USA > New York > Oneida County > Camden > Pioneer history of Camden, Oneida County, New York > Part 5
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
67
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
of the highway near the brook, and owned by Charles McCarthy. Byron Phelps its occupant.
We have had access to many deeds and documents, giving names of those who have owned interests in both real estate and water-power, but fail to find occupation, or location of all of them. We will give the names and such other items as we have gleaned. Perhaps some reader can fix them more definitely than we have been able to. We have brought the time down to 1822, when Mr. Bettis came to begin his pursuit of tanning leather. In 1823 Timothy Wood sold water privilege to Reuben Bettis. In 1832 Calvin Wimple sold some property to Reuben Bettis. In 1839 Orson Norton sold to Merritt Munson. In 1839 Erastus Upson had interests there. William R. Preston also transferred property to Reuben Bettis. In an old issue of the "Camden Gazette," Vol I., No. 2, we find the following :
"CamdenTannery .- Munson Paddock & Co., at their tannery, have on hand a good assortment of bridle, harness, upper and sole leather, which they will sell low for cash. Leather store in the Red Building, south end of the bridge. April Ist, 1842."
In 1846 John A. Bettis and Orange Dayton sell property to Andrew C. Bettis and Daniel Shaw. In 1847 Bettis and Shaw sell to George Smith. In 1848 P. H. Costello, his brother John, and P. C. Costello, bought the tannery property of George Smith, and commenced business in October of the same year in a small way. They were energetic, practical men, giving their personal attention to the work, and in time established a name, fame, and market for their product, which continues to the present. The style of the firm was "John Costello & Co." till 1850, when Mr. John Costello died, and it was then changed to P. & P. Cos- tello. The firm remained unchanged till the business was dis- continued in 1884. In 1870 they purchased the "Bay State Tan- nery" property of Dwight Morss, Williamstown, Oswego County, and operated it till 1880, when the bark supply became exhausted, and they sought another region where hemlock growth was more plentiful. They purchased a large tract of forest land in Pennsylvania, and built a tannery at Costello, named for the men of the firm. At this time Alfred and John,
68
PIONEER HISTORY OF
sons of P. H. Costello, were made partners in the business, which was profitably conducted by the firm of A. Costello & Co. till 1893, when it passed into the possession of the United States Leather Company, by whom it is continued under the original brand-P. & P. Costello, Camden, N. Y.
It was a sorry blow to Camden's business interests when the tanning industry ceased. Many operatives were out of employ- ment, and sought other fields for labor; several families followed the Costellos to their new settlement. It was regretted by all; socially, that the community must relinquish its pleasant associa- tion with them; financially, that a business contributing so mater- ially to the tradesmen's success, must be transferred to another locality. But changes and reverses must be, and Camden has had a full share. In the year 1886, September 20, the Camden Knitting Company, then composed of W. J. Frisbie and W. H. Stansfield, both Camden young men, and C. F. Kendall of Bos- ton, who had for some time been associated with them, purchased the entire property of the Costellos, fitted up the old tannery proper, built a new office and a large brick mill near the highway (where the shed for hide storage formerly stood while the Cos- tellos did tanning), and otherwise enlarged and improved the facilities for their manufactures. In 1893 a destructive fire oc- curred, which completely destroyed the old tannery, and the new buildings barely escaped. Rallying from their loss, the Knitting Company began with the opening of spring to clear away the debris, preparatory to erecting another equally commodious building. They still occupy the site, engaged in manufacturing principally ladies' and children's ribbed underwear, employing about two hundred people.
In a house situated below the Reuben Bettis place, William Riley Preston lived in those early days. He joined the church by letter from the church in Harwinton, Conn., in 1810. He married, May 19, 1812, Miss Sarah Ann, daughter of Capt. John Smith, sister of Newell and Garrett Smith, early residents of the town. He followed the tanners' trade for a number of years. Several children were born to them, viz .: Catlin, William, Andrew J., Cyprian and George. Helen, the eldest daughter, was the
69
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
first wife of Martin Stevens; Sarah, the second daughter, married John Dixon of Ripley, N. Y .; Frances, third daughter died in young girlhood, at ten years of age. William R. Pres- ton was a brother of Rossiter Preston. The daughter Helen has been mentioned by old residents as being very attractive and pret- ty, a favorite with all in her day. Her death was mourned by many associates. The young men, left fatherless in 1834, went out into the world to gain a livelihood, and have made fortunes for them- selves rarely attained by any but those with perseverance and ap- plication. No doubt if their stories were told, it would be an incen- tive to other young men to push on to success. Wm. Riley was a son of Noah and Honor Preston, and died August 4, 1834, aged 44 years, and was buried in the Mexico Street Cemetery. No further particulars are at hand concerning the family, though effort has been made to obtain more.
On the rise of ground, east side of the highway, still lived Col. Aaron Seth Rice. This house was probably built and owned by Phineas Tuttle, as mention is made of him in the deed, interested prior to its possession by David Osborne and Hub- bard Tuthill in 1817. Mr. Rice and family came from Herkimer in 1815. He was born in Connecticut in 1755. In 1800 he mar- ried Mrs. Sarah A. Dayton. Two children were born to them, Harriet and Thompson, aged respectively nine and seven years at the time of their coming to Camden. Mr. Rice was a tanner by trade, and was employed with Mr. Hubbard Tuthill for many years in that business. Subsequently his health failing him, he became unable to actively attend to his duties. So serious were his infirmities that he was obliged to use canes the remainder of his life. Mr. Rice was a soldier of the Revolution, which gave him his title of Colonel. His army equipments are still preserved in the possession of Mrs. Joel House, his grand-daughter. When Mr. and Mrs. Rice first came to Camden there were but three frame houses standing, those of Elihu Curtiss, Sala Sanford and Phineas Tuttle. Mr. Rice died in 1838, aged 83 years. His in- terment was in the old cemetery on Mexico Street, and for many years a stone marked the spot, but when the ground was cleared of debris, underbrush, mown, and otherwise improved,
70
PIONEER HISTORY OF
the tablet with his name was removed, and no one can locate it. In the years following, during Mr. Rice's decrepitude, he made the trade of shoemaking his occupation.
The quiet life of Mrs. Rice was one for all to emulate. A patient, faithful wife and mother, a kind neighbor and friend. She united with the First Church of Christ October 18, 1815. and continued her membership there till the division of its mem- bers in 1868, when she joined the number who went out to form the Presbyterian Church. The daughter, Harriet Rice, married Merritt Munson, July 4, 1828, and died 1868, aged 62 years. Of those present at the wedding, Mr. John A. Bettis of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, alone survives. Thompson Rice, their son, mar- ried Cordelia Phelps, who died in Camden, April 29, 1869, aged 57 years. He removed to Sauquoit after a second marriage, and the mother whose home was with him went there also. She at- tained the ripe age of 91 years, when she laid aside the burdens of life December 4, 1875. Her remains are buried in Camden. Her home in Sauquoit extended over a period of about five years. The warm friendship which existed between Mrs. Rice and Mrs. Tuthill was of the enduring type, a wonder to those that knew them; for it is rarely that a close friendship as theirs is of a life's duration, each sharing the other's joys and sorrows. She rests near Mrs. Hubbard Tuthill, in the ground below the vil- lage. Of the descendants of Aaron and Sarah Rice are the chil- dren of Thompson, their son, only Edward Rice resides at North Bay. Elizabeth (Mrs. Joel House) in Camden, and Engene in Camden. A. Thompson died November, 1883, aged 75 years.
On the west side of the highway, nearly opposite the Rice house, stands back towards the railroad, the residence built in remote years by Hubbard Tuthill. He was married at Herkimer, N. Y., November 7, 1807, and in 1809 he, with Hannah his wife, came to reside in Camden. They were people of much excellence of character, and a desirable acquisition to the church and com- munity. Mr. Tuthill's trade was that of a tanner, and this he plied for many years. The tannery building proper stood near the highway; next it and connected with it, the bark mill.
71
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
beyond that to the west his dwelling. ett continued the manufacture of leather till about 1848 or 1850, when the site be- came the possession of P. & P. Costello. Mr. Tuthill was elected to offices of trust. In 1823 he was justice of the peace. About 1848 Mr. Tuthill purchased the house opposite the cen- etery, at the top of the hill, of Riley Scoville, which remained his home till he died. Mr. and Mrs. Tuthill had no family; Mrs. Tuthill was a life-long, consistent member of the M. E. Church -their career blessed in doing good to others. Mr. Tuthill had one brother in Camden, Baldwin Tuthill, and after the death of her husband, Mrs. Tuthill made her home with Mrs. Baldwin Tuthill, also widowed. A young lady who was about Mrs. Cyrus Stoddard's age-Huldah Sliter- lived with Mr. and Mrs. H. Tuthill. Hubbard Tuthill was born 1782, and died 1861, aged 79 years. Hannah Tuthill was born July 4, 1788, and died 1871, aged 83 years, and both are buried in Forest Park Cemetery.
As early as 1799 Lemuel Corey dwelt in a log house on the site opposite the cemetery, at the top of the hill, south of the village, towards Vienna. But little can be gleaned of him or his, except that from an old deed we know he lived there. In the year 1803 there was a revival of religion in the community, when Mr. Corey and his family were converted, and united with the early church. Zadoc Corey, a son, was one of those who turned from his sinful ways, and became an exhorter, leading many to the truth. We can not learn whether he died here, or removed to some other locality. At least after about 1809 no further men- tion is found of him, or any of the name, in deeds, books of ac- count, church record, or other documents, so it is safe to con- clude that the family pushed on to newer fields to try their for- tunes. Many names of the earlier settlers disappear from our records after a few years, and are found again in business circles, in other and adjoining tonws. As the land was surveyed, new, and perhaps greater inducements were offered to settlers, which they availed themselves of. We find the name of Ebenezer Corey as having bought land of George Scriba in 1800.
72
PIONEER HISTORY OF
LANEY HOUSE-ELISHA CURTISS.
Following Lemuel Corey, Elisha Curtiss owned and occupied the place, prior to 1804. He was a son of Jesse Curtiss, who came to Camden from Clinton, Oneida Co. Mr. Curtiss was a man of prominent business interests, largely connected with the early prosperity and development of the town. We find him in the church an earnest worker, and in all ways contributing to the advancement and success of its best aims. He married Miss Anna Northrup, a daughter of Gideon Northrup, and by this union were born to them five children-Eli, Friend, George, Sally and Hannah. Sally died young, while the home was yet on the hill. This home was first of logs, but after a few years a better frame dwelling was constructed. He had dealings with many of the town people, in produce and lumber, as an ancient account book now owned by a relative in descent from Mrs. Cur- tiss shows (Mrs. Eaton). In this book we find mention of the Sage Parke place as belonging to "my son Eli." He also kept a sort of livery, as there are charges for a "horse and buggy to go to Rome, Williamstown, and other points." A very fine horse mentioned as the "Leopard Horse," was owned by him, and on State occasions, such as "General Trainings," was hired by the prominent military officials, and ridden with pomp and pride. This fine creature has been frequently mentioned by those who remember those gala days. He also was local agent for the book "Light on Masonry," by Morgan. It was sold at $1.50, and had a considerable sale in this town. Several copies are yet extant. We give below an extract from a letter relative to their departure from Camden to make a home in Pine Grove, Pa .:
"May 15, 1832.
Dear Friends-Agreeable to a promise I made, I will now write a few lines informing you of my health, which is better than it was when I left Camden. We started from Humaston's the next noon after you left us, and got to New London about three o'clock that day, and Friend started that night for Cicero, but Pa and I staid there until Friday afternoon, waiting for a boat. We got aboard of one with Mr. Selden's folks up by uncle Manning's. They were moving to Chautauqua. We had a very good boat,
73
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
but it went so much faster than the one that Friend was in, that we reached Syracuse first, and saw no more of them till we got to Buffalo. We had very good luck all the way, and got to Buffalo the next Wednesday morning, where we stayed till nine o'clock at evening, then four of us took a a steamboat, and in the morning arrived at Portland; then took a wagon and went eight miles up to Chautauqua Lake, took a boat there at three in the afternoon, and reached Jamestown at six. Friend went that night to Eli's, and in the morning he and uncle Munson came for us in a wagon. We came to Pine Grove towards night, and took tea at uncle Munson's. From there we went to uncle Merritt's, then to Eli's, and found Ma and Wealthy there. They keep house in the house that Eli left. I reached here Friday, and Saturday took the school close to Eli's, for four months, at a dollar a week, commencing Monday."
We have given a portion of Miss Curtiss' letter to show the reader the course taken by those who pushed on from Camden into Pennsylvania, and to account for the Elisha Curtiss family when they disappeared from Camden records.
EZEKIEL SCOVILLE,
The next owner and occupant of this farm was born at Har- winton, Conn., January 17, 1773. He was the third son of Ezekiel and Rachel Scoville of that place. He married Sabra Dunbar, and in 1828 moved to Camden, locating soon after on the place lately occupied by Elisha Curtiss. Here they lived and reared a family of ten children, viz .: Russell, Fanny, John, Joel, Linus, Nelson, Sarah, Riley, Sydney and Wadser. Mr. Scoville was a farmer by occupation, and found much pleasure in clear- ing the farm. It is as fine a place to-day as any in the town. During Mr. Scoville's life he commenced building a structure for a cider-brandy distillery, which his neighbor, Hubbard Tuthill chose to call the "devil's teakettle." After his deatlı, Riley, his son, and the widow, Mrs. Scoville, conducted the farm, building the upright of the house now standing, using the old frame of the distillery and the original house as a wing at the rear. The dis- tillery they had no use for as a "teakettle." Ezekiel Scoville was
74
PIONEER HISTORY OF
born in 1773, and died April 2, 1834, aged 61. Sabra Scoville was: born in 1784, and died June 2, 1858, aged 74. They were buried in Forest Park Cemetery.
About 1858 Orrin Steele purchased this property of Hubbard Tuthill. He with his wife Sarah came from Herkimer County, N. Y., and for some years lived in the locality known as the "Oak Opening," but later came to Camden village and located on this place. Of their children, Irene married John Casterton: Thad- deus lives in the West: Aurelia married A. G. Wood, and is de-
ceased, : ·, Orrin Steele died and in October, 1881, Mrs. Sarah Steele followed him, aged 71 years.
P. W. LANEY.
Philetus W. Laney next occupied this place. He was born in Lee in 1811; Eunice Bloomfield Segur was born in Taberg in 1812, and they were married in Taberg in 1837. Resided in Lee a short time, then removed to Taberg, where they made their home till 1866, when they removed to Camden. They had seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters. Three sons died while in youth, and the oldest of the four remaining children, Marion R., married Seth Beckwith in 1860, and went to Lima, Livingston County, N. Y., where she now resides, a widow, with one daugh- ter. Edward P. married Miss Louisa Beckwith of East Avon, Livingston County, N. Y., in 1892, and resides on the old home- stead at present. Julia T. married Alexander Miller of Canas- tota, in 1875, and she died there in April, 1891, her husband dying in August of the same year, leaving their only child, a son, an orphan. E. Anna, the youngest in the family, married Dr. A. H. Smith of Camden in 1879. They have resided in Camden since their marriage, Dr. Smith being one of our prominent physicians at present. Mr. Laney was a practical farmer and skillful surveyor. He commenced to practice his trade when 19 years old, and continued it till late in life, the most of his work being done in this and adjoining towns. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, an honest, upright, useful man in the com- inunity, and sincerely missed at his death. Philetus W. Laney
75
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
died in Camden in 1893, aged 82 years; Eunice B. Laney died in Camden in 1894, aged 82 years. They rest in Forest Park Cen- etery.
In former years a small house, painted red, stood on the west side of the street, opposite the cemetery. Of the date of its erec- tion, or by whom, we are unable to obtain any information. In the early days of his married life Mr. Lorenzo Wetmore lived there, and Mary, now Mrs. Rufus Tuthill, was born there. Later, Laban Allen was an occupant. We give the information we have found of him or his. A son of Laban Allen, ill with consumption, went to California, hoping to regain his health, but failing in this, he longed for the comfort of home. The journey overland in those days, was, to a healthy man, long and fatiguing, and to an invalid, especially so; but he was given strength to endure the journey, and reach home alive. The joy of it was almost over- powering to him, and it is told that as he came to the lower hotel on the way to his home, many had congregated to meet the traveler, and that he had scarcely strength left to. greet them, but tears of gratitude and thankfulness were in his eyes. He lived but a few days after his return, dying September 8, 1857, at the age of 51 years.
Inscription on grave stone: "Lucy, wife of Laban Allen, died in Camden, September 1860, aged 74 years."
There is also record of one Laban Allen born in Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1830. He came to Camden when a young man, and December 23 married Harriet, daughter of the late Marenus Scoville. In 1854 he removed to Rockford, Mich. His wife and a daughter, Chloe, survived him. Perhaps he was a son of the elder Laban Allen.
CHAPTER V.
CEMETERY, 1840.
T HE community had increased rapidly in population, the ca- pacity of the long-used burial places was exhausted, and it became necessary that another spot should be chosen to contain their dead. Accordingly the site of the present ground was pur- chased in 1840. We copy from the book of records of the Cam- den Cemetery Association the following respecting it, which may be interesting to many :
"On the twenty-fourth day of March, A. D., 1840, a number of the inhabitants of Camden, Oneida County, entered into a contract with Mrs. Clarissa Ransom for the purchase of the cemetery ground, and received subscriptions for the payment of the same, at the price of one hundred dollars per acre. On the tenth day of December, 1840, Mrs. Clarissa Ransom, by A. W. Ransom, gave her receipt in full for the sum of two hundred and eighty-three dollars, for two acres and eighty-three hundredths of an acre, and with the promise to convey the same to the trustees as soon as they could be appointed by law."
The legislature of the State of New York passed an act during its session in 1844 to incorporate the Cemetery Association of the town of Camden in the County of Oneida, and the following named gentlemen were by said act constituted the first Trustees, viz .: Iri Pond, Hiram J. Miner, James Abrams, George Trow- bridge, Ammi Hinckley, Lyman Curtiss, Truman Spencer.
On the twenty-eighth day of April, 1845, Mrs. Clarissa Ran- som and her husband Libbeus Ransom, gave their warranty deed of the premises to the said Trustees above named, which is re- corded in Book 121 of Deeds, &c. Soon after the purchase of this land, and before the act of incorporation could be passed, a portion of the land was surveyed into lots or plots of twenty by ten feet, drawn for and awarded to each of the original sub- scribers, and a certificate or deed was given by the President and
77
THE TOWN OF CAMDEN.
Secretary of the Board of Trustees for the same. By a resolu- tion of the Board of Trustees a portion of the ground on the east side was reserved for the burial of such persons as were unable to buy a lot or plot, free of charge. After the ground was purchased and the purchase money had been paid, and ground suitably fenced, it was ascertained that the number of lots or plots which had been sold at two dollars and fifty cents each, had not raised sufficient funds to erect posts on the corner of each lot, to de- signate the bounds of the same, and a further sum of seventy-five cents was assessed on each lot for that purpose. The original subscribers had their deeds of conveyance of their lots for the sum of $3.75 each, and subsequent purchasers are taxed for each lot on the first and eighth tier the sum of four dollars; and all lots on the remaining tiers the sum of five dollars for each lot.
By order of the Trustees.
No record appears of burials between the date of purchase and February 1845, but we glean from headstones the following names of those who were laid to rest. In 1840 Mr. Conet Scoville's was the first interment in the new Cemetery. Others as follows:
In 1840.
Lois, wife of Capt. John Smith; Joanna, wife of E. Doolittle; Anna, wife of Joseph Scoville; Mary Ann, wife of Charles Wheeler; Benjamin Phelps; Jane Crouch; Mrs. Honuel Gifford; Antoinette Crouch.
In 1841.
Son of W. and Polly Williams; Clarinda, wife of Ranney Phelps.
In 1842.
Linus Sanford; Lucy Doten; Lois, wife of Eliakim Stoddard; child of A. J. Stone; child of Andrew Wilson; Emily Wright.
In 1843.
Deborah Doten; child of Rev. Mr. Barton, drowned; deacon Uriali Hill; Helen Sperry; Ann Wright; child of Mr. Hinckley; Rufus Baldwin.
In 1844.
John Wilson; Russell Scoville; Joseph Piney; Mary, wife of Don Gatchell.
78
PIONEER HISTORY OF
The following is as correct a list of bodies taken from older burying grounds, and reinterred here, as we can get.
Joseph, son of Thompson Scoville; Rhoda, wife of Uriah Hill, 1833: James Sweet; five of Timothy Woods' family, who died between the years 1805 and 1835: Sophronia, wife of Milo Pond, 1832; Louis Wright, 1833; Elvira, wife of Solon Cook, 1823; Charlotte, daughter of Solon Cook, 1816; Clarissa, daughter of Solon Cook, 1821; Mary, daughter of Betsey and S. Cook, 1825; Sophia, daughter of Betsey and S. Cook, 1826; Ezra Curtiss, 1825; John Delos, 1829; Ezekiel Scoville, 1834; Samuel, son of T. D. P'enfield: Delight, wife of Dr. Kerr.
From February, 1845, to March 15, 1871, Mr. William Shepard was a faithful sexton, having kept a correct record of all burials. July 2nd, 1852, covering a period of seven years, he foots up the number of burials in its entirety as 300 at that date in the new ground; but records the names of but 240, so we suppose in the period which elapsed between 1840 and 1845 there were 60 burials which at the time could have been readily counted. At this date we can only make note of those burials as the graves are marked by headstones. No doubt there were several un- marked. Mr Shepard's record numbers 1904 bodies in- terred by him. Beginning with the May meeting of 1845. it was resolved that "the sexton should report all burials in the Potters Field, and the Secretary shall cause the same to be recorded in a book provided for that purpose." Not far from this time a hearse was purchased.
In 1856 it was "Resolved, that the Trustees shall procure and keep two suitable palls for use of the Association. In this same year appears the mention of a hearse house, but no record is found of the purchase of a hearse; yet we know one was in use before this date. Mr. Shepard was authorized to make all nec- essary repairs to the fence around the Cemetery, and shingle and paint the hearse house, and front fence." It does not appear when the hearse house was built.
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.