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The compilers have been agreeably surprised at the interest manifested by nearly all the inhabitants of New Woodstock, as well as by many who formerly resided here, and are grateful to those who have helped to carry forward the work to completion.
They desire particularly to acknowledge their obligations to Hon. L. L. Ainsworth, of West Union, Iowa; Henry C. Lyon, of Boston, Mass.; the late Mrs. Jane Underwood and her children, Prof. L. M. Underwood, of Columbia University, and Miss Sarah J. Underwood, of New York; Miss Mary Fiske, of Detroit, Mich.; E. W. Moffett, of Fayetteville, and H. M. Kellogg, of Cortland.
Boston, Mass., November 26, 1900.
Dear Friends:---So you are going to print a book about New Woodstock? Well the only wonder is that no one has ever "sot out" to do this before the end of the blessed Nineteenth century, for although it is a little city --- a very little city if you please, it is one of the dearest places on earth, and one of the most picturesque in location. Its charms are recognized not only by its own sons and daughters, but by strangers as well. "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so is the Lord round about his people." Is one of those fascinating passages of Holy Writ, that was perpetually getting paraphrased in my youthful mind, something after this sort: "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so are the beautiful hills round about this lovely village:" and I do not think it would have been very foreign to the spirit of my love for my native village to have called it "Zion, city of our God" for was it not the embodiment of all that was good and sacred to my youthful mind?
This love for New Woodstock has never grown cold. No blasting disillusionment of later years and wider wanderings has ever fallen upon my ideal of the childhood time. Her streets, her homes, her stately maples, her lovely environment of valley and hill, are all as tenderly loved and as enthusiastically admired by me today as when they constituted the only world I knew. Fifty-three years, full of as eventful experiences as many of my latter ones have been, are quite enough to dispel the veil of youthful delusion, (if it were only that.) But this has not been the case. Time and experience have only confirmed my pride and love for the nestling village between the encircling hills. I have carried into many foreign countries fondest memories of the place which comprehended my "world" for the first twenty years of my life. There dwell many of my surest, tried and best-known friends and kindred, and in its quiet cemetery sleep so many loved ones of the long ago.
It is perhaps a bit paradoxical, but we discover that the serious and dignified is often next-door neighbor to the whimsical and the trifling; so that coupled with the stately memories of the olden time are groups of frivolous events that live as truly as the more important ones. I find myself recalling with equal vividness the tones and gestures of Reverend John Fulton in the pulpit of the old Baptist church, and the delicious pearmain apples which at "nooning time" used to get fished out of the profound pockets of Erastus Abott's great gray overcoat. How I used to look for those apples! And I never looked in vain. His kindly eyes and his hearty goodwill added relish to those delicious apples that made them little less than ambrosial in their delicacy. I recall that remarkable man, Philetus Lathrop, than whom a more honest or worthy soul never honored a town with his citizenship. When pennies were scarce in the family exchequer, my mother often gave me an egg in the morning, as I started for school, with which I was to secure for myself a "cent's worth" of some goody at the store. On a certain evil day I fell down in the road and to my great consternation, cracked the hen's egg most unmistakably. With the unerring instincts of a child, I took my cracked and oozy egg that morning to "Squire" Lathrop, feeling that he was the only one from whom I could reasonably expect the acceptance of my damaged collateral, and I was not disappointed. That tender-hearted though solemn-visaged man took my egg and gave me its full equivalent in candy; and then breaking it carefully into a saucer, fed it to his old black and white pet cat. A little matter, you say. I beg to differ. It was a transaction worthy of the attention of the Recording Angel, and one I shall never forget. It spoke volumes for the character of that lonely bachelor merchant. I bless his memory to this day for not wounding my childish feelings by spurning me and my broken egg from his store. Are there are any little things in this life? Measured by the highest standards a smile or a touch of the hand may outweigh the transactions of a Rothschild or a Rockefeller.
I recall the day when the "Cow Shed" block was raised, and with what admiring wonder I watched the daring exploit of Nelson Durfee in walking out on the plate with a commander in his hands and pounding mortise and tenon together. I had never seen such a venturesome deed before, and had he been a thousand feet from the ground instead of a possible forty, he could not have been a greater hero to me.
But I must not dwell longer on trifles, which however, are not altogether trifles, for our lives are so largely made up of just such things. Our web of life is woven of alternate sunrises and sunsets, waxing and waning moons, fond greetings, sad farewells, and shifting lights and shades.
SANDAWAY, ARRACAN, June 1848.
Rev. and dear Father Peck: ---Bro. Bright of Boston, forwarded to me overland a slip form the New York Bap. Register, conveying to me the mournful intelligence of the work death had made in your family. I left you all in good hea(l)th and this was the first intelligence I had received. I cannot express to you how much I was affected by it. It seems as though a desolation had been wrought among my friends, in my Native land, which made it appear a dreary waste, particularly on hearing of the death of Philetus. For you know how intimate we were in the days of our childhood and youth --- and how dearly we loved each other and how unbroken was our companionship till I bid him adieu and sailed for this eastern world. During my visit to my Native land our fellowship was sweet and heavenly, tinged at the same time with a shade of sadness as we could not keep it from our minds that we were soon to part to meet no more in this world. I recollect our last meeting. I went down and visited him and his dear family at Owego, and he came with his waggon and brought me on my way back as far as Pitcher. We spent the night there together, and in the morning when we had bowed down and prayed together for the last time, in company with good old Father Wakely, Mrs. Lawton and other old friends --- the moment arrived when we were to say farewell. My last words to him were, "If you should every pass through Fulton, brother Peck, you will find two little creatures there who call me Father." He clasped me around the neck, and our tears mingled and ran down together, and he passed away and I saw him no more. And now he is dead.
Before I sailed from Boston I received a letter from him in which he says, "After parting with you at Pitcher I had a sad ride. I could no longer restrain my tears, and they ceased not that day. *Paroxism's of inexpressible sadness and tears would come over me in spite of all my efforts to resist. I hurried on home, calling on no one, and arrived in the evening. Nancy soon learned my feelings and participating in them, we wept together, retired to rest and wept still, and only by the active engagements of life the next day was I enabled to obtain the mastery over my emotions of sadness. That you had a large place in my heart, I well knew; but that it would cost me so much to part I did not expect. ********* To this time the thought that I shall see your face no more on earth fills me with sadness, but I cannot help it. Nevertheless I rejoice in it because I believe it is the will of God. *** When we parted at Pitcher I could not speak. All you desire of me on behalf of your boys, or any service I can render shall be done with pleasure. Tell them that their father's friend, P. B. Peck will be their friend. Willard may thus remember me."
No --- those boys will not remember you, my Brother --- it is too late. What they have lost they know not now --- God grant that they never know. We know what we have lost, and the church of which he was pastor know their loss, and his dear family will feel his loss more and more. I knew Brother Peck well. I have felt the beatings of that great noble heart, and I have admired among other traits of his maganimous character, an integrity the most unflinching amidst opposition the most fearful. A fidelity and an efficiency in the discharge of pastoral duties seldom equalled, a kindness and affection and wisdom as Husband and Father, and a purity and constancy of friendship equalled only by "that above." And I feel that I have a right to mourn with others his loss. For perhaps since the days of David and Jonathan no two men have entertained for each other a stronger or more disinterested friendship than Brother Peck and myself. Farewell, my Brother, --- Rest In Peace.
I recollect that when I was at home also I experienced much satisfaction in visiting with his lamented mother, Mrs. Peck. More than any other person in my Native land, she reminded me of my own dear Mother. I recollect while sitting by Mrs. Peck's side one day I found her gazing steadily into my face. After a moment she said, with a good deal of animation, "Why Elisha, how fresh you bring the memory of your Mother to my mind." She is gone to the grave full of years.
Linus I knew as a boy. He was during one season a school-boy of mine, and I marked him as a lad of bright promise and predicted for him in future life a glorious career. And from what I hear of his character and learned of his position while at home, I perceived that the promise of his childhood had been verified. He too is gone, and they all sleep in one grave. Let them sleep. We shall go to them but they will not return to us. The companions of my childhood and youth are passing away --- the greater part of my family lie on these heathen shores and the two living ones far away I am never to see. What remains to me now but to fulfill the ministry. I have received with fidelity and patience giving glory to God.
Love to Mrs. Fiske and family, Eld. Putnam and family, and to all dear friends in New Woodstock.
E. L. Abbott.
[*Mr. Abbott's spelling]
Mr. Abbott was appointed missionary to Burmah by the Baptist Board in 1835, and continued his labors with marked success for nineteen years. With health broken he then came home and was soon called to his rest.
Mr. Abbott's monument was erected by E. C. and E. D. Litchfield, sons of Elisha Litchfield of Cazenovia. The inscription is as follows:
Died Dec. 3, 1854 aged 45.
"His works do follow him."
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New Woodstock.
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O village white among the hills, No poet sings thy praise; And those possessed by tourist's zest Choose not thy quiet ways. But yet thy name from North to South, From sea to sea has blown; Thy children leal affection feel, And make their birthplace known. Where arched the sky above them first, Seems heaven's vault most blue; No hills so green have they e'er seen, No friends so staunch and true. "The thoughts of youth" --- those "long, long thoughts," Of things seen and unseen; Had here their source, and all life's course Has felt the impress keen. And so the gray-haired pilgrims come To muse where life began. As in a dream, the houses seem Less spacious in their plan; The streets stretch not so long nor wide As to their childish eyes; The steeple high that touched the Sky Wears now a different guise. Yet still the same, and doubly dear For all the years between; And all the stress of thoughts that press At each remembered scene. But as the old-time ways they tread, Themselves they aliens own; The silent stare, the curious air Stamp them as strangers lone. Then to the graveyard old they turn, And here their friends they find. On headstones white --- most saddening sight, The cherished names are lined. For while the living fail to gain In numbers year by year, The dead who lie at rest hard by A mighty host appear. O village white among the hills, How peaceful dost thou seem! Yet all the smarts that torture hearts Are found in thee, I deem; The passions which can make or mar On thine arena meet; No space confined can cramp the mind, Or make life incomplete. Within the circle of thy hills Grim tragedy has walked; And left and right has spread the blight Where scathing sin has stalked. Romance has bloomed, and love has smiled, Stern toil has borne its part, And righteousness with power to bless Has reigned in many a heart. Within thy midst, through all the years, The Church of God has stood, The seal and sign of things divine, --- A source of untold good. And o'er the coffined forms that crowd Beneath the graveyard mold, Swelled sweet and strong the triumph song That resurrection told. O village white among the hills, May blessings rest on thee! I here proclaim how much thy name Has meant to mine and me. O may thy children far and near Fresh honors on thee shed; Unsullied wear the names they bear, While thou dost guard their dead.
SARA J. UNDERWOOD.
Syracuse, N. Y., January 21, 1901.
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The village of New Woodstock, in the first election district of the town of Cazenovia, is 1,350 feet above sea level; Cazenovia village, six miles north, being 100 feet lower, and DeRuyter, seven miles south, being also lower. A double row of maple trees, set out by Lathrop Hendryx, many years ago, extends the entire length of Albany, the principal business street. Standing at the eastern end, looking west, the view is remarkable for its quiet, peaceful beauty, though time and the woodman's axe have wrought sad havoc. Nestled among the hills, one seldom sees a village numbering less than three hundred inhabitants that has so few dilapidated buildings, and has such an appearance of general prosperity. Situated in a rich farming and dairy country, the hillsides are dotted with farm buildings where once dense forests stood, and the early settlers' only guides were the Indian trails or roads marked by blazed trees.
The first settlers of New Woodstock were David Smith and Charleville Webber. They are reported (Mrs. Hammond's History of Madison county) to have occupied the shanty at the foot of Cazenovia lake before Mr. Lincklaen's party came. They staked out lots and settled near New Woodstock in 1794. No farther record can be found of Charleville Webber, than he was buried in the New Woodstock cemetery in 1811. (See engraving.)
David Smith was born in 1771 and came with his parents when fourteen from Brimfield, Mass., to Clinton, N. Y. He was one of thirteen children. His brothers were, James, John, Jonathan, Marshall, Smiley, Samuel, Joseph, Harry and William, and sisters, Sally, (Moffett) Polly, (Hale) and Betsey (Morris). Mr. Smith took up 150 acres a mile southeast of New Woodstock. He soon after sold 50 acres, now owned by C. A. Lamb, to Edward Curtis father of Samuel, Edward, Jun---, Betsey, (Taber) Esther, (Bacon) and Fanny Curtis. Mr. Smith married in 1795 Betsey Merrick. Frank Hunt's farmhouse stands where their home was built, the bar being in the basement front. It was a convenient location for a tavern, as John Lincklaen, on account of his vast timber interests, and for the benefit of the settlers, early laid out two roads. The east one from Cazenovia passing south directly by David Smith's, over Crumb Hill to North Pitcher was called "The Old Joe road," after Joseph Messenger, who was employed to do the work. The ten children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith were, Melinda, married Arcenal Webber, Erastus, Eliza, David, Sophrona, Jonathan, Charlotte, married Asa Merrill, Jerman, Artemas and Orrin.
A year of two after David located near New Woodstock, his brother, Jonathan, took up 150 acres, which included all that part of the village lying south of what was afterward the Hamilton and Skaneateles turnpike. He built a tavern, now called the Bell house, at the western end of his land where he was landlord many years. He was married three times and had no children. He died in Ohio. The brothers were twins and so strongly resembled each other that David's children, and even "Aunt Spike," as David's wife was sometimes called because of her high temper, thought Jonathan was David. The tavern built by David, no longer used as a tavern, was burned in 1854 when Samuel Scott was the owner, and was re-built by him. Luther Hunt, who came here about sixty-five years ago, afterward purchased it, and his son, Frank L., the present road commissioner, is now the owner and occupant. Luther's brothers, Andrew and Lyman were also residents here awhile.
About 1818 David Smith built the present hotel and occupied it until 1831, when it passed into the hands of his son, Erastus, and son-in-law, Asa Merrill, who was also one of the early stage drivers. After two years, Jonathan and Jerman Smith took the hotel, and were succeeded in turn by Artemas and Orrin, the latter continuing proprietor after Artemas' death until 1865, when he sold to John Blakeslee and Abram Burden.
David Smith's last home was on the north side of Albany street, on land purchased of John Savage. He died in 1844, his wife in 1846. The parents and their ten children, except David, are buried in the New Woodstock cemetery. Their son, Jonathan, a prominent business man in New Woodstock many years, became the owner of their home. He died in 1862. His son, Morillo O., the only descendant of David Smith in New Woodstock, now occupies the house. Mr. Smith has held the town offices of constable, collector, and road commissioner, and is now gate tender of Tioughnioga lake. He is also sexton of the New Woodstock cemetery and Baptist church.
Orrin, the youngest child of David Smith, married Sarah Matthews. After selling the hotel, he bought a house on Mill street, one of three built by Robert Jenkins, the other two being the old Peck-Rice house, now owned by F. C. Covil, and the one known as the Lemuel Bowers house. Mr. Smith's daughter Ida, died a few years since. His son, William C., was born in New Woodstock in 1859. Attended public and private school in that village and later at Cazenovia Seminary. He went to Philadelphia in 1879. Entered the brokerage of his uncle, Ezra W. Matthews. Was in his employ four years. His uncle retiring from business he formed a partnership with Horace H. Lee which continued five years. In 1890 he became a member of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange continuing business in his own name. He married in June, 1889, Laura Virginia Jackson, daughter of the late Hon. Washington J. Jackson, of Philadelphia. He is a member of the Union League of Philadelphia, Overbrook Golf Club, Overbrook Club and Philadelphia Cycle and Field Club.
David Smith, the pioneer, had a brother, John, who lived in Chittenango, and his half brother, William, was a distiller and farmer in New Woodstock, and a soldier in the war of 1812. He married Sally Dean Pollard. His death occurred in 1844.
Blakeslee and Burden sold the hotel in 1866 to Orville Wells and Gideon Estes and re-purchased it in 1867. Mr. Burden died in 1872, and in 1873 Mr. Blakeslee sold to Chauncey Cook, son of Conrad Cook. The latter is remembered as an eccentric man, and as sexton of the Baptist church. Mr. Cook sold the hotel to Hinman, of Syracuse, who rented it to Tinker and Wilcox. John and Lewis Burden next became proprietors, and sold to Samuel C. Shapley, in 1888, who remained until 1899, when he sold to Corbin and Mansfield, the present successful proprietors.
One of the first pioneers, in 1793, was Wm. Sims, of Scotch origin, born in 1770, who came from Andover, Conn. He located near Constine Bridge, paying John Lincklaen $1.50 per acre for land which was nearly all forest and abounded with deer and bears. Wolves, also, were objectionably numerous. He built a log house, married Deborah Weaver, of Pownall, Vt., the farm always remaining their home. Their children were James, Louisa Coley, Phebe, who married J. J. H. Clark, historian of Onondaga county, and John. The family attended services at New Woodstock held in the "Barn Meeting house" built in 1804, which outwardly resembled a barn. The interior is described as having a ground floor and convenient seats. An upper room had a large, square hole in the floor through which those in the primitive gallery could see preacher and people. In the early days premiums were offered for the best piece of home-manufactured full-cloth. Mrs. Sims took the premium and her pastor, Eld. Peck, had the first suit cut from the cloth. Mrs. Sims died in 1859. Mr. Sims in 1864, aged ninety-five. His son, James, born July, 1802, formerly a teacher and farmer, now resides in Cazenovia, and is the oldest life-long inhabitant of the town. When a young man, he frequently made trips to Albany, one hundred miles distant, which was then the market for farm produce, the round trip requiring eight or nine days. His memory is good and in a recent interview, referring to church services at New Woodstock, he said: "Baptismal occasions were indeed spectacular. The font was deep water in a small brook made deep for such occasions. It was about eighty rods from the meeting house. In going there the people walked tow by tow in the middle of the road, as there were no sidewalks; Elder Peck at the head, singing Watts' hymns to the old fashioned fugue tunes."
John, the youngest child of Wm. Sims, remained on the farm some years. He then went to Baldwinsville with his wife and three children, where he and his wife died. Their son, W. Frank Sims, returned to his native town about 1873 and became the first station agent on the railroad. After a few years he resigned his position and built a flour and feed store near the depot, which was burned July, 1896. He then sold the site to Charles Boyd, and now lives in Syracuse. His two sisters are residents of Boston.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Smith came in 1801 from Plymouth, Mass. Their farm, southeast of New Woodstock was afterward divided between their two sons, and is now owned by George Slocum, and by Mrs. George Moffett. Their children were Clarissa, married Asaph Smith, Moses and James. Moses married Ann, daughter of Nathan Hendryx. She is now eighty-five years of age, and resides with her daughter, Martha, wife of Dr. A. D. Smith. Her other daughters are Mary, (Webber) (Smith) and Hattie, wife of Israel Brown, who lives in Groton, N. Y. Some time after the death of Moses Smith, his widow married Joseph Hatch. It is related that Samuel Smith, in the pioneer days, was often called upon to bleed his neighbors and his wife Patty to blister them. Isaac Holmes in the same neighborhood would act as dentist.
James Smith married Charlotte, daughter of Gilbert and Judith Rice Jenkins. They lived in the old home several years, but spent the last years of their lives in New Woodstock. Their children are Henry B., of Syracuse, Austin, of Littleton, N. H., and Lottie, of New Woodstock.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Smith in 1803 adopted Ralph Knight, born December 18, 1796, said to be the oldest white male child born in the town. His parents were Noel and Martha Knight. He was the second of seven children. His birthplace was on the Sheds Corners road and he was the only one of the family remaining in New Woodstock until his death in 1872. He married in 1823 Olive Ackley. They had six children. Two died in infancy. Charles was a soldier in the civil war, in the 114th regiment. He was detailed in 1863 as acting hospital steward with a regiment of U. S. C. I. and sent to Texas where died of congestion of the lungs after a brief illness at Matagorda Island. His son, J. E. Knight, is an engraver in Syracuse.
James was an expert penman, and was a bookkeeper in New Woodstock several years, afterward going to Syracuse. He was twice married. The daughters of the first marriage were Harriet, who died in early womanhood, and Gertrude, wife of Robert Benedict of Delphi. Mr. Knight's second wife and a son and daughter are living in Syracuse; another son in Rochester. Harriet married Nelson Estes. They had one son, James, now of California. Ralph married Cynthia Burdick, of DeRuyter, and moved to Syracuse, where their children now reside.
Samuel Tyler, another pioneer, came to New Woodstock in 1793. He was a constituent member of the Baptist church. His daughter married the pioneer Edward Curtis. His farm was located south of L. H. Slocum's and now belongs to Francis Morgan. The L. H. Slocum farm was owned by Jonathan Ferry prior to 1812. His son, Monroe Ferry, of Holley, N. Y., was born there. S. V. R. Freeborn afterward owned it and added two small farms previously owned by Mr. Allard and John Martin. Mr. Martin purchased 50 acres of John Lincklaen in 1814. He was a tanner by trade. He had seven sons and three daughters. Emeline Cruttenden, born in the log house, was the first of the children born in New Woodstock, her birthday occurring in June, 1815, the same day the frame of the Baptist church was raised. Her sister, Elvira, married John Stanton, and Huldah married his nephew, Schuyler Stanton.
Levi Burgess, half brother of Jonathan Shed, came in 1800. He had ten children. His son, Celim, kept the farm, and at his death Alonzo Morse purchased it. Harrison Burgess, a teacher and school commissioner, lived in Erieville; Andrew, a blacksmith, in New Woodstock, then in Erieville. Frank died in New Woodstock in the Jonathan Shed house. Minerva married James Randall. Their daughter, Ruth Wood, resides in New Woodstock. Ruth, daughter of Levi Burgess, married John Cadogan, son of Abram Cadogan, who moved here prior to 1810, and lived in what is now called the Calkins neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. John Cadogan first lived on the Sheds Corners road. Over fifty years ago they moved the house formerly owned by Joseph Clark from the site of Mrs. Richmond's home to its present location where George Barber lives. They had 5 sons and 4 daughters. Almira Partridge and Ruth Elliott live in Eden, N. Y. Janet married Jonathan Smith and for her second husband, Putnam Damon. She resided here until her death in February, 1901. Lucus Cadogan lives in Michigan, Walter in Chicago, John in Erieville. Frank died in Eaton and is buried in New Woodstock. His widow married Theodore Tucker. Annis, daughter of Abram Cadogan, the pioneer, married Ansel Stowell and was the mother of eight children. Charlotte Corbin, Henry, Frank and Fred are those who resided in New Woodstock. Betsey, another daughter of Abram Cadogan, married Sylvester Burdin. They had fifteen children, George, Henry, Ira, Abram and John among the number. Their early home was in Sheds Corners.
Benjamin Hatch and Thomas Ackley, from Winfield, N. Y., settled in Nelson on the Cazenovia town line early in the century. Mr. Hatch's children were Jerusha Wells, Elnathan, Joseph L., father of Clark W., and Ida Doremus. Joseph lived on his father's farm, also in New Woodstock and in Cazenovia. Silence Freeborn, now eighty-five, the only member of the family living, resides with her son, W. H. Freeborn. Philetta and Ann married Jeremy Tucker; Mary married James Brown, Benjamin F. married Nellie Leary in 1846 and lived where Henry Gorton does now. In 1866 they removed to Cuba, N. Y., Mr. Hatch dying the same year. Their son, Alfred D. Hatch, is a prominent business man in that place. He married Alice M. Lyon. They have one daughter, Bertha Lillian.
The youngest son of the pioneer, Benjamin Hatch, went west and was found dead under mysterious circumstances several years ago.
The Hamilton and Skaneateles turnpike, laid out in 1806 and built in 1811, started at Plainfield and passed through Brookfield, Hamilton, Eaton, Erieville, New Woodstock and other places west until it reached Skaneateles. A toll gate was on Mr. Hatch's farm and he was the first keeper. Later it was moved to Edward Damon's farm, Arcenal Webber keeping it. It was moved once more to the upper end of H. S. Gorton's farm and was kept by Henry P. Gifford. The Gifford family were originally from Rhode Island. Henry Gifford, Jun., married Jane Webber. Mr. Gifford's second wife was Mrs. Perry Stevens, whose maiden name was Litchfield. Her daughter, Catherine, married Lyman Larrabee, a school teacher and afterward a carriage-maker in New Woodstock. Mr. Larrabee, in company with his brother-in-law, Jared Hubbard and family, came from Westmoreland, N. Y., in 1842. Mr. Larrabee moved to Cincinnatus in 1861. The family now reside in Binghamton. His son, Chester, carries on an extensive business in carriage manufacture. The last keeper of the toll gate was Mr. Fisher, an Englishman. His son, William, is now a business man in Utica, N. Y.
Thomas Ackley located in the neighborhood with his brother-in-law, Benjamin Hatch, on a farm since owned for a number of years by John Dixon. Their children were, Thomas, Walter, Ann, (Wellington) Ansel, Abigail, (Durfee) Alice, (Tucker) William and Gilbert. Mr. and Mrs. Ackley's last years were spent with their daughter, Alice, in the house built by Arcenal Webber, between the H. and S. turnpike and the Sheds Corners road. Mr. Ackley was totally blind eighteen years. He died at the age of eighty-three. Their son, Walter, lived on the old farm until 1879. He then bought a home on Bank street in New Woodstock, where they lived with their daughter, Lewellyn Byer, the only one of their five children now in this place. Mrs. Sanford is in Iowa, Mrs. C. J. Wells, in Erieville, Mrs. Elizabeth Mowry and Gilbert Ackley in Syracuse. Gilbert Ackley married B. J. Lowrie's daughter, Florence, and owned and occupied the John Post farm at Union a number of years before going to Syracuse.
James Leary and his wife, Semira Webber, lived on the south side of the turnpike west of the road passing by L. H. Slocum's. Mr. Leary was a captain in the war of 1812. They had five children, three of whom died when young. Captain Leary died in 1834, aged forty-four. His wife survived him twenty-five years. Their daughter, Polly, married Andrew Tucker, who died in 1859. Georgiana Tucker, their daughter, married Walter Rew, of Friendship, N. Y., and has one son, Lynn Andrew. Mrs. Tucker afterward married Ezra Webster, of Friendship. She died at the age of seventy and was brought to New Woodstock for burial. Nellie Leary, her sister, married B. F. Hatch. [See Hatch sketch.]
Mr. and Mrs. George Wightman settled in Nelson, in the early part of the past century. Their six children were born on the farm where their daughter, Mrs. Esther Salisbury still resides. Three sons, Benjamin, George and Andrew, were closely identified with New Woodstock. Benjamin built the G. H. Moffett house, the S. S. Hayes shoe store on Mill street, the hardware store on Albany street, near the Esq. Lathrop store. He owned the house built by Stephen Collins about 1830. The fire which occurred in October, 1890, destroyed the Lathrop store, and all the Wightman property except the shoe store. Esq. Lathrop's store was occupied at the time by the merchant, P. E. Jaquith, and the flour and feed store of E. W. Gunn. The hardware stock was owned by Jonas Reeve of Erieville. He succeeded R. J. Sunderlin, of Scotch descent, who came from Chittenango in 1865. J. J. Tucker became his partner in 1867. After the fire, Henry D. Ryder became the hardware merchant. William S. Huntley is the present owner.
George Wightman was a cabinet maker and carpenter. In 1855 he bought the wool carding and oil mill on Limestone creek, north of the village, first owned by Luther Holmes, afterward by Jeremiah Kellogg. Isaac Schinck's sawmill, in the early days was east of the mill. Mr. Wightman sold to Hart and Van Vechton, and the mill was burned in 1864. Mr. Wightman repurchased and rebuilt it in 1871. It was again burned and rebuilt in 1872. Later it was owned by W. H. Cardner. (See Cardner sketch.) The building on the south side of Albany St., now owned by M. R. Burdick, was built by Mr. Wightman in 1855, Seneca Bowers who came from Troy, being the architect. When first built, it was a story higher, and was considered a fine building. The New Woodstock Glove Co. owned it from 1869 to 1874. The house now owned by Dewitt Palmer, where Theodore and J. J. Morse lived, was also built by Mr. Wightman. Andrew Wightman, a house and carriage painter, lived in New Woodstock. He died in 1900. His wife was Margaret Bowers. Her two younger sons live with her in New Woodstock, the daughter, Mrs. Addie Sherman, in Rippleton, and a son Devillo, west.
Thomas, Solomon, William and Ebenezer Merrick, spelled also Myrick, and their wives were early settlers. Like many other pioneer families, none of the name now reside here. Thomas' daughter Betsey married David Smith, Sally married Dr. Mann of Union, whose children were Jane, wife of the late Samuel Bliss, and Darwin, father of Rev. Newton Mann, and his sisters Helen and Marcia, who live at Cazenovia.
Ashbel Webster bought the farm now known as Benoni Barrett's of Mr. Worden. He had eleven children, Jesse, Plumley, Ashbel Jr., Hannah (Tucker,) Jason, Daniel, Jared, George, Mercy (Powers,) Israel and Eliza. Israel married Arvilla, sister of John Post, bought his father's farm, afterwards selling it to Daniel. Other owners of the farm have been Eleazer Seymour and R. R. Churchward. Ashbel Webster, Jr., married Avis Burton, settling east of the Thurber farm. They had two sons and three daughters. Eliza Webster, born 1812, married Henry Smith in 1833, who died several years ago. They had eleven children, six now living, five residents of this state. Richard resides in Owasso, Michigan. Mrs. Smith is with her daughter, Mrs. Ira Kinney of Cuyler. Three children Ellis, Mary (Durfee) and John, reside near New Woodstock. Mrs. Smith has twenty-five grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren. Mr. Smith's grandfather and his wife's grandfather were Revolutionary soldiers. Mrs. Smith's sister Mercy married Wesley D. Fox, pastor of the Methodist church in New Woodstock in 1844. They had four children, their three daughters all marrying ministers. Mary, with whom her mother resides in Homer, married the late Rev. M. E. Haskins.
Eleazer Seymour and his wife Achsah Wellington came from Lebanon, N. Y. Their son Addison was born there, Erastus and Silas on the Benoni Barrett farm. Mr. Seymour afterward sold it and purchased the farm of Luther and Erastus Wellington, where his son Silas has lived nearly forty-eight years. John Kellogg built the first farm house, which was burned some years ago. Silas Seymour married Helen Salisbury of Homer. They have one daughter, Cora. Erastus Seymour married Sarah Snow, and lives at the foot of Belmont Hill, where James and Jane Snow once resided. They have five children. Mr. Seymour carries on the old Snow grist and saw mill on Belmont Creek.
David Wellington, a pioneer of Nelson, came from Cheshire, New Hampshire, in 1796 and built a log shanty, the roof of elm bark, the floor of split logs. He was the first Justice of the town of Nelson, holding the office twenty years. His two sons, Luther and Erastus, over sixty years ago lived where Silas Seymour now resides. Luther afterward returned to Nelson. His son, Gerry, is a prominent lawyer in Hamilton, N. Y. Erastus Wellington married Ann Ackley. Their son Edward C., who married Celia Lewis, was a man of varied information, conversing intelligently on all subjects. Erastus Wellington's daughter, Louisa, married Austin Jenkins. Their son, William, with family, resides in New Woodstock, owning the late S. E. Morse place.
Captain Ezra Jenkins had three sons, Robert, Canfield and Gilbert. Robert has been mentioned as a builder. Canfield married a daughter of Rev. Joseph Coley. Gilbert married Judith, a sister of Israel and Isaac Rice. Gilbert's sons were Ezra, now of Flint, Mich., remembered as a leader of the Baptist choir in New Woodstock, and also as a singing school teacher. Austin married Louisa Wellington and also remained in this vicinity. The daughters of Gilbert Jenkins were Charlotte (Smith), Lucy (Robinson,) and Sarah (Nichols.) The home of Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins was in a house near the top of Belmont Hill, no longer occupied.
John Loomis had a tannery sixty or more years ago on the corner opposite the Jenkins house. He afterward owned the one at Floodport, which he sold to the Worlock brothers. He owned the building on Albany street, now called the harness shop, using it as a shoe shop when home-made shoes were in fashion. Ardath Blair, Gardner Dodge, Albert Garrett, Wm. T. Richmond and Edsel Gordon have at different periods occupied this building as shoe makers. It has been used since as a harness shop by J. H. Knickerbocker and Edgar Burdick. The building was originally the dwelling house of Nehemiah Price, and the birthplace of his son, Milton S. Price, who became a merchant prince in Syracuse.
Mr. and Mrs. James Durfee were among the early settlers. Their home was on the Erieville road where their grandson, William Durfee, now resides. They had four sons and three daughters. Nelson married Abigail Ackley; Vernon and Susan never married. Elizabeth married Darius Taber, and their daughter, Mrs. Mary Purrington, resides at Pompey Center.
Asa Durfee married Lydia Thurber. Their children were William, Charles, Frank, Ann, Mary Smith, and Sarah, who lives with Mrs. Charles Durfee and children on the Erieville road. Frank married Katherine Dean, and lives in Cazenovia.
Daniel Damon of western Massachusetts was one of the earliest settlers of the town. He purchased the farm where Luther Thompson now lives. His son, O. P. Damon, was born in 1815. He married Cecelia Perkins Cotes. They lived on the Erieville road on the place which is now the home of their son, Edward S. Damon.
Edward Holmes, the grandfather of Polly Scott Hunt, lived in a log house near William Thurber's farm. The road is now abandoned.
Joseph Holmes came from Chesterfield, New Hampshire, in 1801. He afterward moved to Shed's Corners. His daughter, Hannah, married Benoni Barrett. Hermenia Holmes was a dressmaker in New Woodstock for many years.
Robert Fisher and Isaac Warner came to New Woodstock about 1803, Warren afterward removing to DeRuyter.
Elijah and Sally Bond came on horseback from Cheshire, New Hampshire, to Sangerfield, N. Y., afterward coming to New Woodstock. Their home was near Cook's corner, where, later their son, Riley, lived. The place is now owned by Hiram Ackley. Their children were Riley, Bert, Dexter, Darius, Sally Estes, and Maria Thurber. Riley's daughter, Sarah Arnold Dye, and his son, Henry reside in Cazenovia, Louisa Bailey near Delphi. Bert Bond had several children. A daughter, Sarah, resides in Cortland.
Forty years ago the figure of John Ryan, who came from Delphi, was a familiar one on the streets of New Woodstock. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan's family consisted of 4 sons and 5 daughters. The parents and six of the children are dead. The survivors are Statia (Judd) of Montreal, Canada, Anna (Salisbury) of Ohio, and Julia of Syracuse. Their home was on Albany street, where Mr. Murdock resides.
Nathan Kinney, born in 1785, married Roxanna Thompson, who was born in 1788. They came by way of the old canal from Woodstock, Conn., about 1820 and settled near the Moffett's. They afterward lived in Nelson, and finally moved to Hovey Hill, thence to Union. Mr. Kinney was in his early days a school teacher. His wife was an expert weaver of flannel, linen towels and table spreads, designing her own patterns. Their children were Reuben, George, Lawrence and Harriet DeGraff. Most of their descendents live in Madison and Onondaga counties. A grandson, C. T. Kinney, has been road commissioner in DeRuyter.
Nathan Smith was an early settler, locating on the farm since owned by Stephen Stowell, Gershom Morse, L. B. Smith, and Mr. Fletcher. Mr. Smith set out a large apple orchard which was famous for the variety and excellence of its fruit. He was master builder, erected the New Woodstock Baptist church in 1815, and a grist mill and saw mill on Limestone Creek near the present site of M. C. Wood's flour and feed store. These mills were carried away by a freshet about 1836, when they were owned by Samuel Walker. Mr. Smith built several houses in this vicinity, and many churches in other places. His sons, Harvey and Alvin, were among the first merchants of New Woodstock, trading here from 1816 to 1830. The store was near the site of the Methodist church, at some distance from the street, and later, was moved, forming the upright part of the house until recently owned by Joseph Slocum's estate. Behind the store were distillery and brewery buildings, belonging to the Smith merchants. The distillery and brewery buildings, belonging to the Smith merchants. The distillery was afterward sold to Philetus Lathrop. Before the Smith's kept store, Jesse Worden, a merchant from 1815 or earlier, to 1819, was located, probably just east of Jaquith & Miller's present store. Harvey Smith lived where Mrs. S. G. Fuller now resides.
Joseph Clark, brother of Eliakim and Sidney Clark, was a merchant co(n)temporary with the Smith brothers. His dwelling was on the site of Mrs. R. W. Richmond's place, his store was the building once owned by Eliza Smith, now Winfield Wilson's residence. He kept the store until his death in 1834, and was the first Post-Master in the village. Allen Dryer succeeded him as Post-Master, then Philetus Lathrop, Mrs. Mary Collins, who also kept a book store, Lathrop again, James Wadsworth, Silas Morse, Wm. T. Richmond, John Ferguson for nearly 19 years, Kitty Ferguson Poole for a short time, J. H. Knickerbocker, F. L. Cunningham and E. E. Cummings, the present incumbent.
Eliakim Clark located on Clark Hill when nineteen years of age. He was a soldier of 1812. He married a daughter of Marvel Underwood. Only four of their large family of children are living. John, of McGrawville, Louisa, of Rome, Harriet (Jones) and E. G. Clark of DeRuyter. Eliakim Clark was one of the workmen on the Baptist church.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Walker came to New Woodstock as early as 1816. Mr. Walker rebuilt the mills carried away in 1836-7, conducting the grist and saw mill for several years. Their children were Clara Bedford, Stephen and Lewis. The latter married Miss Jennie Brainard of DeRuyter and removed to California.
William Pierce subsequently owned the mill, then Edward Wallis, father of Mrs. F. L. Cunningham, in partnership with Samuel Corbin, J. J. Randall and his son-in-law, M. C. Wood, buying it in 1869. The mills were burned July 23, 1896, just two weeks after Sims' flour and feed store was burned. The grist mill was rebuilt as a flour and feed store with no grinding facilities. The firm name is now M. C. Wood & Son.
James Reeve came from Long Island to DeRuyter, locating in March about eighty years ago on the farm now owned by Mrs. Chapman, near Delphi Station. His daughter, Balsora, became the wife of Theodorus Powell, who came from Newburg in a prairie schooner seventy years ago. They lived on the farm now owned by Henry Miller, and afterward in the Samuel Walker house, where their daughter, Miss Nancy Powell, now resides.
Sumner Cleveland built a house west of the cemetery in 1823. It has been moved and is now R. L. Miller's meat market. Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland had several children. Their daughter, Elizabeth married Timothy Coleman, and lives in Syracuse.
Gershom Morse, once the owner of the Nathan Smith farm, came to New Woodstock, fifty years ago from Nelson, N. Y. He was of New England parentage. His parents went to Canada, and at the age of sixteen, Gershom was drafted into the British army and not wishing to fight against his American brothers, he with two comrades deserted. One of his comrades escaped. Morse and the other soldier were re-captured by the Indians and taken back, nearly losing their lives. They finally successfully eluded their captors. Mr. and Mrs. Morse had four sons and two daughters. Their oldest son died in Cazenovia. Roscoe and Divolson Morse established a cheese box factory about 1864, carrying on the business a few years, when Roscoe bought his brother's interest and moved the building which stood near the cheese factory to Pearl street, south of the Methodist parsonage. It was burned in 1872 and re-built the same year south of George Barber's. It was again burned and was not re-built. Roscoe Morse and family to went Florida where they now reside. Devolson Morse continued his work as a carpenter, building a pleasant home for his family on Mill street. He has been blind twenty years. Though feeling his afflictions he annoys no one by a sad countenance.
Samson Morse remained on the Gershom Morse farm several years. His first wife was Lydia Slocum. Their son George is now a resident of Cortland. Mr. Morse's second wife was Alice Kinney. Their home is in Delphi. Gershom Morse's daughter, Louisa, married Leonard Freeborn. Their other daughter, Josephine, married and died many years ago.
The first schoolhouse, built of logs, stood east of Jaquith and Miller's present store. John Powers and Mr. Allen were two of the oldtime teachers. In the summer of 1826 it was still standing. In the winter of 1826-7 a part of the "Barn Meeting House" was used for school purposes, presumably because the log school house was unfit for occupation. The old red school house was probably built soon after the above date, and was used until 1868 when the present building was erected. Dr. Coy was the first teacher in the red school house of whom we have record. Henry W. Slocum and Ezra W. Matthews, both of whom were afterward Major-Generals in the civil war; D. D. Chase and L. L. Ainsworth, who became residents of Iowa and Representatives to Congress from that state, were other teachers who have been known to fame. Nancy Richmond de Clercq was the last teacher. The old school house is still standing, and is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Preston. Many of the old-time boys and girls go to visit it and live over again in memory the old days when they had to "toe the crack." They recall their anxiety in the spelling schools and their pride when they succeeded in spelling down all visitors thereby earning the then great sum to them of one shilling, given by the teacher, Chauncey P. Wells, in the winter of 1858-9.
The Academy was built in 1833 and incorporated, by act of legislature as a select school in 1834. An account of it in its most prosperous early days is given elsewhere. The school was also highly prosperous in later days under the administration of Prof. A. H. Forte and also Rev. and Mrs. I. K. Brownson. The building stood across from the Baptist church and was two stories high, with a basement underneath. Two class rooms and the main room composed the second story. The lower story was used as a school room and also by the Baptists as a conference and Sunday school room. There were times when the school was large when the basement was also used for recitation purposes. The boarding house, called "Barley Hall," is now C. A. Buckingham's residence. When used as a boarding hall it was a three story building. The first teachers in the present school house were Mrs. Helen Loomis Ferry and Miss Martha McDonold. The present teachers are Dana Dennison, Principal, Miss Carrie Byer and Miss Alice Freeborn, teacher in the lower rooms. Mrs. Alice Gardner Worlock is the only person who has taught in the old red school house, the academy, and the present building.
In 1834, Harvey Morris came to New Woodstock form Eaton, N. Y., and opened a store on the north-east corner of Albany and Mill streets. In 1840 he took as a partner his nephew, Thomas Morris Avery, of Perryville. Within a year Mr. Morris died and Mr. Avery continued the business until 1851, when he went to Chicago, entering the lumber business. In 1875, after acquiring a fortune, he sold his lumber interests and devoted his entire time to the Elgin Watch Company, which he had organized in 1867. At the time the Watch Company was organized there was a capital stock of $100,000. Under the direction of Mr. Avery the business increased so steadily that, in 1884, the stock was made $2,000,000; in 1890 this was doubled. Mr. Avery retired from all active business in 1899. He died, May 26, 1901. He married in 1847 his cousin, Margaret, the daughter of Harvey Morris. They had two sons. Mr. Avery survived them, leaving two grandchildren as heirs.
Baum and Wadsworth, afterward Baum and Stanton, succeeded Mr. Avery as merchants. They were followed by Jairus Bell and he in turn by the firm of C. W. Hill, now of Syracuse, and William H. Savage. The last mentioned conducted the store from 1858 to 1861. They were succeeded by Oliver D. Huntley and his son, Wm. W.; then by T. F. Huntley who sold the business to Mr. Schwartz, of Canastota. James Reed of Syracuse, was the next, then G. D. Wallace of Syracuse. Mr. Wallace sold to Perry Jaquith, who still owns the building. His son, Willard A. Jaquith, and son-in-law, Harry L. Miller, carry on a large business in general merchandise.
Hopkins and Stiles were merchants previous to Harvey Morris, and were located on the same site. Mr. Hopkins raised the money to purchase goods by buying poor horses, getting them in good condition, and finding sale for them in New York. He was an excellent judge of goods and the belles of New Woodstock wanted nothing better than to take "Hopkins' Choice."
Samuel Hubbard and George Russell, who married Lizzie Greene, Mr. Hubbard's adopted daughter, kept store on the corner opposite Harvey Morris about 1840. They were followed by Philetus Lathrop, Esq., who previously owned a distillery, and rectified whiskey. He manufactured potash, the building standing just above the present cheese factory. V. Lamphere was teamster and general clerk. Mr. Lamphere built the house where Dr. Parker now resides. Mr. Lathrop served as Justice of the Peace for many years. Other Justices were J. J. Wadsworth, D. B. Frizelle, Royal Ellis, G. S. Poole, and the present incumbent, M. C. Wood.
Esquire Lathrop was a man esteemed in the community. He was a tall slight man with black eyes and hair somewhat inclined to curl, which he always kept very slick, and very black. He wore a stove-pip hat, and was very prim and neat in his dress. He never married, and died at the age of seventy-eight. The store was afterward partly occupied by E. W. Gunn and F. W. Tucker as a flour and feed store, and by P. E. Jaquith in the mercantile business. It was burned in 1890.
E. W. Gunn, when a lad of twelve, came to New Woodstock with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Horace Gunn, from Burton, Ohio, about sixty years ago. His parents after a few years, returned to their former home, Mr. Gunn remaining, and relying on his own exertions to make a living. In 1856 he began in mercantile business. His partners at different times were Alonzo, J. J., and F. W. Tucker. They occupied at one time the store subsequently used by Orrin S. Smith, and John Ferguson as general merchants in 1866, and after a year, by Mr. Smith alone. The store, which stood on the south-east corner, opposite the hotel, was burned in 1893 when occupied by Levi Reed as a grocery. The first cheese factory in the town was built in New Woodstock in 1862-3 by E. W. Gunn and F. W. Tucker. J. M. Lownsberry and sons purchased it in 1873. Mr. Lownsberry was a native of Fenner and built the second cheese factory in the county. He was highly respected in the community. His death occurred in 1884. C. A. Buckingham purchased the factory in 1885, and still owns it.
In 1875 the old academy building was purchased by Dr. A. D. Smith and Orrin Ferry, and moved to its present location. It was occupied a number of years by W. W. Huntley, as a store. He was succeeded by Charles A. Fox, who sold out in the spring of 1901 to E. E. Cummings and H. K. Stoddard. Mr. Cummings had been clerk in the store several years and Mr. Stoddard, a native of Otselic, resided here in his early days. He returned as a teacher in 1899.
Calvin B. Stowell was a blacksmith and co-temporary with Pliny and Orrin Sabin. He lived in the house where Hiram Estes now resides which was moved to its present site when Wm. T. Richmond sold it to the railroad. Mr. Stowell owned a blacksmith shop east of W. H. Smith's house which was then a shoe shop and dwelling owned by Mr. Mix. He employed seven men and made hoes, shovels, bunch hooks, axes and knives. Every year he went overland to Pennsylvania to sell his wares and was gone three or four weeks. He was an upright business man, a power in the community, and was frequently called upon to settle estates. At the time Mr. Stowell was a resident of New Woodstock the pigeons were so thick and so tame that they could be picked off the trees. Once two bushels thus obtained were cooked at Mr. Stowell's house.
Dr. Moffett was the first resident physician. He was followed by Dr. Gibbs, who was a student. Dr. Sherwood studied with Dr. Gibbs. Dr. Stephen P. Collins was here from 1828 to 1838. In 1826 he married Mary A. Babcock, of Boston, Mass. He died in Michigan. Their daughter, Mary, married Harrison Garrett and removed to Minnesota, her mother going with her. There were two sons, Norman, who died in Texas, and Gideon B. Collins, who died in Manitowoc, Wis. Mrs. Collins died October 3, 1901, aged nearly 93. Dr. John Goodell was a student of his father-in-law, Dr. John Heffron, and practiced with him in Erieville from 1820 to 1834, then went to Delphi where he practiced about five years. He then located in New Woodstock, building the house where Dr. A. D. Smith now lives. He died in 1850 at the age of 50. His epitaph, "He lived and died a Christian," fully expresses what manner of man he was. He was succeeded by Dr. Lorenzo Heffron, who stayed here a few years, then settled in Fabius where he died. Dr. John L. Heffron, of Syracuse, is his son, and was born in New Woodstock. The Heffrons were originally from Swanzey, N. H.
Dr. C. W. Adams was the next physician. E. S. Mumford studied with him, afterward locating in DeRuyter and Syracuse. Dr. A. D. Smith succeeded Adams, and is still a resident physician. Dr. N. P. Warner was a student with Dr. Smith, afterward having a lucrative practice and a large ride here. He married Adella, daughter of E. W. Gunn. After a few years he removed to Syracuse, where he died. Other physicians were W. D. Thayer, Joseph Ferry, both of whom moved to Fabius; Franklin W. Root, J. F. Place, Wm. Davis, who died here after a few months' practice, and was succeeded by J. B. Allen, now of Syracuse. Dr. Halsey F. Stevens, of Brooklyn, came after Dr. Allen, in a few years removing to Truxton. While a resident of this place, his only child, Willard Stevens, was accidentally drowned near Cardner's mill. Dr. Donald Parker is now a resident physician.
Wm. T. Richmond, a native of Pittsfield, Mass., came here in 1841 with his wife and three daughters, Fanny, married Daniel Frizelle, Mary, who died, and Sarah, afterward the wife of J. H. Knickerbocker. Mr. Richmond paid Calvin Stowell $1,100 for land from the Joseph Slocum place to the place recently owned by J. J. Morse. He sold his brother-in-law, Samuel Hubbard, the site where he built the house which became the Baptist parsonage, afterward Mr. Richmond's home, now owned by D. B. Frizelle's children. Mr. Richmond lived many years in the Calvin Stowell house. The house built by Daniel Stone, afterward owned by J. L. Hatch, J. M. Lownsberry, and now by Henry C. Day, also the house built by Joseph Coley, now owned by M. C. Wood, were built on land sold by Mr. Richmond.
Samuel Thomas, a harness maker, who afterward moved to Cazenovia, came to New Woodstock in 1842, J. H. Knickerbocker coming with him. With the exception of a few years spent in the Glove Factory, Mr. Knickerbocker worked at harness making. He was chorister of the Baptist church forty-eight years and filled other positions of trust in the church. He organized and conducted singing schools in several places in Madison county. His wife was also very efficient in church work, especially in singing. Mr. Knickerbocker died in 1895, his wife in 1900.
Jared Hubbard and family came here about 1842. A son, W. H. Hubbard, resides in Boston, and a daughter, Mrs. Eva Eastman, in Binghamton.
One of the highest points of land in Madison county is Bacon Hill. There Levi Bacon, a soldier of 1812, took up land, and there his twelve children were born. Four of the sons were in the Civil war. Henry, Truman and Madison are now residents of New Woodstock.
About fifty years ago, David Wise came here. He had a large family of children, most of whom now live west. His daughter, Lottie, married Warren Diefendorf, who owns the blacksmith shop, and the house south of it on the DeRuyter road. They live in Clockville. Other blacksmiths besides those already mentioned who have resided here are Samuel and S. P. Bulkley, G. S. Poole, F. Smith, and Richard Wood, now of Georgetown. Mr. Wood was chorister at the Methodist church when living here. Will Carey is the resident blacksmith.
The first mail-carrier was a man on horseback, carrying the mail in saddle bags, and blowing a horn to attract attention. There was originally a plank road from DeRuyter to Oneida lake. Later, a mail route was established from DeRuyter to Chittenango. The eighteen mile drive from New Woodstock to that station to reach the New York Central railroad in the four-horse stage, Jed Buckingham, driver, loaded with passengers inside and out, is still remembered. In 1872-3, the Cazenovia and Canastota railroad was extended to DeRuyter, connecting there with the Utica, Chenango and Cortland. It is now a branch of the Lehigh Valley railroad. W. F. Sims was the first station agent at New Woodstock, and was succeeded by E. E. Poole. C. B. Hugg, who is a native of Spencer, N. Y., in addition to his duties as station agent, is engaged in the coal trade, handles water lime, cement, vast quantities of cabbage and potatoes in their season, and also carries on the insurance business.
S. S. Hayes is a veteran shoe dealer, having been here twenty-seven years. Fred and Harley Hamlin, natives of New Woodstock, sons of the late J. E. Hamlin, went from Ilion as soldiers in the Cuban war.
"Grandma Slocum," who was born in Lenox, N. Y., on Christmas, 1803, is the oldest resident. Her maiden name was Elvira Griggs. Until very recently she has been able to attend church regularly. Her mind is still active. She married Joseph Slocum and is cared for by his daughter, Mrs. Warren Lee.
"Esquire" A. Dryer, who was here in the first half of the nineteenth century was probably a descendant of James Dryer, a resident in 1802. Mr. Dryer was a lawyer and held several responsible town offices. The family were frequently mentioned as "the cripple family," as Mr. Dryer and several of his family were afflicted with lameness. The children were highly educated, one daughter going as a missionary to the Tonawanda Indians. Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Hamlin, who came here in 1862 purchased in 1879 the place once owned by Mr. Dryer, and had it removed from its site on Albany street to its present location.
Mr. and Mrs. James Allen bought the farm about 1863 of Gurdin Barnard which they afterward sold to its present owner, L. B. Smith, and purchased a home on DeRuyter street where they died in 1900.
Deacon and Mrs. Ebenezer Bentley, with his son, Daniel and family, came to New Woodstock from Lincklaen, buying the Elisha Webber farm of N. L. Webber when he removed to Cazenovia. They were good citizens and are especially remembered for liberal giving in the Baptist church in this place. Deacon Bentley and wife died on the farm. Daniel Bentley and family removed to Cazenovia, selling their farm to Joseph Shattuck. Mr. Bentley died in Cazenovia in 1900.
Deacon Erastus Mann was a resident of West Woodstock, afterward buying the house in New Woodstock, where he and his wife resided until their death. Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Griffith now occupy the house. Their son, Clinton, was also a resident in this vicinity for several years. His widow, Hannah Gibson Mann, now owns the Orrin Ferry place. J. Billings Mann, the youngest son of Erastus Mann, became a Baptist minister, attending Madison University and Rochester Theological Seminary. He married Delana Eastman, of New Woodstock and went west as a Home Missionary. His health failing, he returned to New Woodstock, where he died.
Alonzo Gibson owned the Frizelle farm, and also, at one time the W. D. Thayer place, now M. R. Burdick's home.
In mentioning the little hamlet of Union, nothing has been said of the tavern which once stood where is now the home of Mr. and Miss Jones. A trip-hammer factory was a little northeast of the tavern, and west of it is the present home of Morse Wagner. On the south side of the road is the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Bowers. Mrs. Bowers is the daughter of the pioneer, Jacob Post, and resides on her father's old farm. The Albert Card farm east of the schoolhouse, is now owned by Hamilton Thompson. Mr. Card had two sons. Frank married Abigail Bliss and lives in Brooklyn. Everett S. Card was a successful banker in Cazenovia for several years. He then failed in business, commenced again and again failed. He married Mary Nash, of Cazenovia, and they now reside in New York.
Benjamin Virgil and family were early settlers and prominent people whose opinions had much weight. In 1821 the place became greatly stirred up against Mr. Virgil for punishing beyond measure a child who lived with them. The matter was investigated, acknowledgement made, and the wormwood given to the child was sweet to the taste in comparison to the stain that left an indelible mark. "The little candle" will continue to "throw its beams," not only in this case, but, for good or evil its light shines on the deeds of all of us who are making history that shall bear its mark far down the ages.
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John Lincklaen, of Amsterdam, Holland, came to this country in 1790 for the Holland Land Company, who employed him to explore new countries, and to purchase land where he could do so advantageously. He brought letters of introduction to Theophilus Cazenove, of Philadelphia, who was the company's first general agent to America, the Holland Purchase, in the western part of the state having been purchased by him. Mr. Lincklaen began his work in September, 1792, accompanied by two hardy woodmen. He kept a journal, originally written in French, which has been preserved by his family. This journal states that he arrived, Oct. 11, 1792, at the foot of a lake, called by the Indian name of Owahgena. This lake was afterward called, "Lincklaen Lake," in honor of John Lincklaen. It is now Cazenovia Lake. He returned to Philadelphia after about a month's absence. As a result of his report the Holland Company purchased Road Township, now Cazenovia, and other lands in this section to the amount of 120,000 acres. In Apr. 1793, Samuel S. Forman met Mr. Lincklaen by appointment in New York City and came as his clerk to Cazenovia. They pitched their tents in a small ravine at the south end of the lake, May 8, 1793. A land office was soon established, and among the early settlers was Isaac Morse, then only twenty-one years of age. Mr. Morse was one of the first pioneers, coming here June 1, 1793, less than a month after John Lincklaen and his party. No record can be found of those who came with him. Their first encampment was at the foot of what are now called the West Woodstock hills, on the north side of the road, west of where are now Mr. Mead's barns, in a little ravine by the brook. The original house built by Mr. Morse is still standing on the south side of the road, owned and occupied by Oliver Hatch and his sister, Mrs. R. J. Sunderlin. Mr. Morse's land extended from that point to the schoolhouse on the hill, and once, when on his way to milk the cow, he caught a bear's cub which he soon dropped because of its mother's wrath. The boundaries of the land when the country was a wilderness were indicated by blazed posts and trees, as shown by the original deeds, in the possession of Mr. Morse's nephew, Sylvenus Gage, between John Lincklaen of the county of Herkimer, State of New York, as well for himself as for Herman Leroy of the City of New York, and Isaac Morse, of the county of Windham and State of Connecticut. The amount of land purchased, June 8, 1793, was 150 acres, more or less, and ninety pounds, current money of the State of New York was the price paid. A year later, Mr. Morse bought of the same parties 143 acres, one rood and 25 perches, for one hundred seventy-two pounds, one shilling, nine pence, which was double the price paid the year before. Both deeds were witnessed by Jonathan and Samuel S. Forman, and were recorded in the Clerk's office of the County of Herkimer, Nov. 19, 1796. Thirty-three years later, Mr. Morse bought 12 acres more for which he paid three hundred sixty dollars. As will be seen, Mr. Morse had purchased over 300 acres of land; paying in 1793, about three dollars per aces, and in 1827, thirty dollars per acre. His first land was purchased two years before Cazenovia became a town, and thirteen years before the County was called "Madison." The original county was Albany, formed in 1683. March 21, 1806, Madison County was so named in honor of President Madison.
In the settlement of the southern part of the town, West Woodstock, then called "Woodstock Settlement," and also "Bull's Corners," was of more importance in early days than New Woodstock. Mr. Morse was largely instrumental in building up that section. As he came from Woodstock, Windham Co. Conn., and several other young men and their families came from the same place early in the nineteenth century, --- among them Marvel and Abisnai Underwood, Silas Corbin and sons, Ebenezer, Luther, and Henry, Ezra Lyon, Warner, Calvin and John Goodell, Elisha Gage and family and Abiel Ainsworth, we naturally infer that the new home was called "Woodstock Settlement" in memory of the old home. As New Woodstock is east of the first settlement, that in time was called West Woodstock. The first Baptist meeting house, built of logs, stood in Sylvanus Gage's orchard. The first Methodist meeting house stood on the north side of the road, between the West Woodstock schoolhouse and places now owned by Mrs. Pettingill, near the four corners. It was sold in 1856 to Mansier G. Thomas, used a few years as a dwelling house by Jesse Hakes, then given to Mr. Thomas' son, M. C. Thomas, who moved it to the Elder Peck farm, which he bought of Beri Dixon and Erastus Carpenter. It is now used as a granary. The farm is now owned by Edward T. Buell.
There were once two schoolhouses in the district. James Moore, who owned the place, now Jerry Hitchcock's which has also been owned by P. R. Gorton, Asa Merrill and Joseph Covil, gave the land for the schoolhouse on West Woodstock hill, with the understanding that it should revert to the owner of the original farm when no longer used for school purposes. The district afterward bought the land, paying ten dollars for it. The other school house was on the road to De Ruyter, west side, in a hollow north of the place once owned by a soldier of 1812, Ebenezer Cotes. He came from Connecticut, and his first wife was a sister of Willard Abbott. Their children were Abijah Cotes and Harvey Cotes. Two daughters, Minerva and Roxy, were the children of the second wife. Abijah Cotes afterward owned the farm, selling it to its present owner, John Ackley. Abijah Cotes married Emeline Stilwell, niece of Thomas Morris. Their children are Warren, of Chicago and Miss Sarah Cotes of New Woodstock.
One of the first roads from DeRuyter ran east from what is now John Dixon's, coming out below Frank Tucker's thence north past the tavern on the corner built by Isaac Morse, coming out near Sidney Bowers' place at Union. When the first stage route from Ithaca through DeRuyter was built, the road was altered, and went past the Fiske farm, coming out at Jerry Htichcock's, where it crossed the Hamilton and Skaneateles turnpike, going to Syracuse by way of Manlius. Thomas C. Nye owned the first stage route. John and David Pomeroy were the drivers. The first landlord of the tavern was Mr. Wood; second, Nathaniel Carpenter, and seventy-five years ago, Mr. Rew, grandfather of Mrs. Samuel Corbin, was landlord. Jacob Ten-Eyck, of Cazenovia, once held a mortgage on the tavern; Chester Gage paid it and bought the property, afterward selling it to Elijah Cotes and Ezekiel Carpenter. N. F. Parker is the present owner.
Mr. Morse built a store on the northwest corner which was kept by Mr. Turner, and later by Mansier G. Thomas, who lived back of the store and also rented rooms in it. Samuel Corbin was clerk for Mr. Thomas in 1840. The building was afterward made into a dwelling house. Patrick Moran lived in it, south of where Ellis Smith now lives.
There were two distilleries, one built by Isaac Morse on the corner where George King now lives; the other, built by Horatio Goodell, was on the southwest corner of the Noah Howe farm, which is now owned by his grandson, Sylvanus Gage, except the land where the distillery stood, which is now owned by George Dixon. Mr. Howe came from Amherst, Mass., in 1814.
There were two blacksmith shops. Richard Allen and his son, Joseph, owned one, and Leroy Ainsworth the other. A gristmill was built east of the road, and north of the bridge near P. S. Buell's house. There were also a sawmill, owned by the pioneer Jacob Post and a brick and lime kiln farther west on the same stream. This was carried away by the flood in 1837. Marvin Stowell, a tanner and shoemaker, lived where Mrs. Pinney afterward lived. Mr. Pinney owned a tannery. Daniel Lathrop, father of Philetus, took up the last fifty acres in the township. His farm has since been owned by John Holmes, Mr. Hamlin, Erastus Mann, Mr. Dixon, Jonas Reeve, and now by John Dixon. Noah Howe, John Watson, who once lived in the Moran house, Ebenezer Corbin and Isaac Morse married sisters of Warner, Calvin and John Goodell. Calvin Goodell married a daughter of Eld. Joseph Coley. Isaac Morse was twice married. His second wife, Sally Gorton, was a sister of P. R. Gorton. Nancy Goodell Morse was the mother of Philena [Abbott]. Priscilla [Freeborn], Nancy [Peck], Emily [Dryer] and Jedediah Morse. Mr. Morse built the house where Mr. Mead now lives, and moved there, his son, Jedediah, owning the old home a few years, then going west. Willard Carpenter bought the farm, his son, Hiram, living with him. Others owning the place are John Atkinson, DeGrand Benjamin, Gurdin Barnard, Mrs. Sunderlin, and her brother, Oliver Hatch. Mr. Morse was a man of sound judgment and was greatly respected. He was one of the first road commissioners in the town. During his later years, his daughter, Phila, the only child who remained here, with her husband, Jared Abbott, lived with him. The first pioneer, he outlived many who came later, dying in 1858, at the age of eighty-six. Mrs. Abbott sold the farm to M. W. Richmond. Other owners have been James Barnard, M. C. Thomas, and Mr. Mead.
In 1834, Deacon John Morse and family came here from Westmoreland. He bought a farm of Burdick Wallace. Two of his sons, Theodore and Jared, afterward purchased it, agreeing to pay the other heirs a certain amount. Succeeding in paying for the farm in a short time, their father wished them to reconsider the matter, and to pay the others more than the amount agreed upon, which they did. Jerman Morse, son of Jared, now owns the farm. His father and mother dying when he was a child, he lived with his uncle, Theodore, who is still remembered for his quaint remarks, and his ability as a cattle buyer.
Dr. Henry Bass was an early physician here, at one time living in the Pettingill house at the Corners. Others living there were Abram Bookhout, Mr. and Mrs. Pope, grandparents of Mrs. E. Cunningham, and Mrs. Estella Churchward-Chapman. Dr. David Mitchell, born in Westmoreland, N. H., in 1793 and a graduate of Amherst College, came here in 1817, living east of the tavern at West Woodstock, in a house that is no longer standing. He remained here several years, then removed to Cazenovia, where he practiced until his death in 1873. Daniel and Elizabeth Fiske came here from Fiske Hill, Sturbridge, Mass. Mr. Fiske bought the original Marvel Underwood place. He was a small, blue-eyed man whose word was considered law in his family, unfailing obedience being demanded and given. Six of the ten children came with the parents and settled in this state. John was the only one who located here permanently. He married Mary, daughter of Elder John Peck, and stayed on the farm with his father. He had two sons and three daughters, Mrs. Sarah Prentice, Miss Mary Fiske, and one son, John Peck Fiske; all who are left are living in Detroit, Mich. John Fiske was a prominent man, a school teacher and a leader of the Baptist choir for thirty years. Nearly every winter he held weekly choir meetings in New Woodstock. Mr. Fiske sold his farm to H. P. Hart, and it has since been owned by Richmond and Fuller, Clinton Mann, H. B. Vedder, A. R. Jenkins, and its present owner is H. W. Coley, of Oneida.
Elisha Gage, 1754-1833, of Woodstock, Conn., married Olive Underwood in 1778. They came here about 1799, and settled on ten acres of land south of the Howe farm. They afterward lived north of Eld. Peck's. They had ten children, Luther, 1779-1802, one of the constituent members of the Baptist church. Lucy (Carpenter), 1780, Elisha, 1782, Olive, 1784, Nancy, 1786, Chester, 1789, Anna, 1791, Salmon, 1794, Elias, 1796, and Zeriah, 1799. Salmon married Irene Howe, daughter of Noah Howe, and lived where their son, Sylvanus now lives. He was a carpenter and built Warren Smith's house at Shed's Corners, LaFayette Brown's house on the west road and Isaac Morse's last residence. Polly, [Gage] Barnard, Julia, [Gilbert], Sylvanus and Rev. L. L. Gage were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Salmon Gage. Mr. Gage belonged to the New York State Militia. His commissions signed by Governor Clinton are still in the family. He was ensign in 1819, lieutenant in 1820, and captain in 1821.
The first persons buried were on land east of Mr. Mead's house. The first record of deaths were Luther Gage, December 1, 1802, and Elias Gage, who died in 1806. Elisha Gage, the pioneer, moved to Pompey in 1830.
Ezra Davis, an early pioneer, lived where Ellis Smith now lives. He had three sons and a daughter. The daughter married Ezekiel Carpenter. Wm. Davis, father of Mrs. George Kinney, was a carpenter and helped build Warren Smith's house the year he died, 1830. Edmund Davis married Ada Curtis and lived in the old home, the father living with his son Lyman, in the house once occupied by Dr. Mitchell. Lyman Davis afterward lived in New Woodstock, and was a jeweler. His wife was Serena Borden. Edmund Davis had six children, four of whom are living. Gilbert and Spencer in Minnesota, Harriet in the state of Washington and Nora, who married Walter Ainsworth and is also living in the west.
When Gilbert Davis was a child he was troubled with croup. His mother, having faith in the tradition that placing a lock of his hair in a knothole in the house would prevent the disease, did so. Gilbert remembered the circumstance, and when he was here a few years ago, with his brother Spencer, he went to the place in the old home, found the hair after a lapse of fifty years, and carried it away with him.
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The village cemetery contains many of the graves of the pioneers. The first burials recorded were five in 1808. The stones which mark their resting places are black with age and in some instances it is impossible to decipher the quaint epitaphs inscribed upon them long ago by mourning friends. Omitting names, a few of these interesting inscriptions have been transcribed for these pages. They are worthy of preservation and in a few more years, as is already the case in some instances, will be entirely effaced. The stones themselves are rapidly crumbling away. The spelling, punctuation and arrangement have been exactly copied as far as possible.
"Sleep fweet dust; Wait the Almighty's will; Rife with the just, And be an angel ftill." ------------ "Refrain my friends, dry up your tears; Here I must lie, till Christ appears; When he appears then I shall rise And meet my Saviour in the skies." ------------ "Look O my friends and See, the end of mortal blifs below, indure, thare nothing fure that will Sens all to death must go." ------------ "This grave contains a youthful bloom, Blown out at morn, cut down at noon; A brother, a son, my true-love has gone, And left me in this world to mourn." ------------ "He touch'd our hearts with groans and cries Now in silent sleep He Lies." ------------ time, "The rofe is fragrant but it fades in its Prime The voilet fweet but quickly paft soon decay White lilies, hang their heads and away. And whiter fnow in minuets, melt blooming youth." Such, and fo withering is our ------------ "Stop passenger awhile and see Whose life is longest yours or mine If death has snatched my soul today To-morrow it may call for thyne. The only difference then will be That you have one more day than me." ------------ "Farewell my gay companions all, That view my shrowding sod, Be ready for that solemn call Prepare to meet your God. -nes." Affection dedicates these li- ------------ "Off from my fide the deareft half is torn The reft lives bleeding, and but lives to mourn." ------------ "He rushed in to eternity, A dreadful God to view, He neither settled his affairs, Nor bid his friends adieu." ------------ "The opening heavens around me shine: With beames of sacred blifs, If, Jesus shows; his mercy mine; And whispers I am his." ------------ "Oh! much lamented friend that sleepth here, Torn from my bleeding heart in life's noon-day Thy virtues fair demand affections tear Thy once loved tender wife is doomed to pay. But who with me shall hold thy former place Thine image what new friendship can efface May I not murmer but tho' left alone Say, Father in Heaven thy will be done." ------------ "Soon, and I call. Sudden was my fate, Prepare too meet your God! Before it is too, late," ------------ "Diseases come and go at His bidding; And that which did me arest; It was a Cansor in my breast: Amen, even so, come Lord Jesus." ------------ "His mind was tranquil and serene, No teror in his looks were seen His Saviour, smild dispeld the gloom And smot,d his passage to the toomb." ------------ hear thy voice, "Oh my Jesus why was I made to And enter whilst there's room, choice, Since thousands make a retched And rather starve than come." ------------ "Come all my friends as you pafs by, View the ground where your mother duft doth lie, She obtain'd a hope, quite from her youth, And bles'd her God in the dark shades of death.
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On December 8, 1800, Rev. James Bacon, of Torrington, Mass., Nathan Baker, then a licentiate, of Pompey, N. Y., and four other brethren met in "Cazenovia Woodstock Settlement," at the home of Ebenezer Corbin, on the farm now owned by Mrs. P. S. Buell, and agreed to hold monthly conferences. As a result, six month later, on June 17, 1801, a council having been chosen from the following churches, Pompey, DeRuyter, First and second Hamilton, a church was formed with sixteen constitutent members, ten brethren and six sisters as follows: Elder James Bacon, Samuel Tyler, David Smith, Abiel Ainsworth, Luther Gage, Marvel Underwood, Mary Tyler, Anna Corbin, Betsey Underwood, Ruth Chafee, Warner Goodell, Solomon Mirick, Stephen Chafe, Abisnai Underwood, Lucy Bugbee, and Elizabeth Mirick. The first ten had previously joined the monthly conference by letter, and the remaining six joined, after being baptized by Elder Bacon, who became the first pastor. Warner Goodell was first deacon. Fourteen years later he went west as a missionary. Marvel Underwood was chosen first church clerk, serving in that capacity nine years.
In 1802, the first church in the town, a log meeting house, eighteen by twenty-four feet, was built at West Woodstock, on land owned now by Sylvanus Gage. This soon became too small, and a frame building thirty feet square was built with the aid of the Presbyterians. The site was on the northwest corner of land owned by Jonathan Smith, a pioneer of 1795, whose tavern, now called the Bell house, stood a few rods east of the building.
In 1803, Elder Bacon, who was over seventy years of age, feeling that the work was more than he could endure, persuaded his people to make a change, and used his influence in obtaining Elder John Peck, then a licentiate of Norwich, N. Y., to come as pastor in 1804. He was ordained in 1806. The people gave him seven acres of land and built him a house on the farm now owned by Edward L. Buell.
In 1815, John Savage, a pioneer who came in 1800, gave the site where the present church stands. Nathan Smith was the master builder, and was assisted by Marvel Underwood, Eliakim Clark, Dyer Lamb, and others. The church was built with many doubts as to the wisdom of changing the location, and with fears that pride was entering in, and that God could no longer bless their work. They soon, however, had cause for rejoicing, as more than two hundred persons, among them some of the most active Christians whose names are written in the church records, united with the church within three years. The raising of such a building was a great undertaking for those times. Let us remember that he country was but thinly settled and much of it covered with woods. Some of the people came with ox teams from the west side of the lake, a distance of ten miles, and worshipped, as has been aptly said, with no fire except what they brought in their hearts.
Elder Peck was pastor thirty-one years, during his pastorate baptizing six hundred forty as members of the church. During the latter half of his pastorate he did missionary work, principally for the Hamilton Missionary Society, and was absent at one time nine months, his place being usually supplied by Elder Joseph Coley. In 1814, Elders John Peck, John Lawton, of North Pitcher, Peter P. Roots, and Daniel Hascall began a monthly magazine which was called "The Vehicle." It afterward changed to "The Western Baptist Magazine," then to "The New York Baptist Register," and finally became "The Examiner." In 1835 Mr. Peck resigned and devoted his time wholly to missionary work. He died in New York City in 1849, aged seventy years. His remains were brought to New Woodstock, and buried in the cemetery near the church where he labored so many years. His wife, a daughter, and three sons are buried near. Two of the sons were ministers, Philetus, pastor of the church at Owego, and Linus of the Hamilton church. Their mother died in 1847, two weeks before they did. A double funeral was held for the two brothers.
The pastors who succeeded Elder Peck were as follows: Rev. John Bishop, 1835-38; Rev. Daniel Putnam, 1839-47; Rev. I. K. Brownson, 1848-49; Rev. John Fulton, 1850-58; Rev. Nathan Mumford, 1859-66; Rev. Butler Morley, 1867-68; Rev. H. Garlick, 1869; Rev. Perry C. Bentley, 1870; Rev. A. LeRoy, 1871-72; Rev. John N. Tolman, 1873-76; Rev. E. P. Brigham, 1877-83; Rev. S. B. Leary, 1884-88; Rev. Frank Irving Roscoe, 1889-91; Rev. F. H. Devine, [supply] 1892; Rev. Charles G. Simmons, 1893-98; Rev. W. A. Pugsley, 1899; Rev. E. E. Manning, present pastor. Rev. Joshua Clark, a seventh day Baptist minister in DeRuyter, supplied the church several months at different times.
One of the greatest revivals in the history of the church was in 1831. Sixty-two received the hand of fellowship at one time. Among the number were Wm. D. Corbin, Philetus Peck and Elisha L. Abbott, all of whom became ministers, Elisha Abbott and his wife, Ann Gardner, going as missionaries to the Karens in 1835, and Mrs. Cornelia Heffron Ward went to India in 1850. Rev. Wm. Corbin, Rev. George Scott, and several other young men went west as Home missionaries.
The church has recorded 1551 names as members. Thirty-eight in the phraseology of the olden time, "have been given liberty to improve their gifts wherever God in His Providence should lead them." Twelve ministers have been ordained. Rev. George Scott of Nebraska, seventy-nine years of age, and Rev. W. D. Corbin of Syracuse, eighty-seven, are the only ones living.
A Sabbath School was organized in 1804 and was a summer school till 1867. Rev. B. Morley, who was then pastor, suggested that the school could be continued through the winter. It did not "freeze out" as some feared, and has been held regularly throughout every winter since that time. The sessions of the Sunday School were formerly held in the lower part of the Academy, across the street from the church.
A mite society was formed in 1812 with Miss Hannah Lathrop, president, Elizabeth Savage, secretary, and Josephine Corbin, treasurer. It still exists as the Baptist Ladies' Aid Society.
In 1820 the village church at Cazenovia was formed and called the Second Baptist Church of Cazenovia. This greatly reduced the membership of the parent church, ninety members being dismissed out of two hundred.
In 1829 the subject of Speculative Free Masonry troubled the church. Five of the members who were Masons cheerfully relinquished their connection with the order from a sense of duty to God and for the sake of unity. Benjamin Enos alone refused and nearly two years later the hand of fellowship was withdrawn from him. In a few years, however, Mr. Enos gave up Masonry, and was restored to the church.
A little description of the church and some reminiscences may be of interest. When the church was built in 1815 there were winding stairs to reach the pulpit, which was on a high platform sustained by pillars. Underneath the pulpit was the deacon's seat. The pews were high and nearly square and closed by a door fastened with a button. A gallery extended around the west, south and east sides. Two rows of long seats went around the sides of the gallery, and three rows on the south side where the singers sat. Box seats were near the windows on the east and west sides of the gallery. A box stove was introduced after a time, a platform being built for it on the top of one of the pews near the center of the house. The next improvement was a bass viol, which was a great grief to some of the people who disliked a fiddle in the meeting house. The choir numbered twenty or even thirty, and did the singing, not even the minister joining. Marvel Underwood was one of the early leaders, pitching the tune with a fork. The congregation arose during the singing and turned their backs to the pulpit in order to face the choir. At communion the pastor "lined" the hymn, that is he read two lines and all sang them then read two lines more and the people sang again and so on till the hymn was finished. The collection boxes were fastened to the end of a stick four feet in length and resembled the modern corn-popper. In prayer time every one stood, old and young, no matter how long the prayer. In hot weather if a person became sleepy he arose and stood a while. Sometimes two or three would be standing at a time. At funerals the mourners were "addressed." If the deceased were the head of a family, the wife must stand and be talked to for several minutes, then the children were consoled and counseled in the most pathetic language and so on until all the relatives were addressed. During the pastorate of Rev. Daniel Putnam, Daniel Alvord, aged 85 and Anna his wife, aged 81, united with the church. Owing to their extreme age they were baptized near their home at Shed's Corners.
In 1874, during the pastorate of Rev. J. N. Tolman, the church was re-modeled to its present condition, and a chapel added. A re-union was held at its completion. Mary Fiske, the granddaughter of Elder John Peck, gave the communion service upon that occasion, which is still in use. Miss Anna Lyon gave her entire income for that year to the church, the vestibule being fitted up with the money she contributed. When Rev. S. B. Leary was pastor, in 1886-87, a kitchen was built on by the Ladies' Aid Society.
The centennial of this church was celebrated June 16 and 17, 1901. At the Roll Call one hundred forty names of members were called, one hundred thirteen responding, personally or by letter. The oldest person present was Mrs. Elvira Slocum, aged ninety-seven. Mrs. E. D. Cruttenden, who was born the day the present church was raised, and who became a member seventy years ago, was able to attend and enjoy the two days' services. Rev. E. P. Brigham, the oldest living ex-pastor, was present, also Rev. S. B. Leary and Rev. F. H. Devine, former pastors.
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The Methodist class of New Woodstock was organized in 1830, and was connected with Pompey circuit. The first members of this new, yet prosperous organization, were Lyman Davis and wife, N. Abbott and wife, brother James Allen, and sisters Samantha Corbin and A. Merrick. Religious services were held for a time in the school house on West Woodstock hill, then also called Bull's Corners. A "meeting house," so called out of deference to the custom of that time, was soon built on a site a few rods east of the school house and was used until about 1838. The preachers upon the circuit at that time were Elders F. Benjamin, B. Paddock, and W. Batchelor.
The present house of worship was built in the village of New Woodstock in 1836, and although in an unfinished state, was used during the summer of 1840. Services have been regularly held in it since November, 1840, except at times when it has been undergoing repairs. During the labors of Rev. R. H. Clark, in 1856 the church was enlarged by adding ten feet to the rear. A bell was purchased and placed in the tower of the church during the labors of Rev. James Gutsell.
In 1875, when M. Z. Haskins was pastor, extensive repairs were made amounting to $3,700. At that time the building was lowered, and the use of the basement for the class room and prayer meeting discontinued. The communion service now in use was presented at that time by Mr. R. R. Churchward, who had previously removed from New Woodstock to Fabius. The year before, while the Baptist church was undergoing repairs, the Methodists cordially gave them the privilege of using their church. The opportunity to return the favor was now given and accepted, showing a better spirit than in 1836, when one Baptist brother refused to pay his tax toward paying for the "conference haus" because the church did not allow their Methodist friends to hold meetings in it, therefore he did not wish to pay for a "haus" that Christians could not occupy.
In 1889, the Methodist Ladies' Aid Society added a kitchen. In 1900, a legacy of $1,000, left by John W., son of Marcus L. Underwood, was received from his wife, of Grant Park, Ill. Nearly $500 of the amount has been used in the interior of the building, and probably no village of its size in Madison County possesses as beautiful and attractive a Methodist Episcopal Church edifice.
A few changes may be noted in the church in connection with other charges. As the work advanced and the charges grew in strength and ability, New Woodstock and Delphi became separate charges. It has twice assumed the title of station; and twice been connected with Sheds Corners, to which place it now stands related.
In 1844 the church belonged to Oneida Conference which became a part of Central New York Conference in 1869. During seventy years of existence, it has had sixteen presiding elders and thirty-two pastors. Rev. John Nason is the first pastor mentioned and was located here in 1842, building and living in the house now owned and occupied by Mrs. Andrew Wightman. The pastors following Rev. Mr. Nason appear in their order: E. P. Beebe, Wesley Fox, Andrew Peck, Charles Blakeslee, John H. Hall, T. C. Winslow, Wm. E. York, M. W. Ripley, T. B. Rockwell, Richard H. Clark, L. C. Rogers, James Gutsell, Walter Jerome, Joseph Maxwell, B. W. Hamilton, Hubbard Fox, W. C. McDonald, Alexander Harroun, Theodore F. Clark, H. W. Williams, M. Z. Haskins, W. D. Fox, T. F. Harris, A. C. Smith, O. G. H. Phillips, C. E. Hoag, Virgil W. Mattoon, W. S. Lyon, S. F. Pearse, George, [supply,] and S. S. Pratt, pastor at the present time.
Great revivals have been enjoyed at different times in the history of the church among the most glorious being those in which B. Paddock, W. Batchellor, George Peck, D. D., and the late Bishop J. T. Peck did efficient work. The first church meeting recorded as being held in New Woodstock was on June 27, 1838, Lyman F. Readington, chairman. Lyman Davis clerk. The latter served as clerk continuously for twenty-five years. He was also Sunday school superintendent for many years. January 2, 1841, Japhet Curtis was elected "keeper of the key." In 1842 he had the same office, and his duties were to sweep the house and build the fires for the sum of eight dollars per year. The following year the job of warming, lighting, and sweeping the house, the church furnishing wood and candles, was let to the lowest bidder. Harvey Ellis received the position at eight dollars. Ralph Knight and W. Ely Gunn are others who served as sextons in the early years.
Some of the prominent members in the past were Marcus L. and John L. Underwood, Henry Reeve, Mansier G. Thomas and wife, the latter remembered for her remarkably devoted religious life; their sons, Rev. Joseph L. Thomas, now in New York city, and the late Mansier C. Thomas, Cyrus Scott, and many others.
The present officers in the church are the following: W. S. Huntley, recorder and clerk; George Slocum, treasurer; Adon Allard, sexton; C. A. Fox, chairman of board of trustees.
The officers of the Sunday school are: Albert Wheelock, superintendent; W. S. Huntley, assistant superintendent; Florence Hendee, secretary; R. J. Murdock, treasurer; Mabel Morgan, missionary superintendent.
The first Methodist Parsonage stood on Main street west of where the railroad now is. The house sold for $1,800 in 1872 at the time the railroad was built. It was removed to Bank street, and is now the residence of John Blakeslee.
The present parsonage is on Pearl street. The church property, including parsonage, is worth $5,000.
The Ladies' Aid Society connected with the church has the following officers: President, Mrs. C. A. Buckingham; Vice President, Mrs. A. D. Smith; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. S. S. Pratt.
There is a flourishing society of Christian Endeavor which meets every Sunday evening.
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A select school was incorporated by legislature as New Woodstock Academy, May 2, 1834. The following are extracts from a prospectus and catalogue of this "Academical and Manual Labor Institution, for the session ending March 10, 1837."
This institution is situated in the retired but pleasant healthful and flourishing village of New Woodstock, in the town of Cazenovia, county of Madison, state of New York; six miles south of Cazenovia village, on the main stage route from Ithaca to Utica; about forty miles west of the latter city; sixteen miles west of Hamilton, twenty-four miles east of Homer. The institution is surrounded by a dense and wealthy population, under the influence of a well organized moral and religious society.
Common English branches, per quarter, - - $3.00 Natural Sciences, &c., - - - - 4.00 Mathematics, Languages, &c., - - - 5.00 Musick, Drawing, and Painting, extra.
Rev. John F. Bishop, superintendent and lecturer on Moral Science, and Civil Polity. Joel Whiting, A. B., Professor of Mathematicks, Languages and Rhetorick. David Pease, Professor of Natural Phylosophy, Chemistry, Vocal and Instrumental Musick. Bradley Camp, Assistant and Teacher, Julius W. Hatch, Lecturer on Astronomy. William W. Kinne, M. D., Lecturer on Natural History, and Human Physiology. Miss H. M. Rice, Preceptress and Teacher of Drawing and Painting. Miss A. Kinne, Teacher of Musick and Ornamental Penmanship. Miss S. Crandall, Assistant Teacher.
S. P. Collins, President; R. R. Jenkins, Treasurer; John Morse, John Fisk, Isaac Morse, William Coley, William Savage, Samuel Walker, Harvey Morris, Seth Savage, David Smith, C. Coats, J. Smith, Secretary.
A list of twenty-one names composing an Advisory and Visiting Committee, follows: The towns of Cazenovia, Fabius, Manlius, Syracuse, Fenner, Eaton, Hamilton, Peterboro, Smithville, LeRoy, Henderson, Adams, Watertown, Pulaski, and Cortland are represented, Gerrit Smith, Esq., Rev. O. Montague, Prof. Eaton and Prof. Taylor, Hon. B. Beckwith, and Hon. J. Pettit, being among the number.
Some of the text books in use were: Greek, Fiske's Grammar, Greek Exercises, Jacob's Reader, and New Testament; French, Levizac's Grammar, Boyer's Dictionary, LeBrun's Telemaque, Tradacteur Francois, Bolomar's Phrases; Latin, Latin Lessons, the Reader; Virgil, Exercises, Cicero's Orations, and Adams' Roman Antiquities; Mathematicks, Grund's Day's, and Smyth's Algebra, Geometry, Sperical Trigonometry, Davies' Legendre, Gibson's and Davies' Surveying; Arithmetick, Smith's, Adams' and Emerson's North American; English Grammar, Smith's; Geography, Smith's and Malte Brun's; Botany, Mrs. Lincoln's; Philosophy, Grund's, Olmsted's and Comstock's; Chemistry, Comstock's; History, Robin's Outlines; Rhetoric, Newman's Logic, Whateley's; Civil Polity, Say's; Moral Science, Wayland's.
A stringent code of laws were under the following heads: I. Relating to membership. II. Relating to decorum. III. Special requirements. IV. Relating to Prohibitions.
The following is the list of students with their residences:
| MALES. | MALES. | ||
| J. Bishop, | Cazenovia. | P. H. Lansing, | Fenner. |
| G. E. Beckwith, | " | T. Morris, | Cazenovia. |
| A. Backus, | " | N. Maddock, | Peterboro. |
| A. Blakeslee, | Fenner. | A. Messinger, | Lincklaen. |
| R. C. Beckwith, | Cazenovia. | B. W. Miller, | New Haven. |
| A. Barnes, | Nelson. | E. Matthewson, | Peterboro. |
| R. Bramer, | Cazenovia. | B. W. Mory, | Cazenovia. |
| J. Bodle, | Mecklenburg. | Osgood, | Adams. |
| A. Burges, | Cazenovia. | F. C. Overton, | Henderson. |
| B. G. Collins, | " | G. Pool, | Nelson. |
| G. N. Collins, | " | J. Philips, | Fenner. |
| E. Cleaveland, | " | S. Reeve, | Cazenovia. |
| W. Cole, | Henderson. | Joseph Rice, | |
| W. Corbin, | Cazenovia. | J. Reeve, | Cazenovia. |
| W. Cotes, | " | Rhodes, | Madison. |
| Z. Cadogan, | " | S. Smith, | Cazenovia. |
| C. Curtis, | " | A. Smith, | " |
| Lewis Dodge, | Vernon. | J. Smith, | Fenner. |
| J. C. Dean, | Cazenovia. | L. Savage, | Cazenovia. |
| J. Dryer, | " | Charles Sanderson, | Westmoreland. |
| L. Damon, | " | W. Savage, | Cazenovia. |
| D. J. Downer, | Peterboro. | G. Scott, | " |
| Z. Y. Ensign, | Nelson. | E. A. Simmons, | " |
| C. D. Ensign, | " | E. Simmons, | " |
| C. Frizell, | Cazenovia. | J. C. Stowell, | Cazenovia. |
| N. Graves, | Nelson. | L. E. Swan, | " |
| A. H. Gifford, | Cazenovia. | M. Tucke, | Fenner. |
| S. Greenman, | " | J. Van Horn, | Peterboro. |
| G. Greenman, | Cazenovia. | A. R. Washburn, | " |
| D. Greenman, | " | J. Warren, | Cazenovia. |
| G. Jenkins, | " | W. S. Wright, | Peterboro. |
| C. J. Johnson, | " | D. Walker, | Cazenovia. |
| O. Jaycox, | Mecklenburg. | G. Webber, | " |
| M. J. Jaycox, | " | Peter Voris, | Lysander. |
| H. Kinne, | B. Virgil, | Cazenovia. | |
| S. Lindley, | |||
| FEMALES. | |||
| Jane Bentley, | Cazenovia. | Charlotte Jenkins, | Cazenovia. |
| L. Benedict, | New Woodstock. | Mary Jenkins, | " |
| Sarah Barnard, | Cazenovia. | Harriet LaSure, | DeRuyter. |
| Ruby Ann Cotes, | " | Sophia Lathrop, | Cazenovia. |
| Minerva S. Cotes, | " | Helen Lathrop, | New Woodstock. |
| Abigail B. Cotes, | New Woodstock. | Margaret Morris, | " |
| Martha Cole, | Henderson. | Elizabeth Nickerson, | Cazenovia. |
| Angeline A. Cleaveland, | New Woodstock. | Harriet Newton, | " |
| Ellen Coley, | " | Lucy P. Overton, | Henderson. |
| Cornelia Curtis, | Cazenovia. | Harriet E. Pettit, | Fabius. |
| Cornelia Clark, | New Woodstock. | Mary A. Pettit, | " |
| Amy Downer, | Peterboro. | Abagail A. Roice, | New Woodstock. |
| Sarah M. Dexter, | Erieville. | Lucinda M. Reed, | " |
| Lucinda Everts, | Erieville. | Harriet N. Reed, | Cazenovia. |
| Sally Ann Ensign, | Nelson. | Mary A. Rice, | |
| Diana Ferry, | New Woodstock. | Lucretia S. Rice, | Cazenovia. |
| Mary Ann Fisk, | Cazenovia. | Catharine Stevens, | New Woodstock. |
| H. Maria Griggs, | " | Olive Stowell, | " |
| Julia Gage, | " | Jane Savage, | Cazenovia. |
| Polly Gage, | " | Delany Savage, | " |
| Charlotte Goodell, | " | Elizabeth Savage, | " |
| Julia Greenman, | New Woodstock. | Almy Taylor, | " |
| Malvina A. Greenman, | " | Caroline Thrasher, | " |
| Julia Hendee, | Cazenovia. | Charlotte Ann Wright, | Peterboro. |
| Harriet Hendee, | " | Phebe A. Warren, | DeRuyter. |
| Elizabeth Hendee, | " | Clarissa Walker, | New Woodstock. |
| Males, - - | 72 | Females, - - | 52 | Total, - - | 124 |
The teachers in later years were Truman Crandall, Newton Mann, Albert Kenyon, Francis M. Jones, Carrie Savage, Hattie Bell, Dwight Moffett, Emma Burdick, Addie Tillotson, Elizabeth Atkinson, Mary Coin, Allen H. Forte, Rev. and Mrs. I. K. Brownson, and Mrs. Humphrey, Mr. Montague, Mr. Pease, now a celebrated physician, Joel Whiting, Miss Mary Gibbs, and Mrs. Dr. Bly were early teachers. D. D. Chase, L. L. Ainsworth, Minerva Rockwell, Alice Gardner and James Fenner were also teachers at different periods. Amos Dodge was a teacher in 1808-9.
The school at West Woodstock, years ago, had an attendance of more than one hundred pupils at a time. Elisha Abbott and Philetus Peck were among the teachers.
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