USA > New York > Madison County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Madison County, New York > Part 63
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These men were almost without exception prominent in the com- munity and mostly members of leading families whose members had in earlier years aided materially in developing the town and founding its institutions.
Among the prominent and successful farmers in this town, many of whom have passed away, may be mentioned the following: McGee Wilson, deceased; Williams Bridge, deceased; Addison Snell, deceased ; Emerson Quackenbush, a large hop producer; Waterman Simonds, who built the stone house on the east road south of Munnsville; Captain Strong, who also built a stone house south of Munnsville and was a successful farmer; Fred Marshall and J. W. Rockwell, both large hop producers ; Robert Clark, Samuel Spaulding, deceased; Lewis Hinman, deceased; Mackey Brothers, on the old Hinman farm; Adelbert Par-
614
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
dee, George Miller, Warren J. Gilbert, Andrew Perry, Nathaniel Har- rington, Rensselaer Coe, John L. Foster, Austin Carver, Elbert Foster, Amos Bridge, John Hadcock, all dead; C. W. Dexter, Adelbert Ward, Orrin Porter, E. J. Spooner, Albert Lindsley, Charles Bunch, Norman Randall, Eri Day, and others who are living.
Following is a list of the supervisors of Stockbridge from the forma- tion of the town to the present time, with the dates of their election: 1836-37, Henry T. Sumner; 1838, Asaph Pratt; 1839, Elisha A. Clark ; 1840, Oren Wright; 1841, Samuel W. Hull; 1842, William Smith; 1843-46, Ebenezer Porter; 1847, Grove Hinman; 1848, John McPher- son ; 1849-50, John Potter; 1851, Jonathan M. Forman; 1852, Peter H. Smith; 1853, William Stringer; 1854, Abel H. Rawson; 1855, James H. Gregg; 1856, John Cleveland; 1857, Jonathan M. Wilson; 1858, Alvin Strong; 1859-60, Jonathan M. Wilson; 1861, Alvin Strong; 1862, Jon- athan M. Wilson; 1863, James H. Gregg; 1864, Jonathan M. Wilson; 1865-68, Robert S. Barr; 1869-70, Julius Treat; 1871-72, A. Watson Armour; 1873-75, William H. Stringer; 1876-78, A. Watson Armour; 1879, Robert S. Barr; 1880-82, Grove S. Hinman; 1883-95, George E. Woods; 1896-98, J. E. Quackenbush.
The population of Stockbridge as shown by the census of different dates, has been as follows:
1840
1845
1850
1855
1860
1865
1870
1880
1890
1892
2,320
2,215
2,081
2,052
2,068
1,925
1,847
2,023
1,845
1,704
Munnsville .- This is the largest of the three post villages in Stock bridge, and is situated in the southern part of the town in the Oneida valley. The first mercantile business here was the store of Asa Munn, who removed from Augusta in 1817 and soon afterward built a small store; he also engaged in milling and distilling. Later merchants were: Charles Chandler and his son Henry, Matthew Pratt, Hiram Whedon, William O. Sumner and Lorenzo Frost and James H. Lillibridge, who traded three years from 1870. George Colburn was then in trade about a year and sold to Clarence W. Dexter, a native and prominent citizen of this town. He enlarged the old store and has continued in business ever since. Nine years ago he took as a partner Clark W. Davis and the firm now is Dexter & Davis.
A. H. Owen began hardware trade in 1866 and has ever since continued, his son now being a partner. C. D. Jacobs was a former dealer in boots and shoes. George F. Griner is in the grocery and drug trade, succeeding William J. Lyndon, who began in 1876. Julius Treat was
615
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-STOCKBRIDGE.
a physician in practice from 1851 to 1877, and began mercantile trade in 1878. W. T. Walker has a general store, succeeding F. L. Van Slyke. C. H. S. Lowe has a general store, succeeding his father, James Lowe, with whom he was a former partner; Henry Freeman was a member of the firm at one period. Dr. S. P. Moore, who has practiced since 1873, also conducts a drug store. Mrs. George Cook keeps a variety store.
There are two hotels in the village-the Hotel Rightmyer, kept by Dennis Rightmyer, who took the house in 1874; the Central Hotel, conducted by Kelly & Burke, who succeeded Rudolph Zimmer, the first landlord. .
What are now the works of the Munnsville Plow Co. were established in 1853 by Daniel Holmes, William Stringer, Solomon Van Brocklin and R. S. Barr under the name of Holmes, Stringer & Co., and so con- tinued a few years in the manufacture of plows and other agricultural implements. After various changes in proprietorship, which have been described in detail in an earlier chapter, the company was incorporated in 1892 as the Munnsville Plow Company, with a capital of $50,000. J. E. Sperry is president; W. R. Paul, vice-president; W. F. Bridge, secretary and treasurer.
The grist mill is now operated by C. M. Merrill & Son, who in 1898 succeeded J. H. Merrill. Before that Jerome Merrill, father of J. H., operated it a number of years; the mill was built in 1822. There was an early saw mill, but it long since disappeared to make room for a woolen mill built by Eben and Whedon Blakeman; the woolen factory was not successful as a business. Henry Stewart also had an early wool carding mill which was used in recent years for a creamery. A Mr. Buck established a tannery at an early day, which was afterwards operated by James Hazeltine and others before noticed. There are two blacksmiths in Munnsville, L. P. Van Slyke and Joseph Carlton. George Frost is operating an evaporator and a cider mill, and C. J. Bradner has a harness shop.
The first permanently located physician in this town was Jairus Ran- kin, who began practice about 1812. Later ones were Orange Russell Cook, Henry T. Sumner, Julius Treat, and William Taylor. The only present physician besides Dr. Miller is William H. Griffiths, who has practiced many years. R. H. Woolver is the only attorney in the town.
Stockbridge Village .- This little village is beautifully situated on the lower slope of the west hill about a mile above Munnsville, and has a
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
station nearly a mile distant across the valley. The place was early and long known as Knoxville, from Hermon Knox, who was the first merchant there. Other early merchants were David Wood, who bought out Knox; Hiram Whedon, for a time a partner with Wood; Amadeas Hinman, Andrew J. Hinman, Matthew Pratt and Carlos Atkins. James H. Lillibridge began trade in 1877, buying the business of W. J. Nash, and continued fifteen years. C. C. White carried on a cabinet making business a number of years and sold to C. E. Love in 1891, who still continues it in connection with undertaking. C. C. White now con- ducts a hardware trade. Charles White has a general store in which he succeeded S. M. Davidson in 1898; he is also postmaster. The only public house is the Hotel de Van Loon, which has been kept by David Van Loon since 1882. Wadsworth Lyman and Luther Elphick were former blacksmiths; F. W. Cook began cabinet making in the village about fifty years ago and subsequently changed his business to wagon making, which he still continues.
The first physician in the place was Dr. Henry T. Sumner, who began practice soon after 1820 and continued until his death. Dr. Fayette F. Elphick succeeded and at the present time Dr. A. E. Broga is prac- ticing.
Valley Mills is a hamlet in the northern part of the town, where a post-office was established in 1870, with J. D. Dunham postmaster. The grist mill there was built about 1848 by Ebenezer Ranney for a woolen factory and was operated as such by him a few years, when William Bridge and Nathan Hayes acquired the property; since that time it has had several proprietors. It is now owned by C. W. Dexter, the Munnsville merchant, and the firm of Dexter & Davis have a branch store. A cider mill and plaster mill is connected with the grist mill.
When this town was formed it was divided into fifteen school dis- tricts, the same number in existence at the present time. There were then in the town 803 children between the ages of five and sixteen years. There is only one Union school in the town, which was organ- ized at Munnsville in 1894 as district No 1. The present handsome building was erected in the same year at a cost of about $4,000, besides heating and furnishing. Frank M. Wiggins has been principal from the first and gives eminent satisfaction to the district. The school went under the Regents in 1896.
The Congregational church at Munnsville was organized in 1828 and the meeting house built about 1834. In 1868 about $3,000 was ex- pended in improving the building. Rev. Roland A. Farnham is pastor.
617
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-SULLIVAN.
The Methodist church at Stockbridge was organized as a station in 1827 and has had a prosperous existence since, as before noticed. The building has recently been improved. A Universalist church that was organized at Stockbridge about 1837, disbanded about 1865 and the building was removed to Munnsville where the upper part is now in use as a public hall. There was also in former years a Congregational church, organized in 1834 and a house of worship erected; but the society soon disbanded and the building was demolished.
The Town of Sullivan.
This town was set off from Cazenovia in 1803, February 22, and in 1809 its territory was greatly reduced by the formation from it of Lenox. The town was named from Gen. John Sullivan. It is bounded north by Oneida Lake, west by Lenox and the new town of Lincoln, south by Fenner, Cazenovia and Onondaga county, and west by Onondaga county. It contains 44,686 acres, with level surface in the northern part and rolling in the southern part. A large area in the northern part, bordering on the lake, is low and swampy, through which flows the Canaseraga Creek, augmented by the waters of the Cowasselon. Chittenango Creek flows through the town, forming a part of its west- ern boundary, and supplying splendid water power. Gypsum is found and has been extensively quarried, and water lime is also manufactured. The soil in the north part is a clayey loam alternating with muck and marl; in the south part it is gravelly loam. The somewhat celebrated White Sulphur Springs are near Chittenango village, and other mineral springs exist. The territory of this town possesses great historic inter- est in connection with the Indian wars and the Revolution.
Settlement in Sullivan territory began in 1790 with the arrival of nine families in the vicinity of Canaseraga, whose names are given in the preceding general history of the town. Most of these settled perma- nently and descendants of some of them are still resident in the vicinity. The pioneers were soon followed by John G. Moyer, Capt. Timothy Brown, Col. Zebulon Douglass, long the most prominent figure; John Matthews, Philip Daharsh, Peter Dygart, Timothy Freeman, Martin Vrooman, Capt. Rosel Barnes, Robert Carter, Joseph and Benjamin Hosley, Jacob Patrick, John Knowles, John Adams, Robert Riddell, John Smith, John Walrath, the Beebe families, John Lower, Peter Ehle, David Burton, William Miles, John Keller, Ovid Weldon, Nicholas Pickard, John Owen French, Rev. Austin Briggs, Reuben Haight, and perhaps a few others.
618
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
The first mills were built near the site of Chittenango by John G. Moyer, the grist mill being converted into a plaster mill about 1815; later it was made into a woolen cloth factory and burned about 1826. It was rebuilt by John Knowles. John Matthews owned in early years the well known Matthews mills on Chittenango Creek, which passed to his brother Samuel, of Salina.
Capt. Rosel Barnes built the first frame house near Bridgeport and kept the first tavern. John Knowles became a prominent citizen and held the office of judge. John Smith kept an early tavern at Chitte- nango, where he took up 200 acres including the village site. Robert Riddell, son of Robert, was an early tanner and was associated with his brother David; they succeeded Vincent Wilber.
Reuben Hawley and William Malcoln were early settlers in the town and both kept stores at Canaseraga as early as 1805. Richard Lower, son of John, was the pioneer blacksmith in the town. The first phy- sician in the town was a Dr. Weed, who removed to Manlius. The next ones were Drs. Amos Amsden and John P. Kennedy. The first lawyers were William K. Fuller and John B. Yates, who settled in Chittenango in 1816.
The early records of this town are lost, hence the only matters rela- tive to town officers that can be given is the following list of supervisors, which has been compiled from the archives in the county clerk's office :
1807-09 inclusive, Jacob Patrick; 1810-14, Solomon Beebe; 1815, John Lee; 1816-18, John Knowles; 1819, Horatio G. Douglass; 1820- 22, John Knowles; 1823-24, H. G. Douglass; 1825, John Adams; 1826, Job Wells; 1827-31, William K. Fuller; 1832, John Adams, 1833, George Grant; 1834, John Knowles; 1835-36, Job Wells; 1837, John Knowles; 1838, Daniel Walrath; 1839, John Knowles; 1840, Peter Van Valkenburgh; 1841-42, George Grant; 1843-44, George K. Fuller; 1845-46, Daniel F. Kellogg; 1847-48, James Beebe; 1849-50, John Knowles; 1851-52, Damon Wells; 1853-54, David Dunham; 1855-57, Albert Mabie; 1858, George Grant; 1859, Ebenezer Pennock; 1860, R. B. Tuttle; 1861, Albert Mabie; 1862, Alvin Keller; 1863, W. E. Barn- ard; 1864, D. D. Walrath; 1865, Timothy S. Brown; 1866-70, Marcus C. Walrath; 1871-75, William Lincoln; 1876, D. D. Walrath; 1877-81, Francis H. Gates; 1882-89, Albert B. Dunham; 1890-91, Abram Wal- rath; 1892-93, Fritz C. Block; 1894-95, Philip H. Wager; 1896-97, Fritz C. Block.
Canaseraga is the oldest village settlement in the town, and is the
619
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-SULLIVAN.
site of one of the ancient Tuscorara Indian villages. It is situated where the Chittenango Creek crosses the Seneca turnpike a little to the northeast of Chittenango. A post-office was early established with the name of Sullivan, as at the present time, but it was closed many years. Mills were built previous to 1805. Early settlers here were Timothy Brown, John Dennie, who built the first frame house and kept a tavern, a Mr. Drake, also a tavern keeper, Solomon Beebe, another landlord, David Burton, and others before mentioned. The present mills were built in 1855 by Simon D. Paddock. Frank has a store and is post- master.
Chittenango .- The early development of this village was due more to John B. Yates than to any other one man. He opened a large store, built a plaster mill in 1818, carried on transportation business on the canal, manufactured lime, etc. Robert and David Riddell established a tannery in 1815 in the building formerly occupied in the same busi- ness by Vincent Wilber. John Bouck built another tannery in 1817.
The village was incorporated in 1842 and the names of the first officers and all of the village presidents are given in an earlier chapter. The post office was probably opened in 1816, with William K. Fuller postmaster.
Later merchants in the village were Fuller & Clary, Yates & Cobb, James and George Crouse, John A. Lamphere, F. H. Hutchinson, James S. Atwell, Ambrose E. Gorton (still in trade), Robert and Daniel Stewart, A. J. and R. B. French, Thomas Clark, John Williams, Will . iam Bates, Mitchell & Sims, Moses Parmalee and Albert Dunham, Hezekiah Beecher, Hugh White, the Atwater Brothers, Curtis & Steele, James Walrath, Richard Walrath, Benjamin Jenkins, Richard R. Wal- rath and C. V. Harbottle (partners), L. E. Shepard, Robert Kennedy, Lyman Gay (father of Harlan L. Gay, the present merchant), Nicholas Greminger, Joseph H. Walrath. H. M. Barrett, John Colyer, and a few others. Besides those mentined as now in business there are stores by A. N. Chariton, Abner Hatch, W. I. Tyler, George C. Clark, Costello & Root, and a few small shops.
Manufacturing in Chittenango has not been extensive. The grist mill, after having been transformed into a roller mill, is now operated by Frank Suiter. John B. Yates had an oil mill on the site of the later paper mill, into which it was converted. Mr. Yates built a stone woolen factory on the site of the later cotton mill; the latter was operated suc- cessfully for a time, but was finally closed. The old Walrath foundry,
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
established by Daniel Walrath, is operated now by Peter Walrath. The works of the Chittenango Pottery Company were established at the Land- ing in 1897; after being twice burned, the present brick structure was erected. The large canning works of Merrell & Soule (of Syracuse) are also located at the Landing.
The well known Yates House was built in its first form early in the century, but is lost sight of in the present structure; Clark Wheeler, proprietor. The Dixon House, built in 1827 by Timothy Pratt, is con- ducted by O. A. Russell.
The Chittenango Bank began business in 1853, with capital of $110,- 000, increased to $150,000; closed its business in 1864. The First Na- tional Bank of Chittenango was organized in December, 1863, with capital of $50,000, increased to $150,000. It went into voluntary liqui- dation in 1883. The private bank of Walter H. Stewart was opened in 1886.
The first newspaper in the village was the Chittenango Herald, estab- lished in 1832 by Isaac Lyon. After two or three changes in name and proprietor, it was discontinued in 1856. The Madison County Times was founded in August, 1870, by Arthur White. Luke McHenry has owned it since 1883.
Soon after the incorporation of the village, a fire company and a hook and ladder company were appointed, and apparatus purchased for fire protection. An engine house was built in 1843. After gradual changes made at different times the department now consists of one en- gine company, with hand engine; Yates Hose Company, Fuller Hose Company, and hook and ladder company.
The celebrated Yates Polytechnic Institute was founded by John B. Yates in 1824, and was long a successful educational institution. It is now occupied by the Union school, organized in 1871.
There are four churches in Chittenango-Presbyterian, Baptist, Epis- copal and Catholic. The Presbyterian society is the successor of the Reformed Church, and built in 1828 a house of worship, the Presby- terians of that time uniting with the Reformed congregation in the work. This building was ultimately sold to the Baptists, by them to the Catholics and burned. Previous to that year the several denom- inations had held services in what was called the Bethel, a small meet- ing house, which was used for school and religious purposes and was built about 1816. The Presbyterians withdrew from all connection with the Reformed society soon after the latter was organized. The Reformed society erected the stone church now in use.
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GAZETTEER OF TOWNS-SULLIVAN.
The Baptist Church was organized here in 1841 and continued in ex- istence until about 1860. In 1868 the present First Baptist Church was organized, and in 1870-71 built its present house of worship.
The First Methodist Church was organized in 1833, and their meet- ing house built in the following year. It was burned in 1862, soon after which the later building was erected.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church was organized in 1855 and a church building erected in 1865; the Bethel was used for services up to that date. Services were long maintained with regularity, but in recent years the society has declined.
St. Patrick's Church was formed soon after 1850, and in 1859 the meeting house, formerly occupied by the Presbyterians and later by the Baptists, was purchased. After this was burned the present edifice was erected.
Chittenango Station on the Central Railroad has a post-office, with George W. Carpenter postmaster, and stores kept by A. W. Green, George W. Carpenter and William Hurlburt. The first merchant here was J. T. Burton. The Webb House, kept by F. L. Webb, and a hotel by Charles P. Eaton, with a few shops, complete the settlement.
The village of Bridgeport is situated in the northwest part of the town and is partly in Onondaga county. Early settlers here were Isaac and John Delamater (1802), John Knowles, John Adams, and the Briggs, White, Eastford, Owen, Crownhart and other families. A hotel was built here long ago and burned in 1867; the site is still occupied by a hotel and another one is kept in the place; Gilbert Singerland and Hol- den Bushnell are the landlords. The Bridgeport Mills were built very early in the century and now, after many changes in ownership, are operated by the Snyder Brother. Stores are kept by Lewis V. Conk- lin, John Nichols, Wallace Billington and David H. Brown. Older merchants were Dunham & Sharpe, John O. Terpenny, Charles Billing ton and his brother, and Horace O. Draper, who now has a hardware and tin shop.
Lakeport is a small post hamlet five miles east of Bridgeport. Reu- ben Spencer was the first settler here and built a mill on the brook which took his name. Reuben Bushnell was another early settler; also William Williams, Richard Chapman and Zina Bushnell. A saw mill was built about 1850 by W. H. Snedeker, now owned by Charles F. Pennock. A store building was erected about 1855 by Perry Edwards, where several merchants have done business. J. W. Phillips is the
622
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
present merchant and postmaster. The Larkin House was built about 1850 as the Lakeport House; it took its present name from David Lar- kin and is now kept by Edward Jacobs. The Avon House was built in 1877 by John Dempsey; it is now unoccupied.
The Spencer Brook Cheese Factory, a half mile west of Lakeport, was transformed into the Spencer Brook House and is kept by Edward F. Sternbergh. Charles F. Pennock has another cheese factory in this vicinity.
The First Congregational Church of Oneida Lake was organized in 1846 and services were held in the old house built in 1824 but unfin- ished until the organization ; it was much improved in 1876.
The Union Congregational Society was organized in 1824 in the north part of the town and retained its existence until about 1842. There is a Free Methodist Society which has a small church about three-fourths of a mile east of Lakeport.
PART II.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
JONATHAN D. LEDYARD.1
JONATHAN DENISE LEDYARD was born at Middletown Point, in the State of New Jersey, on the 10th day of June, 1793, and died in Caze- novia on the 7th day of January, 1874.
His father, Benjamin Ledyard, a native of Groton, in the State of Connecticut, was a near relative of John Ledyard, the distinguished traveler, as well as of Col Ledyard, who was treacherously slain in the Revolutionary war, after a gallant defense of Fort Griswold. Benja- min Ledyard himself served with credit as a major during the same struggle, being present at the battles of Monmouth, White Plains and others, and after the war settled in Middletown Point, being engaged, however, in business in the city of New York as a hardware merchant. In 1794, having been appointed by Gov. George Clinton to the county clerkship of the newly-erected county of Onondaga, then embracing a large portion of western New York, he removed his family, consisting of his wife, eight children and numerous negroes, to Aurora, on the , shore of Cayuga Lake, making the journey from New York to Albany in a sloop, thence by wagon to Schenectady, there taking Durham boats or batteaux on the Mohawk, and through Wood Creek, Oneida Lake, the Seneca River and Cayuga Lake to his destination, where a log house, erected upon the very bank of the lake, was ready to receive him. At the tavern at Fort Schuyler, kept by John Post, the party were met by Peter Smith and James S. Kip, and the former took the family to his house, Mr. Kip carrying the baby, then ten months old, up the hill, and finding him no light burden.
The mother of Jonathan D. Ledyard was Catherine Forman, a sister of General Jonathan Forman, also of Revolutionary memory, who died in Cazenovia soon after the beginning of the present century, and whose
1 From Cazenovia Republican, January 22, 1874, by Charles Stebbins, esq.
40
626
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
tombstone is perhaps the oldest in the village cemetery, and also of Maj. Samuel S. Forman, who came to Cazenovia with Col. John Linck- laen in 1793, and who, after residing here many years, removed to Sy- racuse, where he died a few years since at a very advanced age
The subject of this sketch, upon the death of his mother, which oc- curred about 1798, became a member of the family of his brother-in- law, the late Col. Lincklaen, and since that time has been a resident of Cazenovia, and, for many years past, its most conspicuous citizen.
At a very early age he was sent to a family school at Albany, then kept by the celebrated Dr. Nott, and was afterward placed in a school at Whitesboro, under the charge of Dr. Halsey. He then attended the grammar school of Union College, after which he followed the regular course at that institution, under the presidency of his old preceptor, Dr. Nott, graduating in 1812. He pursued the study of law in the offices of Childs & Stebbins of Cazenovia, and of General Kirkland of Utica, and was admitted to the bar in 1815.
He never, however, engaged in the active practice of his profession, but soon after arriving at his majority entered the land office of Col. Lincklaen, the agent of, and, in a small share, proprietor in the Holland Land Company in Cazenovia. He was soon associated with Col. Linck- laen in the agency, and afterward, in connection with him, purchased the interest of the company in the unsold lands and debts of the estab- lishment. The increasing infirmities of Col. Lincklaen, followed by his lamented death in 1822, cast upon Mr. Ledyard, then a very young man, the burden of the entire property, consisting of about 150,000 acres of land, lying in the counties of Madison and Chenango. The depressing effect of the war of 1812 upon the commercial interests of the country, the severity of several untoward seasons, and the opening of the western country to settlement, in consequence of the projection and construction of the Erie Canal, made his task a very heavy one. By great energy, untiring industry and strict probity he succeeded in meeting his obligations to the company in such a manner as to leave a moderate competence for himself and his family. He at once perceived that a coercive policy would result, not only in the ruin of many set- tlers upon the tract, but would, in the end, retard the growth of the country, by driving them to settle upon the better but more distant lands of the new States. Accordingly, he forebore, encouraged, as- sisted, sometimes threatened, but rarely prosecuted, until, in 1844, he was enabled, from the payments made to him, to discharge the last
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