USA > New York > Oswego County > Landmarks of Oswego County, New York > Part 83
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837
THE TOWN OF WEST MONROE.
timber, which long gave employment to a number of saw mills. Only scattered remnants of these forests now remain, and nearly all the mills have been abandoned. Instead the land is dotted with comfortable homes and fertile fields, monuments of the labor of the sturdy pioneers, whose descendants enjoy the fruits of earlier struggles. The chief in- dustry has changed from lumbering to that of agriculture, with dairying as the leading branch. There are two cheese factories and two saw mills in operation, the latter being owned by H. A. Smith and M. H. Ray- mond. The principal streams are Shanty Creek, the south branch of Salmon Creek, and a tributary of Scriba Creek.
The territory under consideration was parceled off at an early day in large tracts, and maps and titles have since borne the names of the grantees. These subdivisions and their respective locations are as fol- lows : De Pau's tract, in the north part of the town ; Munn & De Peyster's tract, in the central part just south of the foregoing ; Lawrence tract, in the southeast corner of the town, an Indian reservation being taken off in the extreme southeastern corner ; and De Graff's tract, in the southwest corner of the town.
The first town meeting was held at the house of James D. Spencer on May 7, 1839, at which time the following officers were elected :
Russell King, supervisor; Marcus Patterson, Eleazer Slocum, and Benjamin Spencer, assessors; Horace Spencer, Azor Hoyt, and George Getman, commissioners of high- ways ; Edward Dundin and Abram Ruskin, overseers of the poor; George C. Hoyt, Peter Phillips, and Henry Stall, commissioners of common schools; Lucius Patterson, Benjamin G. Lewis, and Joseph Shaw, inspectors of common schools; Hiram Flining, collector ; Hiram Flining, David Baird, Solomon Ouer, Abraham Merchant, and Joel Merchant, constables ; Joel Merchant and Willet Miller, jnstices of the peace ; Augustus G. Jewell, surveyor. There is no record of the election of a town clerk until 1841, when Samuel Atherton was chosen.
The supervisors have been as follows :
Russel King, 1839-40; Philip Rea, 1841-42 ; Marcus Patterson, 1843-44 ; Philip Rea, 1845-46; Eleazer Slocum, 1847; Philip Rice, 1848; Avery Williams, 1849; Marcus Patterson, 1850-51; John F. Slocum, 1852-53; Henry J. Jewell, 1854; Henry A. Baker, 1855-56; John F. Slocum, 1857-58; Levi Stow, jr., 1859; John F. Slocum, 1860 ; James A. Baker, 1861; Lucius L. Strickland, 1862-63; John F. Slocum, 1864-65; Merritt Burgess, 1866-67 : John F. Slocum, 1868-72; John A. Webb, 1873; John F. Slocum, 1874; John A. Webb, 1875; J. W. Phillips, 1876; Merritt Burgess, 1877; J. Eugene Sperry, 1878-81; William N. Burgen, 1882 ; W. R. Paul, 1883-84; E. M. Wight-
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LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.
man, 1885-86; W. R. Paul, 1887-89; George H. Simmons, 1890-91; F. H. Claxton, 1892; Solomon Graves, 1893 ; George H. Simmons, 1894-95. 1
The town officers for 1894-5 were :
George H. Simmons, supervisor ; William J. Mutter, town clerk; Charles Ort, col- lector; Alexander Rowe, William Burgen, and Curtis Harding, assessors ; H. E. Miller, R. O. Smith, A. T. Humphrey, and W. C. Humphrey, justices of the peace ; Charles Piguet, highway commissioner ; W. H. McLymond, overseer of the poor.
The first settlers in West Monroe were Martin Owens, Abel Ames, Joseph P. Ames, Sylvanus Allen, and Ebenezer Loomis, who came in 1806. Mr. Owens came from Fabius, Onondaga county, and located on the Julius Beardsley farm, where he remained until 1847, when he went to Wisconsin and died there. Abel Ames first took up his residence on the farm now owned by John F. Slocum, and died in town in 1844, leaving four sons, one of whom resides on the homestead. Joseph P. Ames, a brother of Abel, was without a family. Mr. Allen was born in Shelburne, Mass., and settled on the place now occupied by a son of George Campbell. In 1841 he removed to Lysander, Onon- daga county, but returned to West Monroe in 1854, and died there in 1865, his death being the first in his family, which consisted of his wife and nine children. His widow died in 1871. Mr. Loomis settled on the farm now occupied by Hiram Rea, whence he moved to Cicero, N Y., in 1830, and died there. The first birth in West Monroe was that of Azariah Ames.
In 1808 Deacon Smith came from Massachusetts and settled near the center of the town. He engaged in lumbering and erected during that year the first saw mill in West Monroe. In 1811 he built the first frame building and opened it as the first tavern in town, keeping it through the war of 1812.
At this period Oneida Lake was noted for its salmon fishing, and a company of fishermen came hither with their nets in 1810, from Cape Cod, Mass., to engage in the business. Among these were Enoch Nickinson, and Captain Walker with his five sons. The business, how- ever, proved unprofitable and many of the colony removed from the town. Those who remained turned their attention to agriculture. An- other settler of 1810 was Hiram Nickinson, who came from Massa- chusetts and settled on lot 75
829
THE TOWN OF WEST MONROE.
The war of 1812, followed by the cold season of 1816, had a dis- heartening effect upon the infant settlement and materially checked its growth. During this period down to 1820 the inhabitants were en- gaged mainly in lumbering or in cultivating small clearings. Their temporary log cabins were from time to time replaced by frame dwell - ings, but improvements progressed slowly. The miasma arising from the swamps caused considerable sickness and added to their sufferings. Fever and ague were prevalent. But those who had come bravely bore the privations incident to pioneer life.
From 1820 to 1830 a large number of arrivals occurred. Prominent among them were Aaron Raymond, Samuel Atherton, Samuel P. Baker, Joseph Stall, John Pierce, John Wilson, Eleazer Slocum, James and Isaac Simmons, Silas and James Penoyer, Amasa Davis and Ros- well Gates, many of whom settled at what is now Union Settlement, where Aaron Raymand built a saw mill in 1821, which was the first mill east of the center of the town. About this time George Phillips took up his residence on the lake shore, and soon afterward Linus Walker settled on the west half of the same lot. The latter is said to have been subject to attacks of insanity, and during those intervals would perform remarkable feats in skating. On one occasion in the winter of 1829, when the ice was partially formed and not sufficiently thick to bear a man's weight, much against the entreaties and efforts of his friends, he attempted to skate across Oneida Lake. When last seen alive he was swiftly gliding past Frenchman's Island. The next June his body was found on the southern shore of the lake. He left five children, of whom two sons were accidentally drowned in the same waters. Samuel P. Baker married a daughter of Samuel Atherton. He settled here permanently in 1829, and died in Gloversville, N. Y., April 21, 1888. His wife's death occurred in this town in 1882. Their son, Hon. William H. Baker, is a prominent citizen of Constantia.
Two other early settlers, both farmers, were Henry Phillips and John W. Sperry. The former was a native of Schenectady, N. Y., and the latter of Bethlehem, Conn.
Meanwhile a road had been opened from east to west through the town, and soon afterward other highways were laid out in convenient localities. A rude harbor or landing was constructed on the beach of the lake for the accommodation of lumbermen and others.
830
LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.
Between 1830 and 1840 Freeman Burr, Russell King, James D. and Benjamin Spencer, Jerry Cronon, James G. Caldwell, Jerry Letts, C. W. Pattat, M. A. Raymond, Lewis Rill, George Getman, Abram Buskin, Azor Hoyt, Horace Spencer, George C. Hoyt, Augustus G. Jewell. Joseph Shaw, Peter Phillips, Abraham and Joel Merchant, Lucius and Marcus Patterson, Philip Rea, Henry Stall, Joel Merchant, Benjamin G. Lewis, Willet Miller, Edward Dundin and others arrived, making the population in the last named year 908.
During the next decade, down to 1850, lumbering was prosecuted more extensively than before, and several saw mills were erected. Among the settlers of this period were Merritt Burgess, Warren Bur- gess, J. E. Phillips, Curtis Harding, Alvin A. Raymond, W. C. Hum- phrey and H. A. Smith. During this and the following decade (1850- 1860) the town experienced its greatest growth, numbering in the latter year more inhabitants than at any other period of its history. Alvin A. Raymond built a grist mill with a single run of stones in 1875, for the purpose of grinding feed, which was the first of the kind in town. Prior to this grain was ground in mills in neighboring towns.
The town of West Monroe manifested a patriotic spirit throughout the war of the Rebellion and early voted a bounty to each volunteer. Eighty-two of her sons enlisted and served with credit. Of these Charles C. Matthews, Peter Bowman, Ira B. Bryant, Warren A. Bur- gess, Henry N. Caldwell, Charles Devendorf, Warren C. Emmons, Adolph J. Fix, George Greyson, James Holmes, Franklin B. Hoyt and B. N. Watson received merited promotions.
In October, 1869, the New York Ontario, and Western (Midland) Railroad was put in operation through the town with a station at West Monroe.
The population of the town at various periods has been as follows: In 1840, 908; 1845, 990; 1850, 1,197; 1855, 1,217; 1860, 1,416; 1865, 1,278; 1870, 1,304; 1875, 1,366; 1880, 1,314; 1890, 1,100.
The first school house was a log structure erected in 1810 on the main road about one mile west of West Monroe, and the first teacher therein was Caroline Barnes. A school was opened at Union settle- ment about 1830 and another at West Monroe near the same time. In 1860 the town had nine school districts, which were attended by 513
831
THE TOWN OF WEST MONROE.
scholars. There are now eight districts with a school building in each, the whole being taught in 1892-93 by eight teachers and attended by 227 children. The school buildings and sites are valued at $3,810; public money received from the State, $962.07 ; raised by local tax, $736.26. The districts are locally known as follows: No. I, West Monroe ; 2, Mud Settlement; 3, Whig Hill; 4, Ostrum's; 5, Toad Harbor ; 6, Union Settlement; 7, Nutting; 8, Green.
Supervisors' statistics of 1894 : Assessed valuation of real estate, $209,810; equalized, $205,050; personal property, $5,550; railroads, 4.13 miles, $36,650; town tax, $1,- 084.95 ; county tax, $1,179.42 ; total tax levy, $2,703.74; ratio of tax on $100, seventy cents, the lowest in the county. The town forms one election district and polled 228 votes in November, 1894.
West Monroe is a small village on the Constantia and Fulton road half a mile north of the station on the Midland Railroad. The first merchant in town was Charles P. Jewell, who opened a store at this point in 1834. His building stood on the west bank of the creek, whence it was moved to the site of Cross & Wightman's block, and finally removed and now forms the rear of E. M. Wightman's dwelling. Among his successors were Henry J. Jewell, Ichabod Spencer, Henry and James Baker, Henry E. Miller, J. E. Sperry, W. H. Ray, and James G. Burr who is still in business. Cross & Wightman succeeded Mr. Sperry in the spring of 1885 and have since carried on a flourishing trade, being the leading tradesmen in the place. In 1886 they erected a cheese factory, here which they sold to William Mutter, the present proprietor, in 1889.
The first hotel was built and kept by Pliny Draper, who soon sold to James and Horace Spencer, brothers, whom Eleazer Slocum succeeded February 12, 1840. Mr. Slocum continued as landlord until his death December 1, 1850, since which time, excepting a period of eight years, his son, John F. Slocum, has conducted the house. John F. Slocum has served as supervisor of West Monroe thirteen years, and is one of the oldest landlords in Oswego county. In 1881 he tore down the old tavern and erected the present fine hotel a little in the rear of the demolished structure. At one time two other hotels, kept by Captain Owens and Captain Allen, were maintained in the village. The pres- ent postmaster is J. W. Phillips. Among his predecessors were Edgar M. Wightman, W. H. Ray and John F. Slocum.
832
LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.
Union Settlement is a hamlet about four miles north of West Monroe. In 1844 a post-office was established there with Silas Penoyer as post- master, who held the position until 1860, when the office was discon- tinued. A new school house was erected at that point in 1894.
Jerry is a post office situated about five miles northwest of West Monroe. Harvey A. Smith is postmaster and also owns a saw mill there.
Churches .- The first church in town was built by the Presbyterians at Whig Hill in 1849, largely through the efforts of Rev. W. Leonard, who dedicated the edifice August 22, 1849, and supplied the pulpit for several years. He died in 1886, being at that time the oldest Mason in Oswego county. This church is now connected with that at Con- stantia.
About 1854 a Baptist church was erected in the village of West Mon- roe at a cost of $2,000. The pastor at that time was Elder Hanson. The society finally disbanded and for many years the edifice has been occupied by the Seventh- Day Adventists and others. The property is owned by John F. Slocum.
In the fall of 1890, under the pastorate of Rev. C. H. Bassett, a neat frame edifice was built by the Methodists in West Monroe village at a cost of about $2,000. The present pastor is Rev. E. L. Shepard.
833
THE TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN.
The territory embraced in this town was formerly a part of the town of Mexico, and when erected into a town, March 24, 1804, was a part of Oneida county. At its formation it included the present town of Richland (set off in 1807) and of Amboy (set off in 1830). Williamstown is situated on the eastern boundary of the county and is bounded north by Orwell and Redfield, east by Oneida county, south by Amboy, and west by Albion.
The surface is nearly level, or rolling in the eastern part, where be- gin the hills that rise farther on northeasterly into the plateau region of Oswego and Lewis counties. The west branch of Fish Creek has its rise in this town, and furnishes excellent mill sites; the other streams are small. The soil is a sandy loam, stony in some portions, and fairly productive, but is best adapted to grazing. In early years the land as it was cleared was devoted largely to the growing of the various grains and vegetables, but in later years the farmers have paid more and more attention to dairying, particularly the making of cheese in factories, of which there are now (1894) three in town. The town was originally heavily timbered, much of which was hemlock, and for many years lumbering, bark peeling, and tanning were the chief industries. All this has changed ; not a tannery is in operation and saw mills are few.
The original survey township was No. 5 of Scriba's Patent, and was given the name of " Franklin " by the proprietor ; but the new name, given it in honor of Henry Williams, one of the first settlers, soon snperseded the other.
Settlement began in Williamstown in 1801, most of the pioneers of that year coming from Connecticut. Ichabod Comstock made the first clearing on lot 155, near the center of the town, and Solomon Goodwin settled adjoining him about two miles north of the site of Williamstown
105
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LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.
village. Mr. Comstock lived in the town until 1837. He had nine children, all of whom are dead. Heman Goodwin, a brother of Solo- mon, lived across the road from them and reached the age of ninety years. Gilbert Taylor located at what was early known as "The Cor- ners," about a mile and a quarter west of the site of Williamstown vil- lage, and kept one of the first stores in town. He sold out in 1805 to Isaac Alden and removed to Jefferson county. At that point it was believed the business center of the town would become established and grow into a village. A little hamlet gathered there, and there the early town meetings were held. The expectations of the pioneers in this re- gard were not to be realized, as will appear. Daniel Freeman kept one of the first stores ; he was from Connecticut and moved out of the town early.
Dennis Orton settled just east of Comstock, but remained only a short time. Henry Williams located on lots 189 and 190, about a mile southerly from the site of the present village, and near to Ichabod Com- stock. He became a prominent citizen, and was town clerk in 1806-08. He was one of the county side judges in 1816, 1821, and 1824, and member of assembly in 1826, and held the office of supervisor from 1810 to 1825 inclusive and from 1827 to 1832. His death took place in 1835, in Pennsylvania, whither he removed in 1833. Henry Filkins took up a lot in the same neighborhood with Goodwin and Comstock, where he built a substantial dwelling and lived in it until his death. He left seven children, all of whom are deceased.
Isaac Alden came into the town from Cooperstown, N. Y., in 1802, and opened his dwelling for the accommodation of the few travelers of the time. He built the first rude saw mill in 1802, which for some years was the only one in town, but it supplied the necessities of the early comers. It was on the site of the present mill at Williamstown village. Mr. Alden was the first supervisor, and held the office several years.
In 1804 Dr. Torbert came into the town and built the first grist mill, which is a part of the present mill at Williamstown. It has since been repaired and remodeled several times. The building of these mills and the water- power of the creek drew settlers to that locality and destroyed the prospects of a village at "The Corners." Squire Marvin built a later saw mill.
835
THE TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN.
In the winter of 1803-4 a school was taught at " the Corners " by Philander Allen, the first one in town. Joel Rathburn and Miss P. Alden were married in September, 1802, which was the first marriage. The first white child born in the town was Julius, son of Ichabod Com - stock.
Thomas Brownell, who is still living, was one of the pioneers in the edge of what is now Amboy. He is a carpenter and erected many of the early buildings, among them the tannery for Jacob Cromwell, noticed further on.
John Potts was an early settler and had three sons, William, Henry and Jacob. They located on the road leading towards Oswego. Henry Potts was supervisor in 1835-37, and again in 1841. Caleb Carr, father of Caleb L. Carr, settled adjoining and west of Henry Williams. He was member of assembly in 1837. William Hempstead located at " the Corners," kept a tavern, and ultimately died there. He was several times supervisor and town clerk.
Asa B. Selden, who was town clerk seven years, and supervisor from 1820 to 1826 inclusive, was a brother of Joseph, and father of Gustavus V. Selden. He located on a farm near Kasoag. G. V. Selden was super- visor in 1847-8. His brothers, Jacob M. and Josiah, were also promi- nent citizens. Jacob M. Selden was especially active in local affairs, was several years supervisor, and held other positions of importance. He was a leading citizen, and died in town a few years since.
Jesse Fish was an early settler and subsequently bought out the heirs of William Hempstead, and kept the tavern built by the latter. Mr. Fish was supervisor in 1839. Joseph F. Beckwith settled early in the Comstock neighborhood, was supervisor in 1843-44, and removed to Illinois, where he died.
Abijah Towsley settled near "the Corners" and was a prominent farmer of the town. He was justice of the peace thirty- one years, and supervisor in 1851. He was a brother of Hiram Towsley.
In 1806 the first store of much account was opened at " the Corners " by Samuel Freeman, who came in a few years earlier and became a prominent citizen. He held the office of supervisor in 1826, and again in 1838.
Other early settlers were Samuel Bird, John Thornton, Asa Belknap,
836
LANDMARKS OF OSWEGO COUNTY.
Obed Smith, Philander Alden (the first town clerk and a justice), Newton Marsh (the second supervisor of the town and a justice of the peace, removed to Richland about 1812), John Farr, Peter B. Wright, Russell Morgan, Israel B. Spencer, and Jesse Merrills. Samuel Clark was an early inn-keeper, and at his house many of the earlier town meetings were held.
These pioneers were all men of sturdy character, came mostly from New England, and devoted their lives to subduing a wilderness, that their posterity might enjoy the benefits.
Cary Burdick came in very early, removed to Albion, N. Y., and later went west. Daniel Stilson settled in town early from Columbia county, and died in the town. Gaston G. Comstock, a relative of the other settlers of that name, came from Connecticut, and was town clerk in 1809-10, and justice of the peace in 1813. Ædanus Comstock, per - haps of the same family, was town clerk in 1811 to 1819 inclusive, and also held the office of justice of the peace. Asa Belden came from Connecticut in 1807, and removed to Rome in middle life ; he was town clerk from 1820 to 1826 inclusive, and supervisor in 1834.
Some of the residents of the town who were prominent in public affairs at later dates are Caleb L. Carr, who was justice of sessions in 1859-60; William R. Potts, who held the same office in 1874; Jacob M. Selden, who was member of assembly in 1855, and Channcey S. Sage, who held the office in 1858, and 1871-72; N. A. Towsley, who was justice of the peace twenty-three years; and Henry Potts who held the same office twenty years.
The first town meeting was held March 5, 1805, at the house of Dan- iel Stilson, at which the following officers were elected :
Supervisor, Isaac 'Alden ; town clerk, Philander Alden; assessors, Henry Williams, Solomon Goodwin, and Israel Jones; collector, Daniel Freeman ; overseers of poor, Daniel Stilson and Ichabod Comstock; commissioners of highways, Newton Marsh, Ichabod Comstock, and Benjamin Bool; constables, Daniel Freeman, Samuel Bird, and John Thornton; fenceviewers, Solomon Goodwin, Assia Belknap, and Israel Jones ; sealer of weights and measures, Isaac Alden; pound masters, Obed Smith, and John Farnum. The town was divided into nine road districts, with the following pathmas- ters respectively : No. 1, Peter B. Wright; 2, Cary Burdick; 3. Newton Marsh; 4, Russell Morgan; 5, Israel B. Spencer; 6, Jesse Merrills; 7, John Ingersoll ; 8, John Thornton, and 9, Joseph Hurd.
837
THE TOWN OF WILLIAMSTOWN.
This list of officers adds the names of several early settlers to those before noticed, who located chiefly in the vicinity of the creek and on the road leading towards Oswego. At this meeting a bounty of $25 was voted for each wolf or panther killed in the town.
In 1810 William Hamilton began improvements on the site of Kasoag by the erection of a dam which is still in use, and a saw mill, which was operated many years, on the site of the present mill. About the same time Daniel Stacy built a carding mill at Williamstown, but he did not get it in operation until 1815. It stood on the opposite side of the creek from the present grist mill. He sold it to Hiram Towsley about 1818 and removed to Camden, and the carding establishment finally went down.
The religious inclinations of the pioneers led them early to form a church and in 1805 the Congregational society was organized by Rev. William Stone, father of William L. Stone, the well known historical writer. Services were held for a time in Dr. Torbert's barn, and he afterward gave the society the use of a building that stood near the present cemetery entrance. The church was not built until several years later. This is now occupied, in a remodeled form, by the Presbyterian society.
Among other settlers of the town the following should be named :
Albert F. Austin, Austin Burdick, George C. Bronson, Dr. Samuel Cox, H. C. Case, Edwin Comstock, Charles Curran, Myron Case, Henry Carr, T. E. Comstock, Robert Filkins, Dr. Joseph Gardner, James Goodwin, Thomas and T. H. Greenhow, E. P. Har- ris, George Humphrey, Peter Hutt, William C. and M. Hyatt, E. McLean, J. A. Nichols, Ashbel Orton, V. R. and William Potts, Robert S. Paul, Frederick K. Potts, J. S. and S. B. Selden, Spafford Towsley, and C. P. Winsor.
Wild animals were very numerous through this region in early years and numerous bounties were offered for their destruction, being con- tinued in some instances down to comparatively recent years. In 1805 the bounty for a wolf scalp was $25, but this was soon reduced to $10. This amount was paid at intervals down to 1836, and in 1827 it was made $15. In 1809 $10 bounty was paid for bears.
The war of 1812 created some excitement in the town, as it did throughout the northern part of New York. General Brown, with a body of soldiers passed through Williamstown on his way from Rome
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