USA > New York > Oneida County > Camden > Pioneer history of Camden, Oneida County, New York > Part 12
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
SALA SANFORD.
Sala Sanford, son of Jonah, built and owned the house which stood on the corner of Main and Union Streets. It was moved many years ago to the upper end of Third Street, to make room for the more pretentious house built by Mrs. B. Tuthill, and now owned and occupied by Wells Stoddard. Sala Sanford married Peggy -- and had nine children, Edward, Mary, Emily, Smith, Catherine, George, James and Margaret. Sala Sanford was injured in the war of 1812, but recovered. He died in Illi- nois at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Byington, March 15, 1866, in the 82nd year of his age. His wife died November 15, 1862, aged 73 years.
LEANDER U. SANFORD.
Leander U. Sanford was born March 27, 1825; married Tirzah Higgins May 1, 1855. He bought the property and built
163
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
the house on the corner of Third Street and Miner Avenue, now occupied by Mr. Becker. Two children were born to them, Elmer and Clara. While a young man just starting in business for himself, Elmer was snatched away by death, October 31, 1835. aged 24 years, deeply mourned by all his associates and friends. Clara went West, married, and made her home there. Leander V. Sanford died July 13, 1862, aged 37 years.
LYMAN MATTHEWS.
About the time Jonah Sanford built his home, in 1803, Lyman Matthews built the old Matthews homestead, which is still stand- ing, opposite the William Barnes house. The well is on this place, which is spoken of in the survey bill. But little can be gathered concerning his early youth, or the place of his birth,
Lyman Matthews' House.
as he was removed by death at an early date, and there is no one living who remembers him; but we copy something con- cerning his father and mother, found in a paper printed a num- ber of years ago. "When Noah Tuttle came to Caniden to reside, a saw mill had been built, and a man named Williams, and Aaron Matthews, the old surveyor, and wife, were already here. Mrs. Matthews was the only white woman in Camden during the winter, after the arrival of the first settlers who came in 1795 or 1796." The writer well remembers hearing her mother say,
164
PIONEER HISTORY OF
when her grandfather was obliged to go to Rome with his grain, and his wife would have to remain alone, she would put on snow shoes, and walk with him to Taberg to remain with the nearest white family. For many years a little old looking glass, about six by eight inches, with a frame made of common wood, stained by time, and put together with wooden pegs, was in the writer's family, and she was told it was the first mirror ever brought into Camden. Mrs. Matthews, it is also said, was the first white woman who came up the trail through Taberg to Camden.
Lyman Matthews, son of Aaron, was a surveyor, and sur- veyed much of the surrounding country. In 1803-4 he taught the first school in the town of Vienna. He married Polly, dauglı- ter of Jared Olcott, descended from Thomas Olcott, who came from England to America in 1635, and settled in Hartford, Conn. Joseph Olcott, son of Thomas, married Elizabeth Marsh; they had twelve children, the oldest of these was the father of Polly Alcott Matthews, who was a soldier of the Revolution, and for a time, one of the life guards of Gen. Washington. He also rendered efficient service in the war of 1812. The latter part of his life was spent in Jefferson County, near Watertown, N. Y., where his death occurred July 23, 1846. By the kindness of the Watertown Life Guards, he was buried with military honors. Lyman Matthews and Polly Olcott were married in Windsor, Conn., and made their home in Camden. They had seven chil- dren: Aaron, Delia, Chauncey, Mary Ann, Lyman and Sylvia. The husband and father died September 6, 1817, aged 35 years. Aaron Matthews, the oldest son, succeeded his father as sur- veyor. Many of the older inhabitants of the town remember attending school taught by him, in different districts. He mar- ried Sarah Hibbard, and had five children: Sophia, Lyman, Thaddeus, Willie and Sarah, the latter but an infant when her mother died. Soon after the death of his wife, Mr. Matthews' health failing, he took his children to Falls Church, Virginia. to reside. Being a Union man, when the war of the rebellion broke out, it became unsafe for one having such strong sympathies with the North to remain in that section of the country. With his second wife and children he left his Southern home in the night, quietly, and went to reside in Minnesota. Three children
165
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
were born after his second marriage. His death occurred in 1876. Lyman and Thaddeus, the sons, reside in Montana; Sophie and Sarah in Minnesota; Willie, the youngest son by his first wife, is dead.
Delia, the oldest daughter of Lyman Matthews, was married to Leonard L. Budd, in Rochester, where they lived at the time of the cholera epidemic of 1832. He built some of the first grist- mills of that city. He took a contract to build two mills in Canada, which he finished but a short time before his death. Mrs. Budd, in her bereavement, came direct to Camden, bring- ing four sons with her. Albert, who went to Kalamazoo, mar- ried and settled there, and died. William and his family live near Chicago; Byron Matthews Budd died in Camden, Decem- ber 22, 1847, aged 17 years, and Clinton L. Budd married Mar- ion, daughter of the late George Wood. He went to Michigan to reside, where his death occurred in the winter of 1897. Mrs. Budd died in Kalamazoo, where she resided, having married for her second husband John Glover of that place. Mary Ann Matthews, born August 22, 1813, married Albro Phelps Septem- ber 8, 1842. He was born February 4. 1808. They lived in a little red house which stood just north of the house he built two years later. Six children were born to them.
Sarah, born September 3, 1843, and whose untimely death oc- curred July 14, 1873, aged 30 years, was the oldest of six chil- dren, who were left orphans, when she was but sixteen years of age. She remained in the home and took upon herself the burden of caring for them, and was faithful unto death, supplying a mother's care for her younger brothers and sisters so well their great loss was hardly realized. She was a most conscien- tious and devout member of Trinity Church. Her life was one of self-denial, living only for others, and when she was called to her eternal home, she went willingly, quite ready to lay down the burden which had been almost too much for her young life. We cannot doubt a "crown of life" was awaiting her, and that she heard the loving words of our Savior saying, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord."
Theron Phelps, born December 27, 1845, was married to Miss Belle Wiles October 17th, 1871. She was born November
166
PIONEER HISTORY OF
4th, 1850. They have one son, Clinton F. Phelps, born March 31, 1878. They have always resided in the old home. Caroline E. Phelps was born September 14, 1847, married Eugene H. Conant November 4, 1874. They settled in Camden; three chil- dren were born-Harold, born August 4, 1877; Alice, born November 14, 1879; Mary, born September 17, 1884. Eugene H. Conant was born June 12, 1847. Chauncey Matthews Phelps was born February 23, 1849, married Miss Celinda Bryant December 7, 1875. She was born September 22, 1848. They re- sided in Camden; had three children, Mabel, born October 24, 1876; Arthur, born September 15, 1880, and Carrie, born May 2, 1882. Chauncey M. Phelps was an honorable citizen of the town, respected by all. He was elected Supervisor in 1884-85. His health failing, he went to California in March of the following year, where his death occurred May 20, 1886, aged 37 years. His loss was deeply mourned by friends and relations, and the community at large. Mary was born May 18, 1851, was mar- ried December 18, 1872, to John Dexter, who was born October 10, 1851. They had one son and four daughters, Belle was born November 6, 1874; Frank, August 28, 1877; Pauline, January 29, 1880; Mary, January 14, 1884, and Carrie March 24, 1886. John M. Dexter died April 4 1895, aged 44. Albro Byron Phelps was born August 2, 1853, married to Pauline M. Soper, June 13, 1878. She was born January 22, 1855. They had one son, Her- bert, born August 31, 1880, died September 30, 1881. The chil- dren of Mary Ann Matthews Phelps all settled in Camden. Albro Phelps died October 3, 1853, aged 45 years; Mary Ann, his wife, died May 18, 1860, aged 47 years. Whenever the name of Chauncey Matthews is mentioned by those who knew him, it is with love and respect for his memory. Possessing a noble mind with all that combines to make a lovable character, he carly in life became a favorite with all acquaintances. A bright scholar in his younger days, he taught school when he reached man- hood, in order to enable him to pursue his medical studies. He went to Rochester and when he became a practising physician,
settled in Maumee City. Ohio. He married Caroline - - -, and had one son, Chauncey. He became a most skillful physi- cian. We copy a portion of the obituary taken from an old
167
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
paper: "Died, at his residence in Maumee City, on the 27th of February, 1847, Chauncey Matthews, M. D., in the 36th year of his age. His disease was malignant erysipelas, contracted while engaged in the professional attendance upon the sick and dying. The disease was prevailing in an epidemic form, and such was his fidelity and untiring efforts for the welfare of those com- mitted to his care, that his constitution at length gave way, ren- dering him, not only predisposed to an attack, but from the ex- hausted state of his system, precluded all hopes of his recovery from the commencement. His life, from his youth up, was exemplary, and marked with sterling integrity. % *
The melancholy tidings fall heavily upon his aged heart-stricken mother, and a numerous circle of mourning relatives." Al- though the remains were not brought here for interment, as was the custom of those days, the funeral sermon was appointed to be preached the first Sunday in April, in the afternoon, at the Episcopal Church, by the Rev. A. P. Smith. Aner Matthews was in the Santa Fe trade, and died while yet a young man, of cholera, at Fort Independence, Missouri; Lyman died in Min- nesota a few years ago; Sylvia married Archibald Armstrong of Rome, N. Y., and had one son, Chauncey. The older Lyman Matthews' name occurs on the book of old town records from 1804 up to the time of his death. He was Town Clerk for many years, also elected to many offices of trust. He joined the Masonic Lodge of Camden in 1816, having been a Master Mason. He died in 1817, when but 35 years of age, and sleeps in the cemetery on the Seventh. His widow married for her second husband, a neighbor, Samuel Howd. Two children were born, Abigail and Hannah, who are well remembered by the old- er portion of the community. Abigail was an active member of of the Episcopal Church, and worked with untiring energy for the establishment of the church in Camden. She also taught school for several years. They both went to Minnesota, and married, where Abigail died. Hannah had a son and daughter, and went with her family to Montana, where her death occurred. The union of Polly Matthews with Samuel Howd did not prove a happy one; they separated, Mrs. Matthews finding a home with her children, and the farm passing into other hands. Mrs. Matthews died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Budd, in Cam-
168
PIONEER HISTORY OF
den, February 23, 1851, aged 66 years. She sleeps in Forest Park Cemetery.
ISAAC NORTHRUP.
Isaac, son of Gideon Northrup, was born November 16, 1799, in Camden. When he reached manhood, and decided to make a home for himself, he bought fifty-two acres of land of Jesse Curtiss of Clinton, and built a house nearly opposite the Lyman Matthews place. The house was burned many years ago, and a new one erected on the site, now occupied by William Barnes. He married Lucinthia Cook, and settled in his new home. Here eight children were born-Hannah, born January 5. 1827; Mary, June 5, 1831 ; Amanda, April 14, 1833; Lucinthia, April 7, 1835; Thomas I., March 3, 1837; John J., April 3, 1839; Henry C., October 4, 1844; Orson C., February 8, 1874. Lucintha married N. W. Eaton, Oct. 8, 1857: she is the only one living in Camden. One son and two grandchildren are the only descendants. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton have lived all of their married lives in the house they first occupied at the foot of Mt. Parnassus.
Isaac Northrup died March 14, 1854; his wife following him two years later, Sept. 3, 1856. They rest in Forest Park Ceme- tery.
ZENA CURTISS.
A road formerly ran west past the old Matthews place called "Old Mexico St.," where several families lived at an early date. It has fallen into disuse now, and the houses gone to decay. Zenas Curtiss made his home here about 1800. But little can be learned of his early history; he had one son, the late Jeremiah Curtiss. After the death of Zenas Curtiss the widow married Commodore Rodgers, and moved to Pennsylvania, leaving no descendants of the second marriage in this part of the country.
Another settler on this street was Samuel Howd, the ancestor of the different Howd families in Camden and vicinity. He was the father of six children by his first wife, Samuel, Simeon, Cur- tiss, Benjamin, Flora and Eunice. He married for his second wife Polly Matthews; two more children were born. He event- ually went to Minnesota to reside with one of his daughters. and died there.
169
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
JOEL DUNBAR.
John Dunbar was one of Plymouth's early settlers; he mar- ried Temperance Hall, and from these ancestors Capt. Joel Dun- Lar was descended, being one of fifteen children. On his tomb- stone in the old Mexico St. Cemetery, we find his death oc- curred Dec. 31, 1827, aged 75 years. "Father to Eliab, Seth, Nancy, Rebecca, Jerusha, Margery, Temperance; brother of Moses, Aaron, David and Jonathan." He married Rebecca, daughter of Abel Curtiss. She died Jan. 24, 1831, aged 69 years. They settled on Old Mexico St., near the corner of Dunbar St. We find in 1794, Capt. Joel Dunbar was a taxpayer in Plymouth, Conn. He was a drummer in the 8th Continental regiment, un- der Capt. Phineas Porter. Nov. 25, 1775, he enlisted the second time in Capt. Smith's Co. April 17, 1776, was in Col. Elsmore's regiment at German Flats. The name of Dunbar, until a com- paratively recent date, has been closely connected with the his- tory of Camden.
PRESTON HILL SCHOOL HOUSE.
We next come to Preston Hill School-house. Joel Blakesley, an old resident for many years in this locality, in writing up old
-
--
------
Preston Hill School House.
reminisences, says : "Preston Hill School-house was built in 1818; it turned out some of the best spellers in the township; among them were Chauncey Matthews and his sister Mary Ann,
170
PIONEER HISTORY OF
and also the writer. We could spell down, not only the village school, but the Mexico St. school also. I still have the old Web- ster spelling book used in those early days." To spell the long- est and hardest words correctly was considered a great accom- plishment, and more attention was paid to this than any other study. Spelling down was the favorite amusement, as well as be- ing instructive. The original building has from time to time been repaired, and at the present time is well preserved, and has always been up to the standard for a country school.
CALEB PRESTON.
On the left of the road nearly opposite the school-house, stood the home of one of the families for which Preston Hill was named. In the year 1810 Caleb Preston and his wife Amy, with three sons, came to Camden and settled on Preston Hill, where Caleb died, Feb. 27, 1813, aged 67 years. His wife survived him four years, dying June 1, 1817, aged 73 years. They were not
Mrs. Caleb Preston.
spared many years after reaching their new home, but passed away before they saw the wilderness give place to the farm lands which rewarded the labors of their children. Caleb, the oldest
171
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
son, was born in Wallingford, Conn., Sept 10, 1772. He married Sybil Ledyard in Plymouth, Conn. They came to Camden and made their home with their father and mother, where they lived beyond the allotted time of man's existence.
Time has almost obliterated the old place, leaving nothing but a few stones and a slight depression to mark the site of the house. The remains of the old well are to be seen, which was a short distance from the house. The following is recorded in the old book of town records.
"By the request of Caleb Preston, this 21st day of April, 1818, register : Amanda Preston, born Sept. 29, 1796; Merrit Preston, born Jan. 21,1797; Eliasaph Preston, born March 29,1798; Phebe Preston, born July 4, 1799; Ruth Preston, born April 13, 1802: Lucius Preston, boin October 14, 1805; Sarah Preston, born April 11, 1810; Clarissa Preston, born Dec. 30, 1813."
Caleb Preston was a good sensible man, and a great Metho- dist exhorter; when not preaching he always attended church. Sunday morning the oxen were attached to a lumber wagon, with an old Dutch harness, with straps as wide as a man's hand, and chains for tugs. Two splint-bottomed chairs were placed in the wagon, and he and his wife each occupied one, while the hired man, Billy Bass, sat on the only seat the vehicle could boast of, driving them in as dignified a manner as he would the finest equipage. He was an Englishman, small and weazen-faced, but he knew what belonged to an English coachman.
Caleb Preston was a strong abolitionist; he would go to the different school-houses, or any place where there was an op- portunity, preaching the gospel, and speaking against slavery. He had a powerful voice, and he spoke in such stentorian tones that a little grandson who heard him preach for the first time, thought he would wake the dead. He was so bitterly opposed to slavery that he withdrew from the Methodist church in 1842, and helped to found the Wesleyan Abolition church. He was decidedly opposed to having his picture taken, fearing he might cause someone to break the second commandment, and living in an age, before the kodak and snap-shots were in vogue, he could live up to the spirit of his convictions. At the age of 88 years his granddaughter Sybil persuaded him to sit for one, but the
I72
PIONEER HISTORY OF
next day, in a spirit of remorse, he said he would give two thousand dollars if he had not consented. Through the kindness
Caleb Preston.
of relatives we have been able to secure one. She comforted him with the assurance she would not make an "idol" of it. Caleb Preston lived to the ripe age of 96 years, and entered into rest May 28, 1867. His wife died April 18, 1851, aged 76 years. They sleep in Forest Park Cemetery. Amanda Preston married Ab- ram Eliphalet Johnson; died in Camden Sept. 1865; Ruth mar- ried Samuel Leffingwell, and moved to Wisconsin; Sarah mar- ried James Whaley, went to Michigan to reside; Clarissa, born in Camden, married David Coe, settled in Camden, and died here, Dec. 28, 1856, aged 42. Merrit was a Methodist minister. and a member of the Genesee Conference some years, then went West. Eliasaph lived in Pompey, and died in Penn Yan. Lucius married Miss Robinson, and went to Wisconsin.
AbNER PRESTON.
Abner Preston, brother to Caleb, and who came to Camden at the same time, was born in Connecticut .. in 1781. He pur- chased land and made his home where the house recently oc-
173.
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
cupied by George Wilkinson stood, which was destroyed by fire. He had four children, Amos, Charity, Dorcas, and Julien. It is said the latter was a sommanbulist, also a great lover of cheese. While a young boy, his mother during the summer had made some especially fine ones, which he was very anxious to taste; but no amount of persuasion could induce her to cut one, until the proper time had arrived. One night she was awakened by the strong odor of cheese ; she arose to investigate, and found her son in night clothes sitting in front of the large fire-place. He had raked open the fire, and placed a whole cheese in front of it, where it was melting, and covering the hearth with the appetiz- ing substance. Needless to say his apetite for cheese was grat- ified, as long as that one lasted, if nct longer. A more modern house has been erected on the site of the original one destroyed by hre. Abner Preston died Nov. 24, 1833, aged 52 years. Hannah, his wife died
URI HILL.
Uri Hill was born in Connecticut about 1770. Ile married Chloe Hale. They came to Camden from Connecticut in 1804. and bought woodland and made a clearing about one and a half miles from the village, known to later generations as the Marvel Hall farm. They had great difficulty in reaching their destina- tion, and were obliged to cut a road in many places through brush and logs. They had four children-Almon, born in 1792; Uriah, born in 1796; Chloe, born in 1799: Polly, born in 1805. Mrs. Hill was a kind, motherly woman, a comfort to those in af- fliction, and one who spent many hours at the bedside of the sick and suffering; a type of womanhcod, common in all newly settled countries, where neighbors are dependent upon each other in a great measure. She carned enough money by weaving to buy fruit trees for the orchard. But the farm was given up after a few years, and the family moved to Hillsborough. Uri Hill was a shoemaker by trade, and used to go from house to house "whipping the cat," or in a more modern way of expressing it, he would go wherever he was needed, and make boots and shoes for the family.
Bears were very troublesome in those carly days, and it was a perplexing question how to dispose of them. It was most dis-
174
PIONEER HISTORY OF
couraging to the farmer to find his cornfields devastated through the night, and the culprits too cunning to be caught in the traps set for them. It was Uri Hill and some of his companions, who conceived a novel device to rid the neighborhood of an animal who had wrought ' great havoc. Knowing how fond bears were of anything sweet, they mixed molasses and whisky together, thinking the former would suit the taste so well, he would not mind the latter, and would become so intoxicated, it would be an easy matter to dispose of him. Considering the quantity rather more than was necessary for the purpose, each tasted it, and found it so excellent, they tasted it again, and repeating it once too often, they awoke in the morning to find the cornfield destroyed, and the bear in full possession of his senses.
Reuben Smith purchased the farm, and lived there until he was quite advanced in life, when he bought the property in the vil- lage on the corner of Second and Washington Streets.
NATHANIEL WETMORE.
The next house was a little farther east of the Uri Hill place. The house succumbed to the ravishes of time years ago, but the barn still stands. Here Nathaniel Wetmore and wife Abiah settled in the early days. Their family consisted of four children-Lo- renzo, William, Pliilo and Leroy. Nathaniel Wetmore died March 6, 1831, aged 52; the death of his wife occurred Feb. 11, 1844, aged 62. They came from Connecticut to their home in the new country.
LORENZO WETMORE.
Lorenzo Wetmore married Nancy, daughter of Giles Sanford, in 1827. Both were born and lived all of their lives in Camden. During the year 1850 they bought land and built a house, where later Third St. was laid out, just above the site eventually selec- ted for the Union School building. At that time, it was only a field, surrounded by a rail-fence, and reached by a small foot- path. They had four children-Henry, who made his home in Detroit, Mich .; Giles, who married Charlotte Curtiss, and settled in Camden: he built a fine brick residence on Church St., now occupied by his only son, Charles. Giles Wetmore was a pro- minent business man, and built and occupied the store on the west side of Main St., where he engaged in the drug business. He eventually sold the property to A. C. and C. A. Phelps.
175
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
Mila married the late Charles H. Ray, settling in Camden. Mr. Ray was engaged is the manufacture of chairs. He was a mu- sician of considerable merit, and always prominent in musical circles; he was a member of the Camden Band for many years. His death occurred Aug. 4. 1887, aged 57 years. His wife sur- vives him. Mary married George Elden, whose death occurred while yet a young man. She later married Mr. R. Tuthill; they live in the old home, which has been modernized to a consid- erable extent. Lorenzo Wetmore was a mason, and was in com- pany for many years with Mr. E. J. Nelson. During this period they laid the foundations and fashioned the walls of nearly all of the buildings erected in Camden. Honored and respected citizens they labored side by side, until the infirmities of age overtook them, and they rested from toil, waiting for the Master's call, which came the same day to each. "In death they were not divided." Lorenzo Wetmore was born Sept. 24, 1808; died June 6, 1888, aged 79 years. Nancy Sanford Wetmore was born Nov. 1808, and died Feb. 9, 1891, aged 82 years. William Wet- more married Polly, daughter of Reuben Smith; they had four children-William, died July 10, 1882, aged 75 years; Polly, died Dec. 20, 1888, aged 77 years. Their son Wolcott died June 1, 1892, in his 54th year; Philo married Ruth Ann Scoville for his second wife, and moved to Illinois; Leroy married Uri Hill's daughter for his first wife, and Cornelia, daughter of Ephraim Sanford for his second wife; they also moved West.
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.