Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 80

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York > Part 80

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The Methodists were second in the field, on center lot 611, and began their missionary labors soon after the Quakers became divided, although it cannot be said that Methodism in the village was in any sense the outgrowth of that controversy. The first society of the denomination was formed March 9, 1838, the trustees being Wm. Powell. George Sim, Theodore Cross, Stephen Post and Charles R. Smith. In this year a house of worship was built on land of Wm. Powell at Pogeland. The society maintained an organization until 1861, and then merged in the society at Philadelphia village, the latter having been formed in 1843, and drawing largely from the membership of the older organiza- tion. The first trustees of the village society were Sterling Graves, Richard Crabb, Nelson Chadwick and Benjamin Allen. The church edifice was also built in 1843, but in 1858 was removed to the lot at the corner of Main and Church streets. The parsonage was erected in 1858. This is undoubtedly the strongest church organization in the town, numbering 210 full members and 34 probationers, with a Sunday school attendance of 2:0 pupils. The present pastor is Rev. R. Flint.

The Baptist church of Philadelphia was organized Nov. 5, 1840, with 10 constituent members, viz. : Win. and Henry York, Nathan Frink, Walter and Henry Colton, E. D. Woodward. Diana Baker, Laura Tay- lor and sisters Cloyse and Colton. The society was incorporated Dec. 14, 1840, Elias Roberts, E. D. Woodward, Walter Colton, Jesse Smith and Henry York being the first trustees. In 1841, in union with the Congregational members of the village, a house of worship was built on Main street. The building became the sole property of the Baptist

767

THE TOWN OF PHILADELPHIA.

society in 1868. The first pastor was Rev. Ashbel Stevens. The present pastor is Rev. G. C. Jeffers, settled in 1895. The church members number :1. The property is valued at $4,500.

The Congregational church of Philadelphia, as now existing, was in a measure the outgrowth of the dissensions among the Quaker element of the population. On January 28, 1859, they, with certain former Presbyterians, formed a new society called "the friends of Christian union in Philadelphia." The trustees were John Wait (at whose house the organization was effected), Andrew Miller, Lueins Smith, Francis D). York, Brackett Ackerman, Nathan R. Whitney and William S. Nichols. Steps were at once taken to create a building fund, which being done, a church edifice was erected the next year. Rev. James Gregg was the first pastor. However, in 1841 Rev. Nathaniel Dutton, that pioneer missionary worker of Champion, organized a Congrega- tional society in this town, and preached for them several years. On February 8, 1841, this society was incorporated, with Milo Shattuck. Nelson Ackert, Abijah Ford, Peter Bethel and Alvah Murdock as tris- tees. Sometime previous to 1860 this church became Presbyterian, and so continued until 1868 (Jan. 29) when it again adopted the Con- gregational form of government, aud merged in the church first men- tioned. In 1889 the edifice was materially repaired at a cost of about $2,000. The church has a total membership of 65 persons, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. A. W. Danforth, who was called to Philadel- phia in 1892.

In 1888 the Episcopal mission of St. Luke's was established and for a time services were held in the village. The number of communicants did not exceed twelve. For many years the village has also been a missionary Catholic station and includes all the Catholic families of the northern part of the town.

The town of Philadelphia during the seventy-five years of its history has furnished to Jefferson county many prominent and influential men. The earliest settlers were Quakers, nearly all of whom came to this region with little means, and who were not what are generally called ambitious men, but came that they might be surrounded with the common comforts of life and rear their children to useful pursuits under the religious teachings which was part of their existence. Among them Cadwallader Child was perhaps the most conspicuous personage, but even he was devoid of all that savored of personal ambition. He held some minor offices, but was chiefly conspicuous in connection with land

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

surveys in the north part of the county. In his family were five chil- dren, of whom Oliver Child was perhaps the most prominent. How- ever, the surname Child has not many representatives now in this part of the county.

Among the other prominent and well known characters in connection with the history of the town half a century ago may be recalled the names of Strickland, among whom were many conspicuous representa- tives; also the names of Alden Bucklin, Harvey Hamblin, John R. Taylor, Benjamin Jackman, Henry W. Marshall, Azel W. Danforth, Hiram Hinman, Jesse Smith, Miles Strickland, William Mosher and others equally worthy, all of whom were factors in local history previous to 1840. At a later period were Alden Adams, Lansing Becker, Seth Strickland, Loren Fuller, John Allis, Daniel H. Scofield, A. C. Com- stock, George E. Tucker, A. W. Oatman, William Roberts and Otis Brooks, all persevering, industrious, thrifty, public spirited and there- fore successful men, who by their works have built up and maintained this among the progressive towns of the county.

Supervisors. Alden Bucklin, 1822; Harvey Hamblin, 1823-26; Jolin R. Taylor, 1827-28; Benjamin Jackman, 1829-31; Hiram Hinman, 1832; Henry W. Marshall, 1833; Jesse Smith, 1834-86; Miles Strickland, 1837; William Skinner, 1838; Miles Strickland, 1539; George Walton, 1840; Jesse Smith, 1841; Miles Strickland, 1842; John F. Latimer, 1843; Azel W. Danforth, 1444-46; Lyman Wilson, 1847; Smith Backus, 1848-49; George Frazier, 1850; William Skinner, 1850-51; Alden Adams, 1952-53: Seth Strickland, 1854-58; John Allis, 1559-61; Lansing Becker, 1862-63; John S. Peck, 1964-65; Seth Strickland, 1866; Loren Fuller, 1807-72; George E. Tucker, 1873-79; Andrew C. Comstock, 1880; S. Monroe, 1881; George E. Tucker. 1882-83; Andrew C. Comstock, 1884-88; Charles O. Roberts, 1889; Albert Oatman, 1890; Charles O. Roberts, 1891-99.

769

THE TOWN OF RODMAN.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE TOWN OF RODMAN.

.Aboriginal Traces .- In Rodman are still discernible traces of the In- dian occupation. Near the residence of Edward Dillon (formerly Jared

Pinc stamp on the bank if! dram

Corn.

Charred

Cached of

Boulder of Gneiss rock used. uns grinding stone tools

Creek

House of

Barn

To Watertown 6 miles

Freeman, and so marked on the accompanying diagram) is an interest- ing aboriginal work. It is located on lot No. 1, on the farm of the late

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Royal Fuller, in a gently sloping field near a small tributary of Stony creek. A plan of this work was made in 1850 under the direction of Mr. Freeman, who was familiar with it when every part was distinctly visible, and the following description was then made: It consists of a double bank, with an intervening crescent-shaped space, and a short bank running down to the stream. The latter may have been the re- mains of a beaver dam, or a covered way to the water. Beaver dams were common on the stream, but this had not their general appearance. Within the enclosure there was plowed up a large quantity of corn, which was found scattered over an area of about one rod by eight rods. It appeared as if charred by fire or exposure to the elements. This spot must have been an immense cache,1 or place for concealing corn. In all several hundred bushels were revealed by the plow. Charred corn was not found elsewhere, though adjoining fields furnished large quantities of stoneware and earthenware fragments. Just inside the enclosure is a large bowlder of gneiss rock, in which may be seen two or three broad yet shallow depressions, doubtless worn by grinding stone implements. These smooth depressions were twelve inches across, and from one to two inches deep. No other part of the mass presented a like smooth surface. Directly upon the mound stood a pine stump three feet in diameter.

Another description of the same work made about the same time is as follows: The work occupied a high oval-shaped hill, one side of which was very steep, while the other descended gently to the level ground. An embankment extended in a semi circular form around that part of the hill which was not naturally protected. Originally the embankment was more than six feet high from the bottom of the trench, but now a slight depression alone remains. Formerly there was an avenue leading to the westward, but this is no longer traceable. A huge bowlder is at the base of the hill, and in it are several depressions, with several grooves, indicating; use for sharpening tools by rubbing them to the required edge or form. (" Aboriginal Monuments of New York, by E. G. Squier, published in 1849 in Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge.)

Traces of this work are yet visible by darker colored streaks of earth, and a richer hue to vegetation, and the locality is known as " fort hill." The stone bowlder, with its depressions, still remains as a monument to the aboriginal occupation.

1 For full description of a cache see note to history of town of Adams.

THE TOWN OF RODMAN.

There are the remains of another ancient fortification on the farm of Albert Heath, on lot No. 25 in Rodman. This work is situated on the north bank of the north branch, about half a mile above the confluence of that stream with Sandy creek. The position seems to have been selected with much care, and was well adapted for defensive operations. It lies upon a point of land elevated about twenty feet above Sandy creek, with a marsh in the rear, out of which flows a small stream of

8 Squares contains 2acres, cut in solid Rocks 4 Ft. deep. 4 Foot wide Entrenchment

LAKE

20 Rods.

so Rod's.

3/2 miles

3 miles

ONTARIO.

North Sandy Creek .

Souly Sandy creek .

water. This stream works its way through a ravine, about ten feet deep, into the north branch. The work itself was about 90 rods in cir- cumference, and enclosed about three acres of land. The soil has been under cultivation about seventy-five years, and but few traces of the works now remain, though its general course may be determined by a richer and more luxurient shade to the vegetation. The usual Indian relies have been found strewn over the ground (which were exhumed by the plow), such as skinning knives, broken pottery, pipe bowls and stails and the other et cetera of such encampments. Some of the pipe bowls found were quite finely carved with images of animals, birds and fish. Human bones have also been exhumed from this place. A de- posit of white sand and clay is found in the marsh which is thought to

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

have been used in the manufacture of pottery. It is said that under the roots of a large maple in this enclosure was dng up the bones of a man of great stature and furnished with entire rows of double teeth.

There was a tradition many years ago of money having been buried in this fort, resulting in considerable digging for its discovery, some persons coming from a distance for that purpose.

Aside from its defensive position, this place was well calculated for an Indian encampment, as Sandy creek at this point was in early times plentifully stocked with salmon, it not being an infrequent occurrence to take a barrel of this fish from one hole.

huyen!

-.. .

The accompanying diagram is a fair representation of this work, and was made in 1802 by Rev. John Taylor while on a missionary tour through the Black river country.

Civil History .- During the months of April and May, 1796, Benja- min Wright surveyed the boundaries of the eleven towns, and at the same time briefly noted the natural physical features of cach. As is well known, the present town of Rodman was then distinguished as township No. 8 of the Black river tract, concerning which Mr. Wright wrote as follows: " The north line of this town is very fine soil, and in general pretty level; some hills and some gentle ascents, all of which are very fine. It is well timbered with maple, bass, ash, elm, beech,

773

THE TOWN OF RODMAN.

birch, butternut, and some few hemlock, which are near the banks of the streams. There is some pine on this line, but not plenty. On the east there is a pretty good country, excepting it is ent in pieces much with the streams, all of which make large gulfs, which are from 40 to 150 feet deep. On the south line is a pretty good country, very finely watered with streams. The timber in general is maple, beech, bass, elm, hemlock, spruce, ash, birch, soft maple and some iron wood. On the west line there is very fine land, which is timbered as the cast. The north branch of Big Sandy creek passes through this town, near the N. W. part, and makes very fine intervales along its course. This is a fine mill stream, and has a sufficient quantity of water for all sea sons. There are also some other streams, which run through this town, on which are fine mill seats. Some pine timber on this town, but not in abundance."

More than a hundred years have passed since Benjamin Wright and his assistants made this survey and description of old township No. S, and while the configuration of the land surface has not since materially changed, Rodman of to day presents few indeed of its old time natural features. The ever active hand of man has wrought many changes during this century of history, and has developed the resources of the town to almost their fullest extent, but all subsequent examinations have shown that the conclusions of surveyor Wright were reliably cor- rect. The northern portions of the town have proven to be excellent lands for all general agricultural pursuits, while the southern localities are less productive and not as easily cultivated. The valuable forest growths have substantially disappeared, yet the town still contains fair timber tracts.

As is fully narrated in another chapter, the town now called Rodman was originally a part of the historic Macomb purchase, and of that por- tion thereof afterward known as the Black river tract, the proprietors of which caused the survey and description to be made for the purposes of facilitating settlement. In the general division of the towns among the owners (August 5, 1796), No. 8, with 1, 4, 5 and 10 (or Rodman, Hounsfield, Champion, Denmark and Harrisburgh), were apportioned to Richard Harrison and Josiah Ogden Hoffman, commonly mentioned in history as Harrison & Hoffman, under whom this town was settled through the agency of Silas Stowe, of Lowville. These proprietors were tenants in common until May 1, 1805, but later on an instrument was executed, " securing certain interests of Hoffman to Thomas L. Ogden

774

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

and Abijah Hammond, and on January 5, 1810, Hoffman conveyed to Harrison his interest in the towns " (Nos. 5, 8 and 10). In 1802 Simeon De Witt published a survey and map of New York state, cast of the pre-emption line, in which he designated this town as Orpheus. In 1801 the proprietors caused the town to be resurveyed and divided into fifty-six lots, which, in turn, were subdivided into quarters and offered for sale to settlers at an average of $3 per acre.

In the spring and summer of 1801 agent Stowe induced settlement in the town by Anson and Ebenezer Moody, Jonathan, Noah, Asa and Aaron Davis, Simeon Hunt, Benjamin Thomas and William Rice, all of whom built log dwellings, cleared small parcels of land for crops and thus prepared the way for the arrival of their families. The wife of Ebenezer Moody came in September of this year, and was the first white woman in the town. Her son, Walter Harrison Moody, born a few months later, was the first white child born in the town; and the death of that son, three years afterward, was also the first event of its kind in Rodman. Proprietor Harrison had previously promised a gift of a hundred acres to the first child born in the town, and afterward conveyed fifty acres to Ebenezer Moody, though not till after the child's death. The Moody family were for years prominently connected with local history, but the name now has few representatives in the locality.

William Rice, one of the pioneers mentioned, built the first saw mill in the town, in 1804, and the first grist mill in 1806. Both were on Sandy creek, but at just what point is not now accurately known. Mr. Rice was otherwise associated with the pioneer history of Rodman for about fifteen years, when he removed from the town. Simeon Hunt passed his days here, and died about 1830. He kept a public house and is remembered as a very pious man and worthy citizen. He was a member of the first religious society formed in the town. Of the brothers Davis, of which there were four, recollections are meagre, yet as pioneers they are deserving of at least a passing mention in these annals. They came from Salem, Mass. Noah, Asa and Aaron after- ward removed to the western part of the state, but Jonathan spent his life in Rodman. George L. Davis, of Watertown, is the grandson of Jonathan Davis.

After this primitive beginning the way for more rapid settlement was prepared. In 1801 passable roads were built along both sides of Sandy creek, one of them extending north to Burrville (Burr's Mills), thus affording easy communication with the settlement at Watertown. About

775

THE TOWN OF RODMAN.

the same time a road was opened to Adams, from which direction came a majority of the settlers. Among the arrivals in 1802 were Timothy Greenly, Reuben Smith, Daniel Todd, Thomas White and Ariel Ed- wards, all prominent persons in early Rodman history. Greenly came from Litchfield, N. Y., and paid eighteen shillings per acre for 2,669 acres of land in the southeast part of the town. These lands were not considered as good as those further north, but pioneer Greenly made a substantial improvement, and was a prominent man in Rodman until his death, February 19, 1852. Todd and White were neighbors, living on Sandy creek. David, Daniel and Enoch L. Todd were sons of pioneer Daniel Todd. The latter built a tannery on the creek in 1806, and was both tanner and shoemaker. White was founder of the little hamlet on Sandy creek, in the northeast part of the town called Whites- ville, and for several years acted as sub-agent for Mr. Stowe. Hle re- moved from Rodman in 1810. Edwards came from Haddam, in Con- neetieut, and settled on lot No. 14. He died in 1853, He was twice married and raised a large family of children, several of whom became prominent in the southern part of the county. Reuben Smith was a New Hampshire Yankee, and an enterprising, go ahead settler. He settled on the south side of the creek, just below the Fassett bridge, where he built a dam, saw mill and other buildings. He was grand- father to R. Z. Smith, present supervisor of the town. In his family were ten sons and daughters.

One of the prominent settlers in 1803 was William Dodge, an old revolutionary patriot, and one of the founders of the Congregational church in Rodman. In his family were eight children. John Peck came from New Hampshire the same year and settled on lot No. 15. John Fassett and Caleb Woodward also came in 1803, the former from New Hampshire, and the latter, a Scotchman, from Herkimer county, though an earlier resident of Dutchess county. Jonathan Wyman, Ziba Buell and Jesse Wright made settlements in Rodman about 1805, and possibly some of them as early as 1804. This year also undoubtedly witnessed the arrival of still other settlers, though no present record informs us just when the purchasers of land in that year actually came here. The land agency books show that in 1804 contracts for land were made by about fifteen prospective settlers, and among them were a number of names well known in Rodman in later years.

They were Aaron Moody, Jesse Smith, Horace Townsend, Joseph Nichols, Nathan Whitman, Arnold Stone, Titus King, Joseph Dana, Avery Woolworth, Thaddeus

776

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Case, Leonard Farwell, John Vaughn, Joshua Tinney and Leonard Barker. Among the purchasers in 1805, whose names appear on the record, were the surnames Mead, Wright, Lamson, Hawks, Pierce, French, Buell, Freeman and Westcott, several of whom are still recalled by the descendants of pioneers, but all of whom cannot now be accurately located in the town.

Through the same means, and having access to important papers and records, the names of still other settlers may be recalled, though not perhaps among the pioneers. However, all are believed to have been in Rodman previous to the closing years of the war of 1812-15.

In this connection may be mentioned Asa Cooley, a prominent figure in early town history; the Gates family in the west part of the town; also Stephen Cook, John Burton, John Butterfield, Nathaniel Harrington, Jacob Heath, the Priest family (Jo- seph, Job and Solomon), Willard M. Winslow, Alpheus Nichols, Judge Abel Cole (in the assembly in 1818), Nathan Strong (in the assembly in 1832), William Sill, James Loomis, Roswell Blanchard, Bazabel Gleason, Cyrus H. Stone, Luther Eastman, Beloved Rhodes, Nathaniel Crook, Peter Vandes, Isaiah Post, Richard Dye, George Thomas, Calvin Clifford, Enoch Murray, Eliah Russell, Caleb Woodward, Zach- ariah Walsworth, Abel Loveland, Timothy Underwood, D. Eastman, Abijah Kel- logg, Stoddard Eastman, Nathaniel Tremain, Amariah Babbitt and Gren Kellogg, In the same manner may be recalled and mentioned Nathaniel Nichols, Nathan Whitman, Lyman Lawrence, Thomas Harrington, James Wright, David Corey, John Hackett, Reuben Tremain, Ebenezer Blackstone, Aaron Loomis, Bernard Warren, Titus King, Luther Woodworth and Heman Swift, all of whom were set- tlers of the period and identified in some way with the early history of the town. Among their cotemporaries, and just as earnest and devoted in the work of settle- ment and development, were Winslow G. Tracy, Daniel Field, William A. Flint, John Burr. Harry Wagoner, Joseph Pratt, James Ralph, Alanson Cummings, Charles Palmeter (or Parmeter), Alvin Buck, Ansel Brainerd, Samuel Kelsey, Benoni Ed- wards, Return Russell, Philo Booth, Asa Hill, John Glass, and still others whose names are worthy of mention but have been lost with long passed years, the period of which we write being all of four score years ago.

Among the prominent early families was that of which Moses Wash- btirn was the head. He came from Stafford, Conn., and settled on the farm afterward occupied by Squire Strickland, in the southwest part of the town. His sons were Jacob, Moses and Roger, and his daughters Phebe, Eunice, Triphena and Betsey. John R. Washburn, county superintendent of the poor, is the grandson of Moses Washburn, the pioneer.

Not one of the pioneers remain to tell the story of early life and his- tory with its vicissitudes and hardships, its pleasures and comforts, for with these early developers of the region all was not privation and strug. gle for existence. In their primitive and frugal way the pioneer fam- ilies enjoyed the good things of life, but their greatest pleasure was in

777

THE TOWN OF RODMAN.

laying a firm and lasting foundation for the benefit of their children and descendants. The names of many of those mentioned indicate New England birth and parentage, and some of them to be of Puritan de- seent. Such was the case. The land agents drew largely upon New England's population in settling the Black river townships, and Rodman was not an exception to the rule.

Between the years 1803 and 1806 the lands of township No. 8 were settled rapidly, and in the next year Rodman contained 236 legal voters, having requisite property qualifications. In the same year the neigh - boring town of Rutland also had 236 qualified voters, these towns thus standing in the lead in this respect in the county. At that time Water- town had only 231, and Hounsfield 226, legal voters. In view of the large number of inhabitants thus indicated, it was not surprising that a new town should be created from the mother territory of Adams.

Organisation .- The creating aet was passed by the legislature March 21, 1801, at which time the number of inhabitants was estimated at 350. The territory of the town included township No. 8 and a part of No. 9, of the Black river traet, then otherwise known as Orpheus and llandel, as designated by Simcon De Witt's map, but they were, in fact, a part of Adams, the latter having been created from Mexico, April 1, 1802. In 1808 township No. 9 was annexed to Lewis county and was erected into a separate town by the name of Pinckney. The original name of this town ( Rodman) was Harrison, so called in honor of its proprietor, Richard Harrison, a lawyer of eminence in New York city and the owner of several vast land purchases in the northern part of the state. However, from the similarity of the names Harrison and Harrisburgh, both Black river towns, on April 6, ISOS, the name of the new creation was changed to Rodman, and so called in allusion to Daniel Rodman, of Hudson, N. Y., who was clerk of the Assembly in 1808-9, when the change was made.

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 80

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co. Number of Pages: 1368

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368