The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 117

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098

USA > New York > Jefferson County > The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894 > Part 117

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).

The fisheries in Mexico bay, and in front of this town, have within a few years assumed much importance, and recently gillnets have been introduced and used, at

552

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

great distances from the shore, in deep water. It was found that the placing of these before the mouth of streams injured the fisheries, and the subject was made a matter of complaint to the board of super- visors at their session of 1853, who passed an act by which it was forbidden to place seines or nets across or in the waters of Skinner creek, and the north and south branches of Big Sandy, in Ellisburg, or within eighty rods of the mouth of either, under penalty of $50.

WOODVILLE,

A small village on North Sandy creek, about three miles from its mouth, formerly Wood's Settlement, was settled by Ehenezer, Ephraim and Jacob Wood, sons of Nathan- iel Wood, of Middletown, Vermont, who crme in to look for lands with Orimal Brewster, Simeon Titus, Ephraim Wood, Jr., and Hezekiah Lefflingwell, in the fall of 1803. Messrs. E. & E. Wood purchased, May 26, 1804, for $2,294.80, a tract of 754 acres, and in March, Ephraim Wood, with a daughter and three sons, came in to make a home, his brother Ebenezer remaining to settle the estate. Rev. Nathaniel Wood, their father, an old man, came on in June, 1804. Obadiah Kingsbury, Oliver Scott and others, came the same year. A small mill was built, and in 1805 got in operation. In 1805, Ebenezer Wood, Nathaniel Wood, Jr. (Reuben Wood, afterwards Governor of Ohio, and later a resident of Valparaiso. South America, was a son of Nathaniel Wood), Mosely Wood, Samuel Truesdale, and families came in, and several young men. A field of corn was planted hy the Woods on the marsh, as late as June 7, pro- ducing an immense yield, which greatly raised the reputation of the settlement and the hopes of the settlers.

When the Woods came in they followed the old Redfield turnpike into Adams, and the balance of the way cut their own road. The mill spoken of above was built by them. A paper-mill was built here about 1846 by the Messrs. Clark, and is still standing.

Oliver Batcheller, an old resident in Woodville, came here from Stratton, Wind- ham county, Vermont, in the winter of 1808-9. He had been here the year previous and examined the country, and the general aspect heing favorable, he made the location as mentioned. He was but twenty-two years old at the time. In 1815 he married Polly, a daughter of Ebenezer Wood.

Soon after Mr. Batcheller settled at Wood- ville, he built a blacksmith-shop on the ground now occupied by the store, at the south end of the bridge. He afterwards moved a short distance up the creek, and built a second shop and put up a trip-ham- mer. His first shop was the first one in the village.

The first attempt at merchandising in the village, was made by Ebenezer Wood, who brought in a few such goods as were neces- sary for the use of the settlers. This was

soon after he came, and in the spring of 1809, he had a few articles still on hand. The first regular store, however, was opened by Nathan Burnham, who settled here in 1812, and carried on the business for some time. The first hotel was kept by Ebenezer Wood, in hisdwelling, which stood directly in front of the spot occupied by the residence of Nathaniel Wood. The present hotel was built for a dwelling, probably by Nicholas Meade, a shoemaker, and converted into an hotel some time afterward.

A school was taught in the village pre- vious to the War of 1812.

A postoffice was established some time between 1820 and 1830, previously to which time the people had received their mail at Adams, Ellis village and other places. The first postmaster was Asa Averill; the second was Augustus Victor Wood, who occupied the office for 17 years.

LIFE-SAVING STATION.

This station was established in the autumn- of 1876. It is situated at the mouth of the Big Sandy creek. The building is of wood, 45 by 20 feet in dimensions, and the station is provided with the necessary apparatus. The crew consists of a captain and six men. The eastern coast of Lake Ontario is a dangerous locality in time of storms, and this station is of great benefit to those who are exposed to the perils of the deep.

THE BAPTIST SOCIETY OF WOODVILLE Was formed January 27, 1825, with Eben- ezer Wood, Oliver Scott, Amaziah Fill- more, Pedro Scott, William Ellsworth and Abijah Jenkins trustees. The church was formed by the Rev. Asa Averill.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WOODVILLE Was formed November 22, and a society December 14, 1836, of which Ebenezer Wood, Oliver Batcheller and William Gray were trustees.

The first bridge across Sandy creek at this place was an open structure of wood, built in the summer of 1808. It was planked over, and stood across the stream where the dam now is. The King iron bridge was erected in 1869, at a cost of $6,000, and consisted of two spans. The Wood saw-mill stood where the grist-mill now is. The latter was built in 1835 or 1826 by Sam- uel Cook.

RURAL HILL P. O.

The first settler here was Jedediah Hill, who located in the spring of 1815. The place afterwards passed into the hands of his son, Eben, then to a brother of tbe latter, John, who sold it to Amasa Hunger- ford, Jr. On the death of the latter it be- came the property of bis brother, Philo Hungerford.

The locality was known for years before the establishment of the postoffice, as Buck Hill, from the fact that it was a great re- sort for deer, and large numbers of these animals were killed here by the early set

553

ELLISBURGH.

tlers. Edward Burnham opened a store be- fore the establishment of the office, calling it the "Rural Hill Store," and the office received the name of "Rural Hill Post- office " in consequence. It has had at differ- ent times several stores and shops, a tavern, etc., but at present there is very little busi- ness in the place.

[The articles upon Pierrepont Manor, Ellis village and Mannsville, were prepared by Mr. George Allen, of the Manor. His style is pure, and his descriptions are characterized by a rigid adherence to facts-a commenda- ble thing in a historian.]

PIERREPONT MANOR

Is situated 19 miles south of Watertown, and on the line of the R., W. & O. R. R., and commands a distant prospect of the lake. It lies 620 feet above tide-water, and 385} feet above the lake. It contains two stores, two hotels, one saw-mill, three blacksmith shops, two churches, and a large seed business is carried on by W. H. Grenell.

In March, 1805, Joseph Allen, with Pardon Earl and Arnold Earl, from Galway, N. Y., came in by way of Redfield to Adams, and thence worked their way through the forest to Bear creek, and settled on the site of the present village of Pierrepont Manor. Wil- liam Case, William Tabor, William Lewis and two or three families by the name of Simmons settled here soon after.

Joseph Allen was born at Westport, Mass., in 1768. Mr. Allen was a minute-man dur- ing the Revolutionary war nearly three years, and when a young man worked at vessel- blacksmithing at Providence, R. I. About 1793 he removed to Galway, N. Y. He sold his farm there in 1804, and in the fall of that year came to Bear creek and purchased 240 acres of land at $3 an acre. The place was in the midst of a wilderness. At this time he built a log house on the ground north of "the green," on the spot where his son Elihu carried on blacksmithing for many years. His eldest daughter, Nancy, was married to Joel Brown in 1803, who settled in Ellisburg the same year one mile south of South creek-now Giddings Bridge. Mr. Allen built a frame addition to his house within a short time, and opened an inn. He was a blacksmith by trade, and when he first came he built a shop in which to carry on his business, and worked at the trade until about 1818, when he was succeeded by Joseph Pope. Elder Leander Cowles, a Methodist preacher, also did something in the same line. About 1818 Mr. Allen built the hotel which is still in use and continued keeping public-house until about 1823, when he was succeeded by Joel Brown. Mr. Allen was supervisor of the town of Ellisburgh in 1808 and 1809, and at one time held the office of magistrate. He died Sept. 13, 1838.

Pardon Earl, after 1807, became the local land agent and a man of extensive business. He was supervisor of the town five years.

He died in 1844, at the ripe age of 62 years. The place took the name of Bear creek, from the stream on which it is located, and retained the name until about 1840.

A frame school-house was erected about 1811 on the north side of Bear creek ; the name of the first teacher was Orson Fuller. A few years after, a school-house was built about on the site where the Episcopal church stands; William Case at one time taught there. The building was burned about 1824.

In 1822 the agency of the landed estate, derived by Hezekiah B. Pierrepont from Wil- liam Constable, and which comprised a large fraction of what was known as the Macomb purchase, was assumed by William C. Pierre- pont, and he opened a land-office at Pierre- pont Manor in that year. About 1826 he built his residence near the office and there he made his home the remainder of his life. He was married in 1830 to Cornelia Anna Butler, of Oxford, N. Y., who died Dec. 10, 1871. Mr. Pierrepont did an extensive busi- ness for many years. He died Dec. 20, 1885, aged 82 years.

A post-office was established about 1840 with the name of Pierrepont Manor ; Thomas E. Williamson was the first postmaster.

Thomas Loomis started a tannery here about 1835, and potash works were owned by Joel Brown.

THE CHURCHES OF PIERREPONT MANOR.

ZION CHURCH (Episcopal) was organized January 4th, 1836, Amos C. Treadway being at that time rector. William C. Pierrepont and Thomas Warren were chosen church wardens, and Thomas Blenking, Jr., Cornel- ius M. Tabor, Jason Marsh, Harvey Allen, Pardon Earl, Thomas E. Williams, Robert Myrick and John Allen were elected vestry- men. A church edifice had been erected the summer previous by Mr. Pierrepont, at a cost of $3,000, which was consecrated by Bishop Onderdonk August 16, 1836. The rectors have been Rev. Messrs. A. C. Tread- way, Nathaniel Watkins, Josiah E. Bartlett, C. B. Ellsworth, William Paret, William Lord, J. A Sanderson, John Muir and A. J. Brockway. During the pastorate of Rev. William Paret a parish school house was built, and opened for use September 10, 1856, and continued a number of years, and was especially prosperous while Rev. Mr. Paret was rector. He resigned his pastorate in 1864, which had covered a period of nearly 10 years. Mr. Pierrepent, in his will, made provision for the endowment of the church.

FREE CHURCH .- An orginization, known as the "Free Church and Society of Pierrepont Manor," was effected February 26, 1855, with nineteen members, Rev. Stephen H. Taft, of Christian Union fellowship, the minister in charge. The trustees elected were Loren Bushnell, Albert G. Earl, Hiram Allen, Benjamin Randall, Samuel Bemis, Franklin Waite, William Williams. A church edifice was built the same year. Mr. Taft, a man very active in reform movements, was

554

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

pastor four or five years. Much of the time since, the pulpit has been occupied by Metho- dist and Baptist clergymen.

On the farm once owned by Joseph Allen, and west of the former rectory, at one time were found in considerable numbers pieces of eartheu ware, the remains of an Indian camping ground.

A very melancholy railroad accident oc- curred near this place, on the evening of May 6, 1852. A locomotive, while running backward, came in collision with a hand car containing a party of young men and ladies of this village, and three of the ladies were killed and one severely injured.

A steam grist mill and saw mill were built here by W. C. Pierrepont about 1848, and in use for a few years. Several years ago the grist mill building was removed and made into a store.

Two stores and several buildings were hurned in the fire of June 16, 1887. One of the buildings was the corner store huilt by W. C. Pierrepont at an early day. E. J. Robinson re-built on the same site.

Among the business people at Pierrepont Manor are: E. J. Robinson, general mer- chandise ; and Miss Jennie Jones, staple and fancy dry goods, wall paper, drugs, groceries and general merchandise.

MANNSVILLE.

MANNSVILLE is situated on Mannsville or Skinner creek, and is on the line of the R., W. & O. R. R., 21 miles south of Water- town. The name Skinner, as applied to the creek, is for a man of that name who re- sided near its source. At an early day the place was known as Little Sandy.

A settlement was commenced here as early as 1811 by David I. Andrus, in the interest of Col. Samuel Wardwell, of Bristol, R. I., who owned much landed property here and also at the Wardwell Settlement and South creek, now Gidding's Bridge. Mr. Andrus, originally of Connecticut, was a resident of Rome, Oneida county, as early as 1789, and there married Sally Ranney. He first came to this section in company with David Fox, about 1800, and at that time or soon after settled at what is now known as the Ward- well Settlement, acting as agent for Colonel Wardwell. Mr. Andrus built the first saw- mill at Mannsville, which stood on the site of the present Main street grist-mill; the first dwelling was also erected by him on the site of the present hotel ; he also built a house where the Shepard residence stands. Several years before the settlement was com- menced at Mannsville, Mr. Andrus had made improvements at South creek, also called Andrus Settlement, and it was there he carried on an extensive business. He died in 1831. His son George had charge of the mill property at Mannsville in 1814-15.

The first house built was afterwards made into an inn, and it is thought the name of the first landlord was Joseph C. Wood. William Earl, born in Galway, N. Y., in

1796, was a son of James Earl, who settled in Ellisburgh in 1811, purchased it of the pro- prietor, Mr. Jackson, in 1837. Mr. Earl kept the hotel about 15 years, and under his charge the place was always a favorite with the public. He died in 1880. In 1852 Daniel Stearns became proprietor of the hotel, and succeeding him have been Gard- ner Millard, Joy Brothers, Don C. Bishop, Eli James, Charles Gibeau.

As late as about 1823, Mannsville con- tained a tavern which stood on the site of the present hotel; a saw-mill and also a plank school-house, which was near the creek. There were three dwellings, one on the Philip Wheeler corner, one opposite the hotel and one at the northerly limit of the present village. The first school taught in the old red school-house on Lorraine street, was in 1826.

The present name was adopted by a vote of the citizens on the establishment of a post- office about 1825, and was named in honor of H. Barzilian Mann. Major Mann was a person of enterprise, good social qualities, and his death was much lamented. He died at Whitesboro in 1830, aged 37 years. His son, J. Preston Mann, practiced medicine at one time in Mannsville in company with Dr. Kinney, and in later years was in New York. J. Maxey, also a son of H. B. Mann, was in the mercantile business here.

Mannsville was incorporated as a village in 1879, and Allen M. Wardwell was elected president, and Leonard A. Martin, Orrin H. Balch, Everett L. Stone, trustees; B. N. Bailey, clerk.

On the night of July 29, 1885, Mannsville suffered a severe loss by fire in the business portion of the village, and included hotel, a large three story brick building, the Dis- ciples Church and three dwellings. The fire originated in the rear of Hurd's drug store. The loss was estimated at $76,000, on which there was an insurance of $46, - 000.

The Mannsville Press, a weekly publica- tion, was commenced in 1894. C. J. Bar- less is the editor.

Mannsville is a thriving village of 400 in- habitants, and its citizens have always shown a commendable public spirit. The well-kept streets and lawns are a subject of favorable comment, and its location, to- gether with its society, must continue to make it an attractive place.

The first tannery in the village was started by Daniel Goddard about 1826, at which time he settled here, coming origin- ally from Massachusetts. The building which he purchased and converted into a tannery, had been a distillery, and was pur- chased by Major H. B. Mann. Mr. God- dard continued business until 1847. In 1849 William Baldwin purchased the tannery, which was afterwards burned. Mr. Bald- win rebuilt it, making it one of the largest tanneries in the county; this also was burned about 1870. For years he carried on

555

ELLISBURGII.

an extensive business, and was a citizen of much public spirit and usefulness. The tan- nery was rebuilt by Baldwin & Douglas, and J. H. & H. E. Root became the owners in 1879.

Joel Brown was one of the early mer- chants here. James I. Steele was in the mercantile business many years, and was a prominent citizen, as were also Dexter Wilder and Melvin J. Earl. Mr. Stecle was postmaster for a long time.

William West, from Vermont, made Mannsville his residence about 1838, and started a tin-shop. He also had an ashery, and at one time had perhaps 12 teams on the road. About 1846 he removed to Adams. John Hughes was his successor in business, coming here in 1841. His business grew to be an extensive one, having at one time 16 teams in use. He is still in business, and has done much to aid the growth of the vil- lage.

THE CHURCHES.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH of Mannsville was organized in 1831. It was formed by the union of the Second Baptist Church of Ellis- burgh at Brewster Settlement, and the west- ern portion of the Lorraine Church. In 1833 this church, with the Congregationalists, erected the present house of worship. Most of the records of the society were lost at the time the store of P. E. Martin was burned. The 50th anniversary of the organization was celebrated in 1881. The membership is 150. Elder Allen was the first pastor, and Elisha Sawyer, Perley Brown and - Taylor were early pastors.

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of Ellisburgh was re-organized at Mannsville, August 18, 1833, and a church edifice built the same year, in which the Baptists had an interest. Part of the early records were lost in a fire. The first trustees were Roswell Kinney, Benj. P. Grinnell and Daniel Ward- well. Rev. Mr. Moulton was the first pastor, and Daniel Goddard the first clerk. In 1854 the society sold their interest in the church building to the Baptists, and erected a church on Railroad street, at a cost of $3,000, which was dedicated January 30, 1856. In 1871 a lecture room was added. William M. Ward- well, at the time of his decease (1881), had been clerk of the society 37 years. The semi-centennial of its organization was cele- brated July 8, 1883. The present member- ship is 102.

THE. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Was organized about 1847. In 1826, Rev. Elisha Wheeler held meetings at the house of John Clark, in the town of Lorraine, and it is thought he also preached here, at least occa- sionally, and perhaps was the first Methodist preacher here. From 1833 to 1854 the Mannsville and Ellisburgh congregations were in one charge ; for three years this was a mission, and in 1857 was made a charge by itself. A church edifice was built in 1859, and a parsonage in 1880. The present mem- bership is about 150. The name of the first

pastor was Rev. A. Fuller. The present (1894) pastor is Rev. C. E. Beebe.

THE FIRST SEVENTH DAY ADVENT CHURCH was organized in Ellisburgh in 1851. A. H. Robinson was ordained local elder. A frame church was built in Mannsville in 1859. The ministers of this denomination are Evangel- ists.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST (Disciples) was or- ganized in 1871 at Mannsville, with a mem- bership of about 70. A society had been formed as early as 1830, at Brewster Settle- ment. A frame church was built in 1872. at a cost of $2,500. The first pastor was Elder J. S. Hughes. Lucian F. Hudson was the first and only superintendent of the Sunday school. The church was burned in 1885, and the society is not continued. With the fund received from insurance other societies were helped, the Watertown Society receiving $1,000.

SECRET SOCIETIES.

Mannsville Lodge No. 175, I. O. O. F., was instituted in 1852, with officers : N. G., Sam- uel Nichols; V. G., James I. Steele; Rec. Sec., Dr. J. C. Rudd ; Treas., John V. Ben- son. The early records were burned, and the Lodge has met with losses in three fires ; April, 1862, February, 1873, and July 29, 1885. At the time of the last fire there was a small insurance. The present membership is 56.

Mannsville Tent, No. 276 Knights of the Maccabees, was organized in the spring of 1894, with a membership of 20, and R. W. Huested elected P. C.

Mannsville Grange, No. 16, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized October 23, 1873, by Luke Fulton, with 30 members. Thomas B. Shepard was elected Master, and on Janu- ary 1, 1874, was succeeded by O. S. Potter, who held the office for five years. Adelbert Schell is the present Master. The member- ship is 125. Regular meetings are held the first and third Friday in each month.

In the early history of Mannsville what is known as the old part of Maplewood ceme- tery, was given to the village by Daniel Wardwell. In 1871 the cemetery was en- larged by the addition of nearly three acres.

In 1887 Dr. William L. Wheeler, son of Philip and Roxanna Wheeler, died at his home in Newport, R. I., and was buried at his native village. His wife, Esther Gracie Lawrence, daughter of Gov. William B. Lawrence, of Rhode Island, purchased two acres adjoining the cemetery, of the Kinney estate, and built a memorial chapel for her husband, expending on chapel and grounds about $20,000. The chapel is of native stone, rough hewn. In the chapel is a beautiful work of art, a stained window by Miss Mary Tillinghast, of New York; the subject, "Christ Healing the Blind Man." One of the windows in Grace Church, New York, is by the same artist. Mrs. Wheeler was fatally injured in 1893, in Boston, by an acci- dent resulting from a runaway horse, and her

556

THE GROWTH OF A CENTURY.

remains rest in the chapel vault beside her husband's. By Mrs. Wheeler's will the chapel and grounds are given in trust of per- petuity to the trustees of the Parochial fund of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Central New York, with a fund of $10,000, the income to be expended in maintaining the chapel and grounds forever.

INDIAN RELICS .- Mrs. Thomas Loomis, of Mannsville, daughter of the late Nathaniel Clark, who settled in the town of Lorraine in 1805, says one of her brothers, born in 1807, used to speak of visiting in company with his father, an Indian encampment which was on or near the road now running from Manns- ville into that town. The Indians numbered about 200, and there was a wolf-pit near where the roads meet-the one going over the other around a hill. The Indians, with the assistance of dogs, would drive wolves into the pit.

In 1894, Mannsville contained: Four churches, one lawyer, two physicians, one dentist, one hotel, one weekly paper, three general stores, two drug and grocery stores, one bakery and grocery, two hardware and agricultural implement stores, one boot and shoe store, two millinery stores, three black- smith shops, two grist-mills, one saw-mill, one tannery, one cider and vinegar manufac- tory, one harness-shop, two carriage-shops, one sash, door and blind manufactory, one cheese manufactory, one bending works, one undertaker, two markets, one photograph gallery, one tailor, two shocmakers.

Among the prominent business people at Mannsville, arc :

Huggins & Beebe, dealers in hardware, stoves, ranges and agricultural implements.

R. W. Huested, photographer ; fine cabi- net portraits a specialty.

Andrew A. Wheeler, attorney at law and notary public.

ELLIS VILLAGE.

THIS is the oldest village in the town of Ellisburgh, located on the south branch of Big Sandy creek, about four miles above the mouth of Big Sandy. The nainc of the postoffice is Ellisburgh.

The first frame building in the village was probably erected by Lyman Ellis, and stood on the ground back of the brick store now owned by H. M. Wilds. In 1803 the house was occupied by a family named Noyes. At this time a log house, used for a tavern, stood about on the ground where the Central House stands.

Lyman Ellis, having met with severe losses in the destruction of his dam and mill property by freshets in 1797 and 1799, where he at first located, near what is now known as the Kibling place, decided to start anew three-fourths of a mile above, and on the site of the present village. He built a spar dam, a grist mill, in which he used the frame of a grist mill he had commenced below; and also

à saw mill, using the material that was left of the mill partly swept away, a second time, in 1799. The mills stood a short distance ahove what are now known as the Stone Mills ; the grist mill was in use about 1803. The mills were burned the second year of the War of 1812, and there was no insur- ance. He was strongly urged to re-build, and he did so at much expense, some of his machinery used being brought from Eng- land. He was deeply in debt, the money market was stringent, and the sum he in- vested proved almost a total loss. This was doubly severe to Mr. Ellis, following as it did a heavy loss he had sustained a few years before, having been interested with his brother, Marvel, in the purchase of the town- ship ; and in that the loss of Lyman is said to have been ahout $25,000-the sum ad- vanced by him on the first payment.

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.

The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 117

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823- Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company Number of Pages: 1098

Author: Haddock, John A., b. 1823-
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Albany, N. Y., Weed-Parsons printing company
Number of Pages: 1098