History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 159

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 159

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Abel Gillett, from Hartford Co., Conn., came to this town in 1806 and settled on a farm east of Verona village, now owned by his son, Justus E. Gillett. The latter came with his father, and is at present residing with his son-in- law, J. W. Dodge.

Noah Leete located a mile and a half south of Verona village in 1809, and afterwards moved to it. His grandson, R. B. Leete (son of Harley N. Leete), is the present post- master at the village.

Solomon Bishop, from Whitingham, Vt., settled in Hampton village, in the town of Westmoreland, in 1797, and in 1803 came to the town of Verona, and located on the farm now owned by the heirs of David Osgood, where he resided until 1808, when he removed to the place now owned by his grandson, Calvin W. Bishop. Solomon Bishop was a Revolutionary soldier, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. His son, Calvin Bishop, possesses his father's old gun-barrel. The latter person is the youngest of eleven children, and until 1871 lived on the farm last occupied by his father. He at present resides in the village of Verona, and is the oldest resident of the town, probably having made it his home since 1803.

Wells Rathbun, whose father, Achus Ratlıbun, a Quaker, settled in 1802, was until his death the oldest resident.

Salmon Tuttle, now living near New London, is a native of the town of Camden, in which his father (Zopher Tut- tle) was an carly settler. Mr. Tuttle's wife is a daughter of Aaron Bailey, one of the pioneers of the town of Vienna. Mr. Tuttle located at New London in December, 1835.

Esquire Orville Elmer is probably the oldest resident of the village of New London or its vicinity. L. D. Smith is also an old resident, and Henry Bissell, whose place is near that of Mr. Tuttle, is a native of the town. Of the carly settlers in this portion of Verona the descendants are but few in the locality, those now occupying the neighborhood being mostly much later arrivals, a few only having lived here more than forty years. Property in this vicinity has changed hands many times since the construction of the canal.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

The earliest schools in town were kept in the neighbor- hood of Verona village. The first two were at Blackman's Corners, and what is now Verona Depot. The datos at which they were commenced are not now recollected.

A select school was at one time established near the Bishop place, and sustained for several years. The school

-a very good one-was first in charge of a Mr. Ayres, and afterwards of Miss Phelps. The schools at present in existence are equal to those of any town in the county.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

" The first sermon preached in the town was by the Rev. Joseph Avery, of Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Mass., while upon a visit to his son, the late Samuel Avery, one of the first settlers. The first preacher employed by the people was a Mr. Masey, a candidate for the ministry, who preached a portion of the time in this, and the other portion in an adjoining town, for one season."* He was followed by Stephen Williams, of New Hampshire.

The first church organization in town was Congregational in denomination, and was formed Ang. 5, 1803, in a barn, which is yet standing in Verona village. Its founders were Revs. Peter Fish and Timothy Cooley, missionaries, onc a Congregationalist and the other a Presbyterian. The members numbered 23.

In November, 1806, the first religious society was formed " to provide the privileges of the gospel for themselves and families," the articles of agreement being signed by 65 heads of families. A Methodist preacher, in the fall of 1805, held a revival at Lowell, in the town of Westmoreland, which spread into Verona, and about 40 were added to this church. Its first pastor was Rev. Israel Brainard, who was installed Sept. 23, 1807. In 1828 the church and society (having previously built a meeting-house two miles east of Verona village) divided, and a second Congregational Church and Society was formed, which erected a new house of wor- ship in the village. This status of affairs continued until June, 1837, when they reunited, and occupied the building at the village. The present membership of this society is something over 100, and its pastor Rev. Charles F. Jones. The predecessor of the latter, Rev. D. I. Biggar, was pastor here for ten years. Among the earlier pastors were Revs. Luther Myrick, E. Spencer, - Lewis, Benjamin Lock- wood, Charles F. Butler, Washington Stickney, Henry Kendal, Nathan Bosworth, and J. S. Barteau. The Sun- day-school in connection has a present membership of about 100, and a library of several hundred volumes. Its Super- intendent is I. W. Young.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, VERONA VILLAGE.

This society was organized as a separate station in 1833. It had previously been connected with the old Westmore- land circuit, and a church was built in 1830. The latter has been largely repaired and remodeled. The building now in use as a parsonage was formerly occupied by Dr. Main as a store, and was purchased by the society in 1836 for the purpose of a parsonage and chapel, and has been used as such since that time. The following is a list of pastors of this church : 1834-35, Rev. Isaac Stone; 1836, David Kingsley ; 1837, J. D. Torry ; 1838, William H. Pearne; 1839, L. B. Weaver ; 1840-41, Lyman A. Eddy ; 1842- 43, M. Adams; 1844, J. D. . Torrey ; 1845-46, Isaac Foster; 1847, Robert Fox; 1848, William Burnside; 1849-50, Ephraim C. Brown; 1851-52, T. B. Rockwell ;

* Jones.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

1853-54, L. H. Stanley ; 1855-56, E. P. Williams ; 1856- 57, William Jerome; 1858-59, William E. York ; 1860- 61, John H. Hall; 1862-63, William A. Wadsworth ; 1864-65, F. W. Tooke; 1866-67, L. H. Stanley ; 1868- 71, L. Eastwood; 1872-73, S. M. Fisk ; 1873-76, James Stanton ; 1876, and present pastor, Gordon Moore. During Mr. Eastwood's pastorate the church was repaired at a cost of $7000. The membership in the spring of 1878, accord- ing to the minutes of the Conference, was 86, with 11 pro- bationers. The Sunday-school has 65 members and 11 teachers and officers, and possesses a library of 250 volumes. This society has one local preacher, Rev. William S. Lewis.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF NEW LONDON.

In 1843 this society purchased the building formerly occupied by Mr. Brainard, and moved it to New London. The present membership is 52, beside 17 probationers, and the pastor Rev. Clarence M. Skeel. A Sunday-school is sustained, with 40 scholars and teachers, and a library of 100 volumes.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, DURHAMVILLE.

This society was organized some time previous to 1850, and has a present membership of 82, with 9 probationers. Its pastor is Rev. E. Everett. The Sunday-school has 30 scholars and 9 teachers, and a library of 50 volumes.

BAPTIST CHURCH, DURHAMVILLE.

Eliphalet Frazee, the first settler on the site of this vil- lage, removed here in 1811, and in 1812 he, with Benja- min Newcomb, Dyer D. Ransom, Roswell Barker, and a few others, began religious worship, which was maintained till 1815, when they were organized into a church of twelve members. Mr. Newcomb was their preacher most of the time until 1819, when he was ordained as the first pastor of the church. In 1833 a church was erected, 38 by 48 feet in dimensions, and completed in 1834. Mr. Newcomb preached until 1834, when he died. His successor was Rev. Dyer D. Ransom, who had removed from here to Peterboro', Madison Co., where he was ordained to the ministry. Among his successors have been Revs. Seymour W. Adams, R. Z. Williams, William J. Loomis, Albert Cole, and Harry White. At present the society has no regular pastor, although services are held by Rev. G. R. Pierce, of Oneida. The members number about 55. The Sunday-school has an attendance of about 60, with 12 teachers, and a library of 75 volumes. Its Superintendent is O. F. Kelley. There have been three Baptist Churches in this town, one at Higginsville and one at Verona Depot.

FRANCISCAN CHURCH (CATHOLIC), DURHAMVILLE.

This church has been organized about twenty years, and the building for worship erected about the same length of time. The latter has since been considerably enlarged, and is a frame structure. The church is in charge of the Fran- ciscan Fathers, of Syracuse, by whom pastors are supplied. About 80 families are connected with the church, and a Sunday-school and day-school are maintained. The school building is located near the church; its teacher is Miss

Elizabeth Buck, who is also Superintendent of the Sunday- school.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH, DURHAMVILLE.

This is a missionary station in charge of Rev. George Hibbard, of Oneida; its membership is small, probably from 15 to 20. Meetings are held in the building belong- ing to the Presbyterians, the latter society not at present. holding services. This church was erected in 1851, the work being done by a man named Sykes. Rev. A. Cocli- ran, still a resident of the village, was pastor at the time. The Presbyterians have had no regular organization here for several years.

SEVENTH-DAY BAPTISTS.

Daniel Williams, of this denomination, removed from Hopkinton, R. I., to the west part of the town of Rome in 1805, near what is now called Rathbunville, in Verona. He was accompanied by his daughter and two of his seven sons, and the other five moved into the vicinity within four years succeeding. His brother, Joshua Williams, also from Hopkinton, came with a large family during the same period, and settled on an adjoining farm in Romc. In the two families were 24 persons, who, in 1808, formed themselves into a family association " for religious improvement and Sabbath worship," and this was the germ of the present Seventh-day Baptist organizations in town. In 1820 the oumber was swelled to 51, and a church was formed. In March, 1828, they organized a society under the style of " the first Seventh-day Baptist Society of Rome and Ve- rona," numbering 90 members, and the next year a house of worship was erected. Itinerant preachers at first held services. The first regular pastor was Elder John L. Kenyon, who was settled in 1837, and the same year the second Seventh-day Baptist Church of Verona was organ- ized at Durhamville, with 41 members, 16 being from the first church. Elder Kenyon died in 1839 ; among his suc -. cessors have been Elders Charles M. Lewis, Christopher C. Chester, and others. The second church built a house of worship a mile east of Durhamville in 1850. The latter society has a membership of 38 (28 residents and 10 non- residents). Its pastor is Elder Charles M. Lewis. Meet- ings are held every alternate Sabbath, and Sunday-school every Sabbath. The attendance at the latter is about 40, and its Superintendent Frank Mills. The church has been extensively repaired. Elder Lewis also has charge of the first church, which is located at a place called " Church- ville," near New London. At that place are also German Lutheran and German Reformed Churches, and the Ger- man Methodists and Frce Methodists also have buildings at New London. The Methodist Episcopal Society is the largest at that place.

VERONA VILLAGE,

located on the road leading from Rome to Oneida Castle, was first settled by Shubael Brooks, in the fall of 1797. The place was long known as " Hand's village," from the fact that Captain Ichabod Hand for many years kept an excellent public-house here. Dr. Brundage, the first physi- cian in town, located here very early, on the corner where the hotel now stands. The latter building, now owned by

586

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Samuel Britt, was built in 1830 by Calvin and Harrison Bishop (brothers). Another building, formerly used as a hotel, but now discontinued in that capacity, is much older than this; it was built by James Clark, and kept by him. His brother, George* Clark, owned the first store in the place, which stood on the site of the building now containing a store and the post-office. This was about the year 1805, and at that time the only other building in the place was a log house occupied by Esquire Martin Langdon.

Dr. Alexander Whaley settled early in the town, and built the framed house in this village now owned by the widow Eames. The doctor was one of the first physicians who came to Verona, and was a prominent man in his profession. He lived to be nearly ninety-two years of age, and died at the residence of his son, James Whaley, in Rome. His father, who was a blacksmith, had a shop a short distance north of the village (Verona). The doctor's son, Francis Whaley, occupies the old place, and a daughter, now Mrs. McLean, resides in the village. Samuel Whaley, brother to the doctor, is also a resident of the village, and aged eighty-eight years.

One of the first postmasters in town was a tailor named Hess, who lived in the western part of the village, and kept the office in his shop. The first postmaster here was very probably Robert Clark, the first merchant, who had the post-office in his store. The present incumbent is R. M. Leete.

VERONA DEPOT

is a station on the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. The site for the railroad buildings was given to the company by Simeon Parsons, who, with all his family, has removed from town. Besides the station buildings, the place has a small store and a hotel, which have been erected since the railroad went into operation.

DURHAMVILLE

is a village located in the southwest part of the town. Eli- phalet Frazee has been mentioned as its first settler, locating in 1811. The place contains eight or ten stores, two hotels, several saloons, several mechanic shops, etc., besides the churches already described, the Durhamville Glass-Works, and other manufacturing institutions. Here is also located a dry-dock for the Erie Canal.

The place for a long time existed as a corporation, it having been incorporated principally through the efforts of Spencer H. Stafford, at the time a lawyer in the village, now of Oneida, Madison Co. Under the original charter the affairs of the corporation were administered for a num- ber of years, and finally (in 1869) a new charter was drawn up by H. Doane Brockway, then village clerk, who was one of a committee for that purpose, and it was confirmed by the Legislature. From some cause the charter was never filed in the county office, and this fact did not become known to the citizens until the village had been existing under its supposed new charter for several years; the consequence was the corporation business was ultimately dropped. This charter was much the same as the general law passed by the Legislature in 1870 for the incorporation

of villages. Arrangements were nearly completed for newly incorporating the place when it was visited (June, 1878).

The village was named from Eber Durham, who removed here from Manlius, Onondaga Co., in 1826, when there were but four log houses in the place. He leased the sur- plus water from the canal, and employed it extensively for hydraulic purposes. The Canal Company finally decided to allow no one to use the water, as the rents but poorly paid for the damage to navigation, and whatever there is of waste now runs over a weir into the Oneida Creek.

The Durhamville post-office was established quite early in the history of the place. The present postmaster is R. W. Powers. The business of the village was much larger during the palmy days of the Erie Canal, before the rail- road was constructed, than at present, and a large tannery, several saw-mills, an extensive foundry, and other manufac- turing institutions furnished employment to many persons, and were sources of prosperity to the place.

A pipe-factory was established in the fall of 1877 by E. N. & G. F. Kelsey, who at present employ from 15 to 20 hands. The clay used in the manufacture of the pipes is principally from Woodbridge, N. J., although some English clay is used. The brick building in which the factory is located was erected in 1850 by E. N. Kelsey, to be used for stores, etc.

DURHAMVILLE GLASS-WORKS.

The business of glass-making, which was the starting- point of the trade of the present firm, was commenced in 1818, at Sand Lake, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., by Isaac D. Fox. In 1845, the factory at Durhamville was built by the noted contractor, De Witt C. Stephens, who operated it for a few months, when it passed into the bands of Fox, Gregory & Co. Some of the firm finally retired, and until recently the firm-name was Fox & Son. The present firm is Fox & Co. (father and son). Connected with the estab- lishment is a tract of 220 acres of land, upon which have been erected the various dwellings for employees, a general store, shops, etc., and the factory. Some of the land owned by the company is located at a distance. The factory, dwelling, shops, etc., are built upon a tract of about 20 acres, and 100 acres close by are cultivated. The buildings, furnaces, etc., have been lately enlarged, and still further additions are to be made. Ten large glass pots are used, and the annual use is necessitated of about 250 tons of soda ash, imported from Liverpool and Newcastle, England; 15,000 to 20,000 bushels of sand, from lots owned by the firm within a mile of the works; about 1000 bushels of salt ; 100,000 pounds of German clay, and 20,000 pounds of Jersey clay; 2500 tons of coal; about 1500 cords of wood; and about 30 tons of straw for packing. A shop is owned by the firm, containing machinery for making boxes, and 250,000 feet of lumber are annually used for that purpose. The season for manufacturing glass extends through, usually, ten months, and about 4000 boxes are made each month. Some 60 hands are furnished with work. No agents are employed, and the goods are sold principally in New York City. This is the largest factory in the State, and turns out more work tban any single fac- tory in the Union. The buildings are located on the bank of the Erie Canal.

# Should this name be Robert ?

587

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

STATE BRIDGE,

northeast of Durhamville, on the canal, contains a small hotel and a post-office,-the latter conducted by W. S. Potter.

THE DUNBARTON GLASS-WORKS,

located four miles below Durhamville, also on the canal, are at present owned by Monroe, Cowarden & Co. From 50 to 60 hands are employed; the manufactures amount to 30,000 boxes and upwards annually, the materials used being of about the same quality (though smaller in quan- tity) as those used at the Durhamville factory. The com- pany also own a general store.

VERONA LANDING,

in the upper part of Higginsville, has a general store and a depot for canal supplies. Here is also a large basin and a bridge.

HIGGINSVILLE,

still lower on the canal, has been entirely built up since the construction of the latter, and its population, like that of all the canal villages, is constantly changing. But very little of its early history can be obtained. It now contains one store, a cigar-factory, a post-office,-present postmaster, J. M. Tinker,-and a small hotel. The old branch canal from this place is only in use about one mile to a fine sand- stone quarry.

GROVE SPRINGS AND STACY'S BASIN

are localities on the canal below Higginsville, each contain- ing a store and one or two houses.

NEW LONDON,

farther east, was first settled, in 1824, by Ambrose Jones, who afterwards moved to the town of Vienna. Boat-build- ing has been extensively carried on at this place, which contains three stores, a hotel, a post-office,-established in the neighborhood of 1825; Daniel G. Allen, present post- master,-and several shops of various descriptions. The place has suffered severely from fire at different times, and was as large forty years ago as it is at present. A very neat two-story brick union school building has been erected here.

RATHBUNVILLE,

now also called " Verona Mills," was first settled, in 1802, by Achus Rathbun, a member of the Society of Friends. His son, Solomon Rathbun, in later years became the pro- prietor of quite an extensive business here, including a large flouring-mill, a woolen-factory, and a store. The old Rathbun grist-mill was destroyed by fire, and the present one has since been erected : it is owned by Clarence Williams, and does principally custom grinding.

TILDEN HILL

is the name of a locality in the southeast part of town, and its first settler was a man named Strallon (or Stratton). Merrit Clark moved upon the hill in 1798, opened a small store, and manufactured potash. Very probably this was the first store in the town of Verona. Mr. Clark also built a small frame dwelling so near the standing timber that in cutting it away a tree fell upon the house and broke in part of the roof; it remained in that condition for years.

Joho Tilden, from whom the hill took its name, moved upon it in 1800. The following anecdote was told of him at the time :

" After he had purchased, but before be removed, be enme up to view his farm, and satisfying himself, he went to Vernon village to spend the night. Captain Benjamin Pierson then kept the tavern. Mr. Tilden informed mine host that he wished to stop with him for the night, but that he had spent his money, so that he had not a dollar, Dor a twe-shilling piece, nor a six-penny piece left, but that the bill should eventually be paid. The captain seeing no appearance of poverty en the part of his guest, und knowing he had purchased a farm in the vicinity, readily told him he could stay. He hnd supper, lodging, breakfast, And horse-keeping. In the morning, as about to lenve, be inquired the amount of his hill. It was made out without any expectation ef its being paid at that time, but, to the surprise of Dur Inudlord and his attendants, the wayfarer drew from his poekot a stocking well filled with half-dollars, and paid the hill, convincing the landlord that he was a man of truth, for in the capacious wallet there wns not a dollar, two-shilling or six-penny piece."#

SCONONDOA

is a small village located in the southwest part of the town, on the creek of the same name, near its entry into Oneida Creek. The late Samuel S. Breese formerly owned a cotton-factory at the place, which was discontinued about 1844-45. The celebrated chieftain for whom the stream was named first used the water-power here to turn the wheels of a grist-mill and a saw-mill for the use of his tribe and the few whites then living in the vicinity. A post-office in the northwest corner of the town, on the New York and Oneida Mountain Railway, established since that road was built, is called Fish Creek.

Among those to whom we are indebted for information furnished in this town are Calvin Bishop and others, at Verona village; H. D. Brockway and numerous others, at Durhamville ; Salmon Tuttle, at New London; the pro- prietors of the various manufactories; the pastors and members of the different churches, and many whose names are not recalled.

CHAPTER XLIV.

VIENNA.

THIS town lies in the western border of the county, upon the north shore of Oneida Lake, and has an area of 38,102 acres. Its surface in the southern part is level, and in places originally quite marshy. In the north it is hilly and broken. The soil is generally sandy. The eastern boundary is partly formed by Fish Creek, and the northern partly by the west branch of the same stream. Numerous smaller streams abound, all of which furnish good power. A portion of the town was originally covered with yellow or pitch pine, and the balance was made up largely of hem- lock and white pine, so that for many years the lumber interests were large. In the north part of town was a strip of land covered with rock-maple, and known as the " Maple Flats." It was about two miles in length and one in breadth.

Oneida Lake, viewed from any point in this town, is a

* Jones' Annals.

588

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

beautiful sheet of water, and along its shores are many pic- turesque locations, particularly in the vicinity of the village of North Bay. That the lake once covered the greater por- tion of the town to the north; and at a much more recent period that to the eastward, is plainly evident from the nature of the soil and the general appearance of the country. Since the timber has been destroyed to so great an extent the amount of water in the lake has been slowly diminish- ing, and, although it still has a large area, its depth is slight, and numerous sand-bars abound. The view from the pro - montory at North Bay, when a fresh wind is blowing and the sky is clear or partly cloudy, is one long remembered. Stretching away to the west and south, the blue waters of the lake appear magnificent with their curling waves and caps of foam, and on the opposite shore the distant hills of Madison County rise bold and free,-a fitting background to the exquisite picture. Although there are in a few places low, marshy spots, the general appearance.of the lake and its surroundings is one of great beauty, and the dusky Oneidas loved to glide over or sport in its waters, while the anthem they sang in their steady beating upon the pebbly shore was the sweetest music to the ear of the red son of the forest, whose swift canoe no longer cleaves its waters and whose form is no more present upon its shores.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 159

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