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 45
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BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
The Legislature of the county dates back, in its origin, to an act of the Colonial Assembly of New York, passed in April, 1691. This act provided that the freeholders should elect, in their respective towns, two assessors and one super- visor ; the former to establish rates and make out assess- ment lists which were to be delivered to the supervisors, who took them to the general meeting, which body ordered the taxes to be collected by the constables or collectors of the several towns.
The Board of Supervisors, as a body, elected a county treasurer, who received and disbursed the county's funds.
The act of 1691 was repealed Oct. 18, 1701, and courts of general and special sessions, held by justices of the peace, were created to make the necessary levy of taxes, and were also constituted an auditing board, who certified their ac- counts to two assessors and a collector in each town for collection pro rata. This court also appointed the county treasurer.
The supervisor system was restored by an act passed June 10, 1703, and the courts of sessions were relieved from the care of the financial concerns of the county. The power to appoint the county treasurer was also again vested in the Board of Supervisors. They were required to meet anu- ally at the county town, on the first Tuesday in October, and at such other times as they might deem necessary. The supervisor system has been continued under the various constitutions to the present time. It is undoubtedly of Dutch origin.
It has been an unfortunate thing for the county of Oneida that it has had, since 1802, more than oue shire town. In that ycar Whitestown was made, in conjunction with Rome, a half-shire town, which it continued to be until superseded by Utica in 1851. Rome was the original county-seat. In 1802 to 1851 the sessions of the board of supervisors were held alternately at that place and Whitesboro'. The clerk of the board was usually a lawyer, or some person who had very little convenience for keeping the records and papers, which were constantly accumulating, and which became such a burden that the matter was seriously consid- ered as to what disposal should be made of them. They were finally disposed of by a resolution of the board di- recting that all, except the original reports of committees, should be destroyed, and the resolution was no doubt carried into execution.
The existing records do not go back farther than to 1824, and the published ones only to 1845. From the date of the organization of the county in .1798 down to 1871, the board had no room of their own in which to hold meetings. Their ordinary course was to meet at the court-house in Rome, Whitestown, or Utica, as the case might be, organize, and adjourn to some hotel.
The composition of the earliest boards cannot now be determined. The members of the board in 1847 were as follows :
1. Annsville, Samuel Beach.
2. Augusta, David Murray.
3. Ava, Henry Capron.
4. Boonville, N. C. Grant.
5. Bridgewater, John South worth.
6. Camden, Ambrose Curtiss.
7. Deerfield, Jacob G. Weaver.
8. Floyd, David Moulton.
9. Florence, Watson Sammon.
10. Kirkland, C. C. Cook.
11. Lee, J. J. Castles.
12. Marey, Clark Potter.
13. Marshall, H. H. Eastman.
14. New Hartford, Oliver Prescott.
15. Paris, D. J. Millard.
16. Remsen, Mather Beecher.
17. Rome, John Niles.
22
170
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
18. Sangerfield, De Witt C. Tower.
19: Steuben, Russell. Fuller.
20. Trenton, Henry Miller.
21. Utica, A. S. Pond ..
22. Vernon, David Pierson.
23: Verona, Willett Stillman.
24. Vienna, Harvey Freeman.
25. Western, David Utley.
26. Westmoreland, James J. Curtis.
27. Whitestown, Onias P. Nellis.
Chairman, David Moulton ; Clerk, Dexter Gillmore.
In 1847 the number of acres returned by the assessors in the county was 725,863, and the assessed valuation was, real estate, $9,575,393 ; personal property, $2,603,221 ; total, $12,178,614.
The total treasurer's account with the county. for the year was $48,559.33, of which amount the superintendents of schools received $8948.98. The amount of funds be- longing to the State in the hands of the loan commissioners was $163,187.76.
The assessment of the incorporated companies in the county was, real estate, $1,563,571; capital employed, $2,354,534.
EXCISE.
The State excise law was passed in 1857, and continued to be managed by the several counties until 1869, when the law was changed, making it a matter for each town to manage as they deemed proper. Under the original act the proceeds went into the poor fund.
The following table shows the annual income for the several years during which it was in the hands of the county :
1857
$6,955
1858
9,040
1859
8,010
1800
9,513
1861
8,405
1862
9,185
1863
9,600
1864
9,255
1865
9,800
1866
10,420
1867
16,805
1868
18,420
1869
18,680
Total $144,088
WAR BOUNTIES.
The first action upon the subject of paying bounties to volunteers was taken at a special meeting held Aug. 14, 1862, at Rome.
A committee of seven was appointed by the chairman to report resolutions relative to the raising of a uniform bounty for the payment of volunteers. The committee
" Resolved, That Horatin Seymour, C. H. Doolittle, Francis Kernan, Wm. H. Ferry, Wm. J. Bacon, Edward Huntington, E. B. Armstrong, and Samuel Campbell, together with L. Rouse, chairman of the meet- ing, and O. Carpenter, clerk, be appointed a committee to raise upon the credit of the county $162,700, upon county orders, bearing in- terest, signed by the clerk and chairman."
The clerk was directed to make the orders payable to the order of Horatio Seymour, chairman of the committee. The quota of Oneida County, under the call of July, 1862, for 300,000 men, was about 1200 men, and the number of enrolled militia under the State law was reported at 3159.
Under this resolution a bounty of $50 was offered to each volunteer ..
In 1862 the. following-named towns, at. their annual town-meetings, voted the following sums respectively for bounties :
Augusta $1,180.00
Bridgewater 2,688.50
Lec ..... 647.00
Marey 317.00
New. Hartford. 3,400.00
Paris
1,600.00
Remsen
2,017.50
Trenton ..
3,227.62
Verona.
150.00
Westmoreland,
1,000.00
$16,227.02
This action was approved, and the several amounts or- dercd levied by the Board. At the meeting held Dec. 7, 1863, the Board passed a resolution taxing the county a sum sufficient to pay every volunteer $300, amounting to a total of $389,400. This was for the quota of 1863 alone, making it 1298 men.
On the 23d of August, 1864, the Board passed a reso- lution to pay $400 to two years' men, and $500 to three years' men, who should enlist from Oncida. County in the army or navy of the United States, and be credited to the county.
On the 21st of December, 1864, under another call for 300,000 men, the Board passed a resolution to pay volun- teers $200 for one year, $400 for two years, and $600 for three years' enlistments, for all volunteers not heretofore enrolled.
The total amount of orders issued to Dec. 22, 1864, $670,459.84 ; including interest, $777,939.59.
On the 24th of January, 1865, the Board passed a reso- lution to pay $300, $500, and $700, respectively, for one, two, and three years' men. The payments of war loan by the county treasurer for 1864 were :
1864 $651,447.02
1805
309,962.19
Total, including interest. .$961,410.11
The following tabular statement shows the amount of war loan bonds issued to the respective towns in 1865 :
Annsville
$21,750.00
Augusta ..
14,500.00
Ava.
18,125.00
Boonville
32,425.00
Bridgewater.
Camden
13,750.00 31,975.00 17,400.00 27,675.00 8,000.00
Kirkland.
19,575.00 29,150.00 18,850.00 5,075.00 24,900.00
New Hartford Paris
26,325.00
Remsen
26,850,00
Rome
72,375.00
Steuben
Trenton
Utica
Vernon
Verona
Vienna
20,100.00
Western
20,350.00
Westmoreland
26,125.00
Whitestown.
C. 1I. Doolittle
22,950.00 500.00 386.03
T. Buchanan, Jr.
18,550.00 14.475.00 33,600.00 171.945.00 30,700.00 44,600.00
Deerfield
Florence.
Floyd
Lee.
Marey
Marshall.
Sangerfield
$819,176.03
.
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
171-
The following summary shows the amount of war bonds issued in cach year, and the amount paid the county treas- urer by the supervisors :
Bonds of 1864, outstanding ....... $129,350.00 Interest on same .. 9,054.50
$138,404.50
Bonds uf 1865 864,474.29
Orders of 1864, extended. 14,900.00
Paid Treasurer by Supervisors ...... 28,407.78
Total .$1,046,186.57
Of this amount the State refunded $973,510.
COUNTY TREASURER'S TRANSACTIONS.
The increase in the amount of funds handled by the county treasurer in the past thirty years is a matter of interest to tax-payers.
The report of 1847 shows that he received and disbursed $48,559.33. In 1856 the amount had grown to $117,038.33. During the war, or shortly after, it reached a sum exceed- ing $400,000, and the amount of receipts and disburse- ments for 1877 was $361,305.20, as follows :
Appropriated to General Fund $213.185.99
= School Fund
79,116.15
Poor Fund
30,899.32
¥ Judiciary Fund.
20,000,00
Stenographic Fund 674.62
¥ Salary Fund
11,000.00
Asylum Fund
. 6,000.00
County Fines
429.12
$361,305.20
Balance in treasury, $6266.98.
DOaS.
In 1863 the number of dogs reported in the county was 5261; number of sheep injured by them, 360; damages allowed for same, $1482.61. The total tax on dogs was for the same year $3188.50, so that they did not cat sheep enough to overbalance their credit-account. In 1866 the number assessed was 4153, and the amount of tax collected $2584; amount paid for damages to sheep, $1839.19. There are no figures to show the valne of services per- formed by the caninc race, and in their absence we are forced to the conclusion that the county of Oneida is an actual 'loser to the extent of nearly $2000 per annum of its available capital, which is chargeable to profit and loss on the dog account. It is said that it costs as much to keep an average-sized dog as to keep a cow, and it would really appear that every county in the State might export ninety per cent. of its dogs, and be a large gainer by the operation:'
DEPOSIT FUND.
We have not been able to obtain from the records the original amount of this fund deposited with the commission- crs of Oneida County. In 1847 the amount in their hands was $168,187.76; in 1851 it was $157,534.63; in 1852, $157,257.56; in 1870, $152,523.37 ; and in 1877, $144,- 481.88.
The chairmen of the Board of Supervisors since 1847 have been as follows :
1847. David Moulton.
1863. William Baker.
1848. David J. Millard. 1864. Lorenzo Rouse.
1849. David J. Millard.
1865. N. T. Metcalf.
1850-52. David Moulton.
1866. William Lewis.
1853. T. D. Penfield.
1854. R. U. Sherman.
1855. David Moulton.
1856. Evan E. Roberts.
1857. John French.
1858. Platt Camp.
1859. Wm. S. Bartlett.
1860. Charles M. SchoGold.
1875. Thomas J. Griffiths.
1861. Delos A. Crane.
1876. Joseph K. Schuyler. 1877. Griffith M. Junes.'
Utica became a city in 1832, but was represented in the Board by only one supervisor until 1850, since which each ward has been represented. The clerks of the Board since 1847 have been,-
1847. Doxter Gillmore.
1865-68. Sidney A. Bunce.
1848-49. James G. French. 1869. Thomas Butterfield.
1850-53. Joseph B. Cushman.
1870. Thomas S. MeIncrow.
1854: Wm. M. French.
1871. Wui. M. French. !'
1855-57. Joseph B. Cushman.
1872. Joseph Porter ..
1858-62. Orson Carpenter.
1873-74. E. L. Hinckley.
1863. Thomas B. Allanson.
1875-78. Albert N. Bort.
1864. P. B. Crandall.
The present Board is constituted as follows :
Anneville .- Thomas B. Allanson.
Augusta .- T. S. Hathaway.
Ava. - Gidcon Vary.
Boonville .- H. D. Grant.
Bridgewater .- William N. Southworth.
Camden .- T. D. Penfield.
Deerfield .- Nicholas H. Hicks.
Florence .- Joseph E. McFern.
Floyd .- Charles A. Ward.
Forestport. - Timothy Coughlin.
Kirkland .- Henry C. Earle.
Lee .- James Eames (2d).
Marcy .- William Marson.
Marshall .- S. F. Tooley.
Nero Hartford .- John O. Rabey.
Paris .- Harvey Head: .
Remsen .- John R. Thomas.
Rome .- First Ward, N. H. Leffingwell.
Second " Lawrence Galicon.
Third " Wilson Smith,
Fourth " Homer T. Fowler.
Fifth David G. Evans.
Sangerfield .- M. B. Crossett. Steuben .- John C. Owens.
Trenton .- Jacob J. Davis. . Utica .- First Ward, Robert McCreary.
Second " Griffith M. Jones.
Third « George E. Allen.
Fourth " Joseph B. Cushman.
Fifth " Thomas J. Smith. .
Sixth " Henry Martin.
Seventh " James G. French.
Eighth " Patrick J. Coakley.
Ninth " Hugh Sloan.
Tenth " Alonzo B. Walling.
Vernon .- A. P. Case.
Verona .- Henry A. Stark ..
Vienna .- Stephen A. Covell, Jr. Western .- Jeromo V. Gue. Westmoreland .- William S. Fuller.
Whitestown .-- Edward Kernan.
1867-68. Joseph B. Cushman. 1869. Harvey Head. 1870. Henry O. Southworth.
1871. Joseph B. Cushman. 1872. Delos A. Crane. . 1873, Albert N. Burt. 1874. James G. Preston.
1862. L. Rouse (special sossion). Platt Camp.
172
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
COURT-HOUSES AND JAILS.
The first jail erected in the county was at Whitestown, in 1801. Previous to that date prisoners had been sent to Herkimer for safe-keeping. In 1806 the Legislature authorized the county to raise $4000 for the purpose of building two court-houses, which were erected at Rome and Whitestown soon after. Previous to the erection of these buildings the courts had been held in the school- house near Fort Stanwix .* The old court-house at Rome was destroyed by fire about 1848, and a new one was erected soon after at a cost of about $12,000. This sumn included also the cost of a jail.
Io 1848 Utica became a half-shire town, but the courts continued to be held and the supervisors to ineet at Whites- town until 1852, when a court-house and jail were com- pleted at Utica, at a cost of $15,000. The site for these buildings was donated to the county by the city of Utica.
The court-house and jail at Whitestown reverted, accord- ing to the terms of the original deed, to the heirs of Ingh White. The court-house was sold to the town for a town hall, and is still used for that purpose. The jail was con- verted into a dwelling. In 1858 all the water used in the jail at Utica was brought a distance of thirty-five rods io pails. The sheriff was authorized in that year to bring water to the building at a cost not exceeding $800.
In 1874 the county expended on the Rome court-house the sum of $7337, and on the jail $879.82. On the Utica court-house, $271.07, and on the jail $1004.41. In 1875 the following sums were expended : on Utica court-house, $13,963.81 ; jail, $122.05 ; Rome court-house, $698.41 ; jail, $510.86 ; for other purposes, $5160.94. The county buildings were insured in 1875 for $90,300.
COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.
In 1816 a tax was levied for the purpose of erecting a fire-proof clerk's office in Utica. It was located in Whites- boro' Street, where it remained until 1848, when the county exchanged the property for the lot and building on Gene- sce Street, where the present fine office stands. It was then occupied by the office of the clerk of the Supreme Court, which was used until the erection of the new office in 1870-71.
The county clerk's office was permanently located at Utica by an aet passed Jan. 29, 1848.
By : resolution of Dee. 13, 1869, a committee of three was appointed to receive proposals for a site, and to proeure plans and estimates for cost of erecting a new county clerk's office in Utica. The committee consisted of Nehemiah Pierce, James M. Weed, and H. S. Armstrong. The esti- mates for a building, 41 feet 9 inches wide and 100 feet deep, were $43,887.40.
After a long discussion the Board, on the 23d of March, 1870, passed a resolution asking the Legislature to imme- diately pass the bill, then pending, authorizing the Board to borrow money for the erection of a county clerk's office. During the time occupied in building, the records were re- moved to the court-house. The new building was erected on the site of the old office. 'The first floor is occupied by
the county clerk's offices, and the second is conveniently fitted up for the use of the Supervisors.
At the November mecting, in 1871, Mr. Joseph B. Cushman, chairman of the special committee, reported the total cost of the building at $45,000.
The following inscription is from the tablet in the county clerk's office :
ERECTED A.D. 1870.
GEO. SHAW, J. B. CUSHMAN, H. S. ARMSTRONG,
J. G. PRESTON, H. S. STARK, Building Committee.
A. J. LATHROP, Architect. WM. BHADY,
Wu. FISHER,
Contractors and Bailders.
This included $2404.37 expended in furnishing the building. Considerable additional sums were subsequently expended in finishing and furnishing.t
A strong effort was made by the citizens of Rome to se- eure the location of the office in that city. In December, 1867, they made the proposal to donate the sum of $45,000 and a site to the county, and there was a long controversy over the matter at the meetings of the Board ; but it was finally settled, by a very close vote, in favor of Utica.
Previous to the erection of this building the Board of Supervisors had possessed no convenient place of meeting. Their ordinary rule was to meet at the court-house in Rome or Whitestown (at which places they met alternately, the even years at Rome, and the odd ones at Whitestown), and adjourn to a hotel. As early as 1843 they met at. Whites- town and adjourned to Utica, where, as in the other places, they also held their sessions in hotels. The last meeting in Whitestown was in 1849. lu 1850 they met at Rome, and in November, 1851, they held a session at Utica. From this date until 1871 they met alternately at Rome and Utica. Since the latter date the sessions have been held exclusively at Utica.
COUNTY POOR. HOUSE AND ASYLUM.
The earliest legislation upon the subject of the mainte- nance of those unfortunates who were unable to take care of themselves, in the territory now constituting the State of New York, of which we can find any record was that of the Colonial Assembly, in April, 1691, by which the sev- eral towns were required to support their own poor. By this aet also safeguards were provided to prevent imposition upon the publie authorities. This act was published in Bradford's edition of the " Colonial Laws," London. The Legislature, in 1778, passed an act providing for the sup- port of the poor in towns and cities, and, at a somewhat later date, fur the building of poor-houses by towns and counties. Until the adoption of the poor-house system, the poor of Oneida County were provided for by the various towns. The ordinary way was to dispose of them year by year at auction to the lowest responsible bidder. The
# Courts wore also held in the school-house iu Whitesboro'.
1 Expended in 1874, $228.84; in 1875, $500.39.
173
,
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
contrast between the past and present in this respect is remarkable.
Now this unfortunate class is provided with as comfort- able, and even luxurious, quarters as can be found in the land, and every possible care is taken of them which skill and experience can suggest.
The original county farm, containing in the vicinity of 100 acres, was purchased of Mr. Sayer, about the year 1825. The cost of the land we have not been able to learn. Several additions have been made, and the county has ex- changed some of the original purchase with the owners of adjacent farms for lands better suited for its purposes. In 1861, the reports show that the county owned 115 acres, which was then valued at $70 per acre, equal to $8050. In 1872, 73 acres were purchased at a cost of $90 per acre, making $6570. The present main farm contains about 150 acres, with additional woodlands not connected with the farm, bringing the total to about 190 acres.
Within a year or two after tlre original purchase a elieap two-story stone building was erected for the accommodation of the people, and there was no discrimination made be- tween the ordinary paupers and the insane,-all were kept in the same building. We have not been able to ascertain the cost of this structure. In 1859, steps were taken to- wards erectiog a better and more convenient building, and also to separate the incurably insane from the others. A plan for an insane asylum was drawn up by Dr. Gray. Su- perintendent of the State Insane Asylum at Utica, which was adopted by the Board of Supervisors. A new poor- house was erected in 1860 at a cost of $18,000, and the further sum of $1200 was appropriated for furnishing it. The money required for the erection of the building was borrowed of the State Comptroller, upon which interest to the amount of $1687 was subsequently paid, making the total expense of the building, including furniture, $20,887.
In 1861 the following appraisement of the property was made :
115 beres of land at $70 per acre .. $8,050.00
New poor-house and outbuildings 20,000.00
Personal property
4,252.42
Total ......
$32,302.42
These buildings were erected under a general law,- Revised Statutes, fourth edition, vol. i. page 678. The amount authorized to be raised annually by the county was $5000.
In 1862 63 a county lunatic asylumn was erected at a cost of $6000. It was authorized by a resolution of the Board passed Dec. 17, 1861.
In 1869-70 a new asylum was creeted, under the super- vision of a committee consisting of Harvey Head and Colo- nel E. B Armstrong, at a total cost of $12,874.24; and in 1874 a further expenditure was made on the farm of $7109.33 .-
1
In 1875, a further expenditure was made on the poor- farm buildings of $5160.94. This included a considerable outlay for the purpose of furnishing wholesome water to the inmates. A contract was made with the city au- thorities of Rome, by which water. was taken from the
mains, and will be furnished to the county for a period of ten years fromn 1875, at an annual rental of $250. The county constructed its own pipe line at an expense of some $1500.
In 1876-77, extensive additions and repairs were made at a total outlay of $55,195.35, including a uew asylum building, costing about $30,000, a new barn, and various other improvements. The bills of the architect alone were $775.
The total expenditures for 1876-77 on county buildings amounted to $59,125.67 .* The total outlay since the original purchase of the farm, in real estate and improve- ments, reaches nearly $120,000.
The farm at the present time, with its buildings, appur- tenances, and improvements, ranks among the best in the State, and is a just source of pride to the citizens of Oneida County. The buildings are all in first-class condi- tion, and made comfortable and convenient, having arrange- ments for hot and cold water, and steam-heating apparatus in every room.
The farm originally was quite wet, but a thorough system of drainage has greatly improved its condition, and it is now very productive.
The report for 1875 shows the following productions : Hay, 100 tons; corn fodder, 10 tons; potatoes, 3045 bushels ; beets, 670 bushels ; ouions, 240 bushels ; carrots, 575 bushels; turnips, 335 bushels; beans, 27 bushels ; peas, 22 bushels ; oats, 656 bushels ; corn, 550 bushels ; tomatoes, 75 bushels; cabbage, 3000 heads; pork killed, 7528 pounds ; beef killed, 4326 pounds.
The average cost per week for keeping each person has increased from fifty cents in 1847 to one dollar and sixty cents in 1878. The expenses of the poor department for 1847 were $4236.66. In 1850, $11,627.25. Total number of persons relieved, 839 ; number remaining, Nov. 1, 1850, 192. In 1852 the total expenses, including transportation and temporary relief, were $35,315.53. In 1859, the ex- penses had increased to $47,779.20. The total number of persons relieved during 1860 was 929. The total amount appropriated to the poor fund for 1877 was $30,899.32. The county charges at various periods since 1847 have been as follows: 1852, $71,472.47 ; 1862, including future liabilities, $271,150.48; 1870, including future liabil- ities, $336,927.92, of which sum the State tax amounted to $208,794.18; 1872, total $379,767.39 ; State tax, $278,309.17 ; 1874, total, $332,666.05; State tax, $212,239.53 ; 1877, total, $295,302.39 ; State tax, $145,263.50.
Jan. 8, 1878, the Board of Supervisors passed a resolu- tion authorizing the issue of five bonds of $10,000 each for the payment of improvements and additions to county buildings, the same to run one, two, three, four, and five years, at six per cent. interest,-$50,000.
The following statement shows the amount of present insurance on county buildings, as reported by Mr. Penfield, chairman of committee on county buildings :
# The committee on county buildings for 1877 consisted of Messrs. Penfield, Howarth, T. Coughlin, Sholes, MeCreary, Fowler, and Medlarvey.
174
HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
Amount on new asylum ...
$16,500.00
old asylum aod poor-house ..
37,199.97
Dew baro!
5,000.00
old barn.
1,741.68
· hay, produce, and wagons.
991.75
live-stock
1,466.13
furniture and clothing
3,199.03
heating apparatus and pipe ..
4,000.00-
=
Rome court-house
9,000.38
Rome jail
1,800.02
Utica court-house ..
13,000.00
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