USA > New York > Oneida County > Camden > Pioneer history of Camden, Oneida County, New York > Part 24
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Looking back from to-day to those pioneer times of West Camden, we can hardly realize the contrast between the present homes and the fertile fields, and those rude homes of their fore- fathers that were scattered and so far from one another in the dense, dark forest, that echoed the psalms and hymns which lightened their heart as their voices of prayer and praise ascended to heaven.
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THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
PARNASSUS STREET.
Parnassus street begins at Empey avenue, at the top of the hill, and extends past Conant Bros.' chair factory to the corporation limits. This street winds up the rugged and uneven sides of Mt. Parnassus, from which it received its name. The first place on the left, after crossing Mad River, now owned and occupied by Mr. Eaton, was in the early days the home of Arty Allen and Tabitha, his wife, who came to Camden from Springfield, Mass., in 1804. Much of interest clusters around this home. In this house are plain doors made from a single pine board, the same taken from trees that stood where is now our village park. There are other evidences about the house that show it was one of the earliest framed houses built in the town. The. name of Arty Allen is found on the first town record book in 1808. The children of Arty Allen were Lucy, Achel, Philena and Chapin. Mr. and Mrs. Allen were married at Springfield, Mass., January 25. 1799. Arty Allen was born January 15, 1775, and died February 26, 1817. His wife, Tabitha Chapin, was born August 13, 1770, died May 6, 1861.
Nearly opposite on the right was the home of Abram Hodges, who came from Ellisburg, Jefferson County, in 1826; he bar- gained for this place from one by the name of Holt, of whom no information can be gained. In 1829 Mr. Hodges built a distillery south of his house, near Mad River. He was unfortunate, and this property passed into the possession of Artemas and George Trowbridge; later it was purchased by Henry Mowers, who here built a tannery. April, 1869, there was a disastrous freshet on Mad River, and the tannery was carried down the stream.
On this street was the home of Woodard Perkins, built by him in 1845. He set out a grove of maple trees about his house, many of which are still standing. The place is now owned and occupied by William Hull. Mr. Perkins was married to Miss Esther, daughter of Gideon Northrup, in 1822. In 1863 he was President of the Camden Industrial Association and delivered the address that year. He was much respected. and a favorite with the young, who were fond of hearing him repeat incidents of his early life. Before he entered the militia he sent for a book
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PIONEER HISTORY OF
on military tactics, and when going to the woods chopping took this book with him, and while eating liis dinner studied. He made for himself a crude wooden gun to practice with, and in this way was so advanced when he joined the militia that he was soon raised to the rank of major. Esther Northrup Perkins was born May 29, 1803, and died February 2, 1871; Woodard Perkins born May 20, 1798, died August 12, 1883.
SPRINGS AND MOUNT.
Mount Parnassus was thus named at an early date, probably about 1842, by some of the young people who were exceedingly classical. They often took airy flights upon Pegasus, and as a matter of course, the mount was their alighting place. It was, until within a few years, the resort for numerous picnics and strolls for young and old. The trip up the mount, although tiresome, is worth the climbing, as one gets an extended view when the top is reached, and will never regret making the journey. Nearly at the foot of the mount are springs, the water of which are clear as crystal, and of most excellent quality. For many years they were called "The Eliab Dunbar Springs." The possessor of this property at present date, 1897. Charles Pond, is a direct descendant of Bartholomew Pond, one of Cam- den's early settlers, and a Revolutionary soldier, whose remains rest in the Mexico Street Cemetery. In 1830 Aaron Meeker lived just over the mount. His home stood where the road is now; a pile of stones by the roadside marks the spot of the cel- lar of the house. He came from Middlebury. N. Y., purchased his land of Heman Byington, some ten or fifteen acres. Mr. Meeker, while bathing in what is now known as the Conant Pond, was drowned above the dam. His widow was left with six sons and a daughter, the names of which were. Erastus. Jonathan, Ephraim. Sheldon. Howland. Mary, and Lyman. Later, widow Meeker settled on what is now known as Crop- per street. Beyond the Meeker place in a log house. Jehiel Higgins lived prior to 1810. The remains of an old orchard are here to be seen, and stones and flowering shrubs to designate the spot where this home stood. Parnassus street extends across the mount to the Florence road on Wolcott Hill.
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THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
CROPPER STREET.
Cropper street begins at the foot of Mt. Parnassus, and leads to Florence. John Cropper, from whom the street takes its name, came from England and settled on this road prior to 1802. He built a saw-mill on Mad River, and did an extensive lumber business for those days. Every lover of trout-fishing in this region can locate this old landmark, as it still retains the name of its original owner. On the corner of Parnassus and Cropper streets the land was owned by Ephraim Sanford prior to 1814, as that year it was conveyed by him and his wife, Temperance, to Eliab Dunbar. November 20, 1833, the same was deeded to A. & G. Trowbridge by Eliab Dunbar and wife. In 1885, by G. Trowbridge and wife to Charles P. Pond, its present owner. Eliab Dunbar was a son of Capt. Joel Dunbar. He married Miss Rachel Harrison. Their children were-Betsey, who married Leverett Pond; Charity, who married E. J. Nelson: Julia, who married Mr. Brackney; and Plumb. Mr. Dunbar's trade was that of carpenter. His grandson, Brainard J. Nelson. born in Camden, has been a resident of Oswego, N. Y., for many years. The first house built on this corner was of logs, erected by Mr. Dunbar. He removed from Camden to Pennsylvania many years ago. Chas. Pond has built on this spot avery pretty Swiss cottage. Some little distance beyond, on this street, at an early date, was the home of Enos Humaston. In 1839 Wilson Baldwin purchased it of Sheldon Wilson. The present frame house was built by Ransom Barnes. When Mr. Baldwin first settled on this place the cart path leading to his home from Parnassus street was through a dense woods, and beyond his place towards Florence the inhabitants went by marked trees. The road was surveyed in 1825, as records show, by Widow Allen's, past Enos Humaston's. Mr. Baldwin married Miss Mary Mowers in 1837. Their children were. William, Nancy, Henry and Lydia. Mr. Baldwin died November 4. 1874, aged 63. He was a resident of Camden fifty or more years, much respected, a quiet man, in- terested in all good works for the interest of the town.
Two sons of Joseph Peck had homes beyond the Baldwin place-Erastus and Seth. Their homes were on the east side
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PIONEER HISTORY OF
of the road, overlooking the valley to the west. Later, another brother, Lansing, lived on this road. The children of Erastus Peck were, Joseph and Helen, Children of Seth Peck were, Louisa D. and James E. Children of Lansing Peck were, Minor and George.
Beyond the Peck brothers was the farm of Amos Sweatman, who came to Camden in 1842. He emigrated from Ellington, Conn., (having previously purchased his place of Aaron Stone), two spans of horses transporting the family, consisting of the parents and two daughters, Clorinda and Mary, with household goods. They were two weeks making the journey. Clorinda
Mrs. Clorinda Miller.
commenced teaching school at the age of 16 years in Ellington, Conn., and followed the same occupation in Camden, all together teaching between forty and fifty terms. Many in reading the above will well remember Aunt Clorinda's unique manner of punishing her pupils. She married Alva Miller in 1851, and is living at this date, Oct., 1897, at the advanced age of 93. Alva Miller was born in 1797, and died in 1868; Amos Sweatman died April 13. 1870, aged 93: Mary, his wife, died April 12, 1857; born in 1777.
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THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
WADSOR SCOVILLE.
W'adsor Scoville, son of Ezekiel Scoville, lived near Mad River Bridge. He was twice married, first to Miss Hannah Kinne in 1846, a most estimable lady, and daughter of Amos Kinne; she died August 4, 1871, aged 50 years. His second wife was Mrs. Burrill, a widow. Wadsor Scoville died January 22, 1882, aged 58 years. Children of Wadsor and Hannah Kinne Scoville were, Amos, DeMilt and Kinne.
On Mad River, near the bridge, which was built in 1838, Aner Mathews erected a saw-mill, the site was purchased of Deacon Erastus Upson, (as deed in County Clerk's office show in 1836, being a part of lot No. 25); it was conveyed to Woodard Perkins in 1839, and by him in 1854 to Nelson Satchell. The mill has not been used for some years and consequently fallen into decay, the spring freshets have taken all traces of it from its original spot. The road to this mill, in the early days, was near the river, east from Waterman's, now Scoville's mill.
Falls on Mad River above the Mill.
Every boy who has fished for trout in this locality will remen- ber this waterfall, and of its beauties in the spring, when the water is plenty. It is fed from a spring above. and falls from a large flat rock into the river.
JOHN CRAIG.
Beyond the bridge, and very near it. in 1840, lived Woodard Perkins, who when he sold the saw-mill to Nelson Satchell, also
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PIONEER HISTORY OF
sold this house, which was burned later. Beyond on the same side of the road, lived John Craig; both he and his wife were natives of Davrel, Ayrshire, Scotland, but their marriage took place in America. They were kind neighbors and greatly re- spected. Their children were, Sandy. Ellen, and Charles. John Craig died in 1876, aged 66 years; Agnes, his wife. died in 1878, aged 75 years.
JONATHAN MEEKER.
The place now owned by Jonathan Meeker on this road, was early owned by Benjamin McCall, who here built a log house near where the present house stands. He came from Connecti- cut about 1831, but only remained some two years. He sold to Erastus Upson, who sold to Nathan Kinne, who sold to Sheldon and Ephraim Meeker, who sold to their brother Jonathan Meeker. its present occupant.
KINNIE DISTRICT.
David Blakeslee came to Camden from Connecticut in 1795. He bought land in the north part of the town in District No. 8. The farm is now owned by Mrs. Nathan Kinnie. He first built a log house, which he occupied until he built the present frame
-
Nathan Kinnie Home.
building. Later he sold this place and bought a farm on Pres- ton Hill, now owned and occupied by David Craig. Of the nine
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THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
children born to them, only two remained in Camden until their death. Sarah was the first wife of M. D. Sandford; Wealthy was the second wife of Nelson Simmons. David Blakeslee was of early colonial stock, the line of his ancestry running back to Samuel Blakeslee, a planter at Guilford, Conn., in 1650, who died in New Haven, Conn., in 1672. Mrs. Wealthy Blakeslee Simmons was identified with the life of the village for many years. In her early days she was a teacher in Camden and other towns; and later she carried on a fine millinery business, renting of H. Minor the old tavern, about 1830. After her husband's death she resumed business and conducted it successfully for many years. At the time of her death, in April, 1891, at the age of 85, she was the oldest member of the Methodist Church, having united about sixty years before. David Blakeslee was born in Thomasville, Conn., in 1771, and died in Camden June 20, 1843, aged 72. In twenty days his wife followed him to their eternal home, dying July, 1843, aged 68. One of his sons, Nor- man Blakeslee, died at Perry, Wyoming County, N. Y., Jan- uary 28, 1877, aged 80. Morris Blakeslee died in West Bloon- field, Mich., December 26, 1876, aged 72; Joel Blakeslee lives in Peoria, Ill. Sophia, Mrs. Bradley, died in Camden, February 12, 1876; Lucy Blakeslee Morgan died in Farmingon, Fulton County, Ill., November 7, 1867, aged 63.
In 1815, Amos Kinnie moved to Camden from Clinton, Oneida County, N. Y. He had four brothers who became resi- dents here, David, Rufus, Oliver and Stephen. They were froin Pomfret, Conn. Amos Kinne bought of David Blakeslee. When he came here his family was composed of his wife and three children; nine more were born to them in this home; they were reared and schooled when schools were kept from house to house and in adjoining neighborhoods. When Mr. Kinnie first settled in this home it was at the end of the road; since that time the road has been extended to Florence. As the family grew to manhood and womanhood, they went out from their old home, free to find new homes of their own, scattering here and there, until almost every State in the Union holds a representative. Amos Kinnie died in the old home in 1855, aged 75. In 1857 his widow was laid by his side in Forest Park Cemetery.
22
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Nathan Kinnie, the oldest son, married Samantha Hodges in 1836. There were five children born to them, only two living, Nathan, Jr .. and one daughter, in Binghamton, N. Y. Mr. Kinnie was often elected to town offices in succession. For many years he was Overseer of the Poor. He discharged the duties of the office with due regard to the needs of the poor, and with honest economy to the town. Nathan Kinnie died in 1877, leaving his widow and son, Nathan, to carry on the farm, who still remain in the old homestead to the present day. Four of the original family of Amos Kinnie are still living-the widow of the late Charles Allen, the only one remaining in Camden; her home is No. 6 Third street: the other three are living in the State of Michigan.
Oliver Kinnie, brother of Amos, built the house on Main street, known as the Dr. Sewir house, now occupied by Father Tiernan. It was built in 1835. He owned through to Second street ; had a carriage shop on the site now the home of A. C. Woodruff: it was afterwards owned by Enos Humaston. Oliver Kinnie and Diana, his wife, were the parents of six children. Helen, Angelina and Oliva died in infancy; E. O. Kinnie died May 1892; left a widow with four boys; her son Allie died the same summer in July. Three sons are in Watertown, where she makes her home. Orland Kinnie lives in the West, and Alfred in Redfield.
EDWARD WILLIAMS.
Edward Williams came from Chester, England, was married at Manchester, and sailed for America, some time during the year 1838, and soon came to Camden. They first lived in a little house, now head of Third street, and later bought on the river road, about on the line in Florence. Mrs. Williams has been a widow for a number of years. She makes her home in Camden with her daughter, Mrs. Walter Elden.
Elijah Perkins bought in lot No. 11, in 1803, and lived there until he died.
ARCHIBALD CRAIG.
Archibald Craig with part of his family, came from Darvel, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1832. and bought a farm of Maj. Woodard
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THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
Perkins, the farm now owned by John Walker. Six children were born to them: Robert, Andrew, John, Mary, Marion, and Janet. Robert first lived on the farm in Lot No. 23, near R. Sparrow's, and later moved near Hillsboro, this side of the Wil- cox place. Five children were born to them, only one living now, in Western Colorado; two died in the army in the civil war; James belonged to the 117th Regiment; Alexander volunteered previous to the July call in 1861: Robert Craig died July 17, 1863; Elizabeth, his wife, July 25, 1862, aged 58. Mary Craig married Archibald Nisbet in Scotland in 1828; came to this country in 1834; bought of Woodard Perkins land adjoining her father's. Nine children were born to them, only one son and four daughters lived to maturity. Marion Craig was married in 1846 to John Walker; he bought of Eliab Humaston in 1845 the old home. Janet married John Anderson in Scotland; he died in 1842, leaving three sons and two daughters. In 1847 she came to America with her children, and settled on Preston Hill: she was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1802, and died in Camden February 7, 1891.
Andrew Craig will be connected with the Preston Hill history; he with his brother John were among our Scotch poets, twenty years and more ago. John went West in 1849, when Chicago was about the size of Rome, and has observed the rapid growth and development of the western country with interest and won- der. He is a great reader and admirer of Nature's beauties, and a true Scotchman. He was born in 1825, in a locality where so many of intellectual ability were nurtured. Burns' birthplace was but a few miles distant in Ayrshire, and it was not far from where Adam Wallace was burned on Castle Hill, Edinborough. for reading his Bible and because he would not renounce his faith in God. John Craig married Miss Sophia Miller in 1851, whose birthplace was Clay, near Syracuse. He returned to Cam- den in 1859, and was identified as one of our business men. In 1882 he purchased a farm of Allen Joslin, and lived there thirteen years. His oldest daughter, Jennie E., married P. W. Heron, and resides in Camden. Julia married A. B. LaClere, and Jo- sephine married George Batchelor, all residents of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Craig make their home with Mrs. LaClere.
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Faulkners came in 1848: Mr. William Faulkner died February 9, 1877, aged 66.
Zenas Humaston settled here not far from 1800, and pur- chased wild land, which is now the farm owned by Richard Davis. They had five children-Enos, Eliab, Orren, Laureatt and Kesiah. Enos married Mary Grant: she died July 11, 1837, aged 33; she is buried on the Seventh. He married a Mrs. Scram from Cuba, N. Y., the second time: he moved from Cam- den many years ago, and died at Dewitt, Ia .. September 21, 1867. aged 68 years. Eliab married a daughter of David Brown; in 1836 moved to Pennsylvania, and from there to Illinois; Orren married and went to New London: Kesiah married Roswell Wil- son: Laureatt married Smith Brown. The father of this family died December 8. 1833, aged 60. Lucy, his wife, died March 19. 1827. aged 52.
Wilson Baldwin's Home, built by Ransom Barnes, (should have been on page 333.)
THE FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE IN DISTRICT NO. 8
Was erected near the Goodyear homestead, and in 1850 moved near Mr. Kinnie's. A few years ago religious services were held there, in connection with a Sunday School every Sunday, and was well attended. The pioneer teachers of this district were Sarah Ann Woodworth, Mary Woodcock and Abbie Joslin.
On the direct road leading to the village. John Joslin was the first settler: he built a log house: his family consisted of a wife and three children, Abbic, Harriet and Benjamin. This.
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THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
property was transferred to Strcet Barnes, who afterwards built a frame house, and after his death his son Marenus occupied it for a number of years. Gaius Perkins, a son-in-law of Street Barnes, lived opposite; he sold his farm and moved into the vil- lage, where he spent the remainder of his days. Florence Hill road was about one-fourth of a mile west of this road. One of the first places this side of the Florence line was Capt. Gideon Smedley's home: Elijah Ransom lived there afterward. At a later date other families bought and built in this vicinity.
Lorenzo Goodyear married Mary, the daughter of Mr. Ran- som. He bought land and built the house now occupied by Mr. L. C. Ball; he sold this place and bought his father's place in 1862, and sold the old home in 1888, and moved to Illinois.
EDWARD GOODYEAR.
Edward Goodyear married Leva Alcott in Wolcott, Conn., in 1814. They emigrated from Connecticut in 1817. and settled in Canada. In 1820 they came to Camden and bought this farm of 170 acres of Norman Castle the same year. He lived in the village six years, and in the mean time built this house. Their
Edward Goodyear Home.
first home was what is known as the Willis house, and at that time from Second street back to Mad River was called Pine llill; it was all woods. Lucius and Harry Goodyear remember very well of playing there on the logs with the boys. When they came here our village was a mere hamlet of a dozen houses. The country
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PIONEER HISTORY OF
around here soon began to be cleared by the quick descending blows of the pioneers' ax. Edward Goodyear had a distillery under the Penfield & Stone mill, when it was owned by Lyman Curtiss and Israel Stoddard, not far from 1822. Edward Good- year was the father of eight children. Three living at the pres- ent time are Harry, Lucius and Leva, now Mrs. P. C. Costello. Edward and Edwin (twin children); Linus and Prenett died many years ago. Mrs. Costello says that although a mere child, she remembers the loneliness of her mother when they lived on the farm in the woods. Her mother would be sitting by the fire- place, knitting, with her children around her, and telling them stories of the dear ones she had left in Connecticut and of the wonderful deeds of their great-grandfather, Capt. John Alcott of Revolutionary fame. Mrs. Goodyear's uncle, Joseph Alcott, was grandfather to Louisa M. Alcott, the writer. Mr. Edward Goodyear was born in Cheshire. Conn., in 1788, and died in Cam- den in 1862, aged 74; Mrs. Goodyear died in 1863. Lorenzo M. Goodyear died May 29, 1897, aged 77.
Norman Castle Home.
Norman Castle was the earliest settler in this locality; his farm extended from Waterman's mill to Capt. Smedley's place. He built this house now owned by John Davis. Mr. N. Castle
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THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
married Polly, daughter of Elihu Curtiss, and sister to Gen. Lyman Curtiss. He sold this place and went to Indiana. His brother, Seth Castle, was a blacksmith in the village, and lived opposite to the Commercial Hotel. He moved to Syracuse.
Mr. Lawton was the next occupant of this farm after Norman Castle; then Mr. Ely; then Smith and Prindal. In 1832 Wood- ard Perkins bought the farm, and in 1838 sold it to Ashbel Up-
Mr. Ashbel Upson.
son, who bought the water privilege in 1849, and built a large saw-mill, which has been doing a good business ever since. In 1854 his oldest son married Louisa, daughter of Col. R. Empey, and remained on the farm. Mr. Ashbel Upson bought on Os- wego street, and lived there until his death.
Wilbert Upson lived here until a number of years after the death of his first wife, in March, 1868. She left six little chil- dren, only three living now, Fletcher, George and Dora. The two oldest, Richard and Wilbert , died in Nebraska in 1896. The mill property changed hands in 1857: Henry Waterman came from Taberg with his family, and bought the mill and built a house opposite. Curtiss Scoville was the next owner of the mill, and now it is the property of Walter Russell.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF
HENRY WATERMAN
Died December 9, 1892. During his residence here he be- came a very popular citizen, holding many offices of trust. He left a widow and two daughters. His wife survived him until the spring of 1896, dying at her daughter's, Mrs. A. Paddock, Clinton, Ia., who brought her mother here in company with her sister, Mrs. J. H. Conant, to lay her beside their father.
Berialı Pond, son of Bartholomew Pond, Sen., married Sylvia Sandford in Plymouth, Conn., and on coming to Camden settled on the Florence Hill road, opposite the Riley Pond place. All traces of the house are gone. He had a large family-Chauncey, Porter, Willis, Riley, Lucy B., Celista and Miles, and several others. Beriah Pond was a cousin to Bartholomew Pond, Jr. They served in the war of the Revolution together. He was in Col. Elmore's regiment for one year from April, 1776: afterwards he was in the corps of artificers, from 1777 to 1783. He died at his grand-daughter's, Mrs. George Rush, March, 1836, aged 78.
Willis Pond and wife settled on Lot 99; they came from Con- necticut ; stayed five years, then returned to Northfield, Conn. On a visit here some years after, his wife died and was buried in the Mexico Street Cemetery. The inscription reads: "Hannah, wife of Willis Pond, died December 22, 1857, aged 71. Her aunt, Laurana Sandford, died while here on a visit in 1837, aged 78." They are buried side by side. Celista married Benj. Joslin and moved to Cattaraugus County, N. Y. Her mother and brother Porter went and lived with her. Riley Pond married Abigail. daughter of Ichabod Brown; she had two brothers, Nathan and Riley Brown. Ichabod Brown was a Revolutionary soldier; went from Cornwall, from June, 1776, to December 25, 1776; he died May 31, 1850, aged 97. His wife's name is on the First Church's membership records in 1809.
This cross road that comes out by Russell's mill was sur- veyed January 17, 1828, from Beriah Pond's place to Noah Preston's, on the Oswego road. The romantic name for this rustic road is "Lovers' Lane." Edward Mills lived at one time on the place now owned by Mr. Driscol. "Uncle Ned." as
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