1813 Horatio G. Spafford (Fenner was a
part of Cazenovia
and Smithfield at this date)
1824 Horatio G. Spafford (Fenner was formed
in 1823 but it is still listed as part of Cazenovia
and Smithfield)
1833 Darby & Dwight (Fenner)
1836 Thomas F. Gordon (Fenner)
1841 Barber & Howe (Fenner)
1842 / 1843 John Disternell (Fenner)
1860 J.H. French (Fenner)
1868 Hamilton Child (Fenner)
1872 / 1873 Franklin B. Hough (Fenner)
1899 John E. Smith (Fenner)
(Smithfield, page 299)
FENNER was a part of Cazenovia and Smithfield until 1823
<:299> SMITHFIELD,
a Township of Madison County, bounded N. by Lenox, E. by Augusta in Oneida
County, S. by Eaton and Nelson, W. by Cazenovia. It was erected in
1807 from Cazenovia, and is about 12 miles E. and W., and 5 N. and S.
The principal part of this tract was leased of the Oneida Indians, by Peter
Smith, in 1794, and Purchased by the State in 1795. The soil is of
a very superior quality, and the whole tract may be pronounced one of the
best in the state. It is abundantly irrigated by small streams, the
sources of Oneida Creek, Cowasselon, Canaseraga, Chitteningo, waters of
Oneida Lake; and also that of the main branch of the Chenango river, a
large branch of the Susquehanna. This Town is principally settled
by emigrants from the Eastern States. It comprises the largest part
of the called New Petersburgh. The population in 1810, 2651; 438
heads of families; 2 slaves. The taxable property, agreeable to the
valuation of the Supervisor's books, $124,308; senatorial electors, 193.
Peterboro' is the principal village, situated on the Oneida turnpike road
and creek, 29 S. westerly of Utica, and 122 N. of W. from Albany: N. Lat.
42° 57' Long. 1° 37' W. of New-York. her is a post office
of the same name, 470 miles from Washington, a printing-office which publishes
a weekly paper, an arsenal, a public library, several stores and houses,
grain and saw-mills, distilleries, carding and clothier's works, &c.
The Madison Manufacturing Association are erecting extensive glass works
and cotton and woolen manufactories. The situation is pleasant and
healthy, the soil fertile; materials for building are at hand, and the
Oneida Creek affords some facilities for hydraulic works.
[source was] E.P. [?]
Spafford, Horatio Gates, 1824, A Gazetteer of the State of New-York: Embracing an Ample Survey and Description of its Counties, Towns, Cities, Villages, Canals, Mountains, Lakes, Rivers, Creeks, Natural Topography, Arranged Alphabetically: With an Appendix. B.D. Packard. Albany, NY
(Fenner was formed in 1823 but it is still listed as part of Cazenovia
and Smithfield)
(Transcript kindly provided by GDA)
<: >
SMITHFIELD, a large Township of Madison county, 6 miles N. of
Morrisville, 108 WNW of Albany, bounded N. by Sullivan and Lenox, E. by
Augusta of Oneida County, S. by Eaton and Nelson, W. by Cazenovia, and
is about 12 miles E. and W. and 5 N. and S. The principal part of
this tract was leased of the Oneida Indians by Peter Smith in 1794 and
purchased by the state in 1795. The soil is of a very superior quality,
and the whole tract may be pronounced one of the best in the state.
It is abundantly irrigated by small streams, the sources of Oneida creek,
Cowasselon, Canasaraga and Chitteningo, waters of
Oneida Lake; and also by the sources of the main branch of Chenango
river, a large branch of the Susquehanna. This Town is principally
settled by immigrants from the Eastern States. It comprises the largest
part of the tract called New-Petersburg; and of the Oneida Reservation,
"the cream of the country", as it was called some 20 odd years ago.
The Post-Village of Peterboro', is pleasantly situated on the Oneida turnpike
and creek 29 miles SW. of Utica, 6 N. of Morrisville, and 125 WNW. of Albany,
via Utica, or 108 by Cherry Valley and Morrisville, N. Lat. 42°, 57'
Long. 1° 37' W of New York. It is about 7 miles S. of the Erie
Canal, along which all the business-men are clustering for trade, a "Town"
already, in their estimation, of 360 miles in length. -- The new roads
all point to it, and the little towns of former days, full of stores and
traffic are in great trepidation.- Peterboro' has a handsome collection
of houses, stores, grain and saw mills, carding and clothiers' works, a
library, and several of the good things of social institutions. The
Stockbridge, or New Stockbridge tract of Indian Reservation, is in this
Town and Augusta of Oneida County, where the Indians of that tribe reside.
Population [of the town], 3338: 633 farmers, 4 traders, 88 mechanics; 6
foreigners; 6 free blacks: taxable property, $388688: 16 schools, 9 months
in 12; [public monies received in 1821] $402.62; [No. of children between
5 and 15 years of age] 794; [No. taught that year] 904: 672 electors, 15963
acres improved land, 3234 cattle, 646 horses, 7678 sheep: 28798 yards cloth,
7 grist mills, 13 saw mills, 2 fulling mills, 2 carding machines, 3 distilleries,
18 asheries.
[Sources were] J.K [Jesse Kilborn], O.E.B. [Oran E. Baker], E.P. [Elijah
Pratt]
(Fenner, pages 161; Perryville, page 412)
<:161> FENNER, p-t. Madison co. 12 ms. N.W. Morrisville.
<:412> PERRYVILLE, p-v. Sullivan, Madison co. N.
Gordon, Thomas F., 1836, Gazetteer of the State of New York: Comprehending its Colonial History; General Geography, Geology, and Internal Improvements; Its Political State; A Minute Description of its Several Counties, Towns, and Villages; Statistical Tables, Exhibiting the Area, Improved Lands, Population, Stock, Taxes, Manufactures, Schools, and Cost of Public Instruction, in Each Town. With a Map of the State, and a Map of Each County, and Plans of the Cities and Principal Villages. T.K. and P.G. Collins, Printers. Philadelphia, PA
(Fenner, Book II page 520)
<:520> FENNER, taken from Cazenovia and Smithfield 22d April, 1823; W. from Albany 115 miles; surface undulating; soil clay and gravelly loam, chiefly on limestone of excellent quality; drained N. by Chittenango and Canaseraga creeks. Perrysville and Fenner, are post villages. The former, 15 miles N.W. from Morrisville, on the line between this and Sullivan, has 1 Episcopal Church, 1 grist mill, 1 store, 1 tavern, extensive tannery, and 40 dwellings. The latter, centrally situate, has a tavern, store, and 20 dwellings, and near it a Baptist Church.
Gordon's 1836 Table of Madison County Statistics (shown
with the Madison County descriptions) on page 523 shows for Fenner
[statistics from 1835 State Census?]:
population 1820 = [part of Cazenovia], 1825 = 1933, 1830 = 2017, 1835
= 1972; militia = 159; voters = 400; aliens = 9; unmarried females under
age 16 years of age = 430, unmarried females between 16 and 45 of
age = 162, married females under 45 years of age = 251; marriages = 14;
male births = 48, female births = 21; male deaths = 21, female deaths =
17; area in acres = 17835, acres improved = 12069; assessed value of real
estate = [$]232822, assessed value of personal estate = [$]8480; cattle
= 2263, horses = 671, sheep = 6932, swine = 2054; fulled yards [of cloth]
= 3595, unfulled woolens [yards of cloth?] = 4676, cottons, linens &c.
[yards of cloth?] 5081; County tax = [$]528.43, Town tax = [$]558.80; grist
mills = 1, saw mills = 12, fulling mills = 2, carding machines = 1, asheries
= 1, tanneries = 2; school districts = 12, public money expended [on schools,
per district?] = 315, teachers wages besides public money = 482, scholars
= 725.
Barber,
John W. & Henry Howe, 1841, Historical Collections of the State
of New York; Containing a General Collection of the Most Interesting Facts,
Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, &c. Relating to its History
and Antiquities With Geographical Descriptions of Every Township in the
State. S. Tuttle. New York, NY
(Fenner, pages 258-259)
<:258> FENNER, taken
from Cazenovia and Smithfield in 1823; from Albany 115 miles. Pop.
1,997. Perrysville, on the Sullivan line 15 miles <:259> miles
NW. from Morrisville, and Fenner centrally situated, are small settlements.
Disternell, John, 1842 / 1843, A Gazetteer of the State of New-York: Comprising its Topography, Geology, Mineralogical Resources, Civil Divisions, Canals, Railroads, and Public Institutions: Together with General Statistics: The Whole Alphabetically Arranged: Also, Statistical Tables, Including the Census of 1840: And Tables of Distances: With a New Township Map of the State Engraved on Steel. J. Disternell. Albany, NY (1842 and 1843 editions are the same)
(Fenner Town, page 163; Perryville Hamlet, page 321)
<:163> FENNER, t. Madison co. situated 8 miles north-west of the village of Morrisville, and distant 115 miles from Albany; contained in 1840, 1,997 inhabitants. The surface is undulating; soil, clay and gravelly loam, mostly underlaid by lime stone and is of good quality; it is drained north by Chittenango and Canaseraga creeks. Fenner and Perryville and names of post offices.
<:321> PERRYVILLE,
v. and p.o. Fenner Madison co., contains about 250 inhabitants, 40 dwelling
houses, 1 church, 1 tavern, 1 store, 1 flouring mill, 1 tannery and 1 distillery.
French, J.H., 1860, Gazetteer of the State of New York: Embracing a Comprehensive View of the Geography, Geology, and General History of the State, and a Complete History and Description of Every County, City, Town, Village, and Locality. With Full Tables of Statistics. R. Pearsall Smith. Syracuse, NY
(Fenner, page 391)
<:391> FENNER (note 391-6) -- was formed from Cazenovia and Smithfield, April 22, 1823. It is an interior town, lying N.W. of the center of the co. Its surface is a rolling upland. Oneida, Canaseraga, and Chittenango Creeks have their sources in this town. The latter forms a part of its W. boundary. Extensive marl beds are found; and on the bank of Chittenango Creek calcareous tufa is quarried and burned into lime. The soil is a gravelly and clayey loam. Perryville, (p.v.,) partly in this town, contains 2 churches and 25 houses. Fenner (p.o.) is a hamlet. The first settlement was made about the year 1793. (note 391-7) The first church (Bap.) was organized Aug. 23, 1801. (note 391-8)
Note 391-6
Named from Gov. Fenner, of Rhode Island.
Note 391-7
Among the early settlers were Alpheus Twist and James
Munger, from Conn., who located a mile S. of the center of, Jonathan Munger
and _____ Page in the N. part and Elisha Freeman, Ithurial Flower, Ames
Webster and Amanda Munger, in the S. part. The first birth was a
child of Alpheus Twist; and the first death, that of the wife of Alpheus
Twist. Elder Nathan Baker was the first preacher.
Note 391-8
The census reports 5 churches; 3 M.E., Bap., and Prot.
E.
Child, Hamilton, 1868, Gazetteer and Business Directory of Madison County, N.Y., for 1868-9. Printed at the Journal Office. Syracuse, NY
(Fenner, page 40 & 41)
<:40> FENNER,
named from Gov. Fenner, of Rhode Island, was formed from Cazenovia and
Smithfield, April 22, 1823. it is an <:41> interior town, lying
north-west of the center of the County. Its surface is a rolling
upland. Oneida, Canaseraga and Chittenango Creeks have their sources in
this town. The latter forms a part of its western boundary.
Extensive marl beds are found, and on the bank of Chittenango Creek, calcarious
tufa is quarried and burned into lime. The soil is a gravelly and
clayey loam.
Perryville ( p. v.)
lies partly in Sullivan and Lenox. It contains two churches, a flouring
mill, two saw-mills, and about 200 inhabitants. The Cazenovia and
Canastota Railroad is to pass through this place.
Fenner (p.o.) is
a hamlet, and contains one church.
Chittenango Falls
(p.o.) is a hamlet, partly in this town.
The first settlement was
made about the year 1793. Among the early settlers were Alpheus Twist
and James Munger, from Connecticut, who located about a mile south of the
center; Jonathan Munger and Mr. Page, in the north part; and Elisha Freeman,
Ithuriel Flowers; Ames Webster and Amanda Munger, in the south part.
Phineas and Abel Town, John Needham, Thomas Cushing and J.D. Turner, were
also early settlers.
The first church was organized
August 28, 1801 the first birth was that of a child of Alphen twist and
the first death that of the wife of Alpheus Twist. Nathan Baker was
the first preacher.
The population in 1865 was
1,387, and the area 17,776 acres. There are fourteen school districts,
employing 14 teachers. The whole number of pupils is 415, and the
average daily attendance 166. The whole amount expended for schools
in 1867 was $2,477.64.
Among the early settlers
of Fenner were Abner and Jesse Rumpus. The following adventure with a black
bear, in 1802, is related by their descendants: A great part of the country
was covered with forests, and wild beasts roamed at large, making depredations
upon the flocks and herds of the farmers. Abner and Jesse Rumpus,
on one occasion, followed a bear about three miles. Coming suddenly
upon the bear on the bank of a brook, Abner snapped his gun, which missed
fire. Bruin then became the assailant, turning upon his antagonist,
knocked him over into the brook, tearing his scalp in a most shocking manner,
and otherwise severely wounding him. When about to be torn in pieces by
the enraged bear, Jesse came to the rescue of his brother, seized the bear
by the ears, and while engaged in the struggle had his own leg broken in
two places. Fortunately, after disabling both, the bear walked off
deliberately, leaving his antagonists to obtain aid wherever they could.
Their shouts for assistance were at length heard, and they were rescued
from their perilous situation. Abner with his broken leg was carried
home on a stretcher, and Jesse, by the assistance of another, was able
to ride upon a horse.
Hough, Franklin B., 1872 / 1873, Gazetteer of the State of New York, Embracing a Comprehensive Account of the History and Statistics of the State, With Geological and Topological Descriptions, and Recent Statistical Tables, Representing the Present Condition of Each County, City, Town, and Village in the State. Andrew Boyd. Albany, NY (1872 and 1873 editions are the same)
(Fenner, page 385)
<:385> FENNER -- named from a Gov. of R. I., was formed from Cazenovia and Smithfield April 22, 1823. It is an interior town, lying N.W. of the centre of the co. Its surface is rolling upland. Oneida, Canaseraga, and Chittenango Creeks, have their sources in this town. The latter forms a part of its W. boundary. Extensive marl beds are found; and on the bank of Chittenango Creek, calcareous tufa is quarried and burned into lime. Perryville, (p.o.,) partly in this town, contains 2 churches, a gristmill, sawmill, and 35 houses. Chittenango Falls, is a hamlet, partly in this town. Fenner, (p.o.,) is a hamlet. The Cazenovia and Canastota R.R. crosses the N.W. part of this town, with stations at Perryville and Chittenango Falls. The first settlement was made about the year 1793. (note 385-5) The first church (Bap.) was organized Aug. 28, 1861 [sic - 1801]. (note 385-6)
Note 385-5
Among the earliest settlers were Alpheus Twist, and Jas.
Munger, from Conn., who located a mile S. of the centre, Jonathan Munger
and _____ Page in the N. part, and Elisha Freeman, Ithurial Flower, Ames
Webster and Amanda Munger, in the S. part. The first birth was that
of a child of Alpheus twist: and the first death, that of the wife of Alpheus
Twist. Elder Nathan Baker was the first preacher.
Note 385-6
There are 5 churches: 3 M.E., Bap., and Prot. E.
(Fenner, pages 568 to 570)
(This book is a large "County History" and extensive historical and
bibliographic information for the Town of Fenner is to be found in other
parts of this source - please consult the original book for further information)
<:568>