Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 78

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1410

USA > New York > Oswego County > Landmarks of Oswego County, New York > Part 78

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The Oswego River, especially within the limits of this town, is rich in history. The trips of Jesuit missionaries, the discovery of the Oswego Falls 1 by Father Simon Le Moine in 1653, numerous expeditions of Indians, French, and English, and many other events along this stream, have already been narrated. Soon after the engagement at Battle Island, which gave it its name, Colonel Bradstreet, acting under orders from the governor, built a fort in what is now Fulton village, be- tween First street and the canal, a little west of the subsequent resi- dence of Timothy Pratt. For several years, or until the Revolutionary war, it was occupied by a small garrison. This was the first permanent structure of any kind erected within the present town of Volney.

Several small streams have contributed materially to the develop- ment of the town, principally by furnishing power for numerous saw mills and other manufacturing establishments. Black Creek, after flowing through two or three lakes, empties into the Oswego River

1 In the Indian language Ahaouete.

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LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.

near Battle Island, and Spafford's Creek just below Fulton village. Six- mile Creek, after receiving the waters of Bell Creek, passes into Schroeppel and flows into the Oneida River. These with other small brooks afford excellent drainage and an unfailing water supply.

The first bridge across the Oswego River within the limits of Volney was built about 1814 at the upper landing. It crossed Yelverton Island, and was a toll bridge, and one of the earlier toll collectors was John, the father of M. B. and a brother of William Schenck. In 1826 another toll bridge was erected near the site of the present lower bridge in Fulton. It 1849 it was purchased by the village and the towns of Volney and Granby for $2,000. The act authorizing this was passed April 10, 1849, and appointed George Salmon, De Witt Gardner, and Sands N. Kenyon commissioners for the purpose. It also authorized a tax levy of $4,000 on the two towns. It was then made permanently a free bridge. In 1849 the old toll bridge near the upper landing was replaced by a new structure at a cost of about $16,000, of which the State paid $1,900. This was erected mainly by Colonel Voorhees, and was burned October 4, 1862, and rebuilt. It occupied the site of the present iron bridge, which was built in 1872. The present lower iron bridge in Fulton was erected in 1871. In 1872 the iron bridge be- tween Seneca Hill and Minetto was constructed.

In 1827 Volney had sixty- one road districts, and three years later seventy-four. In 1849 the Oswego and Syracuse plank road was com - pleted through the town. The Oswego and Hastings plank road also passed through Volney. Both of these were long ago discontinued as plank roads. The town now has seventy-nine road districts.

For many years there has been in this town the belief that oil or natural gas exists below the surface. Gas is said to have been discov- ered on the Edward Van Buren farm, three miles below Fulton, prior to 1865. Nothing was done, however, until August, 1887, when the Fulton Natural Gas, Oil, and Mining Company was organized with a cap- ital of $25,000. Boring was commenced, and on January 2, 1888, gas was struck, but the well was soon afterward abandoned. In January, 1895, the subject was revived, and a well was started on the " flats " within the village limits, in which gas was struck March 27 at a depth of 1,685 feet. A large number of acres in the town have been leased with a view of sinking wells.

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THE TOWN OF VOLNEY AND VILLAGE OF FULTON.

The principal occupation of the inhabitants outside the village of Fulton is dairying and general farming. All kinds of farm products are grown abundantly and with profit to the husbandman. In 1860 the yield of farm productions aggregated as follows :

Wheat, 1,686 bushels winter and 76,340 spring; hay, 4,367 tons; potatoes, 23,235 bushels ; apples, 39,370 bushels; butter, 102,652 pounds; cheese, 58,451 pounds ; domestic cloths, 1,351 yards. At this time the town contained 16,141 acres improved land; real estate valued at $574,963 and personal property at $44,250; 1,166 dwellings, 1,343 families, 855 freeholders, 904 horses, 1,006 oxen and calves, 1,124 cows, 2,185 sheep, and 1,606 swine.

The development of the dairying industry dates from about 1863, when cheese and butter factories began to come into existence. There are at present six of these establishments in operation, ali doing a large and profitable business. Fruit growing is given considerable attention, though not so much as in former years.

The first town meeting of Fredericksburgh was held at the tavern of Major Lawrence Van Valkenburgh at the "Orchard Lock" in the spring of 1807, about a year after the town was erected from Mexico, and the following officers were chosen :

Ebenezer Wright, supervisor ; Samuel Tiffany, town clerk ; Gideon Seymour, Henry Everts and Hiel Stone, assessors; Lawrence Van Valkenburgh and Asahel Bush. over- seers of the poor ; John Tyler, Abraham Van Valkenburgh and Hiel Stone, commis- sioners of highways; Abraham Van Valkenburgh, collector ; Joseph F. Sweet and Abraham Van Valkenburgh, constables; Asahel Bush, Lawrence Van Valkenburgh, John Tyler, Joseph F. Sweet, William Burt, and Elisha Whitney, fenceviewers; John Tyler and Lawrence Van Valkenburgh, poundmasters. Messrs. Stone, Bush, Tyler, Everts, Whitney, Tiffany, Sweet, and Burt, resided in what is now Scriba ; the others lived in the present town of Volney. Mr. Wright was re-elected supervisor to 1811 in- clusive. The town clerks of Fredericksburgh were Samuel Tiffany in 1807-9 and John Waterhouse in 1810-11.

The first town meeting for the town of Volney, after the name Fred- ericksburgh was dropped, was held at the inn of Major Van Valkenburgh March 3, 1812, and the following officers were elected :

Supervisor, Samuel Holland ; town clerk, John Waterhouse; assessors, Ebenezer Wright, Oliver Burdick, and Stephen Gardner ; poormasters, Samuel Holland and Gid- eon Candee; commissioners of highways, Phineas Chapin, Jonathan Hooker, and Na- thaniel Foster ; collector, Asa Whitney ; constables, Asa Whitney, Richard M. Graham, and Joseph Sutton ; pathmasters, Thomas Vickery, Noah A. Whitney, Josiah Meyers, 98

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James Bundy, Gideon Seymour, Aaron Dodge, Sylvanus Hopkins, Jonathan Hooker, and Richard M. Graham.

All of these lived in Volney except Chapin and Hopkins, who re- sided in what is now Palermo, and Sutton and Vickery, who lived in the present town of Schroeppel. The town meetings were held at Major Van Valkenburgh's from 1807 to 1812 inclusive, at Amos Foster's in 1813-14, at Noah Rust's in 1815, at Volney Center in 1816-30, at the school house in 1831, at John Gasper's tavern in 1832-35, at Jeremiah Hull's in 1836-38 and 1840, at S. H. De Graw's in Fulton in 1839, at Gasper's Hotel in 1841-47 and 1851-52, at Elliott Harroun's in Fulton in 1848-50, near Gasper's in 1853, and since then in Fulton village.

The supervisors of the town have been as follows :

Ebenezer Wright, 1807-11; Samuel Holland, 1812; Isaac Crocker, 1813 and 1815; Oliver Burdick, 1814, 1816, 1818-30, 1834-35; Joseph Easton, 1817 ; George F. Falley, 1831-33, 1843 ; Aaron G. Fish, 1836, 1840-41; Darius R. Bellows, 1837; Wm. Ingall, 1838-39 ; Peter H. Keller, 1842, 1844; John Parker, 1845-46; Lovwell Johnson, 1847- 49; John J. Wolcott, 1850, 1852-54, 1859; Hiram H. Coats, 1851; A. C. Livingston, 1855; Samuel F. Case, 1856-57 ; Wm. P. P. Woodin, 1858; Willard Johnson, 1860- 61, 1890; Gardner Wood, 1862, 1864; John H. Woodin, 1863; Chauncey B. Hancock, 1865; Henry C. Howe, 1866-67, 1869-70; Abraham Howe, 1868; J. Gilbert Bene- dict, 1871; Charles J. De Graw, 1872; Henry E. Nichols, 1873, 1876-77; George D. Foster, 1874 ; John W. Francis, 1875 ; Frederick D. Van Wagener, 1878; Arvin Rice, 1879-82, 1884-86; William B. Howard, 1883, 1887-89 ;. Thomas D. Lewis, 1891-95.

The town clerks have been :

Samuel Tiffany, 1807-09 ; John Waterhouse, 1810-12; Jeremiah Taylor, 1813 ; Amos Bishop, 1814; Joseph Easton, 1815-16; James Lyon, 1817; Elisha Can- dee, 1818-22; Elijah Goodell, 1823-26; Darius R. Bellows, 1827-32; Samuel Dean, 1833; Richard D. Hubbard, 1834-35; Hiram Bradway, 1836-40; James D. Lasher, 1841-42, 1844; John J. Wolcott, 1843; Albert Taylor, 1845-48; Charles A. Dean, 1849; Andrew Hanna, 1850; Melvin F. Stephens, 1851; Richard E. Lusk, 1852; S. N. Dada, 1853-54; Solon H. Clough, 1855; Wm. P. P. Woodin, 1856-57 ; Henry H. Haynes, 1858; Orville J. Jennings, 1859; William Andrews, 1860; Morris C. High- riter, 1861-62, 1872-75 ; George Backus, 1863 ; Henry C. Howe, 1864-65; Charles H. David, 1866 ; Henry E. Nichols, 1867, 1869-70; John C. Highriter, jr., 1868; Arvin Rice, jr., 1871; Amos Youmans, 1876-78; John H. Cavenaugh, 1879; E. F. De Graw, 1880-81; Joseph Francis, 1882-83; Clarence W. Streeter, 1884-85 ; Charles A. Miller, 1886-87 ; Morris C. Highriter, 1888-89; C. H. Gardner, 1890-91; Edwin B. McCully, 1892; G. W. Hoff, 1893 ; W. P. Hillick, 1894.

The town officers for 1894-5 were as follows :

Thomas D. Lewis, supervisor ; William P. Hillick, town clerk; Charles H. David,

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THE TOWN OF VOLNEY AND VILLAGE OF FULTON.

John W. Distin, Girard Taft, and Franklin Keenan, justices of the peace ; W. Henry Owen, Seymour Parmelee, and O. E. Armour, assessors ; Antone A. Dean, highway commissioner ; Henry S. Gardner and W. W. Loomis, overseers of the poor; Harry T. Seymour, collector. The town has six election districts, and in November, 1894, polled 1,289 votes. 1

During the eighteenth century, particularly after 1750, the site of Fulton village was the seat of a floating population, composed mainly of troops, Indian traders, and boatmen. Save the fort previously men- tioned, it presented no evidence of civilized habitation.

Actual settlement in the present town of Volney commenced more than one hundred years ago, the first permanent settler being Daniel Masters, a blacksmith, who located at the "upper landing " in what is now Fulton in 1793, building and occupying a log house near Brad- street's fort. His blacksmith shop was the first one in Oswego county. He was noted as a maker of spear-heads, for each of which he received a silver dollar. He was a constable of Mexico in 1800 and a pathmas- ter in 1803. In 1794 he opened the first tavern in Volney. In 1796, at which time two or three families had located on or near the site of Fulton village, he and a Mr. Goodell built a saw mill at this point, the first of any kind in town. A few years later he removed to an island near Sackett's Harbor, where he died.

In the spring of 1795 Lawrence Van Valkenburgh, familiarly called " the major," purchased Cluet's location on the east side of the river below the falls, and the peninsula afterward called " Orchard Lock." became his permanent home. He came from Chatham, Columbia county, and in 1792 had chosen a location on the site of the village of Oswego Falls, as detailed in the chapter devoted to Granby. His pur- chase in Volney comprised 600 acres, and his house was built on the point a little southwest of the Orchard Lock, where he lived until his death, about 1828. Evidences still exist indicating the site where his dwell- ing stood. The major's family consisted of himself, his wife, his son Abraham and his wife (Zilpha), and a younger son, James. The latter was killed at Salina (Syracuse) at an early day, leaving no de- scendants. Abraham was the father of Lawrence Van Valkenburgh, who was born in what is now the village of Oswego Falls in November, 1793, and of Col. Ephraim Van Valkenburgh, who was born here in 1796, being the first white child born in Volney. Colonel Ephraim was

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the father of Dixon Van Valkenburgh, who was born here in 1822 and died in Oswego July 24, 1887.

Major Lawrence Van Valkenburgh had altogether five sons. He was a slave owner, and at an early date opened his house as a tavern. This was a frame structure with log compartments at either end, the middle or frame part being used for dances, parties, town meetings, and pub- lic entertainments. It was the " headquarters " for all the country round about. Abraham Van Valkenburgh was a prominent man in early times. He was elected a constable of Mexico in 1798 and ap- pointed a justice of the peace for Fredericksburgh in 1810. June 8, 1797, he was licensed to keep a public house by John Meyer, the first justice of the peace in Oswego county and the first supervisor of Mexico. He died in Salina.

About 1796 John Van Buren, a cousin of President Martin Van Buren, became the third settler of the town. Coming from Kinder- hook, N. Y., he first located on the west side of the river in Granby, but very soon afterward removed to the east bank and erected a house on the site of the home of his grandson Volkert. He had five sons, Peter, John, jr., Jacob, Volkert and David. Jacob married a daughter of Whitman Church. She related that the first dance she ever attended was at Van Valkenburgh's tavern, where the music consisted of the melodious voice of a colored woman, a slave servant of Peter Sharp. Volkert Van Buren resided near the old homestead and owned a large tract of land, a saw mill on Black Creek, and grist mill at Battle Island. David Van Buren, born here in October, 1798, was for many years the second oldest resident in the county, and died on the home- stead February 20, 1887. A nephew of his, Daniel Van Buren, is liv- ing on the farm where he was born in 1819. Peter was a half-brother to the others and was the father of John C. Van Buren. He was a constable of Mexico in 1803-4. Charles Van Buren, the owner of Van Buren Island, died in February, 1885, aged sixty years.

In 1797 John Waterhouse, the fourth settler of the town, took up his residence on Charles Newkerk's location, where he died in August, 1799, his being the first death in Volney. His children were Nathaniel, who died in 1800; John, jr., and Benjamin B., who moved west in 1837 ; and Artemesia and Harriet. Artemesia Waterhouse taught the

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THE TOWN OF VOLNEY AND VILLAGE OF FULTON.

first school in town in 1800. Mr. Waterhouse was the first town clerk of Volney and the second supervisor. At this time (1797) there was no house or clearing on either side of the river between the Falls and Three River Point. There was a road or bridle path on the east side from the first named point to Van Valkenburgh's, but it was a very poor one. In 1810 or 1811 John, jr., and Benjamin B. Waterhouse with Isaac Crocker and Mathew McNair built a saw mill on " Water- house " Creek at a point where Sixth street in Fulton crosses that stream. Afterward Samuel Holland and Mr. Crocker purchased the interest of McNair in the saw mill and also in the portage.

Ebenezer Wells was the only person in this town whose name appears on the old assessment roll for the great town of Mexico in 1798, and his property was located in the 17th township. It does not appear that any new settlers came in during either this year or 1799. yet John Hooper and a Mr. Darley took up their residence here about this time.

In 1800 Ebenezer Wright, the surveyor, located at the lower landing and has generally been considered the fifth settler in the town. He was a very prominent man, not only in his profession, but in local public affairs. He was the first and only supervisor of Fredericksburgh, serv- ing from 1807 to 1811 inclusive, and was appointed a justice of the peace here in 1804 and again in 1809. At a later period he moved West and died there. In this same year (1800) a native of Scotland named Ayton or Eaton, in company with John Bakeman, came into Volney and became the first settlers on Steen's location ; their cabin stood near what is now the corner of First and Oneida streets in Fulton village. On the bank of the river they opened a quarry for the pur- pose of getting out furnace hearths, but the quality of the rock proved undesirable, and another quarry was opened on Harper's location, which was worked for some time.

At this period, the very beginning of the present century, when the entire population of what is now the town of Volney was scattered along the river bank a little above, but principally below the site of the village of Fulton, the place was celebrated mainly for its portage and fishery. The few improvements that had been made were rude and un - important. No dams or bridges had been thrown across the river, and quantities of silver eels, salmon, and other fish frequented its waters. In

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LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.

this year (1800) the first school in town was opened, and the locality soon gave evidence of considerable activity. At this time and long afterward the place was designated Oswego Falls and was locally known as the " upper " and "lower " landing.

In 1801 John Masters, a blacksmith, lived at the lower landing, but later moved to Oswego, where he married, in 1806, Eliza Baldwin, theirs being the first marriage in Scriba. About 1801 Henry Bake- man, a native of New Jersey, became a resident of the town. During the following five years few settlers arrived; in fact it is impossible to determine the coming of a single one, yet undoubtedly a number came in.

In 1806 Cornelius H. Miller settled on Steen's location in the north part of the present village of Fulton. He afterward removed to Granby. The same year Peter Sharp located near John Van Buren's, and Gideon Seymour, William Dean, Gideon Candee and Amos Bishop settled at and near Volney Center. This, apparently, was the first settlement made in the interior of the town. Major Van Valkenburgh had a hunter's shanty at this point, just north of the Corners, in which the four men encamped for the night. Mr. Seymour opened the first hotel at this place, was elected one of the first assessors of Fredericksburgh in 1807, and re-elected in 1808, and died at Volney Center in March, 1817, being succeeded in his tavern by his widow. Mr. Candee was a prominent man and became a justice of the peace in 1810. These two gentlemen had each a hired girl. In 1808 Calvin Tiffany, who had just opened a tavern one and one-fourth miles northeast from Mexico village, proposed giving a "log house dance." Girls were scarce in that vicinity, and three young men there, two of whom were Sherman Hosmer and Nathaniel P. Easton, started out on foot with axe and compass to secure some from Oswego Falls. They unwittingly came upon this settlement and immediately proposed that these two girls and another one near by should return with them, fifteen miles, to the dance, a proposition that was finally accepted. The young men in making the round trip were absent from their homes six days.

In 1807 Noah A. Whitney and Dr. Bissell came here and took charge of the mills at the Falls. The latter was the first physician in the town. Mr. Whitney was one of the leading citizen and held several important offices. He was appointed justice of the peace in 1809, and

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THE TOWN OF VOLNEY AND VILLAGE OF FULTON.

was the first postmaster in town in 1810, the office being known as Oswego Falls. Samuel Tiffany was living in Volney at this time on the north side of Seneca Hill, and was made justice of the peace in 1808, being the first one appointed for Fredericksburgh.

Joshua Forman, in 1808, built for the State the first grist mill in this vicinity. It had a single run of stone and stood on the subsequent site of Gardner Wood's plaster mill. Down to 1817 it was the only one of the kind nearer than Oswego. A saw mill was also erected near by. Judge Forman became interested in the reservation and in 1813 was associated with James Lyon, who came to the Falls in that year. In 1808 Jesse Coe settled near Volney Center on the Baldwin farm. He was the father of Charles Coe, Mrs. Ziba Kendall, and Davis B. Coe. The latter is living in Palermo, at the age of eighty-three. Peter Althouse and Enoch Bristol were settlers of 1808. The former located near Orchard Lock and was the father of a large family, among whom were Peter, jr., and Andrew. Andrew Althouse succeeded to the homestead and died in February, 1885, aged eighty-three years.

In 1809 Ichabod Brackett and Whitman Church became settlers. The former built a frame house and barn on a knoll just east of the old C. G. Case residence, and engaged in the forwarding business, having a shed at the foot of Yelverton Island for a warehouse. In 1813 he erected a good warehouse and continued in business several years. Mr. Church came from Kinderhook, N. Y., and settled near John Van Buren's. He undoubtedly built the second frame building (a house) in town, in a corner of which he attempted to protect a few sheep from wolves, but without success, as the latter killed a number one night while . the family slept soundly overhead. He was the grandfather of Whit- man and Carlon Church. The latter, a son of Hubbard Church, was for a time a merchant in Fulton, and died in 1884.

In 1810 Dr. Anson Fay, Joseph Easton, Samuel Holland, Samuel Hyde, Isaac Crocker, Jeremiah Taylor, John Bristol, Capt. Asa Whitney, John Dunn, Oliver Burdick, Jonathan Hooker, James Bundy, Amos Foster, and perhaps others came into the town; some of these may have come a year or two before. Dr. Fay, the second physician, suc- ceeded Dr. Bissell, and died here in 1849. Mr. Easton was a very prominent man and held several important offices, among them those

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of town clerk and supervisor. He was a justice of the peace in 1815, 1820, 1822, 1827, and 1831, and became associate judge of the Com- mon Pleas in 1822 and again in 1828. He came from Pittsfield, Mass., built a little frame dwelling in Fulton just east of the Lewis House site, and died there in 1832. Messrs. Holland, Crocker, and Taylor all settled at the lower landing. The first two named were en- gaged in mercantile business there in 181 I as Crocker & Holland, a firm that was subsequently changed to Holland & Falley. Taylor kept a store there about the same time. John Bristol, accompanied by his two Brothers, located on " Bristol Hill." A Mr. Dunn settled near by. Mr. Bristol was appointed justice of the peace in 1814 and 1817 and became the first postmaster at Volney Center in 1825. Asa Whit- ney located east of Fulton and served as a captain of militia in the war of 1812. Mr. Hooker took up his residence on the old Luther Wood place and was one of the early town officers. He was appointed a justice in 1814 and 1820. Oliver Burdick settled near Simpson's Cor- ners, and was appointed a justice of the peace in 1813 and 1821, being also in the latter year an associate judge of the Common Pleas. He served as supervisor, in all, seventeen years. He was the father of Norman E. Burdick, who died in Fulton May I, 1894, aged seventy- seven years. James Bundy located below Orchard Lock and soon afterward his brother Elisha settled at Bundy's Crossing, a place so named from him. Samuel Hyde died at the lower landing in 1813. Amos Foster made his home near the present residence of W. S. Nel- son in Fulton.

Among the settlers of 1811 were Noah Rust, Roger S. Nelson, Thomas and Ansel Hubbard, Samuel and Richard Graham, James Par- ker, Capt. Joel Wright, Adin Breed, Josiah Smith, and Alvin Wheelock. Mr. Rust located near the De Graw brick mansion in Fulton, and was the father of Richard Rust. Mr. Nelson settled on the Wallace Gardner farm, whence he moved to the old Luther Wood place in 1823. His son, Willis S. Nelson, is a prominent resident of Fulton. The Hubbard brothers came from Pittsfield, Mass., and settled at what has since been known as Hubbard's Corners. Thomas Hubbard was a typical pioneer and a very valuable citizen, and died September 3, 1885, aged ninety-five years. He became a captain of militia in the war of

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THE TOWN OF VOLNEY AND VILLAGE OF FULTON.

1812, was a consistent member of the M. E. church from 1817 until his death, and served four years as justice of the peace. Ansel Hubbard, his brother, settled at Mount Pleasant and also served in the war of 1812. His son Levi G. resides in Scriba. The Grahams came from Paris, N. Y., and located near each other. Richard was the father of Seth C. Graham, by whom he was succeeded on the homestead. Mr. Parker came to Drake's Corners, but subsequently removed to Granby. He was the father of James, jr., and Linus. Joel Wright came from Columbia, N. Y., and during the latter part of his life resided at Hub- bard's Corners. He went with Captain Whitney to Oswego in the war of 1812 and afterward received a captain's commission. He died here some twenty years ago. His father, Smith Wright, came into Volney in 1815. Messrs. Breed, Smith and Wheelock all settled in the south part of the town, the three coming with their families from Litchfield, Her- kimer county. Mr. Breed held several public offices, among them that of justice, and finally removed to Three River Point. Mr. Smith was the father of Harvey W. Smith.

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Landmarks of Oswego County, New York, Part 78

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1410

Author: Churchill, John Charles, 1821-1905; Smith, H. P. (Henry Perry), 1839-1925; Child, W. Stanley
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1410