History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 163

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts & Fariss
Number of Pages: 920

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

and a magistrate for thirty years, also a member of the As- sembly in the year 1841. Squire Halleck had a county reputation for the wisdom and justice of his legal decisions, and was held in the highest honor by his fellow-citizens. He died June 22, 1857 ; his wife Feb. 23, 1868.

JEROME V. QUE.

This gentleman was born in the town of Boonville, Oneida Co., Jan. 15, 1828, being the eldest son of David and Lucinda Gue, who emigrated from Montgomery County in 1821. He passed his early life on his father's farm,

Photo. by Hovey & Brainerd.

JEROME V. GUE.

and only received the benefits of a common-school educa- tion. At the age of fifteen he started in the world for himself, came to the town of Western. He is at present engaged in the manufacture of cheese-boxes for the various factories in his vicinity, and makes about fifteen hundred a week. He was married, July 2, 1850, to Clarissa, daughter of George and Rebecca Keech, they being old settlers of Western, where their daughter was born, Aug. 18, 1832. Their family at present consists of three children,-Elmer J., Nellie A., and Charlie. Politically, he has always been a member of the Democratic party, and has held the office of justice of peace for twenty-four years, and is the present supervisor of the town.

HENRY G. REID, M.D.,

was born April 2, 1844, in the town of Kirkland, Oneida Co., N. Y. He was the fourth son of James and Rebecca Reid, who came to this country in 1828, and located at Clark's Mills, Oneida Co., where they remained until 1844, and then removed to South Albion, Oswego Co., where they now reside. They have reared a family of fourteen chil- dren,-eight boys and six girls,-eleven of whom are living. The parents are still hale and hearty, having reached the age of seventy-eight years.

Henry G. Reid was engaged in farming with his father until 1861. At the age of seventeen years he de- termined to secure an education, and with a sound, healthy

framc he launched out in the world without money, but with a strong will, to work for the benefit of his brain. From 1861 to 1866 he attended school at Whitestown Seminary. In 1866 he commenced the study of medicine with his brother, C. C. Reid, M.D., of Westernville, N. Y. After he had pursued the study of medicine for one year, he attended the Albany Medical College. In 1868 he re- ceived the appointment by Surgeon-General Jacob S. Mosher, to take charge of the medical department of the State Soldiers' Home, which position he occupied for one year. He returned in 1869 to Albany Medical College, and received his diploma Dec. 23, 1869.

In January, 1870, he located at Westernville and com- menced the practice of medicine. His has been one of the largest country practices in Oneida County.

In 1877 he purchased a building lot, and erected one of the finest houses in the town of Western.

In the same year he married Miss M. U. Clute, grand- daughter of Squire Utley. As the result of this union, one son has been born to them.

CHAPTER XLVI.

WESTMORELAND.

THE town of Westmoreland lies south of the centre of the county, and has an area of 25,741 acres. The western part is included in the original Oneida Reservation, from which tracts were granted to Messrs. Dean, Bleecker, Wemple, and others ; and the eastern in the Coxeborough Patent. A small fraction of the Oriskany Patent lies in the northeast corner of the town. James Dean located his patent in the fall of 1786, and the following is a copy of his deed from the Indians :

"To all whom these Presents shall come, or may concern-Know Ye : That We, Peter Oneyanha, John Skanondonagh, Kanonghsase, Daniel Thaoveghsesca, Hendrick Thaghneghtorens, Moscs Awethare, John Onontiyo-

" Sachems and Chief Warriers of the Oneida Nation, by and with the advice and consent of the said Nation, in Consideration of the great and important Services rendered to us by Mr. James Dean, our Friend and Brother, and as a Token of our Esteem and Affection for him, have given and granted, and do hereby give and grant unto the People of the State of New York, All that parcel or Tract of Land described and bounded as followeth, Namely : Beginning at a certain place where the West Line of the patent of Coxborough crosseth the stream or brook formed by the Junction of the streams or brooks called Kaneghtaragearat and Kanyonshotta, it being one of the branches of the Oriskany Creek or River; running thence North Twenty-Four degrecs and Thirty Minutes Weat, Forty Chains ; thence West Twenty- Four degrees and Thirty Minutes south, One Hundred and Sixty Chains ; thence South Twenty-Four degrees and Thirty Minutes East, One Hundred and Sixty Chains; thence East Twenty-Four degrees and Thirty Minutes North, One Hundred and Sixty Chains; thence on a direct Line to the place of Beginning; Together with all and singular the advantages and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining. And we do hereby request our Brothers, the said People of the State of New York, to give and grant unto the said James Dean, Letters Patent for the same, according to the Con- stitution and Laws of the State. But if our Brothers should not think proper to do the same, then this deed to be void and of no effect. In Testimony whereof we have hercunto set our Hands and Scala this

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Eleventh day of August, and in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five.

his

"HENDRICK X THACHNAGTORENS.

PETER X ONEYANHA. mark

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bis

"MOSES X AWETHARE.

JOHN X SKANONDONAGH.

mark

his

"JOHN X ONONTIYO.

KANONGHISASE X

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bis

" DANIEL X THAONEGHSESEA.

mark

"Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of

" PETR SCHUYLER. " ABNM TEN EYCK.

" JNO. ELLIOTT."

This deed was confirmed by the State Feb. 6, 1787, agreeable to an act passed May 5, 1786. Mr. Dean had made application for a different tract in 1783, but his peti- tion was probably set aside, as nothing was ever done for him regarding it. By the same act (May 5, 1786) Wem- ple's Patent was granted, one mile square, to be bounded on the south line and east half of Dean's Patent; and Kirk- land's Patent, also one mile square, to be located south of Dean's and west of Wemple's. One moiety of Kirkland's Patent was in fee-simple, and the other in trust for the sup- port of a minister of the gospel employed by the Oneida Indians. This latter was called the " missionary lot."

This town is watered by the Oriskany, Dean's Creek, and others, tributary to the Wood Creek and Mohawk River. Within it are found considerable quantities of iron ore, which has been used in numerous furnaces in this region. Excellent building-stone also abounds ; the soil is very productive, and the general surface of the town hilly or rolling.

Westmoreland was formed from a part of Whitestown,. April 10, 1792, and another portion of the latter was an- nexed in 1798, at the formation of Oneida County. Verona and a part of Vernon were taken off in 1802, and a small portion annexed to Kirkland io 1855. From the town records one or two leaves liave been lost, containing the minutes of the first town-mecting,* and it is impossible to give the officers chosen at that time, but the following is a list of the Supervisors since 1794, viz. : 1794, Captain Isaac Jones; 1795, James Dean ; 1796, not given ; 1797, Dan Chapman, Esq .; 1798-99, James Dean, Esq. ; 1800-1803, Joseph Jones ; 1804-1805, Jared Chittenden ; 1806-15, Roderick Morrison ; 1816-17, Thomas Holbert, Jr. ; 1818, Roderick Morrison; 1819, Thomas Holbert, Jr. ; 1820-23, Roderick Morrison ; 1824-33, Truman Enos ; 1834-35, Warren Converse; 1836-38, Parker Halleck ; 1839-40, James B. Drummond ; 1841, John Nicholson ; 1842-43, Pomroy Jones; 1844, Almon Beardsley ; 1845-46, Warren Converse; 1847-48, James J. Curtiss ; 1849, John Park; 1850-51, Zenas M. Howes; 1852, Jonathan Rose; 1853-54, John Wylie; 1855, Jeptha Skinner; 1856, Abel B. Buell; 1857, Arthur F. Brown ; 1858, Joseph L. Mansfield ; 1859, Grant Adams; 1860,

Morris W. Halleek ; 1861, John Wylie; 1862, John B. Nicholson ; 1863, Nehemiah F. Metcalf; 1864, Jacob J. Massey ; 1865, Nehemiah F. Metcalf; 1866-68, John L. Dean ; 1869-71, Philander Shedd ; 1872-76, Joseph K. Schuyler ; 1877-78, William S. Fuller. The remaining officers for 1878 are: Town Clerk, Thomas Hughes ; Jus- tices of the Peace, James N. Lawrence, James B. Drum- mond, William C. Law; Town Auditors, Marquis Serip- ture, Morris W. Halleck, John D. Jenkins; Assessor, George R. Smith ; Collector, William H. Miller; Commis- sioner of Highways, Dan. S. Cushman; Overseer of the Poor, Russell HI. Williams ; Constables, William H. Miller, Clark McClenthen, Peter F. Yauger, William Gibson ; In- spectors of Election, District No. 1, George P. Bowles, Samuel G. Foot, James Pryor ; District No. 2, Francis M. Metcalf, Charles H. Kellogg, James Halleck ; District No. 3, Joseph Pearsall, William S. Snow, Joseph D. Newton.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN WESTMORELAND.

The following biographical sketch of Judge James Dean is copied from Hon. Pomroy Jones' " Annals of Oneida County," as being still of importance to those who shall peruse this work :

"James Denn, the first kettler of Westmoreland, was born nt Groton, Connecticut, in the month of August, 1748. Of his enrly youth nothing is known, excepting that he was destined as a missionary to the In- dians, ond at the age of twelve years was sent to reside at Oqnago,f on the Susquehanna, with an Indian missionary nnmed Mosely, who wns then Inboring with n branch of the Oneida tribe, located at that place. Ile soon became master of the Oneida toogne, and wns ndopted by n female nntivens her son. To this mother he ever manifested nn ardent attachment. Ilis acquisition of this Innguage was of grent use to him and his country in ofter-life. Learning it when thus young, while the organs of speech were flexible, he was enabled to speak the Innguage most fluently. The Oneidas snid hs was the only white person whom they, hnd ever known who could spenk their language so perfectly that they could not nt once detect him, although he might be hid from view, hut him they could not detect. How long he re- sided in Oquago is unknown, but in those few years, under the in- struction of Mr. Mosely, he fitted himself to enter college. He was a member of the first class which formed and graduated at Dartmouth. His freshman year in that institution wns before the completion of a building for the use of the students, and the class used to study and recite in n rude shelter formed hy plncing sinbs ngninst the trunk of a large prostrate pine. In this poor apology for a college dormitory young Mr. Dean studied and slept the first summer he spent in his col- leginte course. He graduated just previously to the commencement of the war of the Revolution.

" ID 1774 the lending citizens of each colony were endeavoring to ascertain the sentiments of all classes of people relative to the por- tending contest; and ibs peculiar fitness and qualifications of Mr. Dean recommended him to the Continental Congress, then just os- sembled, as a suitable person to ascertain those of the Indinns in New York and Canada, and the part they would probably take in the event of a wor with the mother-country. In order to disguise the object of his mission, it wns arranged that he should assume the char- acter of an Indinn trader, and he was accordingly furnished with such goods ns were then carried into the Indian country for the pur- poscs of trade. He wns also for that purpose furnished with letters, invoices, and other papers from a well-known house in Boston, then engaged in the Indinn trade. Thus fitted ont, ba commenced his ex . pedition to the Six Nations and their branches, and the tribes con- nected with them, living in Canada. In the course of his travels in Lower Canada, he was arrested by the British nuthorities as a spy, and taken to Quebec, where he underwent a most rigid examination. His self-possession was equal to the crisis, and anded by his papers

* At this meeting, Captain Isnac Jones was chosen Supervisor and Alex. Parkman Town Clerk.

t Now Windsor, Broome Co., N. Y.

602

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

he was enabled perfectly to quiet their suspicions, and wns dismissed, they having been successfully overreached by but an inexperienced hand in the art of honorable dissimulation. It wns during this expe- dition that the subject of this notice first visited Oneida Castle, and for the first time stood upon the soil of Oneida Conoty.

" At the commencement of the war of the Revolution, Mr. Denn wns retnined in the public service, with the rank of major in the staff, as agent for Indian affairs and interpreter. The selection was most fortunate. He was stationed during most of the war at Fort Stanwix nnd Oneida Castle. ITis position was often a most trying one, although entirely devoid of opportunities for distinguishing himself or gathering Inurels on the battle-field. This to the soldier is a cheerless position, but as a true patriot he remained at his post during the whole contest, rendering the most important services to his country. The New York Historical Society have obtained all of General Gates' papers, public and private, and among them are a number of maquseript letters from Mr. Dean, written during the eventful campaign of 1777, nt Snratogn.

"To give n specimen of his duties the following is related : Nich- olas Sharp, long known to the early settlers of the county as 'Saucy Nick,' nnd as the worst Indian in the Oneida tribe, was, during the whole contest, true to the cause of the colonies, and one of the most active and reliable scouts in his nation. Shortly before the burning of Cherry Valley by the Indians and Tories, Nov. 11, 1778, Mr. Dean dispatched Nichelns to Canada, to learn what he could of the designs and pinns against the frontiers. By means now unknown the scout ferreted out the whole pinn of the expedition against that devoted settlement from the Canadian Indians. The day fixed for the attack was so nenr that it was necessary to make all haste to give the warn- ing in time to save the place, and such was the celerity of Nichelns in returning te Oneida that upon his arrival he wns entirely ex- hausted, nnd for two or three days unable to walk. As no time wns to be lost, Mr. Dean immediately dispatched Scanandoa to give timely warning to Colonel Alden, the commandant at Cherry Valley. That officer, unfitted by intemperance for his responsible position, hoeded not the warning, believing that the severity of the season precluded the possibility of an attack. The inhabitants were there- forc suffered to remnia io their houses, and the gate of the fort left unfastened. On the very night nnmed by Nicholas, Cherry Valley was burned, and the few of its inhabitants who escaped the tomahawk and scalping-knife were carried into enptivity. Colonel Alden was amoog the slain.

" The great body of the Oneida tribe were induced by Mr. Dean, aided by Mr. Kirkland, to remain neutral, at least as far as appear- ances were concerned. In feeling, with n few exceptions, they were with the Americans, and some of them did good service at Orisknny, Stone Arabia, and some other places.

" The siege of Fort Stanwix and the battle of Oriskany occurred during an absence of Mr. Dean down the Mohawk. On his return with the command of General Arnold, intended for the relief of the garrison, he passed the battle-ground, still strewn with the corpses of those who bnd fallen in the conflict, unburied where they fell. Such was the terrible effinvia, the wind being in the west, that when he ar- rived at the eastern border of the field he held bis bondkerchief to his face, and put his horse to its utmost speed to gnin the windward side of that dreadful field, 'where friend nud fuemen undistinguished lay festering.'

" At the close of the war Mr. Dean was preseot at a feast given the Stockbridge Indians in Massachusetts. General Washington gave or- ders to one of the contractors at West Point to furnish the provisions. An ox weighing 1100 pounds was barbecued for the occasion. The principal men in the vicinity were present. Mr. Dean and the Rev. Mr. Surgennt (missionary to the Stockbridge Indiaos in this county) presided at the table. After the feast the Indiaos performed the cer- emony of burying the hatchet, as a tokso that war was past,-also some other of their national ceremonies for the gratification of their guests.

" Mr. Dean ever after the war enjoyed the confidence of the Oneida trihe. On the 30th of December, 1783, he sent letters, and an address from them, to the bonrd of the Missionary Society in Scotland, asking that Mr. Kirkland should be continued ns a missionary.

"In 1785 he was at Oncida and received nn nddress from the cele- brated Brant, which he furwarded to Congress, requesting, among other things, that Colonel James Monroe, Major Peter Schuyler, and Mr. Dean would be present at a council and confcreoes with the Shawnese and Cherokees, to be held at Buffalo Creek.

" For his services the Oneidas gave Mr. Dean a tract of land two miles square, the title to be confirmed nnd ratified by the State. This was probably in 1783. He chese for its location a tract upon the north side of Wood Creek, in the present town of Vienna. In the spring of 1784 he left Connecticut, in company with Jedediah Phelps and Andrew Blanchard, to commence the settlement of his land. The day of starting is not known, but they left Schenectady the 3d of Mny, and arrived at Wood Creek the 13th. Without knowing it, they undoubtedly passed Judge White while he and bis sons were engaged upon the Shoemaker farm in planting their crop of corn. After Mr. Dean and his party arrived at Wood Creek, they built a leg house and a shop for Mr. Phelps, who was a brass-founder and silversmith, and intended to work for the Indians. During the summer they made a small clearing, and although now covered with a second growth of timber, it still retaios its name of ' Dean's place.' In the spring of 1785 the place hecame inundated to such ao extent that for three weeks they were obliged to live in the garret of their log cabin, and for the purpose of cooking their meals they descended from their loft into a canoe by a Indder, and then rowing to the shop, used the forge as their only fireplace above high-water mark. On the subsiding of the water the party were fully satisfied that the selection was nn unfortunate one, and unfit for the commencement of a settlement. Mr. Dean stating this to the Indians, they ngreed he might change the location to nny point upon the west side of the 'line of property,' between Brothertowo upen the Oriskady and the Wood Creek. Hc selected his land so as to include the falls of the creek, since known na Dean's Creek. To render such location certain, the survey-as nppenrs from the description of his patent-of the enst line of the patent commenced in the creek, and thence ran north and south to the north and south hounds of the tract. He located his patent in the fall of 1785, and settled upon it in February, 1786. At this time he was uninnrried, but in the fall of that year he visited Connecticut, and was married to Miss Lydin Cump on the 11th of October.

" Mr. Dean's energies were now directed to elearing a farm, in- ducing settlers te remove to his patent, and in building mills for their necommodation. Success crowned his efforts, and it was but a few years before every let offered for sale was . taken up' by an actual settler."

It is observed that Mr. Dean located upon his patent before the State had ratified the grant, but so confident was he that it would be done that he set forth with his brother, Jonathan Dean, the latter being accompanied by his wife and children. That lady, Mrs. Eunice Dean, was the first white woman who settled in the town of West- moreland. For six weeks at one time neither she nor her family tasted bread, their dependenee being mainly upon meats. Immediately after James Dean was married he returned with his wife, on horseback, and at once began housekeeping. The old Judge Dean homestead is now occupied by John L. Dean, a son of Luke C. Dean, and grandson of the judge. Another son of the latter, John Dean, lived a short distance south of the old place, on the farm now owned by his son, George Dean. Judge Dean's daughter, Electa, who became the wife of Joshua A. Spencer, a prominent advocate of Oneida County, and for -. merly of Madison County, was recently living in Catskill, New York, and is about eighty years of age. The present frame dwelling occupied by John L. Dean, and standing on his grandfather's farm, was built by Mrs. Judge Dean, in 1793, while he was absent upon a trip to Michigan, and is thought to be the oldest framed house in Oneida County.

Soon after his arrival, the judge set up a small hand grist-mill on the creek, it having been brought along by his brother. He fitted a small wheel to turn it, thereby saving hand-labor. This was probably the first grist-mill in the county, although not of sufficient importance to be

AMOS BARNS.

Photos. by Hovey & Brainerd.

MRS. A. BARNS.

CAPTAIN AMOS BARNS

is the son of Nathaniel and Nancy Pendleton Barns, and was born Feb. 13, 1799, in Westerly, R. I. He is of English origin, his ancestors having come to America within a few years after the settlement of Plymouth, and settled in the New England States.

A history is known as far back as 1675, which is the date of the birth of Isaac Barns. He was a farmer by occupation at the east end of Long Island. He died in 1769, being ninety-six years of age, leaving a son, Isaac, who was born at Amagansett, L. I., Jan. 29, 1704, by occupation a farmer. He had a family of twelve children, of whom Nathaniel was one, who was born March 18, 1740. Isaac died April 22, 1772. Nathaniel was an owner of real estate on Long Island during the Revolu- tionary war ; was the owner of a privateer which he com- manded during that war, being a resident of Westerly, R. I., at that time. He married Miss Elizabeth Brown, of Westerly, R. I., by whom five children were born, of whom Nathaniel, Jr., was one of two sons. Nathaniel, Sr., died in middle life. Nathaniel, Jr., was born Sept. 12, 1769, in Westerly, R. I. He was a mariner during his life; was a sea-captain, doing business in the West Indies. He married Miss Nancy Pendleton, of Westerly, R. I., about 1790 or 1791. By this union eight children were born, namely : Nathaniel, Acors, Benjamin, Amos, Catherine, Betsey, Sally, and Lydia, all of whom lived to be men and women. Nathaniel, Jr., died Oct. 15, 1819 ; his wife died April 30, 1835.

The subject of this sketch is the youngest son of a family of eight children. His early life was employed as a cabinet- maker till he was about nineteen years of age, when he com- menced following the sea, having previously engaged some-

what in the business. He rose through the several grada- tions from the cook of a fishing smack to that of captain. During the last four years of his sea life he was engaged in running a packet between Stonington, Conn., and New York. In 1820 and 1821 he was on a voyage to South Shetland Islands, in the Antarctic Ocean, in the brig " Frederick," Captain Pendleton ; in the June following he was very near the Arctic, in the sloop " Alonzo," Captain Acors Barns. In September, 1833, Captain Barns settled in Oneida County, and in February, 1834, purchased his present residence, which has been his home ever since. He was married to Miss Margaret Dickens, of Westerly, R. I., Jan. 13, 1822. Miss Margaret Dickens was born May 31, 1801. By this union eleven children were born, of whom nine are now living. Names of children are as follows: Sylvester, Matthew, Susan, Franklin, Arthur, Margaret, Lydia, Sarah, Harriet, Caroline, Henry D. Sarah and Harriet are dead. In politics, Captain Barns affiliates with the Republican party. The captain is not an aspirant for an official position, preferring the quiet of home to any official honors. From 1850 to 1854 he was postmaster at Westmoreland.

He has been an acceptable member of the Episcopal Church for many years, having filled the office of warden during the same period. The captain has been a teetotaler for more than sixty years, and has been a true worker in the temperance cause. Mrs. Barns died Jan. 27, 1872, having lived with the captain more than fifty years. Mr. Barns is now an old gentleman, hale and hearty. He reviews his long life with some satisfaction, and is living with no apprehensions of the future. Since 1852 he has been treasurer of the Westmoreland Cemetery Association.

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

classed among those of greater capacity and better design ; therefore Wetmore's mill at Whitestown remains in history as the first grist-mill in Oneida County. The judge after- wards built a saw-mill and a larger grist-mill.

In the fall of 1786, Silas Phelps moved in with his family from New Marlborough, Berkshire Co., Mass., and built a log cabin on the lot adjoining Jonathan Dean's on the east, and these three were the only white families in the town during 1786. In January, 1787, Ephraim Blackmer and Nehemiah Jones arrived, also from New Marlborough. The following description of their last day's ride was written by Mr. Jones' son, Hon. Pomroy Jones, author of " Annals of Oneida County," and put in print several years before that work was issued, being inserted in the latter also :

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 163

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