The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 143

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 143

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The State road was laid out where now located about 1805, previous to which it diverged from the present line from Samuel Frink's farm southwesterly, coming out at J. F. Treadway's residence. One of the old- est landmarks in town is a frame house, un- doubtedly the second erected in the town, built by Solomon Tuttle about 1803. The house could be seen in 1880, on the farm of Mason Spaulding.

Joseph Russell, the oldest inhabitant of the town, was born at Brimfield, Connecticut, in 1781, came to Rutland on a tour of inspec- tion in 1800, and removed permanently in 1802, locating at the forks of the road at what is now Mr. Stebbins' farm. He died about 1880.

Peter Thompson, another citizen of the town, was born at Sterling, Worcester county, Mass., in 1782, and came to the town of Rutland in March, 1816. Mr. Thompson was seven years old when George Washing- ton was inaugurated President, and remem- bered distinctly that event, and also the in-

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auguration of Adams and Jefferson. In 1806 he visited the battle-grounds of the Revolu- tion, viz : Lexington, Bunker Hill and Ben- nington. His father, Samuel Thompson, was a soldier through the entire period of the Revolution. His wife and four children moved into this town with him. He died about 1879.

The pioneers of Rutland, as well as of most of the towns, were from the New Eng- land States, and were unusually intelligent, robust and industrious. They were distin- guished for their sound common sense, their love of independence and of justice, and the early interest they took in education. Most of them reached here with scarcely enough of the world's goods to make them comfort- able. Their peculiaritles might be illustrat- ed by many an anecdote, but we will let tbe occasion pass.

THE CHURCHES OF RUTLAND.

The subject of religion received early at- tention from the citizens of Rutland. The first record we have in relation to religious matters is of a visit to the settlements in Jef- ferson county by the Rev. James W. Wood- ward, in 1802.

The Baptists appear to have been the pioneers in organization. As early as 1806, the Rev. Mr. Maltby held services in both North and South Rutland, and a great re- vival was the result of his labors. It is pre- sumed that societies, if not organized before, were then organized. Meetings continued to be held in both parts of the town. They were held, for North Rutland, in Charles Fuller's barn.

A church was built near Deacon Fuller's on David Vebber's land, in 1821. Martin E. Cook was the first preacher in the new church. Some of those who preceded him in town were Elders Wilkie, Morgan and Card. Elder Palmer Cross preached in the church several years. In 1837 the North Rutland Church was re-organized. By a vote of the society, in 1842, the church was removed to the Great Bend in Champion.

The successors of Elder Cross were Elders Gardis Lyttle, A. D. Freeman and John Wilder. The Baptist Society of South Rut- las re-organized in 1833, James Brown, Stephen Brainard and Milo Maltby, trustees. This society, in concert with the Methodists and Universalits, in 1847 erected a Union Church, the only one up to that time in Tyler- ville, when they built their present edifice, at a cost of about $5,000, and transferred their interest in the Union house to the other two societies. The new Baptist church was erected in the summer of 1869, and dedicated in July, 1873; the dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. L. E. Spafford. It is built of wood ; is a neat and substantial building, and will comfortably seat 350 persons. The lot was donated by Arnold Webb, and is a part of the Webb homestead.

A Baptist Church was formed at Black River (Lockport) in 1837, and the next year

joined the association and reported 39 mem- bers. It never had a meeting house, and long since ceased to report.

At what time the first Methodist Episcopal organization took place is uncertain. Itiner- ant preachers visited the town at a very early date. From 1804 to 1815, the whole county was included in Black River circuit. Among the early preachers were Datus Ensign, Luther Bishop. Joseph Willis, Isaac Puffer and Goodwin Stoddard.

There exists no mention of preaching at Felts Mills until 1842, when N. R. Peck and W. W. Wood were the preachers. The church edifice was commenced in 1844, and built as a Union Church ; but in 1871 the property was found to be illegally conveyed, when it was re-convey ed to a board of trustees of the M. E. Church, and it has thus become a Methodist Church, with only a conditional lien upon a limited use of it by other societies.

The first class organized in Rutland was in Rutland Hollow. Another at the Cotes school house, on the farm of E. Crain, was organized about 1824-26.

The 1st M. E. Church in Rutland was built in Rutland Hollow, about 1820.

UNION CHURCH .- The church at Felts Mills is a Union Church. It was organized March 6, 1849. The following were the board of trustees : Wm. Roberts, Wm. Usher, Josiah Drake, Jacob R. Howard, Oliver A. Felt and Orlin Wheelock. Present hoard are : A. A. French, Henry Bawler, William H. Mooney, C. H. Carpenter, W. S. Rodgers and Alex. Fairfield,

THE M. E. CHURCH at Felts Mills is the only denomination holding regular service in the village, and is still a part of the Black River charge. Rev. Matthew Dowd was ap- pointed to this part of the charge in 1894. The expectation is that next year it will be organized as a separate charge.

THE 1ST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Was organized January 12, 1808, by the Rev. Wm. Lathrop, a missionary from Vermont. It con- sists of 10 members, viz : David Tyler, Amos Mallory, Thomas Converse, Timothy Tamb- lin and wife, Samuel Porter and wife and Wm. Parkinson and wife. Amos Mallory and David Tyler were afterwards chosen deacons. It may be mentioned as indicative of the strict Puritanism of the early fathers of this church, that Amos Mallory was objected to for the office of deacon on account of not having a wife, a deficiency which is contrary to the letter of the law; we are not informed whether the fathers of the church or the maiden ladies of the congregation raised the objection.

THE "FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF RUT- LAND" was founded February 8. 1808, and Ethel Bronson, Timothy Tamblin, John Reed, Thomas Converse. Ebenezer Hay ward were elected trustees. On the 20th of Janu- ary, 1824, the church united with the Pres- bytery. The first church south of the State road was erected opposite the residence of Henry T. Hopkins in 1819. It was removed

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and re-built some years since on the four corners about half a mile west of its former site. The brother of Dr. Isaac Bronson, then residing in New York city, gave the site, and also the site for a parsonage.

UNIVERSALIST SOCIETIES have been or- ganized at Tylerville, Felts Mills and Black River.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST OR DISCIPLES held meetings at Felts Mills in 1875, the Rev. Mr. Benedict officiating. A society was soon founded, including Black River. At the latter place a small chapel was erected in 1871.

The first two camp meetings held in the town were on the Kellogg farm, then owned by Stutley Wicks, probably about 1811 and 1812. About 1830 a camp meeting was held in Rutland Hollow, near the Watertown line, and several others have been held in the town, and there is a fine ground in LeRay, opposite Felts Mills.

SCHOOLS.

Dr. Hough gives the name of Miss A. Porter, as the first teacher. Soon after, a school-house was built on the Hollow road, a short distance west of the Four Corners, north of D. E. Crain's. Miss Naomi Blackmer was the first, or one of the first teachers. This house was used but a short time, as many of the settlers lived at too great a distance from it. In its place one house was erected farther west in the Hollow, and another near the site of the late M. L. Graves' house. As the wants of the people required, other houses were erected.

In these rude structures the children of the pioneers of Rutland received the rudiments of education. These children, or those who survive of them, are the silver-headed men and women of to-day, and of the past 10 to 20 years.

In those days no aid was received from the State in support of schools, hut in the winter of 1812-13 a law was passed establishing a school-fund, and appropriating the interest to the support of common-schools. At the annual town meeting, March 2, 1813, the fol- lowing resolutions were passed :

Resolved, That the supervisors be author- ized to levy a school tax according to the law in regard to the school-fund.

Resolved, That Ethel Brown, Judah Wil- liams and Amos Stebbins be a committee to superintend moneys for the use of schools and transact the business as the law requires.

The original school districts, except some slight changes in their boundaries, remain to this day.

Until the establishment of free schools, it was the invariable practice to vote to raise twice the amount received from the State.

Among the teachers werc Curtis Mallory, Jacob Fuller, Zelotes Harvey, Hou. Charles Dayan and Hon. Jason Clark, and at a later date Horatio Sherman, Gardner Towne, A. P. Sigourney, John M. Dunlap, John Felt and the Misses Cornelia Johnson and Adaline

M. Brown; and we may also mention Elijah Graves, who had been engaged in teaching most of the time since 1833 until his death.

We would not undervalue the merits of many others, but to Horatio Sherman and Gardner Towne, especially, the people of Rutland owe a debt of gratitude for the deep interest they took in education. As teachers, their example, and as inspectors of common-schools, the thoroughness of their inspection, and the energy which they in- fused into teachers, gave an impetus which caused the town to assume and maintain the first rank in the county in the quality and efficiency of its schools.

SUPERVISORS.

The list of supervisors from the organiza- tion of the town to the present comprises the following names : 1803, David Coffeen ; 1804 and 1805, Clift French ; 1806, Ethel Bronson (failed to qualify, and Perley Keyes ap- pointed); 1807, Zelotes Harvey ; 1808, Hugh Henderson (at a special meeting in April, Ethel Bronson to fill vacancy); 1809-13, Ju- dah Williams (in July, 1813, Jonathan Smiley to fill vacancy); 1814-20, Jonathan Smiley ; 1821-23, Ethel Bronson ; 1824-26, Amos Stebbins ; 1827-35, Joseph Graves ; 1836, John Felt ; 1837-40, George White; 1841-42, Aaron W. Potter; 1843, Joseph Graves : 1844, David Howland ; 1845, Gard- ner Towne; 1846-47, Merril Coburn; 1848 and 1849, Asa Clark, Jr. ; 1850-52, Martin L. Graves ; 1853, John Sherman. For complete list from 1854 to 1894, see pp. 337-344.

TOWN OFFICERS.

The officers of the town of Rutland are as follows : Herman Allen, supervisor ; C. J. Sweet, town clerk ; Philip Feistel, collector; Josiah Burrington, Edward S. Pool and Jas. H. Cook, assessors; D. W. Hamlin, C. W. Cramer and C. M. Woodward, highway com- missioners ; A. C. Middleton, A. H. Tucker, A. E. Payne and B. J. Smith, justices of the peace.

TYLERVILLE.

Mr. R. A. Oakes has contributed the fol- lowing to our Histoy. As he was a native of Tylerville, and an accurate and graceful writer, his communication will be read with interest :

Without exception the pioneers of Jeffer- son county are sleeping beneath the sod their axcs laid barc to the sun and rain. And not they, but nearly all of their immediate descendants have joined them in that unseen country, whenee no traveler returns. Here and there a few survive, last leaves on the tree, and to their halting memories has been committed the history of the first years of the county. That this history can never be written goes without saying. Its data has turned to dust with the memories in which it was enshrined. Mr. Hough did much to pre- serve this history, but the field was vast and virgin, and his time was limited. His history

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was published 40 years ago, and those whom he might have reached are now beyond the pencil of the reporter, and the story of Tyler- ville's early and prosperous business career can only be partially surmised. But one man is living who knew it in its teens, and to him I am indebted for most of the facts prior to 1840 contained in this paper. Washington Beecher was born in Tylerville in 1810. His 81 years have been spent in that village. But few octogenarians can look back through their eight decades and find no act for which they have occasion to blush, and Mr. Beecher is one of these. A devoted husband, a kind father, a good neighbor and an honest man.

As early as 1802, outlaying farms near the village were taken up, Joseph Russell at that date having moved to the Stebbins farm. Two years later John Beecher and Samuel Porter took up adjoining farms, and a high- way, long since abandoned, ran from the Beecher house along the plateau, striking the highway near Creamer's. In 1840, Captain Josiah Tyler and his brother emigrated from Middlebury, Conn. With the Tylers came Erastus Lathrop, who, in 1805, built the first grist-mill on the south bank of the creek. In 1815 be sold the mill to Webb & Smiley, who, in 1825, found a purchaser for it in Fred Tyler. Under his ownership the plant was moved across the creek into a new stone building. Tyler in 1836 sold the mill to Simeon Oakes, and its subsequent sale was contracted for, first, by Elijah Holmes, and then by a Mr. Wilcox, and finally, in 1845, by N. Wadsworth, who a few years later tore it down and erected the present mill.

Stiles Thompson, grandfather to our grocer, E. H. Thompson, was one of the later settlers, coming in the twenties from Con- necticut, and bringing with him a negress, who had been a slave in the family of his wife. Fred Tyler came about 1816, purchas- ing the estate of Captain Josiah Tyler, who moved to the farm now occupied by Volney Olney, where his grand-daughter, the wife of the Rev. J. Winslow, was born. David Hecox came in 1802. He was an exception- ally bright man. John Stebbins came in 1806, Noah Seaman in 1813, Eli Kellogg in 1822, Hezekah Smith in 1834. Henry Cramer came in 1835. In 1836 Simeon Oakes moved from Montgomery county to the village, having purchased the business of Fred Tyler. and until his death, in 1862, as farmer, landlord, merchant, miller, manufacturer of potash and dealer in live stock, leading an active life. He died much respected.

Of many of the descendants of these early pioneers, Tylerville may justly feel proud. Among these are Bloss, the distinguished Chicago editor ; Rev. Jedediah Winslow, Rev. W. P. Payne, and his accomplished wife, the former once editing a paper in Ne- vada, Iowa; Judge Allen C. Adsit. of the Michigan Supreme Court ; Byron D. Adsit, the popular writer of detective stories; Hon. John Beach Perham, of the Michigan legisla- ture; Hon. R. K. Shaw, a leading attorney

in Mariette, Ohio ; the late Misses Emily and Ellen Webb, both writers ; Miss Nellie Cramer, the most charming native writer of poetry the county has produced; Prof. F. A. Walker, a successful educator, and Miss Adele Field, who as a writer, scientist and missionary, has a national reputation.

The first store was kept by Josiah Tyler. He was succeeded by Fred Tyler, who at different times was associated with his son, Fred, Jr., and Daniel Budlong, his son-in- law. Among his successors was John McQue and Grennell & Lacy. Fred Tyler built the store now owned by J. W. Beecher. About 1840 Apollos Stephens, of Copenhagen, opened a branch in this building, under the charge of Zenas Shaw, who finally purchased the stock; two years later Simeon Oakes pur- chased an interest in the business, and the firm became Z. Shaw & Co. This firm was suc- ceeded by S. Oakes & Son, O S. Oakes, Cob- leigh & Lawton, J. M. and J. Cobleigh, Herrick & Wheelock, and W. Wheeiock, who moved the stock to Felts Mills.

The store now owned by the Grange was built in 1847, by Dr. Thaddeus Stevens. Its first occupant was W. Van O'Linda, the firm for a time being Van O'Linda & Morrow, but the stock after a few months was pur- chased by O. S. Oakes. Some time in the twenties Henry Warner built the store now used for a dwelling by Amos Jones, and for years conducted a successful business. In 1831 the firm became Warren & Winslow, the later being a brother of the Rev. J. Winslow, who, a lad just entering his teens, worked for the firm several years. This firm opened a new ashery on the bank of the creek, back of the residence of Mrs. L. A. Walker, the site of whose house being occu- pied by a distillery, where immense quanti- ties of corn were converted into whisky, and some 60 porkers yearly fattened.

Higher up the creek, where it is spanncd by the bridge, was another ashery, built by Fred Tyler and run by him and Simeon Oakes and those who succeeded him in busi- ness until 1852, when the manufacture of potash in the village was abandoned. It was in this ashery that a Mr. Sweet was burned to death, having fallen into the cooling kettle when filled with liquid potash.

About 1811 a company was formed for the purpose of carding wool and dressing cloth, and to establish the plant money was borrowed from the State, for which mort- gages on several farms were given. A little later a woolen mill, with $25,000, was started. The facts regarding these enter- prises are easily to be obtained, and do not require repetition here, beyond the mention of the employment of Alvin Hunt, then a young man in the works. He boarded in the family of John Beecher, who had left his farm to engage in the manufacture of wool- ens. Hunt married a daughter of the family, and later removed to Watertown, where for a quarter of a century he wielded a trenchant editorial pen.

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When the carding and fulling mill ceased to be operated by a stock company, it passed into the hands of Calvin Blackstone, who had married the widow of Daniel Budlong, and who in turn sold it to Zalmon Roberts.

The first distillery was erected about 1810, on the small stream that empties into the crevasse opposite the grave yard. Mr. Beecher remembers going to this still for whisky to be used in refreshing the minister in his parochial calls.

About the same date a building was erect- ed as a hat manufactory, and used later as a cooper shop by Giles Doud, Sr., who manu- factured and delivered at LeRaysville, pow- der kegs at 25 cents a keg, where LeRay was engaged in the manufacture of powder.

The postoffice was established in 1820, Calvin Chipman, P. M. Previous to that date the nearest postoffice was at Rutland Centre. The first mail was carried twice a week on horseback from Martinsburg to Adams. Early in the thirties, and for a single season, a Concord coach and four used to make a grand daily entry into the village with the tooting of the driver's horn.

HOTEL.

The first framed house was built in 1808 by Captain Josiah Tyler, and was used by him as a dwelling until purchased by Fred Tyler. In 1819 the latter built the present hotel in front of this dwelling. which was converted into a kitchen, and is still used for that purpose. The hotel was of typical New England architecture, two stories in front and tapering in the rear, so that a man could touch the eaves. It was painted red. The ball room occupied the entire upper front, and, when not used for dances and shows, was made into guest rooms by folding doors. Country dances in those days commenced at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and continued until the next morning.

The first resident physician was Dr. Aaron S. Porter, in 1836. He was a man of excep- tional abilities, and his early death, 10 years later, was a serious blow to the prosperity of the village. Sir Arthur Goldsmeed, formerly a colonel in the British army, married a sister of Dr. Porter, and was a frequent visitor at Tylerville. He was an inveterate smoker of cigarettes, which he manufactured as he wanted them. My first shock in ortho- doxy was received from his remarks, that he had walked dry shod across the Red Sea, where Prahaoh and his hosts were supposed to have been submerged.

CHURCHES.

The pioneers were a devout people, and in 1806 a religious revival was held by Elder Maltby, a Baptist clergyman. He organized the first Baptist society in Tylerville, in 1809, About 1813 Elder Morgan took charge of the meetings, which were held in the school house, and continued to minister to the flock until some time in the thirties. In 1833 the church was re-organized, with James Brown,

Stephen Brainard and Milo Maltby, trustees. In 1832 Elder Knapp conducted a revival at Tylerville. In one of his sermons, inveigh- ing against feminine passion for personal adornment, he said that in his audience there were enough corset boards to shingle a hen house.

The present Union Church was built in 1838. It was erected by the Baptists, who owned one-half, and the Methodists and Uni- versalists, who each owned one-quarter of the plant, and was occupied by them in pro- portion to their ownership. In 1871 it was thoroughly repaired, the Baptists having withdrawn their interest and erected a new structure. The first resident Methodist clergyman was Rev. B. S. Wright, in 1844.

THE CEMETERY .- About the year 1811, the present cemetery was purchased of Mr. Lathrop. Previous to this date interments were made at the south foot of the knoll on which stands the residence of George W. Smith, and two or three graves still remain there. Lathrop failed to give a deed of the lot, and it was included in the boundaries of lands sold by him to Fred Tyler, who refused to recognize the Lathrop transaction, and was proceeding to put his plow into the lot, when it was again purchased and a deed given in the name of Henry Warren and Am- brose Miller. Mr. Warren built a board fence around the yard in 1821, which was renewed some 25 years later, and which, in turn, has recently given place to one of wire, the red cedar posts of the first structure, after being in service 70 years, being intact.

SCHOOL-HOUSES .- The first school-house was built of logs, and was erected on the top of the Cramer hill, east of the familiar land- mark, the old birch. At that time the high- way ran between the Webb and Oakes farms, some 30 rods west of the present road. In 1809 a brick school-house was erected. Among its teachers were Dr. Woodman, 1815; Elder Danielson, David Smiley, 1820; Ora C. Bloss, 1831 ; Orlin C. Woodruff, Lu- cius Wright, Clark Adams, 1838 ; and Miss Cerene Barney. In 1838 Simeon Oakes, as trustee, built the red school-house a few rods to the northeast of the brick building, and fronting on the present highway. Its first teacher was Henry Knox. He was followed by the late Gilbert S. Woolworth. James A. Paris and John Sheldon were both wielders of the birch in this house in the forties. In 1858 the present house was erected. For several years Reuben G. Webb taught a most successful select school. pupils coming from a distance to avail themselves of his in- struction. Among them was the well-known Jacob Stears, Jr., so long clerk of the board of supervisors.

As illustrative of how little the temperance sentiment had been developed 60 years ago, the Rev. Mr. Winslow informs me that he was one of a military company of boys whose captain was a son of Fred Tyler, the hotel keeper. They carried wooden guns, painted red, and their hats trimmed with coekades

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made of geese feathers tipped with scarlet, and at every training, before disbanding, they were marched to the hotel, where the captain's father brought out the whisky and treated the company.

Of the stories told by the early settlers, two will bear repetition. One of these re- lated to the wonderful skill as a marksman of a brother of the narrator. One day while hunting he shot a humming bird through 60 rods of dense brush, and did not shoot half as straight as he could. The second story is of a wonderful cow, that gave fabulous quanti- ties of milk and who never had a calf, and

ing Coffeen's mill at Watertown, or the mill at Burrville. This mill is now abandoned as a grist-mill. The front has a face of ham- mered stone, and is apparently in as good condition as when completed in 1822. The dwelling house must have been, when built, the best stone dwelling in Jefferson county. Built in 1837, its pure style and substantial construction at once attract attention. It is two and a half stories, with a beautiful front of hammered stone, the window caps and sills being of the fine Gouverneur marble. These buildings are grand tributes to the memory of John Felt, their builder, who was

THE OLD GRIST MILL AT FELTS MILLS.

the singular fact connected with it, is that the cow's mother was equally famous as a milker, and, like the daughter, never had a calf. R. A. O.

FELTS MILLS VILLAGE.

The visitor of to-day at Felts Mills is filled with curiosity at the sight of two venerable- looking stone buildings, one of them the mill of the late John Felt, and the other his resi- dence, embowered in stately trees. We give a view of the mill, which is the lineal de- scendant of the very first grist-mill upon Black river, dating back to 1801, and preced-

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The growth of a century: as illustrated in the history of Jefferson county, New York, from 1793-1894, Part 143

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