History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 162

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 162

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VILLAGE OF WESTERNVILLE.

About 1794, George Brayton and Jonathan Swan- brothers-in-law-settled at this place, and engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Swan afterwards removed to Aurora, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and the Braytons conducted the business at the old stand for more than sixty years. The property yet belongs to them, although the store is managed by other parties. Messrs. Brayton & Swan were the first merchants in the town of Western, and their first store was but a small shanty. Mr. Brayton afterwards built three others in the place. His son, Milton Brayton, is a resident of the village, and one of a family of nine children, who all became prominent in the history of the town and county. The Braytons were stanch members of the Presbyterian Church at Westernville, and aided largely in its support; and a great influence for good has always been exerted by the different members of the family in this part of the town. Milton Brayton lives opposite his father's old place, in the western part of the village.

596

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Mr. Swan, the partner of George Brayton, was the father of Judge Joseph Swan, an eminent member of the legal profession at Columbus, Ohio. George Brayton was three times elected to the Assembly and twice to the Senate.

Westernville was also the home of Major-General Hal- leck, of the United States Army, as commander-in-chief of which he succeeded General Winfield Scott. About the time of his birth his parents were living away from the village, but he was brought here, at any rate, by the time he was a year old. A farm on the north side of the Mo- hawk, northwest of the village, belongs to his heirs. His grandfather was Deacon Jabez Halleck, who died at the age of one hundred and three years.

The Westernville post-office was established in the neighborhood of 1812, and George Brayton appointed the first postmaster. He continued in office for a long period ; his sons, Hervey and Milton Brayton, were also among the postmasters at this place. The present incumbent is Daniel R. Howe, an old resident of the village.

The present hotel was converted to such uses about 1837-38 by John O. Dale ; it had previously been occu- pied as a private residence. The large frame building with columns in front, in the western part of the village, was erected for a hotel by George Hawkins, but at present is not licensed for hotel purposes, and is not regularly kept as such.

The Westernville Brass Band was organized April 1, 1877, with eleven members. It at present owns twelve instruments, and is under the leadership of William Floyd, Jr.

The village contained in the spring of 1878 two stores, two tin-shops, a wagon-shop, a millinery establishment, a post-office, two churches, a two-story frame school-house, three blacksmith-shops, two shoe-shops, a tannery, and a Lodge of Good Templars.

VILLAGE OF NORTH WESTERN.

This village is located about three miles above Western- ville, on the Mohawk, and contains three stores, two hotels, three blacksmith-shops, a meat-market, a wagon-shop, a shop for repairing wagons, a harness-shop, three shoe- shops, a cheese-box factory, a saw- and planing-mill, built by Jerome V. Gue, a tannery, built early and now owned by Seymour Jones, a cheese-factory, owned by Albert Meyers, a neat frame school-house, and one physician, Dr. Robert H. Hews.

The first permanent settler on the site of the village was David Utley, from Columbia Co., N. Y., who located here about 1794-95, and purchased two hundred acres of land. On the portion of this place now occupied by his son, 'Squire Utley, a man named John Clear had " squatted," built a small log house, and made a clearing. He had been here about a year when Mr. Utley arrived. The latter allowed him to keep fifty acres, but afterwards purchased it of him. Clear had no title in the first place, and Mr. Utley consented to his remaining in order that he might get a start in the world, and not have the work he had already done go for naught.

David Brill, now living in the village, purchased a farm in this town in 1830, and moved upon it in 1831. He kept the second cheese-dairy in town, the first having been

owned by Robert Nesbit. After buying most of the farm formerly owned by David Utley, which included the pres- ent village site, he moved upon it in March, 1844, laid out the first "side road" from the main highway, and platted the village, or that portion which lies west of the canal and north of the aqueduct.

When the Black River Canal was being constructed, a Mr. Bissell, of Rome, established a small store, in a cheap shanty, for the benefit of the Irish laborers. A blacksmith- shop was also erected, and the Methodist Episcopal Church was standing. The first store of importance in the village was built and opened by Mr. Brill, and carried on for many years by himself and his family. He also built the first hotel in the place, the present " Half-Way House," about 1850. The " Northern Hotel," still standing, was built later in the same year by Ira Waldo.

A grist-mill was erected on the Mohawk at this place about 1800, by Jonathan Waldo, who also built a saw-mill. The present grist-mill, which occupies the site of the old one, was constructed by Paul Macomber, about 1840. It contains two runs of stone, and does a good custom business.

School was taught here about 1824-25, the old building having stood on the ground at present occupied by the store of Ephraim Dillenbeck. The name of the teacher could not be ascertained.

The post-office at North Western was established in 1845, and David Brill, who was the first postmaster, held the office fifteen years. The route had previously passed south of the village, from Rome to Floyd Corners, Stitt- ville, Holland Patent, Steuben, etc., but through the efforts of Mr. Brill it was changed, and an office established at North Western. The present postmaster is Reuben E. Meyers.

In the locality known as " Frenchville," between North Western and Westernville,-so called from families of that name residing there,-the first settlers were Joshua and Hezekiah Wells (father and son), who were here when David Utley moved to the town, and Captain - Don- nelly, who settled later, and afterwards commanded a company of militia. A man named Brown was also an early arrival in the same neighborhood, and owned a farm of 200 acres lying between Frenchville and the Utley place.

In the neighborhood of 1852-53 a man named French- not related to the families of that name who now reside here -built a saw-mill and shoe-peg factory on Big Brook, near the crossing of the Western and Rome Road. It was operated but a short time, and has long been abandoned.

BIG BROOK POST-OFFICE,

in the eastern part of town, was established early and kept by the father of Lysander Hayden. It has been several times moved ; is now in charge of Silas Ball, as postmaster, whose deputy is George N. Reese. It was named from the stream near which it is located.

HILLSIDE

is a small place on the Mohawk, above North Western, at its junction with the Lansing Kill. It contains a store, two hotels, a school-house, a blacksmith-shop, and a grist-mill. Among the early settlers in this locality was a man named

RESIDENCE OF M. T.WHITE, (1820.)

( FRANK WHITE'S RESIDENCE )

RESIDENCE OF THE LATE MOSES T. WHITE.

RESIDENCE OF ISRAEL WHITE, WESTERN, ONEIDA C º N. Y.

LITH BY L.H EVERTS, PHILA.

RESIDENCE OF JOHN ELLIS, WESTERN, ONEIDA COUNTY, N. Y.

LITH. BY L. H. EVERTE, PHILA PA

H. R.HILL.

MRS. H. R. HILL.

( PHOTOS BY HOVEY & BRAINERD, ROME)

SOUTH WESTERN CHEESE FACTORY.

RESIDENCE OF HENRY R. HILL, WESTERN, ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y:

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

HOVEY & BRAINERD, PHOTO. ROME

HOVEY & BRAINERD. PHOTO. ROME

C.W.PORTER

J. PORTER.

FIRST M.E.CHURCH, WESTERN

RESIDENCE OF C. W. AND J. PORTER, WESTERN, ONEIDA CO, N. Y.

LITH. BY L. N. EVERTS, PHILA. PA.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Gillett. David (?) Sweet lived here at an early day, and kept a tavern about 1805-6, in a small frame building. At that time there was no regular road through to Boonville. Elec- tions were held at this place in the early days of the town, when three days were spent in receiving votes, some of the electors living so far away, and the roads being so nearly impassable in the spring, that they could not all reach the polls the same day.

DUN BROOK POST-OFFICE

is located in the north part of town, and at present in charge of John D. Grems.

Among those to whom we are indebted for information in this town are Squire Utley, David Brill, Milton Brayton, William Floyd, the pastors of churches, and numerous members of their flocks, and others.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JEPTHA BRAINARD

was born in Middletown, Conn., March 2, 1746, and mar- ried Anna Markham, Jan. 10, 1771. He had nine chil- dren,-Anna, Obadiah, Jeptha, Samuel, Isaiah, Daniel, Mary, Timothy, and Belah. He settled in Whitesboro', Oneida Co., in 1791, and died in February, 1829; his wife died previously. Jeptha Brainard, son of Jeptha Brainard, Sr., was born, Nov. 4, 1774, in Middletown, Conn., and settled in Oneida County with his parents in 1791. He married Miss Catherine Comstock, a native of Massachusetts, Aug. 14, 1802. She was born Aug. 20, 1778. By this union nine children were born, namely, Anna, Evelina, Catherine, Edwin, Daniel, Pamelia, Wealthy, William, and Jeptha, of whom four are now living,-Mrs. P. Eames, a daughter, is now residing in Lee, while the other three are in Illinois. Jeptha Brainard was a farmer, and reared a family to industry and economy, and promi- nent among this family may be mentioned Dr. Daniel Brainard, formerly of Rush Medical College, Chicago, and who died suddenly of cholera, after giving a lecture on the same subject. Mr. J. Brainard was a Jackson Democrat. He and his wife, though not members of any denomina- tion, rather inclined towards the Friends' Society. He died Oct. 4, 1852, and his wife died March 16, 1856, and both were buried in Sand Flat Cemetery in this town. This biography is given by a daughter, Mrs. Pamelia Eames, in memory of her parents.

MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY WAGER HALLECK.

The early ancestry of this family has been recorded in another part of this volume. This gentleman has made his family's name one to be proud of, and the honor he has attached to it will live in the memory of the American citizen for years and years to come. He was born in the town of Western, Oneida Co., Jan. 16, 1814, being the eldest of thirteen children of Joseph and Catherine (" Wager") Halleck. At the age of fifteen he ran away from home, and was sent by his mother's brother, David

Wager, of Utica, to school at Fairfield, Herkimer Co .; he subsequently entered the Union College at Schenectady, and in 1835 he went to the military school at West Point, where he graduated in 1839; after which he served for a year as assistant professor of engineering, and until 1845 as assistant engineer upon the fortifications in the harbor

of New York. In that year he was sent by government to study the principal military establishments in Europe. In November, 1847, he was breveted captain for gallant conduct in the Mexican war. In 1846 he was ordered to California, where he served in various military and civil capacities. He was Secretary of State of the Province of California during its military government from 1847 to 1849; he was also a member of the convention to form, and one of the committee to draft, the State constitution of California ; also director-general of the New Almaden quick- silver mines. . He resigned his commission in August, 1854, and entered upon the practice of law in San Francisco, which business was attended with success. He was also president of a railroad. On the outbreak of the civil war he was appointed major-general in the United States Army, and was soon after placed in command of the military de- partment of the West, his headquarters being at St. Louis. He directed the military operations in the West, and took the command in the field during the Corinth campaign in the spring and early summer of 1862. In July, 1862, he was called to Washington, and appointed general-in-chief of all the armies of the United States, superseding General George B. McClellan, a position which he held till March 12, 1864, Grant being then made lieutenant-general. Hal- leck received the appointment of chief-of-staff to the army, which he held till April, 1865, when he was placed in com- mand of the military division of the James, his headquarters being at Richmond. In the following August he was trans- ferred to the division of the Pacific, and in March, 1869, to that of the South, his headquarters being at Louisville, Ky., where he died of a fever, Jan. 9, 1872 ; he was buried

598

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

at Greenwood Cemetery, New York. His wife was Eliza- beth Hamilton, of New York City. She was a descendant of Alexander Hamilton. They had but one child, Henry Wager Halleck, who at the present time is studying law in New York City. General Halleck not only gained distinc- tion and renown in the field of battle, but also in that of literature, being the author of many valuable military and scientific works, among which may be mentioned " Bitumen, its Varieties, Properties, and Uses," published in 1841; " Elements of Military Art and Science," in 1846; a second edition of this work was published in 1858, which also contained critical notes on the Mexican and Crimean wars ; " The Mining Laws of Spain and Mexico," issued in 1859; a translation with an introduction of "De Fooy on the Law of Mines," in 1860; "International Law, or the Rules regulating the Intercourse of States in Peace and War," in 1861 ; a translation with notes of Jomini's " Life of Napoleon," in 1864; and " A Treatise on International Law and the Laws of War, prepared for the Use of Schools and Colleges," in 1866. In General Halleck's death the country lost a good and noble soldier,-one who had in- scribed his name in the foremost ranks of the nation's patriots, and nations yet unborn will read of his daring and chivalrous acts in the late Rebellion with pride and interest, and his career in life will be a worthy example for them to follow. Through his individual efforts he has placed the laurel wreath of fame and honor around the name of Helleck, which will remain green for centuries to come. All honor the brave ! and may his sleep be as peaceful as his life was made turbulent by cruel war! A nation mourns his loss, the people reverence his name, and coming genera- tions will look back in gratitude and thanksgiving to his efforts in keeping our country a whole and united republic.

HENRY R. HILL

was born in the town of Western, Oneida Co., Feb. 11, 1814, being the eldest son of David and Laura Hill. His father emigrated from Guilford, Conn., to that town in about 1800, where he bought a farm. His father being a member of the State militia during the war of 1812, he went to Sacket's Harbor, and his mother went to visit him, taking her young babe with her, where he was named by General Van Rensselaer, who commanded the American forces at that point, Henry Rensselaer Hill. He received a common-school education, and devoted his time for three winters in teaching school. He spent his summers in working on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age; after that he worked for two years for his father by the month, finally taking the farm and working it on shares. He then, in company with his father, took a contract on the Black River Canal, which was being built at that time. His father having borrowed money from him, was unable to pay. He gave him a deed for the farm, but his title not being good, Mr. Hill had to perfect it. He was married Oct. 5, 1836, to Clarissa A., daughter of Isaac and Laura Clark, who emigrated from Connecticut to the town of Steuben, where she was born, March 10, 1818. They never had any children, but have a sister's son, Charles Annis, living with them. He has always belonged to the Republican party. Both are members of the Meth-

odist Episcopal Church of Westernville. He is at present engaged in the manufacture of cheese, in which business he has been for sixteen years, having erected the third cheese-factory in the county.

C. W. AND J. PORTER.

The grandfather of these gentlemen, John Porter, was a resident of Tolland Co., Conn., where their father, Chester, was born, Jan. 18, 1785. He was married to Sophia Wright, a native of that State. In 1808 he emigrated to Steuben, Oneida Co. Their family consisted of six children, of whom Chester W. was the eldest, being born in Steuben, Dec. 18, 1808. Joel was born in the same town, Jan. 3, 1825. They both remained on their father's farm, and ac- companied him to the town of Western in 1835, and located on a hundred acres, on which the brothers now reside, and which they have increased to two hundred and seventy acres. Their father died Jan. 9, 1845; their mother, March 17, 1849. They both received an academic educa- tion. Joel is married to Ann A., daughter of Lemuel and Marcia P. French, who removed to the town of Western about the year 1837, from Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., where she was born, Jan. 21, 1827. Their family consisted of four children, one of whom died young. Marcia S., born May 5, 1853, and is married to W. C. Miller, of Columbia County, and who is fitting himself for a Congregational minister ; Carrie A., born April 14, 1860; Chester Win- field, Sept. 3, 1861. They both belong to the Repub- lican party. Joel and his wife are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Western. The portraits of these two gentlemen, with a view of their home, appears in another part of this work.

THE WHITE FAMILY.

The first settlers of this family in the town of Western was Levi White, who, in company with his son, Otis, came to this county in 1795, from the State of Connecticut ; they both died in 1813. Moses Y., the eldest son of Otis and Mercy White, was born in the town of Western in 1796, and was married, December 1, 1819, to Phœbe, daugh- ter of Otis and Phoebe Phillips, she being born in the town of Adams, Berkshire Co., Mass., Nov. 12, 1802. Their family consisted of eleven children, one of whom died in infancy. Mercy, born Oct. 7, 1820, and was mar- ried to Edwin Brainard, Dec. 21, 1842; she resides at present in Illinois. Otis P., born March 19, 1822. Orson, Dec. 9, 1823, died in California, near Stockton, Oct. 28, 1853. Juliana, born Jan. 29, 1826. Phoebe R., Feb. 25, 1828. Israel, May 9, 1830; was married to Ellen, daughter of Joseph and Mary Leverette, Oct. 27, 1861, she being a native of Quincy, Ill. Their family consists of two adopted children, to whom they have given a good comfort- able home. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Westernville, of which he has been deacon for about twenty years, and is one of the most prominent, enterprising, and liberal citizens of his town. Belinda, born April 13, 1832. Caroline, Nov. 30, 1835. Moses Y., Oct. 20, 1840; and Franklin, Feb. 7, 1846. Mr. White lost his wife Feb. 8, 1856, and was afterwards married to Ada E., daughter of Andrew Elmer, April 28, 1858. He passed away from earth July 22, 1876.

Jakez Hancockfor

JABEZ HALLOCK, JR., was the second son of Deacon Jabez Hallock, and was born at Southold, Long Island, Sept. 30, 1798. He came with his father in the following year to Oneida County. His early life was passed on his father's farm, where he received the advantages of only a common-school edu- cation. He was married at an early age to Achsah Beckwith, whose parents were among the early set- tlers of Western, where she was born Oct. 10, 1798. By this marriage he had four children, all of whom died young.

February 21, 1841, the good Father called his wife to her last resting-place. He afterwards married Esther Strickland, a Quakeress, whose parents were residents of Jefferson County ; she died soon after her marriage. He was again united in bonds of matrimony, Nov. 14, 1849, to Elizabethi, widow of Matthew Dunn, she being the danghter of John

and Margaret Young, who emigrated from Susque- hanna Co., Pa., to the town of Rome when she was quite young. Politically, he was a member of the Republican party, and was called upon by his fellow- citizens to fill the different offices of the town for a period of twenty years. Mr. Hallock was always an active and prominent member of the church; the early religious education he received from his father was strictly followed by him through life. He died, full of years and honors, Aug. 20, 1873. The disease which closed his earthly existence robbed a community of a good, honest, respected, and es- teemed citizen. He was aware of his situation, but sustained by a long-cherished hope in the Saviour, he contemplated the approach of death with calmness and Christian resignation. He left a large circle of friends and relatives, to cherish his memory and mourn his loss.

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

599

JABEZ HALLECK.

THE HALLOCK FAMILY.

Peter Hallock, the ancestor of those of the name in this country, was one of thirteen Pilgrim fathers who came over from England in 1640, and landed at New Haven, Conn. In the autumn of the same year, in company with the members of the church to which he belonged, which was under the auspices of Rev. John Young, they took up their abode in Southold, L. I. Mr. Hallock purchased of the Indians a homestead, and this original home in 1864 was in the hands of his descendants. William, who was an only son of Peter, died at Southold, Sept. 28, 1684. His son, Peter, who represented the third generation (there is no authentic record in existence of this gentleman), we are unable to give any particulars in regard to him. His family consisted of three sons, of whom Peter, Jr., was the fourth generation, and he died August, 1756. His son, Major Peter, who was the father of the founder of the family in Oneida County, died May 13, 1791. His son, Deacon Jabez (" who wrote his name Halleck"), was born at the old homestead near Mattituck, L. I., March 13, 1761. He was some fifteen or sixteen years of age when the great Revolutionary struggle commenced, during which the father's family, with many others, were driven away from Long Island, and compelled to seek a new home in Lyme, Connecticut, where they remained during the war. When peace was declared the family returned to their deso- late home on the Island. There Jabez remained, by patient industry gaining an honest livelihood, until he was in- duced, by General Floyd, who had removed from Long Island to Western, to come to this part of the valley of the Mohawk, which he did in May, 1799. In 1818 he, with thirteen others, entered into a covenant to be the Lord's, and thus laid the foundation of the first Presbyte- rian Church in Westernville. Very soon after its organi- zation he was elected a ruling elder, which office he held to the day of his death, though for the last few years of his life he has not been able to discharge his duties. He died Sept. 17, 1863, in his one hundred and third year. Thus, looking over this long life, we are carried back into the past more than a century to those olden times which

JOSEPH HALLECK.

tried men's souls. We see that it began among other scenes and other men. He was boru a subject of Great Britain, but lived to witness the successful issue of the Revolu- tionary struggle by which he and his children after him were made free American citizens. He lived to see the won- derful growth of this then infant nation, advancing as it has in its mighty tread from a population of three millions to one of over thirty. He has been permitted to watch its struggles through days of darkness and trials and wars with foreign powers. And as he saw the beginning of the first great con- test for the " establishment" of our government, so he was permitted, though with faculties somewhat impaired, to see the beginning of the second great contest for the preser- vation of that government bequeathed us by our fathers against the traitorous assaults of its enemies. Of few others in the land can this be said. In many respects the subject of this sketch was a remarkable man. Physically he was one to attract attention anywhere; he was very tall and im- posing in his personal appearance; he possessed a constitu- tion which seemed capable of any amount of endurance. His habits in every respect were of the most temperate kind. Until within two or three years before his death, he had almost daily performed some manual labor. The strength of his physical frame was an index of the strength of his character. Great decision, firmness, and resolution were the prominent elements of his character. It cannot be doubted that with a thorough education in early life he would have exerted a wide influence in the world. His mental powers were remarkably preserved to him almost to the end of his life. The traits of his natural character were especially prominent in his religious life. His religious feelings were very strong and uniform, and his religious principles were of the Puritan stamp. Joseph was the eldest son of Deacon Jabez Halleck, and was born at Southold, L. I., Oct. 16, 1785. He removed with his father to Oneida County, where he was married March 7, 1813, to Catherine, daughter of Henry Wager, who was one of the first settlers of the town of Western, where she was born Feb. 18, 1795. By his marriage he was the father of thirteen children. He was lieutenant in the war of 1812,

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 162

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