USA > New York > Oneida County > Utica > Memorial history of Utica, N.Y. : from its settlement to the present time > Part 21
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September I Ith a committee reported that a different method of pay - ing for pavements should be adopted and recommended heavier assess- ments on real estate. About this time the practice of borrowing money to meet current expenses, a practice that sooner or later seems to over- take all cities, began in Utica, when $3,000 were borrowed for that purpose. November 27th it was resolved that the city will furnish a jail lot if the supervisors of the county will erect a building.
The principal street improvements were : Court street opened from State to Varick, sidewalks laid on John, Cornelia, Blandina, Mary, and the paving on Genesee street extended. A new ordinance was adopted relative to not selling wood in the streets unless measured by the official wood measurer and his certificate obtained ; providing, also, that no load should stand more than twenty minutes in any square or street ex- cept the Public Square "opposite Bagg's Tavern."
In the year 1833 Rev. J. N. Danforth, agent of the American Col- onization Society, came to Utica and invited the public to meet him in the Dutch Reformed Church on Broad street on the evening of De- cember 2Ist. Several meetings were held between this date and the 10th of January, 1834, and speeches were made to the following resolution :
Resolved, That this meeting deeply deplores the unfortunate condition of the colore I population of this country and commends to the zealous support of the philanthrojust and the Christian the American Colonization Society, as the instrument under Prov !- dence which is best calculated to alleviate the condition of the free negro and secure the ultimate emancipation of the slave.
The burden of the discussion fell chiefly upon Mr. Danforth and Rev. Beriah Green, then president of the Oneida Institute at Whitesboro, though it was participated in by William Tracy, Benjamin F. Cooper, Rev. George W. Bethune, and others. It continued two weeks, the
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
meetings being chiefly held in the First Presbyterian Church, which was crowded to its utmost capacity. The speeches were bitter and intense and caused much excitement in the community.
The years 1833, '34, and '35 were characterized by great excitement throughout the country on the subject of abolition. The efforts of the abolitionists to hold public meetings in advocacy of their views were everywhere met by meetings of their opponents in denunciation of them, and tumults and riots occurred in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and numerous other cities and smaller communities. The mischief which agitation of this topic was elsewhere occasioning had been a matter that was introduced into the Utica council of 1834, when resolutions, before quoted, were passed in deprecation thereof.
On September 3, 1835, a public meeting was held in the court-room of "the citizens of Utica who are opposed to the proceedings of the abolitionists," at which resolutions denouncing such proceedings were adopted. Soon afterward the Utica Anti-Slavery Society issued a call for a State convention to be held at Utica on the 2 1st of October for the purpose of forming a State Anti-Slavery Society. On the 8th of Octo- ber another public meeting was held of those citizens " who approve of the sentiments expressed at the meeting held September 3d " and "are opposed to the assembling of a State convention in Utica for the pur- pose set forth in a call of the Anti-Slavery Society of this place." The common council on October 16th did, however, grant by a vote of seven to four the request of the society to hold the convention in the court-
room. The next day a large meeting of citizens convened in. the court- room and denounced this action. The meeting adjourned to the 21st of October. Another meeting in behalf of free speech and of the right of the people peacefully to assemble, while disavowing all sympathy with abolitionists, was held in the court-room on the 20th of October. The meeting was a large one, but it was considerably disturbed by in- truders, who at times threatened violence, and was prematurely ad- journed. Prominent among the opponents of the anti-slavery men were the leading inhabitants of the place without distinction of party -mayors, judges, and in general the older and more stable of the citi- zens, desirous to preserve the laws and peace of the country, and anxious that Utica should not become the theater of such acts of violence
R. S. Williams
225
ANTI-SLAVERY CONVENTION.
as had been witnessed elsewhere. The adjourned meeting of October 17th convened at the court-room at 9 o'clock October 2Ist for the avowed purpose of preventing the meeting of the anti-slavery conven- tion on that day "in a building," as one of the resolutions phrased it, " erected by the voluntary contributions of the citizens for better and different purposes." The gist of the preamble and resolutions adopted by the meeting was that public agitation of the slavery question was mischievous to all concerned, the enslaved and the free alike; that the delegates to the proposed anti-slavery convention could be regarded in no other light than as intruders upon the quiet of a well-ordered com- munity, after they had been repeatedly asked to stay away ; and that if disorder and violence should come of their persisting in holding a con- vention "upon them would rest the whole blame and responsibility."
The chairman of the meeting appointed a committee of twenty-five to go before the convention, report the proceedings of this meeting, and respectfully urge the convention to break up and leave the city forth- with. This was carried out and the committee returned in about an hour and reported that they had found the convention assembled in the Bleecker street church, had read the resolutions before it, and that after a little delay the convention had adjourned. During the delay thus alluded to there were undoubtedly some lively scenes inside of the church. The appearance of the committee was an incentive to what- ever rowdy element was present in the church, as well as on the outside, to create a disturbance ; there was much noise, some threats of violence, hymn books and other missiles were tossed about, and some personal assaults, in one of which Spencer Kellogg's coat was torn from his back. Meanwhile an immense crowd gathered in the streets. While the com- mittee were still in the church a sudden disturbance occurred on the borders of this crowd, and there was a swaying of the multitude toward Genesee street. This was caused by a lot of roughs who broke through the crowd with the ladder of one of the hook and ladder companies. The ladder was raised against the church and two men sprang up it. Then some one started hurriedly into the church, crowding his way as best he could, and informed the assemblage of the impending danger, and soon Charles A. Mann, then agent of Charles E. Dudley, of Al- bany, the owner of the building, came upon the porch of the church
. 29
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
and asked the crowd to disperse, telling them that the building was private property. He begged of them to respect it and protect it from violence. The men on the ladder then came down. The excitement was intense and it was remarkable that a destructive riot did not follow. Strangers were denied admittance to all the taverns on the street and to many of the stores, or were indiscriminately hustled out into the rain, which had begun to fall. A cannon was brought out and fired as a signal of triumph, the abolition convention having adjourned. In the assemblage within the church was Gerrit Smith as a spectator. When the necessity of breaking up the convention became apparent he in- vited the people to go home with him, where they would find a warm welcome. About 400 accepted the invitation and the work of the con- vention was finished at Peterboro.
The foregoing is a cool and dispassionate account of that event and is based upon what was given in a lecture on the history of the Bleecker street church, by Thomas W. Seward, an eye-witness of the proceed- ings at the church.
In 1835 a little book was published entitled "The Enemies of the Constitution Discovered," in which is given the other side of the story. In that work the conduct of the committee who went to the church and of the mob on the outside is characterized in the bitterest and most denunciatory terms ; and it is stated, inferentially at least, that the mob waited only the word of Mr. Beardsley, chairman of the committee of twenty-five, or some other prominent citizen, to have committed untold violence and probably murder. Altogether it was an occurrence the import of which and its causes it is somewhat difficult to appreciate at this day, when slavery, the odious institution which occasioned many such scenes as well as a subsequent bloody war, has disappeared from the country forever.
The winter of 1835-36 was a severe one, and especially marked by the great amount of snow that fell. A special meeting of the council was held Sunday, January 10th. The mayor informed the council that he called the meeting at the request of several citizens "to adopt such means as might be deemed expedient in consequence of the long-contin- ued storm," which was still prevailing, and the distress apprehended among the poor from the unusual depth of snow. Resolutions were adopted
227
PROCEEDINGS OF 1836.
that the police constables and the street commissioner be directed to call out the city watch and to organize a force sufficient to patrol the streets and ascertain the condition of the poor, afford such relief as may be required, and that they act in concert with the committee recently appointed by the citizens for the same purpose. Other resolutions adopted on the 15th of January provided for the payment of people for cleaning the streets of snow and appropriated $100 to buy wood for the poor.
1836 .- The officers of the year were as follows: Mayor, John H. Ostrom ; clerk, J. D. Edwards ; aldermen, Edward Curran, John A. Russ, Alvin White, Sylvanus Holmes, T. S. Faxton, William Burtch, Joshua M. Church, A. S. Pond, Willard Crafts, Robert McBride, E. S. Barnum, Harry Mason ; treasurer, James Dean; attorney, O. B. Matteson ; street commissioner, John Riley.
At the beginning of the year the mayor addressed the council and laid especial stress upon the necessity of "a rigid enforcement of the excise laws in relation to tippling shops," also upon the importance of adoping some measures for the relief of the poor.
April 8th the following streets, or the nucleus of them, increased in some instances by subsequent extension, were declared to be public highways: Hamilton, Bright, Philip, Saratoga, Schuyler, Erie, Hope, Burnet, Devereux, Union, Rebecca, Meadow, Lark; Charlotte was extended to Steuben Park. Ballou and Grand streets were opened the same month and Mandeville and Aiken in the following month. It was resolved in May that Columbia street should be graded and graveled from Varick to Whitesboro and State street from Columbia to Genesee. In June Main street was directed to be continued to the east line of the Bowman farm; also Jay, Bleecker, Mary, Blandina, Lansing, Rutger, and South streets ; and Seward, Ransom, Backus, and Warren streets were extended from Bleecker to the east line of the Bowman farm New streets designated were Marshall and Webster from Broad to South; and Clay streets and Jackson from Broad to the railroad. A few of these streets were never brought into use and some are now known by other names. Parts of Main and Columbia streets were graded and paved.
In July the city watch was suspended as to its duties on account of some alleged shortcoming, and Bildad Merrill, Hugh Williamson, Bar-
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
ney Keating, and James Dempsey were appointed, Mr. Merrill being chosen captain. In the same month is found the first mention of a watch-house, which was repaired.
On the 24th of June the fire department was asked to recommend a suitable person for the position of chief and R. B. Miller was appointed on the Ist of July. In the same month the engine then located on Di- vision street was removed to the engine-house on Hotel street.
Other proceedings of this council were the following: On the 15th of April are noticed movements relating to the location of the insane asylum here. It was resolved that a committee of one member from each ward confer and correspond with the commissioners of the asylum and adopt such means as should secure its location in this city.
September 23d a committee was appointed to report on the expe- diency of " paving Genesee street with wooden blocks."
Cars began running on the Utica and Schenectady Railroad and were a source of much curious interest. In August the Clinton House, which occupies the site on which the Mechanics Hall was to be placed, was torn down. A contract for the erection of the new building was given to James McGregor. In November the Oneida Bank, just as it was ready to begin business, was robbed of nearly $110,000.
It is noticeable that an unusual number of streets were opened dur- ing the present year. In fact a speculative spirit was rife in the com- munity. Landholders were eager to have laid out into lots and inter- sected by streets property which they flattered themselves would soon be in request. As evidence of this spirit and of the aspiring views of the citizens in general it may be of interest to here insert some of the doings of this council before the close of their term.
On the 13th of January, 1837, a committee of five was appointed to confer with a committee from Deerfield as to the propriety of annexing a part of that town to the city. There was a report at the next meeting in favor of the project and a public meeting was held in Febru- ary to consider the matter. The question of annexing part of New York Mills was also under consideration. On the 3d of February it was resolved that the council " will apply to the legislature for charter amendments providing for the election of a supervisor from each ward." This was doubtless a measure to secure more influence in the Board of
229
A SLAVE CAPTURE.
Supervisors for the interests of the city as against those of the county. In the winter of 1836-37 there occurred a disturbance and mob akin to that of 1835 and arising from the same cause, but ending in defiance and subversion of law. This incident, now generally forgotten, deserves mention as among the first of such occurrences which less than a score of years later became very common, and ultimately proved too much for the whole strength of the United States government.
A Virginian presented himself one morning at the office of a distin - guished advocate of the city with the proper papers for the return of a fugitive slave whom he had traced to Utica, and engaged the services of the advocate. The fugitive was soon discovered by a constable and taken before Judge Hayden, United States commissioner, and the pa- pers together with the law of the United States were duly submitted by the claimant's lawyer. Alvan Stewart appeared in behalf of the fugi- tive, and presenting to the court a Bible quoted therefrom and com- mented in his inimitable manner to the edification and amusement of the crowded audience until dinner-time, for which the court adjourned. In the afternoon Mr. Stewart resumed his argument and continued it till dark and tea-time, for which another adjournment was made. The fugitive meanwhile was retained in the office in the custody of the con- stable. Before the session was resumed a mob suddenly appeared in the street, marched up the stairway, burst into the office, overcame the officer, and carried off the slave, presumably to the station of the under- ground railway for Canada.
1837 .- Officers for the year were as follows: Mayor, Theodore S. Gold ; aldermen, Harvey Barnard, Harry Bushnell, Benjamin Cahoon, Apollos Cooper, Edward Curran, Thomas Goodsell, Ephraim Hart, Frederick Hollister, Sylvanus Holmes, Robert McBride, Henry New- land, James C. Delong ; treasurer, James Dean ; attorney, William J. Bacon ; clerk, John S. Ray ; surveyor, John Fish ; street commissioner, John Riley.
January 12th a resolution was adopted that a new engine be pur- chased, " which will make two to each ward," and each ward be divided into two fire districts. On the 26th of the same month it was decided that one of these engines should be purchased at a cost of not more than $700, while on the 5th of January a committee was appointed to
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
form a " bucket company" and fifty buckets were purchased in Febru- ary. Fears were expressed of disastrous fires, as the water was drawn out of the canal.
April 7th it was resolved that the street on the east side of Chancel- lor Square between Bleecker and Elizabeth be named Kent street and that on the west side Academy street.
In April of this year a memorial was addressed to the legislature re- ferring to a recent disastrous fire, and on that account in part asking as a means of relief to the city the remission of the tax for the location of the terminus of the canal ; and also asking for the location of either the lunatic asylum or State capital in Utica. The fire just mentioned, which occurred March 31, 1837, was the largest one the city had as yet experienced, sweeping away a large portion of the buildings on both sides of Genesee street below Broad. A local paper said of it: " It broke out about 2 A. M. over the watch and jewelry factory of C. V. Brooks, on the east side of Genesee street north of Broad street. It destroyed the whole block on Genesee street down to the square, every build- ing on Broad street as far east as John, and all the buildings on the west side of John to the square at the foot of Genesee with the ex- ception of the brick store of Thomas E. Clark on the corner of Main and John, John E. Hinman's store on John street, and the fireproof building of E. B. Shearman & Co. in the rear of their Genesee street store. The fire crossed to the west side of Genesee, to the store of Stocking & Hunt, and entirely destroyed every other building on that side down to Whitesboro street, with all of the shops and buildings in the rear. From that point the fire extended up Whitesboro street to the house of H. K. Sanger, on the corner of Burchard street, where it was finally checked. The building in which the fire originated was of wood and burned with great rapidity. A stormy wind from the east drove the flames across the street and the flying cinders fell in a con- tinuous shower on the buildings, so that within an hour from the time the fire broke out the whole block on the west side of Genesee street from the North American Hotel to the store of Stocking & Hunt was ignited about the same time, thus rendering it impossible to arrest the fire with any means at the command of the fire department, or of the citizens, until it reached a less compact part of the city."
231
HARD TIMES.
May 26th a resolution was passed prohibiting profane and indecent language by porters and others at the packet dock and railroad station ; and on the 30th of June an ordinance went into effect prohibiting the solicitation of passengers for canal boats, stages, and railroads, and the police were called upon to enforce it.
The mayors had for several years previous to the date under consid- eration given their salaries of $250 per year to the dispensary. This institution was at this time under direction of one alderman from each ward. In making the donation this year Mayor Gold said that on " account of the great distress " such a course was more than ever desir able. But in spite of the hard times the council appropriated $100 with which to celebrate the 4th of July. The hard times continued with in - creasing severity and there was much distress, for the prices of all the necessaries of life were higher than ever before. Flour was at one time $10.50 per barrel, with none in the city, and the banks soon suspended specie payment. The newspapers, however, made the most of the fact that Utica escaped the effects of the stringency with less of actual suf- fering than most cities. In one of them we find the following : "The merchants in this city are proverbially sound in their circumstances, and have managed their business through the whole period during which the speculative mania raged in different sections of the Union with unusual prudence and conservatism." Their credit in New York was reported good and local builders were actively employed. The banks recommenced discounts to some extent in June.1
December 8th public gratification was expressed that the military spirit was not extinct, and the following was published : "A few young and enterprising men of the city have organized a corps which they are determined shall compare for appearance and discipline with any in the State." This was the Utica Citizens Corps, now beginning its long and brilliant career, and for which the council purchased the following year fifty stand of arms.
The Syracuse and Utica Railroad was nearing completion and in the spring the Clinton and Utica Macadam Turnpike Company was incor. porated, as also was the Young Men's Association; but public im- provements as a whole were confined to the construction of a few side-
1 See chapter on the banks and finances.
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MEMORIAL HISTORY OF UTICA.
walks, the relaying in part of a sewer in Genesee street, and the paving of the lower end of First street ; the only other improvement was the extension of Washington street to the river.
The city watch was disbanded on the 22d of September and a new one appointed, Moses T. Meeker being captain ; John Wilson, assistant. Mr. Meeker resigned in January, 1838, and Bildad Merrill was appointed in his stead.
On the 3d of November a committee of one from each ward was appointed to superintend "the interest of the city in relation to the en- largement of the Erie Canal."
John Savage, a most distinguished member of the legal profession who now first appears as a citizen of Utica, will be noticed in the chap- ter on the Bench and Bar.
Among those succeeding about this time to the business of older members of their respective families were George Tracy, bookseller ; Henry R. Hart, iron founder ; George S. Dana, hardware; Norman C. Newell, paints and brushes; all of whom had influence in public mat . ters as well as in their own. Henry R. Hart, son of Ephraim H. and for some years a partner with him in the management of the iron foundry, was well known for his geniality, his generosity, his ardent participation in all undertakings, local or general, that promised to be profitable or beneficent. Modest and unobtrusive, with refined tastes, he was bold and efficient in the discharge of his duty. He was captain of the Citizens Corps, active in the Mechanics Association, and in the fire department. He died in 1868 aged fifty-seven. George S. Dana, at first with his father, James Dana, and then succeeding him, man- aged also a factory for the making of locks and had an interest in one for the making of screws. He, too, died comparatively young. N. C. Newell, following in the career of his father, survived much longer than the preceding, transmitting the business to his son.
Among the newly come merchants were Thomas H. Wood and George W. Wood, hardware; J. L. Pierce, Thomas F. Tracy, Rugene Swartwout, dry goods ; W. C. Butler, crockery ; Frederick W. Guiteau, forwarder and grocer. Mechanics were Selden Collins, watchmaker ; John W. Bates, coachmaker; Robert Higham, engineer; Augustus C. Pal- mer, carpenter ; Burton Hawley, livery ; George Langford, at first book- keeper and soon after cashier of the Oneida Bank.
233
GEORGE W. WOOD.
George W. Wood, who was born in Ashley, Mass., August 29, 1809, had been engaged for a short time before coming to Utica in the book publishing business. About 1837 he settled in Utica and formed a partnership with his brother, Thomas H. Wood, for the purpose of dealing in hardware. This partnership was dissolved, when he took the City Furnace with John F. Seymour and engaged in the manufacture of stoves and castings. At the time of Mr. Wood's death Mr. Seymour had retired from the business, Thomas H. Wood having secured his interest. Very soon after coming to Utica Mr. Wood became a teacher in the Bible class of the First Presbyterian Church, a noted class of eight or nine sections under the care and instruction of excellent and capable men. They met once a week to examine and discuss the lessons and make out a set of questions for the class. These were printed and put into the hands of the learners and made the theme of the teaching. It included such teachers as Walter King, Thomas E. Clark, William and Charles Tracy, Judge Hayden, Deacon Mather, Spencer Kellogg, and others. Mr. Wood was not a classical scholar, but like some of the above named had a thorough knowledge of the Bible and was an interesting teacher. He was one of the directors of the Bank of Utica and a trustee of Westminster Church, of which he was a founder, and one of the building committee of the present edifice. His fine, manly form and attractive manners added to his superior busi- ness traits and his personal worth made him conspicuous. Mr. Wood died in New York city September 21, 1854. His wife, daughter of Thomas E. Clark, two sons, and two daughters survive him
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