History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 74

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 74

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"The actual narrowness of confine of the Utica of 1805 and the small progress it had made towards its preseot measure of prosperity will be evident when we know that the only streets in use were Main,

# Pioneers of Utica.

281

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

Whitesboro', Genesee, Hotel, ond a portion of Seneen, the latter having been added in the year 1804. Others were laid down on the manuscript maps of proprietors, but unrecognized by authority, and as yet without houses. Business found its way from the river as far up Whitesboro' ns Hotel Street, ns for up Genesee as the upper line of Brond, and a little wny along Main. Beyond these limits shops and stores were sparingly intermingled with private residences. Tbe business was conducted in little wooden buildings, of whose style and dimensions a flattering estimate mny be formed from a sample thot still remains, transported many years ago to the corner of Fayette and State Streets, from the west side of Genesee, just above Whitesboro', and which, when it was erected in 1806, was deemed the glory of the street. And even this has lost most of its significant look since the repairs recently put upon it. Not more than two briek stores had yet found n place. The dwelling-houses of Main and Whitesboro' Streets may be judged of by a few specimens still to be seen enst of First Street, and west of Broadway. The road along Genesee Street con- sistod of a log causeway barely wide enough for teams to poss one nnother, and baving a ditch on either side, into which, if the hinder wheels slipped, a vigorous pull was required to raise them ngnin to the track.

"Some iden may be hnd of the condition of what is now one of the busiest and most thriving quarters of the city from the building ex- perience of Anson Thomas during the summer of 1805, when he put up a store on Genesee Street, nearly opposite Liberty, and also n house higher up on the former. The workmen engaged on these buildings hnd board with their employor, on Whitesboro', between Broadway and Washington. The last-named streets were unopened, and the old corduroy rond, that onee started between their lines nod pursued its winding way to New Hartford, was at this time abandoned. The course of the men to and from their work Iny through n swamp and along prostrate logs. Tu enll them to their meals the housekeeper hung a towel on the door-post. Within less than two years Mr. Thomas built nnother house, and this was nearly on the site of the one now occupied by Dr. Watson. Here a forest confronted him, and a forest approached close to his renr; the Innds about were unfenced and neighbors were distant, the nearest on the north being Judge Cooper, at the upper part of Whitesboro' Street. Between Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Cooper invitations to und interchange of visits were made, as in the former case, by the display of the white signal, the passage between them being nlong a lonely eow-path."

At this date both New Hartford and Whitesboro' sur- passed Utica in population and business, and Rome was still a more important point. The former two monopolized the brilliant lights of the legal fraternity, and Whitesboro' was also a half-shire town, and all legal business was com- pelled to go there or to Rome. New Hartford and Whites- boro' were even then noted for their polished and refined society and the beauty and thrift which characterized them above all other villages in this region.

Prominent among the new-comers of 1805 were Gideon Wileoxen, a teacher, and afterwards eminent in the legal profession, John Steward, Elisha E. Sill, and Jesse W. Doolittle, merehants.

It was in the year 1805, also, that Moses Bagg, son of Moses Bagg, who came here from Massachusetts in 1794, began his business career as a merchant, in company with William Fellows. He had previously been employed as a surveyor on the Seneca turnpike and other works. Three years later, or about the year 1808, he assumed the manage- ment of the hotel erected by his father. It was then a two- story frame building of ordinary size and pretensions, as the fact that Messrs. Stephen Van Rensselaer and Gouverneur Morris, with their suites, when stopping overnight in July, 1810, occupied the whole house, would testify.

In 1812-15, Mr. Bagg erected on the site of the franie building the central portion of the brick hotel, which still bears his namne, and subsequently made additions on either

side. He carried on the business of hotel-keeping until 1836, when the property was sold to a stock company, and under various managements it has grown to its present eo- lossal proportions. It was the great eentre for the various stage-lines that radiated from Utica from the days of J. Parker & Co. to the advent of the New York Central Rail- way, and its proximity to that wonderful thoroughfare still makes it the most prominent hotel in the eity. In the location of the railway through the eity Moses Bagg acted a conspicuous part.

Mr. Bagg ereeted a dwelling in 1824 on the corner of Broad and Second Streets, where he spent the remaining years of his life. His death occurred Jan. 9, 1844.

He was a prominent citizen, and oeeupied many positions of trust and responsibility,-an officer of the early fire de- partment, a village trustee, and also at various times trustee of the Ontario Branch Bank, the Bank of Utiea, and the Savings Bank of Utica, and treasurer of the Presbyterian Church and the Female Academy. He was noted far and near as a model landlord, and his tables were of the best ; but as the reputation of the early " taverns" depended largely upon the ability and good management of the land- lady, there is no doubt that Mrs. Bagg was every way a worthy helpmeet of her husband. Mr. Bagg was twice married, and in both his companions he was remarkably fortunate, for they were well known as worthy examples of womanhood, and foremost in all the benevolent movements of the day.

Seth Dwight, from Williamsburg, Mass., was another settler of 1805. Commencing as. a clerk, he followed the various avoeations of merehant, lumber dealer, boarding- house and hotel-keeper, etc. He removed to Buffalo, and died there April 30, 1825.

George Tisdale was somewhat noted also as a hotel-keeper. He came in the spring of 1805 to take charge of Bagg's Hotel, where he remained two years. He also condueted the House tavern, and afterwards removed to Sacket's Harbor.

Among the merchants were J. A. and L. Bloodgood, brothers of Francis A. Bloodgood, the attorney. Joseph Barton was a watchmaker and jeweler. Rudolph Snyder was a manufacturer and dealer in furniture.

Benjamin Paine was a fashionable tailor, and captain of the Utica Fire Company. William Hayes manufactured earthenware, near what is now the northeast corner of Liberty and Washington Streets. The place is also credited with two liquor saloons at this date, both situated between Bagg's Hotel and Water Street, one by George Calder, the other by J. Wharton.

Prominent among the new-comers of the year 1806 was. Morris S. Miller. He was the son of Dr. Matthias Bur- nett Miller, of Long Island, a surgeon of the Revolution, attached to Colonel Rutger's regiment. Morris S. Miller was born in 1780. Upon the death of his father, who was still in the army, his mother opened a boarding-house. Young Miller graduated with high honors at Union College in 1798. He read law with Cornelius Wendell, of Cam- bridge, Washington Co., N. Y., and was soon after appointed private secretary to Governor Jay. About 1802, Nicholas Low, a wealthy landholder of Lewis County, made him his

282

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

agent for the sale of his lands in the neighborhood of Low- ville; where he remained until his removal to Utica, in 1806. During his residence at Lowville he married Miss Maria Bleecker, of Albany.

Immediately upon his arrival in Utica he commenced the practice of his profession, and rose rapidly in the estimation of the public. Within two years he was chosen president of the village board, and within four years was appointed first judge of the county, which last-named office he con- tinned to hold by successive appointments until his decease. In 1813-15 he represented his district in Congress, where he won the respect of many of the leading minds of the day.

In July, 1819, Judge Miller represented the United States at a treaty made with the Seneca Indians near Buffalo. He also held the position of a trustce of Hamil- ton College, and many others at various times during his life. He was managing agent for the Bleecker estate, of which his wife was one of four owners. He occupied the house at the lower end of Main Street previously occupied by Peter Smith and James S. Kip. He was a strict and faithful attendant of the Episcopal Church, a sociable neigh- bor, and noted for his acts of charity and the generous hospitality which was dispensed at his mansion. A short time before his death he had made extensive preparations to erect a new dwelling at the head of John Strect, " where his son, Rutger B. Miller, erceted in 1830 the fine stone mansion which now forms the central building of the Rut- ger place."*

His death occurred Nov. 19, 1824, when he was in his prime. His remains were buried in Albany. His wife survived him for more than a quarter of a century, and dicd March 15, 1850. Their children were Rutger Bleecker, recently deceased ; Morris Smith, brevet briga- dier-general, United States Army, died in Texas March 11, 1870; Sarah (Mrs. E. S. Brayton), died May 10, 1853; Charles Dudley, of Geneva, N. Y .; and John B., cditor and lawyer, who died while consul at Hamburgh, April 22, 1861.

Abraham Van Santvoort was for many years a promi- nent business man. He was a nephew of John Post, and came first to Utica about 1798. After a few years' resi- dence, his uncle sent him to Schenectady to superintend the forwarding of goods.

In 1806 he returned to Utica and engaged in the for- warding and commission business, occupying one of Mr. Post's stores on the Canal dock. He changed his business to various localities within the village, and during the war of 1812-15 erected, in company with Eri Lusher and others, a large brick warehouse near the foot of Division Street. This company, known under the firm-name of Eri Lusher & Co., were heavily engaged in the transportation business both by land and water.

Mr. Van Santvoort was a sub-contractor under the gov- ernment during the war of 1812, and also acted as govern- ment storekeeper. He was also interested with Peter Sken Smith and William Soulden in the manufacture of glass at Peterboro', and was agent for the sale of the company's goods.

This speculation proved a failure, and caused the sus- pension of the company. Mr. Van Santvoort subsequently removed to Schenectady, thence to Dunkirk and Rochester, and finally to New York, where he became interested in the business of steamboating. He died in Jersey City. His wife was a sister of Dr. Marcus Hitchcock, and lived to a great age.

In 1807 one Christian Schultz, Jr., visited the village of Utica, and recorded his impressions of the frontier town as follows :

"It contains at present about one hundred and sixty houses, the greater part of which are painted white, which gives it a neat and lively appearance. Foreign goods are nearly as cheap here as in New York, which, I presume, is owing to the merchants underselling eneh other, for this, like all other country towns, is overstoeked with shop- keepers. Most of the goods intended for the salt-works (at Syracuse) are loaded here in wagons, and sent overland a distance of fifty miles. The carriage over this portage is fifty cents a hundredweight."

Among the new-comers of 1808 were Peter Bours, a trader, manufacturer, and auctioneer ; Stalham Williams, a partner of the last-mentioned, and also of Jason Parker, and who lived to the great age of nearly one hundred years ; Killian Winne and John E. Evertson, merchants; Wil- liam Pitt Shearman, Jacob Snyder, William Haywood, Joab Stafford, Bildad and Isaac Merrell, Levi Barnum, John B. Harrington, John Gilbert, an Englishman, and manufac- turer of starch, and others.

In 1808 a new strect was opened in the growing village. This was Broad Street, which had been laid out and partly worked towards its eastern end. It was now continned through to Genesee Street. About this date there was considerable commotion over President Jefferson's " Em- bargo Law," and a great gathering took place in Utica, at which Colonel Benjamin Walker presided, and Bezaleel Fisk, of Trenton, was secretary. Thomas R. Gold made an able speech, which was warmly seconded by Judge Van- derkemp, of Trenton, and a petition to the President of the United States was drafted by Jonas Platt, of Whites- boro', which was adopted unanimously. It demanded the immediate repeal of the obnoxious law.

To this petition President Jefferson made a very cour- teous reply, showing that the matter was a subject for the National Legislature.

During this exciting era a military company was raised (by draft, according to Dr. Bagg) to serve in case of an outbreak of hostilities. The drafting took place at the hotel. Major John Bellinger was chosen captain, and Silas Clark and Benjamin Ballou, Jr., second and third officers. t

Arthur Breese was among the newcomers of 1808, having been appointed clerk of the Supreme Court. Mr. Breese was a prominent citizen during the whole course of his residence in Utica, and filled many important positions. Was one of the founders of the Oneida Bible Society and the Utica Academy, and was a trustee of the village and of the Presbyterian Church. He was twice married. His first wife, Catherine, was the daughter of Harry Livingston, of Poughkeepsie, and died in 1808. Her

# The present residence of Hon. Roseoe Conkling.

+ It was during the preceding year that the encounter between the British frigate " Leopard" and the United States frigate " Chesapeake" took place, and the excitement was very great.

HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

283

children were Samuel Livingston, Rear Admiral U. S. Navy, died 1870; Sarah (Mrs. B. B. Lansing, afterwards Mrs. James 'Platt) ; Elizabeth, wife of William Maleom Sands, purser U. S. Navy ; Catherine Walker (widow of Captain Samuel B. Griswold, of the U. S. Army) ; Sidney, chief-justice of the Supreme Court and United States Senator from Illinois, recently deceased ; Susan (Mrs. Jacob Stout, subsequently Mrs. P. A. Proal), died in 1863; Henry Livingston, died at the age of fourteen ; Arthur, died in Florida, 1838; and Mary Davenport (Mrs. Henry Davis, of Waterford).

His second wife was Miss Ann Carpender, of New York. She survived her husband many years and died in 1857. She was the mother of six children, all of whom are de- ceased. Mr. Breese died at the age of fifty-three years, in the city of New York, where he had gone for the benefit of his health, Aug. 14, 1825.

Henry W. Livingston, a brother of the first Mrs. Breese, resided in Utica from 1808 until 1813 or 1814. He was an attorney, and agent of John B. Church for the sale of lands in Cosby's Manor. He subsequently removed to Hartford, Conn., where he died.

Other prominent settlers of 1808 were Walter. King, a distinguished attorney, and for some time law partner of James Dean; Samuel B. Malcolm, whose wife was a daughter of General Philip Schuyler; Eliasaph Dorchester, a noted printer, teacher, and publie officer ; Shubael Storms, a jeweler and silversmith ; J. H. Beach, a teacher; Asahel Davis, subsequently an Episcopal elergyman ; Royal John- son, John Ostrom, Rev. Morris Welsh, Congregational minister ; Wm. Donaldson, Peter B. Markham, Lemuel Brown, Richard Van Dyke, John H. Leeper, Samuel Hoyt, Chauncey Rawson, Oliver Goodwin, Lewis Griffin, Eber Adams, Simeon Natten, T. Gladding, and A. Philips.

In 1809 several new streets were opened and adopted by the commissioners of highways, among them, Broad, First, Second, and Third, and Water Streets. Bridge Street, the present Park Avenue, was also laid out and macadamized. It was the work of private enterprise, being carried throughlı by Judge Morris S. Miller and his father-in-law and brother- in-law, of Albany. At that time it was on the southeastern margin of the village. A good bridge was built over the Mohawk, and the road was continued across the bottom lands on the north side of the river, though not without opposition from some of the property-owners. It is said that McAdam, the originator of the road that bears his name, had a contract on this road.

FIRST BANK IN UTICA.

From the time of settlement down to 1809 the majority of money in circulation was silver, and this mostly Spanish coin. The paper currency consisted of the bills of Eastern banks, and business men were obliged to resort to Albany whenever they wished to negotiate a loan of any consider- able amount. In the year last named the Manhattan Bank of New York established a branch in Utica under the man- agement of Montgomery Hunt, whom they sent hither for the purpose .*

Another important project originated at this time. This was the establishment of an extensive glass-manufactory. The " Oneida Glass-Factory Company" was incorporated on the 17th of February, 1809, with a capital of $100,000. The stoek was readily subscribed, the following list showing the names of the stockholders and amounts taken :

Abraham Varick $5,000

Solomon Woleott & Co ... $1,000

Charles C. Brodhead.

2,000

Isane Coe ...

9,500

Peter Bours

5,000

Winne & Evertsen

1,000

John Steward, Jr.

5,000

Richard Sanger. 2,000

Watts Sherman ..

5,000

Frederick Stanley. 5,000

Nathaniel Butler

2,000

Caleb C. Snmpson.

1,000

Anson Thomas.

2,000

Joseph Kirkland.,

2,000

Bryan Johnson

2,500

Paul R. L. Colt.

5,000

Alex. B. Johnson ..

2,500

Samuel Peck

1,500

Frederick White.

2,500

Philip Hoagle ..

2,000

John C. Devereux,

2,500

Laurence Schoolcraft. 2,500

Sill & Doolittle.

2,000

Jonas Platt

1,000

Williams & Shearman ....

2,000

Elizur Moseley

1,000

James Dana ...

1,000

James Lyneh.

2,000

Walter Morgan.

2,500

Royal Johnson.

1,000

Ezekiel Clark

1,500

Daniel Cook.

4,000

Stalham Williams

500

Geo. Huntington & Co.

2,500

John Hooker ..

5,000

George Brayton.

1,000

Erastus Clark

500

R. and D. Cook.

1,000

Samuel Hooker

1,000

Blank

1,000

Jason Parker.

1,000

Total

$100,000

The first 24 names were all citizens of Utica ; the others lived in various parts of the county.

The original directors were Watts Sherman, Abraham Variek, John Steward, Jr., Alexander B. Johnson, and Richard Sanger, of whom the latter was chosen president. Land was purchased at Vernon of Isaac Coe, Daniel Cook, and Samuel Peek; contracts for wood were made, and the works soon put in operation, The business was success- fully continued until August, 1836, when the company sold their real estate and closed their affairs.

The first serious accident with fire-arms, on the 4th of July, in Utica, is recorded for this year. The Democrats were having a grand celebration at Bellinger's tavern, and to complete the arrangements had procured a heavy naval guo and put it under the control of Tom Jones, a black- smith, who had seen service in the British navy, Towards the close of the day, when it is presumed many of the poli- ticians were a little mellow, it was proposed by some of the crowd that they give the opposite party, who had their headquarters at Bagg's Hotel, a rousing gun ; and accord- ingly, not content with the ordinary charge, they increased it heavily, and then rammed the chamber of the gun full of turf, sand, and other material, and made ready to wake the cchoes. Jones refused to have anything to do with such recklessness, and retiring from the crowd sat down near his shop, where he could look on and be comparatively out of danger. The gun was made ready and pointed towards Bagg's Hotel, and a young man named Seymour Tracy volunteered to fire the piece. Taking a live coal in a pair of tongs he applied it to the powder, when a tre- mendous explosion ensued, shivering the gun to atoms and badly injuring Traey, who had to undergo the amputation of one of his limbs. Jones was slightly scratched by the breech of the gun, which struek the bench on which he sat. The injured young man was well eared for. by the party, and afterwards. became quite prominent as ao at- torney.

We take the following concerning the mechanies of the period from Bagg's " Pioneers of Utica" :

* See artiele, "Banking Institutions."

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HISTORY OF ONEIDA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

"The freshly-starting mechanies of 1809 were the following : Rob- ert MeBride, masen, long held an honorable place among the workers of Utica. Ile built the nucleus of the present Bagg's Hotel,-that is to sny, the corner and central portion,-and did much other heavy work in the plsee; completed some important contraets on the Erie Canal, and was an alderman, and an enterprising and respected eiti- zen. He made his final home with his son-in-law, near Canandaigua. . . . Another mason was Thomas Thomas, a Welshman, who built the stone house of James S. Kip, and afterwards one of the structures of Hamilton College. . . Of furriers there were three in 1809, viz .. Joseph Simons, Charles Blates, and Adolph Cotterfield. The

first was the only one of them who remained long enough to leave a remembrance and a descendant. Charles Simons followed in the footsteps of his father, and died in 1875, an old man and unmarried. The saddlers, Eliphalet Tucker and Erastos Burchard, now began at the old stand of Gurdon Burchard, who went into tavern-keeping. The tanner, Andrew P. Tillman, succeeded to the tannery of Bela Hubbard, but in 1815 removed to Geneva. The first carpenters were Samuel Jones, G. W. Harris, and William Morris. Jones was en- gaged, some years later, to make the gallows on which John Tubi, the Indian, was hung. He was not told for what it was intended, and was greatly surprised and shocked when he learned its purpose. ' They told me it was a ga-at,' said he, 'and it's a gallows !' The cab- inet-makers were Asn Palmer, J. Andrews, and Obadiah Congar. The latter bad a shop in Utica and another in New Hartford. Palmer moved to Raeine, Wis., about 1842, and died in 1871. T. II. Nurse (Nourse ?), reed-maker, bad for some years a home in the house which preceded the residence of Ward Hunt. He afterwards moved to a farm three miles east of Utiea. Joel Hinekley, blacksmith, at the sign of the ' King's Arms,' on Whitesboro' Street, became insolvent three years later. Henry Bowen, another blacksmith, had a son who still carries on the trade of his father. Two young men, who came from Danbury, Conn., bore the relation of brothers-in-law, and of master and apprentice to the trade of shoemaking. The latter was Ezra S. Barnum, who, after finishing his apprenticeship, removed temporarily from the place to re-appear some years later. The former, Levi Comstock, lived in Utien from that time ooward for nearly fifty yenrs, and then made his home with a son in Cuyahoga Falle, Ohio, until his death, May 31, 1868. William Houghton was s stage pro- prietor, and for a time a partner with Jason Parker. A son of his was a harness-maker."

During the year 1810 many improvements were made : new streets were opened, the fire department was looked after, a new engine-house ordered built, and altogether the sum of five hundred dollars was appropriated for public purposes. It would seem that tramps were even then abroad in the land, for we read that the trustees offered "one hundred and fifty dollars for the detection of the in- cendiary who set on fire the new store of Hugh Cunning- ham, on the night of the 2d of October." Real estate must have been looking up, for the Patriot records the fact that a small lot on the corner of Genesee and Whites- boro' Streets had been sold at the rate of $300,000 per acre, which same land could have been bought twenty-five years before for one dollar per acre. The population of the place at this date (1810) was 1650.

Two important roads were commeneed during the year, -the Utica and Black River Turnpike and the Minden Turnpike, afterwards known as the Burlington Plank-Road.

In July of this year the Erie Canal commissioners were in Utica prosecuting their first survey, but the war with Great Britain compelled a suspension of operations, which were not renewed until its elose.

Another great manufacturing enterprise was also in- augurated, in the shape of a glass-factory. The success of the Oneida Glass-Factory, put in operation the year pre- vious, stimulated others to invest in the business, and a new company was formed, a charter obtained, and stock to

the amount of $250,000 taken. The parties who were in- strumental in starting this enterprise were Peter Bours, Colonel Benjamin Walker, John Steward, Jr., Hugh Cun- ningham, John Hooker, and Seth Bright. Land was pur- chased in the north part of what is now the town of Marcy, buildings were erected, workmen procured from Boston, and the manufacture of crown glass commenced. For a time the business went on swimmingly. It was stated in 1813 that the expenses were $30,000 annually, the value of pro- ducts $50,000, and the amount of stock $100,000. In 1813 or 1814 the company purchased 790 additional acres of land, and went on to all appearances prosperously. In 1819 they advertised for glass-blowers; but it transpired before many months that the effort to manufacture crown glass was a failure, for the products could not compete in the markets with English glass. The company finally, on the 22d of March, 1822, leased the works to the Oneida Company, of Vernon, and retired from business, after sink - ing considerable money.

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History of Oneida County, New York : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 74

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