CHAPTER XX.
PROGRESS OF IMPROVEMENT IN TOWNS CONTINUED --- MADISON AND NELSON.
The history of the town of Madison succeeding the date of the formation of the county to which time it is brought down in Chapter VIII, embodies a brief story of quiet, peaceful agricultural development and the moderate growth of the several small villages. As seen by the population statistics in the later Gazetteer of the town, the number of inhabitants remained about stationary through more than half a century, while in recent years it has slightly decreased through the same causes that have operated in that direction in other rural districts.
The improvements made by Gen. Erastus Cleveland in the town prior to the beginning of the present century and during some years thereafter have already been described. The most important of them to the pioneers was the building of what were long known as Cleveland's mills, which were erected in 1795 on the site of the present mill of F. M. Fiske on Oriskany Creek east of Solsville. He had built a saw mill the previous year and continued in that business until his death. He was for many years the most conspicuous citizen of the town. A few years after his erection of the first mill, which had become inadequate to the wants of the settlers, he built another half a mile east of the first, which later became known as Gray's mill. Still later he built another at Solsville, which he transferred about 1833 to his son-in-law, N. S. Howard. The latter operated a distillery opposite. When the water power here was greatly impaired by the construction of the Chenango Canal, Howard was reimbursed by the State and the mill was idle some ten years. It was then repaired and put in use. The distillery building was ultimately demolished, and a cheese factory built on the site, which for several years past has been used as 3 storehouse. The mill property passed in later years from Howard to his brother Adin and from him to A. C. Wheeler, who sold it to William A. Simmons; he sold to William S. Pierce and he to James H. Parker. The property is now owned by George Smith, who succeeded Smith & Spooner.
Among other prominent men of this town in early years was Samuel Goodwin, father of Daniel B. Goodwin. He was the founder and owner of the first line of stages through the village of Madison, which carried the mail. He was associated also in other stage business between Utica and Albany with T. L. Faxton and Jason Parker, both of Utica. Goodwin acquired considerable wealth and sold his stage property to Col. Thomas C. Nye, of De Ruyter, who operated the lines many years, making his home in Madison. He extended the business and made this a very important stage headquarters. When staging declined and became less profitable he abandoned most of his routes and for a period kept the Park House in Hamilton.
The site of Madison village was known in early years as "The Indian Opening," and became the scene of early business operations which gave promise of later large extension. This promise was so far fulfilled that the little village was incorporated on the 17th of April, 1816, the boundaries including "all that district of country comprehended in lot number 36 of the third town of the Twenty Townships, as laid out into lots by Nathaniel Locke." The government of the village was, of course, for many years extremely simple. The first meeting for the election of officers was held at the house of Benjamin I. Starr on the first Tuesday in May, 1816, and there the following officers were elected: Samuel Goodwin, Truman Stafford, Alfred Wells, Edward Rogers, and Adin Howard, trustees; Asa B. Sizer, Amos Burton, and John Lucas, assessors; Asa Curtis, collector. At the first meeting of the trustees on June 4 of that year, Samuel Goodwin was chosen chairman, and Adin Howard, treasurer.
The village records are very incomplete, but from them it is learned that during the first fifteen years persistent efforts were made to supply the village with water. The first section of an amendment to the charter made April 28, 1847, authorized the appropriation of $50 annually for maintaining a fire engine and other apparatus. Another amendment made in the following spring authorized the trustees to " expend annually one-half of the highway tax assessed upon the inhabitants of said village by the commissioners of said town of Madison in the construction of drains, ditches, gutters, sidewalks, as in their opinion will best subserve the interests of the inhabitants of said village "
An amendment to the charter made in April, 1878, authorized, the appointment of a police justice and constable in the village, with the usual powers of such officers.
Many years ago the village authorities procured the right to use the water from certain springs for public purposes, and built three large reservoirs for storage in the village. This water supply is still in use.
John T. Lucas opened a store on the site of the village in 1800, as before noticed and was in trade either alone or with partners for many years. In 1871 he became associated with H. C. & O. C. Bicknell, under the firm name of J. S. Lucas & Co., and so continued until his death, after which the business was conducted by the Bicknells until it passed to the present proprietor, O. C. Bicknell.
John T. Burton built and kept one of the very early taverns of the town, and there the first post-office was located with Asa B. Sizer, post-master. Another early tavern and possibly the first one was built at about the beginning of the century by Major St. Clair, who kept it several years. Ralph Tanner was an early tavern keeper and postmaster. About 1812-13 a tavern was built which was kept by Samuel Goodwin, before mentioned. A part of the old St. Clair tavern is still included in the present hotel kept by F. B. Howard.
John T. Lucas moved his store from the " Opening" to the north-east corner of the roads when the course of the Cherry Valley Turnpike was laid out. Mr. Sizer built his house just east of the tavern, and Alfred Wells had an early store on the southeast corner. Dr. Samuel Barber kept the first drug store and built one of the early dwellings. Eliphalet House was a blacksmith in early years and made edge tools at the " Opening," and was succeeded in the village by his sons, Eleazer and James.
Truman Stafford began as a merchant soon after the opening of the Cherry Valley Turnpike and continued until his death. His clerk, Erastus Berry, was in company with him for a time and continued in business a few years later. Gen. Erastus Cleveland and Dr. Benjamin Cleveland were also in trade a short time, and E. F. Gaylord, son-in-law of General Cleveland, was in business many years and removed to Cleveland. From 1840 to 1853 Lyman Root and Henry Lewis, both natives of the town, were in trade as Root & Lewis and became wealthy. They sold to James D. and Robert W. Lane, and Horace C. Bailey, all from Westmoreland; this firm of Lane, Bailey & Co. continued three years, when Bailey withdrew and the Lanes continued until 1866, when J. D. Lane sold to F. D. Higgins and the firm of R. W. Lane & Higgins continued six years. In 1872 Higgins failed and withdrew, Lane acquiring the interest and continuing to 1878. He was then succeeded by his brother, J. D. Lane, who sold in 1879 to A. S. Ackerman; he was succeeded in 1880 by D. E. Smith, who is still in trade.
Henry Hull, from Connecticut, was in business here from about 18*0 until his death in June, 1845, whets he was succeeded by Adin Howard and John Morgan. A few years later Morgan purchased his partner's interest and in 1869 took his son, L. J. Morgan, and W. H. Benjamin as partners. The latter withdrew in January, 1871, and Harry Morgan, son of John, joined his father and brother as the firm of J. Morgan & Sons. L. J. Morgan withdrew in I875 and two years later John witbdrew. Harry continued for a time and was succeeded by Davis & Fuess, and they by the present merchant, Louis Fuess.
A. J. Cushman and William H. Ives began as general merchants in 1873 and continued to 1876 when Ives sold to George H. Root. The Grin of Cushman & Root was succeeded in 1893 by the present proprietor, George H, Root. E. B. Wells started in the drug trade in 1888 and still continues. J. L. Dunster & Son opened a grocery in 1896 and T. Terry conducts a meat market.
The second postmaster, succeeding Asa B. Sizer at an early date, was Ralph Tanner, who was then keeping the hotel. He continued in the office until about 1840 when he was succeeded both as postmaster and as landlord by Isaac Curtis, who continued until about 1861, during which long period he also kept a tavern. E. R. Barker was then appointed and succeeded as postmaster James Brown, and held the office until his death; he was succeeded in 1874 by A. J. Cushman. Since his incumbency O. C. Bicknell, G. C. White, O. C. Bicknell again, and G. C. White have held the office.
The early arrival in this town of Drs. Jonathan Pratt and Zadock Parker has been mentioned. The latter practiced until his death in 1816. Dr. Daniel Barker came at about the close of the war of 1812 and practiced very successfully a number of years. Asa B. Sizer was also an early physician as well as the first town clerk and surrogate for a period after 1816. Dr. Elijah Putnam was an early physician at the Center and his son, Dr. John Putnam, practiced in the village from about 1839 until his death in 1879. His father came to this town from Peterboro in 1802 and died in 1851. With him in his practice for a time was Dr. Samuel Collister. Dr. Marcus H. Sutcliffe, a native of Canada, began practice in 1873 and continued until his death. Dr. Elisha B. Hopkins, a native of Truro, Cape Cod, began practice in 1874 and still continues. Dr. B. R. Gifford and Dr. W. R Hammond are the other two physicians at present in practice.
Although there is at the present time no lawyer in this town, there were in past years a few practitioners at the bar who were well known throughout the county. The first of these were Phineas and Albert H, Tracy, brothers and natives of Norwich, Conn., who came to Madison in 1811. Phineas was a graduate of Yale in 1806. Albert H. had studied medicine with his father but adopted the profession of law and was admitted in 1815. They remained here only a few years, Phineas going to Batavia and Albert H. to Buffalo. Edward Rogers, born in Cornwall, Conn., May 30, 1787, settled here about the close of the war of 1812 and was in practice about thirty years. He was a Yale graduate and a writer of ability; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1821 and represented the 23d district in Congress in 1839-41. He was also a judge of the Court of Common Pleas a number of years.
David Woods and his son Jonathan were contemporary lawyers with Judge Rogers, coming here from Washington county about 1817. They, however, soon returned to their former home.
There has never been much manufacturing in Madison village, the industries having been confined principally to the few shops of blacksmiths, shoemakers, wagonmakers, etc., usually found in early years in all villages. At the present time Thomas A. Ferguson has a shoe shop, John Bensted a harness shop, and John Salisbury and F. Collister, blacksmith shops. A. O. Neff and J. W. Salisbury formerly carried on carriage making and blacksmithing. M. B. Hill and T. W. Pilbeam were former blacksmiths and Charles Dunster a harness maker.
Two of the churches in the village were organized previous to the formation of the county and have been noticed. The First Universalist Church was organized July 13, 1828, and Rev. Nathaniel Stacy, of East Hamilton, the first preacher of this faith in this region, was probably the first pastor here and was foremost in the formation of the society. Other pastors who served the congregation for varying periods were Revs. Wright and A. H. Marshall. A society organization was effected July 10, 1S52, when there were forty-two members. A reorganization and incorporation took place in 1866. The records of this church are fragmentary and for a considerable period past no services have been held.
Wesleyan Chapel was organized about the year 1833 by Rev. Mr. Cameron, who gathered a class of nine persons, all but one of whom had been members of a church in Eaton, which had a chapel about a mile west of Bouckville. The house of worship in Madison was built in 1840. The present handsome edifice was erected in 1873. Regular services were held under various pastors and the society has ever since been prosperous. In 1888 the name was changed to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Madison. The present pastor is R. J. Smith.
When Dr. Samuel McClure came from Vermont about 1806 with his family of eight children and purchased a farm which included most of the site of the village of Bouckville, he built a small frame house and about the beginning of the war of 1812 opened a store at that point; he also kept an early tavern there. The locality was favorable for a village site and other settlers gathered around this store. Dr. McClure traded only a year or two and removed to Erie county. The little hamlet was known at first as McClure's Settlement, while some people called it The Hook. The first settler at this point was John Edgarton, one of the pioneers of the town, and from him the place in later years was given the name "Johnsville." When the post-office was established about 1837 it was given the present name in honor of William C. Bouck, who was then canal commissioner. The village was principally called into existence by the construction of the Chenango Canal, which passes through it and was for many years of great benefit to the town. The nest merchant of prominence after Dr. McClure was Ira Burhans, who, with his son Lindorf, opened a store about 1854 and continued business until the beginning of the Civil war, when the father removed to Albany county, whence he came. William Coolidg succeeded as merchant and continued until his death in 1875. He was the youngest son of Jades D. Coolidg, whose early settlement has been described, and succeeded to his father's homestead. In 1876 Lewis E. Coe opened a store and was succeeded by his wife and H., D. Brockett under the firm name of Coe & Brockett, and are still in business.
This village has for many years been an important point for the extensive manufacture of cider. H. I. & E. L. Peet began the business in a small way more than thirty years ago in a building erected by Moses Maynard when the canal was opened. After about ten years their business was greatly extended, the building having been enlarged in 1876 and again in 1879. More than 10,000 barrels of cider were made in prosperous years About six years after the Peet brothers were established, Samuel R. Mott engaged in it, occupying an old stone distillery and malt house on the canal bank, and soon rivaled the earlier firm in the quantity of his product. He was succeeded by his son, J. C. Mott, who bought also the Peet mill and continued the business. In 1890 the Genesee Fruit Company took the business and are now extensively engaged in making cider, vinegar and cider and whisky barrels.
The Peet brothers also operated for some years a saw mill and cheese box factory. Their buildings were burned in 1869 and rebuilt on a larger scale. These buildings were originally erected for a saw mill and cider mill by James, Sylvanus and William Coolidg, who a few years later sold out to Sylvanus Root, jr., who sold to the Peet brothers. The mill and box factory are now operated by Leo Phelps.
An industry which, during its existence, was of still greater importance to this village was the manufacture of the Hopkins Choice Mower, which was established about 1870 in Morrisville by a stock company composed of thirty members, principal among whom was Harvey L. Hopkins. The industry was removed to Bouckville in 1875, where a large building was erected for its accommodation. William Edgarton was superintendent after the removal. In 1877 the business was sold to Hopkins, Beebe & Co., and was soon afterward closed up here and transferred to Chicago.
The first postmaster at Bouckville was Moses Maynard, who was then keeping the hotel which he built about that time (1837). From about 18S1 until Ms death in 1875, William Coolidg was postmaster and was succeeded by Lewis E. Coe; he was followed by Isaac Forward, and he by A. J. Wiltse, who was succeeded by the incumbent, F. Parker. The hotel before mentioned had passed through several proprietorships and is now conducted by Fayette Livermore.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Bouckville was organized in 1853 and the house of worship was built at the same time; there were fifteen constituent members. Circuit preachers supplied the pulpit a year or more, since which time, according to the Methodist custom, there has been a change in the pastorate about once in two years. The present pastor is Rev. R. J. Smith, of the Madison village church.
What became the small but stirring village of Solsville grew up around the grist mill built by Gen. Erastus Cleveland early in the century. The place bore also the name, Dalrymple's Mill, and Howard's Mill at different periods, but finally received its present name from Solomon Alcott, who was an early settler here. As before stated, the Cleveland Mill passed to his son-in-law, Nathan Howard, during whose ownership it was idle many years, while the owner was engaged in efforts to obtain remuneration from the State for injury to his water power by the canal. He died January 21, 1855, and the property passed to his brother Adin; from him to A. C. Wheeler, who sold it to William A. Simmons. He soon sold to William S. Pierce and he to James H. Parker. The mill is now owned and operated by Smith & Spooner.
The first merchant in the village was Nathan S. Howard, who kept a small store part of the time while he owned the mill property, in company with his brother Ambrose, about 1831 to 1839. Abel Curtis and his uncle Thompson were in trade from 1832 to 1835, and in the latter year Mr. Curtis and Marsden Kershaw formed a partnership which continued to 1838, when Kershaw purchased his partner's interest and about a year later took in Amasa Paddleford. After about a year Kershaw again bought out his partner and took in his brother Robert The firm of Kershaw & Co. continued to about 1861 when Robert withdrew and Benjamin S. Bridge joined with Marsden Kershaw in forming the firm of Kershaw & Bridge, who continued to 1869, when Bridge sold to Augustus N. Peckham. Very soon afterward Kershaw sold his interest to John Harris and the store building to Julius Tucker. Harris & Peckham continued nearly a year when Harris purchased his partner's interest and about two years later failed.
Warren H. Benjamin & Sons (Frank H. and Will H.) began trade in 1875 and are still in business. L. D. Lewis also has a general store. Benjamin S. Bridge carried on a grocery business about three years previous to his death in 1879.
T. B. Manchester has had a blacksmith shop in the village since 1883. Lewis & Rundell formerly carried on blacksmithing.
Albert Hall was the first postmaster at Solsville and was succeeded by Marsden Kershaw who was eight years in the office. His successors have been Agur Gilbert, Isaac Phelps, appointed in 1864 and held the office nearly twenty years; W. H Benjamin, Rodney Bridge, W. H. Benjamin again, L. D. Lewis and George R. Smith.
There is a milk station on the railroad which is conducted by the Mutual Milk and Cream Company, with A. D. Eames, local manager. About 5,000 pounds of milk are taken daily.
Pecksport is a railroad station in the west part of the town about three-fourths of a mile from the Eaton line. There was formerly a cheese factory here and large quantities of milk were shipped that came from the town of Eaton.
The town of Madison is divided into thirteen school districts and is a part of the First School Commissioner district of the county. The value of the school buildings is a little more than $10,000 and the whole number of children attending the schools as shown by the report of 1898 was 432. In December, 1878, there was established in Madison village Union Free School District No. 1. Benjamin B. Mereness was chairman of the meeting at which this action was taken; Russell Hazzard, secretary, and George W. Baker, assistant secretary. It was voted that the Board of Education should consist of two persons to serve one year; two for two years, and one for three years. The following were chosen: Harrison C. Bicknell and E. B. Hopkins for one year; John E. Barber and Orlando L. Brigham for two years; George Hardy for three years. The term of service began on the second Tuesday of October, 1879. At a meeting held December 9, 1878, E. B. Hopkins was chosen president of the board; George Hardy, clerk; Samuel R. Brownell, collector; Russell Hazzard, treasurer. George E. Satchwell was the first principal of the school. The building occupied was erected in Morrisville by the Madison County Agricultural Society for fair purposes, and was removed to this village a little before 1860, where it was used a short time for an armory, called " Military Hall." It was first occupied by the school in 1871.
In past years Madison has been among the towns of the county most extensively engaged in hop raising. It was in this town that the first crop of hops grown in the county, and perhaps in central New York, was produced. This was done by James D. Coolidg in 1808. From that year onward he increased his annual crop gradually, and in 1816 took the first western hops to the New York market. Their quality was such that the attention of buyers was soon attracted to this locality and the prices obtained were sufficient to induce others to engage in the industry. Solomon Root, neighbor of Mr. Coolidg, soon took up the business and about 1818 sold two tons of hops at $1,000 per ton. For half a century thereafter this town remained in the front rank of hop-growing towns in the county.
Leading farmers of Madison have been Duane Neff, O. R. Cole, B. B. Johnson, J Pilbeam, H. Frederick, T. A. Cole, Charles Welch, C. T. Cole, H. G Curtiss, Edward Lloyd, George Cole, A. H. Howland, John Morgan, Darwin Putnam, Edward Hunt, John Phelps, and the Bridge Brothers.
The summit level of the Chenango Canal was in this town, the rise from Oriskany Falls to Bouckville being 172 feet, at which point it is 1,128 feet above tide. From Utica to the summit the rise is 706 feet. Moses Maynard was sent by the people of this town to Albany to advocate the construction of the canal, where he labored earnestly for tie project during two years.
In continuing the history of the town of Nelson from the point to which it is brought down in Chapter VIII, the reader's attention is first called to the settlement that gathered in early years around the first store which, as before stated, was opened on the site of the village of Erieville in 1807 by Josiah Hayden. This village is centrally situated in the southern part of the town and is a station on the Chenango Valley branch of the West Shore Railroad, and received its name from Eri Richardson (according to Mrs. Hammond), using his first name as part of the word " Erieville." Mr. Richardson was a prominent citizen and long a prosperous merchant. He was a member of the Legislature in 1822 and was connected with the State militia, whence he received his title of major.
Daniel Bicknell was the second merchant, coming hither from Morrisville. He died a year or two later, about 1816. Andrew C. Hull came from Eaton and opened a store in 1818 in a building which was erected about 1811 for a school and meeting house. The Baptists used the building about a year when they were dispossessed through neglect in procuring their title. Hull continued in trade about two years and then purchased what was known as the lower tavern, which was built by George Salisbury. This he kept about two years and operated also an ashery. He then removed to Eaton, thence to Allegany county and later to the South.
Nathaniel Hotchkin came from Otselic about 1822 and settled as a merchant in the village and about a year later took Alpheus Morse as partner. They had a prosperous business, operated an ashery, and also established a foundry in which they made the first cast iron plows used in this region, after the plans of Jethro Wood, the inventor. After about three years Mr. Morse returned to Eaton and engaged in business, and about 1847 built the Alderbrook woolen factory, about half a mile below West Eaton; he subsequently removed to Syracuse and Hotchkin also left the place.
John Elmore, who came from De Ruyter about 1827, was a merchant here until about 1838 when he returned to De Ruyter. David Hamilton, whose father was a pioneer of the east part of this town, was in trade a year or two about 1840 and sold to Allen Curtis and Eli B. Drake. The firm of Curtis & Drake continued about two years and sold to George R. Parmalee, who came from Cazenovia about 1842 and continued business until 1848, when he failed and returned to Cazenovia. Thomas Medbury began as a merchant in 1855 and continued to about 1862, He was a grandson of the pioneer of the same name who had a gun shop in the village before 1820. Joseph Norton and Samuel J. Anderson took Medbury's stock and were in trade about four years, being succeeded in 1866 by Warren S. Cotes & Co. (Joseph E, Maynard). Cotes sold his interest in 1868 to Charles E, Maynard, son of the other member of the firm. The firm of C. E. Maynard & Co. continued until 1879, when Charles E. Maynard purchased his father's interest and has since carried on a large business. He also has an extensive milk business, handling in 1897 3,946,065 pounds of milk, making 324,435 pounds of cheese, 22,592 pounds of butter and shipping to the New York market 4,622 forty-quart cans of milk. Mr. Maynard has served two terms as member of assembly. The Maynard store was built in 1832 by Nelson Richardson.
G. C. Moore has been in trade since 1874 when he purchased an. interest in the store of H. Burgess it Son, established in 1866 by H. Burgess. E. S. Jillson has a general store and has been in business since 1879. S. D. Moore and Milton Y. Hudson were formerly in trade together and sold out in 1879 to Franklin W. Moore, older brother of Sidney Moore.
The present hotel stands on the site of the old Erieville House, which was burned in 1883. The Erieville House was built in 1820 by Thomas Medbury, who kept it a short time. The first tavern on the site was built by Ephraim Mallory, who was succeeded as proprietor by Abram Tuckerman. Mrs. H. T. Griffin is the present proprietor.
About 1827 the elder Thomas Medbury erected a building which was variously occupied as a jewelry repair shop, shoe shop, etc., in which he lived until his removal from the town; his son Alfred afterward resided there a few years. It was then taken by Amasa Jackson, a native of Georgetown, who put in a stock of goods and for twenty years was a prominent merchant. This building is still standing.
A steam saw mill was established in the village in 1871 by Palmer Freeborn, who operated it until 1876 when Chauncey P. Wells purchased it at sheriff's sale and soon sold it to Moses Stone, who sold it to Peter R. Duffey, who now operates it.
A second steam saw mill was built near the site of the present hotel and afterwards moved down South street opposite the present school house. It is now operated by W. S. Kelley.
For some years a stock company under the name of Moore's Empire Milk Pan Company manufactured a milk pan and cooler patented by Franklin W. Moore. The officers of the company were W. W. Lyon, president; J. W. Torpy, vice-president; G. W. Salisbury, secretary. The business was ultimately closed up and Mr. Moore removed to Syracuse.
There is a cooper and wagon shop in the village conducted for many years by James Stevenson, and two blacksmith shops.
The first postmaster at Erieville was probably Thomas Medbury, at the time he was keeping the hotel. He was probably followed by Samuel Gage, who kept the upper and afterwards the lower tavern. C. H. Jennings succeeded to the office in 1835, Hiram Anderson in 1839, and the successors have been Allen Curtis, John Durfee, Hiram Stone, Richard Stevens, George Parmelee, Amasa Jackson, Canfield Jennings, Amasa Jackson again, Harrison Burgess, E. S. Jillson, G. C. Moore, E. S. Jillson again, and G. C. Moore, present postmaster.
Dr. John Heffron was the first resident physician in this place, coming from his native town of Swanzey, N. H. He was a Dartmouth graduate and settled in Erieville in 1809, where he practiced until his death, May 30, 1861. He was a practitioner of great skill and was several years president of the Madison County Medical Society. John Goodell, jr., who married a daughter of Dr. Heffron, practiced with him from about 1820 to 1834, when he removed to Delphi and thence to New Woodstock, where he died. Dr. Levi P. Greenwood was born in Lebanon September 26, 1816, and studied medicine in Hamilton, graduating from the Fairfield Medical College. He settled in Erieville in 1840, and during his long term of practice met with unusual success. Dr. Wesley M. Carpenter, a native of Erieville, studied with Dr. Greenwood, and for many years practiced with him under the firm name of Greenwood & Carpenter. Dr. Carpenter was a skillful physician. He afterwards moved to New York city where he was a professor in a medical college and was a writer for medical magazines. He is now deceased. Dr. James W. Smith, a native of Nelson, studied with Dr. Greenwood and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He practiced in Erieville about a year and a half and removed to Morrisville. Dr. Charles H. Ransom, a graduate of the University Medical College of New York, began practice here in 1873, and subsequently removed to Syracuse. Dr. C. P. Munroe practiced about three years and removed to De Ruyter. The present physicians are Dr. L. C. Beebe and Dr. E. L. Ensign.
The holding of early meetings by the Baptists in a building erected for school and religious purposes has been mentioned a few pages back. When they were dispossessed of the building they erected what was called The Temple, about a mile north of Erieville, which was also used jointly as a school house and meeting house until 1831, when the Baptists erected their church which originally stood about forty rods north of its later site to which it was removed in 1877. The first meeting having for its object the organization of a church was held April 26, 1810, and about 100 persons subscribed to the articles of faith and the covenant. The Second Baptist Church of Nelson was thereupon formally organized. On October 27, 1810, a council convened and recognized twenty-three persons as a church in fellowship. Among the pastors who have served this society are Revs. James Wheeler, Nathan Peck, Nicholas Johnson, Orin Beckwith, S. C. Ainsworth, J. W. Weatherby, M. T. Wadsworth, P. L. Hakes, L. E. Swan, Judson Davis, E. D. Reed, who was the last resident pastor, since which the pulpit has been supplied mostly from Hamilton College.
The first meetings of Methodists in this vicinity were held in 1826 about two miles west of Erieville, and there a class was soon formed. Meetings were held thereafter in the school houses, private dwellings and finally in the school house in Erieville, until 1849, when a church was organized and a house of worship erected in the next year. Previous to the building of the church and later it was on the Georgetown circuit, bat it was made a separate charge in 1876. The church has been in fairly prosperous condition ever since and is now served by Rev. A. W. Battey, who is also pastor of the church at Nelson.
There was many years ago a flourishing Universalist society here and a church edifice was built in 1842, which was subsequently and now used for a town hall. The church is not now in active existence.
The village of Nelson, or Nelson Plats, as it was long known, was in early years of more business importance than at the present time. Situated on the Cherry Valley Turnpike and being a halting place for many stages, the passengers giving support to several good taverns, it was thought by the residents that a large village would eventually be built up at this point. But changes in methods of transportation, in main roads, and other causes gave its rival in the south part of the town the advantage. The first store in the town, as stated farther back, was opened here by Eliphalet S, Jackson, who traded several years soon after 1800 and was succeeded by his cousins, John and Salathiel. The firm of Bash & Donaldson were early merchants, and in 1833 John James purchased Bush's interest in the business and continued in trade many years, either alone or with partners. In 1874 he took his son, William H. James, into partnership and from that time the firm of J. James & Son dealt mostly in hardware for a number of years. William H. James now conducts a general store alone.
Lester Curtis came from Winfield, Herkimer county, about 1837 and opened a store, in which he was succeeded about two years later by Emilius Bates, who was in business a few years. Joseph V. Kent, from Fayetteville, was in trade about three years from 1843. Hull Whipple and S. Smith were in business as early as 1830, continuing several years, when they sold to Miner Anderson; he kept the store five or six years and sold to John Donaldson, who was subsequently associated with Mills Bush. L. D. English, a native of Nelson, began trade in 1870 and continued many years. Frank E. Whitney was in business with Fordyce R. Gage, who had already kept a store several years, from 1876 to 1879, when he bought Gage's interest and continued alone several years. The second general store at the present time is kept by W. R. Richards, who succeeded in the Gage store.
The first postmaster in the village of whom anything can now be learned was Jeremiah Whipple who was succeeded by his son Jeremiah in 1828. John Donaldson was appointed about 1834 and Harvey Smith succeeded about 1848, but only for a few months. Archibald Bates succeeded for a short term and was followed by John Donaldson. The office has been successively held since by Charles Cove 11, Evan G. Hughes, Alanson G. Gage, George E. Gage, John James, and George W. Holmes, present official.
H. A. Camp has a cheese box factory two miles southwest of the village. In 1868 a cheese factory was established by G. E. Gaige and subsequently was operated more than fifteen years by William Richards, who had also four other factories in the town. This factory is now owned by Edgar Beebe and conducted by W. M. Striker. G. E. Gaige conducted a fruit evaporator here for several years, but the business was abandoned.
In the fall of 1885 a large building was erected for use as a saw mill, grist mill, cider mill, blacksmith shop and wagon shop, by the Nelson Manufacturing Company, in which L. C. Barnes, Arthur Bailey, Frank Taylor, S. N. Judd and Charles Judd were interested. This promising industrial enterprise was destroyed by the burning of the building in 1887 and it was not rebuilt.
There is in operation a half mile east of Nelson a grist mill, saw mill and cider mill combined, by L. H. Hutchinson; it was formerly for many years owned by H. P. Hutchinson, who was a respected citizen of the town; he died in 1897. There is also an old grist mill on the road between Nelson and Erieville which was formerly operated by S. G. Bump, but is now idle.
The earliest meetings by Methodists in this place were held in 1826 in school houses and private dwellings. A church organization was effected at Nelson Flats in 1833, with A. Hyatt, W. W. Clough, E. Allen, J. Anderson, Allen Smith, J. Sayles, and A. S. Pierson, trustees. The first house of worship was the one subsequently occupied by the Free Methodist society, organized in 1861. The second one was the building formerly occupied by the Presbyterian society, which was extensively repaired in 1878. The society is in active and prosperous condition.
The Presbyterian church, just mentioned was organized sometime previous to 1813, when it became connected with the Union Association. In 1825 it was first reported under care of the Presbytery of Onondaga. The largest number of members ever reported was fifty, which had declined in 1846 to twenty-one. The first house of worship stood two and a half miles southeast of Nelson village and was subsequently occupied by the Welsh Congregational society; the second edifice was transferred to the Methodists, as before stated. The Welsh church was organized in 1850 with a small membership, and was given permission to occupy the old Presbyterian meeting house, which was convenient for these people in the northeastly part of the town. It was used by them about twenty-seven years when a new edifice was built in 1876 at a cost of $6,000.
The principal agricultural industry of this town is dairying, the production of milk, and sheep raising. There are four cheese factories at the present time; one on the Richards estate; one in Nelson village; one at Erieville, and one four miles northeast of Nelson. Large quantities of milk are shipped to the New York market on the railroad. Among the leading farmers of the town may be mentioned Ward Smith, Orson Graves, W. L. Richards, D. M. Jones, Morey Brothers, W. D. Brown, M. D. Lyon, H. K. Smith, S. L. Jones, Adelbert Howard, Charles E. Richards, John H. Richards, Evan D. Davis, Loren Case, Lucius Case, Henry C. English, George E. English, L, D. English, H. Hudson, Frank Hamilton, Eugene Keith, D. W. Jones, Frank Isbell, Isaac Blair, Merritt Lyon, Frank Blair, Thomas and George N. Ensign, and others.
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John Buck, Jr.
March 30, 2005
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