TOWN OF MADISON
From “The History of Chenango and Madison Counties, New York”
by James H. Smith (D.
Mason & Co. - Syracuse, New York 1880)
MADISON
was formed from Hamilton, February 6, 1807, and named in honor of President Madison.
It lies upon the east border of the county, south of the center, and is bounded
on the north by Augusta and Stockbridge, on the south by Hamilton, on the east
by Brookfield and Sangerfield, and on the west by Eaton. It corresponds with
No. 3 of the Chenango Twenty Townships. Its surface is a rolling upland,
abundantly watered, the principal streams being the headwaters of a branch of
the Chenango flowing south, and the headwaters of a branch of Oriskany Creek
flowing north. There are several ponds in the town, the principal of which is
Madison Brook Reservoir in the south part, which covers an area of 235 acres,
is 45 feet deep, and is connected with the Chenango Canal by a feeder two miles
in length. The ponds in the north part are rapidly filling with deposits of
marl.
The
town is wholly underlaid by the rocks of the Hamilton group, but there is no
stone of any consequence quarried within its borders. It is generally deeply
covered with drift, and cobble-stone cellar walls and to a less extent cobble-stone
houses and other buildings prevail throughout the town to a noticeable extent.
The soil upon the hills is a clayey loam and in the valleys a gravelly loam,
being well adapted to mixed farming. Hops form the great staple production of
the town, though dairying is by no means an unimportant industry. The hop crop
of Madison in 1875 was more than a fourth of the entire product of the county,
and, with the exception of Stockbridge, nearly doubled that of any other town
in the county.
The
Utica, Clinton and Binghamton Railroad crosses the north-west part and
south-west corner of the town, extending through the town in the same general
direction as the Chenango Canal, to which it is contiguous in its whole extent.
The summit level of the canal lies in this town and is almost confined to it.
The town is bonded in the sum of $100,000 in aid of this railroad.
The
population of the town in 1875 was 2,434; of whom 2,092 were natives, 342
foreign, 2,427 white, 7 colored, 1,222 males, and 1,212 females. Its area was
22,910 acres; of which 18,662 acres were improved, 3,042 woodland and 1,206,
otherwise unimproved. The cash value of farms was $1,961,950; of farm buildings
other than dwellings, $245,735; of stock, $228,463; of tools and implements,
$48,373. The value of the fertilizers used in the town in 1874, amounting to
$1,583, exceeded that of any other town in the county; so likewise did that of
its farm products the same year, amounting to $414,997, exceeding by more than
$100,000 that of any other town in the county.
There
are twelve common and one union school districts in the town. During the year
ending Sept. 30, 1879, there were fifteen 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 647. During that year there were four male and
twenty-two female teachers employed; the number of children residing in the
districts who attended school was 488, not residing in the districts 13, of
whom only 3 were under five or over twenty-one years of age; the average daily
attendance during the year was 311 and 205; the number of volumes in district
libraries was 363, the value of which was $113; the number of school-houses was
thirteen, twelve frame and one stone which, with their sites, embracing two
acres and seventy-six rods, valued at $1,970, were valued at $9,945; the
assessed value of taxable property in the districts was $1,328,899. The number
of children between eight and fourteen years of age residing in the districts
at that date was 197, of whom 162 attended district school fourteen weeks of
that year, and one attended private school or was instructed at home during a
like period.
Receipts
and disbursements for school purposes:
Amount
on hand Oct. 1, 1878 $ 24.66
"
apportioned to districts 1,750.25
Raised
by tax 1,691.95
From
teachers' board 118.00
"
other sources 107.64
Total
receipts $3,692.50
Paid
for teachers' wages $3,146.00
"
libraries 4.26
"
school apparatus 12.65
"
" houses, sites, outhouses, repairs, furniture, fences, &c 129.82
"
incidental expenses 331.05
Amount
remaining on hand Sept. 30, 1879. 68.72
Total
disbursements $3,692.50
SETTLEMENTS
The
settlements of this town, like the rest of the Chenango Twenty Townships in which
Sir William Pultney was interested, was both early and rapid, a fact which is
to be ascribed not so much perhaps to the natural advantages of the location,
though these were important, as to the uniformly humane, even generous,
treatment which the early settlers received at the hands of Mr. Pultney's
agent, Robert Troup, through whom the early settlements were made, though
Benjamin Walker, as agent for Mr. Troup, was most immediately connected with
those in this town.
As
early as 1791 the town was visited by prospecting parties, and in 1792 the
first permanent settlement was made by Daniel Perkins, who came from Kennebec
Co., Me., and took up two lots lying south of the pond near Madison village,
portions of which he afterwards sold to other settlers. He located a mile east
of Bouckville, where Theodore Spencer now lives, and having built a house he
returned to Maine for his family, which he brought in early the next year. He
soon after transferred the homestead farm to his son-in-law, Theodore St. Clair,
with whom he contracted for his future support. He spent his latter days with
his son, Solomon, who settled in the Black River country. He had left the town
previous to 1806. St. Clair built in 1807 the hotel in Madison village, which
took his name and was kept by him a short time.
This
same year Jesse Maynard came in from the east and took up a farm on lot 45,
about a mile south of Madison village, on lands now owned by Lewis W. Curtis.
He did not remain long in the town, however. His brothers, Amos and Moses, came
in somewhat later, Amos as early as 1798 and Moses as early as 1801. Amos was a
young, single man, and married and settled on the same lot as Jesse, on lands
now owned by Mr. Austin and Lewis W. Curtis, at the Center. He and his first wife
died on that farm. Amos was the first military captain in the town. He was a
soldier in the war of 1812, and rose to the rank of Colonel. Moses came with
his family, which was large, and located at Madison village, where he kept
tavern for many years. He afterwards built the hotel at Bouckville and died
there May 27, 1853, aged 77.
About
this time also, John Berry, the founder of Madison village, came from New
England and took up lot 36, on which the village of Madison is located. He
settled a quarter of a mile south of the village, on the road leading to
Hamilton, where Samuel G. Cleveland now lives. At an early day he sold the farm
to his son, Samuel, who some years later sold it to Gen. Erastus Cleveland, who
married a daughter of the elder Berry's, bargaining with Cleveland to care for
his father and mother, the former of whom became blind, so as to leave him free
to go West, which he did. Berry and his wife, Lucy, spent the rest of their
days with their son-in-law, Gen. Cleveland, and both died in 1821, at the age
of eighty years.
Erastus
Cleveland, originally from Norwich, Conn., but immediately from Whitestown,
visited this town on a prospecting tour in the summer of 1792, and the
following spring took up his abode here. He located on Oriskany creek, in the
north part of the town, at what is known as Tyler's Mills, a mile below
Solsville. He purchased all the mill sites on that stream and built thereon, at
different times some half dozen gristmills, as many saw-mills, and a woolen
factory, the latter at Solsville, but it has been gone some fifty years. He was
engaged among his first business operations in Madison in buying ashes and
making black salts, on a part of the old John Niles farm on the hill. While
thus engaged he kept a few coarse woolen goods which he exchanged for ashes
among the early settlers. He did not keep a regular store at that time, though
he had been accounted the first merchant in the town.*
The
spot selected by Cleveland for his future abode is remembered by the few
remaining early settlers as an exceedingly rugged and uninviting one when he
commenced to fell the giant forest trees. But it possessed elements which the
genius and energy of Cleveland made a source of wealth. He was a carpenter by
trade and built there in 1794 a saw-mill, which he supplemented the following
year by a grist-mill, the latter of which was the first of its kind in the
town. It occupied the site of the mill now owned by Lyman Tyler. He continued
his interest in the milling business till his death, which occurred on the old
Berry farm, which is now occupied by his son Samuel G., Jan. 23, 1858, aged 86.
The house in which he died was built before 1800, and is said to have been the
first frame house built in the town. Jonathan Pratt built a frame house the same
year opposite to it. Cleveland built on the Berry farm the first brick house of
any consequence in the town. It was in its day a splendid establishment, equal
to any in the county. He was also an early and prominent cattle drover, and was
extensively engaged in brewing and distilling. About sixty years ago he built
the brick store in Madison village and carried on mercantile business in it a
year or two, surrendering it to his son and others of his family. He was one of
the constructors as well as a large shareholder and one of the directors during
the greater part of his life of the Cherry Valley turnpike. He amassed by his
varied business enterprises a large fortune for those days.
Erastus
Cleveland was a man of distinguished ability, and in his day was one of the
most prominent and influential men in Madison county. He was one of the first,
if not the first, Members of Assembly from this town. He was a member of the
Legislature when the law authorizing the construction of the Chenango canal was
enacted and was largely instrumental in securing its passage. Being an advocate
of that canal he was elected to the Assembly on that issue. He was the
projector of the movement which led to the establishment of the Madison county
poor house, the towns independently having previously cared for their own poor.
He was for many years a County Judge. During the war of 1812 he had the command
of a regiment at Sacket's Harbor. Upwards of forty years ago he was appointed
to the command of a militia brigade and was afterwards familiarly known as
General Cleveland. He possessed many noble qualities, not the least conspicuous
of which was his uniform kindness towards the poor.
Numerous
settlements were made in 1793. Prominent among those who came that year were
Colonel Samuel Clemens, Thomas McMullen, (now spelled Millen,) Stephen F.
Blackstone, Russel Barker, Warham Williams, William and David Blair, James
Collister, Henry W. and Israel Bond, Elijah Blodgett, Joel Crawford, John
Niles, Francis Clemens and Seth Snow.
Col.
Clemens was from Massachusetts. He settled on the Cherry Valley turnpike about
a mile east of Madison village, on the farm now occupied by Algenas Lovejoy,
where he kept a place of entertainment for new comers. He purchased a large
tract of land in the north-east quarter. He removed from the town at an early
day. Thomas McMullen was from Pelham, Mass., and settled a mile north-east of
the center, on the farm till recently owned by D. Z. Brockett, of Madison
village, and there he and his wife died.
Stephen
F. Blackstone and Russell Barker came in company from Brantford, Conn., where
they married sisters. Blackstone located in the south-east corner of lot 47,
where Henry Fredericks now lives, and Barker on lot 48 on the farm now occupied
by Thomas D. Bishop, where he died at the age of 57. Blackstone was a Member of
Assembly and a County Judge for some years. His son Stephen, who was born here
in 1794, was one of the first children born in the town.
The
Blairs were brothers. William settled at Madison Center, on land now owned by
John Coe and his sister, where he lived and raised his family. In advanced life
he went to live with his son-in-law, Brownell Tompkins, father of Sidney
Tompkins, and there he and his wife died. David settled a mile south-east of
the center, where his son David now lives, and died there, he and his wife.
James Collister came from Massachusetts, and settled at the center where his
grandson, Deloss Collister, now lives. He and his wife both died there. Among
their children was Marcena, the first male child born in the town, who
succeeded to and died on the homestead farm. The Bonds were brothers and
Revolutionary soldiers, and settled in the north part of the town, Israel on
the farm still occupied by his son William, on which he and his wife died.
Henry Bond did not remain long in the town. He built in 1793 the first saw-mill
in the town. It was located on the Oriskany at Solsville, and that, or one on
its site, was in operation till about the time the canal was built. He and
Elijah Blodgett, who settled on the flats at the forks of the road near the
saw-mill at Bouckville, and kept tavern there, were jointly interested in land
in the north-west quarter of the town. Blodgett was the first surveyor in the
town. He was a man of good abilities, and was, for some years, justice of the
peace. He left the town for the west previous to 1807.
Joel
Crawford settled about two miles east of Madison Center, on the farm now
occupied by Timothy Jones. He removed with his family many years ago to
Michigan. Francis Clemens settled a little east of Madison village, at the foot
of the hill which skirted the old Cherry Valley turnpike, on a part of the
Samuel White farm. The line of the turnpike has been altered in that vicinity
by straightening it. He removed from the town at an early day. Seth Snow
settled on the Cherry Valley turnpike, on lands now owned by Samuel Putnam. The
family removed from the town at an early day. He planted the first apple tree
in the town, having obtained it from the Indian orchard in Stockbridge; he also
built the first brick house in the town.
Joseph
Niles came from Chesterfield, Mass., by way of the Mohawk, and stopped one
summer in Clinton, and in the winter came down the valley and cleared an acre
of land on lot 43, a half mile east of Bouckville, near the spring on the farm
still known as the Niles farm. In the spring he returned to Clinton, and
brought in upon his back, corn, beans and potatoes, which he planted on the
land he had cleared. He also brought in his wife, whom he had then recently
married in Clinton. The following year he was joined in the settlement by a
number of his relatives, among them his brothers Ephraim, Isaac, Calvin, Nathan
and Samuel, and father, Nahum, all of whom, except Calvin, had families.
Ephraim never took up land here. Isaac settled on the Solomon Root farm, which
he sold to Root; Nathan, on a farm adjoining John's; and Nahum, who was then
advanced in years, between John and Isaac. Ephraim Partridge and Waldo
Littlefield, who married sisters of John Niles, also came in. Partridge settled
a half mile east of Bouckville, on a part of the Brockett farm and the Babcock
farm, which are now separated by the Cherry Valley turnpike. Littlefield lived
in a log house near the others, but did not take up land. In 1808 John Niles
sold his farm to James D. Coolidg, and removed to Lebanon, where the others
soon after joined him. They located in that part of Lebanon known as the Niles
settlement, where they became a numerous and highly respectable family.
In
1794 settlements were commenced by a colony from Rhode Island in the south-west
quarter of the town, which had been previously purchased in their interest by
their agents* who visited the locality in 1792, and which was thereafter and is
still known as the Rhode Island quarter.** Among these colonists were the
Simmonses, two or three Peckham families, numerous of whose descendants are
still living in the town, Samuel Brownell, Joseph Manchester and Samuel Coe,
who came from Little Compton, R. I., and an adjoining town, though all did not
settle here this year. The Peckhams, Charles and George, (?) Brownell and Coe,
and possibly others, came in 1794, by the Mohawk, and stopped awhile at Paris
Hill, where relatives had previously settled. After leaving the Mohawk the rest
of the journey was made with ox teams. They came with their families, household
goods and provisions, a numerous company of them, through the woods, much of
the way by marked trees. The others mostly came in within a few years. Brownell
settled east of the reservoir, on the farm till recently occupied by L. B.
Putnam, his son-in-law, to whom he transferred it. He died in Madison village.
Samuel Coe settled on the farm now owned and occupied by Marion F. Risley. His
daughter Nancy, who was then three years old, is still living on that farm. She
was 89 years old in September, 1879. She is somewhat lame from paralysis, but
her general health is good. She retains her faculties remarkably.
Nicanor
Brown also settled in the town this year (1794) and Samuel Rowe about this
year, the latter, who was from Farmington, Conn., on lot 13, on the farm now
occupied by Deacon Matthew R. Burnham. Brown was from Massachusetts and settled
a mile west of Solsville, on the Markham farm. He afterwards located a little
south-east of the center, near Seth Blair's, afterwards known as the Collins
place, where he died.
Settlements
were made in 1795, by Abial Hatch, Elijah Thompson, Israel Rice, James and
Alexander White, Abizar and David Richmond and by William McClenathan as early
as that year. Abial Hatch located about a mile east of the center on the farm
now owned and occupied by his grandson, Erastus T. Hatch, where he and his wife
died. Capt. Zenas Hatch, his only child, married a daughter of Deacon Taylor,
an Englishman, and an early settler on Water street, in the north part of the
town, on the farm now occupied by Josiah Root, where he died at an early day.
Zenas succeeded his father on the homestead and afterwards removed to Madison
village, where he and his wife died. Elijah Thompson was a Revolutionary
soldier and served six years in the artillery. He came from Charlestown, Mass.,
and settled on land purchased of William Blair. Israel Rice was from Worcester,
Mass. He settled on lot 32, in the east part of the town, on the farm now
occupied by his son Francis. James and Alexander White, brothers, came from
Northampton, Mass., and settled on a farm adjoining Rice's. They were joined
the following year by their brother John, who purchased 100 acres of Samuel
Clemens. In the winter of 1797, the latter, in company with his brothers Samuel
and Thomas, brought in their families with sleds, woodshod, drawn by oxen. The
ground was so bare much of the way that they were obliged to stop and replenish
their sleigh-shoes from the friendly forest trees. Abizar and David Richmond,
brothers, were originally from Massachusetts, but came immediately from
Fairfield, Herkimer county. Abizar settled in the south-east part of the town,
where his son Merrick now lives; and David, in the south-west part, where he
died Dec. 23, 1869, aged 89, and his wife, Mary Simmons, Aug. 12, 1872, aged
87. William McClenathan, also his brother James, settled in the north-east
part, on what is known as McClenathan Hill.
Dr.
Jonathan Pratt and his brothers James and Daniel came from Belchertown, Mass.,
as early as 1796, and located at the center. Dr. Pratt was the first physician
in the town and practiced his profession till his death in 1839. He was a
prominent and influential member of the First Congregational church, of
Madison. He acquired a very respectable property, the whole of which has been
squandered in litigation over his will. At an early day it was customary in the
churches to sit during singing and stand during prayer. About forty years ago
the evangelist Finney, for some years President of Oberlin College, Ohio, and
the author of protracted meetings, established the reverse of this practice, an
innovation which Mr. Pratt opposed during his life. His will bequeathed a very
considerable amount (30 per cent. of certain parts of his property,) to the
church of which he was a member, provided it would establish itself on
"gospel grounds" by conforming to the old practice. The church has steadily
conformed to the change introduced by Finney; notwithstanding, after Pratt's
death it sued the estate in the Chancery court to recover under the will. The
case has since been in litigation. The court decided some twenty years ago that
the church is not on gospel grounds according to Mr. Pratt's interpretation and
the intent of his will. The whole estate was swamped in defending the will, and
the church impoverished in trying to break it. The case is likely soon to be
reopened by the church.
Dr.
Pratt's brothers were young, single men and studied medicine with him. James
married Eunice, daughter of Joseph Morse, the pioneer settler of Eaton village,
and sister of the late Ellis Morse of that village. He settled in that village,
where he taught the first school in the town of Eaton, in which also he was the
first physician. He practiced there from the time of his marriage, about 1797,
till his death. Daniel married and settled in Fenner, where he was an early
physician and where further mention will be made of him.
David
Pratt, father of these Pratt brothers, served several years during the
Revolutionary war. He was the father of twenty children, sixteen of whom he
lived to see grow to maturity. All except the oldest three, whom we have named,
settled in the New England States.
Nathaniel
Johnson, from Worcester, Mass., joined the settlements in 1796, and Gideon
Lowell, from Maine, about this time. Johnson died Feb. 10, 1822, aged 69, and
Sarah, his wife, Sept. 23, 1827, aged 72.
Numerous
additions were made to the settlements in 1795 to 1797. Among those who settled
in this period were the Simmonses, William Sanford, Judson W. Lewis, Nehemiah
Thompson, Peter Tyler, and Thomas Dick, who came in 1797.
Zerah
Simmons and his sons George and Thomas, Benjamin Simmons and his sons Benjamin
and Cornelius, and Gideon Simmons, cousin of Benjamin, who was a connection of
Zerah Simmons, members of the Rhode Island Colony, came in from Newport, R. I.,
and located in the Rhode Island quarter,
William
Sanford, Judson W. Lewis and Nehemiah Thompson came from Stratford, Conn.
Sanford settled in the south-west part of the town; Lewis on lot 19, and
Thompson on lot 17. Peter Tyler also settled on lot 17, where Hon. J. W.
Lippett now resides. He died Sept. 15,
1831, aged 59, and Polly, his wife, May 3, 1866, aged 93. Thomas Dick was from
Pelham, Mass. He located a mile east of the center. He had prospected the town
with a view to settlement in 1791.
Captain
Seth Blair, Joseph Head, Samuel Collister and Joseph Curtis settled in the town
in 1798, and Deacon Prince Spooner, as early as that year.
Joseph
Head, a native of Rhode Island, and a Quaker, was a member of the Rhode Island
colony, and settled a half mile south-west of the center, where Mr. Kimberly now
lives, and died there in December, 1837, aged 77. Joseph Head, though a Quaker,
was a Revolutionary soldier, but refused to receive a proffered pension
therefore.
Joseph
Curtis came from Stratford, Conn., and settled on the north line of the town,
on lot 4, and died July 15, 1840, aged 66, and Naomi, his wife, Oct. 9, 1846,
aged 70. Robert, Samuel and Timothy Curtis came from the same place about the
same time. Robert settled on land purchased of Nehemiah Thompson, on lot 17;
and Samuel and Timothy, on Stratford street. Samuel died April 28, 1853, aged
85, and Lucinda, his wife, Aug. 30, 1855, aged 81.
Settlements
were made in 1799 by Gilbert Stebbins, Reuben Brigham and Agur Gilbert, and as
early as that year by Joseph and Job Manchester. Stebbins was from Wilbraham,
Mass., and settled in the south-east part. He died Dec. 9, 1845, aged 76, and
Betsey, his wife, March 20, 1859, aged 87. Brigham was a native of Sudbury,
Mass., and located in the north part, on the road from Solsville to Augusta
Center, on a slightly improved farm purchased of Abner Bellows. It is now
occupied by his grandson, Daniel Richards, son of his youngest daughter, Mrs.
Aaron Richards, who succeeded to the homestead. Agur Gilbert was from
Stratford, Conn. He settled at Solsville and died there in 1840. His son Deacon
John Gilbert, succeeded to the farm, on which he also died, July 1, 1870, aged
72. The latter, it is said, never saw a railroad train nor rode in a stage
coach, and was never twenty miles from home, except on one occasion, when a
young man, he went to Utica, a distance of twenty-two miles. Joseph Manchester
was from Tiverton, R. I., and settled in the south-west quarter, on the line of
Hamilton. Job Manchester was also a member of the Rhode Island colony, and
settled in the Rhode Island quarter, on lot 57, where he lived and died. He was
succeeded on the same farm by his son William, who also died there April 7,
1857, aged 78, and his grandson, L. B. Manchester, son of the latter.
Abijah
Parker, Paul Hazzard, Jared and Samuel Wickwire, Nehemiah Fairchild and Paul
Greenwood settled in the town about 1800. Parker located about a mile west of
Bouckville. His son Zadock was the first physician in the west part of the
town. Paul Hazzard was born in South Kingston, R. I., Nov. 8, 1775, and removed
to Westport, Mass., thence to Albany, from there a few years later to Paris,
from which town he removed to Madison. He settled at the Center. He was a
carpenter by trade, and found remunerative employment at his trade on his arrival.
In 1801 he built the Baptist church at the "opening," and in 1802 the
Congregational church. He died March 22, 1852.
Jared
and Samuel Wickwire, natives of Cornwall, Conn., removed thence and took up
some 500 acres in the south part of the town. Jared then worked some two years
by the month for Elisha Payne, of Hamilton, to get money to pay for his land. A
few years later he returned to Connecticut and married Molly Hopkins, with
whom, and his brothers Samuel, (who also returned to Connecticut and married,)
Nathan and Hiram, he came in with an ox team and settled on the land previously
taken up. Jared located on the farm, a part of which is now owned by Truman
Chase, and Samuel, on the farm now owned by Mr. Truesdell, of Hamilton, and
occupied by the latter's son. Hiram settled in Georgetown, and Nathan about a
quarter of a mile south of Log City, (Eaton,) on what is now the poor house
farm, which he sold to the county, and removed to the west part of the State.
Jared and his wife continued to reside where they had settled till their death.
Nehemiah
Fairchild was from Stratford, Conn., and settled on five acres at the Center.
He was a tailor by trade, and followed that vocation there till his death about
1812.
Paul
Greenwood was born in Massachusetts, Oct. 5, 1767, and married there Betsey
Brigham, who was born in the same State, Aug. 26, 1777. On removing to Madison,
about 1800, they settled at the Indian opening, on the pond just north-west of
Madison village. Some twelve years later they removed to Lebanon, locating
about two miles north of Lebanon village. They afterwards located at Smith's
Valley, where they both died, he Nov. 17, 1841, and his wife, Feb. 9, 1839.
They had ten children, only one of whom is living in the county, Dr. Levi P.
Greenwood, a practicing physician in Erieville.
Jonas
Banton came from Wilbraham, Mass., in 1801. He was a man of great physical
strength and powers of endurance, and a highly respected and industrious
citizen. He died Sept. 8, 1871, at the ripe age of 90. Anna, his wife, died
Sept. 24, 1849, aged 61. Moses Phelps came from Charlton, Saratoga county, in
1801 or '02 and settled at Solsville, where his grandson, Benjamin Phelps, now
lives, where he and his wife died. John Edgarton came from Shirley, Mass., soon
after 1800, and was the first to locate on lot 39, on which the village of
Bouckville is situated. He had previously lived a few years about a mile north,
and made brick on the old Abijah Parker farm. He married Mercy, daughter of
Samuel Lewis, who lived about a mile south-west of Bouckville, on lot 41.
Edgarton died at Bouckville, April 8, 1844, aged 69.
Eli
Bancroft and Abner Burnham came from Hartford, Conn., in the spring of 1804,
and purchased land of Jeremiah Mack on Water street, and in the fall brought in
their families. They occupied that winter one part of a double log-house
previously erected by Mack, whose family occupied the other portion.
Luther
Rice came from Worthington, Mass., his native place, a young, single man, about
1804 or '05, and learned the trade of a blacksmith with his brother Joseph, who
came in from the same place some years previously, and was the pioneer
blacksmith in the town of Madison. Joseph located at the Center, where Thomas
Davis now lives. He married in Massachusetts, Mary Burnell, of Worthington, and
continued to carry on the blacksmith business here till within twenty-five
years.
Dr.
Samuel McClure located at Bouckville in 1805, and opened a tavern there. David
Peebles, from Pelham, Mass., located in the north-east quarter as early as this
year.
James
D. Coolidg came from Stowe, Mass., in 1806, and in 1808, purchased of John
Niles an improved farm of some 180 acres, situated on lot 43, a half mile east
of Bouckville, which is now occupied by Charles Z. Brockett, where he resided
till his death, April 11, 1844, having increased his farm to about 500 acres.
To the enlightened exertions of Mr. Coolidg is due the vast enterprises which
the hop business has developed in this section of country. He had the first hop
field in this part of the State. Solomon Root, who came in from Chesterfield,
Mass., the same year, and settled on a farm adjoining Coolidg's on the south,
soon after engaged in the business, and they two took the lead in the culture
of hops, which gradually extended over the county. Mr. Coolidg's wife died in
1814. He married for his second wife, Martha Taylor, of Stowe, Mass., who also
died on the old farm. He had two children by his first wife and three by the
second. Only two are living, James, the eldest child, who was 94 years old July
23, 1880, near the homestead in Bouckville. James was an early and expert
surveyor, and followed that vocation some thirty years. He was also a justice
some twenty-four years.
Solomon
Root, before referred to, settled on the farm now owned by his son-in-law,
Henry Lewis, and rented to tenants. He was a native of Connecticut. He died in
the town Jan. 5, 1859, aged 86.
Captain
Gilbert Tompkins, a native of Rhode Island, was one of the agents, who, in
1792, visited and purchased in the interest of the Rhode Island colony the
south-west quarter of this town. At that time he selected lot 84, in the south
part of the town, east of Madison Reservoir, expecting to remove his family
here the following season. But, owning a vessel, on his return he was
constrained from pecuniary considerations to resume the coast trade, in which
he had formerly been engaged. In 1808, he came in from Westport, Mass., to
which town he had removed from the adjoining town of Little Compton, R. I., and
settled on the land previously selected. He built the house now occupied by his
son, Dea. Philip Tompkins, and resided there till his death, at the age of 82.
He married Mary Brownell, of Little Compton, R. I., whose parents joined the
colony, and had eleven children, ten of whom lived to maturity.
Other
early settlers were Ralph Tanner, Samuel Goodwin, Solomon Alcott, and Daniel
Holbrook. Tanner was an early tavern keeper and postmaster at Madison village.
The tavern was built about 1800 by Major St. Clair, who kept it several years.
It was the first one in the village. The next one of any importance was built
about 1812 or '15, and kept by Samuel Goodwin, father of Daniel B. Goodwin, the
first President of the Waterville Bank. The building is now occupied by George
Root as a dwelling. The Tanner tavern is the one now kept by George L. Foot.
Goodwin was the most enterprising man in Madison county during his entire day.
He originated and was the proprietor of the first line of stages that ran
through the place, carrying passengers and mail. He ran the stages for many
years between Utica and Albany, in connection with T. L. Faxton and Jason
Parker, the old pioneer mail contractor, both of Utica. Goodwin acquired a
competency, sold his stage property to Colonel Thomas C. Nye, of De Ruyter, and
retired to Waterville, where he and his wife died. Thomas C. Nye ran the stages
for a long series of years, residing during the time in Madison. He enlarged
the business very much, and it was said that Madison was one of the most
central points for staging, outside of the cities, in the State, stage lines
converging from every direction. His drivers boasted that he had 300 horses on
the road and in his employ. He ran stages as long as staging was profitable,
and finally abandoned most of his routes, as they brought him in competition
with railroads and other improved methods of conveyance. He afterwards kept for
a while the Park House in Hamilton.
Solomon
Alcott, a social, clever fellow, settled prior to 1800, at Solsville, which
derives its name from him. The old house in which he lived stands near the
depot. At that day, all there was of Solsville was a small tavern, kept by
William Lewis, and a saw-mill, built and managed by Daniel Rymple. The saw-mill
was destroyed by the Chenango canal. Alcott raised his family and in advanced
life went to live with his son, Giles, in Oxford. His family have been gone
many years. Daniel Holbrook was an early tavern keeper a mile west of
Solsville, and is said to have been the first in the town.
TOWN OFFICERS
The
first annual town meeting was held March 3, 1807, and the following officers
were elected: Erastus Cleveland, Supervisor; Samuel Berry, Clerk; Seth Blair,
Stephen F. Blackstone and Levi Morton, Assessors; Elijah Thompson and Jonathan
Pratt, Overseers of the Poor; John White, Israel Rice and Ephraim Blodgett,
Commissioners of Highways; Silas Patrick, Constable and Collector; Jonathan
Pratt, William Blair, William Manchester, Moses Phelps, Calvin Whitcomb, Giles
Peckham, Abial Hatch, Samuel Jones, Stephen Thompson, Robert McCune, Elijah
Herrick, William Dix, John Camp, Joseph Manchester, Abial Perry, Abijah
Markham, John Clough, John Pattison, John Swain, David Blair, Samuel Lewis,
Erastus Edgarton, Solomon Root, William Brown and Ezra Pierce, Pathmasters;
Joseph Curtis, Pound Keeper.
At
the annual town meeting in 1808, Levi Dick and Edward B. Colton were appointed
grave diggers, and Isaac Coe to clean the meeting-house,* each to be paid in
the same manner as other town officers. It was also voted "that widows be
exempt from paying highway taxes."
Nov.
1, 1813, Madison was divided into fourteen school districts. John White, Levi
Norton and William Manchester were the School Commissioners.
The
following list of the officers of the town of Madison for the year 1880-'81,
was kindly furnished by Frank H. Benjamin:--
Supervisor David G. Brockett.
Town
Clerk Frank H. Benjamin.
Justices Allen Curtis, Lester J. Martin, Festus H.
Manchester, Riley A. Goodrich.
Assessors Solomon Henderson, Alberto O. Lovejoy,
Leroy Curtis.
Commissioners
of Highways Austin G. Lewis, Oliver H.
Rice, Samuel R. Mott.
Overseer
of the Poor Erastus T. Hatch.
Constables Frank C. Curtis, Henry Bacon, John Kelly,
Giles E. Newcomb.
Collector Frank C. Curtis.
*
Up to and including 1827, except in 1824, when they were held at the village
meeting-house, the town meetings were held at the center meeting-house, and
annual appointments were made for its cleaning. From 1827 to 1839 they were
held at the house of Ralph Tanner; at the house of Isaac Curtis, 2d, from 1840
to 1861; and since 1861 at Military Hall, now the
Union
Free School.
Inspectors
of Election Warren H. Benjamin, George
W. Baker, John B. Coe.
Sealer
of Weights and Measures Warren H.
Benjamin.
Game
Constable John E. Henderson.
Excise
Commissioner Edward Baylis.
The
following have been the Supervisors and Clerks since the organization of the
town
SUPERVISORS
CLERKS
1807
Erastus Cleveland
Samuel Berry
1808 -do- Jonathan Pratt
1809
Seth Blair -do-
1810 -do- John Lucas
1811 -do- William Manchester
1812-18
Levi Morton -do-
1819
Wm. Manchester
Truman Stafford
1820-1
Edward Rogers
-do-
1822-4
Rutherford Barker
-do-
1825-7
Samuel Goodwin
John Lucas
1828
Levi Morton -do-
1829-32
Wm. Manchester
-do-
1833-6 -do- Edward Rogers
1837 -do- Daniel Barker
1838 -do- Thomas C. Nye
1839-40
-do- Thomas Miller
1841
Samuel White -do-
1842
Samuel White 2d
-do-
1843 -do- John Putnam
1844
Samuel White -do-
1845-6
Samuel White 2d -do-
1847
Hiram L. Root
Adin Howard
1848
Samuel White 2d
Lyman N. Root
1849
Wm. Manchester
John Putnam
1850
Samuel White, 2d
Charles A. Coffin*
1851 -do- Yale Leland
1852 -do- Henry L. Putnam
1853
-do- Henry B. Mowrey
1854-5 -do- John Putnam
1856
Gilbert Tompkins
James House
1857-8 -do- James D. Lane
1859-60 Allen Curtis -do-
1861 -do- Lewis W. Coe**
1862
John W. Lippett
Erastus D. Hatch
1863 -do- James Brown
1864 -do- A. Eugene Peck
1865-71 -do- Rufus J. Burton
1872 -do- Addison J. Cushman
1873-7 -do- Frank H. Benjamin
1878-9
David Z. Brockett -do-
*
April 6, 1850, Allen Curtis was appointed Clerk in place of Coffin, removed
from the town.
**
Nov. 19, 1861, James Brown was appointed Clerk in place of Coe, removed from
the town.
