Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 59

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 59

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).

Messrs. Halstead and Fisher, on a certain occasion, were hunting bears. They started one in a swamp on the lake shore, and after following it a short distance, and in passing a place made hollow by the roots of a tree partly turned over, Mr. Halstead broke through to his armpits, when out sprang the bear. They succeeded in killing it and left, but had not proceeded more than eighty rods when they found where the she bear and two small cubs resided, under the roots of another fallen tree. They effected a dislodgment of the old one, who shared the same fate as its mate, and secured the two little, now orphan, cubs. It was a very cold day, and to preserve the lives of the little fellows Halstead placed one in his bosom, and Fisher the other in his pocket. They were, however, so little inured to the cold, that be- fore the hunters reached home they were both dead. Our hunters, however, con- soled themselves with the reflection that they had four less of those troublesome neighbors than in the morning.

After Mr. Eliakim Stoddard had removed to Camden, he and one of his neighbors started to go to the widow Jackson's for salt, each with a yoke of oxen and a sled, as it required this amount of team to draw through the woods, where there was no road or track, their supply of this necessary article, -a barrel each. They struck the lake shore, and while making their way on the beach saw, directly in their path, as they supposed, a fine greyhound. As they neared the animal they discovered that, in

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stead of a hound, it was a wolf, which, from its famished appearance and the dispo- sition it showed to stand its ground, they concluded intended to satisfy its craving appetite at their expense. All the weapons they had, offensive or defensive, were those necessary accompaniments of all woodsmen-their axes. After a consultation it was decided to proceed, and try titles to the right of way with the wolf, and fur- ther, that upon no consideration was either to throw his axe, but to retain his hold on it at all events. As they came nearer the wolf it commenced an angry growl, and was evidently at the point of springing on them when the neighbor let fly his axe, without at all disabling the animal, and the only perceptible effect was to ren- der it more savage. Mr. Stoddard, now seeing that he must rely solely on his own resources, stood on the defensive until the wolf had got within striking distance, when, with a well-aimed blow, he laid his adversary at his feet, and by a quick repe- tition deprived him of life.

In 1800 a Frenchman from New York came to this town on a hunting expedition. He was possessed of the two most necessary articles to the hunter, a valuable dog and a good gun. He stopped at Barnard's Bay, and his first essay was in hunting deer. He went into the woods, and had not proceeded far before his dog discovered what Mons. Crapeau supposed to be a fine deer in a tree-top. He shot at the anı- mal, wounding but not disabling it. It leaped from the tree, and on reaching the ground was grappled by the dog. A furious fight ensued, but the dog was, how- ever. soon put hors du combat, when our hunter thought it time to interfere to save the life of his favorite. He had nothing but his unloaded gun, and valuable as it was it did not come in competition with the life of the hound. The first blow broke it in two at the breech, without in the least stunning the doubly infuriated animal, now disposed to make fight with both master and dog. Our hero, naught intimi- dated, and having a good club in the breechless gun barrel, gave a lucky blow which broke the "critter's" back. This rendered the contest far less doubtful, and the deer's life was soon taken by repeated blows. The Frenchman now started for his boarding-house to tell his wonderful feat in deer killing, while poor Tray, too badly wounded to accompany him, was left with his fallen foe. Arriving at his home, the hunter soon spread the news of his good fortune, when all hands repaired to the woods to assist in bringing home the venison. At the place of the exploit, instead of a deer, a monstrous panther, measuring nine feet from "tis to tip," lay stretched before them, while the leaves and bushes gave indubitable proof of the fierceness of the death struggle.

The first school in this town was taught by Lyman Mathers in 1803-4 a short distance below McConnellsville, in a log house then owned by Isaac Cook. In the neighborhood of Fish Creek Landing an early school was taught by Phebe Barker, in a log house built by a Mr. Graves, which was afterwards in 1807 purchased by William Covell, who had built a new house while the school was in progress in the other. In 1815-16 Otis Wheelock taught a school in a log house that stood near his late residence, A few years earlier than this a brick

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school house was built at the "South Corners," and there were a few other log school houses in the town. In 1860 the town had nineteen districts ; the number at the present time is nineteen, with a school house in each

The village of North Bay is situated on a beautiful site on the north shore of Oneida Lake. It is a station on the former Midland Railroad and has become well known as a summer resort. One of the most act- ive founders of the place was Henry J. Myer, who erected the first hotel there on the site of the late Phalen House. This hotel was burned. He also built the later Tremont House and many other of the early struct- ures in the pla e. The Myer hotel was changed to the Frisbie House and susbsequently burned. James A. Wooden built the Phalen House in 1873. Alexander Rae was also one of the early and active promoters of the village, and also his brother James. The first store in the place was opened by James Louden, whose brother Joseph carried on busi - ness at a later date. Other prominent merchants have been Dexter Nichols, who was in trade many years, and John Thompson Henry Woodward, now in business, is an old merchant and the present post- master. The post-office was established about 1840, previous to which the mail for the village was obtained at Vienna The first postmaster was Hiram Higby who opened a store where Joseph Louden was in trade. After the opening of the Black River Canal in 1851 the village grew rapidly and became a shipping point of considerable importance. Canal boat building was also carried on extensively. The saw mill now run by Aaron Bushnell stands about where one has been in existence many years. The grist mill is now owned by Mrs. De Long.

The present North Bay Hotel was built by Josiah Cleveland and is owned and kept by Peter Cole. The property was in the Cleveland family many years. Since this place has become somewhat noted as a summer resort, a number of hotels have been built at the beach. Among these are the Butler House, built and kept by George Butler; the Brayton House, by Michael Brayton, and a house kept by John Fiddler.

Vienna village is situated in the eastern part of the town and is a sta- tion on the railroad. It was early known as Parker's Corners, and later as South Corners A tannery was established here at an early day by Rufus Kinne who operated it many years and sold to Rufus Sawyer,

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from whom it passed to Walter K Cook. The business has been aban- doned. Elias Humaston built a carding mill here about 1816, operated it a number of years and was succeeded by several others; the business was finally abandoned. Mr. Humaston also built a small grist mill near the village at an early day. The only grist mill now is a small feed mill by Kinney & Meays. J. H. Meays runs the saw mill and also a store. Another store is kept by Mrs. J. C. Brick. One of the earliest saw mills here was built by James Cook, who sold it to his brother Walter. A hotel has always been maintained here and is now kept by M. J. Bailey. The post-office was established prior to 1813 and a Mr. Parker carried the mail through from Utica on horseback and later with a wagon. Rufus Kiune was one of the early postmasters and perhaps the first.

The village of McConnellsville is situated in the north part of the town on Fish Creek. It takes its name from Joseph McConnell, an early settler at this point. A post-office was established here about 1812, in which William Smith was probably the first postmaster; he was suc- ceeded previous to 1814 by Friend Morse. Joseph McConnell became a settler in October, 1814, and was also one of the early postmasters, as was also Dean Wood. Isaac Cook built the first tavern in the vil- lage, which he sold to Ambrose Jones. Mr. Cook also sold goods in the early history of the place, but the first merchant of much impor- tance was Harvey Smith; another was a Mr. Brookins. A store is now kept by Lansing Tuttle. The old Cook tavern was a double log building and long ago disappeared. The hotel on the old site is now kept by Theodore Christian. A saw mill was built here in 1801 which was owned by a company composed of William Smith, Timothy Hal- stead and others. The mill was erected by Mr. Hammill, who also built the next year the bridge over Fish Creek on the Rome road. William Smith built a grist mill about 1804. The saw mill is now oper- ated by Charles Harden and has been for many years. Another saw mill near by is carried on by Hubbard Bros., on a site where there has been a mill many years. It was and now is operated by Lansing Tuttle.

A small wintergreen distillery was established here more than twenty years ago, which is now operated by Theodore Christian, who is also postmaster. A large chair factory was established here about ten years ago by C. Harden & Son, and is now operated by the son, F. S. Har- den. Nearly forty hands are employed.

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A canning factory was established many years ago by Lansing Tuttle. A large one of later years is carried on by Theodore Christian.

West Vienna village is situated on the north shore of Oneida Lake in the southwest part of the town, and is a station on the Midland Railroad. Silas Jewell was one of the first settlers here, coming in about 1822, and built the hotel; it is now closed. John Bedell came here from Greene county, N. Y., and settled on a farm. He built the first store in the place in 1838, in the building afterwards occupied as a dwelling by Jacob King. There is only one store, which has been kept many years by Zenas J. White. Eliphalet Jewell was an early settler at this point and built a grist mill before 1817, and a man named Merrill soon afterward built the saw mill. The newer grist mill was built by J. H. Bedell and with the saw mill is now operated by J. C. Mace. The old grist mill is now the property of Le Roy Page, son of Ira Page.

Fish Creek Landing is a hamlet to the southward of Vienna village, which was in former years a place of considerable importance as a ship- ping point for lumber, etc. Before the railroad was opened through this town most of the lumber from a large section was brought here for shipment by boats on the lake. George Covell was one of the earliest settlers in this vicinity, coming in 1807 from Berkshire county, Mass. He was accompanied by his brother William. In the succeeding June John Babbitt, a Revolutionary soldier and father of Mrs. George Covell, came in and settled. At that time there were only three other families in that vicinity-Elisha Freeman, a Mr. Buell and Mr. Graves. The latter sold out to William Covell, while Buell sold to John Babbitt. All the business at this point long ago disappeared.

Sylvan Beach, the noted summer resort which is partly in this town and partly in Verona, has gained a wide reputation within the past fifteen years. It is located at the east end of Oneida Lake. Many years ago some of the members of the Oneida Community went there for the summer, leased some land and erected temporary buildings ; this was the inception of the settlement there. L. C. Spencer at a later date opened a small grocery for the accommodation of fishermen and hunters who began to visit the locality. At a still later date a citizen of Oneida purchased the most desirable tract of about two acres which he sold within a few years for $3,200, clearing $3,000. L. C. Spencer

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JAMES D. SPENCER.

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built the public house called Forest Home which is now kept by his son -in-law, F. B. Randall. Other hotels that have rapidly come into use to accommodate the crowds of summer patrons are the Algonquin, built by Stoddard & Garvin; the Hotel Oneida, the Sylvan Beach Ho- tel, the Oneida Lake Hotel, the Lake Beach Hotel, the Riverside Hotel, and the Sportsman's Home, built in 1895. Several small steamers are kept busy at the place during summer months, and C. C. Clifford keeps a store and is postmaster.

Some of the prominent farmers of this town, past and present, are :

Joseph Halstead, father of John, Chauncey and George Brodock, Lansing and Isaac Seeley, Otis Wheelock, Lansing Baker, Peter Coats, son of James, John and Allen Nichols, the Yager family, James Brown Daniel and William Bagnell, George W. Matthews, William Wright, John B. Dixou, Nathan Auchard, Henry Nash, Lucius Haskins, Edward McCormick, William Rae, John Hall, Eaton Beach, J. J. Dickinson, George Myers, Henry Manchester, Joshua Parker, and others.

The Methodist Episcopal church at McConnellsville was the out- growth of preaching in early years by Revs. Stoddard and Westcott, and the formation of a class ; the services were held in the school house. The present frame church was built in 1832, and the timbers for it were hewn by David Pike. It was thoroughly rebuilt in the interior and much improved on the outside in 1881.

The Baptist church at North Bay was formed not long prior to 1840 and was admitted into the Oneida Baptist Association in September, 1841. The first pastor was Elder Samuel Bloss. The frame church was built not long after the organization of the society. The building was considerably improved in 1895.

The Methodist church at North Bay was in the West Vienna circuit in 1858, and there was a small organization previous to that date at which time Rev. J. H. Buck was in charge. In later years the society became a separate charge. The frame church which has been in use many years was improved and repaired in 1894. There is also a Meth- odist church at Elpis, in the northwest part of the town, which has at times been served by the pastor of this church.

St. John's Catholic church at North Bay was organized in 1837 by Rev. Father Beecham of Rome, and the frame church was built at about the same time. The society has had an active existence ever since.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

The supervisors of this town from 1871 are as follows :

1871, Eri Kinne; 1872, Zeno Dorland ; 1873-4, Henry Nicholas; 1875, S. A. Covell, jr .; 1876, John H. Meays; 1877-78, S. A. Covell; 1879-80, John H. Bedell; 1881-82, John P. Mattoon; 1883-84, Charles Harden; 1885-88, James H. Flanagan : 1889 Albert L. Covell; 1890-95, James H. Flanagan ; 1896, Albert S. Annis.

CHAPTER L.

THE TOWN OF WESTERN.

This town is situated north of the center of Oneida county, and con- tained within its territory a part of the Fonda patent of 40,000 acres, which was purchased of Jelles Fonda, the patentee, by John Lansing, jr., George Clinton, William Floyd and Stephen Lush, and also part of the Oothoudt, Banyar and Machin patents, as shown on the map in this volume. The town is well watered by the Mohawk, the Lansing Kill, Stringer's Creek, Big Brook and other small streams. Aside from the valley of the Mohawk and small tracts on some of the other streams, the surface of the town is very hilly. The soil of the valley is a fertile al - luvium, which is very productive, while on the highlands it is loam and very stony in places, but good for grains and grazing.

The town of Western was settled several years before it was set off from Steuben, and the pioneers were much hampered, as they were in other localities, through their inability to buy and secure permanent titles to the land. The patentees adopted the pernicious plan of leas- ing the land either in perpetuity or for three lives, receiving certain an- nual rentals.

Western was erected from Steuben, March 10, 1797. It then in- cluded what is now the town of Lee, which was set off in 1811. The first town meeting was held at the house of E. (probably Ezekiel) Shel- don, on the 4th day of April, 1797, and the following officers elected :

Supervisor, John Hall; town clerk, George Brayton; assessors, Asa Beckwith, jr., Daniel Spinning, Charles Offord; collector, William Satchell; poormasters, Joshua Wells, Nathan Barlow; commissioners of highways, John West, Daniel Reynolds, Daniel Eames; constables, William Satchell, Richard Smith ; fence-viewers Lemuel

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THE TOWN OF WESTERN.

Beckwith, Ezekiel Cleveland, Martin Miller; poundmaster, Jonathan Swan; com- missioners of schools, Isaac Aldin, Edward S. Salisbury, Jonathan Swan.

The supervisors of this town since 1798 have been the following per- sons, viz .:

1798-99, John Hall; 1800-24, Henry Wager, esq .; 1825-31, Benjamin Rudd; 1832- 33, Arnon Comstock: 1834, Hervey Brayton; 1835-39, David Utley; 1840, Henry Wager, jr., 1841-48, David Utley ; 1849-51, George Hawkins; 1852-54, Griffith W. Jones; 1855-57, John Hawkins; 1858-60, Squire Utley; 1861-62, Squire W. Hill; 1863-69, Nathaniel D. Bronson; 1870, Joseph French; 1871, Nathaniel D. Bronson; 1872-73, Joseph French; 1874-75, Ephraim Dillenbeck; 1876-77, Joseph French; 1878, J. V. Gue; 1879-80, Seymour Jones; 1881-82, Frank White; 1883-84, John O. Jones; 1885, Seth Cornish; 1886-87, R. H. Hews; 1888-89, W. F. Pillmore; 1890, D. E. Dillenbeck; 1891, W. C. Merrick; 1892, D. E. Dillenbeck ; 1893, Williom F. Pill- more; 1894-96, C. Frank Floyd.

This list contains the names of several of the pioneers. The first per- manent settlers in the town were Asa Beckwith and his four sons, Asa, jr., Reuben, Wolcott and Samuel. They located on the Mohawk River and were the first settlers in this county north of the Mohawk, their nearest neighbors being for some time at Fort Stanwix. But they were not long alone. The fertile lands along the Mohawk were attractive and other settlers came in rapidly. Henry Wager followed closely upon the first settlers and became a prominent citizen ; held the office of su- pervisor twenty four years, and was otherwise honored by his towns- men. George Brayton and Jonathan Swan (the latter an uncle of Gus- tavus Swan, now of Westernville), settled on the site of the village of Westernville, and opened the first store in town, on the site where mer- cantile business has been carried on ever since. Mr. Swan afterwards removed to Aurora, N. Y., and the Braytons continued in business, as described further on.

David Utley was the first permanent settler on the site of North Western (three miles north of Westernville), where he purchased 200 acres of land about 1795. It was the farm afterwards occupied by his son, Squire Utley. (See biography in this volume.) A man named John Clear had squatted on a part of this farm about a year before Mr. Utley came in. He had no title and Mr. Utley permitted him to retain, and remain on, fifty acres of land, so that he might get a start, and at a later date Mr. Utley purchased the land back from him.

Jonathan Waldo built a saw mill here in 1800 and a little settlement

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gathered about. One of the earliest settlers in the Hillside section (now Leila post-office) was a Mr. Gillett ; and David Sweet settled there at an early day, and kept a tavern in 1805-6.

In the neighborhood known as Frenchville, between Westernville and North Western, the first settlers were Jonah and Hezekiah Wells. father and son, who located previous to 1795. The neighborhood took its name from a family named French who settled there; among them was David French.

David Hill settled in Western about 1800, bought a farm, and took part in the war of 1812 at Sackett's Harbor. His son, Henry R Hill, was born in Western, February 11, 1814, and became a prominent citizen, and operated the third cheese factory in Oneida county.

Levi White, with his son Otis, came into Oneida county from Con- necticut in 1795. Moses Y. White, son of Otis, was born in Western in 1796, and passed a long and useful life there ; he was a deacon of the Presbyterian church for twenty years.

The Halleck (formerly Hallock) family has been prominent in the town of Western. The ancestor of the family was Peter Hallock, who emigrated from England to New Haven, Conn., in 1640. Deacon Jabez. Halleck (spelled with an " e ") was born on Long Island in March, 1761. Through the influence of General Floyd, he settled in Western in 1799. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church in Westernville in 1818, and lived to the great age of 102 years, dying September 17, 1863.

Joseph Halleck was the oldest son of Deacon Jabez, and came to Oneida county with his father. He married Catherine, daughter of Henry Wager, the pioneer, and they had thirteen children. He served as lieutenant in the war of 1812, served as magistrate thirty years, and was member of assembly in 1841. He died June 22, 1857. Among their children was Henry Wager Halleck. the distinguished general in the Civil war, who was born in Western, January 16, 1814. He at- tended Union College and in 1835 went to West Point Military School, where he graduated in 1839. His later career in the service of the government is familiar. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he was ap- pointed major general, and placed in command of the Western Depart- ment. In July, 1862, he was appointed general in- chief of the United

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States army, succeeding General McClellan. He served in that capacity until March, 1864. In April, 1865, he was placed in command of the Military Department of the James, with headquarters at Richmond. The following August he was transferred to the Pacific coast and in March, 1868, to Louisville, where he died January 9, 1872.

Gen. William Floyd, one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, and a large land owner in Western, settled here in 1803. He was born in Long Island, December 17, 1734. He was a member of the Provincial Assembly, and in 1774 was a delegate from this province to the first Continental Congress. In 1777 he was elected senator. In October, 1778, he was elected member of congress by the State Legis- lator and reappointed in 1789. The British victory on Long Island caused the family to flee to Connecticut, where they remained nearly seven years. He was of course a conspicuous figure in the early his- tory of the town, and many anecdotes are preserved in the Jones Annals and elsewhere of his career. He died August 24, 1821.

William Floyd, grandson of the general, was born in New York city and removed to Western in 1816, where he attended to his grand- father's affairs until the death of the latter He was for a time in a store at Westernville, and passed the remainder of his long life there. General Floyd built a large frame house in extensive grounds, which was completed in 1804, and is still in good condition, and now occupied by Julia Floyd, daughter of the grandson of the general.

Other early settlers of this town were John Hall, Benjamin Rudd, Arnon Comstock, David Brill. Jeptha Brainard, Chester W. and Joel Porter.

Westernville is the principal village in this town. Mercantile business was carried on here, succeeding the old firm of Brayton & Swan, by H. M. & G. Brayton, sons of the Hon. George Brayton This was for many years the only store of note between Rome and Boonville. Brayton & Ely were later merchants on that site, the latter of whom (Erastus Ely) is still living. Still later the establishment was conducted as a union store, and is now occupied by Thomas R. Rees. A second store is kept by John O. Jones & Son.

The hotel at the lower end of the village, on the site of a still earlier one, was rebuilt by George Hawkins, who had then kept it for some

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years. After his death it was kept for a time by his widow. It is now in the hands of T. L. Crill. The Westernville Hotel at the upper end of the village has been kept for sixteen years by Charles Bork, who suc- ceeded Charles Wentworth, son of Eliphalet Wentworth, who had also kept it. The post- office was established as early as 1812, with George Brayton, postmaster. He officiated a long time, and his sons, Henry and Milton, were also in charge of the office in later periods.

The little village of North Western was partlally, at least, an out- growth of the Black River Canal, although a small hamlet had gathered about the grist mill and saw mill of Jonathan Waldo already described. The present mill is on the site of the former one, and was built about 1840 by Paul Macomber. It is now operated by Thomas Candee. Abram Horton runs a saw mill which is owned by John O. Jones, and another is operated by Jerome V. Gue. who has also manufactured cheese boxes, etc. While the canal was being constructed, one of the Bissells of Rome opened a small store here for the benefit of the labor- ers. David Brill kept the first store of importance. Ile settled on a farm in 1831, managed the second cheese dairy in the town, the first one having been owned by Robert Michel. Mr. Brill eventually pur- chased most of the land formerly owned by David Utley (including the village site), moved upon it in 1844, and laid out village streets. He also built the Half Way House about 1850, the first hotel in the village, which was subsequently burned. In the same year Ira Waldo built the Northern Hotel. Charles Wauful is the present landlord; two other small houses are kept here. A tannery was in existence many years ago, but it was abandoned and burned.

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Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 59

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