USA > New York > Oneida County > Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York; > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146
Some of the former merchants of the place are Silas Morse, Nathan Tiffany, Fred Hammes, Frank Edgerton and Walter Bushnell.
The farming community is now engaged to a considerable extent in dairying, and there are now six cheese factories of all kinds in the town. Some of the leading farmers of Ava, past and present, are A. and H. Hurlbut, Gideon Vary, Charles Castle, N. C. Vary, James Thomas, Asa W. Owens, Orsemus Tiffany, John J. Adams, J. B. Adams, Lincoln Wood, Jedediah Edgerton and P. A. Flint.
Mrs. Samuel Hurlbut, who is now eighty-four years old, lives with her son on the place where she was born, and is the oldest living resi- dent. She was a daughter of Justus Beardsley.
396
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
There have been a good many German settlers in this town, and they have always had religious meetings and finally effected an organization which erected a church in school district No. 9. It was completed about 1861.
Methodist services were held in school houses and dwellings for years before the formation of the present society in 1868. The pretty church was built in the following year.
The schools of the town are well cared for, the number of districts, with school houses, being nine, as it has been for many years.
Following is a list of those persons who have held the office of super- visor in Ava from its organization to the present; a list containing about fifty of the prominent citizens :
1847, Henry Capron ; 1848-49, Horace Hoyt; 1850, Henry Capron; 1851-52, Silas C. Morse; 1853, Horace Hoyt; 1854-55, Walker Adams; 1856, Reuben Knight ; 1857, Peter A. Flint; 1858-59, Henry E. Shaver; 1860, Samuel Hunt; 1861, Stephen L. Bates: 1862-64, Jedediah Edgerton ; 1865-66, James H Capron ; 1867, Samuel Hurl- but; 1868, Selden Palmer; 1869, Silas C. Morse; 1870-71, John M. Edgerton; 1872, Peter A. Flint; 1873, Selden Palmer; 1874, Smith M. Capron; 1875, Silas C. Morse ; 1876, James H. Bellinger; 1877, Luke Jones; 1878-79, Gideon Vary; 1880, James M. Bellinger; 1881-83, John M. Edgerton; 1884 Menzo Fox; 1885, William A. Lyman ; 1886-87, Menzo Fox; 1888, Nathan C. Vary; 1889, Henry Harris; 1890, N. C. Vary; 1891-93, Henry Harris; 1894-96, Charles Knight.
For population of the town in the years when a census has been taken see page 202.
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE TOWN OF BOONVILLE.
The town of Boonville is situated on the northern border of Oneida county and is among the largest of the towns, its area being 43,985 acres. Within its territory are included parts of Adgate's and Matchin's patents, as shown on the map herein. Black River flows in a north- westerly direction across the eastern part of the town and the head- waters of the Mohawk, Black River and Fish Creek are found within its borders. Black River Canal enters the town near the southwest
397
THE TOWN OF BOONVILLE.
corner, passes northerly through the village of Boonville and enters Lewis county from the northern part of this town. A feeder to this canal extends from Boonville village to the village of Forestport. The surface of the town is uneven, rising in places in considerable hills. The soil is generally sandy and in many places the land is thickly dot- ted with great boulders. The original forest in this region was princi- pally a dense growth of pine and spruce, which was a source of a large lumber industry in the early years of the history of the town.
The fact that the Holland Land Company purchased a large tract of land in Oneida county at an early day has already been recorded in another chapter of this volume. A considerable part of their purchase lay in what is now Boonville, and Gerrit Boon came here to act as agent in the sale of the company's lands From him the town took its name.
Permanent settlement began in this town in the spring of 1795 when Andrew Edmunds came in to act also as agent in the sale of lands either for the Holland Company direct or under Mr. Boon, A number of men were employed by him in making improvements, among which were the building of a saw mill and the commencement of a grist mill. On account of the accidental burning of the quantity of lumber intended for the latter mill, its completion was delayed until the following spring.
The water power and other natural features of the locality were at- tractive to settlers, and in 1796 quite a number came in. Among them were Luke Fisher and his son, Phineas, Silas and Martin Southwell, Asahel and Ezekiel Porter (who located on the west hill), Aaron Will- ard (who settled on the site of the village), Jacob Springer, Jeptha King, Hezekiah Jones and son, a Mr. Stockwell and three young men named King. Many of these were employed by the Holland Company, while others selected farms, made clearings in the forest and began the erec- tion of their humble homes.
In that year (1796) the Holland Company built and opened a store on the site of the village, which was the first one in the town. It stood on what is now the southwest corner of Main and Schuyler streets, was in a one story frame building and was kept by a Mr. Storms. It was afterwards sold to Schuyler & Post who carried on business there more than forty years. In the fall of the same year the company built a tavern on the corner on the site of the stone building owned in recent
398
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
years by J. M. Lewis. There Capt. Andrew Edmunds opened the first public house in the town, and soon around these pioneer business places gathered the nucleus of a hamlet. A post- office was established early and Peter Schuyler was probably the first postmaster ; he came in from New Jersey and for a time lived in Trenton. In early years a mail post route extended from Utica to Ogdensburg. Among the early mail carriers was Jerry Kingsbury who later went to Alabama.
Dr. Samuel Snow settled in Boonville about 1796 as the first phy- sician. He began keeping a tavern in 1808. Small-pox broke out in the settlement in 1799 and Dr. Snow inoculated many for the disease. Other very early physicians were Drs. Samuel Bass and Nathan North.
Aaron Willard, before mentioned, settled on or near the village site and built the first house between Boonville and Leyden in 1796; it was replaced by a frame building in 1812. Jacob Rogers, a native of Ston- ington, Conn , and later from Springfield, Mass., brought his family to Boonville in March, 1796; he was a shoemaker and tanner and had worked for the Holland Company in the previous year. In 1799 he established a tannery which he operated several years. Ill health com- pelled him to give up the business and he settled on a farm. He was prominently connected with the early militia, and his son Julius was born in the village in 1799 and there passed his long life. When Jacob Rogers first came in John Burgess and Hezekiah Jones were occupying a log house, and he stopped with them until his own rude dwelling was completed ; it was situated on Moose Creek, and in that neighborhood Mr. Rogers built his tannery.
Jotham Snow came from Worcester, Mass., and settled in Boonville in 1804; he had lived in Leyden five or six years previously. The farm on which he located is now the property of George Tubbs. His son, S. E. Snow, born in 1804, was a long-time merchant in the village.
Deacon John Nichols settled within the limits of the village cor- poration about 1805, on the farm occupied twenty years ago by Will- iam Higby, which is now leased to a tenant. Timothy and Thomas Jackson located here about 1807 ; Pelatiah Ballou was also an early settler. Elias Kingsbury, and his brothers, John, Jerry, and Elijah, and their cousin, Archelaus Kingsbury, settled in the town within about three years from 1796; they were all from New England. Israel Kings-
399
THE TOWN OF BOONVILLE.
bury, son of Elias, long a respected citizen of the town, as also were others of the family.
The first birth of a white child in what is now Boonville was a daugh- ter of Jacob Springer, and the first deaths were those of Mr. Truman and Mr. Darrow; it is not positively known which of the two died first. The first couple married were Henry Evans and Elizabeth Edmunds, the latter a daughter of the pioneer.
The eastern part of the town was not settled until comparatively re- cent years. Jacob Hayes located there in 1823 on the farm afterwards occupied by his son Jonas. George Hilts settled on the next farm north, and Ahaz Thayer and Ziba Kingsbury to the south.
Levi Hillman was an early settler and one of the first assessors. Elisha Grant was another pioneer and was chosen the first collector of the town. Job Fisk and John Post settled prior to 1816 and both held the office of supervisor in early years; the latter located in the village. The names of many other prominent citizens will appear as we proceed.
The town of Boonville was erected from the town of Leyden March 28, 1805. Its territory was originally included in Whitestown, from which it was taken to form a part of Steuben, and in 1797 became a part of Leyden. The first town meeting for Leyden was held at the house of Andrew Edmunds April 4, 1797, and the following officers elected, among whom were a number of early comers to what later was made Boonville :
Supervisor, Andrew Edmunds: town clerk, John Stormes; assessors, Asa Brayton, Jacob Rogers, Phineas Southwell; constables and collectors, Jared Topping, Levi Hillman ; poormasters, Bela Hubbard, Luke Fisher; commissioners of highways, Asa Lord, Reuben King, Elisha Randal; roadmasters, Sheldon Johnson, Isaac Southwell, Eliphalet Edmunds, Amasa King, Archelaus Kingsbury ; fence viewers, Lilly Fisher, Asahel Huff (Hough?), Timothy Burgess; poundmasters, Charles Otis, Joshua Preston.
Boonville territory, it will be noticed, got most of the officers. The supervisors of Leyden from 1797 to 1805 were as follows :
1798, Andrew Edmunds; 1799, Phineas Southwell; 1800, Asa Brayton ; 1801, Phineas Southwell; 1802, Asa Brayton; 1803, Silas Southwell; 1804 John Dewey; 1805, Peter Schuyler.
The usual regulations were voted in the early town meetings, among them being a ten dollar bounty for wolf scalps taken on the west side of
400
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Black River, and six cents for henhawks' heads ; these bounties were voted at the last election in Leyden before Boonville was set off.
The first election of officers for Boonville was held at the house of Josoph Denning April 22, 1805, and the following officers were chosen, the list embracing several pioneers not before mentioned :
Supervisor, Joseph Rogers; town clerk, Aaron Willard; assessors, Levi Hillman, Jotham Snow, Isaac Knight; constable and collector, Elisha Grant; poormasters, Luke Fisher, Job Fisk; commissioners of highways, Pelatiah Ballou, Pliny Morgan, Ebenezer Wheeler; fence viewers, Lebbeus Ford, Daniel Buck, Ebenezer Wheeler; poundmaster, Pliny Morgan; pathmasters, George Dibble, John G. Post, Isaac Knight, Elijah Kingsbury, Josiah Hurlburt, Pelatiah Ballou, John Combs, Archelaus Kingsbury, Benjamin S. Jones, Abner Wood, Hezekiah Turner.
Following is a list of the supervisors of the town with the years of their election from its organization to the present time :
1806, Peter Schuyler; 1807, Job Fisk ; 1808-9, John Post; 1810-21, Martin Southwell; 1822-24, John Dewey ; 1825, Martin Southwell; 1826-29, Henry Graves; 1830, John Dewey; 1831-36, Henry Graves : 1837-39, Philip M. Schuyler ; 1840-44, Stephen Ward ; 1845-46, William S. Jackson; 1847-51, Nelson C. Grant ; 1852-53, William S. Jackson ; 1854, Joseph R. Tharratt ; 1855-56, William H. Cole ; 1857-58, J. Earl Ilurlbert ; 1859, Justus V. Kent; 1860, Griffith J. Griffiths; 1861, Joseph R. 'Tharratt ; 1862-64, George B. Anderson ; 1865-67, Samuel Johnson ; 1868-69, Evan J. Evans; 1870-71, Nathaniel Sargent ; 1872, Robert Wilson; 1878, Samuel Johnson; 1874-75, Robert II. Roberts; 1876-78, H. Dwight Grant; 1879-80-81-82, Job W. Fisk; 1883, Charles N. Bush ; 1884-85, Francis A. Willard; 1886-87, G. Clinton Ward; 1888-89-90, W. W. Roberts; 1891-92-93-94-95, Elbridge Palmer; 1896, H. Dwight Grant.
The situation of Boonville in such that the inhabitants at the time of the war of 1812 felt the deepest interest in that conflict. This fact is indicated by the following proceedings which took place at a special town meeting held July 18, 1812 :
Voted, That the town of Boonville send to the Governor of the State of New York for arms and ammunition.
l'oted, That the surplus moneys in the hands of the town clerk, amounting to seventeen dollars and sixty-eight cents, shall be appropriated to pay the expense of transporting arms and ammunition.
Voted, That Captain Ebenezer Wheeler, Lieutenant George Manchester, Pelatiah Ballou, Ezra Adams, and Peter Schuyler, Esqs., be a committee to carry the above- mentioned business into effect.
The patriotism thus displayed was again active when the government was threatened in the war of the Rebellion. No town in Oneida county was more active and enthusiastic in supplying volunteers for the army, and Boonville village was made the rendezvous of the 97th Regiment.
WALTER BALLOU.
401
THE TOWN OF BOONVILLE.
The building of the Black River Canal and the Black River Railroad, both of which pass through this town, gave it an impetus in growth, as well as shipping facilities that have been of great benefit. The farming community has kept pace with other localities in the county and tilled the lands with a fair degree of profit. In recent years dairying has been brought forward successfully and numerous cheese factories con- tribute to the large gross product of the county.
A general act for the incorporation of villages was passed by the State Legislature, December 7, 1847, and the village of Boonville was incorporated under the provisions of this act in 1855, with the following described boundaries, viz .:
Commencing at the northwest corner of Elisha Scovil's land (in the said town of Boonville), and running thence south two degrees west 3718 feet to the centre of the street designated on the map accompanying the petition as Ford Street; thence south 18° 24' east 2583 feet ; thence south 85° 41' east 5693 feet to the southeast cor- ner of William Higby's land; thence north 4° 15' east 1412 feet to the centre of the Boonville Plank-Road, or Main Street on said road; thence north 84° 2' west 811 feet ; thence north two degrees east 4505 feet to the northeast corner of W. Tuttle's saw- mill lot ; thence north 88° west 5973 feet to the place of beginning, containing Eight Hundred Fifty-two and 4-10 acres of land.
The following were elected the first president and board of trustees, of the village in 1855 : William Higby, president ; Archibald Bamber, Joseph R. Tharratt, James Hyland, Charles N. Bass.
The following is a list of the presidents from its incorporation down to the present time :
1855, William Higby; 1856, Charles N. Bass; 1857, Lewis Holdridge; 1858, Will- iam F. Owens; 1860, James Hyland; 1861, Thomas N. Manchester; 1862, Thomas Bamber; 1863, Archibald Bamber; 1864, Job W. Fisk; 1865, Charles N. Bass; 1866- 67, Chauncey W. Colton; 1868, J. R. Tharratt; 1869, Walter Ballou; 1870, J. F. Manchester; 1871, Walter Booth; 1872, Williams F. Owens; 1873, Joseph R. Thar- ratt; 1874, Henry W. Bentley; 1875, Ephraim Owen; 1876, Henry Mccluskey ; 1877, Henry Mccluskey; 1878 William Comstock; 1879, W. Ray Tanner; 1880-81, Robert H. Roberts; 1882-83, Charles F. Rice; 1884-85, David Karlen; 1886, George M. Sawyer; 1887, Walter Ballou; 1888, James H. Capron; 1889-90-91, Henry W. Bent- ley; 1892, John Ready; 1893-94, Edgar Hughes; 1895, Jerry Buckley; 1896, Frank W. Smith.
Boonville village has long enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most active and enterprising places in this county. Its situation in the midst of a large and prosperous farming district and its position as the
51
402
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
business center of many small villages and hamlets supplied it long ago with elements of growth and prosperity peculiar to itself.
Following the establishment of the first business interests here, which have been described, the erection of the well known Hulbert House took place in 1819 by Ephraim Owens. About twenty years later it was purchased by Richard Hulbert, who raised the substantial stone structure another story and added considerably to it on the west side. It has ever since been a noted hostelry and has satisfactorily catered to thousands of guests. The house was taken in April, 1883, by George Beck who succeeded George May. The Park Hotel was built by George Marcy ; it is now the property of Charles Pratt and is leased to Dennis Leary. The Central Hotel was built by Matthew Siter, and is owned and conducted by Jerry Buckley. The American Hotel is owned by Mrs. Jacobs, whose husband built it, and is leased to George Youngs.
About the year 1817 Ephraim Owens built a saw mill and a grist mill on Mill Creek about on the site where the Sargent mill and chair factory now stand. The old grist mill was long ago taken down and. the name Boonville Mills which it and the small mill bore has been transferred to the Boonville Mills now owned by Mrs. M. J. Davis widow of William Davis. In 1878 S. C. Thompson & Co. built a steam flouring mill which they have operated ever since. A third grist mill is conducted by A. H. Barber.
A foundry and machine shop was established in 1850 by Titus Powers who soon afterward sold out to Holdridge & Gilbert. It afterwards passed to Gilbert & Sawyer and finally closed up. Norton & Avery established a saw and planing mill in 1875, in which business is now conducted by Lewis Siter. The firm of Norton & Avery had carried on the same business in an earlier mill south of the village, which was burned.
A tannery was established about 1824 by Ephraim Owens, sr., who did so much for the advancement of the industrial interests of the vil- lage. This tannery changed hands several times and in 1849 passed to Samuel Johnson, who carried on the business many years The tan- nery was situated on Mill Creek and subsequently burned.
A tub, churn and barrel factory was built by J. L. Mather on Mill
G. A. WILLARD.
403
THE TOWN OF BOONVILLE.
Creek many years ago and later was sold to W. R. Davis. He carried on the business several years and transferred it to Jeremiah Lints, who continues the business.
Many years ago a foundry was established by C. H. Jillson. It was changed into a sash and blind factory which was operated by John M. Fisk, who carried on the manufacture several years, and in 1868 trans- ferred it to Rice Brothers ; it is now operated by C. F. Rice.
A large wagon factory was established in 1830 by Burton Tuttle in the building now occupied for the same business by E. L Woolley, who succeeded the firm of Tanner & Woolley. Other firms who carried on the business there were Noyes & Whiting and Fisk & Burgess. Tanner & Woolley took the business in 1857.
What is now the chair factory of Sargent Brothers was established by their father, N. M. Sargent, in 1851, on Mill Creek, for the manufacture of wooden chairs.
Among the prominent merchants of the past were Archibald Bamber, William F. Owen, William H. Cole, John M. Lewis and Thomas Man- chester, all of whom are deceased, and John and Philip Owens, Joel T. Comstock, Owens & Diefendorf, and Nicholas Schweinsberg. Dr. Samuel Bass dealt in drugs many years ago, and was succeeded by his son. The oldest merchants of the present are Edward Richards, Job W. Fisk and Eaton Snow. The village has at the present time about thirty merchants of all kinds.
The first newspaper published in Boonville was the Boonville Ledger, which was started by James H. Norton in March, 1852, who was suc- ceeded by E. Kent. In March, 1855, the establishment was purchased by L. C. Childs & Co., who changed the name of the paper to the Black River Herald and published it until March 8, 1862, when they sold to H. P. Willard. He successfully conducted the business and ultimately took in partnership his two sons, Francis A. and Garry A. Just before the death of H. P. Willard, the sons assumed the establishment and carried on the business as Willard Brothers. In 1891 Gary bought his brother's interest and has since conducted the paper alone. While un- der the management of Mr. Willard he changed the name of the paper to the Boonville Herald and it so continues. The Herald is a progressive and able country weekly, independent with Republican leaning, and enjoys the confidence of the public.
404
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
The Boonville Record was founded August 15, 1892, by C. J. Don- nelly. He published the paper until November 22, 1895, when it was purchased by Harry H. Griffith and I. Gilbert Sawyer, both of whom are practical printers and enterprising and successful editors and pub- lishers. The Record is Democratic in politics.
The earliest schools in this town were undoubtedly taught at the village. The first one of which there is definite knowledge was taught here by Miss Lydia Buckley, afterwards Mrs. John Post. This was about 1802 and the school was in a private house at the corner of Schuyler and Post streets. A log school house was built about 1807 on what is now West street, where a Mr. Higby, from Turin, and Nathan Wheeler taught in early years. Before this school building was erected a frame structure had been built for the joint use of a school and town hall purposes. This building was afterwards burned. In 1817 a stone school house was erected near the site of S. C. Thompson & Co.'s bank. In the eastern part of the town was an early log school house, built about 1822, and in that part a frame school house was erected a little later and was afterward removed to near Hawkinsville. In Boonville village a stone school building was erected previous to 1850 The Un- ion Free School district was established in 1879 and the excellent school is now under Charles H. Warfield, principal, with nine assistants. The town now has eighteen school districts with a school house in each.
It is not known just when the first provision was made for protection against fires in the village, but it was very early. A fire company was organized and Cataract engine purchased. In September, 1856, the cor- poration purchased of the company this engine and all apparatus and property for $1,560. In the same year an engine house was built and two reservoirs constructed. The property of the fire department now consists of the old engine, one steam fire engine, a hook and ladder apparatus, with ample hose and other appurtenances. Efficient com- panies have charge of each of these divisions.
Boonville is amply supplied with banking facilities. The First Na- tional Bank of Boonville was established as the Bank of Boonville in 1866, with a capital of $75,000. J. R. Tharratt has been president of the institution from its organization.
S. C. Thompson & Co.'s Bank was founded at Constableville, Lewis
405
THE TOWN OF BOONVILLE.
county, in June, 1867, by Schuyler C. Thompson, and was removed to Boonville in 1872. The members of the company are S. C. Thompson, S. A. Johnson and E. S. Thompson.
· The Boonville Union Agricultural Society was organized in 1871 and leased the grounds of the Boonville Driving Park Association (which was organized in the previous year), and for a number of years it held fairs with a reasonable degree of success ; but the organization ultimately declined and finally went out of existence. In 1888 the Boonville Fair Association was formed as a stock company and has since held success- ful annual fairs.
Boonville village has within the past few years been especially fav- ored through the benefaction of one of its former citizens, Cornelius B. Erwin. He was born in the village but left before he reached his ma- jority, finally locating in New Britain, Conn., where he organized the great firm of Russell, Erwin & Co., and accumulated a fortune. Upon his death he left a will which bequeathed $10,000 to an association to be formed under State laws for a public library building ; $2,500 for a library, and $18,000 as a maintenance fund. In 1886 the Erwin Library and Institute was organized with John M. Whipple, Robert H. Roberts, Frank A. Willard, Leander W. Fiske, and William Bamber directors and trustees of the fund. In 1890 a building was erected in native limestone, at a cost of over thirteen thousand dollars. In 1891 a library was purchased and now a free public library with a public reading room is maintained with an annual circulation of over six thousand books.
Besides these inestimable gifts, Mr. Erwin gave $20,000 to the vil- lage for improvements of its park : $10,000 to the cemetery association ; $10,000 to the Baptist church, and $5,000 to the Presbyterian church. These funds have been, or are being, judiciously expended to the great benefit of the place.
The little village of Hawkinsville had its inception in the settlement about 1824 of Sterry Hawkins, David Porter, and Moses Johnson, who joined in the building of a saw mill on Black River. In the next year they built a grist mill. The saw mill was destroyed in a freshet in 1869. A carding mill was established about 1830 by Stephen Hawkins, which ceased operations many years ago. Alexander Murray built a tavern several years after the first settlements were made on the site of the later
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.