Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 60

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 60

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The neighborhood called Frenchville had a shoe peg factory and a saw mill in former years, established by a man named French ; but at the present time no business of any kind is carried on here.

Hillside (now the post-office of Leila) is situated on the Mohawk above North Western. The grist mill which has existed here many years is now a part of the estate of Michael Hogan who previously op- erated it. A store is kept by Walter Cummings. There are two other post-offices in the town-Big Brook and Dun Brook.

What was probably the first regular school in the town was taught in Westernville at about the beginning of the century. As early as 1805-6

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THE TOWN OF WESTERN.

Amy Williams taught here in a frame school house. A change was made in the district and a later school was taught near the residence of Henry Wager. Westernville village is now Union Free School District No. 12, the principal of which is Harmon Van Arman ; he has one as- sistant.

Anong the prominent farmers of this town past and present, may be mentioned Henry Wager, Francis and Stewart Van Dresar, sons of Ezra Van Dresar, John W. Harris, Samuel Aukin, S. M. Nisbet, son of Robert Nisbet, John Warcup, James Boyd, James Olney, Asa Beckwith, David and Lemuel French, Asa Carmichael and the Wells family. Under the management of the many excellent farmers of this town, the dairying interest has in recent years, become a prominent industry. At the present time there are four cheese factories in operation.

In the old cemetery in the rear of the Presbyterian church at West- ernville, among the many memorials of the dead are those bearing rec- ords of the following :

William Martindale of Petersham, Mass., came to Oneida County in 1817; died Feb. 12, 1870, aged 92.

Lydia, his wife, died Jan. 12, 1851, aged 74.

Henry Wager, died Aug. 9, 1840, aged 76.

He was one of the first settlers of this county, having lived on the farm where he died over fifty years .- Inscription.

Letitia, his wife, died March 29, 1839, aged 74.

John Hawkins, died - 1810, aged 40.

Bridget, his wife, died March 19, 1853, aged 71.

Joseph Halleck, Esq., died June 23, 1857, aged 73.

The above Joseph Halleck, son of Jabez Halleck, and grandson of Major Peter Halleck, of Southold, Long Island, N. Y, was born at Southold, October 16, 1784, and emigrated to Oneida County, with his father, in the fourteenth year of his age .- Inscription.

Catherine Wager, his wife, died Feb. 20, 1868, aged 73. Rev. John Arnold, died April 24, 1872, aged 91. Deacon Jabez Halleck, died Sept. 17, 1863, aged 103.

Sarah, his wife, died Nov. 29, 1834, aged 72. Rebecca, his wife, died April 10, 1861, aged 89. Jabez Halleck, jr., died Aug. 20, 1873, aged 74. Achsa, his wife, died Feb. 21, 1841, aged 42. Joseph Parke, died Feb. 6, 1833, aged 87. William Cleveland, died July 24, 1833, aged 67.

Elizabeth, his wife. died Nov. 8, 1832, aged 61. Ezra Clark, died Aug. 21, 1867, aged 84.

Lydia Parke, his wife, died Feb. 21, 1862, aged 73.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Jacob Wiggins, died Sept. 30, 1839, aged 19.

Freelove, his wife, died June 8, 1827, aged 56, John Smith, died Sept. 14, 1873, aged 91. Mary, his wife, died Oct. 5, 1849, aged 62. David Hill, died July 11, 1856, aged 77. Laura, his wife, died Dec. 30, 1866, aged 78.

Orange Hayden, died July 31, 1872, aged 79.

Polly, his wife, died Aug. 31, 1849, aged 56.

Ephraim Potter, died Aug. 16, 1832, aged 72. Elizabeth, his wife died April 29, 1830, aged 66.

John Paddock, died Dec. 28, 1866, aged 82. Polly, his wife, died April 21, 1840, aged 52. David Fanning, died June 17, 1826, aged 49.

Elizabeth, his wife, died May 24, 1830, aged 58. James Boyd, died Sept. 2, 1870, aged 90. Mahetable, his wife, died March 21, 1833, aged 50,

John Ely, native of New Jersey, died April 14, 1842, aged 66.

George Brayton, died March 5, 1837, aged 65.

Sarah, his wife, died May 8, 1841, aged 64. John Swan, died June 12, 1849, aged 82.

Mary, his wife, died Jan. 26, 1859, aged 86.

John Harris, who was an elder in the Presbyterian church from 1826, died August 10, 1860, aged 75. James Olney, died Feb. 22, 1862, aged 78.

Lucy, his wife, died June 4, 1876, aged 86.

William Olney, esq., died Dec. 22, 1846, aged 90.

Mary, his wife, died Dec. 13, 1818, aged 57.

Aaror Ismond, died April 7, 1813, aged 51.

Nathaniel Turner, died June 8, 1830, aged 84.

Mary, his wife, died Sept. 23, 1826, aged 78.

Seth Church, died Dec. 20, 1852, aged 73.

Clarissa, his wife, died Dec. 28, 1850, aged 65.

Ruth Park, died May 6, 1873, aged 93.

The first religious organization in the town of Western, was formed in 1798 by the Baptist denomination, with about sixty members. It was in existence many years, but never had a regular settled pastor, and finally became extinct.

Succeeding this organization the Methodists formed a society and have established several churches. Two of these were near "Big Brook" post-office, each with a small membership. The Methodist Episcopal church at North Western was built about 1839, the organiza- tion of the society having taken place at the same time.

At Westernville a Methodist church was built about 1855, which was

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THE TOWN OF WESTMORELAND.

extensively improved within a few years past. It has maintained a progress of interest.

A Welsh Methodist society was formed in the northwest corner of the town in early years and a frame church was built in 1877.

The Presbyterian society in Westernville was incorporated in 1818, the organization having been effected on August 15 of that year. The old union church built in 1817 had then a large debt laying over it, and the property including the old cemetery in the rear was purchased by George Brayton, who deeded it to the society. That church has been in use ever since, but has undergone extensive changes, remodeling and other improvements. The original membership of this society was fifteen For three-quarters of a century past this society has had a prosperous existence.

CHAPTER LI.

THE TOWN OF WESTMORELAND.

The town of Westmoreland lies south of the center of Oneida county, and was set off from Whitestown on April 10, 1792. When Oneida county was organized in 1788, a small portion of Whitestown was added to Westmoreland; this originally included the town of Verona and a part of Vernon, both of which were taken off in 1802. A small tract was set off to the town of Kirkland in 1855, leaving Westmoreland with its present area of 25,741 acres. The western part of the town was in- cluded in the original Oneida Reservotion, from which tracts were granted to Dean, Bleecker, Wemple, and others. The eastern part of the town is in the Coxe patent and a small portion of the Oriskany pat- ent lies in the northeast corner of the town, as shown on the map here- in. James Dean located his tract in the fall of 1786, taking a deed of it from the Indians. After naming the Indians who signed the deed, the document proceeds as follows :

Sachems and Chief Warriors of the Oneida Nation-By and with the advice and consent of the said Nation, in Consideration of the great and important Services

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

rendered to us by Mr. James Dean, our Friend and Brother, and as a Token of our Esteem and Affection for him, have given and granted, etc.

This deed was confirmed by the State on the 6th of February, 1787, according to an act passed May 5, 1786. By this same act, also, Wemple's patent was granted, comprising one mile square of land, to be located south of Dean's.

It will be noticed that Mr. Dean settled on his patent before the sale was ratified by his deed. He was confident, doubtless, that this would be done, and accordingly set forth with his brother, Jonathan Dean and the wife and children of the latter, for their new home. That woman, Mrs. Eunice Dean, was the first white woman to settle in the town of Westmoreland. They of course encountered many hardships and it is recorded that for six weeks, neither she nor her family tasted bread. Their principal food was meat and fish, which were plenty. Imme- diately after James Dean's marriage he returned with his wife and began housekeeping. The old Dean homestead was occupied in recent years by John L. Dean, son of Luke C. Dean, and grandson of the judge. Another son of the judge, John Dean, lived a short distance south of the homestead, on the farm afterwards owned by his son George. Judge Dean's daughter, Electa, became the wife of Joshua A. Spencer, the early and eminent Oneida county lawyer and judge.

Soon after his arrival Judge Dean constructed a hand grist mill on the creek, to which he attached a small water wheel, which saved sub . sequent hand labor. Although it was a small affair, it was probably the first example of a grist mill in Oneida county.

Silas Phelps came into this town in the fall of 1786 and built a log cabin on the lot adjoining Jonathan Dean's on the east. He came from New Marlborough, Mass., and was followed in January, 1787, by Ephraim Blackmer and Nehemiah Jones.

The general surface of the town of Westmoreland is rolling or hilly, and the soil is very fertile. It is watered by the Oriskany, Dean's Creek and other small tributaries to these creeks and the Mohawk. Iron ore has been found within the town in considerable quantities, and used in the numerous furnaces that have been operated in that vincinity

The minutes of the first town meeting are lost, but it known that Capt. Isaac Jones was chosen supervisor and Alexander Parkman, town

ARTHUR D. LEE.

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THE TOWN OF WESTMORELAND.

clerk. The following is a list of the supervisors of the town from its organization to the present time :

1794, Captain Isaac Jones; 1795 James Dean ; 1796, not given; 1797, Dan Chap. man; 1798-99, James Dean ; 1800-1803, Joseph Jones; 1804-1805, Jared Chittenden ; 1806-15, Roderick Morrison ; 1816-17, Thomas Holbert, jr. ; 1818, Roderick Morrison ; 1819, Thomas Holbert, jr .; 1820-23, Roderick Morrison; 1824-33, Truman Enos; 1834-35, Warren Converse; 1836-38, Parker Halleck; 1839-40, James B. Drummond ; 1841, John Nicholson; 1842-43, Pomroy Jones; 1844, Almon Beardsley: 1845-46, Warren Converse; 1847-48, James J. Curtiss; 1849, John Park; 1850-51, Zenas M. Howes; 1852, Jonathan Rose; 1853-54, John Wylie; 1855, Jeptha Skinner; 1856, Abel B. Buell; 1857, Arthur F. Brown; 1858, Joseph L. Mansfield; 1859, Grant Adams; 1860, Morris W. Halleck; 1861, John Wylie; 1862, John B. Nicholson ; 1863, Nehemiah F. Metcalf; 1864, Jacob J. Massy; 1865, Nehemiah F. Metcalf ; 1866-68, John L. Dean; 1869-71, Philander Shedd; 1872-76, Joseph K. Schuyler; 1877-79, William S. Fuller; 1880-82, William Brill; 1883-85, Ezra A Knapp; 1886-89, Thomas J. Olney; 1890-91, Fred S. Brill; 1892-93, Hiram S. Kellogg; 1894 (elected for two years), Arthur D. Lee; 1896-98, Andrew J. Pine.

Relative to the settlement of Judge James Dean, the following is quoted from the Annals of Oneida County :

James Dean, the first settler of Westmoreland, was born at Groton, Connecticut, in the month of August, 1748. Of his early youth nothing is known, excepting that he was destined as a missionary to the Indians, and at the age of twelve years was sent to reside at Oquago, on the Susquehanna, with an Indian missionary named Mosely, who was then laboring with a branch of the Oneida tribe, located at that place. He soon became master of the Oneida tongue, and was adopted by a female native as her son. To this mother he ever manifested an ardent attachment. His acquisition of the language was of great use to him and his country in after life. Learning it when thus young, while the organs of speech were flexible, he was en- abled to speak the language most fluently. The Oneidas said he was the only white person whom they had ever known who could speak their language so perfectly that they could not at once detect him, although he might be hid from view, but him they could not detect. How long he resided in Oquago is unknown, but in those few years, under the instruction of Mr. Mosely, he fitted himself to enter college. He was a member of the first class which formed and graduated at Dartmouth. His freshman year in that institution was before the completion of a building for the use of the students, and the class used to study and recite in a rude shelter formed by placing slabs against the trunk of a large prostrate pine. In this poor apology for a college dormitory young Mr. Dean studied and slept the first summer he spent in his collegiate course. He graduated just previously to the commencement of the war of the Revolution.

In 1774 the leading citizens of each colony were endeavoring to ascertain the sen- timents of all classes of people relative to the portending contest; and the peculiar fitness and qualifications of Mr. Dean recommended him to the Continental Congress, then just assembled, as a suitable person to ascertain those of the Indians in New

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

York and Canada, and the part they would probably take in the event of a war with the mother country. In order to disguise the object of his mission, it was arranged that he should assume the character of an Indian trader, and he was accordingly furnished with such goods as were then carried into the Indian country for the pur- poses of trade. He was also for that purpose furnished with letters, invoices, and other papers from a well-known house in Boston, then engaged in the Indian trade. Thus fitted out, he commenced his expedition to the Six Nations and their branches, and the tribes connected with them, living in Canada. In the course of his travels in Lower Canada, he was arrested by the British authorities as a spy, and taken to Quebec, where he underwent a most rigid examination. His self possession was equal to the crisis, and aided by his papers he secured his release.

For his services the Oneidas gave Mr. Dean a tract of land two miles square, the title to be confirmed and ratified by the State. This was probably in 1783. He chose for its location a tract upon the north side of Wood Creek, in the present town of Vienna. In the spring of 1784 he left Connecticut, in company with Jedediah Phelps and Andrew Blanchard, to commence the settlement of his land. The day of start- ing is not known, but they left Schenectady the 3d of May, and arrived at Wood Creek the 13th. Without knowing it, they undoubtedly passed Judge White while he and his son were engaged upon the Shoemaker farm in planting their crop of corn. After Mr. Dean and his party arrived at Wood Creek, they built a log house and a shop for Mr. Phelps, who was a brass founder and silversmith, and intended to work for the Indians. During the summer they made a small clearing, and although now covered with a second growth of timber, it still retains its name of " Dean's place.' In the spring of 1785 the place became inundated to such an extent that for three weeks they were obliged to live in the garret of their log cabin, and for the purpose of cooking their meals they descended from their loft into a canoe by a ladder, and then rowing to the shop, used the forge as their only fireplace above high-water mark. On the subsiding of the water the party were fully satisfied that the selection was an unfortunate one, and unfit for the commencement of a settlement. Mr. Dean stating this to the Indians, they agreed he might change the location to any point upon the west side of the " line of property," between Brothertown npon the Oris- kany and the Wood Creek. He selected his land so as to include the falls of the creek, since known as Dean's Creek. To render such location certain, the survey- as appears from the description of his patent-of the east line of the patent com- menced in the creek, and thence ran north and south to the north and south bounds of the tract. He located his patent in the fall of 1785, and settled upon it in Febru- ary, 1786. At this time he was unmarried, but in the fall of that year he visited Connecticut, and was married to Miss Lydia Camp on the 11th of October.

Mr. Dean's energies were now directed to clearing a farm, inducing settlers to re- move to his patent, and in building mills for their accommodation. Success crowned his efforts, and it was but a few years before every lot offered for sale was "taken up" by an actual settler.

In January, 1787, Ephraim Blackmer, esq., and Captain Nehemiah Jones removed from Berkshire Co., Mass., to Dean's Patent. Esquire Blackmer came in advance, with a horse-team, bringing the families, consisting of their wives, Esquire Black- mer's two children, and Captain Jones' one, some beds, bedding, and clothing, while Captain Jones followed more slowly with an ox team, with such furniture and pro-

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THE TOWN OF WESTMORELAND.

visions as were supposed necessary to commence housekeeping among the Indians, as their New England friends were pleased to term the location of the settlers in Deansville. Esquire Blackmer stayed the last night of his journey at Oriskany, a distance of about ten miles from Judge Dean's. The next morning he took, to use the teamster's phrase, an early start. that is, before sunrise, well knowing it would consume the whole day to travel the distance, and wishing to get through before dark. Probably they would have looked incredulously at the idea of a railroad's being constructed in the then next half-century, over a part of their route, carrying passengers at the rate of fifteen, twenty, and even thirty miles per hour.1 There was no road on any part of the distance, nor track, except that of the Indian snow shoe, which rather impeded their progress than otherwise. It was a bitter cold day, the snow about eighteen inches deep. By dint of untiring perseverance our travelers had, by a little past the middle of the day, kenned their way to the spot near where the village of Hampton now stands. In crossing the creek a little north of said village, the stream being but partially frozen, the sleigh unluckily turned over, turn- ing the women and children into the water, the youngest, a child of Mrs. Jones, less than one year of age, going completely under water. Happily, the water was not deep enough to endanger them from drowning. In a few minutes they were all safe on shore, but in such a plight ! or, I might have said, "in such a pickle !" the women and children to a considerable extent drenched in water, without a shelter or fire nearer than Judge Dean's, a distance of about four miles, which would cost more than that number of hours to reach, with the thermometer, if one could have been consulted, ranging near zero. Would not our modern delicate females rather shnd- der at the thought of being placed in such a situation, and under such circumstances? But our settlers had no idea of being disheartened or discouraged. "Necessity is the mother of invention." Fortunately the chest of bedclothes had escaped the drenching. The seats were removed from the sleigh, and dry clothes spread over the bottom of it. The women and children then placed themselves on them, the brandy-jng was then introduced, and each one drank what he could bear, without being too far intoxicated, and some two quarts of it sprinkled over them. In those days alcohol was used to keep people warm in winter and cool in summer. A large amount of dry bedding spread over them completed their arrangements for the rest of their journey. After the first half-hour all fear of freezing gave way to the equally disagreeable one of suffocation. First the water, and then the brandy, caused such a profuse perspiration that our travelers could not liken the appearance of their sleigh to anything more appropriate than a traveling coal.pit. To conclude, they all safely arrived at Judge Dean's a little before dark.

This Capt. Nehemiah Jones had been a soldier in the Revolutionary army, lived to the age of seventy- nine years, and died December 19, 1838. He was father of the Hon. Pomroy Jones, who passed his long life in Oneida county. The latter was one of a company of soldiers who served in the war of 1812 and has honorably perpetuated his name through the authorship of the well known Annals of Oneida County.

1 Sixty to seventy miles an hour in 1896.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

The Ephraim Blackmer before mentioned married Mary, sister of Captain Jones. Mr. Blackmer died in February, 1796, and his was the first Masonic funeral ever held in this county.

Not long after 1787 Isaac Jones, who had been engaged during most of the Revolutionary period in transporting military stores, located in Clinton, and moved soon afterwards to Westmoreland. He died in the town of Vernon in 1808, and was the first supervisor of this town. His brother, Joseph Jones, came to Westmoreland in the spring of 1787, and lived for many years at Lairdsville. He was supervisor four years, justice of the peace more than twenty years, and postmaster and town clerk. He died in Vernon in 1835.

Another veteran of the Revolution who settled in this town in 1790 was Capt. Stephen Brigham ; still another who settled in the same year in the southwest part of the town was John Townsend, from whom the level lands in that locality were called the Townsend Flats.

Joseph Blackmer, sr., was father of Ephraim already mentioned, and of Joseph, jr .; the latter removed from this town in 1808 and died in Monroe county in 1848

Roderick Morrison, a Revolutionary soldier and a native of Hebron, Conn., came to Westmoreland in 1797. For fifty years he was a prominent citizen, held the office of supervisor fifteen years ; was many years a justice of the peace and member of assembly in 1816 He died in 1843.

William Dean, a younger brother of Judge Dean, came into the town probably in the spring of 1787 with a large family. In 1788 Samuel Laird came from New Marlborough, Mass., and settled on the site of Lairdsville, and soon afterwards opened a public house in his log building. For some years this was one the most noted taverns west of Albany. In that year also came Pelatiah Rawson and Deacon John Blair ; the latter was the first to settle in the town outside of Dean's patent

Several years previous to 1800, Jared Chitenden, a native of Con- necticut, and a Revolutionary soldier, settled in Whitestown. A few years later, and previous to 1800, he located in Westmoreland, where he became prominent. He held the offices of supervisor and justice of the peace. Capt. Phineas Bell, another Revolutionary veteran, and

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THE TOWN OF WESTMORELAND.

one of those who suffered in the Sugar House prison on Long Island, became a settler. He died May 13, 1845.

Other arrivals of the year 1789 were Nathaniel Townsend, Benjamin Blackman, Capt. John Vaughan, Josiah Stillman, Nathan Loomis, Adonijah Strong (Mr. Strong bought his place of Nathan Loomis, built a house and barn and afterwards sold it to Captain Peabody. The transaction was the cause of a long and lengthy litigation). Joshua Green, John Morse, Daniel Seeley, and a Mr. Blodgett canie also in 1789. The latter was the first settler on the site of Hampton (West- moreland) village, where Elijah Smith and Samuel Starr also were set- tlers Such distinguished men as Gov. George Clinton and Gen. George Washington were large land owners in this town, and a num- ber of deeds are in existence transferring their lands to purchasers. Some of these were given to John Baxter, Joseph Blodgett, Daniel Babcock, Asa Turner, Stephen Hutchinson, John Babcock and Ebe- nezer R Fitch, all in Westmoreland.

The first settler on Mckesson's patent in the north part of the town, including the site of Lowell village, was Stephen Stilson, who located in 1802. Doddridge Loomis, John Tuttle, whose farm included the site of Lowell, Zebulon Tuttle, Caleb Thurston, - Adams and David Stilson, all probably came in that year, 1802. In the following year Sullivan and Abel Brigham, Silas Rice, Isaiah Shedd, Joseph Perkins, Ezekiel Miller, James Hempstead, Amos Smith, Nathan and Park Adams, all settled in that section in 1803.

In the northeastern part of the town the early settlers were Sherman Patterson and his sons Thomas and Josiah, Isaac Goodsell, William and Ebenezer Cheever, George and Consider Law, Elijah Waters, Thomas Barnum, Ebenezer, Ephraim and Haman Besse, George Williams, Al- fred Richardson, Samuel Bailey, John Nicholson, Henry Hallock, Peter Doolittle, Captains Lay and Lee, and the Peckham, Bicknell and Barker families, all of whom came in the last years of the last century and the early years of the present one. On and near the road between Hamp- ton and Hecla Furnace, Walter Cone, William, Josiah and Jonathan Patton, John Bowen, Stephen Hutchinson, Stephen Brigham and Daniel Babcock were the early settlers. East of Hampton the first comers were Chester Stillman, Samuel Collins, Benjamin Waters, Nathan Thompson, and John Baxter,

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Judge Dean built the first saw mill in town in 1787 or '88, and a grist mill a year later. These mills succeeded the hand mill before de- scribed. The first run of stones used in the grist mill were made from a large granite rock found near Samuel Laird's dwelling by Edward Higbee. Mr Higbee soon afterwards built another grist mill on the same stream in the eastern part of the town.

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Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 60

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