 1834, consisting of nineteen members, of which Thomas T. Worden was chosen captain, and Thomas Tanner, Jr., second in command. A small hand-engine had previously been purchased, and in 1835 it was repaired. How long the fire department had an existence we are unable to state, but it is withont a " local habitation and a name" at present.

BARNEVELD LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

In 1874 a room was offered for the use of a library by Mr. Jacob Wicks, in a block built for stores, and

a subscription paper was circulated for the purpose of raising funds sufficient to furnish the room and purchase books. The sum of $99 was subscribed, together with a number of books On the 21st of November, 1874, the subscribers met at Dr. Guiteau's, and organized a body called the " Trenton Library Association," and adopted a constitu- tion of fifteen articles. The name was afterwards changed to the " Barneveld Library Association," in memory of the original appellation of the village. By gift and purchase two hundred and forty volumes were obtained, but on the 17th of March, 1875, the library was destroyed by fire, with the exception of forty volumes, Mr. Hicks' entire block being burned. At a meeting of the citizens it was resolved to revive the library ; $118.75 were subscribed for that pur- pose, besides more than fifty books, and in just three weeks after the fire the library was again in running order. By the end of April it contained three hundred and fifty vol- umes, of which only sixteen had been purchased, the rest having been donated. Donations of books arrived from various parts of the country, in response to published ap- peals for assistance, and before the close of 1875 more than twelve hundred volumes were in the library. Munificent donations were received, and in July, 1875, the " Barneveld Library Association" was duly incorporated.

As a start towards means for erecting a separate building for its use, Mrs. Pauline E. Henry, of Germantown, Pa., offered $100, which has since been received. Another sub- scription of $77 was raised to purchase a site for the building, which was finally accomplished at a cost of $100. In 1876 a fourth subscription was started, and when it had reached $1200 the building was commenced, the corner-stone being laid July 27, 1877. It is constructed of Trenton lime- stone; outside dimensions, 40 by 26 feet ; cost, including site, about $1700. The present officers of the Association are Dr. Luther Guiteau, President ; Robert Pritchard, Vice- President; William Silsbee, Secretary ; Robert Skinner, Treasurer ; H. S. Stanton, Thomas Lewis, John Hughes, George W. Wheeler, Mrs. Robert Skinner, Directors.

The use of the library is free to members of the Associa- tion ; those not members are required to pay five cents per week for the use of books. A natural history cabinet has been commenced. The "Trenton Lyceum" and lodge of " I. O. G. T." meet in the building weekly. There were in February, 1878, in the library over thirteen hundred volumes, classified in eight divisions, as follows :

Religion and Theology

163

Seience, Philosophy, and Natural History. 124

History and Travels.

260

Biography

139

Works of Fietion ...

268

Poetry and the Drama,

103

Periodicals ..

Miscellaneous

253

Total, 1394

The business of the village of Trenton in 1878 may be summed up as follows : two general stores, one druggist, three blacksmith-shops, two wagon-shops, one harness-shop, one tailor-shop, one cooper-shop, two hotels, a school-house, town-hall, three churches, the Barneveld Library, a grist- mill and butter-tub factory, a planing-mill, a furniture-store, one undertaking establishment, two mcat-markets, and a

PHOTO BY WILLIAMS

SYLVANUS FERRIS

MINION HALL - BY -

WMP DODGE

UNION HALL

". ........ "ALL" W" P. DODGE, PROPRIETOR. PROSPECT, ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

LITH BY & H. EVERTS, PHILA, PA

WILLE

JOYSHOTEL

"HOTEL AND FAIRGROUNDS." HENRY JOY, PROPRIETOR . TRENTON, ONEIDA C.º N. Y.

LITH BY L. H. EVERTS PHILADELPHIA.

561

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

barber-shop. The population of the corporation numbers about three hundred.

HOLLAND PATENT.

This village takes its name from the large tract of land, principally in this town, including about 20,000 acres, and " granted by the British Crown to Henry, Lord Holland, and by him sold to Seth Johnson, Horace Johnson, and Andrew Craige. Under their direction it was surveyed and divided into lots of about 100 acres cach, in July, 1797, by Moses Wright, a surveyor, then residing in Rome.

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 152

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