CHAPTER XXII.
PROGRESS OF IMPROVEMENT IN TOWNS --- CONTINUED STOCKBRIDGE.
In tracing the detailed history of the various towns of the county we have now reached the latest one organized, which is Stockbridge, formed May 20, 1836, the early settlement of which down to the date of county formation is describe in Chapter V. Among settlers not there noticed who came in at a little later date may be mentioned John Gregg who came from August in 1812 and leased one of the Indian lots on West Hill. One of his sons was Absalom Gregg who settled later at the foot of the hill on the west side of the Oneida valley, where his son David afterwards resided. Taylor Gregg was a cousin of John and settled on the hill east of Munnsville and his sons were prominent citizens.
Abner Warren, son of John, came from Augusta in 1816 when he was seventeen years old and through his father's agency a farm was leased of the Indians on West Hill for three years, after which he leased the same from the State at $30 a year until the State purchased a tract including the farm, when he bought it. The father and son improved the place and made it one of the best farms in the town.
Thomas Rockwell settled on East Hill in 1813, purchasing the small improvements made by a previous settler and buying the land of the State at $7 an acre. The farm included the Council Ground of the Stockbridge Indians. It will be remembered that these Indians purchase their lands comprising a tract six miles square, lying partly in Stockbridge and partly in Vernon, in 1784, and sold it to the State in various parcels in 1818, 1822, 1823, 1825, 1826, 1829 and 1830. These tracts are named to some extent in the public records as the West Hill Tract, the East Hill Tract, the Mile Strip, the Oneida Tract, the New Guinea Tract, etc. The Stockbridge Indians originally numbered about 450 and were taught in religion and the customs of civilization by the Rev. John Sargent, who came on with them from their former home in Stockbridge, Mass. They had thus become considerably advanced in morals and agricultural methods before the advent of white settlers. Within three years after the first permanent settlement was made they had built a grist mill and saw mill on Oneida Creek near the site of the later mill at Valley Mills. Their numbers increased for a period and their homes were thickly scattered all through the valley of the Oneida. Thus it became necessary for the pioneers to deal with these people by way of leases, or otherwise, for the occupancy of the lands, until the State acquired its ownership, a fact that operated to postpone settlement to a later date than in many other parts of the county.
The man who opened the first store at Munnsville did not arrive in the town until 1817, in the person of Asa Munn, who came from Augusta. From him the settlement took its name. It is delightfully situated centrally in the town, in the lovely valley of the Oneida and is a station on the Midland Railroad, now the Ontario and Western. Mr. Munn occupied at first an Indian cabin, but soon built a small store where he traded about ten years. He also carried on distilling and other business undertakings. He was succeeded as a merchant by Charles Chandler and Henry Chandler, nephew and son respectively of Winthrop H. Chandler. A year or two later Matthew Pratt and another man took the business and conducted it about two years. Hiram Whedon was the next merchant and continued in business about thirty years. Sometime in the war period he sold to William O. Sumner, who leased the store building to a Mr. Seeley who carried on business about two years while the railroad was being built; he had also a store in Oneida, where he subsequently committed suicide. Lorenzo Frost and James H. Lillibridge were in business here a few years, and George Colburn between one and two years, when he sold to Charles W. Dexter, a native of this town. In 1870 he enlarged and improved the building (which was the old Munn store), and in 1871-72 had a partner John Northrup. About 1890 he took as partner Clark W. Davis and the firm of Dexter & Davis has since conducted a large business. Mr. Dexter is postmaster at the present time, succeeding George R. Fryer and is a prominent citizen.
William J. Lynden began trade as a druggist and grocer soon after the war and was succeeded in 1886 by George F. Griner. F. L. VanSlyke was a former merchant and was succeeded by W. T. Webber in general merchandise. James Lowe began trade in 1870 and was succeeded by his son, C. H. S. Lowe, in 1897; the latter had been a partner with his father several years, a part of the time in association also with Henry Freeman. A. H. Owen & Son are in the hardware business as successors of the senior of the firm who began trade in 1866. Dr. S. P. Moore, who has practiced in the village since 1873, conducts a drug store, and Mrs. George Cook a variety store.
The grist mill in the village was built in 1822 by Sheldon and Solomon Parmalee. The site and 100 acres of land were purchased by them of one Dennison, who bough the tract of an Indian who had built a saw mill on the south side of the creek on the lot later occupied by the woolen factory; that saw mill burned and a second one was built by him. The Indian's name was Jacob Konkerpot; he had built also a frame of grist mill, but its site was not satisfactory to the Parmalees, who built their mill on the site of the saw mill and later erected another saw mill a little farther down. The mill was owned by Gregg & Barr in 1878 at which time E. K. Gregg sold his interest to D. J. Merrill, who in the next year purchased Sherman Barr's interest. In 1880 J. B. Maynard acquired an interest in the property. J. H. Merrill was the next owner and in 1898 was succeeded by C. M. Merrill & Son.
About the year 1824 a saw mill was built on the site of the Munnsville Plow Company's works by Jairus Rankin and Robert Barr. The mill was subsequently owned by William H. Chandler who built an edge tool factory and manufactured scythes. That business was abandoned and the making of axes taken up. Sometime between 1840 and 1850 the business passed to Daniel Holmes, who continued it until 1853, when William Stringer, Solomon Van Brocklin and R. S. Barr acquired an interest and the manufacture of various agricultural implements was begun. The firm name was Holmes, Stringer & Co. A few years later Van Brocklin sold his interest to his partners, and in 1861 Holmes also disposed of his interest and the firm of Stringer & Barr continued. In 1866 William H. Stringer, son of William, became a partner and the style was changed to Stringer, Barr & Co. Upon the death of both Mr. Stringer and Mr. Barr their two-thirds of the property was bought by C. W. Dexter and Lewis Coe, Charles Stringer taking the remaining one-third, the firm name becoming Stringer, Dexter & Co. In 1892 J. E. Sperry bought Mr. Stringer's interest and soon afterward the Munnsville Plow Company was incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, and C. W. Dexter, president, who was succeeded by Mr. Sperry; W. R. Paul, vice president; W. F. Bridge, secretary and treasure. In 1894 Mr. Dexter sold his interest to W. F. Bridge. The product consists of plows, various kinds of cultivators, hop and fruit evaporating stoves, etc. About thirty-five men are employed.
The saw mill before mentioned as having been built by the two Parmalees was demolished by Eben and Whedon Blakeman and a woolen factory erected on the site. This was in turn taken down in 1884 and the timbers used in two dwelling houses which are on the site. A still earlier woolen factory stood there which was burned.
About the year 1822 Henry Stewart built a wool-carding and cloth dressing factory on the site occupied in late years by the creamery. About two years later he sold it to Orrin Wright, who enlarged the facilities and operated it about ten years. He sold to Robert Turner who again enlarged the building and added more machinery. About 1854 the building was burned and at once rebuilt, Sanford Turner, brother of Robert, taking an interest at that time. They operated the factory to about the close of the war. Avery Wadsworth & Co. converted the building into a creamery about 1879. The building is now used by George Frost & Son as an evaporator. This firm also conduct a cold storage business in the building.
A Mr. Buck had a tannery in Munnsville at an early day, which was subsequently operated by James Hazeltine, who had worked for Mr. Buck, and from about 1840 to 1860 by James Lowe. On this site is the residence of Mrs. James Perkins.
At the present time L. P. Van Slyke and Joseph Carlon and blacksmiths in the village and George Frost & Son operate an evaporator and cider mill. C. J. Bradner is the village harness maker. At the railroad station, which bears the name of Munns, is a milk station from which a large quantity of milk is shipped to New York.
The first permanent physician here was Dr. Jairus Rankin who came during the war of 1812 and continued until his death in 1832. Soon afterward Orange R. Cook came from Augusta and practiced until about 1842, when he removed to Morrisville, where he died two years later. Dr. Henry T. Sumner, who was located at Stockbridge, practiced here a few years. Dr. Julius Treat, after practicing two years in the town of Smithfield, came to Munnsville and practiced most of the time until 1877. Dr. William Taylor was in practice at about the beginning of the Civil war a short time when he entered the army; at the close of the war he returned and practiced a few years, and then removed to Canastota where he still practices. Dr. George Munger practiced during the war and later sold out to Dr. Taylor. Dr. S. P. Moore, a native of Lenox, settled in Munnsville in 1873 and is still in practice and has a drug store. The only other present physician is Dr. William H. Griffiths, who has been in practice many years.
The American Hotel was built about 1820 by Barnabas Cook, who kept it about ten years. The present proprietor, Dennis Rightmyer, purchased the property in 1874 of George W. Richardson, and changed the name to Rightmyer Hotel. The Central Hotel was opened by Rudolph Zimmer and is now kept by Kelly & Burke.
The Congregational Church of Munnsville was organized in 1828 as The Presbyterian Church of New Stockbridge, and the meeting house was built about 1834. The Presbyterian faith was abandoned for the Congregational in July, 1836. In 1868 the church was extensively repaired and improved and rededicated. The first pastor was Rev. D. M. Smith. In 1894 the church building was remodeled and improved on modern plans. The present pastor is Rev. Roland A. Farnham, who succeeded Rev. Elliott A. Tuttle in 1897.
The pleasant little village of Stockbridge, situated in the Oneida valley about a mile below Munnsville, was formerly commonly called Knoxville, from Hermon Knox, the first merchant who came from Augusta about 1822 and after trading a few years removed to Illinois. He lived for a time in a log house built by the Indians and in 1824 moved into a building erected that year for a store, which subsequently became the dwelling of A. J. Hinman. As late as 1825 there were only six buildings on the site of the village. The first school house was built in 1824 just east of the four corners. A saw mill was built in 1824 by Mr. Knox, who erected also a grist mill in 1828 and operated a distillery. Mr. Knox sold his store to David Wood, who came from Augusta and continued in trade more than fifteen years, a part of the time in company with Hiram Whedon. Wood sold to Amadeus Hinman and removed to Oneida. Mr. Hinman was in business many years but at different periods; he was preceded a few years by his son, Grove Hinman, and son-in-law, Hermon Smith. In 1880 he traded his store for a farm with his nephew, A. J. Hinman, who continued in trade a number of years. Matthew Pratt and Carlos Atkins were in trade a few years each, and James H. Lillibridge, who came from New York in 1877 and bought the store W. J. Nash, who had been in trade about nine years, and C. C. White, long a cabinet maker, continued in general merchandise for fifteen years, when her removed to Munnsville. The cabinet and undertaking business established by C. C. White in 1857, is now conducted by C. E. Love, who took it in 1891. Charles White conducts a general store in which he succeeded S. M. Davidson in 1898. F. W. Cook was formerly in the cabinet making business, beginning fifty years ago, but subsequently took up wagon making, in which he is still engaged. Wadsworth Lyman was an early blacksmith and Luther Elphick has been in the business many years. C. C. White conducts a hardware store.
The saw and grist mills here, built by Hermon Knox, were burned in 1858 and rebuilt in the same year by E. J. Hostler, by whom they were operated until 1866 when he sold to Palmer W. Hinman and Chaffee C. Horton. A year later Hinman bought his partner's interest and in 1868 sold a half interest to James Baker, to whom he sold the remaining half a year later. In 1874 Mr. Baker took his son, James S., as partner in the mills. In 1882 the son took the property and now operates a feed mill, saw mill and cheese box factory.
A tannery was established in Stockbridge in 1825 by Thomas Wilson who continued it in connection with boot and shoe making until his death in 1849; he was then succeeded by his son, Jonathan M., who had been associated with him; he continued the business until 1877, when it was abandoned through the scarcity of bark. In 1880 the tannery was converted into a creamery by Mr. Wilson. A cheese factory has been operated in recent years by Carl Leach.
The Central Hotel, which is the first one in the village, was built in 1825 by Horace Parmalee, who kept it a number of years. In 1854 the property passed from the heirs of Dr. Henry T. Sumner to Amadeus Hinman, who kept it until 1882, when he was succeeded by the present proprietor, David Van Loon, who changed the name to Hotel de Van Loon.
The post-office here was opened about 1824 with Dr. Henry T. Sumner postmaster. He held the office until his death in 1853, about thirty years. The subsequent list of officials is not accessible, but H. H. Lillibridge, N. J. Hinman, A. Bridge, have held the office; the present postmaster is Charles White.
Dr. Henry T. Sumner was the first resident physician in the village and practiced from 1823 to some extent until his death. Dr. Fayette F. Elphick settled in the village in 1869 and continued in practice until his death, excepting two years. Dr. A. E. Broga is the present practitioner.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of New Stockbridge was organized as a station in 1827, and placed in the Oneida district of the Genesee Conference. In the year 1830 the word New was taken from the title. At about the same time, probably n 1829, the church was changed to the Oneida Conference and the house of worship built. In 1828 there were 120 members; in 1843, 270, which was the highest reached. There are now about 100 members. The first pastor was Rev. Alexander Irvine. The church was enlarged in 1853 and has lately been slate-roofed and painted, the money being furnished by Philip D. Armour, who was born in this village.
There have been two other churches in Stockbridge which are now obsolete. The Congregational Church was organized in 1833 by about thirty-five persons who were dismissed from the societies of Augusta and Smithfield. A meeting house was soon afterward built just west of the Central Hotel. This society was subsequently disbanded and the church edifice sold and removed.
The Universalist Church was organized about 1837 by Rev. Daniel S. Morey, and a meeting house was built about 1842. The membership was disbanded and the church was removed to Munnsville, where the upper part was in use as a public hall.
The hamlet of Valley Mills, formerly known as Cook's Corners, from Barnabas Cook, an early settler and tavern keeper, is situated in the northern part of the town on the Midland Railroad. The post office with its present name was established in 1870, with D. J. Dunham, postmaster. He was succeeded in 1877 by H. C. Quackenbush; the present official is Myron Stewart. The grist mill here was built about 1848 by Rev. Ebenezer Ranney for a woolen factory and was operated by him five or six years, when it passed to William Bridge and Nathan Hayes; they were succeeded by Armour, Klock & Wilder, A. B. Pardee, Smith & Montgomery, the Quackenbush Brothers, who took it in 1876, M. C. Quackenbush, and the present proprietor, C. W. Dexter. The mill is now operated by Mr. Roantree. A cider and plaster mills are on the site but not in operation. The grist mill is on or near the site of the mill built in 1794 by the Indians. A store is conducted by Dexter & Davis, the Munnsville merchants.
The Baptist Church of Stockbridge, located at Valley Mills, was organized in 1839 as a result of preaching by several students in Hamilton College. The church was recognized by council in 1840, and Ebenezer Ranney and N. M. Coburn were chosen deacons. Rev. S. M. Bainbridge was ordained in 1840 and was succeeded during brief periods by several other pastors. The last regular pastor was Rev. J. H. Wells, who served in 1853-4. The pulpit was supplied for a time thereafter, but about 1865 the church became inactive and has so remained. The building was torn down.
The first school in the town of Stockbridge was taught in 1797 by Edward Foster, in a log school house in the southeast part. Since that early date the cause of education has been liberally supported. The town is divided into fifteen districts and constitutes a part of the Second School Commissioner district of the county. The last report of the commissioner gives the number of children attending school as 413 and the value of school buildings and sites, $10,950.
In 1829 the Stockbridge Academy was founded by Asa Munn and Thaddeus Muzzy, the Rev. D. M. Smith in charge. It was conducted in a building, since demolished, which stood near the meeting house in Stockbridge. Although comparatively successful for a period, the institution succumbed under changing conditions.
Union School District No. 1 in Munnsville was organized in 1894. A handsome school building was erected in 1894 at a cost of about $4,000 besides furnishings. Frank M. Wiggins was the first principal and still holds the position. He was supplied at first with two assistants and at the present time there are three. The average attendance is 120. The school passed under the Regents in March, 1896.
The growing of hops and dairying are now the principal agricultural industries of this town. A large quantity of milk is shipped from the two railroad stations to New York and considerable butter and cheese is made. The hop industry has somewhat declined in recent years, as it has in other localities.
Among the leading farmers of the town past and present may be McGee Wilson, William Bridge, Addison Snell, Emerson Quackenbridge, a large hop raiser, Waterman Simonds, Fred Marshall, J. W. Rockwell, and his father Thomas, the Wheeler brothers, Robert Clark, Samuel Spaulding, C. W. Dexter, Lewis Hinman, the Mackey brothers, Adelbert Pardee, John Rivenburg, Adelbert Wood, Eri Day, George Miller, Warren J. Gilbert, Andrew Perry, William Skadden, Orrin Porter, Norman Randall, John Hadcock, Charles Bush, Amos Bridge, Nathaniel Harrington, and his son Elmer, John L. Foster, Harrison Lamb, Rensselaer Coe, E. J. Spooner, Austin Carver, Robert Foster and Albert Lindsley.
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