Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 63

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 63

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).

630

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

uary 12, 1862, in his seventy-sixth year, leaving a high reputation for business ability and lofty moral principles.

In 1870 Samuel R. Campbell and W. Stuart Walcott, sons of the two members of the firm, received each an interest in the business. Samuel Robert Campbell, son of Samuel Campbell, was born in New York Mills village May 27, 1838. He was well educated and at the age of eight- een years entered the machine shop of the New York Mills to learn the machinist's trade. After becoming thoroughly familiar with the con- struction and operation of cotton machinery he was successively placed in charge of different departments of work and in 1860 was appointed superintendent of the middle group of mills now known as Mill No. 2. In 1865 by the advice of his father he went to Europe for about four years. He was United States consul at Geneva, Switzerland and, at Munich, Bavaria, and learned to speak French, Spanish and German with facility. After traveling extensively he returned and resumed his active connection with the business.

William Stuart Walcott, son of William D. Walcott, was born at New York Mills February 11, 1843. He was liberally educated and at the outbreak of the Civil war he volunteered in the 76th Regiment and was commissioned second lieutenant of Co. B. In consequence of illness he resigned after one year of service and returned home. In the upper group of mills he worked in the different departments until he was fitted for the active business of cotton manufacturing. In 1865 he was ap- pointed superintendent of that group of mills. The business of the upper two groups of mills was continued under the style of Walcott & Campbell nearly twenty-eight years. During the same period that of the lower group was conducted as the separate interest of the Oneida Manufacturing Society, by the same men as trustees. On the 12th of February, 1884, a charter having been obtained January 22, 1884, to a corporation under the style of The New York Mills, the whole property pertaining to the three establishments was conveyed to the said corpor- ation by one deed, the grantors being William D. Walcott, and Samuel Campbell, owners of the upper two ; roups of mills, and the Oneida Manufacturing Society by its surviving trustees, W. D. Walcott and S. Campbell. The corporation was organized by the election of Will- iam D. Walcott, president ; Samuel Campbell, treasurer ; Samuel R.

631

THE TOWN OF WHITESTOWN.

Campbell and W. Stuart Walcott, secretaries. Mr. Campbell was at one period greatly interested in raising blooded cattle and with W. D. Walcott was the owner of the finest herd of short horn cattle in the world. Samuel Campbell died September 22, 1885. He was dis . tinguished as a manufacturer, an efficiect promoter of all good works. He served in the State Senate with ability and credit ; his mental qualifi cations were unusual and his manhood true on all occasions. He was sympathetic, hospitable, and firm in his friendships. He was the natural leader of the community, beloved and trusted by all.

On the death of Mr. Campbell his son, Samuel R., was elected treas- urer of the New York Mills and continues in the office. The business of this great company continued without other notable event until the death of the president, William D. Walcott, which took place April I, 1890. The Utica Herald spoke of him as follows :

He was ever the true friend of the educational interests of this section, he appre- ciated the influence of educated minds, and was ever ready to contribute to any cause which had for its object the culture of the people. During the war for the Union his patriotism was manifested in liberal contributions to the equipment of the officers and men who volunteered and in assisting and caring for their families. In 1881 the beautiful Walcott Memorial Presbyterian church was erected. In 1862 his father left $10,000 for building a church and the son contributed $20,000 to complete the edifice. Mr. Walcott was superintendent of the Sunday school and had been a member of it more than sixty years. He was a notable type of the Christian gentle- man. His abilities were large, he had the power to grasp the details of a great busi- ness, so that his judgment was unerring upon all questions that came before him in relation to it.

W. Stuart Walcott was elected president of the corporation upon the death of his father, in which office he still continues. As heretofore in- dicated these mills are in three groups. Mill No I, the lowest down on the stream is nearly on the site of the original Oneida Mill. That structure was of wood and 65 by 35 feet in size, three stories high. It was burned about the year 1813, and a larger and more substantial structure of stone erected on the site. In 1879 it was determined to replace it with a mill better adapted to modern machinery. In order that business might not be interrupted the new mill was erected in rear of the old one; it was finished in 1880, and fully equipped with the best of machinery. Its product is standard shirtings a yard wide.

The original New York Mill was extended northward in 1852, uni- form in height with the old structure. In 1884 another extension was

632

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

made in the same direction The mill, or range of mills, now known as No. 2 has an aggregate length of 512 feet, and is still devoted to the manufacture of fine shirtings.

The original mill of the Whitestown Cotton und Woolen Mannfactur- ing Company was superseded in 1840 by a mill of stone 220 feet long and 40 feet wide, three stories; it is now known as Mill No. 3, and its product is cottonades and similar fabrics. Adjoining this on the north is Mill No 4, erected of brick in 1870, 250 by 67 feet, five stories and attic. In it are manufactured sheetings of all widths and superior quality.

The village that has grown up around these mills is a community of employees, and is a model of temperate and thrifty prosperity. No where in the United States can be found a factory village which excels New York Mills in the quality of its homes, the excellence of its schools, the prosperity of its churches or the contented intelligence of its people.

John P. Campbell, oldest son of Samuel R. Campbell, is superin- tendent of the middle group of mills. He took a course in mechanical engineering at Cornell and afterwards made a tour of Europe. Return- ing he worked in the various dedartments of the mill to gain a thorough mastery of the business.

The oldest son of W. Stuart Walcott is Frederick C. Walcott, who is superintendent of the upper group of mills. He graduated from Yale University in 1891 and after a foreign tour returned and took a course of practical work in all departments of the mill, according to the tra- ditions of the family for five generations.

George H. Warner, son-in law of the late Samuel Campbell, is su- perintendent of the lower group of mills and the bleachery.

General stores are now kept in the village by E. W. Jones and John J. Langdon. Reese & Williams, Joseph Hepworth, Joseph Ackroyd, Paul Wagner and A. McCarthy conduct groceries; Robert Fraser is dealer in dry goods and M. E. Hastings in hardware.

The founding of the village of Oriskany by Col. Gerritt G. Lansing has been noted. Born in Albany December 11, 1760, Colonel Lansing entered the army, at the beginning of the war, and served until its close ; was present at several important battles, and at Yorktown, under Colonel Hamilton, he led the forlorn hope as lieutenant. In 1802 this

633

THE TOWN OF WHITESTOWN.

gallant soldier and true gentleman of the old school settled at Oriskany, and lived there on his pension and his patrimony until his death, on the 27th of May, 1831. Both in the army and after his removal to Oneida county, Colonel Lansing was distinguished for his high integrity and his patriotism, as well as for his ability and his enterprise. His wife was a daughter of Col. Edward Antill, an Englishman by birth, but an officer of the Revolutionary army high in the confidence of General Washington. After her husband's death, she lived in Utica until her own death, on the 24th of August, 1834. She possessed in an emi- nent degree the qualities that adorn true womanhood.

Colonel Lansing purchased 400 acres of land extending southwest from the Mohawk and on the northeast side of Oriskany Creek. About 1810 he erected a grist mill on the site of the later mill and near by built a saw mill. This property afterwards passed to the Bleeckers, who built the stone mill. The machinery was put in by B. E. Williams of Oriskany, whose brother was agent for the Bleeckers at the time. These mills were ultimately burned.

An early manufacturing industry at this place was the factory of the Oriskany Manufacturing Company, which was incorporated in 1811. It was established to aid in rendering " this country independent of Eng- land for a supply of clothing," consequent upon the scarcity occasioned by the war of 1812. Among those who were identified with the under- taking were Seth Capron, Jonas Platt, Thomas R. Gold, Newton Mann, Theodore Sill, Nathan Williams, William G. Tracy, De Witt Clinton, Ambrose Spencer, John Taylor and Stephen Van Rensselaer. Gerritt G. Lansing was made president of the company. Buildings were promptly erected, and according to the Annals of Judge Jones " the satinetts made by this company sold readily at $4 a yard, and their broadcloths from $10 to $12 a yard ; but to counterbalance these prices, for the first four years after they commenced operations they paid an average of $1.12 per pound for their wool." Over 100 hands were em- ployed and the product reached 100,000 yards annually. After various successes and periods of reverse the company closed its business in 1854, after which the buildings were purchased by A. B. Buell and adapted for a furnace. After carrying on this business for a time he put in cot- ton machinery. This factory passed to Thomas Wood and eventually

634

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

the machinery was taken out. The firm of H. Waterbury & Sons was formed in 1880 and was later incorporated under the style of the H. Waterbury & Sons Company, for the manufacture of paper makers' felts. They bought the property above described of the Wood estate ; a part of the buildings had been temporarily occupied by the Oriskany Malleable Iron works (which see). The business of the Waterbury com- pany is large and successful.

The Oriskany Malleable Iron Company, limited, originated with H. C. Buell and a Mr. Merriman, who began business in the old factory above described. Later the company built their present large works on the canal. The company was incorporated in 1879; George Gra- ham, president ; W. P. Locke, vice president ; George H. Graham, sec- retary and treasurer. The capital is $41,000. About 125 hands are employed.

T. F. Walbran established a knitting mill in 1891, for the manufac- ture of men's half hose ; twenty hands are employed.

The post office in Oriskany was established prior to 1821, with Colonel Lansing, postmaster ; the present official is George A. Baer. A frame school house was erected here about 1812, where school was taught in 1816 by David Wood. The village now comprises Union Free School District No. 1, with R. W. Hoffman, principal ; he has three assistants. The present school building, erected in 1892, cost over $13,000 and stands on the old school site.

The mercantile firm of Sweet & Baer is composed of Herman Sweet and George Baer, who carry a general stock. Another store is kept by M. M. Carbitt. S. D. Jones has an excellent drug store, and Leonard Cross a hardware store.

There are three hotels in Oriskany, kept respectively by M. N. Carr, D. G. Snyder, and Skelly Brothers.

Walesville is a hamlet in the southwest part of the town, on Oriskany Creek, where considerable manufacturing has been carried on. A cot- ton mill was formerly operated here by the Clark Mills Cotton Com- pany, which was many years ago stripped of its machinery and aban- doned. A paper mill was established many years ago and has been operated most of the time since ; it is now in the hands of Hoffman & Thompson, who are doing a large business principally in the manu-

635

THE TOWN OF WHITESTOWN.

facture of different grades of manila paper. The hotel is kept by C. W. Snyder, and a small store by J. Hall. A wadding mill was formerly operated here, but was burned many years ago.

Coleman's Mills is a hamlet on Oriskany Creek near the center of the town, where a saw and grist mill are operated by William S. Reeder, who also has a store. A small shoddy mill is carried on by W. N. Chrisman.

At what was known as Pleasant Valley, a mile above Oriskany, was formerly the woolen factory of the Dexter Manufacturing Company. It was a large establishment and began operations in 1832. Fine grades of cloth and shawls were made. It was burned many years ago and not rebuilt.

The first Baptist minister to visit this town was Rev. Stephen Par- sons, who came from Connecticut early in 1796. In June of that year he came again and on the 18th of that month organized the First Baptist society with seven members. Caleb Douglass was chosen the first clerk and deacon and was, in January, 1802, ordained elder and the second pastor of the church. In March, 1803, six members were dismissed to form a church at Westmoreland. This society has ever since maintained an active and vigorous existence and celebrates its cen- tennial this year. The church edifice has recently been furnished with with new windows and otherwise improved.

St John's Episcopal church of Whitestown was organized chiefly through efforts of S. Newton Dexter, and Rev. Benjamin W. Whitcher was appointed the first deacon in 1844. In 1853 Philo White,, then residing in Wisconsin, met in New York city Rev. William A. Matson, who solicited him for aid to build a church in his native village. Mr. White made a liberal subscription and the corner stone of the edifice was laid June 19, 1855. St. John's parish was organized August I, 1844. The society has continued its existence to the present time.

A Methodist class was formed in Whitesboro in connection with New York Mills in November, 1876. The legal organization was effected in December following with about forty members. A building was pur chased and fitted up for services. The present beautiful brick edifice was erected in 1891.

The Methodist church of New York Mils was first organized in 1826,

636

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

meetings having been previously held in various places in the village. It was the outgrowth of a class formed in the previous year by Rev. William N. Pearne, who was then bookkeeper in the mills. The hand- some brick church was built about 1872, its predecessor having been burned in the previous year. The society is prosperous.

As early as 1818 a Presbyterian Sabbath school was started in New York Mills by Ezra Wood, a member of the Presbyterian church at Whitesboro. Benjamin S. Walcott took an active interest in the wel- fare of the school and the succeeding church, as before related. The Presbyterian society was formed in March, 1830, with forty-four mem- bers from the church at Whitesboro. The first elders were Benjamin S. Wolcott Ambrose Coan and Ezra Wood. The first pastor was Rev. George Foote, installed March 23, 1831. A frame church was built about that time and was burned in February, 1834. A brick building was erected on the site. The erection of the present memorial church occurred in 1881.

The Welsh Congregational church at New York Mills was formed about 1852, and a frame church erected in the north part of the village.

St. Peter's Episcopal church, Oriskany, was incorporated in May, 1830, under the administration of Rev. Marcus A. Perry. The brick church was erected in 1833-4 and has several times been remodeled and improved. the last time about ten years ago.

The Presbyterian church, Oriskany, was organized August 14, 1831, with thirteen members. A frame church was finished and dedicated December 30, 1835. The first pastor was Rev. Samuel Wells, who was installed March 9, 1836.

A Methodist church was formed at Oriskany in early years and a frame edifice built by them; this was afterwards used by a Welsh Methodist society. The former organization is still in active existence.

A Methodist church had an early existence at Coleman's Mills, but is now extinct. A Baptist church was formed at Walesville in 1850, with Elder John M. Shotwell in charge. A small church was erected soon after the organization. The society is still active.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

EDMUND MUNSON.

The original American ancestor of the subject of this memoir, and the founder of the family in the New World, was Thomas Munson, a carpenter by trade, who became a resident of Hartford, New Haven, Conn., as early as 1637, in which year he participated with Mason's army in the Pequot war. He was subse- quently commissioned as a lieutenant, and in recognition of his services was granted 100 acres of land in the present city of Hartford. He became a prominent member of the colony, serving as selectman, as deputy to the General Assembly, as town treasurer, as captain, etc., of the militia, as adjuster of estates, etc. He died May 7, 1685, aged seventy-three. His only son, Samuel, was one of the founders of Walling- ford, served as selectman, as rector of the Hopkins Grammar School, as town treas- urer, as an officer in the militia, etc. He died in 1693, being the father of ten children. He had a son Samuel, who had a son Waitstill, who had Samuel, who had Ephraim, who had Samuel, who was the father of the subject of this sketch. Ephraim enlisted in the Revolutionary army, but served only a few months, and was a carpenter, millwright, and mill owner, residing in Barkhamsted, Conn. Samuel, the eldest son of Ephraim, was born August 17, 1777, resided in Barkhamsted, and died May 20, 1844. He owned a grist mill, a saw mill, and a large farm, represented his town in the General Court five sessions, being in the Legislature in 1816, when the Blue Laws were abolished, and served as justice of the peace in 1824 and 1825. November 13, 1800, he married Hannah, daughter of Whitehead Howe, of Center Hill, Conn., who died February 9, 1854. Their children were Ephraim, born August 22, 1801, who assisted his uncle in Utica in the manufacture of millstones, married Phebe daughter of Rev. Ozias Eells, first pastor at Barkhamsted, and died December 7, 1826; Edmund, the subject of this memoir; Laura (Mrs. Owen Case), born July 14, 1808, died March 12, 1871; Hannah (first the wife of Dr. David Phelps and afterward Mrs. Ezekiel Hosford), born in 1816, died February 12, 1858; and Whitfield Talley- rand, born May 6, 1812, died May 22, 1883.

Edmund Munson was born in Barkhamsted, Conn., May 2, 1805, and during a few years of his youth received the slight advantage of a district school education. At the early age of fifteen he entered his father's mill, where he received the rudiment- ary instructions which laid the foundation of his subsequent usefulness and success in business life. In 1829 he built a flouring mill in his native village comprising four runs of stone, which he made. Six years later he left Connecticut with the in-

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

tention of moving to Peoria, Ill., but upon reaching Utica, then a most prosperous community, decided to remain and become a permanent resident. This was in 1835. His uncle, Alfred Munson, had settled in Utica in 1823, and established the first French buhr-millstone manufactory in this country. Edmund Munson was made superintendent of this establishment, which at this time had developed into exten- sive proportions. In the spring of 1842 he removed to Brownville, Jefferson county, where he supervised the erection of a large flouring mill, equipped with six sets of stone, which was then considered one of the best mills in the State. Returning to Utica in the spring of 1847 he formed a partnership with A. C. Hart and engaged in the mill-furnishing business, which became one of the largest enterprises of the kind in the country. August ?, 1849, he received letters-patent for a turn-table for balancing and finishing millstones, and July 19, 1853, he was granted letters-patent for an improvement in hangings for millstones, known as Munson's patent eye-driver and spindle. Both these appliances proved inestimably valuable, and their necessity has ever since been universally conceded. An extension of the latter patent was obtained July 18, 1867. April 3, 1860, he had patented a portable mill, which is recognized as one of the best inventions achieved for the milling public. The suc- cess of this appliance is attributed to the fact that in its construction Mr. Munson had in view a mill which would grind all sorts of grain, plaster, starch, hydraulic cements, etc.

The firm of Hart & Munson was dissolved in 1869, and Mr. Munson associated with himself in the mill-furnishing business, his three sons, Edmund, jr., Alfred H., and Counteil, under the style of Munson Brothers. This firm has ever since con- ducted a large and prosperous business. The extensive works on Broadway include a millstone manufactory and a machine shop, both well arranged and commodious.

As a manufacturer and inventor Mr. Munson made it a life study to attain the highest possible perfection in mill machinery, and whatever point he aimed at was invariably reached. He was pre-eminently practical, but also manifested a keen enthusiasm in his plans and experiments, and the two qualities won for him his great success. The perfection and durability of the manufactured article were equally a theme of admiration. In stature he was well proportioned and of venerable appear- ance, his large, noble-looking head, his regularly formed and highly expressive features, indicating that natural intelligence and force of character which dis- tinguished the man. He was a critical observer of events, thoroughly informed in business, courteous in all his intercourse, and ranked among the foremost of our American manufacturers. He was kind, considerate, hospitable, and enterprising, charitable towards all, and an enemy of none. No man ever won a fairer reputa- tion. During a long and successful business life he accumulated a handsome com- petency, but left to the community a better heritage than wealth in the record of an honorable career. He was an earnest believer in the faith of the Universalist church, a constant attendant upon its public service, and died in Utica on the 14th of March, 1872.

Mr. Munson married, first, May 10, 1829, Miss Elizabeth Stuart, who was born July 24, 1812, and who died July 20, 1837. She was a granddaughter of Waitstill Munson, a grandson of the Waitstill mentioned in the beginning of this article. They had three children: Henry E., born July 28, 1830, died October 30, 1837;

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Ephraim, born June 2, 1832, died August 31, 1837; and Hannah Wetmore, born September 10, 1834, who married June 9, 1849, Edward Wendell Crosby, a manufac- turer of Albany, N. Y. October 13, 1838, Mr. Mnnson married, second, Miss Sarah Gardner, who died November 25, 1872. They had five children; Helen Elizabeth, born November 30, 1840, died April 15, 1862; Sarah L., born February 20, 1842, who married Dr. W. G. Tucker, of Cooperstown, N. Y., and, second, William H. Blodgett, of the Treasury Department at Washington; Edmund, born December 26, 1844, in Brownville, N. Y. ; Alfred Hooper, born February 14, 1846; and Connteil, born Feb ruary 22, 1849.

EDWARD NORTH.

EDWARD NORTH, fourth son of Reuben and Huldah (Wilcox) North, was born in Berlin, Conn., March 9, 1820, and belongs to the eighth generation from John North, one of the original proprietors and settlers of Farmington, Conn., in 1653. Ile united with the Second Congregational church of Berlin, December 4, 1831. His preparation for college began with Principal Ariel Parish, of the Worthington Acad- emy in Berlin, and was completed in 1837 with Rev. Salmon Strong, principal of the Clinton Grammar School. He was graduated from Hamilton College in 1841, with the Valedictory Oration. Ile began the work of a teacher as principal of the Clin- ton Grammar School, and was one year a private tutor in the family of Roswell Colt. of Paterson, N. J. In December, 1843, he was elected Dexter professor of Greek and Latin in Hamilton College, as the successor of Professor J. Finley Smith. In 1862 he was elected professor of the Greek language and literature, and Rev. William N. McHarg was elected professor of the Latin language and literature. In 1869 the resignation of Professor McIlarg was followed by the election of Rev. Abel G. Hopkins, who still occupies the Latin chair. In 1844 Professor North received the degree of A.M. from the trustees of Brown University; in 1869 the degree of L. H. D. from the Regents of the University of the State of New York; and in 1887 the degree of LL. D. from the trustees of Madison (now Colgate) University.

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.

Our county and its people; a descriptive work on Oneida county, New York;, Part 63

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