History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 83

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 798

USA > New York > Oswego County > History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 83

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Philander S. Fuller. Enlisted in Co. I, 184th Inf., Sept. 1, 1864; dis- charged June 29, 1865.

George Bohanan. Enlisted in Co. A, 110th Inf., Ang. 7, 1862; dis- charged August 28, 1865.

Cassius V. Snyder. Eulisted in Co. F, 81st Inf., Oct. 23, 1861 : dis- charged August 24, 1864.

Gilbert L. Fletcher. Eelisted in Co. I, 110th Inf., Ang. 12, 1862; discharged September 1, 1865.

Gilbert B. Mace. Enlisted in Co. F, 147th Inf., Sept. 2, 1862; pro- moted Ist lieut. ; killed at Gettysburg.

Lucian Moss. Enlisted in Co. A, 110th Inf., Ang. 7, 1862; wounded and taken prisoner at Port Hudson : died July 6, 1863.

Leonard Gault. Enlisted in Co. A, 110th Inf., Aug. 7, 1862 ; died of fever at Pert Hudson, July, 1863.

Charles C. Barker. Enlisted in Co. A, 193d Inf., March 30, 1863; discharged July 31, 1865.

Warren Barrett. Enlisted in Co. D, 110th Inf., Aug. 11, 1862; dis- charged September 1, 1865.

Sylvester Copeland. Enlisted in Co. E, 110th Inf., August 8, 1862 ; discharged July, 1863.

Alonzo Ellis. Enlisted in Co. F, 147th Inf., Aug. 26, 1862; died February 12, 1862.

William Edmonds. Enlisted as serg't in Co. F, 147th Inf., Ang. 26, 1862: wounded at Gettysburg, July 1, 1863 ; died Sept. 17, '63. Martin Wheeler. Enlisted in Co. K, 81st Inf., Nov. 31, 1862; dis- charged May, 1863.

Levi L. Gillman. Eelisted as serg't in Co. K, 81st Inf., August 16, 1861; served in several battles; re-enlisted as sergt., Jan'y 1, 1864; taken prisoner, Oct. 27, 1864: in Libby and Salisbury ; discharged September 18, 1865.

David Slansen. Enlisted in Co. D, 184th Inf., August, 1865; disch. June 29, 1865.

Peter Lamay. Enlisted in Co. D, 24th Inf., May 2, 1861 ; wounded at Bull Run : discharged May 17, 1863; re-enlisted in Co. K, 15th Cav., Ang. 26, 1863 ; in several battles : disch. Angust 23, 1865. Walter Scudder. Enlisted in Co. E, 110th Inf., Aug. 7, 1862 ; dis- charged July 6, 1865.

William Scudder. Ealisted in Co. E, 110th Inf., Ang. 7, 1862; dis- charged September 2, 1864.

William II. Richardson. Enl'd as musie'n in Co. F, 147th Inf., Ang. 22, '62 ; in battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysh'g; dis. Aug., '64. Gilson Goodwin. Enlisted in Co. I, 184th Inf., Sept. 5, 1864; died July 5, 1865.

Thomas Fane. Enlisted in Co. 1, 184th Inf., Aug. 25, 1862; died December 25, 1863.

Joseph Preston. Enlisted in Co. E, 110th Inf., Aug. 25, 1862 ; diseh. September 2, 1864.

SCHROEPPEL.

A RETROSPECTION of little more than three-quarters of a century carries us back to the time of the first settlement of what now constitutes the town of Schroeppel. Seventy- seven years, with their momentous events and changing vicissitudes, have passed into the silent night of eternity since the first white settler made his permanent location within the borders of the town. Consequently, our labors in the preparation of a brief historical sketch of Schrocppel only require a record of events transpiring in and subse- quent to the year of our Lord 1800.

Although there are none now living within the scope of our work who remember that time, yet there are those whose years antedate the settlement of the town. Some there are whose memories extend back nearly sixty years, to a time when the log cabin constituted the only habita- tion of the pioneer, and not a semblance of the present progress and development existed. They remember the trials and hardships they had to endure in order to effect the marvelous change their industry has wrought. Yet, blended with the recollection of their troubles are memo- ries of the broad hospitality, the Christian fortitude, and the cheerfulness under difficulties that characterized the early settlement. Indeed,

" There are moments in life that we never forget, Which brighten and hrighten as time stcals away ; They give a new charm to the happiest lot, And they shine on the gloom of the loneliest day."

The imagination can scarcely depict the realities of those days,-the unbroken wilderness, which presented a wildness in every object upon which the eyes rested, except the sky o'erhead. The only marks in all this region that gave any evidence that the foot of civilized man had pressed the soil were the blazed trees that denoted an indefinite path- way. Such was this town without inhabitants, except the aborigine and the wild beast of the forest, when Abram Paddock crected his log cabin, and sought a permanent home amid the sea-like solitude.

Geographically, Schroeppel is located in the southern part of the county, in the northeast angle formed by the junction of the Oneida and Oswego rivers. The surface is level or gently rolling, the soil is a rich sandy loam, inter- mixed, in places, with clay. It is susceptible of high cul- tivation, and is generally very fertile and productive. The township is watered by Six-Mile, Fish, and Bell creeks, and several minor streams. A swamp extends northward from the month of Fish creek nearly to the northern border of the township, and varies from half a mile to a mile in width. Much of it has been redeemed, and future drain- ing and other improvements will materially lessen its area.

The streams, particularly Fish creek, originally abounded in bruok-trout, from which fact it received its name. They

are all plenteously supplied with various kinds of fish common in this locality. They also furnish abundant and excellent water-power, and many mills have been crected on their banks. The southern, and part of the eastern boundary of the township, is formed by Oneida and Oswego rivers.

No records exist whereby can be determined, definitely, whether any settlements were made in the town between 1800 and 1807. In the former year Abram Paddock* arrived, and in the latter Thomas Vickery and one L'Hom- medieu (commonly written La Hommedieu), the former as a permanent settler, and the latter, evidently, as a specu- lator. L'Hommedieu purchased a tract of land containing one thousand acres, designated on the map as " La Hom- medieu's location," and situated in the southern extremity of the angle formed by the Oneida and Oswego rivers, and coming up to the eastern boundary of the village of Phoenix.

Thomas Vickery settled on the Oneida river near Three- River point, where Joseph Vickery, his son, was born. At an early day he removed to the other side of the river, and was for a number of years a prominent citizen of the town of Clay, Onondaga county. When Joseph arrived at man- hood he bought the farm on which he now resides, and soon became an influential citizen and a wealthy farmer. He has held several offices of trust in the town government.

In 1818, Henry W. Schroeppel, eldest son of the proprie- tor of the township, settled at Oak Orchard, on the prem- ises now occupied by Mrs. Anna Schroeppel, his widow. To him is accredited the honor of having opened the first farm in the town, or rather, the first upon which any extensive improvements were made.

In March, 1819, Hyman and Stephen Sutton, two brothers, came in from Manlius, Onondaga county, and set- tled on lot 13, in the 16th township. They had purchased the land the fall beforc, and Stephen had erected a log house on his part. At the same time Alvin Sutton, cousin to the above, and one Phelps, settled on lot 12, and Azoe Parkin on the north end of lot 13; also a man named Billings on lot 27. Lyman Norton settled on the farm now occupied by his son Hiram, who was born on the place fifty-five years ago, and has since remained there.

In 1819, Andrus Gilbert and Hiram, his brother, came in and commenced the settlement of Gilbertsville, as stated in the history proper of that village.

Israel Burritt came in from Paris, Oneida county, in 1819, and settled in Gilbertsville, where he assisted in build-

# For further particulars of Paddock see " History of Phoenix village." We designate him s permanent settler because he remained in this vicinity until his death, in 1821, although he never purchased any land, but was chiefly employed in hunting and trapping.

324

ALONZO UTLEY.

RESIDENCE OF W. H. RICE, PHOENIX, OSWEGO CO., N. Y.

HOWARD HOUSE

HOWIARID HOUSE

HOWARD HOUSE

LADIES

RESIDENCE OF ALONZO UTLEY. SCHROEPPEL;, OSWEGO Co., N. Y.

HOWARD HOUSE, M. DINGMAN, PROP., PHOENIX, OSWEGO CO., N. Y.

325

HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

ing the mills, cte. He died about 1826, on the farm now owned by James Simmons.

Jonathan Hall, father of Mrs. Waring, settled on lot 20, in 1822, on a part of the farm which he occupied until his death, which oeeurred in June, 1868. Mr. Hall had been in the township some years prior to his permanent settle- ment.

George Waring came in about the same time as Mr. Hall, for he married the latter's daughter in 1824. His widow still survives, and is well versed in the early history of the township. George Waring was born at Constantia, in 1796, and it is claimed by his friends (and the claim is evidently well authenticated) that he was the first white ehild born in Oswego County.

In 1822, Samuel Merry, Esq., settled at Gilbert's Mills, and entered into partnership with Andrus Gilbert. He resided there until 1837, when he removed to Phoenix, where he now lives.

John Curtis made the first settlement on the State road in this town in 1826-27, on lot 5, on the farm now owned by Enoeh Douglass. John Curtis, Jr., settled at Roosevelt.

Deacon Stephen Griffith eame into the township and set- tled on lot 26, in 1827. He was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 1797, and is consequently eighty years of age, and one of the oldest living residents of the town in point of age, and among the oldest in point of settlement.

Among the prominent early settlers of the town who came in during the deeade ending in 1840 we might men- tion the following :

Allen Gilbert, Asa MeNamara, John Bottom, O. W. Childs, Esq., John Ingersoll, Isaac Like, Asa Gilbert, John Fitzgerald, Michael Griffin, J. E. Gregg, A. Gregg. Deacon G. W. Turner eame in 1831, and settled on big lots 1 and 6, where he has sinee resided. Thomas R. Hawley, Esq., eame in 1832, and settled on lot 39, where he resided thirty-one years. He came from Lysander, Onondaga county, in which county he was born. Wm. Dingman and five sons, of whom Ephraim, Benjamin, and Minard are still residents of the township; Nathan Huntley, whose widow survives at the age of eighty-two years, and several of whose sons are settled in Sehroeppel ; Elias Thomas, Junius Wood, Dunean Conger, G. C. Sweet, Ira Davis, Jesse Page, and many others.

The first log house erected within the limits of Schroep- pel was by Abram Paddock, in 1801, as mentioned in the history proper of Phoenix village.

The first frame house was built by George Caspar Sehroeppel, about the year 1818. He lived in a flat-roofed shanty while building his house.

The first grist-mill was built by Andrus and Hiram Gil- bert, in the year 1819. It still stands at Gilbertsville, on Six-Mile ereek, and has done good service for nearly sixty years. The mill has two run of stones, and was operated by the Gilberts jointly until 1832, when Andrus sold his interest to his brother, who condueted the business alone until about 1844, when he sold to Jared Shepard, who managed the concern for three or four years, and then sold to Josiah Chaffee, who, after a few years' proprietorship, sold to the present owner, Amos Mason.

The first saw-mill was built by George Caspar Sehroep-

pel, in 1819, and condueted by his son IJenry W. after- wards for some years.

The first store was opened and kept by Andrus Gilbert, in 1821. It was located at Gilbertsville, and ultimately destroyed by fire, as mentioned in the history of the village.

The first tavern was kept by Simeon S. Chapin, in 1822. This was at Phoenix village, and was a log structure, built by Aaron Paddoek, with an addition, which was ereeted by Mr. Chapin, and was known as the double log honse. It stood across the street east from the residence of Joseph Gilbert, deceased.

The first birth in the town was that of Joseph, son of Thomas Vickery, September 11, 1807. This gentleman is still living in the town, having spent the allotted three- seore years and ten in one loeality,-a remarkable fact connected with the history of a native-born American, who are generally so prone to move around.

The first marriage was performed, under peenliar cireum- stanees, in 1807. It appears that the parties to the inter- esting contraet-John Lemanier and Sally Winters-got a justice of the peace, who resided over in Onondaga county, to perform the nuptials. He did so in good faith, but on reaching home, some one evidently better versed in the law governing the jurisdiction of magistrates informed him that he had exceeded his powers, and that the marriage was consequently illegal. The next morning the justice of the peace posted over the river, and requested the newly (appa- rently) married couple to accompany him over to the other shore, where the ceremony was performed according to the law " in such cases made and provided."

The first death, of which any authentie record exists, was that of Abram Paddock, the pioneer of the town, which oeeurred in the early part of the year 1821.

The first school taught was by Horatio Sweet, at Three River point, in 1813.

The first religious organization was a Methodist class formed at Gilbertsville, in 1826 .*

INCIDENTS.

About 1816 this region of country, from Three-Rivers point to Brewerton, and from Onondaga outlet to Oswego falls, was almost an unbroken wilderness. White settlers were few, but Indians were numerons. Among the white settlers there was one MeGee, son of Captain MeGee, of Revolutionary times, who was noted for his daring and bravery, and who was always averse to the society of the In- dians. Occasionally he had his troubles with them, and as often had his revenge on then. On one occasion, up the Oneida river, about four miles from Three-Rivers point, where be was trapping, he left his canoe on the north shore to take a stroll baek from the river, but soon returned and found an Indian had taken his canoe and some of his traps, and started for the opposite shore. McGee called to him in English to return, but he did not heed it. Then McGee called to him in their native language. The Indian's reply was "Yah-ho," meaning " I won't." At this McGee shot the Indian as he was paddling, the ball entering his left side and coming out of his right shoulder, killing him in-

* See history of the Methodist Episcopal church, farther on.

326

HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

stantly. McGee swam to the canoe, and brought it, with his victim, to land, and buried the Indian, whose name was Sidney, by the side of a log, at the mouth of a creek known by the boatmen in after-years as "Sidney ereck," taken from the name of the Indian. This creek runs through the farm now owned by Gilson D. Carrier, and empties into the Oneida river.

LOST IN THE WOODS.

Among the early pioneers of Schroeppel, one John Has- kin and family came from Vermont, and settled on lot No. 18, twenty-fourth township, in January, 1833, then an unbroken wilderness, without roads for egress or ingress. It is not known that there was a family in the town who suffered as much as did this family. Mr. Haskin was for- merly from Philadelphia, and unaccustomed to pioneer life. " I have known him," says Mr. Hawley, " to grind coru for food by pounding it with a maul on a hard wood block, hewn for that purpose. At that time there was a grist-mill at Coughdenoy, on a small scale. One day in June of the above year, Mr. Haskin started for this mill with a half- bushel of corn on his shoulder to be ground, taking one of those circular roads made by Mr. Peek and others. When returning with his grist at night he lost his way. By the time it became very dark he had got into a tamarack swamp, where he was obliged to remain, and be tortured by mos- quitoes, or keep moving, with brush in hand, until nearly exhausted by hunger and fatigue, during the whole of that night. As morning appeared but little encouragement fol- lowed, for it was very cloudy the whole day ; but with the courage he had he started in good faith to get out of his perilous situation. To his astonishment, after two hours of hard work, going through brush and over logs, he found himself back again to the same swamp where he had lodged during the night previous. He was not to be deceived in that way again. As the day continued cloudy, his only alternative was to take a range from one tree to another, which he resolved carefully to do, by which he came to one of those circular roads. Keeping on this road, he soon came in sight of Coughdenoy. Now his third and last effort was to retrace his steps on the same road, by which he returned to his place of abode about sunset, being one night and two days lost, and loaded with a bag of corn- mcal. The distance to the mill was about three and one- half miles, but Mr. Haskin said he traveled about fifty miles without anything to eat."

THE CIVIL ORGANIZATION

of the town was effected by the State legislature, April 4, 1832. The town was detached from Volney at that time, and organized as a separate and distinct town. The first annual meeting for the election of town officers and the transaction of other municipal business was held at the house of James B. Richardson, in the village of Phoenix, March 5, 1833.

At the first meeting there were 117 votes cast. In 1834, 97; in 1835, 125; in 1836, 191 ; in 1837, 159; in 1838, 218; in 1839, 285; and in 1840, 308.

The subjoined resolution was unanimously passed by the freeholders and inhabitants :

" That James B. Richardson be the clerk pro tem.

" That Orville W. Childs be assistant clerk.

" That the next annual meeting be held on the first Tuesday in March next."

The officers elected at the first meeting were: Samuel Merry, supervisor; James B. Richardson, town clerk ; Orville W. Childs, Artemus Ross, justices of the peace ; Andrus Gilbert, Walter Peck, Stephen Griffith, assessors ; Hirain Gilbert, James B. Richardson, overseers of the poor ; Samuel C. Putnam, Abram Vanderpool, Leman Car- rier, commissioners of highways; Joshua M. Rice, collec- tor ; Thomas R. Hawley, Joshua M. Rice, Leman Carrier, Alexander Ross, constables.

Overseers of Highways .- For district No. 1, Walter Peck ; No. 2, Jolin Dale ; No. 3, Jesse Page; No. 4, Mil- ton Fuller ; No. 5, John Porter ; No. 6, Allen Gilbert ; No. 7, Leman Carrier; No. 8, Andrus Gilbert ; No. 9, George W. Davis; No. 10, Patten Parker; No. 11, Levi Pratt ; No. 12, Asa Sutton ; No. 13, John Curtis, Jr .; No. 14, Lawrence Seymour; No. 15, Henry W. Schroeppel.

It was voted to raise two hundred and fifty dollars for the improvement of highways; also, that the town raise an amount equal to that received from the State, for the support of common schools.

The supervisors of the town from 1833 to 1877 inelu- sive have been : Samuel Merry, Andrus Gilbert, Samuel Merry, James B. Richardson (two years), Patten Parker (two years), Barzil Candee (two years), Joseph R. Brown, Garrett C. Sweet, Samuel Foot, William Conger (two years), William Hall (three years), Alvin Breed (five years), Ira Betts, Seth W. Alvord (two years), John P. Rice, Fred- erick D. Van Wagner, John P. Rice, Edmund Merry (three years), Charles W. Candee, Edmund Merry (three years), Moses Melvin, John C. Hutchinson (two years), Hiram Fox (four years), William Patrick, present incumbent (two years).

The town clerks for the same period have been : James B. Richardson (three years), Otis W. Randall (four years), Solomon Judd, William Conger (two years), Seth W. Burke, Joshua M. Rice, Elmer W. Hall, Oliver Breed (two years), Edward Baxter (two years), Harvey Bigsby, Jerome Duke, John C. Hutchinson, James M. Clark, Geo. W. Thompson, O. B. Ferguson, Edmund Merry (two years), Lewis C. Rowe (four years), Alfred Morton, Stephen A. Brooks, A. M. Sponenburgh, James L. Breed, Stephen A. Brooks, W. H. H. Allen (two years), James McCarthy, Harvey Wandell, R. A. Diefendorf, Martin Wandell, present incumbent (six years).

The justices of the peace have been : Orville W. Childs, Artemus Ross, Samuel Merry, John Fitzgerald (vacancy), Artemus Ross, Joshua M. Rice (vacaney), Dyer Putnam, Levi Stevens, Abram Vanderpool (vacancy), James B. Richardson, Abram Vanderpool, Artemus Ross, Dyer Put- nam, Henry Chapin, Benjamin Hinman (vacancy), Ben- jamin Hinman (full term), Artemus Ross, Seth W. Burke, William Leslie, Nathaniel Coburn (vacancy), Samuel Merry, James B. Richardson, Andrus Gilbert, John H. Brooks, Augustus Diefendorf, John H. Brooks (vacancy), Josiah Chaffce, James S. Gregg, Andrew Baird, Samuel Allen, Lewis McKoon, A. C. Paine, Joseph B. Powers (full term), Andrus Gilbert, Edmund Merry, James Barnes (vacancy),

1873

RESIDENCE OF NELSON COREY, SCHROE

OSWEGO Co., N. Y. (HOUSE BUILT IN 1876. )

327

HISTORY OF OSWEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.

James Barnes (full term), Hosea B. Russ (vacancy), Geo. M. Tainer (vacancy), John C. Fuller, Nelson Corey, Isaac N. Soule, Seth W. Alvord (vacancy), James H. Loomis, John A. Fuller, Zachariah P. Sears, Ira Betts, James II. Loomis, Henry Ellis, Vineent L. Kimball, II. A. Brainard, Seth W. Alvord, J. C. Fuller, Stephen Hinkley, Hiran D. Fox, Edward Catheart, Phineas Converse, James Barnes, William B. Corey (vacancy).

PHOENIX VILLAGE.

The early history of Phoenix (formerly ealled Three- River Rifts) presents many features of interest. We are enabled, through the kindness of Mr. Thomas R. Haw- ley,-a gentleman well qualified to impart important his- torieal information,-to present many facts relative to Phoenix not generally known.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The present site of the village is included in George Scriba's patent. Right here it may be of importance to mention the manner in which Scriba beeame possessed of his patent. We quote from the "Documentary History of New York :" " George Scriba, a German by birth, and a mer- chant in the city of New York, purchased of the Roosevelt brothers, delinquent contractors with the government of the State, five hundred thousand acres, for which he paid eighty thousand dollars, in 1791." The first white settler sinee 1800 was Abram Paddock, who erected a log cabin, near Hosea B. Russ' mill, in 1801. He suffered the usual privations incident to pioneer life. The Indians were very troublesome to him, and often threatened to shoot him if he did not desist from shooting their bears (he was known as Bear-hunter Paddock). In 1812 a great number of Onondagas, on their way to Oswego, encamped near Mr. Paddock's. Four of them went into his house and de- manded food. On being refused, one of them, in broken English, addressed him : " Good 'Meriean man, we go to Osh-wa-kee ; fight British like h-1!" During their stay, Mr. Paddock and family, in fear of them, crossed the river, and took refuge in a thicket below the point, at Three-River bar, and the Indians dispersed, and he and his family returned. Aaron Paddock (no connection to the Paddock spoken of abuve), familiarly known as Eel-butcher Paddock, settled at that place, across the street east from the residence of the late Joseph Gilbert, in 1822. Ile was succeeded by Simeon S. Chapin, who built an addition to the house, and opened the first tavern in the place.

A man known familiarly as " Tory" Foster settled near A. W. Sweet's residence, and built a log house in 1823. He soon afterwards removed, but returned in 1833, and lived in a shanty east of C. W. Candee's present residence, and died there in 1834. An incident is related of him, in Clark's " History of Onondaga," which we subjoin.

" He one day went into the blacksmith-shop of Judge Towsley, at Manlius, and commenced narrating his eruelties and exploits against the Americans in the Revolutionary war. The judge, then at the anvil, sledge-hammer in hand, listened patiently for some time, and at length, his patience becoming exhausted, he seized a heavy bar of iron, and

struck at Foster with his full strength. As luck would have it, the force of the blow was arrested by the iron striking a beam overhead. The miscreant instantly left the shop, not caring to continue his favorite theme in the presence of American patriots, contented with escaping with his life." This and similar circumstances in the life of Foster are authenticated by Thomas R. Hawley, Esq., who knew him well.

The first frame building was the addition made to the old log house of Aaron Paddock, by Simeon S. Chapin, in 1825.

The first store was kept by Walter Peck, in 1828, in the old building now owned by H. B. Russ, which has under- gone such extensive improvements since as to almost lose its original identity.

The first saw-mill on the east side of the river was also built by Walter Peek, in 1827-28.

The first saw-mill on the west side was erected by John Wall, in 1829.

The first grist-mill was built by S. W. Burke, Esq., for Alexander Phoenix, whose agent he was, in 1829-30. This was destroyed by fire a few years since, and was rebuilt by the present proprietors, Glass, Breed & Co. This was the old " red mill," known as such far and wide.

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History of Oswego County, New York, with illustrations and Biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 83

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co. Number of Pages: 798

Author: Johnson, Crisfield. cn
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 798