USA > New York > Madison County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York > Part 37
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covers several square miles, large quantities of cedar were formerly cut and in later years the second growth has been heavily drawn upon for hop poles. The mixed farming of early years was gradually superseded by the extensive raising of hops in the western part of the town, while in the east part dairying has for many years chiefly monopolized the attention of the farmers. The manufacture of cheese in factories re- ceived most attention for a number of years; but that feature of the business was greatly reduced by the opening of the Unadilla railroad on which milk stations were established at several points, for the shipment of milk to the New York market. The organization and incorporation of the Brookfield Agricultural Society in 1849, which is still in active and prosperous existence, was the beginning of the career of an organ- ization which has been of incalculable benefit to the town at large and incidentally to the village of Clarkville, where are located its grounds. The first fairs of the society were held on land now owned by F. M. Spooner, and later on a tract a little north of the village. In 1884 the society purchased the grounds in present use, which include about seventeen acres, erected substantial and commodious buildings and constructed a trotting track. The society holds its semi-centennial fair in 1899. H. L. Spooner has served as president of the society for nineteen years past and its success is due to a large extent to his energy and good judgment.
The Utica, Chenango Valley and Susquehanna Railroad (now a branch of the D. L. and W. system) touches the northwest corner of this town, with a station at North Brookfield. The Unadilla Valley Railroad skirts the eastern border, connecting on the north by Bridge- water with the road above mentioned, and on the south at New Berlin with the Ontario and Western road. Brookfield was not bonded in aid of any railroad and at the present time has no bonded indebtedness. The construction of the Chenango Canal through neighboring towns and the building of the railroads had the customary influence, as seen in all towns without very large business centers to which may be drawn the trade and other interests of smaller places. While they gave to the inhabitants far better facilities for travel and transportation, they at the same time made it easier for the people to reach the larger pur- chasing markets at Utica and elsewhere, thus diverting expenditures elsewhere, instead of to local tradesmen.
The later detailed history of Brookfield, following that given in Chapter IV relates chiefly to the decline of certain industries, the
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establishment of others, the changes in mercantile establishments, and the general development at and near the several villages of the town.
Clarkville (or Brookfield) is the largest village in this town, and is the only one incorporated. It is pleasantly situated on the Beaver Creek, which flows southeasterly across the central part of the town, a little northeast of the center of the town, and for many years after its incep- tion was called Bailey's Corners, from Eli S. Bailey, who settled here in about 1812, having then resided in the creek valley three or four years. At the time of his settlement on the site of the village there was nothing to distinguish it from the surrounding farming country, but the first store was built just previous to the opening of the war of 1812, by Reuben Leonard, founder of Leonardsville, a building that stood for three quarters of a century. The first saw mill, built by the pioneer Oliver Babcock, father of Ethan and Oliver, in 1795, was run- ning, and in 1815 the first public house was built by Ethan Babcock, and kept by him until 1822. A frame school house was built about 1805, but school had doubtless been taught a few years earlier. The post-office at this point was not opened until about 1820, with the name Beaver Creek, and Joseph Clark, from whom the name Clarkville is derived, was the first postmaster. He settled here in 1810, held the offices of town clerk, supervisor, and justice of the peace, each of them for a long term. He served in the war of 1812 and rose to the rank of colonel before the close of the war. He was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in which office he served ten years, and in 1824 was elected to the Assembly and re-elected in 1828, and for the third time in 1835. In 1839 he was elected to the State Senate. Throughout his life Mr. Clark was a prominent and highly respected citizen of Madison county. In the office of postmaster Mr. Clark was succeeded by An- drew Babcock, whose successors have been Varnum Crumb, Maxson Clark, jr., Lucius P. Clark, John T. G. Bailey, Benjamin Gorton, Rich- ard Stillman, who held the office more than twenty years and died in the service. He was followed by A. J. Stillman, whose successors have been Charles J. Elliott, H. L. Spooner, F. D. Rogers and H. L. Spooner again. The name of the village was changed from Bailey's Corners to Clarkville at the time of its incorporation in April, 1834, after a spirited contest, at which time there was a population of about 400.
In the old store built by Reuben Leonard, before mentioned, Shef- field Collins traded many years and until his death. He also kept the first tavern succeeding Ethan Babcock, which stood on the site of the
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Clarkville hotel. Mr. Collins also manufactured potash, as was cus- tomary with enterprising merchants of the early years. Among other early merchants were Henry Holmes, who was associated with his brother; Chester Palmiter, who was in business several years and until his death in August, 1837. Varnum Crumb was in business for a time, Andrew Babcock many years, succeeding which he was associated with John T. G. Bailey, who was the eldest son of Dr. Eli S. Bailey, the pioneer. They occupied the store in which A. J. Stillman now carries on business. Nathan Brownell traded a number of years and to near the time of his death, when he was succeeded by his sons, Nathan and Putnam C. Mattison Clarke, who had been engaged in hat trade, and as proprietor of a hotel, became a merchant about 1840 and continued fifteen years. Leroy Babcock succeeded Andrew Babcock about 1857, and sold to Frederick Foot. A. W. Mowry, who came from West Win- field, was a general merchant from 1859 more than twenty years. Laurens Babcock began as a general merchant in 1864, with Henry Keith as partner, whose interest he purchased at the end of four years. John T. Stillman, a native of this town, who began dealing in hard- ware in 1867, purchasing the stock of his brother, William, is still in business. A. J. Stillman, present general merahant, has been in busi- ness since 1868. The drug business, now represented by A. C. Miller, was formerly conducted for more than ten years by M. A. Saunders, who had as partner about six years L. A. Saunders. F. D. Gould, H. H. Elliot, A. C. Tuttle and M. H. Brown are in the grocery trade, the latter also having a bakery. D. F. Main has a hardware store, and the furniture and undertaking is carried on by L. W. Babcock and J. Slater. C. A. Wright is a harness maker, and R. Dennison shoemaker. Will- iam Crane, W. M. Clarke and C. Morgan carry on blacksmithing. In connection with operating the saw mill, W. M. Crane has a flour and feed store. Adelbert Crandall operates a wood repair shop, and H. A. Fitch has a photograph gallery. E. A. Pope is jeweler and G. L. Whit- ford is a merchant tailor.
In December, 1871, Calvin Whitford established the banking house which is still in existence under his management associated with his son, Edward C. Whitford.
Succeeding the early mills here, a carding mill and a foundry estab- lished by Joseph Clark, a tanning business was begun by Jonathan Bab- cock which was very successful during many years, while bark was easily obtainable. The old tannery building is now a repair shop used
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by Samuel Jordan. The grist mill now owned by William Crane was built by Mr. Jordan in 1865 on the site of a building erected in 1854 by a stock company for the manufacture of agricultural implements, for which purpose it was used about ten years. Mr. Jordan acquired the property and about 1860 put in a run of stones and carried on milling in connection with the implement manufacture until 1863, when the latter business was discontinued. He also continued tanning until after 1880.
The hotel before mentioned as having been built in 1815 by Ethan Babcock, subsequently passed to possession of Joseph Clark, who sold it in 1843 to his son-in-law, Henry Keith, who kept the house many years as the Central Hotel. He was succeeded by the present proprie- tor, Lyman Brown, who changed the name of the house to Brown's Hotel.
Succeeding Dr. Eli S. Bailey, the first physician in Clarkville, was his son Silas who studied with him and practiced many years, a part of the time with his father. A. E. Wallace practiced a few years and was succeeded by Dr. Catlin, who came from Winfield and about two years later removed to Ohio. Dr. Griswold was in practice from about 1845 to 1879, when he removed to Poolville. Augustus L. Sanders was in practice a number of years and until his death, and the same is true of Dr. Nelson B. Parr. Albert C. Rogers practiced several years and removed to California. The present physicians of the village are Dr. O. W. Bushyte, and Dr. H. C. Brown.
Thomas J. Yaw practiced law in Clarkville from about 1830 until his death in 1863. Pardon Davis practiced a short time at about that. period. George W. Gray was in practice a few years about 1845. Henry M. Aylesworth, now of Leonardsville, began practice here in April, 1867, and left the place in December of the same year. Samuel D. White practiced from 1857 to 1866 and removed to Hamilton; con- temporary with him was William H. Davis. George M. Havens prac- ticed here about a year in 1844-5 and in later years was in New York. Sherman Daboll came from Rensselaer county when young, studied law in New Berlin, practiced here several years and removed to Michi- gan. Barna J. Stimson was in practice from 1867 to 1874 and removed to Hamilton. Frederick Clarke, a native of this town, studied with Mr. Daboll, began practice about 1876 but soon afterward removed to Cazenovia. Israel Wilkinson was in practice a short time about 1858. D. B. Stillman practiced a number of years and is now State excise
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commissioner. N. A. Crumb, a native of this town, came from Cana- stota in 1891 and is the only practicing lawyer in the village.
A new creamery was established in 1898 by Dart & Wallace.
The Brookfield Courier was founded in 1876 by Frank M. Spooner, who was for several years associated with his father, H. L. Spooner. In 1883 they sold the paper to W. E. Phillips and B. G. Stillman, jr., who conducted it until the following year when the Messrs. Spooner purchased Phillips's interest and the firm name of Stillman & Spooner was adopted. In 1898 F. M. Spooner assumed the management of the Afton Enterprise and H. L. Spooner continued with Mr. Stillman as at the present time. The paper is a four-page weekly and ably represents its district.
Clarkville has always been foremost in the establishment and promo- tion of educational facilities. The Brookfield Academy, which is more fully described in the Educational Chapter was originally a free school, the house being built by subscription, and the academy incorporated in April, 1847. In 1875 Union Free School District No. 32 was estab- lished and in November of that year the following were elected trustees: A. J. Stillman and Thomas A. Crandall for one year; Samuel Jordan and Enos Russell for two years; John T. Stillman for three years The old academy was adopted as the academical department of the Union Free School. On December 21, 1875, the board was instructed to sell the district school house and apply the proceeds to repairing the academy. At the first meeting of the Board of Education, Enos Rus- sell was chosen president; Arthur J. Stillman, clerk; Charles Lamb, treasurer. Calvin Whitford succeeded Mr. Lamb in the following month, Mr. Lamb declining to serve. James H. Messenger was the first principal of the school. In 1876-7 the academy building was sold to the Catholics and a new school building was erected on the site of the former school house. The churches of the village are described in Chapter IV.
The first incorporation of the village of Clarkville took place in 1834. A reincorporation was effected under the general law and H. L. Spooner was elected the first president; he has served several terms in that capacity. Other presidents have been P. Fitch, A. J. Stillman, and Herbert E. Kingsley, the present incumbent.
The question of establishing a water supply for the place is under agitation at the present time. The village hall and the opera house were burned in 1898, and the fire would doubtless have spread to large proportions had it not been for a great fall of snow.
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Leonardsville, where Reuben Leonard settled before the century opened, and built mills and in every way was conspicuous in aiding the development of the locality, is beautifully situated in the valley of the Unadilla, near the center of the eastern border of the town, and is a station on the Unadilla Valley Railroad. The building of the early mills and the excellent water power at that point soon attracted settlers and a hamlet gathered about where manufacturing industries of various kinds and stores and taverns were established. Hazzard P. Clarke, an early settler, began making hoes and scythes, in connection with his general blacksmithing business about 1810, and continued the work in a small way until 1820, when he sold out to Samuel Brand, whose sons became prominent as merchants in later years; Brand came from Hop- kinton, R. I., about 1815, settling near Edmeston, and in 1820 removed to Leonardsville. He was a capable and enterprising man and greatly increased the business, which he continued to about 1848, when he sold to his son, Nathan V. Brand. The latter was succeeded by the firm of Nathan Brand & Co., who, in 1852, sold to the Leonardsville Manufacturing Company. This organization acquired also the grist . and saw mills then owned by Luke and Thomas Hoxie; a horse rake factory and wagon shop, then operated by John Babcock & Co .; a foun- dry and machine shop, then operated by M. W. & H. C. St. John. All of these proprietors and operators joined their interests to form the company. To these industries was added a manufactory of agricultural implements and the whole was placed under management of Washing- ton S. Greene. The company continued until 1858 when a dissolution took place and the several branches of business were thereafter carried on separately for certain periods, excepting the manufacture of agri- cultural implements, which was discontinued. The tw) mills and the building in which the agricultural implements were made were burned in 1856; but the latter and the saw mill were at once rebuilt and a new grist mill was completed in about two years. This mill had already been once rebuilt by Samuel Brand in 1829. The second rebuilding, just mentioned, was by Thomas W. Stearns, who succeeded to its own- ership after the dissolution of the Leonardsville Manufacturing Com- pany. Mr. Stearns sold it to Williamson, Adams & Co., who in 1871 transferred it to Edwin Whitford. It is now operated by B. C. Steers. The saw mill was built on the site of the one burned by Thomas W. Stearns, who sold it in 1869 to Hamilton J. Whitford, Myron Anthony, and Charles H. Williamson, the last named selling his interest to his
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partners in 1877. They continued its operation several years. It is now operated by Albert Whitford. The horse rake factory and wagon shop passed to possession of Erastus A. Greene, and the building was burned and rebuilt by him. He continued the manufacture of rakes in a small way a number of years. In recent years the manufacture of agricultural implements has been carried on, principally for filling con- tracts, by H. D. Babcock. The old fork factory, before mentioned, passed to Milton W. St. John, H. D. Babcock, Van Rensselaer Hawk- ins, and John Babcock, who built the present structure after the other was burned, for a hoe factory; this business continued only one year, about 1874, by H. C. Rogers, as agent for Charles W. Rogers and Charles H. Williamson, who rented the building. The property was then acquired by Milton W. St. John, and a general foundry and ma- chine shop business was conducted by him until his death and after- wards by his widow.
In 1891 a company was formed with the title of the Otsego Furnace Company, for the manufacture of a heating furnace with that name. Among those prominently interested in this company were H. D. Bab- cock, J. O. Wheeler, I. A. Crandall, A. W. Daggett and G. C. Rogers. The financial stringency of 1893 contributed to cause the failure of the enterprise, which it had been hoped would prove of great and lasting benefit to the village. A reorganization of the company is contem- plated.
The Leonardsville Canning Company was formed in 1894 and built a large structure near the railroad station and equipped it with modern appliances for extensive canning of corn. From fifty to sixty hands are employed in the season and the large product finds a ready market. H. D. Babcock is president of the company.
A cold storage plant is operated by G. H. St. John, who is a large buyer of produce. C. K. Burdick, E. Quinn, and A. Meaker are black- smiths, and C. H. Williamson, C. K. Burdick, W. H. Burdick, I. Parks, and A. Marshall carry on wagon making.
The first store in this town, which was opened by Reuben Leonard, has been noticed. It was in the building occupied three-quarters of a century later for the same purpose by Nathan V. Brand, but had been removed from its original site. Mr. Leonard was also a tanner, a distil- ler, and made crude potash, carrying on a large business many years, until his failure about 1820. Ethan Burdick was a merchant contem- porary with Leonard, beginning a little later and failing earlier. His
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store building was burned about 1868. David and Charles O. Munson were successors of Burdick in the same store and continued there and in another building until the death of the latter in July, 1831. David afterwards sold to Otis Eddy, and he after trading a few years sold to James Van Valen. About 1846 he sold to William H. Brand, who took his brother, Nathan V., as partner in 1848. Six years later William H. sold his interest to his brother, but from 1864 to 1868 they were again associated. After a second separation Nathan V. Brand continued in business a number of years.
Dennis Hardin opened a store about 1820 and continued it many years; he was a native of Connecticut and was during several periods associated with his brother Daniel, who came from Winfield in 1837, and was during one period connected in business with his nephew, Henry B. Hardin. Charles R. Maxson carried on a large mercantile business a number of years, and James H. Brand and Edwin Clark built a store and engaged in clothing trade about 1853; the building was subsequently occupied by F. P. King and was burned in 1862. Samuel Collins erected another store building which was occupied suc- cessively by him, William H. Brown, A. M. Griffin, and H. W. North. Irving A. Crandall, a native of Brookfield, bought out Daniel Hardin in 1867, in company with H. B. Kinney, whose interest he purchased at the end of the first year. Mr. Crandall is still in business as a general merchant. O. D. Bassett began business as a druggist in 1874, and continued a number of years. Arthur W. Crandall and Owen
Tully began as boot and shoe dealers in 1875, buying out A. B. Spauld- ing. Other present merchants are E Frank Champlain, drugs, grocer- ies and bakery; W. W. Coon, groceries; O. O. Saunders, general store ; W. D. Crandall, hardware; and Miss Arvilla Burdick, millinery. A furniture and undertaking business is carried on by E. L. Worden, and a meat market by Elmer Ellsworth, who buys poultry and eggs.
Reuben Leonard built the first public house in the village soon after 1800. It was enlarged in 1857 and burned about 1870, when Smith M. Palmer was proprietor. In 1860 Dennis Hardin built a hotel which was first kept about two years by Hiram Buell. It had other land- lords and is now kept by W. L. Switzer.
The first postmaster was Reuben Leonard, who was probably suc- ceeded by Dennis Hardin, who held the office many years and was fol- lowed about 1845 by George W. Hinckley. In 1849 Nathan V. Brand was appointed, and was succeeded in 1857 by Nathan T. Brown. James
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H. Brand was the next incumbent and was followed in 1861 by Nathan V. Brand. Irving A. Crandall was appointed in 1872 and held the office twelve years, when he was succeeded by J. E. Coon, and he by O. Tully. Mr. Crandall was then again appointed and is now in office.
The first physician who is known to have practiced in this place was a Dr. Farrell, who came near the beginning of the century. He built a house in 1806, in which Russell Maxson resided in late years. Dr. Welcome Clark was an early physician and practiced until about 1826, when he removed to Whitestown and was succeeded by his brother Ray, who studied with him and practiced till about 1838. Dr. Pliny Robinson came from Otsego county and bought out Dr. Ray Clark, practicing until a few years before his death in 1868. Hiram S. Cran- dall practiced many years and until his death. S. C. Maxson was in practice several years and is now an eye and ear specialist in Utica. Dr. Oscar Lemuel Southworth, now the only physician in the village, has been in successful practice many years.
Two attorneys find occupation in their profession here in the persons of Henry M. Aylesworth, who has been in practice more than twenty years, and Adon P. Brown, a later comer. Anson Harder came from Little Falls about 1853, as the first attorney, but remained only about three years. Arthur R. Pope also practiced for a time.
The large business interests of Leonardsville, when the prospects for the future were brightest, demanded bank facilities, and the Leonards- ville Bank was incorporated on February 27, 1858, with a capital of $100,000. At about the close of the Civil war it went under the na- tional system and was subsequently merged with the Ilion National Bank at Ilion. The first officers and directors of the bank were Nathan T. Brown, president; Luke Hoxie, vice-president; Dennis Hardin, cashier; John C. Wheeler, teller and bookkeeper. These men, except- ing the last named, with Ezra K. Hoxie, Washington S. Green, Vinson R. Howard, John Rogers, Nathan Brainard, Christopher Langworthy, Wait Clark, Samuel L. Brown, and Noyes Stillman, were the directors, and were prominent citizens of that period.
When the Leonardsville Bank was discontinued, Dennis Hardin es- tablished a private bank under the same name, which he continued until his death, June 3, 1873.
The old district school in Leonardsville was superseded in 1875 by the Union Free School in Joint District No. 12 in the towns of Brook- field and Plainfield. The vote in favor of this change, taken at a meet-
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ing held October 16, was forty-six to twenty. Edwin Whitford, Charles H. Williamson, Daniel Hardin, Henry M. Aylesworth, and Luke Hoxie were elected a Board of Education and $1,000 was voted to build a school house, which was accomplished in the following year. W. H. Southworth was the first principal of this school. Edwin Whitford was the first president of the Board of Education; H. M. Aylesworth, sec- retary; John O. Wheeler, treasurer.
The churches of Leonardsville are both noticed in Chapter IV. The oldest one, the Seventh Day Baptist, is prosperous and in 1895 the society improved its house of worship at a cost of about $1,800. The present Methodist church building is the one erected in 1876.
Well up in the northwest part of the town, on a tributary of the Chenango and in the midst of a rich hop-growing region is the small hamlet of North Brookfield. A mile distant is a station on the branch of the D., L. & W. Railroad, where there is a milk station under local management of George Eagan, handling 5,000 pounds of milk a day, which is mostly bottled and shipped to New York, and a grocery kept by John Kenyon in a building that was formerly a cheese factory. In this vicinity settled early the Terry, Morgan, Livermore, Faulkner, Fitch, Gorton, Miner, and other pioneer families, members of which be- came prominent in the town. A negro named Laban Alby long re- sided here in early years, kept the only tavern and was widely known. From this fact the place became known as "Nigger City," a name that still to some extent clings to it. Samuel Marsh opened a store in 1804 a little more than a mile southeast of the village site, on a road that was at that time a prominent thoroughfare, but was abandoned before 1860. After four or five years of trade Marsh failed, was imprisoned for debt and died in the jail at Whitestown. Samuel Livermore opened the first store in the village on the site of the Parks (now Snow's) Hotel about 1809, was in business several years, and then removed to a farm in the town and later to Allegany county. His successor as a merchant was a Mr. Mills who was in business about five years. Laban Alby, the negro, kept a grocery from about 1815 to 1844, besides his hotel, which he built about 1844; he was also a blacksmith, which busi- ness he relinquished when he commenced keeping his hotel. He re- moved to Norwich in 1864 and died there. Isaac Marsh kept a store from about 1836 to 1860, having at different times partners in Solomon Gorton, Albert Beebe, David Fisk, and Daniel Bennett, 2d. He built the store subsequently occupied by Dr. L. A. Van Wagner. Asahel P.
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