TOWN OF FENNER
From “The History of Chenango and Madison Counties, New York”
by James H. Smith (D. Mason & Co. - Syracuse, New York 1880)
FENNER
was formed from Cazenovia and Smithfield, April 22, 1823, and named, at the
suggestion of Col. Arnold Ballou, in honor of James Fenner, Governor of Rhode
Island. It is an interior town, lying northwest of the center of the county,
and is bounded on the north by Lenox and Sullivan, on the south by Nelson, on
the east by Smithfield, and on the west by Cazenovia. Its surface is a rolling
upland, occupying the most elevated portions of the ridge, which divides the
waters in this county. A branch of Chittenango creek, which forms the major
portion of the west boundary, rises in the eastern part, while the headwaters
of Canaseraga creek and a minor branch of Cowasselon creek lie in the northern
part. These are fed by innumerable streams that issue copiously from the
hillsides in all parts of the town.
Perryville
Falls, on the Canaseraga, are situated but a few rods below, or north of the
depot in Perryville. The water makes a descent of about 150 feet by a
succession of sloping falls, and has apparently, at some time, plunged from a
limestone ledge on a level with the present layer, and on a line with the spurs
which project with some prominence on either bank, 200 to 300 feet in advance
of the ledge over which it now makes its first descent. The huge basin defined
by the banks between these points and the falls has apparently been hollowed
out by the action of the water when its volume was much greater than at
present. The chasm is partially filled with drift and surface washings, which
supports a sparse growth of timber. The valley, which spreads out below the
falls, extending into the town of Sullivan, is one of great beauty.
The
underlying rocks are almost wholly those of the Hamilton group. The limestone
crops out in the north and northwest part. Quarries are opened in the former on
the farm of Elon G. Maine, in the north-east part of the town, and on the Dean
farm in the south-west part, the material obtained being used in the
construction of road beds and fences. Extensive deposits of marl exist in the
northwest corner of the town, on the farm of Charles Keeler, on which also
calcareous tufa crops out in various localities in the bank of Chittenango
creek. They make a good lime, and large quantities are burned and ground. Mr.
Keeler has a lime mill in operation in that locality, to which some five or six
years since he added a small gristmill.
The
soil is a gravelly and clayey loam, well adapted to mixed farming. The cereals
are successfully and quite extensively cultivated, the Hess barley, which was
originated in Fenner, by David Hess, being a staple production, while of hops,
which are the staple product of the county, this town raises the least of any
in the county. Dairying is an important industry, but is carried on less exclusively
than in the more southern towns. There are three cheese factories in the town,
which received the milk of about 800 cows, one at Perryville, built in 1868, by
Webster C. Hill, and owned by Avery & Wadsworth; one on the mile strip,
about three miles south-east of Perryville, built about 1869, by Monroe
Lownsbery, and also owned by Avery & Wadsworth; and one at Fenner Corners,
owned by the widow of William P. Lownsbery, by whom it was built about 1864.
The
Utica, Ithaca and Elmira Railroad, (Cazenovia and Canastota) extends through
that portion of the west border defined by Chittenango Creek. The population of
the town in 1875 was 1,265; of whom 1,139 were native, 126 foreign, 1,258
white, 7 colored, 653 males and 612 females. Its area was 18,935 acres; of
which 15,716 acres were improved, 2,568 woodland, and 651 otherwise unimproved.
The cash value of farms was $974,920; of farm buildings other than dwellings,
$168,810; of stock, $168,280; of tools and implements, $39,008. The amount of
gross sales from farms in 1874 was $117,133.
There
are fourteen common school districts in the town. During the year ending Sept.
30, 1879, there were fourteen licensed teachers at one time during twenty-eight
weeks or more. The number of children of school age residing in the districts
at that date was 421. During that year there were eleven male and seventeen
female teachers employed; the number of children residing in the districts who
attended school was 337; the average daily attendance during the year was 178.443;
the number of volumes in district libraries was 977, the value of which was
$170; the number of school-houses was thirteen, all frame, which, with the
sites, embracing 1 acre and 42 rods, valued at $705, were valued at $4,140; the
assessed value of taxable property in the districts was $548,950.
Receipts
and disbursements for school purposes:
Amount on hand Oct. 1, 1878 $ 1.00
Amount apportioned to districts
1,301.15
Raised by tax 734.87
From teachers' board 56.00
From other sources 25.85
Total receipts $2,118.87
Paid for teachers' wages $1,903.04
Paid for school-houses, sites, fences,
outhouses, repairs, furniture, etc. 49.10
Paid for incidental expenses 144.29
Amount remaining on hand Sept. 30, 1879 22.44
Total disbursements $2,118.87
SETTLEMENTS
The
first settlements are said to have been made in 1793, in the west part of the
town; but they were not probably of a permanent character as the Indian title
was not extinguished till two years later, although the New Petersburgh Tract,
which embraced the major portion of this town, was leased of the Indians by
Peter Smith in 1794. It was subsequent to that time that the important
settlements were begun. The closing years of the last century witnessed the
settlement of many families, among who were Jonathan and James Munger, Alpheus
Twist, John Needham, Thomas Cushing, David Cook, Lt. David Hutchinson, Seneca
Robinson, and John Barber.
Jonathan
Munger was a soldier of the Revolution and came here from Connecticut with his
son James. He settled a mile north of Fenner Corners, on the place now occupied
by his grandson William C. Munger, son of his youngest child, Chauncey, who was
born here in 1802. There he resided until his death in 1808, caused by falling
from the roof of his house. He had two wives, the first of whom died several
years previously, and the second, in 1822. James was a son by his first wife.
He married and settled in Fenner, where he lived till advanced in years, when
he removed to Verona and died there. His children by his second wife were
Horace, Rachel and Eliza. Horace was a soldier in the war of 1812. He married
and settled in Fenner, but afterwards removed to and died at Oconomowoc, Wis.
Rachel married an Aldrich and settled in Fenner, but afterwards removed to
Hamilton, where, after his death, she married James Wickwire, father of the
Wickwires of Hamilton. Jonathan Munger built on the farm on which he settled,
about 1800, the first framed barn in the town. It was built by the scribe and
rule and is still standing. Dr. George B. Munger, of Perryville, is a grandson
of Jonathan Munger's.
Alpheus
Twist was also from Connecticut and settled about a mile south of Fenner
Corners, on the farm now occupied by Orlando Allen and Mr. Bond, where he kept
tavern at an early day and resided till his death. He had three sons and one
daughter, Salem, Alpheus, Charles and Clementine, the latter of whom married
Erastus Parks and settled in Wyoming County. Salem married in Cazenovia and
Charles, a Betsinger, of Clockville. Both settled at first in the county and
Salem died in Cazenovia. None of the family are left here. Twist's wife was the
first person who died in the town; and his son Alpheus was the first white
child born in the town.
John
Needham, who had previously been here and purchased a farm, came from Ingham,
Mass., in 1797 or '98, with his wife, Betsey Cushing, a native of Ingham, whom
he had then just married, and settled a mile west of Fenner Corners, where
Aaron Hyatt now lives, where he died in 1853 and his wife in 1852. They had
seven children, all of whom were born here, Betsey, John, Olivia, Bela C.,
George, Peleg and Juliette. Betsey, Peleg and Juliette died on the homestead of
consumption, unmarried. John married Anna daughter of Samuel Root, of
Farmington, Conn., and settled first in Fenner, afterwards removing to
Cazenovia, where he died May 15, 1852, aged 53. His wife died there Oct. 26,
1879. Olivia lived on the homestead till the death of her father, when she
removed to Cazenovia and died there unmarried. Bela C. married Almy, sister to
his brother John's wife, and settled on a farm adjoining the homestead, to
which he succeeded on the death of his father, and occupied till his removal to
Lowell, Mich., some ten years ago. He is the only one of the family living.
George married Rica Titus and lived for a time on the homestead with his
father. He afterwards removed to Kansas and died there some ten years ago.
Thomas
Cushing and his sons Enos and Hawks settled in the same locality as Needham.
Enos was a surveyor. He pursued that vocation many years, till his death, some
twenty years ago. He was widely and favorably known.
David
Cook came from Rhode Island about 1797 or '98, with an ox team, bringing his
family, consisting of his wife, Lydia Smith, and nine children, Lillis, David,
Lydia, Nancy, Rachel, Mercy, Reuben, Amy and Lovina. They came seventeen miles
through the forest without finding a single inhabitant in all that distance.
Mr. Cook settled a half mile north of Fenner Corners, on a farm of 213 acres,
which included the whole of the Corners lying north of the east and west road.
His house stood near the present residence of Frank White, which remained in
the family till within two years. In his log house his son David opened soon
after they came in the first tavern in the town, and there he also kept tavern
after his son's removal to another location. His wife kept stacked up in the
cupboard a goodly supply of Indian bread, which was facetiously called Mrs.
Cook's library. Mr. Cook was a man of prominence and influence. He was for some
years a justice of the peace and in 1806 became a judge of the Common Pleas
Court, which office he held for several years.
Lieutenant
David Hutchinson came from Connecticut and located on the farm now owned by
William Farnham, where he took up 120 acres, on which he kept tavern and raised
a family of four sons and three daughters. He was a revolutionary soldier. He
continued to reside there till he was advanced in years when he went to live
with his son Loring, in Fenner, and subsequently with his grandson, David
Hutchinson, also in Fenner, where he died Aug. 13, 1853, aged 89. His wife
(Lydia,) died on the homestead March 29, 1834, aged 66. His children were
Loring, Myron, Nancy, Polly, Melissa, Lafayette and Merillo, the latter two of
whom died young. The others, except Myron, who settled in Pennsylvania, married
and settled in Fenner, where all died, except Polly, widow of Harry Woodworth,
who still lives in the town.
Seneca
Robinson, of Irish descent, son of Dr. Isaac Robinson, of Stanford, Vt., came
from there about 1798 or '99, with his family, consisting of his three
children, Clark, Orpha and Francis K., all of whom are dead. He settled about
two miles southeast of Perryville, on the farm now owned by Alvin Wells. He
took up 50 acres of heavily timbered land, three acres of which he cleared the
first year and sowed to wheat and on which he built a log cabin, which he
covered with hollow basswood logs. In 1800 he sold to Enos Wells, went to
Albany and bought 600 acres in Lenox, on the south line, about a mile and a
half from the west corner, all of which, except 50 acres, he sold to different
individuals.
John
Barber was a native of Worcester county, Mass., and emigrated thence to Oneida,
whence in 1799 he removed to Fenner, settling on 142 acres on lot 23. March
14th of that year he married Lavina Thompson, a native of the same place as
himself, whose parents had settled in the town of Madison. He started an
ashery, which was one of the first in this section of country, and with the
exception of ten years spent in Cazenovia, resided here till his death, Nov.
30, 1869, aged 94. His wife died Aug. 31, 1866, aged 84. His son Darlin Barber
succeeded him on the homestead.
Enos
Wells came from Williamstown, Mass., in 1800, with his wife Betsey Smith, and
two children, Elisha and Polly, both of whom are dead. He settled on lot 6, on
the New Petersburgh Tract, a mile and a half north-east of Fenner Corners. The
farm is now owned and occupied by his son Alvin. There he died Dec. 16, 1851,
aged 84; also his two wives, the latter Polly, widow of Rev. Alvin Wales, a
Baptist minister who preached in this locality, June 11, 1859, aged 80. He had
three children by his second wife, Betsey, Menla and Alvin, the latter of whom
is the only one living, on the homestead. The others married and died in
Fenner, though Betsey spent most of her married life in Nelson.
William,
Arnold and George Ballou, brothers, were natives of Smithfield, R. I., and removed
thence in 1800 to Fenner. William married in Rhode Island, and settled a little
north of the residence of Melvin Woodworth, where he and his wife died. None of
their children are left. Arnold, who was born March 26, 1772, married Nancy,
daughter of Judge David Cook, who was born in Adams, Mass., Jan. 10, 1784, and
died in Fenner, May 31, 1857. He settled with his brother William, and there in
company with him, erected on the Canaseraga, the first sawmill in the town. It
was in operation for many years. Arnold afterwards removed to the place now
occupied by John Gostling, about a mile north of Fenner Corners, where he died
Oct. 10, 1833. He was a colonel in the American army during the war of 1812. He
was also an early tavern keeper. George Ballou married Lillis Cook, sister to
Col. Arnold Ballou's wife, and settled in the south edge of Lenox, where John
Brewer now lives. They afterwards removed to Quality Hill in the same town,
where both died. They had three children, all of whom are dead.
James
Cameron, a native of Blair Athol, Scotland, emigrated thence about 1800 to
Fenner, and settled about two and one-half miles west of Peterboro, in the east
edge of Fenner, on a farm which has since remained in the family, being now
occupied by G. Howard, who married his daughter Catharine, the latter of whom
died there in April, 1878. There he resided till his death at an advanced age
about sixty-three years ago. He married in Scotland, Margaret McIntosh.
John
Douglass, another worthy Scot, emigrated from his native country to Johnstown,
about 1799. There he married Abigail Poole, and about 1801 removed to Fenner,
locating in the south-east part of the town about two and one-half miles
south-west of Peterboro. He took up about 110 acres, which were divided between
himself and his brother Daniel, who came with him from Scotland and to this
town. John settled on the farm now occupied by James Campbell, and Daniel, on
the Neil Eastman farm. John and his wife died where they settled, the former
about twenty-five years ago. His wife survived him four years. They had
thirteen children, all born in Fenner, eleven of whom lived to maturity and
married and settled in that locality. Daniel Douglass also married in
Johnstown, Grace Steward, by whom he had nine children, all of whom were born
in Fenner and raised on the farm on which they settled. He afterwards removed
with his family to Caledonia, N. Y., where he died a few years after.
Other
Scotch families who settled early in that locality were those of John Robertson
and Robert Stewart. Robertson settled on the farm now occupied by his grandson
of the same name. There his wife died. He died in Lenox. His son Robert, father
of the present occupant, succeeded him on the homestead farm and resided there
till his death. None of the children of the elder Robertson are living. Robert
Stewart settled on the farm adjoining that of John Stewart on the west, and
resided there till his death, which occurred in Lenox. His first wife died in
Johnstown; whither she went to live with her parents after she was taken sick.
His second wife, Lucy May, died on the homestead farm in Fenner, previous to
his death. He had three sons and three daughters, all by his first wife.
Guy
Hatch, a native of New London, Conn., came from Springfield, Mass., in company
with his brother-in-law, William Parsons, in 1801. Each bought of Peter Smith
75 acres in the southwest part of the town. Hatch settled on the farm now owned
and occupied by his son Leroy, and died there. They made a small clearing, and
in the fall returned to Massachusetts. They came again the following spring and
built a log-house upon the clearing made the previous year, and in the fall
Hatch brought in his family, consisting of his wife, Mary Parsons, and two
children, William and Mary. His wife died on the homestead. Six children were
born here; John, Leonard, Henry, Hannah, Charles and Leroy, of whom three are
living. Gideon Parsons, Guy Hatch's father-in-law, came from Springfield.
Mass., in company with Hatch in the fall of 1802, and brought with him his
wife, Mary, and three sons, Gideon, Walter and Festus, each of whom settled in
that locality. Gideon settled on the farm bought by his son William in 1801,
and died there, he and his wife. It is now owned by Mr. Hyde. William and Festus
succeeded their father on the homestead farm. They afterwards removed to Cicero
and died there. Gideon went west and died there. Walter died in the town of
Cazenovia.
Joel
Downer was a native of Pownall, Vt., and in 1801, at the age of twenty-one, he
removed to the New Petersburgh Tract in Fenner. The following year he purchased
a farm in the east part of the town, and in 1806, on the day of the great
eclipse, married Lovina, daughter of Stephen Risley, an early settler in
Smithfield. Prosperity rewarded his energy and industry. He died in 1864, at
the age of 84. His wife died Sept. 17, 1866, aged 80. Samuel Nichols, who
settled in Cazenovia in 1793, removed thence in 1802 and took up a large farm
on the mile strip, which he and his sons brought to a good state of
cultivation. But few of this numerous family remain in the town. Silas Ballou,
cousin to William, Arnold and George Ballou, came from Providence, R. I., about
1803 or '04 and settled in the east part of the town.
Hezekiah
Hyatt came from North Salem, Westchester County, in 1804, and took up 115 acres
in the south part of the town, a part of which he afterwards sold. He was a
physician and practiced in that locality many years. He died in April 1841, and
his wife, Deborah Crosby, in 1853. They had eight children, only two of whom
are living, Bethiah P., who was born Jan. 17, 1789, married David Truesdell, of
North Salem, Westchester county, and is now living at Nelson Flats, with a
clear mind but a confirmed invalid, and Stephen, who is living on the homestead
in Fenner.
David
Baldwin came from Worcester, Mass., about 1804 or '05, and settled about two
miles south-east of Perryville, on the farm now occupied by William Munger,
where he continued to reside till his death. He lost a leg in Massachusetts by
being run over by an ox team, and though he took up a farm he was principally
employed in making rakes in a small way. His youngest son, Aaron, came in with
him and worked the farm. He married a daughter of Elijah Thompson, of Madison,
and died on that farm a few years after. Others of David's children who came
here within a year or two of that time were John and David. John married in
Massachusetts Ruby King, with whom and some three or four children he settled
on a farm adjoining his father's, which is now cut up into three different
farms and occupied by William Farnham, Frank Hayes and George Woodruff. He
afterwards removed to Nelson to live with his son Palmer, and died there August
11, 1847, aged 75. His wife survived him and went to live with her son-in-law,
Avery Main, in Wayne County, where she died Sept. 3, 1865, aged 91. David, who
married Penelope Miles, came with his wife and seven children about 1806 or
'07, to Lenox, settling in the southwest part of that town, about two miles
north-east of Perryville, where Charles Baldwin, a relative now lives. He
removed about 1812, to his father's farm in Fenner, where he resided till his
death. His wife survived him several years and after his death went to live
with her son Asa in Sullivan, where she died February 9, 1855, aged 83. They
had twelve children, all of whom, except one, lived to maturity, and six of
whom are living, two in Madison county
Alvin in Sullivan, and Celia, widow of George Woodworth, in Fenner. Four
daughters of the elder David Baldwin, Sibyl, Lydia, Abigail and Susan, came to
this county about the same time. The first three married in Massachusetts; the
last here. Sibyl married David Cranson, who settled in Lenox, in the locality
of her brother David, where they lived and died. Lydia married John Miles who
settled on 50 acres of the old Pratt farm adjoining her father's in Fenner.
After some ten years they removed to Chautauqua County and died there. Abigail
married Reuben Green, who settled and died on the Cowasselon in Smithfield.
Susan married Phineas Town, who came with his brothers Abel and Asa from
Massachusetts, and settled on a farm jointly taken up by himself and Abel, who
was a bachelor, and is now occupied by Phineas' son and daughter, Abel and
Susan, both of whom are unmarried. Phineas and his wife died on that farm,
likewise their other two children, Washington and Artemas, who died young. Abel
made his home with his brother Phineas. Asa Town settled in the same locality
on the farm now occupied by Patrick McCarthy. He married here Sibyl, daughter
of David Cranson, and both died on that farm. Their only child Asa is living in
the west.
Other
early settlers were J. D. Turner, who settled in the southwest part of the
town. His sons were George and Robert, the former of whom died many years ago
in Cazenovia, and the latter still lives in Fenner; Martin and Daniel M.
Gillet, who came from Lyme, Conn., and settled about sixty rods east of Fenner
Corners, where they kept an ashery and a store, (which is believed to have been
the first in the town,) in the building, which, having been removed, is now
occupied as a residence by Augustus Daniels. He served many years as Justice
and Supervisor and was a Member of Assembly in 1823 and again in 1832. He died
August 28, 1853, aged 71; Thomas Wilson, who settled a mile west of Fenner
Corners, where Wallace Woodworth now lives, and died there June 2, 1822, aged
75; Erastus Woodworth, who came here from Rensselaer county, and settled about
a mile east of Fenner Corners, and afterwards removed to a farm about a mile
and a half west of the Corners, where Mr. Bassett now lives. He died August 7,
1861, aged 80, and Hannah, his wife, Dec. 3, 1843, aged 56; Benjamin Woodworth,
who settled about two miles north-east of Fenner Corners, where the widow of
his son, Major George Woodworth, now lives with her son George, who carries on
the farm. He died August 5, 1842, aged 83, and Survivah his wife, Oct. 20,
1837, aged 73. His father, Lemuel Woodworth, died here August 15, 1804, aged
70. None of Benjamin's children are left here. The last one, Major George, was
killed by the cars at Canastota, June 28, 1878, aged 73; (???) Page, who
located in the north part of the town; Col. Elisha Farnham, who was born in
Hampton, Conn., Sept. 24, 1768, settled in the south part of the town in 1797,
and died Jan. 7, 1848; Ithuriel Flower, Amos Webster and Amanda Munger, who
also settled in the south part; Samuel and Zattu Payne, who settled in the east
part of the town; Timothy Foster, who settled on a farm adjoining Thomas
Wilson's on the south, and was killed at an early day by the fall of a tree;
Drake Sellick, who died April 25, 1862, aged 73; Russell Ransom, who came from
Schoharie county in 1811, and took up a large farm near Perryville, and died
June 4, 1861, and Elizabeth, his wife, Nov. 2, 1855, aged 71; Asa Dana, a
Revolutionary soldier, who settled in the south part of the town in 1800, whose
talents and enterprise tended largely to promote the development of that
section, and whose family have filled positions of high responsibility and
honor in various parts of the State; and many others who are deserving of
mention, but too numerous for the scope of this work.
TOWN
OFFICERS. The first town meeting was
held in the school-house near David Cook, Jr.'s, May 6, 1823, and the following
named officers were elected: Daniel M. Gillet, Supervisor; Sardis Dana, Clerk;
John Needham, William Esselstyne and Ralph J. Gates, Assessors; John F. Hicks,
Collector; John Needham and Samuel Nichols, Overseers of the Poor; Samuel Ives,
Amasa Ives, Jr., and Noah Blakeslee, Commissioners of Highways; John F. Hicks
and William Nichols, Constables; Sardis Dana, William Doolittle and Daniel
Pratt, Commissioners of Common Schools; John Needham, Jr., Federal Dana and
Erastus E. Park, Inspectors of Common Schools; David Cook, Pound Master.
The
following list of the town officers of Fenner for the year 1880-'81 was kindly
furnished by George M. Hutchinson:
Supervisor Andrew Whipple.
Town
Clerk George M. Hutchinson.
Justices
Charles S. Hyatt, Norman B. Hill,
Fisher A. Cushing, Marshall M. Gallup.
Assessors Marlin Lyon, Lysander Woodworth, Melvin
Woodworth.
Commissioner
of Highways William Burke.
Overseer
of the Poor Augustus Bumpus.
Constables Frank Faulkner, D. R. Robinson, A. Nash.
Collector Eugene Davis.
Inspectors
of Election James Bixby, Paul S.
Maine, Rufus May.
Game
Constable Orrin Austin.
The
following have been the Supervisors of the town from its organization to the
present time:
1823,
Daniel M. Gillet; 1824-26, Czar Dykeman; 1827, Nathaniel Hazelton; 1828-31,
Daniel M. Gillet; 1832-3, Nathaniel Hazelton; 1834, Asa Blakeslee; 1835-6, John
Needham; 1837-9, Sardis Dana; 1840, Charles G. Dibble; 1841-2, Walter Clough;
1843-8, Robert G. Stewart; 1849, David Hess; 1850, Sergeant Britt; 1851, R. G.
Stewart; 1852, Jesse Watson; 1853, D. Miner Gillet; 1854, John Hill; 1855,
Hervey W. Kendall; 1856, Thomas Marshall; 1857-8, Asa R. Maine; 1859, Asahel A.
Annas; 1860-1, James Monroe Lownsbery; 1862-3, L. Vander C. Hess; 1864-6, Orra
B. Hamblin; 1867, L. Vander C. Hess; 1868, John Woodcock; 1869, Theodore Mead;
1870, John Wilson*; 1871, John Woodcock; 1872-3, J. Somers Hill; 1874-5; Norman
B. Hill; 1876-7, Charles W. Barrett; 1878-80, Andrew Whipple.
*John
Woodcock was elected Supervisor at a special town meeting vice John Wilson
resigned.
PERRYVILLE
Perryville
is situated on the north line of the town and lies partially in the three towns
of Fenner, Sullivan and Lenox, but principally in the former two, the east and
west road running through the village being the town line. It is on the line of
the Utica, Ithaca & Elmira Railroad, and is about equi-distant from
Cazenovia and Canastota. It contains two churches, (Episcopal and Methodist
Episcopal,) two district schools, one store, a gristmill, a saw-mill, a cheese
factory, one hotel, two blacksmith shops, (E. S. Marshall and Daniel S. Hill,)
one shoe shop, (David Nash,) a wagon shop, (David H. Coon,) and a population of
278. It is located on the upper waters of Canaseraga creek, and though the
stream is small, the fine fall supplies several good mill sites. Perryville was
formerly of more commercial importance than at present. Its decline may be said
to date from the panic of 1837, to which some of its most prominent businessmen
succumbed. It received a blow at that time from which it never fully recovered.
It is not likely to regain its former prestige. The multiplication of railroads
tends to lessen its chances, and its location brings it in sharp competition
with rival villages that surround it. It is distant seven miles each from
Canastota, Chittenango depot, (with the village of Chittenango intermediate,)
Cazenovia, Peterboro and Nelson.
MERCHANTS. The first merchants at Perryville were Tyre
& Cole, who came here about 1811, and opened a store in a building which
stood near the bridge and was afterwards converted into a dwelling house. The
Weeks Brothers came here from Paris about the close of the war of 1812 and
traded in the building now used as a hop house by John Hill. Captain Justus
Durkee, a sea captain, and (???) Bowen preceded the Weeks Brothers, and
occupied a building that stood on the opposite side of the road from their
store and nearer the creek, near where Ziba Cloyes now lives, but neither of
them remained. William Doolittle came here from Paris about 1820 and traded
till his failure about 1828, when he removed to Chittenango and taught school
winters. He died April 20, 1854, aged 57. Samuel Hill and (???) Stillson, both
from Jamesville, succeeded Doolittle and traded some three years. Hill returned
to Jamesville; Stillson went west. Leonard Gough came from Plainfield, Conn.,
and lived on the farm now occupied by William Sellick, which he sold to Buckley
Brainard, who soon after sold to Drake Sellick. Gough engaged in mercantile
business about 1835 and continued till his death, about 1850. He was for much
of the time the only merchant here. John Hill, who had previously kept tavern
on the Peterboro road, about a mile south-east of Perryville, commenced trading
here about 1839 and continued till about 1858 or '59, engaged also a part of
the time in milling and distilling. He was associated in mercantile business
some four or five years with his brother-in-law, Mason Annas, and subsequently
with his son, Webster C. Hill, who succeeded him in the business about 1858 or
'59, and continued it till the spring of 1875, with the exception of three
years when he was engaged in cheese making. John Hill was the youngest son of
Daniel Hill and was born in Deerfield, Oneida County, in 1800. About 1807, his
father removed to Lenox and settled on the mile strip, where he took up quite a
large farm, which he afterwards sold and bought in Fenner the farm still known
as the Hill farm, and now occupied by his grandson, Stephen Hill. In 1837, John
Hill bought of Enoch Dykeman the grist-mill property in Perryville, which he
sold after some five years to Lobdell & Rich.
H.
L. Keeler commenced trading here in 1864, and Feb. 7, 1876, sold to Paul S.
Maine, a native of Fenner, who is the present merchant.
POSTMASTERS
The
post-office at Perryville is believed to have been established in 1816, with
Oren S. Avery as the postmaster. He held the office till his death, Aug. 3,
1836. Mr. Avery was one of Perryville's ablest, most enterprising and highly
respected men. He was prominently identified with the most substantial
interests of the village and active in promoting the varied industries of his
day. He carried on the tanning business in Perryville in the building now
standing unused near the residence of Norman Hill, and in connection with it an
extensive boot and shoe factory, which employed many hands. He was succeeded in
the post-office by Silas Judd, who held it till about 1845; Leonard Gough, 1845
to 1849; Ira Bates, 1849 to 1851; Silas Judd, 1851 to 1854; Orrin J. Woodworth,
till April 1, 1859; Joseph V. Wells, till April 1, 1861; Webster C. Hill, till
Oct. 13, 1871; H. L. Keeler, till Feb. 29, 1876; John Hill, Oct. 21, 1876; and
Paul S. Maine, the present incumbent, who was appointed Oct. 21, 1876.
PHYSICIANS
John
Didama, father of Dr. Henry D. Didama, of Syracuse, came here from Germany
about 1810 or '12, and married here Lucinda Gaylord. He practiced medicine here
a great many years, as late as about 1843, though not much during the latter
years. When he had become advanced in years he went to live with his son
Edward, first at Ovid, afterwards at LeRoy, where he died. After his death his
wife returned to live with her only daughter, Antoinette, (who became the wife
of Asahel Annas,) and died in Cazenovia. Three sons are living, Edward, in
Orleans county, Simon, in Michigan, and Dr. Henry D., in Syracuse. Dr. Reed and
Nelson Powers practiced here about a year, about 1833 or '34. Reed removed to
Chittenango and afterwards to Oswego. Powers removed from here to Peterboro and
from thence after a few years to Syracuse, where he died a few years ago.
Powers R. Mead came here from Nelson as early as 1835 or '36 and practiced till
about 1852, when he removed to Nelson. Theodore Mead, a native of New
Hampshire, removed thence to Auburn and subsequently to Nelson, where he
studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Onesimus Mead. He subsequently attended a
course of lectures at Geneva Medical College and was licensed by the Censors of
Madison County. He commenced practice in Nelson about 1847, and in 1851 removed
thence to Perryville, where he practiced till June, 1874, when he removed to
Cazenovia, and from there April 1, 1877, to Oneida, where he is now practicing.
John H. Ramsey came here from Ohio about 1845 and practiced till about 1852 or
'53, when he removed to Connecticut. He returned here after about a year and
died March 20, 1854, aged 60.
Dr.
Sylvanus Guernsey located about a mile southeast of Perryville and practiced
there several years, till about 1832 or '33, when he went west. Dr. Cornwall
practiced in the same locality a short time. He also went west.
The
present physicians are: George B. Munger, who was born in Fenner, Oct. 13,
1835, educated at Cazenovia Seminary, studied medicine in Perryville with Dr.
Theodore Mead, was graduated at the University Medical College of New York in
March, 1862, commenced practice with his preceptor at Perryville, removed after
six months to Morrisville, and from thence March 1, 1863, to Munnsville, where
he practiced seven years and then returned to Perryville; Benjamin Rush Mead,
who was born in Nelson, Oct. 5, 1850, educated at Cazenovia Seminary, studied
medicine with his father, Dr. Theodore Mead, at Perryville, was graduated at
New York University in the winter of 1872-'73, and entered upon the practice of
his profession in Perryville in the spring of 1873; George W. Miles, a native
of Auburn, where he studied medicine with Dr. Button, a former physician of the
Insane Department of Auburn Prison, a graduate of Hamilton College and of
Columbus College, Ohio, who came to Perryville from Auburn in June, 1879.
MANUFACTURES
The
Perryville Mills. The first grist-mill
in Fenner was located on the site of David Nash's residence. It was built soon
after 1800 by Richard Card, and now forms the shed to the present gristmill,
which was built in 1824 by Enoch Dykeman, who succeeded Mr. Card in the
proprietorship of the former one. The property came into possession of the
present proprietor, E. S. Hamblin, in 1877. He bought of E. G. Crosby. The mill
contains two runs of stones, which are propelled by water from the Canaseraga,
which has a fall of twenty-four feet. It is in Fenner.
The
saw, cider and planing mill located near the depot in Perryville (in the town
of Sullivan,) was originally used for carding wool and cloth dressing, a
business which was established here in 1815 by Alpheus Britt, who had followed
cloth dressing in Dansville, Vt., whence he removed about 1809 or '10 to Lenox,
locating about a mile south of Canastota, where he established and pursued the
same business till his removal in 1815 to Perryville, where he pursued wool
carding and cloth dressing in a building which occupied the site of the above
works till 1831, when he transferred the business to his son, Sergeant, who
continued it some twenty years till it became unprofitable, having erected,
about 1835, the present building, which he owned till 1861, though he had used
it only as a cider-mill during the last ten years of his occupancy. In 1861 E.
S. Hamblin bought the property and converted it into a saw and planing mill. He
carried on that business till the fall of 1877, when he sold to E. G. Crosby,
who sold to the present proprietor, Abram Colyer, in 1879. It is situated on
the Canaseraga, which furnishes the motive power, with a fall of sixteen feet.
The first saw-mill in Perryville was built in 1811 by Abram Wendell, a little
above Perryville Falls.
Alpheus
Britt bought of Peter Smith a farm of some 115 acres, including the site of his
manufactory, and after transferring that to his son, confined his energies to
his farm, which he had previously managed in connection with his other
business, and continued till his death, Sept. 23, 1844, aged 66.
The
tannery established at an early day by Mr. Glass, the extensive boot and shoe
manufactory established by Oren S. Avery, who succeeded to the proprietorship
of the tannery in 1817, and the several shops connected with the manufacture of
carriages, established by Eli Blakeslee at a later period, were important
institutions in their day; but the former were discontinued with the death of
Mr. Avery in 1836, and the latter crippled by the failure of Mr. Blakeslee the
same year.
HOTELS
The
Perryville House was built about 1825 or '26 by Simeon Jenkins, who kept it a
few years. The present proprietor is William T. Cross, who has kept it since
March, 1857. The first tavern in the village was built at an early day by Enoch
Dykeman, and was kept for some years by Alpheus Britt. It is now occupied as a
residence by Edwin S. Hamblin, the proprietor of the grist-mill in Perryville.
CHURCHES
St.
Stephen's Church (Episcopal,) at Perryville, was organized Sept. 18, 1816,
before there was any church organization of this denomination in Buffalo,
Rochester, Syracuse, Oswego or Watertown, and when there were but two parishes
in Oneida county St. Paul's, of Paris
Hill, the oldest in western New York, organized in 1797, and Trinity, of Utica,
organized in 1804. This is an offshoot from the Paris Hill parish. Bishop
Hobart visited this parish twice, at least, and administered confirmation, the
first time Oct. 22, 1819, when he confirmed nine persons, and again Sept. 20,
1827, when he confirmed six persons.
The
following named clergymen also at various times and on various occasions
officiated in this parish, part of the services being occasional by clergymen
from Paris Hill and Manlius: Revs. William A. Clark, Amos Pardee and Z. Geere
were the first. Afterwards appear the names of Revs. Dyer. Hollister, Wheeler,
J. Bulkley and J. B. Youngs. Then Amos Pardee's name appears again; so also
Rev. Marcus Perry officiated here about this time and taught a select school,
as did some others of the clergy. Rev. Mr. Huse (probably Nathaniel,)
officiated a few times at this period. About 1830 Rev. David Huntington
commenced services and remained till some time in 1831. During his ministry
there were about fifty communicants. In 1831 Rev. Mr. Northrop took charge of
the parish, and Sept. 1st of that year Bishop Onderdonk visited the parish and
confirmed a class of eight. Northrop officiated here as late as 1835, and
occasionally in Augusta and Eaton. From this time to about 1848, Rev. William
Webber officiated both here and at Peterboro, where he lived, and on account of
ill health occupied part of his time in cultivating a farm. From this time till
1868 the parish depended principally on such services as could be rendered by
the rectors of St. Peter's, Cazenovia. Dr. Coxe officiated in the parish more
or less for about two years, and since then Dr. Smith gave such services as he
could.
In
1851 Dr. Smith reported the parish as being "old and feeble." It had
but 18 families, 100 individuals and 25 communicants.
In
1868, there were nine communicants. H. V. Gardiner was the rector for a few
months in that year. He was succeeded by Rev. J. D. S. Pardee, who commenced a
rectorship of nearly two years' duration about 1870, and preached also at
Chittenango, where he was located, dividing his time between the two places. E.
A. Ely succeeded him after an interval of a few months and remained about a
year, also officiating in St. Paul's Church, Chittenango. Robert Paul became
the rector Feb. 8, 1874, about a year after Ely left, and continued his labors
till Sept. 18, 1878, having, after the first year, officiated also at
Chittenango, Canastota and Peterboro. William Stone Howard officiated from Oct.
13, 1878, to April 25, 1879, in connection with the parishes of Chittenango,
Canastota, and parts adjacent. There have been no services since then (Nov. 20,
1879). The present number of communicants is 31.
Their
church was built some forty-six years ago, and was consecrated by Bishop
Onderdonk Sept. 5, 1833, Rev. Beardsley Northrop being then the rector.
The
Methodist Episcopal Church of Perryville was organized as a class under the
leadership of Charles Blakeslee in 1831, at which time there were but four
Methodists in the place, viz: Charles Blakeslee, Buckley Brainard, Simeon
Pennock and Samuel Pennock. Large accessions to this number were soon received,
and Perryville was made a regular preaching place on Lenox circuit. Charles
Blakeslee afterwards attained considerable eminence as a clergyman in the
Methodist Episcopal church. He died, widely and deeply mourned, Aug. 20, 1875,
aged 66.
The
early meetings were held in the schoolhouse, which stood a little west of the
Methodist parsonage, and in the upper story of Eli Blakeslee's wagon shop. They
were continued in the latter till the church now in use was erected, in 1839.
The deed for the lot on which the church stands is dated May 17, 1839, and was
executed by John Hill and Isyphene, his wife, to David Irish, Sanford Tuttle
and John W. House, trustees of this church. The church was dedicated in the fall
of 1839. It was extensively repaired and enlarged in 1865, at a cost of about
$1,500. The church property at Perryville, is valued at $2,500, and at
Chittenango Falls, which is on this charge, at $1,500. The parsonage, which is
located at Perryville, was bought in 1867 and repaired in 1873. It is valued at
$1,000. The membership at Perryville is 54 and at Chittenango Falls, 32.
Perryville
was for many years included in the Lenox circuit, Cayuga district. In 1838, the
Cazenovia district was organized and Lenox fell within its limits. It remained
on the Lenox circuit till 1859, in which year it became a charge. In 1869, the
church, which had been previously in the Oneida Conference, became a part of
the Central New York Conference.
The
following have been the appointments since its organization: Roswell Parker,
1831; B. G. Paddock and J. Watson, 1832; E. L. North, (now living at South
Onondaga,) 1833; James Atwell and Zetto Barnes, 1834; J. Atwell and B. G.
Paddock, 1835; B. G. Paddock, 1836; James Kelsey and D. Anthony, 1837; W. W.
White and D. Anthony, 1838; Z. Barnes and Isaac Foster, 1839; Ezra Squire,
1840; W. W. White, 1841; John Young, 1842; L. H. Stanley and A. Benjamin, 1843;
E. C. Brown, and Charles Blakeslee, 1844; E. C. Brown and George Colegrove,
1845; L. Bowdish and O. Hesler, 1846; L. Bowdish and (???), 1847; Wesley Fox,
1848; W. Fox and J. P. Newman, (whose name is now national,) 1849; L. Anderson
and R. H. Clarke, 1850; L. Anderson and L. Hartsough, 1851; T. B. Rockwell and
T. Harroun, 1852; A. T. Matteson and F. W. Tooke, 1853; A. Benjamin and A. J.
Grover, 1854; George W. Smith and Arvine C. Bowdish, 1855; A. Button and W. A.
Wadsworth, 1856; James Gutsell and William Adams, 1857; James Gutsell and W. D.
Fox, 1858; O. N. Hinman, 1859; W. Curtis, 1860; William H. Curtis, 1861; H. C.
Hall, 1862; Hezekiah C. Hall, 1863; A. Brown, 1864; Joseph B. Sherar, 1865-'66;
W. F. Tooke, 1867; Wesley F. Tooke, 1868; Lyman A. Eddy, 1869; A. Harroun,
1870-'72; A. C. Smith, 1873-'74; F. W. Tooke, 1875-'77; J. Lloyd Jones, the
present pastor, who entered upon his labors in October, 1878.
CHITTENANGO FALLS
CHURCHES
Methodist
Episcopal Church at Chittenango Falls.
The earliest meetings which resulted in the organization of this church
were held at the school-house in the winter of 1843-44, and were conducted by
Rev. Jesse Watson, under whose labors 40 or more were converted. The church was
organized June 4, 1844, and the house of worship built the same year at
Chittenango Falls at a cost of about $800. About the year 1865 an addition and
repairs were made at an expense of about $1,600. The original number of members
was about 30, among who were Benjamin Wormuth and family, S. B. Howard, Philo
Hutchinson, Abram and Isaac Wormuth, E. D. Robbins, Martin Watkins. Asaph
Humaston, though not a member, gave the site for the church. Benjamin Robbins
and Thomas Clay, though members of other churches, contributed to the building
of a house of worship. Present membership about 56. Among the ministers we find
Revs. Button, Wadsworth, Brown, Thomas and A. Harroun, Gutsell, Gray, Winslow,
Fox, W. F. Tooke and F. W. Tooke, Smith, Sherar, Adams, Brooks, Himnan,
Bowdish, Curtis, Blakeslee, Hall, Eddy, J. L. Jones (present pastor,) and
others. The choir has been sustained and led from the organization of the
church to the present time by Lysander Nourse, who has proven himself eminently
worthy of the position. About 1870 an organ was purchased for the church. The
present choir consists of L. Nourse, Esq., H. J. Nourse, George Adams, Mrs.
Nettie Johnson, Mrs. Fannie Mead, Mrs. Arletta Winchell and Mrs. Libbie
Wormuth; Miss Eva Brown, organist.
FENNER CORNERS
Fenner
Corners is situated near the center of the town and contains one church,
(Baptist,) a district school, a blacksmith shop, kept by Perry Tibbitts, and
nine families. In consonance with the New England custom of developing the
geographical center this place gave early promise of becoming the center of
Fenner's business enterprises; but the natural advantages of Perryville
determined this question in its favor, and the utilization of its waterpower
sapped the commercial vitality of the Corners.
MERCHANTS
The
first merchants were the Gillets (Martin and Daniel M.,) previously adverted
to. Charles F. Kellogg came from Cazenovia some fifty years ago and traded a
short time in the store formerly occupied by the Gillets, which had stood
vacant for some time. Hiram Preston came from Cazenovia some thirty-five years
ago and traded about a year and a half in the building which stood just south
of the house now occupied as a dwelling by Messrs. Daniels and Hutchinson, and,
having been removed to the east road is now occupied as a residence by the
widow of William Lownsbery. Martin Woodworth traded there about six months in
1861, having previously carried on blacksmithing at the Corners. He exchanged
for a farm, with Daniel Sayles, who traded about a year. Perry Tibbitts came
from Cazenovia in the spring of 1875, and traded a short time. Augustus Daniels
came from Cazenovia in the fall of 1878, and traded a few months.
POSTMASTERS
The
first post-office at Fenner Corners was established between 1820 and 1825, and
Ebenezer Dunton was the first postmaster. He held the office several years, and
was succeeded by Elias Munger, who held it a little more than eleven years,
Anthony Barrett, who held it till his death, and was followed by his son
William, daughter Caroline and son Charles, the latter of whom held the office
till 1865. Many changes have taken place within the last fourteen years. During
that time it has been held by Alanson Roach, Frank W. Dewey, Lawrence Young,
Joseph Mathers, VanBuren Stafford, William Lownsbery, Alfred Loomis, Walter K.
Smith and Perry Tibbitts, the latter of whom is the present postmaster, having
received the appointment May 8, 1876.
PHYSICIANS
The
only physician who located at Fenner Corners was Powers R. Mead, who came here
from Nelson and practiced about two years previous to his removal to
Perryville.
Dr.
Daniel Pratt came from Belchertown, Mass., his native place, previous to 1800,
in company with his brothers Jonathan and James, the former of whom was the
pioneer physician in Madison, and the latter in Eaton. He studied medicine in
Madison with his brother Jonathan. He returned to Belchertown, and in 1804,
established himself in the practice of his profession in Maine. In 1814 he
removed to Fenner, locating on a farm of fifty acres a mile and a half north of
Fenner Corners, nearly midway between Fenner and Perryville. There he practiced
his profession many years, cultivating at the same time his farm, to which he
more exclusively devoted himself as he advanced in years. He took an active
part in town affairs, held various minor offices, and was deeply interested in
educational matters. He died Nov. 18, 1864, aged 83, and his wife Jan. 11,
1849, aged 73. His children were Darwin D., Sally, Harriet and William.
The
Fenner Baptist Church was organized August 23, 1801, by Elder Thomas Tuttle,
with seven members, as follows: John Fisher, Moses Davis, Isaac Davis, Thomas
Robbins, Daniel Woodworth, Elizabeth Munger and Jonathan Munger. All, except
the last, who joined by letter, had been recently baptized. They were
recognized by a council, which convened at the house of Jonathan Munger June 3,
1802.
The
first baptism occurred April 25, 1802. The ordinance was performed by Elder
Nathan Baker, of De Ruyter; the candidates were: Seth Smith, Lydia Smith, David
Hutchinson, Lydia Hutchinson, John Barber, Lovina Barber, Eunice Davis and
Lydia Miles, the last survivor of whom, John Barber, died Nov. 30, 1869, aged
94. His wife, Lovina, died three years previously, Aug. 31, 1866, aged 84.
Frequent
meetings were held, though without a pastor, till Jan. 15, 1803, when they
voted to call Elder Nathan Baker to preach to them once every two weeks. Jan.
22, 1803, they "voted to allow Elder Nathan Baker $1.50 for the six
Sabbaths past on which he has served us." A few months after they voted
him the same compensation for every Sabbath's labor, and, to provide the means
therefor, to raise $20, one-fourth of which was to be paid at the close of the
year, and the rest in "three equal quarterly payments thereafter."
This was to be averaged on the property of each individual member, the church
property in the aggregate being assessed at $358. Their meetings were held in
school and dwelling houses in different parts of the town till 1820, when their
house of worship was built.
Aug.
24, 1804, they licensed Jacob Crapsey to preach, calling him at the same time
to preach to them every other Sabbath. This he continued to do till April 14,
1805. During the succeeding four years they were supplied by several ministers,
chiefly Elders Truman Beman and Roswell Beckwith, having, however, only
occasional preaching.
January
20, 1809, they called, as their first pastor, Rev. Alvin Wales, who labored
with them till his death, June 2, 1810, having, during his brief pastorate,
baptized thirteen. They were without a pastor till March 25, 1811, when they
engaged Rev. Nathaniel Moore, who remained till Nov. 9, 1817. April 8, 1818,
Nathaniel Cole, who was one of the subjects of a revival experienced during the
pastorate of Elder Moore, was ordained to the ministry and labored with his
church till May, 1825, when his health failed and he resigned. He died July 4,
1828. Nov. 26, 1825, Rev. Samuel Gilbert was engaged as pastor. He served them
seven years and baptized 72. After his departure Rev. David Searls supplied the
church till March 15, 1833. In April, 1853, Rev. Orrin Beckwith was invited to
become the pastor. He accepted and remained two years. Rev. H. C. Skinner next
served a like period and baptized 26. At this time the church numbered 195.
Some time in 1837, Rev. Aaron Parker was engaged as pastor. He resigned May 10,
1840, having baptized ten. Succeeding the resignation of Elder Parker the
church was without a pastor nearly a year, but was supplied by several pastors,
among whom were Elders F. P. Hall, Brownson, Glanville and Dill. Feb. 11, 1841,
Rev. Samuel Davison was engaged as pastor, but he served them only seven
months. The church was supplied by Elder Parmalee for a few months, till April,
1842, when Rev. S. C. Ainsworth entered upon his duties as pastor. He preached
one year. In May, 1843, Rev. J. B. Pixley was called to the pastorate. He
resigned April 1, 1847. June 16, 1847, Rev. Bela Palmer was called to the
pastoral care of the church. He remained till April 1, 1851, when he resigned.
During his pastorate 23 were baptized and the church edifice thoroughly
repaired. For about six months after his departure, the church was chiefly
supplied by Rev. Judson Davis.
Dec.
7, 1851, Rev. D. B. Collins was invited to the pastorate. He labored faithfully
and acceptably till the fall of 1854, when he resigned, having baptized 28.
Dec. 23 and 24, 1851, the semi-centennial of the church's existence was
celebrated; and Oct. 13, 1853, R. S. Dean was ordained to the ministry.
The
pastoral changes were now quite frequent. Towards the close of 1854 Rev. C. E.
Brown was engaged. He labored two years and resigned. In May, 1855, Judson Goff
was licensed to preach. In 1856, Rev. R. Z. Williams commenced a two years'
pastorate. For the next three years they were without a pastor, but were
supplied by Rev. L. E. Swan, of Cazenovia, and by students from Hamilton. Among
the latter who served the longest in this capacity were G. L. Lasher and
William James. Rev. Jesse N. Seeley was engaged as pastor in 1861, and served
them one year; followed in 1862 by Rev. A. Graham, who served them two years;
and in 1864 by Rev. P. L. Hakes, who served them till December, 1867, when
failing health compelled the acceptance of his resignation. He died April 3,
1868. October 27, 1867, E. M. Barber was called as a supply. He continued as
such till Oct. 1, 1868, when he was ordained pastor, which relation he still
sustains.
When
the church was first organized it was designated The Third Baptist Church of
Christ in Cazenovia. When the town of Smithfield was formed, the membership
falling largely within its limits, the name was changed to The Baptist Church
in Smithfield. This name was retained till the formation of Fenner, when the
present name was assumed.
Duning
the Association year, ending June 1879, the church edifice was thoroughly
repaired and greatly beautified, $3,000 having been expended in that object.
The church was reported out of debt. Its membership was 99. The Sabbath School,
of which J. W. Davis was superintendent, was composed of nine officers and
teachers and forty scholars.
WAR OF THE REBELLION
At
a special town meeting held Saturday, Jan. 1, 1863, at I P. M., at the house of
Mrs. Sarah A. Barrett, it was resolved to raise not to exceed $2,800, to be
applied to the payment of bounties; and John Wilson and L. V. C. Hess and a
third person to be appointed by them, were delegated to raise by loan on the
credit of the town, to be reimbursed Jan. 10, 1864, the amount necessary to
secure the 28 men needed to fill the quota of 52. This action was sanctioned by
a vote of 64 to 53.
A
special meeting was held at the same place Tuesday, Aug. 30, 1864, and it was
voted to pay a bounty of $600 to each volunteer for one year to the number
necessary to fill the quota under the call for 500,000 men. O. B. Hamblin, John
Wilson and Joseph Stafford were appointed by the Town Board a disbursing
committee to carry into effect the provisions of that resolution.
At
a special meeting held at the same place Jan. 5, 1865, it was resolved to raise
a sufficient amount to pay a bounty of $400 for one year's, $500 for two
years', and $600 for three years' volunteers, to fill the quota under the call
of Dec. 19, 1864. L. V. C. Hess, Ora B. Hamblin and John Woodcock were
appointed a committee to disburse said money, and were allowed as compensation
for such services $2 per day and "cash expences" for the time
actually spent therein.
The amount raised by Fenner by tax for war
purposes was $ 11,116.79
The amount received by Fenner from the
State for war purposes was 13,200.00
Total $24,316.79
The
number of men raised by Fenner for the army during the war was 75, of whom only
one appears from the record to have been a native of the town, and one, Henry
Hall, was drafted. Of the number 8 enlisted in Fenner, 44 in Oswego, and the
rest in various places, mostly in this county; 17 enlisted for one year, 2 for
two years, 43 for three years, and 3 for twenty months. They were distributed
among the various branches of the service as follows: 1 in the 24th, 5 in the
35th, 1 in the 75th, 9 in the 114th, 2 in the 110th, 4 in the 157th, 8 in the
184th, (New York,) and 30 in the 16th (U. S.) infantry regiments; 2 in the 22d
cavalry regiment; 1 in the 1st N. Y. Lt. Artillery; and 1 in Bates' Battery, 2d
N. Y. Artillery.
Statement
of bounties paid, as exhibited by the record:
1 received a town bounty of $200
2 received a town bounty of $400
1 received a town bounty of $450
1 received a town bounty of $500
14
received a town bounty of $600
1 received a town bounty of $720
5
received a town bounty of $750
4 received county bounty of $100
45
received a town bounty of $300
