Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 45

Author: Wager, Daniel Elbridge, 1823-1896
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston history co.
Number of Pages: 1612

USA > New York > Oneida County > Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York; > Part 45

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Among the settlers who arrived in 1789 was Jesse Curtiss, who in the fall of that year built the third frame house in town, the first having been erected by Timothy Tuttle, and the second by Ebenezer Butler, jr. These three were all built in 1789. Other setttlers of the year were Timothy Pond, Eli Bristol, Joel Bristol, Jonah Sanford. Samuel Curtiss, John Curtiss, Ebenezer Butler, Theodore Gridley, Bartholomew Po d, Rufus Millard, William Marsh, and William Carpenter. While Capt. Moses Foote brought to the town the first horse, it was soon stolen by Indians, and the next ones were brought in 1789 by William Carpenter and Nathan Marsh. It is a local tradition that these men started on hoseback for Albany, and at the same time Jesse Curtiss and Bartholomew started on foot, and that the footmen reached their desti - nation some hours ahead of the horsemen.

In 1789 the families who had settled in this town encountered an en- emy which they had not anticipated, in a period of famine. It seems incredible that actual want of food could have existed, but when the difficulty of communication with distant points, where crops had not failed, is considered, the situation may be better appreciated. The stock of flour and potatoes was exhausted and many were compelled to live

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on wild game and such nuts and wild vegetables as they could find. At last a party of men started for Fort Plain in Montgomery county, in search of flour or other food. There they found a friend in Isaac Paris, who loaded a small flat boat with flour and meal and sent it up the Mohawk to the mouth of Oriskany Creek, where it was transferred to a log canoe, which the settlers had made and who were there to meet the returning party. The canoe and its load were worked up the creek to near the village, where the welcome food was taken in carts to the set- tlement. Mr. Paris received his pay for the flour and meal in ginseng root, for which he could find a ready market. All that territory was then a part of Whitestown, it will be remembered, and when in 1792, a new town was to be erected which would include what is now Clinton, he was honored by giving it his name-Paris.

In 1792 Thomas Hart settled in Clinton and opened a store in com- pany with Seth Roberts in a building erected by Ebenezer Butler, in which the latter had carried on trade. In 1793 Judah Stebbins built the first two-story house in the town. It was in the Hart store, to which business Ephraim Hart (son of Thomas), had succeeded prior to 1801, that the first burglary in the town was committed. Mr. Hart had col- lected about $1 800 in silver, and an Irishman named Samuel McBride, who must have learned of the treasure, broke into the store and carried it off. He was very soon captured and most of the money restored to the owner. The thief escaped from the place of confinement, started north and traveled till morning, when he found a hollow stump about ten feet high near Middle Settlement, into which he descended to hide until night again came on. But the misguided burglar found a prison more secure in the stump than where he was first confined. After nearly losing his life he did finally get out, but only to fall into the cus - tody of his pursuers. He was tried and sentenced to State prison for fourteen years.

The pioneers of Kirkland and that vicinity found many Indians of the Oneida nation, the Stockbridge and the Brothertown tribes, and for a number of years their figures and faces were perhaps more familiar to the settlers than those of their own white neighbors. Many incidents of interest are recorded of the intercourse between the natives and the pioneers, for which space cannot be spared in this volume. (See Grid- 57

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ley's History of Kirkland, and Jones's Annals of Oneida County.) The Indians were friendly as a rule and in some instances were contributors to the comfort of the settlers. It was among these Indians that Rev. Samuel Kirkland passed a large part of his life in efforts to Christianize them. He established the first permanent Protestant mission in the country of the Six Nations among the Oneidas in July, 1766, and from that time until the beginning of the present century was a prominent figure in this history of this region. He was a graduate of Nassau Hall, Princeton, N. J. (1765), and in the previous year, when he was twenty- three years old, had made a visit to the country of the Six Nations. His life among the Indians was replete with incident and its history reads like a romance. When Mr. Kirkland settled among the Oneidas in this town, he built for himself a dwelling for which he cut the timber and dug a cellar with his own hands. His garden was on ground afterwards used for the same purpose by Hon. Timothy Jenkins. He was con- nected with the army as chaplain during a part of the Revolutionary struggle, and was conspicuous and acted as interpreter in the great Buffalo treaty of 1784. In October, 1791, he removed his family to the land granted him by the Indians and the State, and as far as he was able continued his labors among the Oneidas through the remainder of his life. His death took place February 28, 1808. His funeral was held in Clinton and his remains were buried on his own land and near his dwelling. His remains, with those of others of the family, were ex- humed and reburied in the college cemetery October 31, 1856. Three sons and three daughters were born to him. Two of the sons died young and unmarried. Dr. John Thornton Kirkland, president of Ham- ilton College, left no children. Of the daughters, Jerusha, the eldest, married John H. Lothrop, of Utica, in 1797 ; Sarah married Francis Amory, of Boston, in 1804; and Eliza, the youngest, married Rev. Ed- ward Robinson, D D., in 1818, then a professor in Hamilton College, and subsequently known as an Oriental traveler, and professor in Union Theological Seminary of New York city. Mr. Kirkland's greatest act of usefulness was, perhaps, the founding in 1793 of the Hamilton Oneida Academy, at Clinton, which was the direct parent of Hamilton College. A history of this and the many other prominent educational institutions of this " educational emporium of Oneida county " is given in Chapter XXIV.

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THE TOWN OF KIRKLAND.

Hamilton Academy was advanced to the rank and dignity of a col- lege in 1812, and in the following year the Clinton Grammar School was founded, as fully described in Chapter XXIV. The well known Clinton Liberal Institute was established in 1831, and was followed in the next year by the Young Ladies' Domestic Seminary, all of which were forerunners of others which have been described. As to the early common schools of the town, there is little that can be recorded. The following brief sketch was prepared by Gains Butler for the Gridley history and should be preserved :

The first building erected in Kirkland for the purpose of a common school stood on the east side of the village green, upon the spot now occupied for a similar pur- pose. It was a frame building, one story and a half high. This was afterward re- moved, and now (1873) stands on the north side of Kellogg Street, and is occupied by Mr. James Hughes. The original school-house was succeeded by a brick building. The bricks used in this structure were made on the farm of Gideon Cole, now owned by James Elphick and Dr. G. I. Bronson. In the spring of 1840 this house, having become somewhat dilapidated, was sold at auction for some $300, and soon after- wards the present frame building was erected on or near the same spot. It is worthy of note that a Mr. Fillmore, brother of President Fillmore, was one of the early teachers in this school-house.

It was originally a very general practice to measure the lot by the size of the school-house, as if a sufficient margin for a play-ground was land thrown away. The school house on Utica Street was built on a steep bluff, at an angle on two sides of some 45 degrees, with not one spare foot of ground. A school was sustained on this spot for many years, but a bright light one evening many years ago showed that the old building was being reduced to ashes.

The first school-house in the eastern part of Kirkland, near Mr. Pickett's, was built by a Mr. Willard, at the contract price of $150. Low price and poor work. It was attempted to warm the building in winter by a Russian stove, of which Dr. Backus said, "One might as well warm his feet by a tombstone." Another and bet- ter building was afterwards put up on the same site, but ere long it went up by fire, and the district itself was dissolved.

The Franklin district is a large and populous one. The first school-house was destroyed under circumstances bordering on the ludicrous. It may suffice here to state that for a certain cutaneous disease sulphur was regarded as the best remedy. and that, in order to its being well rubbed in, a large fire was considered necessary. Well, the boys were not in a condition to put it out.

District schools were opened early in other parts of the town, such names as the "Brimfield Hill district," the "Chuckery district," the "Manchester district," and the "Post Street district " being some of those applied to the several divisions. In 1860 there were seventeen

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districts in the town. The number at the present time is fifteen, with a school house in each.

While these various extensive and effective measures were being adopted to provide for the education of the young of the town, religious organ- izations were established. It is recorded that the first religious meet- ing held in Kirkland convened on Sunday, April 8, 1787. in an un- finished house belonging to Moses Foote, in Clinton. Mr. Foote opened the meeting with prayer, and Caleb Merrill, who lived near Middle Settlement, read a printed sermon. Other similar meetings were held in various places until a church organization was effected. Rev. Sam- uel Eells, of Branford, Conn., visited Clinton in November, 1788, held services and performed baptisms. In August, 1791, Rev. Dr. Edwards, then pastor of the North church in New Haven, Conn., came to Clin- ton and organized a Congregational church with thirty members: A few weeks later "The Society of Clinton " was organized with eighty- three members. Rev. Asahel Strong Norton, of Chatham, Conn., was called as the first pastor, and was paid a salary of " one hundred pounds, 'lawful money." He served for the same pay for twenty years, and visited other parts of the town, preaching in school houses, dwellings and barns. A log building was erected on the village common in 1792, and there meetings were held. This was torn down in 1796, and the school house was used for worship until a church was built. This was partly accomplished in that year, but the building was not finished until 1801. It stood in the park, facing the south, and was 65 by 48 feet in size. A bell was hung in the square tower in 1804, which was cast by Capt. Timothy Barnes in the village-a product of one of the earliest industries. The church is remembered as " the old white meet- ing house." A new church was erected of stone in 1835-6, on the south side of the park, and was burned July 10, 1876, when the pres- ent handsome edifice was erected at a total cost of about $40,000. After a period of about seventy years in the Congregational faith, the Presbyterian form was adopted and the church became connected with the Utica Presbytery. The first Methodist class was formed in 1818, and that and other churches are described a little further on.

During the period in which were established the above mentioned organizations for the moral and educational welfare of this town, many

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of the early manufacturing industries were founded, which for a time made it a center of considerable business. The breeding of fine-wool sheep was successfully followed in Oneida county at an early date and Kirkland people engaged extensively in the work. This led to the formation of companies for the manufacture of woolen cloths, among which was the Clinton Woolen Manufacturing Company, which erected a factory in 1810. After a few years of profitable operation, the busi- ness declined after the close of the war of 1812, largely through com- petition of English goods. Broadcloths were made at this factory which sold during the war as high as $12 a yard, and other kinds of cloth in proportion. The property ultimately passed to the proprietors of Clark's Mills and was used as a cotton factory, as described further on ; the post-office at this point has the name of Clark Mills.

Amos Kellogg built a fulling mill in Clinton prior to 1810, on the east side of the creek on College street. He sold out to Clark Wood, who removed the machinery to the north side of the road to make room for a carding machine which was set up on the site by Owen & Bennett.

About the year 1813 a nail factory was established by Silas Buttrick and others, near the site of the grist mill; this was soon closed. The building of the first grist mill has been mentioned; it stood on the east side of the creek, just above College street. Another was erected by Simon Nelson at a later date on the site and in 1878 was occupied by William Healey. An early flouring mill was built about forty rods above the Farmers' Mill, which was afterward moved down the stream and rebuilt under the name of Hart's Mill, and finally took the name of " Farmers' Mill." About 1800 a small grist mill was built a little east of Manchester (Kirkland P. O) by a Mr. Sherman. A Mr. Parks, an early settler, began the erection of a mill below Manchester and ex. pended consideral money on a raceway ; but his prospects of profit in it were cut off by the erection of a mill about 1802-3 by Nathan and Ebenezer Thompson at Clark Mills. These men had also a saw mill and a carding machine. The saw mill was burned in 1881. The first saw mill in the town was established by Bronson Foote in 1788, and had several successors in different parts. One was at the upper end of the Dug-Way ; another, built by Mr. Bliss, where the chair factory of

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

S. P. Landers was built in 1861, and another by Ralph W. Kirkland a little below the Franklin Iron Works. Still another saw mill was on a stream known as Sherman Brook, near the eastern bounds of the town ; it was owned by Judah Stebbins and Zadock Loomis, while farther down that stream was a grist mill owned by Timothy Barnes and his sons; the latter was sold and converted into a distillery. Still farther down the same stream was the saw mill of John Bird, and below that one by Thomas Warmele.

In 1794, a deed was made by Mr. Bliss to Woodruff & Kinney, for a dike to be cut from his mill-pond (near Mr. Landers' present factory) through his land to the pres- ent location of the shop. The water-course having been dug, a trip-hammer-shop was built for making scythes, hoes, and for common blacksmithing. After a few years Manross & Wicks became the proprietors. They sold one-half of the shop to Charles Faber, who made nail-hammers. The next proprietors were Porter & Kelsey who made hay-forks. After them came Mr. Wells, who made staves. The next proprietors were Biam and Hiram Davis, who manufactured sash, blinds, and doors. The next owner was James Stewart, who made Excelsior shavings, and carried on the business of upholstery. During its occupancy by Colonel Stewart, Mr. H. H. Jones manufactured axes to some extent. Succeeding Colonel Stewart came Messrs. Cooke & Case, who, during the war of the Rebellion, when cotton was high, dressed flax. Soon after this they turned their attention to the making of cotton batting.

Asa Marvin started a hat factory in Clinton about 1834 on the west corner of College and Franklin streets, which continued some years. Woodbury & Kinney made scythes quite early near the Farmers' Mill, and Timothy Barnes cast bells, as before mentioned. The first pottery was established by Erastus Barnes, near College street ; he used an ex- cellent clay found near Manchester and did a large business ; he was succeeded by John B. Gregory. Brick making has been largely carried on, the first ones being made by Dr. Abel Sherman, on Utica street ; other yards were established in various places.

Among the numerous tanneries which were established and which have all passed away were those of Theophilus Redfield, near the foot of College Hill ; of John Shapley, in the hollow east of the village of Clinton ; of Rufus Hayes, and another by Bangs & Dillow on Utica street.

A small factory was established about 1830 by a Mr. Hurd on a stream between Clinton and Deansville for making of German silver spoons ; the proprietor afterwards began counterfeiting coin and fled

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the country Lewis Pond and Andrew Pond each established a small furnace for working scrap iron quite early, but neither continued long in operation.

The Manchester Manufacturing Company was chartered in 1815, with capital stock of $100,000, its purpose the establishment of a cotton fac- tory in this town. The works were put up by Thomas R. Gold, Theo- dore Sill and John Young, and the limited machinery of those days put in. The weaving was done by hand by families over a large extent of territory. After the introduction of the power loom, the business was revolutionized, but continued successful. In 1831 the factory was en- larged and new machinery including ninety six looms added. The fac- tory was burned in 1854 and not rebuilt. The Clinton Iron Works occupied the site.

The mining of iron ore in Kirkland has already been alluded to The richest beds in town were discovered early on the farm of the late James D. Stebbins, and the ore was so near the surface that it was turned up by the plow. The ore was taken out of town many years and worked into pig iron. In 1852 the Franklin Iron Works went into operation, the company having been formed in 1850, with a capital of $16,000. The works were built during 1851, and had a capacity of six to ten tons a day. The capital not being forthcoming, a new company was formed in 1852, in which Alfred Munson, of Utica, and Mr. Tower took an in- terest, the capital being increased to $32,000. The works were started with success and were afterwards greatly enlarged. In 1864 the prop erty passed to a new corporation, and the capital stock was increased to $100,000. The first stack produced 100 tons per week ; in 1869-70 a new stack was built with a capacity of 160 tons per week. In 1871 the old stack was rebuilt. Quite a hamlet gathered about these works and a post-office opened under the name Franklin Iron Works. The works closed down in 1893.

The Clinton Iron Company was formed in November, 1872, with a capital stock of $100,000. The works were erected in the following year at Manchester, and work was commenced in 1874. Operations were suspended in 1876, but started up again and continued with more or less success until 1893, when they closed down. At Kirkland is located the plant of the Kirkland Canning Co., and the Kirkland Cream- ery, both of which are successfully operated.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

In the summer of 1846 a cotton factory was established in the ex- treme northern part of the town by Ralph, Eneas P. and A. B. Clark, from whom the hamlet that subsequently gathered there took the name of Clark Mills, the name also applying to the post office at that point. The first factory was finished in that year and in April, 1849, 11 I looms were put in operation. At a later date the old woolen factory at Clin- ton and the Peckville Mills were purchased, and the business rapidly in- creased. A mill for making batting and rope was also established. In 1873 the mills changed proprietorship. In 1891 this factory was changed to a plush factory, in which foreign capital is chiefly interested. The post-office was established about 1852, with H. W. Bettis, post- master. A large brick structure was erected for a boarding house, stores were opened and the place became quite an active center.

With the changes that have taken place in agriculture in this town, as in most others, and the larger attention given to dairying. cheese factories came into existence. The first company was formed at Man - chester in 1862, with Benjamin Barnes, president ; George W. Pixley, secretary ; E C. Lewis, treasurer. The business was successful, and another factory was established in the " Chuckery " district in 1864, and a third at Franklin in 1866 by Thomas T. Sawyer, jr. There are now three factories in the town.

Among the prominent farmers of the town, past and present, may be mentioned :

Amos P. Gridley, James D). Stebbins, Simeon Gunn, Marshall W. Barker, William B. Havens, Hiram G. Hart, James O. Gridley, George Bristol, Col. John H. Tower, R. J. Billingham, John Foote, A. P. Armstrong, William C. Billingham, James Burns, Henry C. Earle, Charles Baker, Warren Ely, Henry Gleason, Herbert Case, Harrison Griffin, H. II. Miller, and P. M. Miller. The south part of the town is still largely devoted to hop raising. Along the railroad line considerable milk is now produced for shipment.

The village of Clinton was incorporated April 12, 1843, by which time it had become a very active and enterprising place. Three years later the first newspaper was established, when the Clinton Signal was issued on July 10, 1846, by L. W. Payne. To meet the suggestions of some of the Senior class of the college in 1848 the paper was changed to an eight-page quarto form and the name called the Radiator. The former style and name were taken in the following year. The paper

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suspended in 1852. Mr. Payne and Ira D. Brown soon afterward es - tablished the Oneida Chief, which continued with some changes in ownership for several years ; in 1856 it was sold to Francis E. Merritt, who sold a year later to Galen H. Osborne, who changed the name to the Chief and Courier. Osborne sold to M. D. Raymond in August, 1859, who continued it to May 1, 1875, when it passed to J. B. Sykes, and the name changed to the Clinton Courier. It is now published by J. B. & H. B. Sykes. It is a progressive and ably edited journal.

In 1852 a monthly agricultural paper was started in Clinton called the Northern Farmer, the publisher was T. B. Miner. In 1854 it was issued in connection with the Farmer (another monthly), and in January, 1856, the Rural American was added. Soon afterwards both editions of the Farmer were dropped and the Rural American continued to 1868, when it was removed to New Jersey.

In 1845 Orrin Gridley established the Kirkland Bank in Clinton, and on his death in April, 1847, it passed to his son, Albert G. Gridley, who conducted it until the fall of 1854, when it was closed and its affairs set- tled. In 1862 the Lincoln Bank was established with William H. Mars- ton, president, and Henry M. Burchard, cashier ; it was closed in June, 1864. A banking house was opened by George Bissell & Co in Jan- uary, 1866, with Philip J. Hart, cashier ; it was closed in August, 1868. The Clinton Bank was established January 19, 1870, by Bunce & Dun- bar ; from them it passed to Hill & Elliott, and since 1884 has been conducted by C. E. Hayes & Co.

The post- office in Clinton was opened January 1, 1803, with J. Sim- mons, postmaster. Julia H. Bronson has held the position for the past twelve years.

In 1891 the village voted to organize a Union school. In the next year a modern and commodious school building was erected at a cost of nearly $50,000, and is designated as Clinton Union School and Academy.

The old Park House was erected at about the beginning of the cent- ury, and continued in use as a hotel more than three-quarters of a century. The Clinton House, a fine brick hotel, was erected in 1873 by J. H. Tower. On the site of this hotel stood the old Clinton House, built by Joseph Stebbins probably between 1818 and 1820, and long a popular hotel ; it was burned in 1871. 58

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Among the prominent former merchants of the village were Major- General Comstock, Benoni Butler, Peter Fake, " Deacon" Gridley, Dr. Charles Barrows (drugs). James T. Watson and John Marsh have been in business since 1858, and R. C. Osborn since 1860.

Following is a list of those who have held the office of village presi- dent since 1875, in which year Hiram C. Everett held the position : 1876, William C. Bartlett ; 1877-82, James J. Scollard ; 1883-5, Andrew W. Mills ; 1886-7, E. S. Williams ; 1888-20, James I. Scollard ; 1891-2, E. S. Williams ; 1893-6, E. B. Woolworth.

A fire company has existed in Clinton from early times. A reorgan- ization of the fire department was effected in 1873 and maintained until the establishment of the village water works in 1882-3. Since then the Smythe Hook & Ladder company and the Osborn Hose company, with Francis Tasker chief, have constituted the equipment for extin- guishing fires.

In the spring of 1796 Bartholomew Pond, who then owned what has been known as the Royce farm, donated to the Society of Clinton (before described) an acre of land to " be used as a burial yard." This lot constitutes the southeast corner of the present cemetery. About the year 1805 the grounds were enlarged by the addition of the north- ern and eastern parts, which were deeded to the society by Samuel Royce. The Rural Cemetery Association act of the Legislature was passed in 1847, and in the summer of 1854 an association was formed under it in Clinton. Grounds now forming the Clinton Cemetery were selected and purchased for $3,220. The lot comprises about twenty- eight acres and has been handsomely laid out. The care of the old cemetery was in 1862 passed over to the new one.

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Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 45

Author: Wager, Daniel Elbridge, 1823-1896 Publication date: 1896 Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston history co. Number of Pages: 1612

Author: Wager, Daniel Elbridge, 1823-1896
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: [Boston] : The Boston history co.
Number of Pages: 1612