USA > New York > Oneida County > Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York; > Part 47
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
468
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Point Rock is a post office in the extreme northwest corner of the town, and takes its name from a precipitous rocky point between Fish and Point Rock Creeks. The place was long a considerable lumber center for some years, with a store, a tavern and a few dwellings. D. C. Smith and Charles Wick are the present merchants.
West Branch is a post- office and a small hamlet in the northern part, with a grist mill, owned in 1878 by the Wyman Brothers, and a tavern. There was formerly a carding mill here. The grist mill is still in opera- tion. A store is kept by G. A. Simon, and a second one by Julius Haynes.
Lorena is a post-office which has been established in the southern part in recent years.
The first religious society organized in Lee was the Congregational, which dates back to 1797. The first pastor was Rev. James South- worth. The congregation was ministered to by several missionaries during a period of years, and long used the school house for its services. It built a church about a mile south of Lee Center, and ultimately changed to the Presbyterian form. It ceased its existence long ago.
The Union Ecclesiastical Society at Lee Center was formed in 1819, and a church was soon erected on land furnished by William Park. The Congregational Society wishing to have a church for their exclu- sive use, built a structure on the Hall farm. The members of the Union society held somewhat liberal views, and in later years the church was repaired and remodeled and used by the Universalists. This church is still standing and used as needed by any denomination.
Methodist services were held early in this town and in 1876 the pres- ent society at Lee Center was organized and a handsome edifice built. Rev. James Stanton was the first pastor. There is also a small Metho- dist society at Lee, another at Point Rock, and still another south of Lee Center, called the Lee Valley church.
The Methodists held meetings at Delta as early as 1838 and a soci- ety was organized, possibly earlier than that year. The present church was built in 1843.
A Friends' Meeting House was built many years ago near West Branch. The society has erected a new building in recent years.
Following is a list of the supervisors of Lee from its organization to the present time :
469
THE TOWN OF MARCY.
1813, James Young, jr. ; 1814-16, John Hall, esq .; 1817-20, William Park; 1821, Rudolph Devendorf,-Mr. D. removed, and William Park was elected at a special town meeting to fill vacancy; 1822-32, William Park; 1833-40, Daniel Twitchell; 1841-42, James N. Husted; 1843, Freeman Perry ; 1844-45, Lyman Sexton ; 1846-47, John J. Castle ; 1848, Jeram Chesebrough ; 1849, Mansir G. Phillips; 1850-53, Charles Stokes; 1854-55, Charles E. Frazer; 1856, Elias Spencer; 1857, Charles Stokes; 1858, Asaph B. Sexton ; 1859, Elias Spencer; 1860-61, Henry J. Hitchcock; 1862, Thomas J. Brown; 1863-65, Andrew Davidson; 1866-68, Isaac McDougall; 1869, Andrew Goely; 1870, Julius H. Sly; 1871, Jay Capron ; 1872-75, Curtis B. Hitchcock; 1876, Thomas J. Brown (resigned and Elisha A. Walsworth elected to the vacancy); 1877- 78, James Eames; 1879-80, Eli S. Bearss; 1881-82, Henry J. Hitchcock; 1883-84, Charles E. Fraser, jr .; 1885-86, A. J. Sly: 1887, H. C. Wyman; 1888, George E. Hollenbeck; 1889, S. Mason Smith; 1890-93, Albert Krebs; 1894, Mason N. Went- worth ; 1895-96, D. C. Smith.
The foregoing list extends our memoranda of prominent settlers and citizens and includes many of the leading men of the town.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE TOWN OF MARCY.
The town lies in the eastern central part of Oneida county upon the northi bank of the Mohawk. Nine- Mile Creek flows across the north- west corner and numerous small streams afford drainage into the Mo- hawk. The surface is made up of a wide intervale along the river which is rich and productive farming land. From this rises a rolling and ir- regular upland to a height of 300 to 500 feet above the valley. The soil on this upland is a rich sandy and gravelly loam ; that of the valley an alluvial deposit. The former Utica and Black River Railroad crosses the town in a northerly direction, with a station at Stittville, a hamlet on the Trenton line, and another at Marcy.
The town includes in its territory parts of the Sadahquada, the Oris- kany, the Holland and Fonda's patents, as shown on the map herein.
Settlement was begun in Marcy by John Wilson, who came from Windsor, Vt., in 1793, with a large family of children and located on a farm half a mile east of Mine-Mile Creek; the place was occupied in recent years by William Richards. There he cleared several acres and
470
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
built a log house ; but he was taken ill and died in the fall of the year in which he arrived ; this was the first death in the town. The home- stead was taken in charge by the elder children. Mr. Wilson was the sixth of nine sons of Thomas Wilson, who came over from Ireland ; eight of these nine sons joined the Continental army early in the Rev- olutionary struggle. Early in 1794 James Wilson, the seventh son in this family, came into Marcy, and settled in a large log house, eighteen feet square, on Nine-Mile Creek, near its junction with the Mohawk. This house had been built by a Dutchman named Tull, who also con- tinued there with his family, making in all twelve inmates. In the fol . lowing spring Wilson purchased an unimproved lot about a mile north of Oriskany village, where he became a successful farmer. In 1794 also the fourth and fifth sons of Thomas Wilson (Isaac and Jacob) set- tled in the town in the same neighborhood where their brother James first stopped. None of the early settlers is left in that locality.
The early settlements in Marcy were mostly made along the river. Among them were the Camp and Carey families; but aside from a comparatively few families, the larger part of the territory was settled later. Anthony W. and Jonathan Wood located in the town in 1816. Jeremiah Sweet came in early, as did also the Weaver and Edic fam- ilies. William Mayhew settled at Marcy post-office about 1820.
Early in the history of the town Welsh settlers found their way into the central and northern parts and their numbers increased until they constitute by far the larger part of the population in that district. Among the early comers were Joseph Ellis, Evan Jones, and Ellis Owens. They are generally successful farmers and thrifty and useful citizens.
The first town meeting in Marcy was held May 1, 1832, "at the school house near Samuel Camp's." Isaac Bronson, a justice of the peace, presided, and the following officers were elected :
Supervisor, John Newell; assessors, Samuel C. Baldwin, Dan P. Cadwell, Harvey Foot; commissioners of roads, John F. Allen, Nathaniel Kent, Joel Hale; collector, John Cavana; commissioners of schools, Hazen E. Fox, Horatio NN. Cary, Jeremiah Sweet; inspectors of schools, Jonathan Sweet, James Dikeman, Ezra Simmons; overseers of poor, Samuel C. Baldwin, William Potter; constables, Joseph Ward, George W. Miller, John Cavana, Phineas Sherman, jr. ; sealer of weights and meas- ures Anthony W. Wood; justices of the peace, William R. Miller, Ezra Simmons, Conrad Raymer; town clerk, Milton Dyer.
471
THE TOWN OF MARCY.
Among other settlers in Marcy may be mentioned Samuel Baldwin, the first supervisor, Nathaniel D. Bronson, Milton Dyer, John Cavana, Jonathan Sweet, Jeremiah Sweet, James A. Dikeman, Clark Potter, David Babcock, Amos C. Hall, William H. Hale, Henry Edic, George B. Robbins, Ebenezer Lewis, William E. Clark, and others, all of whom have been prominent and instrumental in advancing the welfare of the community.
The first school in Marcy was probably taught before the beginning of the century, in the Wilson neighborhood. As early as 1816 there was a school house there, which showed by its condition that it had stood many years. The town was gradually subdivided and in 1860 it had ten districts. The present number is eleven, with good school houses.
A post. office bearing the name of this town was established prior to 1836 in the southwest part of the town, on the river road. Albertus Hibbard was the first postmaster and was succeeded by William May- hew, sr., who was appointed by President Van Buren. The office was then removed to its present location at Marcy station.
A post-office was established in January, 1878, at Edic's Crossing, in the southeast part of the town and named Maynard, with Ephraim V. Horn, postmaster.
Stittville is a hamlet in the north part on the Trenton line and is noticed in the subsequent history of that town.
The Union Society of the Methodist Church in Marcy was incorpo- rated by vote February 4, 1839, and the church was organized in the same year, with the following names on the register :
David Babcock, Samuel C. Baldwin, W. Barnard, John Burton, Stephen Briggs, Anthony Bradt, Amos Cleaver, John Cleaver, Horace Dyer, Milton Dyer, Jacob Edic, David Gray, T. Gray, George Hicks, George Hazard, John Hazard, William Hill, John I. Jones, Walter King, William R. Miller, Jeremiah Sweet, William Sher- man, Freeborn Sweet, Samuel Steward, Robert Start, Abram Weaver, John White and Thomas White.
This list contains the names of many families who came into the town at a comparatively early date. The church was erected in 1839, and a parsonage the same year. The lot on which the church was built as well as the burial lot were donated by Jacob Edic. Rev. Mr. Cass was the first pastor. Previous to this organization and in 1824, the Rev.
472
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
Mr. Frost, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Whitestown, had rec- ommended to the Marcy people the services of a local Methodist preacher named Gibson, and he came and held services in the school house. A revival followed, and a class was formed, which was the nu- cleus of the latter church.
The Berean Baptist church, at Marcy Station, was organized early in 1844, under Elder William H. Thomas, who became the first pastor. The membership at the end of the first year was seventy- three and the church was soon erected.
Welsh Presbyterian Church .- A society of this denomination was formed in 1854 under Rev. John R. Griffith, who long continued its pastor. A frame church was built in school district No. II. The soci- ety has had continued existence since, but no regular pastor is em- ployed.
A number of members of the Welsh Presbyterian congregation left it soon after its formation and organized a Methodist society, building a frame church in the northeast part of the town. It was subsequently burned and the existing church erected on the site. Services have gen- erally been held by supplies. In that part of the town also a German Methodist society was organized with a small membership and a frame church built.
In the southeast part of the town a Welsh Presbyterian church was formed before 1815, and built a church. This was subsequently re- moved and converted into a cheese factory and in 1858 the present church was erected. The membership has always been small.
From 1833 to 1896, inclusive, the following named persons have served as super- visors of the town: 1833, Samuel C. Baldwin; 1834-35, Milton Dyer; 1836-38 Con- rad Raymer; 1839, Samuel C. Baldwin; 1840-41, Nathaniel D. Bronson ; 1842-43, James A. Dikeman; 1844-46, Hazen E. Fox; 1847-48, Clark Potter; 1849, Jeremiah Sweet: 1850, Amos C. Hall; 1851-52, Clark Potter; 1853, James A. Dikeman; 1854, David Babcock; 1855, William H. Hale; 1856, David Babcock; 1857, Clark Potter; 1858-59, Edward T. Marson; 1860, James Cavana; 1861-62, Henry Edic; 1863, George B. Robbins; 1864-65, Ebenezer Lewis; 1866-67, Michael Van Hatten; 1868-69, William E. Clark; 1870, David T. Jenkins; 1871, Charles J. Edic; 1872, James Cavana; 1873-75, Charles J. Edic; 1876-77, David T. Jenkins; 1878, William Marson; 1879-80, William E. Jones; 1881, Amos L. Edic; 1882, Thomas Watkins; 1883-84, Mortimer M. Mayhew: 1885-86, Alexander E. Morgan ; 1887, John R. Pugh; 1888-92, Mortimer M. Mayhew; 1893-95, Charles H. Clark; 1896, John W. Potter.
Marcy is almost wholly an agricultural district and its history is a
473
THE TOWN OF MARSHALL.
brief record of peace and a reasonable degree of prosperity. There has never been any manufacturing of account within its bounds, though a glass factory was established in the northeastern part during the war period of 1812-15, where a poor quality of window glass was made for a time; but the discovery of better sand on Oneida Lake caused its re- moval thither. A few saw mills were built in the early years, but nearly all have passed away. In comparatively recent years the farmers have turned more and more of their energies to dairying ; cheese factories have been established to such an extent that during one period the busi- ness threatened to be overdone, as far as this locality was concerned. Powell's saw and grist mill are in the northwest part of the town on Nine Mile Creek, and Clark & Whittaker have mills on the same stream. There is now no store or hotel in the town.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE TOWN OF MARSHALL.
This town lies in the southern central part of Oneida county, the southwest corner touching Madison county. The surface is a hilly up- land, the hills rising from 200 to 300 feet above the valleys. Oriskany Creek flows northerly through the western part. The soil is a fertile sandy loam. A small part of the village of Waterville (in Sangerfield) is included within the limits of this town, but is treated in the history of Sangerfield. The town includes within its area of 19,322 acres a large part of the tract once belonging to the Brothertown Indians, with a small triangular tract in the northeast corner from the Coxe patent. (See map.)
The Brothertown Indians were composed of remnants of several New Jersey and Long Island tribes, and were invited by the Oneidas to come and live on their territory ; the State also aided in their collection and removal. They settled on the well known tract mostly within what is now Marshall, and soon took up the English language. While living here they reached a comparative degree of civilization, The last of
60
474
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
their number left this locality about 1850. Among those who settled here previous to the Revolutionary war were David Fowler, Elijah Wampy (or Wampe), and John Tuhi, grandfather to one of the same name who was executed in 1816. Those, however, who located at that time left soon after the war began, through fear of the Indian tribes which had espoused the loyal cause, and returned to New England. They planted potatoes before they went away, and left them growing in the field, and on their return some six years later found them still pro- ducing. In 1831 a portion of them sold out and emigrated to Green Bay, Wis. During their sojourn in what is now Marshall they acted under a regular township organization. Their town clerks from 1795 to 1843 were Elijah Wampy, David Fowler, jr., William Coyhis, Christo- pher Scheesuck, Thomas Crossley, Jacob Dick, William Dick, jr., James Fowler, jr., Daniel Dick, David Toucee, R. Fowler, James Kiness, Simon Hart, James Wiggins, and Alexander Fowler, some of whom held the office a number of years, and James Kiness the longest terni of all. By an act of the Legislature the people of Brothertown were to meet on the first Tuesday in April of cach year to elect their town officers. The peace-makers presided at these meetings, and were authorized to give notice of special meetings. The elective officers were a clerk, two overseers of the poor, two marshals, three fence- viewers, a poundmaster, and overseers of highways. The office of peace-maker corresponded with that of justice of the peace, the posses- sor being entitled to affix " Esquire" to his name. These officers were appointed by the governor and Senate. The following persons served as superintendents of the Brothertown Indians, viz. : Samuel Jones, Ezra L'Hommedieu, Zina Hitchcock, William Floyd, Thomas Eddy, Bill Smith, Thomas Hart, Henry McNiel, Uri Doolittle, Asahel Curtis, Joseph Stebbins, William Root, Nathan Davis, Austin Mygatt, Samuel L. Hubbard, Elijah Wilson, Samuel Comstock. Prominent among the peace makersfrom 1796 to 1843 were the Fowlers, Johnsons, Scheesucks, Tuhis, and Dicks. In ISI the Brothertowns sent John Tuhi, sr., John Scheesuck, sr., Jacob Fowler, and Henry Cuchip as delegates to treat with the Western Indians. In a few instances marble slabs were placed at the graves of the Brothertowns by their friends. The inscription on two of these are the following :
475
THE TOWN OF MARSHALL.
John Tuhi. Esq., died December 14, 1811, aged 65 years. Esther Poquinal, A Member of the Mohegan Tribe of Indians, A Practical and Exemplary Christian, aged 96 years.
Asa Dick, esq., and his brother, members of the Narragansett tribe, were influential men among the Brothertowns. Dickville, just above Deansville, was named for the former, who built a mill there, and founded a settlement, which grew to quite respectable proportions, but upon his death lost its prestige, and is now a suburb of Deansville. The old red grist mill at Dickville was built about 1807-8, and has long been removed. The incident of the capture and escape of Colonel Heinrich Staring is related in the history of Kirkland. The colonel was appointed first judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Herkimer county upon its organization, and many laughable incidents are related of him while hold- ing that office.
The first settlement made by white men in the town of Marshall was probably that of David Barton, in 1793, on that part of the Brothertown tract sold to the State. Warren Williams came in soon afterward and settled on a farm, which he sold to Elder Hezekiah Eastman, who re- ceived his deed from the State in 1795. This farm was afterwards oc- cupied by Horace H. Eastman. Capt. Simon Hubbard and Levi Barker were among the earliest settlers. The first birth in the town was that of Col. Lester Barker, who was sheriff of the county in 1847-48.
Isaac Miller settled in the town about 1795, when his son, Isaac, was three or four years old. The family located at Hanover and there the pioneer passed the remainder of his life. He was the first supervisor of the town. His grandson, also named Isaac, became a successful farmer a little way north of Deansville in the town of Kirkland. Joel Green was an early settler on " Hanover Green," and near the home of Isaac Miller. sr.
In the year 1795 John Dean, a Quaker, was commissioned by the Friends in New York city, to labor among the Brothertown Indians as a missionary. He came on to Marshall and Kirkland and began his work. After two years he returned, but came on again at the urgent request of the Indians, bringing with him his wife and son, Thomas Dean, who was then nineteen years old. They lived in a log house, and in 1799 the wing of what became the old Dean homestead was built ; the main part of the building was erected in 1804. John Dean contin-
476
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
ued his labor with the Indians until near his death, which took place in 1820 ; he is buried in Deansville. Some years before his death his son Thomas had been chosen by the Indians as their agent and counselor. In 1809 Thomas Dean married Mary Flandrau, sister of Thomas H. Flandrau, an early lawyer of this county. Thomas Dean had charge of the removal of the Brothertown Indians to Green Bay, Wis., where he was instrumental in securing for them a tract of 64,000 acres of land. He spent ten winters in Washington and the intervening summers in Green Bay, in his efforts to bring his plans to completion. Upwards of 2,400 Indians were removed to the west. He is remembered as an un- selfish, honest and generous man who gave up many years of his life to this work, for which he was very inadequately remunerated. He died in June, 1842, at the age of sixty-three years.
In 1801 Daniel Hanchett, John Winslow, Thomas Winslow, and Ward White erected a forge near the center of the town on the site of the hamlet that became known as Forge Hollow. They manufactured iron from ore, and in succeeding years other iron-working establish- ments were started there, in which castings were made, scrap iron worked, ete. All these interests long ago went out of existence. A man named Putnam was one of the earliest settlers at that point, and Elder Tremain and Timothy Burr were early comers.
James Melvin was an early settler in Marshall. His son, Ira J., was born here in 1805 and became one of the successful settlers of the town.
Settlement at what became known as Hanover (the post office taking the name of Marshall) began early, and the post office was established about 1824, with Dr. Levi Buckingham postmaster. A tavern was kept there by Newman Gridley about 1813, and when Dr. Buckingham settled in the place in 1816 he built a store on Hanover Green and en- gaged in trade with Henry Hawley, who had previously carried on business at Forge Hollow. The doctor sold out to his partner. who con- tinued the business many years. The first store opened in the town was kept by Isaac Miller. The post-office at this point has been aban- doned.
Other settlers of a comparatively early date were Jared J. Hooker, Charles Smith, Silas Hanchett, Calvin Parker, Lorenzo Rouse, E. B.
477
THE TOWN OF MARSHALL.
Barton, Anthony Peck, Marinus Hubbard, Ashby K. Northrup, James J. Hanchett, Silas Clark, Oscar B. Gridley, Charles B. Wilkinson, and others whose names will appear.
In early years there were a few saw mills and asheries in this town, but their usefulness long ago ceased. There is no manufacturing of account carried on, and the mercantile business is mostly confined to Deansville. The farming community is reasonably prosperous, large quantities of hops having been grown, and from which in many of the passing years a large revenue was derived. Dairying has in recent years attracted more attention than formerly.
The town supports excellent schools and is divided into ten districts. The number of children attending school in 1895 was 281.
Among the more prominent farmers of this town, past and present, are Elephas Barton, Adonijah Day, Hubert M. Rouse, S. S. Whitney, John G. Bennett, Ansel Hanchett, Joseph S. Barton, Daniel Conger, David Gallup, Julius A. Day, and Charles A. Hovey.
Deansville is a pretty village in the extreme northwest corner of the town, and takes its name from the Dean family before noticed. It has the only post-office in the town. When the Chenango Canal was con- structed through this town, as described in Chapter XXI, it gave the inhabitants considerable encouragement, and readier access to distant markets. The village of Deansville is on the line of the canal and most of its growth dates from that time. What was formerly the Utica, Clinton and Binghamton Railroad passes through the village and is, of course, of greater utility than the canal ever was. William Northrup settled in the village in 1833, and the post office was established about the same time, with Thomas Dean postmaster. The name of the post- office was changed in 1894 to Deansboro. John Wilmott opened the first store in a building erected by himself, and in which George B. and Orville B. Northrup (sons of William) were in trade in later years. George Barker was the second merchant in the place, and built the store occupied later by Fairbank & Van Vechten. Royal M. Northrup, brother of William, kept a hotel in 1849-50 on the Utica and Clinton plank road, then just completed ; it was situated half a mile north of Deansville, over the Kirkland line. William Northrup probably kept the first hotel in the village ; it stood on the site of the later Hamilton
478
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
House, and was burned. The Hamilton House was built by William Hamilton in 1875-6. A hotel was kept at one period by Harvey Cur- tiss. The old grist mill at Deansville was built by Asa Dick about 1836. It was afterwards converted into a distiliery and operated by a stock company. Still later it was changed back to a grist mill.
The Deansville Cemetery Association was organized about 1860, and owns a fine tract of about three and one-half acres in the town of Kirk- land, just north of Deansville, which has been laid out with excellent taste.
A Congregational church was organized in the town of Marshall June 14, 1797. It was located at Hanover and took the name of " The Hanover Society." The membership embraced seven males and seven females. A church was erected for the society in 1801, and about forty years later was rebuilt. The society prospered for many years but eventually declined and was finally disbanded
The First Baptist church of Paris, which was within the present limits of this town, was organized July 6, 1797, only a short time after the organization of the Hanover society. Elder Hezekiah Eastman had preached here in the previous year and possibly earlier, and was the first pastor of this church. He continued until 1809. The society was dis- banded in 1832, when a part of its members united with the Baptist church in Clinton, then recently formed.
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.