The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 122

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 122

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HENDERSON VILLAGE.

About 1807-08 a deacon of the Preshy- terian denomination, named Fellows, built a

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saw mill and a grist mill on Big Stony creek, and originated the settlement which has grown into the present prosperous village. These mills soon afterwards became the property of John Putnam, who finally dis- posed of them to Lodowick Salisbury. The latter, in 1812, made general repairs upon them. He bad, in 1811, opened the first store in the village, in which, in 1812, Low- rey Barney, a physician of long practice, was clerk. The second store in the town of Henderson was opened in 1809, about three miles south-east of Henderson village, by Williams & McCumber, and Dr. Barney also clerked for them. These men afterwards engaged in the lumber business, and at last succumbed to bad management or the short- comings of irresponsible creditors.

A short time previous to 1812 a post-office was established at Henderson Harbor, and Mark Hopkins appointed postmaster. The office after a short time was removed to Henderson village, on the resignation of the postmaster at the Harbor, and the first post- master at the village was Rev. Holland Weeks, a Swedenborgian preacher. Hen- derson Harbor has also. a post-office at the present time.

Dr. Daniel Barney, the second physician in the town of Henderson, was originally from Rhode Island. In 1794 he removed to Little Falls, Herkimer county, N. Y., and finally to Henderson in 1807. He died May 19, 1828. His son was the distinguished Dr. Lowrey Barney, noticed elsewhere.

Henderson village was long know as Salis- bury Mills, and this name is used frequently at present. It is located in the valley of Stony creek, principally on the north side of the stream.

The village of Henderson was incorporated in 1886, and has about 300 inhabitants. L. B. Simmons was the first president, who served continuously until 1894. The present officers are: O. B. Joiner, president ; E. C. Sawyer, Michael Barthel, Arthur Kilby, trustees ; A. M. Leffingwell, clerk : L. O. Hungerford, treasurer ; Dr. Olin Buell, justice. of the peace.

The school-house in district No. 8 of the village of Henderson, was erected about 1860, on a site occupied for the past 50 years. The present teachers are Virgil C. Warriner and Mrs. Adele C. Richards, with about 75 scholars.

HENDERSON GRANGE, No. 145, was organ- ized with 70 members, March 16, 1874. It was reorganized March 6, 1891. They meet in Grange Hall, in the building owned by Frank Hadcock. Willis Barrett is the pres- ent W. M.

THE I. O. G. T. was established November 26, 1890. The present officers are : Mrs. M. E. Wilkinson, C. T .; Mrs. Florence Terry, V. T .; Mrs. C. C. White, secretary. There are about 50 members. Two previous or- ganizations were formed, one in 1866 and the other about 1888, but were discontinued, after operating a short time.

PIPER PosT, No. 273, was organized in 1884, with 28 members. Frank Hadcock has been the commander during the past nine years ; C. H. Sprague, past commander. The Post was named after Col. Alexander Piper, of the 10th N. Y. Heavy Artillery.

The Ontario Cornet Band was organized in 1892, William Van Winckel, leader.

The W. C. T. U., was organized in 1888. It has about 35 members. Mrs. Hattie Lef- fingwell has been the only president.

CHURCHES OF HENDERSON.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH of Hender- son was formed June 26, 1806, at the house of Merril Danby, by Emory Wood, who officiated as pastor until September 11, 1823. The members being much scattered, the mother church was divided, December 30, 1819, the east branch at Smithville retaining the name of the first Baptist Church of Henderson. The west branch at Henderson was called

THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH of Hender- son, and was formed January 1, 1820. Noah Tubbs was appointed clerk, and Samuel Cole and Shubal Athistou, deacons; Emory Osgood, pastor. This society in 1824, in company with the Masonic fraternity, erect- ed a church, the latter using the upper room for a lodge-room. This church, which stood a little south from the village, was taken down in 1853. The membership having in- creased to 62, a society was formed from the Second Baptist Church, called

THE FIRST BAPTIST SOCIETY of Hender- son, June 5, 1822; Samuel Cole, Amasa Brown and Shubal Athiston, trustees ; Stock- well Osgood, clerk. The present church edifice, near the centre of the village, was built in 1853. The same clergymen gener- ally officiate as at Smithville. I. S. Cooper joined February 20, 1848, and was appointed church elerk, and has served in that capacity until the present time. He has been trustee since 1860, and is the only member who be- longed to the society when he joined. The present membership is about 50.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH of Smith- ville, to which we previously referred, was organized September 9, 1823. with Henry Heath, Austin Robbins and Ebenezer Sum- mers, trustees. This society, in connection with the Congregational society, erected a stone church in 1832, at Smithville, at a cost of $3,000. The present pastor is Rev. M. S. Scriber.

THE PRESBYTERIANS, about 1820, erected a small church in Henderson village, that has been for many years taken down, and they have no place of worship at present. A society was formed on the 28th of October, 1819, with Adonijah Wheaton, Ralph French and Jesse Hopkins, trustees.

THE METHODISTS first organized a society in this town, July 29, 1830, with Beebee Smith, Cyrus Hall, Amos White, Joseph J. Hatch and Calvin Bishop, trustees. The first society at the village of Henderson was

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formed April 9, 1844, with Harvey Critten- den, Amos White and Sylvanus Ward, trustees. The Methodists have two churches in town, one on Bishop street and one in the village, erected by the above societies re- spectively. The society is in a flourishing condition, with a fair membership. The pastor is Rev. Harvey Casler, who conducts services every Sunday at Bishop Street.

SMITHVILLE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH was formed January 3, 1824, by Rev. Abel L. Crandall, with 32 members. The church was dissolved March 13, 1834, to unite with the St. Lawrence Presbytery on the accom- modation plan. Rev. Messrs. J. Ingersoll, D. Spear, L. A. Sawyer, J. Covert, A. Put- nam, H. Doane, George J. King, Charles Halsey, L. M. Shepard, George Turner and Henry Budge have since been employed mostly one-half of the time, the remainder being at North Adams. In 1829 the church joined the Black River Association, and has since so remained. Meetings were held at a school-house, built with a view of holding meetings, until the present church was built.

THE CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY of Smith- ville, was formed September 16, 1823, having William Gilbert, Joseph T. French and Daniel McNeil, trustees, who united with the Baptists in erecting a church, as above stated.

THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY of Henderson, was formed January 13, 1823, with John S. Porter, Roswell Davis and Amasa Hungerford, trustees. The Hender- son Universalist Charitable Society was formed February 5, 1819, of 13 members. In 1839 a church 40 by 60 feet was erected in the village, at a cost of $3,000, and dedicated December 25, 1839. On March 9, 1822, a church organization was effected by Rev. Pitt Morse, of 19 members. The present pastor is Rev. Arthur Roberts, who was or- dained in October, 1894.

SWEDENBORGIAN .- December 25, 1825, a society of the New Jerusalem was formed in Ellisburgh, at Brewster's school-house, of 13 members, in that town and Henderson, but mostly in the latter. Rev. Holland Weekes, formerly a Congregational minister, of Abington, Mass, was the promulgator of these doctrines in town, and preached gratui- tously for many years. The meetings of the new church were kept up regularly by him at the school-house in Henderson village till near his death, July 24, 1843, at the age of 75 years. The greatest number of members was between 30 and 40.

Sr. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, at Henderson Harhor, was dedicated September 5, 1889. The parish has a nice little church, but no services at present.

ROBERTS CORNERS.

This is a small settlement at the junction of the roads leading to Belleville and Hender- son, which there cross at right angles. It was named after one Robert Roberts, who

kept the hotel at the Corners about 1840, and owned and speculated in land in that section. It was formerly named Spencer's, from a family of that name, who were also extensive land owners. It has a well-conducted school, and a comfortable school building, surrounded by a grove of evergreen trees. A former school building stood on the corner of the lot owned by Abel Bickford, and now forms a part of his present residence.

The cheese factory at Roberts Corners is called the Cold Spring Factory, and is owned by the Mather Bros., Orrin Graves, maker. They make hutter and cheese.

The cemetery at Roberts Corners is called Evergreen cemetery. The officers of the as- sociation are: Harvey Smith, president ; George Mather, secretary, and nine trustees.

There are other cemeteries in the town, one at the village of Henderson, which contains some very old head-stones, and not used at the present time ; one on Bishop street, and one near Six-Town point.

The business of the village of Henderson is as follows:

Mrs. H. D. Geeson, postmistress.

Payson F. Thompson, dry goods, boots and shoes ; also telephone office.

The Hough Sisters, millinery.

Hungerford & Barthel, general store.

Charles D. Irwin, harness maker.

F. M. Kilby, drugs, general merchandise.

F. A. Kilby, shoe maker.

Frank Hadcock, proprietor of Eureka grist-mill.

David Hunter, blacksmith.

Dr. W. G. Terry, physician and surgeon.

Edward Everson, meat market.

M. C. McKee, blacksmith.

E. C. Sawyer, general merchandise.

Ira Ives, boot and shoe store.

W. H. Cross, blacksmith.

A. N. Leffiingwell, attorney and counsellor. The Windsor House, S. E. & J. D. Wheeler, proprietors.

Dr. O. F. Buell, physician and surgeon.

W. E. Boyce, druggist and jeweller.

The Phelps House, H. H. Gill, proprietor. The Henderson cheese factory, established in 1864, Emory Fales, proprietor; Benjamin Worthingham, maker.

Daniel B. Nugent, physician and surgeon.

ELLE HART JOINER was born in Massachu- setts, October 15, 1798, and came to Hender- son when but two years of age. He was a shoemaker by trade. He married Mahala Cheever. Their son, Oscar B., is one of the five children now living, and was born in 1832. He has been a sailor on the lakes for 35 seasons, and has commanded a dozen different vessels. He is now the president of Henderson village, and a trustee in the Universalist Church. Mrs. Joiner is promi- nent in the church work. Elle Hart Joiner died January 2, 1881, another of those hardy men who bore a full part in making history by preparing the way for those who follow.

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HENDERSON.

DR. OLIN F. BUELL

WAS born in Fairfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y., May 5, 1847, and moved to Sandy Creek, with his parents, in March, 1849. He re- ceived a common school education in Sandy Creek, and an academic education at Falley Seminary, Fulton, New York. He studied medicine with Dr. J. L. Buckley and S. J. Crockett, at Sandy Creek, and completed his collegiate course at the Medical Department of the University of the City of New York. He was married to Olive C. Harris, at Sandy Creek, December 17, 1867. They have one daughter, Helen, who married Merton M. Stevens, who has one son, Olin W. Stevens. Dr. Buell moved to Belleville in March, 1875, and taught anatomy, hygiene, chemistry and physiology in Union Academy. He came to Henderson, August 17, 1875, and commenced

the practice of his profession. His ancestors came into this country from England in 1630. He has served two terms as village police justice and is now civil justice. In August, 1894, he was elected president of the Cres- cent Club of Good Templars for southern Jefferson county.

Dr. Buell is what may be termed a self- made man-one who has come to the front unaided by any special favors or influence from outside parties. He has depended upon himself, and by patient perseverance and a large measure of good nature, and a sincere desire to please, he has secured a good prac- tice, and retains the friendliness and respect of all with whom he is brought in contact. The reader will note the resemblance between Dr. Buell and Rev. Dr. Haddock, (see p. 15).

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

JOHN WALLACE, father of Russell Wal- lace, was born in 1877, in Massachusetts. Anna Nevena, his wife, was born in New Hampshire. They were married in 1796, came to New York State in 1806, and set- tled in the woods, two miles back of Hen- derson village. Like all new settlers, they endured many privations. He was called out in the War of 1812. His wife was energetic and industrious ; she conquered difficulties and encouraged her husband when despon- dent, and was the mother of 14 children, 11 of whom lived to he men and women.

HON. DAVID MONTAGUE, son of Adonijah Montague, was horn July 7, 1795, in Powlet, Vermont. He came to Henderson, N. Y., with his parents when quite young, and he- came one of the most noted and successful teachers in Northern New York. He taught school nearly 40 years and held the office of supervisor of the town a number of years ; he was also county superintendent of the poor and superintendent of common schools. In 1861 he was elected a Member of the As- sembly. His declining years were spent at his home in Henderson village. He died in 1880. He was married three times ; first, to Elizabeth Hungerford, January 26, 1821; to Mary Phelps, December 4, 1834, and to Jane Damon, May 20, 1848.

SENATOR CUSHMAN K. DAVIS, of Minne- sota, wasthe son of Horatio N. and Clarissa Cushman Davis. He was born in Henderson, Jefferson county, N. Y., June 16, 1838, in the farm-house now occupied by his uncle, Wm. Pitt Davis, the farm having been con- tinuously in possession of the family since 1808. Shortly after Senator Davis' birth, in 1838, his parents removed to Waukesha, in the then territory of Wisconsin. His paternal grandfather was Russell Davis, who came into Jefferson county from Vermont in 1807, and his maternal grandfather was Peter N. Cushman, who came to Henderson from Ver- mont about the same time. Mrs. Cushman was a sister of the late Spencer Kellogg, of Utica, N. Y., from whom the Senator takes his middle name. The first three years of Mr Davis' collegiate education was obtained at Caroll College, and the final year at the University of Michigan, where he was grad- uated in 1857. He studied law with Alex. W. Randall, the now Governor of Wiscon- sin, and was admitted to the har in 1859. He volunteered in the 28th Wisconsin Infantry, in 1862. After his discharge he went to Minnesota and settled in St. Paul, engaging in the practice of his profession. He was a member of the Legislature of that State in 1867. Was United States District Attorney in 1867-73. Was Governor of the State in 1874-75, and was elected to the United States Senate in 1887, and re-elected in 1893.

ROSWELL DAVIS might he numbered among the early permanent settlers of Henderson, having moved about the year 1811 from Lun-

enburg, Vt., with his wife and two children, and purchased a farm in Bishop street, owned and occupied by his youngest son, W. P. Davis. Ahout the year 1840 he became the owner of the Putnam farm, upon which the first town-meeting was held in 1806. Dur- ing the War of 1812 he was frequently called out to defend our lines, and was at the hat- tles of Sackets Harbor and Sandy Creek, and assisted in carrying the great cable from Sandy Creek to Sackets Harbor.

T. O. WHITNEY was married to Martha Wood, in Ellisburgh, March 12, 1840, and commenced house-keeping in Henderson, April 10, of the. same year, where they lived until his death, and where his widow still resides. Mr. Whitney held the office of as- sistant revenue assessor from 1863 to 1867, and was supervisor of the town in 1863.

GEORGE W. COLLINS was the only son of John Collins, one of the earliest pioneers of the town of Watertown, where the object of this sketch was born July 11, 1822. He re- ceived a limited education at the district schools of his native town. At the age of 21 he commenced life for himself, having previously lived with and assisted his father on the homestead farm, which he afterwards worked himself. In 1843, he married Fanny Stewart, daughter of William Stewart, Esq., an old and prominent citizen of Fulton county, N. Y. Five children were born to them. In 1865 Mr. Collins removed to the town of Henderson and purchased the farm known as the A. C. Clark place. It contains 250 acres, and is kept in a fine state of culti- vation.

A. D. STANLEY was born in the town of Rutland, this county (whither his father re- moved in 1810), July 5, 1818. In the year 1823 he removed with his father to the farm now occupied by O. M. Stanley. Mr. Stan- ley married Miss May, daughter of Jonas Benjamin, an early settler of Houndsfield. Three children were born to them. The father of Mr. Stanley was a minute-man in a cavalry regiment in the War of 1812, and was stationed at Sackets Harhor during the trouble there. In politics the old gentleman was a Whig. He owns 400 acres of land in one body ; is a straightforward, honest, husi- ness man, and a good citizen.

ABEL BICKFORD, son of Levi and Esther Bickford, was born at Lowville, Lewis Co., N. Y., September 30, 1811. His father, a native of New Hampshire, was born in 1774, and emigrated to Lowville, in 1801. His mother was a native of Rhode Island, and was an early pioneer of Lewis county. They were married ahout 1803, and became the parents of eight children, all of whom grew to maturity. Levi was a farmer by occupa- tion, and reared his family in the same pur; suit. He died December, 1830 Mrs. L. Bickford lived to be 78 years of age. Abel Bickford, the subject of our sketch, was the

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fourth child, and was rearcd to industry and economy. At the age of 16 he commenced working out by the month. He was married to Miss Betsey Lewis, of Harrisburg, Lewis county, in 1838. He is to-day one of the substantial and wealthy men of Henderson. In May, 1871, he settled in that town, where he is now living. In politics, Mr. Bickford is a Republican, and in his native county held various positions of trust and honor. His wife was a worthy member of the Baptist church, a faithful wife and an affectionate mother. She died September 10, 1875. His youngest son, Chauncey, is a teacher in New York city, and Miss Jane keeps house for her father. Mr. Bickford is a cousin of Hon Marcus Bickford, of Carthage, whose bi- ography will be found on page 314.

SIMEON MATHER was reared upon a farm, has made farming his life study, and has met with success. He has been president of the Agricultural Society of this town and county. He was married to Miss Mary E. Green, daughter of Col. Henry Green, of Ellisbnrgh, June 3, 1847.

JOEL DODGE was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., February 12, 1817, and is one of 10 children. He was reared on a farm, and has followed it ever since. On March 3, 1842, he married Miss Sarah Adams, of Otsego county, N. Y. Four children were born to them. On May 1, 1843, Mr. Dodge came to Henderson and settled on the farm now owned by James Dodge. In 1870 he moved to the farm he now owns.

DR. LOWREY BARNEY was born in the town of Coventry, Rhode Island, in the year 1793. His father, Doctor Daniel Barney, emigrated to Herkimer in 1794; thence to Rutland. Jefferson county ; thence to Adams village, 1803, and from there to Henderson in 1807, where Dr. Barney lived and practiced medicine until his death, in December, 1884. He commenced the study of medicine under the instruction of his father in the year 1810, or when he was 16 years of age, riding about the country with his father, noting the symptoms of disease, and often giving his opinion of treatment. The country being then new and nearly covered with forests, they often found their way (on horseback) from one settlement to another through In- dian paths and by use of marked trees. In 1821 he married Almira Spencer, who died in 1838, leaving him four children. In 1844 he married Pamelia Farrell, by whom he had three children, one of whom survives.

Dr Lowrey Barney had diplomas from three medical colleges; one from Fairfield, Herkimer county, Medical College, dated 1823, receiving his diploma from this college. After his third year he returned for another year of instruction. It was amusing and pathetic, the stories that Dr. Barney would relate of the hardships some of his fellow students endured in order to obtain an educa- tion-one young man walking from his home every Monday morning with a loaf of ginger bread under one arm and a jug of molasses

under the other. Another diploma is from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, and one from the Medical College at Castleton, Vermont.

Dr. Barney was at one time president of a medical institute in New York city. He served his district as Member of Assembly in the year 1836.

He loved his profession and was always a student, and although lame from his youth, was a busy and active man, leaving a mem- ory especially sweet and grateful in the region where he practiced so many years. He was an unusually skillful practitioner, and a man of enlarged experiences.

REUBEN WOOD LEFFINGWELL was born near Woodville, in the town of Ellisburgh, Jefferson county, N. Y., December 7, 1805 His father, Hezekiah Leffingwell, Jr., was born in Connecticut, March 6, .1777, and came to Ellisburgh about 1800, from Middle- ton, Vt., with his wife, Miriam Wood, to whom he was married November 18, 1800. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and, later in life, a believer in the doctrines of Swedenborg. He died in 1866, surviving his wife about 30 years. His father, Heze- kiah, Sr., was a native of Connecticut, and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. R. W. Leffingwell, thesubject proper of this sketch, was married to Sarah Carpenter, at Guilford, Vt., June 5, 1831. He brought his wife to Ellisburgh, and subsequently to the farm where they now reside. Mr. Leffingwell has devoted his time and energies exclusively to agricultural and dairying pursuits. About 1860 he was elected president of the Ellis- burgh, Adams and Henderson Agricultural Society. He received the first premium on dairy products from the Jefferson County Agricultural Society, about 1860. He has been eminently successful in his operations, his dealings always being characterized by honest and upright motives. He died in 1888 and his wife in 1884, aged 75 years.

A M. LEFFINGWELL, son of the above, was born in the town of Henderson, Septem- ber 26, 1842. He received his education at the district-school and Union Academy, from which he graduated in 1866. The following year he entered the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, graduating from the law depart -. ment in 1871. He was admitted to the Michigan bar, and subsequently to the bar of New York and Brooklyn. In 1874 he em- barked in the milling business at Henderson, and in the practice of his profession. He has been justice of the peace and held other minor offices in the town. For three years he has been County Chief Templar, and is one of the board of managers of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. He mar- ried Miss Hattie Cook in 1870, which union has been blessed with two children.

EATON ALEXANDER was born in Hender- son in 1811, and was reared upon a farm. He married Dolly, daughter of James and Bar- bara (Ireland) Wood, in 1835, and they have

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two sons, viz: Epenetus, born in 1836, and La Fayette, born in 1841. Epenetus married Helen S., daughter of Lucius and Lucy Anu (Babcock) Barrett, March 3, 1858, and they have a son, Eaton T., born in 1864. Mr. Alexander and son are prosperous farmers.

WILLIAM PITT DAVIS was born in Hender- son in 1826. In 1849 he went to California, via Isthmus, and remained in the gold mines a little more than a year. He returned to Henderson, and subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits at Smithville. He mar- ried Emma E., daughter of Harvey and Sarah (Bell) Smith, in 1856. She died Sep- tember 12, 1881.

CAPT. BURTON PENNEY was born March 28, 1828. At the age of 15 he shipped as cook on board the schooner Dexter. He worked on sailing vessels until 1851, and until 1861 was engaged on steam crafts. In 1861 he became master of the passenger steamer Buffalo, and later was master of the passenger boat Idaho. He continued on the lakes about 40 years, without loss or damage to his company. He married Mary F., daughter of Captain Clark and Emeline (Youngs) Stevens, in 1854. Mr. Penney is now engaged in farming in Henderson.

ALBERT G. LAWRENCE was born in Henderson in 1832, learned the carpenter's trade, taught school many terms, and has been justice of the peace and census marshal. In August, '1862, he enlisted in Company E, 10th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and served to the close of the war. He married Sarah, daughter of Clark and Emeline (Youngs) Stevens, December 30, 1856, and they have had four children, viz: Milton C., born in 1858; Mary Louise, born in 1862, who mar- ried Wallace G. Rogers in 1887, and their children are: M. Bessie, Clifton, who died in infancy ; and Carl A. Rogers. Mr. Law- rence resides in Henderson village.

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 122

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