USA > New York > Oswego County > Landmarks of Oswego County, New York > Part 63
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This brings us down to about 1850, when the population numbered some 2,000 persons. It is impossible to trace the career, however briefly, of every newcomer. A few more are mentioned in succeeding pages of this chapter and a number more fully in Part III of the pres. ent work.
621
THE TOWN OF NEW HAVEN.
The population of the town at various periods was as follows : In 1830, 1,410 ; 1835, 1,551; 1840, 1,737 ; 1845, 1707; 1850, 2.015; 1855, 2,012; 1860, 2,073; 1865, 1,948; 1870, 1,764; 1875, 1,728 ; 1880, 1,713; 1890, 1,557. It will be noticed that a steady decrease has been going on for the past thirty years or more.
The first school in town was taught by Harriet, daughter of David Easton, in 1806. In 1808 Sherman Hosmer kept a school at Butterfly. In 1860 there were eleven school districts, which were attended by 730 children. There are now twelve school districts with a school house in each, in which thirteen teachers are employed, and which were attended during the year 1892-93 by 335 scholars. The school buildings and sites are valued at $7,350; assessed valuation of districts, $633,304 ; public money received from the State, $1,562.97 ; raised by local tax, $1,470.52. The various districts are locally known as follows : No I, Butterfly ; 2, North Butterfly ; 3, Mullen Hill ; 4, Stone school house ; 5, New Haven village ; 6, Cummings ; 7, Howlett ; 8, Dowd ; 9 King- dom; 10, South New Haven; II, Vermilion ; 12, Town Line.
Few towns in the State responded more promptly or contributed more liberally of their brave and patriotic citizens than did this. About 175 went to the front, of whom forty-four were killed or died of wounds. To the memory of these heroes the residents, in 1870, erected a handsome monument in the beautiful cemetery in New Haven vil- lage, which was appropriately dedicated May 30, of that year. It is of Italian marble, about eighteen feet high, and bears the names and ages of the forty- four soldiers, and also this inscription; "Erected to the memory of New Haven's gallant sons who died for their country." Among those who received deserved promotion were George Wetmore, Chauncey L. Gridley, William N. Taylor, John N. Gilman, and George E. Lansing. Doyle Post, No. 591, G. A. R., of which N. W. Parsons was the commander in 1894, was permanently organized in July, 1886. Relief Corps, No. 163, was formed in December, 1890; Eliza Parsons is president for 1895.
Supervisors' statistics for 1894 : assessed valuation of real estate, $522,469; equal- ized, $633,058; personal property, $38,210; railroads, 5.32 miles, $53,550; town tax, $1,499.57 ; county tax, $3,759.10; total tax levy, $6,659 ; ratio of tax on $100, $1.20 ; dog tax, $57. The town is divided into two election districts and in November, 1894, polled 397 votes.
New Haven village .- This is the largest and most important business
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LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY
place in town. It is centrally situated, one mile south of the railroad station at Demster, and contains about 300 inhabitants. In early days it was called Gay Head, but since 1819 it has been known by the pres- ent designation. The first store in the town was opened here in 1809 by Anson Drake, who was succeeded in 1816 by Orris Hart. The lat- ter was followed in 1833 by Samuel Cherry, and at the same time Samuel G. Merriam became a merchant in the place. He continued in business until 1873, a period of forty years, when he was succeeded by Rowe & Wilmarth. The senior member of this firm, A. F. Rowe, had several partners, and in May, 1882, became sole owner of the establish- ment. About 1860 a store was opened in the stone hotel building by Hewett & Goodsell, who were succeeded in November, 1867, by Bohan - nan & Bennett. For several years following 1850, Solomon White, jr., and Silas Allen conducted a general mercantile trade. In 1835 B. J. Hale established a coffin wareroom and undertaking establishment and carried on an extensive business for nearly half a century. He was the first in Oswego county to keep ready-made coffins, and made (March 6, 1838), one of the first caskets covered with velvet. He retired from the undertaking business about 1885, selling out to Whitney Brothers, and at that time was the oldest active undertaker in the State. For a while he was associated with his son. The first drug store was opened about 1862 by Dr. James Austin. The first and only foundry in town was operated here between 1836 and 1840, first by Richard Eason and later by him and Hosea Cornish. Ezra May opened the first tavern in New Haven in this place in 1810; it was a log building, and in 1824 he replaced it by a brick structure. About 1826 Jesse Smith built a hotel in the rear of the old stone one, and in 1828 Samuel Allen opened another on a site west of the Congregational church. Richard Eason erected the stone tavern about 1850. All these old-time inns have been discontinued and at present the village is without hotel accommodations. Among other business interests which have been carried on in the place may be mentioned, the agricultural implement and carriage warehouse of G. M. Whitney, the fruit evaporator of C. H. Taylor (established in 1882), and the harness shop of F. D. Whitney.
About 1850 the Odd Fellows organized a lodge which soon dis- banded. In July, 1877, it was revived under the name Beacon Light Lodge, No. 464, with Dr. George G. Whitaker as noble grand.
623
THE TOWN OF NEW HAVEN.
The post-office, the first in town, was established as West Mexico on January 19, 1813, with Joseph Bailey as postmaster, at whose house about two miles west of the village the office was kept. On December 25, 1819, the name was changed to New Haven, Orris Hart became postmaster, and the office was moved to the village. Mr. Hart was suc- ceeded on February 8, 1833, by Samuel G. Merriam, who was followed on July 23, 1853, by Solomon White, jr. On January 30, 1858, Silas Hart was appointed and on June 28, 1861 S. G. Merriam again became the incumbent. He was succeeded on January 2, 1873, by Augustus F. Rowe, who served until May 25, 1893, when he was succeeded by the present postmaster, Charles B. Hewitt. , Mr. Hewitt was born in New Haven in 1854 and has always resided here. He is a son of A. W. Hewitt, and has held several town offices.
Demster post-office (New Haven Station), situated about one mile north of the village of New Haven, dates its existence from the comple- tion of the railroad. It is the second important business place in town. For about thirteen years O. N. Woodworth conducted a general mer- cantile trade here, being succeeded in 1884 by Charles Gero. Mrs. Woodworth also had a millinery and fancy goods store. The post-office was established at Demster on August 25, 1883, with O. N. Woodworth as postmaster. His successors with the dates of their appointment have been as follows: Charles Gero, August, 1884; H. G. Cheever, December, 1888; Newton W. Parsons, March 27, 1889; Benjamin W. Mott, incumbent, July 31, 1893. The Grange, or Patrons of Husbandry, No. 52, of which Mrs. Delia Lewis is master, and which was organized January 16, 1874, meets here every week, as does also New Haven Grange, No. 588, organized June 25, 1889.
Butterfly is a postal hamlet in the eastern part of the town and the second oldest post-office in New Haven. The office was established January 31, 1828, and John Parsons was appointed postmaster. He was followed successively by Sterling Newell September 14, 1844; John Parsons again November 23, 1848 ; John Parsons, jr., June 13, 1849; and Avery W. Severance February 13, 1858. January 13, 1870, the office was discontinued and in 1880 it was re-established with Aurelia A. Baker as postmistress, who still holds the position. She is the wife of James E. Baker, who came to New Haven with his parents in 1859.
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LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.
South New Haven post office, in the southwest part of the town, was established in the spring of 1877 with George H. Patten as postmaster. He was succeeded by the present incumbent, Clarence D. Smith, in 1884. The latter is a native of New Haven and a son of William Smith.
Sala is a post-office in the Reed district, about three miles south of New Haven village, and was established in 1893 with Mrs. Hannah Potter as postmistress.
Cheever's Mills, so called from William M. Cheever, is located in the north part of the town, and was formerly a place of considerable impor- tance. A saw mill was built here by Ira Foot in 1805 and a distillery -the first in New Haven-by John White in 1810. Mr. White also opened a store about the same time. A grist mill was erected here at an early day, and for many years the place was widely known. At one time it had a second saw mill and a pump factory.
Daggett's, formerly Gridley's Mills, is situated three-quarters of a mile northwest of New Haven village. At a very early date a wool- carding and cloth-dressing establishment flourished here, but it has long since disappeared. The third saw mill in town was erected here about 1816.
The " Hollow," so called, is situated on Catfish Creek half a mile west of the village of New Haven. About 1811 Timothy Norton built at this place the second saw mill in town, about 1818 a Mr. Hutchins started the second ashery, and in 1820 Barton & Doolittle erected here the third and last distillery in town. There were also at an early date a tannery, a saw mill, and a grist mill in operation. The latter is still in use, but the others have gone to decay.
Cummings Mills is a well-known locality on the Catfish in the south part of New Haven, having at various times quite extensive milling in- terests
Pleasant Point is a pretty summer resort on the lake shore about two miles northwest of New Haven station. It was formerly called Smith's Landing, from Jesse Smith, an old-time resident. In 1865 the property passed into the hands of Capt. Samuel Nichols, the present proprietor, who has developed and improved it into quite a romantic spot. Cap- tain Nichols was born in New Haven in 1827 and is a son of Hezekiah
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THE TOWN OF NEW HAVEN.
Nichols, previously mentioned, who died in 1855. He enlisted as first lieutenant in Co. E, 110th N. Y. Vols., served three years, and became captain.
Demster Beach has acquired considerable renown as a pleasant sum- mer resort. It is situated on the shore of Lake Ontario about two miles northeast of Demster post-office, and contains a hotel and several cottages.
Demster Grove has long been famous as a camp-meeting place, and is located three-fourths of a mile from New Haven village. Near it is the New Haven union cheese factory and creamery, which was built by a stock company in 1878.
The Congregational Church of New Haven was organized as a society on June 30, 1817, and as a church on July 30 following, by Revs. John Dunlap and David R. Dixon, with thirteen members, viz .: Dr. Stephen H. Kinne, Daniel and Esther Hitchcock, Ori and Wealthy Rowe, Nor- man and Mary Rowe, Atwood and Hannah Aikens, Polly Harman, Rebecca Hitchcock, Esther Delano, and Seth S. Sweetland, of whom Norman Rowe was the last survivor. Daniel Hitchcock, Seth S. Sweet- land, Seth Severance, William Taylor, Norman Rowe, and Roswell Harman were the first trustees elected, and Rev. William Williams, who began his labors here in 1820, was the first settled pastor. Among his successors were Revs. Ralph Robinson,1 Oliver Ayer, Ichabod A. Hart, Isaac Headly, Samuel Swezey, John Reid, Thomas Bayne, Lewis Jes- sup, and others. Their church edifice, a frame structure, was built in 1824 ; it has received repairs at different times and is still in use. The present pastor is Rev. Samuel Johnson.
The Baptist Church of New Haven was organized about 1820, but never became strong in members. In 1825 a brick edifice was erected. The society enjoyed only occasional preaching and finally discontinued their services altogether and disbanded. The church was eventually sold and taken down. One of the leading members of this society was Capt. Cyrus Severance, who stood by it until his death,
The Methodist Episcopal Church of New Haven had its beginning in a class which was formed about 1833 with Reuben Halliday as leader.
1 Rev. Ralph Robinson preached for fifty years. He died in New Haven in May, 1863, aged eighty.
79
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LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.
Soon afterward this class disbanded, and in 1839 another was organized under the leadership of Henry K. Marvin, who officiated in that capa- city many years. The first members were Nelson Davis and wife, David Field and wife, Nicholas Chesbro and wife, and Ezekiel Lewis and wife; the first board of trustees consisted of Nicholas Chesbro, David Field, Ezekiel Lewis, Alvin Buell, and Nelson Davis; and the first ministers were Revs. Charles Northrop and Joseph Craggs. Prior to 1853, the circuit being very large, two preachers visited this locality, alternately, once in four weeks each. The first church edifice was built in 1848 ; it was finally converted into a shop and afterward destroyed by fire. In 1876 the present building was erected under the pastorate of Rev. Charles Manson. It is of frame veneered with brick and cost $5,650, and contains a thousand pound bell, the gift of two members of the society. It was dedicated November 29, 1876, by Rev. B. I. Ives. The society has about 100 members under the pastoral care of Rev. Chamberlain Phelps.
CHAPTER XXVII.
THE TOWN OF ORWELL.
Orwell,1 lying in the northern central part of Oswego county, was formed from Richland on the 28th of February, 1817, and at that time included also the present town of Boylston, which was set off February 7, 1828. A narrow strip was annexed from Richland on March 27, 1844. An interior town, Orwell comprises an area of 25,883 acres, and is bounded on the north by Boylston, on the east by Redfield, on the south by Williamstown and Albion, and on the west by Albion, Rich - land, and Sandy Creek. It lies wholly within the southern limits of the Boylston tract, in which it was known as Survey Township No. II, or Longinus, a classic name applied by Thomas Boylston.
The surface is quite hilly and considerably broken by the deep and
1 Named from Orwell, Vt. The name is said to have been suggested by John Reynolds, the first and, with one intermission, for fourteen consecutive years, supervisor of this town.
627
THE TOWN OF ORWELL.
picturesque ravines of the water courses. It has a decided south- westerly inclination, the eastern border being from 300 to 500 feet higher than the west part and from 700 to 1,000 feet above Lake On- tario. The soil is generally a rich gravelly loam. The eastern portion of the town still contains large tracts of uncultivated land. Salmon River, the principal water course, is a stream of unusual beauty and affords much picturesque scenery. Flowing over a rocky bed, through a series of rapids about two miles in length, it falls over a precipice 110 feet in height, the banks at this point being 200 feet high. This is one of the great natural curiosities of the State. The stream has one or two small tributaries in its course through the southern part of the town, and all combined afford excellent drainage and several good mill privileges, which in time past were extensively utilized by numerous saw mills and various other manufacturing establishments. Efforts have been made to improve Salmon River by removing obstructions so that logs could be more easily floated down its waters, notably in 1871, when, on April 27, the Salmon River Improvement Company was incorporated by Calvert Comstock, Samuel Dent, Theodore S. Comstock, William Mahar, and Edward Comstock, who composed the first board of directors. The capital was $50,000.
Few towns in this county have afforded lumbermen more profitable employment than has Orwell. Its dense forests long contributed millions of logs to the numerous saw mills within its borders as well as to many others operated nearer the lake. At one time the manufac- ture of lumber and kindred products formed the chief industry of the town, and as late as 1860 sixteen saw mill, as many shingle mills, a grist mill, and a tannery were in active operation. The valuable mill sites were early sought and utilized, and the wealth of distant markets flowed into the coffers of the proprietors. The best timber, however, rapidly fell before the woodman's axe, and in its place fruitful fields and attractive homes have sprung into existence. Agriculture superseded the pioneer occupation and steadily advanced in extent and importance. Many of the lumbermen settled on the fertile farms, built comfortable habitations, and converted the wilderness into productive homesteads. Of the first inhabitants scarcely one is living to recount their deeds of sacrifice and privation, yet thrilling stories of olden days survive in
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LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.
tradition if not in printed narrative. Their descendants and successors worthily maintain the sturdy characteristics and substantial industry in- herited from their ancestors, while the beautiful homes that dot the more settled portions of the town attest their thrifty habits and success- ful labor.
The pioneers found their way into the town by following the Salmon River, which stream furnished their tables with salmon and other fish. In the forests roamed wild game of various kinds, affording abundant sport to the adventurous hunter and no little annoyance to the quiet settler. Deer, bear, wolves, and panthers infested the hills even down to recent years.
The agricultural productions of Orwell consist mainly of grain, fruit, hay and potatoes. Considerable attention is given to stock raising and especially to dairying, which dates from about 1860.
The town is devoid of the benefits of a railroad within its borders, although the R., W. & O. passes close to its southwest corner ; yet it possesses excellent shipping facilities at adjacent villages. The nearest stations are Sand Bank, in Albion, and Richland Junction, in Richland. From the first settlement to the present time the popular method of communication has been by stage. Probably the earliest thorough- fare opened through Orwell was the road leading from Rome to Sackett's Harbor, over which large bodies of troops passed on their way to and from the defense of the frontier during the war of 1812. The inhabitants of this town were too few to form a separate company in that struggle, but many joined organizations elsewhere. Other high - ways were opened and improved as the settlements advanced, and have kept pace with other public improvements.
The first town meeting was held at the house of Timothy Balch in April, 1817, and the following officers were chosen :
Supervisor, John Reynolds; town clerk, Eli Strong, jr .; assessors, John Wart, jr., Edward Gilbert, Asa Hewitt ; commissioners of highways, John F. Dean, Timothy Balch, Nathaniel Bennett : overseers of the poor, Michael H. Sweetman, Timothy Balch ; collector, Timothy Balch, jr .; school commissioners, Thomas Dutcher, John Reynolds, Eli Strong, jr .; constables, Peter Wells, jr., Timothy Balch, jr .; inspectors of schools, John F. Dean, John Wart, jr., John B. Tully, Asa Hewitt; fenceviewers, Martin Lillie, John Reynolds, John B. Tully ; pound-keepers, Martin Lillie, John B. Tully ; path- masters, John Wart, jr., Martin Lillie, Allen Gilbert, Eli Strong, jr., Nathaniel Bennett, Perley Wyman.
629
THE TOWN OF ORWELL.
At this meeting a bounty of $5 was voted for the "pate " of each wolf killed in town ; the next year this sum was doubled, and a fine of fifty cents imposed for "snaking " timber (logs) on the ground more than three rods after the snow was twelve inches deep. The latter ordinance was adopted to prevent the spoiling of roads by tearing up their deep beds of snow.
The supervisors of Orwell have been as follows :
John Reynolds, 1817-24, 1826-30, 1833; John Wart, 1825; Jabez H. Gilbert, 1831-32, 1835-36; Alban Strong, 1834, 1837, 1842 ; Theodore S. Gilbert, 1838; Mason Salisbury, 1839; John Beadle, 1840, 1843; Henry Tillinghast, 1841; Oramel B. Olmstead, 1844, 1856, 1862-63 ; Nathan Simons, 1845, 1847-48; William Beecher, jr., 1846; Flavel Crocker, 1849; Edward Allen, 1850, 1852; William Strong, 1851, 1860; Daniel Pruyn, 1853; Orrin Beadle, 1854; Floyd W. Aldrich, 1855; Hoyt N. Weed, 1857-59, 1861; Alexander Potter, 1864-73 ; H H. Potter, 1874-75; Norman Hall, 1876-79; H. H. Finster, 1880-82; Albert S. Barker, 1883-84, 1890; E. S. Beecher, 1885-86; A. E. Olmstead, 1887-89; De Witt Carpenter, 1891-95.
The town clerks have been: Eli Strong, jr., 1817-18; Samuel Stowell, 1819-21; James B. Sandford, 1822, 1824; Moses Snyder, 1823; Reuben Snyder, 1825; J. H. Gilbert, 1826-29; Alban Strong, 1830-33; Hiram Towsley, 1834, 1842; Edward Allen, 1835; Dolson Morton, 1836-37; Mason Salisbury, 1838; Alanson Strong, 1839, 1843; John H. Cook, 1840-41; Oramel B. Olmstead, 1844; William Strong, 1845; S. F. Mason, 1846-47, 1849, 1852-55, 1857, 1861 ; James F. Davis, 1848; Milo C. Beman, 1850; M. H. Thomas, 1851; George E. Stowell, 1856, 1858, 1862; Ira S. Platt, 1859; Hoyt N. Weed, 1860, 1865-66; Homer J. Burch, 1863; T. T. Richards, 1864; Robert N. Sawyer, 1867-68; Nelson C. Burch, 1869-72; Frank J. Parker, 1873-74, 1876 ; A. E. Olmstead, 1875; George W. Nelson, 1877; D. B. Woodbury, 1878-80; J. C. Ferguson, 1881-83; Albert Wooliver, 1884; L. P. Blount, 1885; G. O. Olmstead, 1886; Lewis E. Joy, 1887, 1889, 1893-94; F. B. Woodbury, 1888; Albert House, 1890-92.
The town officers for 1894-5 were as follows :
De Witt Carpenter, supervisor ; Lewis E. Joy, town clerk; Lewis C. Sampson, Henry H. Finster, Homer West, Freeland Davis, justices of the peace ; John F. Bonner, Alexander Potter, Henry Hitton, town auditors; Ward Finster, Lucius Beadle, Orville Stowell, assessors; Elvin G. Potter, overseer of the poor; Charles Paddock, commis- sioner of highways; William S. Damon, collector.
The first settlers within the present town of Orwell were Frederick Eastman and Jesse Merrill, who came with their families in 1806 and located on the north bank of the Salmon River about one mile below the site of the hamlet of Molino or Pekin. Mr. Eastman's son, Elliot, who died in 1882, the last survivor of this little band of pioneers, was
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LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.
then six years old For one year they were the sole white inhabitants of the town, and during that period they suffered innumerable hard- ships. In 1808 David Eastman, another son of Frederick, married Betsey, a daughter of Nathaniel Bennett, which was probably the first marriage in town. The " State Gazetteer " gives this honor to " Robert Wooley and a daughter of Nathaniel Bennett, sr., in 1807," but the best authority points to the accuracy of the first statement. The first white birth was that of a child of David Eastman, whose young wife was the first victim of death, in 1810, unless it was the mother of Timothy Balch, who died about the same time.
In 1807 Nathaniel Bennett, sr., and Nathaniel, jr., settled in the East- man and Merrill locality, while Capt. George W. Noyes located at what is now Orwell village. The latter soon moved away. In this year, or in 1808, Silas Maxham took up his residence half a mile east of Pekin and Elias Mason became a settler near the falls. About 1809 Timothy Balch came from Sandy Creek, where he had lived two or three years, and erected a log house at " Orwell Corners." He was originally from the Mohawk Valley, and upon his settlement here opened his house as a tavern, the first of the kind in the town. It became a noted stopping place, and dispensed good whisky and comfortable entertainment to the neighboring pioneers.
Settlers came in slowly, or, coming, were dissatisfied with the hills and broken surface of the territory and continued on farther west. About 1811 Millan Aiken built on Salmon River, above the falls, the first saw mill in Orwell. Soon afterward James Hughes placed a trip- hammer shop in operation on the brook which runs through Pekin, at a point about eighty rods below that hamlet. He made scythes, axes, and other tools and was a very useful man in the settlement.
Among others who settled in Orwell prior to the war of 1812 were Joshua Hollis, near the Sandy Creek line; Orrin Stowell, near the site of Orwell Corners; Ebenezer Robbins, on the hill east of Orwell vil- lage ; Silas West in the Bennett neighborhood ; and Eli Strong, jr., and John Reynolds (the first supervisor). between Orwell village and Pekin. Eli Strong had settled in Redfield about 1790, whence he came to this town, where he served as postmaster for twenty four years. His son William was born here February 12, 1814; both moved to Pulaski in 1867, where the father died aged eighty-six.
631
THE TOWN OF ORWELL.
The war of 1812 checked the tide of immigration and caused no little uneasiness among the families who had already braved the perils of frontier life to establish homes in this then almost unbroken wilderness. Sickness and occasional dearth of provisions were not the least of their many hardships, but each affliction was met with a fortitude character- istic of the true pioneer. Closely following the war came the "cold season " of 1816, which resulted in an almost complete destruction of crops and suffering to man and beast during the succeeding winter. None of these discouraged the patient settlers. With few exceptions they remained and rapidly acquired comfortable homes.
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